I'm back bitches! That's right here we are with another grand presentation from the Lord and Master…….. The Mutt.  Well sorry this is so long on the uptake but I've been busy with school, my new story, and recovering my always downed health which includes my always fed up ankle. But school is finally out and nothing is stopping me now!!!!!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! . Anyway well let's see here, ahh yes the story. Well here are the review responses.

KitsuneSkye203: Hey good to see ya. Glad you like and hope I don't screw it up.

Momoko: Thanks for the advice and yeah it is spell check. And DON'T CALL ME DOG BOY!!!!!!!!!

Sereia: Wow such glowing compliments. I'm blushing. Hope I can live up to the expectations. Ohh and I saw your review on Youth. . Next time you need to say all that to me do it on MSN. I was kinda overloaded. I am a simple man with a simple mind and need to be handed things in increments.

Silvermoonlight GJ: Man, getting compliments from you is awesome. I personally think your one of the best writers out there and I am honored your reading my fic. Sure you don't have my story mixed up with some one else's?

Sweetthang-37: No you are not slut or a whore and don't let anyone tell you other wise. If any guy says that slap him hard. . Sorry but when it comes to girls I'm very old fashioned and I believe respect is key. Ohh and believe you me I know about the work days……..

Lea: Well it will only be your choice Lea. Your choice. lol glad you like it.

Sesshomaru: 1) What don't you understand? 2) I probably can't tell you because it will most likely be revealed near the end.......

Aright then. Ohhh I must apologize for some mistakes in previous chapters. It seems spell check is taking some of the Japanese names and correcting them. Miroku got switched to Marko by accident. Sorry bout that and I will check to make sure this time.

Disclaimer: I may not own Inuyasha, but I do own you. For the Lord and Master owns all……..

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            Kagome opened up her eyes, but quickly closed them again as pain rippled through her body. She was lying on her back, and every single tiny pebble seemed to cut into her sore body.

            After several minutes of allowing herself time to adjust she finally picked herself up off the ground and looked around. The memories of what had happened came back to her as she viewed the destruction all around her. Bodies littered the area. Dead, dying, wounded, unconscious, or just plain shocked, none had been unscathed.

            "SHIPPO!?" Kagome called out as she remembered her last sight of the young kit. Her head darted around looking for him in the masses but could not find him.

            "Shippou where are you!?" She turned towards the woods hoping to see the kit in the trees. She didn't see him but did see something else. Above the tree tops was a steadily issuing stack of smoke, coming from some where inside the forest.

            Kagome didn't know why, but a small sense of uneasiness filled her. Her thoughts turned to the many things inside the forest. Demons, animals, the sacred tree, the well……

            Before she even knew it her body was already moving, running with all the speed she had. She darted past her waking friends who called too her but she paid them no thought, her only intention to get to the well. She didn't hear Inuyasha call out to her, nor did she notice he followed her quickly.

            She ran through the forest with everything she had. Hoping, praying the fears in the back of her mind were only fears and nothing else. Sticks and shrubs clawed at her soft skin but she shook it off, allowing nothing to slow her down.

            Kagome burst into the clearing where the well was and halted, gaping in shock. Where there used to be the well was now nothing more than a deep smoking hole in the ground. Without hesitation she leaped into it, not caring what could happen. Inuyasha came into the clearing right behind her and seeing her departure, immediately followed.

            Kagome clamored up the hole she was in. Above her was not the roof of the well house, but a morning sky filled with smoke and the sounds of the city. Fiercely she clawed her way up and hauler herself out. And then she stopped, finally taking in her surroundings.

            She stood in the middle of what was left of the well house. It's walls splintered and thrown back as if the structure had imploded from the inside. But it was not this that had stopped her panicked mind. She gazed at the horrifying sight in front of her.

            The shrine was completely in ruins. As was her home and everything else around it. Flames flickered in different parts of the wreckage, burning even the last smallest pieces of Kagome's old home, her old life.

            Kagome finally came out of her frozen state and ran towards the conflagration. She called out for her family as she lifted up pieces of the house, her mind loosing control of herself in her panic.

            She felt strong arms immediately grip her and pull her struggling body away from the wreckage. She pulled against them, trying desperately to get back to the destroyed house.

            "Kagome no!!! It's too dangerous!!!" She heard Inuyasha's voice call out to her but she didn't listen. Her mind turned to fury at his voice.

            "SIT!!!" The second Inuyasha was thrust into the ground she was back into the wreckage, turning over debris and other things from her life as she yelled out frantically searching for her loved ones. The hot metal and splintered wood burned and cut through the soft skin of her hands, but they were mere annoyances to her.

            After several more seconds of search she saw a hand poking out from under a dresser. With strength, she did not no she had, she over turned it, revealing the body of her grandfather, still and unmistakably dead.

            Kagome's eyes watered as she looked away from the sight, her heart wrenching in her chest. Almost not wanting to continue on, the fear of what she may find threatening to choke her, she went to where the kitchen used to be.

            Kagome felt her body turn almost to stone. There, on the floor, was her mother. Her eyes open in a look of wonder, her final thoughts still etched onto her cold, lifeless face, her body sprawled on the ground.

            Kagome felt as if everything inside of her was gone. She didn't dare look for Souta; she did not want to see her little brother's fate. Her mind told her body to leave the house, dangerous fires still flicking around her, but she couldn't take her eyes off her mother's body, the same woman who had, just one month ago, given her extra food to take to Inuyasha.

            "Kagome…." Inuyasha's voice brought her back to the world around her. The hanyou approached timidly, and his voice was quiet. "I….."

            But Kagome didn't give him the chance to speak. She didn't allow him to say words of comfort she didn't want to hear. She whirled around on him as he placed his arms on her shoulders. Her eyes blazing in fury and pain.

            "Don't touch me!!" she yelled savagely.

            "Kagome…" Inuyasha's eyes were horror stricken at the sight of her own. The pain in them seemed to cut his heart like a sword.

            "Just stay away!!!" she screamed, tears beginning to poor from her dark eyes. "Just leave me alone!!!!"

            Inuyasha stepped forward slowly, almost like he was dealing with a hurt animal. "Kagome, please let me…." But Kagome was through with his words.

            "Just go away!!!!!" she cried hysterically, "Just…. Just….SIT!! Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit!!!!!!" she yelled stamping her feet as more and more tears issued forth from her eyes.

            Her dark-brown eyes looked down at the ground, trying to stay away from the subdued hanyou's form. But as he lifted his head Kagome found his golden orbs and could not tear away her gaze.

            It was not anger or hurt he looked up at her with, not even confusion. It was pity and sorrow that issued from him, and it hit Kagome harder than anything ever believed possible.

            'No Inuyasha don't look at me like that,' she begged silently to the hanyou, 'get angry, call me a dumb bitch, say I'm stupid, please anything, something normal, not that please.' Her pleading thoughts whirled through her mind as her body began to shake dangerously.

            But his look of pity continued as he rose from the ground and stepped towards her. Kagome tore herself from his gaze and tried furiously to hit him, her arms whirling around as though to fend him off. But Inuyasha caught both of her wrists before they came into contact with him. "Kagome," he said, his tone demanding her attention. She looked up at him and into his pained eyes.

            Then, before she had any chance to stop him, he pulled her into a fierce hug. Inuyasha clung desperately to her, almost with a desire that made it seem like he needed it more than her.

            Kagome finally felt all her strength leave her, Inuyasha's arms draining her anger and leaving behind nothing but sorrow and exhaustion. Her knees went weak under her and Inuyasha picked her up bridal style into his arms.

            Kagome looked up into his eyes and with the last of her strength spoke. "Please take me away from here." Inuyasha nodded and Kagome fell into darkness, the sounds of approaching sirens echoing in her mind as Inuyasha carried her to the well.

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            Miroku groaned grabbing his head as he pulled himself up by his staff. His head swam and for a second he felt like he was going to black out again. He clutched the monk staff, holding his weight on it till his head cleared and he felt confident enough to move.

            He hadn't taken one step when Kagome came flying past him. He called out to her but she ignored him. Then Inuyasha went flying past him. 'Wonder what's up?' he thought. Miroku began to walk around the village searching for Sango, beginning to worry as he saw more and more sights of hurt villagers.

            Miroku turned around a corner and saw a body of a young boy lying in the road. His mind clicked as he saw the boy's familiar clothes and he rushed over to him. He pushed the boy over and gasped at his face.

            It was Kohaku, Sango's younger brother, the boy who had been bent to the evil purposes of Naraku by the shikon jewel and was forced to kill his own family. After his own death and rebirth by the shikon shard he had been a tool of Naraku's to get at Inuyasha by hurting Sango.

            'Not any more though,' Miroku thought grimly. Blood slowly dripped from the place in his back where the shikon jewel had been and the boy's skin was as pale as snow. Naraku had taken the jewel shard, thus ending Kohaku's extended life. 'God how am I going to tell this to Sango,' Miroku thought going over the many ways Sango would react to such a thing, none of them good.

            Just as that thought crossed his mind Miroku heard footsteps behind him and a vague sense of foreboding came to his head. He turned around to see a bleary eyed Sango, who was limping sluggishly from some wounds.

            "Miroku, who is that?" Sango asked, blinking her eyes to clear the cloudiness over her eyes. Miroku eyes went wide and immediately tried to cover up the boy. "It's no one Sango. A boy, he must have died in the attack last night." Miroku new that he had already given himself away. Sango had seen the fear in his eyes and the clouded look on her face seemed to immediately clear. "Miroku, What's wrong?" she asked.

            Sweat began to pool on Miroku's forehead as his mind searched for an answer. He tried harder to cover the boy from the slayer's sights. "Nothing is wrong Sango," he said way to quickly.

            Sango looked at him closer, suspicion beginning to draw in her eyebrows. She stepped forward and tried to look around Miroku at the body of the boy, but Miroku was immediately in the way. She looked at the monk in confusion, "Miroku why wont you let me see him?"

            Miroku stammered and worked his brain for a reply. "I.... I just don't want you to see it, it's not a pretty sight....." he stepped in front of Sango, cutting her off again.

            "Miroku I've seen death before. Now please stand aside." Sango had put a finality in her voice that made Miroku pale. He was caught now, the only was he could keep this a secret now would be to subdue Sango, and he would never physically harm a woman even if his life depended on it. Sighing, he stepped out of the way.

            "Thank you," Sango said stepping forward and kneeling down. She turned the boy over and Miroku turned around his heart wrenching at the gasp that issued from her mouth.

            Miroku turned around to look at Sango as she kneeled over her brother, her eyes wide in complete shock. He braced himself for the explosion that he knew would come. Would it be rage and screams of vengeance? Or would it be tears of pain? He had no idea how the fickle Sango would react to this and he prepared himself for the worst.

            What happened though, was far from anything the monk could have imagined. Over what was occurring, he would have rather seen her loose all control and go on a killing spree. The huntress seemed frozen in place for a great period of time, before finally she moved. Her strong shoulders seemed to sag like they were under a great weight. She sat back onto the ground and Miroku felt like he had been stabbed when he saw her eyes.

            No tears, no rage, just nothing. Nothing but plain loss of will and a complete and utter acceptance of defeat. Sango, the one person he viewed as unconquerable, the one thing that had always stood as a wall that could not be penetrated, reduced to nothing but what looked like a shell of a human being.

            Miroku didn't know what to do, so he did what he felt was natural, he leaned down and picked the girl up into his arms. Sango didn't even protest, just threaded her arms around his neck and fell into sleep in  his arms.

            Miroku heard footsteps behind him and looked around to see Inuyasha carrying Kagome in much the same way he held Sango. He was about to ask what had happened but fell silent when he saw the Hanyou's face. Inuyasha shook his head, giving him a look that clearly said they would discuss it later.

            Together, they made their way though the destruction searching for a place to rest.

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            Inuyasha walked through the house. The silence of death hung heavily on it, the sounds of the wounded came from many of the rooms. But it wasn't their moans of pain that made Inuyasha cringe, it was the silence of rooms that had once held life. Inuyasha used to hate loud noise, it hurt his sensitive ears. But now the silence was driving him mad.

            Inuyasha had been going around the house checking on everyone all day. Kagome and Sango were both sound asleep, Kagome in her own room, Sango with her head still resting over Kohaku's dead body. Ryllis and his gang were all watching over Kouketsu, who was in a deep sleep after her energy had been drained from protecting them. Ryllis was keeping every one at least ten feet from her body, and if they got any closer he'd grip her protectively and growl at them till they backed away.

            The last one of Inuyasha's friends was in the fight of his life. He had last seen Miroku hunched over the dying priestess Kaede, whom they had found at the foot of a tree that Naraku had thrown her against, sweat pouring from his body as he struggled to keep the darkness away from her. Miroku was not responding to anything else around him, and Inuyasha guessed that the monk had entered Kaede's very mind to try to keep her alive. He had been with her for nearly four hours and still there had been no word from him.

            Inuyasha sighed and leaned against the wall as he completed what must have been his thirtieth time around the house. He was still shocked at how much the sight of the wounded Kaede hurt him inside. He had thought the old miko meant nothing, that she was no more than some annoying woman who got in his way. But he knew this was definitely not the case, seeing the priestess had torn his already battered heart.

            Alone in the house, Inuyasha's mind finally turned to what he had been trying to avoid. Kagome, the image of her fury then her sadness was etched into his mind. Pain was burning in his chest at the look of promised death in her eyes. But worse than that was the rage. The rage that made him want to tear the person who had dare do something so evil to his sweet Kagome. It was so deep that his vision clouded with red when he thought about it. He felt sick to his stomach with the anger boiling inside of him. It was one of the few times in his life he actually wanted the demon in him to come out, so he could tear the one who had done this to pieces.

            But now that he had thought about it, who had done it? Sure Naraku had attacked them last night and taken Shippou, another blow that had hurt Inuyasha more than he thought it could. But only he and Kagome had the power to cross the time barrier. Had Naraku shattered it? Inuyasha's mind went to the crater in the ground, the only thing left of the old well. 'Something is really wrong,' he thought to himself, 'It's time to figure it out.'

            Inuyasha walked to the room where his brother was. Brandon had his arm around Hinote who's skin had seemed to have gone a slight pinkish color from the drain her body had been put through by her ring. There eyes were on Ryllis who was hunched over Kouketsu, her face was so pale, she seemed nearly dead. The once silver-blue wings had turned a ghastly pearl-white.

            Inuyasha walked over and tentatively placed a hand on his step-brother's shoulder. A small growl passed the hanyou's lips and he glanced up with a very angry look. Inuyasha kept his voice low, to the point only his and his brother's sensitive ears could hear.

            "I'm heading to the present time. We need answers about what happened there. Can you watch after things while I'm gone?" Ryllis nodded his head in ascent and then went back to watching over Kouketsu. Quietly Inuyasha left the room and walked over to where Kagome was currently sleeping.

            He quietly walked in, sliding the shutter door open and walked over to the girl's prone body. She seemed so much at peace, looking no where close to the girl that was in hysterics only an hour ago. Inuyasha felt a pain in his chest at the fresh memory and grinded his fangs together. 'I promise to you Kagome. Whoever did this is going down.' With that thought Inuyasha kneeled down and planted a quick kiss on Kagome's cheek. He smiled as the raven haired girl moved in her sleep curling into a ball with a small smile on her lips.

            Inuyasha got up and silently slid the door shut. He headed outside of the house and into the village where already those still able to were at work trying to rebuild what had been broken. He broke off into a run heading to the forest at full speed, passing by the many villagers who were moving the dead and wounded, or piecing back together there homes.

            The hanyou continued his pace for a few minutes finally at last coming to the small clearing where the well used to be. Smoke had finally stopped issuing from the crater, but Inuyasha still turned up his nose at it's scent. There was something seriously wrong with this place. Inuyasha continued to sniff at the crater when a new, yet very familiar, smell came to him. A low rumbling growl came to his throat and when he spoke one would have thought he was speaking to the most villainous creature to ever exist. "What the fuck are you doing here Sesshomaru?" he asked turning around to face the inu-youkai who was emerging from the tree's his toad servant Jaken at his side.

            A small tsk of annoyance came from the lord of the western lands. "Language, dear-brother." He walked up to Inuyasha with his hands held up to show he was not going to attack. "I am not here to fight you," the youkai said. "Bull shit," Inuyasha growled back, his hand itching to grab the tetsuiga and tear his brother apart with the wind scar. But soon curiosity won over anger and he stepped to the side, allowing his brother to step up and view the crater.

            "Amazing," Sesshomaru said, his face emotionless, "The idiot actually broke the time barrier."

            "Who broke it?" Inuyasha asked, slightly annoyed his brother already seemed to know what had occurred.

            Sesshomaru turned to Inuyasha with an arrogant smirk on his face. "Can you not smell it brother? Even your dimwitted mind should be able to detect it...."

            Inuyasha growled in annoyance but closed his eyes, tuning out all of his senses besides his sense of smell. He sniffed for a few seconds then a feral growl boiled out of his throat, his fangs bared, and his claws stretched out.

            "Naraku," he spat the name as if it were the most vile of curses. So it had been him. Anger was boiling in him like never before. The demon had attacked his brother, kidnapping one of his friends. Then he had taken Shippou, the little kit who had begun to look at Inuyasha almost like a father. And he had dared to lay his hands on Kagome's family? Inuyasha's eyes were flashing between gold and red as he seethed. After several moments of slowing his breathing he had finally gotten control of himself. He looked up to see his brother preparing to leap into the crater.

            "Oi!" He called after him. "Where do you think your going?"

            Sesshomaru looked at him like he was some dumb child who could not comprehend anything. "What does it look like little brother? I am going after Naraku."

            "And why are you after him?" Inuyasha retorted.

            "Because he has taken Rin from me," the youkai growled back a flash of anger penetrating his calm face.

            Inuyasha's eyes opened up in surprise. 'This cant be coincidence. Kiryoku, Shippou, and now Rin? What are you planning Naraku?' Inuyasha's mind spun with the many horrible things Naraku was capable of. He shivered at the thought of those kids in his hands. He turned back to his brother. "Sorry pal Naraku is mine. He's kidnapped Shippou and murdered Kagome's family. I will not allow him to get away with it."

            "Rest assured little brother he will pay, but It will be by my hand. And I will give you only one warning, do not get in my way." Sesshomaru made to step forward but Inuyasha was already in front of him.

            "Move Inuyasha I will not ask again," Sesshomaru threatened, but the hanyou was not listening. He was instead staring at the sword on his brother's hip. The tenseiga, the sword of healing, a sudden thought had flashed across his mind. Although the mere thought of what he was about to do made him want to wretch, this was one opportunity he could not miss.

            "I have a deal for you Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said forcefully, almost like it was a fight to make the words come out of his throat.

            Sesshomaru raised his eyebrows and stopped. "What?"

            "I-have-a-deal-for-you," Inuyasha spelled out slowly.

            Sesshomaru glared at him for several moments until he finally spoke. "Go on..."

            Inuyasha breathed in. "Allow me to go on and collect information on what is happening in the present. While I do this I want you to go down to the village that Naraku attacked and use the Tenseiga to help heal the wounded. In exchange I will give you some new information I have uncovered about our father."

            Sesshomaru continued to stare at his brother. Inuyasha waited silently hoping he'd get the right answer.

            "And is this information worth me giving up my time to help save ningens?" Sesshomaru asked coldly.

            "Keh," Inuyasha breathed, "Yeah it's worth it."

            Sesshomaru continued to stare at him to the point Inuyasha was beginning to allow his hand to inch towards the tetsuiga. Finally the youkai spoke.

            "Fine. It will be done." And without another word Sesshomaru turned around and left for the village, a very confused Jaken following in his wake.

            Inuyasha watched after him with a bemused look on his face. 'That was easier than I thought it would be.' Never in his life did he expect his brother to go along with something he came up with. But he would have to ponder this later. Inuyasha turned to the crater his mouth set in a grim line. With a quick look around he leaped in and feudal Japan swirled behind him.

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            Miroku stumbled out of the room where Kaede rested. He was more exhausted then he had ever been in his life. The monk had delved deep into Kaede's strong aura. Inside he felt a growing cold spreading through. For hours he had tried to push that cold darkness away, to drive it out of the old miko's aura but it had been to no avail. No matter how hard he tried it kept spreading and soon his exhausted mind could not keep the hold on Kaede's aura needed to keep him inside. He fell out and was unable to do anything more.

            Miroku walked down the hallway wiping his forehead on his sleeve. His thoughts now turned to his friends and how they would take his news. They had already had more than enough bad news. Hearing of Kaede's plight was really going to drain them. Miroku hated to tell them, but by his guess Kaede would be dead by tomorrow, and nothing short of a miracle was going to save the old woman.

            Miroku continued down the hallway and as he passed by Sango's room he heard some small sounds coming from the room. Poking his head inside he saw Sango, hunched over Kohaku, her body shaking from tears. Miroku could feel his heart beginning to break from the sight. Kohaku had been the only thing she had left to fight for, and now he was gone. Silently, Miroku walked up behind Sango knelt down pulling the Tajiya into his chest. Sango stiffened but turning her head to see who it was she calmed herself and tried to relax.

            Miroku still could feel the slayer shaking from tears. It hurt him so bad to see her like this. She was so out of it, she hadn't even slapped him when he pulled her close. It didn't matter though, not even he would take advantage of this situation Sango was in. He felt her continued shakes and squeezed her reassuringly. "Shhh, it's okay Sango. It's okay," he comforted.

            "No it's not, it's not okay. It never will be." she choked out. Miroku sighed and squeezed her again. He had no idea what to do for Sango. She had been completely broken. Not even a fire of revenge could be seen in her eyes. It was like the slayer had finally given up, let in all the pain that she had held at bay for so long. Hating himself for not being able to come up with anything to comfort her, he pulled the slayer closer to his body.

            They must have stayed that way for nearly an hour. Sango had stopped crying, and her eyes were beginning to slowly close. Miroku kissed her forehead and prepared to lay her down. Then he felt something in the back of his mind, and he became aware of a new presence in the room.

            "Such a sweet moment between two ningens. You will excuse me if I have to wretch." Miroku stood up and turned around to regard Sesshomaru standing in the doorway with his servant Jaken beside him. His staff was immediately in hand and he moved in front of Sango. "Leave now Sesshomaru, you are not welcome here." he said, his staff hand straying to the prayer beads on his wrist.

            "Trust me, I do not want your welcome. Having your welcome would mean I was in the presence of a friend, which I assure you, I want no part of a friendship from ningens." the Inu-youkai sneered at him.

            "Then leave, we have enough problems without adding you to list." Miroku retorted, keeping Sango behind him, who was now looking bewildered between the two wondering what was going on.

            Sesshomaru sighed and stepped in to the room ignoring Miroku, who had flexed the hand with the wind tunnel threateningly. "Believe me monk, If I had a choice I would leave. But having a choice would mean I came here out of my own free will, which I did not."

            Miroku raised an eyebrow at the youkai, "Ohh? Then why are you here?"

            "I have made a deal with my brother, now if you will please excuse me," Sesshomaru started for Kohaku.

            Before he had even taken two steps Sango was in front of him. The slayer was still sobbing, but she firmly held her ground against the demon lord.

            "Move wench," Sesshomaru said coldly.

            Sango shook her head and didn't move. Sesshomaru sighed and in the fraction of a second Sango was pushed out of his way and into Miroku, who grabbed her to prevent her from falling.

            "I am here to help you wench. Do not impede me or I may change my mind." This stopped Sango and Miroku in their tracks. They both looked on as Sesshomaru stood over Kohaku's body and drew the Tenseiga from its sheath. Both Miroku and Sango's eyes widened as they remember what Totosai had told them of the sword.

            Sesshomaru focused his eyes, seeing the death radiate from Kohaku's body, he pulled the sword back and then made furious slashes at the young boy, the sword glowing bright pink and cutting through Kohaku. Every slash would leave a pink glowing streak and then it would disappear. Finally Sesshomaru stepped away, leaving Kohaku's whole body bright pink. Sango slipped away from Miroku and knelt by Kohaku as the glow left the young slayer. "K-Kohaku?" her voice shook, as if she didn't dare believe the impossible.

            Kohaku's eyes slowly opened and looked up into those of her sisters and a faint smile graced his lips. "Heya sis."

            Sango choked back tears as a smile lit up her face, "Kohaku," She sunk down and gripped her brother into a hug, holding him as tight as she could, afraid he would just disappear if she let him go.

            Miroku looked on in happiness as he watched Sango. Sesshomaru walked over too him and Miroku turned to regard him. "The others?" the youkai asked simply. Miroku nodded and casting a final glance at Sango led him to the door.

            "Wait." The two stopped and turned to see Sango walking up. She timidly stood in front of Sesshomaru before kneeling to the ground and touching her forehead to it, the Japanese sign of the ultimate form of respect. She then looked up into Sesshomaru's eyes, choking back tears of gratitude from her own. "Thank you, I don't know how I will ever....... just..... thank you."

            Something reached into Sesshomaru's eyes and he nodded curtly before turning and leaving. Smirking Miroku followed him. 'So he does have a heart some where in there' Miroku thought.

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            For an hour the Youkai Lord continued to work on the village. One after another, he healed every injury, brought back each and every dead life. He even brought back Kouketsu's energy though he and Ryllis cast curious looks to each other the whole time. At last he came to the last one in the village, the old priestess Kaede. Standing over the woman he raised the tenseiga and brought it down in a sweeping slash at her midsection.

            Right before the blade hit though his a dark shadow went across Kaede's form and his sword bounced off it, as if it had struck a shield. Miroku's eyes went wide as Sesshomaru gripped the sword tightly to prevent it from shaking.

            Narrowing his eyes, he pulled the sword back and preformed rapid strokes on the old woman, but each one clanged off of her like it had struck an iron wall. Growling the youkai reversed his grip and impaled the barrier above her chest. The barrier seemed to bend under the blow and Sesshomaru continued to push and strain against it. Sweat came off his forehead and veins popped on his arms till finally the barrier rose up and threw him and the tenseiga into a wall.

            Miroku ran over and helped the youkai up who surprisingly enough accepted his help and then leaned on his sword, still gasping for air. After a few moments he shook his head. "I apologize, but there is nothing I can do for her. Some devilry of Naraku's has set in and is preventing me from healing her." The youkai stood up straight and nodded to Miroku who nodded back, then left.

            Sighing Miroku sat back down in front of Kaede again and pondered how he could stop the inevitable.

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            Inuyasha continued to poke around the ruins of Kagome's home. Cops had the place surrounded but they couldn't go anywhere close because of the fires, which had flared up again. This though, provided perfect cover for the hanyou. His fire rat haori protected him from the flames, but also blended into them, this way making him unable to the be seen by the eyes of the police.

            Sighing Inuyasha leapt out of the flames and onto the god's tree when the police had their backs turned. Surprisingly enough the tree had not been harmed in the fire. He sat down on a tree limb and breathed in the air deeply to get the smoke fumes out of his sensitive nose. Laying his head back he began going over what he had learned.

            It had been Naraku no doubt about it. His scent was all over the place. After he had gone on a wider search around the shrine he had found more and more destroyed homes and buildings. Police and firemen had no idea how it had happened and were pinning the blame on something called terrorists or whatever. Just like Naraku, Inuyasha thought when he heard it, cause mass destruction then disappear leaving the blame on someone else.

            Inuyasha could care less about this information though. This was something that had become standard with Naraku. No it was a new piece of information he had uncovered in the ruins of Kagome's shrine. After painstaking work of picking through the fire and having to go through the horrible sights of her grandfather and mother's bodies, Inuyasha had to come to find Souta, Kagome's younger brother was not there. No ashes or blood, no trace, no nothing. Like he had disappeared. Inuyasha could find no trail of him escaping to the trees. He also doubted the boy could make it in time. That only left one possible answer. Naraku.

            Just like the other three children Souta had been kidnapped. Now he had to wonder, what in the hell was that hanyou up too? What did he need with these four children? Another question was burning his mind. How had Naraku broken the barrier to Kagome's time? A barrier that until now only he and Kagome could pass through. His thoughts went to the shikon jewel and how Naraku may have used it now that they had Kagome's pieces, but that couldn't be possible. Kouga still had the last two shards. Naraku couldn't have taken them from him, not with the whole wolf pack behind him. Could he?

            Inuyasha thought to what Naraku had done to the village and realized that he had to now face the fact that the hanyou was capable of anything. And this was something he really did not want to think about.

            Two cops walked under his tree and Inuyasha tweaked his ears to listen to the conversation.

            "What do you have?" the eldest of the two asked.

            "Nothing much sir," the younger one admitted. "We were only able to get a quick body count of who was in there before the fires got back up again. It looks like two people dead. One male, one female. Mrs. Higurashi the owner of the residence, and Mr. Higurashi, her father, who runs the shrine."

            The older cop sighed and nodded his head. "Anything else?"

            "Yes sir," the young cop answered. "It seems these two aren't the only ones who lived at this shrine."

            The cop turned his head. "Nani?"

            "We ran some cross checks on the family that lived here. Apparently two other people lived at this shrine. Kagome Higurashi, 16 years old and Souta Higurashi, 12 years old. Both are kids of Mrs. Higurashi We found no trace of them in the fire. And neither of them have been reported in by anyone."

            Holding his palm to his forehead the older cop sighed. "Damned terrorists. Most likely a kidnapping. Put up an APU on those two kids. I want them found. They might be a lead on who did this."

            "Yes sir," the younger cop answered and immediately ran off towards his car.

            'So humans aren't as dumb as they lead on to be,' Inuyasha thought. 'Still this complicates things. Kagome will need to go home sooner than she is ready. And will need to come up with a cover story.'

            After several more minutes of torturing his poor brain Inuyasha finally stood up and quietly made his way back to the well to avoid the policemen. There were too many things going on here for him to make sense of. Naraku had something big planned that was for sure. He needed his own plan and for that he would need to speak to the others of what he had found. Inuyasha smiled a bit realizing it wasn't all bad news. Terrible it was Naraku had him, the news that Souta may still be alive would help Kagome.

            Leaping back into the crater when the coast was clear, Inuyasha returned to the familiar feudal era. His ears could pick up the sounds of people in the village already working to restore the area. He then picked up the sounds of someone walking through the forest and saw Sesshomaru and Jaken emerge from the tree line. The youkai spotted him and walked up quickly. "Well, what did you find?" he asked in greeting.

            "He's pretty much done the same there as he does here. He destroyed quite a few homes and then disappeared. The local people who enforce the laws called policemen are blaming it on terrorists. So they have no idea what is really going on." Inuyasha explained quickly. "Ohh and he has also kidnapped one more child. Kagome's younger brother Souta." Sesshomaru mulled over the news quickly then nodded, staying silent on his own conclusions.

            "And the village?" Inuyasha asked.

            "Everyone has been brought back or fully healed. All except for that old miko, Kaede. Some evil of Naraku is blocking me from using the tenseiaga on her." Sesshomaru told him.

            Inuyasha sighed. He had hoped that the swords power could do it but it looked like they would have to find another way to save Kaede.

            "And now what of this news you have to tell me brother? It had better be good." Sesshomaru stated coldly.

            Inuyasha waved his hand in a dismissing gesture. "Hai, hai. Did you happen to run across an Inu-hanyou while you were there?"

            Sesshomaru nodded. "Hai."

            Inuyasha smirked. He was gonna relish this next sentence for the rest of his life. "Exactly how many human women did our dad know Fluffy-chan?" Inuyasha smiled as the confused look on Sesshomaru's face quickly turned to shock.

            Howling with laughter, Inuyasha walked back to the village leaving a dumbfounded Sesshomaru in his wake.

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            Night finally fell on the wounded village. Those that had toiled away repairing their homes had gone too bed. Everyone in the house that Inuyasha and Ryllis' groups had taken residence in were asleep. All except for one. Rising from her matt for the first time since the morning, Kagome walked out of her room, stumbling sluggishly into the dark hallway. Placing her hand on the wall for support she began to make her way slowly down the hallway.

            Kagome just walked around for several minutes, seeming to really have no destination. Her mind was in a different place. She went back to what Inuyasha had told her earlier tat day. How he had found out her brother may still be alive. Yeah she was happy he may still be okay, but it had done noting to ease the pain of the rest of her family. Their burned bodies were still firmly etched into her mind. Those images would haunt her for the rest of her life.

            Kagome continued walking till she accidentally placed her hand on a door for support. The door partly opened and she fell in with a crash. She shook her head to clear it and stood up dizzily. The sudden movement hit her with a rush and she gripped a table to hold herself steady. Why was she so weak and disoriented? Was there something wrong with her? But after a little while the pain went away and her vision cleared. Looking around she saw Kaede lying on a bed looking up at her.

            "Kaede, you should be resting," Kagome said walking over and looking down at her, remembering what Inuyasha had said on her condition.

            The old miko smiled and looked up at the girl. "I will soon have plenty of time to rest child. Please sit down." Kagome sat cross legged by the woman and Kaede smiled at her "And what of ye Kagome? I see you are troubled by something what happened?"

            Kagome flinched at the question. Kaede did not know what had occurred. She had been unconscious all day. Kagone did not want to be mean, but this was one question she didn't want to answer. Saying what happened out loud would make it final. Irrevocable. And she did not want to face that fact yet. But Kaede's inquiring eyes eventually got to her and Kagome breathed in deeply.

            "It's Naraku. He's kidnapped my brother. And murdered the rest of my family." Kagome said bowing her head.

            Kaede looked at the girl sadly for the next few moments. She sat up and brought her into her arms, "I am sorry child. I really am."

            Kagome could do nothing but sit there and be held by her. She was tired of fighting. The loss of her family was only one of many things that had been slowly but surely clawing at her strength. And she was tired of it all. Tired of this search for shards that seemed to never end. Tired of constantly having to lug around books from home and stay up late into the night to do homework she was going to fail anyway. Tired of hearing all the rumors about her in school on the few days she was actually there. Tired of being some damsel that every single demon in the world wanted there hands on. But most of all she was tired of Inuyasha. No, correction, she was sick of her heart for not giving up on him. Every day she would wake up and see him sleeping on his branch. Every day she felt the urge to run over and hold him, kiss him, till every one of the old pains he carried were gone. And every day she would realize the fact that she could never have him.

            Kagome felt some tears start to come up and blinked them back. Kaede held her for a few more minutes and finally sat back a bit so she could look Kagome in the eyes.

            "Tell me child what, what is it your heart wishes for the most in this world?" asked Kaede completely out of the blue.

            Kagome tilted her head a little in confusion. "Huh why?"

            "Just something an old woman wants to know." she responded.

            Kagome nodded and thought for a minute. Her immediate thought was Inuyasha, and to be in his arms for the rest of her life. But then her mind went to the bodies of her family and the news of Kohaku's kidnapping. She felt an anger inside of her like never before and she liked it. She knew what she wanted now, Kaede's question had woken up her mind.

            "I want revenge Kaede. I want to see Naraku bleed." Kagome told her, the girl's irises flashing from brown to red then back again.

            Kaede's eyes went wide as she looked at Kagome horrified. She had seen the flash. She had seen the lust for blood Kagome had. "Control yourself Kagome. Ye must not walk down this road."

            As Kagome shook her head her eyes flashed to red then back to brown again. "No I do. I want that despicable man dead. I want to see if he still bleeds like a human."

            Kaede grabbed Kagome shoulders and gripped them firmly. The sudden movement sent pain through her weakening body but she shook it off. She could not allow this to happen. If a miko's heart became tainted with rage then bad things were to happen. Just like what had happened with Kikiyo, She had died with hate enveloping her heart, and as she did this, the shikon jewel itself had become corrupted by her malice. The same had happened to Tsubaki, and look at what had happened to her, a testament to the power of the Tetsuiga's backlash wave.

            "Kagome, I understand your pain, but ye must control this rage. The consequences of it are far greater than you can imagine." Kaede warned her, but Kagome wasn't listening she was looking down at he hands and clenching her fists again and again. She could not get the thought of revenge of her mind. "I think I might even enjoy killing him….." she said almost to herself and a small shot of purple sparks came from her finger tips.

            Kaede felt like she had been punched. She had to think of something and now.  "Kagome do ye not remember Tsubaki? If you continue down this path ye will become exactly like her."

            This seemed to get to Kagome. She did remember Tsubaki, how she had almost killed Inuyasha by forcing him to fight without the tetsuiga, threatening she would end Kagome's life if he used the sword. No Kagome did not want to be like her. But the rage inside of her. She couldn't give it up. It felt like it was almost a part of her, and taking it away would be like amputating a limb.

            "I can't Kaede. I can't let it go…….."

            Kaede racked her brain for some way out of this. It was happening so fast. Kagome had already lost her control over the rage. At this rate it would only be a matter of time before she lost all control over her powers. Then every one around her would be in danger. She had to stop this, but how? Then a thought came to Kaede. A dangerous idea. But it could work. It could save Kagome from this fate.

            "Child I may be able to help ye. I might be able to stop the anger inside of you." Kagome looked up at her with a questioning look. "How?"

            "By turning you into a hanyou." Kaede told her gravely.

            Kagome's eyes widened at her statement. "Wha-What?"

            "Ye have already lost control of the rage inside of you. If left contained in your soul it will corrupt you entirely. The rage itself cannot be destroyed. But by manifesting it into a physical form as in demon-blood, we can get it out of your soul where it can not corrupt it." Kaede explained to her.

            "But there are drawbacks. On the times the demon blood leaves you, you will become even more susceptible to the draw of the rage in you. Not only this but from what I know the process is incredibly painful and sometimes may not even work."

            Kagome looked down at her fist again clenching and stretching her fingers out. "Who cares? Sounds like it will make me stronger. It would make killing Naraku so much easier." Her eyes flashed again as she said this.

            This settled Kaede's mind more than anything, she gripped Kagome's shoulders hard and stared at the girl. "Do you want this?" Kagome nodded immediately, her mind still on revenge.

            Kaede placed her hands on the girl's temples and closed her eyes murmuring under her breath. Kagome felt something begin to rise up in her mind. As if another presence was being pulled from her body. Kaede's scrunched up her face in concentration, like she was beginning to get into some type of struggle.

            Kagome whimpered as she began to feel a mounting pressure inside her head. Soon pain was beginning to run all throughout her as the pressure began to mount everywhere. She felt as if her skin was being stretched tight to the point of bursting. Kagome cried out in pain as she felt an explosion inside her mind, like the presence inside had been finally ripped out of her. Then she began to feel weird, nauseous. Her stomach churned and then she gasped out in pain and surprise as she began to feel her very body change.

            Her lungs seemed to expand inside of her, becoming more capable of breathing in air. She felt her heart quicken and began to pump more blood through her with ease, carrying oxygen to all parts of her body. She felt the few areas that still had some fat left fill with muscle. She gasped in pain as she felt her muscle tendons thicken and expand, her body becoming hard and firm. She felt an unpleasant tingling in her bones and joints, the calcium inside of them multiplying again and again till they were as hard as stone.

            Kagome gasped for air thinking that the worse was finally over. Then pain, worse than anything ever, spread through her. She felt her ears being crushed into a pulp then molded into a triangular shape. She screamed out as they suddenly moved upwards to the top of her head. More pain went through her head as her ear drums became connected to her nerves and a whole new route opened up from her nerves to her brain. She then felt her nails harden, the same tingling sensation she had felt with her bones, then more pain as they pushed out to dagger sharp edges.

            Just when Kagome thought she could take no more, blinding pain traveled down her back as she writhed in agony, Kaede still keeping a firm grip on her temples. She heard a sickening crunching sound as her backbone extended and pushed downwards, her skin stretching and expanding with it till she had a three foot long tail stretching out behind her. More pain came to her as nerves and muscles went down into the tail, Kagome felt dizzy for a second as her mind suddenly became aware of the new appendage.

            Kagome whimpered as she felt what seemed like thousands of needles sticking her tail and ears. Fur, the same raven-black that was on her head, sprouted out of her skin and covered the new ears and tail.

            Kagome fell out of Kaede's grasp as the final change occurred. What felt like a sledge hammer hit her in her eyes, nose, and ears. There was so much noise, too much sound, and the lights were so painfully bright. Kagome looked up at Kaede once more before she passed out and hit the ground.

            Kaede smiled sadly and rolled the girl onto her sleeping matt. She then placed a blanket over her and kissed her forehead. Sitting down next to her Kaede took one last look. "Good luck child, good luck." Kaede laid her head back onto the wall and closed her eyes. Never to open them again.

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Well there you go. And yes I know this took forever and I apologize. Ask anyone close too me and you will find out why. Anyways you know the rep. Five reviews or I no update. Please place all questions, flames, and over all hate mail in reviews. Ill catch ya'll later.

Your Lord and Master,

Ryan aka The Mutt