Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha!

A/N: And here's Chapter 3. Anyway, hope you enjoy! (And from now on the dots (…) that run across the majority of the page means that the scene is changing). Also, the dots that run across half of the page means that there is a POV change, although it should only be for this chapter. Sorry to make it so confusing, but I will try to be as clear as possible when writing this. Thanks!

Chapter 3

Early morning birds could be heard in the distance, as the sun shone itself beyond the horizon of the Feudal Era. The raindrops from the night before gathered in small piles on the leaves of the nearby trees. The forest, that had once seemed dark and dank, now glistened and sparkled in the sunlight. Hopefully, this was a good sign of what was to come.

The trio, Inuyasha, Kagome, and Yukanshu, set off early in the morning in search of their friends, and perhaps some answers that would, hopefully, help them figure what was going on. It had been a restless night, despite the fact that the wind had died down and the sky had cleared. Kagome had been near him the whole night, but sleep was still hard to come by for Inuyasha. Now, back to his half-demon form, he led the group in silence.

Not sure whether or not this silence was a normal thing or just plain awkward, Yukanshu spoke up.

"So, that young demon we encountered last night was your brother?"

Kagome answered in Inuyasha's place, "Yeah, that was Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's older brother."

"Half-brother!" Inuyasha reminded her.

"I see," said Yukanshu, "It's strange, but I've never seen such malice between two brothers before."

"Yeah, well, we're not exactly a close-knit family," came Inuyasha's sarcastic remark.

"I apologize," Yukanshu said, bowing his head.

"Why do you always do that?" asked Inuyasha, annoyed.

Kagome had noticed it too. Every time Yukanshu had said something out of place or even when he apologized, he would bow. She recognized it from back home, in present-day Japan. Normally, you would bow to show a sign of respect to your elders, but because of her generation, it had become somewhat of a lost art. Usually, you would do it before or after talking to an elder, but the way Yukanshu did it was strange to her. He held something different when he bowed. He would close his eyes, as if in prayer, gently lower his head and bend over. There was something majestic about the way he performed it, perhaps it was the way he resembled a lion, Kagome didn't know. He seemed almost remorseful and held full respect, which was odd, considering Inuyasha was much younger than Yukanshu.

"It is my way of showing you my respect and loyalty," he answered, bowing once more, "I was saved by your father, and now I feel that I owe him the guarantee that you will stay safe."

Turning around sharply, Inuyasha folded his arms into his kimono.

"I don't need anyone's protection, you got that? I take care of myself," he shot back, as he continued to walk away.

"Hmm…feisty, isn't he?" commented Yukanshu.

"No, just stubborn," sighed Kagome, "I'm sorry for his attitude."

"No need to apologize, Lady Kagome," Yukanshu smiled, "He has been through much trauma, I can tell. You need not blame this on him."

Kagome smiled at him, happy that he understood. Inuyasha, on the other hand, obviously wanted to be alone with his thoughts…

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Kagome! Inuyasha! Where are you guys?" called Shippo, worried about the safety of his two friends, "Where could they have gone? You think they're okay?"

"I'm sure they're just fine, Shippo. Now, they must have landed around here somewhere," said Miroku as he inspected their surroundings.

"They can't have gone too far," added Sango, who too was worried about the well-being of her companions.

Kirara, who had transformed into her larger form, sniffed the ground apprehensively. Picking up on a slight scent, she started to follow it deeper into the woods.

"Kirara?" asked Sango as she followed her into the woods, "Hey everybody, I think Kirara has their scent."

One after the other, they followed Kirara deeper into the forest. A while later, they entered a clearing with no sign of their friends. Refusing to give up, Kirara led them into a nearby cave and sniffed around.

"Hey, look at that," cried Shippo.

Their eyes shifted towards the spot in which Shippo was pointing. On the ground of the cave was a makeshift camp fire, a thin stream of steam seeping through the top.

"Hmm…it's still warm," Miroku commented as he bent over to examine it.

Making a low growling sound, Kirara pulled at Sango's sleeve.

"What is it, Kirara?"

There, on the ground, were thin, burnt out sticks, no larger than a finger. Sango picked one of them up and started to inspect it.

"Hey, these are the objects that Kagome uses to light our fires. What did she call them again?" Sango asked herself, scanning her brain for the answer.

"Matches!" replied Shippo, "Then they must have been here!"

"Now, all we have to do is figure out which way they headed," suggested Sango.

"Can you pick up their scent again, Kirara?" asked Shippo, as he jumped onto the two-tail's back.

Kirara nodded her head in confidence as she continued to sniff the ground, but just then, small drops could be heard from outside the cave. Everyone's head shot up in time to see the start of a fierce looking rainstorm.

"Great, just what we needed," sighed Sango as she took a few steps towards the entrance of the cave.

"The weather in these forests can be so unpredictable," observed Miroku, "Well, I guess that means we're spending the night in here. It's better than sleeping out in the forest."

Kaede, who had been quiet the whole time, sat down on a flat surfaced rock and stared at the rain, although, to Miroku, it seemed as if she was staring straight through it.

"What's the matter, Kaede?" asked Shippo, worriedly.

"It is nothing. It's just the frail bones of this old woman taking their toll on me," she answered.

Sensing something else, Miroku interrupted, just as Shippo was about to press forward.

"Well, I think we should all get some sleep. We're going to need it for tomorrow," smiled Miroku.

"Yeah, I guess your right," yawned Shippo, feeling exhausted all of a sudden.

"I agree," nodded Sango as she prepared a fire for them to sleep around.

Everyone gathered around the fire and attempted to sleep through the thundering of the storm that was raging outside. After Sango, Shippo, and Kirara had all fallen asleep, however, Miroku approached Kaede and Myoga at the entrance of the cave.

"Kaede?" whispered Miroku, making sure the others didn't hear him.

She and Myoga turned their heads to see Miroku standing behind them.

"Come, sit Miroku," smiled Kaede as she patted a rock next to her.

Miroku sat next to her, hoping to find a little bit more about what had been going on lately.

"We were just talking about Inuyasha," said Myoga nonchalantly.

"Yes, I figured as much" nodded Miroku.

After a few moments of silence, Miroku spoke up once more.

"Lady Kaede, I must inquire, what is going on around here? I fear danger is imminent," Miroku spoke quietly.

Kaede looked to where the others were sleeping, making sure that they would not awake. Sighing, she looked back at Miroku.

"This battle is not yet over," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"What she means is that Naraku is still alive," interrupted the old flea demon.

Miroku nodded his head calmly.

"Yes, I figured as much. Even though his miasma is gone, I am still cursed with this wretched wind tunnel," said Miroku as he looked at his hand that contained the infinite void.

Kaede looked at Myoga, exchanged similar glances, and nodded. Miroku, confused about their behavior, looked at them for an answer.

"Miroku, what we are about to tell you must remain a secret between the three of us," whispered Kaede.

Miroku nodded, checking to see one last time if the others were still asleep.

"Let us step outside," said Kaede as she noticed that the storm was coming to an end.

The three proceeded to the outer ring of the cave and moved to the side to avoid being seen by the others if they awoke. With a deep, heavy sigh, Kaede started to tell Miroku something that he didn't expect.

"Miroku, was there an element out on the battlefield that seemed…out of place?" started Kaede.

Miroku scanned his brain, remembering the battle that had occurred just days before. Let's see…Naraku had transformed, Kagome and Inuyasha were both battling him, combining their attacks…come to think of it, Inuyasha did seem a bit distracted about something. Perhaps that was it.

"The only thing I noticed was that Inuyasha didn't seem as focused as he usually is," answered Miroku.

Kaede nodded in confirmation and then sighed once more.

"There is a good reason for my master's disturbance," said Myoga, "During the battle with Naraku, there was a mysterious aura surrounding the area."

"What kind of an aura?" inquired Miroku.

Kaede looked at Myoga, knowing that she had to tell someone and who better than a friend of the young half-demon. She knew Miroku was a dependable and trustworthy friend who would, hopefully, be able to assist Inuyasha if need be.

"Inuyasha could sense…" Kaede sighed then continued, "He could sense the presence of his parents."

Miroku took a sharp breath in, trying to comprehend what Kaede had just told him. Could it be true? Both of Inuyasha's parents were deceased, so what exactly did this mean? Their spirits had returned from the land of dead?

"Perhaps it is a warning?" he asked.

"I am unsure of it myself, but one thing is sure," Kaede paused for a moment before continuing, "Both Inuyasha and Kagome will be put to the ultimate test."

"Kagome too?" asked Miroku.

Kaede and Myoga nodded simultaneously.

"In past situations, Kagome has always been involved, in one way or another. It's safe to say that she will probably play a major role in this as well," answered Myoga.

"Yes, Kagome is a priestess and protector of the Shikon jewel, whether she knows that or not," finished Kaede.

"She would have never come to this time had it not been for the jewel or Kikyo's death," continued Myoga, "We are all connected to the spiral of time, past, present, and future."

Miroku nodded in understanding. The situation was much more severe than he had originally thought. Everything seemed so unreal to him. The infamous Dog General and his mortal wife, Izayoi, which he had heard so much about, were among them right now. Furthermore, what were they trying to tell Inuyasha? Something about Naraku, perhaps? Miroku sighed in impatience, knowing that his answer would come all too soon…

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

"Will you please slow down and let us take a break?" complained Kagome for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"No, we have to keep moving. It looks like the storm's coming again and I don't want to get caught up in it," Inuyasha explained.

"Please Inuyasha," begged Kagome as she slumped to the ground, exhausted, "You're both demons, I'm not built like you are."

Understanding where she was coming from, he sighed. He kneeled down on one knee and positioned his hands behind his back.

"Come on, get on, we're wasting time," he said.

"You mean we're not stopping?" asked Kagome.

"I already told you we can't afford it!" he argued.

"Inuyasha, sit!" yelled Kagome.

With driving force, Inuyasha, face first, hit the ground with a thud.

"Uh…I'd be happy to carry you, Lady Kagome," said Yukanshu carefully as he did not want Kagome's anger directed at him as well.

"Fine then! Have it your way!" yelled Inuyasha as he dusted himself off.

"You are so insensitive!" she yelled back.

"Me! What about you!" he screamed back, "You just plowed my face into the ground!"

"Okay, okay, settle down you two," smiled Yukanshu, "Lord Inuyasha, we must be off, remember?"

Swiftly turning around, Inuyasha folded his arms and walked off into the distance.

"Well, shall we be off?" sighed Yukanshu, unsure of what had just happened as he bent down to allow Kagome to ride atop his back.

"Thanks Yukanshu," smiled Kagome as she hopped on.

"It is no trouble; now let us hurry before he is out of our sight."

Kagome nodded, still a little angry at Inuyasha's insensitivity, but she really couldn't blame him. So many things had happened within the past couple of days, she just didn't have the heart to stay mad at him.

………………………………………………

'How could she yell at me like that?' Inuyasha thought to himself.

He looked down at the ground as he walked alone.

'I wonder if she's still mad at me?' he wondered. He turned his head to the side and took a quick peak behind him. There she was, talking to Yukanshu and riding on his back like nothing had happened.

'What the hell am I, yesterday's news!' he thought angrily, 'She's making it seem like-'

Just then, a familiar feeling swept over him. It wasn't a jewel shard or one of their friends, it was something else. Inuyasha sniffed the air, stopping in his tracks as he did so. His senses were tingling as he kept his ears alert for anything out of the ordinary.

'What is this?' he asked himself.

Then, suddenly—

"There it is!" he announced aloud, taking off into the woods.

…………………………………………..

"What's he doing?" asked Yukanshu.

"I don't know, but we'd better follow him," answered Kagome.

With a quick nod, Yukanshu sped off in the direction that Inuyasha had disappeared.

'What's going on?' thought Kagome.

…………………………………………….

Closer and closer, he was gaining on this scent. He had finally realized what it was. It was the same feeling that had overcome him during the battle with Naraku. They were nearby, he could feel it, and then he would figure out what this was all about. He turned his head to see Kagome and Yukanshu in the distance, trailing him. Finally, when his senses were about to explode, he stopped as quickly as he had taken off. Looking at his surroundings, he realized it.

'This is the place…' he thought.

…………………………………………….

"Inuyasha!" yelled Kagome as they were starting to gain on him.

"What's going on?" asked Yukanshu as they came to a stop and Kagome hopped off.

"This place…" Kagome heard Inuyasha mutter.

Kagome looked around and noticed a small cave ahead of them.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"This village…" he whispered.

"What village?"

…………………………………………….

'Why couldn't they see it?' Inuyasha asked himself.

It was as clear as day. The people screaming, the houses on fire…the screams and shouts of the villagers in fear…in fear of a silver-haired half-demon donned in red robes…

…………………………………………….

"Inuyasha, what's the matter?" Kagome asked worriedly, "Snap out of it!"

But he wouldn't budge. He just stood there, mortified at what he was witnessing. Kagome watched as Inuyasha swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. Wondering what it was that he was seeing, she turned to Yukanshu.

"What's the matter with him?" she asked him, panicked.

"I-I don't know," he replied, walking up next to him, "What are you seeing, my friend?"

"Fifty years ago…"

Kagome's head shot up. Fifty years ago? That was about the time he attacked Kikyo's village and was bound to the sacred tree. Could it be that he was witnessing his attack on the village? She looked back to where his eyes were fixated. But how?

…………………………………………….

'It's the village from fifty years ago,' thought Inuyasha, "Kikyo's village."

Just then, he saw a little girl with an eye patch running out of one of the huts, yelling and screaming in fear.

"Sister Kikyo, where are you?" asked the girl.

"Kaede?" asked Inuyasha, but the girl didn't seem to hear him.

'What's going on?' he asked as he attempted to take a step forward, but found that something was holding him back, 'What is this?'

He looked around to see the source of the mysterious force, but what he found, instead, left him speechless. Standing there, a strange glow emanating from her was a beautiful priestess. She stood still, blood dripping from her shoulder, bow and arrow at the ready.

"Kikyo…"

………………………………………………

"Kikyo?" Kagome repeated, looking into his eyes. Although, it seemed as if he was staring straight through her, Kagome continued to keep a solid grip onto his arm, making sure he didn't take off again.

"Kikyo?" asked Yukanshu.

Kagome shook her head, motioning that she'd explain it to him later.

…………………………………………….

Inuyasha reached out his hand, but felt it impossible to reach her.

"Kikyo…" he whispered again.

"Inuyasha…do you love her more than you love me?" shouted Kikyo as she readied her bow and arrow and aimed it at him.

"What? Who do you mean?" asked Inuyasha, but as soon as he had asked, he realized his answer, "Kagome?" Just then, something hit him, what had happened to Kagome?

He quickly scanned the area for any signs of her and Yukanshu.

"Kagome! Kagome! Where are you!" he shouted, continuing to search his surroundings.

Kikyo, who was witnessing the whole ordeal, just smirked at his misfortune.

"What have you done!" yelled Inuyasha, noticing the look of satisfaction on Kikyo's face.

Kikyo shook her head as she spoke, "Oh, Inuyasha, have you forgotten about me completely?" smirked Kikyo, as her expression began to change into that of pure rage, "So be it…you can visit her in hell!" she yelled, releasing the arrow.

Not having enough time to dodge it, the arrow struck Inuyasha in the same area that she had hit him fifty years ago. He could feel himself being thrown back, the village and Kikyo disappearing before his eyes. Everything was starting to get dark and his head felt like it was filled with bricks.

'Kikyo…how could you?' he thought as darkness began to overtake him. He could feel his heart burning within him as he slipped into a state of unconsciousness.

…………………………………………….

"Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" Kagome called, supporting him as he slumped to his knees. Yukanshu ran over and relieved her of the strain and carried him into the nearby cave.

"Kikyo, Kikyo, how could you?" he kept muttering, his whole body trembling.

"What exactly did you see?" Kagome asked, somewhat to herself.

She placed a hand on his face and found that he was burning up. Kagome pulled a towel from out of her bag and asked Yukanshu to wet it for her while she tended to Inuyasha. He nodded and left without another word. It was then that Kagome noticed that the Tetsusaiga was trembling. She held the handle in an attempt to settle it down, but as soon as she had touched it, she felt a tingling sensation sweep throughout her body. Looking around, she noticed that she was no longer in the cave and Inuyasha was nowhere in sight. The only presence that could be seen was a woman standing before her. She was wearing glowing, white robes and had long, flowing, black hair. To Kagome, she looked like an angel, she was absolutely beautiful.

Kagome took a step towards her as the woman gave her a warm, comforting smile.

"Please…protect my son…" whispered the woman, her voice echoing in Kagome's ears.

'Her son?' thought Kagome.

Who was her son and why was she seeking Kagome's help? Just then, it hit her. Inuyasha had told her that he had felt his mother and father's presence. Could it be that this woman was Inuyasha's mother?

"Are you…Inuyasha's mother?" asked Kagome, finding the strength to speak again.

The woman just smiled at Kagome as her image began to fade. A blinding light engulfed the area, as Kagome shielded her eyes. She blinked several times and found herself back in the cave next to Inuyasha. Suddenly, a pulsating pain surged throughout her whole body as she let go of the Tetsusaiga. As soon as she had let go, the pain subsided. She attempted to touch it again, but was repelled back by the sword's barrier.

Kagome drew her arm back, trying to comprehend what had just happened. The Tetsusaiga, protector of humans, just repelled her. Not knowing what else to do, she just sat there, staring blankly at the sword.

'What's going on around here?'

A/N: And chapter 3 is complete! Hope you all enjoyed it and please review! Thanks guys!