orangepencils: Cuteness is my middle name…hm… Kelly Cuteness… I'll take it. (hugs)

fluffyrachel: Wha? Not cheesy? Oh no, I must be slipping up. Haha, glad you like it. I was really worried that it would seem to out of character. Glad I was wrong. (hugs)

kenshinluvr: I'm so happy you think so. Good thing I normally update quickly. (hugs)

Mikkasura: Well, I want him to be romantic, so he has to be whether he likes it or not. I would appreciate your input on my TT fics. Hopefully my writer's block will end on the most current one. (hugs)

cherimai: Thank you so much. I shan't let you down. (hugs)

Jenn-silent breed: I'm certainly not one to complain about being called 'awesome', so I'll take it. Haha! Don't worry, you're probably not as scary as me. And yeah… FLUFF REIGNS SUPREME! (hugs)

kawaiigirl-77: wow, fav author? I'm honored. And I have to update fast so I can keep you all happy. Let's just hope it stays that way despite next week's finals. (hugs)

InuyashaKougaLover: I'm still debating whether or not I want to make them have a child in this particular story. The moral is supposed to be just about finding out that love will heal people. Once that's established, there's no goal to be reached. But I don't know… possibly. I may put it in another story so I can make it a significant part of the moral, but who knows? (hugs)

SlummyRedDragon: Glad you liked it. (hugs)

Fewer reviews than last time, but I'm still happy with receiving more reviews at a time than any of my other stories! Be sure you respond to this chappie! Okay, time for a twist…

Chapter 7: The Wind Blew South

A few more days passed under the old Japan sun. Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and Kirara sat huddled on a blanket eating breakfast. Kagome was still fast asleep, thanks to Inuyasha keeping her up so late. The team was eating the Pop-Tarts that Kagome had brought from her last trip to the future a month earlier. She had packed so much, they would be set for months. Shippou instantly took a liking to this tasty treat called a Pop-Tart, and was practically stuffing his face with it. "Hey, come on, Inuyasha. I'll bet you'll like this even more than that Ramen stuff," the kitsune called.

"Forget it, runt. I don't want anything unless it's those noodles," Inuyasha called back.

Sango narrowed her eyes, "Stubborn ass. He's been like this for the past two days."

Miroku nodded as he took another bite, "Yeah. I wonder what his deal is. Even for Inuyasha, this is far too isolated."

Inuyasha sat cross legged with the Tetsusaiga against him on the opposite side of the hill. The wind blew to him every once in a while and he was able to pick up any scent within many miles, but the wind had no steady flow on that day. There were times when it would only blow in one direction for five minutes at a time, and then suddenly change and go another way. Never had he doubted his sense of smell before, but it made him uneasy to not be able to notice every single smell around him simultaneously. Tetsusaiga was uneasy also. It was shaking against him, as if it were reckless to be in action. But against what? Inuyasha was worried that something was coming, something that his nose wouldn't be able to track with these ever-changing winds. Today he kept always within close distance of the hut, and he would check on Kagome practically every ten minutes just to make sure nothing had happened. Overall, he felt helpless to protect the one he loved. No matter how much she told him that she would be okay, he feared for her.

The others looked on curiously. He had been behaving the same way, during what must have been a month ago practically to the day.

The more Inuyasha thought such things, the more fearful he became. The wind now pointed north, and he found no sign of evil coming towards them. Naraku's lair was north of where they were, so he could expect to smell him coming if the wind was blowing south. The absence of a southern-bound wind only heightened his worries. He once again rose to go check on Kagome. As quietly as he could, he entered her room to see that she was still sleeping peacefully on the futon. The hanyou smiled innocently, thankful that she was not having more fearful dreams. He went to her side and gently ran a hand through her hair, still trying to assure himself that everything was alright. As he did, he could see a small smile form on her face, which made him smile even wider. She was the world to him now. It was true that he was overprotective, but not without good cause anymore.

He sniffed the air in the room for any sign of danger, but found none. Confirming once again that there was indeed no danger, he came back outside and resumed his spot on the grass facing north. Tetsusaiga was still clutched close to his heart, and he refused to let it go until this feeling passed away. The wind started blowing south again.

Back in the hut, the candle in Kagome's room suddenly went out, and a small grunt escaped the girl's lips. As painful memories suddenly resurfaced in her mind, her eyes were squeezed tightly shut and she wraps her arms around herself for comfort. There was a window on the southern end of the room, where the blinds were shut, but light still seeped in through the cracks. The light reflected off of Kagome's face and body, and it looked as though she was sleeping in a prison cell. A shadow passed in front of the light and hung over Kagome's form. The floor slightly creaked and Kagome began to breathe heavily in her sleep.

The figure stepped up next to her sleeping form, and the girl didn't even realize that Naraku was at her feet. Naraku sniffed the air, and caught Kagome's change in scent, 'Puh! Just as I thought, I hadn't succeeded in impregnating her. Her heat must have worn off too soon. Well, now that it's back again, I'm sure I could make some special arrangements. After all, she is Inuyasha's special love. Heh, he was right to keep her away last month. To bad he slipped up this time. Oh, to see the look on his face when he found out that I was the one. If his rage continues to grow, my plan will work perfectly.'

Kagome stirred, "Mmm, Inuyasha?"

She opened her eyes before Naraku could steal her away again, and she would have had the chance to scream, if he hadn't sealed her mouth closed with his hands. Her cries became muffled beneath his hands. Terrible fear filled her eyes once more as the memories of the event two months prior resurfaced. She couldn't possible live through this again. She squirmed to get out from under him as he pinned her down with his body, and she struggled to release her mouth from his hands so she could at least scream for help. Nothing was working! She whimpered against his hands, dreading that the worse was to come once again. Inuyasha, where was he? She needed him now! Naraku delighted in her fearful eyes, "You're in heat. Jujuju! Miss me, sweetheart! Don't worry, I guarantee this time will be one you'll never forget. Perhaps I'll even leave you with a little going away present. Jujuju!"

Instead of more fear, Kagome's eyes were showered with a look of determination and pure anger. Summoning up all the strength she could, she bit Naraku's hand hard, to the point where it drew blood. This caught him by surprise, and he accidentally loosened his hold on her mouth.

Back outside, the team sat down alongside Inuyasha, looking north along with him. Their eyes scanned the horizon as they desperately tried to seek out what Inuyasha was fearful of. Miroku asked, "So, you haven't smelt a thing, then?"

Inuyasha shook his head. Sango asked, "Then why are you so nervous?"

"Something just doesn't feel right. Maybe it's instinct, but I just feel like Naraku is near, and that Kagome is in more danger than before. I think I'm going to send Kagome back to her time for awhile, at least until this feeling goes away."

"That could be a very long time, Inuyasha. I don't think this fear of yours will ever go away," Sango stated.

Kirara meowed in agreement. Inuyasha clutched the Tetsusaiga tighter. "What is it, Inuyasha?"

"It's gotten worse. I feel like my chest is going to explode! Argh, this is too much for me to take!" He slammed his fist into the ground.

The wind began blowing north again, and he picked up something in an instant. His heart dropped into his stomach as he recognized it.

"INUYASHA!" Kagome's fearful voice rang out from the hut and echoed back on the mountains, so terrifying it could have shattered them to pieces.

The light from Inuyasha's eyes faded completely and he sprang from his spot in an instant. Mid-leap, he unsheathed Tetsusaiga and raised it up high. In mere moments, he collided with the rooftop of the hut, breaking straight through it. "Kagome!"

The hanyou landed on the floor across the room and glared at his enemy who now held Kagome in front of him as a shield. Inuyasha growled and rage consumed his every part once more. Seeing his hands on her skin made intense heat rise to his face instantly. But he stayed put. He couldn't attack when Kagome was in the way. "You bastard! You unfeeling lowlife! Let her go now or I'LL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!"

The others came into the room too, and prepared themselves for battle, and revenge. As Naraku saw them come in, he lifted a blade to the girl's neck to prevent them from coming any closer. Kirara made ready to leap instantly, but Sango held her back quickly. The knife pressed onto Kagome's skin just enough to draw a drop of blood. In response to the smell of it, Inuyasha ground his teeth loudly in anger. Kagome stopped struggling against Naraku at the contact of the blade. Any move and she could be killed immediately. Naraku spoke, "Oh, you always insist on ruining the fun, don't you? Tsk tsk, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha growled loudly, "Bastard! If you lay so much as another finger on her, I swear you will be ripped to pieces!"

"Oh, don't get too angry, Inuyasha. We all know what happens when you get angry. Even Tetsusaiga can't control you anymore. Even now I see it is barely holding your sanity intact. Jujuju, you really want to kill me! How delightful to see your face!" Naraku egged Inuyasha on.

"What do you want with Kagome?" Inuyasha asked angrily, his fingers itching to strangle that pale neck.

"Wouldn't you like to know."

Kagome whimpered as she thought of what he might have been planning. She had a bad feeling that she knew what it was. Inuyasha pointed his sword towards Naraku and commanded him once again, "Let her go!"

Much to everyone's surprise, this time Naraku dropped the knife and released his hold on her, allowing her to run to the safety of her friends. She disappeared behind the Sango and Miroku. Miroku looked shocked, 'Did Naraku just let Kagome go? Just like that? What is he up to?'

Inuyasha noticed as well, and he looked over Naraku critically, trying to figure out what the catch was. "What the fuck are you pulling?"

Naraku didn't answer, but Inuyasha didn't need him to. "Keh! I guess you'll be dead anyway."

In an instant, Inuyasha leapt for his enemy, but he jumped out of the way and out through the hole in the roof. Inuyasha saw him trying to escape and he flew after him, "Bastard! Come back here!"

Naraku smiled as he hovered in the air, "Jujuju! What's wrong, Inuyasha? Upset that I had such a good time with your precious woman!"

Inuyasha growled hard and deep at this statement, allowing anger to lace the vibrations in his throat. He radiated of fury, and it was true what Naraku had said. Tetsusaiga was only able to keep Inuyasha from transforming. The hanyou's knuckles turned white beneath his grasp. The look in his eyes possessed an unnatural hue of amber, which engulfed everything he looked at into flames. The anger encourages Naraku to continue, "Oh yes, that must be it. Shame you couldn't do anything to protect her. She was truly pitiful. Shall I describe it for you, Inuyasha?"

"SHIN'NE!" Inuyasha screamed.

The yellow light of the Kaze no Kizu charged towards Naraku, who again was just a little too quick for the hanyou's movements, and the light faded away into nothingness. Inuyasha continued to charge, and continued to miss. The others looked on from below. Inuyasha waved his sword in all directions to cut down his enemy, and he panted for breath with every miss. As this continued, Sango noticed something as she watched, "Wait a minute! Something's not right. Naraku's not fighting back!"

"You noticed too?" Miroku came up behind her and looked on, "I can't figure out why either. Seems like all he's trying to do is get Inuyasha angry. But why? How would that serve him?"

Kagome thought to herself, 'Naraku… he talked about impregnating me. Perhaps that is what he was planning, but why would he want to do that? And even so, why would he waste his time just making Inuyasha angry instead of escaping?'

Naraku continued to dodge the hanyou's every attack, until finally the frustration was getting to him, and Inuyasha could feel his youkai blood begging to be unleashed. Tetsusaiga was growing tired in his grasp. It was practically using all it's power just to keep him a hanyou, but it began to falter. He was about ready to let the youkai blood consume him as he charged once more, but he saw Naraku smirk one last time and then disappear into thin air, leaving his coat in his wake. Inuyasha collided with his coat instead and ripped it apart with his blade. He landed safely on the ground, followed by the shreds of cloth. He pounded them into the dirt, "Damnit! What the hell are you after, Naraku?"

To be continued…

Not a tremendous amount of fluff, but a lot of dialogue and info to deal with in this chapter, so I hope you'll forgive. Please respond and I'll add more to this fun twist… Tehehe!