A/N: Here tis, another chapter. Thank you to all who have reviewed:

ThebigW: Mmyes, you will just have to wait and see . . . MUAHAHAHA-! (cough)

Sesshomaru-luver: Thank you once again for your review. HERE'S A COOKIE!!!

Sauron's Minion: Haha . . . ha . . . now you have to wait until you get back from Hawaii! . . . And uh . . . I'll see you there . . . literally.

Disclaimer: Don't . . . own . . . Inuyasha . . .


Chapter Five: Revelations

"What do you think happened to him?"

"I don't know . . . But he doesn't have any wounds."

"Do you think it has to do with Naraku?"

"It might."

Inuyasha leaned against the door of a hut that the people of a nearby village had graciously given them for the night. Kohaku was lying on a small futon, sleeping. Sango was close to him, watching his every move. Miroku was sitting in the corner near Sango, and Shippo was sleeping with Kirara in another. Kagome was stirring something in a pot over a fire in the middle of the room.

They had found Kohaku in the woods, looking like he was about to collapse. Sango was walking over to him when he fainted. They picked him up, not seeing him as any threat, and made for the nearest village.

All the events of today ran through the hanyou's mind. The encounter with Kikyo . . . the brief fight over Kagome with Kouga, which he still scowled upon . . . and the finding of Kohaku. But considering all that had happened . . . He couldn't get Kikyo's words out of his thoughts.

I can do this on my own.

She can't . . . he thought miserably. She needs help . . . And she needs to know that.

"Inuyasha . . . ?"

He blinked and looked down at Kagome, giving him a funny look.

"What?"

"Well, it's just . . . You've been acting strange all day."

"Feh."

Kagome frowned and stood up, walking out of the hut. Inuyasha watched her leave through slightly surprised eyes.

"Inuyasha." Miroku had observed what had just happened. "I think you should be kinder to Lady Kagome . . . Considering what we've been through lately and the fact that everyone is tired from today's ordeals."

Inuyasha growled and banged his fist on the wooden doorframe before exiting the hut as well.

The cool air met his face as he looked up to see stars already overhead in the dark blue sky. Putting his hands in his haori, he walked along the trail that held Kagome's scent.

'Stupid wench . . . trying to always meddle in my affairs . . . Doesn't she know that I want some time to think without her pestering me?' he thought grouchily. But then again . . . she was just worried about him . . .

"Bah," he said out loud before stopping. To his right was a small pond. He cautiously walked past some bushes before coming to the water's edge. Kagome was there, sitting at the shore and looking out across the water. She looked up when he appeared.

They stayed like that, looking at each other, for several moments. Then Inuyasha looked down towards the water and mumbled something.

"What? I couldn't hear you . . ." Kagome said quietly.

"I said . . . I'm sorry." Inuyasha frowned. He hated having to apologize.

Kagome looked at him for a moment longer and then got up and walked over to him.

"I'm sorry too . . . I shouldn't bother you like that."

Inuyasha blinked in surprise.

"Th-there's no reason for you to apologize . . ."

"But I want to!"

Inuyasha shook his head in confusion. Sometimes he didn't understand what came out of that girl's mouth . . .

Kagome looked into his golden eyes. "But . . . you can tell me anything . . . you know that . . . right?"

Inuyasha was silent. Tell her about what he felt? How was that possible?

Kagome sighed and started walking away, but Inuyasha grabbed her wrist.

"Huh?" she said, startled, as Inuyasha held her wrist in one hand.

". . . I met Kikyo today. I caught her scent, and I went to see what she was up to . . . She told me . . . that she could take care of Naraku herself. But she can't . . . I tried telling her that, but she wouldn't listen. We need to make her an ally, not an enemy any longer."

Kagome digested this information and nodded slowly.

"Inuyasha . . . thank you."

He looked into her eyes for a moment before he heard Miroku's voice coming from the direction of the hut;

"Inuyasha! Kagome! Kohaku has awoken!"

Inuyasha noticed that his hand was still grasping Kagome's wrist and let go, blushing slightly. Kagome looked at him for a brief moment before running back towards the hut. Inuyasha saved them time by picking her up, putting her on his back, and running to the hut on fast feet.


Kohaku blinked several times to see clearly. His vision was somewhat blurry . . . where was he?

"Kohaku . . ."

He turned his head and noticed that there was someone next to him. Who?

"N-Nee-chan . . ."

"You-You remember me? What else do you remember, Kohaku?"

"I . . ." He could now see Sango, kneeling by him and looking at him worriedly. "I remember everything . . ." He felt his eyes water. "I can remember that night that I . . . I killed chichi-ue!" (father)

"Oh Kohaku!" Sango embraced her younger brother, now crying freely. Her little brother was back. No more was he a slave of Naraku.


Miroku stood outside and watched the two reunited siblings. Inuyasha and Kagome came up to him.

"What's going on?" Kagome asked him.

"It seems as if Kohaku's memory has come back to him. He now has his free will again," Miroku informed them. Kagome sighed, relieved. "Let's give them some time alone."


Naraku sat in a shadowed corner. He had seen through Kanna's mirror Kohaku running through the night. His memory had fully come back to him.

"Aren't you going after him?" Kagura asked half-heartedly. Even though she pretended not to care, she was anxious about Kohaku's life.

"No," Naraku replied, smiling slightly. "I have other things in mind for the boy."

Kagura looked on, frowning, and turned to leave.

"Kagura."

She stopped.

"It would be best if you stick to the side that will inevitably win. Any other choices now would send you to even deeper trouble."

Kagura stood for a moment longer, her back facing Naraku, until she walked away, tapping her fan against the palm of her hand. There was no doubt about it now; Naraku knew that she had been visiting Sesshomaru, asking for help in defeating Naraku, and getting her freedom. If she returned . . . her life would be in danger.

Freedom is more important . . . Better than being enslaved by Naraku, isn't it?! she thought fiercely. No matter what, she would not stop helping to destroy Naraku.