Sorry for taking so long…I won't delay the continuation of the story any longer with a lot of talk, so w/o any further ado, onto the story! (btw, does anybody really know what an ado is? And why do we listen to one?)

Chapter 23

"You are going to die," Inuyasha grumbled, charging towards Sesshomaru's neck.

"Oh, you mean like her?" Sesshomaru responded, nodding towards Akako's limp body, still grasped in his remaining arm, as he easily dodged Inuyasha's attack. "You could at least not let your rage blind you. You're bad enough at fighting as it is, you don't have to become worse." Sesshomaru chuckled to himself as Inuyasha hurled himself at his older brother and missed by inches, due to Sesshomaru's carefully calculated evasion.

"Let my friend go!" Sango's angry scream emanated from the brush. Holding her katana steadily, Sango bravely jumped and aimed just to Sesshomaru's left, and Inuyasha smiled at the carefully planned attack. He leaped towards Sesshomaru, aiming closer to the right than normal, hoping Sango's plan would work.

"Idiots. I can fly," Sesshomaru mumbled as he soared higher into the air, letting Inuyasha and Sango fall to the ground. Sango and Inuyasha looked at each other, then nodded.

"Kirara!" Sango yelled, just as Inuyasha brought out Tetsusaiga. He didn't care if it hadn't worked in the past, he was just hoping that now that they were out of the castle, Sesshomaru's power against their father's sword was diminished.

"Wind Scar!" he tried, hoping this time it would work. Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and stood his ground. When the dust from Inuyasha's attack settled, he was still standing there, looking bored.

"If that's really all you can do, I'm quite disappointed in…" Sesshomaru began, but his eyes suddenly widened and he whipped around, just in time to see a demon cat hurling towards him and a katana aimed perfectly towards his torso. He dodged quickly, but with the added weight of the girl, he was only able to avoid the katana hitting dead center. A cut appeared on his left shoulder, and he growled, greatly angered by the intolerable mortal's daring attack.

"That's going to cost you…" Sesshomaru growled. He raised himself up into the air and half-grinned. "Hope you're faster than you look, Inuyasha." Inuyasha looked up in a mixture of horror and hatred, just in time to see Sesshomaru drop Akako. If she was still alive, the drop would kill whatever was left.

"I've got her! Don't worry about it!" Sango yelled as Kirara plunged onwards, towards the falling redhead. Rising up to meet the body, Sango grabbed onto her friend and began taking the body away, hoping to put her near Kagome, who was being smart and hiding. Inuyasha, however, was filled with a sense of dread as Sesshomaru's smile widened, instead of diminished. The lime-green of his whip dashed across Sango's back as she screamed and fell off of Kirara, letting her and Akako fall to the ground close below. They rolled as Kirara circled back around to check on her master. Neither Akako or Sango moved, and Inuyasha felt a bitter anger fill him as he ran towards his arrogant brother.

"What's going on?" Miroku asked Kagome as he ran up to her, Shippo close behind.

"Shhh," Kagome warned. "Sesshomaru came back with Akako's body and Inuyasha is trying to kill him, with Sango's help, but Sango was just hit and…"

"SANGO!" Miroku yelled, seeing her body lying limp on the ground. Nothing else mattered at that moment as he rushed to her side, hoping she was playing dead, just playing.

He reached her side and saw the wound seeping with blood on her back. "Oh no, if only I hadn't left you, I didn't want to leave you…" Miroku started mumbling. He carefully picked up her body, and then noticed Akako's body not far off. Using all the strength he had, he lifted up both girls and ran them to Kagome.

"Please, Kagome, use whatever knowledge of medicine you have to heal them. Please, oh please, let Sango be all right…"

Kagome nodded, then realized Miroku was leaving. "Where are you going? You can help to!"

"Inuyasha needs help," Miroku mumbled. "It's time we ended this…"

A/N: So, um, yeah, that was my short little update for right now. My summer's turning out to be almost as busy as my school year, so I don't know how long it'll be til I update again. Just keep your fingers crossed, and reviews are always appreciated…:-D