Hi people! This is my first fic. Hope you like!

Disclaimer: No, I don't own any of the Inu characters... sob actually, it's probably a good thing that I don't... I always lose everything I own...but still, it'd be fun, don't you think?

Oh, by the way, check out my sister's fanfic, too. Her username is socialkween (can't you tell we're related? meangenius and socialkween... they sure go together... NOT)

Ok, I'm going to stop blabbing now and start the story... so here it is!

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Inuyasha snarled angrily. The demon facing him down mirrored his growl, its eyes flashing. But before it could make a move, the hanyou darted forward and sliced it down the middle with Tetsusaiga. The beast let out one last long scream before it crumbled, leaving behind a shimmering Shikon shard in its wake.

Kagome knelt and picked it up, her miko powers purifying it instantly. As she let it merge with the rest of the jewel, a sigh escaped her lips. "There. Except for the shards Naraku and Kouga have, there should only be one left."

"The only question now is who can get to it first," Sango agreed.

"Do you know where it is, Kagome?" Shippo asked. "Can you sense it from here?"

"No," she answered, her voice troubled. "I've tried from everywhere we've been over the past few months, but I can't sense the shard anywhere."

"Well, come on, we've got to find it before Naraku does!" Inuyasha said impatiently. He quickly swept Kagome onto his back and was gone, leaving Sango and Miroku to grab Shippo and follow on Kirara.

Finally, late in the night, they stopped to rest for a while. Just as they had all settled down, Inuyasha felt a tiny prick on his cheek. Instinctively, he slapped himself and was surprised to see Myoga the flea in his palm, groaning as his eyes focused on the dog-demon above him.

"My Lord Inuyasha!" Myoga explained, jumping to his feet. "How wonderful to taste you again!"

"What do you want, flea?" Inuyasha grumbled.

"My Lord, I have heard that nearly all the Shikon shards have been accounted for. Tell me, how many are left? Aside from those that Naraku and Kouga have, of course."

"Only one, Myoga," Kagome answered. "We haven't been able to find it anywhere."

"Only one, eh? You're doing better than I'd thought. Hmm, I believe I know who holds the last one... yes, yes..."

"Well, spit it out!" Inuyasha snapped impatiently, his fingers threatening to squish the flea again. "Don't just sit there! Come on!"

"Be patient, Lord Inuyasha! Respect your elders! Now, where was I... ah, yes. I believe the last shard is kept in the possession of a certain Lady Raori."

"Who? I've never heard of anybody named Raori."

"Lady Raori is a powerful demon. She is a taiyoukai, and she rules over a land that is far, far to the south of here. However, rumor has it that she has ventured up north recently, and rumor also suggests that she has heard tell of the legendary Shikon shards and obtained one for herself. Unfortunately, from all I have heard of her, it will not be easy to get the shard back from her."

They thought over all this for a minute. Finally Inuyasha spoke up again. "Well, I say we go after her. What do you guys think?"

"I believe Inuyasha is right," Miroku nodded. "If we're lucky, we might be able to get her to give up the shard without a fight. You never know. I say we go for it."

"I agree," Sango said. "And we should do it soon. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that Naraku will pick it up – or even another demon that has the same interest in power. We should try to find this Lady Raori as quickly as we can and get the shard back."

Kagome sighed. "I guess you're right," she assented. "I'd hate to let Naraku get his hand on any more shards. Let's do it!" Shippo nodded along with her, excited to be going on another adventure.

"Okay!" Inuyasha said triumphantly as he turned back to Myoga. "Where is this Raori, then?"

"Er, hehe, that's the thing..." the flea stuttered nervously.

"You don't know," Kagome finished with a sigh.

"I don't. I've also never met her, so I wouldn't know her if I saw her."

"Oh, you're a lot of help," Inuyasha grumbled, flicking the flea away.

"Is there anyone who might know?" Kagome asked, catching Myoga as he quickly jumped away from theangry hanyou. "We could ask somebody, maybe..."

"I'm not sure," the flea said thoughtfully, considering her question. "I believe your father and Raori met once or twice, Lord Inuyasha, when Lord Inutaisho would hold meetings between taiyoukai. I believe that your father kept a record of each youkai that attended, in case he had need of contacting them at a later time. It is possible he kept a record of this Lady Raori."

"Even if he did, there's no way we could find it," Inuyasha grumbled.

"Actually," the flea said cautiously, "if you really were eager to find the shard, you could always... er... well, your brother does live in your father's castle..."

"No!" Inuyasha shouted instantly, rounding on the flea. "We are not going to ask Sesshomaru for help!"

"But, Lord Inuyasha—"

"What makes you think he'd ever help us?" Inuyasha pointed out, still furious that the idea had come up at all. "Besides, even if he did help, he'd probably just take the shard for himself!"

"Sesshomaru has already said he has no interest in the jewel," Kagome pointed out. "I don't think we'd have to worry about him stealing any shards."

"And he hates Naraku, too," Shippo chipped in. "If finding the last shard would hurt Naraku, why wouldn't he help to find it?"

"Because it would be me he'd be helping," Inuyasha seethed.

"Can't we at least give it a try?" Sango asked in exasperation.

"I am not going to Sesshomaru for help!" Inuyasha said angrily.

"Suit yourself," Myoga said hesitantly, "but if you don't, Naraku will probably get the shard first."

Inuyasha gritted his teeth. He hated Sesshomaru, but he had to admit the truth... he hated Naraku more.

"Hey," Miroku said brightly. "Perhaps, if Sesshomaru helps us to find this Lady Raori, we can win her onto our side and persuade her to help us defeat Naraku. You say she is powerful, Myoga. Just how powerful do you think she really is?"

"With her help and Lord Sesshomaru's," the flea said confidently, "I am sure you could defeat the baboon hanyou with no difficulty at all. So, Lord Inuyasha? Are you willing to go to Lord Sesshomaru for help?"

"Fine," the hanyou grumbled. "But don't expert me to beg, or anything. And don't call him that. That little—"

"Well, then," Kagome interrupted, tired of his ranting, "let's get some sleep. We'll leave in the morning. Myoga, I guess you're going to leave?"

"Certainly not," the flea said, shaking his head. "I am interested now."

"No, he'll only leave when he thinks we're gonna get killed," Inuyasha muttered sourly. "Selfish coward..."

Myoga huffed. "I will stay with you," he said to Kagome.

"Thanks," she said, glaring at Inuyasha.

The dog-demon huffed. "Fine, stick around then, flea. I couldn't care less what you do." With that, he leapt into a nearby tree, grumbling quietly as he pondered what he had gotten himself into.

Well? Was it ok? You want me to keep going? I've got some chapters already written, so I'll try to post as fast as I can. But I'll go faster if you review... hint, hint...

Anyway, remember to check out socialkween's story. She has dance during weekdays, so she doesn't post as much then, but on her first weekend she posted 8 chapters, so she's doing pretty well. Just one warning: she loves to write cliffhangers.

So, anyway, read and review! See ya!