Shadow Sango became completely see-through. She was in her true Shadow state now, which was likely to reveal many new, and annoying, powers. Kurama didn't want to think of them. However, with Kagome in her state, she was helpless. Unable to really defend herself. So he had to.

His emerald green orbs followed Shadow Sango's liquid movements. As a shadow, he had little idea of her capabilities. Too bad Hiei wasn't here. He was very knowledgeable about these things. But, he was not here, so Kurama would deal with this on his own.

Shadow Sango smirked, and backed away to the house. Why would she do that? Easy. The shadow's. The shade. She vanished. Melted perfectly into the darkness. Now, she could move unseen in all the darkness and shadow's in order to attack Kurama and finish off Kagome.

But what else could she do?

Kagome watched Shadow Sango vanish. Her power melted in with the shadow's around the Shrine, so she could not be sensed. That was not good. She could be anywhere.

But this also meant something else. It meant that she was hiding. For, Shadow's without a physical form can do no harm. At least, she did not think so.

" Kikyo," she whispered, " Come to my aide!"

Instantly, Kikyo appeared before her.

" Yes?"

" About Shadow Sango…"

" She can do harm, but very little now," Kikyo answered, as though reading Kagome's mind.

" Like what?"

" Well, she can control darkness and shadow's. She can use simple dark illusions to trap her enemies, and then suffocate them. But that is all she can do, other then hide in the shadow's. There are more powerful Shadow Youkai then her, so worry not."

" Will Kurama be okay?" Kagome was worried. He was so good to her, and now she couldn't help him. Hell, she couldn't really even help herself, she was so weak and helpless from loss of blood.

" He should be. But the only way to defeat her is to attack her with either light, or a purifying arrow. There is no other way."

Kagome silently cursed. She did not have her bow with her, and therefore could not shoot an arrow at the stupid shadow. How could she do this? She had to help Kurama. She just had to, no matter what!

Sango's eyes fluttered open. She groaned in pain and began to breath ragged breaths. Weakly, she tried to sit, up but only succeeded in falling back down on her back. Her soul was too weak at the moment, and would need some time to recover.

Without any words, Miroku and Hiei lifted her up, and placed her on her bed. Miroku went in search of a warm blanket. Hiei sat beside her bed, saying nothing. Kilala curled up beside Sango.

She was too weak to say anything. She could do nothing but rest. How boring. She hated being like this. She liked being busy, hanging out with her friends. Slapping Miroku because he was such a pervert was one of her favourite hobbies.

But she needed rest, and she knew it. And she also knew that neither Miroku nor Hiei would let her move until she was fully recovered.

Hiei watched her closely. He was glad she was safe and alive. She had almost died because that Monk had taken so long with his spells and because of that Shadow Youkai. But, she was OK, and that was the main thing.

He didn't know what to make of these emotions either. They were new to him, for he had always been so emotionless. He saw them as flaws, a weakness an enemy could use to their advantage and destroy you. Hiei had done that in many of his battles.

But Sango was different. She was a Demon Slayer, but that wasn't the point. She trusted her emotions. She let them flow through her and they swirled around her. She was not afraid to cry, to laugh, to say just what she felt. She was not afraid to let her fear show.

What she did, that was so different to him, was use her emotions to her own advantage. She used them to make her strong, to push herself to her limits to finish what she had set out to do. She saw them as strengths, not flaws and certainly not a weakness.

They were so different, yet so alike.

Kurama was alert. He vaguely realised that Kagome had summoned Kikyo to her, but he paid no attention to that. In order to protect her, must be waiting for the enemy at all times. The atmosphere around the Sunset Shrine began to get darker, till he could not see.

" Having trouble now?" Shadow Sango's voice hissed from all around him.

Kurama growled in reply.

Shadow Sango laughed an evil laugh. He was trapped, and he knew it.

Kikyo glowed in the darkness. She was really the only visible thing in the whole place. Wherever she floated, she would light up the space around her. Since Kagome was near the edge of the shadowy dome, a little bit of sunlight peeked through.

' That's it!' Kagome thought suddenly. She knew how to defeat Shadow Sango, and save Kurama.

" Kikyo!" Kagome said, " Can you find Shadow Sango and illuminate her for me? I'll take it from there."

Kikyo looked slightly puzzled, but she agreed. As a spirit, she could easily find the shadow enemy, and not get hurt. She floated behind Kurama, and Kagome faintly saw and outline of Shadow Sango.

Shadow Sango realised that Kikyo was there, illuminating her, so she darted away before Kurama noticed. But Kikyo followed her. And so did Kagome. She raised her Jewel, and held it in the sunlight. The light bounced off of the jewel, so all she had to do was shine it on Shadow Sango.

But that was easier said then done.

Miroku soon returned with a thick blanket to cover Sango.

" I'll finish doing all your work," he told Sango, who could only nod her thanks. " Don't worry," he winked, " I won't do anything to girls while I do this." With that said, the perverted monk left the room, again leaving the awkward silence between Sango and Hiei.

Pop!

With a snap of his head, Hiei turned to his side to see Botan standing there.

" How's it going?" she asked cheerfully.

Hiei glared at her.

" Not too well? Aww poor Sango!"

Sango looked puzzled. Did she know this girl?

" I'm Botan," Botan told Sango when she noticed the girls look of confusion. " I know all about you! Yukina told me that Hiei is always sparring with you."

That wasn't quite true. He wasn't always sparring with her. More or less, she thought he was stalking her, he was near her so much. But, she couldn't say she didn't mind it. She liked him.

" Why are you here?" Hiei asked coldly.

" No reason?" she replied with a blush.

He raised an eyebrow. " Right. Your lying."

" I am not!" she replied hastily, eyeing the open door out of the corner of her eye.

Hiei noticed, then laughed. " You like the Monk!" he mocked her.

" That's why you're here!"

She flushed a shade of red. " I have to go…" she said hastily. With another pop, she vanished.

Miroku's head popped in then. " Did I just hear the voice of a beautiful maiden? Other then my lovely Sango-chan of course," he added hastily.

Sango grinned, knowing full well he knew Botan. She knew Miroku very well. She had known him for four years now, she should know him well enough. It seemed Hiei had guessed the same thing as he was smirking.

For almost a half hour, Kurama blindly tried to attack Shadow Sango, realising Kikyo's purpose. But his attacks rarely hit, and they went right though. It was useless. Physical attacks would do nothing against her.

Kagome flashed her jewel relentlessly at Shadow Sango. The enemy was weakening, she knew, since the dome was fading. The jewel was small, and so it could not really direct a lot of light at her. But its small attacks hurt Shadow Sango. Just a little more, and she'd die.

Botan sighed as she brought her knees up to her. She was beneath a tree in the Rekai, skipping her duties for a little while. Koenma would not like that, and lecture her later, she knew. But she needed time to herself.

She could not help it. She liked Miroku. A lot. She had first met him a long time ago when the guys had first started to visit the Sengoku. She was looking for them there, but they were not there. Miroku was and told her so. Of course, he groped her and asked her to bear his child, but that was not the point. She soon became his friend. She kept track of when the guys were and were not there. Secretly, she'd ditch work, and spend time with the Monk.

She liked him. There was no other way to say it. Well, there was, she just didn't want to.

Just one more hit. Just one more! Kagome knew this since the dome was so thin now. Her power was almost fully drained. Soon, they would be free. But, with more light, it became easier to trap the demon. There were few places left to hide, making Kikyo's job easier, as well as Kagome's. Kurama was near her now, ready to defend her. But her energy was running out.

Kagome raised the Jewel again. This had to be it. She had to hit Shadow Sango now, for she would surely faint with no energy left. She aimed. And she let the light fly to Kikyo. And it hit. The scream issued from the youkai's lips was deafening, but she was defeated. Sango was saved, and the Shadow Dome vanished. And Kagome fainted.

The end! How was it? Sorry for another cliff-hanger, but she'll be fine. I have more idea's for the next three shadow's, so you'll have to wait and see.

Disclaimer: If I owned anything, would I be writing this?

Reviewer Responses

Kill-all-flamer210: Hiya Loan-chan. Yeah! Would you add me to your C2 community? I added you to mine. Did you accept the confirmation email thing yet? They apparently send those out now if you want to be a staff member. Thanks, so please add me - See you later on the forum or something!

Why?What?Shutup: Yup. Put a little fluff in here about them. And I remembered Botan/Miroku! ::feels proud since she has forgotten about them till now::

korokochan16: Thanks.

ShinjuJaganashi: That's not surprising. Lots of people are very possessive of him - Yeah, maybe I will make them friends. Good idea. I'm glad you like it though.

Emma: I know. Its got so many chapters, it takes a while, but I'm glad you like it . No. Botan and Miroku will be in it, just not a lot. And Kuwabara? I don't like him ::sweat drop:: so he might end up uninvolved until it comes to the Shadow Kuwabara. Sorry!

sunstar kitsune: You mean 'By Any Other Name'? Yeah, they are pretty OOC I think, and it is confusing, but a good story nonetheless.

Baka KitsuneBri: Yeah I know! Glad ya like it, so here's my update.

Ryu: Sneaky Lil' Fox: Thanks. LOL yeah I know. I say that all the time Yeah. I don't care for those much. I prefer Kurama and Kagome (obviously) LOL okays. See ya later.

badgurl136: I hurried with this as much as I could, but I didn't want to rush it. So here is my update. Hope ya like.

KitsuneMIKO: Aww Arigatou! Makes me feel so loved LOL. I'm so glad you like it.

Thanks to all you guys who are reading and reviewing! Its so nice to hear from you all, so I hope you continue to enjoy this story! Cookies to everyone!

Sakura-chan79