A/N: Hey hey hey. I'm back. Sorry it took so long to update. I needed a break to get the juices flowing. Always good to have brainpower. Thank you for reviewing last chapter. Oh and for those of you that are wondering about Inuyasha's little mood swings...I have a good thing coming for you. No he's not on that "special" time of the month. Hehe. Although that would be much easier to write. -sigh- Damn you Inuyasha! Why must you be a guy! Anywho...I hope you like this chapter also. Please keep the reviews coming. Because I love reading them.

Disclaimer: Yeah. About that. -reads paper- Uhhh...it says here that I'm supposed to say that I don't own them. But...I shall not be controlled by a piece of paper! Muahahahaha -cough cough hack- I own them! -gets chased by cops- NO! I don't! I don't! Stay away from me! -gets in fetal position- I don't own them...

Recently:

"I will get rid of them for you." Sango said before she started slicing the insects into pieces. "There are too many!" Sango yelled out of breath. Kirara started swiping at the bugs and before to long, she too, had become overwhelmed by their numbers.

"Just forget about the bugs! We can do this ourselves." Kagome yelled as she ran over to her bag (that she was happy to have brought) to get out her bow and arrows. Kagome aimed an arrow at Naraku.

"Die Naraku." Kagome shot the arrow. "This time you won't manage to get away!)

"Damn wench." Naraku broke his clash with Inuyasha and attempted to jump out of the way.

Chapter 9: A cold fierce battle

Naraku managed to get most of his body away from Kagome's arrow. Fortunately for Kagome, it grazed his left arm. "Damn. My arm." Naraku growled. Inuyasha took this opportunity to jump back from Naraku and get into a better battle position. Kagome drew another arrow and aimed it towards Naraku.

"Now it's over Naraku." Kagome yelled as she fired the arrow at his chest. Naraku jumped out of the way just in the nick of time.

"Ha. You cannot destroy me. Your cursed arrow may have disabled my left arm. But I can repair it, thanks to the shards of the Shikon jewel." Naraku said mockingly. Naraku tried to push out a new arm, but it failed. "What? How can this be!" Naraku yelled looking up at Kagome, who smirked.

"Looks like another one of your plans failed Naraku. My arrow purified your arm. So now, not even the jewels can regenerate it." Kagome said as she drew yet another arrow. Naraku gritted his teeth and ran towards Kagome. Kagome shot the arrow at Naraku, but missed.

"Oh no you don't!" Inuyasha yelled as he came from Naraku's side slicing his body into two halves. "Keep your dirty hands away from Kagome. Before I chop the other one off." Inuyasha said as he stood in front of Kagome. Naraku drew his baboon costume over his dismantled body. An evil laughter came from inside.

"Inuyasha. How pitiful that you are protecting a mere mortal. You should join me, and together we can collect the jewel shards." Naraku said as he brung his sword to the side. Inuyasha smirked.

"What makes you think I would team up with a smelly baboon like you? I can collect the jewel shards myself. And kill you in the process." Inuyasha brought his left leg in front of his right, ready to charge towards Naraku.

"Half demons are pathetic. You had your chance to come with me by choice. Now I will force you." Naraku said as he held his fist out.

"Don't get to comfy insulting half demons. Considering that you are one. And I will never join you!" Inuyasha put the Tetsusaiga into position, ready to use the wind scar.

"Heh. Your life shall now perish Inuyasha. And the human girl can watch." Naraku slowly unballed his fist. Inuyasha fell to his knees and clutched his chest.

"What are you doing to me?" Inuyasha said weakly as he released the Tetsusaiga. Kagome ran up and kneeled beside Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha! What's wrong? Are you okay?" Kagome said as she put her hand on his shoulder. Inuyasha looked over at her.

"Kagome. Get out of here! Run as far away as possible and don't look back. I'll be fine." Inuyasha attempted to stand up, but Naraku tightened his fist making Inuyasha fall to the ground again. Naraku laughed.

"I would listen to him. Run. But I can't guarantee that you'll make it far." Naraku said as he summoned a herd of demons from the mountains. Kagome stood up and grabbed her bow and arrows. Sango jumped onto Kirara.

"Hiraikotsu!" (thanks Karen and Shel) Sango yelled as she hurled her weapon at the herd of demons, only destroying a few. Miroku held out his staff, ready to kick some demon butt, when a flash of yellow light wiped out every demon.

"Wind scar!" Inuyasha summoned up the remainder of his strength to put out the demons, and fell down to the ground unable to move. Naraku walked towards Inuyasha.

"Now I shall insert a jewel shard in you, making it impossible for you to deny serving me." Naraku said as he dug out one jewel shard from his cloak. Kagome prepared an arrow to shoot at Naraku.

"What is wrong with him? Why can't he move!" Kagome yelled at Naraku.

"Inuyasha has fallen into my trap. When I shot him with the arrow, the blue light that it gave off, were poisons. Which, of course, made Inuyasha believe that it was you who shot him. Although my plan failed to turn you against each other. He now is under my command. That is why Inuyasha gave you those wounds." Naraku said as he pointed down to Kagome's arms.

"No...this can't be good." Kagome muttered to herself as she looked at her arms.

...Flashback...

"Kagome...you are the only one who can shoot spiritual arrows. It was you who shot me with it." Inuyasha started to squeeze Kagome's arms. Digging his claws into her arms.

...end flashback...

Naraku continued. "Inuyasha was fighting to stay good. He didn't know why he harmed you, but now that my poisons are in his blood stream, he shall kill you." Naraku said as he approached Inuyasha once more. "And when I insert my remaining jewel shard into his chest, he will have no choice but to serve me." Naraku said as he placed the jewel shard into Inuyasha's chest. Kagome dropped her arrow and fell to the ground. Sango and Miroku ran over to her.

"Kagome! We have to get out of here. Or Inuyasha will kill us." Sango said as she helped Kagome off of the ground.

"No...I can't leave Inuyasha. I have to help him. He is always saving me, I think it's my turn to return the favor." Kagome said as her eyes filled with tears. 'No. Inuyasha, this can't be happening.' Kagome thought as she picked up her arrow again.

"Naraku I won't let you get away with this!" Kagome shot the arrow at Naraku, but Inuyasha jumped in front of Naraku, taking on the attack.

"I'm afraid it's too late for him, and now it's too late for you. Inuyasha, kill them." Naraku said as he disappeared into thin air. Inuyasha picked up the Tetsusaiga and ran towards Kagome.

"No! Inuyasha snap out of it! Naraku is controlling you! Don't do this..." Kagome said as she tried to run away but her legs failed her. 'I can't move. I have to help Inuyasha. But I can't move...this can't be the end.' Kagome thought but was lifted into the air by Sango. Kagome looked up.

"Thanks Sango. You're a life saver." Kagome said as Sango hoisted her up onto Kirara. Sango looked down at Inuyasha. Miroku was holding off his attack with his staff.

"A little help here!" Miroku yelled repelling Inuyasha off of him. Sango nodded.

"Hiraikotsu!" The weapon flew past Inuyasha's head, knocking Tetsusaiga out of his hand.

'What's wrong with me? I can't control my movements. Damn it. If I don't take control soon...I'll kill Kagome.' Inuyasha thought as he struggled to take control back over his body, but failed. Kagome watched on in horror. Seeing Inuyasha in a state to where he couldn't control himself was too much for her. Besides when he couldn't control the Tetsusaiga and turned evil, this wasn't natural.

"Sango, maybe if we cut the jewel shard out of his body we can save him." Kagome said, still staring at Inuyasha as he walked towards the Tetsusaiga and wielded it again.

"It's near impossible Kagome. If we get any closer, Inuyasha will kill us." Sango said as Kirara circled around the battle seen.

"I'll just have to take that chance. I can't let Naraku do this to Inuyasha." Kagome jumped off of Kirara and ran towards Inuyasha.

'Kagome! Don't come any closer! Damn it.' Inuyasha thought as he raised the Tetsusaiga. "Wind scar!" The yellow stream of light ran towards Kagome with great speed. Kagome was only inches from being destroyed when Sango grabbed a hold of her shirt and pulled her away.

"What are you thinking?" Miroku yelled at Kagome.

"Did you hear his voice? It didn't sound at all like him. But more like Naraku." Kagome fought the urge to cry. 'I can't let my emotions get the best of me right now. I have to help Inuyasha.' Miroku gritted his teeth.

"We have to get out of here and think of a plan." Miroku said calmly. Sango nodded and turned Kirara towards the forest. Kagome turned around to discover Inuyasha standing with the Tetsusaiga over his shoulder, watching them leave.

'He has such hate in his eyes.' Kagome was broken from her thought by the young kitsune.

"Kagome are you alright?" Shippou asked Kagome as he stood on her shoulder. Kagome nodded and faced forward to observe the direction in which they were headed. Kagome noticed three objects out of the corner of her eye. A tall one and two short ones. Kagome looked back but only to discover that they were gone.

'What was that?' Kagome thought as she focused her attention back to their destination. Kirara landed in the dense part of the forest, in hopes that Inuyasha wouldn't find them quickly.

"Damn it." Miroku said as he pounded his fist on a tree. "What are we going to do? If we destroy Naraku now, Inuyasha will die. But if we even try to retrieve the jewel shard from his body, he will kill us. Inuyasha is still overwhelmed from Naraku's poison also. Will they kill him if we get the shard out of his body?" Miroku asked as he turned around to face Sango, Kagome, and Shippou. Sango nodded.

"Yeah. The jewel shard is what's keeping Inuyasha alive. If we take that from him, he will die." Sango said as she sat down. Kagome looked over at Sango and sat down by her.

"So Naraku did shoot Inuyasha with the arrow. That's why he was acting so weird. We have to do something...or else...Inuyasha will die from the hands of Naraku." Kagome sounded depressed. Sango put her hands on Kagome's shoulder.

"We will help him Kagome. We just need to find out how." Sango looked Kagome straight in the eye, as if she were trying to encourage Kagome.

Kagome moved her fist up to her heart. "Right." Kagome's eyes glistened in the sun. 'What are we going to do?' Kagome thought to herself as she looked at the ground in front of her. Miroku sat down in the spot where he was standing.

"Now then. What can we do? We must think fast before Inuyasha shows up." Miroku said breaking the awkward silence between the four. Shippou sat by a tree with Kirara by his side. 'Why do I always have to get myself into things like this? I'm just a little kid!' Shippou smacked his hand on the ground. "Ouch!" Everyone looked over at Shippou and shushed him.

"I see Master Inuyasha isn't in the best position." Came a familiar voice. Kagome looked on her shoulder to discover Myoga.

"Well look who it is. You've been gone for quite some time now Myoga." Kagome said in a monotone voice.

"Yes. Well see, I had things to do." Myoga said as he avoided being squashed by Kagome. "I see that you are doing well Kagome."

"Not really. We have to find a way to get Inuyasha out of Naraku's control." Kagome rested her head on her palm. Miroku sighed and leaned back against the tree he was sitting by.

"Any ideas Myoga?" Miroku asked hastily.

"Yes, well umm...no." Myoga said before Kagome squashed him. "Such..is the fate of a flea." Myoga landed on the ground and took a deep breath to blow himself back up. Sango looked at Kagome.

"We can find a herb to get rid of the poisons in Inuyasha, right Kagome?" Sango asked. Kagome nodded.

"Yeah. But won't he die if we take out the jewel shard first?" Kagome said as sweat drops from worrying dripped down her face. Miroku looked towards Kagome and Sango.

"I guess we have to give him the medicine first. But that will be near impossible seeing that if we even dare go near him now, he will surely strike us down." Miroku stood up.

"Miroku is right. But if we don't do something soon, Inuyasha will surely die." Sango said as she glanced at Miroku before she heard footsteps approaching.

"Someone's coming. Get ready." Sango said as she helped Kagome stand. Shippou ran into some bushes and Kirara transformed.

"Hmm. I see that that pathetic brother of mine is not here." Sesshoumaru said as he appeared from within the darkness of the forest. Kagome stepped back. 'So he's who I seen from the corner of my eye.' Kagome thought. Rin ran up behind Sesshoumaru and grabbed onto his pant leg.

"Who are you looking at Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked before turning her attention towards the gang. Just like any other time, Sesshoumaru remained silent when the girl asked him a question. "Is that Kagome?" Rin asked as she stepped from behind Sesshoumaru. Kagome smiled at the little girl before looking up at Sesshoumaru again.

"What do you want?" Miroku asked demandingly. Sesshoumaru smirked.

"Nothing of your concern." Sesshoumaru turned to walk away but stopped in his tracks. "So, did Naraku kill Inuyasha already? I thought he may have been able to last longer than that. I guess I was wrong." Sesshoumaru started walking again.

"No. He's not dead!" Kagome shouted at Sesshoumaru, still surprised that he had actually said so much without threatening any of them. Sesshoumaru once again stopped walking.

"Hm. Where is he?" Sesshoumaru asked without even turning around. Kagome stood her ground.

"Why do you care?" Kagome said rudely. Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome.

"I don't. It is time for him to die, and I can claim what rightfully belongs to me. Tetsusaiga." Sesshoumaru now had his full attention on Kagome. Jaken ran out of the woods.

"Me Lord. Wait for me." Jaken was out of breath and soon fell flat on his face.

"Jaken. Take Rin and wait by the river." Sesshoumaru said coolly, still having his attention on Kagome.

"Yes me Lord." And with that, Jaken ran away. Kagome stepped back, to where she was right beside Sango. Sesshoumaru turned the rest of his body towards the gang. Miroku was getting ready to use the windtunnel.

"No need monk. I do not have time for such childish non-sense." Sesshoumaru turned to walk away but a person stepped in front of him. Kagome, Sango, and Miroku all stepped back when they seen who it was.

"I see you saved me the time of finding you." Sesshoumaru said to the person that stepped in his way.

"Oh no. I can't die like this. I have to save Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled. Sesshoumaru looked back at Kagome.

"What do you mean save him?" Sesshoumaru drew his sword.

Continued in Chapter 10

A/N: I hope you liked the chapter. I cleared everything up and even threw an interesting turn into the mix. Well please review...or else! Jk.

Shel- Thanks for telling me how to spell it! I appreciate it. Thanks for the wonderful compliment on my story and yours is great! Hmmm. That probably explains why I didn't get it. –reads other ones- Hehe.

K40Sohma- Sorry it took so long to update. I'm extremely happy that you love it. Thanks for the fabulous review!

Karen12- Thanks for the wonderful review! I'm happy. Lol. Anal? Funny! Yeah, I revealed it in this chapter. I kinda changed it around a bit to make it more interesting. Thank you for telling me how to spell it. I am going to be using the hiraikotsu a lot. Hehe. Thanks about the kiss scene compliment too. Yeah I'm a softy when it comes to romantic stuff. I hope you loved the chapter! Your opinion means a lot!