Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. This story is for entertainment purposes only.

A/N:Here is the next exciting installment. Enjoy!

Part Two:
Kikyo

She could sense him. Somewhere, Naraku was plotting and planning even more of his increasingly malevolent deeds. He was horrible. Worse than the most bloodthirsty demons. Worse than the most reckless, murderous humans. He was intelligent, manipulative, and mean. And he enjoyed pain... So very much, he thrived off the suffering of others.

Kikyo sighed. She couldn't forgive him. Even if she never was able to love Inuyasha as she did once, even if she was forced to remain living a half-life in a body made not of flesh and bone... Naraku was her most hated enemy. He might have loved her once as Onigumo, but that person, that heart, had been long since cast-aside. Whatever kinds of disgusting, wretched demons had taken over that body, they had poisoned an already rotten soul, until any trace of humanity was gone, and lost in the sea of squalor that Naraku was infused with.

Revenge.
Regret.
So much pain...

She knew, she was painfully aware that there was no hope for her in that world. The world of the living was a realm she had left a long time ago, and it no longer held a place for her. She wasn't supposed to be living. Death. That was truly her fate. But every dead thing yearns for renewed life, and so she would... live. If the painful existence she was forced into could even be called living. The very air was thick and rank with evil. Something, somewhere was about to be destroyed.

"If my suspicions are correct," she announced to the air with cool, calm assurance, "then Naraku has finally managed to create a worthy plan to destroy Inuyasha. It's Inu... yasha..."

With but a trace of firm resolve, she whirled around towards the source of the new, destructive energies. She might not be able to save him- Inuyasha wasn't her concern, and certainly not part of her quest- but she could get the jewel from Naraku. She could end his hopes of using it to become even more powerful, and with that new power surely damning the entire world...

Kagome:

The group of shard hunters were moving as quickly as they could, Inuyasha and Kirara running and flying at top-speed. The wind was whipping around them, curling their hair around their faces, sending goosebumps up their arms, whispering ill-tidings and warnings of danger into their unsteady ears. The anticipation was rough and troubling; the feelings that washed over them were hard and set- all eyes were nearly blinded with the knowledge that they drew closer and closer to a hellish creature that had caused them all so much suffering.

Inuyasha raised his head slightly, sniffing at the air. There was no doubt of it- Naraku's damnable scent was getting stronger and stronger. It made his toes curl at the very thought of what was lying in wait for them, no doubt aware and eagerly awaiting their coming. If he- they- could just sneak up on the bastard once -ONCE- then they stood a chance of beating him. They stood a good chance of getting back a piece of their lives- pieces that were mired in tragedy and pain. Naraku relished that pain, he actually took pleasure in the anguish he made others feel.

The very thought of that made Inuyasha even angrier, his vision blurring into a red haze, the only focus he could find a phantom vision- Naraku's smirking, despicable face. That was the push he needed. With an almost strangled growl escaping his throat, he sped up, almost flying in his haste, as his feet barely touched the ground.

Kagome clung tighter to the hanyou. He was unreachable. Something had happened to make him even more determined- even more vengeful. She understood his need; if he didn't destroy this great, malicious being, then he would collapse within himself. Maybe the love he had for Kikyo hadn't been strong enough to beat a fake betrayal. She knew who badly that hurt him. When such deep, tender sentiments are used against their owner, and then shattered, the pieces don't always fit back together. The hate was all that was left. The gaping hole in his heart could be felt by anyone around him, if only they knew him. And finally, with the death of his greatest oppressor, perhaps some of that wound would at last be filled.

Kirara noticed the increased pace of her moving companion, and sped up to match it. She could smell a battle imminently approaching- the tense muscles of her mistress on her back were proof that something big was just up ahead.

The atmosphere had a few subtle changes; as they neared their destination, the very air became heavier, everything was weighted down by some invisible terror.

Suddenly, Kagome yelled, "Inuyasha! A barrier! It's a barrier!"

Not questioning its purpose, or why Kagome could see it when no one else could, he whipped out his sword. It glowed an eerie, sparkling red, and with one quick swipe the barrier dissipated into empty nothingness. With no hesitation, Inuyasha leapt into the inky blackness that waited on the other side.

Suddenly, he heard Kagome scream. "Sango! Miroku! Shippou!" With a skid and a curse, he stopped and looked behind him. The barrier had been re-formed, leaving their companions on the other side without them.

"We have to keep going," he said gruffly, pulling her attention away from the others. "He's right here! So close Kagome, so damn close! I'm not going to lose him this time! He won't get away."

Though she wanted to protest, Inuyasha immediately started running again. Her voice died in the airy wake they left behind, going steadily faster and faster until his limit was reached.

That was the only conscious thought in his head- he had to keep running. Everything else was an incoherent jumble. Revenge, pain, desperation, and hatred all mixed together in his mind, as his goal drew nearer and nearer. He could almost taste it.

They were on a hill. Looking down, a large, gloomy castle came into view. That was where he was hiding- that was where the final battle would begin.

Inuyasha jumped down, starting his descent. Suddenly, a heavy violet fog surrounded them. "Inuyasha," Kagome yelled, though he could barely hear her through the tempest of wild, raging winds that they were locked in. "What's going on?" she asked wildly. "Where are we?"

"Shut up!" he cried, "I have to think. I don't know what's going on any more than you do!"

They were hit with a wave of pain. Excruciating, blinding pain. He heard Kagome's agonized screams as she was pulled from his back. He grabbed wildly, trying to grab her and pull her back to him. But he felt nothing. Even his eyes, that had begun to sting and burn, couldn't make out anything but the thick, malodorous curtain of what he was sure was some sort of new miasma.

It hurt so badly. His blood was boiling, heartbeat pounding in his ears. He couldn't take it. With a gasping noise akin to Kagome's scream, he curled up into himself, trying to escape from whatever had him in its grip. It hurt so much; he couldn't think, though desperately he tried to grab any thought he could. But all his efforts were futile. The pain wouldn't recede, he couldn't get it to go away. His eyelids felt like they were burned shut; he could no longer open his eyes. Sharp pains similar to the feel of the pierce of a sword assaulted his entire body. It hurt like nothing had ever hurt before. Death began to seem beautiful- wanted. He just wanted to escape from the unbelievable, crippling pain. It hurt. So... badly...

With a last determined cry, he finally began to give in to the welcome, waiting arms of oblivion. Consciousness faded slowly, until his body's ache became a throb. Then...

Nothing.

End A/N: Any comments? Criticism? I'm probably going to discontinue this if I (still) don't get any reviews, so please tell me how I'm doing!

Preview of Part Three: There was so much screaming. All around him, there were relentless, agonizing screams. It cut him so deeply. That much anguish threatened to push him off the brink into madness- his very sanity was taken away as he listened again and again to the suffering of other hopeless souls...