Truth Be Told

Kikyo stopped dead in her tracks and squinted. She looked around the open valley that she walked in as the wind blew through her black hair. She knew that presence, yet it felt somewhat different. Impossible, she thought. The last time that I felt that presence was over fifty years ago.

"Something is wrong," Kikyo said out loud. "The air has become impure with evil." Kikyo started walking into the direction from where the familiar presence she felt was coming from. "Could it be? Has she really returned?"

"There scent stops here," Inuyasha said as he got on all fours. "How could they just disappear into nowhere? I told her to get Kagome out of the forest and wait here until we find them. What a stupid girl."

"It is strange," Miroku said with his hand on his chin. "The demons that we fought just suddenly stopped and ran away. I don't like the looks of this."

"What is it, Kirara?" Sango asked as she saw her feline friend searching through the grass. She suddenly turned around with Shippou in her teeth. "Shippou!" Sango quickly grabbed the fox demon and tried to revive him. He looked a little bruised, but the worst was probably just a small bump on his head. He finally woke up and whispered Sango's name. "Shippou, what happened to you? Where are Kagome and Yumi?"

"I'm sorry," he started. "I couldn't protect them. Kagura came out of nowhere and attacked us. She then hit Yumi with a dart and took her and Kagome with her. I don't remember anything after that." Inuyasha's ears suddenly perked up.

"I can smell her. It's very faint, but I'm sure it was Kagura. I can't track her down though. Damn it!" He immediately punched downwards and hit something. He picked it up and realized what it was. "This is Kagome's purse." He put it in his kimono and stared at the others. "We'll just have to search for her. Let's go."

"Right," Miroku said as they all got on Kirara. "Shippou, you should rest. I think you've had enough for one day." Shippou nodded as he fell asleep in Sango's arms.

"Maybe Kirara can find them," Sango declared. "She is connected to Yumi." Inuyasha nodded as he looked into the night, hoping that Kagome and Yumi were alright.

Kagome woke up only to find that her arms and legs were tied up. She had woken up because someone was calling her name. She looked to find Yumi next to her, bond hand and foot just like her. "Glad you're awake," she said weakly. Yumi looked like she was in so much pain. The poison had caused her face to turn completely white and drip in sweat. She looked like she was about to faint, but she wouldn't give in so easily.

"Where are we?" Kagome asked as she looked around. It looked like they were in a meeting room made for a king. It was gigantic and elaborate. She realized where she was when she heard that sickening laughter.

"You are in my castle, Kagome." Kagome looked to the front of the room and saw Naraku sitting on a throne with Kanna and Kagura at his side. "Welcome to my castle, ladies. I hope you are comfortable."

"Who's the freak?" Yumi asked. Naraku smiled as his eyes started to glow. Instantly, a wave of pain went through Yumi's body. She screamed until it stopped.

"My name is Naraku, and I would watch your mouth if I were you. That poison in your veins is slowly killing you. With my powers, I can make the pain even more unbearable. But you can survive if I give you the antidote"

"And I suppose you want somethingin return. Am I right?" Yumi asked.

"Yes, I know that Kagome has the jewel shards. Give them to me and I'll give you the antidote." Kagome's ropes disappeared and she grabbed her jewel shards. They weren't much, only about four or five shards, but they would still be useful to Naraku. "Well, Kagome, are you going to abandon another friend?"

"Kagome," Yumi whispered. "Don't do it. He'll only get stronger." But Kagome didn't listen. She threw the jewels right at Naraku. At the same time, he threw a bottle to Yumi.

"Drink that," he said as her ropes disappeared. She quickly drank it, but she didn't feel any better. "It will take some time to get your strength back, but you won't have enough time."

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked. She looked at Yumi and saw her wide eyes.

"Those eyes," Yumi said. "They're so cold…like Inuyasha's that one time." Naraku started laughing at her as she closed her eyes.

"You are very perceptional. Would you like to here what happened sixty years ago? It all started on that day when that thief Onigumi started that fire in that village, killing everyone but one girl. He thought he had killed her, but it turned out that a half-breed saved her. Then the one named Onigumi sold his soul to make a pact with demons, creating the one before you known as Naraku.

"That was when I first saw you walking around with that Inuyasha. I saw that he loved Kikyo, but you loved him too. So I decided to play a little trick." Yumi came out of her trance when Naraku said this. Naraku transformed into Inuyasha right in front of Yumi. Even there voices were identical "You love me, right, Yumi? I was planning on how to get the Shikon Jewel from Kikyo. I will always love you and you alone, Yumi." Yumi was shocked when he returned into his previous form. "Shape-shifting can be so much fun."

"You bastard!" Kagome yelled. "How many lives do you have to play with?" Yumi suddenly bolted at Naraku and swung at him with her hand, leaving five long gashes on his face. Her nails had grown almost five inches before they retracted back to their regular size.

"I may not be powerful enough to use my sword or arrows, but I'm still a cat with claws." Naraku laughed again and clawed her in the stomach, leaving a larger gash. Yumi knew she was in trouble when she tried to stand up.

"I will make you suffer, Yumi." Naraku transformed into Inuyasha and smiled. "The one that will send you to your grave is the one you love most. I guess you always hurt the ones you love, and this time your precious Inuyasha can't save you from the flames." Yumi's eyes widened. She wanted nothing more than for Inuyasha to hold her again. How was she going to fight the only one she loved?

Kirara's ear's suddenly perked up and she suddenly changed directions. "What's going on?" Miroku said.

"I think she got a connection with Yumi," Sango said with a smile. "Time to kick it into high gear, Kirara." Kirara growled and sped up. Inuyasha was still thinking to himself. Please let her be safe. I can't lose her again.

Yeah, I know. Kagome wouldn't say bastard. But this is my story and I can do whatever I want. I want to make it to please readers and express myself. Is that too much to ask? Jeese! Well, thanks for reviewing. Cya. (I say that everytime. I need a new saying.)