A/N: Wow, I got like, 6 reviews last chapter... WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE DON'T YOU LOVE ME ANYMORE! (not like that you sickos.) And Ha-chan if I do not see a review from you this chapter I'm not letting you borrow the next InuYasha DVD when it comes out and I buy it! (And you know I always buy them right away, so if you don't review you'll be behind in the TV show, kukuku) Also, due to the content of this chapter, I have officially decided a general point in the series in which this story takes place. sometime after "the rainbow lunar promise" and sometime before "The most dangerous confessions of the monk Miroku" (i think these are the correct names. I only know the episode number of the second one so i cant exactly do that, but you all know which ones I'm talking about.)

Disclaimer: Must I really put this here? Come on people! I'm running out of creative ways to do this! I don't own InuYasha! Why must you rub it in my face!

The Plot Thickens... Wait, There Was a Plot?

InuYasha and company had been trudging along for a long time now, and there were no signs of people anywhere nearby. Though this meant they were on the track, it also meant that none of the human companions could find a place to rest as the so desperately needed to. It seemed Kagura had it far easier than them, because while she could fly over the mountain they were currently on, they had to climb it. Kagome sighed and sat down on the edge of the mountain path.

"Um... Kagome, I don't think-" InuYasha started.

"InuYasha, I don't care if you want to travel onwards, I need a break!" Kagome exclaimed. The poor girl was thoroughly agitated and exhausted.

"But-" InuYasha tried again, but it was too late. The part of the path she had been sitting on crumbled beneath her. InuYasha dashed to grab her wrist but even he wasn't fast enough. "Kagome!" He yelled in panic as he dashed down the steep cliff trying to catch up to the falling girl.

"InuYasha!" she desperately called back.

Suddenly, InuYasha saw something white flashed by in his peripheral vision. He heard a small "oof " from down below as the white thing caught up with Kagome, then raced back up the side of the mountain. Knowing that whatever had caught Kagome was coming back, and didn't smell hostile, InuYasha returned to the portion of the path where the others were watching. He made it at the same time as the white blur had. A leafy whirlwind subsided around the figure as she gently put Kagome onto her feet. "You know, you're just lucky I was around to catch you. These cliffs are dangerous if you don't know the ropes," the girl told Kagome, who in return smiled and nodded.

"Uh, am I missing something here?" asked InuYasha who had no clue who this person was, and why Kagome seemed so comfortable with her.

"Are you one of Kouga's friends?" asked Shippou. And for the first time, InuYasha indeed realized that this person was a wolf demon. This left him even more confused than before, and it clearly showed on his face.

"InuYasha, this is Ayame. You remember her, don't you?" Kagome said.

Miroku stepped forward. "I remember you now, you're Kouga's betrothed, right?"

"His what?" asked InuYasha, still out of the loop.

Ayame smiled. "Yup! And he promised that as soon as he beats Naraku, we'll get married."

"Oh! That's right!" exclaimed Kagome "Ayame, we have a plan to beat Naraku, and we're on our way to his castle now. I think Kouga may be able to help. Do you know where he is?"

"Yeah! I'll take you to him right away!" she said. "He'll definitely want to hear about this!"

Kouga looked up as he heard someone approach the cave. He instinctively jumped into fighting stance but relaxed as he saw it was only Ayame. "Ayame, what are you doing back so soon?" He asked. "I thought you said you'd be back in a week."

"I was," said Ayame, " but plans change." As if on cue, Kagome, InuYasha, Shippou, Sango, and Miroku all walked into the cave.

"Well, well, If it isn't Kagome. Didn't expect to see you around these parts! What are you doing here? I thought you and InuYasha were off in search of more shards," Kouga said.

Miroku tapped InuYasha on the shoulder. "Hey, pay up," he said. "You owe me 3000 yen. He didn't call you dog turd or mutt face." InuYasha grumbled as he fished the assorted coins out of his pockets.

Over next to Kagome, Sango didn't look so good. The poor girl was twitching a mile a minute, anger marks popping up all over the place. "THAT'S IT!" she screamed. "I've had it with all of you! What's with all the betting! I swear you people must be gambling addicts or something! Must you make bets over every little thing!"

Everyone stared at Sango in shock. Finally, someone had the guts to respond. "Uhhhh... yeah?" said InuYasha, a little unsure if that was the right answer.

"Oh, ok," said Sango, now smiling pleasantly. After a few moments of silence, and awkward stares, the conversation got back on track.

"So...as I was asking Kagome, what brings you here?" Kouga asked again. But Ayame beat Kagome to it with the response.

"They say they know how to beat Naraku," she said, "but they might need your help to do it."

"Thank you so much for your help Kouga," Kagome said at the point in the path where they had to part ways. He was carrying several large, rectangular, thin objects under a plain white cloth.

"No problem, anything to beat that bastard. I'll catch up with you guys once I'm done,"

he said.

"Ok, thanks again Kouga!" Kagome yelled after him as he ran off. She turned to the rest of the group and smiled. "Well, that's one less thing to do! And we're almost there now. So, shall we be off?" The gang walked off down the much gentler slope on the opposite side of the mountain than they had begun. Everything was falling into place. And if they played their cards right, by this time tomorrow, Naraku would be dead.

A/N: Ok, I'm pretty sure last chapter I said that Naraku would be killed this chapter, but, it was taking me so long to write, I decided to split this part of the story in to two. So unless any more genius ideas come about in my twisted and demented little brain, the fight with Naraku will be next chapter. Keep reading and please, please, please review! What's happening! Do you ever check your e-mails or e-mail alerts! I'll try posting more towards noon then. Maybe that will get me more reviewers. Come on people, I'm desperate for reviews here! I'm starting to lose interest in writing this! Get me interested again, please! I hate having unfinished stories! REVIEW! That's right, the little periwinkle button in the lower left hand corner. Click it. Now.

CHALLENGE FIC!

Alright people! I have a challenge for you! I challenge someone to write an InuYasha cross over with FFX-2. Here are the requirements.

1. Traditional pairings (InuKag, SanMir, YunaTidus, ect...)

2. The plot must include this:

They get sucked into Miroku's wind tunnel and end up in the Farplane.

The Inutachi trying to find their way back home

Meeting Final Fantasy crew (after good ending)

I've attempted to write this several times but cannot get the first chapter going like I see it in my mind. Therefore, I leave it up to you. Simply state who gave you the challenge at the beginning of your fic when you post it, and email me each chapter. (if you ask I will beta-read them) my e-mail is Sunset242hotmail(dot)com

(there is a period instead of the word dot but this is the only way it'll appear on the website.)