BONUS CHAPTER! Since you were all so traumatized by the last chapter, this one is three times as long as my usual chapters, making a record breaking 15 pages, and I wrote it all in a day and a half. Whew! I'm seriously exhausted here, so please respond since I put in an intense amount of effort. I'll love you forever. Teehee!

And, don't hate me for this. I'm not doing reviews this time because my eyes are literally sore. If I look at this computer for another minute, I'm going to keel over. I will answer the one question I got though.

Mizz Tasuki: No, I haven't used the same dialogue in another fic. My last fic did have a moral that was also expressed in that chapter, but other than that, it's a whole new ballgame.

((((hugs)))) FOR EVERYONE!

Chapter 28: Battle on the Western Front

Coy night, it would not hinder him. On his lips, he tasted the salt of the air. The tears jumping from star to star. They themselves were tainted tears. Why else would they have been so bright? How many of them came from sadness, or happiness? How about fear? They whispered to him today, and he nodded into the nothingness. A storm was always welcome, so far as he was concerned. What few dark stars came to tell him soon disappeared back into obscurity and took off into the vases of space.

Footsteps approached, and he sat up straight. "Do you think he knows yet?"

"No. With a scent just like his brother, Sesshoumaru will think it is merely the miko's clothes he smells."

His golden eyes shot through the dark air, lighting up the room with its impure energy. The evil spirit that was Kokuei. "The miko. Naraku, will it be tonight?"

He smirked wickedly. "You will take the brother."

Kokuei growled, "It is the miko's blood that I wanted most."

"And I didn't even want her to last this long. The plans had to change. As long as Kagome is still connected to this world, we'll have to resort to something harder. But somehow, Kokuei, I think you would appreciate that, wouldn't you? Why have her simply die when there can be blood? And at least you'll have Inuyasha's brother."

Such was true. Kokuei had long ago wanted to kill that cocky bastard. Naraku continued, "We wait until night falls, when everyone is vulnerable. Stop Sesshoumaru. I'll take care of the miko. If the hanyou shows up again, take care of him as well. Do not fail me again, Kokuei."

He rose to a standing position, his white locks flowing past him as a breath of wind swept through the long stone corridor. Without another word, Kokuei walked down the corridor, off to the place he would hide himself until it was time to strike. He mumbled incoherently and thought bitterly, 'We'll see how far this lasts, Naraku. Quite frankly, I'm sick of you holding me back.'

"You hold a great gift, Kokuei," he called.

He stopped to listen, "… You are still not satisfied? Even after what you have done to the miko. Or is it physical blood you want to smell, to feel?"

"I'll do it, master. Until I find satisfaction, I will never stop killing."

Naraku turned and walked in the opposite direction, "You'll get your blood. Of that, I can assure you."

He disappeared right before Kokuei's eyes, and walked in the opposite direction down the hall. 'Good thing I made room for mistakes. Damn miko. And here I was thinking that Kokuei would end up useless…'

He smirked, 'Well if she wants to go the hard way, then she gets the hard way.'

………………………………………………………………………………………………

They fire crackled, filling in the silence that encompassed the campsite. Sango's gaze never left the flames, Miroku toyed with the prayer beads on his right hand, Kirara and Shippou were curled up together, eyeing the stars. There was neither talking nor laughter to fill the air now. All they had were memories of such things. They were frantic whispers into the deaf ears of the forest. No one had the wits to understand, no one but them. As though she had died, they would think. Why else would she have abandoned them? But they knew they couldn't be selfish. If she wanted to go home to be with her family, then they knew this was how it had to be. But Inuyasha, he couldn't know that, could he? One ventures to guess that they were unconsciously praying for him to be stubborn again, just this once so that he would keep fighting for her. Mostly, it confused them why he hadn't tried harder.

They had yelled at him when they found him moping in the fields. They had accused him of not caring, of not even trying to stop her, of being so weak that he would heed the words of his hated brother. And they expected him to complain. He didn't. When he had turned to look at them with his eyes so wide and full of heartache, they had all fallen a step back. After that, they were silent.

Occasionally, they stole a glance at him. He wouldn't sit by the fire with them. It was like he had reverted to the way he was… before Kagome. So withdrawn it frightened them. Who was to know if he might leave them too, simply to escape the reminder of her.

Inuyasha's watchful eyes never left the stars, as though he hoped them to change for him. The way they flickered tonight, they seemed to be crying. It was the storm that had come and gone in a matter of minutes. The universe's last way to mourn. The clouds had dispersed soon after, and the world was still flushed with water. The stars continued to whimper in his way. Somehow, he doubted they would ever stop.

After a few hours of trying to read from the heavens, he had lost hope, and rose to his feet. His friends didn't even ask as he walked away from them. At least they knew he needed time to himself. Harder were his steps. More focused on meeting solid ground. They brought him over the hill, where he could first make out Sesshoumaru's castle. He sat cross-legged facing it, the Tetsusaiga clutched to his shoulder. Everyday it felt more like a living being then a mere sword. Throughout his many battles, he had felt its aura and its power, more importantly its untamable desire to protect. … It was quiet now.

His voice was gruff, just as the hanyou he had been all his life, "Damnit, I should have known she would… betray me. Even after everything I've done for her…"

'It wasn't enough,' he thought delicately.

He could see there was only one light felt in the castle, and he didn't doubt it was her. Through the darkness, it was that single flame on a window that winked at him. Blind as he was, she guided his hands through the darkness, all the while shielding him from the unknown, until finally ending at that light. That one glimmer of hope that his heart refused to release. Looking at the castle he hadn't known since he and his mother were kicked out, he never remembered any time he ever missed the perks of royalty. He never really cared, or perhaps he was too young at the time to recognize the loss. Now, castle or not, he still felt as though he had lost his kingdom. It had been long due to happen. He may not have been a king, but when he was with Kagome, he became a king or more. The right was lost. Lost as soon as she had run away.

He wanted to believe that he could stay mad at her for doing this. He was angry, angrier than he could ever remember being, but it wasn't enough for him. In his heart of hearts he knew he would have fought armies to be with her. But alas, it couldn't be true. He knew he would have fought armies… just to bring her happiness. That meant her family. That meant she would forget about him. That meant he had no more light.

So then why had she kissed him? A cruel joke, a futuristic way of bidding a final farewell, some desperate attempt to still him so she could make her escape? 'Kagome… why'd you have to fucking do that? I hate you… I hate you so much.'

He flinched at his own thoughts, squeezed his eyes tight to force out the anger within him, and he put his forehead into his hands, 'So much, I can't forget you.'

For setting him free with her light, and for letting him take flight, his heart would always come back. No matter what happened to him, his heart would follow her. With the confines of his insanity, sweet forgetting would not show its head.

This night was too stark a thing to reckon with. Inuyasha was already bitter enough without the corrupting cold of darkness to unsettle his skin. He knew he had a right to feel uneasy after today, but it felt different. Like he was afraid of the vulnerability in the air. It was still stirring, for reasons he had not the energy to know. He turned his back on the castle, and made his way back to the fire where the others sat waiting.

He sat cross-legged beside them, but did not even spare them a glance. They sought out his gaze and he refused. It was what they had feared. Between now and losing Kagome, he truly had become that old isolated hanyou. No compassion for the world that he protected, no willingness to open up to the friends who had cared for him so much over the past few years. They grimaced at his behavior. Now they would give anything to hear him say that he was going after Kagome, no matter what she ended up doing, just so they could know that he was himself again. Miroku, from behind the hanyou, hesitatingly lifted his hand to put on his shoulder. His fingers twitched a few times as he pondered if he would even have them in the next few seconds. And when they hovered just inches above their destination, Inuyasha's voice sounded out weak and terrifying. "Touch me, monk, and I'll bite off your damn fingers."

Yep, they had assumed as much. Sango looked up to the stars, 'Kagome-chan, I know you wanted to be with your family… but… if you could only see Inuyasha now, and how much he misses you…'

Miroku got up 'to stretch', soon followed by the others. They didn't go more than a few feet and they turned to each other knowing the exact same thing the others would say. They whispered loudly enough for only them to hear, starting with the monk, "What do we do? I think he's lost his mind."

"I've never seen him like this before," Sango remarked, then thought for another few seconds, "I have no idea what we should do."

"Isn't it obvious?" piped in the kitsune, who was still too naïve to appreciate the sensitivity of the situation, "We have to get Kagome back."

The exterminator shook her head with a sad smile, "Shippou-chan, we can't. It was Kagome's chose to leave. Even though I can't understand how she would so suddenly choose to leave without even talking to us, we can't deny the deepest wishes of our friend. Even if Inuyasha doesn't understand that."

"I think he does, Sango. I think that's exactly why he's like this, and that's why his heart is broken. Cause he knows she simply had to go on without him," said the monk.

Shippou leaned over Sango's shoulder to whisper even quieter. "Someone should talk to him. You know, let him know that everything's all right."

They both sighed and Shippou bent an eyebrow at their dejection. Sango bowed her head, "Kagome-chan always did that."

All three sighed. Long night ahead of them.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"It's hard to forget," she told herself, "But I have to keep trying."

Saku had told her what to do. For what must have been a few hours now, Kagome sat cross-legged on the bed. The one which reminded her ever so much of her own back home. It was why she had wanted to be here to do this. Anything to make her believe that she was home with her family, and she would take it. She… had no choice but to take it, no matter how much she wanted this more.

The moment Saku had said it, Kagome had known she would have chosen him. Not because she didn't love her family, but because she loved Inuyasha, and it was with him alone that she felt that sweet contentment incomparable to any other.

But Kikyo…

She grimaced harder, forcing the woman out of her mind. Forcing back Miroku and his characteristic lechery. Pushing back the memories of Sango helping her to her feet whenever she was down. Turning away from Shippou running playfully around her feet. Forgetting the hanyou that chased after him… the one who made her laugh with her soul.

Her hair was still wet. Not like she needed a reminder of the storm that claimed her tears. She had been grateful for its power to mask her pain. But when she thought of rain, she thought too much of Inuyasha. The night he had come back to her bloody and torn kept resurfacing in her mind. The storm, though deadly, harbored her hanyou back to her arms, where she had made sure nothing could harm him. She had walked, breathed, spoke, and lived for two. And he had revealed to her the tenderness she had always hoped for. And he had kissed her that night, thinking she was someone else. All in the rain, the pitiless rain.

She rose from the comforter. It was useless to try doing it now. Saku had told her it was okay to take her time. Perhaps she could wait until her mind and heart had settled for her to start forgetting. Carefully, she stepped to the window and clutched the silk curtain on the side to keep it from blowing against her. The wind was still wild, and the rain was still there though only in a light sprinkle. The stars were out now, for which she was entirely grateful. The waxing moon caught her gaze. So shining even in its small size, the space in between was so black and lifeless. So in need to be whole again. She reached her hand up to it, thinking unconsciously that if she could touch it she would be free. Just that moon, her last way out of this paradise.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Sesshoumaru walked silently out to the gardens, where everything lay as peaceful as ever. Blessed flowers, they never threatened him. They simply were. Rin followed shortly after along with Jaken. She held her arms out as though she were a bird and swooped back and forth a few times, laughing along the way. In her left hand, she held Jaken's staff. The toad-demon commanded, "Give that back, Rin. It's far too dangerous for the likes of a pathetic human."

"Haha! If you want it, you'll have to tag me, Jaken-sama. Come and get it."

Jaken gave chase, though the girl was faster than she appeared. This is what Jaken got for not having anything else for her to do. It had to be only eating, sleeping, gathering flowers, or annoying him. Sesshoumaru called softly, "Rin, stop fooling around, please."

Having him saying please always had a special effect on her. She immediately stopped and gave the staff back to Jaken, only to stand straight and look at Sesshoumaru for his approval on the matter.

Not as soon as she had done it, Sesshoumaru turned his head abruptly to the left. She knew that look. A few moments later and he confirmed it. "Jaken. Take Rin inside, now."

Having known him this long, they didn't take the time to question him. As they went back into the castle, the door closed behind them. Sesshoumaru drew Tokijin as the new winds ruffled his hair and fur back. Tonight's wind called to him, and it spoke of ill-conceived plots, and of blood. He called, "I know you're there. If you wish to fight someone, let it be me."

The nameless face spoke from within the cover of foliage. "Keh, Sesshoumaru. Have you not recognized the smell yet? What do you say?"

He raised the sharp side of the blade to eyelevel and narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "I say… you smell like that hanyou brother of mine. But you are no hanyou. What are you?"

"What am I? I am your opponent. What more do I need to be?"

The figure immerged, dressed in navy blue clothing and flashing darkened amber eyes. Sesshoumaru heard the telltale sound of a sword being unsheathed. A sound far too close to that of the Tetsusaiga. As he caught it reflecting in the air, it looked exactly like his father's blade. It came down for him and he reached for Tokijin. The sharp edges clanged together in a shock of bright lightning and screeching metal. "…Or… you can call me Kokuei."

And as Sesshoumaru eyed his enemy from between the blades, familiar eyes shot back at him through a cloud of mystery, and he knew.

Their blades parted as they jumped away, and Sesshoumaru eyed him with the same disposition as before. "Heh, Naraku's been busy, hasn't he? He must be pretty desperate to bring Inuyasha's youkai blood to life."

"Desperate, huh? We'll see what you say when I kill that Kagome girl in your keeping," Kokuei responded with wickedly twisted teeth.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "The miko?"

"Yeah, so step aside, unless you want your whole castle destroyed," he raised his Tetsusaiga impersonation into the air, "by my Chisaiga."

The inu-youkai narrowed his eyes, then took his stance with the Tokijin in both hands. Kokuei lowered his brow with a befuddled smirk, "What's this, Sesshoumaru? You're actually defending that miko? …No… Your brother?"

The Tokijin swung through the air, and Kokuei could have almost sworn he had heard a growl. If there was anything he knew because of Inuyasha's hatred, it was that Sesshoumaru had always despised his hanyou brother. Kokuei leapt over his head and raised his sword high. When it came down in the light of the moon, there was a moment where Sesshoumaru saw a flash of dark red.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Temptation by a soft green comforter, it didn't dim for hours. Such comfort, so wickedly wonderful, caused her eyes to close. They were tired from the tears. The moon, though still small, illuminated her pale skin and showed the dried streaks of water on her cheeks. It was at this time when he chose to emerge. He came from the shadows with the façade of someone who had always been there, like he had been part of the room itself. From across the room, he watched her sleeping form. His one threat. He grimaced that she was still there. The others had seen her do it with their own eyes, but somehow it never led through to the goal he desired. Had there been an easy way he would have taken it.

The sound of his footsteps as he came forth echoed off the wall, and somewhere within the confines of her brain, it was heard. Eyes flashing open, she had known without looking that Naraku was there. Even without the right senses to smell him, the air was thick with his presence. Another footstep came, still as soft as wind. She inadvertently clutched the blanket between her fingers. Her eyes darted across space. She knew she was searching for Inuyasha. But no… he was not here to save her. And she did not have her bow and arrows. She had only herself.

A cold hand ran through her hair, and she could take no more. Powers of the miko flowed even without warrant to her right hand, and with one swing, he was tossed off of her in a flash of purple. He landed in a heap on the other side of the room, and Kagome rose to her feet on the bed as soon as he rose from the ground. The piercing red eyes drank from her fear, until she could have sworn she had seen it in his own eyes. Seemingly from nowhere, his tentacle sprung out towards her. She screamed as she leapt out of the way, and the limb collided with the stone wall, which exploded into dust and rocks.

"To think you could have died the easy way," he hissed.

Kagome ran in a desperate attempt to escape. It was a lost cause, and she knew it. But to her huge surprise, he did not catch her. She ran out into the hallway and down the long corridor. The sound of dripping water and her own hard breathing invaded her ears. 'Oh God, what do I do? Inuyasha…'

Naraku's voice penetrated through her thoughts, "You're all alone, miko. No matter where you run, no matter how you fight, your blood is mine."

That was it. He hadn't let her go. He was toying with her.

The lights within the hallway suddenly went out, leaving her in complete darkness, and she heard Naraku chuckle. No, that hadn't been it. Now in the darkness, without the senses to know where he was, he would strike when she couldn't see.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Go on, Miroku."

"Why me?"

"Well, I'm sure not going tell him. He's already thumped me enough."

"But he already wants to kill me. At least you're a child."

Sango mirrored Shippou as she nudged the monk forward, "Come on. Be a man."

"But… Inuyasha doesn't need me to-."

"Would you all just shut up?" the hanyou's voice called from the fire, "We could use some peace and quiet."

Miroku and Shippou looked at him in such pity, Inuyasha didn't want to acknowledge it. How he hated to be seen this weak. Kagome had seen it time and time again, and how he tried to show her that he was strong. Stupid girl never left him alone then. Not then. Sango crossed her arms and looked to the wind blowing through the trees, pondering how in the world the hanyou would recover from his pain without the miko, "What we could really use is Kagome-chan."

"Well she ain't here," Inuyasha said rather loudly, then his voice softened, "She's never coming back. So get over it."

The exterminator didn't take it to heart, nor did the monk. Little Shippou still refused to give up, and seeing as how the others were backing down, he took the initiative. "Inuyasha, what has gotten into you? What happened to the old 'everything's-just-fine' Inuyasha?" he imitated Inuyasha's voice at those words; "You've never given up on yourself this fast before."

"Shut up!" Inuyasha shouted, "I'm not giving up. I'm just…"

Shippou backed down and looked at him with wide eyes. The others looked on too, a strange expression on their faces. Sango attempted to finish his thought, "Just letting her go, right?"

"Keh."

It was a most pitiful sound now. It barely resembled what it had been before. A forced sigh that came out with a saddened gasp, layered with the thickness of molasses. So powerless, kind of like he was agreeing with Sango rather than disagreeing. When Kirara had first found them at the village, all but grabbing them off the ground, the whole team was under the impression that Kagome needed rescuing. Who would have thought that the strongest of all, Inuyasha, was the one who would need it more. And he seemed so split apart now. But not in the same way the others were. They saw something so much deeper that burned him to the core. Miroku hesitated for a moment, then found the courage to ask what had always been needed to say, so very long ago, "Inuyasha, do you love Ka-."

Inuyasha's body shot straight up into a standing position. Miroku stopped himself and stepped behind Sango, feeling sure that the hanyou was going to turn around and unleash the Tetsusaiga on him. The attack never came. "Inuyasha?" Sango questioned.

Miroku risked a peek around her shoulder and saw what was so odd. Inuyasha's eyes were intense again, drawing in the same fire they had seen countless times in battle. He sniffed the air, "Something's not right. Smoke?"

Miroku relaxed, though the others did not, "Inuyasha, you're right next to the fireplace."

But the hanyou didn't falter his strict stance, nor did he speak a word. Miroku started, "Inuyasha, you've got to-."

Sango gasped as the hanyou sped away from them all, again towards the western hill. Kirara transformed and scooped the monk, exterminator, and kitsune off the ground before they even had a clue what was going on. "Kirara?"

The neko-youkai growled with the same fervor as Inuyasha's stare and began the flight behind Inuyasha.

They saw it only mere milliseconds before he did, and gasped simultaneously just as it came before the hanyou's eyes. Sesshoumaru's castle, not moments ago a considerably stunning place, was now billowing smoke. Inuyasha didn't hesitate a moment longer, "Kagome!"

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The leaves of his garden scraped hard against his body, and that was how he was taken out of the castle grounds. As Sesshoumaru got to his feet, his eyes caught sight of the gate entrance. Youkai he had long known to answer to Naraku were attacking the guardsmen. It seemed nearly everyone in the castle had come to fight them off. Somewhere within the chaos a fire had been started. Smoke rolled out from the central fortress, and he could see the flicker of orange fire still hidden beneath the masses of collapsed rock.

Kokuei came for him again, and he held him back with Tokijin. The blades pushed against each other, making an ear-splitting sound as they moved. They both glared hard between their weapons. Kokuei's anger could be no surprise to Sesshoumaru, for he had seen it hinting at him whenever he saw Inuyasha. But this being, this branch-off of his brother fought like he actually knew what he was doing. His style was like Inuyasha's but slightly varied in that he moved gracefully. Every movement was swift, and much to his chagrin, seemingly rehearsed. Somewhere along his travels, this thing had to have been trained. The answer was not easy to think up, considering the youkai some feet behind him, and that violated presence in Kokuei's eyes. Naraku had gone his homework.

Slowly, Sesshoumaru pushed the blade to the side, and in an instant plunged his own towards Kokuei's left side. He had been aiming for the heart, and would have missed by two inches… had Kokuei been there. Sesshoumaru blinked, and the sword met nothing but air. He let out a small grunt of surprise and let his eyes scan the area for this imitation hanyou.

Kokuei appeared behind him, sporting an amused smirk just before he struck Sesshoumaru through the left side, leaving two inches space between the edge and his heart. Sesshoumaru held back the cry of pain that emanated from his enemies countless times. The sword was removed, and Sesshoumaru turned again to face him. His side was already bleeding badly, but he managed a fake smirk, "No honor, I see. No matter. You'll be dead soon anyway."

"Keh, cocky bastard. You haven't seen the true strength of this sword."

He lifted Chisaiga into the air and opened his mouth to speak, but his face fell as did his sword. Sesshoumaru watched as he sniffed the air, and an approaching cry answered the puzzle. "Kagome!"

'Inuyasha…'

The inu-youkai all turned to see a hanyou, a kitsune, a neko-youkai, and two humans fast approaching the castle, the same ones as before. The hanyou pulled out his sword and raised it high, "Out of my way, bastards! Kaze no Kizu!"

All that lay in his path now were the corpses of Naraku's youkai, who vanished into dust before his feet could even reach them. Kokuei grimaced hard, 'Damnit. This Sesshoumaru is a real pain in the ass. Naraku said I'm supposed to stop the hanyou too…'

But his frown formed into a smirk, 'Then again, I do want that miko's blood on my own hands rather than my master's. If I stay here and that mutt can save his miko, I'll be able to kill her myself later.'

The Chisaiga pulsed in his hand, and Kokuei regained his composure. 'You want your blood, Chisaiga. This youkai bastard Sesshoumaru will satisfy for now.'

Sesshoumaru turned in time to stop the next assault, and only spared a moment to glance back at his half-brother, who sliced through youkai after youkai as he and the others sprinted into the wreckage of the castle.

……………………………………………………………………………………...

All five of them stood back to back with their weapons posed at the slowly approaching youkai. Sango talked to Inuyasha though not looking away from the enemy, "Do you have any idea what this is about, Inuyasha?"

"Not a clue," he growled, "But I can smell Naraku's stench mixed with this smoke. He's gotta be around here somewhere."

"Inuyasha, he's probably after Kagome," Shippou cried.

"Keh, like I didn't already figure that out. The bastard must have known the whole time and he's been waiting for me to leave her alone."

Miroku pulled out some of his scrolls and waited for the onslaught, "Inuyasha, go rescue Kagome-sama. We'll hold these vermin off."

"Gotcha," Inuyasha called back as he leapt upwards and out onto the nearly demolished staircase.

Miroku smiled mischieviously, "I'd say we're long over due for some Naraku ass-kicking, wouldn't you, Sango?"

"Couldn't agree more, hoshi-sama," Sango replied, and she swung, "Hiraikotsu!"

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The laughing followed her to the end of the hallway she hoped would never end. A wooden door lay in her path. Her sweaty hands slipped a few times as she struggled to open the door in the midst of her fear. When she got inside, she turned to close the door, hoping it would buy her even a second of time to think something up. But before she could even reach for the handle again, the root-like appendage wrapped around her waist and push her forward and hard into a nearby wall. Her chest and face hit the stone with a ghastly force. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. What else had Naraku to break open, now that her heart was in ruins? 'Inuyasha…'

She cried out in pain and tried to reach her hands out to stop him, but a few more of his monstrous limbs and she was rendered immobile. But she wouldn't call for help. It was useless to do so. Inuyasha wasn't there. Only a castle full of hateful youkai. The sadness went straight to the bottom of her stomach and she fought back fearful tears. Naraku spoke, "Your mutt isn't here, miko. Cry all you want. You can not be saved."

She choked out, "What do you want from me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Naraku replied too softly for comfort, "I want you to perish."

His head came up close to her, so that he could whisper softly into her ear. "It really is a shame though, miko, that such beauty is to go wasted."

She flinched and fought against his hold as she felt his nose perch itself in the crook of her neck, followed by the hot feel of his breath on her skin. He inhaled her scent, and she nearly vomited. She heard him snicker at her discomfort, the sound of her rapid panting. He leaned over so that his lips brushed against her ear, every word scorching her. "An even bigger shame that you've abandoned your hanyou, wouldn't you say?"

The mention of Inuyasha nearly drove her mind off the edge. And Naraku seemed to know her every fear. "You know what will happen, don't you? Inuyasha will go and find Kikyo. He'll start life anew with her… and he'll forget all… about… you."

Kagome whimpered into the stone imprisonment they called a wall. The flutter of night held sway to her demise. There was no light to turn to anymore. For Kagome, there would be no sunrise. A fool she was, to think she would ever see her family again. There was no way Naraku would let her escape this time alive. She couldn't even see anymore, and had not the wits about her to realize that her eyes were closed tight, nor the wits to know that it was still pitch-dark around her.

"I'll… never forget… Inuyasha," she mumbled.

"You're a damned fool, girl. You cannot ever know what I know. And you'll never live long enough to ruin me."

The poor girl didn't even realize it as he hurled her through the air, for she was knocked out cold in the process. She fell with a hard thud on the floor next to the bed. The smell of fresh blood invaded his senses, and his lips curved into an iniquitous grin. His long black hair became as still as the stone he was surrounded by. He walked up to her limp body and grasped his katana. And so would end the prophecy before it even began. With this victory, Naraku had no more to fear. No more waiting, no more doubts, and no more damn Inuyasha and Kagome. He began to unsheathe the sword.

"KAGOMEEEE!"

He gasped. That voice. No… not when he was so close. Naraku turned just in time to see the wooden door explode upon the hanyou's entry. The splitters soared in every direction of the room. Like the eagle, Inuyasha spread his arms out with the Tetsusaiga in one hand.

Call him crazy, but for a moment, Naraku saw his enemy fly above him in slow motion. Sound stopped… and he felt something as he stared. His very blood seemed to quake violently, and his fingers twitched. What would it have been? Possibly… fear?

In mid air, Inuyasha brought the hands together to hold the hilt. As he did, Naraku's eyes widened, and the thought was confirmed. As he did, Inuyasha stared back with an angry glare that spoke of something deeper. As he did, a sudden flash of blue embellished his eyes for but a moment… and it was over.

As Inuyasha came down, the sword met nothing but the stone ground. A loud clang of iron followed, and Inuyasha looked up in shock. So fast, before he had even had a chance to touch him, Naraku was gone. He roared as his eyes scanned the demolished room for him, "Naraku, you fuckhead! Quit running away from me like a damn coward! I'll rip you limb from limb, you hear me? LIMB FROM FUCKING LIMB!"

His knuckles still grasped the Tetsusaiga tightly. His every muscle entreated a fight. But the fresh scent of Kagome's blood caught his attention and he was at her side in an instant. She was so still and cold, Inuyasha felt a pang of fear, and hesitantly reached out with his hand to touch her face. Still breathing. A drop of blood fell to the ground next to her lips and he growled harshly despite the relief that she was still alive.

And despite the anger that encompassed him, the desire to rip everything that had ever touched her to shreds, he gingerly cradled her in his arms. His stern gaze lay on hers, so peaceful it was like she had been dreaming the whole time. He brushed her bangs off of her face and eyed her for more injuries. A cut on her lip, and a few bruises. He looked away and breathed hard to keep his anger at bay before he did something crazy. And he wouldn't look at her when he lifted her off the ground. Then, eyes as gruff as his voice, he walked slowly out of the room and back into the hallway.

"Haha! We've done it," Shippou did exclaim.

The boomerang returned to Sango's hand, and she rested it against her shoulder in satisfaction. Around them, the inu-youkai panted loudly and clutched their wounds. They all looked so exhausted compared to the team. Shippou naïvely spoke, "And you said we were weaklings."

A bare of sharp teeth and numerous growls caused the kitsune to cower behind Kirara. From the corner, Sesshoumaru eyed the empty field where Kokuei had been. For no reason that he could decipher, the creep had vanished. His sword was still bloodied with the few strikes he managed to get in straight. Tokijin smelt like Inuyasha's blood, tainted, as he had never seen before.

Miroku put his extra scrolls away, "Now all we need to do is catch up with Inuyasha and…"

"Miroku," Sango called, "Look!"

From behind the smoldering ruin of the southern wing came a figure in crimson. White hair flew unchecked in the air, playing the elements like a harp. The fickle wind which had given aid to the fire, also proved the wonder of Inuyasha. He walked as though he had no care in the world, as though he walked everyday in silent reflection. Through the tumult in his body and in his soul, that which made him who he was, the spirit that never rested lived on. All because of the treasure he now carried in his arms.

The unconscious miko, she still held his fate. No matter where he went or what he did, this fact stood firm. Though fragile and vulnerable, it was in her touch where he gained the power of a god. And as he treaded through the mud and away from the castle, his eyes stayed focused on the horizon, as though his heart was in fact not soothed by her mere presence.

They all ran to him, instantly inquiring as to the miko's health. He turned and growled viciously, protectively, and they backed away. Such a sound had never passed his lips, even when he had transformed. Such violently bloody insinuation, it was like he could have taken on the world. Like a rabid dog, Inuyasha was. And yet, what only his friends could understand remained to their judgement as they walked somewhat behind: the definite sound of his love driving through the hatred.

To be continued…

Aaaaaaaaah! So tired! I don't really like doing the battle stuff, so I hope it worked out okay. I know there was a lot of stuff to deal with in this chapter, but for the record, I am doing this all in one chapter so I can get on with them finally confessing how they fell. I knew it was going to take a long time anyway, but I do want to make sure you all don't get fed up with me and leave. Hmm, interesting stuff here. What is this change of plan Naraku's talking about? What did Kokuei do to Kagome? Wow, a lot of parts were hard to write. Had to make sure I didn't reveal too much. Hope it worked.

Oh hey! If someone out there could please just list off for me what parts of the story are still missing… I know there is still a lot of stuff to be explained, but I just want to make sure I don't forget any of them. It would be greatly appreciated, and I'll probably update early for it. Teehee! That is if I can write up another long chapter in the next two days. Just might be! Just might be!

Oops, one more thing. Chisaiga is just a name I made up. I don't think it really means anything. Chi supposedly means 'blood'. I don't know. I don't (yet) speak Japanese. I put –saiga in just so it could look like Tetsusaiga. Yeah, I know I'm weird. Toodles!