Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and setting (oh, and a few of my own creations…)

Authors Beginning Note: Yay! My chapter is up on time! I is so happy because I knows it makes you all so happy!

Shout it outs!

Inuyashagal: Yah, he was just tied to the tree, much like Kagome was when Kikyo tried to take him to hellwith her.

Valese: Yes, Inu was the one to cacth Kagome. I thought Shippo would add humor, him being the resourceful funny kitsune he is, if he rescued them all, that and it would give him more confidence when they face Naraku. I really appreciate it that you think I have a good story pace. I tend to think Idragg things out too long.

Rayame325: I felt I needed to mdo that for Kikyo. I don't hate Kikyo, I actually like her. I just hate that her and Inuyasha still have a thing for each other, because I like Kag/Inu pairings. I guess I kinda made her seem really dark in my chappy though >sweat drop

Nicole: I am soo sorry to hear that. It's awful loosing a friend under those circumstances. I'm glad the least I could do was provide a few hours of distraction. As for Inu adn Kags love confession, Nothing like that would happen until towards the end, so it will be a might bit longer of a wait.

Yami Chikara: >blush Sorry. I'm trying to stay on top of that.

Inuyashafanficfan: I'm happy to hear it. I really did try to make it super swell!

MoonKitii: Purple sould eating penguins! No! Say it isn't so! Well, I guess I won't be seeing them yet. I did update on time. What more do you want from me:) Don't hang on the 'comotose slumber' bit, it was just a fancy expression saying she fainted.

Tanwen-Whitefire: I have to wonder if thats actual sympathy. lol. I did try to sneek some bare-knuckle brawlin in there just for you.

feyfaery: Glad to make your week so delightful:)

Chapter 69

Time

Inuyasha carried her. His thoughts in a confused mess and him unwilling to confront them fully, not now.

He sniffed the air and slowed to a walk. Kirara and the others came to view in the lifting mist. Inuyasha didn't even raise an eyebrow at the grand bumps Shippo and Miroku sported.

"Inuyasha!" Shippo jumped up.

"What happened to Kagome?" Sango interrupted, jumping down to rush over to Kagome. She saw the steady fall of tears, but upon a quick glance observation, and a check for fever, she came to the conclusion that nothing was wrong. Inuyhasa gently handed Kagome to Sango.

"Inuyasha you big bully! What did you do to her now!" Inuyasha sent a scathing glare that made Shippo's fur ripple and stand on end.

"You're being creepy." Shippo whispered hiding behind Kirara's paw.

"Was it Naraku?" Miroku stepped in the conversation.

"You could say that." Inuyasha evaded.

"So then you didn't say something stupid to hurt Kagome's feelings?" Miroku nodded ever so slightly a chiding nod.

"We'll rest here. I'll keep watch." Inuyasha leapt into the tallest tree nearby.

"Wait! Don't think you can hide up there, cause if I find out you did something to Kagome…"

"Shippo hush. The only thing your yelling will do is attract even more danger." Miroku gently chastised.

"Why are you siding with him?" Shippo pouted.

"I have a feeling that what happened was a little more than just a simple attack by Naraku." Miroku turned to see if there was anything he could do to better Kagome's condition. Shippo sat at the base of the tree. And they all waited.

Kouga and Ayame found themselves back to back. Both grinning. Not out of bloodlust or love of battle, but out of knowledge that they would not be defeated. Not by these sorry weaklings that were about to fall beneath their feet. Where all the other comrades were, was a mystery. Every once in a while a blue ribbon would be seen and if in distress, helped, but they didn't stay united very long past that..

As soon as they were lunged at, Kouga and Ayame jumped. They both seemed to multiply as more wolves joined in, crushing Naraku's sad cronies with their dynamic team skills. Hakkaku swiped a demon from under his feet, Natsuko pummeled a grungy man to an unconscious pulp, her only feeling of remorse was towards the next one to see his ugly face. Ginta and Miyako paired up and killed a larger demon that was all muscle and no brains. Ayame and Kouga constantly battled one-on one (well one-on-how many of Naraku's friendly friends decided to go for a cup of tea) only to switch opponents unexpectedly, giving them a surprise advantage and resulting in a small victory.

No matter what combination of tactics or tag teaming they used, they made sure to stick quite close together, never loosing each other for too long. Why mess with a system that obviously worked?

Ayame jumped in the air and went to kick at the demon, only to have one of his tenticals grab her leg and toss her to the ground. Hakkaku caught her, put her down and leapt off to play with a new friend. Ayame went to finish business with the octopus like demon when Natsuko went for the kill. The demon withered into a small ink filled ball that popped and splattered. Ayame scowled. Natsuko grinned sheepishly at her.

"I'm at 76!" She yelled at Hakkaku competitively. He slammed a burley guy, cracking his neck oddly.

"77." He said triumphantly. Ayame grinned.

"I beat the both of you. 98."

"Keh. For lame. I'm already at 123." Kouga said arrogantly while knocking down a guy. Ayame set out with a new flare of determination. She would prove to Kouga that she is just as good, if not better than him.

Miyako stood, completely out numbered. The demons and greedy men were haunched, ready to pounce at their prey.

She stood motionless.

Until they all leapt in for an attack.

Miyako raised her arm and created a small barrier that expanded faster than the demons could stop. As they ran headlong into the shield, every last one disintegraded into tiny granuals smaller than grains of rice.

"Bravo. It will be nice fighting some one that may be up to my level." Miyako stared at her new competitor. He stood tall and confident, but looked no more than a dirty traveler. His face was masked by his hood, until he pushed it back with lithe fingers that looked not to have lifted anything heavier than the wooden staff he carried now. He was young, barely even showing signs of stubble on his soft pale face. His very being was completely foreign to her.

…And he challenged you. The battle turned fierce and seemed evenly matched. Until he struck you with his staff, whose end had turned into a sharp sickle…The wound he gave you was filled with poison… It ate you rapidly, and left you screaming… You died too…

"So, you are the one who would kill me." Miyako said, Keio's words brought forward into her memory. Funny how they no longer bothered her as they had. Strange how she had accepted that she would die, and even odder that she had chosen to do so.

The young man rushed at her, in an attack. She easily blocked it. He grinned a commending smile of sorts.

So…he wishes to test my limits before the real fighting begins…very well…I will play along with his game…if only for a little bit…

"Do you know that I know how you will die? You will die at my hands."

You are an arrogant witch." He replied calmly as Miyako went out for a strike. She ripped a corner of his dark robes.

"It is not arrogance. It is knowledge."

"So you think you can see the future?"

"No. Not I. One much stronger. He is the one who saw your death and told it to me."

"None has the power to see the future."

"He holds time in his very hands. He can see every pearl that has been, is, and will be. I would be afraid of him, should you meet." Miyako could not see his features, but felt his frustration at her riddles and nonsense words.

They began fighting more fiercly, neither the good, nor the evil, merely beings of power, desiring life enough to fight for it. The battle became unorganized and messy. They attacked each other without hesitation. As a result many were killed by just being in close proximity of the two. A duel to the death.

Ironic really…we're fighting to our best abilities…for life…and yet in the end…we will both die…surely life is cruel…and twisted…

Kagome's lids fluttered.

"Inu…yasha…" She whispered, struggling through darkness. Visions swam in front of her face and voices flittered in her ears. She groped the air until she felt her hand grab something solid. The world spun as clarity found itself and she blinked.

"You guys. I was so worried, but…Inuyasha. Where's…?"

"Glad to see you're finally awake." Inuyasha smiled after landing from the tree. Shippo jumped in startlement, only to fall. Miroku looked at Sango and Sango at Miroku. They shrugged. Such a peaceful exchange by Inuyasha was odd, admittably, but they had been through happenings more anomalous than that.

Kagome shakily tried standing, Miroku and Sango supporting her.

"Kagome, are you sure…" Sango ventured. Kagome smiled brightly.

"It's okay Sango. I'll be just fine. We should probably be going now though. I'm not sure how long I've been asleep. Sorry." Kagome blushed sheepishly. She had wanted to be strong, but instead it seamed she had held them all up.

"It's nothing to appoligise for. I'm sure there was a plausible reason causing your drowsy spell. We our selves were not against a rest."

"Kagome! You won't believe what Miroku made me do!" Shippo piped, Miroku bopped him on the head, creating a new painful bump. Shippo sat rubbing his head furiously. Kagome smiled.

"Enough with the small talk. I want to get going as soon as we can." Inuyasha ordered.

"Inuyasha you bully! Kagome just woke up!"

"It's oaky Shippo. If you guys are ready, I am."

"Are you sure it is wise…" Kagome nodded. Kirara prepared to be mounted and Inuyasha leveled himself so that Kagome could get on. She did so and Inuyasha leapt off to a good head start. The rest of the gang followed not too far behind via air travel.

However Inuyasha took a quick, familiar detour. Kagome held her breath, taking in the scared trees, those that stood. Inuyasha didn't bother stopping as he scooped up her quiver, bow, and random arrows. Kagome didn't even have the chance to see what remained of Kikyo. Unsure if she was really that ungrateful for it.

Soon enough they moved back to the route that they had been following. Kagome strung her bow and quiver on her back, rather awkwardly. Inuyasha handed her the arrows, a few at a time and Kagome placed them in her quiver.

When done, she relaxed against Inuyasha's back again. Her mind churned. She kept seeing so much that had happened between her and Kikyo, that it almost seemed impossible to grasp a single thought longer than a second. They slipped over each other like oil on top of water.

"Inuyasha?"

"What?"

"I-I'm sorry."

"For what?" Kagome was silent for a few seconds, gathering her words.

"I know you loved Kikyo, that's why I…" She dropped off. She couldn't finish her sentence. What could she say?

"That's why you what, killed her? Don't be stupid."

"I'm not being stupid! I'm quite serious! I saw her heart-well- I think. It was awful! And don't go saying that that's impossible because that wasn't the real Kikyo, because that was! In part!"

"Quite yellin' in my ear, woman!"

"I'm sorry. But Inuyasha, it was awful, seeing her like that. I tried to help her, but I couldn't and… "Kagome let her sentence fall. Her grip was tense and it made Inuyasha uncomfortable. He could smell the salt water that began to tumble silently and spill on his shoulder.

They were like that, in silence. Neither knowing what to say. Inuyasha's brows were drawn in an uncomfortable scowl.

Damn it! No one had taught him how to deal with stuff like this.

Kagome's tears fell.

"Inuyasha, I'm sorry…I-but…"

"I don't blame you for nothing, so quit blame'n yourself so much. You'll only make yourself sick." Kagome hiccupped and tensed, before relaxing against Inuyasha, if only a little. In his own way, he had told her that everything was all right, and that was all she needed right then. She fell asleep, her grip still secure.

Inuyasha let a brief smile touch the corner of his lips, pushing all thoughts aside, enjoying the simple pleasure of just being right then.

Hosomi traveled the forest, the trail harder than she thought it would be to follow. The expert like covering methods were not something that just anyone possessed, let alone a group of simple kids.

That boy…he must have had training…for it to be built so instinctively in him…I wonder what rank he has in society…and who taught him…surely not a common noble…unless he was trained by Naraku…though I doubt that unless the boy is of some great worth…he would have been spared such great leangths…

She moved aside the slightly loosened dirt. It was all wet and nearly indistinguishable. She rubbed her two forefingers together, to have them turn a muddy black.

"Left over from a fire no doubt." Hosomi flew above the tops of the trees and sat in the air. Closing her eyes she cupped one hand out and waited with great patience and persistence.

A small wind treacled to her palm and she brought it to her ear. Shaking her head she stood up and let the breeze go where it willed. A steady rain began to pour down, not for the first time that day.

"The wind doesn't know anything and the rain is just new born." Hosomi dived down to the spot where the few remains of the fire had been was. She folded her translucent wings back and left on foot, paying close detail to everything. Even the smallest possible imprints upon the dirt. Occasionally, as soon as she felt that that trail had gone completely cold, she would come to a track that had been pounded too deeply into the ground to be covered. That was by sheer luck, for the rain began to seep into the dirt and erase all traces of a trail that may have been. Despite this nuisance, she reveled in the rain.

The rain kept her company, whispering little tales of its river, stream, or lake. Sometimes of its many exotic travels and the different people it had poured on. The rain was a gibberish, happy cluster of drops. Hosomi smiled and occasionally laughed.

When the sun had set and Hosomi felt the inklings of the need to sleep creep upon her she climbed into a tree and safely sat.

First the fighting and now this. Even the stronger of Youkai would need to stop and rest.

The rain stopped talking, sensing their friends fatigued persona and instead sang to her. The wet droplets sang to her sweet lullabies of lovers tales, and mothers tunes, workers melancholy sounds, religious hyms from synagogues, and even barks of lonely hounds. All great and wonderous symphonies from all across Asia and beyond

Time has stopped to late to start…soon to end a beating heart…Swinging down ever faster…

Keio closed his eyes just briefly, if only to make the voice stop. Blood stained his vision and he opened his eyes quickly.

I can't let it do this to me…there are thousands of futures…no one is certain…not until it has already been played…I have to fight it…

Keio stopped his breathing. A small barrier was set and he closed his eyes.

Visions commence

A faint glow encased his body as he looked at the same vision that haunted him. The scythe plummeted.

"No!" Keio screamed. The world began to shatter as he fell through dark eternalness, only for it to repiece itself and he stood on ground. A new vision appeared, much with the same ending.

"Stop it! Stop this! There is something more! There has to be! This can't be the only future!" He saw the body fall uselessly to the ground before spilling into a great acid. It kept replaying over and over and over…

Only time can change what comes…a chance to change what will be…

"Who are you!" Keio screamed. He fell to the ground clutching his head. Darkness enveloped him. Keio stayed like that before moving his hands to his side. Turmoil churned his heart and his thoughts began to sway in different directions.

A clocks pendulum swung. Slow and dreamlike, leaving a hazy illusion of its trail. A figure stood and Keio watched. The pendulum swung and he disappeared only for that being to appear right in front of him on its next swing. He gasped.

A tall man garbed in white and eyes as white as icy snow. His muscles tense and back rigid. It was himself.

"There is no hope. That is the only future."

A movement caught Keio's attention and he saw another figure. More relaxed, a light gleaming in his eyes. Another one of himself. One being a darker hopeless entity, the other being a wonderous light. They would only prove their entities farther with their riddles. .

"There is hope. There is more if you only look for it."

"There is nothing you can do."

"If you believe…"

"Nothing…"

"You can save…"

"She will die…"

"Time can change…"

"Time will do nothing…"

"Time…"

"Time…" both of their voices seemed to overlap themselves.

"You both speak of time as a person." Keio mumbled in confusion.

"Time is embodied…"

"In one body…"

"Than who is time?" Both figures for the first time stopped and stared at each other. The pendulum stopped swinging. They looked back at him.

"Time is You." The vision seemed to crack like a broken mirror before everything fell away.

Visions ended

Keio's eyes snapped open, his heart beating faster, his breathing in gasps. With a start he looked around him. Things whirled in front of his vision as if everything was moving faster than it should. Shaking his head, everything seemed to right itself. He didn't stop to take in the pleasure of seeing things in their right speed, as he began running in the direction he believed he should be. His sword seemed to slice through those who got in his way like a sharp knife through a piece of succulent fruit.

Authors Ending Note: I don't really like how the Inu/Kag intereaction particularily turned out. I rewrote it quite a few times and so far this turned out to be the most satisfactory of them all. I did try though-so kudos for me for trying:)