So you all are wondering what exactly is going on. Would Ikuto truly do something so evil? It's a good question...I guess you'll have to read to find out.

Check out my new story "The Ruler of All." It's so good!

Q: Since Inuyasha becomes human one night, does Ikuto have a night when he's weaker?

A: No.

Chapter 43

I do not own Inuyasha

"Inuyasha?" Kagome left her home and began calling out his name. 'He should be here by now. It's already night.' "Inuyasha?" When she went to the well, and saw his body on the ground, her own body completely froze up. She was unable to move, or to speak. All she knew was that a human Inuyasha was unconscious on the floor, and he was bleeding. "Inuyasha!" She finally regained the ability to move and ran down the stairs to him. She turned over his body to look at his face, and his wound. "Inuyasha?"

He barely opened his eyes. "Kagome...I'm glad you're alright..." He was struggling to keep awake. He had to tell her the truth. "Kagome...stay away from..."

"Inuyasha? What are you saying?"

"Ikuto. You have to..." His eyes shut and he lost consciousness before he could tell her the truth about what really happened.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome was too afraid and worried to even wonder about what he was trying to say. She looked around for someone to help. "Mom! Souta! Anybody!" Tears began to readily stream down her face. "Somebody help me!" She didn't want to leave him there, all alone. She didn't know what to do exactly. 'I don't want to leave him, but no one can hear me from out here. I've got to call someone.' And there arose another problem. 'Who should I call? What should I do? What if I take him to the hospital and he turns into a demon there? I can't do this patch up work on my own. He's dying.' The thought of who could have done it, didn't cross her mind. All she knew was that Inuyasha was hurt, and she had to do something about it. "Just hold on! Just hold on! Stay with me Inuyasha, please stay with me!"

A few hours later, Kagome found herself twiddling her thumbs in sheer nervousness while she sat in Suno's office with him. He asked her to come in there so they could talk privately. She was shaking, because she was so scared. She had been at the Kazasami's for hours, and they still wouldn't let her go in to see him. "I should really be with Inuyasha right now."

"The doctor can't have anyone in the room while he's working, Kagome. You'd only get in his way. There's nothing you can do for him right now." Suno sighed. She was becoming a problem. "Kagome, you're very fortunate that Dr. Tokishima happened to be here. Ikuto had fallen ill, so we sent for him. There's no better doctor in the world and he'll do everything totally off the books, because I can pay him in cash. He won't speak to the press, so even if Inuyasha were to transform, he won't say, and he won't even ask too many questions. He's loyal."

"Thank you very much." Her voice was quivering. Even with all the comfort he gave, she was still frightened. "When I saw him hurt..." she shrugged her shoulders. "I just didn't know who else to call..."

"I was meaning to speak to you anyway Kagome. My little brother has been missing the whole day. Rina told me that when she saw him, he had barely enough energy to move. His condition was pathetic, and he even let out an excruciating yell."

Even though Inuyasha had mentioned Ikuto's name, she hadn't even given one thought to Ikuto. She could only think of Inuyasha. "He was in pain?"

"I'm certain he was in extreme pain, but when I saw him; he claimed that he had merely stubbed his toe. I knew good and well he was lying, but I let it go. Whatever was wrong with my brother, he didn't want me to know. He didn't even want me in his room. I'm afraid that all of this seems too much like a coincidence, Kagome."

"What?" 'Inuyasha did say Ikuto's name. He wanted me to...stay away?' "When did Ikuto get sick?"

"Ever since he lost his memory, he had been a little ill. He said his stomach was upset, and now it's gotten severe. The strange thing about all of this is the pure fact that once I, Sarah, and Rina left, he announced to our staff that they could leave, and then he himself did so as well. I believe there's something wrong, Kagome, and my brother is somehow mixed in with the trouble. If you know anything, I advise you to speak now."

"But...I'm not sure."

"Did Inuyasha say anything to you?"

She hesitantly nodded. "It can't be though."

Suno was honestly tired of her and Ikuto beating around the bush, always hiding something. Suno honestly didn't like Kagome. At first she was alright, but with all of the secrets and trouble, Suno just couldn't afford it. She might have put Ikuto into focus, but she also knocked him out of it a lot too. "Kagome, to be completely honest with you, it's not looking good for Inuyasha. It's not really something a mortal can recover from. He's already lost so much blood. He's probably going to die."

Kagome gasped and covered her mouth. 'Inuyasha has to pull through. He always does...' She closed her eyes to try and stop her tears, but they fell anyway. "Inuyasha has to make it. He can't die."

"Kagome, just tell me what you know. It seems too odd. There's something out to get you, Inuyasha, and my brother. You were sick and it drew Ikuto into the past. Because of that, he himself lost his memory and became very sick. Now Inuyasha is dying. You had best speak. You need to tell me everything before someone else gets dragged into this mess, Kagome."

"Inuyasha...he told me that...I believe he wants me to stay away from Ikuto. He acted as if..." Kagome didn't want to say anymore. Suno looked as if he didn't want to hear anymore either. Suno was smart enough to figure it out, and denied it right away.

"What you're implying is ridiculous."

"I know. Ikuto would never do something like that! I mean-"

"My little brother isn't that stupid" Suno pointed out. "He'd never."

'Yeah, that and he's a good person.' "I wonder what really happened and where he is. If he's sick, then..." 'Inuyasha wouldn't have lied to me though. Inuyasha has to be right. He wanted me to stay away from Ikuto. Maybe Naraku possessed him, and he's dangerous.' She couldn't bring herself to believe even that. 'Ikuto wouldn't hurt me while he was possessed. He might have fought Inuyasha, but Inuyasha is actually dying. He couldn't...could he?'

"Kagome?"

"Suno, could you all keep a watch over Inuyasha? There's something I've got to do at home."

Suno gazed at Kagome, and studied her features. 'She looks so serious. She wouldn't want to leave Inuyasha if it weren't for a good reason. She must know where Ikuto is, or at least have an idea. She knows something. I've asked her and if she was going to be completely honest, then she would tell me, and I wouldn't have to ask. I suppose she doesn't want me to get dragged into her troubles, but she doesn't realize that I'm already in it. I'll follow her.' "Alright Kagome, but what do you plan on doing?"

"I've got something that I need to take care of and then I'll be back."

'She's willing to leave Inuyasha, even though he's dying.' "You're comfortable with leaving Inuyasha?"

"It shouldn't take that long. I don't want to leave him, but I absolutely have something to do. Besides, I'll see him before I go, and by the time I'm back, Inuyasha should be a little better, shouldn't he?"

"Stop being so delusional, Kagome. I said he was dying. His wound is infected and he's lost too much blood. He won't last until sunrise. You had best stay here until he goes."

"No!" she yelled. "Inuyasha can make it! He's going to make it! He's going to be alright when I get back! He's going to be okay! You don't know him like I do! Inuyasha always pulls through. Look at your brother! Your brother always somehow manages to come through, even with the worst of circumstances. He's Inuyasha's reincarnation, so I have confidence in Inuyasha! He won't leave! He won't die, especially not this way!"

'She's desperate and in denial. I suppose she should at least believe in him.' "Alright Kagome, I'll keep a watch over him."

Kagome slowly smiled and could have hugged Suno, if he didn't hate her. "Thank you!" She rushed out of his office and got up out of his chair as well.

'Kagome, you're up to something, and if it involves my little brother, than I'm not going to letting you go alone.' Suno picked up the phone sitting on the desk and began dialing a number. "Hello?"

"Mr. Kazasami? How are you doing?"

"Spare me the boring conversation and just get over here Jamon. We've got work to do."

"Yes sir..."

Rina was lying in her bed, too worried about Ikuto to actually go to sleep, and too curious wondering what happened to Inuyasha and why everyone wanted her to stay in her room. 'I don't get it. I wonder why Ikuto was so sick and why he had that spider mark on his back.' She also felt guilty about not telling her father about Ikuto. 'Maybe I should tell him about that. I mean, Ikuto did feel really bad.'

Rina couldn't stop worrying about Ikuto and couldn't go to sleep. To comfort her wondering mind, she ran to Ikuto's room and ran into Ikuto's bed and got under his blanket. 'He'll wake me up when he comes home and I'll get to see him.' She closed her eyes and waited for everything to be alright. She wanted to see him and she knew she wouldn't get any sleep unless she saw him. 'Ikuto, come home!' Rina noticed that the room was cold, so she wrapped herself up in the blanket, but she wondered why it was so cold. Rina looked up to see that the window was open.

"I wonder…" She gulped. Rina jumped as she heard the water rushing in the bathroom. 'Someone is in here?' "I-Ikuto?" She heard the water stop and the bathroom door open. She was so frightened. She didn't know why. She just was. "Ikuto?"

Ikuto opened the bathroom door and looked a bit angry and a bit surprised. "Why are you in my room?"

"How did you get in the house? Nobody knows you're here. Did you climb through the window?"

'Yes.' "Don't be silly. It's too high up. I can't possibly get up to the window. I obviously used the front door. Everybody saw me come in."

"Oh…" she jumped out of Ikuto's bed and hugged him tightly. "I was worried about you!"

"You were?" She nodded and he patted her on the head. "Well little Rina, we have a very serious situation on our hands." She looked up at him with great question, and that was when he realized what he should do. "Rina, you haven't told anyone about the mark on my back, have you?"

She shook her head. "I haven't told daddy, but I think we should, if it's important."

"It's not. I just had bad memories from long ago about the fire when you said it was a burn mark. You know thinking about it bothers me."

"Yeah, I remember." She let him go and he became eye level with her.

"Rina, I need you to come with me. I need your help. If you don't help me, then I can't get better and help Inuyasha. Will you come?"

"Yeah, but I should ask my daddy if it's okay."

"Don't worry. It's all taken care of. I already asked your father, but if you were too tired, I had to leave you alone. So, are you willing to come with me, little niece?"

"Sure thing…" Rina was a little girl, but she still thought something was wrong with her uncle. Still, she would do what he asked; if he said it would help out. Rina was more sweet than anything.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome couldn't enter the room. She had just asked, but the doctor was still inside the room with Inuyasha, tending to his wounds. He was in too much critical condition for her to actually come in and see him. She just waited outside the door with her hand pressed against it. 'I swear I'll find out what's really going on, and I'll make it okay, Inuyasha.' Kagome had to stop herself from crying. 'Inuyasha, you've always been there for me. You've always just wanted to protect me, more than anything. Protecting me is the most important thing to you. You've kept such a close eye on me. You've watched me learn, grow mature, and you've been there for me. Sure you were frustrating a lot of the time, but with all of the struggles we had, it's been worth it. You've even been willing to lay down your love for me and instructed me to go with Ikuto for the purpose of just protecting me. Well, now I've got something to do, and I've got to see it through for your sake, Inuyasha. I'll make it right.'

Kagome told herself over and over again that everything would be alright. She wouldn't allow herself to believe Inuyasha was going to die. She couldn't. 'We'll always be connected Inuyasha. Even though I can't see you now, I know we're connected, and I know you can pull through. I love you, Inuyasha.' Her hand slipped off of the door and she forced herself to leave that spot. She wanted to open it and go right in, but she couldn't. She could mess up something important, and Inuyasha could really die. 'I know you'll make it. I believe in you. I know you want me to be safe, but I can't just let Naraku get away with whatever he's done. I think I know what's going on, and you won't be safe and neither will Ikuto if I don't do something.'

Kagome had to wipe one more tear away. 'When you were lying on the ground, almost lifeless, and dying, you didn't think about yourself. You wanted me to be safe. You warned me. You're so selfish, and yet so selfless when it comes to me.' "I'll be back to see you when you wake up, Inuyasha. Don't worry about me."

Kagome was escorted back to her house by Suno's butler, who was about to go home anyway. Once she had gotten there, she ran into her home. She didn't usually keep a bow and arrows around, but with her nightmare, she kept some safely stored away in her room. The bow was under her bed and her arrows were in a box in the closet. 'I hope I know what I'm doing.' Kagome didn't have to worry about her family, since they were at the Kazasami's house. Someone had to calm Kagome's nerves while Inuyasha was being taken care of, and they helped a little. 'I didn't tell them goodbye.' She regretted it, and she didn't know quite why. 'I'll be back.'

"Suno!" Sarah had to stop her husband before he left out the door. He looked like he was in a hurry, but Sarah was in a panic. "I can't find Rina."

Suno let a slight look of worry come over his face for a moment. "She should be sleeping. It's past her bed time."

"I know, but she's not in her room. Sometimes she'll climb into our bed so she can wake up again, but she's not in ours and I even checked Ikuto's. I've checked the bathrooms, the closets, and every room upstairs."

"I haven't seen her down here."

"Then where is she?"

Suno hurried upstairs to the culprit's room. He just had a bad feeling, and it was for good reason. When he entered into Ikuto's room, he noticed that the window was open. When he went to shut it, he noticed a little speck of blood on the window seal. 'He couldn't have.' Suno then went into Ikuto's bathroom and noticed that the sink was wet. 'He's recently been here, and now Rina is missing?' Suno just knew that she was in trouble, even if she was with her uncle. Something had to be done. 'Rina…'

Kagome came to the sacred tree with her bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. She had backup arrows just in case she needed more. Hopefully, this would be over quickly. Someone else was bound to get hurt, if she didn't do something.

"Rina?" It was Rina. Rina was sleeping with her back against the sacred tree. She didn't look injured though. "Come out now!"

Ikuto jumped out of the tree and landed gracefully on his feet. He had a wicked smile on his face. Whatever he had done, he was obviously proud of all of it. He had no guilt in his eyes. "Hello Kagome. I wasn't expecting to see you so soon." He jumped over the little fence around the sacred tree and took a step closer to Kagome. "So, how did you know I was here?"

"You like irony, Naraku. I figured you'd be here."

Ikuto started out with a small chuckle, and then busted out into uncontrollable laughter. He couldn't stop laughing. Kagome didn't drop her serious composure. Once Ikuto saw that she wasn't going to change her mind, he sighed. "I'm sorry Kagome; I just think it's really funny. I just think it's hysterical that you think I'm Naraku and not Ikuto."

"You aren't Ikuto!"

"Really?" Ikuto asked. "Well, Naraku wouldn't know about..." Ikuto stroked his chin, trying to figure out what he should exactly say. "Here's one, on our first official date, if you don't count when Inuyasha tagged along, we went to a diner and met my only ex girlfriend, Lari."

Kagome's grip loosened a little bit on her bow. "So what! That doesn't prove anything. You're just trying to trick me!"

"Not proof enough for you? Well, how about when you tripped when you and I were walking down the isle at my brother's wedding? How about the time when I ran into a burning building so you wouldn't go inside and get yourself killed, even though I'm deathly afraid of fires? Or how about the time that you and I were kissing, or first real mouth to mouth making out type of kiss? Don't you remember that?" Ikuto saw the guilt come on Kagome's face. "You called me Inuyasha. Now Naraku wouldn't know something like that, but a bitter and pretty pissed off Ikuto sure would."

He did know a lot, but somehow, someway, it couldn't be Ikuto. "Why is Rina here?"

"To draw her precious daddy here, of course. I plan on killing you all off, kind of like dominos. You see, I first kill Inuyasha, which is going to start the chain reaction to all of you dying. I'll kill you, and when Suno arrives, I'll kill him. Then, I'll kill Rina, and maybe her mom, just for kicks. Although, it might just be more fun watching her wallow in pain with the fact that she's once again a widow and with only one child. Then again, I might just beat the crap out of her until she can't have Suno's baby. That sounds like fun, doesn't it?"

"Only Naraku would-"

"What kill? No, people kill each other all of the time. People become psychotic sociopaths all of the time. Those aren't demon qualities. They aren't just demons qualities! People can be bad or good. I was good, and now I'm," he shrugged his shoulders "I'm pure evil."

"I've heard enough of this Naraku!" Kagome fired an arrow, but Ikuto easily got out of the way. Before she could fire another, he had ran up to her and snatched the bow out of her hands and thrown it a far distance from her.

"You poor, pathetic soul." He backhanded her, knocking her down, flat on her back. She hit her head upon impact and really hurt herself. "You know Kagome, you're moving extra slow. Maybe you're too tired. I mean, what time is it? Isn't it like four in the morning? You've been up all night. You've been with Inuyasha for hours, waiting for him to get better, and then you came here from my house, and that takes a while. You could have at least slept on the way, Kagome."

"You're not going to get away with this, Naraku."

"Don't be so naïve, Kagome. Naraku can't even come through the well. Use your brain." He got on his knees and grabbed Kagome's hands and pinned them down. "I'm Ikuto, Kagome."

"Ikuto would never hurt Inuyasha."

"That's really interesting that you'd say that. I mean, why wouldn't I kill the guy, since my existence depends on him dying? Why wouldn't I kill my arch rival so I could have you all to myself?" Ikuto leaned in on Kagome until he was right above her lips. She struggled to get away, but he was much too strong. "It never really did make sense why you loved Inuyasha so much. I mean, he doesn't really love you, he loves Kikyou. He'll always love Kikyou. She still loves him in a sick 'death do us part' kind of way. That's why we love each other. We're like their aftershock. Don't you understand?" He smelt her sweet scent. "My Kagome, you certainly are lovely."

"Get away from me, Naraku!"

"Naraku doesn't want you! He would much rather prefer the very hot Kikyou. The only person who does want you is the guy you keep rejecting. It's not even a hard choice Kagome! Money, power, my devilish good looks, security, I live in your era, and I actually love you." Kagome continued to struggle, but he was too strong to escape, and he planted a soft kiss on her lips. Once he got it, he let her go. They both got back on their feet and prepared themselves to continue their little battle.

'He's crazy!' "You're not Ikuto…" This time, she wasn't so sure.

"Oh Kagome, its funny that you want do deny me and all, but I guess it all doesn't matter in the end. What really matters is that by now, Inuyasha should be dead. Now you and I can begin our tragic tale, Kagome. Here, in this very spot, we'll die. Go ahead and kill me Kagome." He smirked. "Go ahead and try. This is where our relationship ends and we learn to hate each other. This is where it all ends, and where the tragedy begins."

"Inuyasha isn't dead, and you're not Ikuto."

He only chuckled. "Believe what you want to, but in the end, it doesn't really matter. It all ends today."

To Be Continued…

A/N: No! Ikuto is evil and wants to kill everyone? Kagome doesn't think it's him! Is she right? And is Inuyasha really gone? And what about Suno? Can he arrive on time to save his daughter and Kagome? You'll have to review and find out!

Check out my new story "The Ruler of All."