Konnichiwa, minna! Here's the next chapter. Not much more to say...

Disclaimer: My mom says I should say this every chapter because she thinks people start reading halfway through the story... -sigh- Mothers... Anyway, no I don't own Inuyasha. Come on people, if I was really Rumiko Takahashi, I'd be writing in Japanese and these stories would be episodes or movies...

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"INUYASHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Shippou suddenly screamed, jerking Inuyasha from his thoughts. What the...? I smell a demon! It smells familiar...But from where? He ran off in the direction of Shippou's voice and the demon's scent. He reached Shippou, standing before a kitsune demon and staring at her intently.

Sango's eyes widened and Kirara stopped in midair as she heard Shippou's cry. The demon cat sniffed the air and growled. "What is it, Kirara?" The giant feline turned around and sped off toward Shippou's voice. They landed to find the same scene that Inuyasha had. Sango dismounted and straightened up to face the newcomer.

"She smells so familiar..." Shippou was saying.

The demon was about Miroku's height. She was thin and muscular, with lightly tanned skin. She wore clothes made of red fox fur. Her top looked like a regular thick-strap tank top that stopped just under her bust, showing off her stomach, with a deep V-neck that showed enough cleavage to be enticing but not enough to be gross. Her skirt started at her hips and reached halfway down her thighs, showing off quite a bit of skin. She also had armbands that went from her wrist to her elbow, and leg bands that reached from her ankles to her knee. Her thick bright red hair reached just above her butt, and two strands hung down in front, framing her face, that reached the bottom of her shirt. Two red fox ears popped out of her hair. Around her neck was a necklace made of a black string with a white fang as its pendant. Her shoes weren't really shoes at all, but instead pieces of cloth that were wrapped around her feet and tied at the ankles with pieces of tan string. Long, sharp claws adorned her hands, and two fangs hung over her bottom lip as she smiled. Two red fox tails tipped with white swished around behind her. Her emerald green eyes flashed dangerously.

"She's the demon that attacked Kagome. I'm sure of it," Inuyasha stated.

Kagome looked at him. She had never heard his voice quite like that before. It was filled with a hatred for the demon that Kagome had never heard before and something else... Was it regret? Guilt?

Inuyasha's voice broke through her thoughts, "What do you want?"

The kitsune demon smiled, a fang poking its head out of her mouth, giving it a strangely malicious look. "My name is Kyoko. I have come to destroy you, Inuyasha." Her voice was mocking and reminded everyone of Kagura's voice, except it held an element of hardness, like a warrior's.

A glint of glowing pink caught Kagome's eye. It was coming from Kyoko's left arm. She felt a pull at her mind. "Inuyasha! She has a jewel shard in her left arm. About halfway down her upper arm."

Inuyasha nodded. "You weren't strong enough to face me on your own, so you got Naraku to give you a jewel shard, huh? Anyone who needs a jewel shard to defeat me won't be much of a challenge. You're going down!"

Kyoko cracked her knuckles and smirked, waiting for Inuyasha to reach her. When he was close enough, Inuyasha swiped at her face. Kyoko lifted her arm up to protect herself. The jewel shard glowed as the attack hit it, and repelled it. Inuyasha jumped back, smirking. "Guess I need to steal that jewel shard first." He ran forward and swiped again. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" The attack hit Kyoko head-on. She fell backwards on her butt with the force his attack. There were bloody scratches across her face, chest, and legs. She stared at her leg wounds for a moment in thought before standing up and scowling. She touched her face and pulled her finger back to find it covered in blood.

"You'll pay for that, mutt-face! No one attacks me like this and lives!"

Inuyasha smirked, "Except for me."

Kyoko growled and clenched her left fist. She squeezed it tight and stared at Inuyasha intently. Then she unclenched her fist, revealing that she had cut herself with her nails, and opened it, palm facing the sky, brought it closer to her face, and blew across it, as if blowing a feather off it or something. The drops of blood blew off her palm like seeds of a dandelion and landed in front of Inuyasha. He stared at it expectantly. They began to jiggle and mold until they took the forms of little 6-inch-high creatures. They had tiny green dragon wings, clawed feet and hands, and olive green bodies covered in scales. They had long snouts, black, beady eyes, and elfin ears like Kouga's. A long green lizard's tail swished behind them. Inuyasha snorted. "Am I supposed to be scared of these pathetic lizard things?"

Kyoko only smiled. "Well, yes, but only after you've fought them."

Inuyasha snorted, "Killing those things wouldn't be a fight." Kyoko only smiled wider. One of the dragon-things flapped its wings and flew up so it was at the same level as his face. Inuyasha swiped at it casually with one hand and it fell to the ground in two parts and disappeared into thin air. The others all jumped up and began feebly attacking Inuyasha. He laughed and swiped half of them. They fell to the ground and disappeared. The rest of them jumped back and stood up, one on top of the other, as if performing a human tower for a circus act. They glowed a bright white and morphed into one being. When the glow subsided, the little dragons had disappeared and in their place was a larger version, a little over 3 feet high. It gave a great roar and fire spewed out of its mouth, almost burning Inuyasha. The creature advanced forward, blowing fire out of its mouth. Inuyasha covered his face with his sleeve. The flames bounced off his fire-rat kimono harmlessly. He smirked wider and jumped forward. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" The creature stepped backward as the attack slashed its body. Inuyasha slashed it again and the creature was cut to bits.

Kyoko looked surprised. "I guess I underestimated you, Inuyasha." She leapt forward and slashed with her own claws, but Inuyasha jumped back just in time.

"Your creatures were so weak that you have to fight me on your own, huh?"

"Perhaps they were. But I am much stronger than any of my creatures."

"Sure. Show me."

"I will." She leapt up into the air and jump-kicked Inuyasha in the chest. He stumbled backward. She kicked and punched him with lightening fast speed and it was all he could do to block her attacks. She slashed his chest, this time opening it, causing blood to drip down his kimono, staining it an even deeper red.

Inuyasha smirked. "Thanks, wench." He stuck his hand into his wound.

Kyoko stared. "W-What are you doing?"

Inuyasha's smirk widened. "This." He pulled his bloody hand out and flung it forward. "Blades of Blood!" The crimson blades sped toward her, cutting through her skin, causing spurts of blood to erupt all over her. None of the gashes were fatal, but they hurt.

"You bastard!" Kyoko screamed. She clenched both fists this time, and shut her eyes tight again. Blood once again streamed down her arm. She opened both, palms to the sky, and lifted her face to the sky. The blood rose into the air like bubbles. They came together to form a giant bubble of crimson blood. It floated over to where and Inuyasha was standing and landed on the grass in front of him. It jiggled and wiggled as if someone was flailing its arms and struggling inside it. Finally, it popped and inside was a young woman with a white gi and red hakamas: the traditional priestess costume.

Inuyasha's eyes widened. There, in front of him, was Kikyou. Kagome gasped. Inuyasha can't fight Kikyou...he loves her! Kyoko is definitely a puppet of Naraku. Inuyasha blinked, but the priestess remained in front of him. "Kikyou..."

Shippou's voice broke the silence, "Inuyasha, she's just an illusion!"

Kyoko sounded amused, "The kitsune kit can see through my illusion. Good job, young one, but just seeing won't save you, or your friend."

Shippou and Inuyasha growled simultaneously. "Listen, wench, I'm not gonna fall for your stupid tricks! Haaaa!" Inuyasha sprung forward with a great cry, pulling Tetsusaiga from its sheath in the process. Kyoko stumbled backward as the sword cut into her shoulder. She twisted around; dodging the rest of the attack, leaving her with a cut much shallower than Inuyasha intended to give her.

Inuyasha swung Tetsusaiga again, this time succeeding in cutting deep into Kyoko's arm. She kicked him, effectively stopping the attack, but not before Inuyasha slashed her face. Inuyasha and Kyoko jumped apart, Inuyasha having been kicked in the chest, and Kyoko with a cut in her arm and claw marks across her face.

Kagome averted her attention from Inuyasha's fight to Shippou who was concentrating very hard next to her. "Shippou?" she questioned.

He appeared not to have heard her when suddenly his head snapped up.

"Kagome! I figured out why she smelled so familiar!"

Kagome looked at him. "Why?"

"I've seen her before and that's why I remember her scent!"

"You've met this demon before, Shippou?" Sango asked.

Shippou nodded. "More than met her."

Miroku looked intensely at Shippou for a moment before turning to look at Kyoko. "Did you meet her before you met Inuyasha and Kagome or after?" he inquired.

"Before. But I haven't seen her since I was very little. The Thunder Brothers kidnapped her, so I don't really remember her."

It finally began to dawn on Sango and Kagome, but Miroku was still left in the dark.

"Who is she?" he asked.

Shippou smiled slightly, "She's my mother, Miroku."

(A/N: I should end it here, but I'm jus too nice...)

All three gasped. Inuyasha and Kyoko's ears swiveled back to catch what Shippou had just said. Inuyasha fully turned in surprise. Kyoko's eyes widened. "W-What?" Inuyasha stuttered.

Images of herself playing with a young kitsune cub, a handsome kitsune demon next to her played before her eyes. Her mind reeled. She was the vixen, and the kitsune next to her must have been her mate, and the cub was her son. It all came back to her. Then the image changed and the memory of her kidnapping by the Thunder Brothers was replayed. She had lost her mate and son forever, it seemed. His name was Shippou. "Shippou..." He looked up into the eyes of his long-lost mother. "What happened to your father?"

Shippou looked away for a moment. "The Thunder Brothers killed him."

Kyoko's fists clenched. "I'll kill them! How dare they!"

Shippou shook his head, "They've already been defeated."

Kyoko's looked back at him in confusion. "By who?"

"Inuyasha."

Kyoko's eyes widened. "You avenged my mate's death?"

Inuyasha nodded hesitantly. "Yea."

"How can I kill you? You avenged my mate's death," Kyoko said to herself.

"Who sent you to kill me?"

Kyoko looked at him confusion again. "Who...sent me?"

"Yea, who told you to come and kill me? And who sent you to hurt Kagome?"

"I...don't remember...all I remember is...a white baboon cloak."

Inuyasha growled. "That's definitely Naraku," Miroku commented.

Kyoko jerked slightly, "Yea, that was his name...he took my memories and my free will...it's in a sphere..." Her voice trailed away and she jerked again, this time more violently. Her pupils dilated and she flexed her claws. "Enough talk, it's time to kill you."

"Inuyasha!" Miroku called out, "Her mind is being controlled by Naraku, just like Kohaku was! Although she managed to break free of his grasp for a few moments, he's obviously recaptured her mind! Don't kill her!"

Inuyasha growled. "How can I not kill her? She'll kill me if I don't!"

Shippou cried out, attempting to convince Inuyasha, "Please Inuyasha! Just knock her out!"

Inuyasha nodded. Kagome smiled, "Thank you, Inuyasha," she whispered, but he heard her. He smiled slightly.

Shippou smiled in relief. "Thank you, Inuyasha! I owe you one," he murmured.

Inuyasha heard him too. "Like hell you do, kid!" He sped forward around to

Kyoko's unprotected back and punched her in the head. She stumbled forwards, stars decorating her vision. Through the pain, she managed to bring her head up and face Inuyasha again. She charged him, but her run was crooked and that cost her. Inuyasha took advantage of her inability to see straight and struck her with his claws across the chest. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" That sent her flying backwards. She landed and skidded on her butt where she finally came to rest at Miroku's feet. He clouted her head a hard blow with his staff. Kyoko fell backward so her body was stretched out on the ground.

Inuyasha walked over to her unconscious form. "She can't have come from far away. That means Naraku is close."

Miroku nodded. "We should set off right away before it gets dark." Inuyasha nodded in response.

Kagome ran into the hut. "Kaede! We'll be gone for a while, but we'll be back soon! We're leaving right now."

Kaede nodded. "Alright, just be careful, child. Remember that ye are not a human any longer." Kagome nodded sadly. "But fear not, child, I'll do all I can to find a cure."

"Thank you, Kaede. Ok, bye!"

She waved to the old woman as they set off. Kagome climbed on Inuyasha's back, and Shippou, Miroku, and Sango sat on Kirara. They set off at demon speed. Inuyasha sniffed the air. "I smell him. He's not too far. We should get there by nightfall."

Kagome nodded. "Inuyasha?"

"Hmm?"

"What if we manage to kill Naraku this time?"

"We won't have to worry about him and his evil plots anymore. It's not a bad thing."

"I know...but then we'll get his part of the jewel and we'll have almost the whole jewel."

"And we'll be able to complete the jewel!"

"Yea..."

"What's the matter?"

"Once we destroy Naraku and finish the jewel, we'll be finished."

"Whadya mean?"

"Sango and Miroku only stick around because they want to kill Naraku and to help us with the jewel. Once Naraku is dead, they'll have no reason to stay. And you won't need me anymore once the jewel is finished."

Inuyasha frowned. That hadn't occurred to him. It never crossed his mind that once everything's finished, no one would need to stick around. He'd be alone again. No! I'll figure out something. I won't be alone again. He would've continued his thoughts had the stench of Naraku not just become much stronger. "We're close..." he muttered.

Kagome nodded, thoughts of the future ebbing away, and a determined glint in her eye.

They reached the castle and the atmosphere tensed immediately. Inuyasha jumped the castle wall easily and Kirara flew over it. They both landed quietly in the courtyard. Inuyasha let Kagome off his back and Sango, Miroku, and Shippou slid off Kirara's back. Everyone stood on guard, backs to eachother in a tight-knit circle. Inuyasha placed Kyoko, whom he had been holding in his arms, down on the ground. Inuyasha sniffed the air. "No one's here."

Kagome nodded to Shippou. Inuyasha pointed to a door to his left. "In there."

Shippou nodded and began walking in the direction of the room. He slid open the door a fractional amount and slipped in. The last they saw of him was his bushy tail, which disappeared around the edge of the door. Inside was dark, so they couldn't see anything. Kagome began to fret after a few minutes. Sango placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Shippou will be fine. If Inuyasha says there's no one here, then he's safe. Besides, if anything happens, we're all here to protect him." Kagome nodded, grateful for the comfort.

Shippou tiptoed around the room, searching for the sphere that Kyoko had briefly mentioned. In the back of the room, he saw a low wooden table, the kind usually used for meals. He tiptoed over cautiously, and there it was: a small sphere, about the size of Kagome's hand. Its smooth surface glistened and shined with the sliver of light that made its way from the crack in the door, across the floor, to the table. The moonlight illuminated it, showing off its glassy exterior. It appeared to have been submerged in grease, for the line of light caused a mass of rainbows to erupt across the surface of the sphere, changing colors and patterns as you rotated the object. It was gorgeous, and yet so simple. Shippou blinked and pulled himself from his trance. He picked the sphere up delicately with his tiny paws and tiptoed out once again. It was a little big for his hands, but he took great care not to drop it. Once out f the room, he slid the door shut with his foot. As it 'click'ed behind him, he scampered toward the circle of friends who stood in the middle of the courtyard, anxiously awaiting his successful return. Kagome looked up as she heard his light footsteps. Her eyes were tearing slightly. "Kagome?" Shippou asked innocently, "What's wrong?"

Kagome smiled in relief and dried her eyes on her sleeve quickly. "Nothing, Shippou, I was just worried that something had happened to you in there..."

Shippou grinned at her, "I'm safe!"

She nodded and smiled back at him. "I know. That's good. Now let's get out of here."

Shippou nodded and handed Sango the sphere, which she accepted carefully. Then, she climbed on Kirara's back, followed by Miroku and Shippou and set off. Inuyasha bent down to allow Kagome to climb on his back, picked Kyoko up in his arms, and then jumped up, catching easily up to the large demon cat. They journeyed back to Kaede's hut, the atmosphere much more relaxed than it had been for the past fifteen minutes.

Inuyasha landed next to Kirara about an hour later, in front of Kaede's hut.

Kaede stepped out, yawning slightly. "Did ye find anything?"

Kagome nodded. "Yeah, we found the sphere that we were looking for."

Kaede smiled and nodded. "I have not yet found anything of use, but I'll keep looking. The night is waning; ye should get some sleep. I will wake ye if I find anything."

Kagome nodded gratefully and yawned. She walked into the hut and immediately fell asleep on one of the futons. Sango, Miroku, and Shppou followed suit. Inuyasha waited a moment outside, staring at the stars, before following his friends in. He lay Kyoko down on the ground, as far away from Kagome as possible so that should she wake, she would not be close enough to hurt Kagome. Then, he placed himself in between the two girls, closer to Kagome, against the wall. Closing his eyes, he fell into a light sleep.

The next morning, Inuyasha awoke to the sound of Sango hitting Miroku with a resounding 'SLAP!' He shook his head. When will he learn? He stood up, stretched a little, and looked around the hut. Sango and Miroku's futons were folded up, a clear sign that they had been up for a while. The events of the day before came rushing back and he immediately looked down to her Kagome had been sleeping. She was sleeping peacefully, to his great relief. He checked his other side to find Kyoko was just stirring. Inuyasha tensed slightly. The cat demon yawned, opened her eyes, and spotted Inuyasha. She visibly tensed and leapt up. "What's going on? What happened?"

Inuyasha relaxed. She wouldn't attack until she knew what was going on. "Come with me."

Kyoko narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Why? Where are you taking me?"

Inuyasha sighed irritably, "Just outside." He bent down and gently shook Kagome. Shippou was nowhere to be found, meaning he was already awake and outside with Sango and Miroku. "Kagome..." he whispered, "Kagome, it's time to wake up."

Kagome moaned and her eyes fluttered open. "Inu-Inuyasha?"

He smiled kindly at her. "C'mon. We have work to do." He nodded toward the kitsune demon behind him. Her eyes widened in recognition and realization and she nodded. She sat up and he helped her stand up. She smiled at him and they walked out, Kyoko closely following.

Once outside, Sango, Miroku, and Shippou looked up at them. "Good morning, Inuyasha. Good morning, Lady Kagome. Good morning, Kyoko," greeted Miroku with a sunny smile. Sango paid them the same respects.

Kagome smiled back. "Good morning to you too, Sango, Miroku," she answered, nodding to each in turn. Inuyasha and Kyoko each gave curt nods. Inuyasha held out his hand and opened it to reveal the sphere. Kagome took it from him and turned to look at Kyoko.

Inuyasha grinned slyly, "Just stand still while we do this."

Kyoko began to back away, "No way. What sort of trickery is this?"

Kagome protested, "This isn't a trick. We just want to see something. If this works, you'll feel a lot better, I promise, but if it doesn't work, we'll just look like idiots."

Kyoko considered this for a moment before giving her answer. "No."

Kagome looked helplessly to Inuyasha before facing Kyoko again. "Why not?"

"Because I cannot trust you."

"Why not?"

"You are my enemy."

"So? You're our enemy too! You tried to kill me and you turned me into...this!"

The kitsune demon narrowed her eyes. "Fine. But if you so much as touch me with anything besides that sphere, I will not hesitate to kill you."

Fear flickered across Kagome's eyes, but she nodded all the same. "That's fine with me." Kyoko nodded. Kagome placed the cool surface of the sphere against Kyoko's forehead and waited. Nothing happened. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened. She concentrated even harder. Still nothing. Finally, she concentrated so hard, that everything around her disappeared except for herself and Kyoko. It was just them. Fog swirled around the two, blotches of red decorating the black scenery. Lightening flashed and the sphere began to glow. Its power surged into Kyoko, all her memories and free will returning like a giant tidal wave. Kyoko's eyes flew wide open and she froze. Kagome began to gasp. She was having trouble breathing. Her heart pounded and she began to wonder how Kyoko could not hear it. A strange sensation attacked her body. It was as though her energy was being drained, slipping through her body like sand through her fingers. Finally, the sphere stopped glowing and the fog around them cleared. Kagome fell to her knees. Inuyasha easily caught her, as Shippou rushed to catch the sphere. When both were concluded to be safe, Sango and Miroku heaved a sigh. Kyoko, however, was still frozen.

Inuyasha looked deep into Kagome's eyes, quickly becoming transfixed. He mentally slapped himself back to reality. "Are you alright, Kagome?"

She nodded and managed to answer him between gasps. "I...don't know...what happened...It's as though...I...like...all my energy's...gone..."

Inuyasha's eyes reflected his worry. "Are you hurt, though?"

She shook her head and winced, "I'm...fine...don't worry." She offered him a weak smile and he smiled back in return. When Kagome had regained her breath, the five companions gathered around Kyoko.

Shippou reaches his little hands up as high as they would go, offering Kagome the sphere. "Here, Kagome." He grinned at her as she accepted it, but although she was safe from falling because Inuyasha held her steady, the sphere was not. It slipped from her finger and smashed on the ground into a hundred tiny pieces of shiny glass. Kyoko blinked into consciousness and mobility as soon as the sphere broke, but Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Shippou did not notice this right away as they were staring dejectedly at the broken shards of what used to be a beautiful shining sphere that housed Kyoko's memories and free will. They jerked back to their surroundings at the cry of Kyoko.

"Shippou!" She spotted her son and swept him up into a great bear hug, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. "I thought I'd never see you again! Oh my Shippou! My darling son! I've missed you so much! You've grown into a handsome young man!" Shippou beamed and blushed at the compliments, but hugged his long-lost mother all the same. After they had finished their reunion, Kyoko put her son down and wiped her eyes dry. "Where is your father?"

Shippou looked away.

"Shippou?"

"He-He's dead, Mama. The Thunder Brothers killed him." He held no hatred in his voice for them, only a deep sadness. Kagome immediately felt bad for the two of them. Kyoko's eyes widened at the news. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes and threatened to fall.

"Dead?" She asked in a hollow voice.

Shippou nodded. "Yes."

Her fist clenched and her voice filled with hatred and anger. "I will seek out the Thunder Brothers and kill them! I will avenge my mate!"

Shippou shook his head. I've gone over this already... He sighed mentally. "Mama, Inuyasha has already defeated the Thunder Brothers."

"Inu-Inuyasha?"

Shippou nodded, "Yes. He's the dog demon standing behind me."

Kyoko looked at him and smiled gratefully, "I thank you for avenging my mate's death, Inuyasha. I am forever in your debt."

Inuyasha 'feh'ed and looked away to hide his blush. She smiled slightly.

"Will you introduce me to your friends, Shippou?"

He nodded and pointed to each of his friends in turn, starting with Miroku. "That's Miroku. He's a monk and he's traveling with us. See the prayer beads on his left hand? That's the hand with his kazanaa. It's the curse a demon called Naraku placed on his family. That's why he's traveling with us: so he can help kill Naraku and lift the curse." Kyoko nodded. "That's Sango," he continued, pointing to the tajiya this time, "She's a tajiya, but she's my friend," he assured his mother, seeing her step back when he mentioned her occupation as a tajiya. "Naraku killed her village, so she's traveling with us to help avenge her family and friends. She has a demon cat named Kirara. See her?" Kyoko nodded and smiled. "That," he carried on, pointing to Inuyasha this time, "is Inuyasha. He's the one that defeated the Thunder Brothers. He's really strong. That's his sword, Tetsusaiga. It's really powerful. He's traveling with us because Naraku made his old love, Kikyou, betray him and killed her." Inuyasha's eye twitched dangerously. Shippou hurried up with his explanation, knowing Inuyasha didn't like so much information revealed about him. "And that," he finished, pointing to Kagome, "is Kagome. She shattered the sacred jewel and we're helping her find all the shards. She comes from the future. She passes from this time to her time through a well."

Kyoko nodded slowly. "You travel with a strange group of friends, Shippou, but from the way you speak of them, I'd guess you are very close." Her son nodded happily. "And who is this Naraku demon?"

Shippou's expression clouded slightly and everyone scowled. Kyoko was surprised by their response. "He's a terrible demon. There was once a bandit named Onigumo. He was evil, and did not want to die, although he couldn't move at all because he was completely covered in burns. He sold his soul to a host of demons and a new half-demon was formed: Naraku. He placed a curse on Miroku's family, and Miroku has inherited the kazanaa curse. He sent a horde of demons to destroy Sango's village, and now she is the only survivor left. He set Inuyasha and Kikyou against eachother, and then brought Sango's beloved little brother back and forced Sango to fight him. He has no heart and lives only to destroy the lives of others."

Kyoko nodded. "I see. I will help you destroy this Naraku because you are my son's friends."

Shippou grinned in delight, and Sango and Miroku smiled. Kagome nodded happily, but Inuyasha looked away. Shippou looked up at Inuyasha with big puppy eyes. "Please, Inuyasha?"

He didn't answer. Kagome took his silence as a 'no'. She put a hand on his shoulder and Inuyasha looked up at her, blushing slightly at her touch. "I'm sure it would do Shippou some good if he could be with his mother. Otherwise, he and his mother could go off on his own and we'd probably never see him again..."

"Feh. Fine, she can come," he consented gruffly, "But only because she's not a half-bad fighter and she's Shippou's mom."

Kagome smiled happily, "Thanks you, Inuyasha! You're so great!" He blushed and she giggled.

Shippou jumped up and hugged his neck. "Thank you, Inuyasha! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best. His blush deepened, but he flicked the fox child off with his hand carelessly.

"Now you owe me double, kid." Shippou smiled innocently, and Inuyasha grinned at him.

Kyoko sniffed the air suddenly. She looked at Inuyasha and Kagome. "You two are half-demons. I can smell your human blood."

Inuyasha looked away, "Yea, so what if I am?"

Kyoko held her hands up, "Nothing. I'm just saying what I smell."

Kagome protested, "I'm not-" but she stopped as she realized her mistake.

"You're not what?" Kyoko asked.

Kagome blushed and shook her head, "Nothing." She sweatdropped. Right. I AM a half demon.

Kyoko sniffed closer to Kagome, "You smell mostly human, though. Not even half demon." She cocked her head to the side in a questioning gesture.

Inuyasha stepped closer to Kagome in a protective move, glaring at her. "I'm sure you don't remember, but Kagome is a human, except that YOU scratched her and turned her into a kitsune demon."

Kyoko stepped back in shock and surprise. "I did?"

Shippou nodded sadly. "Naraku found you and took your memories and put them in this sphere," he indicated the broken sphere, "He sent you to attack Kagome and you almost killed her. Instead, you spared her life and turned her into a demon. Her transformation isn't complete yet, as you can tell, but it's in motion."

Kyoko's eyes widened at this news. "But I don't remember any of this!"

"You were under Naraku's spell. You wouldn't remember anything. It's not really your fault. You weren't in control of your body at the time," Sango said, her bangs covering her eyes.

Kyoko shook her head, "So? I still hurt her! How could any of you forgive me?"

Sango and Miroku looked at her, "We forgive you because we knew had you known what you were doing, you wouldn't have done it. If only because Shippou would have stopped you."

Shippou nodded, "Yea. So we don't blame you. I forgive you, too."

Kagome smiled, "Me too. I also forgive you."

Inuyasha snorted, "I don't." All eyes fell on him. "She may not have been in control of her actions, but she still hurt Kagome. I can't forgive her."

Kagome smiled at him and hugged him slightly, "Please, Inuyasha, for me, please forgive her," she whispered in his ear. He looked at her intently before nodding slowly.

"Feh. Fine, I guess I forgive you. The one who is really responsible is Naraku. I'm going to kill him!"

Kagome smiled at him. "Thank you, Inuyasha," she murmured. Inuyasha's ears twitched at her words and he smiled slightly at her. She was the only one who saw it, though.

Everyone filed into Kaede's hut to rest a bit. Shippou sat in his mother's lap, happily observing his surroundings. Kaede stepped forward. "We must continue getting the ingredients for Kagome's cure." Everyone nodded, except Kyoko. Kaede glanced at her look of confusion before continuing. "The wound ye inflicted upon Kagome has caused her to begin a transformation into a kitsune demon such as yeself. We have found a cure, but we don't have all the ingredients yet."

Kyoko's eyes widened slightly in understanding and she nodded, smiling, "I'll help then! I'm the one who caused this to happen in the first place, after all."

Kagome's face brightened, "Thank you, Kyoko!"

Sango stood up. "I was going to get some of the ingredients before you came, Kyoko, so I'll continue that journey now." Everyone nodded.

Miroku stood up beside Sango. "May I accompany you?" Sango narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him and he waved his hands before his face in protest. "I mean that innocently! I promise!"

She nodded slowly, "Fine, monk. But if you touch me once..." She left the threat hanging and lifted her Hiraikotsu slightly to emphasize her point.

Miroku nodded vigorously, "Of course!" He grinned weakly under her mistrusting glare.

"Come on, Kirara!" The three stepped outside and the tajiya climbed onto the back of her neko companion, the monk clambering on to sit right behind her. Kirara jumped up and flew off toward the tajiya village.

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Alright!! A new chapter up and posted!!

TaintedInuShemeeko – Aww you're too kind!! I doubt it'll be as good as your work, but I'll try.

Inuyasha Kagome Fanatic – Oo motivation! Yay! I love it when reviewers give me a reason to try harder at my writing skills. You're awesome! Hehe I'll try my best!

LadySword04 – Aww you're too kind, hun! Hehe We can feel special together!

Black Dragon – You'll just have to wait and see, ne?

Ahtnamas – Thanks! I feel so special, I love your stories and you've come to r&r my humble creation... Yes, it's InuKag, worry not dearest!!