THIS IS MY LONGEST CHAPTER! I feel so accomplished! lol. Srry for the long update. I'm sure you can forgive me..right? The tension is building up, and Imust make a correction. Last chapter when I said that the story wascoming to an end, I wasn't completely sure on how I was going to end this story. But now I know, and its going to take a lot more chapters to wrap everything up. so yeah, this isn't that close to the end after all.

Disclaimer:...same as the chapter before last, before last chapter, before last chapter, before last chapter...is this getting old?

Chapter Twelve: Deeper into the Madness

Kai armed herself with a couple of daggers and nothing more. She was confident her miko power could serve as her main weapon. To kill Kiyoshi, she didn't think she needed much strength, because he would refuse to fight her. In the back of her mind the sane quarter demon Kai watched in agony. Her body was moving by the will of her evil desires. No, she cried desperately her words echoing though the endless darkness in her heart. Reality was just a sliver of light faintly illuminating the shadows. Kai sighed, she felt herself slipping away, drowning in her soul. Cool black water gently lapped over her, as she was drawn beneath the surface. She was suspended in the depths of her personal hell. The sane Kai was dominant in her human shell.

But on the outside the evil Kai stood in the distance staring down the village she grew up in. She sensed her mother approaching. She felt a quiver of panic. Kagome's miko powers could easily banish her evil with her sacred arrow. If she was to survive Kagome mustn't find her…

Kai summoned a barrier in the forest. She saw Kagome, Sesshomaru, Rin, and Jaken appear by the barrier, unable to cross. "Now," she muttered to herself. "Where is Kiyoshi?" Kai clenched a dagger in her hand and set off to find the traitor. Many strategies flew through her mind. The many possibilities made her grin. But it was different from her usual smile; this was the menacing smirk of a cold-blooded killer. Her knuckles cracked as she tightened her grip to the point that it drew blood against her skin. She didn't care. She couldn't. All of her feeling was lost. Her own existence revolved around hatred bred from lies. Her existence was fake, and as long as the real Kai lay in the depths of her soul, she was dead. She was beyond redemption. Kai was living in hell.

Kiyoshi ran for cover. He had seen the Akahoshii fly out of nowhere. It narrowly missed his right temple and he wasn't sure if Kai had thrown it. She wouldn't try to kill him. Would she? He shook his head. She was probably aiming for something else, he thought. Kiyoshi's thoughts lingered on Kai. He wondered where she was. Nobody had seen her since the incident with Kohaku. He wanted to see for his own eyes the damage caused. He sensed her blood and froze. The trail was thick, but cold. Panic flooded through him like adrenaline. Kai…

He was running and tripped over an overgrown tree branch. He staggered but quickly regained his balance. Suddenly, a large force slammed into his side. Whoever tackled him went down with him to the ground. He threw the person off and him and stared into the person's violet piercing eyes.

"Kai." He said enormously relieved. "Don't scare me like that." He said with a smile. Only when she didn't return the favor did the smile fade. "Kai?"

Her body moved mechanically and pulled out a dagger from behind her back. Kiyoshi's face was petrified. "Don't worry, Kiyoshi." She said her voice flat. "You will die, and I will follow you." She pounced up top of Kiyoshi and pinned him under her weight. He was still in shock and put up no fight. Kai bring her dagger across his throat. "My master demands your blood."

"W-who is your master?" He stammered hoping to buy time. Kai's face spread into a smile, but in her current condition it came out lopsided and twisted.

"Naraku."

Kasumi was running as fast as she could away from Naraku's lair. It wasn't far from Kai's village. With Naraku's elaborate spell, the lair was never noticed by the keen senses of Inuyasha. Kasumi's maroon kimono and dark purple cloak flared out behind her. Her black veil that covered the bottom half of her face was miraculous still on, but the effect was lost due to her hood being forced back. Her bare feet were cut up and bruised. A portion of her ravens flocked behind her. It was have been quite the scene.

She entered the Forest of Inuyasha and she had fallen down out of exhaustion. "Why am I doing this?" she thought, not for the first time either. Whatever answer she gave made her wonder more. She needed Kai and her family to kill Naraku. Without the Jewel she could kill him, but as much as she hated to admit it, she was too weak. So she was simply luring Inuyasha to Naraku, in hopes that they fight and Naraku is killed. But what about Kai? She didn't really like the girl, but she still saved her life. Kai after all had to kill Naraku if Inuyasha couldn't. Kasumi had told herself a million times; everything she did was to win her freedom. Nothing more…

Deciding she had rested long enough, Kasumi forced her stubborn body to move. She stood up and swayed a little. Her ravens stirred from their resting spots. They resumed their positions in the air. Kasumi continued running until she tripped once again. She lost her balance and toppled into the ground. Before she could regain her composure, she was rolling down a hill. Rocks and brushes cut through her kimono leaving raking scars across her body. The torment ended when she hit the bottom and rolled into an obstacle. A tall red one.

She blinked at the blurry tower. It was a person, who wasn't happy at the least. He snarled and grabbed her by the collar and lifted her clean in the air. "What the hell are you doing?" his voice gruff. Kasumi knew that voice…it was Inuyasha.

Swallowing back her fear, Kasumi replied. "I have a message for you." Inuyasha's face didn't change neither did his grip.

"I am listening."

"Naraku has Kohaku." She said bluntly. Inuyasha's hand opened and Kasumi fell to the ground. The half-demon placed his foot on her stomach and drew his sword. He lowered it to her cheek.

"You better not have made this up!" He roared.

"It's true I swear!" She cried. "I swear by my life!"

Inuyasha was silent. He slowly placed his sword back in the scabbard. He stared her down with the message, that one wrong move and she was dead, written across his face and blazing in his amber eyes. He moved his foot and dragged her to her feet unceremoniously.

"Wait!" She cried. "Where are you taking me?" Inuyasha slung her over his shoulder and walked to the village. Kasumi squirmed against his hold unsure of his intentions. She resolved that he was going to hold her captive or kill her. Neither had much appeal, and Kasumi began to regret her decision. But if she took off now how could she ever face Kohaku again, knowing she failed to save his friend, whom he loves. She sighed. Kohaku was the closest thing it a friend she had, even if he was her enemy's ally. She wondered if Kohaku would thank you for this errand, or would he be so wrapping up in the excitement of having Kai back, he would completely forget about her. Then Kasumi would fade in the outside world as she has done from many people's memories. She sighed, was it really her curse to be forever forgotten, nothing but an erased memory.

Inuyasha threw Kasumi to the ground. The raven witch landed with a thud and a gasp of pain, which was cut short by the fall. She scrambled to sit up and pressed a finger against her bloodstained, trembling lip. Kasumi collected her dignity and readied her wit to combat her captor but he had already left. Looking around Kasumi saw that she was alone in a foreign hut. She scanned every surface frantically searching for an escape of any kind. My task is done, she thought to herself. Right? I warned Inuyasha, I can leave now. But the stubborn honor-bound part of her mind reminded her that she hasn't mentioned Kai's condition. She swallowed hard. Dread filled her heart. How could she stand here and tell Inuyasha his daughter is a psycho killer manipulated by the lies of Naraku?

With a sigh she sat back. Her body ached but she did the best she could to suppress the pain, but to no avail. Her teeth were grinding together causing her more agony. Kasumi pondered her not-so bright future that awaited her. She paused then smiled sourly. Not so bright was one of the greatest understatements of her life. She feared Inuyasha more than Naraku. Naraku she knew couldn't kill her, not without draining the majority of his power, but Inuyasha…she just didn't know. But the most frightening was Kai.

Kasumi was here to save her, or so Kohaku believed. She began to doubt her intentions. No, she thought. I didn't come to save Kai, but myself. Suddenly she felt a surge of self-loathing. I lied to Kohaku; I can't do this…

The door to the hut flung open with a crash. Standing in the doorway was a woman. Although she wasn't very tall, her overpowering presence gave her a couple more feet to her height. Her stature appeared to have dwarfed the frame, allowing no escape. She rushed in, towering above Kasumi.

"Where is my son!" It wasn't a question; it was a demand. Her usually pretty face was twisted and more menacing than a demon queen. Her protectiveness of her child resonated in the shabby walls of the hut. Kasumi felt the wrath of a distraught parent before. Wistfully, she reminded herself that her mother would never offer the same for her…She swallowed back her fear and stared with a false defiance.

"WHERE IS MY SON!" She repeated. Kasumi involuntarily sunk back from the raging woman. When she finally found her voice she squeaked.

"Naraku has him." Her throat went dry, as she felt the flames of hell in her glare. She swallowed and began again. "The monk as well. Naraku captured them once they left the village."

The woman slumped down and her fists were clenched so tightly, Kasumi feared the woman's fingernails would bore holes through her palms. "But there is more," Kasumi said quickly, before she lost the strange woman's attention. "Naraku did a really bad thing. He deceived Kai and Kiyoshi. They think the other has betrayed them-."

The woman let not an obscene outburst that drew the breath out of Kasumi's lungs. She stared at her. "He is at his tricks again!" She turned to the door. "INUYASHA! COME HERE!"

The half-demon burst through the door. "What is it Sango?" Kasumi shrank back from them. Slowly inching backwards, she remained unnoticed. Fading from their minds like her influence always did.

"The damnable Naraku is back with his evil tricks and Kai is stuck in the middle!" Inuyasha's face paled considerably. He jerked his head in Kasumi's direction. He reached out and grabbed her wrist. His eyes were drawn to the metal shackle. It bore the scent of Naraku. "Wench, show us to Naraku!"

"Wait." Kasumi said. He froze. "Kai has gone insane." She cringed at the bluntness of her words. "I mean, she is possessed by the evil side of her soul. She has no control of her body." Inuyasha and Sango allowed these words to sink in. "I think Kai has found Kiyoshi and I know only one will come out alive. But I don't know who…" Her voice trailed off. Inuyasha's expression was stone. However, tears welled at the corners of his eyes. Kasumi looked away. There, she thought. I have done what I set out to do, but what is this feeling? She felt compelled to help them more. But I am evil, she argued with herself. This has nothing to with me…

"I can show you to Naraku." Kasumi was surprised at her own words. I can decide for myself, she thought. To hell with what my nature. To hell with what my mirror shows. I will not be the evil one. Never again…

Wow, this took forever to write. but it was worth it.

Plz, plz, plz REVIEW!

-SMR