Disclaimer: Hey guess what? I still don't own them.

The Time has Come

Everyone knew this was going to be bad. They knew that getting Taro back would also mean the end of their quest. They had collected all the shards that Naraku didn't have. They knew when they defeated him, they would have the completed Shikon no Tama and everything would be set right. Everything except what to do with the completed jewel. No one wanted to speak of what was supposed to happen. Inuyasha was supposed to turn into a full youkai and Kagome was supposed to go back to her time, but things were different now. Kagome now had ties to the past. She couldn't leave Kouga behind. They all didn't want to admit when the quest was finished they would all go their separate ways. Miroku would be free of his curse and he and Sango would marry, but Inuyasha's future was unclear.

Morning came and woke the travelers from their slumber. Well, it awoke everyone but Inuyasha. He hadn't been asleep to begin with. He never slept in his human form. Sango and Miroku rose first and started to make a fire for breakfast.

When Kagome awoke, the first thing she noticed was the absence of a certain wolf youkai. She panicked. Where was her mate? And where was her son? WHAT had happened last night!. She didn't remember him coming back. Sango and Miroku where here, that meant Kouga HAD to be back. 'Calm down Kagome. You're being ridiculous. He probably went to go bathe.' Kagome stood and rolled up her sleeping bag. She rummaged in her pack for her bath stuff.

"I'm going to go bathe and look for Kouga. Sango, would you want to come with me?" Kagome asked.

"You won't find him." Inuyasha spoke from his spot on the ground. Since he had been human, he had had to postpone his habitual sleeping in a tree till his youkai powers returned.

Kagome was confused. "What do you mean Inuyasha? Where is Kouga?" The fear she had felt when she woke was present now, and increasing.

"Feh. Why should I know? He left last night." Inuyasha put on his best show of indifference. But inside he was very happy. With Kouga gone, Kagome was his once again his to protect.

Kagome's breath caught and her heart jumped into her throat. First her son was kidnapped now her 'husband' was gone? "Where did he go? He wouldn't just leave. What about Taro?" Kagome could feel the tears welling up.

"Yes, Inuyasha," Miroku spoke up. "Did he say where he was going or when he would be back?"

"No. Why would I give a fuck if he did? He just left and said he'll be back in a couple of days. He went home."

"But why would he leave now? And without me? We have to get Taro back." Kagome couldn't stop the crying. 'Why did he leave me?' She put her head in her hands and sobbed. She had to get her family back!

"Well Kagome-chan after we eat breakfast we'll go back to where his castle was." Sango said as she came over and gave Kagome a reassuring hug..

Sango comforted Kagome till she was done crying. Kagome wiped her eyes and looked at Sango. "What happened last night? Please tell me."

Miroku took it upon himself to explain the situation. "We followed Naraku's scent to his castle, but the barrier was stronger then ever. Kouga said he suspected that Naraku was using Taro to strengthen the barrier. It was to strong for us to break, so we came back to wait until Inuyasha could use Tetsusaiga."

Kagome pondered what her companion had just said. Then she thought of their conversation with Kaede about Taro's predicament.

Flashback

Everyone agreed to go back to Kaede's hut to speak with her about Taro. Miroku and Kagome were both aware that there was something special about Taro after they had seen him inside Naraku's barrier.

They arrived at her home as she was preparing a fragrant meal Kaede was busy cooking. Since the hut was small, Miroku, Kouga, and Kagome would speak to Kaede, while Shippo, Inuyasha, and Sango waited outside and ate.

Kagome explained what had happened at the castle. She stressed the fact that only Miroku and herself, both people with magical knowledge, had been able to see Taro inside the barrier.

When Kagome was done with her story, Kaede sat quietly. After a few moments, she spoke. "I believe the child has taken from the strength of his parent's powers. It doesn't make sense as to why his powers seem to stronger then his mother's or why he has the strength of a full youkai."

Kouga looked over at Kagome. Obviously Kaede hadn't said what they wanted to hear. She had just repeated what they already knew. He turned back to Kaede. "Is there nothing else you can tell us about Taro? I mean I would have liked to know he had miko powers beforehand."

Kaede thought and then added. "Well he's still young and his powers will get stronger as he gets older."

"But Kaede, is there anything we can do to help us rescue Taro?" Miroku asked.

Kaede shook her head. "I'm sorry. There isn't anything you can do."

End Flashback

Kagome stood up and look about at her companions. "Well let's go. We have to get Taro back."

"But Kagome-sama what about Kouga? Shouldn't we wait for him?" Miroku asked.

"Feh. He knows where we're going. He'll come." Inuyasha stood and headed off in the direction the others had returned from. Miroku doused the fire while Sango helped Kagome get everything back into her bag. They followed his retreating back. The impending conflict with Naraku was in each of their heads. This was to be the final one, the last time they let Naraku walk on this earth. By the end of the day Taro would be rescued, the Shikon no Tama would be complete, and Naraku would be gone. Or, they would all be dead.

They arrived at Naraku's clearing rather quickly. They readied themselves in the forest before entering the clearing, in case one of Naraku's detachments were sent at them.

No one spoke. They knew what lay ahead.

Kagome was still upset that Kouga wasn't here with her. 'I wonder where he is? Doesn't he know I need him? He can't just not help us get Taro back.'

Inuyasha could tell what Kagome was thinking "Feh. Stop dwelling on the wolf, wench. We're already here, so we might as well get this over with."

With weapons drawn, the four (Shippo vouched to stay behind and "guard" Kagome's pack) made their way across the clearing toward where Inuyasha could smell the barrier. No insects droned about the clearing and no birds sang from the trees surrounding it. In fact, there was no sound at all other than the soft swishing of the grass against their legs as they moved. Inuyasha halted and Miroku, Sango and Kagome followed suit. Without a word, Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga above his head and closed his eyes. The three watched as the air around him started to crackle with energy. Without warning, his eyes flashed open and he swung Tetsusaiga, which was now blood red, down on the barrier. For a split second time stood still. Then everything seemed to happen at once. There was a thunderous crack as a huge, jagged score coursed across the barrier. Gale-like winds followed, screaming away from the fading barrier and throwing the four to the ground. Then there was absolute silence once more. The barrier began to pulse, and then slowly faded away. As the barrier disappeared, Kagome could have sworn she saw Taro, but quickly brushed it off. They made their way to the all too familiar courtyard and were met with a warm welcoming by none other than a fully recovered Kagura.

"Hmm you all here without the wolf. Dang, he was entertaining. No matter. You'll all die." She sent a horde of smaller youkai at Miroku and Sango and threw a volley of wind blades in the direction of Inuyasha and Kagome. Miroku and Sango battled the small army while Inuyasha snatched Kagome and jumped to safety. He paused long enough to set her down and make sure she was unharmed, and then leapt to the assistance of his friends. Kagome stood and watched the fight anxiously, unaware of the black tentacles snaking towards her unprotected back.

A/N: Only 3 more chapters left folks. I will be uploading the last three, one at a time.