Chapter Thirteen

Osaka, Japan

They were, at the moment, trying to forget that any out of the ordinary activity had happened at all during their visit to the police station. Hiraikotsu was safely loaded in the helicopter and it had been unanimously decided that they would go out for dinner instead of going straight back to the cabin and having to fend for themselves and they were currently in a small pizza place not far from the warehouse where the chopper was waiting.

Sango and Miroku sat across from one another, each cautiously eyeing the last slice of pizza, neither reaching for it, while Inuyasha and Kagome argued over who was better at pinball and alternatively trying to distract the other from their game so that he or she would loose.

Miroku's hand slid across the table and Sango sat up straighter, on her guard. She was not quite ready to indulge in a second slice just yet, but she wanted it to be there when she was ready. In all fairness it wasn't his slice anyway. He'd already had three and Kagome had only barely been able to save a slice for herself and Sango from the void known as Inuyasha. She gave him a touch it and die glare while he simply smiled, changing the path of his hand so that his fingers brushed hers where they lay near her tea glass.

"Miroku..." her voice held a warning tone to it. She'd already been groped at least three times off an on over the course of the day and he'd tried, unsuccessfully, to play footsie with her under the table during dinner.

He quirked a brow. "You know, Sango, if I didn't know any better I'd say you didn't like me very much." He leaned back in the booth, crossing his arms over his chest, looking smug, as if he knew something she didn't.

"I like you just fine. It's your wandering eyes and hands that I don't like." She pushed her plate away, deciding that the second slice wasn't worth it. "Despite what you might think, Miroku, not every girl enjoys being fondled or leered at."

He nodded. "If I didn't try every now and then, you might think I'd lost interest and find a replacement. I can't have that. Where would I be without Sango-chan?"

"Lost in a harem somewhere?"

He chuckled. "Certainly would be interesting, Surrounded by beautiful wom - ow!" He leaned forward to rub his leg where she'd kicked him.

"That was not a picture I wanted in my mind," she muttered, crossing her arms, glaring at him..

"Jealous, Sango-chan?"

Despite how much she might have wanted to, she could not hide the blush that spread across her cheeks. "Hardly. Disgusted perhaps, but not jealous."

He chuckled and dodged another kick.

Tokyo, Japan

Varsha and Naraku had left for the cabin to wait for the girl and her friends to arrive. Kanna sat her mirror on the bed and picked up her cell phone. According to Naraku, Kagura had called earlier that day to report that Sesshomaru had invited her to dinner to discus the katanas which meant that her sister would be staying in Sesshomaru's resort. For the first time that evening, she let the emotionless expression she usually kept in Naraku's presence drop and the fear she felt at the situation arise.

She had almost dialed Kagura's cell phone number when she realized one very important thing. Naraku had bought the phones. He kept tabs on them through the phones. If she used it to call Kagura, he would know and he would suspect her of being in alliance with her sisters and they would be no closer to a chance at freedom. Dropping the phone back on the bed, she grabbed a small change purse and stuck it in her jeans pocket. Only one other thing to do, she decided, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears and readjusting the lotus blossom barrette that held it out of her face, she'd have to find a payphone nearby or some other means of reaching her.

The side of her shown as she moved through the house towards the front door was one that she had not shown to anyone before. She ran in a near panic, desperate to make it to a phone and place her call then return home before Naraku and Varsha returned to find her missing.

Just a block from where they lived a corner payphone was currently and blessedly unoccupied. She dropped a few coins in the machine, having to stand on her tip toes to do so. Drat that childish body! "Information? I need to find the number of a resort in Morocco. The Western Lands Casino and Resort. Thank you."

She sat there on hold while the operator connected her and asked for a few more coins which she readily deposited.

"Western Lands Casino and Resort, this is Barbara how may I help you?"

Kanna paused for a minute, having forgotten that of course the hotel works would speak English. It was why Kagura had been assigned the duty of relieving Sesshomaru of his katana. She knew the language. "Ah...Takahashi Sesshomaru...much important..." She knew she should have learned when Kagura was taking those lessons.

"Western Lands Casino and Resort is a multilingual resort and offers a selection of assistance in communication. I can transfer you to another receptionist if that would help. What language please?"

The woman was wasting her breath because Kanna only was able to recognize a few words here there, just enough to know that she might be getting some help. "Japan."

"One moment." There was a beep and a strange music played in her ear, nothing like the music Naraku kept around the house. Another beep and she heard something that she finally understood. "Konnichiwa, Western Lands Casino and Resort." They were speaking her language!

Perking up, she stood straighter, digging in her pocket for more coins in case she needed them. "I need to speak to someone in Takahashi Sesshomaru's suite. Her name is Kagura and she's my sister. Please? It's very important."

"Takahashi-san has requested to not be disturbed this afternoon. Does your sister have a room here where you could leave her a voice mail?"

Kanna sighed and stamped her foot. "It's a family emergency. I really need to speak with my sister. Please, if you just put me through he'll understand. It's a matter of life and death."

The woman on the other end hesitated and finally sighed in defeat. "Alright. And what's your name?"

"Kanna. Arigatou." Another beep and more strange music. She glanced around nervously hoping that Naraku hadn't come back and found her missing. He would not be happy.

"Kanna? Nani desu ka?" Kagura's voice made her jump. "Why didn't you call my cellular? Tell Naraku that I'm working on it, if he's wanting to know if I've made progress."

"It's not that, Kagura. I couldn't call your cell - he'd trace it then we'd all be dead!" She exclaimed in slight panic. "Kagura, he knows that you and Varsha are planning something. He knows you're going to betray him somehow and he told me to keep an eye on you. I'm supposed to report to him if you two do anything suspicious."

The child-like youkai could hear her sister's breath stop for a moment and the sound of something dropping and clattering to the floor. "Kanna, what else did he say?"

"Nothing. He took Varsha with him to wherever the girl and her friends are staying. He plans to ambush them when they arrive. If he doesn't kill Varsha, he'll let them do it. She's in danger, Kagura."

"I know. Look, I'll think of something. Go back to the house and wait. We'll be alright."

"Hai."

Kanna started to hang up when she heard Kagura call to her once more. "Kanna? Arigatou. I'm glad we can trust you."

"I can't believe you doubted me." With that she hung up and raced back to the house.

Osaka, Japan

"You're just mad because I beat you," Kagome accused making a face at the sulking hanyou walking beside her. She held a carry out drink in one hand and sipped on the straw before mocking the smirk that usually graced his features. "Can't stand the idea that a girl might be better than you at something?"

"You ain't better than me at anything. If you hadn't been talking so damn much and distracting me I'd've kicked your ass." He rolled his eyes in her direction and crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, how do you know I didn't let you win?"

She laughed and shrugged. "I know you didn't let me win because you're complaining to much about loosing. If you'd have lost on purpose it wouldn't have bothered you so much." She batted her eyes innocently and gave him a sweet smile. "It's not my fault that you suck at arcade games. Some people just don't have enough talent is all."

"Why you…wench!" He went to grab a fistful of hair and give it a tug, but missed. He'd never hit a girl, especially a weak ningen girl, so he'd been planning on admonishing her the next best way. She, however, had other plans and dodged, bounding off ahead of them with a challenging glance over her shoulder. "Oi wench! Get back here!" And with that exclamation he was off after her.

Of course they all knew that he could have easily caught up with her and extracted his revenge, but he wasn't really angry and her playfulness was at least a distraction from the situation they were really in. It had somehow started after the realization that she and he had been connected during their dark periods that he had begun to feel a little freer and had, in the past few days, made noticeable strides in his social behavior. He and Miroku were still on wary territory, speaking civilly, but not having become to close. Yet he was decently respectful and considerate when it came to Sango and almost friendly with Kagome now. Of course, he had known Kagome longer, having been her lab partner for several months, and found it easier to close the gap between himself and someone he was relatively familiar with than to become emotionally involved with someone he knew nothing of.

Sango shook her head. She and Miroku had been trailing behind the two as they argued and she rolled her eyes when they started chasing each other through the streets. "Hey you two! We're still back here you know!" She sighed and grabbed the sleeve of Miroku's shirt tugging him behind her as she started to jog, trying to keep in sight of her friends. "Come on."

"Right behind you as always, Sango-chan…and what a lovely behind it is…" He laughed when she jerked her hand away and shoved him forward. "You obviously feel the same way about me if you're so eager to enjoy the view."

She groaned. "Give it a rest, Miroku. Try concentrating on something else for once."

Morocco

Sesshomaru came back into the main room wearing a more casual shirt and khakis. He'd tied his hair back with a leather thong and was just about to walk out the door when he remembered he'd neglected to give any tasks to the toad youkai. "Jaken, arrange to have the jet fly you back to Tokyo. Once there you will do as I instructed earlier. I will be taking Kagura to the cabin."

Jaken sighed and nodded. "Yes, sir." He wanted to be included in on the action. He could be of help too! Oh for mercy's sake, he was starting to sound like a whimpering child. But it was so unfair to be given such useless and mundane tasks when there was much more interesting things he could do.

But Sesshomaru had already gone and so any arguments he might have been able to make were left unsaid and unheard as his shoulders fell in defeat and he turned to the phone to start making calls. I should have gone to acting school…

Kagura met Sesshomaru at the door, the dress from earlier discarded and lying in a heap on the bed having been traded in for dark blue slacks and a light blue shirt. Though her hair was still pulled back in its tight little bun, the pieces that had framed her face had been pinned back for the flight back to Tokyo. Riding on feathers was a windy way to travel and the wind blown look did not suit her. Normally it wouldn't have mattered, but she was traveling with Sesshomaru and despite the situation, she did still think he was sexy and wanted to appear at her best during all times.

"Thank you, Sesshomaru-san, for helping me," she said quietly as she closed the door behind her and followed him down the hall ways. "My sisters and I will be in your debt."

"I am not doing this as a favor to you. I simply believe it is time to retrieve the katana my disgrace of a brother stole."

Panting for breath after her run through the streets, Kagome came to a stop in front of the warehouse where they were to meet the pilot and looked behind her only to be tackled by a silver haired hanyou. "Oh, hello, Inuyasha." She feined innocence and started to turn to enter the building, but he blocked her path. "Can I help you?"

"I ain't through with you yet. You ready to admit that you only won 'cause I let you?" He crossed his arms over his chest, looking down his nose at her, smirking.

She tapped her finger against her chin, looking thoughtful. "I would except that you didn't." She smiled sweetly and started to walk past him again only to find herself having been swept up into his arms and thrown over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Oi! Inu-kun, what do you think you're doing? Put me down!"

"Not 'till you admit it." He jostled her a bit. "Well?"

She crossed her arms over her chest as best she could, trying and failing to look evil. "Never."

Sango and Miroku were straggling behind, having chosen to walk back instead of chasing after their companions. "Did we miss something?" Sango questioned, quirking a brow at the current situation between hanyou and girl.

"I think so." Miroku chuckled. "Kagome?"

The dark haired girl tried to raise up and look over her captor's shoulder or around his arm to see her friends. "Help! He's gone insane!" She squealed. "If I'd known he was gonna be such a sore looser, I'd have let him win!" She squirmed again and tried to dislodge his hold on her. "Put me down."

He shook his head. "Nope." He shifted her again, gaining a yelp of protest from her and a squeal when he raised the cuff of her blue jeans a slight bit to tickle her skin with his claws. "How 'bout now?"

She tried to kick his hand away, but his other arm was holding her legs firmly to his chest. It wasn't her most ticklish spot, but still the light movements of long nails against her skin was discomforting. "Stop, Inu-kun! Please?" When he shook his head and persisted in his torture, she sighed and stopped struggling. "Oh, fine. Inuyasha, you're the best at everything, even better than me! How could I have ever thought that little, pathetic, ningen me could beat the great and powerful Inu-kun?"

He smiled triumphantly and set her on her feet with and crossed his arms again grinning smugly at her.

She straightened her shirt and flipped her hair out of her face and then glanced at her friends before turning her steel blue gaze back at her and smiled mischievously. "That's a good puppy." She turned the doorknob as she heard his growl behind her and darted inside, heading for the stairs that would lead to the roof.

Once more the chase was on as Inuyasha burst through the door, close behind, leaving Miroku and Sango in the dust again. "Oi wench!"

Sango sighed and shook her head. "And to think that Kagome called him arrogant and insensitive."

Miroku chuckled. "Let's not forget immature and rude." He held the door open for her and followed slightly behind while they climbed the stairs towards the roof. "Or that Kagome proclaimed only a month ago that she disliked him with a passion."

She giggled. "It certainly looks like a relationship between two people who hate each other." She crossed her arms over her chest, getting a bit of a thoughtful look which was quickly replaced with one of sheer anger. "If you touch me inappropriately once more today, you will not live to see tomorrow."

He sighed and then smiled charmingly, reaching out and taking her hand in his in a bold move. "Would this be considered inappropriately?" He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, reveling in the feel of her silky soft skin beneath his fingers. He had, of course, touched her arm on occasion when she would wear tank tops or short sleeved shirts, but he had never exactly held her hand or made anything of such an intimate nature.

She jerked at first and stopped, looking back at him. "Nan da?" She squeaked, shocked. "I…iie…It's not." She blushed deeply and bit her lip, looking away from him. "Ah…about Inuyasha and Kagome…they seem to have quickly become friends."

Miroku felt a triumphantly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Hai, they have. I think, perhaps, that has something to do with their having both spent time at the retreat in similar conditions. They are certainly an interesting couple, ne?" He had started to walk again and moved ahead of her, tugging her hand to bring her up the stairs with him. "He does not seem as bad as Kagome painted him to be, certainly."

She nodded, grateful for a distraction from the warmth of his hand around hers or the still pink glow on her cheeks. She could now hear the beating of the helicopter's blades as they started to rotate and knew that Kagome and Inuyasha had found the pilot and were just waiting on them before heading back to the cabin.

When they got to the chopper they found a sulking Kagome and a victoriously smirking Inuyasha which led each to guess that Kagome had finally had to give in due to some form of torture at the hanyou's hands.

Cabin in the Mountains

"You are positive that they were returning tonight?" Naraku questioned the red haired youkai who stood only a few feet away looking up at the darkening sky. Storm clouds had been rolling throughout the day and were finally upon them and would break any moment. It would be a wet night.

She looked over at him, seeming distracted. "I'm positive. Kagome didn't want to spend the money on a motel room and they'd already talked about coming back here. None of them really wanted to leave the 'safety' of the cabin." She pursed her mouth, tapping a finger to the ruby red lips. "You sure that this is the best place to ambush them? I mean, shouldn't we have Kagura and Kanna here too? There's four of them and only two of us."

He frowned, glaring a warning in her direction as he walked passed her and up the path towards the shrine of the Inutaishou. "Do not question my decisions, Varsha. Those four children are no match for me."

Sure to her word, they soon heard the reverberation of the helicopter's blades passing above them as the pilot came to the landing area a short hike from the cabin itself. Varsha turned and sprinted to towards the woods where she could hide until the humans came into her sight. She would deal with the owner of the Hiraikotsu and the human boy while Naraku extracted his revenge on the little miko girl and the hanyou though she still knew not how the hanyou fit into the revenge equation, but it wasn't any of her care.

Kagome sighed as she stepped out of the helicopter, but she smiled when she looked over her shoulder and saw Miroku and Sango who were desperately trying to avoid each other now…or rather, Sango was trying to avoid Miroku.

A shiver ran down her spine as an eerie feeling washed over her, ruining the good mood seeing Sango and Miroku holding hands had brought on. Something didn't feel right, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. While the others began to head towards the cabin, she hung back slightly, watching as the pilot lifted the helicopter into the air once more, just as the first claps of thunder rolled across the sky, and feeling as if she were watching her last life line leave them stranded.

"Kagome-chan?" They had all stopped and turned to look back at her, Sango frowning with concern. "Nani desu ka?"

The dark haired girl jumped at the sound of her friends voice, but covered it up with a laugh and rubbed her bare arms as chill bumps started to rise. "Oh! Gomen ne…I think the storm just has me a bit antsy is all."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Baka," he muttered with very little feeling. He too had a feeling of unease, like something wasn't right, but he couldn't figure out what it was. He couldn't catch the scent of anything out of the ordinary and he didn't see or hear anything. "If you don't get a move on, you're gonna get soaked."

No sooner than he had spoken, the bottom broke out of the sky and large drops of rain fell, soaking them all almost instantly while the sky lit with sparks of lightening. Kagome jumped again and jogged to where they were waiting for her and followed as Inuyasha grabbed her arm to keep her from tripping over a root and Miroku did the same for Sango, helping her to carry the oversized boomerang.

By the time they reached the cabin they were all dripping wet and uncomfortable. Finding that the lights didn't work failed to help their mood any. "Damn it, the lightening must've tripped a breaker." Inuyasha growled and slammed the door behind him. "You three get dried off. I'll go flip the breakers since they're out at the shrine house."

Before he could go out, however, Kagome peered at him from beneath her now flattened hair. "Inu-kun? What did you do with the katana?" She couldn't help the impending sense of danger that kept running through her body and she worried about the safety of their heirlooms.

"It's hidden in the shrine," he replied gruffly and slammed the door behind him.

Naraku watched from the door of the shrine while Inuyasha grumbled to himself and stomped through the overgrowth to the breaker box, not realizing that the lights had not gone out of natural causes but had, in fact, been sabotaged.

"Inuyasha."

The hanyou looked up, ears swiveling towards the sound and narrowed his golden gaze when he made out a figure in the shadows of the shrine house. Had it not been for the red eyes which caught the little light and caused them to glow with an eerie light, he would have not known who the unexpected visitor was. But those eyes and that sillouette he recognized from his time in Kagome's dreams. This was her nightmare, her tormenter, the red eyes.

"Naraku."

The headache started without warning. It was like a sudden pounding in the back of her head which caused her to double over with a groan of pain. Images flashed behind her lids and she struggled to grasp at least one of them. Sango crossed to her and tried to help her to a chair, asking what had happened.

Distracted they didn't realize what was happening until the glass shattered under extremely strong winds.

Miroku jumped back and grabbed the girls, ushering them back away from the windows as a red dust started to drift in. "It's that dust we found in mine and Kagome's room at the retreat," Sango noted and grabbed Miroku's arm, leading Kagome towards their room. "Come with me!" She tugged them in and closed the door behind them as she dug through her bag. When she found what she was looking for she tossed a metal and cloth mask at Miroku and slipped another over Kagome's head just as the bedroom windows also exploded. She had to hurry and put her own on before the red dust could cling to her lungs.

"Bastard! What are you doing here? How did you find us!" Inuyasha demanded angrily coming towards him. "Not that it matters. I can kill you here just as well as anywhere else."

Naraku shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, hanyou, there is no need for you or I to die. Simply hand over Tetsuseiga, Hiraikotsu and the Shikon Pearl and I may leave you in peace." A wicked smile graced his features and a dry chuckle was heard over the thunder. "Of course you will have to allow me my way with little Kagome…I have so missed the look of emptiness and utter terror in her eyes when she looked up on her father's form…I have dreamed of seeing that look again. Watching me kill her friends should do the job, don't you think, Inuyasha?"

Naraku had been backing up as he spoke and Inuyasha had been steadily coming closer until they were inside the shrine house. "Shut the fuck up! Sakon Tetsusou!" He swiped his claws in the direction of Naraku and growled when he missed his target.

Focus, Kagome. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the images that had flashed through her mind moments before. Block out the sounds. Focus on the vision.

Inuyasha falling.

Inuyasha dying.

No! Think past that. Don't focus on that. You'll stop it. Where is he?

Trees. That was no help at all. The cabin was in the middle of the wilderness! Of course there were trees.

What else?

Wood. Dark wood. Stained wood. A door, bright red lacquer. Not the cabin. Inuyasha wasn't in the cabin of course. Where else was there?

"You three get dried off. I'll go flip the breakers since they're out at the shrine house."

But it was a ways off. She had to get there and quick. "I've got to find Inuyasha-kun!" She called out above the roar of the wind created with Varsha's Dance of the Dragon copied attacks.

"Okay!" Sango held up the recovered Hiraikotsu to block the wind from herself and Miroku. All three wore masks over their faces to protect them from the illusion dust. Despite the fierce winds and the red dust that littered the wood floor of the cabin it was painfully obvious that she was not doing her job to the best of her ability for whatever reason. They had discovered shortly after the windows busted out that the attacks themselves were harmless, but the debris thrown around by the wind was a definite danger. "Be careful. Her attacks may just be illusions, but Naraku's a real threat and I'm sure he's here."

"Hai!" She turned and ran out of the back of the cabin, hurrying towards the path that would lead her to the shrine. She only hoped that she was fast enough. At a fork in the path, she hesitated for a second...Had Inuyasha taken the left or the right? Veering to the left, she prayed to the kami that she had chosen the right one.

"Hand over the sword and the Hiraikotsu and I might have mercy on the girl." Naraku's voice was laced with venom as he faced off with Inuyasha. Thunder cracked over head and the storm raged on, full steam ahead. The rain made hard 'thunk' sounds as it hit the tiled roof of the Inutaishou Shrine. "I might even let you live."

"Not a chance in hell, kisama," Inuyasha retorted. "I'm not giving you anything - not Tetsuseiga, not Hiraikotsu, and I damn sure ain't letting you near Kagome."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Naraku's smile was wicked. "Willing to die to protect her, are you? Such a waste over a ningen girl."

"Shut up and die already." As a pup she had brought light to his dark existence within his mind and in return he had promised to protect her. He did not take his promises lightly and he damn sure wasn't going to back down on it now.

Over one hill and into a line of trees. Kagome was beginning to have second thoughts about her choice in direction. Perhaps she should turn around and go to the other direction. No, if I turn around now and still don't come to the shrine, Inuyasha will die. I can't let that happen.

Finally she could see the darkly stained wood and bright red door through the pouring sheets of rain that came down on her. She was drenched from head to toe, her dark hair plastered to her scalp and sticking to the sides of her face, but at least she was there. The miko gun was clutched tightly in her hands. If she aimed in the right place, she could kill him. She could destroy Naraku and they would never have to worry about him again. The door stood open, but there was no light in it. Even so, she could make out the outline of two forms, one she knew to be Inuyasha and the other one would have to be Naraku.

She stopped outside the door, looking in. She knew if she barged in it would distract Inuyasha and he would be caught off guard and then he might die because of her, but if she stayed out of the way maybe her vision wouldn't come true. However, she forgot about his super sense of smell and when he caught her scent, his head turned towards her just long enough to give Naraku the leverage he needed. The quasi hanyou reached out a hand and a dark tentacle looking thing shot from his shirt sleeve, just under his arm. Not thinking about the consequences, Kagome pounced, grabbing Inuyasha by the waist and pulled him towards the ground as she lost her balance and fell forward. She felt his body jerk and heard a grunt as the tentacle went through his flesh and then felt the warm blood seeping from his wound when they landed, her on top of him in an awkward position.

She had managed in her flight to kick the shrine door closed so that no light was able to come through and they were encased in darkness. Being a quasi hanyou, Naraku would have heightened senses, but if she maneuvered just right, she might be able to get close enough to him to shoot him with the miko gun.

"Ah, little Kagome." Naraku's dry voice came from her right and she moved as quietly as possible, standing up and backing around. Inuyasha was still breathing, thank kami, but he might not be for long if she couldn't take Naraku out. "You remember me? You remember the last time we saw each other?" He was baiting her and she knew it. She bit her lip to keep from making a noise. "This could have all been avoided, little one, if you had just allowed me to take the pearl that night. If you had given me what I wanted then your friends would live now."

Don't let him do it, Kagome. He's just trying to make you give yourself up! She moved as quietly as possible, following his voice, holding the gun out in front of her, but he was moving too.

"Your friends will die tonight, little one, and it will all be your fault. You drug them into this when your otou refused to give me the pearl."

No...it's not true, you know that. Miroku and Sango were safe when you saw them last. That woman wasn't really trying to kill them... Her foot slipped in something and she realized it was blood that had started to pool on the floor around the hanyou. Inuyasha...

"Inuyasha will die whether you kill me or not. My poison flows in his veins now. Nothing will be able to stop it." His laugh was sinister and quiet. "Varsha will do as I command her. Her life depends on it and the need for self preservation causes people to do things that they never thought they would."

Inuyasha made a small moan of pain, just barely more than a whimper. Her shoe would be stained now for good with his blood and the idea made her stomach flip and give her the feeling that she would be sick. Against her will a whimper of her own escaped her lips.

That's when she felt it.

Claws grazed her arm, slicing through her top and into the tender flesh of her bicep. She cried out and swung her pistol around, shooting three times at her attacker. A masculine grunt was produced as each shot hit home and as her attacker fell backwards, he grabbed for her neck, pulling at the chain that held the Shikon Pearl. Lightening flashed through the sky and she could see that she had hit Naraku, but somehow he had managed to catch his balance and was still moving, trying to escape through the door. She had just enough time to see Inuyasha grab him around the legs and draw him down to the ground before the light disappeared and the shrine house was engulfed in darkness once more.

There was scuffling where the two had hit the floor and she heard a thump and then Inuyasha moan in pain. Oh, Kami! There's no way that Inuyasha can fight him and I can't shoot because I might miss and hit Inu-kun!

The door to the shrine was thrown open and she could see the silhouette of Naraku as he worked to escape. "Naraku! Bukkoroshite yan zo!" She leveled the pistol and shot again and again and again until she ran out of ammunition. The quasi hanyou fell and lay still, the pearl having flown out of his hands and landing on the ground a few feet from him. "Shi'ne."

She dropped to the floor of the cabin and crawled to Inuyasha, cradling his head in her lap and using her sweater to stop the bleeding. He grunted, but didn't open his eyes. "That...hurts..."

A wave of relief washed over her. "Would you rather I let you bleed to death?"

The faint traces of a smirk tugged at his features. "Would...it bother...you?"

"Slightly. It'd be a bit of an inconvenience."

"Naraku...what...did he get away?"

She shook her head when his golden eyes opened to look at her. "Iie. He's dead."

He nodded stiffly. "...Tired...just gonna...nap...bit..."

His eyes fluttered shut and she stiffened, fear taking over again. "You're not allowed to die, wakarimasu ka, Inu-kun? I still don't understand half of what we're doing in Chem. Lab. You can't die till I at least pass finals."

He grinned slightly. "Wouldn't...con...consider it."

"Kagome-chan!" Sango raced into the room, leaping over the fallen body of Naraku. Miroku was just behind her, but bent to pick up something. Behind him she could see Varsha walking slowly after them. Miroku stepped over the quasi hanyou's body and knelt beside Kagome while Sango hugged her tightly. "Kagome-chan! Your bleeding!" Her arm was grabbed and she was inspected for any other injuries.

"I think this belongs to you, Kagome." Miroku cleaned the blood from the pearl which was now glowing a bluish purple color and handed it to Kagome who clinched it in her fist. "What happened?"

"Sango, can you call the emergency and have them send a helicopter for Inuyasha, onegai? Naraku stabbed him and said that he injected him with some sort of poison." Kagome's eyes moved passed Miroku to rest on Varsha who was standing over Naraku's unmoving form, looking amazed. "Is she...she's not gonna attack us or anything, ne?"

"Iie," Miroku assured her. "As soon as she felt that Naraku was dead she stopped her attacks and told us to find you."

"Good." Kagome sighed, feeling tired. The pain from her arm had finally reached her, making her wince. "I had a vision of Inuyasha being killed and I came to stop it, but he ended up getting hurt anyway when. But I think I threw off Naraku's aim when I pulled him down so that he only hit him in the shoulder. I ended up getting scratched when Naraku grabbed for the pearl."

"Varsha!" Hearing her name yelled out, the red haired youkai turned quickly to find a dark haired woman running towards her. "What happened?" The two embraced and the dark haired woman looked down at the body of their former 'master'.

Varsha, still stunned, lightly hugged her back. "Can't you tell? Don't you feel it?" She touched her own chest, feeling the heart that beat there with a steady rhythm. "We're free!"

Sesshomaru appeared in the doorway behind the two celebrating sisters, his cell phone already to his ear as he called the hospital and the medi-vac chopper to come and pick up the hanyou and miko. His own private chopper would carry the rest of them.

Reviewer Comments:

Yashafan1 - are you off those pins and needles yet? I hope this chapter has made you happy.

Dark Daimon Fate - Thanks for the advise. I loved the literature part of English classes, but I kinda zoned out with the rest of it.

WEIRDkittyzwings - Thanks! I'm glad that people think that I'm keeping the characters in character. That's important to me because Rumiko Takahashi is a wonderful writer and her characters are so good already that I couldn't do anything to improve on them.

Ammeirs - Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you liked it.

CowGirlUSA - Yeah, I don't understand why the romance/mystery/action/adventure stories aren't more popular. I love them. I really like the Iris Johansen boosk (which is why I based this story off of a plot for her Final Target book.).

Glossary:

-chan - suffix added to emphasize a close friendship or addressing someone
Konnichiwa - Hello
Katana - sword
Arigatou - Thanks
Nani desu ka? - What is it?
Hai - yes
Hanyou - half youkai/half human
Oi - hey
Youkai - daemon
-kun - a polite, friendly term, often used between peers and among friends
Nan da - What
Baka - fool/idiot/stupid
Kisama - you bitch/bastard
Ningen - human
Miko - priestess
Otou - Father
Kami - god
Bukkoroshite yan zo - I'm going to kill you
Shi'ne - Die (a very rude, crude form)
Iie - no
Wakarimasu ka - Do you understand
Onegai - please
Ne - a question ender like "right" or "no" or "huh"