Tami: I'm really sorry I haven't updated for two days. I had some monstrous family problems and my writing would have suffered if I had tried to write while my mind was sill processing all of it. Yesterday I went back to school shopping, so that's why I couldn't post. *grimace* Not fun. Anyway, I made this chapter almost 1000 words longer to make up for it. And that's actual content. Not the last time, AN, and review responses.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Last time:

"Wait outside and bring what news you can." Kikyo said as she walked into the room. "As I said before, something is different about the taiyoukai lord that might be impeding his search for the Tokijin. He would not give it up so easily." Kagura looked at the undead priestess. Kikyo sickened her. It was her magic that brought Kagura and Kanna to life and sealed their fate to Naraku's. She needed to be killed, that was certain, but Kagura would never feel her blood on her hands that was certain. Not while Naraku loved her at least. The poor fool. Naraku loved the priestess with blind devotion. Very blind.

"No, he wouldn't. Waiting is our best option right now." Naraku agreed.

"Send a few demons to harass the castle's borders," Creepy Evil Lady said. (/It's all your fault Ranmagirl7!/) Her figure stretched out lazily on a futon.

"Yes, my lady." Naraku said. "Kagura?"

"Right away, father." Kagura got to her feet and walked out of the castle, heading West.

Now:

Kagura led her army towards the Western Lands Castle. The air felt heavy and thick around her. The stench of the demons around her was sickening. They craved battle, and would've attacked each other, but their fear of her and what she would do if they disobeyed her order not to fight each other held them in check. The bloodthirst was on them and all they desired was to kill.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

"I feel a foreboding presence." Miroku said offhandedly.

"I don't sense anything." Kagome said. "What do you think it is?" He shrugged.

"I'm not sure. I don't think it's anything to worry about."

~Everything is worth worrying about.~ Uhn said.

-Taiyoukai could have heard of my lord's plight and come to take the Western Lands.- Ah added.

"But I have only lost my memories, not my strength." Sesshoumaru said.

-Yes, but greed clouds judgement. Perhaps we should go make sure.-

"Maybe. Not too many people know of Sesshoumaru's memory loss though." Sango said.

~Word travels fast.~ Uhn said as they turned and walked away. In the hall, they met Kirara and Inuyasha.

^Where are you headed?^ Kirara asked.

-The monk felt a presence and I do not put it below some youkai to attack while Sesshoumaru-sama has a mental illness.- Ah answered.

"We'll come with you." Inuyasha said. "I could vent a little of my frustration on any pathetic demon that shows up."

^One of these days, a demon is going to show up and kick your butt. What will you do then?^ Kirara asked. Inuyasha gave her a look.

"I'll never let that happen."

^You are hopeless.^

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

Ayame and Kouga met up with the wolf pack not far from where they had met with Inuyasha and Co.. They were now running back up to the mountains. Only part of the wolf pack had come. It was a hunting party. Kouga stopped short and breathed in deeply. "What is it?" Ayame asked.

"Demons. A lot of them." Kouga answered.

"Should we go after them?" another of the pack asked. Kouga nodded.

"They're heading west. That's where Kagome went." Ayame's eyes burned with jealousy.

'He would do anything for that pathetic human and I can barely even get him to look at me! I hate her! What does she have that I do not? All she is a stupid, weakling human!' Ayame thought. Despite what she thought about Kagome, she followed Kouga anyway. She would do anything for him, if only he would see that. They ran silently in the direction of the demons, staying downwind as best they could. Soon enough, they encountered the demon army. And an army it was, though it was only mostly lesser youkai. The pack split and went to opposite sides of the army. They waited for Kouga's signal. They were tense with apprehension. Kouga launched himself towards the army with a wolf howl as the rest of his pack followed. Wolf cries and various demon yells rose high above the forest. The wolf pack tore into army. They fought hard, but there were too many demons. They started to fall back and finally one of them was injured. The pack started to get nervous. The demons were proving to be a little bit more of a challenge then they had thought they would be. Kouga's claws gutted a demon as he thought over his options. He was about to signal retreat when flames spread across three parts of the demon army in places where there were no wolves. Ah-Uhn and Kirara, with Inuyasha on her back, landed in the thick of things. Irritation flowed through Kouga's veins, but his wolves seemed heartened by the newcomers. Inuyasha drew the Tetsusaiga and sliced his way through the demons. Kirara fought at his side, spitting flame and rending with her claws. Ah-Uhn showed just what those fangs could do. They reared back and used their front claws to fight every now and then. Once all the demons were dead, Kagura stepped forward. None of them were without injury and many were losing blood fast. Kouga looked around at the rest of his pack, taking deep breaths to steady his fast beating heart. A few helped others off the ground and held them in a standing position. After a few moments, they all turned their gazes towards Kouga, waiting for his decision. Ayame staggered towards him. Blood dripped from a gash in her arm. She licked at it in an effort to stop the bleeding. It was worse than it looked, if Kouga was any judge. Her eyes were clouded over with pain, not that she would ever admit it. Inuyasha faced Kagura.

"What do you want?" Inuyasha asked. Kagura sighed.

"I knew you were stupid, Inuyasha, but I never dreamed you were that stupid," she answered with a sneer. He growled. "I want the jewel shards of course, but your little shard detector is not here apparently. That is a shame really. I would love to kill her with my own two hands."

"You will never get your hands on Kagome." Kouga's ears perked up at the sound of her name.

"Brave words from a young pup."

"For once I would have to agree with Inuyasha." Kouga said, breaking into the conversation. "I will never allow you near Kagome."

"Oh, so that is why the wolf pack showed up. I was wondering why. I haven't killed any of your kind in awhile." Kouga started, his face pale.

"That was you? You killed them!?"

"Don't be so surprised. Of course I killed them. You do have three shards, and if I weaken your pack, I better my chances at getting them." Kouga started growling low in his throat. It was a deep, sinister sound. His eyes flashed with anger. He felt responsible for his friends' deaths, but he would avenge them to make up for it. "I will not fight you today. I'll wait until you would actually be a challenge." She turned and started to walk away. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Inuyasha grunted with the effort of swinging the Tetsusaiga with all his strength. The full power of the Tetsusaiga raged forward, desperate to kill. It tore up the ground in front of it as it reached for Kagura. Her eyes widened in horror as she just barely got out of the way in time. "Nice try, pup. Better luck next time." She disappeared into the forest. Kouga fell to his knees and howled. It was a sad howl, mourning the death of his friends. What members of the pack who could moved to circle around him and their voices intertwined with his as they sang their sorrow to the sky. The howls slowly died until it was once again only Kouga. His eyes opened as his howls quieted. He sat there and looked up at the sky. It was his fault his pack had suffered. He was the one who held the jewel shards. He was the one who attracted the attention by always going to see Kagome. It was all his fault. He wasn't fit to be the leader of the pack. He tore deep gashes in his legs and pulled out the shards, then did the same to his arm. He threw them at Inuyasha.

"Take them." Kouga managed to say, his voice hoarse and laced with regret. "I do not want them anymore." He looked around at the rest of the pack, seeing their injuries for what they were. This had been an unnecessary battle. "I am sorry, my friends. I have made so many bad decisions." Kirara walked towards him and transformed into her smaller self. She nudged his hand, asking to be petted. It usually helped calm people down and goodness knows, Kouga needed it.

"No, you haven't, boss," one of them said. (/What are Kouga's friends names? I don't remember./)

"If we thought they were bad, we wouldn't have followed you." Ayame said. Kouga still looked skeptical.

"Aw, get over it, wimpy wolf. Kagura's the one you should be pissed at, not yourself." Inuyasha said.

^Not helping.^ Kirara muttered. Kouga stared at the ground in front of him as he gently stroked Kirara.

"I have a lot of making up to do." Kouga said. He stood up, wincing at his wounds. "Come, we will go back to the den." He started off in that direction. He stopped to help someone up off the ground and helped them walk.

~The Western Lands Castle is closer, if you would like our healers to heal your wounded.~ Uhn offered. Kouga shook his head.

"Our injuries are not serious enough to warrant debt to Sesshoumaru." The pack staggered into the depths of the forest and disappeared. Kirara trotted back over to Inuyasha, but fell on the way. Her own blood had been covered by another demon's, but now it was visible. Inuyasha picked her up and put pressure on the cut, trying to stop the blood flow. He had a few scratches here and there, but the worst was on his forehead. Blood trickled down his face in red rivers. Ah-Uhn dropped to their knees to allow him to climb up. Uhn winced at the cuts around his mouth. Ah showed no outward signs of pain except his eyes. They were glazed over as he tried to keep control of his body. It was a very good thing the castle was not far. They reached the castle and Ah-Uhn collapsed in the courtyard. Inuyasha rolled off and laid on the ground, holding Kirara close. Servants ran up and swarmed around them.

"Go get healer Tomoyo and someone give word to Sesshoumaru-sama!" one of them commanded. A few hastened to obey. Soon enough, Sesshoumaru came running down the stairs. He kneeled beside Inuyasha.

"What happened?" he asked. Inuyasha cracked an eye open and glared at him, but the effect was ruined as he groaned.

"There will be time for questions later, my lord." Tomoyo said as she rushed over. "Right now, I have to get to work. Go stand over there." Had Sesshoumaru remembered who he was, he would have killed her on the spot. As it was, he glared daggers at her from where he stood. Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and Rin made it down the stairs. Shippou was in Kagome's arms and Rin was in Miroku's. Kagome gasped, put Shippou down, and ran over to Inuyasha. She was careful to stay out of Tomoyo's way. She couldn't see Kirara, because Inuyasha's kimono sleeves were covering her, but she knew all that blood couldn't be his.

"Inuyasha? What happened?" she asked, her voice cracking as she held back tears. He looked up at her.

"Later. Kirara," he managed to whisper. That head wound was starting to give him problems.

"Where's Kirara?" Sango asked, resisting the urge to run over there and shake him. Inuyasha moved his arms and Kagome picked the bundle of fur out of his arms. She looked at Tomoyo for permission and reached for a bandage. She soaked it in the water someone had brought and gently dabbed at Kirara's fur. There wasn't any real way to tell where the injury was because there was so much blood on her. Sango was about to run over, but a warning glance from Tomoyo stopped her.

'Good thing I took that first aid class.' Kagome thought to herself as she cleaned away dried blood. When she did find the wound, it had already clotted and was starting to scab over. Kirara mewed softly at her, but she couldn't understand what she was saying. Kagome grabbed a clean, dry bandage and started wrapping the wound. When she finished, she stood up and brought Kirara over to Sango. She noticed, out of the corner of her eye, Tomoyo nodded and re-doubled her efforts with Inuyasha. The healer had been watching her the entire time, making sure she did everything right. She was happy she could satisfy the older woman. Sango took Kirara from Kagome and gently held her close.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there Kirara." Sango whispered. Miroku put a hand on her shoulder. Kagome went back over and started cleaning Ah-Uhn's wounds. Tomoyo joined her soon after finishing with Inuyasha.

"Take him to his room and don't let him move until I say so." Tomoyo said as she got to work. "You, young miko, have a flair for healing." Kagome blushed.

"You think so?" she asked. Tomoyo nodded.

"If you would like, I could teach you how to put your magic into your healing." Kagome's face brightened.

"That'd be awesome!"

"Good." Neither said anything more until they finished bandaging Ah-Uhn. Uhn nuzzled Tomoyo thankfully and Ah laid his head across Kagome's lap. "Let them rest before you ask them any questions. I don't want them moving until those bandages come off. And you," she turned to Shippou. "I thought I told you to stay in bed." Shippou smiled sheepishly and Tomoyo sighed. "Just like my kittens. They never listen."

Review Responses:

sesshomarulover11: Not a clue. At this rate, it's gonna be a reeeeeeeeeally long story.

Suki1: No, voting's over. I'm not telling the pairings. :-P *laughs*

Rasberries: I'm really glad you like my idea. And thanks for the info about the Tokijin. I can use that. I actually have part planned out with the Tokijin, and I was gonna do something like that with it, and now I can use it and know that it's right and I'm not gonna mess up someone's thinking. I so cannot wait for the new episodes. They're gonna be soooo cool!!!

Zonza: We all think evil things about Kikyo. You are not alone.

Soli-chan: I sympathize with you my friend. I don't know what I'm going to do when school starts.

SailorKagome: *laughs* Making up words is fun.

Ranmagirl7: Your house too? *sigh* I couldn't think of anything to call her and then creepy evil lady popped into my head so I had to write it down. ^_^

Sukuri: Reviews are goooooood.

Azn-anime: It's no problem. I just didn't want ya'll to be mad at me for not updating.

Lunatic Pandora1: *whines* Longer chapters are hard.

Also thanks to:

Vampireluv

PasoLover

CrescentAngel16

The Unnamed Demon

emerald dragon hanyou

cuteinu13

INUGIRL

CrissyKitty