Sota's screams stopped as quickly as they had begun. With his face down, an ominous red aura emanated fromhim, then dissipated. Kyofu's scent disappeared. With Sota's voice unchanged, he chuckled evilly, his shoulders bobbing up and down. Standing, he slowly

looked up, a wicked grin crossed his face. A grin unfit for an innocent boy such as Sota. His gaze met Naraku's. Placing a sleeved arm to his face, Naraku scrunched his nose in disgust. "You reek, Kyofu! Here!" he said as he tossed a change of clothes consisting of black pants and a purple kimono top to him. Kyofu caught the clothes and immediately began to change. Turning his back to Naraku, he first removed his shoes and socks, which he tossed to the side. Then came his pants and underwear, which he roughly tossed to the corner of the room. He then began to put his clean pants on. After tying the belt snugly, he removed his shirt. Naraku smiled wickedly at the sight, for on Sota's back was the mark of a spider. The mark from Kyofu's back had transferred itself to

Sota's. His plan was working perfectly. "I can't wait to see the look on Kagome's face when her very own brother tries to kill her! I expect a similar reaction to that of the pathetic demon-slayer, Sango when I sent her very own brother after her and her friends"

Kyofu nodded in agreement as he put on his kimono top, covering the mark on his back. He turned around, once again facing Naraku as he finished tying his shirt closed.

Slowly walking into the dungeon was Kanna. "Master Naraku. Inuyasha and his friends are almost to the castle doors," she said softly, barely audible. Her hands were at her side, as her mirror had been destroyed during the battle with Inuyasha. She strangely felt naked without it.

"Right on schedule!" Naraku said as he turned to face Kanna. He placed his opened hand down and held it out before her. Balanced in his palm, lay a new mirror. "Take great care of your new mirror, Kanna. I placed a tainted jewel shard on the back of it. Inuyasha should be unable to destroy it, even with his Diamond Blast attack." Kanna nodded as she accepted her new mirror, almost identical to her original one. She then held it at its usual place, at her chest.

The mirror shimmered. On its surface, it displayed a view of Inuyasha, Sango, Kirara, and Shippo getting closer. They seemed desperate and they were struggling to breathe. Naraku laughed. "Kanna! I wish to see Kagome's expression now. Kanna nodded. Suddenly, the view changed. Kagome and Miroku were waiting just beyond the miasma's reach. Kagome's face was filled with great concern and distress. Miroku was seen trying to comfort her. Naraku smiled. "A shame Kagome is not with them. It must be the miasma. Humans are so fragile. Even Sango appears to be suffering the effects of it. That pathetic mask she wears will not protect her for much longer!" He paused. Then thoughtfully, he added, "Kagome must be filled with great fear for her brother. She must be so worried. Itwould be impolite of me to not allow her to see him one last time… Heh! Kyofu! When I give you the word,

after you kill Inuyasha, I wish for you to go pay her and the monk who is protecting her, a little visit while I have my fun with the survivors!" Kyofu nodded eagerly.

Approaching the castle with great speed, Inuyasha knew they had to hurry. The miasma was getting to him and was making him sick. His eyes and lungs burned. "Arrg! This is disgusting! How can anyone breathe in this shit?" He complained as he began to retch. His mind swarming with worries, he turned his face to the left where Sango and Shippo rode atop Kirara. They did not appear to be doing any better. "Sango, Shippo, Kirara!" he shouted, "Are you alright?" he shouted between coughs. Shippo and Kirara looked at Inuyasha groggily. Shippo gave a half-nod, his hand over his nose and mouth. His eyes had been glued shut. He had been trying to keep the miasma from burning his eyes, but it did not help much. He also had been trying to hold his breath, but had to take an occasional breath. "Yeah, I think so, but we'd better hurry up! I can't last much longer in this shit! Kirara mewed weakly in agreement. She, too, had been trying to hold her own breath. "Sango, what about you?" asked Inuyasha. Sango had her face pressed against Kirara with her eyes shut tightly. Sango slowly turned her head to face Inuyasha. She looked very faint and she began to cough violently. Her mask was not working as well or for as

long as she had thought it would. Inuyasha's eyes suddenly widened with fear. His friend was going to suffocate before his eyes if they didn't exit the miasma soon. "Sango!" he shouted, "Listen to me, you wench! Keep it together! We're almost there!" Sango stared at him in surprise at the way he addressed her, but she quickly dismissed it. She nodded and held on to Kirara's fur even tighter and prayed she would remain conscious.

Kagome and Miroku stared at their friends rapidly disappear from sight towards the castle. With her face filled with worry, she turned to Miroku, looking for comfort from her trusted friend. "Why did Naraku do this to me?" she cried out between sobs. "We should have forced Inuyasha to stay behind!" Miroku gave Kagome a gentle hug, trying to console her.

"I agree with you. Inuyasha should have stayed behind, but you know as much as I do that they already do not have enough manpower. The situation is indeed dire, but do not worry, Kagome. We somehow always manage to win in the end. We will make that bastard pay for this, I promise you!"

Kagome nodded, soaking Miroku's robes with her tears.

"Kyofu! Come with me!" Naraku commanded. "It is almost time!"

Kyofu nodded. Naraku began to walk to the main hall of the castle. Kyofu and Kanna followed closely behind. Visions of his enemys' deaths played through his mind and thought of them as though they were prophecies. A smile played across his thin lips. "Such sweet victory is within my grasp!" he thought to himself. Once the three of them reached the middle of the hall, Naraku stopped. Kyofu continued walking until he was side by side by Naraku, to his left. Kanna stopped once she reached Naraku's right side. Facing the main entrance, the three of them waited in eager anticipation.

Moments later, the doors burst open, splinters flying everywhere. Inuyasha, Sango, Kirara, and Shippo flew into the room with great urgency. Naraku smiled, but did not flinch at the sudden entrance of his enemies, nor did Kanna and Kyofu. Inuyasha's eyes burned with hatred towards his enemy.

Sango and Shippo dismounted Kirara and all prepared themselves for battle.

"Prepare to die, you bastard!" shouted Inuyasha as he drew Tetsusaiga and held it out threateningly, pointed directly at his most hated enemy, Naraku. Sango pulled her Hiraikotsu from her back and held it in front of herself. She was prepared to either use it as a shield or to use it against Naraku. Shippo readied himself to use any attack he could think of, though he doubted it would be enough. Kirara let out a threatening low growl.

Naraku smiled. He had been expecting them. He was now dressed in a long dark blue jacket with crude lighter blue stripes. Spiked armor covered his wrists, which ended at his elbows. He wore two pieces of strange, large spiked armor on his back, which looped started at the top and ran down his back, ending at his waist, its height about the same as the top of his head. In addition to this armor, two single spikes shot out of the armor on his shoulders, slightly higher than his head. He had a vertical red eyeball with a yellow iris on his chest, which was surrounded by spiked armor as well. He wore spiked armor on his left shoulder, on his right upper arm. He also wore a yellow sash on his waist. Three large green tentacles hung loosely from his back.

"Well, well, Inuyasha," said Naraku, "You've finally arrived. I was beginning to believe you weren't coming." He turned his head towards Kyofu. "Isn't that right, Sota?"

Kyofu gave a half-nod.

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong. Naraku had done something to Sota, but he couldn't pinpoint it. The real Sota would be crying for his help and would seek his protection the moment he arrived. His keen nose told him that that was Sota, yet something was amiss. A single bead of sweat trickled down Inuyasha's face.

"You don't get it, do you Inuyasha?" Naraku continued, "You are so naïve. You have no idea what has happened to your precious friend, do you?" he taunted. "Sota! Why don't you show him?"

"What the hell?" demanded Inuyasha

Nodding at Naraku's request, Kyofu lunged at Inuyasha with speed not possible for a normal human. Daggers with a purple hue magically appeared in his hands as he attempted to strike Inuyasha. Dodging just in time, Inuyasha looked at Sota in disbelief. Kyofu chuckled menacingly as he turned around and ran towards his target once again. In a single charge, Kyofu attempted to connect his daggers with Inuyasha's flesh, but Inuyasha moved his Tetsusaiga to deflect the attack just in time.

"Sota! What the hell's the matter with you!" he shouted.

Kyofu simply smiled in response as he turned around to attack him once more. Sango's face turned red with rage at the sight. It looked all too familiar to her. Turning to Naraku, she ran with top speed, preparing to strike him with her Hiraikotsu. "What the hell have you done to Sota, you bastard?"

"Hmph! Do you really want to know?" he asked, not making any effort to dodge Sango's attack. Sango's Hiraikotsu connected with a barrier protecting Naraku. A bright light emanated from the spot, which instantly threw her backwards, and sent her crashing into a nearby wall. Roaring in rage, Kirara lunged at Naraku. Unfortunately, Kirara, too was flung backwards from the force of the barrier. Landing on her feet, Kirara shook her head and let out a low growl, not knowing what she should do.

"Ahhh!" cried Shippo as he sought shelter behind Kirara. He knew what would happen if he attempted to attack Naraku.

Naraku smiled. "Hmph! At least one of you has some common sense" Naraku continued, "Now then, after I was so rudely interrupted, I seem to recall you wishing to know what I have done to Sota? I have done nothing to him."

"The power of the jewel?" asked Sango as she slowly got up using her Hiraikotsu to support herself.

"Wrong," he replied.

Sango's eyes looked to Naraku and then to the battle between Sota and Inuyasha, then back again. "Then tell me! I haven't got all day!"

Naraku smiled. "You are looking at my new incarnation, Kyofu. He is my most brilliant creation yet! He possesses his victim and forces him to do his will. He can mask his scent, which renders him completely undetectable."

Overhearing Naraku's gloating, Inuyasha grew enraged. He was still desperately trying to dodge Sota's attacks. "Naraku! What the hell have you done?" Suddenly, the Tetsusaiga transformed back. He stopped. He felt his body pulsate. "Oh, Shit!" he thought as he stared it at disbelief. Sota stopped his attacks and stared at the transforming Inuyasha with great interest. Inuyasha's hair turned from silver to black. His eyes turned from a golden color to brown. His dog-ears disappeared; human ears took their place. His claws shrunk back and his fangs receded.

Inuyasha's friends stared in shock and disbelief. Inuyasha had transformed in the presence of their enemy. "Shit! I've taken too long to rescue Sota!" thought Inuyasha. He was now human and completely vulnerable. Naraku stared at him with great interest.

"Well, well, Inuyasha. So you lose all your demonic powers on the night of the new moon. This is an interesting development. Too bad this will be your last transformation! This will force me to change my plans for you slightly. Instead of your dying by the hands of your trusted friend, it shall be by my hands instead. I have always wished to kill you while you were in your human form!"

Inuyasha gritted his teeth and growled with rage. Since Inuyasha now knew what had become of Sota, Naraku addressed him by his incarnation's name. "Kyofu!"

"Yes, Master Naraku"

"I believe now is as good a time as any to pay a little visit to Sota's sister, Kagome."

Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat. "Don't you dare, you bastard! You're not going to lay a finger on Kagome!" he shouted as he lunged at Kyofu. Smiling, Kyofu easily dodged the pathetic attack. Kyofu's foot connected with Inuyasha's stomach before he ran with tremendous speed towards Kagome and Miroku. Inuyasha fell to the ground in agony, for the kick was extremely powerful.

"Damn you, Naraku! You're going to pay for this!" he shouted as he slowly got up, clutching his stomach.

Naraku continued, ignoring Inuyasha's comment. His gaze shifted to the Tetsusaiga with great interest. "What a remarkable sword you have there, Inuyasha. Such a terrible shame that you are unable to wield it in your weak human form." Inuyasha gripped onto the

handle of his sword even tighter. No way in hell Naraku was going to take it from him. Naraku still sustained his barrier, and Inuyasha knew he would be unable to penetrate it. "But Naraku had cast away his human heart," Inuyasha thought to himself, "He should

be unable to even touch it this time, right? He had held it once before after he had bribed Sango to steal it to free Kohaku, but that was when he had the heart of Onigumo."

Naraku smiled. "You are wondering if I would be even capable of touching your precious sword, since I no longer possess a human heart. I think now is as good a time as any to test that theory, don't you agree?"

"I don't think so, you BASTARD!" shouted Inuyasha as he charged at Naraku with his sword. He leaped into the air, attempting to strike Naraku. As he expected, the sword connected with the barrier. Inuyasha struggled against it with all his might. Within seconds, the barrier threw him backwards onto the floor.

Naraku smirked at Inuyasha, who was slowly trying to get back up. With lightning speed, he charged at Inuyasha. He swung his spiked armor on his arm at Inuyasha, slicing open

his chest as he snatched the Tetsusaiga from him. Inuyasha screamed in agony. Blood cascaded down Inuyasha's chest, staining his kimono with a darker red.

He clutched his gaping wound as he collapsed to the ground writhing in pain. Sango and Shippo gasped at the sight. Kirara roared with rage. Inuyasha's friends ran to his side to examine the extent of the wounds, not caring of the danger they put themselves in, for Naraku was mere inches from Inuyasha. Naraku smiled, holding the Tetsusaiga with its dull and skinny blade pointed down at his side. "You are all so pathetic! Worrying about your wounded friend when you should be more concerned for your own survival!"

"You fools!" shouted Inuyasha. "Get the hell outta here! You gotta go help Kagome and Miroku!"

"I'm afraid you'll be too late," interrupted Naraku. "Observe," he said as he directed his vision to Kanna's mirror. On it's surface Miroku and Kagome were speaking with each other. The view changed to Kyofu charging towards them.

"You will live just long enough to witness their deaths. Then the rest of you shall die!" he said as the Tetsusaiga transformed in his hand.

Inuyasha looked to Naraku and then to Kanna's mirror. The view had changed back to Kagome and Miroku. They had no idea what was heading towards them. All stared in disbelief.

"KAGOME!" shouted Inuyasha.

Diamond Blast Attack: This is my translation to the attack. It's a new technique for the Tetsusaiga he learns much later in the series. The Tetsusaiga coats itself with diamonds and shoots out diamond spikes with devastating results to its enemy. The Japanese language version of Inuyasha calls it the "Kongousouha".

A/N: So whattya think? Please review and tell me what you think!