Eventually Inuyasha and Kouga had given up trying to invent new insults for each other, even though, hours later, Kagome could see Inuyasha still thinking about it. Kagome was hesitant to ask him why they must always fight out of mere knowledge that she would severely annoy him. According to Shippou's earlier comments, they didn't need any more bickering. Dusk approached almost unnoticed and it wasn't until they could no longer see very well that they found a suitable clearing to settle down and get a fire going. Sango was the first to doze off, followed by Shippou, then Miroku. Inuyasha, as always, would keep watch most of the night and Kagome simply couldn't sleep.

By midnight, the fire had died down and the schoolgirl had given into her weariness. The waning moon had the hanyou restless, apprehensive, and irritated. Ultimately he fell asleep too.

Kagome woke with a start to the sound of rustling tree branches. She quickly looked around, subconsciously seeing that everyone was there. Miroku slept lightly against a tree while Sango lay nearby, Kirara and Shippou by her side. Glancing upward, she found Inuyasha in the top most branches of a dying oak. I'm imagining things again, she thought. Then, the felt it; the Shikon no Tama.

'What is it?' came the half demon's voice as he landed softly beside her.

The girl froze with a quick intake of breath followed by a sigh of relief. 'There's something out there. I can feel it... And the sacred jewel...' she trailed off. Inuyasha blinked. Why is he looking at me like that? Inu- 'Inuyasha... the sacred jewel. It's here. I think-'

'Huh? Oh, right. Sango, Miroku... get up. We're leaving.'

'The sun isn't even up yet,' Shippou complained as they made their way through the forest.

'Look. Kagome says it isn't safe, so if you don't shut up-'

'Shhh,' the schoolgirl murmured.

'We should split up,' suggested Miroku. 'It probably isn't wise to travel in large numbers.'

'I wouldn't exactly call our numbers large,' Shippou started, but stopped upon receiving a glare from Inuyasha. He quickly scurried to hide behind Kagome.

Kagome and Sango decided against following Miroku's advice and trailed after Inuyasha who seemed determined to find a scent to go on. As they approached a small and almost undetected clearing they could make out the mumbling of voiced rising up into the night air. The hanyou held a hand up signalling the others to stay still. Silently, he crept forward, disappearing into the shadows. Defiantly, Kagome pursued him being careful not to step on twigs or dead leaves. The voices grew louder:

'You will do as I tell you,' Naraku commanded. He held a blood-stained knife to the priestess' throat. Inuyasha's breath escaped his lungs leaving him paralysed.

'You cannot kill me.' Kikyou seemed entirely unafraid.

'No. But I can kill your Inuyasha.'

Kikyou looked away from the demon's face. 'He is not mine and I do not care for him. I am leaving now.' And she did.

Whipping out Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha charged forward, fury burning him from the inside out. Naraku would not kill him. 'WIND SCAR!'

'I don't agree, Inuyasha.' Naraku pulled a barrier up around him, smirking.

'Hiraikotsu!' Sango's boomerang ricocheted off sending nothing but a mere quiver through the hell-demon's shield. This isn't going to end well, the demon-slayer thought with a grimace.

'YOU COWARD!' Inuyasha roared. 'STOP HIDING! COME OUT AND FIGHT!'

Evidently upset by these words, Naraku let down his guard, the sneer vanished from his face. 'You dare call me a coward?' The demon advanced, slowly moving toward Inuyasha.

Inuyasha raised his sword once more, ready to strike. His senses sharpened, taking in every detail. In that moment, time stood still This was it. This was his only chance. One more second of preparation. A giddiness the hanyou had never known rose up inside him, engulfing him, strengthening him. 'WIND SCAR!'

Kagome stared with wide eyes, amazed and at the same time depressed. Why did he never protect her with such fierceness? If they had at last defeated Naraku, what reason would Kagome have to stay with Inuyasha? Kagome's depressing thoughts were interrupted at the sound of laughing. A sudden feeling of terror swallowed her whole.

Sango and Miroku watched, helpless as Naraku emerged from Inuyasha's attack, hurling it back at the hanyou. Having never been hit before with his own attack was a critical disadvantage. Inuyasha cringed at the blood soaking into his kimono.

'Hiraikotsu,' Sango tried for a second time. Again the weapon ricocheted, this time, though, knocking Tetsusaiga from Inuyasha's hands. 'Oh... no,' she groaned.

'Damn it!' The half demon sprinted off in the direction of his fallen sword.

'I don't think so,' said Naraku as he summoned his poison insects. 'It would seem that you are useless without your precious Tetsusaiga. You are nothing but a pathetic, human-loving, half breed.'

'Like you should talk. Blades of Blood!' Naraku, unprepared for the assault, fell back into the dirt. A gash appeared across his right cheek and shoulder, spattering his foe with blood. Inuyasha flung himself at the demon and grabbed hold of him, dirty blood dripping down both faces. Inuyasha glared, his heart pounding.

'No!' cried Kagome. He's becoming demon. 'Inuyasha!'

The transformation was complete. Demon Inuyasha growled as an invisible power pushed him away from Naraku. He struggled against the force, (A/N: Hehe... It kind of reminds you of Star Wars.) but soon found himself pinned against a tree. Having made up her mind, Kagome raced forward, set on retrieving the Tetsusaiga.

'Kagome, don't!' Sango called out. 'You'll get hurt.' She tried to get a hold on Kagome's arm, but found instead that Miroku had a hold on her.

'She knows what she's doing. We couldn't stop her if we really wanted to.'

Almost there... NO! Naraku cast a hand at the reincarnated priestess, pitching her against a rock where she fell unconscious.

'BLADES OF BLOOD!' bellowed Inuyasha. The hell-demon drew up his barrier once more... only this time to no effect. Naraku dodged the attack and sent another of his own at the Inu-youkai, rendering him worthless. Then, he was gone. Inuyasha closed his eyes and grimaced. When he opened them again, he was no longer demon. Unsure of himself, he examined his hands and face to be certain he was back to normal... or as normal as he could ever be.

'Inuyasha!' called Shippou in a teary voice. Inuyasha's heart sank. Kagome! Please let it not have been me. Please let her be okay.

Miroku began to speak in a very solemn way, 'I don't think she's going to live.'

'Yes she is!' he said as he held up his wounded hand.

'She's lost too much blood.'

Inuyasha allowed for his blood to spill into the deep cut across her chest. I hope she doesn't hate me. Miroku raised an inquiring eyebrow and Sango merely stood, watching in a dazed sort of way. Shippou continued to cry. 'We wait,' Inuyasha said shortly.

Yukouchi- It was not pointless. It was comic relief.

Silverwolf186- That was the idea. Thanks for the comment.

COMING NEXT... CHAPTER SEVEN: GOING AWAY