Several days later, Kagura was spotted flying north along their trail. She was careless not to notice them, unless she meant to be seen. Kagome was feeling apprehensive about the whole thing and watched the others for signs of similar emotions. Shippou, she saw, was constantly looking back over his shoulder, Inuyasha had taken to travelling in the trees, and Miroku wasn't being his usual perverted self.

'We must be getting close,' Sango stated after a rather long awkward silence. 'Look, there, in the sky.'

The others looked up to find a dark cloud looming over the northern sky. The closer they trod, the more frequently the wind blew with gusts that often knocked them off balance. Sango was sent tumbling into Miroku more than once, to which the monk seemed somewhat grateful.

'Wouldn't it be better' Shippou asked, 'if we headed away from the danger?'

'Not if we're trying to find and beat Naraku. We have to keep moving. I have a feeling, though, that Kagura is waiting for us.' Miroku looked solemn as he said it.

Just then, a familiar someone approached them from behind. 'Well, well. Kagome, I am glad to be seeing you again.'

'What do you want, Kouga?' Shippou said in a small, but demanding voice.

'I was following that damn horse, but I've lost his scent. I want, now, to know what this is,' he said nodding to the dark sky.

No one spoke for a moment, then, ' Kagura,' Kagome said. 'But she's never done anything like this before. We- I'm not sure.'

'Right,' said the wolf-demon as he sped off once more.

'Did Kouga pass through here?' came Ginta's voice a second later.

Shippou pointed in the direction of the small, whirling tornado. Ginta and Hakkaku sighed.

'What did that mangy wolf want?' questioned Inuyasha as joined Kagome on ground level.

'He's looking for Shiyou. I think.'

'You think? You're no help at all.'

'Next time come down here and ask him yourself then!'

'Feh.'

A few miles further on, they came upon a clearing, where they then set eyes on Kagura and Kanna. Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga while muttering, 'I knew it.' Sango pulled out Hiraikotsu and Kagome prepared her bow and arrows.

'Your pathetic toys will be of no use,' she stated matter-of-factly.

'What reason have you to believe you'll beat us this time versus any other time you've fought us?' Miroku shouted.

'Dear monk, my war is not waged with you. If you value your life, you will leave. You can even take that hideous woman of yours.'

'WHAT?' Sango bellowed as she stepped forward. 'HIRAIKOTSU!'

'You forget I am the wind.' With a mere wave of her hand, Kagura sent the weapon from Sango's reach. Sango glared, though, she wasn't sure if she should be furious for being called hideous or for being labelled as Miroku's woman... once again. She decided on the first.

'It is not wise, sister, to trifle with time.' Kanna raised her bland eyes to Kagura.

'Oh, let me have my fun. I enjoy playing with the weaklings,' she said as she whipped out her fan. A flick of the red and silver weapon brought down storms on Inuyasha who dodged them with some difficulty.

'Curse her!' He shirked her next blow and skipped back three paces. Raising his sword, he bellowed, 'WIND SCAR!' A black tendril streamed down from the black sky and absorbed the hanyou's attack. 'What?' Lightening flashed overhead.

'Inuyasha!' Kagome cried out. 'Those aren't clouds. It's a demon.'

'My precious wind demon,' Kagura informed them. 'Undefeated by any.'

'We'll see about that.' Inuyasha lunged forward, striking Kagura with bare hands. The Naraku incarnate was sent into the stone behind her, knocking her unconscious. It was then that the wind beast climbed down from the sky, swirling to form a tall dark shape.

Sesshoumaru watched the sky with interest. This was definitely the doing of his arrogant half-breed of a brother. Trust him to touch on the wrath of a more powerful demon. He'll get himself killed... and then what would become of the Tetsusaiga. (A/N: Awww... we know you're worried about your brother Sesshy.) Sesshoumaru was drawn from his thoughts at the sudden shivers coming from Tenseiga.

'What is it, my lord?' Jaken asked.

'Tenseiga is trying to tell you something,' piped up Rin.

'Stay here,' Sesshoumaru said calmly. 'I have something to take care of.'

'But, my lord, surely I could be of assistance.'

'Watch Rin.' The youkai continued on, finally drawing Tenseiga. He stopped and closed his eyes, feeling the pulsation of the sword. A strange rushing feeling forced him to open his eyes again and when he did, he found himself standing on the line between worlds. Someone trapped behind a dark veil was pleading to come out. Sesshoumaru felt compelled to help him... her... it. He slowly raised Tenseiga and slashed at the veil, allowing it to fall gracefully into the endless depths below him.

'Who are you?' Inuyasha asked the cloud demon.

'I am the result of Kagura's new power, weak, though, she is.'

'He thinks Kagura is weak,' Shippou said.

'I don't know what we're putting up with, but it can't be good,' muttered Sango.

Okay... so it is a little short. Oh well. There's action. -grins- I bet you can't guess who's coming out from behind the veil... wow that sounds very Harry Potterish. Anyhoo. Two or three chapters next.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Inutaishou Ressurected... yea, that will probably be it.