Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha or any of the characters from the show. So stop BUGGING ME! (only kidding)

darkflame1516: Hello. How's everybody doing today?

Inu-Yasha: You still talk stupid

darkflame1516: looks at Kagome

Kagome: sit, boy!

Inu-Yasha: slams into ground

Inu-Yasha: owwwwwww! Why do u keep doing that!

darkflame1516: Ha ha! Showed u! sticks tongue out at him

Thank you all so very much for continuing to read this story! I'm posting this chapter because I have one loyal reviewer who KEEPS reviewing and I don't like to disappoint loyal readers. However, if I don't receive some more reviews, I may not post for awhile or I may pull the story all together. So, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!

NOTICE TO ALL (I will keep repeating myself until I post the summary)This story, "Serena's Story: Kagome's Cousin" is one of three. That's right, I'm doing a trilogy. Keep an eye out at the end of my chapters. I may put a summary of Serena's Story: Part 2. (note: that will not be the official title of the story)

Special thanks to all the readers who took the time to review.

Now…drum-roll please……..

Chapter 12 – An Adversary Becomes An Ally

Serena had been walking aimlessly through the forest for almost an hour. She turned her head to look behind her and spotted Naraku's castle far on the horizon. Bastard. Serena thought. He thinks he can control me but he's wrong. I will kill Inu-Yasha and drink in his power. Then I will be able to kill Naraku and free myself from him once and for all! She stopped staring and resumed her walk. After another hour, she halted and plopped down onto a large rock.

"I have to think of a plan this time. If I just rush into battle, Inu-Yasha will kill me for sure. I need to separate him from his sword if I stand any chance of winning, but how should I do it?" Serena said, thinking aloud. She thought for a few moments, then reached into a pocket in her outfit and pulled out a large piece of the Shikon Jewel that Naraku had given her earlier. "Maybe I can use this to get support from another demon..."

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Sango's eyes fluttered open. She tried to sit up and hissed in pain. She slowly lowered herself back down to the ground. What...what happened? I remember...Serena...She transformed... Oh my god, that's right; she was poisoned! Sango bolted upright and ignored the pain.

"Miroku! Kagome!" She tried to shout but her voice was hoarse and couldn't be heard. Sango rubbed her neck gently, remembering that Serena had choked her into unconsciousness. She called out once again for her friends. This time, her voice was smoother, but still a bit faint. However, Inu-Yasha's sharp ears heard her from outside the hut and he came into the tent. The others followed him, curious. The moment Shippo and Miroku saw that she was awake, they rushed to her side.

"Sango! We were so worried about you!" Shippo said, hugging her legs. Miroku didn't say anything; he just sat by her side.

"Sango, are you all right? Serena injured you pretty bad," Kagome asked, kneeling next to Sango. Sango nodded.

"I'm fine, but I have something important to tell you guys," Sango paused, waiting for a response. When she didn't receive one, she continued. "I think I know what happened to Serena."

"What?" Inu-Yasha asked, his interest suddenly peaked.

"I think she was poisoned."

"Poisoned?" Kagome asked. Sango nodded again.

"By Iokji," Sango said.

"But how?" Kagome gasped.

"I think it happened when he bit Serena. I think she's might be under Naraku's control," Sango answered. Kagome leapt up.

"I have to go tell Kaede!" She ran out the door, with Inu-Yasha at her heels.

"Kagome!" He shouted with a frustrated tone as he disappeared out the door.

"Hey, wait for me!" Shippo cried as he followed them.

Sango and Miroku were now alone. She was sitting cross-legged, her back nearly facing his kneeling form. Oh, no, this can't be good. Every time we're alone, Miroku tries to hit on me. Something bad is gonna happen. Sango thought. But Miroku didn't move; in fact, if Sango hadn't looked over at him, she might have thought he wasn't breathing. Their mutual silence continues for a few minutes and it became increasingly more awkward for both of them. I have to say something...but what should I say? Miroku thought. However, he was spared having to speak because Sango began to cough violently. He put a comforting hand on her arm and when she stopped coughing, Sango tensed under his touch and he pulled his arm back.

"Sango, are you all right?" Miroku asked, a waver of concern coloring his normally confident voice. Sango nodded, not entirely sure she would be able to speak again.

"I'm fine," she said, clearing her throat. "I'll be fine."

"I should leave. You need to rest," Miroku said dejectedly. He moved to stand up and Sango grabbed his wrist. He looked at her in surprise.

"Don't go. I...I don't want to be alone right now. Stay...please stay with me," she asked, not meeting his eyes, knowing her voice would fail if she did. Miroku felt his face flush at her plea and was thankful that she wasn't looking at him.

"Of course I'll stay, Sango," He all but whispered to her. Against her wishes, the tiniest smile crossed Sango's face. She laid down, her head resting in his waiting lap. Miroku put his arms around her and held her. She smiled, feeling safe in his embrace, and closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift off into slumber.

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Koga was running through the forest. He could still hear Kagome's voice, begging him to find Serena and bring her back safely. Don't worry Kagome. He thought. I'll find her if it takes me all night. Koga abruptly stopped and sniffed the air. Picking up Serena's trail again, he took off.

An hour later, he was running through a field. He had just reached the edge when he slammed into something hard and fell to the ground. Smelling the air told him that he had run right into something that smelled vaguely human. But from his low vantage point he couldn't tell whether it was a human-like demon or a human.

The person he had bumped into cast a long shadow over him and the ground. Koga stood up, grumbling.

"Watch where you're goin' next time!" he growled, dusting himself off. When he didn't hear a response, Koga looked up from his clothes. He was greeted by a sinister smile on a face that was almost touching his.

"Serena," he said, narrowing his eyes. "What do you want?" While he spoke, he backed up until there was about a foot between them.

"Hello to you too, Koga," she replied.

"What do you want?" Koga repeated, having not received an answer. He clenched his fists, readying himself for a fight. Serena noticed and smiled, amused by his fear.

"You don't have to be afraid of me," she said, still grinning.

"Why would I be?" He asked coldly. "You're just a pathetic human." The smile slid from Serena's face. She narrowed her eyes slightly and stared at Koga.

"Correction. I was just a pathetic human," she said, her voice getting deeper as she spoke. "But now...I'm a very powerful demon." She walked toward Koga, who began to back up even farther out of instinct. Realizing what he was doing, Koga stopped and held his ground, staring determinedly at Serena.

"Really?" He asked skeptically. "Why don't you show me?" He taunted Serena with his eyes, trying to anger her. He knew it was working when she snarled. If I can just get her to attack me, I can knock her out and bring her back to Kagome. He thought.

"I'm not here to battle you," Serena said calmly, trying desperately to regain her composure.

"Which means you can't," Koga said, confident that she was about to lose it. Serena felt anger overtake her and before Koga could blink, she had him by the throat against a tree. Damn! She moves fast! I couldn't even see her. This could be bad.

"I said I wasn't here to. Doesn't mean I won't." And with that, she tossed him over her shoulder and he crashed into a tree behind Serena. He leapt to his feet, only to be punched in the face by Serena. Blood streamed from his nose and jaw, but he ignored it. He moved to strike, but Serena was too fast for him. Before he even moved, he was punched again, this time in the gut. As he doubled over, Serena's foot struck the back of his legs, making them fly out from under him. Koga landed on his back and the wind was knocked out of him.

As he tried to regain his breath, Serena stood above him with a leg on either side of his torso. She bent down and crouched just above his chest, as if she were about to sit on him. She leaned her head forward until their noses were touching and stared straight into his eyes.

"Listen to me and listen well," she whispered. "I did not come here to fight you. I have only one battle on my mind and I'm getting tired of this macho wolf bullshit. Do you understand me?" Koga glared angrily at her, but nodded once.

"What do you want with me if you didn't come to fight?" he asked.

"Your help," Serena said gently.

"What!" Koga exclaimed, shocked. "What do you need my help for?"

"I want to destroy a certain mutt. But with that damn Tetsusaiga, he's nearly unbeatable. I need you to cause a distraction long enough for me to get it away from him," she explained.

"You're trying to kill Inu-Yasha?" he asked slowly. Serena nodded. "And what's in it for me if I help you?"

"This jewel shard..." she said, showing him the shard. "...Kagome, and this..."

Serena leaned even closer to Koga, closing her eyes. She brushed her lips against his gently, and then pushed down hard. He pushed back, both of them enjoying the kiss. Koga felt a tiny pinprick of pain as Serena pulled away and he felt a thin trail of blood running down his bottom lip onto his chin. He looked at Serena, who grinned a little, revealing a bit of Koga's blood on one of her fangs. Wow! I never would've guessed that she was so rough, even as a demon. She seemed so sweet before...

Serena turned away from his gaze and stood up. She put her hand out and Koga took it. She pulled him to his feet, then quickly dropped his hand.

"What was that for?" Koga asked, hoping she would know he was referring to the kiss. Serena kept her back to him, but she knew what he was talking about.

"Advance payment," she said solemnly. She whirled back around to face him. "Will you help me?"

Koga wasn't sure how to answer. If he helped, Kagome would finally be his and he'd have another shard to boot. But he knew Kagome wouldn't be too happy if Inu-Yasha or Serena got hurt.

"You swear you're not gonna hurt Kagome?" he asked. Serena looked directly at him but her gaze seemed to pass right through the wolf.

"No harm will come to Kagome. I told you. My only interest is in the mutt," she said. Koga hesitated for a moment, then nodded at Serena.

"I'll help you."

"Then I guess we have a deal." Serena grinned evilly. Now that mutt will get what's coming to him.

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"Interesting move, Iokji," Naraku said as he watched his minion seduce the young wolf clan chieftain through Kanna's mirror. "But no matter what you do, Inu-Yasha will kill you. You are merely a pawn to see how much Inu-Yasha is willing to sacrifice to defeat me."

Naraku waved Kanna out of the room. She left as quietly as ever, walking past a spying Kagura without a second glance. Naraku looked out a window, continuing to think aloud.

"You can put up as valiant a struggle as you like. You will not beat him and you will not break free of me. And like any pawn, you are expendable," Naraku said sinisterly.

Kagura watched her master in fear, hidden where Naraku could not see her. Will he do that to me one day? Will he decide that I'm also expendable and send me to my death? I have to find a way to escape him before that happens. I must break his hold over me. I must free my heart!

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Serena watched as Koga ran off, headed in the direction he had come. When he had disappeared from her sight, she cursed.

"Curse you, you vile human!" The words tumbled from her lips, but the voice was not Serena's. Damn human! She regained control long enough to ensnare that wolf, but now I think he suspects something. He has to know that I cannot let anyone survive the coming battle. Not even my "ally". I must take the shards and drink in the power of them all if I'm going to try and free myself from Naraku.

Serena snapped out of her daze and began walking to the meeting place Koga and her had agreed upon. Serena would lie in wait at a village close to Kaede's and Koga would lead the group right to her. But Iokji was still upset. Damn human. She still has to much control over her body. Any normal human would've died from my influence by now.

Serena had given Koga the shard because Kagome would be able to sense it as they approached Serena. Kagome knew Koga had shards already, so she wouldn't be as suspicious if he carried it. Serena wasn't sure if she could trust him with it, but he seemed to believe her when she said Kagome wouldn't be hurt. Perhaps he could be trusted. No time like the present to find out.

Serena stopped in front of a village entrance. She smiled as the scents of the village reached her.

"Catch me if you can, Inu-Yasha."

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The next chapter will be coming soon, but I'm hoping to get at least 3 more reviews before I post it. So, please review and stay tuned for Chapter 13 – Serena vs. Inu-Yasha!