Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha or any of the characters from the show. (but I'll take 'em in Rumiko Takahashi doesn't want them any more…..hint, hint….)

darkflame1516: please, Please, PLEASE review!

Inu-Yasha: you are a dork

Kagome: She is not!

Inu-Yasha: yes she is!

darkflame1516: no I'm not.

Inu-Yasha: then why do u have to beg people to review?

darkflame1516: looks at Kagome again

Kagome: sit, boy!

Inu-Yasha: slams into ground

PLEASE READ: Thank you all so very much for continuing to read this story! I am asking people to please review because I've noticed that my story is getting a lot of hits but few reviews. It is my belief that if you read someone's work but don't comment on it, you are being rude and disrespectful to an author who has spent a long time writing this story. I am beginning to become offended by the many hits with few reviews and may pull the story if I don't get at least 3 reviews for this chapter.

I am not asking for a lot. I'm only asking that if you take the time to read my story, to take a few extra minutes to tell me what you think of it.

NOTE: My loyal reviewer, Ear-Tweak, can ignore the above and doesn't count toward the 3 required reviews. Thank you, Ear-Tweak, for loyally reviewing.

So, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!

Cue the cheesy announcer guy!

Chapter 13 – Serena vs. Inu-Yasha

"That is quite a theory, my child. Do you have any proof?" Kagome squirmed from her spot on the floor. She looked at her lap, unable to meet Kaede's gaze.

"Well…no. But Sango thinks that Serena was poisoned and since she was nearly choked to death for trying to tell us that earlier, I think we should at least consider it," Kagome defended. Inu-Yasha snorted, leaning on the doorframe to the hut. Shippo, who was sitting in Kagome's lap, shot Inu-Yasha a look but said nothing.

"I am still not convinced of Serena's fate. You have not known her for long and this show of malice could be her true nature," Kaede said.

"Serena wouldn't have injured Sango unless Sango knew something that made her a threat," Inu-Yasha piped up from the door. The group looked at him with interest.

"What do you mean, Inu-Yasha?" Kaede asked. Inu-Yasha sighed and stood up straight. He faced Shippo and the girls with an aggravated look on his face.

"Demons, smart demons at least, won't attack a strong opponent unless they're a threat. Sango, as an experienced demon exterminator, is definitely a strong opponent and Serena is by no means stupid. Annoying, maybe, but not stupid. So unless she was trying to cover up what Sango was starting to say, she wouldn't have attacked her."

Shippo and Kagome looked dazed by this revelation, but Kaede nodded her agreement.

"That is actually quite true. I did not expect such insight from you, Inu-Yasha."

"And just what the hell is that supposed to…" Inu-Yasha started to say before Kagome leaped up and interrupted him.

"Koga!" She cried out, sensing his jewel shards as he approached. She ran out of the hut, Shippo on her heels once more and Inu-Yasha following reluctantly. A tornado wind stopped in front of Kagome and Koga stepped out of the gust.

"Hi, Kagome," he said, grinning sweetly at him. She blushed and then saw that he wasn't carrying Serena. Her face fell, but Inu-Yasha spoke before she could.

"So where's Serena?" He asked. Koga ignored him and looked at Kagome. When she returned his gaze with suspicion, he sighed.

"She's at a village a little bit away from this one and…" he said.

"And why isn't she here? With you?" Inu-Yasha interrupted. Now it was Kagome's turn to sigh.

"Sit, boy." Inu-Yasha slammed face-first into the ground. Koga laughed until Kagome shot him a look, then said, "Continue."

"I tried to capture her, but I couldn't get near her and she refused to fight me. She threatened to kill the whole village if she didn't get what she wanted," he said, glancing at Inu-Yasha's crater. "And she wanted him."

Inu-Yasha leapt out of the hole and frowned.

"Then that's exactly what she's gonna get."

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Naraku once more watched Serena through Kanna's mirror. The scene he saw was bloody, vicious, and it made him grin. How vicious Iokji is. He must be angry at me. Little does he know that his doom is approaching him and its name is "Tetsusaiga".

"Kagura!" He shouted. The wind witch came into the room and kneeled at his feet.

"Yes, my master?" Damn him!

"You will go to where Iokji is. You will watch the battle between him and Inu-Yasha. But under no circumstances are you to interfere."

"Yes, master." Kagura nodded and left the room. Why is he making me do this? What possible purpose could this serve?

Naraku watched Kagura's retreating back and knew she was confused. You will understand soon, Kagura. Soon…

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"She threatened to kill the whole village if she didn't get what she wanted. And she wanted him." The words Koga had spoken echoed through Inu-Yasha's head. If she hurts anyone because of me, she will die. I will kill her myself. As the group walked, Inu-Yasha watched Kagome's face. Like the others, her face had a look of fierce determination upon it. But Kagome's held even more emotion. Her eyes held sadness and pain within. Inu-Yasha felt a pang in his heart as he realized how deeply Serena's betrayal had stung Kagome. Inu-Yasha turned his gaze back in front of him. Serena will pay for hurting Kagome. And Naraku will die for causing the transformation.

Kagome walked behind Koga, who was leading them to where Serena was. Inu-Yasha walked beside her on the right, being uncharacteristically quiet, while Shippo hopped up and down on her left. Miroku and Sango walked behind them, standing very close together and it surprised Kagome that Miroku hadn't groped Sango yet. Kagome looked up at Inu-Yasha's quiet and stony face and it hurt to know how much Serena's betrayal must have hurt her friends. This is all my fault. I'm the one who brought Serena into this era. If I hadn't let her come, she never would have been turned into a demon and she never would've hurt anyone.

In front of her, Koga halted. The others came up behind him saw the village just up ahead, with only a small meadow between them, but that was not what had stopped the wolf. Serena stood just beyond the edge of the meadow, her hands and clothing suspiciously bloody.

"Serena," Inu-Yasha snarled. She wagged her finger at him and took a few steps toward them.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Is that any way to greet a friend?" She scolded.

"You're not a friend; you're a murderer!" He shouted. He stepped in front of everyone, who had been driven to silence by his comment. "I can smell the blood on you. You slaughtered those innocent villagers!"

"Innocent? Those vile humans are no more innocent than you or me. Humans think they are so pure just because they are not demons. They think that demons are rotten simply because they are not human. Isn't that what people thought about you, Inu-Yasha? That you were filthy and impure because you were part demon?"

"You don't know anything about me!" He snarled.

"Maybe not. But if I'm wrong then why are you getting so angry?" Serena asked. Inu-Yasha growled again and put his hand on his sword.

"You've killed innocent people and I think there's been enough talk," he said, drawing the Tetsusaiga, which then transformed into a fang. "It's time for you to die."

"Bring it on puppy. Bring it on," Serena taunted and Inu-Yasha rushed at her.

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Kagura landed her feather on a small hill that overlooked the meadow. She watched with indifference as Serena goaded Inu-Yasha. Even when he drew his sword, she was uninterested. Why is Naraku making me watch this? It can serve no purpose. Either way, one of them will die and one will win. It doesn't affect me at all. Kagura gasped as understanding settled in. Naraku must know that I wish to betray him. This must be his way of showing how futile it would be to resist him. If I tried to fight him, I would only be destroyed. Damn him! I must have my freedom, but I cannot gain allies while I am under his thumb. How can I ever escape him?

She turned her attention to the battle, desperately hoping that whoever won would be strong enough to destroy Naraku and free her.

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Inu-Yasha slid back from Serena, digging his heels into the ground to keep himself from falling. Damn it! She's moving too fast for me to attack and when I try, she either dodges it or blocks it and forces me back. This is not good. He launched himself at Serena again, only to find himself thrown backwards. He couldn't stop himself from twisting in mid-air and so he slammed face-first into the ground in front of Kagome. She started to bend down to help him when he leapt to his feet.

"That's it. I've had enough of this," he said, spitting a small bit of blood onto the dirt. He positioned the Tetsusaiga in front of him and concentrated his nose on Serena.

"Giving up already? That's just pathetic," she taunted. Inu-Yasha growled.

"Prepare to die, Serena," he shouted as he lifted his sword. Just as he was about to slam it down and release the Wind Scar when something flew over him and knocked Tetsusaiga out of his hands. It soared through the air and landed behind Serena, the tip of the blade imbedded into the ground. Serena laughed loudly as Koga landed to the side of the battlefield. Inu-Yasha and the others stared in shock at the wolf demon. Koga looked down, unable to meet Kagome's hurt eyes.

"I'm sorry, but she didn't give me a choice," he said.

"Awww, poor little Koga would do anything to protect you, Kagome. All I had to do was threaten your life and he was jumping up and down to help me," Serena explained while grinning. Inu-Yasha snarled so loudly that it surprised even her.

"You evil bitch. I won't let you get away with this," he practically whispered, fighting to keep from screaming.

"Don't worry, Inu-Yasha. She won't die, not at this time at least."

"I won't let you lay a finger on her," he said.

"But you see, she's got something you don't," Serena said.

"And what's that?" Serena ran forward and stopped directly in front of him, her claws reared back, about to strike.

"Time."

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I hope you all remember my request from the beginning and will now be leaving me a review.

The next chapter is waiting for those 3 reviews, so hurry up so I can post it.

Watch out for Chapter 14 – Iokji Returns!

I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long, because here is the summary for:

Serena's Story Part 2: Crescent Moon! (note: despite that the title is on his forehead, this is not a Sessho-maru fic. He isn't in this saga until part 3)

SUMMARY: In this sequel to Kagome's Cousin, Koga and Serena fight as Inu-Yasha begins to feel strange emotions for Serena. During a moment of romantic tension, she unveils a hidden mark to him that leads to a connection between her and Naraku. Then a mysterious demon captures her and delivers her into the hated demon's hands. As he endangers Serena's life and her sanity, will Inu-Yasha save the day before Naraku destroys her mind?

PLEASE REVIEW!