Chapter Four: Broken

Koga stands under the cherry blossom tree sniffing the ground. He sees Kagome's yellow bag laying on the ground. "She was here.." he growls, "And her scent is mixed up with that mutt's."

Hakkaku and Ginta look to each other then back to Koga. "Do you think she and Inuyasha were 'together' Koga? It could be very possible that they have fallen for one another." They picture Inuyasha holding Kagome's face in his hands and slowly pulling her to his lips. They suddenly feel something smack their heads together. Koga stands there and glares at them.

"Kagome would never be with that filthy dog! She is my women!" Koga sniffs the air, "They are not far from here. Come on lets go." They run into the forest toward Inuyasha and Kagome.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha pulls Kagome closer to him making sure nothing will get her. Inuyasha glances down to her face and can see pain in her expression. He whispers her name then turns to Makai. "How do you know what Kagome has been dreaming about! Just leave her alone!" The girl next to Kagome walks away from her arms. Kagome blinks then looks to the girl, "Hey, wait. Come back, you might get hurt." The girl grins and walks over to Makai. He hands her a light blue bouncy ball. Her clothes change into a black doll like dress and her hair becomes curly.

"My name is Yumi Sekisetsu, but of course you knew that right Kagome?" Kagome closes her eyes and bites her lip. Inuyasha looks to Kagome then growls when Koga's awful smell reaches them.

"Inuyasha!"

"Listen Koga, I don't have time for you! I have to protect Kagome!" Koga runs up beside them and looks to all of the people in front of them.

"Who are these guys?"

"They are after Kagome. Koga, this will be the one and only time, but... will you help me protect Kagome?" Koga blinks a few times then nods. Inuyasha tells Kagome to go with Ginta and Hakkaku, then he leans against Koga's back. "Ready Koga?"

"Yeah, I'll get the fox and the slut that are on the house. You can get the other two." Sofia glares at Koga and holds out her whip.

Julian glances at Koga and turns away, "Makai, I want to take on the half-breed. You and Yumi go back to Serenity." They nod and walk into the forest. Sofia jumps down and starts to glow. Julian jumps down as well and stands next to Sofia. "Sofia, don't waste all of your strength on that wolf." Julian turns into his fire fox form and charges at Inuyasha. Sofia smiles, "Don't worry, I won't, but will you?" she turns into a large black tiger with purple stripes. She hisses and pounces on Koga, knocking the wind out of him. Inuyasha pushes Julian away with his sword then jumps down on him, but misses. Sofia claws at Koga then jumps off of him and runs toward Kagome. Inuyasha kicks Julian then runs to Sofia. He holds the Tetsaiga over his head then slices down and uses the wind scar. Sofia gets hit, but Julian rushes in and grabs her. He sets her down and runs toward Inuyasha and bites his shoulder. Sofia grins and sits up then disappears. Koga stands and jumps down onto Julian. Julian bites Koga's leg and jumps away from Inuyasha and Koga. He growls then disappears. Inuyasha turns to Kagome and smiles seeing she is safe. Ginta and Hakkaku run to Koga, leaving Kagome standing next to the tree. Inuyasha walks toward her, suddenly Julian reappears behind Kagome and grabs her. Julian pulls out a small knife and cuts her right above her collar bone. Julian grins, "Sumiko, you take them. I will take Kagome to Serenity." he disappears and Sumiko walks out from behind the tree. Her white dress blows slightly and she holds her sword close. Inuyasha runs to Sumiko and grabs her. "You better take me to Kagome!" Sumiko looks to him and removes his hands from her collar. Inuyasha puts his hand on his sword and Koga joins his side.

"Calm down. I am not going to harm you. I will take you to Kagome."

"What?" Koga looks to Inuyasha then back to Sumiko. "This has to be some sort of trick."

"It is no trick. I have my reasons for wanting to help you."

"Like what!"

"... You won't believe me..." she turns and points to the forest. "In the forest there is a lake, thats how we will get to her Kingdom. We have to hurry."

Inuyasha's eyes widen, "Hey, wait, take out your braid." Sumiko blinks then does as told. She looks identical to Kagome, except for her eyes, they are green. "Kagome..." Inuyasha looks to Koga and sees he is just as shocked.

"I am Kagome's future child. The details are not important right now." she glances back at them then runs into the forest. Inuyasha turns to Koga then they run into the forest after her.

Miroku and Sango sit on the ground waiting for Inuyasha or Koga to return. Kirara picks her head up and looks over. Hakkaku and Ginta run up the path toward them. Miroku stands up, "Koga, nor Inuyasha are with them."

"Kagome isn't there either." Sango looks to Miroku, "Maybe something happened." Shippo runs to Miroku, "Whats going on!" Hakkaku and Ginta stop in front of them and gasp for air. Shippo pokes Ginta's leg and watches him fall to the ground. "What happened?" Hakkaku looks to them then to Ginta.

"Koga told us to come here... and... tell you..." he sits down next to Ginta. "... he wanted.. you to know..."

"GET ON WITH IT!" Sango, Miroku, and Shippo scream together.

Hakkaku lets Ginta finish, "Kagome was captured, and they are following Sumiko. She is going to lead them to Kagome."

"Kagome was captured!" Miroku looks to Sango. "This can't be good. Do you know who took her?"

"No, but they said something about someone named Serenity."

"Serenity?" Sango bites her lip, "I have never heard of her. What would she want with Kagome?" Sango pauses to think, "Did they say anything about the Shikon Jewel?"

"No, just something about taking her to Serenity."

"Inuyasha is with Koga then?"

"Yes, he and Koga teamed up together."

"What!" Shippo stares at them. "No way! Inuyasha and Koga teamed up together! Thats crazy!"

Miroku pats his back lightly, "Now Shippo, you know very well both of them have feelings for Kagome. And you know Inuyasha would do anything to keep her safe. So joining Koga isn't a bad idea."

Sango joins in, "Yeah, until they do rescue her." they look to one another then sigh heavily. "Do you think you can take us to them?"

"They already went through the lake. We don't know how to get through."

"Through the lake? What do you mean?"

"The way to get to the castle is by going through something that reflects. But even if we did find something, we don't know what to do after that."

Sumiko, Inuyasha, and Koga stand in the middle of a snowy field. Sumiko points slightly upward, "The Kagome is there. She must already be with Serenity. Lets hurry." Koga growls softly then follows her. Inuyasha sniffs the air and sighs. Sumiko stops and turns her head to see demons speeding toward them, she raises her hand. "Back away." she waves her hand and light flies toward the demons killing them. "Watch out, most of these demons can only be killed by purification." she continues to walk.

"Inuyasha." Koga looks back to him and whispers. "I don't trust her." Inuyasha shrugs and sees a girl running toward them. Sumiko walks over and bows her head to the girl. She smiles, "Hello Sumiko-Chan."

"Hello Tomoe, what is it?"

"I came to warn you, Serenity knows."

"Hmm.."

"She knows about Artemis and you wanting to rebel." Sumiko closes her eyes, "Don't you care Sumiko-Chan?"

"No, not really. Where is Artemis?"

"He is fighting. Go through the forest he should be there."

"Thank you, Tomoe." she begins to walk off with Koga and Inuyasha.

"Umm... Sumiko-Chan."

"Yes?"

"I am sorry." Sumiko turns and sees an army of demons running through the snow.

"Tomoe..." her eye's water, "Hurry lets go!" They run through the field and into the forest. The army is catching up with them, Tomoe stands in the field with the demons running past her. "Sumiko... please forgive me." she runs with the demons chasing after Sumiko. Inuyasha looks back then to Sumiko. They are almost out of the forest but with more demons chasing after them. Koga jumps into the trees and leaps branch to branch. The demons follow him and almost knock him out of the trees. Sumiko stops and yell to them to keep running, she holds out her hands toward the charging demons. Light swirls around her hands and then the light shoots out. Half of the demons following them are now dead. Inuyasha and Koga look back and with wide eyes. Koga continues running, but Inuyasha runs to Sumiko and grabs her arm. They catch up to Koga and make it out of the forest. A man turns around sees Sumiko and smiles, "Hey... I have been waiting for you." blood drips from his side. His white tux shirt has patches of blood stains on it, the bottom of his pants are ripped. Sumiko rushes over to him and throws her arms around him. "Hey, Sumiko. Whats wrong? You okay?" Sumiko squeezes him tighter, "Ouch, be careful... that hurts." she lets go then turns to Inuyasha and Koga.

"This is Artemis. He will help us, okay?" Artemis smiles slightly and sighs.

"Serenity has Kagome, she sent a lot of demons out to stop me from reaching the castle." Inuyasha looks over and sees a castle, black and gray, but with some white from the snow. Artemis looks to Inuyasha then to Koga. "Hey, aren't you cold wolf?"

"The name is Koga, and yeah I'm freakin freezing!"

"Well, you ain't going to be any better when you get to the castle." he pauses, "Its even colder in there." Artemis turns around, "Looks like more demons are coming." he looks to Sumiko and kisses her. "Hurry, go I'll take care of them."

"But.."

"Go." Sumiko sighs then waves her hand for Inuyasha and Koga to follow. "Hey, Here." Artemis throws a key, she catches it. Artemis pulls out his sword and grins. The wind blows and the scent in the air changes. "Julian." He sees the other fox walking in front of the demons, leading them. "Julian... this is where your flame will die." Artemis growls and turns into his fox form. His fur is made of blue flames and his eyes are black.

Julian looks upward and sees Artemis waiting for him. Sofia appears next to Julian, "Would you like me to help you?"

"Go away Sofia. This does not concern you."

"Oh," she grins, "I see, this will be the final battle. What will win, the fire or the ice." she laughs and disappears with the wind.

Sumiko runs on the bridge leading to the castle. Inuyasha runs past her smelling the scent of Kagome near them. Sumiko runs and jumps down in front of him, "Wait." he growls and Koga joins him. "There is a barrier." She turns and throws a snowball, it hits the barrier and dissolves. Inuyasha whips out his Tetsaiga and it turns red.

"Let me held it then." Inuyasha gets ready to use his sword when the barrier suddenly disappears. "W-what!" Sumiko walks past him and then runs to the door. There is a small hole in the door, she looks at the key. Inuyasha and Koga get ready to fight as the doors open. Sumiko walks inside and Inuyasha and Koga follow cautiously. The doors slam behind them. Everything is black and blue, ice hangs from the walls. Spider webs make pictures in between statues of gargoyles. A dark figure sits in the throne to the side of them.

"Hello. You finally came."

"Serenity..."

"Sumiko, you look weak." Serenity holds out her hand, a black orb appears and she squeezes it. Sumiko gasps and drops to the ground coughing up blood. "Sumiko, we have a gift for you." she snaps her fingers. "Makai." He walks out of the darkness and stands ten feet away from Sumiko. He throws something to her knees, its too dark to see. Sumiko picks it up and blood runs down her hands. Inuyasha's eyes widen and he back away. Tears sting her eyes and her lip trembles. "Artemis..." Koga sniff the air and almost gags.

Sumiko cries, "Artemis!" she glares at the blurry image of Serenity and Makai. She stands up and pulls out her sword. Makai appears in front of her and whispers in her ear, "Artemis said he loved you before he died. Sadly, the words were hard to make out because he was coughing up blood." Sumiko tries to stab him but he grabs her sword and pushes her away. She holds her hands out and the light begins to swirl again.