/AN:Thanks to all who reviewed, even though it was only 2! C'mon people Review! so I need 3 reviews for me to continue! So if you love it that badly then review!

Chapter Two: Present

It's only been three years since Kagome was literally dragged out of her own time to this time…the feudal era. But to The InuYasha gang it's been living hell. Battling youkai, humans, and other monsters, it felt like an eternity. After there defeats and victories, sits and kisses there search finally ended, they have half the jewel, even Koga's jewel shards. In light of this recent accomplishment came a deadly task, how would they defeat Naraku? They know that Naraku has half the jewel that is why lower class demons have been running scared. Kagome is now 18, she just graduated high school, she didn't know how or why but she finally graduated. When InuYasha heard this he was jumping with joy…of course on the inside. Kagome is thinking of going to college as soon as they kill Naraku. Whenever that was. Sango and Miroku are thinking of getting married…still of course he'll still have that wandering hand. Shippo on the other hand has grown up into an over excited 11 year old. His shape shifting skills have improved greatly; you can't see that puffy tail anymore. His hair is still up in the pony tail and his tail is as puffy as it will ever be. He is not as childish as we all remember, now he can fight and do anything the group can all together.

InuYasha's appearance hasn't changed; he's still the same old stubborn hanyou. But his emotions have changed just a tad about life and what it means. Still, he's going to kill Naraku if it's the last thing he'll ever do. He said those words, three years ago, now he's thinking other wise, having his doubts about this. The others have too, for a moment in time they have been loosing every battle against Naraku…until the strange occurrence that Naraku simply vanished. The first mistake they made was letting there guard down when he disappeared, that mistake almost cost them there lives. Now they know better, but the memory of that always seemed to appear in there mind whenever they see jewel.

The sun was at its highest point in the sky, already they have gone through seven villages and no sign or rustle of Naraku. That was a very bad sign, of course that was good for the villagers but bad for them. InuYasha started to get frustrated. "Why can't he just come out and face us!" InuYasha said aloud. "He probably wants to catch us off guard" Miroku answered. "Like that will ever happen" Shippo said scratching his cheek. Kagome sighed as she walked with her bike, 'Will this journey ever end?' She questioned herself. Sango looked at her worriedly, "Kagome is something wrong" she asked. Kagome didn't answer at first, she just kept on walking "Kagome?" she said again a little louder.

Kagome looked at her and smiled "Oh nothing I was just daydreaming" she said a little happier. Sango didn't fall for her lie, but didn't she didn't want to pursue it. She fell silent and started to think on her own 'Everyone seems to be having their own doubts about this, including me I mean it's been three years and still we haven't defeated him' she thought while looking up at the sky. It's been hard on all of them even Shippo. But they will never show there true feelings about this because, they must do it, they have to do it and they want to do it.

Many times they've wondered if they were ready to face Naraku, would they even make it to his lair? Better yet will they find him? It all comes down to how dedicated they are. Sango wants revenge, Miroku wants the curse to end, Kagome was thrown into this by fate and InuYasha needs to avenge Kikyo's death. More importantly I would they do it? Even if they do find him what would happen? All those answers seem so far away. No matter how close they come.

Little did they know that they were being watched, as this monster made its final decisions to launch an attack it didn't and won't, not until the time is right for him to strike. He chuckled to himself as he eyed Kagome with his eyes, black as the pool of blood before him. He doesn't have a name; he was hired, for his unique talents. His ways of torture are legend, but this group however would be difficult, very difficult. He smiled a grin that would send fear to anyone. 'I love a good challenge' with that thought in mind, he left. Thinking, plotting his assignment.

After all, what you see will kill you, what you don't see well, what's worse than death?

The sun was setting and so were InuYasha and Company. Tired, blood-stained and dirty from there recent youkai attack. All they wanted to do was sleep and try to get ready for tomorrow's never ending journey. InuYasha found a good spot to rest for the night, they were surrounded by forest but in the area they were in, was a clearing. They were in a castle of thick and mountainous trees.

Kagome yawned as she curled up in her sleeping bag, thank goodness Shippo found a good spot sleeping against a log. Everyone could see she was tired, of all the people in the group she had to use every ounce of strength she has to keep fighting. InuYasha looked down at his traveling companions they were getting ready to go to sleep way to early. He didn't like it, but they were tired but so was he.

Tired of everything, tired of fighting, tired of seeing her, tired of being hanyou, tired of living like this. He laid his head back and closed his eyes as if waiting for the end to come. But he couldn't leave them, not like this, not when she needs him more than ever. He opened his eyes, his golden eyes. He searched through the darkness of the night.

His ear twitched only once before he heard the sound of a raging youkai coming his way.

The youkai seemed blood thirsty; he had no soul or a heart. He was huge, his strength was unbelievable, even InuYasha's windscar doesn't even compare to what strength he had. Since he attacked at such a perfect moment that Miroku and Sango didn't have time to get up and actually take action.

Shippo tried his best at protecting Kagome but thanks to a knock upside the head and gash his shoulder he failed miserably. InuYasha stormed to take his place but the youkai got there before he did. She called out his name only once, just once before she fell.

The last thing he could remember actually was Kagome calling his name. He could smell her tears and her blood staining his hands.

Everything seemed oblivious to him, all he had was pure rage, he had that urge to drop the tetsaiga and kill the youkai. But he couldn't, he just couldn't he wouldn't do that to Kagome. Not now, not ever.

"BACKLASH WAVE!"

The youkai had fear in his eyes for the first time, but he didn't die, not until he finished his task. He had to kill to live, a piece of his arm was pulled off, but the rest of his body was untouched he ran off, with agrin, yes he had pain, yes he didn't finish his task but everything was going as planned.

'All according to plan, all according to plan' he thoughts blood smeared all over his body.

InuYasha looked over at the campsite, his friends were battered and bruised, but Kagome was bleeding fast and her breathing gets weaker by the second. InuYasha for a moment thought it was a dream, but shook himself out of that miracle. Miroku and Sango quickly pushed InuYasha out of the way despite there own injuries and tried to help Kagome.

They managed to stop the bleeding; it will take days to get Kaede and will take at least a two day walk to the nearest village. They were scared for her, InuYasha was pissed off but his eyes showed his emotion, of pain. He had his own injuries gashes across his chest, but nothing compared to what Kagome had.

Puncture wounds all across her body and a deep gash on left side, InuYasha felt sick at how much blood he's smelling and seen.

InuYasha has seen many things; the ugliest of youkai, pools of blood, and battlefields of severed heads from wars and of course his own blood. But what he saw now, was just scary he wanted to get help, they needed help but from who? Who would listen to him? What if she died when he was away?

"InuYasha" Miroku said looking straight at him. "We need help and fast we can figure out who did this later but right now she is in a state that..." his voice trailed off as he saw a tear, crawling from his eyes.

"I-I'll get help" he said almost at the brink of sobbing. InuYasha never cries, or show it in public. But for her, he would cry Kagome had cried for him when he was injured. In a blink of an eye he ran across the trees, searching for anyone or anything that could help him.

"Miroku?" Sango asked as she leaned on her boomerang. "D-do you t-think she'll survive, the extent of her wounds are..." she didn't finish her sentence she just cried. She was consoled by Miroku's warm embrace, "She's a strong girl, Sango she's strong" Miroku whispered quietly. "How can we defeat Naraku? We need help Miroku! We need help!' she yelled lightly punching him.

"Shhhh" he whispered holding her closer "Shhhh"

Him holding her like that was pure bliss.

He was half way through the edge of the forest before he caught the scent of a fire burning, it was west. There had to be someone there, there had to be. He ran toward that scent it was about an hour away from the campsite. 'Kagome doesn't have a fucken hour!' he thought. He ran faster, and faster he didn't care that his side started to hurt like a bitch. He didn't care; the only person he cared about was Kagome, nothing else just here. The moon gave him enough light to see, through the darkness.

More or less InuYasha was running at astounding speeds, seeing Kagome like that scared him. InuYasha didn't get scared like that, never, not even when he saw the very face if evil: Naraku. He knew he had something to do with it, he just knew it. Who else would hurt Kagome like that, like she was nothing? But she was something; she was a someone that is dear to him.

He was caught him in his thoughts, that he forgot his task to get help. He smelled the air again and realized he was closer, his anger, his rage; his caring made him go faster. InuYasha almost sighed in relief, but he recognized the smell of blood how he hated that smell of blood. But he had to follow it that was where the fire was coming from. He slowed his pace to down to a jog as he got closer to whoever it was, lived there. He had to smell the air again, this time he saw that it was another battlefield, daggers were all over, even blood, since there was so much that he could of puked but didn't.

He instantly knew the smell of the blood, it was that damn youkai! 'What the HELL is he doing here?' he thought almost aloud but he didn't want to reveal himself. He placed a hand on the tetsuaiga, he knew someone was watching him, he moved from his place to another up in the tree. He didn't forget his task, his mission but if he was killed then who would help Kagome? He watched silently, as he smelled the air again, this time the smell was different, it had the tint of blood yes, but of fire?

InuYasha was definitely crazy to go out in the open like that. His ears twitched, but then he was knocked head first into the ground, a person was standing on his back pressing firmly. He cursed through the ground; the unknown person rolled him over and had a small dagger pointing at his throat. He noticed that the person was a girl.

"Who are you?" she said raising an eyebrow. She brought her dagger closer to his skin almost touching it. She leaned closer pressing her foot harder against his chest. She sniffed, her blue eyes shining in the night. A smile appeared as a glisten of fangs. She flipped the dagger toward her, and placed it in a small pouch on her leg. She let go of him.

"Again I ask you, who are you?" She asked again.

"InuYasha"

"Kara"

/AN:Woot! There goes chapter two! Ha! Like I said in my last message I need three or more reviews to continue this fic! Now I just had to add a little Sango and Miroku fluff, it seemed like the perfect time. Don't forget to REVIEW/

Signed,

MistressofMagicks