So sorry to everyone who was waiting for this update…I was supposed to have it up two weeks ago!

I'll try and keep more regular updates from now on.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, no matter how much I want Sesshoumaru for Chanukkah..

Last Time: "You girl… you have it, don't you?" the centipede woman hissed, "Give it to me! I must have it…Shikon no Tama!"

This Time:

Kagome didn't stir as the creature slowly dragged her half-formed body closer. The closer she got, the faster it regenerated until a whole centipede woman towered over the unconscious girl. Large fangs grew until they no longer fit into her mouth, and she leaned down for the strike.

"Oi, wench, Are you out here? Kaede-baba's been looking for you!"

Gold eyes met red and held for a moment, as Inuyasha tried to comprehend what exactly was going on.

Kagome was unconscious next to the well.

That baka neko was cowering in the furthest corner from everything.

A rather large centipede youkai was towering over Kagome, looking about ready to take a bite out of her.

The youkai narrowed her eyes at him.

"You…," she hissed, scrutinizing him, "You are the son of the Hanshu of the Western lands? The Inu no Taishou?"

"What about my oyaji?" Inuyasha snapped, "He's dead now, so what does it matter?"

Her eyes widened.

"I see… So the Inu no Taishou is dead, is he?" the centipede woman grinned maliciously now, "Well, son of the Inu no Taishou, I am known as Mistress Centipede."

"I don't care what you're called, because you'll be dead for trespassing in a minute!"

"Oh… Such a temper you have," Mistress Centipede turned back to Kagome, "I do hope that you can wait a moment. This girl has something that belongs to me…"

Before Inuyasha could react, the woman leaned down and bit into Kagome's left side. The girl was tossed into the air, and something small and round went flying in the other direction. Inuyasha lunged for Kagome at the same time Mistress Centipede lunged for the object.

Barely managing to catch the girl, Inuyasha turned back just to see Mistress Centipede swallow what she had been after. The transformation that followed could be described as nothing less than gruesome. Flesh peeled off of the formerly beautiful torso of a woman, leaving disgusting pale, almost purple flesh and a ghastly face. The centipede part of her body also expanded, filling the well house almost completely. Once the transformation was finished, the hideous youkai lunged again at Kagome.

Stumbling slightly with the added weight of the girl in his arms, Inuyasha dodged the strike and leapt out of the confining well house. If they stayed in there any longer, it would be their death sentence. Passing the Goshinboku, the tail of Mistress Centipede came out of nowhere, seemingly, and bound Inuyasha and Kagome immobile to the tree. Meanwhile, Kagome was beginning to wake.

"What…?" she winced at the constricting feeling and started panicking, "What's happening?"

Her head whipped to the side and she let out a terrified little shriek upon seeing the new Mistress Centipede. The youkai took her time making a closer scrutiny of the pair she had trapped.

"So… You are merely hanyou…," she chuckled lowly, "Pathetic. I should not be wasting my time with such…vermin," her gaze then turned to Kagome, who whimpered, "How interesting… A miko and a hanyou? What would your parents say, girl, if they knew you had become a hanyou's whore?"

Mistress Centipede laughed to herself again, delighted by her own dark humor. Inuyasha glared and growled. Who did this youkai think she was, insulting them like this? So intent were Inuyasha and Mistress Centipede on their own thoughts that neither noticed Kagome's unbound hand glowing slightly blue.

"Don't you…touch me!"

A momentary flash of blue light blinded Inuyasha, and when Mistress Centipede screeched in pain, it seemed to come from a distance. When he opened his eyes again, all of the centipede woman's arms were scattered around the courtyard. Kagome looked stunned, staring mutely at her hands. Inuyasha rose up and cracked his knuckles.

"Normally, I wouldn't be allowed to kill you," he said to the stunned youkai, "But since you've attacked me on my own property and would be considered a dangerous youkai, I can kill you right now."

Flashes of yellow tinged energy trailed from his fingertips as Inuyasha drew back for the strike. Mistress Centipede lunged forward for one last futile strike as Inuyasha launched forwards as well. Claws tore through flesh and the centipede woman lay in pieces.

He turned back to Kagome, mentally congratulating himself when she screamed and pointed behind him.

"It-it's still moving!" she yelled.

Inuyasha turned and, sure enough, the severed pieces of youkai were twitching.

"What the hell?"

"You must remove the jewel from the glowing piece of flesh!" Kaede shouted from her vintage point by the front arches.

"Glowing…?" Kagome murmured.

Her eyes darted across the parts strewn throughout the courtyard and came to rest on one central piece that seemed to be slowly attracting the others.

"I see it! That one, over there," Kagome suddenly cried, pointing towards the hunk of flesh.

Kaede made her way towards the indicated place and removed a small, purple bead from it. Instantly, Mistress Centipede turned to ash and bones. Inuyasha recognized the marble, it was the same one that had flown out of Kagome's side.

Shikon no Tama…

Japanese Words Used: (in order of use)

Inu no Taishou: Dog General

Ok….Tired…tired…Praying for snow as I finished this chapter…The plot WILL be breaking away from the original plot of Inuyasha soon. Setting in the modern era kinda does that…

Please review and tell me what you thought! And other people too, if you liked it.

Much love,

Miji