I've decided to make another posting this week since I've gotten so far ahead on writing the other chapters! Thank you for all of the good reviews and Enjoy!

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Kaede awoke slowly. She could hear the crackling of the fire in the middle of the hut, but no one seemed to be moving or talking. She couldn't hear the heartbeats of anyone but herself, so she knew that she was at least, alone in the hut. She opened her eyes slowly and saw that she was, indeed, correct. No one seemed to be in the hut, but she could smell the old priestess nearby, outside.

Kaede moved slightly, still in a good amount of pain, but she managed to sit herself up and put her back against the wall. Just as she finished this task, the old Kaede walked into the hut and turned to see what the young girl was up to.

"You're awake!" The old woman said.

"Where... Where is everyone?" Kaede asked.

"Miroku and InuYasha rode on Kirara to see the demon, Jinenji, and Kagome, Sango and young Shippo have gone to a nearby spring to get some fresh water." The old woman replied back as she sat down on the other side of the fire.

"Kagome tells me that you plan on leaving the group after you are healed. Is this true?" The old Kaede asked.

The young Kaede looked to the floor of the hut and said, "I-I'm assuming...that you're...aware of my situation?"

"Yes, they have informed me of what has happened. That you are InuYasha's and Kagome's child from the future of even Kagome's world."

"Yeah... Well, I shouldn't have... interacted with them... I should have left... well enough alone..."

"Yes, they told me that you saved them from the demon Naraku. You are very strong and courageous for doing so."

"...I have to get back...to kill Naraku..."

"And how do ye plan on doing that alone?"

Kaede looked away.

"I...don't know...yet... but I have to do it... to save-"

"Yes, yes, Inuyasha informed me of that as well. But how do you plan on going at this alone and surviving for the future?"

The young Kaede looked to the old priestess, a bit perplexed.

"Your mission is of a good nature, but your plan is not flawless. You have extremely strong spiritual powers, as well as the weapon that was passed on to you from InuYasha correct? Why not use these powers to fight along side with them? Adding your powers to theirs, you could be a very important part of destroying Naraku. Your mission would not be sacrificed, and you would not die in vain."

The young girl looked back to the ground.

"You may not see it now, but you must not know the pain you are causing to InuYasha and Kagome."

"What...are you talking about?"

"They now know that you are the future version of their daughter. And when they see you in pain like this, they cannot help but feel a great amount of remorse. I can already tell that they give a great deal of caring for you, but you are the future version of what will happen to you and it breaks their hearts to see that you would end up as nothing more than another victim of Naraku's. Let them share your journey, and all of you will be more powerful together."

"You...don't... understand..." The young girl spoke.

"What don't I understand? That ye intend on dying?"

"I... don't want to... watch them... die again..." The girl said with a tear floating down her cheek.

The old priestess looked at the young girl with a taken back look on her face.

"I watched them die... once... already... I can't do it...again... They died because of me... I can't let that happen in the past..."

The old woman now knew the other pain that this girl was suffering from.

"It is up to you. But I would rather know that ye had tried to ease all of the pain, than try to escape it on your own..."

The sound of the demon cat's growl rang through the village as she landed.

"InuYasha and the monk have returned," The old woman said as the sound of footsteps approached.

"Lady Kaede, we've returned with the herbs that you've requested," Miroku said cheerfully.

"What is she doing up?!" InuYasha's voice came in loud and clear.

"The young girl and I were having a good talk, InuYasha," The old woman said as she took the herbs and added them to the boiling pot of stew that was already boiling over the fire.

InuYasha walked over to the young girl and felt her forehead.

"You're still burning a bad fever...Don't move," the demon ordered.

"So where are the others?" The monk asked old Kaede.

"To the spring to fetch some fresh water," she said as she poured some stew into a cup and handed it InuYasha.

The boy sat down in front of young Kaede and pushed the cup to her lips.

"Take it," he ordered firmly.

Kaede didn't bother to refuse, she knew the consequences. But she wasn't going to refuse anyway because she was actually starting to feel hungry. She took the cup and nearly gulped it down.

InuYasha was almost happily taken back, and Miroku knew that this was a good sign, but that there was still a long road ahead of them before she could even walk without pain.

"InuYasha!!" Shippo cried out as he ran to the hut.

"Shippo? What is it?" InuYasha said staring at the scared child.

"Kagura and Kohaku are attacking Sango and Kagome!"

"What?! Come on Miroku!" InuYasha shouted as he practically flew out of the door of the hut.

"I'm right behind you!" Miroku said grabbing up Shippo and running close behind InuYasha.

The old priestess grabbed her bow and quiver quickly and said, "Do not worry, we'll be back shortly!"

She ran outside and gathered up some horses and some of the men in the village and they rode off towards the spring.

"Mom...Dad... I've got to help...them... but I can't get to my feet... USELESS!! I'm so useless! Whether I was a child, or now as an adult... I'm so damn useless..."

Kaede then heard the blanket door to the hut shift and her eyes darted in that direction.

"So this is where you've been hiding..." Kagura stared at the girl with her beady red eyes and smiled a horrible smile...

Kaede stared back at her, trying to move the muscles in her body, but to no avail.

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InuYasha smelled Kagome's scent and then heard Sango, "HIRAIKOTSU!"

He could smell the scent of Kohaku and Kanna and saw Kohaku's Tama's fly through the air at him. He took out his sword and deflected the Tama easily and then swung his sword at the boy as a warning. Kohaku jumped back to where Kanna was, which was far away from either Sango or Kagome.

"Kagome!" InuYasha shouted.

"InuYasha!" She shouted back.

The boy landed next to her and asked, "Are you all right?!"

"I'm fine, but Sango was hurt by Kohaku!" Kagome replied.

Miroku attended to Sango, who had been knocked unconscious and InuYasha then looked around and saw Kanna and Kohaku doing nothing.

"Where's Kagura?!" InuYasha asked.

"I don't know! She was the first one to attack us, and then Kohaku attacked Sango and we've been too busy trying to defend against him ever since!" Kagome replied.

Old Kaede showed up on a horse within seconds after InuYasha along with the men from the village, ready for battle.

"Old woman! What are you doing here?!" InuYasha shouted.

"We could not sit and let this happen without giving it our all! Where are the demons?!" Kaede yelled back.

"Wait a second InuYasha, if everyone's here to protect Sango and me, then..." Kagome didn't want to think it.

"Yeah... Then where's Kaede?!" InuYasha finished her question.

Miroku gave a shocked look and said, "It's a trap! We fell for Naraku's trap! Lady Kaede! We're fine here! Kanna and Kohaku have left, but Kagura may already be heading for the village!"

InuYasha looked to Kagome and said, "Ride Kirara back with Miroku and Sango!"

"We'll be fine! Hurry InuYasha!" Kagome said in a scared and shocked tone.

InuYasha left the spring with Kaede and the villagers behind him. The more he thought about the trick, the angrier he became.

Finally arriving at the village, InuYasha nearly destroyed the hut as he tore into where they had left young Kaede.

Gone... She was gone. Kaede was gone.

InuYasha could smell her scent along with Kagura's scent, but it was obvious that she had been taken away by Kagura's flying capabilities.

"DAMN IT!" InuYasha couldn't believe that he had fallen for Naraku's tricks again. But what now?

Kirara arrived just before the villagers and old Kaede did.

"InuYasha! Where's Kaede?!" Miroku yelled as they landed next to the hut.

"They took her! She's gone! Kagura took her!" InuYasha yelled while looking to the skies.

Kagome's heart started racing. What can they do?

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Kagura landed her giant feather down on the ground and threw Kaede feet away from her.

"I don't have much time, so let's get straight to business. I still don't know who you are exactly, but what I do know, is that Naraku wants you dead. And he's ordered me to take care of that task. But I have some questions for you." Kagura said in a low tone.

Kaede tried to stand up but her legs were too unstable and all she could do was sit herself up slowly and shiver with pain as she tried to keep from being struck while lying on the ground helplessly.

"I know that you're under the effects of Naraku's miasma, and I'm taking full advantage of that right now. Your powers are great. They're even greater than that of InuYasha's. And I need to make use of those powers. First of all, do you think that you could kill Naraku?"

Kaede looked at the woman with a shocked expression.

"I asked you a question! Are you going to answer, or do I have to get violent?" Kagura threatened.

"I already know why you...you want him...dead... But what I don't understand...is how you...think that it will free your...soul," Kaede replied.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kagura demanded.

"What do you plan to do... when Naraku is dead... Kagura?"

"That should be obvious; I'll be free from him! I'll be able to live my own life!" She stated.

"As what... exactly? What do you plan to do... after you've gained your...freedom?"

Kagura looked away from the girl and said, "I've never had a life of my own to live, so I don't know yet... But anything has to be better than being under the supervision of that damn demon..."

Kaede almost wasn't sure what to do. Her mother and father wouldn't find her before Naraku's insects would, and if that was the case, Kagura would be forced to kill her and that would be the end.

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For the next chapter!

Kagura kicked the young Kaede to the ground and stomped on her chest.

"I'll do whatever I please with my life! That's none of your concern!" Kagura seethed.

Kaede laughed through her teeth as a bit of blood ran out from the corner of her mouth.

"Admit it! When Naraku is……dead, you'll have.. no one! No one wants ...you, no one ...cares about you, you'll be ...alone! What kind of life... would that be?!"

"How dare you!" Kagura's anger grew in intensity.

Kagura picked up Kaede by the front of her kimono top and brought her up to her face.

"Maybe Naraku was right, maybe we should destroy we while we have the chance!" Kagura taunted as she lifted her fan and prepared to bring down the final blow.

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