Chapter 7-Transformations and Struggling Memories

Morning came faster then everyone thought it did as the jewel shard hunters got up from the ground to get up from their floor of a ground. They stretched what limbs needed to be stretched and looked around to see each other so they knew everything was fine. Almost everything. Inuyasha was the only person of the group that was not their and for a good reason as he had transformed into something big, white, and hairy possibly causing chaos in some distant regional Lords land somewhere. "Ah you are all awake. That's good. I made you some food with what I had that should put energy into your still tired bodies. Please come eat before you go or you won't have the strength to find Inuyasha," said Omen gesturing to the bowls of food on the ground next to him.

Everyone, but Kikyo took a bowl of food that appealed to them leaving surprisingly two bowls left and one was for Omen who took his after everyone took there's. "I am sorry Omen, but as I am an undead priestess I do not need food like the others do as my power comes from the souls of dead maiden's," said Kikyo who would have preferred the little girl named Rin to hear that as the said girl had suddenly paled at the thought of her soul giving strength to Kikyo while leaving her a lifeless body when she was older.

"I know. That is why I made yours special as it will rejuvenate the souls you already have that are in you allowing you a day of not having to survive off of new ones in such a way. Please eat as it can only be eaten by you and I would hate to throw out the food I made for you," said Omen giving her a kind old man sage of a smile that only he could create making Kikyo bow her head in respect to the old shaman and then proceeding to take the bowl of food and eat the contents of what was inside of it.

"After we leave how are we going to find Inuyasha?" said Shippo who raised a very good point and a sour subject at the same time.

"It's hard to say Shippo Inuyasha is an enigma now as he is now an unpredictable force to be reckoned with if his actions are any indication. Plus we don't know what he will do in his transformed state that he is in and whether or not he can't control it. Let us all just pray that he can somehow manage to gain control of his mind before he decides to do something...rash," said Miroku who had decided to air on the side of caution as he knew that the wrong word from his mouth would cause him pain from both Kilala and Sango as well as Kikyo were clearly in love with the half-demon.

"If he had just continued to have the rosary on his neck like I stated and wanted before he wouldn't be like this," said Kagome all knowingly getting glares from the vast majority of the group.

"And where would have wanted him to be Kagome? On the ground after saying 'sit' with him in the dirt next your feet where YOU believe he belongs? No I prefer this form of life for Inuyasha as at least this way he is free from all things around him. Just the way nature intended him to be," said Kikyo as she took a bite of her meal finding the taste to be quite exquisite for her taste in food.

"Sure you keep thinking that, but remember I warned you and when Inuyasha comes to tear you apart and does don't say I didn't tell you so," said Kagome as she was finishing her food in a hurry as she always did when she was angry.

"Your lack of faith is disturbing Kagome and if you know what's good for your health you will change your opinion now freely...or by force," said Kikyo the threat clear as the day to everyone.

"Let's get back top the topic at hand before we drift into a conflict that is at the moment meaningless to me and all of you. If we are to locate Inuyasha and do succeed in doing so how should we approach him to avoid a confrontation?" said Sesshomorru making all the pairs of eyes in the group look at him in surprise.

"Lord Sesshomorru you really do care about Inuyasha!" said Rin who was happy to see the one who brought her back to life had seen the light about what she had said about family.

"No. I do not. I hate half-demons Inuyasha included however, I cannot let him be in this state of mind if I am to kill him and when he does die by my hands it will be in his half-demon form and not of that...abomination of a thing he has become," said Sesshomorru with distaste in his voice making Rin's hopes fall faster then they rose from the Lord of the Western Lands previous words.

Suddenly there was a great blaze of green mixed with red fire colored flame near them and they saw Omen chanting in an unknown tongue of dialect. The eye on his forehead was now open and the painted eye on his right hand glowing red with his left hand filled with sand falling out of it in his open palm. "Hmmm. Inuyasha is safe at the moment as he is awake, but I sense another presence near him. She is shielding herself well and I can barely make out the image of her. She is a little girl about the same age if not a little older then you Rin, she has white hair, doll like eyes, and she is holding a...mirror?" said Omen questionably making everyone gasp as the strange fire produce the image of the girl now revealing her to all of them.

"That's Kanna of the Mirror! Naraku's evil incarnation and loyal servant," said a frantic Shippo while Rin hid herself behind Kilala's transformed demon cat state.

"So the spider as spun a new web to wrap around Inuyasha, but I sense...," said Omen who frowned as if unsure of himself to speak.

"What? What do you sense?" said Sango as she found waiting for his response to be hard on her mind and her heart as they filled with worry for Inuyasha.

"I sense she is not as evil as one would make you believe. I sense within her heart she is struggling with a decision of sorts. A decision that involves Kanna betraying one master and possibly serving...another in the spider's steps. I sense she wishes to betray Naraku to serve Inuyasha as his faithful servant of her...own...free...will," said Omen who was quite surprised by this.

Everyone was shocked by this sudden tidbit of news as they never thought that it would be Kanna who would betray Naraku. It was always Kagura who wanted the pleasure of killing him from what Sesshomorru had told them on the way back to Omen's home. "Do you know where they are Omen?" said Kikyo in hopes they could find Inuyasha sooner then later.

"It's hard to say Kikyo as she has become aware of me and is using her mirror to block me of her surroundings, but I can see a nice sized lake to the...southeast of here, with a long line of trees everywhere, a dragon demons, rotting corpse, and Inuyasha in his massive form now stumbling awake," said Omen before the fire became normal and the shaman was now panting slightly as the battle with Kanna had drained him a great deal of his strength.

"Thank you Omen for your assistance we shall now depart," said Sango as they got ready to leave and soon they were all set, but before they left everyone (even a very reluctant and forced Kagome) gave a courteous bow to Omen before departing for the area where Inuyasha was.

(At the lake)

Inuyasha had awoken from his sleep slowly as his new increased size of a body was still new to him and sleeping in such a form though felt comfortable was still strange to him. That as well as his...tenant on his head had turned his fur into her own private bed stirring his fur and making him know that she was alive and kicking. Literally. The girl might have been a sweet and loving child when she was awake, but at night when the little half-demon girl was asleep she was a bundle of nerves that squirmed like a worm on a hook. 'Well this way I can always tell if she is alive up there,' thought Inuyasha as he got up slowly on all fours and stretched his joints out to their maximum length making several of them make a cracking sound though he doubted if it was loud enough to awaken the little bat girl on his head.

He was mistaken as she was already awake before hand as she had awoken to the feeling of warm fur and body heat of her "host" of sorts. She was quite content with the fact that he had let her take up temporary residents on top of his head to sleep making her feel safe and secure. All the while in her dream she was with Inuyasha who was her father living with her mother as a true real family without a worry in the world. She still deeply loved her original father as he had helped give her life, but as it stood she needed a father figure and Inuyasha was the closest thing she could get to one. Besides to her Inuyasha had the same feeling of protective aura that she remembered that her father had when he was still alive. "Inuyasha? (sleepy grunt of acknowledgement) When you were surviving on your own and you finally found yourself a home...what was it like?" said Shiori hoping it was not too touchy a subject.

"It is hard to remember Shiori to be honest with you. I do know there were both good and bad moments in that village as the villagers themselves at first treated me wrong. While the good that came out of it was in another single person I remember who was a priestess of the village. I've tried to remember her name, but I can't as my mind still suffers from what happened during this transformation. However, I remember her face and the way that she would look at me with those kind eyes. Eyes that made my heart soften when it was normally harder then the hardest of diamonds. You want to see this village Shiori?" said Inuyasha knowing that if he tried hard enough he could remember exactly where it was.

"Really? Of course Inuyasha. Maybe when we get their we can settle down near their and be our home from now on," said Shiori, who couldn't help, but feel overexcited by all this news of being in a home as she jumped up and down on his head making Inuyasha chuckle a dark yet relaxing chuckle.

"Let us go shall we then Shiori," said Inuyasha as he started walking on all fours with his tale swaying back and forth behind him towards the forest.

All the while Kanna continued to observe the two from her hiding spot maneuvering ever so carefully to stay down wind as to not be detected. 'I want to approach him, but he may attack me out of need to protect that girl from me due to all the past encounters. I must prove myself somehow to show I am no threat to Inuyasha or that other half-demon of a girl named Shiori. I must move quickly though before Naraku starts getting suspicious of me and discovers my betrayal,' thought Kanna as she used her mirrors power to make her invisible to him as she continued to watch in silence.

(Later that day elsewhere)

The jewel shard hunting group was moving at a fast pace to reach the area that Inuyasha was last spotted by Omen's magic enhanced bond fire. It was most fortunate for all of them Sesshomorru had been their before and knew the area and the quickest way to get their making the slim chance of catching up with Inuyasha possibly less slimmer. As Kilala carried Sango, Miroku, and Rin in Sango's lap she looked at the sun to see how far off in the day it was. She determined it was about the time the potion shaman he had her drink from the small vile was going to kick in. Seeing a river near by Kilala decided to faint being thirst and beckoned to take a quick break to have them all replenish some of their energy with some fresh water. 'I just hope I can get them to lend me some clothes I don't want that pervert to grope my rear end like he did Sango,' thought Kilala as she heard Sango tell everyone they should rest for a brief moment to get a drink by the river, which everyone agreed to.

When they settle down Kilala went to the river with the others on her back till they got their before they jumped off. As they drank the water Kilala suddenly burst into flame like she would be when transforming into one of her two forms and at first it was ignored by the others. That is until the flame grew slightly larger then usual and lasted longer all the while making the others worry about what had happened to their feline friend. "Kilala what is happening to you?" said Sango as she and the others took several steps back away from the ball of fire that was Kilala covering a good 3 foot radius in the area.

When the fire died Shippo's and Rin's eyes were covered by Kikyo while Miroku who had a lechers grin on his face got sent slammed into the river, Kagome just looked at Kilala's new graceful form as she was just as shocked as Sango, and Sesshomorru out of respect looked away from looking at a now naked bi-pedal Kilala covered in yellow black fur with a small black diamond symbol on her forehead. "It worked? IT WORKED! IT WORK! IT REALLY WORKED!" yelled Kilala as she spoke for the first time jumping up and down not realizing she was naked and speaking in human tongue for the first time ever.

"Kilala what happened? How are you like this? What do you mean it worked?" said Sango as she gave Kilala her traveling kimono till she could find Kilala her own as to keep the now pouting and finally recovered monk from looking further.

Shock took over Kilala after she had put on the kimono as she realized she had spoken fluently in human tongue without problems before she could recover with a sheepish cat like smile. She at least had to try and make an attempt to answer Sango's questions as she knew they had to be answered. "We better all sit down on solid ground as you may faint from what I'm about to tell you. And I have a lot to tell," said Kilala as she walked and sat down on the ground away from the river bank while the others did the same.

(Naraku Castle-3 Days Later)

Kagura entered Naraku's chamber at his request to see her no doubt displeased with her in preventing to kill Inuyasha and losing all of the demons she was given. Demons that could have been used later had she retreated with them rather then having them go get slaughtered by Inuyasha. When she entered his face was unreadable as it always only without the casual smirk he always had when he wanted to play with her by squeezing her heart till she was nearly dead. "You called," said Kagura in a serious voice meaning if she was going to be hurt Naraku might as well get it over with.

"Yes. I was thinking that maybe I've been too hard on you Kagura and that by squeezing loyalty out of you by squeezing your heart I've made you rebellious against me. So I'm going to make you a deal you can't refuse. Are you interested?" said Naraku who NOW smirked at her making her hesitant to accept such an offer as it was entirely unexpected.

"Perhaps. What is the deal and only after do I know the terms will I decide to consider in accepting them," said Kagura as she watched him very carefully for any sign he was lying to her.

"Very well as I expected THAT much from you Kagura. About a day and a half ago I had discovered through my poison insects that Kanna has been holding back on her mission to manipulate Inuyasha in his new form that I'm sure you already saw. I have begun to suspect Kanna is no longer loyal to me. Seeing as she is no longer useful as she is loyal I have decided that I want you to kill Kanna for me and in return Kagura...I will give you your precious heart and your freedom. No strings attached. Do we have a deal?" said Naraku as he smiled an evil smile that made even the strongest person want to just empty their stomach in violent vomiting then and their.

Kagura wanted to do that then and their and probably would have had Naraku not present such an offer to her that in fact she couldn't refuse. Freedom for killing Kanna. Could she do it? Would she do it? Kanna had always respected Kagura for her thoughts of freedom and wish to kill Naraku though the little doll eyed mirror holding girl could have snitched on her to Naraku anytime she wanted, but chose not too. She felt she at least owed Kanna something for her loyalty in such matters, but even still the call of freedom from Naraku was within reach even if it was a trap she would never know till she found out. "Deal. Have my heart ready for me when I bring you Kanna's head," said Kagura knowing that even if she could kill Kanna it wasn't going to be easy as she headed out the door ready to go.

(Meanwhile...)

Sango, Kikyo, Shippo, and the others had made it to the lake area that Omen had told all of them about as fast as they could nearly wearing themselves out in the process. When they looked around they didn't find Inuyasha just the dragon demon's decaying corpse. "He was here. I can smell that much from the area as it has been filled with the stench of the dead dragon over there," said Kilala pointing to the giant dragon demons now near fully decayed corpse.

Shippo just whistled at what was before him as he looked at the smashed in head of the dragon demon seeing several broken skull bones through the skulls decaying flesh. "All this was done by Inuyasha? What would possess him to do this?" said Shippo sitting down while going into a thinking position.

"What's this? Hey! Rin has found something," said Rin pointing to a small house like structure that looked like it could barely house Rin much less Shippo.

Kilala used her new found body to get their first as she found she could move lightning fast in this new form, which was much faster then the other two. When she got there she sniffed the air to find another scent that belong to a half-demon bat. From the looks of the size of the little home it was poorly made, but designed to hold someone of Rin's size if not someone slightly taller then the little human girl. "Wait a minute! I know this scent. Hey Sango! What was that little girls name in that one village that was a half-demon bat?" said Kilala as she sniffed the air just to be sure it was the girls scent.

"Hmm? You me Shiori who could generate a demonic barrier with that strange orange orb she had that when Inuyasha pierced with his Tetsuigia it became stronger?" said Sango in question though hit was kind of stupid as there was only one person they knew named Shiori.

"Yeah! Her scent is all over the place here as well as Inuyasha's too. If I were to guess Shiori ran into Inuyasha sometime before, during, or after he got into the fight with the dragon demon," said Kilala sniffing the air further only to stop as she smelled something off in near distance that was fowl to her and headed towards it.

"Kilala what is it?" said Sango as the others followed cat demon to a small area near area of the lake in the forest.

"Something fowl that smells like Naraku. I think its Kanna. I think she's been here," said Kilala as she didn't know whether to be angry or not that one of Naraku's incarnations was so close to her love.

This was disturbing news for them as they knew from Omen that Kanna had been close to Inuyasha, but this was too close for comfort for all of them "She must have been secretly following Inuyasha, which means we must follow her scent to find him," said Miroku all the while receiving a nod from everyone before they continued their pursuit of Inuyasha, Shiori, and now Kanna of the Mirror.

(1 Day Later)

Inuyasha was arriving near Kaede's village and was close when Shiori who was on top of Inuyasha's head saw a large display of blooming flowers not to far in a nearby field. By now Shiori had come to embrace Inuyasha more as a father and as such she decided to call him one. "Daddy look to your right! There are pretty flowers over there," said Shiori pointing at the field before Inuyasha turned his head to the right seeing the giant flowery pasture for himself.

'I remember that place, but from where and when?' thought Inuyasha as he silently kept his face hidden from the little half-demons eyes though it wasn't like she could see from where she was.

"Can I pick some flowers daddy? I want to pick some just for you," said Shiori making Inuyasha snap out of his thoughts to realize what the girl wanted so he nodded a yes and lowered his head for her to jump off safely.

"Be careful Shiori just because we are near a village doesn't mean you are safe here," said Inuyasha looking around sensing something was amiss by this whole situation as his instincts told him to stay sharp around the area.

"Yes father," said Shiori as she bowed respectfully knowing when he was serious before turning around and skipped to the massive flower bed that made her heart feel happy.

She saw all the pretty colors in the flower petals that she thought could never exist when she saw them before plucking only ones that really caught her eye. She did this while at the same time was being careful not to damage the other flowers around her as they were all so lovely in her eyes. Just as she had finished picking another girl came into the flower bed with white hair, doll like eyes, and was holding a mirror all the while smiling. "Hello my name is Kanna what is yours?" said Kanna bowing her head in greeting.

Shiori also did the same in terms of bowing in respect as it would have been an insult if she hadn't doe so. "Mine is Shiori. Its nice to meet you. You want to help me pick up some flowers for my dad?" said Shiori who despite the poison like stench of something dark the girl in front of her was nice with strange yet caring eyes.

"Your dad? Who is your dad?" said Kanna innocently enough though she already knew who it was before hand, but the half-demon girl didn't know that as she picked up a very pretty looking white flower that went well with the others she and now Kanna had taken.

"His name is Inuyasha. He's not my actual dad, but he's just like him so I consider him one for all that he has done for me. He's really big and strong. He may look mean, but he's only becomes mean in a fight with those who would hurt us. Do you want to meet him?" said Shiori realizing this could be the first friend outside of her village that she could like as such.

Kanna hesitated at first as she knew that her scent was one similar to Naraku even if she had washed herself for several hours in a stream to remove that spider's scent from her. However, at the same time she hoped that Inuyasha would see her not as a threat like the others do in the group he had been separated from, but as a person who just wanted to be loved and not used as an emotionless tool. Besides they were going to meet eventually so it was inevitable that the two meet face to face though she would have preferred a more controlled environment for such a meeting. "Yes I would be honored to meet him," said Kanna as she helped Shiori with a few more flowers before walking back with her to meet Inuyasha.

They were about halfway back when they heard a roar of pain and anger that sounded like it came from a great beast that could only have been Inuyasha. "Oh no daddy!" said Shiori as she ran to see what had become of her adoptive father.

Unknown to Shiori stay behind and approached at a slower pace not wanting to be seen if she suspected who she thought she suspected of causing Inuyasha pain. 'If he is in need of my help I will help him, but till then I must remain hidden. Then should he need me so I can prove myself before his presence to prove I am worthy to be his faithful and loyal servant,' thought Kanna who was slightly surprised that it was not what she expected as she remained hidden once again in the shadows of the forest area.

What was attacking Inuyasha or rather who was a band of the villagers in Kaede's village along with Kaede herself bow and arrow ready. "Ye shall not pass through here to get to our innocent village fowl demon," said Kaede who shot another arrow at Inuyasha while the first one was in his shoulder the second one passed his face leaving blooded scratch while villagers used long rope to tie him down thus making Inuyasha VERY angry as his thoughts from the past and the whispers of the dead filled his head.

'They are going to kill you. Fight back. Kill them all. Make them join us one of the dead as they wish you to be,' said the thoughts of the dead echoing in his skill before the harsh words of both past and present came making struggle with his sanity.

'Demon! Foul beast! Get away from and my daughter and go back to hell. Don't go near him son he will corrupt your soul taking it with you to hell when he dies. How can anyone love a thing like that much less give birth to one?' said the shadowy voices of the past as the villages he went to and places he had been when surviving as a child filled his mind as Kaede readied another arrow.

'This one is more stubborn then the last one that came here a few days ago, but why does the creature seem so familiar to me. Its almost as if I know this beast,' thought Kaede as she fired again hitting Inuyasha right in-between the eyes making Inuyasha's rage reach its peak as he could withstand it anymore as thoughts soon went off to Shiori and how she would be at the mercy of these human fools flooded into his mind.

'They will hurt Shiori if she is discovered. I must kill them all to protect her. I swore I would protect her and I MEANT IT!' thought Inuyasha as he let out all his rage that he could as he went crazy knocking the binding ropes and the villagers away as his demon aura swallowed up his entire body covering him in it as he showed his awesome power that destroyed trees all around him as he roared sending out a powerful wind that sent everything flying in all directions.

Kaede being that her body was old meant she was also fragile meaning at the moment she could move from the force of the power the beast had unleashed on her and from the very solid impact of the ground when she landed on her back. 'Never have I felt such strength. No doubt the beast will seek me out and kill me before moving on to the village and its villagers wiping it out. I'm sorry Kikyo. I have protected this place since after you were gone, but even I could not continue your legacy to protect it. Forgive me,' thought Kaede as a tear fell down her only usable eye as an angry Inuyasha approached her on his hind legs his one arm raised over his head and his hand shaped into a fist ready to crush the old priestess into the next world.

"DIE YOU OLD HAG. MAY YOU REST...IN...PEACE!" yelled Inuyasha as he was about to deliver the blow when a single voice called out his name and for him to stop all the while the fury and dark demonic anger in his eyes never leaving Kaede as she looked at realization who the beast was and that she would not live to see another sunset.

(A/N: Will Kaede die next chapter? Will she live to see another day? Who was it that had called out to Inuyasha? Shiori? Kanna? Someone else perhaps? I know I put you on a cliffy and you all think I'm being mean. Which I am no question. Now here comes the part where I say a few things so bare with me. First off I just want to say thank you to all those who have reviewed both anonymous and signed. Second in case your wondering why I had Omen give Kilala a special potion to transform and not the jewel like she originally wanted I thought I would throw a monkey wrench into my work. (HEY PUT THAT WRENCH DOWN YOU BASTARD MONKEY! Remind me to hunt him for sport later.) Anyway if you want I'm willing to hear any and all guesses on who you think was yelling for Inuyasha to stop and if Kaede will live or die. Use all of your minds imagination if you have to and get back to me with a response whether through a review or PM's I don't care as long as I get them. Thanks!)