A/N: Hello to all my readers! Here's the twelfth chapter. You're going to see why Kagome yelled out, "NO, INUYASHA!" Hope you like it. Read and (of course) review!

Chapter Twelve

Scars

Naraku had been waiting for Inuyasha. He had been waiting for this day all his life. The king, Inuyasha's father, had overthrown his father and executed most of his family- all of his family actually. Naraku was the only one left.

This had happened when Naraku was but a child. He was raised up by one of his father's most loyal warriors. It was that warrior that told Naraku of what had happened to his family and that he must seek revenge for his family, his ancestors.

It had taken Naraku many years of hard training to learn how to fight, and well. His forces were small and few. He didn't have much money to support them and he couldn't afford to attack the forbidden palace. He waited and waited for the right moment. And now it had come.

Killing Inuyasha was only the first part of his plan. Inuyasha was the only direct heir to throne. Inuyasha's death would bring uncertainty to the government. He would take this to his advantage and gather up more forces to overthrow the government and make himself king- what he should have been all along.

He had heard rumors that the prince was going to go and make a journey in China and see it for the first time. The rumors led him on a long trail from city to city.

Naraku had but a single picture of Inuyasha. It was smuggled to him from inside the palace and it was his only hope in finding the right person.

Just this morning he had stopped by Kagome's restaurant before heading on to the next city in search of Inuyasha. Two old women entered and sat to the table next to his. An old lady had come out to serve them. The two women both stood and congratulated her.

"Kaede! We're so happy for you. Kagome has found such a fine husband!"

"Thank you. She just grew up so fast. I don't want to let her go."

"Oh, but she'll visit. He fought so well. So brave of him."

"Yes. Inuyasha will make a fine husband for her."

Naraku couldn't believe his ears. Inuyasha? Could these old ladies be taking about the Inuyasha? The prince of China? He had to find out.

"Um, excuse me."

The women turned to face him. "Yes, is there anything else I can get your sir?

"No, I'm sorry for eavesdropping. But I just overheard that you know Inuyasha?"

"Yes. My soon to be son-in-law."

"I'm a close friend of his…" Naraku couldn't believe he was so close to finding him, "and we have lost contact over the years. I was wondering if I could see him. Is he around here?" He pulled out his picture to make sure that they were talking about the same person.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. He just left this morning. You came too late, but he is returning tomorrow if you are willing to wait."

"No, I must be off tonight. Where did he go?"

"Not too far from here, just in those forests, heading north of here. Shouldn't be more than ten miles off."

"Thank you."

With that Naraku was off on his way to the forest, hot on Inuyasha's tail.

&

"NO INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed again.

Inuyasha looked around in utter confusion. He pulled himself through the window even with Kagome's objection. He had to save her.

In the shadows, something moved. A figure came out into the light.

"You should have listened to the girl, Inuyasha."

"Inuyasha…" Tears were falling from Kagome's face. She didn't want to put him in this position. Men surrounded this small cabin. He didn't even have a chance to win…

"Who are you?" Inuyasha's voice was firm and steady.

"That's right. I haven't formally introduced you to myself. I'm Naraku… Naraku Temur." He let his name sink in.

Inuyasha knew this last name. It was of the last emperor of the Yuan Dynasty… But everyone had been executed after their fall. Why was he still alive?

"You're making that up."

"Does it look like I'm joking to you?" Naraku's look was grim… evil.

Kagome, sitting on the ground now, could not understand what was so significant about Naraku's name? Inuyasha looked almost bewildered when he heard it.

"What do you want with me?"

"You should know what I want… your position that you don't even deserve." Naraku pulled out his sword by his side and took a strike at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha, however, reacted quickly enough and dodged the blow. "MEN!" Naraku called, but none came for they were all chasing after Inuyasha's horse.

Inuyasha defended himself and took a strike at Naraku. Their swords met and each pushed with all their might. "You're afraid of fighting me one on one, eh?"

Inuyasha sneered. Naraku still held his composure. "You only wish; I can defeat you myself."

"You're dreaming," and with that he pulled his sword away and Naraku lunged forward. He quickly took his sword and held it to Naraku's throat.

Naraku stood up straight and faced him in the eye. "You don't want to kill me," he said confidently.

Inuyasha's sword dug deeper into his throat and blood started to drip down his neck. "Why wouldn't I kill you?" his voice sounded emotionless.

He stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out of vile before Inuyasha could stop him. "Kagome is poisoned and this is the only antidote."

Inuyasha turned to look at Kagome. "NO! He's lying. I'm not poi…"

Before she got the chance to finish, Naraku had moved away from Inuyasha and knocked Inuyasha's sword out his hand and had his own sword at Inuyasha's throat.

"Now, should I kill you…" his eyes showed no mercy and Inuyasha showed no sorrow. He stood firmly and definitely. "My father was the king. He ruled over his people bravely. The king now is nothing compared to him. And you are nothing compared to me…" Naraku noticed nothing else but Inuyasha and telling his tale.

Kagome slowly crawled over to the other end of the room. Her finger grasped around the tightly strung bow. She placed the arrow into place. Kagome pulled the string as far back and tried to hold her hand steady.

The arrow was released and hit Naraku squarely in the back. He fell to the floor along with the bow at the same time.

"Kagome, thank goodness." Inuyasha stepped over Naraku's body.

"I'm… going to kill… you," Naraku breathed, his head fell back onto the ground. Blood was pouring out of his wound.

Inuyasha pulled Kagome up from the ground. "Hurry, his men are going to coming soon and he's not dead yet…"

She stood in Inuyasha's arms still shaken at what had just happened. "Is he dead?"

"I hope so, but I doubt it. Hurry Kagome." He pushed to the door. Seeing that she wouldn't move he said, "Okay, get on my back."

Kagome still stood motionless and Inuyasha threw her on his back and ran out of the room.

&

He ran for awhile until he got too tired and placed Kagome down. They were in a thick, dense part of the forest. The moon was out; it must have been two or three in the morning now.

"Are you okay, Kagome?"

"Yeah…"

"What about your wound on your back. Let me see it."

She turned with her back facing him. He touched it slightly and she winced. "I'm sorry. I'll bandage it up for you, but you have to take off you shirt. Okay? I promise I won't do anything," he added.

"I know you wouldn't," she sounded tired and slipped off her shirt. Inuyasha took of his outer robe and started to warp it around her wound.

"So what did Naraku want from you? Why did he want to kill you?"

"I don't know…"

"You do. When you heard his name, something happened to you. You like couldn't believe it…"

"His last name… he was the descendant of our last emperor, our last dynasty."

"So…"

"That couldn't be true because they were all killed when the next dynasty took control."

"What does that have anything to do with you?"

"It's… complicated."

"Try me."

"My dad it related to the king… If anything was to happen to the prince, I guess I would be second or third in line for the throne." He knew this wasn't the case. He was going to be king and no one was going to kill him before that.

She laughed. "You? Rule China?"

"Yeah, me rule China. I'll be the best king there ever was," tied a knot in the back, "There. It's all done. Does it feel a little better? At least now it won't get any more infected."

"Yeah, thanks."

Inuyasha grabbed her shirt and started to pull it over her head. But he noticed something. "What's that one your arm." He fingered her bite marks. "Is this from tonight?"

"No, it isn't." She took her shirt from him and put it on herself and then turned to face him. "I've always wondered myself. I have asked Kaede before, but she has never seemed happy to tell me. There is even another set of marks on my other arm." She pulled up her sleeve to show him.

"That's odd… you said you were an orphan right?"

"Yeah…"

"Maybe it's from your parents… to identify you."

"But Kaede knew my parents. She's my aunt. I think she would have told me… but it seems to be a darker secret. I've always wanted to know how my parents were like. Kaede doesn't elaborate much on the subject, so I stopped bugging her about it."

"I would hate it to not know who my parents were." It reminded him of his caring mother and how much she loved him…

"I will never know who my parents were… how they looked… what they were like… and how life would be different if I was with them…"

"We probably wouldn't have met."

"That would be a shame," she smiled at him.

"I'm sorry for what I got you into tonight. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been in that much danger. Naraku was out to get me, not you."

"It's not your fault," she leaned her head on his shoulder, yawning she added, "Things happen for a reason."

"I guess so. I'm glad you're safe now."

"Did I have you worried?"

"…Yeah…"

"Thanks for being… there for me."

They were silent for awhile. "Kagome?" Inuyasha said quietly.

"Huh?"

"You should get some rest now."

"On your shoulder?"

"That's fine."

And Kagome slept. Inuyasha felt the warmth of Kagome on his body. He smiled at her even though she was asleep and closed his eyes, falling asleep as well…

A/N: They're civil and they care for one another's livelihood. It's a start, but something bad is going to happen. Next couple chapters will give you the reason.

Stay tuned and review. Thanks!