Loving Thru the Trials of Love

Hiya ppls! Just a warning...I am listening to a lot of Enigma right now...awesome band btw...so...yeah...I'm feeling all mixed up now a days...(new music does that to me...I end up picking up the traits of the musical style for a short period of time...) In this case, the band I've been listening to is sort of a techno, ethnic, Gregorian chant mixture...so...they are so different than what I'm used to...and I lovers them with a passion...but if my writing and speech seems to have changed a bit...don't worry...it's just temporary...but then again, by the time this chappie is finished, I may moved onto something different...who knows...

I hope to god that I actually get Oyu right this time...cuz god damn it I did her dialogue wrong again in the last chappie for a quote or two! It is so frustrating! However, that is her character, and I must practice different types of speech anyway...so...blah...maybe Enigma's music will help me...

Here is your Kachie-Koga chappie! I hope you likey!

Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, I wouldn't be writing a fanfiction...so...blah! Oh, and watch out for possible excessive language in this one kiddies!

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Good-bye For a Time

"Mom...Dad?" Kachie couldn't believe it; her parents were standing outside the front door with very disgruntled looks upon their faces, anything but happy. Kachie felt Koga tighten his hold on her, and instinctively did the same to him. She knew why they were there, and she didn't want to be taken away.

Her parents looked into the house and saw their daughter, who was sitting rather close to a boy they were quite unfamiliar with. Her father's face hardened more if possible, "What the hell is going on here! Who the hell is that?" Kachie paled when she realized that he meant Koga, and recalled how he reacted when she had boys as even friends. She sent Koga a glance that clearly told him to let go of her; Koga, however, wasn't about to let her be taken away so suddenly, if at all...

He held a defiant and superior look in his eye, but tried to remain pleasant, "My name's Koga..." Kachie sighed audibly; this wasn't going to go well...

As if on cue, her father stormed into the house, fire blazing in his eyes, "Whoever you are, get the fuck away from my daughter!" Kachie made move to shove Koga away lightly, for his own good, but he kept his defiant eyes on her father's steady advance on the two, and his arm firmly around Kachie. Hekele's eyes were wide as she watched from the sidelines; Koga was in for it, and she knew it.

Kachie side-glanced Koga, "Human..." He looked at her oddly.

"What?" Kachie looked at her dad again and repeated herself.

"You're a human..." she muttered, only slightly louder. If one could measure the rate at which the color drained from Koga's face, they'd deserve a Nobel Prize. Koga was still, to an extent, accustomed to being only a demon, and so the bull-headed superiority of being such still effected his judgement from time to time.

What had failed to register in his mind was that while in the era where he currently sat stupidly, he was a 'weak' human, not an 'all-powerful' demon. And, unfortunately for Koga, Kachie's father was just a bit bigger, a bit heavier, and really pissed off. Koga would have to be lucky to get out of a fight with him adorning only minor injuries...

Koga could only utter one word before Kachie's father lifted him out of the couch by his collar, "Shit..."

Ms. Higurashi stepped in instantly to the boy's rescue, "Mr. Runa! I won't have you bullying anyone in this house! Set him down immediately or I'll call the police!"

Kachie too was up and tugging at her father's arm, "Dad! Let him down! He didn't do anything and you know it!" Mr. Runa ignored his daughter in favor of telling off Ms. Higurashi.

"Call the police? On me? You're the one who tried to keep my daughter from me for the past few weeks! My wife and I should be calling the police on you!" he yelled, still not releasing Koga, whom had taken to digging what nails he had into the man's skin in hopes of being set free. After a moment, it finally worked, and Koga was thrown down unceremoniously. He glared daggers at Kachie's father but said nothing; it would be irresponsible and stupid of him to start a brawl in the Higurashi household, especially with the kid, mom, and geezer there...

"What's going on?" It was the first time anyone had seen Kagome out of her room in the past two or three hours, and so it tossed them off guard for a second before the bickering began again; the now calm teenage girl left to piece the events together, and it didn't take her long.

"I've explained to you and your wife over the phone that there were delays in setting everything up! There was a blast of sorts here in Tokyo and everything was thrown out of order; I'm sure you've seen all the confusion on television. There were delays for mail for a while, and even phones; it was also precisely on the evening that the incident occurred that I received notification of your wish to reclaim Kachie. I've since then contacted the proper people and have tried to make this flow as smoothly as possible, but there were other things that were of greater importance in line ahead of us, such as missing children from the riots...please understand and calm yourself before I am forced to call the authorities," she explained throughly, and as calmly as possible. Kachie's mother, whom had been silent up until this point, made her presence known more pronouncedly.

"Look, Kachie is our daughter, and we want her back. All you had to do was stuff her on a plane back to the States; it really didn't take all this preparing that you make it out to have."

Ms. Higurashi silently fumed at the attitude and lack of understanding, but tried to remain as calm and polite as she possibly could, "It takes much more than simply that; we need to re-transfer her papers, you need to find her a new school, I need to take her off of my tax write-off, she needs time to say good-bye to everyone, and you and I needed to establish some communication between us so that we could discuss timing, potential flights, and payment for the flight; a three minute 'where-the-hell-is-she' phone conversation is not sufficient...besides...there is another, more serious factor involved..."

Kachie's mother rolled her eyes apathetically as Kachie's father fumed once more, "What other fucking factor is there? She is our daughter and we want her back home! There is no other factor!"

"Yes there is..." Everyone turned to look at Kachie, whose face was trained downward at the floor, her eyes hidden by her bangs.

"And what would that be, ingrate?" her mother muttered. Hekele watched all of this from the sidelines, knowing all too well what her friend was going to say next. She would give her support as soon as she saw an opening, but one thing bothered her; why were Kachie's parents acting like they were? It made no sense...Hekele never remembered such anger and uncaring from them...

Kachie took a deep breath, and then met the gaze of her parents, "I don't want to go," she took another breath, trying to keep her voice from cracking, "I want to stay here...forever..."

It was hard to gauge the initial reaction of Kachie's parents; there were traces of shock, anger, disappointment, confusion, and even more anger. Her father, after recovering from his surprise, mostly consisted of anger...

"Why you fucking bitch! How dare you even ask such a thing of us? We're your parents, not these pathetic bastards!" he screamed at her, walking towards her threateningly. Koga was standing instant and in front of her protectively; his face contorted into a snarl.

"Don't you dare touch her," he ground out threateningly. Hekele stood up then and Kagome was already half-way down the stairs, also coming to their friend's rescue. Kachie's father looked like he could go on a rampage; his face was red and full of hate.

"Mr. Runa, Kachie is a good girl, and we care about her very much...just as much as Hekele, and my own children. I would love more than anything to adopt her and take her in permanently...she is already considered part of the family...we all want her to stay..." Ms. Higurashi said honestly, still trying to be civil; her father looked like he wanted to whack Kachie's parents senseless, and they didn't need anyone to start a fight.

By this time, Hekele was standing by Kachie and Koga protectively, "They take good care of us and Kachie likes it here! Why can't she stay!" Kachie's father glared at her, something Hekele was completely unfamiliar with, but didn't regard her.

"She's our daughter and we can take her if we want; you're more than welcome to try to gain custody if you like, but no American court would give it to you, and I doubt a Japanese one would either; you've already got three brats and an old man to care for; no one would take away a child with a stable environment and throw her to one as unpredictable and hectic as yours..." his wife said, lighting a cigarette and taking a puff.

Kagome touched Kachie's shoulder comfortingly when she winced at her mother's words, and Koga's hand found hers from his place in front of her. Souta, feeling a combination of bravery and anger, walked up to Kachie and hugged her from behind, showing his own support. This surprised Kachie greatly; she had completely forgotten the young boy's presence, and apparently, her parents had also forgotten that there was a little guy in the house...

"Kachie is a fine young lady, and we're more than willing to get a lawyer and put up a fight to gain custody of her; especially now that we've seen how you treat her...are you sure a court wouldn't go against you in wake of your abuse?" Grandpa challenged. Ms. Higurashi looked at him sternly; the threads keeping this 'conversation' from turning into a bloodbath were too thin to determine, and that was before the taunting started...

Kachie's father looked as though a blood vessel had popped, "What damn abuse? I've never even touched the little wench!"

Koga let out an angered growl, "She's not a wench...stop putting her down..."

Her father sneered at Koga, "And what are you; her boyfriend?"

Koga's eyes flashed dangerously at the obvious challenge, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am."

Kachie's father stared him down, only mildly surprised that the boy had retaliated, "Then she's a fucking whore as well..."

Hekele stepped in front of Koga angrily and stared at Kachie's father, "No she isn't! And Koga's a good guy; he's just looking out for Kachie and you know it! He loves her more than you two probably ever have!"

It happened so fast Hekele didn't even see it, the only evidence that it had even occurred were the stars swimming across her eyes, the extreme pain in her left cheek, and the red mark left there as well. Kachie's father had slapped her, hard. Hekele touched her face in shock and staggered back, never having anticipated such a thing.

Everyone else just stared on in complete surprise, not knowing what to do. Even Kachie's mother seemed surprised, she couldn't believe her husband had done such a thing; a flicker of remorse showed in her eyes, but it only lasted for a moment.

Kachie moved out of Souta's grasp and out from behind Koga to see if her friend was all right; she looked at Hekele's cheek critically and saw that a decently sized bruise was already beginning to form. She rounded on her father, "What the hell were you thinking? Why did you hit her! She didn't do anything but defend me!" Koga pulled Kachie back to him protectively as her father's eyes flickered dangerously.

"Then maybe you should just listen to us and come home, whore." Kachie's eyes glazed over with tears and Koga growled once more. He was about to retort when Kachie gripped his hand lightly and turned her head downward. Koga looked at her sadly and pulled her into a comforting embrace, hoping it would help.

Her father snarled and was about to grab Koga and rip him away from Kachie, when Ms. Higurashi stepped in once more, "I highly doubt that any court would be too thrilled about you slapping a young girl around while trying to convince her mother to give you your daughter back, I know I don't."

Kachie's mother, now out of her stupor, rolled her eyes at this, "You're not her mother; her mom's dead and in the ground; you've got two brats, raise them instead of other people's kids."

Grandpa had the phone in his hand, "If you don't leave the grounds at once, I'll call the police! You have no right to abuse any of these kids; first Koga and now Hekele! You've got no right being parents!"

Kachie sighed to herself and shed a few tears, she didn't want anyone else to get hurt, or in Koga's and Grandpa's case, killed probably, "I'll...go with you...just stop screaming at and threatening everyone!" Koga looked at Kachie as though she had slapped him across the face, but nuzzled her slightly when she hugged him again and buried her face in his chest. He understood; she wanted to protect everyone if she could. But he was worried about her...

"Kachie dear, are you sure?" Ms. Higurashi asked, hoping that she had heard wrong. Kachie, however shook her head.

"I...want to stay here...but maybe it would be better if I just went with them for now..." she mumbled.

Hekele gave Kachie a hug, "Kachie...are you out of your mind? I'm getting one of those ominous bad feelings..." Kachie hugged her long-time friend back.

"I'll be back...just do your part on this end and I'll be back in no time..." she said. Hekele sighed to herself and released her friend sadly. She looked her in the eye for a moment before relenting and stepping out of the way.

"You see there! She wants to come home!" Kachie's father yelled. Kachie looked at the ground remorsefully and was swept into a big hug by Ms. Higurashi.

"I promise that we'll get you back dear...it may take time...but we'll get you back..." she swore quietly. Kachie nodded and was soon pulled into another hug, this time by Grandpa.

"You may be a demon child half the time my dear...but your parents are far worse...we'll see you back home soon," he promised. It was unlike Grandpa to be so affectionate and caring towards Kachie, in fact, he had only been so once before, but it was comforting to Kachie to know that everyone at the shrine cared for her. She'd be back soon...she hoped...

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Kagome, Hekele, and Koga sat on Kachie's bed as she packed. They all watched her intently but silently, except for Koga, who was writing something on a pad of paper. No one spoke; what was there to say? Kachie's parents were downstairs in the living room with Grandpa and Ms. Higurashi in a very tense silence of their own as well. After a few moments, Hekele spoke up.

"You don't have to leave because he hit me you know...he was probably just so upset that he didn't think first. You shouldn't have to leave..." she said. Kachie sighed and shook her head.

"I don't know why he slapped you...it's so out of character for him...and my mom...neither of them have ever been so cold towards you before...and they know all about your dad and what he did...they know what you went through...that's why I came here to begin with...to help look after you for them...because you were always part of the family...something must have happened since then...I don't know..."

Koga looked up from the pen and pad of paper he was writing on and around the room at everyone, including Souta as he walked in, "What about the well? Can't we sneak Kachie outside and back to our era?" Everyone shook their heads.

"I'd love more than anything to do that Koga...but then Ms. Higurashi and Grandpa would get in trouble. If I were to just disappear, then my parents would involve the police and the two of them could get into serious trouble...I don't want to do that..." she explained. Kagome sighed and stroked Souta's hair as he sat down next to her.

"There has to be something that we can do...what if the court case doesn't go through? What if the judge doesn't grant us custody?" she asked. Kachie sighed as she stared at he now-full suit-case.

"With them the way they're acting now...I don't even want to think about it..." She closed the suitcase with all the happiness of a lamb to the slaughter.

When everyone was back downstairs, Kachie's parents rose from their seats quickly, eager to leave the hostile environment that they had created. They stood by the front door with frowns and sneers on their faces as Kachie approached. The said girl turned around and faced her family, or rather, the family she wanted to be with, to say good-bye.

"I'm gonna miss you guys...but hopefully we'll see each other again soon..." She embraced all of them one more time and told Hekele to put some ice on her cheek before she finally came to Koga. The two just stood there for a moment, facing one another, before Koga grasped her hand firmly and pulled her into a warm, loving embrace.

"We'll get you back Kachie...they won't have you for long...I promise...Aishiteru... for always and forever..." he vowed gallantly. Kachie had tears in her eyes and she squeezed him back.

"Aishiteru Koga...for always and forever...I'll be home soon, so take care of everyone for me ok?" she requested. Koga nodded and grabbed her other hand, so that he was holding both of them. Kachie looked at him oddly as she pulled her hands away, but Koga's expression never changed. She clenched her right hand tightly and put it in her pocket as she picked up her suitcase with the other hand and turned to leave.

She let her tears fall freely as she walked down the shrine steps.

I hope this isn't the last time...

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Inuyasha was pacing in Kaede's hut angrily for what seemed like forever, and his audience was getting rather annoyed.

"What's the matter with you this time Inuyasha? You were fine when I saw you earlier..." Shippo asked 'innocently.' Inuyasha hit him in the head.

"Shut up you stupid kit!"

"Waah! I'm telling Kagome on you!"

"Who gives a damn! She can't do anything to me! Who cares about that wench anyway!" he yelled. This resulted in many stares across the room, and Kaede even dropped the ladle she was using to stir her stew.

"Inuyasha...have ye and Kagome had a disagreement?" she asked. Inuyasha gave her a threatening look and left the hut. Kaede sighed.

"I do believe that was a 'yes'...this is most troublesome..." she said, shaking her head. Kagura shook her head.

"It seems as though everyone's being torn apart Kaede, well, almost everyone, Hekele and Sesshoumaru are still together, but Miroku and Sango are separated, Kagome and Inuyasha are going their separate ways, and Kachie may be leaving us soon as well..."

"She already has..." Everyone looked up at the entrance to the hut and found Koga, Kagome, and Hekele walking in slowly. Kachie was nowhere in sight.

"What do you mean Koga?" Kanna asked. No one could miss the pain in his eyes.

"He means her parents all but burst through our front door and demanded her back. She's gone with them...but she didn't really have a choice..." Hekele said spitefully. Sesshoumaru, who was also in the hut, frowned deeply when he saw the giant bruise on Hekele's cheek.

"What happened?" he demanded quietly, motioning to the bruise. Hekele touched her cheek on reflex, but only shook her head.

"It's nothing..." she said, just as quietly, suddenly sounding a bit mousy.

"Kachie's father slapped her when she defended Kachie," Koga said sternly and shortly, feeling anger towards the man all over again and not caring to be curt and brief with everything.

Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed dangerously as he gently grasped Hekele's chin and turned her face so that he could get a good look at the bruise. "And why weren't you going to tell me this?" he asked her calmly, not feeling anger towards her, only annoyed curiosity.

Hekele sighed, "I was going to wait until a more appropriate time...one without kids sitting three feet away." Sesshoumaru looked down and saw Rin, who was now clinging to Hekele's waist. He nodded slightly as Hekele stroked the little girl's hair and pulled her to him. The trio returned their attention to Koga, who was telling Kaede and the others the story.

"...And he even went so far as to call her a wench and a whore! Just because I was there! Hekele went to defend her and he slapped her, then a whole bunch more arguing happened, and then she just...gave up...she wants Ms. Higurashi to get custody of her still and everything...but she didn't want all the shouting and yelling anymore..." he finished. Kaede sighed.

"I fear it is worse than I first thought. I recently told yer mother, Kagome, that I had a theory as to what was happening, and to my great surprise, she had also come to the same conclusion. We both feel that all of these abnormalities were connected..."

Kanna's eyes lit up, "The fallen angel..." Kaede studied her for a moment before nodding.

"Yes...have ye been thinking this over as well?" she asked. Kanna nodded and Rin caught on.

"Rin and Kanna-chan were following Koharu and saw something slip out of her kimono. It was a crystal...Kanna-chan kept it safe..." Rin stated. Kanna nodded and walked over to a small bundle and unwrapped it, revealing the crystal.

"We thought of the fallen when we figured out what it was...I wrapped it up and brought it here to show Kaede but she wasn't in at the time..." she explained. Kagome stared at the crystal a moment before shaking her head.

"It looks exactly like the crystal demon Inuyasha and I fought..." she muttered Inuyasha's name as she said it, signifying to the group that she was still upset about whatever had happened between the two. Kaede rolled her good eye, but sighed.

"I'm more sure now than ever...this fallen must have a vendetta against ye..." she complained lightly, but it triggered something in Kagome's mind.

Flashback

"Who is your lady, and why is she so weak...does she need help? Is she hurt?" Kagome asked, attempting to earn the woman's trust.

"My Lady's name is her own at the moment, but you may learn it soon...as for the reason of her weakness...that is also her concern alone and not yours. She needs no help from her enemies..." was the reply received. Kagome tried once more.

"Why does your lady consider us her enemies...we haven't even met yet," she asked, curious.

The woman stood up and stretched in a bored manner, "My Lady has met you before in a time apart from this, and you are indeed her enemies...and as for your greeting..." The woman twirled her hands in the air and formed a bow of fallen energy and an arrow. She held it at her side as she finished her speech, "...perhaps I shall demonstrate the power of a Fallen's spawn, ne?"

End Flashback

"She said that she had met us 'in a time apart from this' and that we were her enemies..." Kagome said, awe-struck. She hadn't even remembered that part of the conversation, and apparently, no one else had heard of it either...judging from their surprised expressions anyway...

Hekele looked deep in thought as she spoke, "Let review the facts: One, we have a fallen angel after us; two, she knows us from somewhere; three, we have no idea who the heck she is, let alone why she hates us; four, she may be the root of all the bad stuff that's been happening to us; and five, the energy of fallen purity can seriously hurt us...in light of all the above listed information, what are we going to do?"

Kaede sighed, "We're going to have to get all of the information together for starters, and ye are going to have to find a way to unite yer-selves once more..."

Koga looked at the ground in shame, "That's going to be difficult Kaede...especially with forces that we have no control over at work here..."

Kaede nodded remorsefully, "I know it will Koga...but ye must try...Now, all of ye should go and try to start working things out in yer minds so that ye will be better able to do it in real life...Kagome, child, please stay here...there is something that we must discuss..."

So the hut emptied slowly, the group splitting off into different directions, needing time to think. Kanna went with Shippo to go spy on Miroku and Koharu, while Kagura followed Hekele, Sesshoumaru, and Rin. Koga shuffled off in his own direction, leaving Kagome alone with Kaede.

"What is it you want to talk about Kaede?" she asked the old woman. Kaede sighed.

"A few things child, but first...there is something that I must teach ye...it could very well be the edge ye need to fight this fallen angel..."

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Kachie sighed as she sat in the hotel room with her parents. None of them had spoken in the past two hours. All her father had done was glare at her, and her mother was just...silent. She seemed distracted by something, but Kachie wasn't complaining; the silence suited her just fine.

"Your mother and I are going out; stay here."

She looked up at her father in surprise; she wasn't going with them? You'd think that if they wanted her back so much that they'd at least try to be with her a bit more and try a bit harder, but they were just going to leave her at the hotel and go somewhere?

Her father got in her face when she didn't immediately respond, "Can you hear me wench or are you deaf? Your mother and I are going out!" Kachie backed up on her bed a bit out of reflex and nodded slowly. She had to admit, her father could be very scary; especially without all her friends defending her...

"Don't bother leaving, the hall cameras will see you, and don't call out either; I'll find out about it."

Kachie glared at him, "Why can't I call them? I'll stay put! I came with you willingly, remember?" Her father loomed over her dangerously.

"I told you not to, that's why! I don't want you communicating with those bastards behind our backs!"

Kachie rounded on him, "What the hell happened to you anyway! Why are you acting like this? You've never been this cruel before, and you hit Hekele! You've never been mean to her once, why do you hate her and everyone else all of a sudden!" Her father backhanded her then, hard. Kachie fell to her side and off of the bed he hit her so hard. The tears in her eyes were so full that she couldn't see the shock and despair on her mother's face. Her father bent over her and whispered in her ear.

"You talk to anyone and I'll tell them that your boyfriend did it...who'll they believe, an expelled teenage brat, or her father?" With that, he straightened himself up and walked out the door, his wife trailing him hesitantly.

Kachie pushed herself up off the floor as soon as she was sure that the two were gone. She curled herself up into a ball and started to cry; she didn't know what to do. Her father was right though; the cops would believe him over her in a heartbeat. She couldn't risk getting the Higurashis in trouble, or Koga for that matter. What if someone discovered the well? What if they were able to travel through it too? There was just too much at risk; Kachie would have to keep quiet...

She fished in her pocket and pulled out the folded piece of paper that Koga had given her when he had held her hands. She hadn't dared to open it while her parents were around, for fear that it would be taken away from her; it was probably the same reason that he had snuck it to her in the first place.

She unfolded the paper and smiled softly; the letter took up the whole page...

'Dear Kachie,

I know that this is probably pretty dumb of me in your eyes, but I wanted to give you something to look at if you felt like getting a taste of home. Well, your REAL home anyway. I wanted to give you something to cheer you up...I hate the thought of you being so sad...

I love you. I love you more than anything else on this earth, and if I could, I'd whisk you away to where I knew you'd be happy. Part of me feels like I should have, but you didn't want to cause trouble for anyone; I understand. (Ha, me, understand...weird huh?) I sort of came to the same idea after your parents were here for a few minutes...I didn't think it'd be my brightest idea to start a brawl with your dad in the middle of the house...especially with Souta, Ms. H. and Gramps there...

I still wish I had though, an annoyingly large part of me wishes I had, but I have faith that things'll work out in the end. This family's pretty tough; they've been through a lot ever since Kagome was first pulled down that well...so I'm pretty sure that they can handle this little dispute...

If anything happens, and I mean anything Kachie, let us know. If they hurt you in any way, we're going to need to know about it if we're to get you back here where you belong...ok? It'll get hard, no question, but if they treat you like what happened with Hekele...or me even, tell us...please. I'm not a beggar, but I'm begging here. Anything you can tell us will help us.

I'm sorry if this was too long or corny or something...but take it to heart ok? Be brave, and do what you need to do to get by. And if worse comes to worse and push comes to shove, get out of there. Stay safe for me, since I can't be there to protect you right now...

Aishiteru, I love you. For always and forever, got that Runt? I'll never stop loving you and I'll be here waiting with a huge party when we get you back; I promise.

Koga'

Kachie wanted to cry all over again. Sure, Koga had always been the one guy to effectively and bluntly state his feelings fearlessly and with ease, but this was up and over the hill for even him. It made Kachie happy to know that she was so loved by him...

I'll hold you to that promise Koga...but I can't get out of here yet. No matter how bad it gets...I can't risk anything destroying what we've all come to depend on...the well...without it...everyone would suffer one way or another...and I'm not prepared to be the cause of that... she thought to herself sadly. But she wasn't condemning herself to doom either. If I feel like I'm in mortal danger...like Dad might kill me...I'll be outta here in a heartbeat...

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"You know something that could help us? What is it Kaede?" Kagome asked eagerly. If there was anything she could do to help her friends, she would do it. Maybe the spell would disappear if the fallen angel were defeated...

Kaede sighed, "Yes child...I know something that may be of use to ye. But I must warn ye that it is a very difficult thing to do. I have never had a need for it, nor did I ever think that anyone ever would, but I learned the fundamentals of it anyway..." Kagome looked at her with a bit of confusion.

"This...thing...you know how to do it, but you can't? How does that work?" she asked curiously. Kaede shook her head.

"I know the fundamentals child...but hopefully ye can master the technique. As we know, the fallen angel can hurt ye in yer demon forms because she possesses some level of purity, correct?" she asked. Kagome nodded.

"However, she is not truly pure, therefore, ye need to be completely pure in order to defeat this fallen angel."

Kagome looked at Kaede with a glimmer of understanding, "I have to be a miko...I have to have my miko powers in order to defeat her...like with Naraku and...Kikyo..."

Kaede nodded, "Yes, that is it exactly. This spell that I am going to try to teach ye will shed yer demonic body for a short amount of time in favor of yer human miko body...this spell allows ye to change forms, hopefully it shall override the spell the Shikon no Tama cast upon ye all..."

Kagome looked deep in thought, "If and when I master this...could it be possible to change the others back and forth if need be?" Kaede took a deep breath.

"Yes...but it would drain ye to an extent that I fear could kill ye if ye aren't careful...ye would only be able to transform one of them at a time, and ye would only have half the time to work with...anymore and the results could hurt ye permanently my dear...ye must be extremely careful..." she warned gravely, willing Kagome to understand.

Kagome did understand, "All right...I get it...let's try this thing out then...what do I have to do?"

Kaede closed her eyes, still wondering if what she was planning to teach Kagome was worth it, "Ye will need to practice in yer own time; until ye can master the transformation into a demon, ye will never master the transformation into a miko...do ye understand?" Kagome nodded and Kaede continued, "Ye must concentrate all of yer miko powers and slowly allow it to engulf ye. The transformation must come from yer very core, from the inside out. Yer powers must be completely focused in yer heart and slowly and evenly pressed outward to yer exterior...Ye must then wish with all yer heart to be a demon and then will it so, all while keeping the flow of power even and undisturbed. Do ye see how it could be difficult?"

Kagome sighed and nodded, "I'll do my best to master it Kaede, and as quickly as possible too..." Kaede looked at her grimly.

"Please child...do be careful..."

Kagome smiled at Kaede good-naturedly, "I will; promise."

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"So...what's up between Kagome and Inuyasha? You were there Hekele..." Kagura asked. Hekele sighed.

"I haven't the slightest clue. One minute the two were talking or something, and the next minute we hear yelling and screaming, and then Inuyasha ran out of there yelling to Kagome that she was a bitch...so...yeah...we haven't the slightest idea..." she explained. Sesshoumaru shook his head.

"Stupidity reigns supreme...unfortunately..." he said. Kagura nodded absently, agreeing. Hekele sighed and began to braid Rin's hair, as the child had plopped herself into Hekele's lap.

"Yes...it does...and that's why it's so easy to trick us and get under our skin...Sometimes it's like we're lab rats in a maze...with people watching us and trying to coax us towards the center, using whatever method at their disposal to accomplish their goal..." she said, confessing her internal thoughts and feelings. Kagura looked at her a moment, along with Sesshoumaru and Rin. It was odd to think about...and yet it made sense in an odd sort of way.

"The question," Kagura said, "is what are we being coaxed to?" Sesshoumaru sighed shortly.

"Can't you think that far ahead Kagura? Thinking along those lines, whatever's leading us is trying to lead us into a trap...and our doom."

Hekele held Rin tightly, "But we can't let ourselves be that vunerable...we've got too much to protect and live for. Death my come eventually...but not now...we're too strong."

Kagura shook her head, "I hope so..."

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Oyu and Kotaro walked through the forest quietly, masking their scents and auras. They did not want to make their presence known until they were completely ready. The pair were heading towards the village of their enemies, finding it imperative that the group of odd friends be struck on home soil for their first battle. It would shake them up, knowing that their unknown foe was aware of where they resided; it was truly a good tactic.

When they reached the outskirts of the village, the two stopped. They allowed their auras to flare and scents to be noticed. Given Oyu's familiar aura, it wouldn't take the group long to find them...

"Kotaro...love?" Oyu asked, looking at him. Kotaro looked down at her affectionately.

"Yes my lady?" he answered. Oyu looked him over critically.

"Allow this one to act...do not stand in this one's way when this one begins to fight...understand?" she ordered gently. Kotaro hesitated, but nodded.

"Yes my lady...but why?"

Lady Oyu took hold of the hood of his cloak and carefully placed it over his head, "Because this one wishes to test this one's strength against them, you cannot interfere...you mustn't go after them...allow this one to stretch this one's power...only step in if this one appears to be in danger..." Once more, Kotaro nodded.

"Of course my love..."

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Koga's head snapped up instinctively when he felt the aura of the fallen angel. It was close...just outside the village...

Without a second thought, he jumped up from where he was sitting by the river and ran back towards the village. Half-way there, Inuyasha's scent reached his nose, and as if on cue, Inuyasha himself appeared from the tree-tops.

"That's the fallen, isn't it mutt?" Koga inquired, though her already knew the answer. Inuyasha only growled lowly in his throat as he picked up speed and passed Koga. Koga mentally cursed.

I wish I still had those damn shards in my legs...that idiot's gonna get himself killed if he gets there first... And just as that thought hit him, he sped up as well, not willing to let Inuyasha get killed over his own stupidity...though here had been a time once where such a thing would give Koga the utmost joy...

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Kagura appeared at Kaede's hut; dragging Kanna by the wrist and Shippo by the tail as she ran, just as Kaede came outside, also having felt the aura of the fallen. She quickly took the younger kids from Kagura and ushered them into the hut for protection. Rin and Koharu were already inside.

Hekele eyed Koharu carefully as she exited the hut, before turning to Kaede, "Can you handle her? Do you think it's safe for Koharu to be with them?" Kaede sighed.

"I am not sure, but ye mustn't worry over that; let me..." the old woman said wisely. Hekele nodded a bit and descended the stairs, rushing towards where Sesshoumaru was standing with Koga, Inuyasha, and, surprisingly, Miroku as well. Kagura followed her.

"Why do you think she's here?" Kagura asked vindictively. Sesshoumaru graced her with an answer.

"A rat cannot be led from point A to point B unless one knows where point A is...she's probably known we were here all along..." he said frankly. Koga nodded to himself before looking around, confused.

"Where's Kagome?" Hekele shook her head.

"She went back to our era; Kaede sent her there to practice something..."

"Good riddance...we don't need her..." Inuyasha interrupted hotly. Hekele glared at him for a moment, but he chose to ignore her and took off in the direction of the fallen angel. Not wasting any time, the rest of the group took off after him. They all wanted answers, and maybe now was the time to get some of them...

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Lady Oyu could feel them closing in on her, and all she did was smile. She idly wondered if Inuyasha would be as stupid as she remembered and simply charge at her without thinking as he had done in the future where she knew him. She also wondered if the former monk Miroku would come...or would he be busy in the arms of her pawn Koharu?

"BITCH! WHERE ARE YOU!"

Ahhh...Inuyasha...so predictable... she thought as she removed the hood of her cloak from her head.

Inuyasha appeared seconds later from the trees, sword drawn and aimed at her heart. Oyu only smiled warmly at the predicted 'welcome' and summoned a barrier, repelling his Tetsusaiga with ease. She stretched lazily as the rest of the group came into view. Oyu was a bit disappointed to find that Kagome wasn't there, but she didn't let it show. Miroku was in fact present, as was Hekele, Kagura, Sesshoumaru, and Koga. Kachie wasn't; obviously the spell had finally taken her under its wing. Oyu couldn't help but smile in pure pleasure.

"Well, this one sees that this one's welcome is a bit hostile...and here this one came in peace too..." she teased, her ice blue eyes flashing with amusement.

"Who the hell are you and what the hell is with the 'this one' thing?" Inuyasha yelled. Kagura stared at the woman, but her eye caught movement in the trees behind her.

"Dance of the Dragon!" she yelled, waving her fan in the direction of the movement. The air instantly sliced through the trees, revealing a hooded man behind them. Oyu looked over her shoulder at Kotaro and returned her vision to her uneasy foes.

"This one's...partner, Kotaro...and this one's name is Oyu...Lady Oyu to you." she introduced, her long ebony hair cascading around her as she bowed politely before them.

Inuyasha growled low in his throat, "Why are you here?"

Oyu smiled as his friends watched hers and Kotaro's every movement. They were waiting for her to make her move, "This one is here to introduce this one to you. You must have been wondering who this one is..." Hekele stared at her.

"Why do you hate us?" Oyu was surprised at her bluntness; the Hekele she recalled would play mind games and beat around the bush...perhaps it was a trait she developed later in life...

"This one hates all that opposes this one...and that includes the lot of you..." she said vaguely. Hekele growled low in her throat in dissatisfaction as Koga began his own questioning.

"Answer us! What did we ever do to you to make you hate us so much?" he demanded. Lady Oyu stared at him apathetically. He was the same...

"This one has already given you this one's reason. You must be deaf."

Inuyasha growled and spoke through his teeth, "Elaborate..." Oyu sighed nonchalantly.

"This one was making a movement to improve the world...and you bastards intervened."

Inuyasha's head began spinning, not knowing what she was talking about, but feeling like he should. He raked his mind for that piece of missing information that he knew was vital. It was there, at the front of his mind, but he couldn't quite figure it out...

"My Lady has met you before in a time apart from this."

Inuyasha's eyes widened in disbelief as he realized what was happening. None of them had thwarted the fallen, Oyu's, plan to redo the world...not yet anyway. She had come from the future...further in the future than Kagome, Hekele, and Kachie. She had come back to stop them from stopping her...

"When?" he asked with a measured patience. Everyone stared at him oddly, everyone except Oyu.

"How quickly the fly ensnares himself within the spider's web. This one was waiting for you to figure it out..." she said with a smile. Inuyasha didn't falter.

"When did we fight you wench? How far ahead did you come from?" he growled. It was then that it clicked. As soon as he said those words, everyone's mind went back to the quote that Kagome had told them, 'a time apart from this;' Oyu was from the future...

"This one comes from five hundred five years from this moment. In five years from the second time you have come to be familiar with, demons live in the open with humans. In that time, you all come to live there for the better opportunities and so on and so forth. You're basically like the vermin this one tried to destroy for this one's perfect world..." she admitted, not caring that they knew of the future.

The faces of her enemies were priceless. The combination of confusion, disbelief, and frustration was quite entertaining. Oyu watched them all with a sort of reserved glee that she wouldn't care to admit to anyone save perhaps Kotaro. She glanced back at her 'partner' for a moment, noting that he had indeed listened to her and kept his distance. She wasn't quite sure, but something seemed a bit...off with him actually following that order...

"What I don't understand," Kagura spoke up, as everyone else seemed to have frozen in thought, "is why a fallen angel would want destruction and world domination. The last time I checked, you're the one who screwed up and got yourself on God's bad side, so why are you taking your anger out on the world instead of trying to win his approval back?"

Kotaro's eyes flashed for a second with what looked like confusion, but he quickly hid the expression with one of impassiveness. He glanced at Oyu and found that she had gone rigid, a trait she shared with most people that gives a very good indication that they've been discovered, "Lady Oyu?"

"Pay them no mind Kotaro, they don't know anything other than that they'll see their end soon..." she said coldly. Her stupid creature had let on that she was a fallen angel; Oyu hadn't thought much of it at the time...but it proved to be a problem. It was an err of thought on her part, and she must quickly fix it.

Oyu turned to walk away from the group, but Miroku stepped up now, "Hold it." Oyu turned around and smiled coyly.

"Oh, how rude of this one...here is a gift..." she said thoughtfully, though her face was full of malice. Her eyes began to glow and she made the characters for 'Hell-fire' in the air. She blew life into the spell and the characters caught fire and disappeared. She smiled as she turned around once more.

"You may want to check on your precious village..." she warned, stalking off. Inuyasha made to give chase, but the scent of smoke caught his attention. He turned and saw a giant black cloud of smoke rising from where he knew the village stood. No one needed a second to think.

They ran as fast as they could, fearing the worst. Koga looked at Hekele when he felt the air pressure change, and found her staring, fixated on the village with her piercing blue eyes. He saw them flash and knew the rain would come. Sure enough, almost as soon as the village came into view, Koga and the rest of the group found themselves drenched from the pouring rain that followed.

"I'll get the kids, Koharu, and Kaede out, you guys help the rest of the villagers and get this put out...the rain can't do it on it's own...the fire's too big!" Hekele ordered reflexively as she ran to Kaede's hut. Inuyasha tossed her his fire-rat haori for protection against the flames and ran towards the nearest hut he smelled something besides smoke in.

Hekele darted into the hut, smelling the children and Kaede, but not Koharu. She proceeded cautiously but swiftly to the back of the hut. She felt a presence next to her and turned to find Sesshoumaru.

"You are much too brash," was all he said as he continued on to where he smelt the group. Hekele followed and they soon found them, behind a fallen beam. Sesshoumaru sliced through it with his Tokijin and proceeded almost without stopping motion. The smoke had filled the hut so quickly that they hadn't had a chance to escape before inhaling too much smoke, and then the beam had fallen...their demonic strength had failed them without proper oxygen...they were all either unconscious or semi conscious.

Hekele wrapped Rin and Shippo in Inuyasha's haori and looked around. Kanna was awake, barley, so Hekele grabbed her hand and guided her out of the hut carefully. Sesshoumaru followed with Kaede on his back.

Koga saw them come out of the hut and ran over to help them out, "They ok?" Hekele nodded and laid the kids on the ground by the river, upwind from the smoke. After a few seconds, Rin and Shippo began to stir and wake up. Kanna didn't look so good, so as the younger kids woke up, Hekele gave Kaede and herself some water to help. Sesshoumaru dragged Koga off to help fight the fire then, which was thankfully growing smaller.

"It might be safer for the kids if they weren't here..." Kagura suggested as she appeared with a giant bucket for water for the villagers. Hekele nodded as her friend filled it.

"It may make things easier too...I think I'll take them to the well...Mom'll take care of them for us while we try to put out the village..." she said as she handed Rin and Shippo some water to help soothe their parched throats. Kanna looked thoughtful.

"Could we go to Sango's village instead? She and Kohaku need to know what's happened...and maybe they can even help..." she suggested. Her voiced croaked a bit and it hurt to talk. Hekele and Kagura looked apprehensive about letting the children go so far on their own with Oyu on the loose, but Kaede came to the children's aid.

"Sango and Kohaku do indeed need to know what's happening, especially with what we've learned of Koharu. Sango needs to know what's happening above all..." she said wisely. Hekele looked at Kagura hopefully and Kagura took out one of the feathers from her hair and made it grow.

Hekele gently sat Rin and Shippo in the back of the feather as Kanna carefully got into the front for steering purposes. "Ok...you three be careful...don't stop for any reason at all until you reach the village...is that clear? And if you sense Oyu...head to wherever is closer as fast as possible...do you understand?" she asked. The three nodded their heads and Hekele allowed them to leave. They bid Kaede, Kagura, and herself farewell and made haste to Sango's village.

"They'll be fine...ye needn't worry about them..." Kaede said as Kagura headed towards the village with the water; though with Hekele's rain falling as hard as it was, it was almost unnecessary. Hekele herself gave Kaede some more water.

"Where's Koharu? She wasn't in the hut..." she asked. Kaede sighed.

"I do not know; she left the hut a few moments before the fire..." she admitted. Hekele gave a sigh of her own as she stood up.

"I'm going to go help with the fire...want me to take you to the village children? It may be a comfort for them and everyone else to know that you're all right..." she stated quietly. Kaede nodded and Hekele helped her to her feet.

"Thank ye child...but make sure none of ye overwork yerselves...I fear the village is a lost cause..." she admitted sorrowfully. Hekele hated to admit it, but the old woman was probably right...

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Kachie sighed as she lay on her bed. Her parents still weren't back. Not that she minded, but it was still an odd fact. Where did they have to go to? The last time she checked, they didn't know Japanese...and not ALL Japanese people knew English either...so...

Maybe their arranging for our flight back to the States...well, mine at least...they've probably got round trip tickets... she thought to herself.

Kachie sighed once more and went to one of her suitcases and took out her jewelry box; she felt like looking at the pendant that Koga had gotten her for Valentine's Day. When she opened the secret compartment, she discovered that it was still glowing...even after all the time that had passed.

Wait...it's brighter that it was at home and in Kaede's village...that means...I'm closer maybe? I should check this out...but...what if I get caught? Dad could be bluffing...but I don't want to risk it right now...maybe...after I find out when we're leaving...then I'll leave the night before and get back in the morning...that way no one else would get in trouble...cuz either I'd get back before they even woke up or right before they leave for the flight...this...might work... she thought strategically. She would stay awake until her parents got back and would listen in on their conversations when they thought she was sleeping...it ought to at least give her a good clue as to what they were up too...

Here's to good luck...

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Kotaro lay in his bed dejectedly. Oyu was a fallen angel? Had the spell he had cast a few years ago actually worked? Why had she not told him? Why had she lied to him?

"Kotaro? Love? What is wrong?" Oyu asked as she walked into his room. She crawled onto his bed and lay next to him, knowing full well what was wrong with him and trying to coax him into forgetting about it.

"Lady Oyu...why didn't you ever tell me that you were a fallen angel? My fallen angel?" he asked accusingly, though softly. Oyu stiffened, not knowing how to answer him satisfactorily.

"This one did not want to be controlled..." she tried, thought she sounded quite honest. Kotaro turned to face her.

"You have always said that you could trust me, and even after you performed all that magic, never have I thrown you to society, so why would I especially if I knew that you were the angel I had summoned?" he retorted, this time a bit darkly. Oyu tried to remain clam, but her temper was on the rise as well.

"This one did not think of it! This one is not all powerful and all seeing!"

"Bull-shit...after all I've seen you do, I know better than to buy that Oyu...why didn't you tell me?" he continued. Oyu tried to brush her fingers through his hair but he pulled away from her ans stood up. When she didn't answer him he left without saying anything. He felt betrayed.

Oyu herself narrowed her eyes almost into slits as she watched him stalk off. Damn...this one was not prepared for this blunder...now this one will have to move this one's plans ahead of schedule if this one wants to succeed...this one's control and loyalty of Kotaro is slipping quickly now that this one's secret has been revealed to him...it is good that this one is almost ready...this one needs to only kill a few minor demons for this one's catalyst to be full enough for this one to completely obliterate those damn idiots...

Oyu gathered her wits carefully; she had to play things smoothly and carefully if she wanted for Kotaro to be under her power long enough for her to unleash the stored power within him. All she needed was full access to that power, and the pathetic group of idiots who were in her way would be destroyed. She knew that she could do it...and she could wipe out the world at the same time too...

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Me- Ta -frickin'-da! I have finally finished! Now, as a reward, I shall begin to write my latest Tokyo Mew Mew chapter...since I have been sorely neglecting it in favor of my Inuyasha fic fans...

Kachie- It's ok Hekele, we understand that school has been pretty rough on you, what with Science Club, volleyball conditioning starting today, newspaper class, Biology AND Chemistry, and your evil Geometry test that was today...Oh! And we must not forget that you were working on our winning homecoming float for three weeks and preparing for the football game, dance, and parade...

Me- And here my dad says I'm stupid and lazy...let's see him get four A's and two B's in anything BUT being an asshole...

Kachie- Calm down...you get wound up too quickly...

Me- I think I take on too much for my own good...and I still have to get over my fear of driving with my dad...which is hard because when I try to tell him to let me get used to driving with him in familiar, country, surroundings, and then work my way up to driving on the expressway and city driving with him, he goes off into a tangent and calls me, (any guesses?) Lazy and stupid! I am TRYING to make the first move towards being comfortable around him and he just gets pissed off...

Kachie- Remember what I said about calming down? The stress factor is getting pretty high...

Me- My hair is beginning to fall out because of stress...I get clumps of it out of my head whenever I bathe or even brush it...it's steadily getting worse too...pretty soon people will start thinking that I'm a cancer patient...damn it...

Kachie- Ok everyone, we need to cheer Hekele up! I'll go draw her a picture, (as soon as my right arm stops throbbing,) and you can review!

Me- Yes, Kachie is having a major issue, which is beginning to get better, with her right arm, and it hurts her to write or draw with it...so give her hugs, kudos, and lots and lots of tuna...Kachie loves tuna...and review if you feel like it...