It had been several hours as the fighting had continued, at one time it could have been a slaughter for either side. Yet, things happened predictably, leaving one side notoriously victorious, even though death visited both sides. Still, it was not the squall of the war between the inu tribe and the neko tribe that was held in breath.

As with each skirmish, one side increase in victory while the other declined, but the fate of the battle would be decided between the two leaders, as with any battle. So, disregarding the blood covered bodies sunned with various wounds, we turn once to the titans of this battle.

One was large, as tall as the trees he hid in, but now he was in the light. Brown fur covered everywhere, and with his armor he looked every inch the leader he was. It had been seven hundred years since he had last attacked the inu tribe. Though honestly he couldn't remember what the feud had originally been about, but it did focus on the Western Lands, or at least he thought so. Hissing, he tore apart one of the Inu's allies, tossing his body aside and reaching the area where the other opposing leader waited. It was time, as a cat's curse last seven years, whether it be seven hundred or seven thousand.

Oyakata hissed as he dodged out the way of a soldier's strike. He had not figured in that the InuTashio would amass such a great army in such a small time. Sesshomaru was definitely his father's son in that aspect, however he doubted that the young inu lord had the cunning his father did. Glancing over at his opponent, he held respect for his opponent, but the hate burned hotter. A foolish mistake that was about to cost. Yet, it was not to say he wasn't a planner, and with his backup plan, he made ready to place the motions. Turning quickly he called his four most trusted warriors.

Sesshomaru glared over the battlefield, it was hard to judge if he even noted the sustained losses, but he did fell the creature sneaking up behind him. The foolish cat leader had underestimated him, and that was a deadly mistake to make against one such as himself. Ignoring the tally of injured and dead, and ignoring the voice in the back of his mind that scolded his lacking ability to keeping his troops well against that of his father he turned to await his opponent. His ears catching on Oyakata's voice rising above the clashes on the battlefield, he couldn't help but smirking in triumph.

"Kouran, Shur-ran, Shun-ran, Toran." He called, waiting for his four generals. Three arrived, and he glanced heavily at them. "Where is Toran?" Oyakata inquired.

"Master Toran is taking care of the prisoner that has fallen into our grasp." The blue-haired cat demon spoke up.

"Prisoner, explain." He demanded.

"A blond woman, with a gold crescent, might be the consort of the Tashio sir." Kouran stated.

"Ah, very well, now I want you to stay away from battle." Oyakata ordered.

"Why sir?" Shur-ran spoke up.

"To resurrect me in case I fall." Oyakata stated.

"Indeed, your word is our command." Shun-ran answered for them.

"Good." Oyakata commented.

"Sir, the woman that was captured..." Shur-ran started.

"Yes?" Oyakata pressed.

"She looks a lot like the one called the 'Sleeping Queen.'" Kouran muttered.

"How..interesting," Oyakata mused, "treat her well." he spoke, and then turned back to the war he had started. The trio vanished in silence, and just in time as the silver-haired inu lord appeared. "Ah, Lord Sesshomaru, shall we?" Oyakata enticed.

"Fool." was the only word to escape the lord, as his whip flashed in a signal. Suddenly thousands of arrows rained down above the large Neko lord. Oyakata felt those tips pierce him, and his life slip away, but not before echoing the feline's curse or imparting some words.

"It is you who is the fool." Oyakata returned. "For I have the one who matches the 'Sleeping Queen,' and will never disclose the information." Oyakata continued. Sesshomaru's eyes widen slightly as he drew back his claw.

"Fool, to lie as you draw breath, next time beg for mercy." Sesshomaru whispered menacingly before tearing the large demon's heart out. With the leader slain the more cowardly of the attacking army drew away, leaving injured comrades to their dark fate. However, there was still many demons left that were neither dead or injured. Sesshomaru turned toward the East, and mused over something. "Jaken better have faired well..." He stated. It had been five whole days since the toad youkai left, and in that time the world had changed.

Rewinding time back, we follow the younger Inu as his love pins him to the sacred God Tree. Betrayal coloring both their hearts as they stare each other down. Though what led up to these turn of events lay in the evil that has begun to infect the land.

Kikyo couldn't believe it, as her amber brown orbs began to fade. Her love, InuYasha, had his claw buried up to the mid-arm in her side. A cruel, cold smile was twisting his haunting gold eyes into something unrecognizable. Slowly he pulled his claw out, dragging her pain to it's most excruciating. The light in her eyes began to darken, and she swore as the darkness overtook her that he would pay. While this was happening Kikyo could not recall what the Queen had promised and therefore could not her on it. Kikyo would have left this world at this moment, had not the spirit of her ancestor dragged her back up.

"Do not surrender so easily, make him pay." Mars whispered in her ear. It was known in her time that Mars had a major dislike of the other sex, except her grandfather and Yuuichirou. Being descended from the passionate planet, Kikyo found the will to rise in vengeance and strike down her betrayer.

InuYasha hopped over the burning building while laughing, the Shikon no Tama was right where Kikyo had promise it would be. A smile lit his face, he would soon be human with his love. Minutely he was curious as to why many of the villagers were trying to shoot him down. Yet, he shrugged it off, as the village had been attacked and probably thought he was one of the one's that attacked it. With a spring in his step, he promised he would return to help as soon he was human and together with Kikyo.

Leaping among the forest he head to where they had promised to meet. As he reached the God Tree, he felt an arrow impale his chest and meld him to the tree. With tiring and failing energy, he turned to see who would end his life. Pain far worst that what originated from the arrow struck his heart. There stood Kikyo in her everlasting glory, his love, her bow situated in a draw position, which was still singing from the shot. His heart couldn't comprehend what his mind knew to be true. Kikyo, his love, had just betrayed him and sent him to the underworld with no explanation. With all he could muster, as he was only feeling betrayal and hate, he sealed their fate.

"I'll kill you." He growled out as his eyes shut, and resting beside him was the cursed jewel. Kikyo stumbled over to where the jewel rested and picked it up. Without turning an eye to the youth she had just impaled, she let one tear slip. Striding away with failing pride, she made it to the gates of her village the jewel being crushed in her fingers. Crashing to her knees, she was greeted by the sight of her young sister.

"Kaede, burn me and this accursed jewel." She begged as the blood gushed from her. Her eyelids slammed shut as her head breached the ground. The young girl said nothing but nodded that her elder sister's wishes were to be done. While this was happening the Shikon no Tama was slowly burning into the soul of Kikyo and to what would be her reincarnation thanks to the jewel's powers and her for melding with the Shikon.

Jaken had arrived then, and took stock to what had transpired in the once peaceful place. Trooping further into the forest he lowered his head in a slight depression. Sadly he glanced at the youth pinned upon the tree and shook his head. "Sesshomaru-sama will get no help from the Tetsusaiga or InuYasha." Jaken muttered and turned away to return his lord's side.

Usagi stumbled lightly, catching her ankle in the uneven land. Running from the ones that had knocked her unconscious early in the battle scarred land. One string of rope was still swinging from her wrist which added to her tumble. She fell into a middle of a battle, between one inu general and two neko generals. Only for her world to recede as she was once again knock out from behind by two other cat demons. The red-headed male then escorted her away, as she would be a wonderful pawn against the InuTashio.

Dark hair mixed with silver faded fully into black as the wind tossed his hair around. Sickly amethyst eyes flashed in joy at the horror he had wrecked upon two wonderful lives. "This is only the beginning." He crowed. "Soon, this world will belong to me, all will bow before me." He chuckled. "Now to recover, as these new powers have drained me, and then after I shall retrieve the Shikon." was promised. However, his plan was disturbed as he felt the power of the Shikon vanish. "Hmm, oh well, it seems I won't have to worry about anyone rising against me, Ku ku ku." He bit out then turned his head to the sky. "I shall now be known as Naraku!" He announced and turned into a poisonous cloud drifting into the wind.

Silver darted into the dying sunlight, and strange eyes flashed. "I'm coming home son." Was laughed out as the light struck the Lavender Crescent upon the brow.

Kikyo died, InuYasha is sleeping and the war with the panther tribe is over. Next is Kagome and InuYasha's awakening, not to mention Usagi comes Neptune and Uranus's spirits. And who is this figure who finds interest in her? Please review. WCB.