Chapter Twenty-Four

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Thank you to: Kat, JumbledThoughts, FearofFalling, sendou3aichi, Huggies90, ej101, Kagz419, PouringRain-BlazingStorm, Tiggs1990, Wondla Master, Kiwimari, magicalluna, Hina714, MarshWolffe, Savage Kill, Eris Neve for your fantastic reviews! This mid-week update is due to you guys!

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Onwards!


The next morning Myoga tasked us with gathering all the body parts of the slaughtered demons together, wrapping them and binding them in cloths to take to a cave close by. We made use of one of village's wagons to pile everything onto, Inuyasha pulling it along with him as we walked towards the outskirts of the village. Goiny by the graves once more I frowned, my gaze landing on the one that I knew contained the little boy from yesterday. As if sensing my unease, Kirara jumped up into my arms, her cool nose brushing against my chin as she purrs softly at me. I smile gratefully, gently running my hand over her head and down her back.

"Thanks, girl." I murmur softly, meeting her nose with my own before she gives a pleased look and settles in comfortably in my arms. Surprisingly Kirara had really taken to Shippo last night, having curled up with him to sleep.

I, meanwhile, had fallen asleep in Inuyasha's arms.

Blushing, the memory of waking up against him floods me with a tingling warmth. 'He had been holding me so protectively. I felt so safe.' With vivid clarity I could remember the feeling of his strong arms wrapped around my body as my head laid against his muscled chest. I can even still hear the beating of his heart in my ear that was pressed against him, the rhythm so soothing it had almost put me back to sleep. 'I had slept so well in his arms. No nightmares…no Naraku.' His chin had been resting against the top of my head, but I didn't need to see his face to know he had been asleep when I had woken. His breathing had been so smooth and deep, and even though he still held me firmly, his body was completely relaxed against the side of the cliff. I hadn't chanced moving, afraid that if I did he would wake and it would have been all be over.

"I know you're awake, Yua." Inuyasha murmurs softly from above me, disappointment easily felt deep in my chest. Sighing softly I slowly lean back off of him.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep on you like that." I murmur, unable to meet his gaze as I shift to get out of his lap. I barely restrain a yelp of surprise when his arms tighten around me, holding me in place rather than letting me go.

"I'm not. That's the best I've slept in a long time." Inuyasha argues gently, and I blink in shock.

What?

Looking up to him slowly I take in his amber eyes, still heavy with sleep, his face relaxed. The early morning light was just starting to brighten the sky, his skin glowing attractively under it. He removes one of his arms, slowly, hesitantly, bringing the hand up towards my face. Claws ever so gently run down along my cheek, my head tilting as if on instinct into his touch. Inuyasha's nose flares slightly at this, his amber eyes deepening into something decidedly more possessive in that moment. It sends a welcomes shiver down my spine.

"Me too." I reply honestly. "No nightmares." I add, almost breathless with the heated tension I was feeling in that moment.

"That's good." Inuyasha's voice is decidedly lower, quieter now as he stares down at me intensely. "You smell really good." It's such a random statement, but the implications are clear to me, and it has me clenching my thighs together tightly as heat surges down there once again. Nose flaring, his lips slowly turn upwards in a handsome, but cocky, smirk.

'That really isn't fair.' I whine to myself, my eyes slowly moving from his own down to his full lips shaped into that ridiculously hot smirk. Slowly his head lowers down towards mine, my gaze shooting back up towards his eyes as he does. 'I-is he really going to-' My fretting is quickly cut off as, yes, he does indeed kiss me.

And it's almost too much to handle.

It's hot, possessive, leaving no doubt that he was claiming me once again, and it was everything I hadn't realized I had been craving. His hand that had been running along my face is now cupped behind my neck to support it as his lips dominate my own. In turn, I take one of my hands to grip desperately onto the front of his kimono, the other reaching up to hook around the back of his own neck so I could draw myself even closer to him. His scent of musk and pine was overwhelming as his soft lips took my bottom one, sucking on it hotly before biting down on it playfully. My strangled gasp is caught by his mouth as an ache shudders to life between my legs.

A snore echoing from the other side of the camp stops us both dead in our tracks.

Wide eyed, Inuyasha slowly leans away, his gaze now focused on the snoring monk across the burnt out fire. Visibly swallowing, he finally relaxes when Miroku simply turns over in his sleep, thankfully away from us. If he had woken up it would have been clear as day what we had been doing. I could feel how warm my face was, feel how swollen my lips had become under his almost violent attack on them.

"I-I should probably go and wash up." I whisper then, feeling the uneasiness settle in as Inuyasha's cheeks flush. His nose flares one last time as I shift in his lap to move, this time letting me go.

"That's a good idea." He grumbles, his hungry gaze watching me as I stand in front of him. I watch as his darkened amber eyes go from my face, slowly moving down my body before focusing decidedly lower than my waist. "Your smell…fuck…" He curses softly, heat rushing through me as I could see the pure male need on his face. When was the last time a guy had looked at me like that? "You're going to drive me crazy, Yua." He finally murmurs when his gaze comes up to my face once more, my heart racing.

"Feeling is mutual." I reply breathlessly, before making a quick exit.

'I can't believe he had kissed me again, and like that.' I think to myself, still in a daze. 'Kinda wish he'd used his hands a bit more…' I can't help the perverted thought, horrified with myself as soon as it passes through my mind.

'Oh, he's good with his hands. You're in for a treat.' Mayumi teases me, and my eyes widen in shock.

'Mayumi!'

'It's true. He does this thing with his fingers and tongue that-'

'Holy fuck, you need to stop!' I panic, feeling the throbbing come surging back at the image of his head between my thighs. Just thinking about his warm tongue slowly lapping against my clit as his fingers gently push inside… Inuyasha suddenly raises his nose into the air, before his gaze snaps towards me with darkened heat once more. I look away shyly, feeling the blush burning on my face.

Thank god Shippo was obviously not mature enough yet to smell me too, or at least if he could he wouldn't know what it meant.

'I must be getting near that time of the month. I'm horny as all fucking get-out.' I think to myself, mentally counting the number of tampons I still had on me. Thankfully it was enough to get me through at least one more cycle before I'd have to deal with the cloths instead once more.

"We are currently heading towards the outskirts of the village, to the limestone cave." Myoga's voice brings me out of my thoughts. "This is where the village people believe that the Shikon Jewel had come from." I glance towards Miroku as he frowns, shrugging his shoulders as if to say 'just go with it'.

'Even if their legends aren't true, and we know they aren't, it would be interesting to see what exactly Myoga thinks he's come up with.' Mayumi speaks up, curiosity clear in her voice. 'Perhaps we can find out how the Shikon Jewel ended up here in the first place.' I mentally nod in agreement. Myoga was the only one out of the loop when it came to the true creation story of the jewel, and Shippo had been coached to keep that knowledge for my safety. It made me so proud when he glanced over at me from Miroku's shoulder, a knowing grin on his face, happy to be a part of the secret and upholding his responsibility to keep it.

"This village actually served as a kind of factory." Myoga goes on as he sits on Inuyasha's shoulder. "They made weapons and armor from the skin and bones of the demons that they had slain." My eyes widen slightly in surprise at that. We finally reach the opening to the cave, and Inuyasha turns the cart around easily, dumping the demon body parts down into it, before throwing the cart down with them. I watch him work, still in awe of his strength when it came to tasks like this. In the heat of battle it was hard to stop and admire him for it, but right now, without the pressure of having to pay attention to some enemy, I could take the time. He really was strong, and the thought had heat coursing through me again as my mind strayed to wondering what kind of lover he might be. Would he be gentle? Rough? Dominate?

'Definitely must be close to having my period.' I think to myself as I can feel the throbbing again, not missing the heated glance Inuyasha once again gave me over his shoulder.

"The unused portions were disposed of in this cave." Myoga's voice sounds so distant to me compared to the thrumming of my blood rushing through my veins in that moment.

'It's like you're in heat.' Mayumi giggles, and I blanch slightly at that.

'What? Like a cat?' I sputter inwardly as I glance down to Kirara in my arms, before my eyes trail towards Inuyasha. 'Or a dog…?' I had honestly never really thought about that before. Did female demons go into heat like other animals? Did male demons act like male animals did when they crossed the path of a female in heat?

Is that why Inuyasha was looking at me like he was?

"Hence, this limestone cave is filled with the remains of demons." Myoga goes on. "It is fabled that deep inside this particular cave lies the carcass of an absolutely gargantuan beast."

"And this is where they believe the Sacred Jewel was created?" I ask, unable to stop the dubious tone in my voice. Thankfully, Myoga doesn't seem to notice it.

"That is the story that has been passed down in this region." Myoga agrees, crossing his four arms and nodding.

"Good work, Myoga." Inuyasha compliments, and I look towards him in slight shock, as does the flea in question.

"T-thank you for the compliment, Master!" Myoga replies, his voice sounding unsure all the same. "Maybe this will prove that I am more than just a parasite?"

"Yeah, until the going gets rough and your big talk about loyalty and courage dries up and you take off on me again." Inuyasha argues, a humorous smirk on his face.

"Master! How could you doubt my loyalty?" Myoga asks dramatically, bouncing up and down on Inuyasha's shoulder.

"Oh right, how could I?" Inuyasha asks dryly.

"Do you think we should venture in?" Miroku speaks up, and I frown as I look at the mouth of the cave.

"Yeah, definitely, let's go." Inuyasha agrees easily, stepping forward.

"Wait! Hold on a minute, Master Inuyasha!" Myoga pleas suddenly, but it's too late. My mouth drops open as Inuyasha encounters a barrier with a yelp of surprise, falling to the ground. He's quickly back up on his feet again, looking hardly fazed but incredibly pissed.

"There is a strong barrier that has been placed at the entrance to prevent trespassers like us from casually going in and out." Myoga informs him then, Inuyasha looking down at the flea with annoyance.

"Be quicker with that kind of information next time, okay?!" He snaps, and I couldn't help smirking slightly in amusement. Kirara makes a noise in my arms, so I gently stroke my fingers over the fur on her head to soothe her.

"Don't worry girl, you'll get used to it." I mutter dryly.

Minutes later found Inuyasha drawing Tessaiga and launching himself at the barrier with determination. I sigh heavily, closing my eyes and shaking my head as for the fifth time he's sent flying onto his back between Miroku and I.

"Dammit!" He growls as he slowly sits up, Tessaiga still in hand.

"Do you think it's hopeless?" Shippo asks from his place on Miroku's shoulder as he gazes down at Inuyasha with wonder.

"Well, it's obvious I can't force my way in, and any of the villagers that might of known how to get past the barrier are now gone." Inuyasha replies, eyes narrowed in frustration as he gazes at the mouth of the cave.

"Not all of them were killed." Miroku reveals, and my eyes widen in surprise as I look to him. How the hell would he know that? "Remember? The best of their Slayers were at some castle during the attack."

"Right! Myoga had said that yesterday." I remember now, watching as Inuyasha stands with Tessaiga braced against his shoulder.

"The demons decimated the village because it lacked their most talented Slayers." Myoga confirms as he jumps onto Inuyasha's shoulder. "Otherwise their attack would have been easily thwarted."

"Got it." Inuyasha replies, looking towards Miroku and Shippo. "So what we need to do is find out where the castle is and see if there are any surviving Slayers that could tell us more about the Sacred Jewel. Hopefully one of them also knows the magic trick to entering this stupid cave." I frown, looking towards the cave myself then as I step up to the barrier while Inuyasha is distracted. Kirara jumps down from my arms, moving to sit beside me as I reach a hand up, hesitating.

'What the hell am I doing? I'm probably going to get zapped.' I think, before senselessly allowing myself to place my palm on the invisible energy. I can't stop the gasp as electricity shoots through my hand into my body, the wind picking up around me like a vortex. Then, just as soon as it had all started things settled once more.

The barrier was gone.

'How did I do that?' I can't help thinking with wide eyes, pulling my hand away to look down at it in surprise.

'The energy used to create this barrier was so similar to your own.' Mayumi speaks up, her voice filled with confusion. 'How can that be? The only other person who has a signature like that is myself, and I've never seen this place before.' My brows furrow in confusion as well.

"Uh…guys?" I turn towards the group as Inuyasha and Miroku finally stop talking to look at me. Inuyasha's face sharpens with worry.

"Yua? What the hell are you doing there?! Get away from the barrier before you get yourself killed." He frowns at me. I give him an unimpressed look, reaching back in deliberate disobedience. Inuyasha's face fills with a mixture of disbelief and anger at my action, before shock as he registers that my hand is currently well into the mouth of the cave.

"I think I might have solved the problem." I comment dryly, to which the gang simply looks at me stunned.

"Well done, Yua, Thank you, Yua." I mutter in annoyance at their stunned silence, before looking down to Kirara as she simply looks back at me and makes a low noise in her chest.

Well at least someone was grateful.

"Perhaps we should still seek out the help of the surviving Slayers before we enter the cave." Myoga states nervously. "At the very least we should find them to inform them of the loss of their village." I frown, looking from the flea towards Inuyasha and the obvious conflicting thoughts he was having. I knew he was impatient to figure out what was down in that cave, but I did have to admit over the months that I've known him he's come to make more mature decisions.

Sometimes.

"You're right." Inuyasha reluctantly agrees, surprising even Miroku as he looks at his half demon companion with wide eyes. "What?!" Inuyasha snaps at the monk irritably.

"Nothing." Miroku replies, holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "I just think that was a very wise and respectful decision, Inuyasha."

"And we're all surprised you're the one that made it." I add lightly, getting a slight glare from him. I grin innocently in return, before Kirara jumps back into my arms.

'Wait, Yua, you should replace the barrier before you leave. We don't want any bandits running in there while we're going.' Mayumi wisely advises. 'I will guide you on what to do.' I nod, using one arm to hold Kirara while extending the other towards the mouth of the cave. I feel Mayumi helping me to manipulate my energy, watching as the mouth of the cave glows a bright purple with my aura, before fading and becoming invisible like the one before. 'Nicely done.'

'Thanks, Mayumi.' I reply.

"Hurry up, Yua, or we'll leave you behind!" Inuyasha shouts from a distance away. I roll my eyes, confident that he actually wouldn't.

"You shouldn't make empty threats!" I call back to him, before turning from the cave and jogging to catch up to them. I take what has become my usual spot between Miroku and Inuyasha as we continue from the village, Inuyasha taking the lead once we entered unknown territory. About an hour into walking he stops and looks around, clearly unsure.

"Myoga, a little help?" Inuyasha requests impatiently. "Where exactly is this castle?"

"Don't tell me you're lost, Master Inuyasha?" Myoga states, sounding equally impatient. "With all due respect, I assumed you knew where you were going." I can't help a groan as my head slumps in defeat.

Seriously?

"Listen, flea! You're the one that is supposed to know!" Inuyasha argues. "I can't think of everything!"

"Why not follow your nose, Inuyasha? The castle can't be too far away." Miroku asks, and I look towards the monk in amusement. Was he being sarcastic or serious? "You're a demon, you should be able to sniff it out from here." He points out, almost like he's poking at Inuyasha, challenging him.

"Yeah, well, I can't really get a whiff of anything from here." Inuyasha admits, looking back towards the monk unimpressed. All of a sudden Kirara sits straight up in my arms, making a soft cooing noise as her eyes stare straight ahead.

"You okay?" I ask the small demon with concern.

Then we hear it.

There is a high-pitched whistling sound before the trees around us begin to crack and shatter. My eyes widen as I see what looks to be a large boomerang spinning directly for us. Inuyasha moves to my side, pushing my head down with his own as it barely misses all of us. The sound of trees crashing behind us quickly follows, before the boomerang swings around once more. Looking up I'm shocked to see a woman dressed in back and pink armor, grunting with effort as she catches the large weapon by the leather ties on one end. The force still sends her sliding back slightly, but she holds onto it nonetheless and fixes us with a deadly glare.

"Are you Inuyasha?" She asks lowly, her voice muffled by the mask she wore over her mouth. Her long black hair was bound back in a practical ponytail, sword glaringly apparent at her hip. She looked every bit the warrior as she stood before us.

'She must be one of the Demon Slayers.' Mayumi states as she observes through me. 'Her attire would suggest so, let alone her strength to wield such a weapon.'

"I've come to get my revenge." She goes on, taking the silence as the answer to her question.

"Oh yeah? And who are you?" Inuyasha demands of her, eyes narrowed at the threat as he steps forward slightly. His arm slowly slides from where he had been wrapped around my waist during the attack, and he moves ever so slightly in front of me. It was like he was doing so on an instinctual level, because I knew he knew I could defend myself.

"Sango!" Myoga answers his question, sounding mystified, before turning urgently towards Inuyasha. "Master Inuyasha, trust me, you must not fight her." I look to him in confusion, but there is hardly any time to ask further questions as Sango moves.

"Hiraikotsu!" She calls out, grabbing her weapon by both hands and flinging it towards us once more.

"You've really got to work on your timing." Inuyasha growls in annoyance towards the flea, before drawing Tessaiga. I move out of the way just in time as he blocks the attack, sending him sliding back feet before he disengages from Sango's weapon.

"The Tessaiga is being pushed back!" Miroku exclaims in worry as he leans forward to watch the match intently. I frown, knowing he was right.

'But how could a man made weapon be a match for Tessaiga?' I can't help thinking in disbelief.

'It isn't about the weapon, Yua, it's about who welds it. Sango is obviously a very formidable woman.' Mayumi states, sounding impressed. The warrior catches her weapon once more in the same fashion as before, and Inuyasha takes the time to interrogate her as he rests Tessaiga on her shoulder.

"What are you coming after me for?"

"Silence!" Sango hisses out, clearing enraged. "I'm here to avenge my people!" She sends the boomerang towards Inuyasha once more. He jumps out of the way, before turning towards Myoga.

"What is she talking about?" He asks in confusion.

"I haven't the faintest idea." Myoga replies with worry. "Here it comes again!" I look up, and sure enough the weapon had acted as if on it's own, turning around without Sango having to catch it and honing in on Inuyasha once more.

"We've got to do something to stop this fight." I frown, looking towards Miroku and hoping he might have a solution.

"I agree. Wind Tunnel!" Miroku exclaims, opening his hand up towards the large boomarang. My eyes widen as I hear the familiar sound of Naraku's insects coming out of nowhere, the poisonous wasps heading straight for his hand.

"Miroku, no! You'll be poisoned!" I frown as he closes his hand. It had been enough, however, to have Sango recall her attack.

"What?! What are they doing here?!" He demands in disbelief, Inuyasha looking over his shoulder towards us as well.

"No way!" He exclaims, and by the time he turns around to face Sango once more as she retrieves her weapon, there he was.

Naraku.

He was sitting directly behind her in his baboon pelt, almost as if he had been there the entire time.

'What hadn't I sensed him? Or the jewel shards?' I can't help thinking in confusion, my heart racing.

"Inuyasha, she will destroy you, so you might as well accept your fate." Naraku speaks up cruelly, and I feel a chill rush down my spine. "And without you in the way, well, you know what will happen next." He adds, the implications all too clear. He would take me, and he would fulfil his plans.

'Not without a fight.' Mayumi snarls, her energy tangling with mine deep within. I could feel it, like waves crashing against my barely contained control as sparks snapped at my finger tips.

"You'll never get your dirty hands on her." Inuyasha promises, his voice so deadly calm that it even causes goosebumps on my arms.

"It's charming you think you can protect her from me." Naraku replies easily, no doubt a cocky smirk on his face under that mask.

"I can protect myself from you." I speak up lowly, manipulating my energy into the now familiar orbs in each of my hands.

"I like a woman with spirit, always so fun to break."

"That's it!" Inuyasha shouts with rage, jumping up and holding Tessaiga threateningly above his head. "You're dead." He promises, before a chain wraps around his ankle and pulls him back down roughly to the ground. I frown, following the chain to it's owner, Sango watching Inuyasha with narrowed eyes as she holds tight to the other end.

"I am your opponent." She insists lowly. I frown, slowly piecing everything together as I look between her and Naraku.

"Naraku has lied to you." I speak up to her then. She looks to me, her brows furrowed. "Sango, is it? He's a manipulative creep! He's using you to try and defeat Inuyasha so he can get this." I reach into my shirt to show her the large jewel fragment there. Her eyes widen in surprise when she sees it.

"Why do you have so many of the jewel shards?" She demands.

"We're collecting them. It was my fault that the jewel shattered to begin with. I'm it's new protector." I nod towards Naraku over her shoulder. "He's collecting them as well, but he will use them for his evil ambitions. You have got to trust me; Naraku is not your ally."

"She speaks the truth, Demon Slayer." Miroku speaks up next to me, frowning. "We came upon your village after it had been destroyed by a horde of demons. We took your dead and laid them to rest, before moving to seek you and your fellow Slayers out at some castle." Sango's eyes widen slightly, before they shut tightly and she violently shakes her head.

"Lies! All of you are liars!" Sango denies, before swinging her weapon once more in Inuyasha's direction. He had long since disentangled himself from her chains, and was able to block the boomerang before sending it flying over head. He charged, clearly wanting to get to Sango before her weapon came around, but she was one step ahead.

"Poison Powder!" Sangle shouts, throwing what looked to be capsules in Inuyasha's direction. They exploded on impact with the ground, a green gas emitting from both and covering Inuyasha in seconds. "It's easy to overwhelm the senses of a dog-eared mongrel like you!" I frown, letting Kirara go and stepping forward. I lift my hands up, palms pressed together, before throwing my arms apart, my aura cleansing away the poison.

"What the-?!" Sango exclaims in confusion, turning to look at me with narrowed eyes when she figured it out. She quickly turned back to Inuyasha, and it's then that I saw it.

'A jewel shard…in her back.' I inwardly gasp, eyes widening.

Suddenly I hear shouting just beyond Inuyasha, frowning deeply as I found the source to be Miroku engaging Naraku in a battle. His staff continued to beat on Naraku's sword, Naraku continuing to parry his attacks as Miroku drove him backwards.

Then, suddenly, Naraku's arm was severed from his body while still gripping his sword.

"He did it!" Shippo shouts from beside me as we both watch on in disbelief. Was it really over that easily?

'My gut says it's not.' I think to myself, chewing on my lower lip as Shippo jumps up onto my shoulder. I grab my bow and an arrow, notching it and aiming it directly for Naraku, just in case.

'The monk is in over his head.' Mayumi states grimly, causing me to worry more. I had to silently agree. Something was off.

Then, I felt it.

Gasping I turn sharply, just in time to see his dismembered hand flying directly at me, open and ready. I let my arrow fly, watching as it hit his hand and disintegrated it on contact.

"You're quicker than I gave you credit for. Mayumi has done wonderfully training you." Naraku's voice comes from directly behind me, and I can't help but freeze as I hear Miroku calling my name in fear. Turning sharply I summon my aura into my hands, throwing one ball of energy directly into his face as I back away from him with Shippo. My eyes widen as he stands there, looking entire unscathed. "Oh, Yua. You really think you can stop me from getting what I want?" I throw the next orb as he steps forward, but he easily withstands it. "Give me the jewel fragment, and I'll spare you this time." He barters, and I shake my head.

"Shippo, run to Miroku. You'll be safe there."

"What?! No way! I'm not leaving you here alone with this creep!" Shippo states bravely, his little fangs bared. It warms my heart and makes me proud, but I wouldn't let him get hurt in the crossfire.

"Do as I say, Shippo!" I exclaim, before using my aura instead to cover him in a barrier, lifting him up and transporting him to Miroku myself. I could hear the clattering of Inuyasha still fighting with the Demon Slayer, and as Miroku took Shippo into his arms my fate was sealed.

I was in this on my own.

'Not on your own.' Mayumi argues, and I feel a slight boost of bravery.

'Thanks.' I murmur back to her gratefully, before allow my aura to consume my entire body. Naraku chuckles coldly from where he stands, just feet away from me.

"Mayumi, I can feel you too. It's so good to know you're here as well." Naraku states slyly. "Isn't it funny how history seems to always repeat itself?"

"Not this time!" I snarl, throwing my arms in front of me with the heels of my hands touching. I force all the energy I physically could as fast as I could to the centre of my hands, the orb there getting so large that my fingers were stretched back to their limits. I took a split second to marvel at the size of it, much larger than anything I had every produced before. It was large enough that Naraku wouldn't be able to escape the blast with his close proximity to me. I let it fly, the bright purple light enveloping him right where he stood.

Before, suddenly, he was flying straight at me through my own attack.

My eyes widen in shock, and I don't have time to react as his remaining hand reaches out and grabs at the jewel on my neck. My hands snap around his arm, gripping onto it tightly as I grit my teeth, stopping him from pulling away with it. My hands glow, and I watch on feeling equal parts accomplished and horrified as I saw the very skin of his arm melting away under my touch.

'You are purifying him!' Mayumi exclaims in shock.

"Now you're being a pest!" Naraku hisses in anger this time, before he managed to rip his arm away from me. I hardly feel the hit when it happens, but as I am sailing across the clearing my ears ring and my cheek burns. I land hard on the ground, skidding slightly against my back before rolling to a stop.

"YUA!"

I hear all three voices of my companions shout out to me as I weakly get up onto my hands and knees, wincing at the painful pull on my back. No doubt it was scratched all to hell from the ground. The pain hardly measures up to the absolute fear that takes me when I see what is now in Naraku's hand. I reach towards my neck, having to be sure my eyes weren't deceiving me. When I don't feel it, I know.

He really did take the jewel fragment from me. I couldn't stop him.

Miroku races towards Naraku, stopping directly in front of him as Inuyasha disengaging from Sango and jumps to stand next to Miroku.

"You won't get away!" Miroku insists, his staff ready.

Out from under his pelt Naraku releases his miasma, stopping both Miroku and Inuyasha in their charge. A vortex appears, carrying him off, but not before he can have one final word.

"Sango, I shall meet you at the castle. I trust that you will not fail to kill Inuyasha." Naraku's voice echoes out over the clearing. I look down at the ground, disappointment and guilt overwhelming me. Slamming my fist against the soil, I feel tears of rage burning at my eyes and threatening to spill over.

How could I have let this happen?

"Yua." Inuyasha's voice is suddenly heard above me. My eyes slam shut as I shake my head, unable to even look at him right now. I had failed him. I had failed everyone. I hear the sound of Tessaiga digging into the dirt next to me, before clawed fingers gently grasp at my chin and force me to look upwards. "Look at me." His voice is low and commanding, and that familiar pull from deep inside forces me to comply. I open my eyes, his golden ones looking down at me with nothing but concern.

"I'm sorry." I burst out before he could say anything else. He frowns, shaking his head.

"You did what you could." He pauses, guilt washing over his own face. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you better. I promised you I would."

"Kirara, you're still alive!" Sango's joyous proclamation can be heard, and as I look past Inuyasha I see the small demon jumping into the warriors arms. Sango holds her to her chest tenderly. I look back towards Inuyasha then with a frown.

"She's got a shard in her back. My best guess is that Naraku gave to her, and is manipulating her." I murmur softly to him. He frowns and nods, before his eyes move to my burning cheek, then to my back. Through the burning pain there I can feel the wetness soaking into my top, and I know I'm bleeding.

"Can you stand?" He asks, moving to do so himself.

"I can try." I reply as he offers me his hands. I hiss softly, the pain of the road rash on my back not entirely unbearable as I slowly move to stand as well with his help. I hear the sound of a roar, eyes widening as Kirara transforms right before our eyes in the form we had first met her in. She charges after the cloud of miasma, clearly directed to do so.

'Sango must be her companion.' I think in wonder, before looking back to said warrior. She stands, turning to face us with that same deadly persistent look in her eyes. 'She doesn't trust Naraku, that's why she sent Kirara to follow him, but she doesn't trust us either still.' I frown deeply, reaching up and gently pressing my cool hand to the burning stink on the side of my face.

I was going to be one big bruise by tomorrow.

"Prepare to fight, Inuyasha, or die on the spot." Sango states confidently, and Inuyasha's eyes narrow as he pulls Tessaiga up from the ground to rest on his shoulder. Miroku and Shippo come to join us as well, frowning as they look towards the Demon Slayer.

"Why don't you back off?! I'm not interested!" Inuyasha shouts back. Sango lets loose her weapon, Miroku moves quickly and pulls me up into his arms, jumping with me out of the way along with Shippo. I do my best to cover the pain the movement causes me, but Miroku sees all the same and looks down at me in concern when we are a safe distance away.

"I'll be alright." I insist before he can ask. "It's better if I stand, however." I add honestly, and Miroku gently lets me down, keeping himself close to me all the same. "Thank you." I add after steadying myself, both of us watching the fight intently now as Inuyasha sends the sword flying in Sango's direction. The surprise his action causes makes Sango lose her balance as the sword digs into the earth right in front of her, and also puts her far our of range of her own weapon. She clearly misses the chance to grab her weapon on it's return trip, Inuyasha charging her now she was defenceless. She throws out the poison once more, but Inuyasha jumps through it and directly to her, reaching out to swipe her mask off of her face.

'Without it, she'll no doubt succumb to the poison as well.' I think with a frown. I feel relief flood through me as I see Inuyasha grab onto her, bringing them both up out of the cloud to the safe, clean air. Miroku, Shippo and I all make our way to where they landed, the girl still on her knees. I frown as I see her grab at her sword, raising my hand up then and using my aura to force her hand to stay where it was, rather than giving her a chance to stab him in the arm as she clearly intended.

"Haven't you realized yet that Naraku is tricking you?" Inuyasha asks her irritably as he looks down at her. He grabs her sword, and I allow my aura to disperse. "Give it up! I haven't even gotten started and you're covered in blood."

"What do you mean?" Sango asks in genuine shock, before looking down at her hands. It's then that I too notice the blood now pooling at her knees. "I-I didn't realize that I have lost this much blood. I didn't feel any pain from my wounds." I frown as I look down at her.

'Wounds? Inuyasha hasn't even inflicted any on her yet.' I think as I look over the woman, now noticing the bandage on her face. 'She was injured before the fight between them…'

"Ko-Kohaku…" Sango murmurs a boy's name, before falling down face first on the ground. I move, wincing as I kneel down beside her.

"Is she dead?!" Shippo asks nervously.

"She just fainted." I reply with a frown, looking over her. "I should heal her of the worst of her injuries before we take the shard out. I think that is what is keeping her alive."

"What about your own injuries?" Inuyasha demands sharply, and I look to him.

"Mine aren't nearly as bad. I can live with them for now." Looking down at the girl, I knew she couldn't. I open my hands and hover them just over her body, closing my eyes and allowing the healing energy of my aura to seep slowly into the deeper wounds of her body. After a few moments her breathing, once shallow and uneven, was now more peaceful.

"Naraku must have manipulated her to fight to the death. He would have taken her shard once she returned to him, and she would have succumbed to her injuries." Miroku states wisely, frowning as his eyes slowly roam over her form.

Before stopping directly on her ass.

"Seriously, you pervert?" I sigh, Miroku looking only slightly ashamed as he respectfully turns his gaze elsewhere. "She's not even conscious!"

"Let's gather her up and get a move on. If we're quick enough, we can catch him still." Inuyasha states, and I look up to him in shock.

"How do you expect to do that?! You can't carry all four of us on your back!" I exclaim in disbelief.

'He doesn't have to. You can use your aura to levitate at higher speeds. You could keep up with him.' Mayumi states, and I look down at my hands in wonder. 'Your energy has grown exponentially, Yua. You have enough, trust me.'

"Nevermind."


True to Mayumi's word I was able to do just as she said, and kept up with Inuyasha with surprising ease. Even Inuyasha would look at me with slight shock every now and then as we stayed side to side, always keeping a watchful eye on me just in case. Movement on his back catches my attention, relief flooding through me as I saw Sango slowly regaining consciousness.

"It's you!" Sango exclaims in disbelief as her head raises to see Inuyasha was indeed the one carrying her.

"So you're conscious, are you?" Inuyasha asks dryly, looking at her from over his shoulder.

"Put me down! What are you up to?!" Sango demands angrily.

"Be quiet." Inuyasha snaps, turning his face forward once more. I can't help rolling my eyes slightly at his tactlessness. To be fair, however, a couple months ago he would have outright refused to help the woman to begin with.

"My fair lady," Miroku began elegantly as he lifted Inuyasha's hair out of the way to be able to see her from the other side of his back, "do not be frightened. I am but a simple monk, here to serve you."

"Get your hand on your fucking side, monk!" I snap at Miroku, eyes catching his hand slowly sliding over towards Sango's ass. Miroku gives a defeated sigh, slowly lowering Inuyasha's hair back down with clear disappointment.

"The language, dear Yua." He reprimands from behind the curtain of Inuyasha's hair. I don't even bother to deem him with a reply as Sango looks to me in question.

"Miroku is harmless, but he's a pervert." I supply as she looks me up and down, clearly bewildered. "Oh, I'm Yua, but we can save the real introductions for later. Right now we're trying to catch up to Naraku." I frown, the guilt from losing the jewel fragment still weighing heavy on my chest.

"He called you Sango, right? Well Sango you bug me any more and I'll dump you off right here." Inuyasha warns, Sango looking to me then in irritation.

"Hey, at least you got a warning. That's nicer than he treats most people." I supply with an easy shrug of my shoulders, before nodding to Shippo on Miroku's side. "Ask Shippo, he'll vouch for that." Sango's gaze goes from irritation to wonder once more, clearly just as confused still what to make of the half demon carrying her. 'Believe me, I get whiplash all the time around him too.' I can't help thinking dryly to myself as we carried on.

"Sango, Inuyasha and the rest of us didn't want to leave you behind." Myoga appears on her shoulder, further explaining. "Using her powers, Yua was able to mostly heal your deeper wounds."

"You're Myoga." Sango states, her eyes watching the flea intently, before she turns her gaze to me and nods solemnly in thanks. I nod back, now able to direct some of my energy I didn't need to keep pace with Inuyasha to my own back. The pain was already luckily easing.

Naraku wouldn't get the best of me again.

It doesn't take long for us to find him, Miroku being the first to leap off of Inuyasha's back as Kirara duelled alone with Naraku. My eyes widen in shocked disgust as I see what looks to be brown tentacles of some sort reaching out from under Naraku's pelt, but no matter how often Kirara, and now Miroku, severed the tree-like tentacles, they regenerated.

"Stay here with Sango!" Inuyasha barks out, letting Sango down with more care than he'd probably admit to, before he draws Tessaiga and leaps forward to slice through one of the arms that had been ready to pierce Miroku through his stomach.

"Miroku, what the heck are you doing?" Inuyasha complains after slicing through the arm. "You're such a useless monk!" Ignoring him Miroku shoves the severed appendage off of him, sitting up with alarm across his face.

"Inuyasha, behind you!" Inuyasha turns sharply and cuts each extension of Naraku clean off before they can pierce him.

"So, Inuyasha, you're still alive." Naraku hisses, annoyance clear in his voice. Inuyasha confidently rests Tessaiga on his shoulder.

"If you think a mere human can kill me, think again." He states cockily.

"The last time I looked, you were losing to a wounded Slayer." Naraku jabs at him, and I frown deeply as I look to Sango. Sango frowns as well, her body tense and her eyes narrowed at Naraku.

"Shut up! Admit it, Naraku, you're the one that turned that pack of demons on the village and annihilated everyone!" Inuyasha demands of him, a fierce glare on his face as he does.

"All I mentioned to the demons was that the village guard happened to be thin that day." Naraku deflects, but at the same time all but admitting he was indeed the one behind it. I look to Sango, her eyes filled with hot anger. She goes to move forward, but I grab her arm and shake my head.

"Don't. Naraku isn't like any demon you've slain before." I caution her.

"You were after the jewel shards in the village!" Miroku accuses him.

"You're not as slow as you look monk." Naraku delivers his backhanded compliment, still hovering high above them with his poisonous wasps. With those around, Miroku still couldn't use his Wind Tunnel, though I could tell with his hand reaching for his prayer beads that he wished he could. "The villagers should have been prepared to defend such a bounty." He continues, looking directly towards Sango at this. It causes her to break free from my hold, stepping forward once more.

"You could have just taken them! You didn't have to kill everybody!" Inuyasha points out.

"Naraku!" Sango shouts out, hatred dripping from every syllable of his name.

"Sango?" He cooes, turning to look towards us.

"The demons in the castle, the demon spider were all part of your trap, weren't they?" She more so demands, than asks, having finally seen the truth we had been trying to show her all along.

"Trap? Is that what you call my simple diversions?" Naraku asks slyly. "I thought the Slayers of your village could handle any sort of demon? They literally did not live up to their boasts." He hits Sango right where he had intended, and she grabs her weapon to charge forward before I can stop her.

"Damn you!" She exclaims, before suddenly halting and falling forward onto the ground. I frown deeply, knowing that I may have healed her from the brink of death, but her wounds still were going to take a toll on her.

"Fool." Naraku snarls at Sango as I reach her, kneeling down at her side. Instantly I see that the jewel shard was missing from her back. "I will not lend you the shard of the Sacred Jewel if all you choose to do is defy me." Naraku holds up the shard in one of his many limbs, showcasing it to us all. Sango groans in pain, even as she tries to sit up.

"Sango, stop. I healed you enough to keep you from dying, but you're going to still be weak and in pain." I frown at her.

"The fragment was suppressing my pain." She agrees through grit teeth. "Naraku!" She shouts angrily from her prone position on the ground.

"Hah. It would have been easier for you to die thinking that Inuyasha was your sworn enemy, not me." Naraku laughs cruelly as I allow Sango to use me as a brace to sit up more. I hook her arm closest to me over my shoulders to help her sit up on her knees as she stares at Naraku and trembles with pain and rage.

"You really like to mess around with people's feelings, don't you?" Inuyasha asks rhetorically as he charges then, lifting Tessaiga up high as he jumps into the air. "You creep!" He exclaims, bringing the sword down, but missing Naraku as he smoothly flies back to avoid being sliced.

"Are you thinking of Kikyo or Mayumi when you say that?" Naraku questions. I frown deeply at that, knowing that Naraku was trying to get Inuyasha riled up so he would make a mistake.

'Keep your wits about you, Inuyasha. Don't let him get under your skin.' I think to myself, gazing intently at the battle as Inuyasha leaps up once more into the air above Naraku.

"Shut up, you son of a bitch!" Inuyasha shouts angrily.

Before he slices Tessaiga straight through Naraku's neck, beheading him.

A bright light emerges from where Naraku's head had once been attacked, my mouth falling open in shock as his headless body slowly tilts backwards and lands on the ground hard enough to shake the earth. Inuyasha lands a second after, sword still poised.

Naraku's severed head landing just feet in front of him.

"Damn him, and good riddance." Inuyasha growls lowly, standing once more with Tessaiga resting on his shoulder. Meanwhile, I couldn't get over the shock.

'That felt too easy for someone like Naraku.' I can't help thinking suspiciously, more on edge than I had been during their battle.

'I agree. Something isn't adding up.' Mayumi states, backing me up. Miroku comes to stand beside Inuyasha, looking down at the head of Naraku in wonder.

"Was this the Naraku I was pursuing?" Miroku asks, his voice filled with disbelief. "No, it can't be." He insists, shaking his head. Obviously he was thinking the same thing as Mayumi and I. Shippo comes to stand next to Sango as I continue to support her, making a nervous sound.

"That was too easy." Inuyasha states in agreement, glaring down at the head. "He couldn't have had the power to make Kikyo, Mayumi…all those people, suffer so much." He murmurs lowly, hand tightening on the hilt of Tessaiga.

As if we had all collectively jinxed it, the massive body of Naraku suddenly comes back to life.

"Inuyasha, watch out!" Miroku cautions, taking a defensive stance with his staff out in front of him protectively. One of the tree-like tentacles reaches out to stab through Inuyasha, stabbing the ground instead as Inuyasha jumps out of the way.

"His body is moving without his head on!" Shippo exclaims in horror, and I feel a chill rush down my own spine as a chilling laughter fills the air. Looking to Naraku's head, my mouth drops open in horror as it shifts and sits upright on the ground.

"I will not die so easily." Naraku proclaims, Miroku stepping back as both he and Inuyasha look equally as horrified as the rest of us.

"Is that a talking head, or am I imagining things?" Miroku asks sharply, before both of them are on the move again as more of Naraku's arms attack them.

"He just reverts back." I frown deeply, narrowing my eyes as I look at his body. Even the limbs that Kirara was methodically tearing away where regenerating just as quickly.

"He's using jewel shards, to regenerate, but I can't sense them. Usually I can." Sango speaks up weakly. I don't look away from Naraku, even though I'm shocked at what she says.

"I can usually sense the shards as well, he had dozens of them the last time we encountered him. I can't sense any now, just the fragment that he stole from us." I realize with wide eyes. "What do you think is going on?"

"I sense no demon energy as well." Sango goes on, almost as if she hadn't heard me. She stiffens suddenly. "A puppet." She whispers to herself in disbelief. Before I can ask her what she's talking about, she's shouting towards Inuyasha. "Inuyasha! It's a puppet!"

"A puppet?" Inuyasha chances a glance our way, confusion clear on his face.

"In demon puppetry, the master controls the puppet with something hidden deep inside the body!" Sango informs him. "His heart! Aim straight for his heart!"

"So you've figured it out." Naraku coos, all but confirming Sango's theory. With that Inuyasha turns back towards the writhing body.

"Take this!" He shouts, leaping up once again with Tessaiga and slicing straight down the middle of the puppet's body. The head on the ground spins unnaturally, before flying to the air and exploding into pieces, the rest of the body transforming back into rocks, tree limbs, and mud. When the dust settles I stand with Sango, supporting her as we walk over to the centre of the rubble. Miroku is kneeling down, reaching for what looked to be some sort of wooden figure. I feel relief flood me when I see our jewel fragment there as well, sitting right at the monk's knees.

"What is that?" Inuyasha asks, looking down at the figure quizzically.

"This is demon puppetry." Miroku confirms. "The hair wrapped around this doll inside belongs to Naraku." My eyes widen slightly in surprise at this. His hair? That was all it took?

"That was more than a doll we just fought." Inuyasha snaps slightly in disbelief.

"It was a counterfeit Naraku." Miroku goes on to explain further. "The real Naraku was probably hiding somewhere safe while controlling this puppet." Sango slumps against me, causing me to wince in pain at the pull it causes in my back. I had been able to stop the bleeding earlier, but the pain was still at a rather uncomfortable level.

"I-I'm sorry for doubting you all." Sango murmurs faintly, Miroku moving quickly as she completely passes out at my side. He thankfully catches her, as I am unable to hold her up, falling to my own knees weakly in pain.

"Yua!" Inuyasha frowns as he kneels down at my side after sheathing Tessaiga. His hands hover over me, clearly unsure if his touch would hurt me more than help.

"I'm alright." I reassure him, looking up to his worried amber eyes. "I just need to rest." I admit with a heavy sigh. I could probably heal my back overnight, so long as I didn't have to use my energy for anything else.

"We'll find somewhere near to make camp." He agrees, before holding his hand out to me, and in the palm there sat the jewel fragment, along with Sango's jewel shard. I look up to him in surprise as I slowly rise to my knees.

I had just lost them, why would he give them back to me?

"Are you sure?" I ask softly, my voice sounding far more vulnerable than I had wanted it to. He nodded, frowning.

"You fought bravely today to keep them out of his hands. It wasn't your fault." He reassures me, before pressing the fragment and shard into my hands. I can't stop a small, grateful smile at his praise, nodding as I hold the pieces in my closed hand against my chest. "Can you stand long enough to get on my back?" I frown, looking towards Sango's unconscious form being held up by Miroku.

"But Sango?"

"I've got her, Yua." Miroku replies, before smirking as I quirk my eyebrow at him. "I promise my hands won't wander anywhere inappropriate." He adds lightly, before swinging the Slayer up into his arms. "Not while she's unconscious, at least." He adds under his breath.

"What do you mean by inappropriate?" Shippo asks innocently, and I groan, head falling forward.

"It's something we'll discuss when you're older." Inuyasha snaps at him, before helping me to stand. Once I'm steady he turns around and kneels back down so I can slide onto his back. Once secured with his hands under my legs he walks over to Sango's weapon, picking it up and helping Miroku get it situated on his back.

"This is surprisingly light, Inuyasha." Miroku shifts a little under the additional weight, Kirara transforming back to her smaller form and jumping up to rest on Sango's belly. "I don't see how it caused you so much trouble."

"Fuck off, monk."


Soooooo, there it is! Heads up, I'm going to be going away for the weekend, but I'm still going to try and get the update for Sunday up on time. I may not be able to, however, and so the update might have to wait until next Wednesday. I apologize in advance if I am not able to post as usual this weekend!

Until next time!

T.O.T.