A1969: I'm back!

Inuyasha: oh, what joy –rolls eyes- give her a big round of applause.

A1969: ignore Inuyasha, please. He's PMsing.

Inuyasha: what?!

Kagome: -giggles-

A1969: anyway, thanks a mill to everyone who reviewed, read, placed this story on their favorites, alerts, etcetera.

Inuyasha: Kagome...what does 'PMsing' mean?

Kagome: -laughs- seriously, Inuyasha...hahaha!

Inuaysha: damn you guys.

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-Chapter Twenty-Five-
-Consigned-
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.:-Clara-:.

"What's the matter, Midoriko?" Hakudoshi sneered, still looking down at me from above. "Why are you all alone?" Beside him, the boy dressed in black with green armor on his shoulders stared at him with narrowed eyes.

"Hakudoshi, what do you want?" I demanded, feeling like a coward.

Hakudoshi's smirk grew more pronounced. "Why else would I come here the moment Sesshoumaru left?" the white child sneered.

My hand automatically clasped the Sacred Jewel that hung around my neck. "I'm not giving it to you," I said defiantly.

Hakudoshi chuckled. "Poor little Midoriko," he went on, "left all alone."

"She is not alone," Arai said from beside me. I raised my eyebrows. Without looking at me, he went on, "As captain of Lord Sesshoumaru's guard, I am bound by loyalty and by duty to defend my lord's abode." Without another word, he pointed his sword at Hakudoshi's barrier. A flash of red light surged from the sword towards the white child, but the barrier blocked it.

"You actually think that measly attack can go through my barrier?" Hakudoshi asked. "Don't tell me you were actually hoping it would shatter my barrier."

"Impudent bastard!" Arai seethed. All around us, we could hear the shouts of the other guards as they fought Naraku's demons.

Hakudoshi suddenly jumped from his horse and landed neatly in front of us, naginata clutched in his hands. "Look," he said. "No barrier, nothing to protect me—take your best shot."

Arai screamed as he charged towards Hakudoshi. The clang of steel on steel as their weapons locked was drowned out by the banter of the fight that raged around us. What could I do to help? A little voice inside my head said that the best way for me to help would be to just keep out of the fight. Not very encouraging.

I watched, anxious, as Hakudoshi and Arai fought. What if Arai should die? No...what if any of Sesshoumaru's guards should die all because Hakudoshi wanted to get the jewel that I guarded?

"Bastard!" Arai sent another blast of light at Hakudoshi who jumped into the air and simultaneously brought down his naginata on Arai's head. I squealed as their blades locked, sending sparks into the air.

"Kohaku!" Hakudoshi called to the boy above, his eyes on Arai.

I looked up at the barrier just as the boy jumped off the horse and landed in front of me, bending his knees slightly to absorb the shock. He held a chain-scythe in his hands, and he was looking hesitantly at me. I could feel myself go numb at the sight of his weapon—it looked menacing enough.

But wait...Kohaku?

He was Sango's younger brother! The one with the Sacred Jewel shard! Indeed, I could feel its presence coming off him as he stood there in front of me, that hesitant look in his eyes.

"Kill her, and get the Sacred Jewel!" Hakudoshi ordered as he dodged another blast of light from Arai's sword.

I felt myself go numb as Kohaku looked at me. There was just something about him that didn't feel right. He took a step towards me and as he did so, I realized what it was.

His eyes.

The look in his eyes...

It was as if he didn't want to kill me (the thought sent shivers of fear up my spine again). Furthermore, his eyes weren't the blank orbs that one manipulated by a shard would have...

"What are you waiting for?" Hakudoshi called, as he erected a barrier to fend off the aggressive Arai.

Kohaku suddenly threw his chain-scythe at me. I squealed as I ducked. A second later, the sound of the scythe whizzed above my head. What to do? What to do? What to do? I had Shinsei with me...

As Kohaku pulled back his scythe, I stood straight and pulled out Shinsei, holding it tightly in my grasp. I felt like an idiot as I looked at the boy standing several meters away from me. I didn't know how to use a sword, for crying out loud!

"Give me the Sacred Jewel," Kohaku said in a tone that was meant to be blank.

I looked at him, my eyes widening slightly. Why would he want the Jewel? Didn't Hakudoshi order him to take the Jewel and my life?

I held Shinsei tighter. "Over my dead body will I give you the Jewel!" I snapped. Over my dead body...maybe that was the wrong thing to say.

The boy didn't hesitate as he rushed towards me, scythe held in his hands. I squealed again as he neared me. Out of instinct, I raised the sword in front of me as I closed my eyes. A loud clang suddenly filled my ears, at the same time, I felt something hard hit the sword and I struggled to hold it tighter.

I opened my eyes, astounded to see that Kohaku's weapon locked against the sword I held. But the astonishment quickly turned to fear as Kohaku slashed at the sword. It flew from my hands, and skidded across the cobblestones, towards the battle that raged in the middle of the courtyard. I could feel dismay welling up inside me as the sword vanished amidst a sea of demons and blood.

Oh...kaay...

I was doomed.

"The Jewel or your life?" Kohaku said again in that meant-to-be-cold tone of voice. What was with this kid? Why was he giving me the option to live? He had unarmed me, and I was completely at his mercy. So why was he making me choose? Wasn't he ordered to kill me? I tried not to let the last question throw me into a full-blown panic attack.

I fingered the jewel and glared at him. A part of me wanted to surrender the Jewel—shameful, yes. Another part wanted to defy this boy even if it meant my death.

Before I could even answer, I heard a scream. I looked past Kohaku, at Arai just as Hakudoshi pulled his blade from the demon's shoulder.

"Arai!" I shouted. He glanced swiftly at me from over his shoulder as he fell to his knees, a hand on his bleeding wound. He was looking at me with disgust. I could almost hear his thoughts: I don't need your concern, Midoriko.

I cringed at that look.

"Heh," Hakudoshi said, looking down at Arai, a wicked smile on his face. "I think I'll let you live a little longer." His gaze strayed to Kohaku and me. "What's this, Kohaku? Not done yet?"

I vividly saw Kohaku gulping, his eyes furtive. He remained silent, however. Wait...was this boy really under Naraku's control as Kagome once said he was?

"Alright, then," Hakudoshi said as he leapt between Kohaku and me. I gasped and took a step back. "Leave her to me." Kohaku threw one last look at me, and then stepped aside.

Hakudoshi looked at me, his eyes merciless. Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic.

The white child smirked, and pointed his naginata at me.

Okay—panic.

"Why don't you make things easier, and just hand me the jewel and your life?" Hakudoshi drawled. "After all, you don't really have that much of a choice now, do you?" He grinned.

I clasped the Jewel around my neck, holding it tightly in my grasp. Even though he would kill me, I knew that I had to risk my life to protect this jewel. In a way, I was its owner and, besides...I wasn't about to let Lady Kikyou down.

"Over my dead body," I hissed.

"That can be arranged," he sneered. As fast as the eye could blink, he suddenly lunged towards me, his hand outstretched. I squealed, and closed my eyes, waiting for the naginata to lop off my head, but instead, I felt a sharp tug from the Sacred Jewel I wore. He was going to take it!

"Damn!" I heard Hakudoshi curse.

I opened my eyes just as Hakudoshi jumped back from me. I clasped my hand around the Sacred Jewel. It was still there? He didn't take it? In fact...he didn't even kill me...Why?

I watched, questions swirling in my head, as Hakudoshi landed gracefully onto the cobblestones, his eyes narrowed menacingly at me. His left hand was blackened, as though it had been burnt. Did the pure Sacred Jewel do this? If it did, then...Why didn't it burn Sesshoumaru's hand when he held it? I quickly pushed that question from my mind. I would figure it out later.

"So," Hakudoshi said, his voice hard. "That jewel...while in your grasp, it cannot be corrupted now, can it?" So that's why it got corrupted when Sesshoumaru held it. Wait...as long as I had it? The thought comforted me—it was good to know that I wasn't as useless as I thought I was.

Hakudoshi continued glaring at me, a glare that made me cringe. I've never seen a child with eyes like that before—it was scary. Around us, the battle continued to rage, never abating as demons and guards alike fell to the ground, their blood pooling around them.

He suddenly smirked. "As long as you have it, it's unbearably pure," he went on, as though he were discussing the weather. "However, how will you be able to purify it when you are dead?"

The blood froze in my veins.

He took a step towards me, and I stepped back. He took another step, and another—a hunter coming in for the kill. I took several steps backward, ready to run for it. Suddenly I felt something hard against my back, stopping me in my tracks. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a pellucid pinkish wall...

Shoot.

I was trapped in his barrier.

Hakudoshi looked at me, his smirk widening. He was standing outside his barrier, while I...I was trapped inside. Keep calm, Clara—don't let a panic attack get to you.

"Aw," Hakudoshi crooned, as he began circling his barrier. "How weak of you—you don't know how to break out. You were trapped without your even noticing it. Hmph. It's unbelievably appalling to see how weak Midoriko's reincarnation is."

I glared at him. I wanted desperately to slap him, but the barrier surrounding me just made it impossible.

"I could kill you now," Hakudoshi said as he stopped circling. He planted himself in front of me.

"Then kill me!" I snapped. Wait...that was the wrong thing to say.

He ignored my little outburst as he went on. "How does it feel knowing that you're going to die all alone?" he said softly. "Your supposed protector, Sesshoumaru, is nowhere near. He left you, and went off with Lady Momitsumi."

A stab of hurt coursed through me at his words. Wait...did he know about my feelings for Sesshoumaru? But my mind ignored that question; instead, I couldn't help but mentally agree that Hakudoshi was right—Sesshoumaru wasn't here. He was supposed to protect me, but...

I bit my lip. Sesshoumaru always had the option to not protect me. In fact, why should he? It wasn't like...it wasn't like he cared for me or anything of the sort...

There must've been a certain look on my face, because a second later, Hakudoshi spoke again. "I seem to have touched a nerve." He was smirking.

Great, Clara. Jaken tells you to hide it, and you're not doing a good job at all. What would I do if Hakudoshi of all people found out about my feelings? Naraku was going to be celebrating, I was sure.

"Oh, shut up!" I snapped. Unbelievably, I could feel a slow tinge blossoming across my cheeks. "Just shut up, and kill me!" I'd rather die—literally—than have him find out about my feelings for Sesshoumaru.

Hakudoshi ignored me, and glanced over his shoulder at the battle that seemed to surge with even greater intensity than before. It appeared as though Sesshoumaru's guards—though not as powerful as him—were winning.

He turned back to me. "Are you starting to feel hope, Midoriko?" Hakudoshi asked mockingly. "Because you see that Sesshoumaru's guards are winning—you think they'll help you. On the contraire—"

"I know they hate me," I hissed. I didn't need to be reminded of that. "Stop procrastinating, and get it over with!" Procrastinating...

Not only Kohaku was acting strange, but also Hakudoshi. Now that I looked at it, the incarnate had had plenty of opportunities to kill me, but he never did...

"Don't you want to see Sesshoumaru before you die?" he said, confirming my fears. Was I really that obvious?

"Why should I?" I snarled, realizing that he was procrastinating again.

He smirked. "We both know why, Midoriko." He paused, and gave me another sadistic grin. I wasn't imagining it anymore—he was definitely procrastinating. Why didn't he kill me yet? Or was he planning to mock me to death? Because it just might work.

Stupid Sesshoumaru...

"Unfortunately for you," Hakudoshi went on. "He could never feel for you as you feel for him."

What was this tight pain in my chest? It was as though...someone was twisting my heart.

"Hakudoshi," I hissed, pain and anger surging through me as I glared at him through his barrier. "If you have nothing better to do than taunt me with fallacies, then kill me already!" Or was he hoping that I would die because of the pain I was feeling in my heart?

I was about to retort, when a voice suddenly cut through the banter of the battle that raged around us.

"Clara!"

How I wished that it was his voice; that he was here for me...

"Wind Scar!" A moment later, a blast of light cut through Naraku's demons, easily obliterating them. The Wind Scar raised dust in the air, and caused Sesshoumaru's guards to stop attacking, their eyes widening in shock as they turned to the several newcomers who stood at the palace gates.

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-,-Kagome-,-

I never knew that Sesshoumaru had a palace, so it was a surprise when the demons we had been following earlier led us here to this magnificent palace on a mountain.

But now was not the time to be awed, now was the time to fight.

Inuyasha's Wind Scar managed to destroy nearly half the demons that gave the palace guards so much trouble. As the dust from the Wind Scar settled down, we were able to see the scene clearly.

Bodies of both palace guards and demons alike were strewn here, and there. Blood pooled where the bodies lay, darkening the cobblestones with red, and filling the air with a pungent odor. There were more guards still fighting Naraku's demons that were falling to the ground faster than raindrops.

"Kohaku!" Sango exclaimed.

There, standing just behind the battling demons stood Kohaku. But he wasn't alone. Several meters away from Kohau stood Hakudoshi and, in front of Hakudoshi, trapped in a barrier, was Clara.

"Clara!" I shouted.

"Kagome!" she called back, relief flooding her face.

"Outta the way!" Inuyasha roared at the guards that were still fighting in front of us. He raised Tessaiga and, at the same time, the guards scampered, leaving the demons open for Inuyasha. "Wind Scar!" There was a flash of light and, a second later, the demons vanished in a flash, obliterated.

"Well, well, well," Hakudoshi said, as demon body parts fell to the ground with loud thuds. "Inuyasha and company...I shouldn't be surprised."

"Kagome!" Clara called again, a hand on the barrier.

Hakudoshi glanced sideways at her, smirking. "Oh, do be quiet," he said.

"You bastard!" Inuyasha growled angrily. "Let her go!" Tessaiga slowly became encrusted with adamant.

"Adamant Barrage—you wanna kill Midoriko along with me?" Hakudoshi taunted.

"Dammit," Inuyasha growled.

I glanced around. Where was Sesshoumaru anyway? I didn't have time to dwell on him, however. Hakudoshi continued smirking, and then the barrier that held Clara slowly left the ground, ascending into the air, towards Entei. Hakudoshi smirked as he surrounded himself and Kohaku with his barrier, and then slowly, that too rose off the ground.

"Clara!" I shouted.

"Kagome!" she called out, panicked. She suddenly turned her attention to Inuyasha just as the barrier reached Entei's side. "Inuyasha, destroy the barrier with your Adamant Barrage!" she implored.

"What?!" Inuyasha roared, still gripping Tessaiga tightly. "You'll get killed, you idiot!"

"He wants the Sacred Jewel!" Clara called back. "Kill me along with Hakudoshi, if you have to! I promised Lady Kikyou that I'd never let Naraku get the Jewel—and I want to keep that promise!"

Kikyou...

At the mention of her, Inuyasha's eyes widened, and a pained look came into them. He gripped Tessaiga even tighter in his grasp as spears of adamant glittered on the blade. Inuyasha wasn't going to do it, was he?

"Adamant—!" But before Inuyasha could finish saying the attack, his eyes suddenly widened and at the same time, a loud whistling sound filled the air, along with a large amount of hair-raising youki...

"Dammit!" Inuyasha shouted. He suddenly wound an arm around my waist and jumped back, at the same time Miroku and Sango did. A second later, a blast of light shot towards the ground, just where we had been standing seconds ago. Inuyasha landed on the ground, a yard away from where we had stood, and set me on my feet. He looked up at the sky, and growled angrily.

"Sesshoumaru!" he shouted.

Sesshoumaru hovered in mid-air, his sword drawn out, pointed at Inuyasha. Beside him hovered a woman with golden hair and icy blue eyes—a breathtaking demoness, in short.

"Sesshoumaru!" It was a different voice—Clara. She was looking at Sesshoumaru with wide, relieved eyes. Her gaze suddenly shifted to the woman beside him. "Lady Momitsumi?" She knew that gorgeous demoness?

"Sesshoumaru, you bastard!" Inuyasha roared. "What the hell was that for?"

"For coming here," he said, looking down at Inuyasha with narrowed eyes.

"In case you two haven't noticed!" I shouted, pointing at Clara and Hakudoshi.

Sesshoumaru turned to the woman beside him, his cold eyes narrowed slightly. She nodded and landed gracefully on the ground, several yards apart from where we were. Who was she? But I pushed that question aside as Sesshoumaru flew towards Hakudoshi, sword pointed at the barrier.

"That won't work!" Inuyasha called out, tauntingly. "Dammit, if Kohaku weren't in that barrier with Hakudoshi, I would've used my Adamant Barrage..."

Sango was looking up at Kohaku with worried eyes just as Sesshoumaru slashed at Hakudoshi's barrier with his Bakusaiga. Hakudoshi parried Sesshoumaru's Bakusaiga with his naginata which phased through the barrier. Their weapons clashed, sending sparks into the air.

"Kohaku," Sango murmured, looking at her brother who looked blankly at Hakudoshi and Sesshoumaru. Really...how could we get Kohaku out of that barrier without hurting him? And Clara, too?

Speaking of Clara...

There was something materializing in the barrier with her. Her eyes widened, and at the same time, I felt it—the presence of the Sacred Jewel, but it wasn't Clara's...

"Naraku!" I exclaimed as Naraku suddenly materialized from a swirl of miasma behind Clara.

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.:-Clara-:.

I felt it.

Behind me, I could feel a familiar tug, a sharp pull...

With foreboding, I spun around, and my eyes widened in shock. Inside the barrier, there was a swirling dark vapour—miasma, I realized. I felt the blood grow cold in my veins. I couldn't even hear the shouts that came from Kagome and the others as they realized what was materializing in the barrier with me. I could only hear the loud pounding of the blood in my ears. I felt my heart thudding painfully against my ribcage as the miasma in front of me slowly solidified and took on the form of one of my new worst nightmares.

"Na...raku," I said in a faltering voice.

He smirked at me. "Midoriko," he said, smiling sinisterly, his red eyes gleaming. He was close...only an arm's length away from me. It was then that I saw a familiar gleam of dark light that came from his right shoulder—the other half of the Sacred Jewel.

"Clara!" I heard Kagome call out again.

"Inuyasha, Naraku's in there with her!" Miroku shouted.

"I know that!"

Naraku's red eyes bore into my own. "Well, well, well," he said. But before he could continue, a powerful blast hit the barrier, making it shake infinitesimally, but not destroying it. I glanced behind me to see who had launched the attack.

"Sesshoumaru!" I said, automatically feeling relieved. He was hovering just outside the barrier, his sword held out, his eyes fixed on Naraku.

"Release her," Sesshoumaru said coldly. Now may have not been the time, but...I could feel my cheeks reddening again as I looked at him, both my palms pressed on the barrier.

Naraku chuckled, and then I felt something slimy wrap around my throat. I gasped as my hands automatically flew to my neck. It was one of Naraku's tentacles. He turned me around so I faced him. I swear—I was nothing but ice, then. I felt cold all over. My breathing sped up and my stomach knotted painfully.

"Release her, you say?" Naraku said, his eyes fixed not on Sesshoumaru, but on me. "I've waited, Lord Sesshoumaru, for the time your watchfulness would waver—and my patience was highly rewarded."

He suddenly squeezed. My eyes widened as I felt the crushing pressure of his tentacles against my throat. I wanted to cough, but I couldn't—he was gripping me too tightly.

"Naraku!" I heard Inuyasha shout in outrage.

Naraku suddenly pulled me closer so we were a foot apart. "Today, I'm taking what belongs to me," he said, smirking at me. I clutched the tentacle harder, willing my spiritual energy to purify it, but I couldn't—I was too afraid to focus. I was literally staring death in the eye.

I could feel another blast from Sesshoumaru's sword strike the barrier, to no effect. "You should be grateful, Lord Sesshoumaru," Naraku said, looking at him from over my head. "This girl—hasn't she always been a burden to you? An utter waste of your time? Do you not regret taking this girl into your protection?"

It was amazing how my heart suddenly twisted painfully in my chest. As if the painful throbbing in my throat wasn't bad enough!

Of course I was a waste of his time, of course he regretted protecting me—I knew that, but...did Naraku have to rub it in my face?!

"You talk too much," I heard Sesshoumaru say.

Naraku chuckled again, his eyes fixed on me this time. "And, now," he said. His hand suddenly reached towards my neckline, towards the Sacred Jewel. I thrashed against the tentacle that held me. I knew that—no matter what—I must not let Naraku have the Sacred Jewel. I had promised Lady Kikyou, and I was going to keep that promise.

But how? I was powerless in Naraku's grasp. I could do nothing but watch as, inch by inch, his hand slowly closed in on the jewel, his long fingers brushing against it.

Now, Clara. That voice...it...Lady Kikyou?

Instinctively, I sent a surge of purifying energy into the Sacred Jewel, just as Naraku's fingers brushed against it. There was a flash of light as his fingers brushed against the jewel. His eyes widened in shock, and he quickly pulled back his fingers. But that wasn't all. The tentacle that gripped me tightly around the neck—making my vision blurry—suddenly unwound from around my throat.

I gasped as I fell to the floor of the barrier, clutching my throat. I coughed as my lungs took in air. I looked up to see Naraku glaring at me. What was happening to him? His hand, the fingers that had brushed against the jewel, was slowly dissolving. But not just the hand—even his arm, his shoulders…

"Damn you," he hissed.

"He's being purified!" I heard Sango say.

Purified?

Naraku narrowed his eyes at me, and then he smiled as, slowly, his chest and the lower part of his body started dissolving. "This can't kill me," he sneered, still smiling. "But it can kill you."

Before I could even figure out what he meant, his body suddenly dissolved, releasing miasma. My eyes widened as the miasma swirled around the barrier.

"He intends to kill her, and corrupt the jewel at the same time!" I heard Inuyasha shout.

I stood up as the miasma swirled around me. Urgh…It was painful. The moment it came into contact with my skin, it felt as though my skin was burning.

I heard another blast, and turned around to see Sesshoumaru hacking away at the barrier. Inuyasha had jumped into the air, and was sending Wind Scars simultaneously with Sesshoumaru's blasts. All to no avail—the barrier wouldn't break.

I was going to die.

"Sesshoumaru!" I shouted, looking at him.

He suddenly raised his eyes to meet mine. His cold eyes gaze held mine and, at that moment, I found it hard to fear for my life, not with him there. I could feel my heart thudding rapidly in my chest, could feel the blush creeping slowly across my cheeks.

But the miasma suddenly surrounded me, cutting across my vision. I was surrounded my darkness—painful and suffocating.

"Clara!" I heard Kagome shout.

"You died once, Midoriko," a voice said, menacing and ominous. Naraku? "You died alone, and in the darkness—and you shall die alone once again!"

No! I wanted to shout. But I couldn't.

As I stood there, surrounded by the darkness of Naraku's miasma, I felt weak. Alone, afraid, and weak. Was I still even alive? I couldn't hear anything—couldn't see anything but darkness. I couldn't feel anything but pain. And yet, as I hovered between life and death, I could only think of one thing…

Was this how Midoriko had died before?

Had she died in pain and in darkness?

I could feel my strength leaving me now. I could feel a different darkness closing in...

Suddenly, brilliant white light filled my vision…

And then, darkness.

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-.-Sesshoumaru-.-

It was useless.

Hacking away at the barrier was utterly useless.

I hovered in front of it, my eyes narrowed at the darkness that filled the barrier and blocked Clara from view. Couldn't that pathetic excuse of a priestess purify the miasma? Or was she was so incapable that she panicked and died?

Strangely, the thought of her dying was…unacceptable. After all—I wasted my time on her, and all for nothing?

Pathetic girl.

"Sesshoumaru get back!" I heard that hanyou, Inuyasha, call out from the ground. I looked down at him. Who was he to tell me what to do?

"I'll blow that barrier apart with Adamant Barrage!" Inuyasha shouted as scintillating adamant began covering the Tessaiga. I knew that he was a fool, but was he actually that foolish? And to think my learned father's blood ran in his veins…

I didn't move. "If you use that sword, she will die," I said, narrowing my eyes coldly at him.

"Like she's not gonna die, anyway?!"

"He's right, Inuyasha!" the miko, Kagome, said as she and the others ran up to him. "You'll kill her if you use Adamant Barrage!"

"What a sticky situation." I turned my gaze to that voice. Hakudoshi's barrier was hovering several yards away from Clara's. That annoying child rode that horse, Entei, with the boy, Kohaku behind him. "What now Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru?" he went on. "If you use Adamant Barrage, you'll only end up killing her—but if you don't use it, she'll die anyway. And the corrupt Sacred jewel will be mine for the taking."

Inuyasha glared at him. I could tell he wanted to use Adamant Barrage on the bastard, but he refrained lest he should hurt the boy, Kohaku. Only a half-breed like him could be so soft.

Hm?

I turned my attention to Clara's barrier. Coming from within was a strong surge in spiritual power…

"Look!" Kagome shouted.

The miasma swirled within the barrier, dark and unfathomable. But then, something pierced through the miasma—light. A second later, the miasma vanished to be replaced with a brilliant white light, simultaneously, cracks started appearing around the barrier.

I descended to the ground, knowing exactly what was happening.

Midoriko was taking over again.

The moment I thought of this, light poured from the cracks in the barrier. A second later, the barrier exploded in a flash of brilliant light.

"What's going on?" the exterminator, Sango, asked. Isn't it obvious?

As the light faded, I looked up to see a woman hovering in mid air. Beautiful, pure and deadly, Midoriko, looked down at us. Her eyes were no longer glowing white—they were black as night.

"That's…" the monk faltered.

"Midoriko?!" Kagome said.

As we looked up, Midoriko turned her gaze to Hakudoshi who narrowed his eyes at her. Her gaze shifted to the corpses of the guards and demons on the ground. She raised her hand towards the corpses, a blank look on her face. Something shot out from the corpses, something that shot straight towards Midoriko's hand.

Shinsei, her sword.

She caught if effortlessly, and the moment her hand closed around the hilt, the blade glowed pure white, and that light faded. She turned gracefully towards Hakudoshi, who narrowed his eyes at her.

"My lord!" I glanced over my shoulder, towards where Momitsumi was. She looked worried. Annoying girl—she should've stayed with her parents.

I turned my gaze back to Midoriko, who pointed her sword at Hakudoshi. White light shot out from the blade and towards the barrier.

"Fool!" Hakudoshi shouted as the light was absorbed by the barrier. Hn, so he planned to return her attack, huh?

"Watch out!" Kagome warned as light gathered at the bottom of Hakudoshi's barrier.

Midoriko held out her sword horizontally in front of her. The sword glowed white, and then the light at the bottom of Hakudoshi's barrier faded.

"What?!" Hakudoshi exclaimed, shocked.

Midoriko sent another blast of light towards Hakudoshi, but this light was different. It took on the form of a bird as it soared towards Hakudoshi's barrier. I had seen it before.

"Kohaku!" Sango called out as the light struck the barrier. The light intensified and, from the peripheral of my vision, I saw Inuyasha shield the miko, Kagome, with the sleeve of his haori. Tch.

The light receded and completely faded to reveal Hakudoshi mounted on his horse, barrier gone. "Curse you," he sneered.

Midoriko suddenly raised a hand and pointed it at Kohaku. The boy's eyes widened.

"Kohaku's Sacred Jewel shard!" Kagome exclaimed, looking at the boy.

Indeed. The shard in the boy's back was slowly being purified. Hn, that purity was unbearable. Kohaku's eyes suddenly went blank and, before anyone could blink, he slashed at Hakudoshi with his scythe.

"Is Midoriko controlling him?" the monk, Miroku, asked.

Obviously.

Hakudoshi gasped as he was sliced in two, from the shoulder to the waist. He fell off the horse in two, cursing. His demon horse suddenly neighed and bucked, throwing the boy Kohaku off him.

"Kohaku!" Quick as a flash Sango mounted Kirara and soared through the air, towards her brother. She effortlessly caught him in her arms. It seems that the boy collapsed. Meanwhile, Entei dove towards his master. The moment he reached the boy, another barrier formed around Hakudoshi and the horse and Hakudoshi's split remains hovered beside it.

He was going to escape.

Midoriko raised her sword again, and it glowed with white light. Suddenly, from the sky, there was a twinkle of light. A moment later, a hoard of demons soared between Hakudoshi and Midoriko, shielding the former from the latter.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted as he lifted the miko off the ground. The demons were headed towards us.

"Impudent," I muttered as I slashed at the demons with Bakusaiga.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" I spun around. The hoard of demons was headed towards Momitsumi, who appeared frozen on the spot, her eyes wide in fear. Foolish demoness, couldn't she dodge?

I rushed towards her, only to realize that I wouldn't make it.

She screamed. I pointed Bakusaiga at the swarm of demons, ready to blast them into hell, when all of a sudden, I sensed a strong surge of spiritual power coming from behind me. I quickly jumped into the air just as a blast of light passed beneath me, striking the hoard of demons before they reached Momitsumi.

I glanced behind me as I landed on the ground, narrowing my eyes at the miko who was still hovering in the air, her sword pointed in my direction. Hn…Did she wish to kill me as well? As if she could.

I barely became aware of Momitsumi as she fell to her knees in shock. My attention was fixed on Hakudoshi, who looked at Midoriko with hate-filled eyes.

"You'll pay for this, miko!" he snarled.

Midoriko raised her sword and pointed it at him again, but before she could even fire another attack, Hakudoshi and his barrier became engulfed in miasma. A second later, the miasma faded and then, they were gone.

"He got away," Inuyasha grumbled, sheathing Tessaiga.

My gaze strayed to Midoriko. She suddenly glowed with a brilliant light, and then the light faded to reveal Clara, her eyes closed. She appeared unconscious as she hovered there.

"She's falling!" Kagome exclaimed as Clara began to plummet towards the ground.

Annoying.

I caught her as she fell, darting into the air, and wrapping my arms around her. I landed on the ground and stared at the girl in my arms. She was unconscious, whether it was from exhaustion, I couldn't tell. In any case, she was fine.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

.:-Clara-:.

Protect the boy…

Whose voice was this…?

I'd never heard this voice before. Protect the boy? Who?

As I lay in that state of semi-unconsciousness, I could think of nothing else but those three words. Who had said them? A voice that I've never heard of before, a beautiful voice, almost like tinkling bells. Who? But I had a feeling I'd heard it before, in a dream…And then I knew who.

"Is she alright?" This voice was…Kagome's…

Right…now I remember. Hakudoshi, Naraku…

Presently, I became aware that I was in someone's arms. I slowly opened my eyes. Urgh…My head was killing me. I slowly looked up to meet a pair of cold, golden eyes.

I blushed. "P-put me down, please," I stuttered.

Sesshoumaru obliged and dumped me unceremoniously on the ground. "Ow!" I snapped as I fell on my behind.

"Clara!" Before I could even stand, Kagome knelt beside me and threw her arms around me. "We're glad you're alright!" she said, looking at me and smiling. "And what you did back there—that was incredible."

I blushed. "It wasn't me," I mumbled, feeling insignificant. "That was Midoriko."

Kagome was silent. "The important thing is, Naraku didn't get his hands on the Sacred Jewel," Miroku said. He was standing next to Sango who was standing next to a transformed Kirara. There was a boy sitting on Kirara—Kohaku.

Protect the boy…

Kohaku?

"You," I said to Kohaku, carefully standing up. I was still a little woozy.

Kohaku looked up at me. He hopped off Kirara and made his way towards me. "Kohaku," Sango said warily.

He stopped in his tracks, and looked back at her from over his shoulder. "Lady Midoriko told me to go with her, miss," he said, his tone robotic. Miss? Wasn't she his sister?

Sango looked pained as she looked at him. She turned her gaze to me. "Clara, please…protect him," she pleaded.

I nodded, trying to muffle the incredulity I felt. I could barely protect myself, let alone others. I turned to Sesshoumaru. "Is it alright with you" I asked hesitantly, "if we let him travel with us?"

He stared at me for a moment, his eyes cold. I could just imagine what ran through his head right now, not that I would know.

"Do as you wish," he said indifferently as he strode past me. He made his way to Lady Momitsumi who stood up from the ground (why was she kneeling on the ground in the first place?) and looked at him, smiling. I felt my heart squeeze. I turned away.

"Who's she?" Kagome whispered as Inuyasha and the others converged around us.

I sighed. "I don't think I have the right to tell you," I said.

Inuyasha glared at me. "Who's she?" he repeated, absurdly curious. Just then, Sesshoumaru glanced at us from over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Eh…" I said, faltering. "I don't know." He looked away.

"Ah, well," Inuyasha said. He turned to Kohaku. "You better not give her any trouble, got it?"

Kohaku nodded blankly. Sango looked at him, her eyes filled with nothing but sadness.

"Clara," Kagome said. "Why don't you travel with us instead?"

I looked at her. Truth be told, I didn't want to…

I shook my head. "Sorry," I apologized. "I…can't."

"Eh? Why not?" Kagome said.

"It would be better," Inuyasha said, not bothering to keep his voice low. "If that bastard leaves you alone, vulnerable."

Vulnerable, huh? Well, that was…kinda true.

"He doesn't leave me alone all the time," I defended. "Just now because he and Lady Momitsumi were supposed to be bound…" My eyes widened and I quickly shut my mouth.

"Bound?!" Inuyasha exclaimed, his eyebrow twitching. "As in…betrothed?" He shuddered at the thought.

Everyone stared at me, thunderstruck. "That's…surprising," Miroku mumbled. "All the more reason for you to come with us." The last sentence he said after the shock wore off.

I shook my head again. "I really can't," I said, looking down at the ground. I didn't want to leave Sesshoumaru. I looked up and found myself staring straight into Kagome's brown eyes.

"Why?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Surely, you don't want to stay with someone so heinous?"

"I…have my reasons," I said.

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at me, and I felt my cheeks burn. Before she could speak up, however, Sango beat her to it.

"I think we should go now," she said, turning her back on us. Shippou was perched lightly on her shoulder, and he was looking at her face, seeing something there, I was sure.

Miroku looked at her for a moment. I'm guessing Sango wanted to be away now. "Right," Miroku agreed. "We should go now."

Kagome nodded. Inuyasha folded his arms. "Take care, Clara," Kagome said, smiling at me, that suspicious look still in her eyes.

"And please take care of Kohaku," Sango called, not looking back at us. I watched as they left, leaving through the wide gates. The guards looked warily at them, their eyes narrowed. They were busy clearing away the corpses that lay scattered on the courtyard. They shifted their gaze to me, and I felt myself inwardly cringe. But they didn't look at me with hate…they were looking guardedly at me, their eyes narrowed in revulsion.

I turned to Kohaku, trying, with little success, to ignore the demon guards. "Why didn't you say goodbye to your sister?" I asked.

"I…don't know her," he said, in that meant-to-be-blank tone of his.

Before I could say anything else, a loud screeching voice echoed across the courtyard. "There you are, you stubborn girl!"

Jaken was running towards me. He stopped, his eyes on Kohaku. "What's this?!" he exclaimed.

"Midoriko consigned him to me," I explained, prepared for whatever he had to say. Truth be told, I was sort of getting used to Jaken.

"More burdens for Lord Sesshoumaru?!" Jaken exclaimed, and I inwardly cringed.

"I thought Sesshoumaru was far too…great to think of anything as a burden?" I retorted.

"Ahem, well that's true," Jaken said pompously. "In any case, come along, you silly girl! And you better keep an eye on that boy!"

As we made our way back to Rin's room, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder, at Sesshoumaru. He was looking at me. I blushed, and walked away.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

-.-Sesshoumaru-.-

Humans were bemusing creatures.

Why would Clara turn down Kagome's offer? Surely, she must prefer travelling with them? I had been hoping that she would accept—no more delays for me. And I was certain that she would prefer travelling with her friends than with I.

What made her refuse? It seems that Inuyasha's priestess, Kagome knew. Hn…

I was curious.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

.:-Clara-:.

I couldn't sleep.

I sighed as I carefully rolled over onto my back so I wouldn't wake Rin. I looked up at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh. The room was dark and quiet, save for the loud snores that came from Jaken (probably the cause of my sleeplessness) and the soft, peaceful breathing that came from both Kohaku and Rin.

Kohaku was sleeping on my futon while I shared Rin's. I tried to give Rin as much space as I could. I had offered to sleep against the wall, sitting up, but Rin didn't want me to, unfortunately. I sighed again. Maybe the cause was Kohaku…

In truth, he was a strange boy. He barely talked, and it was as though he tried to be…blank. I say tried because, truth be told, I could see a faint glimmer of awareness in Kohaku's eyes, something which puzzled me. Did he or did he not remember who he was? And, if he did, why didn't he say anything?

Before I could speculate much, the door to the room suddenly slid open softly, and then closed. I kept my eyes shut tight as a significant amount of demonic aura filled the room. It wasn't Sesshoumaru—I'd know him by his aura.

I suddenly went cold. What if…what if it was the same person who had tried to shoot me with an arrow all those days ago? I suddenly wanted to scream, to wake Jaken, but I couldn't. I was frozen in shock and in fear.

The floor suddenly creaked very softly, so softly, I was amazed I was even able to hear it. The footsteps were headed towards me.

I could feel my heart beating hysterically in my chest. The footsteps stopped just beside the futon. I heard a slight rustling, as though the demon was kneeling beside me. I could feel beads of sweat forming on my brow, and I could swear that I felt my stomach vanishing.

What to do? What to do? What to do?

Before I could even think of anything, I suddenly felt a soft hand clamp down hard on my mouth, preventing me from screaming. My eyes immediately flew open, and I found myself looking into a pair of intense icy blue eyes.

My shock dulled my fear.

Lady Momistumi?

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

A1969: end of chapter.
Inuyasha: took you long enough.
Kagome: Inuyasha, don't you have anything to say other than criticism?
Inuyasha: keh! You still haven't told me what PMsing means!
Kagome: -giggles-
A1969: anyway, thank you so much to those who bothered to read, review or place this story on their story alert or favorites! Don't forget to review, you hear?