Miroku: *slowly peeks around a corner* Oh, hey everyone!
Sango: long time no see!
A1969: huh? What're you guys doing here?
Sango: Hmph! You know, we were here before Inuyasha and Kagome, but you forgot about us.
Kagome: what? That's really mean!
Inuyasha: and low!
A1969: huh? *reads previous chapters* Whoa, you're right. I'm really sorry, Miroku, Sango!
Sango: Miroku and I will forgive you, if you let us come back.
A1969: but…Inuyasha and Kagome are…
Kagome: no buts! That was really mean of you, forgetting them like that, you need to make it up to them!
A1969: but…there's so many of you! I mean… *everyone glares* Oh…fine! But you guys better not take up too much space, ya hear! Anyway…thanks to those who read, reviewed, and placed this story on their favorites and alerts!

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-Chapter Thirty-Six-

.:The Protector and the Breaker:.

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Clara

I slowly opened my eyes as the soft twitter of birds filled the clearing. I blinked, staring up at the lightening sky, as the events of yesterday started to come back—the Demon Samurai clan, Momitsumi, Hitori, Sesshoumaru…

Stretching, I sat up. Rin, Jaken, and Kohaku were still asleep, curled close to each other. Jaken slept between Rin and Kohaku, both of whom had their fists against his face (most likely, they had hit him in their sleep). For a moment, I wished I had a camera with me—they looked so cute. Maybe I could bring one the next time I went home?

I sighed. For a moment, I wondered when I would see home again. Shoving the thought aside, I stood up. With Hitori gone, someone had to make breakfast. Looking around, I noticed that Sesshoumaru was gone. Huh…

I wonder where he went. It wasn't like him to leave, with no one standing guard. He must have known that there wasn't any danger in the area. Still, I couldn't take any chances.

I quietly approached Jaken, knelt, and gently shook his shoulders. He mumbled something, then his eyes snapped open, looking up at me with surprise. "What are you doing?!" he demanded.

Rin stirred softly, and I quickly clamped a hand on Jaken's mouth (or beak, depending which way you look at him). "Shh!" I said. "Rin and Kohaku are still sleeping." He nodded to show he understood, and I let go. "Anyway, I'm going to look for something to eat. Can you keep watch? Sesshoumaru went off somewhere."

He glared at me for not using the honorific, but nodded anyway. I let go, and left, making sure to take Shinsei with me as I headed into the forest.

I stretched my arms in front of me as I walked. The fight with the demon samurai last night had left my arms feeling cramped. Hm? There was a drop of blood at the sleeve of my haori. And then I remembered the way Sesshoumaru had killed Harukage last night.

I shuddered. The way Sesshoumaru's sword protruded from Harukage's chest had been gruesome. I quickly shoved the thought aside. Well, of course it would be gruesome—it was a battle, after all.

Looking down at my haori, I was somewhat surprised to discover several more drops of blood against the white. I'd have to wash it soon, after I found something for us to eat.

The forest was just stirring. A family of foxes darted across my way as I walked, and my stomach immediately recoiled at the thought of killing them for breakfast. Rabbits, then. But that option immediately flew out the window the moment I realized I wouldn't be able to catch one, not with a sword. Fruits?

I hunted through the forest until I finally found a tree bearing round, flesh-colored fruits—pears. Thankfully, there were some that were dangling on low-lying branches. As I plucked one, I sensed an all too familiar aura suddenly flare out behind me.

"Hey," I said, glancing over my shoulder at Sesshoumaru. "Do you want one?" I held the pear up for him to see.

"No," he said rather tersely.

Squashing the disappointment, I shrugged and turned back to picking more fruits. I blushed as I felt Sesshoumaru's eyes on me. What was he doing here, anyway? I managed to pick eight of the pears, cradling them awkwardly in one arm as I turned around to find Sesshoumaru still there, arms folded into his sleeves.

Why did I get the feeling he was making sure I didn't accidentally get myself killed?

"Are you sure you don't want one?" I asked, approaching him. "I've got a lot."

Sesshoumaru gave me a flat look that said—all too clearly—that no, he didn't want one, thank you very much. "Suit yourself," I chided.

For a moment, his eyes met mine, before he drew his hand from the sleeve of his haori. I blinked as he held out his hand to me, opening it to show me what lay nestled on his palm.

A strawberry.

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Is that for me?" I asked, a slight tinge on my cheeks.

"Do you see anyone else?" he asked, his tone apathetic.

I felt like giggling—no, Clara, do not act like a silly, besotted schoolgirl…even though you are one. Stifling down the giggles, I took it from his palm, with the hand that wasn't weighed down with pears. "Thank you!" I said, smiling at him.

For a moment, an unfamiliar look flickered in his golden eyes, before their usual indifference came over them again. He lowered his imperious eyes to the pears in my arm. He deftly removed most of the fruits, before turning on his heel and walking away.

I titled my head at his retreating back, and looked down at the strawberry in my hand. I smiled as I followed him, taking a bite out of the strawberry. Well, he was being nice today.

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Sesshoumaru

"I'm sorry, this was all we could find," Clara apologized to Rin, as she handed the child the rest of the fruit she had found.

From where I sat beneath the shade of a tree, I saw Rin give her a smile. "It's fine, Clara, I like pears!" the child said happily.

As they sat down to eat, I could not help but regard Clara with an intent look. Admittedly, it was getting rather difficult to keep my feelings for the girl in check, persistent as they were. It had not been my intention to present her with that fruit, and yet I felt compelled to. The smile she had given me in thanks felt strange—a queer sensation in my chest, not at all unpleasant.

I was brought out of my musings when Clara stood, and made her way towards me. It did not help that she so readily approached me, without the slightest trace of fear or reluctance about her.

"What is it?" I asked, as she sat beside me.

"Here," she said, offering me a pear. "You really should eat, you know. I know human food isn't your favorite thing in the world, but a little sugar is good for your brain."

"I do not eat as often as humans," I said.

"Well…all right," she said reluctantly. Was that a look of disappointment in her eyes?

Inwardly sighing, I snatched the fruit from her hand. For a moment, she looked surprised, but as I took a bite of the fruit, she smiled brightly at me. Hn. It did not take much to make her happy, it seemed. From the corner of my eye, I could see Jaken gaping at me. Perhaps he was aware of my affections for the girl? The thought amused me.

"By the way," Clara said, as I ate. "How is Lady Hayomi?"

I turned to her, surprised that she would even ask. "There was no danger to her," I said, recalling the easy way Mother had dealt with the demon samurai. I had a suspicion that she merely allowed them to enter the castle to give the guards practice. And for her own amusement. "Inuyasha seemed to think otherwise."

Clara's eyes widened. "Inuyasha?" she said excitedly, her sapphire eyes lightening. Excited, about Inuyasha? "Inuyasha went to your palace?"

"Yes," I said. Truth be told, it had amused me to see how Inuyasha and his pack reacted to meeting Mother.

"Did you tell them about Naraku and the jewel?" Clara asked.

Of course not. The moment I had realized that the demon samurai's objective had been Momitsumi—who, in turn, was with Clara—I had swiftly taken leave of Mother. I had no desire to let this girl know of how her safety had so concerned me. I scoffed.

"No," I said succinctly.

For a moment, she seemed disappointed again. She was about to say something, before I interjected. "However, they are close," I amended. It was the truth. Even from this distance, I could make out Inuyasha's scent.

She smiled once more. "I'm glad," she said. "I've wanted to ask them what we should do about Naraku and the jewel." She paused, her gaze lingering on the boy, Kohaku, who was laughing with Rin at Jaken's expense. She lowered her voice, so only I could hear. "And Kohaku. Sesshoumaru, I was wondering…"

I turned to her. "Tenseiga…would it be able to revive Kohaku, if we…if we took the shard out of him?" She seemed nauseous at the thought.

My eyes strayed to the boy, to the shard at the base of his neck. I narrowed my eyes. "No," I said. "His life is unnaturally prolonged by the shard."

Clara bit her lip. "Then…I can't just…"

"If you refuse, the jewel will never be complete," I said firmly. "And Naraku will remain where he is."

She stared at me, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. I will admit this much—I did not want that look fixed on me. "You…you couldn't possibly mean that you'd willingly…" Her voice was nothing more than a whisper. Was that dread in her voice? I did not want to hear it.

I turned my gaze to the boy again, who was clutching his middle as he laughed with Rin. "You misunderstand me," I said quietly. "I am giving you the possibilities: if you refuse to remove his shard, he will be as he is, and Naraku will remain as he is. If you remove it, the jewel will be complete, and we may defeat Naraku." I paused. "That choice is yours to make."

"Mine?" she looked appalled at the thought.

"If you refuse to take the shard," I went on. "We will be at a standstill with Naraku."

"So…what you're saying is…we…I would have to hold on to the jewel indefinitely, if we don't take Kohaku's shard?" she asked. I gave her a curt nod.

She lowered her downcast eyes. For a moment, she fell silent, and I wondered what her thoughts were. It was obvious that she found no pleasure in the thought of being the jewel's permanent protector. If it were within my power, I would destroy that jewel without a moment's hesitation.

Clara looked up at me with that stubbornly determined look in her eyes. "If the price is Kohaku's life, then fine," she huffed. "I'd gladly guard this stupid thing." She frowned. "Maybe I could put it in a high-security vault back in my era."

"Naraku is ensconced within the jewel," I said. "I, too, wish to ensure that he remains there."

"You…you'd help me?" she said uncertainly. Did she, perhaps, sound hopeful?

I raised an eyebrow at her. This girl could be oblivious.

She smiled, her expression immediately brightening. There was a slight tinge on her cheeks, one that I found rather pleasing. Indeed, it did not take much to make her happy.

"Thank you," she said softly. For a moment, she held my gaze before retrieving the jewel from within her sleeve. As she stared at it, Clara's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. "I don't understand," she murmured. The anxiety in her voice made me alert.

I lowered my eyes to the jewel in her palm.

Naraku's darkness had grown.

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Clara

"I don't understand at all," I said again, as I looked down at the jewel. "This…I've been purifying it. Sure, I couldn't get rid of Naraku's darkness, but…I don't understand why it's grown." No longer the size of a dot, the darkness at the center of the jewel had grown to half the size of a pea.

Why?

Beside me, Sesshoumaru's eyes were fixed on the jewel. His expression betrayed nothing of his thoughts and emotions, but by the way his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, I could tell he was just as puzzled as I was.

My fist closed around the jewel. "I'll be back," I said, as I stood.

"Where are you headed?" he asked.

Jaken, Rin, and Kohaku were giving Sesshoumaru and I looks of confusion. "A bit farther off," I said, as I made my way towards the forest. "I'm going to purify the jewel again." I sounded edgy. I planned on using a lot of holy energy to purify the jewel, and I didn't want to make Jaken and Ah-Un uncomfortable by doing so.

To my surprise, Sesshoumaru followed me into the forest. I turned to him so abruptly, I nearly bumped into him. He looked down at me. His eyes were cold and calculating.

"I have to do this on my own," I said, looking up at him. Sesshoumaru may have been able to go through Midoriko's—my—holy barriers, but he was still a demon. I couldn't risk his aura tainting the jewel.

He opened his mouth to reply, when something caught his attention. He glanced towards the trees on his left, eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Inuyasha and his group are close," he said. He turned to me again. "Don't do anything foolish." With that, he turned and walked towards the direction he thought Inuyasha and his group were.

I blinked at his retreating back. Foolish…in what sense? Why was he so vague sometimes?

Deciding that Sesshoumaru's definition of 'foolish' didn't apply to purifying the jewel, I continued walking a little farther off, until I reached a wide clearing in the forest. I stood at the edge of the clearing, under the shadows of the trees, holding the jewel in my hands. Warm sunlight bathed the clearing, and the grass rippled gently in the breeze. High in the trees, birds were singing softly.

Stepping out into the warm sunshine, I held the jewel in the sunlight. For a moment, I imagined the sunlight chasing away Naraku's ominous darkness within the jewel. Sesshoumaru would probably think of that as 'foolish'.

Covering the jewel with both hands, I closed my hands and let my holy energy flow into my palms. I increased its flow, and opened my eyes to see my hands glowing with bright, white light. After several moments, I began to feel tired, so I stopped and opened my hands.

Naraku's darkness remained.

My hands shook. Why? Why couldn't I purify the jewel? I'd used a lot of holy energy….Before, I could purify the jewel with my aura alone, but now that I was forcing purifying energy on it, nothing happened.

I didn't understand. What did this mean? Did this mean that I was…weak? Or was there something else going on here? For a moment, I wished I could see Kikyou again—she would've known what was going on…

"Well, you seem troubled."

Shocked, I tore my eyes away from the jewel. There, on the far edge of the clearing, stood a girl. For a moment, I couldn't remember who she was, but then she sneered and threw me a look of deepest loathing.

It was Yuki, former apprentice to the late Lady Otohime, and the one who—if I guessed right—still possessed Midoriko's mirror.

Only, she had changed. I had remembered her as being beautiful, with a thick mane of hair, and deep chocolate eyes. Her features now appeared gaunt, her cheeks somewhat hollow. There were shadows under her eyes, and her hair appeared disheveled. She seemed thinner somehow. Only the look of pure contempt in her eyes had not changed.

"You!" I said. Didn't Sesshoumaru once say that he had let Yuki go? I quickly closed my hands over the jewel, but she had already seen it.

There was a frenzied look in Yuki's eyes as she stared hungrily at my clenched fist. "The Sacred Jewel!" she hissed, glaring at me. I inwardly flinched—those eyes were frightening, almost maniacal. "You have it! Give the jewel to me, you're not worthy of protecting it!"

I stood my ground. "Fat chance!" I snapped. I quickly stuffed the jewel into my sleeve, and drew Shinsei from its sheath.

The mad look in her eyes receded, and she suddenly chuckled. I gripped Shinsei's hilt tightly. That laugh was unnerving, I'll admit.

"Oh, you want to fight me?" she said, amused. "But then again, that's the reason I sought you out, Clara." She spat my name, as though it left a bad taste in her mouth. "You didn't think I'd forgotten about you and that lowly demon, did you? I could never forget you, unworthy reincarnation to the great priestess Midoriko. You disgust me."

"You've already said as much before," I pointed out. Could I take her out? Considering that I'd held my own against the demon samurai, I should be able to, and yet….There was something off about Yuki somehow. That, and she probably still had Midoriko's mirror with her.

My last guess was proven correct when she reached into her sleeve, and drew out a familiar, palm-sized circular mirror. "Don't worry, Lady Midoriko," she said, looking into the mirror, at her reflection. "I'll personally free you from your pathetic existence." She looked up at me, and grinned.

For a moment, Sesshoumaru's parting words echoed in my head. Well, I think this was something that he'd consider 'foolish'. I narrowed my eyes as I pointed Shinsei at Yuki. "You're on."

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Sesshoumaru

It did not take long to find Inuyasha and his group. I was somewhat correct with my previous assumptions regarding Inuyasha's preferred method of greeting. Upon catching sight of me, Inuyasha jumped to his feet, spilling a queer bowl of steaming broth onto his lap as he drew Tessaiga (it was to be noted that his companions merely regarded me with mild surprise. Inuyasha was indeed one for theatrics).

"Sesshou"—Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise the moment the steaming broth registered—"AAARGGGH! DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMMIT!"

It was amusing to see the fool doing a dance, as he hopped from one foot to the other, shouting curses, and waving Tessaiga in the air. For a moment, I wondered—would Father be amused, or ashamed?

"Inuyasha!" the miko, Kagome,shouted, dousing Inuyasha with water from a most curious container.

"What the hell was that for?!" Inuyasha, snarled, rounding on her. "I wasn't on fire, you idiot!"

"You were as good as!" Kagome snapped. "That's what you get for picking a fight with your brother!"

"Why the heck are you siding with him?!" Inuyasha growled.

"I wasn't siding with him, I'm getting really tired of you two fighting!" she screeched. Beside them, the slayer and the monk continued to watch, amused. I take it this was a regular occurrence.

"He started it!"

"Oh, he started it!" the miko said sarcastically. "He just walked out of the forest, Inuyasha! You don't even know why he's here!"

I had had enough of their banter. "Be quiet," I said imperiously.

The two immediately turned to me. Inuyasha looked as though he wanted to say something, but Kagomestopped him with a glare.

"Why are you here?" shewondered, turning to me.

"Regarding the Sacred Jewel," I said. "Naraku has ensconced himself within it. Clara cannot purify him."

For a moment, they gave me stunned looks. The monk was the first to recover. "Clara? We thought you left her at Mt. Tenku," he said. "And what do you mean that Naraku's within the jewel? We don't under—"

At that moment, I felt a strong surge in spiritual energy, coming from the direction I had left. A second later, another surge of spiritual energy, familiar, and unwelcome—that girl, Yuki. Another second later, the echo of steel on steel as swords clashed in the air.

My eyes narrowed. Was Clara fighting?

"That girl," I hissed, before rushing back into the trees.

"Hey, wait, Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha shouted.

I heard them follow, but I paid them no heed as I ran.

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Clara

I channeled my spiritual energy into Shinsei, and sent a burst of light towards Yuki. She jumped into the air to dodge it. That jump was high! Too high…

Landing on her feet, Yuki smirked as she drew a handful of paper dolls from the sleeve of her haori. She tossed them into the air, and they glowed with a brilliant white light, growing into the size of the woman I knew she modeled her shikigami after.

I gripped Shinsei tighter as the light receded, and several Midoriko-like puppets landed gracefully on their feet in front of me, identical replicas of the sword I held clutched in their hands.

"This time, you have no demon to protect you," Yuki jeered, that maniacal glint returning to her eyes. "Kill her!"

I quickly parried as one of the shikigami struck Shinsei. I pulled back and sidestepped her, bringing Shinsei down on her head. The shikigami vanished in a flash of white light, and a single, torn paper doll floated in its place to the ground.

"Luck won't save you!" Yuki screeched.

Three of the shikigami rushed towards me, and I hastily jumped back as their swords slashed the air. Footsteps from behind made me turn around, just as one of the Midoriko puppets thrust her sword towards my neck. I gasped, as I barely managed to dodge. I felt a sharp sting at my neck, followed by a warm trickle of blood.

"Give me the jewel, and die like the vermin you are!" Yuki screamed as she threw more paper dolls into the air.

More of the Midoriko-puppets landed on the ground. Oh, shoot, there were so many of them! Almost like a platoon of soldiers!

I took a step back. Several of them immediately rushed towards me, swords aimed for my heart. I quickly jumped back, and my eyes widened in shock the moment I realized one of the puppets stood behind me, sword aimed at my head.

Oh, damn.

This was definitely what Sesshoumaru would call 'foolish'.

I spun around as the puppet's sword fell towards me, I wouldn't be able to block it. Definitely, foolish.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the blow, when a tremendous surge in youki filled the clearing. I opened my eyes to find Sesshoumaru's Bakusaiga slash the puppet from head to foot. As she vanished in a flash of light, Sesshoumaru stood in front of me, his face a stoic mask.

"You're injured." His eyes were fixed on my neck.

"It's nothing, just a scratch," I reassured him. He frowned.

"So, you've come, eh, monster?" Yuki sneered, her malicious eyes fixed on Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru and I turned to Yuki. She gripped Midoriko's mirror in one hand, and a fistful of paper dolls in the other. She looked menacing, her face twisted in contempt.

"Good, good," she said. "I can kill you both where you stand. Destroy them!"

The Midoriko-puppets lunged towards us, their swords flashing in the sun. Sesshoumaru leapt over me, bringing Bakusaiga down on the horde. Demonic energy burst from the blade, making the Midoriko puppets scatter.

One of them slipped past him, and ran towards me. I parried the puppet's sword, and our blades locked. Sesshoumaru's Bakusaiga suddenly burst from the middle of her chest. My eyes widened in surprise as the puppet vanished in a flash of light, and a paper doll floated gently to the ground.

"I had her!" I said to him, as he parried another puppet's blows.

"You're in the way!" he snapped, slicing one of the puppets right down the middle.

What? How could he say that? Besides, what was the use of his teaching me how to wield a sword, if he wouldn't even let me fight?

"I won't get in your way!" I huffed, sidestepping one of the puppets. Sesshoumaru destroyed her with a slash of Bakusaiga. "Besides—this is my fight!" I lunged towards one of the puppets and, to my delight, I struck her in the forehead. She, too, vanished in a flash of light.

He turned to glare at me, before jumping over the puppets that slowly surrounded him. He landed graceully in front of me. "Get behind me," he ordered, turning to face the horde that converged around us. Yuki was laughing manically.

"I can handle them! Let me fight!" I insisted. "I can watch myself, you know!" What on earth was wrong with him?

Sesshoumaru glanced at me from over his shoulder, eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Let me protect you."

My eyes widened in surprise as he turned back to the puppets. He parried blows from every direction, his moves inhumanly quick.

What did he say…?

Let me protect you.

He…he wanted to protect me, not because of a vow he made, but because…he chose to?

Before I could let the enormity of his words sink in, a familiar voice rang through the clearing. "Sesshoumaru, you jerk!"

Surprised, I turned towards the edge of the clearing, just as Inuyasha and the others burst through the trees, armed and ready to fight. For a moment, they took in the scene in front of them—Sesshoumaru battling a horde of Midoriko-like shikigami.

"What on earth?" Sango muttered. She eyed Yuki, who looked surprised to see them. "And who is she?"

"Questions later!" Inuyasha growled as several of the shikigami rushed towards them.

I turned back to Sesshoumaru, who was fighting several shikigami at once. I watched as he easily dispatched them, only to have Yuki send in more of her shikigami. Though I don't think he needed it, I still wanted to help him!

One of the puppets clashed swords with Sesshoumaru, and their blades locked. As he easily pushed her away, another swung her sword, aiming for his waist.

"Sesshoumaru!" I shrieked. Not caring what he would say anymore, I rushed towards the puppet, sword aimed for her throat. But I was slow, and her sword struck Sesshoumaru's armor. Tenseiga fell to the ground with a dull clatter as the Midoriko puppet's sword nearly severed the sash Sesshoumaru wore.

I thrust Shinsei through the puppet's chest, and she vanished in a flash of light. Sesshoumaru turned to me. He looked as though he wanted to say something, when Yuki's shrill voice cut through the air.

"You think you've all won? Ha!" she crowed. She held Midoriko's mirror so it faced us. It glowed brightly and, as it did, the Midoriko puppets all raised their swords towards us—like the mirror, they were glowing, too.

"Pests," Sesshoumaru said, raising Bakusaiga. The sword turned black, and this time, I willingly stayed behind him, as his voice rang throughout the clearing. "Meidou Zangetsuha!"

We watched as the puppets were pulled into the meidou, which sped towards Yuki, who screamed. "Is she gone?" Kagome asked behind us.

The meidou faded away to reveal Yuki, surrounded by a white, translucent barrier, Midoriko's mirror clutched in her hands. "No way!" Sango said, astonished. And she wasn't the only one.

Yuki laughed as she let the barrier fade away. "Midoriko's power is indeed amazing, isn't it?" she said, that manic glint in her eyes. In front of me, I could feel Sesshoumaru's annoyance rolling off him in waves.

Smirking, Yuki once again drew several paper dolls from her sleeve, and tossed them into the air. "Clara, give me the jewel, and maybe I won't kill you," she said, smirking, as another horde of Midoriko puppets landed on their feet in front of her.

"Over my dead body!" I snapped.

"Clara, who is she?" Kagome asked, as she stood beside me, an arrow already nocked to her bow.

"Yuki, apprentice to the priestess of Mt. Tenku, the one who was supposed to train me," I replied.

"Supposed?"

"She killed her," I said, inwardly cringing as I remembered Lady Otohime's cold, lifeless body.

"Are you trying to be brave, Clara?" Yuki taunted. "It doesn't suit vermin like you!" The puppets suddenly charged. They were faster compared to the other puppets earlier!

"Wind Scar!"

"Hiraikotsu!"

"Dragon Strike!"

One of the puppets leapt into the air to avoid Sesshoumaru's Dragon Strike. She landed in front of me, and I automatically blocked her sword with Shinsei. She reached out with her other hand, and gripped my sword-arm. My eyes widened in shock as she twisted my arm. I screamed as I dropped Shinsei.

Sesshoumaru turned to me, but was immediately blocked by several of the puppets. The puppet pushed me roughly to the ground, her sword pointed between my eyes.

"The jewel," the Midoriko puppet said, holding out her other hand. They could talk?

"Don't waste your breath!" I snapped. She thrust her sword towards me, and I quickly rolled to one side, snatching Shinsei as I did so.

"Don't get up!" Sango yelled at me, as she threw Hiraikotsu towards the puppet. The boomerang caught the puppet around the middle, and it vanished in a flash of light.

I stood up. "Thanks!" I called to Sango.

I glanced towards Yuki, who was observing the battle with nothing more than boredom and disdain on her face. We had to stop her, somehow. I looked around me—Sesshoumaru was mercilessly destroying the puppets with both Meidou Zangetsuha and Dragon Strike, while Inuyasha and the others also fought on. No matter how many we destroyed, they kept on coming back…

My eyes met Yuki's, and she smirked. To get rid of the puppets, we'd have to get rid of her. I ran past the puppets, and towards Yuki, avoiding flashing blades and parrying where I could.

"Yuki!" I shouted as I neared her.

"Hello, Clara, you've kept me waiting," she said, grinning, as she raised Midoriko's mirror at me.

I closed my eyes as the mirror glowed with a brilliant light. "Clara!" I heard Kagome and the others shout. I opened my eyes, and felt my insides turn to lead.

Midoriko's mirror hovered high above Yuki and I, where it continued to glow gently. A white translucent barrier surrounded Yuki, the puppets and me. I glanced behind. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Kagome, and the others stood outside the barrier. Inuyasha and the others looked surprised, while Sesshoumaru looked unreadable.

Oh, damn.

Definitely foolish.

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Kagome

"Inuyasha, what do we do?" I asked, panicking. Clara was trapped within the barrier, with that crazy priestess Yuki, and her horde of Midoriko shikigami.

Inuyasha raised the Tessaiga, as adamant began to appear on the blade. "Get back, Sesshoumaru!" he called out to his brother. Sesshoumaru jumped back, as Inuyasha swung the Tessaiga at the barrier. Spears of adamant struck the barrier, which glowed where the attack hit.

Nothing.

"Dammit!" Inuyasha cursed.

"Do you honestly think that your demon blade can work against Midoriko's holy barrier?" Yuki jeered at us. She laughed coldly. "Now, sit back and watch as I get rid of this girl, okay?"

"Dragon Strike!"

Sesshoumaru's unexpected attack struck the barrier, which only glowed as the Dragon Strike faded away. I looked over at Sesshoumaru. He was clutching Bakusaiga so tightly, his knuckles turned white. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes were narrowed menacingly through the barrier, at Yuki. I take it, he didn't like to be defied.

"Nothing is working against the barrier," Miroku said, his tone filled with foreboding. "Clara will have to fight Yuki on her own."

Judging from the way Sesshoumaru's brows met in the middle, I take it he didn't like what he heard. For a moment, just a moment, I wondered—was he worried about her?

"It's fine." Clara's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She was looking at us. There was a frightened, but determined look in her eyes.

"What are you saying?" I was surprised when it was Sesshoumaru who asked.

Her eyes met his, and she smiled at him. "I think can handle it," she reassured him.

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You are being foolish," he said tersely.

"And what do you suggest I do, let myself be killed?" Clara said sarcastically. She shook her head, and smiled again. "You said that you would protect me, but you can't keep doing that forever, Sesshoumaru." She paused for a moment, and this time, her voice was filled with determination. "I've told you before, haven't I? I want to fight by your side."

Inuyasha and I exchanged a look. He looked just as surprised as I was at Clara's words. Even Miroku and Sango looked startled.

Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, remained impassive as he said, somewhat coolly, "At the moment, you are not fighting by my side."

Clara huffed as she turned back to Yuki, Shinsei clutched tightly in her hand. "Are you done?" Yuki said, amused. "You should thank me for giving you the time to say your last words. Kill her!"

We watched, anxious, as Clara parried one of the puppet's blows. "Wait a minute," Inuyasha said slowly, eyes on Clara as she dodged. I turned to him—his eyes were fixed very intently on Clara. "That stance…that fighting style…"

"Eh?" I turned to look at Clara, just in time to see her send a blast of holy energy at several of the shikigami. Just as the shikigami turned back into torn paper dolls, another one struck her, and she quickly parried. Inuyasha was right—we'd seen him fight may times, just enough to know that the style with which Clara fought—her stance, her posture, the way she blocked and sidestepped—was very similar to Sesshoumaru's.

My eyes landed on Sesshoumaru. His gaze was fixed on the girl who fought within the barrier. Now that I looked at him closely enough, he seemed to be worried…

When did that happen?

I turned my eyes back to Clara, just as she thrust Shinsei into the last shikigami's chest. The shikigami vanished in a burst of light, and Clara pointed Shinsei at Yuki, whose arms were crossed. Yuki looked almost bored.

"No more puppets!" Clara said. Though she tried to hide it, there was no mistaking the exhaustion in her voice.

Yuki chuckled, and then laughed, high and shrill. "You defeat the shikigami, and already you think you are strong? Ha!" Yuki's brown eyes suddenly shifted to red.

Clara took a step back, surprised. Yuki's grin widened, and her teeth slowly elongated until they became fangs. Clara took another step back, as tentacles suddenly burst from Yuki's back. Scales began to cover her body, and her arms elongated as her nails grew into sharp, pointed talons. We watched in horror as she grew in size, until she almost reached the very top of the barrier.

"She's…" Miroku said.

"How could you?!" Clara shouted as Yuki grinned down at her, sharp teeth gleaming in the sun. "You…you've given yourself over to demons! Aren't you a priestess?"

The demonic Yuki laughed as she leered down at Clara. "Don't be such a hypocrite, Clara!" she jeered, tentacles thrashing behind her back. Her voice was deeper, and it reverberated through the air. "Who are you to lecture me, when you yourself consort with the very demons we vowed to vanquish? You are Midoriko's reincarnation, no less!"

Clara frowned. "Midoriko didn't kill demons indiscriminately!" she snapped. "She knew that demons are like humans—not all of them are bad! She even loved a demon!"

Our eyes widened in surprise—we didn't know that about Midoriko.

Yuki laughed. "You should learn to stop besmirching the great Lady Midoriko's name with your filthy lies!" She thrust a tentacle towards Clara, who rolled to one side to avoid it. She quickly stood up, and swung Shinsei. It sliced through a tentacle that sped towards her, and Yuki howled in pain.

Yup, there was no mistaking it—that was definitely Sesshoumaru's fighting style. To think he'd bother spending time to teach her…

Several tentacles sped towards her, and Clara slashed at them. I stole a peek at Sesshoumaru, surprised to see a glint of something in his eyes. Huh, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was proud of the way Clara was fighting.

"Give me the jewel!" Yuki screeched as more tentacles burst from her back. As Clara slashed at them, several suddenly wound themselves around her arms and legs.

"Clara!" we shouted, as Yuki raised Clara in front of her.

Clara struggled against Yuki's hold, but it was useless. "You're a pest, little girl!" Yuki jeered. As Clara struggled in her grip, one of Yuki's tentacles suddenly snatched Shinsei from her hand.

"No!" Clara shouted.

"Oh, is this yours?" Yuki taunted, dangling the blade in front of her. To our astonishment, she brought the blade close to her wide mouth, and swallowed it. "It's mine, now!"

Sesshoumaru frowned, but remained where he stood. He held Bakusaiga so tightly, I thought he might snap the hilt. Huh, he was worried.

"What will you do now, little girl?" Yuki taunted, as she pulled Clara's arms and legs.

Clara gasped in pain, as she looked Yuki in the eyes, determination on her face. "This!" So saying, she gripped the tentacles with her hands, and sent a blast of holy energy through them.

Yuki shrieked with pain, as she retracted her tentacles. Clara fell to the ground with a dull, "Oomph!"

"Die!" Yuki snarled, thrusting her tentacles towards Clara. She managed to dodge each tentacle as it was thrust towards her.

"Inuyasha, we have to do something!" I shouted. Clara's moves were slower, and I knew she was getting tired.

"What, exactly?" he said. "Adamant Barrage doesn't work against the barrier!"

I bit my lower lip as I turned back to Clara. She barely managed to dodge another tentacle, and it glanced against her shoulder, tearing cloth and skin. She gave a little shout of pain as blood seeped through the gash, staining the white cloth with red.

Sesshoumaru's jaw clenched.

"Ahh," Yuki said, her nostrils flaring as she inhaled. "I like the scent of your blood. I want you to spill more!"

"You're twisted!" Clara snapped. She suddenly glanced to one side, her eyes fixed on the ground. Following her eyes, I realized that she was staring at a familiar sheathed sword lying, forgotten, on the grass—Tenseiga.

Clara veered towards the sword as Yuki's tentacles sped towards her. She rolled onto the ground to avoid a tentacle, and snatched Tenseiga. She stood, tucking the sword into her sash.

"Isn't that Tenseiga?" Miroku asked, his eyes going to Sesshoumaru's waist where, sure enough, only Bakusaiga's sheath remained.

"Even if she does have it, it's useless," Inuyasha said, his eyes narrowed at the barrier. "Tenseiga can't cut."

"No, it can't," Miroku agreed. "But you're forgetting one thing—Clara could try to channel her spiritual energy through the sword."

"Then how come she's not doing it?" Shippou asked.

True enough, Clara kept the sword in its sheath as she dodged more of Yuki's outstretched tentacles. "I'm tired of playing with you, little girl!" Yuki snarled, as she opened her mouth wide. Bright light filled her mouth, and a burst of energy sped towards Clara.

"Clara!" I shouted.

She quickly threw out her hands, and Yuki's blast struck her holy barrier. Roaring, Yuki thrust her tentacles towards the barrier. Clara flinched as the tentacles struck, and her knees buckled from the impact. She was getting tired.

"You think you can defeat me? Don't count on it!" To our surprise, each of Yuki's tentacles were suddenly wrapped in a translucent barrier—Midoriko's barrier. I glanced up at Midoriko's mirror. It really was powerful.

Yuki thrust the tentacles towards Clara. Clara's eyes widened in shock as her barrier shattered like glass. "Oh, no!" Sango shouted. "This is bad. At this rate…"

"Why won't she use Tenseiga?" I asked, exasperated.

Miroku frowned. "Midoriko was a very powerful priestess," he said slowly. "It was rumored that her sword, Shinsei, was crafted by the gods, because ordinary blades could not withstand her massive spiritual power. Tenseiga may be the sword of heaven, but it was still forged from the fang of Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's demon father. Clara will not risk Tenseiga."

We all turned towards Sesshoumaru, whose head was tilted slightly in Miroku's direction as he listened to the monk's explanation. He turned his eyes to Clara. His expression was unreadable. "Clara," he suddenly called out.

Clara immediately turned towards him, surprise on her face. "Don't be foolish," Sesshoumaru said, his eyes narrowing intently at her.

Her eyes widened, and she nodded. She turned back to Yuki, a look of determination on her face as she drew Tenseiga from its sheath. The sword seemed to hum at her touch.

"Oh?" Yuki said, intrigued. She towered above Clara, her fangs bared menacingly. "You think that monster's blade will be able to help you?"

"You know," Clara said, pointing Tenseiga at Yuki, "I am getting really tired of you calling him a monster, you hypocrite!"

Yuki laughed. "Demons are nothing but heartless monsters, you fool," she spat. "Mindless killing machines who delight in the misfortune of humans. They are savages who kill and maim, only because they can."

"Well," Clara went on, "you're about to die by that monster's sword."

Tenseiga suddenly shone with an intense bright light. I felt the hairs on my nape rise on end as Clara channeled all of her spiritual energy into Tenseiga. Yuki screeched as she lunged towards Clara, her tentacles and claws outstretched. Clara swung the sword, and bright, holy light filled the barrier, blocking everything from view.

"C'mon, Clara!" I shouted.

The light slowly receded and, at the same time, Midoriko's barrier slowly faded away. "The barrier's being dispelled!" Sango cheered.

The light vanished to reveal Clara standing there. She was breathing heavily, and beads of sweat covered her brow. Her hands shook as she clutched Tenseiga. Yuki was gone, completely purified. On the ground where she had stood lay Shinsei. Something glinted as it fell at Clara's feet with a dull clatter—Midoriko's mirror.

"Clara!" I called out, relieved.

She lowered Tenseiga, and smiled at us. She looked tired. Clara took a step towards us, and staggered. In the blink of an eye, Sesshoumaru was suddenly beside her, his hands holding her shoulders steady.

She looked up at him with a smile. "Thank you," she said. "Sesshoumaru, I—"

Clara was cut off when the sound of metal cracking suddenly reverberated through the air. Her eyes widened in horror as she looked down at the sword in her hand. A moment later, Tenseiga shattered, its fragments falling to the ground.

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

A1969: whew! That's it for now!
Inuyasha: oh no, you have to make the next one!
A1969: Wha…? Oh…right…uh…mommy…
Kagome: think of it as making up for time lost.
Miroku: and for abandoning Sango and I!
Sango: right!
Sesshoumaru: *mystically appears*
Everyone else: what are you doing here?!
Sesshoumaru: Hn. Considering that I am the most aesthetically pleasing character in the series, it is only natural that I be here.
Everyone: *points at Sesshoumaru* we declare you OOC!
A1969: no! No! No! There are too many of you!
Sesshoumaru: I do not see what the problem is.
A1969: good lord, these people will be the death of me. I think I'm starting to lose my sanity... Anyway…don't close that tab without reviewing, pleeease? For me? The reviews will help keep me sane, while I deal with these guys…
Inuyasha: dammit, Sesshoumaru, this is our post-chapter scene, go find your own somewhere else!
Sesshoumaru: you presume to order me? Don't make me laugh.
A1969: see? Keep me sane, and review please!