AN: It's shorter, yes, because I didn't want to reveal too much too soon. Bear with me.

Thanks for the reviews.

I'm so not ignorant when it comes to the malicious ways of battle. I know to expect the inevitable and to be prepared. I also know to expect the unexpected. But no one knows this better than InuYasha.

So how am I supposed to feel when he looks so devastatingly anxious?

It wasn't what came that frightened me, because I couldn't see it. I couldn't sense it, Physically and mentally I was unprepared, and I'm no stranger to being left in the dark, but InuYasha was never caught off guard if he couldn't help it.

What did scare me was the look on his face. His eyes went wide instantly when he realized what it was he was sensing.

But there were two things wrong with this scenario. First off, the sky seemed to modestly blacken, almost as if a blanket of dark clouds were rounding the sky, waiting to rain. Second…InuYasha was just standing there. From this I knew there was more than what it seems. There was something out there my human limitations wouldn't let me see. Something was going happen right now, suffice it to say, something bad.

"InuYasha what is it?" I whispered, but to no avail. He was just staring at the sky, his eyes circling all directions, waiting, completely unmoved. His anxiety lessened considerably into a look of despair.

"InuYasha, if something's wrong, I think you should tell me…" I said now, barely a little louder than before. I was approaching him cautiously, I was afraid he was possessed and would snap the moment I touched him. A solitary sweat drop slowly ran down my brow.

"InuYasha. Please say something." I pleaded. His silence was boring holes into my already battered mind. It was impossible to put two and two together when you had no pieces; all I could be certain of was the fact something was wrong.

He breathed deeply, and clenched his jaw. I immediately stayed put, I did not want to disturb him; he looked as if he'd pounce any second, and my presence wasn't helping.

He slowly turned his head toward me and the look in eyes was one I'd never forget.

He seemed as if he wanted to cry.

"InuYasha, what's the matter with you?" I whispered. His brows creased further and the edges of his lips were in a hard line. His expression was bleak, a look of total defeat, one I hadn't ever seen before. Nothing is more terrifying than not knowing what you should be scared of. Whatever it was, it was coming soon.

InuYasha came toward me slowly, carrying the same expression. He grabbed my shoulders and pressed.

"Lay down, Kagome." He tried to sound demanding, but his voice wavered. It didn't matter; I wouldn't argue, not with the way he was looking at me. And as I lowered so did he, every human sense in my body screamed I should be running.

But I saw it for what it was. Whatever was going to happen, InuYasha felt he couldn't outrun it, what makes me think that I'd have a better chance? I tried once more to get through to him.

"InuYasha you're scaring me…"I said, but he ignored me completely, continuing to gently push me to the ground until I lay flat on my back. InuYasha began to position himself on top of me, pinning my every limb, tucking in my arms and shielding them with his own.

My breath was caught in my throat and my body seemed numb, despite the warmth radiating from InuYasha's body. I'd never been this close to him, but it wasn't supposed to feel like this. His closeness wasn't supposed to fill me with undeniable dread.

All of a sudden, InuYasha forced his arms under and around me, catching me in a bear hug so constraining I thought I'd break from the pressure. I was scared and I wanted to know why I was so scared. I wanted to know what I was so scared of.

"InuYasha, stop this. What's going on! Why are you shielding me? What's going to ha-? I said, but he cut me off.

"Shh." He says into my ear, his warm breath filling me with hopeless calm. "Like I said: Déjà vu".

I hadn't grasped the full intensity of this moment until now. Whatever was coming, InuYasha didn't think we could escape, so he was protecting me and leaving himself prone to…something. He wasn't telling me because it wouldn't really make a difference whether or not I knew. One of us was going to get hurt, possibly both of us. He couldn't guarantee my safety and it left me feeling hallow. Just shy of possible death, I was surprised at how empty I felt, I thought of nothing. I could feel the weight of InuYasha on top of me but it didn't reach my skin. It was time to accept fate and the preordained.

He said it was déjà vu…I knew where this was going…this wasn't going to end good.

Out of the blue, in correlation with the sudden tense spasm that ran through InuYasha's body as he hugged mine even tighter, I finally saw that which I could not see before.

It had the same initial effect on me as it did on InuYasha. I wanted to scream out of pure horror now that I knew what was coming, and there was no feasible way to prepare for it, but I could say nothing.

It happened quickly, there was no time to feel pain, there was definitely no point in running. I started crying, because I couldn't see beyond today…I couldn't see a plausible way of escaping out of this alive.

All systems shut down and I closed my eyes, praying to every god that was listening that maybe…just maybe…everything we had lived for wouldn't be for nothing.

The spiteful element of surprise would not be denied.

O.o.O.o.O

Shippo wasn't always the one up to par when it came to being informed. In fact, most of his discoveries were made as they happened. As unaware as he was known to be, it took no genius to read the faces of his companions.

He was jerked awake by Miroku's firm grasps as they made to leave that morning, Shippo still being half awake hadn't bothered to questions his motives. But it was only until he realized who was missing that he became at odds with himself.

As expected, the questions came minutes into their flight, but went unanswered. And to add to the strangeness was the fact that Miroku silenced Sango on more than one occasion when she tried to rationally explain.

He assured Shippo that everything would be fine, and that they'd meet up soon; all he had to do was be patient.

But that had been hours ago. They were still flying, changing directions every so often to stay within InuYasha's running proximity, but as the time stretched it grew more tiresome. Kirara lost their scent long ago and flew upon mere instinct.

But Shippo didn't know this. He didn't know that something had gone wrong. He didn't even know what had transpired to allow something wrong to happen.

And it was time for answers.

"Miroku…I'm worried about InuYasha and Kagome. You think they got lost?" Shippo asked.

"InuYasha? I don't think so…" Sango quipped.

"So then what's taking them so long for them to find us?" he inquired as if either of them knew having been together the whole time. Sango remained silent, there was no way to truthfully answer his question. She could try, but to say the very least, an answer may console him but she, on the other hand, would not be at ease.

Miroku noticed Shippo's raised haunches when his question came without a reply and took it upon himself to figure out what happened.

"I suppose it's time we try harder at finding them." He said. He looked at Sango pointedly, who immediately caught on and made Kirara double take in search of their missing friends.

In an era nearly covered in Earth it seemed near impossible at times, to find what you're looking for. The thick flora and fauna beneath them made it increasingly difficult to ferret the land while airborne. Hence they took to the ground and did what they could to find them, but as the sun swept lower behind the distant hills, they finally realized that InuYasha and Kagome could have been anywhere.

With the battles they've fought together, the foes they've faced and their unrelenting attempts to destroy them all, every possible explanation, no matter how far fetched was put on the table. Part of them didn't want to think about what could have happened, and part of them wanted to know for knowing's sake.

By now, they were all equal. Each one of them could be considered just as ignorant as Shippo. With a plan so fool proof, it was hard to accept that something may have gone wrong. Miroku especially felt at fault. But regardless as to who took the blame their dilemma remained as it was.

InuYasha and Kagome had disappeared.

Hours of roaming had produced no results, not even a scent; there were no leads to go by. The hopelessness of the situation filled the air with tension. Not a word could be shared between them, bantering seemed unwarranted…they were running out of options.

"Miroku…it's pointless to say, but I'm worried." said Sango.

"As I, Sango. I'd rather find them dead than to never know what had happened to them." Said Miroku solemnly.

"Don't jinx them like that!" piped Shippo and inflated himself into an animated ball and roamed the forest floor.

"I can only agree." Said Sango. "For all we know, it could be nothing, they could both be fine."

"True, very true. But chances are slim. We must take drastic measures where they're necessary." said Miroku decidedly.

"What are you planning Miroku?." asked Shippo.

"I deem our only other alternative is to go back the way we came." He said sternly.

"Are you sure? That could be just what they want." Advised Sango.

"It may, but at the expense of InuYasha and Kagome's lives, it's a sacrifice I think we're all obligated to make.

Sango and Shippo said nothing, but answered by turning around on Miroku's cue and trekking in the desired direction. There was truth in his words. They had no doubt that both InuYasha and Kagome would head into the line of fire if it meant their lives. All they had now was time, and with every passing minute, they grew more afraid of what they'd find.

And they had every right to be.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o

"Naraku, it's done. They went unsuspecting…" said Baki, an external vassal.

"Unsuspecting….how'd you manage that?" said Naraku from a far wall in his throne room, extending his arm before him while it bulbously reconstructed into a seemingly human arm. He smiled in satisfaction of his effortless work.

"I should rephrase…the boy….he knew, he saw it coming. But of course…" Baki stopped to laugh at the irony of the situation while twirling a strand of hair around her finger… "By then it was far too late to escape."

"It really is inconceivable when you're on the outside looking in…and such a grotesque picture to fathom." said Naraku repairing a wound on his leg, the amusement apparent on his face.

"I suppose…I hadn't stayed to clean up the mess, it wasn't necessary. Death would not be deterred." said Baki more nonchalantly. The thought of death always made Naraku a little more gracious, and Baki had only been in the 'man's' presence for ten days.

Suddenly Naraku ceased his reconstruction and sat motionless as if he was just assaulted from behind.

"Sir? Something bothering you?" asked Baki warily.

"Death would not be deterred, Baki?" he asked for clarification. She hesitated.

"I'd planned it just so…there could be no feasible way to escape." Baki stammered.

Naraku's expression turned bleak and he rose from his throne approaching Baki slowly but with the utmost ofsurety.

Baki sensed Naraku's motives. Nothing had gone wrong, there was no reason for punishment.

What will he do? She thought in fear.

Baki motioned back, but absentmindedly traipsed on the hem of her long garnet colored obi and fell helpless at Naruku's feet.

"You're irresponsible, Baki. You're inattentive. Mistakes that are irrevocable…mistakes I cannot afford." Said Naraku slowly, lashing out a limb, striking her cheek.

Never the one to show blatant signs of weakness, she remained still and secretly seethed the pain.

"I did what you asked. What mor-" she began.

"Wrong" Naraku yelled. "You did not do what I asked. I had been very precise, it was fool proof. I merely demanded you see to their deaths and be sure of the fact. Are you certain they'reno longer livingBaki?"

"Yes, Narak-" Naraku slapped her yet more fiecely before she could finish, a clover ornament falling from her hair.

"Am I to believe you're willing to barter your life with the chance that they might still be alive?" asked Naraku gruffly.

She had to take her answer seriously. She was sure that if Naraku wanted to kill her, he wouldn't hesitate. At the time, she was sure that they were dead. No human and half demon could escape her efforts. But now that her life was at hand-Kagura had warned her of the fact-she second guessed herself.

"I didn't think so…parts of you are so digustingly human" said Naraku. He clenched his now being-like fists tightly and turned away from her.

"Looking at you is pleasant, but it isn't good when tainted with anger. I may be forced to do whatever I please.You should leave, quickly, before my wrath becomes me." ordered Naraku.

Baki rose immediately and made a shallow bow before rushing outcompletely.

She held her head in her hands as she recollected the morning's events. It was a flawless plan. No, she did not stay to make sure they were dead, but the damage was so horrific; there was no way they couldn't be.

She journeyed the mile to the mare she left tied to a solitary tree in a clearing. She mounted it and rode to overview her work. She didn't take kindly to the idea oflosing her life over two humans she didn't know and had no prior relations with and especially because Naraku willed it. She would assure Naraku that she could be trusted and that her life was worth keeping.

If only she wasn't so doubtful.

AN: Please review. Criticism is welcome.