AN:/ I'm aware...the update was just as long, but I was in the holiday spirit and aside from my work. Sorry!

On to Ch.7...

The scent of her blood had triggered a nerve within him.

Reason had lost its hold on the physical world and now it was merely a jaded sentiment, lost in anger.

InuYasha caught a glimpse of himself in Tetsusaiga's blade and discovered he didn't recognize who or perhaps what was looking back at him. Tetsusaiga had lost all restraint, and failed to sustain the beast; the struggle between the better half of himself and the creature that foamed at the mouth too great to resist.

His mind was a blank canvas as he let his demon form take hold, completing him entirely, but not before assuring that everyone in his wake would be killed. Too blurred beyond control, drugged and sedated on an insubstantial high, InuYasha agreed and dropped his sword.

It surged forward, covering the ground between he and Baki stride by stride, the bloodlust in his veins emanating from him.

And she could hardly contain her laughter.

o.O.o

Shippo wandered aimlessly, letting his nose take him where he should be.

I'll show that InuYasha

The look on her face when he returned was unacceptable. Once InuYasha came walking in, he was all but forgotten and he definitely wasn't having that.

So he snuck away. No one would notice. They had InuYasha now. And they would talk among themselves concerning everything that happened and leave Shippo in the dark. And Kagome wouldn't realize for a long time that he was gone…not with him around.

And it wasn't as he if he'd be brought up to speed about what was happening anyway. And he could probably ask and beg all he liked and they wouldn't tell him fully what was going on, they would edit their words dramatically…as if he was stupid. So what was the point in trying so hard to fit in?

Shippo continued to pout silently.

So that's when an idea struck him. They had no food, and if he brought some back with him, he'll be the hero and Kagome would spare her attention for him. Yes, bringing back their much needed supplies was definitely the way to land him in the hero's seat. It was flawless…but easier said than done.

He'd already tried hunting, but good game out there was generally larger than him. Anything other than that probably wasn't edible.

He already tried stealing form another hut, but couldn't bring himself to go through with such a criminal act. Kagome managed to feed them all in the most Samaritan ways; he would attempt to do the same.

And then his last effort at the pond failed miserably. Fish were hard to catch if you're trying to stay afloat at the same time. It was evident: one should be above water level to have an easy fishing experience.

Images of InuYasha easily catching dozens of fish flashed violently in him mind, making him even more upset with himself.

"One day, I'll be as strong as him, even stronger, and then I won't have to be second best" he mused.

If anything the scenery was something to be grateful for. There was no sense in wasting such a beautiful day sharing fresh air with a pompous hanyou where there was plenty of his own outside.

He was just considering giving up his plan of vengeance and returning to the hut when a voice beckoned to him.

"Little Fox, come here." said the ominous voice. Shippo was immediately frightened and too stunned to move.

"I mean you no harm at all little demon, I'm merely in need of dire information." Said a voice he didn't recognize.

It was a human as far as Shippo could tell, but he portrayed a very calm and assertive air. He hadn't known if he was formidable and thus was still very frightened.

"Do I k-know you?" he stuttered.

The mysterious human simply laughed and bent down to Shippo's height.

"No, you do not know of me, but I know of you. With that said I have a few questions to ask."

Shippo gave him the once over and couldn't pick up any bad ulterior motives so he relaxed and proceeded to help the man all the while thinking

…at least someone will appreciate my knowledge…

"Ok, how can I help you?" Shippo agreed.

"You can begin by telling me a little more of your friend, InuYasha, was it?" he asked quite placidly.

"My friend!? As if!" he rebelled. "InuYasha is my enemy! He's the biggest idiot if I ever saw one!"

The man laughed silently.

"Is that how you feel?" he asked, clearly amused. Shippo agreed without fail.

"Well, then I guess you would be happy to know that I'm not pleased with his character either" he rose to his feet and waved Shippo to his side.

"Come with me, I shall explain." Calmed by the easy air about this man, and really wanting to know his reason for disliking InuYasha, Shippo followed.

"Not too long ago your friend…I'm sorry, your adversary, had taken something of mine without any reimbursement. Now do not misunderstand me little fox, I am no stranger to anything in the way of charity but for a beggar to choose is near sinful. I'm sure even at your young age you can understand that one can only give as much as he has, and even then, one must be satisfied with what he gains." The man paused.

"So…what happened exactly?" asked Shippo.

"Let's just say that InuYasha was not pleased with my terms and sent his followers to take care of me. He is why you've run into me on a dirty road like this one." He seethed.

Shippo's contempt for InuYasha doubled.

"That's just like him…" he added.

"I suppose. That was the very first time I was acquainted with him. I will know much better later on….but now that you know my story, I'm sure you can be a deal of help to me." He turned to Shippo, his burning with interest.

"Um…okay, sure why not?"

"Very well then-I don't think I caught your name."

"It's Shippo!" he said happily.

"A fine name Shippo." He smiled before letting his face morph into one of utter seriousness.

"Now…as you know, I don't know much about InuYasha, so to carry out my plan without any prior knowledge is quite foolish. And just as you are, I have someone else to help me with the brunt work."

Shippo nodded in affirmation.

"You will serve as my little reference Shippo. And together, in due time, InuYasha will learn what it's like to lose his greatest possessions."

Shippo considered the plan the most enthralling he'd ever heard. For him it was a chance to prove to InuYasha that he too had shortcomings. It was a way to show InuYasha that even he could be valuable to them.

There was really no way for Shippo, as young, and impressionable as he is to concur that he would his involvement with this man, whom he'd never met before would cause more pain and suffering than he bargained for. Without giving thought to just what InuYasha's most prized possessions are it's impossible to account for the actions he will commit.

o.O.o

"Kanna" called Naraku in a most lackadaisical tone of voice. Kanna didn't answer, she didn't need to. Naraku would make his case regardless.

"If at all you feel any contempt toward me for the death of your sister you should put it to good use. But as I'm sure you had no kind of attachment to her, let me say this. I want to bathe in InuYasha's blood. I believe I'm quite decided now. He is dead to me already and I musn't have this girl interfere any longer." The timbre of his voice beginning to taint with maliciousness.

"He watched the battle from far away in a crystalline orb that even reflected the malevolent glint in InuYasha's eye.

"Go to them, vessel their souls, and bring me their bodies." He ordered.

o.O.o

Miroku and Sango sat silently, both ruminating of their pasts, the ever dangerous present, and the possibility of a future. It wasn't strange to have death on their minds, it happened quite often. And being surrounded by war and pursued by people who wanted to kill you did not help to insure a safe mindset.

"Hey Miroku…" said Sango, thinking of a question.

"Yes." He replied, half of himself focusing on Sango, and the other half lost in the realms of his mind.

"As a monk, is there ever a time when you are afraid to die?" she queried.

Miroku turned to her solicitously.

"What makes you ask?" he said.

"Curiosity I suppose." She said, running her hands through her hair.

Miroku looked in time to see her pained expression before raising to seat himself in front of her.

"Sango, death is a preordained event, it will come eventually. All we can do to prolong it is to try to preserve our happiness and work to see that we achieve as much as physically possible. If not then what is death without a life to compliment it?" he explained, putting his hand to her cheek.

"I believe it is the concept of death that fuels our need to live, our desire to accomplish as much as possible. It is the coming of death that gives me the strength to fight, the ability to fear, and the power to love."

Sango's eyes sparkled as tears trickled from her lids and over Miroku's hand.

"I suppose you're right." She said, as he drew her into the comfort of his embrace.

"Think of death no more Sango, tonight we go to Horai Shrine."

Sango nodded in response, but they only had a few moments to enjoy each other's presence.

"Did you hear that?" Sango asked, suddenly aware of her surroundings. It was the sound of clashing metal.

"Hear what?" Miroku asked as her released her.

Kagome! Move! …the voice was all too distinct.

"What's going on out there?" Sango asked anxiously as they raced outside of the hut.

But they were too late to be of any help to them. The transformation was already complete.

AN:/ It will all come together soon. Bear with me.