I'm not dead. Nope. I've just been updating my other story and writing another few. In any case, this story has at most...four chapters to go, I think. Three to be realistic but four to be safe. And then my first ever fic on this site will be finished. Finally. XD

I hope you enjoy this chapter. REVIEW PLEASE!

Thanks to Half-Demon Cali and KiraraTwoTail for reviewing!

Half-Demon Cali: Naraku is a (beep). You'll find out what happens to Miroku here. :)

KiraraTwoTail: Not a stutter or a typo. I really meant "art". The Leader considers the world between the worlds an art because of how it ensnares wanderers. It's intricate and complicated. That's why it's an art.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own InuYasha but I own Miya.

'Why should I hope they're in one piece?' Inuyasha wondered.

He was about to voice this thought when Miya answered. "This world plays tricks on your mind. It can show you what it wishes, along with your worst nightmares."

'She read my mind?' "How does it?"

"Yes, I read your mind," Miya answered Inuyasha's thought again. She sounded amused. Then she replied to his question. "The mist twists itself to show visions. It plays on the senses as well so it actually seems real."

"So the mist could show my friends' worst nightmares to them?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes." Miya sounded grim.

"Has it ever happened to you before?" Inuyasha inquired, curious to know.

Miya's eyes had a faraway and haunted look about them, as if she was remembering. "Many times. I barely escaped each one. I've learned how to block my mind from those attacks."

"And you can't block your mind from my thoughts?"

"It's…not the same," Miya said slowly. "When I block my mind from attacks from this world and from outside forces from probing into it, I'm blocking people from hacking in to it. But the thoughts flying around me aren't exactly being aimed at me. So I don't really have a defense against it."

"That doesn't really make sense and you know it," Inuyasha said.

"I know," Miya said. "I don't have any better words for it. If you don't want me to read your mind, then don't think!"

Inuyasha growled low in his throat. "And how do you recommend I do that?"

"Keep your mind blank, Inuyasha," Miya said. "It's simple enough. Just don't think 'This is stupid' the whole entire time you do so."

To this Inuyasha had no retort. Instead, he satisfied himself by scouring the mist ahead of them. He could see nothing other than fog and wondered how the girl ahead of him knew her way so well. He expected Miya to reply to that but she didn't, making him wonder further why she didn't do so.

Then to his utter astonishment, she vanished. He stopped short, trying to see if perhaps the mist had just obscured his view of her but no—she was gone. Inuyasha was about to call out and see if she was anywhere but a new figure made her name die in his throat.

"K—Kagome?" he stammered, stepping forward hesitantly, unable to believe his eyes. He reached out tentatively. "Is—is that really you?"

"Inuyasha." Kagome's voice was smooth and low. "You're really here." A small smile played around at her lips.

Inuyasha had to find his voice and when he did he had to make sure that it was his usual obnoxious tone. "'Course I am. Couldn't just leave you kidnapped by the freak. How else are we to find the sacred jewel shards?"

"But you shouldn't be here," Kagome said, still smiling a small smile. "You shouldn't be here at all."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want you here," Kagome said, her smile slowly turning mocking. "Haven't you known? I've never wanted you. I would've thought that it'd be obvious: you, a hanyou, with me, a miko." She practically spat the last few words out.

Inuyasha gaped at the black-haired teen. "What the hell are you talking about?" he asked, hurt but trying not to show it. "I never wanted you around me in the first place! I was only with you for convenience!"

Kagome laughed, and the sound grated upon Inuyasha's ears. "Oh, dear, dear Inuyasha. Aren't you muddled? It was the exact opposite! And did you really think that I wanted to be around you? You with your filthy dog ears and your whiny voice; you with your constant agenda with Kikyo, that corpse! Why would I ever have wanted to be around you? Tell me: why?"

"Because you wouldn't have gotten home, that's why," Inuyasha managed to say. Her words had cut him to the core, even though he was doing his best not to show it. He couldn't believe that this was really Kagome, his friend. The one who had thought that Shippo, a youkai, was cute. The one who had first accepted him for who he was. It seemed impossible. But the proof was right before his very eyes.

"Silly Inuyasha." Kagome laughed again. "I would've found my way home sooner or later. I never needed your help. No, Inuyasha, I never—Inuyasha!" She had shouted the last word.

"What?" Inuyasha asked irritably, not wanting to show her that he was hurting so much. "I'm right here. Your filthy hanyou with the dog ears that has a hidden agenda for Kikyo."

"Inuyasha!" Her voice sounded weird… It didn't sound right coming from the twisted face in front of him. "Snap out of it!"

Inuyasha blinked, trying to clear his vision. Kagome's mouth was still moving but the words coming out of it weren't fitting the lip movements. Rather, it seemed that her whole body was blurring slightly. What was going on?

"Snap out of it, Inuyasha!" With a jolt, the apparition of Kagome was suddenly replaced by Miya, who was right up in his face and shaking his shoulders violently. "You back yet? Good."

"M—Miya?" Inuyasha blinked. "Where's Kagome? She was right here…"

"She never was, Inuyasha," Miya said slowly, staring right into his amber eyes. "It was the mist. Remember? The mist shows you your worst fears."

Inuyasha flashed back to what Miya had told him earlier. "But…you disappeared!"

"The mist's work, too," she answered, stepping back to give Inuyasha some room. "Are you feeling all right?" She scrutinized his face.

"I'm fine," Inuyasha said harshly, snapping his eyes away from her blue ones and staring over her head. "It was nothing."

Miya stared at him silently for a few moments before saying quietly, "I know what it feels like, Inuyasha. Don't worry; I won't pry." As Inuyasha looked at her both curiously and thankfully, she turned and continued speaking. "In any case, if the mist has started working on you, it's a pretty safe bet that your companions are also facing their worst nightmares. And we'd better hurry in that case."

"But wouldn't they just be standing right there, the way I was?" Inuyasha asked, trying to erase the memory of Kagome's twisted face.

"You weren't just standing there, Inuyasha," Miya said, looking at him sidelong. "You were slowly reaching for your Tessaiga all the while."

"What?" Inuyasha stared down at his sword hand.

"It can do that," Miya said, looking straight ahead. "It can push you so far that you unconsciously reach for an escape. And the only escape around…is death."

"So Sango? Miroku?" Inuyasha paled at the thought of what they could do with their weapons to themselves. "They'd…attack each other?"

"Not each other. Themselves." Miya suddenly stood stock-still and closed her eyes. Before Inuyasha could ask her what she was doing, her eyes snapped back open. "We have to go. Time's running out for all of them."

"What? What did you see?" Inuyasha demanded.

"I didn't see anything; I heard it," Miya said. "Come on!" She then grabbed Inuyasha's sleeve and pulled him with her.

"I can't smell them!" Inuyasha objected, pulling himself free from her and keeping a brisk pace.

"It blocks their scents. You've been smelling nothing but the damp lately, am I right?"

"And something foul," Inuyasha admitted. "And you're among it, no offense."

Miya looked at him in a way that Inuyasha didn't recognize. "None taken. I…have that effect on people."

"On their noses?"

"No. Just…their instincts." Then she jumped forward. "Miroku!"

A howling noise assaulted Inuyasha's ears and his silvery-white hair whipped around. He was struggling to stay on his feet. 'Jump forward or fall forward? That's Miroku's Kazaana!'

"Snap out of it, Miroku!" Miya cried. Inuyasha saw her both restraining against the wind and stepping forwards to try and break the spell on Miroku. The monk didn't seem to see her as his eyes were staring at something on his hand: the Kazaana. But his eyes were also staring at something beyond it and Inuyasha assumed that it was the nightmare this world had trapped him in.

Inuyasha whipped out his Tessaiga and attempted to root it in the nonexistent ground. It did absolutely nothing besides nearly uproot him as his sword met thin air and dove down. He grunted, sheathed Tessaiga again, and tried to lean backwards from the suctioning power.

Meanwhile, Miya swore softly and dove for the monk, letting the Kazaana pull her forward. She grabbed onto the monk's purple robe just before she slipped into oblivion. Inuyasha next saw her twist one leg around the monk in a…uh…inappropriate position. Her fingers pressed against the monk's temple and the hanyou saw her eyes close with concentration.

'What's she doing?' Inuyasha thought he saw the mist around the monk and the girl twist. 'Is she…manipulating the mist?' Suddenly it was as if he could see the monk. It was like before Miroku had been obscured by a cloud but now he could see him crystal clear.

Miroku gave a loud cry and dropped to his knees, Miya falling off his back as he did so. Both of them sat there: Miroku panting and Miya still having her eyes closed. Then the girl took a deep breath and let it out, opening her eyes.

"You okay, Miroku?" she asked.

"I…think," Miroku said slowly, still clutching his hand.

"You almost killed us!" Inuyasha said without any tact.

"I did?" Miroku seemed honestly confused. "I had no idea. I thought I was…I thought I was dead for sure." His voice was hushed. "My Kazaana had ripped and was sucking everything in. Including me."

"It was a nightmare," Miya said soothingly, placing a hand on Miroku's shoulder. Inuyasha noted that she was just a bit pale. "This world twists itself to show tourists their worst fears."

"Tourists?"

"Never mind." Miya looked slightly embarrassed. "I guess that's a tad too modern for your language."

"Are you recovered yet, monk?" Inuyasha bugged Miroku.

Miroku let out a gusty breath of air. "I think so. Where's Sango?"

Miya looked grim. "The mist separated all of you. Try to keep hold of my clothes, all right? We don't want any more incidents like the kind both you and Inuyasha suffered."

Instantly Miroku was curious. "What happened to Inuyasha?"

"Nothing," Inuyasha growled, shooting a warning glance at Miya. "Let's find Sango and the others before heading to Kagome."

Miroku raised an eyebrow. "OK."

Miya got up and turned in a complete three-sixty before nodding to the two to grab onto her clothes. Then she set off to their left and made her way through the indiscernible world.

"It's going to be cutting it close," she murmured.

"Why?" Miroku asked.

"You nearly killed yourself," Inuyasha answered for Miya. "Sango has a far better chance at killing herself than you did since her weapons act quickly. Your Kazaana takes a while to suck in anything unless the objects running headlong into it."

"Because of the vision that I saw?"

"Because of the visions you all saw and still are seeing," Miya said. "Be quiet now and listen."

They shut up and listened as Miya had told them. They couldn't hear anything at first but then a low sound reached their ears. It was sobbing.

"Is she crying?" Miroku whispered, horrified. "What is it showing her?"

"Her heart's worst fear," Miya said in a low voice. "It's almost too late." Without another word, she grabbed Miroku and Inuyasha's wrists and jumped forwards, bringing the youkai-slayer into view. Both men were absolutely horrified to see Sango lying on the ground on her side, about to stab herself with her katana, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were closed.

Miya gave a loud cry. "Don't!" She let go of their wrists and jumped towards Sango, knocking the weapon out of her trembling hands and kicking the boomerang towards Inuyasha's feet. Then before Sango could do anything else, Miya knelt down and placed two fingers on Sango's temple.

Nothing happened.

Then it seemed as if they could see the youkai-slayer clearly and what had been seen before was through a cloud. Miya suddenly let out a sharp gasp and dropped her hand, sliding away from Sango. She looked unnaturally pale.

"Sango!" Miroku rushed forward to inspect a trembling Sango. "Are you all right? What did you see?"

"No. Kohaku," Sango whispered, agony clear in her voice. Then her eyes snapped open. "Kohaku!"

"It's all right, Sango," Miroku soothed.

"Are you all right?" Inuyasha asked Miya, squatting down besides her with the Hiraikotsu over his shoulder. "You look kinda pale."

"I'll be fine," Miya said softly, color slowly coming into her cheeks. "That was a violent nightmare. What…happened to her little brother?"

Inuyasha was silent for a few moments. "They were called away on an errand to kill a youkai at a castle," he said finally. "I don't know the details of what happened but it seems that Kohaku was possessed by it and murdered the rest of the slayers and his own father before being killed himself. Sango was hit, too, by both her little brother and the archers of the castle.

"It turned out that Naraku had been behind the errand and led more youkais to their village, killing everyone in it. Sango survived the attack but Kohaku was dead. But then Naraku put a Shikon jewel shard in the kid's back and he came back to life. Now he has no memories of his life with Sango and exists only to serve Naraku. We had him once before and it seemed that Naraku's control had slipped. But it was only for a little while. We've got no idea where he is now."

"I see," was all Miya said. She got to her feet and spoke to Sango and Miroku. "We have to go. Shippo and Kirara are likely trapped, too. I shiver to think of what those two youkais could do to themselves."

"Shippo's got nothing special," Inuyasha said, standing up beside her with his right hand on his hip. "But Kirara's flames could be a problem if she lets them loose."

"Shippo's tricks could be used to kill if applied correctly," Miroku objected, one hand on Sango's shoulder.

"Where are they?" Sango was still looking pale but was recovering.

"Close," Miya responded after a second's contemplation.

"And why haven't you done anything perverted?" Sango asked Miroku.

"I thought it inappropriate since you just had a nightmare about Kohaku," Miroku answered, looking saintly. "But if you wish, I could—"

He was cut off by Inuyasha slamming Hiraikotsu on his head. The hanyou then gave the boomerang back to Sango. "Just in case."

"I'd have done that myself if I had it," Sango agreed, looking at a wounded Miroku who had a huge bump on his head.

"You wound me," Miroku said, looking appropriately injured and innocent. "I'd have done nothing."

"Right," Sango said disbelievingly, appearing completely recovered from her traumatic experience.

"We've got to go now," Miya cut in. "If you're all right, Sango—and you seem all right—we need to rescue Shippo and Kirara before turning our attention back to Kagome and the Leader. It's not going to be easy. Whatever weapons I had other than the bow and arrows I carry now I lost."

She turned to their right. "Grab onto my clothes and each other. We have to leave now. Kirara's about to go any moment now."

When everyone had secured handholds on each other Miya set off. They had barely gone ten feet when they literally stumbled across both Shippo and Kirara. The kitsune was whimpering and the feline was growling softly in her throat.

"Kirara! Shippo!" Sango was about to jump forward when Miya stopped her by throwing an arm in front of her chest. It turned out for the better when Kirara's fur started smoking.

"Stay back and don't move," Miya warned swiftly, stepping forward to place both hands on their heads. When her fingers touched Kirara's fur they withdrew quickly out of reflex. Miya set her teeth and rested them on the overheated fur, focusing on pushing the nightmares right out of their heads.

"What's she doing?" Sango whispered, trying not to disturb her.

"I think she's pushing the nightmares out of their heads," Inuyasha whispered back. "I saw her do it to Miroku and you."

Sango shot Inuyasha a glance. "And you?"

Inuyasha was silent, leaving Miroku to answer much to the hanyou's chagrin. "Miya said Inuyasha had it, too. But he's not saying what it was."

"And there's no need to," Inuyasha growled, watching the girl before them concentrate before falling back. "She's finished."

"Oww," Miya hissed under breath, shaking her left hand's fingers. They were red, courtesy of touching Kirara's smoking fur. "Thank goodness Shippo wasn't doing anything."

"No. He'd just starve himself to death," Inuyasha said, having caught Miya's words.

A loud scream made all of them jump. "AAAAAH! STOP IT!!" It was Shippo.

Kirara leapt to her feet, bristling when she saw Sango and Miroku. She growled ferociously and placed herself protectively in front of a writhing Shippo.

"Kirara?" Sango let go of her Hiraikotsu and put both of her hands out tentatively, trying to calm her friend down. "Relax. It's me."

"You were hunting her," Miya said from behind the two youkais. "She still thinks you're trying to kill both her and Shippo."

Sango and Miroku shared shocked glances and then returned their gaze to Kirara and Shippo.

"Hey, relax, Kirara," Miroku said comfortingly. "We're not going to hurt you. See?" He dropped his staff and bade Sango to do the same.

When the two had done so, Shippo stopped squirming and jumped up onto Kirara's back. He saw the two and cringed into the youkai's fur. "Eep!" His tail was all bushed up.

"It's all right, Shippo." Sango smiled. "Will you tell Kirara to please calm down? We're not going to hurt either of you."

"But you were going to kill us," Shippo squeaked.

"No they weren't," Miya said, stopping Sango and Miroku from talking any more. "It's this world's tricks. It showed you two your worst fears. They'd never kill you." She placed a hand on Kirara's head and the feline quieted down, her fur settling. "Everything's fine, Kirara," she added, making sure that Kirara wouldn't suddenly attack.

"Miya!" Shippo exclaimed. "You're all right!" He caught sight of Inuyasha, too. "How'd you guys find us?"

"We opened the gate," Inuyasha said. "We'd the lost the map since someone decided to keep it." He shot Sango a glare. "Then we met someone unpleasant and Naraku. They both escaped."

"No, we ran away," Miya corrected. "You couldn't fight them with me on your back."

Inuyasha scowled but didn't retort.

"We saw bat-birds," Shippo said, eager to retell their fearsome encounter.

"And we've got a message for you from one Mr. Kagai," Miroku added.

"Kagai?" Miya was wary. "He didn't tell you to boil my brains or anything, did he? They haven't quite forgiven me for running into their sacred world with the wraiths right on my heels. And that was several years ago."

"Actually, he just told us to tell you that the wraiths are still after you," Miroku said. He paused for a moment. "He didn't seem like the kind of guy to boil one's brains."

"I presume that's sarcasm," Sango said.

"And he didn't have to point out the obvious." Miya sighed and turned her back to the others. "If I ever go back there—and I probably won't—I'll be sure to thank him for his sincerity. In the meantime, we need to concentrate on finding Kagome."

"But where could she be?" Miroku wondered. "This place is infinitely huge and there are so many worlds."

"She can't be everywhere so she can only be in one spot," Miya said cryptically, twanging her bow string.

"And?" Inuyasha prompted.

"And that one spot is going to be where the Leader is," Miya continued. She smiled grimly. "I've never actually hunted down the Leader. But this time the tables are turned."

"We don't have tracking devices," Sango said.

"Don't need them," Miya said. She tapped her forehead. "I can hook in on his mind signature."

"Mind signature?" Sango, Miroku, and Shippo chorused, confused.

"Later," Inuyasha said impatiently. "We need to find Kagome. Any ideas on where to start, Miya?"

"Of course."

"Where?"

"How about right behind you?" Miya answered, fitting an arrow to her bow. "It's kind of hard to miss."

All of them whirled around and saw what Miya meant. They saw the Leader, Kagome…and Naraku.

"Naraku," Inuyasha growled, eyes flashing.

The Leader's eyes met Miya's and he grinned, sending chills down their spines. "Welcome," he hissed.

A cliffhanger. I'm just wicked. XD And I wouldn't really kill Miroku. It's a "K+" story. Besides, I don't really believe in killing off characters unless they're bad guys. I have no idea when I can update next but I WILL update. REVIEW PLEASE!