Hmmm…So one of the soul collectors has been destroyed. Naraku won't be too happy. Kagra kept searching the area until she finally spotted Kikyo and her soul collectors.

"I better not pick a fight with her. Guess I should alert Naraku of her whereabouts."

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Kagra. I wonder if she spotted the priestess…Sesshomaru continued on his way, for he could sense the pathetic hanyou of a brother nearby. Be careful priestess...

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"Kagome, are you going to do what I asked?"

"What? No way! I will not betray my Inuyasha!"

"Very well then. It's your lost."

"I may not like Kikyo, but I could never give her up to Naraku. If I did that then the only thing Inuyasha would care about is rescuing her. He'd give up searching for the sacred jewels for his beloved Kikyo. I cannot have that…I won't!"

"Alright. So I should just kill you now and get it over with."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

"And why are we still out here in the middle of nowhere? I'm tired of being locked in this barrier and if you were so great then you'd be out searching for Inuyasha instead of waiting for him to come to you," Kagome cried.

"It's too late for that now. I'm already here."

Shoji turned to see Inuyasha and his friends ready for battle.

"But…how did you manage to find me so quickly?" he stammered.

"You idiot. You're sitting out in the open. I'm a dog demon remember. I have a very sensitive nose." Inuyasha withdrew his tetsaiga. "Now I'm about to end this quickly. I have another save to make after this one."

"Shoji release Kagome now!" Sango cried.

"You'll have to defeat me first but you'll have a hard time doing so because of this." He raised his arms and another barrier was formed blocking everyone out except for Inuyasha.

"Just you and me huh? That's fine with me. My windscar will make quick work of you."

"I guess we'll see about that."

"Inuyasha, do you remember when we fought the first time? Do you remember what happened to Kikyo? My beloved Kikyo?" he asked menacingly.

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about?"

Shoji looked at Kagome and she started to scream. Her body twisted and turned just as Kikyo's did.

"SHOJI! WHAT THE HELL…? STOP THAT!" Inuyasha shouted.

"Why should I? You're out here threatening me when I did nothing to you. How fair is that little hanyou?"

"FAIR! I'LL SHOW YOU FAIR! WINDS…" Once again, Kagome let out an awful cry as her body twisted and shook.

"Still wanna fight me Inuyasha?"

"Let her go Shoji. Why are you doing this?"

"As if you care. You only care about Kikyo, but alas, I don't think you cared for her too much either."

"Whadaya mean by that? Answer me dammit!"

"Well, I tortured her like this for a long time. She looked so beautiful twisting and turning…"

"Shut up!" Inuyasha's face went pale. My Kikyo, did you really suffer like this? Tears started to form in his eyes as he stared at Shoji with the utmost content.

"When I ran my hand down her beautiful, angelic face, she would twist and turn…"

"I said shut it!"

"Oh you should have seen it. Her soft, creamy skin was illuminated beautifully as she writhed in pain…Oh and her moan…I can't wait to hear her moan once I get her…

"SHUT UP! I'LL KILL YOU! BASTARD!" Inuyasha ran at Shoji but as soon as he did, Kagome let out another cry.

"You see Inuyasha, right now you cannot win this fight. There's no way you can win. You attack me, I'll attack the girl. Now keep in mind that Kikyo is already dead. She feels the same pain but it's ten times as worse for Kagome since she's not dead. Wouldn't want to send the girl to her death would you?"

What am I going to do?

"I'm tired of your arrogance you fool. Now you must die." Sesshomaru swung his sword and it ripped right through Shoji.

"But…but how…how did you…? I never heard you…?"

"That is because you are an ignorant fool. While you were busy running off at the mouth, I walked up behind you, but that's neither here nor there. It is too late for you." Seconds later the wind blew and took the ashes of the demon Shoji with it. The barrier around Kagome and Inuyasha's friends disintegrated and Kagome was free. Inuyasha ran up to Kagome and kneeled down beside her.

"Kagome? Are you alright? Say something to me!"

"In…Inuyasha?" she said weakly.

"Yes, it's me. How do you feel? Are you hurt?"

"Just a little but I'll be ok. Thanks for saving me Inuyasha."

"Well…actually…it wasn't me."

"But I…I heard you and…"

"Yeah, but unfortunately it was my brother." Inuyasha turned to Sesshomaru but he was already walking off. Inuyasha left Kagome with Sango and ran after his brother.

"HEY! HEY, WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?"

"Away."

"WAIT! Where's…?" He looked back to see his friends gazing at him coldly but he did not care. Kagome was no longer in any danger and so it was now time to get his woman back. "Where's Kikyo?"

"Gone."

"WHAT?!?! GONE WHERE?"

"I haven't the slightest idea."

"YOU MEAN YOU LET HER GO? ALONE?!? HOW COULD YOU?! ARE YOU REALLY THAT CREUL? CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE'S SUFFERED ENOUGH?!"

"Inuyasha, it is not my job to baby-sit one of your many…uh…female companions."

"BUT YOU RESCUED HER!"

"I merely felt sorry for the poor girl. You were not doing a very good job at protecting her and so I decided to upstage you once again by doing your job better."

"I should just kill you right now and rid the world of you," he said unsheathing his tetsaiga.

"I'd like to see you try," he retorted staring Inuyasha down. Inuyasha turned away and started back towards his friends. "Inuyasha."

He turned and faced Sesshomaru once again with a disgusted look on his face. He never knew his brother could be so…

"If it will help ease your feeble mind, I'll give you my word that she is feeling much better now, no thanks to you of course." And with that he disappeared.

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Inuyasha smiled as he made his way back over to his friends. Just knowing that Kikyo was ok lifted a heavy burden off of his shoulders. Nothing could spoil his good mood; not even the angry glares he was getting from Shippo and Sango.

"Inuyasha, how is the Lady Kikyo?" Miroku asked.

"According to Sesshomaru, she's feeling much better," he said with a grin.

"That's good to hear. So I take it she's off traveling alone again."

"Yeah I guess, but then again, who would wanna travel with Sesshomaru? I'd travel alone too if I was forced to be with him."

"Inuyasha, not trying to ruin your good mood or anything but do you not worry for Kikyo's safety? She's off all alone and when Naraku gets hold of her he will try and kill her."

"Yeah, I know," he replied thoughtfully, "but right now, there's nothing I can do since I have no idea where to look for her. Kikyo can hold her own. As for Naraku, he can't kill Kikyo. He's in love with her and until he can figure out a way to rid himself of Onigumo's heart, then Kikyo has no reason to fear Naraku himself."

"What about Kagra?"

"Kagra's afraid of Kikyo. Even though she's dead, she still has the spiritual powers from fifty years ago; she's as strong as ever."

Oh, but you see Inuyasha, I have figured it out….soon….

"Hey! It's one of Naraku's samiyousho!" Shippo shouted.

"IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!"

No matter Inuyasha. I found out what I needed to know.

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Pure has become impure, impure has become pure. Good has become evil, evil has become good. To live is to die, to die is to live. Kikyo walked down the lonely path with her soul collectors. Even though she was now alone again she felt at peace. Her strength had now been fully restored and she was ready to face Naraku.

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"Have you found my priestess Kagra?"

"Yes, I have. She's making her way towards Mt. Hakurei but I'm afraid she cannot get near it; no one can for some strange reason.

"In a few days time, we'll all be able to get near the mountain, but until then, I need a favor."

"I suppose I have no choice in the matter anyway."

"You're right. So do you remember I told you about a couple fellows I knew long ago? Called themselves the Band of Seven…

AN: Sorry for taking so long to update. I started a Naruto story and it's been a slight distraction for me. -grins- When the Band of Seven is finally introduced, it will be AU all over the place. Just thought I'd warn you.