A Close Encounter...

"MIROKU?!?!"

"Uh…Sango! I was just…"

"That Miroku. Always after some woman," Shippo said shaking his head as he watched Sango pulling Miroku by the ear and back towards the inn they were staying at.

"Meh, he just needs to be more discreet," Inuyasha replied nonchalantly.

"Sit." Inuyasha cursed as he was pulled down into the dirt.

"WHAT THE HELL…? KAGOME?!"

Inuyasha continued to curse as he pulled his hurt body up from the ground and stomped away heading down a road that left the village. That Kagome…always telling me to sit…He cursed some more until he heard a rustle in the bushes nearby. Something's here…He quickly unsheathed his tetsaiga before running through the bushes. Hmmm…He walked a little ways until his sensitive hanyou nose caught whiff of something. Graveyard soil? Could it be…?

"Come on out. I know you're here," he said softly.

"Inuyasha?" Kikyo emerged from behind the bush to face an awestruck hanyou.

"Kik…Kikyo?" He dropped his tetsaiga then sprinted towards her. He had hoped it was her…he had a feeling it was her, but seeing her…looking beautiful as ever…So Sesshomaru kept his word…

"No…Inuyasha, please stop. Don't come any closer." Inuyasha stopped inches in front of her and then frowned.

"What's wrong?" he asked looking slightly hurt.

"You shouldn't…"

"I'm just…happy to see you," he whispered. He walked forward but stopped when she put her hand up.

"Inuyasha, you know…we can't…"

"Yes we can," he whispered softly, stepping even closer to her.

"No, listen…I need to…" Inuyasha threw his arms around her and pulled her close into a warm hug.

"No…please…I don't want to cause trouble…"

"You're not trouble. You're my woman. The woman I lo…"

"Don't say it."

"Why…?"

"Just listen Inuyasha for there isn't much time to waste." He pulled away and folded his arms feeling slightly annoyed at Kikyo's stubbornness.

"Oh alright. What's wrong?"

"I came across a village a few miles from here. All the villagers were spooked about something."

"Yeah?"

"Well there were a couple of graves there that had been destroyed. I inquired about them and learned that the graves belonged to a group from over 100 years ago. They called themselves the Band of Seven. Sound familiar?"

"No…" he said raising an eyebrow.

"Well, from what I gather, the Band of Seven slaughtered thousands of people without any remorse. They seem to think that someone is trying to resurrect them."

"That has Naraku written all over it. As usual, he's finding hitmen to do his dirty work for him…the bastard. Why won't he show himself? What's he hiding anyway?"

"I don't know, but I just…I wasn't really expecting to run into you…Anyway, just…be careful. These so called warriors are not to be taken lightly."

"So you're warning me huh? I thought you said that you didn't care for me anymore?" he said with a smirk.

"I…don't but you have some friends…"

"You care about my friends more so than me?" he asked curiously.

"They are humans Inuyasha. They aren't as strong as you are. Therefore you have to look after them…protect them…protect Kagome," she whispered, looking away.

"No….Kikyo listen to me…" he started seriously but she cut him off.

"Inuyasha please. I have to…go now. I am on my way to Mt. Hakure."

"Kikyo…" He reached out and grabbed her pinning her to the tree.

"Inuyasha stop!"

"No, you listen to me dammit. I love you Kikyo. I loved you fifty years ago and that love…desire…the same hunger I had for you then still burns in my heart for you today."

"But…" He cut her off again by pressing his lips up against hers, kissing her hungrily. She fought him for a few but he was stronger than her and after a while she gave in to the passion, kissing him back. He tore his lips away from hers, but only for a second to catch his breath. Then he smiled at her and kissed her again, this time more gently and slowly, enjoying the moment. Kikyo uttered a soft moan and Inuyasha let his hands wander down her sides.

"Inu…" His lips left hers and made their way to her neck, kissing it softly. She feels almost…

"Inuyasha no!" Kikyo pushed him away forcefully looking up at him tearfully. "You have to accept the fact that it just wasn't meant to be."

"But Kikyo…"

"No Inuyasha. I must…go. You need to concern yourself with Kagome. She's the one that's alive. She'll be able to…be there for you and love you like no other."

"I know that."

"Then accept it."

"But I love you."

"She's my reincarnation. Are you saying that I'm not pretty enough?"

"No."

"Then what seems to be the problem?"

"She's not you. She is nothing like you, the real Kikyo...the one I fell in love with years ago." Inuyasha walked forward and pulled her into one final, lingering kiss before letting her go. She looked back at him one last time before turning to leave.

"Kikyo?"

"Yes Inuyasha?"

"I'll come for you when this is all over. When I finally destroy Naraku, I will come back for you."

"If you say so Inuyasha."

"One last thing." Kikyo let out a small chuckle before turning to him once again.

"Yes?"

"I'll always protect you." She smiled before turning to leave once again. I know you will Inuyasha.

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Inuyasha cursed once again as he watched the woman he loved leave…again. He sighed before slowly making his way back towards the village. He knew that when Kikyo made up her mind to do something, there was no point in trying to talk her out of it.

"INUYASHA! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN YOU STUPID IDIOT?"

"Oh shut up you stupid fox."

"KAGOME WAS WORRIED…"

"I don't give a damn what you say. If she was so worried then she would not have pissed me off."

"WELL YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO RUN OFF. YOU KNOW SHE CARES ABOUT YOU!"

"Shippo, I do not have time for this."

"So you're finally back? Been gone for quite a while now."

"What's it to you Sango?"

"Oh…nothing…just…I thought I saw a certain priestess leaving the area when I was scouting the plains looking for you."

"Oh really now? Maybe you were just seeing things."

"Or maybe not."

"I could care less what you saw or think you saw. Where's Miroku?"

"OVER HERE INUYASHA." Inuyasha quickly ran off towards the field just outside the village. Miroku was sitting on a small hill watching some ladies pick herbs.

"So where did you run off to?" he asked as Inuyasha sat next to him.

"For a walk. I needed to let off some steam."

"Were you able to accomplish that small feat?"

"Yeah, I suppose so," he replied pulling up a nearby daisy and tossing it aside.

"What's on your mind Inuyasha?" the monk asked raising an eyebrow.

"Uh…what makes you think something's on my mind?" Inuyasha asked defensively.

"Because you are a loner. You never would have come over here if something wasn't bothering you. Tell young Inuyasha, what's eating you?"

"It's nothing," he sulked.

"Sango tells me that she spotted a priestess leaving the area. You have any idea who that could have been?"

"Uh…"

"You saw Kikyo didn't you? Your face is flushed so I'll take that as a yes."

"It's not what you think."

"I know. You didn't even know where she was. So tell me, how is the Lady Kikyo?"

"She's…fine I guess. She seems to be in good shape and all. I suppose that idiot brother of mine took care of her like he said."

"Yeah, that's good." They were both silent for a moment before Miroku broke the silence.

"So what did she say to you? I'm sure she must still be on her way to find Naraku."

"DAMMIT! SHE'S SO STUBBORN!" he yelled tossing another daisy.

"Whoa! Calm down Inuyasha! You're going to draw attention to us and I seriously would rather not have to dea with angry glares and hisses from either woman."

"Yeah whatever. She's traveling alone and I don't like it. I can't…protect her like this."

"But she can take care of herself."

"She could take care of herself years ago but there were times when she needed me. The first time I ever helped her…there were some demons attacking her village. Her sister tried to warn her and I got there just in time…"

---

"SISTER KIKYO! PLEASE COME QUICK! DEMONS ARE ATTACKING THE VILLAGE!" Kikyo ran into the village and began firing arrows at the many flying bird demons. There were so many and she was almost out of arrows. "KIKYO!" It was Kaede.

"KAEDE, GO INSIDE NOW! I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET HURT!"

"BUT KIKYO…"

"NOW! DO AS I…"

"IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!" Kikyo turned around just in time to see Inuyasha slaughter another demon. "Inuyasha, what are you…"

"LOOK OUT!" Kikyo turned and fired her last arrow at the attacking demon.

"Looks like you need my help." There were still a few birds left to kill but she had used all of her arrows. Inuyasha used his claws to slaughter the last of the demons. When the last of the bird demons fell dead on the ground, Inuyasha turned to Kikyo. "Are you ok?"

"Um, yes. I'm…I'm fine." Kikyo was still in shock at the sight of Inuyasha. He had saved her life. She sensed the other demon presence but because she was worrying about Kaede, she did not react fast enough and it almost cost her her life. "Thank you Inuyasha."

---

"If I had not been following her, I would have lost her forever," he said softly. Tears formed under his eyelids but he blinked them away. Now was not the time to show his emotions.

"I see," the monk replied thoughtfully. "Well you know what we must do. We have to get to Naraku before she does."

"There's something else."

"Hmmm?"

"She said something about a demon tribe known as the Band of Seven."

"Never heard of them. What about them?"

"She said that the villagers from the village south of here were panicking about someone wanting to resurrect them. According to Kikyo, they slaughtered thousands of innocent people for no reason years ago. That story has Naraku written all over it," he sneered.

"Band of Seven? I think we should go south and investigate. Where is Kikyo going?"

"Mt. Hakure but…I'm not sure about the location."

"Hmmm, Inuyasha, I heard Kaede mention something about that place a while back. I don't remember what she said but I have a bad feeling about it."

"Ya think? Let's just get out of here. The sooner we get info the sooner we can get to that bastard Naraku. I want my woman back dammit."

They both got up and made their way back towards the village only to be greeted by angry glares.

"What's the matter with all of you?" Inuyasha asked angrily.

"Oh nothing."

"Well get your things. We're leaving."

"Now?" Sango asked incredulously.

"Yes, now. You def."

"SIT!" Inuyasha hit the ground with a painful thud.

"KAGOME! WILL YOU CUT THAT SHIT OUT?"

"Sit!"

"DAMMIT!"

"I told her about Kikyo," Sango said with a smirk.

"What you do that for?" Inuyasha asked angrily.

"I knew it was her!"

"Oh damn."

"SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT!" Inuyasha cursed loudly as he kept hitting the ground with painful thuds.

"I don't…rekon…Kikyo…would ever treat me…this way. The person…that protects her…" he said angrily as he finally pulled himself up off the ground. Kagome glared at him before running back inside the inn. Inuyasha turned and glared angrily at everyone else.

"We are leaving now," he said through gritted teeth. "Get your things and let's go." They hurried off to get their things leaving a furious Inuyasha to his himself. I will destroy you Naraku and then I'll come for my love…

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"Kagra, where is the first of the band?"

"Jakotsu is somewhere nearby and I hear the priestess is heading this way."

"Oh good."

"But I thought she couldn't approach Mt. Hakure?"

"No she can't but I need her to come this way anyway. I have a little something special planned for her. Hakudoshi inspired me," he said with a laugh.

That infant…Can it speak?

AN: Please don't kill me. I am having to work on this sparingly now. Sheesh, School is such a drag. Thank you Shikamaru. Anyway, I will try to update again next friday. If I'm lucky, I might can update again this weekend but I highly doubt it. The story is way AU from here on out but I hope you will enjoy it anyway. -girns- Thanks for reading.