"Kagra! Just what are you up to?" Inuyasha yelled. They finally managed to catch up with Kagra who was standing in a wide open space in some run down village. He let Kagome get off of his back and she prepared an arrow to fire if necessary. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo were still seated atop of Kirara prosed and ready to fight too. Kagra was just standing with her back to them, looking around as though confused. She had led them to a small village but from the looks of it, the village was no more. There were still some houses a flame while others were completely ashes and dust. The place reeked of blood, a smell all too familiar to the hanyou. "Answer me Kagra!" he screamed. She turned to face him a wicked grin forming across her face.

"You should not have followed me you idiot. Damn. How stupid can you be?" Before anyone could respond, a white horse, whose mane was flaming, appeared out of nowhere. Upon the flaming demon horse was the child Hakudoshi.

"Thank you Kagra. It's good to know that you have some use," he smirked.

"Oh my God! It's that child!" Kagome yelled. She fired an arrow straight at him but the horse quickly dodged it in almost lighting speed. In fact, he was so fast that Inuyasha almost had a hard time catching it. What the fuck is up with that horse?

"Inuyasha, why so silent? Aren't you going to attack me?" he grinned.

"I thought you'd never ask," he smirked. He unsheathed his tetsaiga and pointed it at the horse but before he could fire the windscar, the horse shot flames out of his nose straight for Kagome.

"LOOK OUT!" Miroku yelled. Inuyasha just did make it in time, grabbing Kagome and knocking her to the ground.

"Damn it all. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT YOU BASTARD?! AND WHY THE FUCK IS THE HORSE FIGHTING FOR YOU?! HUH?!" Inuyasha yelled.

"This is my buddy Entei. He serves me and only me." The horse shot Kirara an ugly look and Kirara immediately took off after the horse.

"WHOA! KIRARA!" Try as Kirara might, she could not get anywhere near the horse. Hakudoshi just laughed at the sight. Kagra on the other hand, watched in pure contempt. Damn that Hakudoshi. I need to get these idiots out of here before Naraku shows his ugly face among others…like that fucking witch. Sometimes I wish that damn priestess was still alive.

While Kirara struggled to catch Entei, Kagome noticed that Kagra was not attacking. In fact, she looked almost furious at Hakudoshi. She leaned over and whispered in Inuyasha's ear.

"Something's not right."

"What do you mean?"

"Why isn't Kagra attacking us? It almost feels like Entei is a distraction of some sort." Inuyasha glanced over at Kagra. Sure enough she seemed a bit uneasy and she seemed to be lost in thought.

"Kagra. What is going on here?" Inuyasha asked softly. "You're hiding something or maybe this whole situation is a set up of some sort." Kagra smirked at Inuyasha and shrugged. Yes. So he gets it…kinda. Now let's see if he's smart enough to make a quick escape. "Kagra, answer me!"

"What do you want?" she asked. She yawned and now had an expression of utter boredom on her face.

"You heard me. What's going on here?" he growled.

"If I were you, I'd be trying to get away from that horse. You can't kill it because you're no where near fast enough. Plus, I think you have more important things to worry about rather than me, like your friends for instance." Inuyasha looked up to see Kirara, Miroku and Sango still trying to get at Entei but they were too slow. Dammit all. How the hell do we catch that little prick? "I see your look of concern Inuyasha and I'm telling you now, you can't beat him. Best thing for you to do is…well fuck too late," she snapped.

--XX--

Sesshomaru had to travel back towards Kaede's village in order to find a safe resting spot for Kikyo. He found shelter for her in an old, run down cabin. He placed his fur on the floor of the cabin so that Kikyo could rest her head upon it. He went outside and drew water from the small well so that he could wipe her face and neck to lower her body temperature.

"Sesshomaru, you don't have to do this. I promise you that I am doing much better. I know you don't think me weak and helpless do you?"

"Of course not priestess. In fact, I know you are more than capable of enduring this journey but I feel like you should rest if only for a little while. My brother would make an attempt on my life if he knew that I wasn't taking care of you. I'd rather not have to endure his motor mouth or his feeble attacks."

"You love your brother more than you let on," she grinned.

"Maybe so but it's nothing compared to what I feel for a certain priestess." Kikyo smiled up at him as he continued to dab her forehead. She had the strangest feeling that something big was about to happen soon which meant that she would be saying good bye to the changed demon beside her.

"Sesshomaru?"

"Hmmm?"

"You…I just wanted to say…thank you," she said softly.

"For what?"

"For…being you."

"But I wouldn't be who I am today if it were not for you. Now tell me what else is on your mind."

"What makes you think…?"

"Come now priestess. I am not as slow as Inuyasha. Something's troubling you. Is it the necklace?"

"Well…kind of. The glowing shards…I'm pretty sure that someone knows that I'm alive Sesshomaru." They were both silent for a moment; Sesshomaru looking up as if lost in thought. "I should have told you immediately and I'm sorry." Sesshomaru leaned over and kissed her lips.

"Stop worrying. I will protect you no matter what…even if it costs me my life."

"But…"

"No buts. So someone knows that you're still alive? It was bound to happen eventually. This just means we have to be more careful. At least we know one thing."

"And what's that?"

"I don't think it's any of Naraku's minions. Kagra would have been bound by Naraku to tell him that you're alive."

"You're forgetting something Sesshomaru."

"Hmm…what?"

"She's still in love with you."

"Nonsense."

"Oh yes," Kikyo grinned. "I have to say after getting to know you, who could blame her? I highly doubt that Naraku treats her like a human being, more specifically a woman. That being said, I think she's been looking for a way to get out of Naraku's clutches and I don't think she'd be willing to hand over the man she loves without a fight."

"I see."

"Yes, so even if she knows, I don't think she'll rat us out. On the other hand, since it's not Naraku, it's got me even more worried."

"Why's that?"

"Because at least we know what Naraku is capable of. This unknown demon or person scares me. I really hate not knowing what I'm up against." Sesshomaru clasped her hand before bringing it to his lips.

"Don't worry. We're in this together." There was a noise outside that made Kikyo sit up. Sesshomaru was already up heading towards the door. Outside he found Kagra standing in front of the cabin. She looked unsure of herself as she paced about the ground.

"Kagra." She looked up to see Sesshomaru's icy stare. It had the same effect as always, sending a slight chill down her spin making her shudder. Sesshomaru noticed this but chose to stay silent. Cute. So Kikyo was right.

"Uh…Lord Sesshomaru," she stammered. She blushed, twisting her face in a frown in order to hide her embarrassment.

"Is there…a particular reason why you are here?" he asked. She looked up and forced herself to meet his intoxicating gaze.

"Inuyasha is in trouble," she muttered.

"And that means what to me?" He turned away from her and started back inside the cabin.

"WAIT! MY…MY LORD! I KNOW KIKYO IS ALIVE!" she shouted. At this, Sesshomaru froze. A part of him was shocked that the priestess had been right on point but another part of him was furious. His anger won over the surprise as he moved like the wind, landing silently behind her. He wrapped one arm around her waist, the other around her neck. He leaned over and placed his lips right at her ear making her shudder once more.

"Kagra, please tell me that you were not the person that made the jewel shard harm the priestess? Be careful how you answer. I'd hate to kill one of Naraku's better reincarnations," he hissed.

"Huh? What are you…talking about?" she choked. "I'd never…I don't know the priestess enough to truly hate her. If anything I respect her. She's…she's the only woman strong enough to stand up to that tyrant. If I tried to kill her then there'd be no one to kill him for me. I hate…I hate that bastard Naraku and Hakudoshi too," she cried. Sesshomaru loosened his grip as the woman in his arms began to cry.

"Kagra, stop that silly crying. I hate crying women." She apparently got the hint wiping her eyes immediately. She sighed as Sesshomaru continued to hold onto her.

"Now why exactly do I need to help my brother?"

"Well…it was Hakudoshi that used the jewel shard on Kikyo. He and that demon Shoji are working together. They plan to take down Naraku and then the priestess. Inuyasha and his friends are in the way, so they have enlisted the help of that Tsubaki woman to get rid of them."

"Did you say Tsubaki?" Kikyo had emerged from the cabin and was walking towards them. She smiled at Sesshomaru who quickly let go of Kagra.

"Why yes. You know of her?" Kagra asked.

"Unfortunately I do. Where is she and what is she up to?"

"Well at the moment she has instilled three shards into Kagome's neck. She's trying to make Inuyasha choose between saving his life or saving Kagome's. Quite naturally he's going to save her but I have to give that old biddy credit. She almost succeeded earlier when she made Kagome fire those arrows at Inuyasha. It was as if she were trying to…"

"Recreate the past," Kikyo finished. Damn that witch! She could have killed him! "Thank you Kagra."

"This is bad Kikyo. I think you should stay here and let me go check this out."

"I would agree my lord but…there's a barrier that even I can't get through. I'm not sure what's going on right now but Kikyo may be the only person that can break the barrier."

"She's right Sesshomaru. I have to go with you but maybe…maybe I can't get to her without being seen. So that demon Shoji…is he nearby?" Kikyo asked. I thought he was dead…

"I don't know. The plan was just to lure Inuyasha in range of the barrier so that Tsubaki could plant the jewel shards in her neck while Inuyasha was distracted by the demon horse Entei."

"Entei? The Entei?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Yeah and it's giving everyone hell."

"Kagra, I know that sometimes I seem ungrateful and all but I have to ask, does Naraku or Hakudoshi have any way of knowing that you're here?"

"Yes, Hakudoshi does but I've…found a way to keep him from seeing inside my heart. As long as I…think about good things such as love and focus all my energy on it, he can't see into my heart nor can he read my mind. Strange…I know," she said softly. "But it works pretty well on days like this."

"I see. Very smart," Kikyo noted. "Well, thank you Kagra but we'll take it from here. Please be careful," Kikyo said bowing. Kagra nodded her head and watched the priestess walk off towards the cabin. Only she and Sesshomaru remained outside.

"I guess I should thank you too Kagra," he said gruffly.

"That…won't be necessary. You spared my life. That's more than I could ask for."

"Very well," he replied. He started to walk off but then stopped shortly as he reached the porch steps. "You know Kagra, you should never give up hope. The things we want most in this world always find a way to us in the end as long as we act in the best interest of our hearts. Good day Kagra."

--XX--

"Tsubaki, that Kagome girl is resisting the spell. Are you that weak and pathetic?" Hakudoshi asked. "You know Naraku hates screw ups."

"Shut up you child. I know what I'm doing. Besides, if the priestess is still alive like you say she is, doesn't that mean you have more pressing matters to worry about?" Hakudoshi cut her an evil look before disappearing. Tsubaki turned her attention back to the sacred jewel. That damn Naraku. He sends an infant to do his dirty work but I'll show him. I'll show them all. Including that pathetic miko…Kikyo

"Tsubaki!" No…It can't be…Tsubaki turned around and found herself face to face with Kikyo. A half smile formed across her face.

"It's been a long time priestess. Tell me Kikyo, how does it feel to die?" she laughed.

AN: Ahh yes. The end is nearing. Maybe 5-6 chapters left. Depends on how long I make them. I have had quite the time writing this one and at one point I had quit writing it completely. But I am determined to contribute to the world of Inuyasha and I want Kikyo to be happy. (Poor thing.) Anyway, the next update will probably be after finals. I am having some issues in my life right now. More specifically, school, financial aid, ect. But I hope you stick around for the conclusion to this story. I can't promise that it will be great but I hope it will be to your liking.