A/N: Time for the next chapter! ^_^ Hope you enjoy and disclaimers! ALSO! Part of this chapter was based off my favorite poem! Invictus!

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Inuyasha cursed as he slammed into a massive and dark barrier, his golden eyes filing with fury. "Damn that bastard," he spat, throwing himself at it again and again, attempting to get inside. "Sesshomaru! Miroku! What the hell are you two just standing around here for?!"

"There's no use, Inuyasha," Miroku groaned, shoving his hand through his hair. "We can't break this barrier. This is a powerful but thin one. Magatsuhi put this one up on purpose."

Inuyasha snarled, throwing himself at the barrier once again as he spat, "I don't care, just help me get through it! Kagome's in there, I have to get to her! Now!" He whirled on Sesshomaru. "What if it was Rin, huh? Would you just stand there like that and say it's no use?"

Sesshomaru growled irritably. "I'd prefer if you stopped using Rin as an example. My mate is not the one who chose to go with Magatsuhi."

Inuyasha glared at him, his lip curled in a feral look. "Just shut it and help me!"

"Inuyasha," Miroku snapped, crossing his arms as he gave the desperate half-demon a firm look. "I understand you're worried about Kagome. But we need to top and think logically. Does Kagome even want to be with you at the moment?"

Inuyasha's gaze dropped. "…no," he murmured, his tone cracking for a moment as the fierce half-demon's temper faded. But then it rose again and he growled, "But she's my mate. I went to hell and back to be with her and I'm not giving up now, Miroku. You guys got to have your happy little ending. It's about fucking time I had mine."

Sesshomaru tilted his head as he listened to his brother and watched as he turned back to the barrier. Finally, he stepped forward, narrowing his eyes into slits. "Use your Tetsusaiga if you are so desperate as to kill yourself to get to the stupid girl that doesn't even want you."

Inuyasha scowled at his wording, but slowly removed his sword from its sheathe, watching as it transformed. The Tetsusaiga gave a pulse, quivering in the half-demon's grasp before suddenly shifting its color, slowly becoming a bright red. Inuyasha blinked in surprise as the air around it glowed. "What…?"

"This is the barrier breaking Tetsusaiga," Sesshomaru said slowly, his eyes locked on the blade he had long ago wished to possess. His own hand touched the hilt of his Bakusaiga. "This is the blade that will break any barrier that is formed."

Inuyasha lifted it, inspecting the red blade. Then he gave a huge grin to his half-brother. "Thanks, Sesshomaru. Now to get inside…." Inuyasha raised the sword, golden eyes smothering with anger, and swung it, watching as it crashed into the barrier, followed by a huge flash of red light…

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Kagome forced her eyes open as the pain disappeared from her head and a hand rested on her shoulder. Her eyes were dull from exhaustion and pain. All she really wanted to do was lay there and perhaps even die, but that obviously wasn't going to happen.

She'd said so many terrible things in the last few weeks; all to the man she loved because she couldn't remember him. She'd been so selfish! She told him she never wanted to be with him, even if she did have her memories. She'd told him to stay away from her. And all Inuyasha had wanted was to help her! What had she been thinking?!

Now all she wanted was too curl up in Inuyasha's arms and sleep away her mistakes and painful words. She wanted to apologize to him and the others. She wanted to be where she belonged, at Inuyasha's side.

Tears began to stream down her face.

She wanted to be where she belonged.

She wanted to be at home. Beside Inuyasha with him to protect her and love her, where she could do the same.

But right now, that certainly wasn't possible. Especially with Magatsuhi's evil grin and his hand nearly taking off her shoulder.

"Get off of me," she rasped, pink sparks flying up from her skin.

Magatsuhi's eyes lit with triumph as he recognized the defeat in hers. "I win," he mumbled to himself, fisting his hand in Kagome's hair and hauling her to eye level, ignoring her cry of pain as he whispered to her, his breath whisking across her ear and making her shudder in disgust, "I told you you would be punished if you did not listen and obey my words. It's time for your punishment to begin."

Kagome scowled at him, her eyes sparking with defiance. "You can beat me," she said in a shaky voice, "but you won't break me, Magatsuhi." Her tone became stronger as she spoke. "I've survived many things even though I was brought back to life." She smiled slightly, caressing the Mark of Intent on her wrist. She could sense the aura of the owner of the bite nearby, and his aura flared up when she touched it. "And I'm not going to die just to prove a point to Inuyasha."

Magatsuhi snarled, throwing her down with a furious growl. This was not supposed to be what happened! She was supposed to cringe in fear, beg for forgiveness! Not challenge him! She was supposed to return her heart to him, her memories! His rage bubbled up and the demon snarled, kicking her away from him with a harsh blow.

Kagome groaned in pain as a snap echoed out. Ribs had snapped.

Kagome, through her pain as blood streamed down her face from a wound that had appeared on her head, glared at Magatsuhi, otherwise calm. "Give it your best," she challenged, her eyes glowing with a knowing look. "You can't kill me, because I know you need my powers for some reason. But Inuyasha will be coming, I know he will."

Her answer was a blow to the face. Kagome cried out in pain, her hands flying up to cup it as Magatsuhi tore his claws from the side of her face. Large gashes now ran down the right side of her face, heavily bleeding and just narrowly missing her eye. "Watch me," he spat, "Just watch me tear you apart slowly to die a slow and painful death with that half-breed out there to hear your screams."

Kagome's eye flashed with a brief moment of fear before hardening with determination. "Go ahead. I won't scream." Her hand was covering her injured face, one eye screwed shut.

Magatsuhi gritted his teeth in fury, lashing out once again. "You stupid bitch," he snarled, smirking as her blood's scent heavily filled the air. He lifted her wrist, examining the Mark on it as she struggled, weakly, to pull away. "Oh, really…"

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"Who the hell puts up this many barriers?" Inuyasha snarled as he broke through his third one. Sesshomaru and Miroku kept close to him, just in case he was ambushed.

"Magatsuhi does," Miroku retorted sarcastically.

"No shit," Inuyasha snarled back. His ears flattened as a sharp cry of pain rang out in the air. To his shock, Sesshomaru cringed beside him. Inuyasha began hacking away with new fury, his eyes smothering angrily as the scent of blood filled the air.

Suddenly, pain like no other ran through him. With an uncharacteristic cry, the half-demon crumpled to the ground. Sesshomaru grunted eyes wide and Miroku jumped in surprise. Inuyasha writhed on the ground and Sesshomaru gave a curse, snarling, "The demon is messing with the Mark of Intent."

Kagome's own screams filled the air a moment later and Miroku groaned, slamming his hands over his ears. "Damn it!"

Suddenly Inuyasha was on his feet, throwing himself violently at the barrier, his eyes a violent blood red as he snarled, his cheeks streaked with violet. His lips had curled back into a vicious snarl.

"He's gone full demon," Miroku whispered, full of shock. "He's full demon and is still holding his sword. How?!"

Sesshomaru said slowly, "He has gone full demon, but he wishes to protect his human mate. The sword is cooperating with his youkai side for that purpose."

Miroku nodded slowly, watching as Inuyasha gave another vicious shriek and threw himself at the barrier, his Tetsusaiga easily slicing through it. To Miroku's horror, they were met by pure silence. Sesshomaru stiffened beside him. "Blood," the demon murmured, his eyes actually showing shock for once. "A lot of it."

Inuyasha flew past them, and Miroku and Sesshomaru easily followed. What had happened?

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Sango bit her lip nervously, glancing at her friend. "Rin, shouldn't they be home by now?"

Rin waved her off from where she was changing Miki's diaper. "Not necessarily. They may have encountered a tougher defense then they thought, or Inuyasha may have gone full demon. You have to think of all of the possibilities, Sango."

Sango shuddered at what filtered into her mind. "I hope they're alright. I hope they've rescued Kagome, too, but I don't want Miroku dead trying to save a dead person."

"Sango!" Rin gasped, her eyes going wide with shock at what Sango had said. "How could you say such a thing?"

Sango bit her lip, replying softly, "He showed me. He showed me what he wanted to do to her, Rin, when he got a hold of her. It was the spell he did on me in the hospital. I was…I just…" she wiped at her face quickly as tears appeared. "It was horrible. There's no way she could survive. Rin, he planned to mess with her Mark of Intent, as well as tear her limb from limb. There's no way she could live."

The older woman gritted her teeth angrily. "Sesshomaru-sama got there in time," she said firmly, eyes flashing, not even realizing she was using her old title for the demon, the one she had used when they first met. "Sesshomaru-sama wouldn't let that happen.

"Sesshomaru-sama will save her, even if she is dead."

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Inuyasha slammed through a metal door, scaring Miroku. He'd seen his best friend angry, but not angry enough to go through steel. But Kagome was on the other side of this wall and damn it, he wanted his Kagome!

Inuyasha was beyond enraged. He could smell the heavy scent of blood as it clouded the air, threatening to choke him, drown him in its stench. Inuyasha's ears pressed themselves against his head and his blood red eyes slowly began to return to their golden hue as the pain that had flooded through him faded.

He tore through another wall, not bothering to see if Miroku and Sesshomaru were with him as he clenched his hand around his sword, eyes narrowed dangerously.

Finally, he reached her.

His eyes widened in shock.

Kagome had obviously been tossed to the ground in the unnatural position she lay in. Blood streamed from gashes that lined the right of her face and a scratch above her eyebrow. A bruise was slowly forming along one cheek bone. Her chest seemed to have an unnatural shape, and her hands were completely covered in blood from holding the wound that now ran down her torso.

At first, he thought she was dead, but then he saw her deformed chest rising and falling faintly.

Inuyasha leaped to her side, dropping Tetsusaiga beside him as his eyes filled with a pained relief.

She was alive.

Inuyasha gingerly stroked her bruised cheek, grimacing at the gashes lining her other cheek. "Kagome?" He murmured.

Kagome stirred, blinking open dulled eyes. She looked at him for a moment, and then gave a faint smile. "Inuyasha," she rasped, struggling to sit up but unable to. Inuyasha gently pinned her, eyes gentle.

"Stay down," he ordered, giving a small rumble of appreciation when she weakly touched his cheek. "We'll get you home and to a hospital."

Kagome smiled slightly, giving a rueful smile. "Hopefully in time this time, eh?" she joked, closing her eyes as she leaned into his hand.

Inuyasha frowned in confusion until Kagome told him, "Idiot." Her voice was raspy. "Even after being with me for so long you still don't know when I'm joking."

Inuyasha stared at her for another few moments, and then blinked as it dawned on him. He broke into a huge grin, lowering his face to hers, and gently pressing his lips to her forehead as his eyes gleamed. "You remembered," he whispered.

She replied with a weak laugh, her breath coming out in short pained gasps. "Yep."

"Inuyasha," Miroku said, gasping for air as he bent over, hands on his knees. "Do not just run off like that- oh. Hey there, Kagome."

Kagome smiled slightly. "Hey, 'Roku."

Sesshomaru appeared his eyes as cold and emotionless as flint as always. "Magatsuhi has fled," he said slowly, glancing at Kagome and nodding a brief greeting.

"Doesn't surprise me," Miroku noted, shoving a hand through his hair. "Despite the fact that he is powerful, he cannot stand against the Tenseiga."

"…what does that have anything to do with Kagome?" Inuyasha said, bewildered as he stood, holding a cringing Kagome tightly in his arms, careful so that he wouldn't hurt her even more.

Kagome answered for his half-brother, her eyes dulled with pain. "Magatsuhi- damn it, Inuyasha, loosen your arms. You're crushing me. Magatsuhi isn't exactly alive. He's a youkai's spirit, formed from the Shikon no Tama."

"So he cannot be defeated by the Tetsusaiga," Miroku murmured thoughtful. "I wish I had my Wind Tunnel…"

Kagome shook her head, her eyes firm despite the pain she felt. "No, Miroku, that wouldn't be able to stop him either." She faltered, her hands clenching into fists in Inuyasha's shirt as she groaned. "Can we talk about this later please?" she pleaded. "I hurt all over and my face feels like it's on fire."

Inuyasha shot a dark look at Miroku, kissing her forehead with a gentle look on his face. "Of course. You can tell us after you're healed. Come on." Not waiting to see what Miroku and Sesshomaru would say, he turned and walked towards the exit.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"We're back!"

Sango glanced at Rin, who looked anxiously back at her.

"Did you find Kagome?" Sango called, wiping the water off of her hands and hurrying out of the kitchen. She sighed in relief when she saw that her husband was alright. She threw her arms around his neck and he grinned, kissing her deeply before replying, resting his forehead against hers, "Yes, we got Kagome back. We have a surprise for you two as well, but that will be for Kagome-"

"Kagome has regained her memories," Sesshomaru said as he ducked in, grunting as Rin squealed and threw herself at him.

Sango beamed, obviously ecstatic as Miroku glared at him and muttered, "Surprise…."

"Where is Kagome?" Rin asked, becoming worried. Sesshomaru looked away at her question, obviously not willing to answer his mate's question.

Miroku rolled his eyes, replying, "Magatsuhi made sure to do some things to her. Inuyasha took her to the hospital. I'm going after him, you need to stay here and take care of the twins."

Sango's face paled as she looked up into his face, her eyes swimming with anxiety. "Is she going to…?"

"No," Miroku replied, though he looked uncertain. "He got her to the hospital this time, and the damage was bad, but not as bad as last time."

"Good," Sango breathed, kissing him again. "I'm happy you four are safe. Now, go find Inuyasha and tell me about Kagome's injuries, kay?" She gave him a final kiss, and then turned away, heading to track down the wailing Hotaru, who had just announced she was starving.

Miroku longingly watched her rear as she walked away, and then sighed, swinging his keys as he ducked outside again. "I'll call with news."

Rin blinked, giving a smile as she pecked Sesshomaru on the cheek. "Come on, you," she told him, tugging him towards the kitchen. "You can help me with dinner. And no poisoning your brother's food this time."

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Kagome rested her head back on the pillow with a grimace of pain as she shifted.

It had been a few hours since they'd gotten to the hospital and she already wanted to tear the stitches out of her face. Inuyasha was outside the room, unable to join her as he was being questioned by police. Kagome frowned. Everyone thought he was the one that had hurt him!

Kagome glared as a youkai cop ducked inside, eyes troubled as he sat in the chair beside her. "Hello, Miss Higurashi."

Kagome narrowed her eyes, remaining silent.

The cop continued with a sigh, noting the fact that Kagome was not happy about the development that was occurring. "I had a few questions for you-"

Kagome interrupted, eyes flashing as she snapped, "Inuyasha wasn't the one who hurt me. I keep telling you guys, it was that guy, Magatsuhi. He black mailed me, and then almost killed me. Inuyasha would never hurt me!"

"Are you sure?" He asked gently. "Mr. Takahashi appears to be the cause of most of the times you've been in here-"

"All from Naraku," Kagome interrupted again, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Now get out, let Inuyasha in, and look for the real bastard."

The cop blinked in surprise but stood. "I'm afraid Mr. Inuyasha is already under arrest-"

Kagome panicked, her eyes widening. "You have to let him in!" she gasped, struggling to get to her feet. "I swear! I swear on my life it wasn't him! It was Magatsuhi! Let him go, please!"

The demon studied her, and then sighed, turning away. "Alright, alright, calm down. I'll let him go, but only because I like you, Miss Higurashi." He ducked out of the room.

A moment later, Inuyasha ducked in, growling slightly as he rubbed his wrists, sitting on the bed beside Kagome with a pout. "Stupid police. They put on the miko charged cuffs."

Kagome carefully tugged him down to her, hiding her face in his neck as he lovingly kissed her forehead. Kagome shuddered and Inuyasha frowned, confused until he realized she had started to sob. "Kagome," he murmured, soothingly running his hand through her freshly cleaned hair.

Kagome sniffled, closing her eyes as she whimpered softly. "I'm sorry," she croaked, quivering. Inuyasha soothingly stroked her head, smiling gently at her. "I said so many things…"

"Stupid wench," Inuyasha retorted with a smirk. "That wasn't you that was some other Kagome that I never want to see again." He growled softly, hoping to reassure her.

Kagome gave a choked laugh, raising her face to his and lightly kissing him for a moment. She caressed his cheek and he leaned it into her hand, breathing a small sigh. Kagome giggled, giving a watery smile. "So," she said jokingly, "We have some things to do, don't we."

"Hell yeah we do," Inuyasha growled back with a grin, nuzzling her forehead. "We have to decide what to do with Magatsuhi, and then we are going to be planning a wedding."

Kagome's eyes sparkled, and she gave him another kiss. Inuyasha returned the kiss, and then pulled back, laughing when Kagome pouted, telling her, "Kagome, you're hurt right now. Once you're better, I'll give you a proper kiss, got it?"

Kagome sighed but nodded. "Okay." She frowned for a moment, and then relaxed, giving a yawn. "I'm going to sleep then. I'm- what are you doing?"

Inuyasha had picked up her wrist to examine it, his eyes darkening with anger when he saw the cut that had been torn through it. He gently kissed her wrist, murmuring, "Damn that bastard to the deepest pits of hell…"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "I'm still yours, and you're still mine," she reassured him, her eyes gentle. "I still don't appreciate the Mark of Intent though, Inuyasha. No more of that, got it?"

Inuyasha chuckled, kissing her head and standing up. "Fine. No more Mark until you're my mate. Then you'll have to have a Mark." His eyes gleamed.

Kagome smiled back. She tugged him closer to her again, and then brushed her lips against his. "Love you."

Inuyasha smiled softly, his ears pricking and his eyes sparkling with the first true happiness he'd had for over a year. "I love you, too, Kagome."

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

A/N: Hope you enjoyed!