Disclaimer//: Despite how much I would like to own Inuyasha, that pleasure is not mine to claim.

Author note: I was really proud of the last chapter and slightly disappointed in the reviews though extremely grateful to those who did review. By the way I was perfectly fine with the small anti Kikyou comments they weren't spiteful just matter-of-fact so it's okay. Thanks to all who reviewed and on to chapter 11.

When Good Mikos Go Bad

Chapter 11 Clearing Pathways

All was normal, if not stressful; everyone had been in deep thought since Inuyasha had gone off after Kikyo. Sango was fuming, yet oddly sympathetic towards the hanyou, half of her wanted to beat the crap out of him for choosing Kikyo over Kagome and the other half felt rather sorry that he had lost both the women he loved only to see them reanimated by his enemies. Shippou; once he stopped crying at the memories the situation dragged up, had been about ready to guilt and beat Inuyasha to the ground like only a sit could, eventually settling for grumbling insults. Miroku pitied the poor guy, and his troubles with the ladies, that much he could understand but not why his friend continued to go after his former even after he so obviously was distraught over Kagome's death.

The three companions sighed simultaneously; Shippou out of frustration, Sango out of pity and Miroku out of longing (he had just glanced to Sango's rear). This collective sigh was what Inuyasha walked, or rather ran, in on. "What's wrong with you people? Quit moping around we're moving again at first light." Three sets of shocked eyes looked up at him, not only was this the most he had spoken since the incident, but Inuyasha was never that happy.

Approaching cautiously, so as not to be killed by the suddenly bouynat hanyou Miroku stared seriously at Inuyasha. "What has gotten into you my friend, surely Lady Kikyo could not have changed your mood so suddenly." He thought for a moment, a lecherous smirk sliding into place, "Unless…you two…recon-"

SMACK

"Not everyone is a hentai like you monk," growled Inuyasha, sounding much more like his old self.

Shaking her head at the monk who was nursing the large lump on his head, Sango refocused her attention on Inuyasha. His face held more life than it had in over a month, his eyes were liquid gold instead of hardened amber; something had put life back into him. "Inuyasha what exactly did you and Kikyo talk about?" She wasn't sure she wanted to know, poor Kagome if she could see him she'd be heartbroken.

He seemed confused for a moment, then realizing what she was asking, he scoffed. "Don't matter we gotta go!" Completely pissed off at everyone's lack of understanding, a growl ripped from his throat, "Bakas don't you get it, Kagome's alive!" This wasn't exactly the reaction he had expected from them, violet cheering yes, moment of shock sure, but utter silence and sympathetic looks nope.

"Inuyasha…" Miroku paused looking for the right words, he couldn't really call the guy crazy and in denial for thinking Kikyo was Kagome, they might look alike but the two couldn't be more different. "Kagome-sama has not been seen since the cliff." It was like he was talking to a small child with a large head.

Inuyasha had similar thoughts about the monk's sanity; Can't this pervert understand anything that doesn't have to do with groping? "Well duh!" he snapped at the lecher, "that's why we've gotta go get 'er!"

While slayer and monk were wondering if those insane asyalims Kagome had mentioned would accept hanyous, Shippou was watching Inuyasha for any signs of lying. When he found but impatient hope Shippou's tail perked up. "How do you know Inuyasha?"

The addressed hanyou snapped his attention to the kitsune at his feet. "Her soul never went back to Kikyo." The explanation was soft but not even Kirara missed their significance.

"are you sure?" Sango hadn't realized just how much she hoped her suspicion was true. With a nod the inu hanyou confirmed all the chaotic thoughts mashing together into one worry filled collective thought for everyone present: We won't be the only one's looking for her.

"Oh there you are Kagome. I've been looking all over for you." The addressed miko turned to Tari with a smile. She hadn't been around the temple in a while; too much cluttering her mind. Most of which had to do with her lack of memory and that one regression. Archery practice calmed her nerves and she had recently taken to carrying a bow with her at all times.

"Gomen," she apologized, "I didn't mean to stay out so long." She gestured to the bow indicating she had lost track of time.

Tari rolled her eyes, but smiled with good humor. Tugging on her friend's arm lightly, leading her back to the temple. "You seem to be doing a lot of that lately, Kagome." The miko apprentice's voice was teasing yet held a note of concern beneath the surface. "If you keep going off on your own I night have to worry." The joke didn't sound as light-hearted as Tari had intended.

"You don't have to worry about me," Kagome soothed, "I am capable of taking care of myself you know."

Her kind smile and teasing comment was lost on Tari, "Kagome-chan…" Tari never used a tag with her, something was defiantly bothering her. "…its just that…" Kagome raised an eyebrow in question, urging her friend to continue. "…you always seem to attract trouble." She finished hurriedly.

There was a saturated pause until Kagome burst into laughter, clutching her side in giddy agony as she walked. "Me-hick- a danger-hick-magnet-hick-that's a-hick-understatement. As they walked along Kagome struggled to regain her breath, as Tari tried to keep Kagome from falling over.

Her patience was waning she rolled her eyes and whined, "Kaagoomee I'm serious, everyone seems to target you. The last three demons we slew never even looked at anyone else."

Kagome sobered slightly, looking at her seriously, Kagome hoped to Kami that Tari understood the next sentence, "Why would anyone want to hurt me? It's not like I have any enemies." She continued walking brushing off Tari's concern as paranoia.

"You don't know that." The words had an eerie ring to them. When Kagome didn't respond Tari figured she had gotten her point across and dropped the subject. "Come on, Marianne-sama called an emergency meeting, she requested your presence specifically."

"Why what's this all about?"

"Something about those jewel fragments you had when we found you." Tari waved her hand totally clueless and back into carefree mode, while Kagome fingered the vial around her neck. She had refused to hand it over to Marianne though she honestly didn't know why she was so protective of it, but she had a feeling that it would be big trouble if she gave up those shards to anyone, and she still didn't trust Marianne.

Author note//: I'm tired so I'll just leave you with a request for reviews. So REVEIW