AN: No time for author's note keep reading.

Disclaimer: No time for funny disclaimer you all know I own nothing.

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When Good Miko Go Bad

Chapter 24 Determination

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There had always been a deep rooted suspicion between them, one which had kept her on her toes but had also allowed things to escalate this far.Huh and I thought that we were doing so well making that pact. I guess I underestimated Marianne and the Elders too. Everything comes with a catch I guess this counts as one. Kagome looked down at her chest the blood spreading across her haori; it was oddly surreal watching her own life drain away. The shadows around her vision were expanding, narrowing her line of sight to the most sickening view she could imagine: Naraku's underarm. She could feel the evil hanyou's arm around her waist holding her to his side like a sack of potatoes. She had never hated someone before but she was positive that this man, if he could be called that, deserved every bit of that hate and more.

"Glaring at me won't do you any good little miko." His voice was so silky oil would just slide off, spreading an unpleasant chill down Kagome's spine.

I wish that I could see Inuyasha, I can't even sense him. Did he…-no- stop that he promised, no dying and so did you, so stop being morbid and figure a way out of this. Naraku effortlessly jerked on a piece of Kagome's bloody clothes tearing it off and triggering a spike in her chest pain that sent Kagome into a slightly less conscious state, one in which the pain was merely a dull throb and Naraku didn't exist.

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For someone who spent a whole lot of time waiting around for Kagome to return from another time period Inuyasha sure didn't have a grasp on time right then. He was practically blind as he raced through the forest, closely following the scent-trail of Kagome's blood that bastard Naraku had so thoughtfully left unmasked. With each pounding footstep the knowledge that he was running into a trap snaked its way deeper into his mind, but not deep enough to dissuade him from his goal. Kagome needed saving, Naraku needed killing that was all there was to it.

Time, as meaningless as it was to him, passed in a blur of trees and rage until Inuyasha cut into another clearing, this one too was stained with Kagome's blood. And there in the dead center of the ring of foliage was a torn shread of Kagome's kimono set out as if on display. For a moment his vision went red. Naraku was playing games with him, at Kagome's expense; the bastard was gonna pay.

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Her head throbbed uncomfortably, a dull ache reminding her that she'd recently lost consciousness, but that pain was better to focus on than the burning in her chest the tightness and heat that spread from the miniscule but deadly whole between her breasts. Lucky it didn't hit anything too important. Kagome groaned as she struggled to sit up right. "Oka?" The hesitant little squeak was so heart wrenchingly familiar that the fear in it seemed almost criminal.

"Shippou?" The wounded miko squinted through the darkness willing her eyes to adjust and find the young kitsune.

"Aaare you hurttt?" The intense shaking of the boy's voice was enough to indicate he already knew the answer.

"It's nothing." But that didn't mean she couldn't try to comfort him, despite her own voice's weakness. A pressure settled on her lap and little arms clung to her waist, careful of the injuries afflicting her. Gently Kagome placed her hand atop the head of red hair she knew was there, attempting to burrow into her stomach. "It's going to be alright Shippou; Inuyasha will come for us I'm sure of it."

A shaky nod against her abdomen was the only answer she received. Eyes now adjusted Kagome squinted around herself, examining her prison. Mounds she assumed were her other companions were huddled in groups, though Kagome could sense they were all unconscious. "Shippou what happened?"

The question prompted a very fast told story of laughter interrupted by some kind of weird smelling wind that caused everyone to drop. "And when I woke up it was dark and quiet and I was everyone was unconscious. But I think Marianne had something to do with it, I didn't smell anyone unfamiliar.

She took count of all the clouded auras and each of her companions' physical conditions, "Shippou I have a plan. Wake the others" her chest panged, "Tari and Sango first please."

"Right." The pressure vacated her lap and Kagome sensed Shippou creep over to the mounds one by one shaking her friends into consciuosness. All I have to do is buy some time and keep everyone alive. No pressure or anything. Inuyasha please hurry.

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"My lady I know it is not my place but…, I do not trust that Naraku." The name was spoken in contempt even as her head bent low in submission. Marianne fell to her knees as she appealed to Deichi-sama, "His treatment of you is poor and I shall admit that Kagome-dono and I do not share the same views but, this demon has not the honor to defeat his own enemies, and you were nearly killed because of it." All three elders remained silent as they looked upon the girl kneeling before their leader. "Lady Deichi as your senior apprentice I make an official recommendation, and as your loyal subordinate I beg of you, please break all ties with Naraku."

Deliberately the middle elder took two small steps forward, and reached down to lift Marianne's chin, forcing their eyes to meet. "Child, I shall do more than cut ties," the demon priestess smiled wickedly, "I shall cut down Naraku himself and take the Shikon no tama for the good of our priestesses, as I have always intended to do, and you my dear shall have your own shard to protect you from misfortune. Now rise."

Marianne smiled as she rose to her feet and bowed respectfully. "You are wisdom incarnate my lady my deepest apologies for doubting you." Dechi-sama so brilliant and powerful, as long as she is head priestess fortune is in our favor. And I will rule at her side always.

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"Kanna how are the preparations?"

"All things are completed."

"Excellent. And Inuyasha should be arriving any moment." Voice like curdled honey Naraku gave the final order that would set into motion the plan that had been months coming, "Show Inuyasha and Kagome the product of their medaling with the jewel ." Kanna drifted slowly backwards, "And Kanna do not forget to collect our prizes."

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"Everyone know the plan?" various responses in the affirmative were whispered around the room. "Good now all we have to do is wait and then when Inuyasha comes to rescue us we make our move."

"Hai!" echoed around the chamber softly. "But…" Tari eyed the dark stains on Kagome's clothing uneasily, "Kagome you're still not fully healed. I am not specialized in healing and that wound is serious, I am not sure my care will remain effective."

Kagome gave a sad smile, "It doesn't matter right now I can deal, and besides your treatment and Sango's medicine made me feel loads better." Shippou shifted uncomfortably at the lie but didn't oust his mother figure.

They were all restless, each one had been stripped of all weapons but that wasn't what was making them uneasy; Naraku hadn't bothered to tie them down or even bind their hands. The only precaution he seemed to have taken against their escape was a barrier around the doorway, though it wasn't very strong, even Shiri could have broken it if she truly tried. So why didn't they? That would be the very thing Naraku would expect them to do, he probably had a trap set for just that scenario, and above anything they didn't want to fall any farther into that despicable demon's trap.

So instead of bursting out fighting like they were all itching to do they sat or stood each dealing with their anxity in their own manner. Miroku was so still you could have mistaken him for a Buda statue, Sango paced the room on an alternate route from Tari, the two passing each other on every second rotation, Shiri and Shippou were cuddled up in Kagome's lap who was stroking their heads to keep from pulling out her own hair, Kiara was the only one who seemed to be keeping herself together with any manner of success simply laying curled up next Shippou and calmly licking her paws clean. It was if they were breathing solid air the tension was so thick, they didn't know how long until their plan would be implemented all they knew was that nothing was in their control, the best they could do was to be ready for whatever came next.

Turns out what came next was a shaft of light spilling in from the opening door. Instantly all movement ceased and seven pairs of eyes locked onto the figure illuminated in the doorframe. "Its time." A dreamy voice said as Kanna came into focus.

Both Miroku and Kagome stood up, the latter keeping hold of one of Shiri's hands and Shippou riding on her shoulder. "May I ask where you are taking us?" the monk said formally.

"To onee-sama." And she turned around and began walking down one of the halls of what must have been yet another mansion. Kagome nodded to the others and they followed behind the albino child, Miroku and Kiara taking the lead and Sango the rear, leaving Kagome and Tari in the protected center with the little ones.

Waiting three halls down was Kagura, who upon their approach stood up slightly against the wall she'd been leaning against. "Kanna report." The addressed gave a barely perceivable shake of her head. "Right, and now I have to babysit them." She sighed heavily and shrugged off the wall. "Damn Naraku giving us his dirty work." Kagura grumbled as she led them off into the bowels of the mansion, guiding them through the twist and turns without giving her path or her charges a second glance.

Everyone was thinking the same thing: So they're this confident we aren't a threat. The thought wasn't exactly comforting.

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The scents he was picking up were mocking him; traces of not only Kagome but Miroku and Shippou, Kiara, Sango and the other miko were merging as Inuyasha approached Naraku's current hideout. What's with all the damn mansions, it's not like the bastard needs guest rooms.

A slim white figure stood beside the entrance holding a silver mirror with both dainty hands. "Lord Naraku is waiting, this way please." Kanna turned around and walked into the house not bothering to check if Inuyasha was following or not. The hanyou was very suspicious sure he'd know the chances of a trap were nearly 10 out of 10 but this was just too weird, having one of his incarnations escort him, like this is some kinda damn tea party. Fists clenched he marched off after Kanna.

She led him through a series of hallways and sliding doors without hesitation and without speaking a word. The silence was bugging him. Inuyasha's sensitive ears strained for any sound of the mansion's inhabitants, say like prisoners, but came up empty; the only sound to be heard were his own footfalls.

The halls all looked the same: each a plain wooden tunnel that were seriously ticking him off. After what seemed like forever though it was probably more like ten minutes a light shown at the end of the tunnel. Kanna slide a last door open and stepped to the side, Inuyasha took that to mean he was supposed to go through. The light turned out to be the sun, Kanna had led him into some type of courtyard complete with a little pond and sakura trees and,… a huge cage? Okay not a tea party. Especially since his friends were being herded out towards the metal prison from the opposite end of the courtyard.

"Kagome" he yelled to her as she came into view, two children and a twin-tail holding onto her. She was unnaturally pale her breaths appeared subtly laborious but the bleeding had stopped or at least slowed if her scent was any indication. Forcefully Inuyasha was thrown back as his attempt to reach the group was thwarted by a barrier.

Tetsaiga was in his hand instantly, a second later it had turned blood red and second later the barrier was down. And in those few seconds across the courtyard all hell broke loose.

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A yell of "Kagome!" reached her ears at the same time Shippou tugged on her sleeve. She tried to yell back as her eyes sought Inuyasha but a scream escaped her lips instead when a purple tinged giant slammed a huge fist down right in front of her. The earth shook and Kiara transformed taking Shippou and Shiri into the air with her. Kagome looked up at the huge beast facing her, a tinge of recognition flitting in her mind. Anger laced with irritation hit her, "You pushed me off a cliff." She growled at the thing, sounding a great deal like Inuyasha. Anger aside she kept her head enough to yell, "Miroku, Sango, Tari" She heard rather than saw the others move into position flanking the onslaught of demons and incarnations flooding the courtyard from all directions. Tari passed by behind her and slipped something into her hand slightly without breaking pace. Excellent everyone's in place, let's show Naraku he's not the only one who can come up with a plan. Now we just have to make sure Inuyasha understands. I hope he catches on.

The barrier broke, miko, youkai, hanyou, taijiya and houshi launching into combat, and all hell was unleashed.
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I know its short again and after you all waited so long. I promise e the next one won't take two months and everything will be revealed then. 24 down 2 to go.