~Freak Attraction~

Chapter 11: A Grave of Bone and Fur

Waking up felt just as it had for the past couple of weeks. He was all senses; ears listening for danger, nose sniffing for foes, muscles tensing and flexing to test their strength, eyes closed as he took inventory of his surroundings. Beneath him was a bed of some sort, stiff but not the metal of his cage, with an overwhelmingly pleasant smell that he couldn't yet place. He could sense a demon beside him, but it was docile: a cat from the smell, its aura calm, making a contented purring sound. It wasn't a danger to him. There were humans around him too, but they didn't seem to notice he had awoken. Last was a fox demon, who smelled vaguely familiar. His brow furrowed as he inhaled the scent deeper, his mind working overtime to place the musty scent of dirt and embers. Suddenly along with the smell came a name: Shippo. The fox's name was Shippo.

It took a moment for the realization to process, but Inuyasha's eyes shot open as he registered what he had thought. He remembered Shippo! He was thinking! He hadn't experienced thoughts like this since the new moon! His mind previously had been filled only with smells and sounds and reactions; if there were enemies, he killed them. If he was hungry, he ate. If he found something pleasant, he kept it close and guarded it fiercely. Only now he had the understanding to back his actions up.

Silently reveling in his newfound presence of mind, Inuyasha focused on deciphering the pleasing smell of the mat beneath him and found his head suddenly filled with his favorite fragrance: Kagome! Turning his face slightly from his position on his stomach, Inuyasha inhaled deeply, trying to read the story the smells were telling him. She had been lying here for what seemed to be days; her scent was deep into the fabric. And there was a faint metallic smell of blood which instantly set Inuyasha on edge. What had happened to make her bleed? Why hadn't he been there to prevent it? His brows creased as he tried to remember what had happened; he had vague recollections of the smells and sights he had catalogued recently, but he couldn't yet place them with events or people.

The humans in the tent were talking, and not having any other answers, he turned his attention to them.

"You mean… he didn't kill her?"

"Well, he injured her alright, but… Miroku, you wouldn't believe it! He stopped and then… he smelled her!"

From the lingering odor of blood he could pick up from his claws, Inuyasha guessed he was the topic of their conversation, and from the familiarity of the blood, Kagome had been his victim. His heart seized in fear for a moment, not remembering why he had attacked her or what had been the outcome, but luckily, the humans kept talking.

"Smelled her? What do you mean?"

"I mean just that! He smelled her – like a dog! He didn't even try attacking or fighting her after she fell, even though her blood was all over him! I thought for sure he'd go after her with how hurt she was, but… it was like her blood made him hold off! He was practically all over her smelling her and then… I almost couldn't believe my eyes, but the girl kissed him!"

The man made a noise between a laugh and a gasp, and the woman he was speaking with continued "I know! And what's even crazier is that it turned him back! His demon markings vanished and his aura went back to normal."

Inuyasha lay in stunned silence as he listened, snippets of memory combining in his mind to paint a picture of the past evening in his head. He remembered now: Kagome had been fighting him in the arena, or rather… he had attacked her, and all she had done was defend. He could see her determined face, feel the sting of her barrier, but… not once had she tried to hurt him. From what he could remember of his own attitude, he had showed her no mercy. He remembered raking his claws through her skin, then the sweet smell of her blood had met his nose and… his reaction had changed. He no longer wanted to tear her apart; he wanted her closer. The lingering smell of demon had made him pause, but then it had vanished and he'd been overcome by her scent as he'd moved in to investigate. She had been familiar, an oasis of calm and comfort, and Inuyasha was eternally grateful that whatever state he'd been in, he had known enough not to kill her.

His heart raced a bit as he remembered the next part: her kiss. What a foolish girl she'd been to do that… a foolish, wonderful, absolutely crazy woman. 'She's so strange…' Inuyasha thought to himself, trying to keep his lips from turning up into a smirk as he remembered how warm her own lips had been, and how roughly they'd pressed against his.

The woman's words cut through his pleasant musings like a knife as she said in a rush "But the ringmaster tore them apart with his webs, and dragged Kagome away. I… I figured Naraku would be preoccupied for a while, so… I cut him down from the webs with Hiraikotsu, and Kirara caught him before he could hit the ground. I don't know if it's safe to have him around, but Kagome and Shippo insist he's alright. I know it was risky, but… I'm tired of playing it safe! This could be our only chance!" The excitement in her voice reached a crescendo, and Inuyasha could hear her heartrate quicken as well. She paused though, as if collecting herself, and then continued in a more subdued tone "As we were escaping I was worried we might be followed, but that's when Kagura showed up and gave back Kohaku. I don't know what her motives were, but she seemed in a hurry to get away. I think she's leaving, which is good news for us."

The man made a humming sound as he took in what the woman had said, then responded "It could be good… but then again it could mean we're in more danger than we realize. It does seem that things are working out in our favor though. I agree, we should make our move tonight. We'll have to move quickly, but if we give it our best, we should be able to make it out with everyone."

There was a pause, and suddenly the woman's voice spoke up quietly "What about the half-demon?"

Growling, Inuyasha sat up, leaving the comforting scent of Kagome on his blankets to grind out angrily "What about the half-demon?" He didn't know who these people were, or why they had rescued him, but there was one important thing he did know: Kagome was in danger, and they were just sitting around discussing it. Well he wouldn't. He was going to act.

Turning his eyes to the humans, he saw a woman with long brown hair gasp, the man seated next to her wearing monk's robes springing to his feet. Inuyasha's vision was suddenly obscured as a ball of orange fluff flew at his face to grasp him around the neck, a high voice ringing over and over in his ears "Inuyasha! Inuyasha, you're alive! You're alive!" He didn't quite know how to react at first; he hadn't been expecting a warm welcome. As Shippo continued to cling to him though, he felt a smile edging onto his face, and reluctantly he reached up to pluck the kit off him, holding him before his face and saying in a rough voice "Happy to see you too, squirt, but we ain't got time for reunions."

Shippo's excited face suddenly turned distressed, his little hands balling into fists as he cried "That's right! Inuyasha, the Ringmaster has Kagome!"

"I know runt" Inuyasha said brusquely, setting the fox down beside him and rising onto his feet, "and we're gonna get her back."

"What do you propose?"

It was the man in the black and purple robes speaking, his expression serious and posture tense. Inuyasha remembered hearing about this human: the comedic monk who performed alongside a raccoon-dog. The half-demon frowned at him, not quite trusting the circus worker even though they appeared to be on the same side. "What, you bunch been sitting on your hands this whole time waiting for me? Don't have the backbones to save someone on your own, do you?"

The woman glared at him, shouting back in a fiery tone "And just who do you think it was who saved you from those webs? How about a little gratitude?!"

Inuyasha sneered; he was in no mood to put up with bossy humans at the moment. Luckily, the monk stepped in, saying in placating tones "Actually, we have been waiting for you. You're our best chance of finding and saving Miss Kagome, and the hope is that once we accomplish our mission, we won't be coming back here. We need to stay together."

"Inuyasha," Shippo spoke up softly from his spot beside the half-demon, "Miroku and Sango are real good friends of me and Kagome. I know they'll do their best to help us save her!"

Shippo's trusting words weren't lost on the half-demon, but he was still too riled up to give in just yet. Scoffing, he said "Oh sure, lot of good that's gonna do. What help are a couple of useless humans going to be? They haven't been able to get themselves out, have they?"

"Now now Inuyasha," Miroku said, his tone scolding, "Don't forget, you're part 'useless human' yourself."

With a snort Sango said brusquely "Don't coddle him Miroku. He's not human, he's just a stubborn –"

"Whatch it, circus-chump" Inuyasha growled out, his tone dangerous and claws flexing.

"I wasn't going to say 'halfbreed'" Sango continued in annoyance, though the term was said with obvious distaste, "I was going to say ass because that's what you're being."

"Why you little-" Inuyasha cracked his knuckles, and Sango started forward, ready for a fight, before being restrained by Miroku who said calmingly "Sango dearest, this is no time for petty arguments. Why not try directing that anger somewhere more productive?" Sango's scowling face quickly turned into embarrassed shock and then livid anger as the hand holding her back suddenly drifted lower to meet with her bottom, and with a sharp slap to Miroku's face she bellowed "This is NOT the time for that, you LECH! I can't believe you!" And with that she stormed out of the tent, the demon cat following at her heels and Miroku following after her with his eyes. Inuyasha, who had been quite stunned by not only Sango's frightening display of anger but by the monk's idiocy, could only stare in shock at the now smiling circus clown rubbing at his cheek. As if sensing his gaze, Miroku turned to him and said casually, as though he wasn't sporting a red handprint on his face, "We'd better move out now, while Sango's feeling ready to fight. Don't take too long, or she'll be directing her anger at you again." With those words he followed the woman and demon outside into the night, leaving Inuyasha to wonder if the strange man had had other motives to his groping.

Inuyasha was jostled from his musings at a slight tap on his arm, and looked down to see Shippo beside him, beaming and holding a bundle of cloth and a familiar wooden scabbard. Another rush of memory hit Inuyasha as he reached for the sword with an excited cry of "Tetsusaiga!" before he pulled the blade from the sheath and saw the blunt break in the metal.

"It's still broken" Shippo said sadly, but he smiled again as he continued "But I gathered all the pieces! They're all in there, and even though you can't really use it now, I thought you'd want to have it anyways." Inuyasha nodded, not responding as he didn't want Shippo to hear the disappointment in his voice. It wasn't the kit's fault; the kid had actually done well. It was that damn monkey, and boy would he pay. Turning back to the bundle Shippo held, Inuyasha realized it was the clothing he'd gotten back at his old village: the leather shirt and his mother's coat. Carefully he took them from the fox-demon, unraveling them and checking them over. Seeing the red Happi coat in such good condition after what it'd been through, Inuyasha gave Shippo an appreciative smile, and the little boy practically bounced on his heels at the wordless praise. Quickly donning his shirts and tucking his useless sword at his side, Inuyasha started towards the tent flap, but Shippo's squeaky voice cut him off as he called out "Wait; there's one more thing."

Looking back quizzically, Inuyasha watched the little fox pull a very tattered and dirty strip of red cloth from the folds of his coat. He could barely recognize the item from its appearance, but upon catching a faint trace of Kagome's scent from the tattered thing, there was no mistaking what he was seeing: Kagome's ribbon. "I uh… wasn't sure you'd want it anymore, since it's not in very good condition" Shippo said in sheepish tones, "but after I found it by your cage, I figured I'd at least ask."

Inuyasha didn't say anything as he strode forward and quickly but carefully plucked what was left of the ribbon from the fox's small hands. Tucking it into his own coat, Inuyasha paused and reached down to warmly ruffle the little demon's mess of orange hair before slipping outside into the darkness, Shippo following close on his heels.

"At last…" Naraku crooned, his eyes full of wild excitement though he made no other move, "At last I have you back, Kikyo."

The shimmering, nearly opaque form of the priestess frowned at the Ringmaster, and in a hollow, echoing voice she said sternly "I was never yours to call on, Onigumo."

A smirk lit his face as Naraku responded "Is that what you think Kikyo? Tell me, who gathered your bones? Who brought back your soul? And who do you think is giving you power right now to speak?"

Kikyo's lips pursed as she glared at him. She willed her feet to move, wanting nothing more than to wipe the smirk from his twisted face, but her ghostly limbs were unresponsive. Glancing down, she saw her body almost fully reformed. She had no flesh or blood - she was little more than an imprint of old memories drudged up by her former soul – but she had power. Her false body was more than strong enough to house her purifying abilities, and if she let herself take the risk, she could destroy this man.

However, the longer she stood, the more she could feel her power draining. Her thin brows furrowed in frustration; something was wrong. With her reincarnation close by, her spiritual power should have all returned, but it was as if something were leeching her energy before she could use it. Although she continued to materialize, her power was being diverted. Looking closely at Naraku, Kikyo finally noticed the almost invisible trails of web stretching from his hands to the bones tied to his coat – tied with spider webs.

"Do you see now Kikyo?" He said in a low, dangerous tone, "Your powers are mine to control – you owe this existence all to me." He smirked in response to her deep frown, saying boastfully "No one else would have dared bring back the reincarnation of Midoriko."

"Everyone else knew better" she quipped, her gaze hard and unwavering. "You should have known better Onigumo. Were you taught no respect when you lived in my village?"

"Respect" he spat, his expression livid, "You may think highly of your little outcast village, Priestess, but it was never the haven you wanted it to be. You let the scum of society gather and mingle in one place, and expected them to suddenly grow a conscience? You're a fool."

"I never expected them to change; I merely sought to give everyone a second chance. If you remember, Onigumo, I gave you a second chance as well – one you chose not to take."

Naraku scoffed, his fingers controlling the webs tensing as he said in mocking tones "Don't pretend to be so naïve. Did you honestly believe your purifying powers would have been strong enough to 'fix' me back then?" He barked out a laugh, "Heh, what am I saying? Of course you did! You were Kikyo! The village guardian! Untouchable, incorruptible… uncontrollable. Your mistake was to assume that everyone else thought that as well."

"So why bring me back?" Kikyo started harshly, her will struggling in a tug-of-war against his, "If I was really so far beneath you, why go to all this trouble? You've spent years robbing my grave and researching dark magic in order to set this all up; you even joined yourself with demons in an attempt to gain power." The apparition gave him a calculating stare, the artificial color of her eyes growing darker with each word. "For what purpose though? My powers are pure. You can't use them."

Naraku's predatory smile made the priestess pause, and in a voice dripping with wicked delight said "All that's pure can be tainted. You're not as immune as you aspire to be." Her eyes creased in a frown and he laughed, the sound chilling the winter air around them even further as he continued "really though Kikyo… you've been privy to my plans for quite some time now. I know you would have me believe that you've been dormant in those cracked bones all this time, but you forget that we've met before. Even though I was just a young man, I've never forgotten the feel of you. Did you really think I wouldn't notice your aura reaching out to that girl?"

Kikyo glanced behind her at Kagome, lying motionless and glassy-eyed in her shallow grave of fur and bones, and a look of guilt passed over the ghost's face. Naraku didn't miss the expression, and his eyes filled with smug triumph. "That's right Kikyo" he said softly, comfortlessly, "you led her here to her death and you know it as well as I. I did nothing but reunite the two of you."

Her face contorted in outrage, but her voice still held its composure as she responded "Are you suggesting I wanted this to happen? That I would actually wish to take a human life?"

Naraku shrugged, but he was grinning as he replied "I really don't have to suggest anything; you know it all already. But I will say this: whether you wanted to do it or not, the choice ultimately came down to you, and you chose to take back your soul."

His barbs and taunts were getting to her, and they both knew it. Spiritual aura swirled around her as she tugged at her shared soul once more, and for a moment she felt Naraku's hold waiver. With chilling realization Kikyo tugged a little harder, the soul pulling further from the unconscious girl on the ground and disintegrating a few of the connecting webs. The fluctuation in power did not go unnoticed though, and Naraku nearly laughed at her as he said "by all means, keep struggling; do what you know you need to and separate from the girl. You've got a soul and power and enough of a physical form to take me on. What does it matter to you if she dies?"

"She won't die."

He chuckled in the face of her stoic demeanor, saying carelessly "You're welcome to test that theory at your leisure. The longer you remain undecided, the more power I'll drain from the both of you. Her life is inconsequential; she will die either way. You however have a choice: stay as you are and let me absorb your power until you are completely under my control," he paused, the skin around his dark red eyes crinkling in the imitation of a smile, "or take back what was always yours and face me alone."

A stream of spider webs appeared then, doubled in volume from what had disintegrated, rewrapping the bones and pulling with even more force at the spiritual energy. Kikyo grit her teeth as she felt Naraku's efforts increase, and his words rang in her head. It was against her nature to risk human life, but her state of living death had made things fuzzy… if she did nothing then all hope for either of them would be lost. If she fought back now, while her will was still strong enough, it was likely she could defeat Naraku and still have time to return the young woman's soul before her body decayed. And if she was unable to save the girl… at least that monster would be gone, and no one else would have to suffer.

Her first tug at the soul was met with strong resistance, and Kikyo paused, refocusing her thoughts and feelings on Kagome, trying to communicate her intentions. Her message made it through, but the resistance only increased. Pulling more forcefully, Kikyo almost gasped as she was hit by an unexpected wave of the girl's power. It was stronger than she had anticipated, and for a moment her resolve wavered.

"What's wrong Kikyo?" Naraku jeered from before her, head low and body tense, as if expecting an attack, "Have you given up already? Decided it was better to serve me than to fight?"

Rosy charges of energy sizzled and cracked around the figure of the ancient priestess, lighting the clearing in brilliant flashes of color. Her hands rose slowly, overlapping over her chest, and suddenly the light intensified, emanating from where her hands met. "Forgive me… you didn't deserve this" she whispered gently, her eyes downcast and heart heavy, and gave one final pull at the soul joining her to the young girl on the forest floor.

Kagome's unconscious form gave one last shuddering gasp, a final spasm wracking through her frame, before her eyes grew dull and her soul was torn from her body.

Kikyo reeled as sensation fully registered to her mind, and tentatively she brought a hand to her face to feel solid matter. It wasn't flesh, but it didn't need to be; it would allow her to fight.

As though sensing the sudden shift in her thought, Naraku backed away towards the tree behind him. "Perfect…" his voice was shaking with awe-inspired fear and excitement "You've chosen to kill. Just what's needed to taint those pure powers of yours."

"The only one who will die tonight will be you, Naraku."

Naraku's laughter died in his throat as suddenly the clearing filled with pure white light, exploding with a resonating boom that shook the entire forest.

"It's too quiet" Sango murmured, one hand gripping Kirara's fur for comfort, the other clenching the leather straps of her boomerang for the same reason. She hoped Hachi and Shippo had been able to get her little brother out of the compound; she didn't want him involved in any more danger.

Beside her, Miroku tightened his hold on his Shakujou, not liking the stillness any more than the woman but trying to stay strong for her support.

"That don't matter" Inuyasha snapped back at her, his eyes, ears and nose trained on the faint trailing impressions in the dirt before them, "We just need to get to Kagome – I don't plan on sticking around long enough to find trouble."

"Too bad trouble's already found you."

The group froze as the Thunder Demon Hiten stepped onto the path from behind a tent, a pike in his hand and a mob of demons filling in behind him. His masterful acrobatics and stylish fighting had made him a star among audience and workers alike, and it seemed he had been appointed to lead the mob in their hunt for the ones who'd ruined their show.

Inuyasha cursed under his breath; he'd been so focused on following what was left of Kagome's scent in the trail of dirt that he hadn't noticed that the smell of demon had become fresh. He was in no mood to deal with the pompous demon and his cronies.

Grinning broadly, Hiten tapped the pole of his weapon against his palm, saying arrogantly "I've always wanted to have a go at you, halfbreed. Dying face down in the dirt is a fitting end for a mutt, wouldn't you say?"

"If you wanna get in my way, that's your own problem." Inuyasha growled, rising slowly to his feet and flexing his claws, "I'm busy, and I ain't got time to waste putting on a show for you bastards."

"Would you listen to this?" Hiten called out to the crowd behind him, his face split in a mocking grin, "the Mutt thinks he can take us on! As if he hasn't been our lap-dog for years." The assembly roared with laughs and taunts, and Hiten turned back to the small group, saying in more threatening tones "Understand, Dog-Man? We're not about to let a freak-show like you show up true demons like ourselves. You're gonna die here and now, and Ringmaster Naraku's gonna hang your bloody corpse from the rafters at the next show."

"Just try it." Inuyasha turned surprised eyes behind him at Sango's voice, and saw both she and Miroku clutching their weapons as they moved in closer. The half-demon was astonished to see the two humans so readily offering their support in such a risky situation, but he didn't say a word. He'd thank them later; there would have to be a 'later'.

Hiten laughed boisterously at the advancing humans, yelling over his shoulder to the others "Looks like it's 'feeding night' already! And there're only three of them, so make sure you get the one you want before someone else takes a bite! I call the dog as mine!" With a battle-cry he charged forward, his pike raised and ready to skewer the half-demon. Inuyasha was too fast though; he side-stepped and grabbed the wooden shaft of the weapon, trying to tug it from Hiten's grip. The thunder demon wouldn't budge though, and suddenly the blade sparked as electricity crackled around it, shocking Inuyasha and forcing him to relinquish his hold.

Blade still sizzling with white lightning, Hiten muttered dangerously "It won't be so easy to defeat me. You've been lucky in the arena, but the demons you fought were amateurs compared to me."

"If only you could move as fast as you talk" Inuyasha growled, cracking his knuckles in challenge, "then we'd get somewhere."

With a growl of his own, Hiten swung, but Inuyasha leapt out of the weapon's path, soaring over the demon's head to land behind him and swipe across with his dangerous claws. He missed his opponent, but Inuyasha smirked as his claws neatly sliced through the wood of the pike's handle, reducing the weapon to a pile of sticks and its jagged metal head. Hiten was only stunned for a moment before diving for the fallen blade, narrowly missing another encounter with the half-demon's iron claws. His fingers wrapped around the bend in the metal, impervious to both the electric current still running through the weapon as well as the sharpened edge, and swung the steel at Inuyasha like a dagger. Instinctively, Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga, only realizing too late what state the sword was in. The short blades clashed, hooking together, and the opponents were forced to square off eye-to-eye as their weapons struggled to gain the upper hand. Inuyasha knew his only chance was to use Tetsusaiga to parry; the broken blade was still too dull to cut even cloth. If he could just keep the thunder demon from reaching him with that blade, he could attack and take the bastard down. He had no idea where Kagome had been taken, and he couldn't afford to waste any more time.

Pushing with all his might against the lightning-blade, Inuyasha managed to force Hiten back a few steps, putting him on the defensive. Seeing his chance, Inuyasha flung his sword-arm out, forcing the other blade to follow. Before Hiten could recover his form, Inuyasha had brought down his claws, tearing deep into the thunder demon's stomach and bringing him to his knees. Not bothering with the fate of his downed opponent, Inuyasha looked behind him to see Sango send Yura flying with her bone-boomerang, and Miroku knocking out several demons with his staff. Hurriedly he yelled over the din "I'm leaving the rest to you. I ain't got time for this!"

He noticed Sango roll her eyes, but other than that he received no protest. From behind a hastily erected barrier Miroku called back "We'll handle it! You go find Kagome!" Nodding his reply, Inuyasha knelt to bound over the crowd of demons, but a vice-like grip at his ankle made him pause. Looking down, he saw Hiten's red eyes glaring up at him, and his voice was rasping as he said "How dare you run away from your opponent. Finish the fight like a man!"

Kicking the grasping hand away, Inuyasha said brusquely "You're half-dead already. What's the use in fightin' more?"

Hiten's glare only deepened though as he said bitterly "Have you no demon blood in you at all? If I'm going to die anyways, then finish me with honor and claim your victory!"

The demon's red eyes were full of malice and pride, and suddenly Inuyasha remembered a situation not so dissimilar from weeks ago, where an old man ordered him to finish his fight, and a young girl held him back. He could almost feel Kagome's small hands fisting in his robe again and smell her salty tears as she pleaded "You're better than this. He's not worth it." Without blinking, Inuyasha stared right back at Hiten, his expression almost smug as he said simply "No" and leapt away over the mob.

Continuing on the trajectory the trails in the dirt had followed before, Inuyasha soon picked up on the smell of Kagome's blood, made more potent by the memories he'd just recalled of her. Bent close to the ground, Inuyasha raced across the compound, desperate to make up for lost time. Suddenly the wall surrounding the circus loomed up before him, and Inuyasha saw that a piece of it had been torn down. However, the pulsating feel of a barrier still resonated in the empty space, and Inuyasha slowed to a stop, glaring at the new obstacle as though his eyes alone could destroy it.

Before he could even make an attempt, a bright burst of white light illuminated the forest beyond the gate, and with a shudder of energy, the barrier completely disappeared. Inuyasha stood in stunned silence at the unexpected but welcome turn of events, but as Kagome's scent carried to him even stronger on the wind from beyond the tree-line, his expression fell as dread began to seep in. She was at the epicenter of that light show… and from the other scent he was catching, so was Naraku.

"There're too many of them!" Sango yelled as she stood back to back with Kirara, swinging her boomerang but not daring to throw it far away. "We can't keep going like this all night!"

Knocking another demon worker over the head with his weapon, Miroku hurried over to where the demon-tamer and her feline companion stood, hastily throwing a barrier around the group. Their demon opponents hacked mercilessly at the purple bubble of energy, but so far none were strong enough to break through. Both attackers and victims had been momentarily distracted by the earlier wave of light and energy that had swept over the circus grounds, but the fighting didn't stop. Miroku grimaced at the leering, hungry faces of the demons surrounding them, gritting his teeth as the seriousness of their predicament set in. There was still a way out of this mess, and he was willing to do it, but… he couldn't make a hasty decision. He wasn't the only life at stake. "Sango," he said in an authoritative tone, "Take Kirara and get far away from here."

Sango glanced back at him, her expression tense as she replied "And just what are you planning to do?"

Leaning against his staff, Miroku reached over to tug at the prayer beads wrapped around his wrist, saying ruefully "I think it's about time I gave the Ringmaster and his minions a taste of their own medicine. He cursed me with a weapon, and it seems only fitting to use that weapon against him and this circus."

Horrified understanding passed over Sango's face, and she grasped at his arm, trying to pull him away from the seal on his cursed hand as she yelled "Have you lost your mind? That curse could kill you if you use it! You can't put your trust in something given to you by Naraku!"

"This is our only choice, Sango" Miroku said wearily, "my barrier won't hold much longer, and we don't have the strength to defeat them all."

"We'll run away!" Sango shouted, tugging at him more forcefully, "Kirara can take us away from here; she's faster than any of them!"

"It wouldn't end" the monk replied, glaring at the mob pressing closer and closer, "they'd follow us, find new victims… think of all the humans they've murdered… think of the feeding nights."

Sango pulled away at that, her eyes haunted, and suddenly her expression became resolute, her boomerang held more tightly in her hands. She understood his meaning; the suffering had to end with them, and there was only one option left to them for success. "You won't die."

Miroku smiled; it hadn't been a statement, it was a command. "I have no intention of dying yet" he said calmly, sending her a flirtatious wink, and she smiled back before climbing aboard Kirara. He looked surprised as she motioned for him to follow suit, prompting her to say briskly "It'll be easier from above" and without argument he dropped the protective barrier and clambered onto the demon-cat's back just as the circus workers realized their prey were once again vulnerable. Kirara wasted no time in taking to the air, and the group hovered over the yelling demon crowd as the attacks turned upward.

Glaring down at the demons who had caused him so much pain and humiliation, Miroku forced himself to offer one last chance at mercy, yelling to the assembly "If you value your lives, flee now! Otherwise, you will die at my hand." But the crowd only howled with laughter, completely unimpressed by the former clown. Grasping the beads in his left hand, Miroku mumbled "So be it" before pulling the strand completely from his arm, releasing a vortex of wind from the palm of his hand. There was barely time to see the demon's expressions change from bewilderment to outraged disbelief before they were sucked into the whirlwind, vanishing into the black hole of the curse without a fight. Sweating with the strain of holding such a vortex steady, Miroku reached to grasp his wrist, eyes closing to keep his focus. He felt arms wrap around his waist, holding him steady and offering silent support, and he swore that the strain became a little lighter.

When the last demon disappeared into the wind, and dirt and tent cloth were his only victims, Miroku clenched his fist and rewrapped the sealing beads, his head hanging low as he caught his breath. Even through his fatigue, he noticed that Sango was still holding him. He ran a shaky hand through his bangs, wiping away the sweat that had accumulated on his brow and looked over his shoulder to meet his companion's relieved eyes.

"You're alright?" She asked softly, and he could do little more than nod with a small smile. He took another moment to gather himself before turning slightly to face her, and saying calmly "Let's keep going; I'm sure Inuyasha could use our help." Looking relieved and yet slightly on edge again, Sango turned back to whisper to Kirara, and the three of them soared toward the forest edge.

The moment Inuyasha stepped under the tree-line, a new scent hit his nose. Not 'new' necessarily, but a twist on an old scent that had him dumfounded and panicking all at once. There was Kagome's scent but… stronger, with strange undertones. The scent of soil and bones was mixed with the tangy sunlight, and even that part of her scent seemed less fresh and vibrant than it used to be. It was as though her scent were coming from two different sources, one stale as though it were only an imprint from her touch, and the other… the other one was tinged with decay.

Heart racing, Inuyasha sped through the trees, and in a few long moments, he reached a clearing full of the conflicting smells of his Kagome and of the hated Ringmaster. So confusing was the potpourri of scents that he almost missed the figure lying in a bed of fur and bones across the clearing from him. When he finally did see her, he wished with all his heart that he hadn't. The smell of death was unmistakable now, and though he argued with himself that it wasn't so, couldn't be so, there was no denying that the scent was coming from the dark-haired girl in torn green hakama.

Inuyasha stumbled towards her, falling to his knees beside her shallow grave. His hands hovered over her, afraid to touch her skin and feel its coldness, as his amber eyes searched her dull ones vainly for a spark of life. He ached all over, feeling himself shut down like the empty shell of his best friend. Distantly, he noted that it was different from when his mother had died; worse. For while his mother had been dealt cards that she could not have escaped, there had been countless times when Kagome could have chosen another path. Each scenario played over and over in his head, making him sick. She could have left him to rot in his cage; she could have stayed in the forest and let him journey on his own; she could have stayed at the village, stayed with humans, and left him to seek his revenge. Hell, she could have purified him to dust in his demon form and simply walked through the barriers she was so impervious to, walked home to the open arms of her family. But she had chosen not to take those options. And now she was dead.

The finality of those words tore through Inuyasha's heart, and his human emotions flooded him as he reached for Kagome, lifting her away from the ancient bones and filthy cloak to cradle her in his arms. He found he didn't care anymore that her skin was ice cold as he pressed her face into the crook of his neck, burying his nose in her hair and trying desperately to find that sweet scent again. "Damn it" he whispered against her, not caring that his voice cracked over the words, "You weren't supposed to die."

"Her soul hasn't died."

At the soft female voice, Inuyasha tensed, and over the scent of Kagome's decaying body, Inuyasha caught the strange variant smell he had picked up before: it was Kagome, but… not. Lifting his head from the girl, Inuyasha froze as a face so similar to Kagome's filled his vision, and for a brief moment hope filled him at the thought that maybe she hadn't died after all. But then he caught the sadness in this woman's eyes, the older, more mature shape of her face, and his brief hope shattered. This woman wasn't Kagome; but why did she remind him of her?

"Who are you?" he snarled, holding Kagome closer to him and curling over her protectively. Even if it was only to keep her lifeless body safe, he'd do anything. He couldn't fail her again.

The woman looked down on him with a reminiscing smile, and when she spoke her voice was deep and soft like an autumn wind. "I suppose you wouldn't remember me; I saw you as a newborn, and watched you grow into a vibrant young boy, but you never really believed I was there." Even as she spoke, Inuyasha's mind filled in the gaps, and an old forgotten feeling of peace settled over him as he recognized who the apparition was.

"Kikyo" he breathed, awestruck to finally see the spirit he had always heard so much about. He never would have admitted it, but he had always hoped she was real; that there was really someone watching over him and his mother back then, keeping them safe.

And then, just as soon as those old feelings of comfort and security surfaced, they were quashed under the heavy weight of anger and betrayal as Inuyasha ground out bitterly "How dare you…."

A foreign look of surprise crossed the priestess's face, but the half-demon was just getting started. Crushing Kagome to him with protective force and unknowingly bruising her fragile body, Inuyasha roared "How DARE you show your face around me! How dare you show up now, when everything's falling apart! How DARE you let someone else I love DIE!"

Kikyo flinched away from the raw hurt in his voice, knowing her actions had been the cause. The flood of new emotions was strange; she hadn't felt such things so intensely even during her own life. This girl's soul was really something. The half-demon was still seething, but Kikyo approached regardless, needing to comfort one she had once looked after. "I removed her soul" Kikyo said softly, and at Inuyasha's look of murder continued quickly "I needed it in order to defeat Naraku. He can only be defeated by spiritual power such as ours, and Kagome has not been trained enough to use it herself. Even with my help, she would not have been able to defeat him."

"You don't know a damn thing, Kikyo" Inuyasha snapped, his anger now more contained but more deadly for it, "Training don't matter. She's got instinct, and a will to live, and that's what you need in a fight. You don't know what she's capable of."

"There wasn't time" she insisted, guilt starting to eat at her as she remembered the way Kagome had fought to keep her spirit; she indeed had a will to live. "Naraku would have killed her either way… I wanted to make sure he was stopped so no more would suffer."

"No more?" Inuyasha parroted mockingly, "You think that by letting her die, you've saved your 'imaginary masses' from feeling the pain I'm feeling now?" His voice dropped dangerously low, and Kikyo took a step back. She wasn't afraid of him; she could feel the pain he was emitting, and knew he was too heartbroken to attack. It was his words that scared her, because he was right. "Did you never think" he continued, "about how her family would feel? Her friends? They'd suffer without her. Hell, they're already suffering, wondering where she's been all this time. And what about Shippo? And Miroku and Sango? They sacrificed a lot for her, and they'd hurt if she were gone. And what about me?" His eyes darkened, and he shouted "WHAT ABOUT ME, KIKYO?! You should have protected me and my mother, but instead you let murderers come into your village. And now I find out you've taken the very soul from the one person who ever gave a damn about me? Well I'm not gonna sit by and let you do it!" Shifting Kagome slightly, Inuyasha reached around to his scabbard, pulling the broken Tetsusaiga from its sheath and holding it protectively before himself and Kagome. "Give it back" he said menacingly, "GIVE IT BACK NOW!"

Kikyo stared at him levelly, deliberately, and Inuyasha growled his impatience. "Naraku's still out there" she began in a halting voice, "I wounded him, but I couldn't destroy him. He's hiding himself, and I don't know how much longer it'll take to find and finish him for good." She paused and looked down at Kagome, her limp body starting to stiffen as the half-demon held her against him. "If this goes on much longer, there will be no chance of returning her spirit. Her body will be too far gone."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Inuyasha said urgently, though in a quieter tone than he'd previously used. "Don't you get it? What's it matter worrying about misery you can't control, tragedies that haven't even happened, if the people around you right now, the people you can help at this moment, are suffering?"

A shiver ran through Kikyo's false body, and with the borrowed soul came a slough of emotions so much stronger than her guardian spirit had ever produced: guilt, sorrow, empathy, love… and with the emotions came a confusing human clarity of mind. It didn't make logical sense; her mind knew this girl couldn't win on her own, but… her heart told her differently. Warmth spread through her suddenly, and she realized what she needed to do: trust in the young girl who had been born with the soul of a priestess.

Falling to her knees beside the grave, Kikyo instructed softly "Inuyasha, lay her back down." Inuyasha wanted to do anything but, however he did as she asked, gently placing the ghostly white and purple body of the girl back in her nest of bones and fur. Taking one last, deep breath, Kikyo gently placed her hand over Kagome's heart, and Inuyasha shrunk back as both women were surrounded in white light. The false form of Kikyo burst into a shower of dust which settled over Kagome, seeping into her skin, bringing color to her cheeks and mending the torn flesh of her leg. Even the swelling and odd angle of her once broken ankle seemed to have returned to normal as the light dissipated, and Kagome's lungs swelled with an intake of air.

Inuyasha cried out, overcome at the sight of the girl breathing once again, her cheeks full and rosy pink instead of sunken and blue. The moment her eyes opened, her gaze was filled with red as Inuyasha snatched her up again, holding her as tightly as he dared and breathing deeply of her citrus-bright scent. Instinctively Kagome brought her arms around him as well, and as her memory of the night's events caught up, she gripped his red shirt and buried her head against him.

"I thought you were dead" he whispered, so soft she barely heard him, "You – you were dead."

Kagome tightened her grip, but didn't respond. She knew. She vaguely remembered the transfer of power, and feeling Kikyo's emotions instead of her own. She understood how hard it had been for the woman to change her mind, and how much the priestess's decision really meant.

Kagome was distracted from her thoughts by the feel of Inuyasha nuzzling his nose against her neck, and she smiled as his voice reached her saying "Hell Kagome, you're one wild ride, you know that?"

Giggling softly, Kagome pulled away, eager to see his face and just as eager to press her lips to his again, when a sudden crash broke the stillness of the forest, and she head Sango frantically shouting "BEHIND YOU!" Instinct from her weeks of training made her react, and her barrier went up just in time to stop a massive spider from trampling them, its front legs scratching and scrambling over the surface of the barrier and igniting in pink flames. Kagome gasped and Inuyasha held her tight as the spider danced around them, its faceted eyes deep red and mirroring their appalled faces. "Naraku" Inuyasha muttered hatefully, and Kagome swallowed hard as she recognized the Ringmaster's aura coming from the grotesque demon.

Scuttling away from the barrier, the spider shot out a spray of webs, encasing the ball of energy in a cover of sickly off-white threads. She heard Kirara's roar and Miroku and Sango's surprised yells, and guessed they had been targeted too. From within Inuyasha's protective grasp, Kagome felt fury stirring inside her. Was Naraku trying to scare them? Did he really think his webs would be enough to stop them at this point? He hadn't learned a single thing from his encounter with Kikyo. 'Well' she thought heatedly, 'this'll be his last time underestimating me.' Spiritual energy crackled around her without her noticing as her anger amplified. Inuyasha flinched as the purifying energy stung at his demon blood, but refused to release the girl, the memories of her brush with death all too vivid in his mind.

"That's it" Kagome snapped, pulling her hands away from Inuyasha to place them before her chest, "He's not going to get away with this anymore!" Dropping the barrier, the heavy webs barely had time to bow before they were blasted away by an intense explosion of purifying light from the young priestess. They sizzled and simmered around the clearing, disappearing into nothing in seconds. Kagome allowed herself a satisfied smirk, but a light groan beside her pierced through her triumph, and she turned to see Inuyasha prone on the ground, his hair tinged black and pointed ears on each side of his head. Her breath caught in her throat at the horrified realization of what she'd done, and she scrambled to his side. His chest rose and fell with ragged breaths… but at least he was still breathing. Her heart beat madly in her chest as she looked at him struggling to move, his body obviously drained of energy and aura barely pulsing. 'What have I done?!' she thought in a panic, 'I've hurt him!'

Miroku and Sango stumbled toward her through the trees, breathing heavily and leaning on their weapons. At the sight of Inuyasha's weakened state they paused, wanting to help but in no state to keep fighting. Across the clearing the giant spider suddenly morphed, its front body pinching and pulling into the human head and torso of Ringmaster Naraku, an arrogant smirk already on his face. "Didn't I warn you" he said haughtily "what would happen if you tried to use those powers of yours on your own? Now you've gone and injured the man you love. He's in pain, and it's all your fault."

Distantly, she was aware that Miroku and Sango were trying to speak to her; comfort her most likely. But it wasn't enough. Seeing the half-demon struggling to open his eyes as he lay in the dirt of the forest, Kagome couldn't help but listen to those hateful words, hearing the ugly truth in them. Kikyo had been right: she wasn't capable of controlling these powers after all.

"I was wrong."

Kagome's head shot up as the now familiar voice of the ancient woman echoed in her mind. Searchingly, she tried thinking 'Kikyo?!' and almost gasped aloud as the voice responded 'I'm still here for now, Kagome. I want to help you.' Frozen, still staring down at the weakened form of her beloved half-demon, Kagome thought back 'Help me, Kikyo! I've hurt him! I can't… I can't do this!'

Kikyo's response was at once soft and stern as she replied 'You can do amazing things, Kagome. Your powers are strong enough to kill even a human; you could have completely destroyed Inuyasha if you were truly unable to control those powers. However you didn't. You instinctively stopped yourself from harming someone you loved. And you can do it again.'

Emboldened by the words of the dead priestess, Kagome turned to face Naraku, her gaze calculating. Could she really defeat him? And without letting her powers get out of hand?

As though sensing her intent, the conglomeration of Naraku and spider said harshly "I wouldn't try it if I were you, priestess, unless you want your dog turned to dust." Kagome didn't back down in her challenging stare, and Naraku seemed to grow nervous under it. "That was a warning, girl" he snapped, looking more defensive by the moment, "No matter what that coward Kikyo said, you could never defeat me. I molded your powers for myself; I know them inside and out. You can't do it."

"Then why do you look so afraid?"

At the obvious challenge in her voice, Naraku chuckled, his brow beginning to sweat despite the cold night air. "Afraid? You don't know what fear is."

The spider webs were reaching once again, and in a replay of the night's performance, Inuyasha was once again dragged away from her by Naraku's tendrils. Demon blood still weakened by her burst of spiritual energy, Inuyasha was helpless as Naraku wrapped his webs around the half-demon's limbs, pulling them and stretching his victim wide open as his shiny black spider limbs wrapped closely around the unresponsive young man.

"NO!" Kagome cried, outraged to see the man she loved once again at the mercy of the sadistic demon. Her energy swirled around her, flames of pink licking at the trees on her edge of the small grove.

"Not so fast!" Naraku crowed, pulling tighter at the webs holding Inuyasha up, "I've got him surrounded! You attack me, he'll end up getting hurt. Are you so willing to save yourself that you'd risk this half-man's life?"

Before she could retort, the raspy voice of Inuyasha cut in, saying with the arrogance of someone who's already won, "Idiot. You don't know what you're up against. That girl over there? She's crazy. She could take you out in the blink of an eye. But one thing she'd never do? She'd never hurt a friend. She can't."

His head rose to meet her gaze, and behind the fatigue she could see his eyes were smiling. "C'mon Kagome" he rasped, smirking. "Roast the bastard."

There was so much trust in his eyes; not a hint of doubt. And when Kikyo's voice began to sing in her mind the familiar strains of "Kagome, Kagome, You are no more than a bird in a cage", she stretched her hands out before her, an electrified ball of white-pink energy forming in her hands. Looking closely at her target, past the webs, past the spider limbs, past the face of her love to the shriveled heart at the core of the demon, she focused all of her mind on that one spot and fired.

*Author's Note:

lol this is soooooooooo overdue. But at least it's done. :P

Expect probably... one more chapter? I don't wanna spoil anything, but I just want people to be aware, this particular story is wrapping up. And once it's done, you'll have to wait again for the sequel. :3

Thank you so so SO much to all the people who have been supporting me write this! You don't know what your reviews and favorites mean to me! I can't believe this story has been as well received as it has, and all the feedback I get makes me so excited to keep writing and keep telling this story! So thank you! You're all awesome!

See you next time! ;) (I'll try not to take a month to get the next one up. Heheh, this one took more than a month... didn't it. *sweating*)