02-04-10: Okay according to OpenOffice this chapter is also ten paged long. I'm glad that I can make these chapters that long and I hope I can continue it. The only thing that will be thought is that it will almost be like an episode it seems because the Inuyasha manga doesn't give much to work with as filler story to make it much longer so I'm thinking I can actually fit a whole group of fighting in one chapter and there might not be anymore cliffhangers. But oh well we shall see how this works.

(¯`v´¯)

¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.• ´*

You're Kinda, Sorta, Basically, Pretty Much, Always On My Mind.

°°•. .•°ღ°•. .•°°

I Don't Own Inuyasha

"Talking"

54. Koharu and Kanna

The next few days where some of the most calming and relaxing days of my life. We stayed in the village, gathering food, herbs, spices. We helped repair the damage caused by the blizzard during the day, and relaxed in a hot spring or drinking tea during the evenings. Other days were full of play as we slipped over the frozen rice fields and threw snow at each other. We all deserved a break and the continual safety and protection, the constant routines and warmth, I found myself forgetting the dangers that lied just beyond the village walls. This was my haven, the place I had grown up as a child, and the more I stayed the harder it was to believe how close we each had already come to loosing our lives. None of the battles seemed real anymore. The dangers didn't exist.

But the more I soaked in the pleasures and casualties of a village the more time I had to waste and I spent those extra moments observing the people around me. I learned that Sango always spent her free time with the village children. Kirara would dance and play with them and Sango would stand off a few feet away and just watch silently with a small smile on her face. I realized it must remind her of her own family and her little brother, so I never bothered to interrupt. Miroku on the other hand surrounded himself with the women of our village. He would read their palms and and feed them a fake future that in some way would always lead to him asking her to bear his children. They would blush and playfully hit his arm but that was that and they never were cross at the perverted actions of a supposed monk. Shippo spent his days either acting as a hero to the children or playing with them. I caught him once or twice staring at a young girl with a slight tinge of pink on his cheeks and teased him of the budding romance they soon would share. Of course he got embarrassed and would claim he never even liked that girl.. but I was never convinced.

But then there was Inuyasha.

He never joined us when we played, he never spoke to us, or looked at us. There were only two things he ever did. He would repair the huts from the snow as everyone else did but always far away, and he would confide in Kaede. That's what they were doing now and as I looked down the hill from where I sat I could see them both slowly making their way along the path leading up to the small shrine that held Kikyou's grave. From this distance I couldn't see if they were talking, but I knew they would be. I was scared of what he was telling her and scared of what she thought. Even though I had never told her about my confession I knew he had.. and I knew that with the silence that followed after, I had been rejected.

I hadn't expected otherwise. I knew he loved Kikyou and although I was something more than just her annoying little sister, I knew it would never be enough to match his affections for her. But I didn't care. It didn't change anything. Unrequited, one-sided, that didn't matter to me. What did matter was if he would never acknowledge my existence anymore. If forever I would be ignored. I was scared that I had ruined everything between us and after the night we returned I regretted ever saying anything at all. What was the point if he didn't want to see me again? Maybe it would have just been easier to not say anything, and then at least then, he would always be here. Maybe not within reach, I mean, when has he ever been within my reach? He loved Kikyou, even there, I could never compare to her. I knew that.. and it wasn't like I had asked him to return those feeling toward me.. I just wanted him to know.. But now I wished he didn't.. so then at least he would talk to me again. But he wouldn't and after we had set off again I gave up expecting him to.

It was the first week of December and the sky was overcast. The brightness of the sky and snow together caused me to spend most of the trip squinting which, soon afterward, caused a painful throb between my temples. I drank most of the water and in a few short hours Sango was once again breaking ice at a river to full up the wooden bottles once more. I sat behind the hill with the others, Inuyasha off sniffing through the reeds, as we waited.

"So what do you propose we do?" Miroku asked me.

I pressed my lips together considering it. "Well, I can't go back to my time until we get a Shikon shard and we most likely won't meet up with Naraku until we get one either.. so why not just return to shard hunting like before?"

"I guess there's no other choice.." he sighed.

"Why? Were you hoping for something different?"

"No not really.. but it does get a bit repetitive doesn't it?"

"Yeah.. But there's not much else to do."

I turned my gaze toward Inuyasha, and a second later he leaped off toward the river. I sniffed the air, only coming up with other human's.. but then I heard Sango's, and Inuyasha's voice as well as the sound of breaking ice. I stood and scrambled over the hill, the others at my heels.

What I saw was nothing really out of the ordinary. Inuyasha beating up a group of village men, Sango watched calmly behind him as she held onto the wet wooden bottle. As the men ran away a young girl emerged from the reed, the same ones Inuyasha had been sniffing around before, and timidly stepped over to Sango.

She had straight black hair that was tied back into a loose bun with a white ribbon and small brown eyes. She wasn't what anyone would call beautiful but she had the chubby freckled face of a girl just in the middle of changing from a child to a woman. It made her cute. Covering the top of her head was a pale pink bandana tied above her forehead and she wore a bright blue kimono and a pale yellow apron was tied around her waist. I noticed she was slightly taller than I was and suddenly I hated the shortness I had been cursed with.

"Uhm.."

"They were after you?" Sango said. "Don't worry about them now."

"What happened?" Miroku asked.

The girl turned her head as Miroku spoke and I heard her heart skip a beat. "Miroku-sama!! I missed you!!" She rushed forward, suddenly throwing her arms around him.

Miroku shifted uneasily and made no move to return the embrace. "I'm sorry. Have we met before?"

She pulled away and stared up at him, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I'm Koharu!"

"Koharu.. Oh! From that time!" Miroku wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled.

"It's been three years!"

"Wow, you look really different. My goodness. How good it is to see you."

"Is she Miroku's friend?" I jumped at the sound of Inuyasha's voice, and stared at him. He was leaning towards me, his arms folded inside his sleeves. He didn't look at me and kept his eyes on the couple in front of us but his tone was as if nothing had ever gone wrong between us. I was glad for this moments distraction and decided to reply.

"Don't you think they seem a little more than friends?" Shippo cut in before I could respond. I realized he was on my shoulder and Inuyasha's eyes glanced toward the kitsune then back to the monk and village girl. Oh.. He hadn't been talking to me.

"What's your story Koharu?" Sango asked, stepping forward. "It seems you and Hoshi-sama are familiar with each other but.."

"Oh.." Koharu giggled. "Please forgive me. My name is Koharu as you know. I lost my parents and siblings to a war. I was found by Abrachouja-sama when I was eleven years old and was worked from dawn till dusk.. It was hard and I was starving.. I cried everyday. Then.. only Miroku-sama, who had been called to the village for an exorcism was kind to me. And so after asking me my age, while I ate a pouch full of food he had given to me, Miroku-sama asked me if I could bear his child."

The air grew tense. Miroku stared back at us, nervously scratching his cheek.

"You.. You're disgusting!" I finally said. "How could you say such a thing to an eleven year old!?"

"Beast!" Sango snapped.

"I was so happy!" cried Koharu.

I felt like all the strength had been sucked out of me at her words and I stared at her. I didn't know what my face showed but everyone, besides Inuyasha and Koharu, seemed to look at me strangely. I couldn't pin point exactly what I was feeling. I mean.. her feelings seemed familiar to me but.. not.. not in such in an extremity as this!

"But.. I haven't even laid a finger on her yet, Sango.." Miroku said responding to an unheard accusation.

"Are you sure about that!?"

"She is a child, and.."

Koharu turned to us with a timid smile. "Soon after that, Miroku-sama left the village but.. he said that someday he would come to take me away.. However recently Aburachouja's son, has begun to look at me with a lewd expression.. Last night he tried to force himself upon me.."

"So you ran away..?" Shippo asked.

She nodded. "Yes I took my chance after hitting him severely with some firewood." Another awkward silence was her response. "Miroku-sama, please take me with you!"

"Koharu.." Miroku mumbled.

"I have no where else to go! Besides, I am an adult now. I can bear your child!"

I chocked. She was fourteen! Younger than I was! Maybe I had lived in the future too long, but wow.. really? These girls, wanting to have children at fourteen and getting married.. it was amazing.

Without another word on the subject we moved away from the damp riverbank and rested at a small abandoned shrine. I had Koharu run off to a well to refill my empty water bottle so we could discuss the problem at hand.

"I hope you understand Miroku." Inuyasha said surprising me once more. "We can't take that girl."

"Yes.." Miroku sighed.

"Still, we can't just abandon her here." I protested.

"Yes.." Miroku repeated. "Until we find someplace safe for her to stay, I cannot leave."

"Oh, of course." Sango muttered, poison in her tone. "She's the one who you asked to bear your child, even if it was a joke."

"Well.." Miroku ran his hand through his hair. "It's something I always say when I meet a girl."

"You haven't said it to me though."

Silence.

"Forgive me Sango!" Miroku said, taking her hands in his.

"You don't have to say it!!"

I sighed and got to my feet, sniffing my way to the well where Koharu was leaned over. She pulled herself out at the sound of my approach and greeting me with a soft smile.

"Kaori-sama! I filled it up for you!"

I smiled, finding it impossible not to. "Thanks.. Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"How come you want to be with Miroku so badly? Not saying he's a bad guy or anything but.."

Her smile never faded and she sat herself down on the edge of the well. "He's my first love. I have never forgotten him, not even for a moment! I thought about him every single day, knowing that somewhere along the road we would meet again. That thought helped me get through even the toughest times."

The breeze played with my hair as I found myself unable to look away from her. It was like a fairytale.. Her eyes were so full of joy and she seemed to live on a cloud. Her eyes rested on me and her smile grew.

"You know what I'm talking about, don't you?"

My heart skipped and I sat down beside her. "Maybe.."

"It's that Inuyasha boy right?" She laughed. "I can tell. Even the name makes you blush."

I found myself staring off into the snow and I was unable to stop the small smile on my face. "Maybe.." I rested my head on my knees and looked at her. "Our lives are very similar you know. I was young when I first met him and then we were separated until a few months ago. The things you said earlier.. about never forgetting and the thought of meeting someday getting you through.. it sounds like me."

Koharu's grin grew and she turned her whole body towards me. "Oh, Kaori-sama that gives me hope! If it can work out with you two than I'm sure it can work out between me and Miroku-sama!"

I bit my lip and turned awat. "It hasn't worked out though. He loves someone else and he always has."

Finally her smile faltered and she sighed, folding her hands in her lap. "I can see that in your eyes too. But you know what I think?"

"What..?"

"That even if, even if Miroku leaves tomorrow and I am alone again, as much as it would hurt me, and as much as I want to stay here.. I know that at least I met him again, one last time. I feel fortunate because of it.. so no matter what happens, I can die in peace."

I let her words sink in, and she looped her arm through mine. We sat as strangers but connecting in more ways than I had ever thought I could with anyone else. The silence was comforting and we would have maybe stayed there forever but the cold got to her. She was foolish and we weren't that many years apart, but I could see myself in her and from the way she looked at me I knew she could see herself in me. For a moment I wished I could have grown up along side her instead of the miko who no longer wished to love me.

°°•. .•°ღ°•. .•°°

"I definitely won't get in anybody's way! So please.."

"No means no."

I bit my lip as Koharu begged. Her face was pained and despite her words earlier she might very not feel as fortunate as she had said she would. We were in another village far away from the one she had grown up in. Here was where Miroku wanted her to live, and just as we were speaking he was talking with the headmaster.

"It would be very dangerous for you to come with us." Sango said.

"Give it up and remain here!" snapped Inuyasha.

His words stung and she winced. I suddenly felt protective of her and it took all I could not to snap at him. I stared at her with a loss of words and she stared back, her eyes sad and dark. I couldn't take it..

"Can't she stay?" I said, surprising the others. "I mean, it wouldn't be that hard to keep her safe.. We've been able to keep Shippo alive for this long and he's a child!"

"Hey!"

I ignored Shippo's protest and continued. "It's not like it would be impossible.."

"Thank you, Kaori-sama.." Koharu whispered, touching my arm.

Inuyasha was silent for the first time in a week he looked at me. He was glaring though and I looked around uneasy. He was yelling at me with his eyes.. that was almost worse than actually being yelled at.

"I just spoke to the headman." Miroku said, cutting through the awkward silence. He carefully made his way down the stone steps towards us with an accomplished smile on his handsome face.

Koharu stood to greet him, her hands clasped at her chest. "Miroku-sama.."

"Koharu.. Please come with me." Miroku held out his arm toward her and she walked over to him. He places his hand on her shoulder and lead her down the hill out of ear shot of Sango but not quite far enough for me.

"Miroku-sama, we just met again.. and to be parted so soon.."

"Please try to understand, Koharu."

"What's your problem?" I jumped at Inuyasha's voice and turned my gaze away from the couple. "Don't tell me you're sympathizing.."

"So what if I am?" I replied. I looked at the place where Sango should have been and noticed she had moved farther down the hill with Shippo maybe to listen to the monk but also to give me and Inuyasha some space.

"Well don't bother." He said, his tone a little softer now. "It's completely different. Shippo is small enough to disappear when ever he needs to and escape. She's just a human. Without training and at her age it would be impossible for us to face Naraku and keep her alive at the same time."

I pressed my lips together and turned my head away from him. "I know that.." I whispered. "But I understand her..She understands me... and since you don't seem to want to speak to me anymore I feel alone.."

Inuyasha opened his mouth to say something but Sango's voice cut across anything he might have wanted to say.

"Sheesh, clinging together like that." She muttered, grudgingly. "That will just leave a lingering affection, wont it?"

I looked down the hill at what she was staring at and realized Miroku and Koharu were locked in a tight embrace. I sighed. Ahh jeez..

"What?" Sango asked. I turned around to see Inuyasha watching her curiously.

"Well is it just me, or.." He said. "are you acting a bit jealous..?"

"It is just you." Sango's face went dark and Inuyasha leaped back as a thousand invisible dangers stabbed him all over.

"S-sango.." I stuttered.

°°•. .•°ღ°•. .•°°

"So then, Sonchou-sama, please take care of Koharu." Miroku said. I adjusted the straps on my backpack nervously and avoided everyone's gaze. I didn't want to leave.. not just yet I wanted to stick around and talk to Koharu some more.. but it was late, the moon was already rising and Miroku seemed in a hurry to get going.

"Setting off already? Although you won't be staying no matter what, at least stay tonight.." The headmaster offered.

"Yes, please Miroku-sama!" Koharu said, her voice desperate. She sounded to be on the verge of tears.

"No.. the longer we stay the harder it'll be for Koharu."

I watched as tears filled her eyes and she spun around, running inside the large house. A lump appeared at the back of my throat and I took off after her.

"What's wrong with staying here one more night?" I heard Sango ask. "She's new to this village."

Koharu collapsed to her knees just outside the door and covered her face with her hands. I dropped down beside her, watching her feeling my own heart ache. I could imagine how hard this was for her..

"I can't.." Miroku's voice was muffed by the door but it wasn't hard for either of us to hear. "If reason gives away to passion and Koharu gets with child.. She would be burdened for the rest of her life with my memory."

"Reason gives away to passion? What does that mean, Miroku?" Shippo asked.

"Well-"

"Don't tell him, monk!" Sango snapped.

I heard a low growl and I raised my head. Inuyasha was standing over us, his arms folded as usual and his face irritated. I bit my cheek as I looked at him and he glanced away from me to look at the wall. Koharu hadn't heard him come in and continued to sob loudly into her hands.

"Listen!" Inuyasha snapped.

Koharu jumped and looked at him.

"We'll be leaving the village after dawn. But remember, no tears tomorrow! Got that?"

Koharu's eyes filled with joy once more and she wiped away her tears. "Yes!" She looked my way as if in a way that she understood why I felt the way I did before she stood and made her way out of the room to face Miroku.

I got to my feet, watching Inuyasha with a curious eye. "That.. that was nice of you.."

"Keh!" He scoffed. "I just can't stand tears!"

"Mm.." I didn't know what else to say, but I was full of a bright appreciation and gratitude for him.

"Besides.." He grumbled as we stepped out of the room. "You like that girl.. don't you?"

I tried to hide a smile as I looked down at my naked feet. "Thank you, Inuyasha."

That night we feasted on stews and steamed vegetables, all cooked and prepared by Koharu. The moon shone brightly overhead and I was finally happy that Inuyasha had decided to speak to me again. I didn't know why he stopped and I didn't know why suddenly he decided to start again but for whatever reason I was thankful.

As I raised my chopsticks to my mouth a horrible chill ran through me and the piece of beef between the small pieces of wood dropped back into the bowl. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed and he picked Tetsusaiga off the ground, turning to glare out the small window. Miroku and Sango did the same.

"We're surrounded."

I sniffed the air expecting the scent of youkai or oni.. but came up short. Just fire and humans. Nothing more and nothing less.

"I don't smell any youkai though." I said. Inuyasha nodded.

"In any case, why don't we go out and check?" Miroku suggested standing and making his way toward the door. We followed and Shippo quickly leaped into my backpack, and stared out nervously only letting his eyes over the top.

Outside the village men slowly made their way toward the house, each baring spears, and farming tools in scarred hands. They held torches as well, and their once exhausted and aged faces now showed no more emotion than Sesshoumaru.

Kirara ran in front of us and transformed. At the sight of the giant burst of flame or giant demon cat emerging the villagers didn't hesitate like I had expected them too.

"They're being controlled." Sango murmured staring into the face of each the men.

"Sango. Kaori!" Miroku called, his voice full of authority. "Go find Koharu! Make sure she's alright!"

"Okay." I nodded. We spun on our heels and dashed back into the house, running up and down the halls and peaking into each of the rooms as I followed her scent and Sango followed me. We were at the kitchen when Koharu came rushing from the direction we had just come, her face covered with sweat and full of panic.

"It's terrible!" She cried.

"What's the matter Koharu?" Shippo asked.

"A youkai appeared! The headmaster and the others.."

We followed her along the labyrinth of halls and doors until finally we came upon a grand dark room full of many riches and valuables. I sniffed the air as Sango scoured the room with her eyes, clutching Hiraikotsu tightly in her hand.

"Do you smell anything?" She asked.

"No, not even the slightest trace of a youkai."

Suddenly something moved in the darkness and we spun around to face it. Standing half hidden behind a door was a small girl. Her expressionless black eyes could put even Sesshoumaru a run for his money. She had two white flowers pinned into her long white hair above her ears and she wore a simple white kimono and matching sandals. In her small delicate hands she held a mirror which reflected nothing at first glance.

Sango spun Hiraikotsu over her head and threw it toward the girl. Her face becoming the angry serious woman I had first met. The little girl raised the mirror and in a flash Hiraikotsu was flying into the air back in our direction.

"Sango!" I shouted. I dashed forward my hands reaching to push the Taijiya out of the path of her own weapon but two arms grasped themselves around me from behind and I found myself falling to the ground. I raised my head to see Sango curling up into a ball as she trembled and gasped in pain. I tried to turn over, but Koharu, her eyes blank and expressionless held me back.

The little girl stepped towards me, making no sound and in a soft high pitched voice she said: "Kaori.."

With limited amount of effort I pushed Koharu off me, this youkai had her controlled too.. and I couldn't afford to let us die here. I got to my feet and raced towards her, my claws flexed, anger pulsing through my veins.

The little girl raised her mirror.. and I found myself unblinking in invisible ice.

"I want your soul.." She whispered. Suddenly my knees gave away and for the second time I hit my face on the floor. I felt the flesh on my cheek get cut but I couldn't move.. my mind was blank. It took all my strength just to stay conscious as she sucked a silvery mist out of my body into the mirror.. but as she pulled my strength drained away and the battle to stay awake became more and more difficult..

Suddenly she stopped and the mirror glowed a bright white.

"The soul.. is over flowing.." She said. "But.. now you won't be able to move.." She stepped closer to me and stretched out her hand toward my face. What her intentions where.. I never bothered to find out.

In the second before her delicate hand touched my face I mustered up the last amount of strength and lifted myself up, pulling my katanas from their sheath. She stepped back, clutching the mirror in her hands.

"You're still moving.."

My breathing came out in labored breaths and I struggled to my feet. I gripped the katanas as hard as I could in my hands and raised them around my body. "I'm.. Prepare to die.. you little freak.."

I heard the clunking of sandals against the floor and the jangling of Miroku's staff. The girl seemed to have heard it too for at that moment she turned and ran from the roof, watching me without an expression until she disappeared into the darkness.

"Kaori-sama!" Miroku shouted. The paper door flew open and I collapsed to my knees.

"Miroku.."

He rushed over to Sango, dropping to all fours at her side. "Sango!" Then he looked around nervously as slowly I lost the strength to speak. "Koharu.. Where is Koharu!?"

"Miroku-sama.."

Miroku turned his head toward the door, and Koharu's scent reentered the room.

"Be careful Miroku!" Shippo shouted from somewhere at my head. "Koharu's also being manipulated!"

I smelt the salty scent of tears and heard her sniffle. "I did a terrible thing to Miroku-sama's friends.. and Kaori-sama.. I.. have no excuse and.. can't aloud myself to live.."

"Stop Koharu!" Miroku shouted, running past me. I turned my head towards them and watched as Koharu looked up and as the monk neared she clutched the small scythe in her hand. A moment later the scent of Miroku's blood filled the air. He grunted in pain and slapped the weapon from her hand. Without a moments hesitation he punched her in the stomach and she collapsed into him, unconscious.

"She's had her soul taken by the mirror." Shippo informed him.

"Mirror..?"

"Kaori is.. that way too.."

I took in a deep breath as black spots appeared before my eyes, unable to do much more other than look at them. Carefully he lifted Koharu in his arms and I realized that Kirara was now in the room as well. He placed Koharu on her back, then Sango and with a bit of help from me he carried me on his back and a few moments we were running down the snowy hill side.

The cold bit at my nose and my cheeks and I kept my eyes closed as I fought to stay conscious.. it was so hard..

"I guess the girl youkai with the mirror is also a friend of Naraku." Shippo chirped, from somewhere on the ground. He seemed happy to join in on the information instead of being lost usually but he still sounded serious as if he knew how important his information might be.

"Indeed." Miroku agreed. "But what I wonder is why we didn't notice she was here.. Inuyasha and Kaori-sama both said they could smell her and I as well didn't sense the least bit of youkai.."

A moment later I heard Inuyasha's voice. "Don't kid yourself!!"

"Inuyasha!" Miroku shouted.

I could smell him and his blood.. I could smell Kagura and the villagers as well. What was she doing here.. I struggled to open my eyes.. and found it nearly impossible to do so.

"Oh no!" Shippo gasped.

"Kaze no Kizu!" shouted Inuyasha.

"Don't do it Inuyasha, cut that and..!"

I opened my eyes, bright gold lightning bolts races along the white ground, a familiar scene, toward the tall raven haired woman. I noticed the white youkai girl appear out in front of Kagura and my breath caught in my throat.

"Wha.. A kid!?" Inuyasha gasped.

Little girl raised her mirror and the Kaze no Kizu was suddenly rushing back toward Inuyasha. The smell of his blood filled the air and my eyes were locked upon his unconscious body on the ground. Blood ran down his face, his eyes were half open and blank..

I heard myself scream something and I threw myself off of Miroku's back.. but as my feet touched the ground I fell forward into the snow. I hissed as the cold struck me like daggers, pricing my skin and I raised myself on all fours.. only to collapse once more.

"Humph.." A sour voice chuckled. I averted my gaze into the mist and saw a long dark haired man standing among large yellow and purple bees watching us with an amused and evil smirk on his face.

"Naraku.."

"Dropped dead eh.. Inuyasha."

"Naraku!!" Miroku leaped over me. I could sense his anger as he dashed toward the youkai. He stopped in front of Inuyasha's body and pulled the beads off of right arm.

"Inuyasha!" I heard Shippo cry at Inuyasha's side. I bit my lip and reached out my hand, pulled my body along the ground. Inuyasha.. please.. don't be dead..

"Houshi, I wouldn't think of opening your kazaana." Naraku said. "Unless you want to also suck in the souls of Kaori and the villagers, captured inside Kanna's mirror."

"Damn."

"Houshi, it's just you left now."

At the sound of Naraku's voice it stirred a strength inside of me that I could only associate with pure hatred. I hated this man. All for the Shikon no Tama. All for a simple jewel.. my jewel.. he would kill of.. attempt to kill off so many people.. With these thoughts fulling my strength I managed to pull myself to Inuyasha but as I saw him this close.. it all escaped me and I collapsed at his side.

I let the snow soak into my clothes as I stared at him. I placed my hand on the bottom of his jaw, my pinky and ring finger along his neck. I found a pulse and salty tears filled my eyes. "Inuyasha.." I saw his eyes tremble but he didn't blink so I couldn't tell if it was my imagination or not.

"Kukuku.. that was easier than I expected, Inuyasha." Naraku said.

"Naraku, what are those two? Your underlings, huh?" Miroku asked.

"What good will it do you, Houshi? You're also going to die soon."

"Answer me. Does the girl called Kanna.. like you and Kagura also have the scar mark of a spider on her back, is what I'm asking."

"Oh-ho.. well done.. You thought it out that much, eh? Exactly.. Kagura and Kanna are both, youkai who have been born from myself. Wind and nothingness."

"Nothingness you say? So that's why, no smell, no presence, and even no youki.. huh? So that's why we didn't notice her until she'd already beaten us as much as she wanted to."

"Kagura, take Inuyasha's head."

My heart raced.

"You're bringing it back?" asked Kagura.

I clutched his hair between my fingers and pulled myself closer to him. No..

"When I show Inuyasha's head, to that woman.. I wonder what Kikyou's face will look like."

Inuyasha's eyes snapped open, then closed again as he winced from the pain. I didn't pull away and he pressed his forehead into my shoulder. His eyes were shut as tight as anything and the labored breathing and slight trembling.. He was in pain."Kaori.."

"Houshi, your opponents are the villagers. Fight as hard as you want." I heard Naraku say.

"Inuyasha!" Kagura laughed. "I'm taking your head off without hesitation!"

I felt the energy of her wind blades, and listened as Shippo yelped. "I, Inuyasha!"

My katanas were still clutched in my left hand and in a moment without moving more than I had to I lifted them above my head and with a flash of red, her wind blades were ripped apart.

"Kaori-sama!" Miroku gasped.

Inuyasha's eyes opened and he stared up at me. "Ka..ori.."

"Kanna!" Kagura snapped. "You failed didn't you! Didn't you get Kaori's soul!? So why is she still moving!?"

I pulled away from Inuyasha and lifted myself to my bottom. I watched as Kanna glanced down to her mirror as Naraku watched her carefully. In a flash of light I transformed the katanas into the bow and arrow and pulled back on the string, taking careful aim with my shaking arms.

"Oh-ho.." Naraku chuckled, watching me with his crimson eyes. "So you still have enough strength to draw the bow huh?"

"No Naraku.." I hissed. "This is all an illusion."

"And enough foolishness to start making jokes too."

"You're the one acting like an idiot and stating the obvious."

"Humph.."

My hands grew slick with sweat and I raked my brain for some sort of plan.. what the hell was I doing..? My eyes locked onto something large and glowing and all of a sudden the headache I had been plagued with all day returned.. ugh I should of known it had something to do with him.

"Nice Shikon fragment.. Who did you have to kill to get something like that?" It was too large.. larger than anything I had seen.. well.. besides the jewel as a whole..

"That's right.. you can see it can't you?"

"No, it was just a lucky guess."

He growled. "So do you want to know? Who handed me with Shikon shard?" He reached into his kimono and pulled out an almost perfect ball. "Not long now.. soon it'll become the complete jewel.. What was that woman thinking of.. I don't know either.. However with her own hand, Kikyou gave me the Shikon fragment."

Kikyou..

"Kukuku Inuyasha. If you want to hate someone hate Kikyou. That you have been beaten in such a miserable way is also.. all due to the new powers I got with the Shikon no Tama."

I growled. "What's with you? With your monologues? Don't you know it would be harder on us not to know!? But I guess only a retard would give away their secrets. So I thank you Naraku, for being a retard. It makes our lives that much easier."

Naraku's amused smirk faltered. "Go ahead and shoot me then."

"D.. Don't Kaori.. Kanna's mirror.. will.." Inuyasha gasped.

"Th.. That's right," Shippo nodded, "that mirror even bounced back the blast from Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga. Should the arrow be bounced back then.."

"I know the risks." I replied.

"So why even fire the arrow?" Naraku asked, his smirk returned. "Just for the sake of protecting that measly Inuyasha..."

I didn't bother to say much else, I was loosing my strength as the seconds ticked by. I let the arrow fly and prayed to god or who ever watched over me, that it would pierce the mirror. Kanna raised it in front of her face and in a flash of light the diamond tipped arrow was swallowed. No arrow returned in my hand and as my heart beat painfully in my chest I waited..

I saw my reflection in the mirror and all of a sudden the white mist covered my body and was sucked from my body.

"Run away Kaori!" Shippo yelped.

"I wouldn't even if I could.. besides.. this is nothing more than dramatic effects.. nothing it happening.."

Kanna started to tremble and she stumbled backwards, bumping into Naraku.

"Kanna, are you doing that?" Naraku asked.

"I'm not.." She replied. "The mirror.. it won't respond to commands.." She looked down as the mirror began to crack. A second later she raised the mirror again and bright streams of light rushed from it to the outside world. Numerous of the beams struck me and I was thrown back into the snow. My strength returned and I leaped to my feet.

"Miroku!" I shouted.

"Right!" Miroku ripped the beads from his arm but Naraku's erie laughter already filled the air.

"Kukuku.. Too late.."

"Damn, he's fast at escaping!"

"I'll leave you arseholes with your lives, for a bit longer. But don't forget Inuyasha.. Kagura and Kanna were merely a part of my new powers gained from the Shikon no Tama.."

End Of Chapter 54.

°°•. .•°ღ°•. .•°°

R&R Please

Thanks 4 Reading

(¯`v´¯)

¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.• ´*

~ Woohoo that was really long, took me most of today to write.. but I'm happy with it.. in the original chapter Kagome said more embarrassing junk so I decided to change it all :l I wish I could do that in the original..