It's the end of the world! I updated again! I kinda lost my muse for this story... and the only other story I have going... I just lost my must for Inuyasha, cause I haven't watched it in ages but in the last week or two I started watching it again and my muse came back... slightly... maybe after watching some more Inuyasha my muse for this story and my other one will jump out at me and smother me! I hope so, cause I really want to finish them! Ra!

Sorry about making you folks wait again... I feel really bad every single time... *Sadface* But I did try to update a couple of times, only to be greeted by a very wonderful ERROR flashing across my screen -_-

Anyways, enjoy the next chapter ^^ (And no, it's not the last one... there's still a few more to go... I'm hoping...)

If you're in the mood, please review ^^ Pretty please with a cherry on top :D

A Friend Gone:

"Stop it!" shrieked Nozomi, standing in front of an unconscious Kagome, "Stop it Kagura! What do you want!"

Kagura sneered and growled, "What do you think I want? I want you, Nozomi. Or more accurately, Naraku wants you."

"He's not gonna get her!" exclaimed Shippo, jumping in front of Nozomi, "He's just not!"

"Shippo..." breathed Nozomi in distress.

"No, Nozomi! I won't let her take you! You're my friend!"

Nozomi shook her head violently. "But I won't let her hurt you, Shippo!"

"Do you ever stop talking?" demanded Kagura, a bored look crossing her face, "Either fight me, or let me take the girl, kid. Fighting would be more fun, but the outcome will be the same. I'm taking her back to Naraku."

"No you're not!" shouted Shippo, "I'll stop you."

"Shippo!" protested Nozomi, holding tightly onto the young fox demon, "please don't!"

Shippo looked Nozomi in the eyes, a determined look plastered on his face, "You're not going with her, Nozomi."

"I don't want to, Shippo, but... you're gonna get yourself injured! Or worse..."

Shippo grinned. "I'll be fine."

"Kagome!" Nozomi and Shippo jumped slightly and moved to face Inuyasha as he came running out the forests, stopping as soon as he caught sight of Kagura. "What are you doing here?" he sneered, glancing over at Kagome periodically.

Kagura sighed, "You weren't meant to be here. It's much easier with her gone and those two kids trying to save each other."

"Kagome!" Kagura let out a growl as Miroku and Sango came running out of the forests, ending up beside Inuyasha, also glaring at Kagura.

Kagura's eyes scanned the entire group before she sneered, "I should've stopped her from screaming, this job would've been a lot simpler if I had."

"I don't need you anymore, Kagura," sneered a voice out of nowhere, "I can handle this." Naraku appeared suddenly beside Kagura, making the demon woman jerk backwards.

"You're not getting Nozomi!" shrieked Shippo angrily, "You're not!"

"Shippo... stop it! I don't want you to get hurt!" yelped Nozomi, her eyes filled with desperation.

"Both of you, take care of Kagome," suddenly growled Inuyasha, jumping in front of the two kids,

"Neither of you are going to fight them."

"Inuyasha..." breathed Nozomi in shock before she and Shippo scurried to Kagome's side. Did he finally trust her? Or did he just want to fight Naraku?

"Make sure she stays safe," said Sango as she and Miroku passed Shippo, Nozomi and the unconscious Kagome, "And stay out of the fight."

Nozomi watched in awe as Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku all prepared to fight Naraku and Kagura. The pace that Inuyasha attacked was incomparable, and Nozomi couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. He was so powerful.

"Inu... yasha?"

"Kagome!" exclaimed Shippo, tears welling in his eyes, "You're alright!"

Kagome nodded slowly, her eyes slightly hazy. "What's happening?" she asked slowly.

"Kagura and Naraku are fighting Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango! Nozomi and I were ordered by Inuyasha to protect you."

"Thank you," murmured Kagome, smiling at Shippo and Nozomi.

Both of the small demons nodded and smiled back at Kagome, before their attention was drawn back to the fight still taking place. It was hard to tell who was winning; the only thing that was evident was that Inuyasha and Naraku were going all out while Miroku and Sango were taking on Kagura. "What's going to happen?" asked Nozomi softly, her voice filled with fright, "They're not going to get hurt, are they?"

Kagome shook her head as she slowly stood up. "No, they'll be fine."

Although the words slightly reassured Nozomi, Shippo could hear the concern in Kagome's voice, something that Nozomi must have wanted to block out. The small fox demon grasped Kagome's hand and turned his eyes up to the fight.

Nozomi backed up slightly as a loud band echoed through their ears, terror and worry written all over her face. "It doesn't look good," she mumbled, her mind going through every possible thing she could do to help.

Kagome nodded unconsciously, concern starting to show itself on her face as she gripped Shippo's hand tighter.

Nozomi took a deep breath and grasped the small bracelet on her wrist. It was the only way she could think of to stop Naraku. Maybe it would work this time, with him so occupied with Inuyasha. "Thank you," she said, looking up at Kagome with a smile, "I hope I can see you again one day."

Kagome looked down at Nozomi in shock, "What are you talking about!"

Nozomi smiled weakly and replied, "I know this is dangerous. But I can't handle this anymore." With that said, she ripped the bracelet off her wrist. It slid off easily, now that Naraku was occupied with Inuyasha. A familiar sensation filled the young demon as she slipped into nothingness. She was travelling through time again, something she suddenly felt homesick for.

oOo

"NOZOMI!" yelled Shippo in distress as his friend started vanishing in front of his eyes, "NOZOMI!"

Kagome's grip tightened further as she pulled Shippo closer. "What are you doing?" murmured the girl, her eyes wide with shock.

Suddenly, all sounds of fighting vanished and within seconds, Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku were in front of Shippo and Kagome, the three of them looking around for the young half-demon.

"Where's the kid?" asked Inuyasha.

Shippo sniffed and whimpered, "She took that bracelet off and she vanished! She vanished!"

Kagome nodded slowly. "She's gone," she whispered, "She's gone."