Hey everyone! I'm back! Sorry for the long wait, there were a bunch of changes going on at work so it's just been easier for me to come home and play mindless video games.

BUT.

I am back. Things have settle down at work now and the stress has minimized. So I'm going to try and post a chapter each week on Sunday/Monday until this story comes to a close.

So with out further ado, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Fifteen: Kill the Beast!

Naraku was seething. Only on the inside. How could she have possibly thought that she would get away with wearing that mutt's colors? He took a long swig from his cup. She must have known there would be repercussions for defying me in such a brazen fashion. The image of her face, so confused, so frightened. That had set his skin tingling. He stared at the liquid in his cup, swirling it.

It wasn't like he actually cared for her. He hadn't cared for anything since he ceased to be Onigumo. All he wanted of her was was to monopolize her powers but somehow he always ended up doing this. One way or the other. He would obsess over something, covet it, and in the end he would destroy it. Watching with an odd sense of satisfaction as it cracked and shattered in his hands.

Perhaps it was because of Onigumo's father. His father, Heisuke, had been a selfish man. Onigumo's mother died in childbirth and somehow ended up in Heisuke's care. Heisuke despised Onigumo. Blamed him for everything that went wrong in his life. He would bate Onigumo, dangling something precious in front of him, just beyond his reach.

Once, he'd made Onigumo go several days on nothing but small sips of water. Heisuke came home the last day with a bet full of fish. At this point, Onigumo was child, no more than six years old. He'd shoved the still wriggling fish into Onigumo's stubby, chubby arms and told him if he wanted to eat he would have to cook for himself. He then proceeded to drag out a cask of liquor and drink himself into a stupor.

Onigumo spent hours that night trying start a fire and cook his dinner. When he finally had the fire hot enough and, after several failed attempts and bloodied finger tips, figured out how to skewer the fish he was exhausted. Somehow he'd fallen asleep and when he woke up his father had devoured all but one fish. Onigumo hurried to fetch the last fish. His face fell when he saw the state of it: black and shriveled. Burnt to a crisp. His stomach growled in dismay. He took in a deep breath and bit in. Tears welled in his eyes as powdery ash filled his mouth. Onigumo went to bed hungry again that night.

Naraku blinked, shaking his head. How odd... Onigumo's memories haven't bled through like that in years.

Naraku sneered down at his cup. Onigumo had been a pathetic, weak man. Even in the moment of his death. Naraku was strong. The embodiment of everything Onigumo had meant to become but failed to achieve in life. Naraku had power and command respect. Onigumo was a resentful child, stealing what he felt entitled to. Naraku had no need for theft: everything he wanted was handed to him willingly.

Except Kagome... She has put up a fight at every turn. Perhaps that was the true source of his desire for her. The chase. The thrill of seeing how she will react. The unknown. And last of all the punishment . Her prideful nature tested and bent until she snapped. He looked forward to seeing her break. The same way she made me break. He shook his head again, tamping down on the seeping thoughts and emotions that are all that remains of Onigumo. He really needed to proceed with caution. It was often when he got overly emotional that the human's consciousness began to leak.

And now she's somehow managed to enlist the aid of my minion. His grip on the cup tightened, shattering the brittle clay thing in his hand. Damn it, Onigumo.

"Lord Naraku, are you alright?" one of the annoying women asked. She brought over a white linen to clean up the blood trickling from a small gash in the center of his palm. She was staring up at him with wide, admiring eyes.

Disgusting.

He put on his dashing smile, watching her melt before him. "I am fine. Probably had a little too much sake on an empty stomach."

She shot up quickly to her feet. "Let me get you some snacks, that should help. Can't have you slaying demons drunk!"

Naraku was more than prepared to strike down the half demon. He would practically be able to do it in his sleep, to be honest. He knew Kagome had overheard his conversation. He knew the old man was still alive. He knew Kagura was helping her. Though he'd yet to understand why. Without her heart, Kagura should be too indifferent to make such emotionally driven decisions. Although now that she'd figured out how to block him out he rarely got the chance to sift through her mind.

It doesn't matter. Minions can be replaced. I can always create another. Perhaps the next time I will consider not giving them a heart in the first place. He smirked down at the gash in his hand. For now though, Kagome is my main priority.

The scene played out splendidly in his mind: Kagura would appear with Kagome just in time to see him killing InuYasha. He would decide from there what to do with Kagome, based upon her reaction. As for Kagura… Perhaps he should give her a subtle reminder of what is at stake should she choose to cross him again.

The woman returned with a plate of rice balls and some medical supplies. She made short work of cleaning and dressing his cut while he polished off the food she'd brought. He flexed his hand and stood. "Come friends, it is time we lay waste to this foul beast."

Sango peaked her head around the library door, trying to quietly check on InuYasha. She was worried about him. Ever since Kagome disappeared he's been all sad smiles and heavy sighs. And deflection. Lots of deflection. I'm positive he knows more than he's letting on. Otherwise Kagome's absence wouldn't be affecting him so much.

"I know you're there Sango."

Sango started, stumbling over her own feet before clearing her throat and joining him on the second level. He was laying on the couch, a book close to his face, the fire casting a soft orange glow over his face. "Master, how may I be of assistance?" She curtsied.

"You know you don't have to treat me so formally anymore, least of all when we're alone," InuYasha said, placing the book over his stomach. "And if you're doing so out of some sense of guilt, don't. I am the only guilty party in any of this. It was childish and stupid of me to treat you all the way I did."

"Mast- umm, InuYasha," Sango started, correcting herself when she saw his brow crease. "You couldn't possibly be the only one responsible for the way things have become. Miroku and I have often wondered what would have happened if we had just been here when your mother passed. If we had been here to support you and reinforce that none of this was your fault."

His brows had drawn together, mulling over the thought. He opened his mouth to say something but Sango cut him off. "I know there's no guarantee that it would have changed anything. And if none of this had happened you would never have met Kagome and fallen helplessly in love with her."

He opened his mouth again.

Sango interrupted him again. "Since we're already speaking candidly, I'm going to come out and ask, as your friend, are you really okay?"

He sighed heavily and sat up, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He buried his face in his hands.

Sango took this as a sign to join him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "InuYasha, what is it?"

"I'm so...scared," He finally admitted after a lengthy pause.

"Scared? What are you scared of? You don't think Kagome's in any danger, do you?"

"No it's not that. I just- I have no doubt that Kagome can handle herself in most situations." Sango nodded. "I also have no doubt that she is going to come back… But what if she doesn't make it back in time to break the curse?"

Sango snorted. "You really don't like being a half demon, do you?"

He glared at her. "This isn't about me!" His voice rose, suddenly serious. "How can you laugh at a time like this? If we don't break the curse soon, no one will be able to age." Sango's face must have clearly displayed her shock because he paused and let out a deep breath before speaking again. "What if you and Miroku can never have that child you've been trying so hard for?"

Sango felt her heart tightening in her chest. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You are so good."

"Sango," he groaned in annoyance, but didn't try to wriggle out of her arms.

She pulled back, wiping the dampness from her eyes. "You don't know how good it is to have you back to normal. To have my friend back."

He frowned before pulling her into a hesitant hug. "I'm such an idiot."

Sango laughed, sniffling as she patted his back. "You've always been an idiot, InuYasha. I've missed this idiot though." She knocked lightly on the back of his head with a knuckle. "Even if the curse isn't broken, we'll all just be glad that you're you again… with adorable cat ears."

He pulled back. "Dog ears." He fixed her with a stern look that she could just see the playfulness hiding under.

"You really need to quit lying to yourself on that." Sango smiled. "Kagome told me all about the purring."

Sango watched his cheeks tinge red. "Wait, if she told you about that-"

Sango let an evil smirk play over her lips. "Yes, she told me every juicy detail. I can't wait to pick her brain about the night you proposed."

His entire face went red this time. "Sango, please, we're all friends here but there are some lines you shouldn't cross-"

The door flew open and Miroku rushed into the room, panting and looking alarmed. "InuYasha, there's something wrong."

InuYasha stood, brow quirked in confusion. "What is it?"

"There's a mob outside with torches and weapons. They're chanting something about 'killing a beast'."