[I need an auto Copyright Declaration.. i'm beginning to forget to make one until I'm about the throw the chapter up.. and I still don't own InuYasha.]]

InuYasha convinced Sango, though a bit of arguing was involved, not to tell anyone about Gesshoku. He wasn't intending to keep the man a secret, not a chance in hell in fact, but their history was personal. Sango had a way of dragging information out of you, or perhaps he wouldn't have even shared it with her to begin with.. and as expected, sooner or later, he had to recount the details regarding Izayoi's.. his mother's passing. It was likely for this reason primarily that she had agreed to keep this secret, because she understood fully what it must feel like, and at the same time- infinitely couldn't sympathize as well, if only because the event she'd suffered through was public knowledge, and the demon behind it was now gone. She worried though, that InuYasha may truly persue this man, as she did Naraku, even if it meant leaving. She couldn't ask him not to, or tell him she didn't think he should, no, she knew the feeling, she couldn't even righteously tell him she didn't want him to, but the truth was- she didn't.

Finally, despite some rather unpleasant delays up to and including the two demon's expulsion for Sango's house for a while, InuYasha called forth those among his group. He didn't really specify though, he merely sent Shippo off with the vague decision. It shouldn't be surprising when it went completely wrong. Soon after InuYasha found out, he sent the slayers back, followed swiftly by the villagers of Kaede's Village. He then threatened Shippo briefly, but finally just resumed his intention. "Hag- the man who attacked your village. I'm going to go after him." Said InuYasha.

"Aye, I am certain you must be troubled by your defeat, but that is no reason to rush blindly into your anger." Said Kaede.

"She's right, InuYasha- just let it go, we all know you are strong, there's no reason to get bent out of shape for one loss." Said Kagome.

"Heh, more like a complete defeat- the only blow InuYasha landed with any decent power was when he was screaming 'Mother!'." Said Koga with a smirk.

"Koga! You must be mistaken, why in all my years of traveling with InuYasha, and looking over him- I have hardly heard word of Lady Izayoi, let alone something so pathetic as calling out for her, especially as an adult." Said Myoga.

"When did you..?" Started Kagome, surprised to find Myoga around again- InuYasha blew that interruption by squishing him. "Be quiet Myoga! I didn't gather here for a discussion, I just wanted to tell you all my decision; nd that I'm NOT going to let you follow me- Kagome." Said InuYasha.

Kagome squeaked at the attention. "H-hey! Why single me out!?" She asked. She was clearly so planning on it though... she couldn't have been more obvious about it in her expression and defensive stature, it was almost as obvious as if she had been packing her bag when he had said it.

"Cause you're the only one stupid enough to actually-" Started InuYasha.

"I'll be going as well." Said Sango from behind him, causing even him to turn around in surprise.

"I can't allow that in good conscious, you are a mother now, you can't simply race off into another adventure so swiftly, not without thinking long and hard about it, and I still would object." Said Miroku.

"Miroku's right, Sango- your place is here; besides, I didn't say you could come either." He said, as if he still had a choice in the matter.

"Good thing I wasn't asking for yours or his permission, then isn't it InuYasha?" Said Sango, glaring at the both of them. "Kaede, can I ask you to look after my children while I am gone?"

"Aye, I do not necessarily agree with either of your decisions, but I will support you in whatever way I am able." Said Kaede.

"You ARENT coming!" Said InuYasha, growling at Sango.

"I can't let Sango go, not without coming along too!" Said Kagome after a moment.

"YOU ARE NOT COMING, KAGOME!" Yelled InuYasha.

"Feh! No way I'd let Kagome go, not without me at least." Said Koga.

"Why aren't any of you people listening to me?!" Yelled InuYasha.

"I think that this is getting out of hand.. but certainly my feet have grown restless here, perhaps a good travel will help me to relax."

"Why do you people think this is, a vacation?!" No one noticed InuYasha's interruptions from that point on it seemed like.

"Mew!" Kilala hopped up onto Sango's shoulder, as if announcing her decision as well.

"Kilala, you stay out of this!"

"I may be able to gather some volunteers to help the search, I will begin coordinating some scouts to try to find his trail." Said Kohaku.

"Not you too..."

"Hey, you guys aren't leaving me out again are you?! I keep getting shuffled off!" Said Shippo as he bounced onto Kagome's shoulder.

InuYasha was honestly surprised to see the fellow demon, it had been a while since he had, the boy was always off whenever he went back there lately. Seems he'd gotten a little bigger, he might even reach InuYasha's knee now.

"I will be joining as well." Said a voice from the back of the room.

"Ain't nobody join-" Said InuYasha once again, only to halt as he noticed the scent. "You-, who are you?" Asked InuYasha, baring his fangs a bit as others began to notice the new arrival, a woman wearing a dark robe, similar to that of a priestess- not unlike Tsubaki's robes even...

"I am Lady Yurei, that name will suffice for you- Half Demon." Said the dark priestess, a pale human woman with dark eyes and seemed to have an expression void of emotion for the most part, her tone didn't betray that either. In a way, she was like Kikyo had become, disconnected from the world yet still among it, the only differences seemed to be- InuYasha knew this woman to be alive, and something in her eyes told him that she wasn't to be ignored either- she was a threat, a dangerous one at that.

"Well, sorry Yurei~" Said InuYasha, a mocking tone with the name she had clearly given merely as a ploy. "I ain't lettin' them go, I sure as hell won't be letting some random person go-"

"We shall see when the time comes, Half Demon- I fear you underestimate the strength of my desire, I doubt you will be alone for more than a moment, if my intuition is still as sharp as it once was."

InuYasha wrinkled his nose. 'Who is this woman? She smells familiar.. but only barely.'

#

"Heh, think they're going to boss me around, do they? We'll see about that..." Said InuYasha, feeling triumphant as everyone was now gone, free to escape without being encumbered by his friends.

"It's about time, InuYasha." Said Kagome with a sigh. "I thought you'd be out here immediately, so I was in a hurry for nothing!" Said Kagome as she glared slightly.

"I guess our time together did mean enough to make you hesitate at least- that's something I can be pleased by." Said Sango who came up behind him, dressed and prepared.

"You really must've been distracted to fail to notice that we were waiting.." Said Miroku emerging from behind Sango, he made it clear how behind as she took a swing at him.

"Just cause we're traveling together again, doesn't mean you can go back to your old ways." Sango lectured with a growl.

"Would you like me to curse him for you? Perhaps something along the lines of immense pain if he even considers touching an unwilling woman? Or something more subtle perhaps? Every woman you touch will take a year from your life maybe?" Said the dark priestess from up ahead.

"Eh, no thank you, Lady Yurei- I've already had the threat of my life shortened, really, it won't help." Said Miroku nervously as the dark priestess smiled in a mischievious manner.

"Very well, pain it is." Her eyes flashed before him.

Miroku couldn't help it, he had to try- he groped Sango once again, so relieved that he didn't experience any crippling pain that he soon found a Hiraikotsu blow to his head. "..It's such a bittersweet pain.. oh how I've missed thee.." He said almost fondly.

The priestess smiled more sincerely. "What was it..." She said to herself, as she looked at Kagome- Kagome looked really nervous, like she was being invaded. "Ah, yes- there it is.. Sit, boy." Said the priestess.

InuYasha tensed significantly at those words, but Miroku was the one who felt it's effects. "..Huh?.."

The beads once sitting around InuYasha's neck, had glowed, but it wasn't InuYasha that wore them when they fell to the ground with such force- it was Miroku. She'd cursed the beads to be attracted by the man's perverted deed, giving herself the ability to detonate them as well.

"Just now.. how did you do that? I could feel your spiritual energy flowing through me, but it was more like it was rummaging around inside of me..." Said Kagome, noticeably stirred by the encounter with the priestess.

"We are not all so talented as Kikyo was, or you yourself are- but being a priestess is a lot more about perseverance than talent; you'll find that I am quite relentless.." Said Yurei.

Sango knelt over Miroku's collapsed frame. "So, Miroku- did it hurt? I've always wondered, since InuYasha never got sat when he was a human before..."

Miroku groaned in response.

"...I'll take that as a yes." Said Sango with a chuckle, enjoying the punishment mildly, but in truth, knowing how much torment InuYasha suffered with those beads, it wasn't exactly a fair trade, considering the monk- while surely being a lecher was a crime, there were far less cruel ways to punish someone.

"That's all well and good and everything, and thanks for removing those accursed beads- my so called friends collaborated to get back onto me, but it ain't happening- NONE of you are coming." Said InuYasha.

"My intuition is rather sharp. You would head south, assuming he'd still be in the area where you last battled, but in truth, he has passed right by you without your notice; if you head south, you will fail to find him and before you reach him again, you will lose something you weren't willing to gamble with.." Said Yurei.

"Heh, and what are you supposed to be, a fortune teller?" Asked InuYasha, really not liking the arrogance of this human.

"Maybe that was what I was supposed to be- but I am not, I have the ability to weaken him, and you have the ability to take away what sustains him; together we can succeed, separate, we will perish before him. You may think he wasn't that strong in your last battle, but consider that he is still alive, despite the wounds you gave him, and being left in the very flames that nearly consumed you as well; he set the poison off that weakened you despite being in the area, because he isn't affected by them. You can't win alone; it's not like when you were a child, Half Demon, you won't win because of dumb luck and raw emotion." Said Yurei.

"It ain't hap-" Started InuYasha, before Sango interjected in his place.

"You can come."

"What?!" InuYasha turned to her.

"I didn't say I believe her, or trust her, but it makes sense as well; besides, like it or not, she knows something, something I believe impossible to know, for anyone." Said Sango, trying to discreetly imply his secret without pointing out that there was such a thing.

"Well said, huntress- but be warned, should you come, you will fall- and should you stay, someone will fall in your place. I warn you so that you can prepare yourself, not to frighten you." Said Yurei.

"I am not frightened- I have chosen what I must do, taking into account that my life will be at risk; however I can not fall on this journey, I must return, so that is why I won't fear your cryptic talk." Said Sango with annoyance.

"So be it, you shall not fall alone- it should be interesting." Said Yurei, who seemed to take some form of enjoyment out of her work clearly.

#

InuYasha sighed as he walked, he tried outrunning them, but Kilala's appearance spoiled that plan. It so wasn't fair, Kilala could tail him for miles even if he could get a distance; and Kagome seemed to have developed the ability to sense his demonic aura, making it all the more difficult- he wasn't even going to get into Sango and Yurei, Miroku was about the only one who couldn't track him, though he seemed quite capable to keep up for the most part; he could lose the monk if he ran hard, but it wouldn't matter if they could pick him up at any point and track him back down. "...Man!" Said InuYasha in a grump.

"Cool it, InuYasha- face it, you can't escape." Said Sango, as she patted his back.

"Accept your destiny, and you'll find that it makes it easier to let go when the time comes..." Said Yurei.

"Heh, shows what you know, I'll never let it go." Said InuYasha with another frustrated growl.

"You will, once you see where it will lead you; but by then it'll be too late.." Said Yurei, taking pleasure once again in leaving cryptic warnings behind.

"Has anyone ever told you, that you're really creepy for such an attractive priestess?" Said Miroku.

"Yes- they have, has anyone ever told you that you're not quite as charming as you think for such a mediocre monk, and an even more average looking man? Your education doesn't make up for the deficiencies in your character I am afraid..." Retorted Yurei, seemed she hit a sore spot as even Miroku seemed to be self consciously reflecting at that point.

"Can you please stop doing that? You are scaring the crap out of me with that stuff." Said Kagome as she shuttered.

"I can, but it's only proper that I finish what I started- I wouldn't want you to feel left out." She said, as she looked over with the same smile.

"Damnit, that's enough out of you! Be quiet or get lost!" Said InuYasha, growling at the priestess, drawing her attention back to him.

"Yes, InuYasha- protect her, no matter the pain you will experience, and the blood you will shed to do it, because she requires your protection.. isn't that right, Kagome? Your greatest fear? That your reliance on his protection will ultimately end with you watching him die before you?" Said Yurei, receiving a trembling InuYasha, feeling the blood in his body boil- wanting to silence the human for intentionally upsetting his friends.

"..Fear not though, your conscious will be clear; for it will not be you who he will die for, the wounds won't even slow him down, when what he cares for most is on the line; just like always, right InuYasha?" Said Yurei, smiling at him once more, almost fondly, like admiring a child's growth.

'..Who is this person?..' Thought InuYasha.

"..Don't be concerned with it, InuYasha- I am not who you are beginning to suspect, you and I both know that she wasn't nearly as twisted as we are; you are no son of mine, and I no mother to you- just consider me a friend." Said Yurei. "A very old friend, though perhaps that word isn't necessary on someone who lives as long as thee." She said as she moved past InuYasha, leaving each one of the traveling companions in a state of anguish, all unique to them.

'..I can't not survive this.. I have to return to my children.. I was sure, so long as I remembered that, I could face it.. but.. what if she's right? By choosing to come at all, have I already began to leave them alone in this world...' Thought Sango, focusing only on the ground before her and the words of the priestess behind her.

'..I'm different than I used to be.. stronger than I was before.. I won't need InuYasha to protect me now! I know he'll still do it though, I know that he will, because he'll always protect me... but.. I don't.. want to see.. what he'll have to endure.. to do that. I wanted.. to protect him.. as well.. I can still.. do that.. right?...'

'... What was she trying to say? That I'm not good enough? I may have some faults both as a monk, and as a man, but my knowledge is a valuable asset to the team, and my charm, as she calls it, can also help to reduce the tension of the group- I've done it countless times before, but now I'm not good enough? I don't understand her meaning.. am I merely not intelligent enough to comprehend it?.. Will this be as beyond me as such a simple comment is over my head?..'

'..She's right about one thing.. mother wasn't this cold. Was I really considering the idea that she was really my mother? She certainly acts like a walking corpse, but even I know that this woman is alive, and my mother.. isn't. Why did I think that? Merely because she talks to me so calmly? Because of how she looks at me? Why did she look at me like that? It was like.. she was proud.. of the 'twisted' person 'we' had become.. when was.. 'we'?'

Yurei remained silent, as Kagome had requested, but not before systematically making each and every one of them doubt themselves or what they truly knew of their situations. She of course had no doubt, she knew exactly what would happen; her fate was bound two hundred years ago, like that of the man they now pursued, only in death would she truly be free to doubt fate's plan- how lucky the four of them were to have that luxury, to doubt, and to choose...