Rushing to the core of the cave Inuyasha was first to barge in with tensaiga raised, ready for battle. The startled Kagome stood behind him to survey the cammotion. A female wolf demon had begun writhing on the floor in pain, holding her head and screaming. No one was quite sure what to do. Kouga stood over her and begun shouting orders for the other females to escort themselves and their children to their caverns. Was it the strange entity his friends had been battling earlier? No way. He watched Kagome pick up the shard that Naraku used to bring the beast to life in the forest yesterday. Inuyasha shook the bangs of his white hair from his face with a jerk of his head and he took in the cave's surrounding area. His nose twitched trying to sniff out if there was someone else in the room with them.

"The battle has only just begin Inuyasha," a deep voice bellowed from the tiny framed Youkai. The wolf girl let out another terrible agonizing yell. Something was inside her mind! Before Inuyasha could stop Kagome she was at the female's side. She glanced up at the Wolf Prince. "What is her name?"

"Yui, her name is Yui. She's one of our healers."

"Yui!" Kagome called to her laying her shaking her head in her lap. Yui was unable to sit still and groaned. She can hear me! Kagome realized. "Yui! Fight whatever it is! You can do it!"

"Foolish Priestess," came the dark possessor again, "You may have defeated Kyoufu but I have something of his that just made me that more powerful."

Inuyasha gritted his teeth, "Naraku."

Yui chuckled, "Yes, it is I, Inuyasha."

"Let the girl go and show yourself! Fight like a man! Stop hiding behind weak bodies and useless minions you know we will destroy!"

"Oh our battle will be a great one but until then no one you know or love will be safe. I look forward to seeing you again in the flesh, hopefully sooner rather than later."

The wolf girl gasped and passed out in Kagome's lap. Human and demon alike were exchanging worried looks, fear crept into the faces of both woman and man. Kouga used a hand to motion two of his warriors over. "Take her to Shinzo, in the back." They followed the command of their leader and took the young Youkai away. He caught Inuyasha's gaze who still held his battle stance. "We have to go after him. We don't have a choice."

Inuyasha sheathed his mighty sword and gave a nod in agreement. "Maybe its best you stay with your pack."

Kouga shook his head, "No way, I do have revenge on the brain no doubt but with my body embedded with jewel shards Naraku will seek me out and my family will not be safe with me here." At one point he felt stronger with them but now he saw himself as a target. Twice now his comrads have been attacked inside the safety of their den's walls. Naraku had to be destroyed no matter what the cost.

The half demon scoffed, "How about I save you the trouble and cut the jewels out of your legs?"

"If this were another circumstance I'd actually suggest we take out his shards but that will leave us weak," Miroku disagreed, "Kouga is one of the first demon's I've seen to be able to control their power without being consumed by the darkness. We need him."

"Also if he truly does become a target for Naraku we'll be with him, ready to fight," Sango added.

The half demon groaned, "So we have to travel with him again? Just when I thought I'd be rid of his disgusting hide for at least a little while."

Kagome shot him a glare but ended up rolling her eyes. Even if he did accept her and Kouga's new found relationship the name calling would never end. There was no way to make Inuyasha like her boyfriend when he had always despised him. She stood up brushing the dirt off her white knee high socks and adjusted her green skirt. "Well then, we should prepare for travel."

Shippo jumped onto her shoulder as she walked over to her back pack and sorted through it. He watched her as she shifted through her belongings studying the serious look on her face.

For the first time the human girl felt the threat of the mighty being known as Naraku sink in. He's growing more powerful. They had to strike now. No more meandering to find jewel shards. That quest had to be delayed. This demon was their biggest threat of all. He had never done a trick like controlling someone else's mind. Was that one of the things he gained from Kyoufu? Feeling a strand of her black hair being tugged she looked to the direction of the pull. The fox child was staring at her with a worried expression.

"Kagome? Are you okay?" He asked carefully.

No. She wasn't okay. Whether it was the last enemy they faced or something else trembling inside of her, she was scared. What help was she to her group? She barely knew how to use her powers. Not like Kikyo. Kagome had to help though, even if it did cost her, her life. She thought of her Mother, Grandfather, and Brother who were cheering her on back home. Kagome had to return alive for them. Shippo held her gaze as these thoughts turned over in her head and a confident smile appeared.

"Of course, I'm just mentally preparing myself."

The kitskune returned her smile and leaped down trotting towards the back of the cave. Kouga took his place by her side. He knelt down next to her and placed a strong arm around her waist, the motion pulling her into him. She felt warm patches of heat appear on her cheeks and met his beautiful blue orbs. He gave her a swift peck on one of the warm pink spots setting loose the array of butterflies in her stomach. It felt great, the sensation of his lips against her skin. In fact she found her stress and anxiety begin to melt away the longer he held her.

"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you Kagome," Kouga said in a low voice nuzzling the side of her face.

She knew his word was absolute. "I believe you."

Inuyasha watched as the girl he loved was held by his enemy. He was trying his best to bite back the jealousy that attempted to seize him. Sango and Miroku were also watching the scene and keeping an eye on the hanyou. Please don't change your mind Inuyasha, Sango said to herself, Our conversation I had to mean something. The demon slayer was hoping at least that him and Kagome had time to make up earlier. Inuyasha didn't run away in a childish frenzy, he simply turned his back and kept his gaze on the ground. Sango was impressed.

Miroku stamped his staff on the ground which turned everyone's attention to him. A firm frown was set on face obviously still disturbed by earlier events. "We should leave very soon. There's no telling if Naraku will come after another one of our wolf ken."

"I'll go get Shippo," Inuyasha muttered heading in the direction the child ran off to, "alright runt! Where did you go?" His voice disappeared as he went further into the cavern.

"Yes, I'll appoint temporary leadership for while I'm away," he stood and turned to his two favorites Ginta and Hokkaku,"Better be one of you if any."

"What?!" The two said in unison.

Kouga grinned, "You're my two most trusted comrades."

"Yes but boss-" Ginta began.

"What if you need us?" Hokkaku finished.

"The pack needs you more," Kouga barked making the two jump, "its better this way, just in case something happens to me." A pained expression lit his face for a moment as he imagined never returning to his clan. I won't let that happen, I will come back and with Kagome at my side.

The warriors gave a firm nod in agreement. "Ginta should lead, he's the better fighter," Hokkaku suggested, "and the better strategist."

"Then it's settled," Kouga grunted.

Sango strapped her boomerang on her back and the kitten form of Kirara remained perched on her shoulder. "I'm ready when you guys are."

The modern day Priestess heaved her back pack onto her shoulders. "Me too!"

Inuyasha returned with a Shippo at his heels. "Let's do this."

Miroku silently went along with his friends by following them to the mouth of the cave. The road they were about to embark on was to be their biggest challenge yet. Kagome and her comrades were going to destroy Naraku.