A.N. This would have been done sooner but my laptop is officially freaking me out. I haven't even had it for a full two years but it's acting like it's ready to call it quits. Don't ask if this is getting finished next, I don't know but thank you for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Inuyasha and never claimed ownership at any point during this story.

(Tsuki)

Captivated Amber

Chapter Twenty

(Tsuki)

"Are you seriously still in the infirmary?" Kagome winced as Inuyasha's voice boomed in her ear, "You're the laughing stock of about two hundred youkai—I hope you know that."

"Every last nice thing I said about you, I take it all back! Everything!" Kagome grumbled as she lay on the bed of the medical center.

"I honestly don't see how you suddenly passed out like that."

Kagome looked at the silver haired hanyou and murmured. "I couldn't breathe! All those youkai… The run was bad enough stuck between them." She sighed, "I feel bad for that poor guy who picked me as his partner. He must be so disappointed."

Inuyasha rubbed his temples, "Actually, this is why we separate our miko from the youkai. I don't think they're laughing at the fact that you did pass out. It's more how you did it."

Kagome sat up and warily waved a hand to silence him, "Please…let's not mention this again."

Inuyasha chuckled, "I really don't see how you managed—!"

"Conversation over!" The girl said firmly, rubbing her brow, "Now where are Sango and Mirouku? I hope they faired better today than I did."

Inuyasha grabbed her hand and gently pulled her off the bed. "That's where I'm taking you to."

Kagome allowed him to lead her out of the room and the two travelled in silence before she couldn't help but ask, "How is that other guy by the way?" She winced, "How mad was he? He must be so embarrassed…"

Inuyasha chortled, "Let's just say that he was more surprised than anything else. But apparently he's laughing it off right now."

Kagome nodded a bit, "That's good then." She sucked in a deep breath, "Right?"

Inuyasha nodded before suddenly sobering, "I need to warn you before we reach your room: Whatever happens, don't argue. Okay?"

Kagome blinked and gave a confused chuckle, "What would I have to argue about?"

He just gave her a wry smile and nodded towards the room they were approaching.

Sango was standing in front of Sesshoumaru, her posture stiff, Kirara cradled tightly in her arms, "Sell everything? You're being ridiculous!"

"You are no longer a Nagaremono. Everything accumulated from that time is to be sold." Sesshoumaru looked entirely blasé as he spoke to the two and that served only to infuriate Sango further. He sniffed, "And do leave your neko."

"Once this war of yours is over, we have no requirements to stay. What we acquired before this is none of your business." Mirouku tried to calmly interject between Sesshoumaru and Sango before the brunette did something rash.

"Let me term this better then," Sesshoumaru drawled, "I refuse to allow stolen property within my household. Sell it."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha who avoided her gaze. She shook her head and made her way to her companions, "What is going on?"

Sango narrowed her eyes, "We're being forced to sell our things."

Sesshoumaru cast a look at Kagome, "Everything needed is already being provided. You do not need to have a reminder of a life that you are leaving behind. It might give you ideas."

Kagome looked again towards Inuyasha and this time he looked back. His eyes seemed to plead with her. In a soft voice she said, "What is it that you want from us? 'A reminder of a life we're leaving behind'? Don't joke with me… Once we leave this place, that's all we'll have left. This is just an unnecessary pull of power!"

Inuyasha groaned, "Seriously, Sesshoumaru, you make everything so difficult for absolutely no reason. If you would just explain that an actual reason as to why you're doing this does exist, everything would go a helluva lot quicker."

Sesshoumaru smirked, "We are not collaborators, Inuyasha; there should be no reason to explain anything. These three should simply learn to listen and do as told."

Kagome narrowed her eyes, "You make me so sick." She walked past everyone and into the room, "I'll sell whatever you tell me to sell."

Sango threw up her arm in frustration, "Kagome!"

Mirouku stepped into the room after the raven haired girl. He grabbed her arm, "You can't possibly be serious?"

Kagome grinned wryly, "Stole it once, we can steal it again, right?"

Mirouku's features softened as he felt her hand shake, "Just let it go, huh?" He put his hands behind his hand, "Can't help it I guess… Monks shouldn't have material possessions anyway."

Sango heard the conversation from out in the hall and she cast one final glare at Sesshoumaru, "You're too obnoxious for words."

As soon as Sango stepped into the room Inuyasha stomped over to Sesshoumaru, "One sentence would have avoided that entire situation, I hope you know that. You make yourself pretty damn easy to hate and your intentions weren't even that bad this time! "

"It is better to be feared than loved, little brother… Especially when it comes to your army."

"If you just tell them that you don't do shit like this on the spur of the moment—they might actually try not to despise you."

Sesshoumaru smirked, "Should I take a page from your book, Inuyasha? After all they seem so fond of you."

"That's because I treat them like people! You treat them like a new toy you can't wait to try out. Youkai are capable of compassion, Sesshoumaru. It's not some sort of sin."

"And just how would you of all people know what youkai are capable of, I wonder? Where does that insight come from?"

"If this is turning into a discussion where you abruptly mock my heritage—save it! I want to reach Kaede's before sundown and you happen to have become very long winded."

With one last scathing look, Inuyasha left behind a minutely surprised, Sesshoumaru.

(Tsuki)

"Never thought I'd see that place again, let alone go there so sell off all our shit." Sango commented as the three entered a horse driven carriage. To their dismay Hiyo would be joining them so as he drew closer, Kagome reverted to Latin to respond to her companion.

"At least we're out of that dungeon of a castle. I swear I was about to go insane." The girl ran an eager hand through her raven tresses to settle her wind tousled hair. For a moment, she relished in the feel of the teasing gust on her locks that she hadn't felt in so long.

Sango in all seriousness agreed, "I'm starting to think that too and the evidence is certainly piling up!"

As Hiyo joined them inside the carriage, his appearance abruptly human, he looked slightly amused.

Sango continued her rant, "You passed on a five year sentence in human jail to be here," when Kagome and Mirouku opened their mouths to protest, she spoke over them, "You actually seem to trust one of the monsters holding us captive, and you have late night powwows," she mentally winced a bit at the use of the word and cursed Hiyo for getting it stuck in her head. Ignoring the odd looks she received from the two, she continued, with Inu Taisho telling stories in his study!"

It was there that Mirouku abruptly interjected, "Sango—you're out of line. Before you continue this rant, it would probably be wise to point out the judiciary policies of this region. Mikos have a specialized jail that they go to when they commit a serious crime. Depending on their spiritual strength, containment varies from being sealed in a cement coffin to lobotomizing. This is why, I might add, that it is so rare to see an 'evil' priestess. They judge each other rather harshly. "

Sango's anger slowly ebbed away, "I didn't know… I thought—"

Mirouku held up a finger, "Not only that, but I would have been sent to a monastery for purging—something almost equally as unpleasant. This is perhaps the only way we can actually stay together."

Kagome crossed her arms and defended herself once Mirouku was finished, "And so what if I befriend a person or two in that castle. I almost know for sure that Inuyasha has our best interest in mind regardless of how callous he acts on the surface. It's nice feeling like I have an ally when we're surrounded by the real monsters, namely Hiyo and Sesshoumaru."

Kagome had looked across from her as she said the final sentence in Japanese and met Hiyo's gaze.

Hiyo smiled as he leaned forward bringing himself closer to the. "How cute of you, little miko." He smiled, "When war comes, I will watch you closely. I want, so very much, to see the expression on your face when you die. I wonder how you'll look then."

The three refused to be baited and silently seethed in their fury at the abhorrent general.

In Latin, however Kagome muttered, "I would say the same to him, but death is nothing I want to wish upon another person. Not even Hiyo."

Hiyo suddenly chuckled and replied, "You become more and more amusing with each passing second, miko. You're so... human."

When he saw the alarmed expressions he cooed in Latin, "I've lived your lifetimes decades over—languages becomes nothing to an immortal."

He smirked, "That should be the lesson for today. Ceasing your naivety one day at a time."

As the three sat in disturbed silence, so did Hiyo.

In the depths of silence a traitorous voice entered his mind.

You of all people… How would you feel if that girl did have some connection to her…? At this moment even she would be disgusted with you.

(Tsuki)

The market was still as vast as they recalled from their last trip there.

Hiyo crossed his arms "Do try and nicely do as you were told. No wandering off this time."

Mirouku lifted the sack of their acquired goods onto his shoulder and questioned, "How exactly do you expect us to go about the actual selling?"

Hiyo rolled his eyes, "You're at an open market. Take example from what you see around you monk. Whatever isn't sold by noon, you simply leave. But it is in your best interest to get rid of it all, since you are allowed to keep what you make. We thought it would be a nice gesture if you had some spending money."

Sango rubbed her temples as the other two sat down, "General, I would appreciate it if you did not say another word. Everything that comes out of your mouth is so—"

Kagome pulled the brunette down to the ground where she and Mirouku had taken to lay out their materials. She gave the girl a look, "There's no use saying anything to him. It's not like he'll take it to heart." Her eyes dulled, "Don't waste time. We have less than two hours to sell years worth of stuff."

But their worries about their merchandise were unfounded. Their elaborate costumes, fine silk and jewelry brought connoisseurs and house mothers alike, almost as instantly as the last item had been set down.

"How much for the silk, young lady?" A large man questioned, with one hand poised at his pocket as he addressed Sango. The brunette like the other two, both of whom occupied with their own potential buyers, replied, "Name a price."

Sango winced as he brutally undershot the market value of the silk and she drawled, "So… you wish for an eighth of a yard of silk then, sir? Because as you surely must know, this is a rarity in these parts and unless you'd rather do business in Hokkaido, I suggest you offer me a better price."

The man scowled, "For such a young thing you seem to know a lot about fine cloths…"

"Youth does not insinuate stupidity. If you don't want to hand over an appropriate price, then leave."

The man lifted a small sack of coins and tossed a handful onto the bag that served as a buffer between the merchandise and the ground. "There, wench," he said as he took up the fabric.

Sango rolled her eyes and muttered, "Idiot."

Kagome reached over and picked up the coins so that she could store them away. But while she was doing that she heard a name that she had not heard uttered since her capture.

"Gatenmaru."

She blinked but had no time to think about the name because someone had a question about some herbs they had lain out.

Hiyo stared in annoyance at the three and their rapidly diminishing goods. "Of course they would be sent here on a day when sales were good," he could not help but mutter bitterly.

He pouted and gave them a halfheartedly scathing glance.

It was perhaps for the better that they were not going to be around. He was almost relieved that they were leaving to spend a week with Kaede.

Being near that miko was doing a number on his psyche lately. He couldn't stand her and then he felt impossibly and irreconcilably guilty about it.

'It's the war stress,' he kept boiling it down to, in his mind. He was oft prone to oddities during war prep.

Besides, that girl and Midoriko were so physically different and her age just didn't match up. Nothing about the girl did when it came to Midoriko.

He rubbed his brow and stepped into the crowd.

(Tsuki)

Once the last garment of clothing was sold, the three divided up their profits and none of them for once felt pleased at the hefty sum in front of them.

Mirouku remarked, "It's weird not having any of that stuff anymore. It was the last physical evidence of who we were…"

Kagome pocketed her money and murmured softly, "That's the idea of all this nonsense isn't it? To try and make us forget?"

Sango held out her wrist so that her crescent scar was visible, "Unless they take away all those years from my memory—from my body. Selling trinkets was nothing if they can't do that…"

Mirouku looked at his own wrist in a sort of silent agreement with Sango's statement. "I think I'd rather have liked to keep the big load of stolen junk though…"

Kagome kept her own hand firmly at her side. Every time she looked at that scar the only thing it reminded her of now was Sesshoumaru. She shuddered. And any thoughts of him never led to anything good.

She sought to change the subject, "I heard Gatenmaru's name earlier," she abruptly blurted. The two looked at her in surprise.

"Really?" Mirouku asked with a chuckle. "I'd almost forgotten about that crazy bastard. Is he here now?"

Sango scanned the crowds, doubting she would catch sight of the man who, with his kindly grandmother, had insisted they be taken in. While they had seen the grandmother but once as Gatenmaru said her work was hectic, he himself had checked in on them constantly. He had also arranged their placement on the event list so he was bound to be worried about the three's lack of return. But the prospect of seeing him again made the brunette smile.

However, that small show of content at the reminiscing of happier times, died on her face as she suddenly caught sight of the reason the man's name had come up. With a frozen heart, she walked towards the wooden beam of a concessioner's gazebo. There, Sango saw, was posted a flier.

An artist rendering of Gatenmaru was posted front and center and in large, faded, kanji it read: Tried and condemned for treason, the imminent execution of this criminal has been set by order of Lord Sesshoumaru Taisho.

But painted atop the sign in thick red lettering that burned forever in Sango memory were the words, 'Executed.'

She ripped down the sign just as Kagome and Mirouku reached her side.

(Tsuki)

"Murderer!" Those were the first words out of Kagome's mouth, "You slaughtered that poor man!" She willed her tears at bay, ""Why?"

Her eyes were furious, tear sheathed, orbs as she glared down Sesshoumaru. She had unconsciously located the youkai as soon as they had arrived. Not knowing what else to do, she barged in to his study and began yelling.

During the first break in her rave, he Sesshoumaru merely looked up from the contents of his desktop and said coolly, "Who let you in here?"

Kagome held up the flier, "How can you sit so calmly knowing you executed an innocent man! Did you kill his grandmother too?"

Sesshoumaru placed his palms of the desk, in an attempt to restrain himself. He smirked at the girl, "I did not. In fact, he probably did the honors himself."

The raven haired girl held herself rigidly, "What are you talking about?"

The youkai mused with rhetorical amusement, "Could it be that you think that the sole reason behind his death was because he helped you and gave you a place to stay?"

He scoffed cruelly, "Do not think so highly of yourself, miko." He narrowed his eyes, "It truly amazes me how naïve you beings are. That thing was nothing more than a manipulative demon who wanted the fall of my father's nation. I suppose he wanted the theft of our treasury to be the salt in the wound of exposing our demon heritage. Assumptions aside, here is the fact: he was simply using you until you finished your task and would have devoured you afterwards. Now, do show yourself out. I am busy."

Kagome looked at him in pure astonishment. After a moment, she crumpled to the ground and sobbed, "Who is there left to trust?"

"The people you're going to have to count on are all located in this castle," Inuyasha called from the doorway.

Sesshoumaru nodded towards the girl, "Please removed her. The scent of her despondency is beginning to saturate the room."

Inuyasha did not even bother to comment as he scooped up the raven haired girl and exited the room.

The silver haired youkai behind the desk suddenly raised a brow.

He always overlooked the contact between the two of them, but the fact of the matter was, there was contact. There was touching…

She was an untrained miko and he, though it was only half of his lineage, was a demon.

Yet…

"She isn't trying to purify him…."

(Tsuki)

Inuyasha placed the numb girl on a horse before climbing on himself. His raven locks were tied back now and his violet eyes were somber. He looked at the other two.

"This castle—these grounds… Trust no one outside of them," he muttered curtly, "We are at war."

Mirouku climbed onto an adjacent animal, Sango and Kirara, with her Hiraikotsu, took a third horse. The dark haired male looked at the hanyou, "Who really is our enemy? I was briefed on this Naraku guy… but Gatenmaru…the demons who attacked the village…those snakes! They go beyond mere demons! What are we fighting, Inuyasha?"

The hanyou reached over Kagome to grab the reigns. "The Shikkon no Tama," he answered simply.

He led his horse out of the stables and towards the exterior of the castle, taking the lead. "Those who exploit that jewel become nothing but corrupt beings. That jewel has the power to resurrect the dead at the cost of their souls."

The hanyou felt Kagome shudder and he murmured, "Do not underestimate this situation because of that jewel and do not rely on anyone beyond these grounds," he repeated. "Our enemy has too many forms to do that now."

Sango looked dejectedly at the hanyou, "Then how do you know who to fight?"

They had long since commenced the ride to Kaede's at a leisurely pace, the afternoon quiet broken by their words.

Inuyasha looked at her, "Naraku set a date. His army will attack ours and we will finally settle things."

Mirouku shook his head, "But what does that accomplish? Even if he loses, he still wins! He'll have publicized your existence as youkai…"

Violet eyes met Mirouku's, "We are willing to sacrifice our throne for the eradication of the jewel. No one is safe from Naraku's goals."

Kagome finally spoke and asked the question swirling about all three of their minds, "What is it that he wants Inuyasha?"

"Japan."

(Tsuki)

Relative quiet greeted the rest of the hour long trip before they reached a hut in a small clearing.

As they drew closer and closer the surrounding area became more aromatic and the air, sweet.

Inuyasha smiled a bit, "We're here." His raven locks slowly transformed back to their silver state and his dark irises melted into amber.

Mirouku minutely raised a brow in intrigue, "Cozy place."

And that was no understatement. The hut was of circular build and humble size. The roofing was sturdy and the construction precise. Surrounding the hut were exotic and native plants of various types. Some of the floras were medicinal herbs; others were simply for the aesthetics.

Inuyasha dismounted while commenting, "Believe it or not, this is actually where I was born." He assisted Kagome off the horse before leading the animal to a nearby tree.

Sango and Mirouku mirrored his actions. While trying her mare, the brunette questioned, "How long ago was that?"

Inuyasha scoffed, "Decades. Youkai lose track of time since they're around for so long but this is where my mother used to live."

In a louder voice he called, "Oi, Kaede! We're here."

Kagome looked appalled, "Show some respect for your…" The raven haired girl trailed off leaving her sentence incomplete. She was about to say 'elders,' but to be honest, she was not even sure if the woman was older than him.

Inuyasha smirked at her pause and drawled, "I knew her from when she was a little tike. Honorifics just don't seem right."

"Inuyasha?" Kaede walked out of her hut, with a somber smile on her face, "Nice to see ye again. A shame we continue to meet not under better circumstances. These are the three?"

Inuyasha stepped forward and gave a quick introduction, "This is Kagome, Sango, and Mirouku," he said, pointed to each in respective sequence. He crossed his arms into the sleeves of his haori.

Kaede's body shuddered a bit and she gingerly touched her head to her gray head, "Excuse me… I've been plagued by the worst headaches since this morning."

The hanyou looked concerned, "If you want to reschedule this, then that might be for the better."

She straightened and in a sharp tone Kaede brusquely said, "No. I want them here." She gave him a glance over and murmured, "You may leave them to me now. Return within a week."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes a bit. He sounded annoyed as he reminded her, "I told you that I would be staying, Kaede. Really…if this is a bad time we will leave and I will tell my father."

Kaede, almost doubling over, let out a grunt. Inuyasha took another concerned step but the woman held up a hand, "I am fine… This week is for their benefit. Do come inside."

She turned and with a smile and entered her hut.

Inuyasha gave the three a look as if to beckon them to follow, before he too entered the woman's home.

Kagome felt a sharp prickling of her skin as she crossed the threshold and entered the hut. It was a spacious two room affair, for a curtain of thick reeds partitioned the two halves. The main room had a large pit fire in the center and various dried herbs hung from the walls.

A pot was boiling over the fire and the woman went to churn the contents.

Mirouku commented with a smile, "Your home is very lovely Kaede-sama. This is an unexpectedly pleasant turn to our vocations."

Kaede graced him with a crisp thank you but said nothing otherwise.

Inuyasha directed the three to lay their things in the main room as that would be their residing quarters for the duration of the stay.

Sango ran a hand through her hair, vaguely wondering if her two companions had the same bubbling nausea welling up in them. While the hut was visually relaxing and should have made them feel at home… it didn't.

There was something amiss.

Something did not feel right.

The brunette shook her head and looked at Kagome. But the raven haired girl gave no indication that she felt anxious for any reason so she tried to take that as a sign to cease her paranoid thoughts.

As the four made their camp in the main room of the hut, Kaede withdrew into her quarters and retrieved a tray. She continued to bustle about until she had four bowls set down on the tray. The elderly woman spooned the products of her cooking into the bowls before she set them down in front of the four.

"Eat and then we shall enter the gardens for introductory training. Will ye be joining that Inuyasha?"

The silver haired hanyou shrugged, placing claim on one of the bowls, "Why not? Rin always makes me join her in the gardens so it'd be nice to finally know what the hell I'm doing."

Kaede turned to Sango, "And child, I suggest ye leave that weapon of yours during our lessons. It will be… unnecessary."

The brunette touched the bone boomerang that was still strapped to her back and replied, "I know I won't need it, but keeping this on me helps my body get accustomed to the weight." She was starting to get used to the weight and had forgotten it was there so she knew she was making progress.

The elderly woman seemed to clench her jaw before retiring to her quarters.

Mirouku scratched the back of his head and murmured to Inuyasha, "Is she also so friendly?"

Inuyasha shook his head incredulously, "This isn't like her. She's a pain, yeah, but not like this…"

Kagome sucked in a deep breath and tried to concentrate on probing her surroundings with her senses. If anything was wrong, she was almost confident that she would be able to sense it. Her brows furrowed and just as she felt a tugging on her spine, Kaede quickly reemerged and said, "There is a miko among your group, correct?" Her glance darted between Sango and Kagome.

The raven haired girl in question opened her eyes and murmured, "That's me, Kaede-sama."

The elderly woman clasped her hands together. "Alright, finish up eating. None of ye have touched my porridge though I am sure it was a long ride up here."

With that she turned back around and went back into her quarters.

And so, Kagome turned to her cooling food, her investigation forgotten.

(Tsuki)

Inuyasha rolled his eyes for perhaps the umpteenth time that evening. 'Lessons' had ended for that evening and while the rest were eating he had gone to seek out some personal self reflection time.

Learning the difference between herbs that were ingestible in addition to soothing burns and herbs that soothed burns but if ingested caused severe vomiting had not really been what he expected.

Three days of, "This plant does this," was enough to make him restless, if not drive him a little crazy.

Kaede seemed to be bidding time with her lackluster lessons. It was as if she was waiting for the last minute to pull out the essential knowledge. The only positive about the situation was he wouldn't be missing out on anything when his human blood took over the next night. He almost didn't even mind that he was going to be human for a night.

Still it was irking not doing anything substantial.

Inuyasha let out a sigh and jumped into the branches of a near by tree. "I should have just kept my damn mouth shut. 'I have a bad feeling…'" He sniffed, "I probably just had a premonition that those three'd be bored to death." He murmured bitterly, "Never again… Even registering is more fun than building a mental catalog of plants!"

Just as the words left his mouth, a new but unpleasantly familiar scent carried to his noses via a gust of wind.

He cursed. Inuyasha was on the ground within seconds. In a loud booming voice, he called the three in the cabinet, "We have company!"

The hanyou stood almost on his toes as the four joined him.

Their horses whinnied to life with the approach of their unexpected visitor and Kaede murmured with a twinge of irritation, "Then this is someone ye know Inuyasha?"

"It was only s'posed to be you, me, and those three. By the smell of this thing, I don't trust it."

Kaede notched an arrow, "I see."

A shattering of trees sounded in the distance, yet seconds later, in front of them appeared a large beast. A purple monster with menacing crimson eyes and a pointed jaw filled with razor sharp teeth.

And it was fast.

It clearly wasn't human either; it towered over even the tall trees that surrounded Kaede's home. However, it could speak clearly… almost eloquently as it said, "Greetings, my name is Goshinki and I have come for your miko. Relinquish them quietly and your deaths will be quick."

Mirouku and Sango stepped back closer to Kagome. Mirouku called, "You're not getting anyone! I'd personally make sure of that."

Goshinki showed a small touch of alarm and he directed his gaze towards Kaede. For a moment, he seemed almost angry with her before he commented seemingly out of the blue, "When I heard that a Taisho would be here in addition to your miko, I had to make an appearance. I want nothing more than to end your life, fairly," he stressed, glancing at Kaede though he was speaking about the silver haired hanyou.

Inuyasha felt himself grow cold.

It was not because of the threat… That meant nothing to him. But he had finally remembered where he had smelled that scent before.

It was Naraku's.

"Go back to the castle and get my brother!" He commanded Mirouku, "That's the only thing you can do right now!"

Mirouku looked ready to protest but Inuyasha cut off anything he could possibly say, "Your friends here have long range weapons, Kaede's been an archer longer than you've been alive, and my demon blood ensures that I won't die so quickly with short range combat—you're pretty expendable right now, so go!"

The raven haired man clenched his jaw a bit, but pushed his pride aside to quickly calm and mount one of their horses.

Goshinki chuckled, "Do you really think he will return in time with help fast enough to save your lives? How naïve you beings are. It's somewhat amusing…"

Sango grit her teeth, "You won't be saying that for long… Kirara!" The neko snarled and transformed into a menacing version of her fire cat form. Sango jumped onto Kirara and hoisted Hiraikotsu above her head as Mirouku rode away, "Believe me, prissy youkai be damned, you're not leaving here alive." She dug her legs into Kirara's fir and the fire cat took that as a sign to take flight.

Sango hurriedly flung the heavy object with a grunt and the battle begun.

Inuyasha did not wait to see whether the weapon would strike. He immediately launched into an attack of his own. However, Goshinki rapidly moved out of his reach and with lightning fast steps, he uprooted a thick tree and used it to smack Sango's Hiraikotsu down in the earth.

In the same second, that tree was used to strike Inuyasha across his chest.

Kagome had been about to mirror Kaede's actions and begin to fire an arrow but she hesitated.

Her arms lowered to her side and she watched, almost frozen in place as attack after attack was parried or avoided to the mocking sound of the demon's laughter.

No matter what was done in terms of attacks, he seemed to be three steps ahead of them.

Goshinki was avoiding their attacks far too smoothly for it all to be deemed a coincidence. It was as if he was predicting their every move before they even made it.

Kagome's eyes widened suddenly and she called to Inuyasha, "He's a mind reader!" The hanyou sloppily executed an attack due to the girl's realization and Goshinki suddenly growled, smacking Inuyasha down into the ground. The silver haired half demon went deep into the soil as he trailed along from the force.

Goshinki let out a sigh, "You've ruined the game, little miko! Now I have to get serious…"

Sango cursed under her breath, "He's been toying with us this entire time…" She swooped down to grab her Hiraikotsu from where the demon had once again deflected it. "What should we do, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha spat onto the ground and wiped his mouth. Goshinki seemed to smirk at him, "Yes, Inuyasha," he mocked, "What is it that we should do?"

The hanyou was silent for a moment, before he called, "I want you three out of here. I can handle this thing by myself."

Goshinki's eyes flashed, "There you go again after I went out of my way to give my name to a walking corpse! I shall certainly enjoy killing you, Inuyasha."

Kagome shuddered trying to think of a way to cover up her thoughts, "I am not leaving you along with that, Inuyasha! You can't take him on by yourself!"

Sango nodded, "I agree—the four of us can hold him off until help gets here. You know how much it pains me to say we need that brother of yours, so even I can see we're fucked!"

Goshinki chuckled, "No, do go. I wish to finish with the pretty boy first and foremost. I want to revel in the sight of his mangled face in peace. Enjoy an extra five minutes of life while we play."

Kaede suddenly spoke, "We should go and find refuge. I know of a place he will not be able to enter. Let us not be foolish by staying where we'll do no good." She moved towards Kirara and with Sango's assistance, was soon seated on the fire neko. "Kagome?"

Kagome shook her head, mentally listing the Latin and Japanese names of the herbs in Kaede garden, "I'm not leaving Inuyasha alone."

Goshinki snorted, "Such admirable loyalty. Like that of a pet's…."

Sango directed Kirara towards Kagome, "Just get on Kagome!"

"Look, you moron," Inuyasha ground out in frustration, "I'm telling you to go so leave and get to safety! I can take care of this guy—I promise. End of discussion" Deep down though, he wanted to tell Kagome and Sango to stay near him at that moment. His blood had been sensing something off the entirely of their stay and even with Goshinki there, his blood was still sending off alarms.

But he shook it off.

Now was not the time. He had to think about how to defeat something that could read his every thought without thinking it.

If Kaede said she knew someplace that Goshinki couldn't follow them then he had to trust her.

Kagome shook her head and tried pleading with him with her eyes, "I think I can help you!" Her mental list came to a jarring halt for in her head she couldn't help but think, 'Catch on to what I'm doing, damn it! Keep talking!'

She instantly regretted those desperate thoughts as she saw Goshinki stiffen. The demon narrowed his eyes, "I see…" He snorted and begun taking slow, but angry steps towards Kagome, "Your bitch is stalling for time. Perhaps she should be the one to die first. She has been the kill joy of this affair after all."

Inuyasha gave a sharp look at Goshinki, "Oi! This is between you and me, pal!" He spared Kagome with a small grin, "You're smarter than I give you credit for sometimes." He quickly ran over put her on Kirara and yelled, "Get out of here now!"

Sango nodded and Kirara took flight high into the air as Inuyasha unsheathed his birthright sword.

His cry of attack was the last thing they heard of the battle as Kirara made hasty distance across the thick forest.

Abruptly Kaede chuckled, "This is a pleasant turn of events."

Sango whirled around, "Pleasant? Did you not just see the fucking demon that wanted to kidnap you and Kagome?"

Kagome kept straining her neck to look back to the clearing they had left, "That's a sick thing to say right now even if you're attempting to lighten the mood."

"Lighten the mood?" She smirked, "No. This truly is something to be pleased about. I'm glad to finally have you two girls alone. That hanyou had certainly put a damper on my plans by showing up. But the new moon is set for tomorrow and that would have solved everything. Yet, Goshinki still showed up a day early, even though I specifically told him to come tomorrow, no matter though. Everything seems to be going perfectly now…"

Sango and Kagome both felt their blood turn cold and the raven haired girl spoke the words that both girls were thinking, "What are you talking about?"

Kaede smiled and quickly drew out a discolored, sharpened piece of bark from the sleeve of her haori. She jabbed it through into Kirara's flank and the fire cat bucked and howled.

Sango shrieked, "What did you do?" The brunette clutched tightly at Kirara's neck, trying to stay seated.

Kagome grunted as she tried to hold on, the flailing, making it nearly impossible. Kaede was writhing with laughter as the neko finally went still and begun a steady plummet into the ground below.

"Kaede what are you going?" Kagome felt her stomach churn from more than the decent and the old woman turned to her with hollow eyes, "What do you think, my dear?"

And with that she took her bow and smacked Kagome across the torso, hard enough to make the girl lose her balance and fall down towards through the trees below. Sango let out a scream and lifted her Hiraikotsu from her back to mirror the old woman's actions, but a deep voice stopped her.

"I am merely borrowing this body, Sango; do you really have the courage to kill this woman knowing that…?"

Sango hesitated and in that time, Kaede drew out a similar dagger of bark and rammed it into Sango's raised arm.

Kaede smirked, "I thought not."

And then the two of them hit the trees.

(Tsuki)

Mirouku rode into the castle grounds and ignored the staggered inquiries from the guards as he broke through to the interior.

"Where's Sesshoumaru?" He called as he burst through the foyer. A youkai guard gently restrained him, but Mirouku snarled, "My friends are going to die you inbred piece of shit! Let me go!"

The youkai growled and with a short backhand, momentarily subdued the monk. He called to another watchman, "Get Inu Taisho-sama!"

The other youkai disappeared quickly and the demon holding him spat, "I hope you and your disgustingly loutish band of tramps are sent to the barracks like you deserve."

Mirouku was shortly met by Inu Taisho. The youkai looked alarmed to see the raven haired man limply held by one of his guards, "Mirouku? What are you—?"

"We were ambushed," Mirouku interrupted in a somewhat dazed voice, "A demon named Goshinki is fighting Inuyasha and my companions—"

Inu Taisho tried to keep his features composed, but by the pallor of his skin, it was evident that he was worried. He turned to the guard holding Mirouku, "I need you to gather Hiyo and my advisors. Find my son first—tell him that Naraku made a move and Inuyasha is in danger."

Mirouku looked affronted after the guard had departed in a speedy run, "Not just your son! Sango and Kagome—"

The youkai showed a bit of anger, "Do you honestly think that hothead would let those girls fight with him? Once he knows what Goshinki is, he will try to take him on himself." His eyes dulled, "As long as he has my sword…Inuyasha will not come out of that battle alive."

(Tsuki)

Inuyasha hit the ground for what was perhaps the fiftieth time since he had taken on Goshinki alone. He rolled onto his side and coughed out blood, "Fucking bastard wouldn't be shit if he couldn't read minds…"

He coughed again and used Tenseiga to prop himself up. He tried to catch his breath for a few moments but Goshinki was in front of him in seconds. The demon snickered, "What was that you said, Inuyasha? How arrogant you are so close to death! I almost wish to keep you as a pet!"

Inuyasha charged, sword extended and aimed for the demon's skull as he snarled, "Fuck off, ugly!"

Goshinki caught the blade in his teeth and smirked. Inuyasha felt himself grow cold as the demon bit down and half of his father's blade shattered into tiny fragments.

Inuyasha fell limply to the ground. Goshinki called out in annoyance, "Tell me you're not giving up now! What happened to that foolish bravado?"

Not even his father's sword was able to cause even a scratch of damage to that demon. Nothing he was able to do seemed to work.

If Sesshoumaru were in his position, Inuyasha bitterly thought, this would never have happened.

After all Sesshoumaru did not have human blood in him.

Inuyasha's body pulsed.

Goshinki mused, "You're mind is such a troubled place. I always love reading the thoughts of a hanyou—"

Inuyasha's eyes snapped opened and they swirled a deep, fiery red. Goshinki took a step back, "W-what sort of transformation is this?"

The demon futilely tried to scan the hanyou's mind, but all there was, were visions of red… of blood. Goshinki for the first time since his creation felt fear.

Never before had he met a mind so purely filled with thoughts of death. His death. The demon turned to flee but Inuyasha's speed had grown to match the telepath's. "I'll make it so you'll never say that word again!"

Goshinki's last image was a cruel, depraved grin, and the razor sharp, lengthy claws that served to behead him.

(Tsuki)

Kagome fell through the trees with an earsplitting scream as soon as she realized what Kaede had done.

She cradled her bow and satchel of arrows to her body and fervently thought of any and all prayers of protection she knew.

Her screams and mental chants ended once her body connected and subsequently broke through branch after branch until she landed with a harsh thud in thick shrubbery.

Kagome's head swam from the searing pain that inflicted the entirety of her body. Her breathing stopped cold from the anguish and for a moment she lay completely still. Her body numbed after awhile and the girl let go of her bow and rolled onto her stomach so she could attempt to stand up. A stream of her digested dinner forced its way through her throat and Kagome coughed sporadically. She rolled away from the pool of her vomit and back onto her back as she attempted to collect herself.

Her mind was screaming at her that she needed to get up and find Sango and Kirara, but her body refused to respond.

The shock of almost being murdered hadn't quite registered with her mind, but her body seemed all too aware.

Kagome with painstaking effort, moved into a sitting position, dazedly wondering how many bones she had broken with the fall.

Her ribs felt like they were on fire and her arms and legs would probably be a permanent shade of blue for awhile, but that seemed to be it.

Her armor had protected her spine by taking the brunt of the hits but that was where her good luck pretty much ended.

She was down to three arrows, so if she ran into anything in this forest, she was not sure how she would possibly manage that…

'I should just stay hidden until Sesshoumaru finds me… That's all I can do.'

As soon as she thought that, a voice called her name from somewhere in the woods, "Kagome…."

But it was definitely not a voice that she recognized.

(Tsuki)

"Look, human, this humble servant is under orders to keep you within this room and never in my six centuries of service to this family have I ever broken an order!"

Mirouku looked with livid eyes at the green toad standing in the way of him returning to assist the only two people he cared about. "I don't give a damn about your six centuries or your orders… Hell I don't give a damn about your life," he ground out in a low threatening voice as he reached into the lapel of his yukata, "Let me go and I will let you live."

Jaken smirked and tapped his staff in humor, "You will let me live human? I will tell you why that is so humorous." He narrowed his eyes, "I am the one letting you stay alive. What you consider your strength is only a minute sliver of a fraction next to the power of my lord. Even he will have some trouble with Goshinki—though not much—so imagine how you would fair. You leave and you die." He scoffed, "So your welcome, human."

"Kikyou left as well—I should be there! I sensed something more sinister than Goshinki before I left. I have to go back—!"

Jaken let out a lengthy draw of a sigh, "Stupid humans…" He called out to a guard outside the room they were held in, "Bring in Rin. I'm going to take my lunch."

(Tsuki)

Goshinki mutilation was the sight that greeted Sesshoumaru as he entered the battle field. The demon's blood showered the earth and Sesshoumaru raised a brow, 'Inuyasha… Could he even be able to defeat this Sesshoumaru right now?'

Kikyou sensed what he was thinking. She rode in on Ah Un, moments after he arrived. She called to him from above, "This is neither the time nor the place."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at her and she murmured, "I will stop Inuyasha." Her eyes glazed over for a moment and a light shudder passed through her body, "Head east…I can sense a demon is in that direction." Kikyou's eyes pierced Sesshoumaru's in an almost pleading manner, "Hurry," she murmured. And with that she descended into the blood soaked field.

Sesshoumaru gave one final glance at the scene before heading off in the direction indicated. Not before, however, he caught sight of his father's shattered sword on the ground.

(Tsuki)

"Perhaps you could be of assistance, little miko. My name is Tsubo Tsukai and I am on a quest. My master is looking something—well someone actually."

Kagome stood with as much poise as her beaten body would allow. Kaede, a mere hundred feet away, smiled.

The raven haired girl noted instantly that she—or Tsubo rather—was also without her arrows. In a firm tone Kagome threatened, "Take a step forward, demon, and I will end your life where you stand."

She narrowed her eyes and took aim.

The demon within Kaede let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Gentle Kagome-chan? Could you even muster—" Kagome shot one of her arrows into Kaede's arm to prove that she was not bluffing. Tsubo let out a hiss as the girl notched another arrow.

Kagome grit her tear and aimed. "I will not die here!"

Kaede's featured showed alarm for a moment and Tsubo did not seem to know what to do. Suddenly he smirked, "Such a strong young woman you are then. You've managed to survive that little tumble of yours and yet here you are still opposing me. Perhaps you would better suit my needs than this decrepit old woman. Naraku can have her instead. You though… I will keep for myself."

Kaede's body broke out into a sprint and Kagome was forced to run as well.

She could no longer sense Sesshoumaru's location. Her mind was a haze of red hot, agony as she pushed on. In the moments, she felt that she could pass out, he was there somewhere, keeping her conscious.

The thought that he could be the one to find her dead body pushed her on.

Before she knew it though, she was no longer running, and her befuddled mind registered falling.

She faintly heard Tsubo's curses as she drifted further and further away.

(Tsuki)

A.N. A lot of Sesshoumaru/Kagome interaction coming up! Get excited and review in the mean time lol.