InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Corporate Deception: Fate of Her Land ❯ Flesh Wound ( Chapter 9 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Corporate Deception: Fate of Her Land
Chapter 9: Flesh Wound
By: TruSuprise

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all affiliated characters belong to Takahashi Rumiko. The views expressed herein are solely those of TruSuprise.


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Kagome awoke to the sound of quarreling outside her window. Hoping it was just some sort of odd dream, she tried to fall back asleep. As the memories of the emotionally draining day before rushed back to her, her stomach twisted into a knot as she recalled that she was still trying to decide who she believed in, Inuyasha or Naraku. She soon realized there would be no return to the safe escape of slumber.

Hearing the muffled yelling again, Kagome glanced at her clock and realized it was only eight in the morning. Wondering who would be outside of her house at such an early hour, she hopped out of bed. Her bare foot stepping in a damp spot on her carpet, she suddenly recalled Inuyasha’s desperate plea to take him back the night before. She tried valiantly not to let his bold confession of his love for her sway her current train of thought.

Kagome poked her head out her half open window, the damp air clinging to her face as she forced herself to concentrate on the present. To her surprise, she found Kouga outside her front door shouting at Yura, the guard Naraku had left in his absence.

“I’m not here to hurt her, I just want to see her.” Kouga insisted, his voice traveling clearly to the second story of the Higurashi house.

The youkai woman uncrossed her arms from around her ample chest and reached up into her hair. She pulled out a comb that had been balanced in her locks, strangely pointing the tool at the Ookami-Youkai as though it were a weapon.

“I told you to get lost, wolf pup. Now if you don’t want to get scalped, I suggest you leave here.” Yura said suggestively.

Kagome gasped at the woman’s threat, and seeing that Kouga was sinking into a defensive stance, making it obvious that he did not intend to leave, she realized that the two youkai were actually going to come to blows. She had to do something to break them up. “Yura-san, please, don’t harm him! He’s a friend!” She shouted.

The youkai woman looked up and locked eyes with Kagome briefly, a disdaining annoyance being transmitted through her gaze. Yura was obviously upset at loosing the opportunity to scalp the wolf Prince. Kagome pulled herself back into her room and ran downstairs, smoothing out the wrinkles in the jeans and pale blue t-shirt she had fallen asleep in the night before.

In her haste, Kagome tore open the front door, causing it to bounce on its hinges as it swung open. Relieved that Yura seemed to have heeded her words, she found the two youkai pointedly ignoring one another, their backs turned. “Kouga-kun, why don’t you come in?” Kagome asked hastily.

The Ookami Lord nodded gruffly and shot Yura a cold glare as he entered the house, shutting the door loudly behind him. As he watched Kagome walk down the hall as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened in the past day, he stopped, unamused. “I guess its true then? You did sign a contract with Naraku.” He said gravely.

Kagome sighed in surprise. Word sure did get around quickly in the youkai community. She turned to look at Kouga, noticing the sad, almost hurt look in his eyes. “Kouga-kun…” She began, but was abruptly cut off by the wolf Lord.

“I know the story, Kagome. I’ve already heard. But I know Inuyasha couldn’t have done it.” Kouga stated plainly. It was obvious that although he and Inuyasha hadn’t been the best of friends, he knew enough about the Inu-Hanyou to feel certain that he couldn’t have done something so terrible as rezone Kagome’s land behind her back.

Kagome nodded slowly before she spoke. “I want to believe in Inuyasha too, Kouga-kun, I do.”

“Kagome, this plan stinks of Naraku.” Kouga said firmly.

“How so?” Kagome asked, relieved that another outside of the Taisho Clan itself seemed to agree that Naraku was to blame. She was eager to hear Kouga’s insights.

Kouga snorted. “Everything, from the layers of deception to the flawless planning that went into this scheme. Don’t you find it just a little bit odd that it was Inuyasha himself that went to the government instead of his brother, the owner of the company?”

Kagome’s unblinking, unfocused eyes were enough to tell Kouga that his important piece of evidence had made a lot of sense to the woman, and he pushed forward. “It’s obvious that all the strings were pulled by Naraku, it’s simply laid out too well to have been done by that mangy mutt. Besides, we all know that Naraku can take the shape of anyone he wants.”

Kagome’s eyes widened in amazement, the abilities of the youkai species never failed to shock her. “So it’s true that he can actually do that?”

“Yeah.” Kouga said with a shrug of his shoulders as though shape shifting were nothing special. “Its a skill that all of his clan have the ability to use. Those that are created hanyou by sacrificing their bodies to minor youkai can morph their bodies into their own choosing and even make puppets or shadows of themselves.”

Kagome sighed in relief. After hearing Inuyasha’s similar argument the night before, hearing much of the same information from another source was comforting. Kouga was helping her to further believe in Inuyasha.

“Look, its not like I want you to go running back to Inuyasha when I’d rather have you for myself, or anything.” Kouga said, pausing to smile at the blush on Kagome’s face, not letting her forget that he was still interested in her. “Its just that I know this is hurting you, and I don’t want you to do the wrong thing. If it weren’t solely for the fact that Inuyasha could never hurt you like this, then just knowing how evil Naraku is would be enough for me to trust that dog turd. Listen to me, Kagome, you must understand that Naraku is very dangerous.”

Having to actually raise her hand to interrupt the Northern Lord, Kagome finally spoke up. “Look, Kouga-kun, I understand what you’re trying to say, but the fact of the matter is that whether it was Naraku or Inuyasha who had my land rezoned, I still have to fight to get it back for my family. And because Naraku offered me assistance to help me accomplish that, not to mention the fact that I’ve signed a contract to co-own my land with him, I need to work with him on this. Besides, I don’t care how dangerous he is, I’m not afraid of him.”

“You should be.” Kouga’s cryptically short sentence and dead voice sent a chill down Kagome’s spine. “This is about more than just the land your shrine sits on.”

The woman’s questioning expression turned into one of surprise when Kouga closed the distance between them. He dipped his head low to bring his mouth next to her ear. “You know what he’s after, don’t you Kagome? He’s after the Shikon no Tama. He’s the one that initiated this power struggle for the damn thing, and he’ll stop at nothing until it belongs to him.” Kouga whispered.

Kagome’s eyes widened, her mind putting the pieces together. Yesterday, after Naraku’s persuasive argument, she had thought that Inuyasha had betrayed her solely to posses the jewel. At the time, her pained mind had tried to force the image of the Inu-Hanyou into the role of the deceiver, but now, Naraku seemed to fit the bill much clearer.

Kouga pushed himself away from the woman that he had been standing so close to. As tough and independent as Kagome was, right now she screamed of frailty and demanded protection. But as much as he hated to admit it, Kouga knew the only one who could give her that safety was Inuyasha, provided she would let him back in to her heart.

In the silence that settled between them, Kagome felt the need to make small talk. “Do you want something to drink, Kouga-kun? Some coffee?”

The wolf Lord’s mouth watered at the prospect. While Kouga wanted to stay by her side for longer, Kagome’s aura stunk with Inuyasha’s scent, the impression he had left on her. Although it wasn’t as strong as a mating mark, Inuyasha’s scent drove Kouga back all the same. “Thanks, Kagome-san, but I ought to get going.” He said, after giving her a small smile and reluctantly turning away from her.

Halfway down the hall he paused and looked back at her. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” He asked tentatively.

“Yeah, why do you ask?” Kagome questioned, her brow knitting over his concern.

Kouga shook his head. He didn’t want to worry her any more. He could do nothing but hope that Inuyasha would protect her from Naraku. “Nothing. Just be careful, all right?


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As Kouga trotted down the steps of the Higurashi shrine, a silver and red blur shot through the canopy of the trees, following him in his descent. Finally reaching the street below, Kouga stopped and turned. “I know you’re up there, Inuyasha.” The Northern Lord called. “I need to talk to you.”

Kouga took Inuyasha’s silence and the gentle swaying of the trees moving in the breeze as his cue to continue. He edged closer to the tree line and sunk into the forest for privacy from any possible passerby’s before he spoke again. “Many of the lower youkai in the Northern Lands have defected to Naraku’s rule. They sense Naraku is the stronger leader, the rightful victor in the power struggle. They want to be on the winning side when the leader is determined.”

After a few moments of silence, Inuyasha’s disembodied voice spoke from the trees above. “I know. Sesshomaru’s been telling me the same in our lands. Naraku is getting powerful.”

Kouga snorted. “And the Youkai Council can do nothing in this matter but sit back and wait for the victor to be determined now that the power struggle has already been initiated. I never thought I’d hear myself say that I wish that the damn Council could do something about any situation.”

The Inu-Hanyou uttered a simple “Keh.” And the Ookami-Youkai could tell that the Youkai Council and the power struggle were the furthest things from Inuyasha’s mind.

The Inu-Hanyou leapt from the hidden safety of the dense forest canopy, landing on the soggy ground below, still moist from the night’s rain. He approached Kouga, his bare feet stepping on the damp leaves under the boughs of the trees.

“Well, you look like hell warmed over.” Kouga commented, referring to Inuyasha’s frizzy, knotted hair and water and dirt stained clothes.

“Fuck you, Kouga. What are you doing at the shrine?” Inuyasha grumbled, knowing the wolf Lord’s visit to be more than just to tell him what he already knew of the lower youkai across the lands.

The Lord of the Northern Lands huffed. “I heard what had happened yesterday and wanted to make sure Kagome was alright. Seeing as how I don’t have to sneak around to get on the property, I’d guess that’s allowed.”

Inuyasha narrowly glared at him for the backhanded insult. He hated to have to ask Kouga for information, but he swallowed his pride. “How is she?”

“Well, not too bad, considering that she just signed a contract with the most ruthless youkai ever and that she’s got a lovesick puppy hanyou stalking around outside her house. I’d say she’s doing just great.” Kouga replied with a shrug.

“Kouga…” Inuyasha growled menacingly.

“Look Inuyasha, Naraku gave you the short end of the stick more than once and he royally dicked you over with Kagome, but that doesn’t mean you have to be such an ass. The poor girl is doing the best she can, trying to do what’s right.” The Ookami Lord softened considerably as he continued. “Amazingly enough, I think she’s trying really hard to believe in you. She still freaking likes you, though why she does is beyond me.”

The news appeased Inuyasha and he nodded his head, readying himself to retreat back to the shrine grounds to continue his watch over Kagome. As he leapt onto the branch of a tree high above, Kouga halted him by shouting, “Hey, dog-face!”

The Inu-Hanyou stopped, looking down at the wolf, an irritated expression on his face as Kouga approached the base of his tree. The Ookami Lord reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, extending it to the Inu-Hanyou. Inuyasha looked at him curiously.

“If Kagome, or even you, need any help, you can count on me.” He said cockily, though Inuyasha could see the honest seriousness behind the mischievous gleam in the wolf’s eyes.

Inuyasha reached through the branches and took one end of the card with his clawed fingers. He smirked at the Northern Lord, one fang poking out from under his lip. “Thanks, Kouga.”

Before the Ookami Lord could even nod his head, the Inu-Hanyou was gone.


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Kagome sat cross-legged on the cushy love seat, her mind reeling in Kouga’s wake. Kouga had tried very hard to persuade Kagome that Inuyasha couldn’t have been the one responsible for the rezoning. She had learned that it was true that Naraku could shape-shift. Kouga had also raised a good point that it should have been Sesshomaru, the owner of Inu Properties and Preservations, to submit the petition for the rezoning, not Inuyasha. Just the fact that Kouga, Inuyasha’s long time rival, was standing up for the Inu-Hanyou and vouching for his trustworthiness spoke volumes.

Kouga had insisted that Naraku was after the Shikon no Tama and Kagome remembered that Inuyasha had also told her the very same thing so long ago. Looking back, she did find it more than a little fishy that Naraku had done such an about face regarding his plans for her property. He had changed his tune from attempting to buy her land to demolish the shrine and erect an apartment building, to personally wanting to defend her from the apparent atrocities of Inuyasha’s corrupt company, effectively making Inuyasha the villain who wanted to destroy her shrine.

Kagome sighed deeply. Her mind was so full of information and conflicting data that she didn’t know what to think about first. Thankfully, the sound of the doorbell gave her an excuse to focus on the here and now.

As she approached the door, Kagome knew who it was without even looking through the peephole. The apprehensive feelings her miko senses had triggered made it obvious. She scrambled down the hall and quickly snapped the door open. In front of her stood Naraku along with a petite woman dressed in a business suit and sporting a unique feather in her hair.

Naraku tipped his head forward in a casual bow. “Good morning, Higurashi-san. This is my associate, Kaze Kagura. She is our firm’s legal aide, and will be assisting us with the laws and procedures we need to follow to get your land rezoned for residential use.”

Kagome bowed to the woman who, except for the pointed youkai ears and crimson eyes, looked very similar to her. Kagura bowed back, knowing that the miko was trying to read her.

Despite the air of cold indifference the new woman carried about herself, Kagome sensed a deep unease from Kagura and couldn’t help but wonder what was on her mind. “Please, come in.” She finally said, stepping out of the entryway to allow them to pass.

As Kagome slowly shut the door behind her guests, her gaze momentarily lingered on the trees, a sudden stabbing sensation deep in her soul. She didn’t know if she had caught a glance of something red, silver or amber, or if she had caught a brief wave of his intense emotion through her own aura, but she sensed Inuyasha out there. She could feel his aura when she reached out to look for it. He was waiting for her, telling her that he was watching over her.

Suddenly, Kagome longed to run outside and throw herself into Inuyasha’s arms. She wanted to beg him to take her away, beg him to do anything he could so that she didn’t have to deal with Naraku and the fight for her land. But that would be hiding from her responsibilities, and Kagome didn’t back down from anything. She had signed a contract with Naraku, and he had offered her help to get her land back, and she was honor bound to do whatever she could to accomplish that.

She instead collected herself and forced herself to shut the door, now acutely aware of Inuyasha’s presence. Kagome took what comfort his closeness provided her and faced her guests who had sat down at the kitchen table, already laying out papers and speaking amongst themselves. Pulling the chair out from underneath the table and wincing as its legs scraped against the floor loudly, Kagome sat.

Kagura shuffled a stack of papers as she spoke. “Kagome-san, I’ve been researching the procedure for appealing the rezoning that Inuyasha and his company successfully petitioned. Because he went so far as to get the signatures from local homeowners who accepted the proposal, the ruling will be difficult to appeal. We have already sent out a team to begin to pass around a new petition, but with the amount of people who were in favor of the apartment and office building, it will be tough to get the appropriate number of votes needed to overturn the ruling.”

The wind youkai examined the look on the young woman’s face and she felt her pain. This very woman was going through the same games of manipulation and deceit that she herself had been forced through time and time again.

“So then, what do we do from here?” Kagome asked weakly.

Naraku folded his hands and leaned over the table. “ Worry not, Higurashi-san. I have strings I can pull in the government. I’ve currently been searching for government officials with a bleeding heart for sites of historical importance. I have a couple of leads, but it will take some time. I would also suggest putting together a human-interest story in the local newspapers. Perhaps we can get sympathy from the local petitioners to get them to reverse their initial decisions. It will be tough, but these are all efforts that my company is prepared to work on in your defense, Higurashi-san.”

Kagome nodded numbly. It seemed that despite Naraku’s help, the options were becoming more and more bleak by the very moment. As Naraku spoke, he seemed eager to want to help, yet seemed to also dwell on how difficult an undertaking the effort would be.

The shockingly loud sound of the phone ringing startled the three people sitting at the kitchen table. Kagome jumped up and ran to the hallway to get the call. “Hello?” She asked timidly, almost not recognizing her own voice. She was angered at the weak tone her normally strong and confident voice held.

The person on the other end of the line spoke so fast the Kagome almost couldn’t keep up. “Kagome, its me, Sango.”

“Sango-chan?” Kagome asked, suddenly longing for the other woman’s company.

The worried voice of Sango came spilling from the other end of the line. “I’m so glad to hear your voice! Are you okay? Has Naraku threatened you? Have you seen Inuyasha?”

Kagome tried to get up to speed and answer her questions when Naraku silently approached her and pulled the phone from her hand. Kagome detachedly noticed how cold the hanyou’s skin felt. “I thought we had agreed that Inu Properties and Preservation could not be trusted. You shouldn’t take phone calls from them.”

Kagome opened her mouth to protest as Naraku lifted the receiver to his mouth. “Stop bothering Higurashi-san. Don’t call here anymore.” He said coldly before placing the phone back in its cradle.

Naraku pushed Kagome back into the kitchen by the small of her back. Though the pressure he applied was gentle, she could sense his aura demanding her submission to him and it frightened her. Kagome couldn’t get Sango’s worried tone of voice out of her mind, did she also think Naraku was a danger to her? She shakily sat back down as Naraku continued to speak.

“You know, I can think of one thing that might help us, Higurashi-san.” Naraku said as he pulled his chair underneath the table, his chin propped up on top of his palm. He noticed Kagome’s eyes light up slightly as she met his gaze, asking for him to continue. “Perhaps since you’re this shrine’s benefactor, you’ve heard of the legend of the Shikon no Tama, the jewel of the four souls that can grant power to a youkai who can wield it? Perhaps… perhaps if one of us had it, we could use the jewel’s strength to aid us in winning your land back.”

Kagome froze at Naraku’s casually phrased question. He had asked as though he’d never thought about the jewel before, yet both Inuyasha and Kouga had told her that Naraku was the one that had originally initiated the search for the jewel. Kagome suddenly had the terrible, cold feeling that Naraku had been playing her all along. “Shi…Shikon no Tama?” She asked.

Naraku nodded. “Yes. I believe your family were the keepers of the jewel centuries ago, am I correct? I thought perhaps you might have some knowledge of its whereabouts.”

“No…” Kagome stalled. “It was said to have been destroyed with the miko that had protected it from… her killer five hundred years ago.” She said, though she couldn’t bring herself to say the name of the man across from her, the man who bore the same name as his ancestor who had killed the Higurashi miko.

Naraku sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that, I don’t know too much about the jewel, but it sounded powerful, like it might be able to help us.”

Kagome shrugged, trying to discredit its power and stem further discussion regarding the Shikon no Tama. “It was only a legend, anyway.” She said shakily.

Naraku would not take Kagome’s blatant bait and instead pressed on. “You’re sure there are no tomes or scrolls that might document anything of its history in the shrine?”

Kagome shook her head, wearily gauging Naraku’s reaction. “There are no records of it after it was cremated with my ancestor’s remains.”

“I see.” Naraku said, looking down as though his hands were suddenly interesting. Though his expression was hidden from view, Kagome could sense anger radiating from the hanyou. She could feel an intense wave of displeasure crashing against her aura and it sickened her.

“Well then, all that’s left to do it sit and wait right now. Wait for my team to gather signatures, wait for my congressional contacts to get back to me, and wait to get the human interest articles into the papers to raise your popularity with the public.” Naraku said icily.

“That sounds like a plan for now.” Kagome said hurriedly, suddenly wanting to get as far away from Naraku’s presence as possible. The need to be with Inuyasha returned full force and as it blossomed deep within her, she felt as though her soul was longing for his protection.

Naraku sensed Kagome’s unease and contemplated pushing her harder, but he could tell that she knew even less about the jewel than he did. It was obvious that the girl had no knowledge of the jewel’s whereabouts. She was useless to him. “Allow Kagura and I to go back to our offices to continue our work. We need to go back to our headquarters in Hiroshima to do some research tonight. We’ll be in touch to update you on our progress, and I’ll continue to maintain guards to protect your home from Inu Properties and Preservations.”

“Naraku-kun, I don’t think that’s-” Kagome began.

Naraku narrowed his eyes at the young woman and Kagome felt his annoyance. “Please, it’s not a problem. After all, I want to keep my co-owner safe and out of harms way, especially since you’ve already suffered so much through Inuyasha’s heartlessness.”

Naraku rose to leave, Kagura following suit as they exited the house. Turning to look at Kagome once more, Kagura couldn’t help but notice the woman’s fear and pain. She seethed, angry that Naraku was putting yet another in such a hopeless position. For a short moment, their eyes met, and the two women instantly realized they had found kindred spirits in one another.

“Kagura.” Naraku prompted, looking back over his shoulder at the youkai who had stalled. When the wind youkai bowed and shuffled to keep up with him, he led her down the steps.


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The trip back to the Hiroshima headquarters was a silent one, save for three short calls Naraku had made on his cell. Two of which his only words were, “Be at the Hiroshima office in two hours.” The other of which he ordered another youkai to take over Yura’s guarding duties of the Higurashi house.

Kagura glanced at Naraku out of the corner of her eye several times, gauging his reactions. She could tell that he was trying to keep his anger in check, which meant that his youkai body and mind was battling with his human heart. Although Kagura didn’t know the specifics of how Naraku had become hanyou, she did know that, as opposed to being an offspring between a youkai and a human, Naraku was created hanyou later in his human life. Therefore, she knew it was natural for his two halves to disagree. Although those that were born hanyou also had complications between their two bloodlines, those that were created hanyou tended to have symptoms similar to split personalities, and Naraku was no exception. He was obviously outraged that he had worked so hard to gain Kagome’s favor just to find out that she didn’t even have any knowledge of the Shikon no Tama to begin with.

By the time Naraku and Kagura made it to the Hiroshima office, Yura and Kanna were already inside waiting. The foursome sat at one end of Naraku’s private, spacious office while Kikyou furiously typed away at a small desk at the other end.

“Naraku-sama, all the arrangements have been made for the shovels and the other tools you requested to be delivered to the shrine.” The former miko said.

“That won’t be necessary. That worthless woman doesn’t even know where the Shikon no Tama is.” Naraku spat.

Kikyou inwardly flinched at the venom in Naraku’s voice, but glared at him levelly. She had warned him that Kagome probably wouldn’t know. Even she hadn’t known where the jewel was when she was still acting as miko at the Higurashi shrine. Like most others, she had subscribed to the myth that the jewel had long been destroyed with the original miko’s body. Honestly, she didn’t even know why Naraku was so adamant about its existence in the first place.

“Cancel that delivery.” Naraku suddenly barked. “Instead, have a backhoe and a demolition crew sent in. We’ll tear the place apart until we find what we’re looking for.”

Kagura blew air from her nose at her master’s plan. “If that stubborn woman wouldn’t even sell her land for three times its worth, she certainly won’t stand for its demolition.”

Naraku snapped his gaze in her direction. “I am co-owner of her property, I have the authority to do whatever I wish.” He then chuckled before continuing with a conspirator’s gleam in his eyes. “But you’re right. Neither she nor her brother will stand for it.” Naraku paused for a moment, regarding Kagura, Kanna and Yura.

All in the office waited tensely in the pregnant silence before Naraku continued. “I no longer have a need for those children. They will only stand in my way. Kanna, you take the boy, Yura, you handle the woman. Kagura, you will oversee this matter.” He eyed Kagura momentarily. “Do not fail me.” He growled to the wind youkai.

The smallest of changes in Kanna’s expression, a barely noticeable wrinkle of her brows showed the void youkai’s shock. She had just been ordered to murder her own boyfriend, and it was all she could do to keep herself from gasping out loud.

Kagura couldn’t help but notice the panicked look in her younger sister’s dark eyes. Though she could sense her sister’s unease and hurt, she watched Kanna as she collected herself and simply accepted the order. Kagura burned with rage that Naraku would order her to do such a thing.

Kagura then turned to Kikyou, who had also frozen at Naraku’s harsh decision, and for the first time since working together for more than a year, their gazes met. Each woman looked into the depths of pain that showed accumulated years of hurt and hardship that the other held in her eyes. It was hurt and hardship caused by the very same person, and they were both painfully aware that that person was no longer playing by the rules.


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Kagura had slowly approached the Higurashi Shrine when she realized that Naraku might have assigned her to oversee the assassinations of Kagome and Souta Higurashi merely to put her in a position where she might likely fail. She idly wondered if Naraku was simply testing her. Yes. Kagura decided that Naraku was testing her loyalty by putting her in a position to oversee and not interfere, he was making her watch her younger sister murder the boy she loved.

The hauntingly hurt expression in the eyes of her sister continued to plague her. How could she allow Kanna to kill the boy she loved when her younger sister had gone to great lengths to try to bring her and Sesshomaru back together?

Kagura almost smirked. She wagered that Kanna had no clue that she knew about her true feelings for Souta. Sure, Naraku had ordered Kanna to pretend to become close to the boy, but Kagura knew that her sister had actually fallen for him. The wind youkai frowned. It was likely that Naraku knew as much also. The sick fuck truly enjoyed manipulating others and causing pain.

Not only was the matter of her sister bothering Kagura, but ever since the fate of the two Higurashi’s had been decided, the wind youkai had been at war with herself. Remembering the pained look in Kagome’s eyes, she knew she could not allow Naraku’s manic wrath to affect such innocent children.

The wind youkai tossed around her two options. Should she wisely keep her mouth shut and not risk putting herself in the path of Naraku’s wrath should his plan somehow fail, or should she get word of Naraku’s plans to the Taisho family and let them do something about it? It was bad enough that the chosen of a Taisho Clan member was at stake, but the boy who held the heart of her own sister was too. How would Kanna feel to take Souta’s life with her own hands?

Kagura’s decision was clear. She knew she didn’t have the time to call her contact on the inside. Instead, she would have to tell Inuyasha directly. She knew he had been creeping around the grounds all day, thinking he was hidden, but the wind had brought his scent to her, and in turn she had asked the wind to keep his scent and youki hidden from Naraku. If the evil hanyou had taught Kagura one thing above all others, it was to always have a backup plan available, and Kagura knew Inuyasha’s youkai instinct to protect the one that was obviously his chosen could be used to her own advantage and aid Inuyasha as well. Now was the time to find him and proposition his assistance.

Taking a dirt path off to the side of the granite steps, Kagura wandered into the dense undergrowth of the woods, thankful for its relative privacy as she let the wind guide her to the Inu-Hanyou. Eventually, she found him, perched high in a tree, crouched on his feet, his gaze intent on the house. He was watching over Kagome, ensuring her safety the way any good youkai mate would. A small, sad smile pulled at Kagura’s lips.

Pulling her fan from inside her suit jacket, she kneeled down to concentrate and quietly whispered, asking the wind to gently shift its direction so she would not be detected by his acute canine sense of smell. Slowly approaching Inuyasha’s tree, she stopped and looked up at him.

“Inuyasha.” She said quietly.

Not one to normally be caught off guard, the Inu-Hanyou flinched, his arms flailing and his clawed fingers sinking into the tree’s trunk at his surprise. “Kagura.” He hissed.


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Kagome sighed and randomly twisted a lock of hair around her finger as she stared emptily at the darkness of night outside her window. She knew Inuyasha was out there, still watching over her. After Naraku had left, she had made two big bowls of instant ramen and set them down underneath the Goshinboku and then went back to the house. She still wasn’t ready to talk with him and he was still respecting her need for space. In the comfort of her self-imposed solitude inside the house, she had watched him scurry down the tree and snatch the two bowls after hungrily eyeing them for fifteen minutes.

Souta had given her a wide berth all day, knowing she was still upset. They had tried to eat dinner together, but it seemed that neither of them had an appetite. Something was bothering Souta as much as the issues that were bothering Kagome. She had tried to ask him what was wrong, fearing it had to do with the girl he had been seeing. When she had mentioned that she hadn’t seen or heard of the girl in more than a week, Souta had ended up shrugging her off and going to bed early.

Afterwards, Kagome had taken the time to call her aunt Kaede. The old woman had asked about the progress of her relationship with Inuyasha, but Kagome hadn’t the heart to tell her the truth. She had, however, told Kaede that she no longer needed her help at the shrine because Inuyasha’s company had turned the shrine around for the better. Kagome also reminded Kaede that she understood her aunt had many responsibilities at her own shrine to attend to. She thanked the old woman for all her help, and assured her that with the help of Inuyasha’s company, she could now handle the business after her grandfather’s passing.

Kagome hated to lie, but in all honesty, she was worried for Kaede’s safety. Being caught in the midst of a youkai power struggle, not to mention the search for the Shikon no Tama, Kagome had finally recognized the danger she had gotten herself into, but she refused to endanger her beloved aunt. While Kagome didn’t know exactly what there was to fear, she had a feeling that she’d find out soon. Too soon.

The seclusion Kagome had taken upon herself after dinner had suited her well and she took the time to decompress and simply stare at her bedroom ceiling. The shrine had seen no visitors that day, as Naraku had made the decision to close it, assuring her it would only be for the day so that he could hold a meeting with her and Kagura and to give her time to begin to heal from her heartbreak.

However, Inuyasha’s rejection was the furthest thing from Kagome’s mind. He had risked his own life to come to her on his human night the night before to apologize and explain to her the reasoning for his attempt to keep themselves apart. The heart broken Inu-Hanyou had even begged her to take him back, a plea to which she had yet to answer. But with all that had happened to her in the past forty-eight hours, what weighed heaviest on Kagome’s mind now was Naraku himself.

As nice and polite as the man was, Kagome had always felt some form of unsettled power within Naraku. Perhaps it had to do with his overly polite words and mannerisms, his lack of personality, and the fact that he seemed to present himself the way he thought she would expect him to. Her mind all too eagerly reminded her of his legal aide, Kagura, and her apparent unease. Somehow, Kagome was sure that Naraku was the one that had somehow caused the youkai’s unease.

And now, Naraku had asked her about the Shikon no Tama’s whereabouts.

It had seemed to her like he had been waiting to ask that very question since their initial meeting a month and a half ago. There had always been a layer or impatience that Kagome had sensed from Naraku that she couldn’t get off her mind.

Kagome had come a long way in drawing her conclusion over the past two days. Through Inuyasha’s apology and explanation, Kouga’s help, and her own realizations, Kagome could no longer deny that the truth lay in Inuyasha.

There was now no doubt left in her mind that Naraku was evil. Earlier that afternoon, she had come to the realization that Naraku had preyed on her emotional vulnerabilities. Not once, but twice. The first time had been on the heels of her grandfather’s death, and the second had been immediately after she was hurt by Inuyasha’s refusal.

Kagome had to stop for a moment and ponder that very thought. How had Naraku known that Inuyasha had refused her anyway? She had been so shell-shocked when Naraku had kicked Inuyasha off her property after his apparent rezoning and Naraku had insulted the Inu-Hanyou for turning her down the day before that she hadn’t even thought it strange that he had known such private information. It was only too plain to see now just how powerful and deceiving Naraku really was. She figured that Naraku might have had spies monitoring her shrine since day one.

Kagome asked herself why she hadn’t trusted her gut, why she hadn’t trusted her miko senses that had been triggered when she had first met the hanyou. Her spiritual powers weren’t exceptionally strong, or at least, she hadn’t learned to properly harness them yet, but from the moment she had first met him, she had felt that Naraku was not one to be trusted. But Kagome, not being one to judge, had ignored what her miko senses had been telling her, and had allowed his polite words and mannerisms to sway her.

While Kagome’s instincts had been telling her that Inuyasha was not at fault for the rezoning, her human mind hadn’t been so sure, and Naraku had expected as much. He had effectively used Kagome’s emotions against her so that he could become co-owner of her property, which he apparently was only interested in for the hope of finding the legendary Shikon no Tama.

Even worse was that she had allowed Naraku’s calculated deception to magnify her fears. He had led her to believe that Inuyasha had strung her along only to refuse her affections and steal her land. What Naraku had done to her was no different than what Kikyou had tried to pull on Inuyasha at the coffee shop not long ago. They both had tried to make Inuyasha and Kagome doubt their trust and feelings for one another. But unlike Inuyasha, who had brushed off Kikyou’s words, Kagome had fallen prey to her doubts and Naraku’s deception.

Though the pain of Inuyasha’s initial rejection had hurt, she had begun to put that behind her, now secure after Inuyasha had confessed his love for her and asked her to take him back. She was now as sure that she believed in her trust of Inuyasha as she was sure of her love for him, and she was ready to forgive him and grant him a second chance. She was willing to start over with her Inu-Hanyou and replace all of her trust and love back into him.

Kagome could now only wonder where things went from here. She didn’t know where the Shikon no Tama, the very key to the power struggle, was. For all intents and purposes, the jewel hadn’t existed in five hundred years. Now she was stuck in a contract with the potentially dangerous Naraku, and she didn’t expect that he would simply give up his rights to her land now that she couldn’t give him what he wanted. Kagome collected herself, repeating a mantra in her mind over and over again. She had put herself in this position because she hadn’t trusted in Inuyasha, and somehow, she would get herself out of it.

Though she longed to run outside into Inuyasha’s waiting arms and apologize for doubting him and confess her feelings for him, instead, Kagome reluctantly closed her eyes. She had the safety of Souta and Inuyasha to think about, she was sure that if Naraku was as dangerous as she’d been told he was, neither they, nor even she herself was safe. Somehow, she would have to outwit Naraku on her own. Though her heart told her that she’d need Inuyasha’s help, her stubborn brain tried to brainstorm her next steps to get her land back by herself. If she could.


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Midnight was near when Kanna finally approached the Higurashi house. The pale blue kimono of her youkai battle garment swished at her feet as she succeeded in making very little noise. Picking the lock to the front door, she swung her white hair back over her shoulder and held the knob as she opened the door so that it wouldn’t creak. Shutting it silently behind her, Kanna stopped in the familiar hallway, knowing by heart that Souta’s room was the first door on the right.

Her heart hurt. Kanna had fought with herself for hours, even wishing her own death instead of having to take the life of the one she loved. In fact, she had even tried cutting her own wrists. But as she had known from many previous attempts, her youkai body just regenerated too quickly for such a simple act to take her life. She cursed her youkai body’s healing abilities. It wasn’t the first time she’d longed to be human.

The bottom line was that she had no choice. If she didn’t do Naraku’s bidding, someone else would be assigned the task of Souta’s murder and the evil hanyou had long ago sworn that he would kill her older sister in retribution if she didn’t comply with his wished. Although it was a threat that Naraku had used against her for years, with the distracted way that Kagura had been performing of late, and Naraku’s disuse of her talents, Kanna knew that he would not think twice about ending Kagura’s life now, and when it came down to it, Kanna felt obligated to protect the life of her sister when Kagura had tried so hard to protect her all their lives.

Kanna asked herself why life had to be so unfair. Was it not bad enough that she and Kagura had been forced into an underground youkai prostitution ring as children, given up by their deadbeat youkai father who had sold them for drug money? When Naraku had eventually saved them, she and Kagura thought they had finally been rescued from their torturous lives, but when it turned out that they had only become slaves once again, it had broken what was left of Kanna’s fragile heart and trust. Having nothing else to live for, she had then simply allowed her soul to bend to Naraku’s will. Kagura had valiantly tried to keep fighting, but now, it was apparent that even she could no longer hold up.

The void youkai sighed resignedly, turning the knob to Souta’s room and closing the door behind her silently. She crept to his bed, looking down on the sleeping young man. It was hard for her to imagine that although she was only two years younger than his seventeen in physical appearance, she was one hundred and sixty three years his senior. It sure hadn’t felt like that to her.

Her first meeting with the Higurashi boy had been an assignment given to her by Naraku. She had been instructed to befriend him, earn his trust, and report back to Naraku all the she had learned of the family living at the Higurashi Shrine.

When she first met him at a party set up by a mutual youkai friend, it was easy for Kanna to disregard the boy as a simple human child. But the more time she and Souta spent together, the deeper their connection became. He was her first real friend, and though she was busy with other assignments given to her by her hanyou captor, and Souta had been busy with his schoolwork and his responsibilities at the shrine, the time they had managed to spend together had been magical for the both of them. Their friendship had quickly evolved, and all though she knew Souta was not her chosen, Kanna had enjoyed becoming his girlfriend. It was Souta who had made her remember what it was like to enjoy life after feeling like a tormented, empty shell for so long. Though she knew he was not her chosen, Kanna loved him, and she loved being allowed the chance to pretend that she was an ordinary girl.

Now that she had been given her last assignment to carry out with the Higurashi boy, Kanna knew that his death by her hands would kill the last little bit of life left in her soul. ‘Maybe then, my mind will be free from Naraku’s torment.’ She thought with morbid detachment.

Pulling her mirror, the implement she had used to suck countless souls from the bodies of youkai and humans alike, from her kimono, she stared at her reflection momentarily. Kanna longingly wished that she could pluck her own soul from her body instead of doing what she was about to do, but she knew she couldn’t. She had tried as much already. She looked fondly down at Souta, his body half kicked out of the thin blanket covering him as she watched his even breaths.

The boy suddenly stirred in his sleep, his eyes fluttering open. Seeing what appeared to be an angel in white before him, it took Souta a moment before he realized it was his girlfriend watching over him. “Kanna-chan?” He asked wearily, as though he didn’t believe his eyes.

Kanna’s lips curled into the tiniest of smiles as she whispered, “I’m sorry, Souta-kun.”

She aimed her mirror towards the young man and concentrated. The mirror started to glow as her mind located and wrapped itself around Souta’s soul. She choked on the lump in her throat as through his soul, she felt everything that made Souta who he was. She felt his kindness, his compassion, and his cheerfulness. Kanna’s mind began to reluctantly direct Souta’s soul to her mirror. Tears rolled down her face as through her boyfriend’s soul, Kanna’s mind absorbed his love for her.

As Souta’s soul began to enter the glassy surface of the mirror, Kanna felt a breath of air on the back of her neck. The tiny hairs on her neck stood up and the void youkai suddenly felt the need to look behind her. Her eyes widened at what she saw. The next thing Kanna knew was blackness.

Kagura dropped the blunt bottle she had hit her sister over the head with and caught her falling body in her arms. She looked down at her unconscious sister, a sad smile on her face. “You tried to give me another chance at love. I won’t let you throw away what you have.”

Souta was now fully awake, a vague memory of Kanna standing over him as he experienced some kind of deep pain as though something had almost been pulled from his body. Looking down to the floor next to his bed, he saw an older woman holding his girlfriend, who seemed to be unconscious.

Seeing the tell tale bottle lying cracked on the floor and a small trickle of blood caking in Kanna’s white hair, Souta realized he wasn’t dreaming. He wanted to run and grab Kanna from the strange woman’s arms, but he was so confused and frightened that all he managed was a startled, choked yell as he sat up and pressed his back to the wall in fear. He could already hear his sister on the floor above as she opened her closet and fumbled around momentarily before the sound of her feet rushing down the steps at his panicked call could be heard.

“Higurashi Souta.” Kagura said quickly, knowing the time for talking was scarce. Her gaze was leveled on the scared young man, his shaking body clad only in boxers and a thin under shirt. “I am Kanna’s sister. Please forgive her.”

Souta’s lip trembled at the strange youkai’s voice. It was clear now that the memory hadn’t been a dream. Kanna had done something to try to hurt him… or worse.

Kagura’s cool voice somehow soothed Souta as she tried to explain. “Kanna had tried to take her own life instead of taking yours, but was unable. She had no choice but to do what she did.” Kagura said, frowning as Souta’s questioning eyes looked at her as though he couldn’t comprehend her very existence.

Suddenly, Kagome came bursting into Souta’s bedroom, the force of the door opening slamming its knob into the wall behind it. Kagome stood straight, aiming an arrow at the two figures on the floor next to her brother’s bed.

Kagura responded by simply holding her sister closer to her body. She couldn’t help but wish for the quick death of a miko’s arrow.

Souta on the other hand was thankful for both Kagome’s strong presence and the fact that his sister had a habit of keeping one of her bows and several arrows in her room just in case. He promised to make a note to himself never to tease Kagome’s weapons or the archaic sport of archery again.

As Souta watched his sister squint and pull the tension on her arrow, he suddenly shouted to her. “Don’t shoot!” Regardless of whatever apparent danger he might have been in, Souta could not condone the death another, especially that of his girlfriend and her sister.

Kagome froze at the sight of her obviously frightened brother, and Naraku’s legal aide holding a young woman who looked like the girl that she had suspected Souta to be seeing. “Souta? Kagura-san? What’s going on here?”

There was no time for answers as a battle cry was heard. A shrill laughing sound echoed through the house as the front door burst open loudly. Through the shards of wood and cloud of dust came a youkai woman in a dress skimpier than any outfit a risqué woman would wear to a club. “Yura?” Kagome asked, shocked at both the destructive intrusion and the youkai’s apparel.

It was obvious that Yura had not come to play as she sank into an offensive stance, the strange comb Kagome had noticed in her hand before now aimed at her. In Yura’s other hand, held to her side was a katana, and on her face was a grin that told Kagome that she was enjoying herself. Kagome shuddered at the chilling sight as she wondered what had sparked the youkai to attack.

Kagome looked at Yura questioningly as the youkai woman held her hands up, her fingers sprawled apart as though she were playing cat’s cradle, or some sort of a string game. “Yura-san?” She asked, but when the buxom youkai refused to answer, Kagome somehow knew that she and the rest of those in the room were about to be in a load of trouble. The youkai woman quickly pulled her hands apart, and in the dim light, Kagome could see some kind of thin material indeed wound between her fingers.

“Get down!” A muffled, yet insistent bark rang out that Kagome instantly placed as Inuyasha’s voice.

Kagome didn’t question the disembodied order and her instincts kicked in as she threw herself on Souta’s bed. Kagome’s body knocked her brother’s over, protecting him as she tried to cover his slightly larger frame, her bow and arrow falling forgotten on the bed. She detachedly felt some kind of net enclose them, and had a vague feeling that her clothes were somehow being precisely ripped. A chilling sensation of paper-thin cuts spread across the uncovered skin of her arms and across her cheeks. A glance to the corner of the room showed her that Kagura and Souta’s friend were also enclosed in the same kind of net. Kagura, like Kagome used her own body to keep the younger child covered from the sharp threads

When the room was filled with the sound of Souta’s bedroom window shattering to pieces, Kagome finally opened her eyes. Inuyasha stood before them, dressed in some kind of strange red hakama and haori.

“Inuyasha…” Kagome whispered.

“Inu-no-niichan…” Souta echoed from underneath his sister.

Inuyasha growled at the smell of Kagome’s blood and he wasted no time in rushing over to her, all the while keeping an eye on Yura. “Are you okay?” He asked gruffly, surveying her wounds.

Looking down at her tingling arms, Kagome realized that they were bleeding profusely, though they were only surface wounds. She found that Inuyasha’s mere presence boosted her own courage and she longed to fight along side of him. Yet, as she watched him reach out for her, she worried for his safety and shouted to stop him, “I’m okay, don’t touch the net!” Once Inuyasha’s hand recoiled, she looked at him, relieved. “Be careful, Inuyasha, she’s got some kind of sharp ropes!”

“Rope?” Yura asked in a laughing voice. “This is hair, foolish girl, and your own will be soon to join its ranks.”

Inuyasha growled and lunged at the scantily clad youkai, who defended herself by throwing strands of intertwined hair at him. The Inu-Hanyou pulled a sword from its sheath at his side, and what had looked like a ragged, rusty, beaten up old sword suddenly transformed itself into an impressive weapon by the time he held it in front of him, slashing randomly as Yura heckled Kagura.

“I knew I should have told Naraku you’d be useless, Kagura.” Yura spat as she directed the strands of sharp hair towards Inuyasha. “You must have been the leak in Naraku’s plans all along, weren’t you? That’s okay though, your numbered days are over, and I’m more than deserving of your current position.” Yura’s smug smile turned into a frown when the wind youkai refused to acknowledge her taunts and continued to tend to her sister instead.

Although it was apparent that Kagura had foiled some kind of plan outlined by Naraku to either hurt of kill her and Souta, Kagome didn’t have the time to contemplate the meaning of Yura’s words. She focused instead on Inuyasha, realizing that for some reason, he couldn’t see the strands of deadly hair that Yura lashed at him. Though his strange garments seemed to deflect Yura’s weapon, the sharp fibers easily cut through any of his exposed flesh, and blood spilled from his cheeks and hands. “Inuyasha, to your right!” Kagome shouted.

“You mean you can see it, Kagome?” Inuyasha asked, still blindly swinging. One thick, tightly wound strand managed to hit him in his side, almost knocking the air from his lungs. Inuyasha thanked the gods for the safety of his hi-nezumi as he continued to slash.

“Yes, there are three of them. Quick, two steps to your right!” She ordered, pleased when Inuyasha followed her orders and effortlessly sliced through the strand.

Yura frowned as the hair snapped with a loud twang. It had been a long time since she had met one gifted enough to see her weapon. She redoubled her efforts.

“Now, five steps to the left!” Kagome shouted.

When the hanyou broke the second to last thread that was attacking him, Yura got on the defensive, beginning to get annoyed with the helpless woman caught in her net. She swiftly aimed her last strand at Inuyasha, the hair heading right for his throat. Immediately, she then threw her katana at Kagome, attacking the two of them simultaneously.

Kagome made a split second decision. She had to tell Inuyasha where the strand was for him to save himself. “Inuyasha, right in front of you!” She shouted, wrapping her body even tighter around her brother’s to protect him from the sword that screamed through the air. She turned her head away from the sound and clenched her body, bracing herself for the sure hit of the katana.

Not feeling the expected slicing pain, Kagome slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to look at the others. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Inuyasha, his hand wrapped around the katana’s blade, blood streaming from his hand. But what scared her more was that his body was lifted inches off the ground by a thick strand of Yura’s hair, which crisscrossed around his neck. She had captured him the way a spider would capture its prey.

Though Kagome had tried to save Inuyasha’s life by warning him of the weapon aimed at his throat, he had ignored her and saved her instead. The Inu-Hanyou began gurgling from the pressure around his neck, causing the hair youkai to chuckle.

“Not so tough anymore, are we?” Yura mocked him. “Your silver mane will make an excellent addition to my collection.”

Kagome realized that Inuyasha’s salvation, as well as their own was now up to her. She quickly sat up, ignoring the skin across her arms as it was finely sliced while she grabbed her bow from underneath the net that held her captive. Blood ran down her arms and face as she stretched the net to its maximum capacity to allow her bow clearance and she notched an arrow, thankful that Inuyasha’s body blocked Yura’s view of her. “Inuyasha!” she called loudly.

When the hanyou turned his body just the barest fraction needed to look back towards Kagome, the miko had been given all the space she needed. She trusted that her spiritual powers would allow her to save the ones she loved and she held her breath as she released her arrow. The arrow instantly sliced through the net and burned bright purple as though it were alive with energy. The pointed projectile whizzed past Inuyasha’s side with no margin or error, embedding itself into Yura’s chest with a sickening thud.

For Inuyasha, time went by in slow motion once Kagome let her arrow fly. The purple trail of light that had zipped past Inuyasha’s vision still burned his eyes. The purity of the arrow had singed his aura as it passed by his body and the Inu-Hanyou instinctively knew that should Kagome ever launch such an arrow at him, she could purify the youkai blood right out of him. Yet, whether she knew she had done it or not, she had instructed the arrow to only pierce her enemy, and had prayed that its passing would not injure her love. Her strength, the power she poured into her arrow surpassed that of Kikyou, who Inuyasha had seen practice the miko attack on more than one occasion. He was left speechless in its wake.

The force of the arrow’s impact caused Yura to drop the strands holding Inuyasha in the air. The Inu-Hanyou landed gracefully on his feet, trying not to move too much and cause the hair to cut into his throat.

Kagome forced herself to stop thinking about the strange purple light that she had created and concentrated on the here and now, knowing that the man she loved was still in danger. “Inuyasha, right in front of you!” She screamed, indicating the dangerous strand that still held Inuyasha captive.

With a garbled roar, Inuyasha sliced the strand that held him captive, the hair audibly breaking as a small trickle of blood seeped down his neck from the wound. He ignored the pain, wasting no time as he lunged at Yura, who was desperately trying to pull Kagome’s arrow out of her chest.

Inuyasha howled, “Kaze no Kizu!” Tessaiga behind and above him, he wasted no time as he swung the colossal sword in front of his body. Yura had only one chance to show a panicked expression and realize her mistake before his wind attack tore her to shreds and the force of the blow impacted the wall behind her.

In the silence that fell after the drywall dust dissipated, the only sounds were Inuyasha’s hitched breathing and the occasional sound of a rafter or other debris falling from the ragged hole that had been torn into the wall. The power to the house had been cut from his massive attack, and the darkness of the night bathed the remnants of the room. Inuyasha slid he slid his sword back into its sheath and immediately stumbled towards Kagome, using only his nose to guide him.

With Yura’s destruction, the nets of hair degenerated, allowing Kagome to sit up as the Inu-Hanyou approached her. As their eyes grew accustomed to the dark, the two said nothing and the tension between them was thick. The confusion each held in their eyes was clear. Inuyasha was unsure of where he stood with her and Kagome was shaken from the ordeal.

Finally, Kagome threw herself into Inuyasha’s arms to reassure the both of them. “I’m sorry I doubted you!” She cried, burying her face into the coarse material of his strange haori.

The weight of the world lifted from Inuyasha’s shoulders as he realized that he had regained Kagome’s trust. Inuyasha relaxed slightly as he held one hand to the back of her head and wrapped one arm tightly around her waist to try to calm her fears. “It’s okay, Kagome. It’s okay.” He repeated, soothing her. “I told you I didn’t blame you for not trusting me.”

The Inu-Hanyou finally took a moment to check on Souta. The boy seemed withdrawn, yet despite the vicious attack they had just suffered, his eyes were locked on the form of the unconscious youkai who smelled like Naraku. Inuyasha knew she was the one who Kagura had told him was ordered by Naraku to take the boy’s life. He also recalled seeing the white haired youkai at the shrine with Souta on more than one occasion. She now lay still, wrapped in Kagura’s embrace.

Inuyasha ignored the two youkai, focusing instead on his chosen’s brother. “Are you okay?” He asked Souta gruffly. The young man merely nodded.

Though he was glad that their injuries were obviously only flesh wounds, the fact that they were injured at all set Inuyasha even more at ill ease, and he know that they weren’t out of the woods yet. He still had to get Kagome and her brother out of the house. He was sure that Naraku had other minions hanging around in case of the unlikely failure of three of his warriors.

“Listen, we have to get out of here, there might be more of Naraku’s youkai waiting.” Inuyasha insisted not only to Kagome and Souta, but also to remind Kagura and the one she protected.

“Naraku’s?” Kagome asked, her voice almost a whisper. She had instinctively known that the attack they had suffered had been by Naraku’s orders and that the minions Inuyasha alluded to were Naraku’s as well. But it was hard to consciously acknowledge since it was even more proof of how wrong Kagome had been to believe Naraku’s words. She glanced to Kagura, who nodded affirmatively. Kagome returned the nod, knowing she had to be strong, for her brother if no one else.

She allowed Inuyasha to pull her off the bed and set her down on the floor, and as she shakily stumbled, pieces of glass from the broken window became lodged in her foot. The room had been destroyed. In fact, Inuyasha’s amazing attack had not only taken Yura’s life, but had also ripped a hole straight through her house. She held her hand out to her brother. “Lets go, Souta.” She said softly, grabbing her bow and remaining two arrows.

The young man stood, but continued to stare at Kanna. “She’ll be okay.” Kagura told him, quietly easing his fears. The wind youkai looked a little shocked as Souta wordlessly lifted Kanna from her arms and gently placed her sister on his bed.

As he turned to follow his sister and the Inu-Hanyou, Souta stopped, pulling a shard of glass from his foot. “Let me grab some shoes.” He said.

“Take nothing. We have to leave now. The others are in the car waiting for us.” Inuyasha’s voice was stern, yet soothing. Souta nodded wearily, understanding that they were still in danger.

As Inuyasha began to lead them out of the room, Kagura called out to him. “Inuyasha?” When the Inu-Hanyou turned to look at her, she smirked at him. “Remember our deal, not a word of this to your brother.”

Inuyasha nodded his understanding. “Keh, maybe you’re not so bad after all, Kagura.” He replied.

Kagura gave Inuyasha the finger cockily as he pushed the Higurashi siblings out of their ravaged home. As she watched the last of Inuyasha’s silver tresses disappear around the corner, Kagura realized it would probably be the last she’d ever see of the Taisho clan. She had failed Naraku’s test.

Inuyasha could smell more youkai, and he knew they were after them. He halted Kagome and Souta in the kitchen at the back door of the house. Even though it was a beautiful spring night, it was about to be ruined by the impending battle about to come, if it hadn’t been ruined already.

“See that black SUV?” Inuyasha asked, pointing to the street next to the house, which was separated from them by seventy feet of empty grass. “Sango, Miroku, and Sesshomaru are waiting for us there. When I say go, I want the two of you to run and not look back. Get right in the car and don’t get out. I’ll be right behind you.”

Inuyasha took off his red haori and handed it to Kagome, leaving him in a lighter, ivory under robe. She held it in her hand and looked at it questioningly. “Put it on.” Inuyasha instructed. “It’s made of the fur of the hi-nezumi, it’s stronger than any armor.”

“Souta should wear it.” She suggested, worrying for her younger brother.

“No.” The dual voices of Inuyasha and Souta echoed in the kitchen. Souta eyed his sister, stubbornly insisting she wear it and it was obvious that Inuyasha would not allow her to go unarmored.

Kagome held her hands up in defeat and draped the garment around her. Inuyasha fussily adjusted it by lifting the material over her head to further protect her.

“Go!” Inuyasha shouted without warning, giving them no time to think as he pushed them forward roughly.

As brother and sister bolted into the open expanse, Inuyasha trailed them closely, keeping an eye on the hoard of minor youkai approaching on the horizon. Souta blanched at the ugly worm, spider, and insect-like creatures. “Keep moving!” Inuyasha barked, his shout motivating Souta to pick up his speed.

“Sankontessou!” Inuyasha roared as the first wave of youkai convened on them.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome saw Inuyasha throw some kind of sharp projectiles as though from his very hands. Several of the oversized, yet disproportionately weak creatures fell to the ground loudly.

A shout of, “Hiraikotsu!” from in front of her lifted Kagome’s spirits, and she saw Sango standing in front of the SUV, clad in her familiar taiji-ya garments and unleashing her bone boomerang. The deadly weapon homed in on four youkai and effortlessly tore them into two pieces in its graceful arc. Kagome suddenly realized how very much she had missed the other woman.

What shocked Kagome next was Miroku, clad in his Buddhist robes as he calmly allowed several youkai to approach him. Kagome had never seen his fighting skills as she had seen Sango’s, but just as she was about to shout a warning, the houshi raised his shakujou and delivered a fierce blow to one youkai. The worm-like body crashed to the ground, pinning another underneath him. The houshi then released three ofuda with a deep yell, and as the paper wards connected with their monstrous bodies, the youkai impacted the ground with deadly force.

Finally approaching the car, Kagome shoved Souta into the open door. Not giving him to time to think, she located the lock button and hit it before shutting the door on him and leaning her body against the door as Souta turned to pound on the window. Kagome ignored him and twisted her body, keeping it against the door as she held up her bow and notched an arrow. She aimed at one of the many youkai crowding Inuyasha and concentrated. This time, the glowing purple aura burst from her arrow before even letting it fly. She could feel its concentrated power growing and throbbing and she eagerly spilled her soul into it, somehow understanding the strange new power to be her own. She released it, and the arrow shot through several of the bodies in the youkai hoard. With only one arrow left, Kagome waited to use it sparingly, hugging her body tight to the car to and keeping the arrow notched and ready.

When Inuyasha realized that Kagome wasn’t in the relative safety of the car, he sliced through another youkai before turning to yell at her. “Get in the car, wench! This isn’t playtime!”

Kagome seethed and yelled back, “I can fight too, you jerk, don’t worry about me!”

Inuyasha readied to throw back another smart remark when a centipede youkai took a bite out of his shoulder. His pained howl brought Kagome back to the task at hand and without a second’s hesitation, she let her last arrow fly, purifying four youkai in one shot before finally taking down the one that had injured Inuyasha. Still, the Inu-Hanyou glared angrily at Kagome’s defiance of his previous orders.

“Inuyasha, can you finish this? We have to get out of here!” Miroku yelled urgently as he fought back two spider youkai with his staff.

Inuyasha nodded and shook off the pain that seared his shoulder before cocking his sword. There were few enough of Naraku’s minions left to take out with one attack. “Kaze no Kizu!” He shouted, releasing the pure energy from his sword in a rush as it tore through not only the bodies of the remaining youkai but the trees and earth of the side yard of the Higurashi Shrine.

The scent of blood and burnt flesh hung heavily in the air and Kagome couldn’t help but stumble away from the car and retch, the small amount of food she’d eaten that day evacuating itself from her stomach. As she wiped the bile from the corner of her mouth, she surveyed the carnage all around her. She sadly absorbed not only the dead bodies of the youkai, but also her ruined property. A couple of the outer shrine buildings had been singed from the damage and the storage shed had been decimated. A large, gaping hole stood at one end of her house thanks to the battle that had taken place in Souta’s room. She mourned for her family’s ancestral home.

“Lets go.” Inuyasha’s calm, yet raspy voice insisted as Sango and Miroku ran for the car. Souta scrambled to unlock the doors before Miroku hopped into the driver’s seat and Sango into the passenger seat. Inuyasha scooped the shaking and weak Kagome off the ground and threw her into the back of the car. He hopped into the back along with her, Souta scooting into the row of seating behind to make room for them.

“Where’s Sesshomaru?” Inuyasha growled to Sango and Miroku.

Miroku shrugged. “He said he was going to hang around the area for awhile.” He replied, shifting to drive and pulling away from the curb.

“What?!” Inuyasha asked, incredulously.

“He said he’d meet us back at the Western Mansion soon, that he had some business to attend to here.” Sango replied, taking off her taiji-ya mask and grabbing a towel off the floor to blot the viscous youkai blood off her battle garments.

“Keh! That guy is never around when you actually need him.” Inuyasha complained.

Kagome shrugged out of the coarse material of the hi-nezumi haori and turned to look at Souta, wanting to assure herself that he was uninjured. “Are you okay?” She asked. But seeing that he had already fallen asleep with his head leaning against the window, she settled for a visual once-over to satisfy her worry, letting the poor guy sleep. He had obviously been through a lot over the course of the night, and if Yura’s words were true, that the white haired girl had been sent to kill him, she was sure he was devastated. Hopefully he’d open up to her about it soon.

She turned back to Inuyasha who had sighed heavily and leaned into the seat they shared. “Oh my god, Inuyasha, you’re gushing blood!” Kagome exclaimed, looking at the shoulder that had been viciously bitten, blood seeping through the ragged remains of his ivory colored under robe.

Inuyasha shrugged and disregarded it. “Its just a flesh wound.” He said grumpily.

“Sango-chan, can you hand me one of those towels?” Kagome asked hurriedly, pointedly ignoring the Inu-Hanyou’s denial of the wound’s severity. Pressing the towel to the gaping wound, Kagome was amazed to see the edges of the ragged flesh already beginning to heal, the skin slowly, yet surely regenerating, the flesh almost weaving itself back together. Her mouth hung open in shock.

“I told you so.” Inuyasha said in an annoyed tone.

“Real mature for a two hundred and fifty year old, Inuyasha.” Kagome said, rolling her eyes, though she still kept the pressure on his wound. Youkai healing abilities or not, she was worried for him.

Miroku chuckled quietly, directing his voice to Sango. “Guess they’re back to normal.”

As the digital clock ticked to one-thirty in the morning, Sango did her best to keep her eyes open. It had been a long night for them all. She only hoped that the next few days would bring them answers, and bring Kagome and Inuyasha closer together. The taiji-ya sighed, though she wore a small smile on her face as the two behind her continued to argue with each other while the scenery passed them by.


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Kagura placed a cool towel on her sister’s head, the young girl still unconscious from the blow she had given her. Though Kanna was full youkai, void youkai were known to be physically weak and easily injured. Kagura’s movements were slow and measured, her face showing no emotion and her mind empty. If Naraku knew of her betrayal, she knew her end was near, and yet she was strangely at peace with herself.

She could sense his jyaki just outside the house, overflowing with rage that his plan had failed. Kagura knew Naraku was surveying the remains of his dead youkai minions. He knew she had failed, but did he know any more than that? Did he know that she had betrayed him?

Kagura waited, forcing herself to remain calm as she heard Naraku’s footsteps enter the house and heard him shuffling over the debris left from the attack. She felt his presence in the doorway before he finally addressed her. “What happened here?” Naraku asked, his voice about to break.

“It was Inuyasha. He attacked before they could kill the Higurashi children.” Kagura said. Technically, she wasn’t lying. It was the Inu-Hanyou who had attacked Yura at least. She refused to make eye contact with the dark hanyou, knowing that if she did, she would loose her nerve. Naraku’s silence dragged on, and her palms began to sweat.

“Inuyasha, you say?” Naraku asked.

“Yes, Naraku-sama.” The wind youkai replied.

Naraku smirked, and he had to contain his pleasure as he watched a shiver travel up Kagura’s spine. “I thought I’d give you one last chance to redeem yourself, Kagura. Do you think I didn’t know who had been leaking information from my own company? Surely you don’t think me so clueless.” The shadow of Naraku’s shaking fist, dimly lit by only the distant streetlights darted around the room

“Please spare my sister.” Kagura pleaded, no longer attempting to spare her own life. One tear fell down her face as she silently said goodbye and apologized to Kanna.

“Though I wish to disappoint you, unfortunately, your sister’s skills are too vital to my needs. I can’t eliminate her.” Naraku paused, seeing the relief in the wind youkai’s eyes. “But I can eliminate you.”

He had hoped to see fear, desperation, shock, anything in Kagura’s crimson depths, but the lack of emotion only made him angrier. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to dirty my hands, Kagura, but for you, I’ll make an exception.”

Kagura watched detachedly as Naraku pulled his shaking fist back and let it fly, knowing it would be only the first blow of many to come before her death. When his fist connected with her face and her vision flashed white, she flew across the room and through the last in-tact wall, the impact of her head slamming into the concrete causing her to black out. She never felt her body skid across the grass for another twenty feet, and she never felt the warm arms that pulled her from the ground. She never heard Naraku’s enraged yells as she was swiftly carried away to safety.


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Authors Notes: Sorry this was a long time in coming, but I worked really hard on it. Please read and review, and let me know what you liked or disliked!

Many thanks to my awesome Beta, Scherezade7/ szmadad.