InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Poison of Erised! ❯ Chapter Twelve - The Supreme Reign of Confusion! ( Chapter 12 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

 

The Poison of Erised!

by Vyncent

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::This story contains GRAPHIC violence, sexual content! You are WARNED::

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If you do not like such content, then please be advised that this fic may not be appealing to you.  Please do not read this if such content is offensive to you.

Disclaimer:  I do not own Inuyasha, nor any of the associated characters.  But it ain't because I don't want or wish to do so.

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Chapter Twelve - The Supreme Reign of Confusion!

 

Numerous birds awoke to the refreshed world at large and their wonderous song burst forth to proclaim the boundaries of their territories to any who could hear or cared, while the varied fauna of the daylight hours awoke from their own night's slumber and took to their own normal routine.  It was the normal chain of life, predator stalking prey, prey stalking choice morsels of plant life, plant life absorbing their own needs from the environment that surrounded them.  All-in-all it was a beautiful beginning to a day.

The first rays of brother sun, flickered over the landscape and the last glittering jewels of the night's rain cast their sparkle throughout the forest and beyond.  The fresh, sweet smell of rain washed air during the night, leaving behind the fragrant scents of newly bloomed blossoms mixed with the heady scents of herbs and other plants that already filled the air.  It was a feast to the senses and welcomed by many, especially in these early dawn hours when some resprite was offered from the lengthy heat wave that had by now become the norm for the area.

Still, despite the showers of the night, it seemed that all were in for another hot and muggy day.  Those who had to travel during this fine day, chose to do so during the cooler hours, while those who had chores tended their tasks, during this time as well.  They all knew that it would be to hot to do them later, and wanted to keep the hottest part of the day free to spend their time in what cooling comforts they could partake of.

Not far from a clearing that still bore signs of a recent battle, was a small cave.  For the most part, it was a non-descript, unassuming little hole in the rock, but it was large enough to offer shelter for passersby or those in need.  As it was now, it currently housed a hanyou, a neko mononoke, a small kitsune, a Taijiya, a houshi, and a Miko.  Several of the small group were still recovering from injuries acquired from the battle that had taken place in the nearby clearing the day before, but right now those injuries were not their primary concern.

No! They most current concerns were a most unusual chain of strange occurrences that seemed to be focused around one member of their group.  Even now, as they sat puzzling over what few facts they had, the young Miko lay seemingly fast asleep in the sleeping bag that she always carried with the supplies that filled the remarkably oversize backpack that she had brought from home.  She too, had suffered being injured during their last battle, and the evidence of that injury was more than apparent by the bloody and tattered clothing that they all now were examining.

What had them most perplexed at the moment, was that while her clothing showed clearly the evidence of the injury, her body did not.  There was no sign of blood, or anything on her body to show that she was even scratched, and just as had occurred on at least two other occasions, she was not responding to their efforts to wake her up.  The good news at the moment, besides their relief to find their beloved friend uninjured, was that at least she was not running the fever that she had before. At the moment, she just seemed to be deeply asleep.

Despite the lack of fever, the mystery surrounding the girl had everyone both upset and worried.  While they had their theories, they still had an ever growing list of questions and almost no answers.  This had all begun when they were over three weeks away from the village that most of the group saw as home.  Now they were still at least five days out, and it seemed like the closer they got, the more the mystery of what was happening to their most cherished friend deepened.

"Are you sure," an astonished houshi asked for what seemed like the millionth time, "Inuyasha, that what you smelled was Kagome-sama's blood and not the blood of another youkai?"

"What do you take me for," he groused back, although angry that they would question his abilities, he was more upset about what was happening to Kagome and in truth he was scared for the onna who meant more to him than he was willing to admit openly.  "I know what I smelled.  The scent was most definitely Kagome's, but it didn't smell like she was ningen.  It most definitely smelled like the scent of youkai, pure blooded youkai, or at least what Kagome would smell like if she were youkai."

"I do not see how that is even possible," spoke up Sango, the Taijiya was just as worried and confused as everyone there, "Even in all of the stories that I learned at my father's knee, and my grandfather before him, I have never heard of such at thing being possible."

"In all of my travels and studies," spoke up Miroku thoughtfully, "I have never heard of anything like it either.  As far as I know, it should not be possible."

Although he knew that they were not trying to discount what he claimed to have scented, it still make the hanyou feel like they were.  He knew what he smelled, and although he didn't understand it himself, he still knew that he definitely had picked up a scent that was purely Kagome, but like what she would smell like if she were a full youkai and not a ningen.

Rising to his feet suddenly and swiftly, he grabbed the small kitsune who was sitting with the group listening thoughtfully to what was being said, and the currently small neko and without more than a grunted 'Feh', he was out of the cave and leaping for the top of the cliffside to the spot where he had found the evidence of Kagome standing for at least several long moments just a bit before sunrise that morning.

"Hey," yelled Shippou as he tried to find a way to bite the hand that held him to no success, "let me go.  What is the meaning of this Inuyasha?  Let go of me and Kirara."

All he got in response was an angry growl and a glare that almost rivaled Sesshoumaru's.  At that the kit just hung on for dear life, not being sure what the hanyou was up to.  Kirara just mewed and blinked at the two, her curious gaze not giving any sign that she knew what was going on any more than the kit did.

It seemed like Inuyasha had been holding him for a long time, but was actually mere seconds, when he unceremoniously dropped Shippou on the ground alongside of Kirara, who being a neko naturally landed on her feet.  Turning to glare at the disgruntled hanyou, Shippou was about to demand an explanation when the scent in the area seemed to hit him like running into a brick wall.

Although he had longed much of his life to be tall and imposing, there were many times when Shippou found being short very much an advantage.  It was certainly easier to hide, and also made it simpler to sneak around.  It was always a plus when it came to looking cute and although as a male, being cute had its downsides, there were always those opportunities when cute was a good thing.  At the moment, however, being short meant that he was closer to the ground, and being closer to the ground meant that unlike many larger people, he didn't have to work so hard to get whatever was on the ground up around his nose.

Yeah, dust was definitely a disadvantage, but when it came to catching scents from things on the ground it was much easier and definitely more convenient to be small.  As this was the case, the young kit readily caught the slowly dissipating scent of Kagome, just as Inuyasha had described it.  Not only had she obviously been standing there, but Inuyasha had been right.  The smell was definitely youkai, not ningen.  There was no other way to describe the smell.  Although Kagome had always been ningen, and there was no way that anyone could have known what she would smell like as a youkai, there was no mistaken this youkai smell as anyone but Kagome.

Turning to look at Kirara, the small neko blinked, looked Shippou in the eye, and mewed her agreement with the unspoken thought.  Kagome had stood on this spot for about a good ten minutes at least, and at least during that time she had not been ningen, but youkai.  Neither knew for sure how it was possible.  All that was certain was that the evidence was unmistakable.

Almost as abruptly as they had arrived, Kirara and Shippou soon found themselves back in the cave with a still surprised Miroku and Sango.  It took a moment for Shippou to re-orient to the actions of the past few moments, however, once he realized that Inuyasha was just trying to get someone else to back him up about the oddity of Kagome's scent, he quickly sat down and turned to the others.

"Inuyasha is right," spoke up Shippou, and Kirara mewed her agreement, "Kagome was standing for a short time just above this cave.  There is no way that she could have gotten there on her own, and she most definitely smell like a pure blood youkai."

"See," growled an upset inu-hanyou to his audience, "I told you.  I know what I smelled and it smells like Kagome if she were youkai.  Don't ask me how, or why she no longer smells like that, but even Shippou and Kirara smelled it, too.  I was not imagining it."

"Take it easy Inuyasha," soothed Miroku, "We were not trying to say that you were imagining it.  Even you have to admit that it is hard to believe someone that we have always known to be ningen could suddenly be full youkai.  If it were one of us trying to convince you that this was what we believed, what would you be inclined to think?"

The direct statement brought Inuyasha up short, and gave him a moment's pause.  Put that way, he could see why they had been skeptical.  Hell, he had smelled the odd scent himself, and found it hard to believe.  Even with Shippou and Kirara to back him up, it was still difficult to accept that anything could cause a ningen to turn full youkai, let alone in a short time cause them to revert back to their normal nature.  

What the hell was going on here?  Why?  Who?  How?  So many questions, and so few answers, and at that the answers that seemed to be surfacing were coming far too slow.  As it was, for every answer that they seemed to find, they only ended up with another bunch of questions.  Would they ever learn the truth?  Would they ever find out what was happening to Kagome and why?

"Look," he said turning his attention back to the still sleeping form of the onna that held a part of his heart so strongly that it scared him shitless.  He walked over to her, and with a care and gentleness that none had ever seen him use before, he lifted her from her sleeping back and settled her unconscious form in his lap, and just wrapped her in his arms as though to shield her from the world at large.  "I am just worried about what is causing all of this, and frustrated that we have so few answers.  You are right.  I find it hard to believe myself and I even took Shippou and Kirara to the spot to see if they smelt the same thing I did.  I almost wish I had not been right, because knowing that I did smell what seemed like Kagome as a youkai, it seems like this whole situation is more...dangerous...than we all realize.  I feel it in my bones, but can't say why.  There is something serious going on here, and we need to find out what it is soon."

Almost unconsciously, it could easily be seen by those watching that the hanyou was holding the young onna a bit closer.  It was not just a protective or even a possessive act, but more like a need.  It seemed like Inuyasha, on some unconscious level, needed that close contact just to reassure himself that the little Miko he had come to cherish so much was still there, and still breathing.  His worry was more than evident, and they all found their hearts going out to the confused and frustrated hanyou.

"Perhaps we should just head straight back to Kaede-baachan's," spoke up Shippou, "We do not have all that much farther to go, and we might run into Myoga and get more information from him."

Everyone looked at the kit, and for a moment Shippou almost wondered what he said that was wrong.  It made the next statement from the group all the more unexpected, especially considering its source.

"That is a good idea Shippou," spoke up Inuyasha, and putting his words into action, he promptly stood up, with the intent of getting underway immediately.  It took the others a bit to convince him to wait at least until they could get all of their supplies together and then they would leave as a group.  Growling at their pace being too slow, the hanyou did concede and awaited them just outside the cave, with Kagome still in his arms.

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Even though it had only been a short time since they parted company, the Great Lord of the Western Lands had already may considerable progress in his travels.  Being the efficient, but thorough kind of person that he was most of his need to patrol his lands was complete and done for the time being.  He felt that it was important to take the time at hand and put it to use in another area, one that it seemed he had failed to be his usual thorough self about.  With that in mind he changed his mind about finishing the last of his patrol, in favor of seeking ALL of the important facts, no matter how small surrounding the origin and use of the Potion of Erised.

With the list of ever growing questions that he had running through his head, Lord Sesshoumaru made haste to locate and visit once again the old fujo who had been the source of his obtaining the small vial of elixir that was resting safely in the sleeve of his haori.  Answers were very much needed, and as he had already made sure that he obtained the potion from the old witch, he was rather looking forward to...'persuading'...her to give up some of the information that he sought now.

At his current rate of travel, he should reach her home in the highest and most isolated peaks of the northern range, bordering on the northeastern boundaries of the Western Lands, by midafternoon.  He could have taken a more leisurely pace, however, something kept telling him that there were facts he needed to know as fast as possible or there could be dire consequences to his plan, and his actions thus far.  There were just so many questions, and not nearly enough answers.  

Why did is seem that the little Miko could and obviously had retained some of her own free will while under the influence of the potion?  Even after giving it to her repeatedly, she still seemed to have moments when her own will to make independent choices, still stood firm.  Was she more aware of what he was doing than he thought?  Could she be far more powerful than he had suspected?  Was it possible that she was strong enough to override the power of the potion?  Did that explain why her eyes had changed during their last encounter?  For that matter, why had she changed to begin with?

Why was it that she seemed to be manifesting physical changes, changes that seemed for all of the world to be making her youkai?  Why did those changes seem to vanish after he returned her to his half witted brother's group?  Was this caused by the potion itself, or due to something in either his blood or hers?  Was it something to do with his power, her power, or something about the combining the two together?

When the potion finally ran its course, would these changes become permanent?  Were these changes dangerous to either her, him, or those around her?  Were there other side effects that he should expect?  What were the potential dangers that might crop up?  One thing that the Great Taiyoukai of the West didn't like was having the unexpected crop up!  It didn't mean that it didn't happen, just that when it occurred during one of his well laid plans...well...let's just say that it didn't paint a pretty picture for anyone found to have caused the unexpected.

Truthfully, the idea of the little Miko becoming full youkai had something of a thrilling quality to it.  There was no doubt that she was a most alluring creature in her ningen form, something that had been a constant problem for the Taiyoukai for a long time.  He had tried for what seemed like ages to get the memory of her scent, the pure feeling of her aura, and the thoughts of her attractive appearance from his mind.  He had finally come to accept that some part of him refused to let it go, and with that acceptance he had slowly come to realize that he found himself drawn her to almost inexplicably.

Still, seeing her as youkai only increased his desire for her a thousand fold.  It was not just his logical self that found the attaction to her to be almost overwhelming, but that his own Blood Beast seemed to be more than equally drawn to her as well.  It almost left him wondering whether his original desire for her was a choice of his more logical self, or if it was something that was decided almost purely by his Inu.

As Sesshoumaru continued his journey, images of the his past encounters with the Miko who was now his mate, suddenly flashed before his eyes.  The accompanying rush of heat through his blood was, along with the images, so unexpected that he barely caught himself and kept from losing his pace and falling.  Although anyone who might have seen him could not have seen a difference, inside he was torn by the unexpected rush of desire.

It was not that the sensation was unwelcome, or unwanted.  If it were not for his current mission, he would have still been following the half breed's pack and planning for his next encounter with the object of his passion.  

No!  What made this situation so unnerving was that he it should not have occurred in such a way as to cause him to almost lose control.  It could be considered perfectly normal for any male to dream of such moments and to have their bodies react, especially with someone so strongly desired and desirable.  However, the Taiyoukai was neither dreaming at the moment, nor was he focusing on his encounters with the little Miko in such a way that the images should have come about or caused the current situation.

Sesshoumaru was well known for his stoic demeanor, and strong emotional control.  Oh, he felt just like anyone else.  Emotions were and are a perfectly normal part of every living thing.  It was just that he never let what he felt show, nor did he let his feelings control his life.  It had taken centuries to learn such control as he had, and to build the restraints that permitted him to control his darker side with an iron fist.  A fist that for just as long was unbreakable and unrelenting.

::Is it truly?::

For the second time, is a span of but a few minutes, the unexpected had not only occurred, but had once again nearly caused him to lose his current pace.  In fact, the Great Taiyoukai missed a step, and only by the perfection of his natural grace was he able to keep from falling.  Although no one could tell by appearance, the Youkai Lord found this unexpected matter quite disturbing.  What was happening and why?  He should not have so little control over his own abilities, body, and mind!

::Ggrrrrr hmm hmm hmm hmm!  Perhaps you no longer have the control that you once did!::

At that sound from the darkest recesses of his mind, Sesshoumaru suddenly realized what had occurred.  For a moment it almost frightened him, but he quickly regained some control of his thought processes and tried to look at the current situation from a more rational perspective.

*What makes you think that I can't lock you back in your cage, just as I did long ago?*

::Hmmm!  Let me think!  Hmmm!  Could it be because I know that the restraints you once had are no longer what they used to be?::

That statement brought the Youkai Lord up short, and he did stop his forward momentum.  Quickly scanning the area to ensure that there was no immediate threat, he decided to settle for a short time in the sheltering shade of an enormous old oak that was nearby.  Taking a seat on one of its large branches, using the trunk as a back rest, he focused back on the situation at hand hoping to resolve the current matter quickly.  He didn't have time for this.

::Ggrrrrr hmm hmm!  Well, looks like you are just going to have to make a little time.::

By now the slightly deeper, almost growl like tone that seemed to whisper from the deepest reaches of his mind, became both familiar and at the same time strange.  Sesshoumaru realized that the voice was that of his Blood Beast that darker side of himself that he had not willingly allowed free reign for a long time.  So long, in fact, that except for the Beast's normal growls and the occasional pressure caused by the desires of his Blood Beast, no form of direct communication in verbal form had ever occurred.  Often there was just the intense feeling of the emotions that his Inu felt.

Unlike his more logical self, Sesshoumaru's Blood Beast was much more driven by emotion.  He was not afraid to show how he felt, and didn't see or feel such signs as an image of weakness.  True, even his Inu understood that showing such feelings to an enemy or opponent was not a good thing or proper tactic, especially during battle.  Unlike the less primitive side of his being, however, Sesshoumaru's darker, more primal side loved to feel and express what he felt about anything, whether it be emotionally, in words, or by action.

The Inu Blood Beast was confident of his power, and abilities, and while he was of a less civilized frame of mind emotionally, he was just as intelligent as his more stoic, normal self.  After all, they were just two sides of the same being.  What one knew, so did the other.  Where the major differences lay was in the matter of self expression, which in the long run strongly affected things like protection and possessiveness for anything that he considered his, and he was more inclined to the emotional extremes, such as anger, lust, playfulness, loneliness, and love.

Over the centuries, Sesshoumaru had rarely allowed his Inu to surface, and on those occasions when he did, it was always under the strictest control.  The fact that his Beast was now free of those restraints left the Great Taiyoukai concerned for his own sanity, the safety of those around him, and wondering what had happened to free his darker side.  Could he control him at all?  What had changed to cause the current situation?

::Hai!  Most interesting questions, but then you seem to have a lot of those lately.  Hmmm!::

*Why are you free of your cage?* Sesshoumaru demanded of his Blood Beast.

::I seem to recall Chichi-ue telling you something about the futility of locking me away as you did.  Of course, you were never one for listening to him, were you?::

*And I suppose that you did?* was the nearly stoic retort.

::Ggrrrrr hmm hmm!  Apparently far more than you did, except perhaps when he was teaching us in the dojo.  Oh!  That's right!  When he spoke of things that showed one how to become more powerful, or how to obtain power, you were always willing to listen.  It was everything else that you tended to ignore him about.  Ah, yes.  Selective listening is what I believe the ningen call that.  I have to say you did it very well.::

*Very much as you are now?  After all, you are ignoring my question, or are you afraid to answer it? Ah! You don't know any more than I do?*

::Ggrrrrr hmm hmm hmm hmm!  Now that is quite funny, especially coming from you.  Of course I know why I am free, and I am even more proud to say that you cannot shackle me again as you once did.  Ggrrrrr hmm hmm hmm hmm!::

This gave the Great Lord of the Western Lands pause.  What if what his Inu said was true?  What if he could not restrain his Beast as he had before?  Did he still hold all of the control, or did his Inu?  Which one was now dominant?  If it was his Inu, would he be the one restrained?  Would he now be the one to spend the next several centuries locked deep within the recesses of his own mind?

The thought of his ever active, constantly working intellect being locked away almost undid the stoic Taiyoukai.  He could not imagine the horror of such an existence, and the very thought of being held captive as such almost left him paralyzed with a fear like he had never known.

::Ah!  So now you worry!  Now it begins to bother you what such a fate would be like.  Funny, but you never seemed to care when you did that to me.  Ironic, isn't it?  Ggrrrrr hmm hmm hmm hmm!::

Getting a grip on himself and taking a deep breath, the Great Taiyoukai once more redirected his thoughts back to the yet unanswered question.

*If you, as you say, know the answer then why do you still avoid the question?  Is it that you too, are afraid?  Perhaps there is something that you don't want me to know or figure out.*

The moment of silence was more than enough to give answer to the query.  Either his Inu was afraid of something, or there was more to this strange situation than the Taiyoukai's more rational mind was yet aware of, and his Inu was afraid that he would figure it out.  

Could it have something to do with the fact that he was no longer caged in the darker corners of his mind?  Was he afraid that he would put him back?  No, it was more than that.  If that was the only thing, it would not have him sounding so smug about the current situation.  It had to be something more, something not related to being chained back up with no control again.

*You still avoid the question, and your silence tells much.  But it is not that you are afraid of being locked away again that has you worried is it?*

Again there was silence, a very telling and pregnant silence.  So his Blood Beast was not afraid of being locked away again, he was afraid of something else.  Sesshoumaru was many things, but slow and stupid were not among them.  One of the main reasons that he had chained his Blood Beast was to prevent him from taking total control.  That had happened once, and he swore not to allow it again.  So if the now free Beast was not afraid of being chained again, it had to be that he was afraid to find out about the limitations to his control.

::I have nothing to fear from you.  As things once were, they can no longer be.  You can never lock me away again.::

*That may be true, but that is not what you are most...worried...that I will find out about, is it?  What you are more concerned with is that you cannot take complete control as you once did, can you?  I may not be able to bind you again, but you can no longer threaten our existence by completely losing yourself to your passions and taking complete unrestrained control of this body.*

Again the silence was more telling than any words.  Sesshoumaru had hit it right on the head.  On some deeply buried level, he felt a sense of relief like none he had ever known.  After the incident when he was a child, he had sworn never to let his Blood Beast have such reign.  His Chichi-ue had told him that forcefully caging his darker side was not the way to learn the control that the young Sesshoumaru had so desperately needed.  Sesshoumaru didn't believe him, as he had found with the passage of time that his Inu was less and less of a problem and his ability to restrain him with his iron control became stronger and stronger.

Now, however, his Blood Beast was free and yet the Great Taiyoukai was still in complete control of his powers of reason, and of his own body and actions.  The real questions remaining however, were how and why?  How was his Inu free from his imprisonment and why did Sesshoumaru still retain full control?

::Right now, we have other things to be worried about, don't you think?  Were you not on your way to find answers from the fujo that you obtained the potion from?::

With a mental shake, Sesshoumaru stood upon the branch that he had taken his resprite upon.  It was now mid morning and the heat had once again reached the recent uncomfortable levels due to the ever present passing thunderstorms that he could scent all around in the distance.

*This is to our benefit at least.  We will not be incline to succumb to the heat and humidity.  That means there are fewer interruptions to our trip.*

The already sweltering ripples of heat could be easily seen across the open lands, or if you could travel by air, it could be seen hovering above the forest canopy.  It bode well for Sesshomaru, as he would have less to worry about in his travels from unexpected interruptions.  It would also, be cooler in the more mountainous regions as well, and if it were not for the business he was about, this would almost be a pleasant trip.

::Hai!  The sooner we get there the better.  Enough time has been wasted now.::

*And whose fault would the current delay be?  It most certainly was not mine!  You would do well to keep in mind that this conversation is not over, merely put on temporary hold.  We have other more pressing matters to attend to, or we would have this out now.*

::Feh!::

With that the Youkai Lord took to the skies and soon a sphere of light could be seen racing once again to the northeastern reaches of the borders of the Western Lands.  Soon he would be facing the fujo once more, and this time there would be answers to the questions he had.

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In far distant Mushashi, a tired but determined band of travelers were almost desperately wishing for cooler weather.  Just as had been the case a couple of weeks ago, the hot and humid weather had once more taken control.  The distant rumble of thunder made it more than apparent as to why the heat had return full force, leaving those who would normally be about during the middle of the day once again seeking shelter from the muggy, hot, hazy afternoon temperatures.

Regardless of the current hot weather, the stalwart band continued to push themselves hoping to get to their destination as soon as possible.  With their almost herculean efforts what had once been five days journey were now cut down to about two and a half and they expected to be back in the village that was nestled in Inuyasha's Forest by about midnight the next day if they could just keep going.

Normally, this kind of travel would have been for completely different reasons, and probably have ended up with the red clad figure of the group being left lying in a body sized crater in the turf, while the rest of the pack took their leisure at the first available source of water.  Such was not the case this time around, however, as their current onslaught was in an effort to get one of their own to the care of an old miko that they all knew well.

That one member was still unconscious, and as the temperatures seemed to continue to climb so did her own.  It was not a high fever, however, the fact that she was suddenly developing one, along with the fact that she would not awaken, had the other members of the group worried for her health and her life.  This was the reason for their head long rush to get home.  Still it would do no good if another of their group should collapse from the heat, so by unspoken agreement, they all stopped at the next stream that they came to and took a few moments of rest from the heat.  

As they all took their fill of the icy cold waters of the stream, they were grateful for the source of the welcome liquid.  They had followed this particular stream for the most part, ever since they had crossed the mountains through the pass that was nearest to their destination.  What had started out as a trickling creek and turned into a welcome stream that they knew was the main source of water for the river that it became once they reached home.

"Sango," spoke up Inuyasha as he landed near the stream's edge and proceeded to walk straight away into the stream with Kagome in his arms, as he had done with the last fever she had, "Kagome is coming down with a fever again.  This damned heat is not helping her."

"Ok, Inuyasha," was the Taijiya's reply as she hurriedly open the young Miko's all too familiar backpack and rumaged around for a few minutes.  Miroku immediate got a bundle of fire wood together and with Shippou's help had a fire going in next to no time.  Soon water was on to boil and an herbal tea to ease Kagome's fever was set aside to cool.

In the mean time, Sango had gotten a change of clothes out for Kagome, and as soon as Inuyasha had returned from the stream, he held up a blanket to give the demon slayer a chance to change the onna's clothes.  By the time they were finished, the tea was cool enough to drink, and the hanyou sat down with the still unconscious Miko in his arms and proceeded to give her the beverage.

The icy water had quickly brought down her fever, and the tea would help to keep it down.  That is what the gang hoped would be the case, at least until they could reach Kaede's.  The fire was quickly doused, and they were back enroute to the village in little more than an hour.  Everyone was tired, and the heat was not helping, but their concern for their companion kept them all moving.

By now they had already been pushing for nearly thirty-six hours, and the sun was beginning to set.  Despite their exhaustion they had made excellent time, and knew that they would be home by the morrow.  Though with reluctance, they chose to stop for at least a few hours to rest, eat and take advantage the cool waters of the ever growing stream that they had been following since they had left the cave.

Shippou took the time to hang out Kagome's damp clothing.  It was still wet from Kagome's afternoon dip, and they had not had any opportunity to hang it out to dry earlier.  Sango and Kirara took sometime to hunt in the nearby woods, while Miroku got a fire going for cooking whatever Sango brought back, and boiling water for tea.  Inuyasha set Kagome down on her sleeping bag, which Shippou laid out once he was done hanging her clothes, and then went to the nearby stream to fetch water for bathing Kagome's face, and for the tea to keep her fever in control.

Once they were all settled, given Kagome both some tea for her fever, along with some broth from the brace of quail that Sango and Kirara had brought back, and had tended to their own hunger and personal needs, they sat pondering the past events that were almost the sole thing occupying their thoughts.  Was Kagome going to be alright?  Was this indeed a potion that someone had given to her causing all of these strange things to happen to her?  What other things were going on around the little Miko that they were totally unaware of?  Who was it that was responsible for this?  Why?  And what kind of danger did this put Kagome in?

More and more questions seemed to be building up, and fewer and fewer answers were making themselves known.  Even the few answers that they had were mostly supposition and until they could get some concrete facts, they could not rely on the truth of those answers.

"Inuyasha," spoke up a tired, but obviously scared and worried Shippou, "do you think that what is happening to Kagome was a scheme by Naraku?"

Just as he had the other night when a similar thought crossed his mind, Inuyasha thought about his own suspicions on the matter.  He had not had much time to reconsider his ideas since then, but then maybe voicing them would help move things a bit closer to the answers they sought.

"I thought of Naraku being the one to do this," he started some what hesitantly, "but the more I think about it, the less is seems like anything that Naraku might be inclined to do."

"I must agree," spoke up Miroku, "Whatever Naraku plots, tends to be a lot more devious and underhanded.  Besides, he would not have gone this long without saying something.  He is not one to hide when he can gloat about whatever plot he currently has in the works."

"True," agreed Sango, "Plus, Naraku tends to be more inclined to find ways to pit people, especially friends or loved ones against each other, and so far, whoever this is has not made any efforts to do that.  If I were to hazard a guess, I would be inclined to think that this was someone who wants to either just take Kagome, or is someone looking to use her to get back at you, Inuyasha."

"But then," Shippou spoke up thoughtfully, "if that were the case, would that not suggest Kouga as a possible suspect?"

"At first thought," Miroku interjected, "however, one thing about Kouga is that he is not sneaky, nor underhanded.  He is much more inclined to be open and direct.  Besides, Kouga would not have been able to hold off this long without bragging in Inuyasha's face about how he managed to take 'his woman'."

"Yeah," stated Sango, "Besides, Kouga would want to take Kagome openly and willingly, and he would rather fight Inuyasha for the right to claim her, than to using something like magic or a potion."

At the first mention of the ookami prince's name, Inuyasha found himself unable to hold back on the growl that seemed to burst forth from his chest.  It took a moment to get some small grip on himself, as it was not uncommon for the mention of the overbearing ookami to get under his skin.  He didn't like him at all, and would rather tear him limb from limb rather than have him anywhere near Kagome.

"That shit-faced, foul breathed ookami," Inuyasha practically spat out, "would not have the brains to pull something like this.  Besides, if he were, he wouldn't do it for fear of what Kagome might do to him when she found out he had."

Silence momentarily fell over the group after that, as all had to agree that Kagome would not be someone who the ookami prince would want to face when she was angry.  Kagome could be very scary when she was really pissed off, and something like this was bound to really hit a nerve.

"But then who does that leave?" spoke up Shippou again.

This time the silence was thoughtful, as all seemed to take a moment to consider all of those who they had encountered over the years, and both friend and foe.  There were very few that would even come close to anything like this.  Most of those who might have been enemies had been defeated and were no longer a threat, while many of the rest were friends and had no direct interest in Kagome.

"Is this something that Sesshoumaru might consider doing?" spoke up Sango.

Had he not been sitting with Kagome in his lap, wrapped protectively in his arms, Inuyasha would have fell over laughing at that one.  Not that he had not considered the possibility himself, but he knew that his brother had no interest in ningens.  The chances of Sesshoumaru being the one to do something like this was nil to none, at least as far as Inuyasha was concerned.

"It was not meant to be funny, Inuyasha," glowered Sango, at the snickering hanyou.

It took a moment to pull himself together enough to speak, "That idea has to be the most ridiculous one I have ever heard of.  Sesshoumaru desire Kagome?  Fat chance.  He hates ningens.  What makes you think that he would be inclined to do something like this to a ningen.  Besides, it ain't like Kagome is pretty or anything, and she has nothing that would interest Sesshoumaru!"

Shakoju suddenly made an introduction to the back of the hanyou's head.  Those comments had struck a nerve in more than one listening ear at the campfire this night, and it was four sets of very angry glares that met the hanyou's suddenly silent face at that moment.

"That was so uncalled for Inuyasha," hissed Sango angrily.

"Kagome-sama is a most beautiful young lady, Inuyasha," spoke up Miroku.

"Yeah!  And it is too bad that you are too blind to see it," Shippou, earning himself a heated glare from the hanyou.  If he had not been sitting holding Kagome, he would have pounded the little kitsune for that remark, Shippou could see it in his eyes as he looked at him.

"While it might be unlikely Inuyasha," spoke up Miroku, "even you have to admit that Sesshoumaru has the patience, time, and resources to have plotted something like this.  Perhaps he decided that he could get at you better through Kagome, rather than continue to try to find ways to take Tetsusaiga."

"Yeah, especially since that matter with Sou'unga," Sango contributed, "when he used Tetsusaiga to stop you and it burned his hand so badly.  He may have finally decided that since he can't use Tetsusaiga, even if he manages to get it from you, getting at you through Kagome would be easier to accomplish."

"That is true," spoke up Shippou, undaunted by the hanyou's earlier glare, "Maybe he decided that the best way to get back at you for the loss of his arm and not being able to use Tetsusaiga, not to mention how badly he originally wanted Sou'unga, was to do something to Kagome."

"Feh!  You all forget a couple of things here," groused the hanyou, reluctant to admit that those very thoughts were his own, "first, Kikyou is far more beautiful that Kagome could ever hope to be.  Second, if Sesshoumaru desired someone of great power, then he would be chasing after Kikyou not Kagome, and third, he doesn't like ningens."

"Perhaps it is you that needs to have your eyes and your head examined," spoke up Sango, angered by Inuyasha's words, "Kagome is pretty, prettier by far than Kikyou, especially as she is alive, warm, and caring.  That is something that Kikyou can't lay claim to, especially being dead.  Besides, if Kagome doesn't have anything of interest, what of her power?  After all, she is the one who almost did Naraku in with her sacred arrow the first time that we came to the castle he was hiding in, not to mention Kanna was unable to steal her soul, despite the fact that Kikyou still has part of it.  As Sesshoumaru has an interest in things that have great power, why would he not be interested in someone as powerful as Kagome?  And if he doesn't like ningens so much, how come he lets that little girl, Rin, follow him around?  From some of the rumours that I have heard, she was killed by Kouga's ookami, and your brother used Tenseiga to bring her back to life, completely healing her."

"You are all crazy," was his growled response.  He didn't want to openly admit to it, but he felt in his gut that they were right.  But to admit it out loud, was to admit that his brother might have done the one thing that Inuyasha should have already done himself.  Claim the onna that he truly loved, but was scared out of his mind to openly admit to anyone was the case.

Unfortunately, it was only then that his nose picked up the scent of tears.  It was the soft and quiet sob and shudder of the warm body in his arms that first grabbed his attention, and then the scent that confirmed what he most feared at that moment.  Kagome had been awake for at least long enough to hear his cruel, untrue, and totally unjustified words.  

It was too bad, however, that the hanyou could not bring himself to admit to his own weakness at that moment.  His pride refused to let him admit to being wrong in front of others.  Instead, he hung his head and tried to hold Kagome a little more closely in his arms.  She, however, wanted nothing more at that moment than to get away from the one who held her heart, but seemed to find her very presence revolting and nothing more than a bother.

As she tried to stand, just as the previous times before, her muscles would not hold her and she fell.  As Inuyasha's quick reflexes caught her before she could hit the ground, she only struggled against his hold and pushed him away.

"Let me go," she cried in her hurt and anquish, "Let me go!  Get you hands off me."

Despite his best efforts to hold on, her words cut deep.  She was angry and hurt, and he knew it was his fault.  Now she didn't even want his filthy hanyou hands on her, and he was hurt by her actions.

Sango stood and ran after her hurt and sobbing sister, but not before giving a certain hanyou a dark and scathing look that would have made Sesshoumaru proud.  Without a word she turned and raced off down the path where Kagome had fled.  Kirara was hard on her heels, she too giving the hanyou a hard and deadly glare.

As was expected, almost before the girls were out of sight, a harsh pain inflicted itself upon Inuyasha's head.  Before he could turn and look at the houshi, who was stand with his Shakoju ready for another swing, Miroku spoke leaving no doubt about his opinion.

"You know, Inuyasha," he said, anger obvious in his tone, "You have proven to me that you are a bigger fool than I would have ever suspected you capable of being.  You have no thought or care for anyone else around you, least of all the one person who has stood by your side through some of the worst times, as well as the best.  She has given up much to be with you, and yet you always find it in your heart to insult her and hurt her at every turn."

"Tell me Inuyasha," Miroku continued, not holding back on anything, "When was the last time that Kikyou declared her undying love for you?  When was the last time that she took an arrow for you?  When did she ever face your youkai side unflinchingly and risked her life to help bring you back to yourself?  Do you honestly think that the woman, who claims to have loved you in life fifty years ago, would have ever willingly offered to sacrifice herself so that you could live, either then or now?"

"No one denies that you loved her," he stated flatly, "nor do any of us expect you to stop loving her now.  But there does come a time, when you have to accept that the woman you once fell in love with is dead.  She no longer is truly part of the living world, and you have to let that go.  It doesn't mean that you are wrong for loving her or desiring that she find peace.  It just means that you hold onto the good memories and keep a special place in your heart that no one else can have.  The heart is a bigger gift than you give it credit for Inuyasha."

Miroku continued to press his point, "It can hold many places if you allow it to.  Do you love your mother any less now that she is dead, just because you fell in love with Kikyou?  Or do you hold a special place in your heart, where you keep her memories and cherish the time that you had with her?  I consider you, Shippou, Kirara, Sango, and Kagome to be the dearest friends I could ever have.  Each of you holds a place in my heart.  Some a larger place than others, but no less important.  But I also still hold a place in my heart for all those I have known, who are now past into the Land of the Dead.  My parents, my grandparents, those who I cherished in my youth.  They are just as important to who I am, as all of those who I cherish now."

"Whether you wish to admit the truth or no, Kikyou was selfish.  Has Kagome every asked you to change who or what you are?  Can the same be said of Kikyou, the woman who wanted you to become ningen and free herself from her responsibility as the Guardian of the Shikon no Tama?" the houshi pointed out.

Inuyasha growled at those words, his anger more than apparent.  If the truth were known, however, he was not sure if it was because he didn't believe the things that Miroku was saying, or because they rang just a little too true.

"Shut the fuck up," he yelled at the houshi, "You don't know anything about Kikyou or what she was really like.  You have no right to speak of her that way.  She cares for me just as much now as she did then.  I would trust her to stand by me more than I would Kagome."

"Who stood up to your brother, not once but twice in an effort to protect you from him?" the houshi continued taking a threatening step towards the now shocked hanyou, "Who took the arrow that Kaguya meant for you?  Who saved you from Sou'unga's control nearly costing her, her own life?  Who prevented you from transforming completely into your youkai form in the Castle of Illusions and in the stomach of the Great Stone Oni?  Was it Kikyou?  If Kikyou is so great, beautiful, all powerful, and loves you, as you say, then why is she not here to help you and stand by you?  Why when we need the help the most, is she never here by your side, instead of walking about to kami knows where, surviving by consuming the souls of the innocent?"

By now, Inuyasha's shock was turning back into anger.  The truth was that his anger was more at himself than at the houshi or anyone else, but he could not bring himself to just admit he was a fool and let it go.  It didn't help that the houshi kept throwing Kikyou's name at him, nor that it was not in a complimentary fashion either.  It didn't help that the words were the truth, or that Inuyasha knew this was something for which he truly felt shame.

"Shut up you bastard," Inuyasha growled back, as he tried to stand before Miroku in a threatening posture.  It was a failed attempt however, as he only met once again with Shakoju's business end to his head.

"You will watch your tongue Inuyasha," Miroku surprisingly growled back, "I am your friend, though sometimes I am sure that the kami wonder why.  But there is a limit to the insults that I will put up with, if not directed to myself, then on behalf of the ladies who grace us with their presence and their sacrifices on our behalf."

"You know nothing about me or Kikyou," barked the hanyou, looking for all of the world like he was willing to attack the houshi right then, "Don't speak of what you do not know ."

"I know much more that you give either me," Miroku again stepped towards the hanyou, no fear at all showing in his demeanor, "or the others credit for.  You are never there to see the pain on Kagome's face when you run to Kikyou.  You have never attempted to offer her comfort when she has to sit back and wait knowing that you would rather throw your life away for someone who would prefer to see you dead.  She often tells you to go to Kikyou, Inuyasha, but do you ever hear her heart calling you to stay with her?  Have you ever really seen how much she sacrifices for you every time that she tells you to go to Kikyou?  Do you even truly care?"

"Of course I care," Inuyasha yelled back, angered the houshi's words hit far too close to home.  He knew that he was wrong, but as always his pride took first place in priority.  It never occurred to him that he demeaned his own pride by his hurtful words.  

With his typical mindless lack of thought, he once more opened his mouth and with little or no effort inserted his foot, "She is the only one who can see the jewel shards, after all.  So why would I not care about her?"

"You know Inuyasha," the houshi spoke once more, the anger drained away from his voice, "It is a good thing that I consider you my friend, for if I didn't I think I would have to literally beat some sense into that thick skull of yours.  You are so determined to speak out without thinking, not even considering the feelings of those around you.  You stand on your pride like it is a lifeline and a shield, afraid that telling someone that you are sorry is a sign of weakness."

"What you do not seem to understand my friend," he continued, "is that you have no pride when you continually speak words that are meant to be hurtful.  How can you stand there, after the things that you have said to the one person who has always been by your side, and feel pride in your actions and behavior.  If I were you, I would be ashamed to show my face in public for such behavior.  It takes a real man to stand up and admit to being wrong, perhaps you need to grow up a little Inuyasha.  I would suggest that you do so soon, before you lose the best thing that ever came into your life."

With that, Miroku turned and walked down the same path that the girls had taken.  Shippou, who had stood throughout the entire exchange, too angry with the hanyou to say anything himself, glared at Inuyasha and turned to follow the houshi.  Inuyasha just stood there and blinked, stunned at what had just transpired.

---------------------------------

In a dark, silent, lonely castle, in a far and distant location, the reek of death filled the air and the feel of evil left one's skin to crawl.  Although that was the impression that it gave, the castle was by no means vacant.  No!  It was definitely inhabited, although about half of the time, by what could not truly be said.

A seemingly young child stood in the presence of a dark and sinister being.  The very air around this form was vile enough to leave most quivering in fear and retching at his feet.  That was the way he liked it, knowing that he had such power over those around him.  The horror that he struck in the hearts of most beings, however, was far worse this night than any other, as the news that he had recently acquired about one of his current experiments left him in a complete rage.

Kanna, however, was seemingly unaffected by any of this, as she stood before her Lord and creator quietly holding her mirror waiting for Naraku's command.  What she might have been feeling, or what thoughts ran through her head, none, not even Naraku could say for sure.  Kanna was the void, nothingness in physical form.

For the past nearly three days, he had watched over, and over again the battle between the Inu-tachi and that fool bear youkai that he had given the talisman to.  The idiot had cost Naraku dearly for the loss of both the talisman, and the Shikon no Kakkera that it had imbedded into it.  It was this that had caused him to be in his current foul mood.

"That incompetent fool cost me not only the only talisman I had made," he growled, "but a jewel shard as well."

He paused once again in thought, trying to figure out where he had gone wrong.  The magic that had been infused into the talisman both hid the shard, and its power.  It maintained the evil taint of the jewel, just as it fed that evil to the youkai that wore it.  It also gave the beast the power of invisibility, making it much easier for the idiot to attack its targets.  So where had it gone wrong?

"How was that bitch of a Miko able to detect their attacker?" he practically roared in his anger, "How had she been able to shoot and kill something that was invisible?  Damn that bitch!  She will pay for this.  I, Naraku, swear this!"

Kanna in the mean time, just stood like always.  The same set of scenes replaying over and over again, as her master had commanded.  Kagura was standing in the shadows just down the hall.  She had been the one to deliver the bear youkai to the area in which the Inu-Tachi had been travelling.  She had made sure that there was no way that the youkai could miss his target and then left as she had been instructed by Naraku to do.

If she were honest, she could not say that she was not happy that the Inu-tachi had won out on this latest attempt by Naraku to get the young Miko's shards.  She was in fact, quite pleased that they had prevailed by whatever means chance had sent their way.  Of course, nothing would please the wind youkai more than being able to gloat at Naraku over once again failing at the one thing that always seemed to be the hanyou's second obsession.  Destroying Inuyasha and his pack.

"That Miko bitch vexes me, and I shall have her," Naraku almost roared in his anger, still unsure as to why his plan had failed, "I shall have her and my revenge."

At those words, he began to laugh.  Not one of those joyful laughs that everyone finds pleasure in hearing and joins in.  No!  Rather it was dark, and sinister, sending icy chills of fear down the spines of all who were within hearing distance.  The only thing unaffected by its sounds, was the dark folds of the night that seemed to swallow the vicious sound leaving behind nothing but the silence in its wake.

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Dictionary

Baka - Idiot

Chikushou - Beast, Brute, Damn

Doushite - Why

Fujo - Witch

Fukurou - Owl

Hanyou - Half Demon

Hiraikotsu - actually translates as 'Come Flying Skills' and is the name of Sango's boomerang

Houshi - Monk

Inu - Dog

Kazaana - Wind Void/Tunnel - Miroku's curse from Naraku

Kitsune - Fox Demon

Miko - Shrine Maiden

Mononoke - Animal Spirit - Kirara would be considered an mononoke as she has no human form

Neko - Cat

Ojika - Stag

Okaa-san - Mother

Onee - Older Sister

Onna - Woman

Raion - Lion

Sama - Lady or Lord - respectively

Shakoju - Staff - the one that Miroku carries and wields

Shimatta - Damn it

Shikon no Kakera - Shikon Shards

Shikon no Tama - Jewel of Four Souls

Taijiya - Demon Exterminator

Taiyoukai - Demon Lord

Tenshi - Angel

Tenseiga - Sacred Life Fang

Tetsusaiga - Iron Pulverizing Fang

Youkai - Demon

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