Sorry it took so long to update. Things have been extremely busy here. I just moved in with my sister and am trying really hard to get a job. Plus I have also been starting to write my own novels that I plan on publishing. But here is the long awaited chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

"Truly great madness cannot be achieved without significant intelligence." Henrik Tikkanen

Chapter 6: Epiphany

Sango's pale-brown eyes began to fade into an angry gold; the cold grip of darkness released her as she stared in surprise. Kagome attempted to pull out of Sesshoumaru's grip, her eyes darting away from his, unwilling to show her full weakness of the terror that had gripped her. His grip tightened the more she tried to break free, and shook her lightly to keep her attention. Reluctantly, Kagome looked into his golden eyes that were so much like the pair haunting her memories. Her attention was taken away from his, just as he began to speak. A glimmer in the corner of her eye drew her farther away. The threatening growl did not reach her as her body trembled in fear. The twisted Shippo of her waking hours stuck to the wall like a lizard. A dark green good oozed from between his oriented teeth, the whites of his eyes black. "Don't trust the silver dog. Mommy, don't trust him. He is taking it all away. Don't let him take me away."

"It's ok Mommy. Let him take it away. We don't want it. Let it go." Kagome turned her eyes away from the wall; her eyes came to rest on her dream Shippo. The cloth bound about his eyes gone, revealing eyes that looked at her softly. With flecks of dried blood upon his cheeks, his skin was pale as he shimmered next to her.

"Look away. Look to me." Startled, Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru's serious face. He looked at her warily, wondering and fearing what might have captured her attention so fiercely.

"It's ok…" Kagome could barely hear Shippo's fading voice as she stared, mesmerized by Sesshoumaru's golden gaze. With a sigh, Sesshoumaru straightened and unlocked the chain from the wall. Something about the dungeon had changed and it felt unnerving even to him, as if some invisible evil crept in the cold stones beneath his feet. He could not figure out what possessed him to treat the crazed lunatic beside him with such care. He should just leave her to rot in her own misery. But something from deep within him warned against such actions.

And these warning were never wrong. Something was coming, and in some way, the young woman was the key. They key to what? He could not say. Pausing, Sesshoumaru gazed out a passing window, with narrowed eyes at the horizon. The stairs to the dungeon sat behind him with a sense of foreboding. Kagome stood silently beside him in a distracted manner. Seemingly lost in her own thoughts or perhaps it was just another affect of her crazed mind. He could not help but wonder what his foolish brother and the rest of their companions could have done to turn her into what she was now.

"Damn it! I almost had her! How dare they get in my way?" The dark figure glared at his reflection in the silver water. His knuckles began to turn white as he gripped the ancient basin. "Why does everyone persist in trying to defy me?" The figure glared for a moment longer at the strange liquid before turning abruptly, "It seems that I should begin the final preparations." He gazed about the empty room slowly, the basin resting lonely in the middle of the room. The water bubbled slightly and then grew still once again. He slammed the door behind him, his rage pulsing through his veins. "I should have just forced more into her at the beginning. She isn't broken enough. But no matter, in time that will change."

"But who? Who is the one that has been in my way from the very beginning? Who

is the one that the old man sent to intercept my plans? I figured I would only have to fight the one. But now!" His eyes narrowed further as he turned a corner, his eyes falling on the iron door down the hall. "Well… I could always send one of those to play. A distraction…" His eyes turned to dangerous slits of amusement, his face turning hideous within the shadows. The wails of the dead rose as night fell upon the land.

The ghostly face of the old man shook in silent pity, his body shimmering while he

stared up at the ceiling. Agony filled his eyes as he prayed…

Sesshoumaru glared venomously at the rising sun, his temper rising with lack of sleep caused by the crazed woman in his possession. Whatever trance he had managed to hold over her had vanished not to long after he had brought her back from the dungeons. He had to not only prepare a new room to place her in since she had destroyed her old one. But he had to listen to her childish tirade for most of the night, before she had fallen asleep out of exhaustion. It was one of the few moments he almost wished he didn't have sensitive hearing. And to make matters worse, he was no closer to finding his father's sword. And with what sleep he did manage to gain, he was plagued by dreams of the fox cub that had once clung to the crazed woman so desperately. No matter how he tried, he could not remember the words spoken by the young cub. Not that it was really important.

Sesshoumaru stiffened as he sensed Jaken's presence in the distance, with Rin's was right beside him. Growling in annoyance, Sesshoumaru left his castle swiftly. As he drew closer to them the, muscles in his face tightened, his eyes taking on a light pink. He could smell fear radiating off of them, mingled with the coppery stench of blood. When they finally came into view, he could see Rin sitting atop of Ah-Un. Her eyes darted around fearfully, but as she saw Sesshoumaru, relief and joy made her exhausted face glow with life. Rin's hair was matted with clumps of dirt and leaves, the skin visible revealed scratches and bruises caused by whatever they had fled from.

Jaken sighed with relief as he hobbled over to his lord. "Sesshoumaru-sama, it was horrible. We barely escaped with our lives." Jaken collapsed to his knees, his breathing labored. A small but deep gash bled lightly on his back, and a clot wrapped around the wound.

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, "Jaken."

Jaken brought himself under control, his body shivered with exhaustion. "We… We were attacked. I have never seen a demon like that. The soldiers were completely annihilated. Rin and I had barely escaped with our lives. If it wasn't for Ah-Un, there is no telling what would have happened."

A small throbbing pain began to pulse in the back of Sesshoumaru's head. "Any idea where this enemy came from?" Sesshoumaru growled when Jaken shook his head. Shifting his gaze to the young girl on the two headed dragon, he quickly looked her over, but was satisfied that she had no serious injuries. "Take her to the West side of the castle. She is not to ever enter the south wing or the dungeons under any circumstances." Without waiting for a response, Sesshoumaru headed in the direction they had come from.

Kagome glared at the little imp as he waved the staff of two heads at her. A bandage was bound about him to stop the bleeding from his back. After Sesshoumaru had apparently left, it seemed Jaken had taken it upon himself on educating her on how to act around his master. Kagome longed to be free of the chains that bound her. She desperately wanted to see Shippo again, but his shimmering form hasn't appeared since she was brought from the dungeons below. A chill ran down her spine as an image of Sango's grotesque figure swam through her mind.

"Pay attention you little brat. You could at least show gratitude towards Sesshoumaru-sama since he let you live by learning the proper respect." Jaken tapped his staff angrily on the stone floor as he struggled to hold his temper. A squawked reached Kagome's ears as she began to ignore the little imp. Bu Jaken's voice seemed to gain in volume, causing her head to pound and her body to grow cold.

The world around her seemed to merge between the realm of light and darkness as pain shot behind her eyes like tiny needles. Shippo's shimmering form appeared next to her. The green good dripped from his chin as he grinned up at her, "The white doggy tried to get rid of me. But he can't. He can never separate us. You won't let me go…" Her gaze shifted to glare at the imp who had take a few steps back during her furry as her pupils were swallowed up by the green of her irises. Kagome dropped to her knees clutching her head as the pain rose with the force of will, her power trying to desperately fight against the affects of the collar.

"Shut up… Shut up!!" Kagome clutched at her head screaming.

"You are mine… I won't ever let you go." Kagome curled into a tight ball as she tried to block out the howling wind of voices that screamed within her mind. "I won't let him take you. It took too long for me to find you!"

Behind the throbbing pain, Kagome looked at Shippo with confusion. "Shippo..?" Kagome flinched away from Shippo's shimmering form as his childlike laugh gained a deep echo. Her confusion evaporated into anger as guards rushed into the room. With dry, itchy eyes, Kagome struggled from within their grasp.

Small arms brought forth the silence in their gentle embrace. A sigh rushed through her lungs that relaxed her body and eased the pain. Kagome's eyes shifted to the small child that clung to her in a tight hug. "Shippo… I missed you." Screaming, Kagome tightened her arms around the tiny body as the guards tried to pull the child from her grasp. "No, he's mine! You can't take Shippo from me."

"Rin get away from her, it's dangerous. If anything happens to you… Oh Sesshoumaru-sama is going to kill me. Guards get Rin away from that psychotic woman!"

Death. He had found himself surrounded by it far more than usual. Sesshoumaru couldn't help but feel that it was all entirely that woman's fault. He paused as a strange feeling swelled painfully in his chest. His eyes narrowed at the foreign ache, wondering what that woman had done to him. Forcing his attention on the current problem, the demon lord looked up to the castle that he had allowed the human girl to stay at for the last three years he kept her alive.

As he swiftly came through the broken gate, he could neither sense nor smell any sign of life. Just by looking around he knew that there would be no other survivors then the three. A sense of a warning threat pulsed through him as he gazed upon the fallen. If he hadn't been with that crazed woman all this time, he would have mistaken this as her doing. For the dead lay in different mutilated fashions, just like many of her past victims. His pulse began to rise with the ever growing sense of an unknown threat.

Inhaling the air deeply through his sensitive nose, Sesshoumaru found traces of an unusual scent lingering in the air. But even as he traveled throughout the castle, the scent was far too old and weak to follow. It only seemed to hang about the castle and then would fade instantly should he try to follow it out.

Furious with failing to find any trace of the creature who had threatened what was his, Sesshoumaru began to head back. All that he could think was that it in some way was that woman's fault. And it was time to bring it to an end. He could no longer afford to keep her around. He would have to get what answers he could from Rin. And the answers to finding his father's sword would have to come from a different source. It was time that he killed the unstable woman. Then things could finally get back to the way they once were. With that thought in mind, Sesshoumaru raced to return home.

"I have finally found them old man. The fools led me right to her. Now the final battle will begin, and the jewel and its container will be mine." The dark figure swayed slightly. "There were minor setbacks. That I will admit. I was a bit worried your so called chosen one would cause a bit more problems when he started getting in the way. But not now. I have no reason to fear." The dark figure spread their arms out wide, but froze as the empty gaze of the old man bellowed his warning.

"Soon the prophecy of old will be fulfilled in half a moons time. And the souls of many will be freed in the land of the dead."

The dark figure made a tsking sound as they wagged a finger at the ghostly figure. "As much as I would love to continue this discussion, I must go collect what is mind." With clear intentions, the dark figure left to begin their assault.

Sesshoumaru sighed in annoyance; the sounds of the crazed woman's screams assaulted his ears. The sound of guards yelling in return caused him to move a little faster. His only thought was to kill her now and get it over with; it might as well be now. The strange ache filled his chest as these thoughts swam through his head, sending confusion to mix in with the rest of his inner emotions. As he drew closer to her room the scent of Rin made his eyes bleed red in rage. The fools had not kept her out as he had wanted, and now that crazed woman had her. Guards dove out of his way as he entered the room; Kagome had her arms wrapped gently around a calm Rin. Rin sat in Kagome's lap looking quite content. The sight made him hesitate, it was the first time he had seen the girl with such a content happy look on her face.

The guards rushed out of the room by his signal, wanting to avoid the wrath of their lord. Jaken stayed trembling at his side. "I'm sorry Sesshoumaru-sama. The woman was freaking out, then the next thing I know, Rin comes charging in. No one can get her to let go." Jaken's eyes fell to the floor in shame as he cowered beneath Sesshoumaru's gaze.

"Jaken… We will speak about this later. Now leave."

Before Kagome could even relax, Sesshoumaru came forward and pride her unnaturally strong arms open. Looking at Rin sternly he spoke with a calm voice, "Rin go. I do not want to see you in here again."

Rin slowly stepped away from Kagome and bowed to him. "Yes Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin hesitated, her eyes gazing sadly at the young woman reaching for her desperately. Rin remember her from many times before. She had always liked the young woman that always seemed so kind and gentle. Rin knew she wasn't such a bad person; she was just in a lot of pain was all. Rin quickly left the room without looking back again, howls of misery followed her every step of the way.

"Give him back! Give Shippo back!"

Releasing her, Sesshoumaru forgot the strange warmth he had felt at the sight of them together. "Woman, are you daft your fox cub has been long dead, it is high time that you get over it." Sesshoumaru stared down at her wondering why the collar hadn't kept her strength from rising when she had gotten a hold of Rin.

Kagome's face turned a deep red, her eyes narrowing. "Get over it… Get over it? Shippo is not dead. And this coming from the one who is obsessed with his long dead father's sword!" A sense of cockiness rushed through her system, and she straightened up and looked into his angry red eyes. "Daft! If I am so daft… Then why is it I was able to kill Inuyasha in one go, when you who has been trying to kill him for years failed countless times? You even lost your arm to him." Kagome grinned up at him, feeling triumphant with the rage that wafted off of him."

A low threatening growl rumbled from Sesshoumaru's chest as he took a few steps towards her. His hand flexed as he drew closer to her, "You insufferable woman! I have grown tired of your antics. It is time that I end this, I will merely use another means of finding Tetsusaiga."

The confidence faltered only a little from Kagome, her feet inching her back. "Kill me fool and the sword will forever be out of your reach. My hands alone can grasp it from where I have hidden it." Her confidence grew once again as she spotted his hesitation. He had sought the sword for so long, giving it up after gaining his new sword. His hope obviously being renewed with the death of his brother. But Kagome knew he would not want to destroy his only chance of getting it, even if he couldn't use it. "You're so pathetic that you can't even gain control over one daft woman. You haven't really been in control, not even from the start. Your world has become centered around me without you even knowing it!"

Kagome lost her breath as she was harshly slammed against a wall. Before she could even catch her breath, Sesshoumaru captured her lips with his own in a way that demanded obedience. His hand pressed against the wall beside her head as his knee blocked her path of escape from the other side. Jerking back with a frustrated growl, Sesshoumaru punched the wall in disgust. Sliding to the floor, Kagome could only stare in shock as he stormed from the room.

Hours had passed before guards had entered her room. No words were spoken as they brought the silent woman from the room. They looked at her curiously, wondering why both the woman and the lord had fallen so unnaturally silent. But wanting to keep the silence for reasons of their own, they brought her to a new room without a word. It was in a corridor a bit farther from the lord, an area that was no longer used. Even the men could no longer remember why it was constructed.

The silent click of a lock drew Kagome out of her confused thoughts. A cold chill ran down her spine as a familiar voice spoke from behind her. "I have finally found you." Kagome spun around almost tripping over the chains. Her eyes widened with surprise, "You? But how?"

Sesshoumaru paced about his study hall, disgust written all over his face. How could he have allowed the same weakness to fall upon him as it had his father? And of all the humans it could have been, it just had to be that crazed woman. Pausing, he began to wonder why his guards had not brought the woman into the room closer to his study like he had instructed. She had to have done something to him, so he wanted to keep a closer eye on her. This was why he had brought her to the room near his study. It also insured that Rin would not try and venture into the woman's room again since she was well aware of the punishment should she enter this area of the castle. His eyes narrowed dangerously as the unnatural scent he had smelled at his other castle drifted through the air.

Screams soon filled the air with the stench of death close behind. Sesshoumaru's eyes began to bleed red with the thought of someone who dared to attack what was his. Leaving his study, he noticed that the demon was slowly making its way towards him. A sneer spread across his face at the thought that this impudent fool thought he stood a chance and was challenging him in his own lands. Sesshoumaru did not know how it had suddenly appeared, but whatever questions he may have would be easily beaten from the creature.

The creature that Sesshoumaru confronted could not truly be considered a demon. It stood slightly shorter then himself, its flesh seeming to be rotting off of it. A dog like head sat upon its misshapen shoulders. Lean but well muscled legs helped to keep its body straight, and most likely giving it speed. Drawing Toukijin, Sesshoumaru prepared to fight the creature. Its well muscled body tensed in preparation as well. "You will tell me what you know and die."

Shockwaves split through the air as claw met sword, Sesshoumaru ignored the fact that Toukijin didn't slice right through it. He stared into its black eyes, looking with interest at the lack of white. Green goo shot out of the creature's mouth, barely missing Sesshoumaru's leg. It made a hissing sound as the stones melted. A tremor of unease made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end at the sight of the goo. Its arm jerked at an odd angle causing it to sway sand miss. Toukijin scraped along the claws causing sparks, the creature leaping back before both charged again.

Sesshoumaru watched with disgust as the creature howled in pain. Its left leg seizure while green good flowed from its parted lips. "This is the creature that destroyed my castle?' Sesshoumaru brought Toukijin down between the miserable creatures ribcage. A green cloud erupted from the pierced ribcage, billowing past Sesshoumaru and through the castle hall, swallowing everything in sight.

Sorry for the long awaited chapter. Things have been really hectic here and will probably continue to be for a while. I have been moving a lot and am about to move again. But I am happy because this story is finally starting to get to where I want it. And I think it won't be long before it comes to the final end.

Special thanks to yaoilover6969 for reviewing. I hope you and your friend enjoy this chapter just as much as the last.

And thanks to Niham for all of your advice and the inspiration.

If anyone has any questions feel free to ask and I will answer them if it does not ruin the story in anyway.

Not to mention I am also working on my own novels so yeah things will continue to go slow.

Thanks for continuing to read my stories. I look forward to all your thoughts XD

MikosWish