Inuyasha sat high up in a tree waiting for something to come his way. While his senses remained sharp, all he could think about was Kagome and the fear of what Sesshomaru might do to her. He loved Kagome and the thought of losing her was more then he would have been able to bare. That's when he saw it, a glint of light in the darkness. Inuyasha went to investigate the light. He wondered what it could be.

As he got closer, he saw that the glimmer had been a drawn sword and he could hear voices. He laid his hand on where Tessaiga had been, only to remember that it wasn't there.

He peered through the trees to see if he could make out who it was. They were Sesshomaru's guards – this must have meant that he was close to the castle. Inuyasha looked back to where he knew Miroku and Sango where setting up camp and thought about heading back, but he didn't want to waste time trying to round those two up. He looked back down and saw that the dog demon's guards where on the move.

Following at a distance, Inuyasha focused on listening to what they were saying. He could hear bits and pieces, but couldn't make sense of what was being said. Things like, "…a strange woman with…" and "…well, he was gone for a long time…"

Inuyasha feared something may have happened to his Kagome and would have gotten closer but didn't want to risk being discovered by the patrol. His goal now was to get into the Sesshomaru's palace, not his dungeon.

His patience was soon rewarded as he followed the pair to the castle. They were just about to make their way through a back gate when Inuyasha attacked. He made quick work of knocking them out and hiding them out of sight. He took the uniform and weapon off one so he could sneak in without being detected, and while it didn't fit quite right, it was enough for him to hide his own clothes underneath. Once Inuyasha was ready, he headed through the gate, making his way along the outskirts of the castle, looking for a way into the inner parts of the castle.

—

Kagome looked at where Sesshomaru's hand had gone. She had never known him wear an amulet before, he never seemed the type for pretty things.

"I don't understand. You have power." Kagome said licking her lips nervously.

"But it has never been enough before, now I have the Tessaiga." He said, inching closer to her on his hands and knees.

"But you don't need Tessaiga, you have your own sword, Bakusaiga. You've already fought Inuyasha to prove he is the rightful owner of the Tessaiga." Kagome was paralyzed with fear. She didn't understand what was happening, none of this was right. She could see his eyes, how they were turning red.

He smiled wickedly at her, his sharp teeth bared. "Yes, but it's not enough."

Kagome couldn't move. She knew she had to do something but wasn't sure what would help. Sesshomaru was too strong for her to take on by herself, he would easily overpower her. She had nothing on her person and the only thing that was within her reach was food and the Sesshomaru's work that had been set aside when they had been served.

The paper! Sesshomaru was nearly on top of her now. Kagome grabbed a bunch of paper, rolled it in one smooth motion and hit Sesshomaru square in the face as she shouted, "Bad Sesshomaru!"

—

Inuyasha had made his way through the halls of the of the castle, avoiding servants and guards as much as he could. At first he was able to catch a whiff of Kagome's scent here and there, but as he moved further into the castle, her scent became stronger. He was so close.

"Hey! You!" Came a voice from behind him.

Inuyasha turned around to come face to face with another guard. This was it, Inuyasha reached for the sword he had taken off the unconscious guard.

"Whoa there, I didn't mean to catch you off guard." The voice belonged to a young man who was wearing similar attire to Inuyasha. He began to chuckle, "Get it? 'Off guard'? Man, I crack myself up sometimes."

Inuyasha hand remained on the sword as he replied with a straight face, "Yeah, I get it."

"Hey, relax. Oh, you're new, right? I get it but you don't need to be all serious; just when the master is around of course, but I'll tell you what, the servant girls," the young guard leaned in, lowering his voice, "will give you almost anything if you smile at time. You know what I mean?" He said with a wink.

Inuyasha took a step back, he knew the uniform could mask his original scent, but anyone who got too close would discover the truth. "Thanks for the advice, but I need to get going." Inuyasha said, turning away.

"Well, maybe I can point you in the right direction." The young guard said.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the overly helpful young man. He replied sarcastically, "Yeah, great, I'm looking for a woman."

"Oh, that human that the Lord is so interested in? You better watch out, she punch me right in the nose! I'm not going to be able to smell anything for a week!" The young guard said.

A smirk crossed Inuyasha's face, "That's unfortunate. Which way?" He didn't want to waste time.

"Down that way and to the left, can't miss it." The guard pointed.

"Thanks." Inuyasha said turning away.

"Yeah, no problem." Came the reply from behind him.

Inuyasha was disappearing down the hall as a second guard joined up with the first one asking who the stranger was.

"No idea." The young guard replied, smiling after Inuyasha.

"What's wrong with you? He could be the intruder!" The second guard said, starting after Inuyasha, but he was stopped by the first one.

"I know that, but maybe he'll take care of our little problem." Said the first.

The second one stared at the first one. "I should report you."

"You should, but you won't." The first smiled at the second, "Besides, he might be useful in taking care of our little problem."

—

The dog demon sat back, stunned by the hit to his face. Kagome saw her chance and ran to her room. Throwing the first set of doors open, she looked behind her to see that Sesshomaru hadn't moved. She continued on through the second set of doors and quickly closed them behind her. She back up, terrified of what was to come next.

"Kagome!" She heard Sesshomaru shout from the other side.

She spun around and bumped into something hard. She nearly let out a shriek before realizing who it was.

"Inuyasha!" She said in a hushed, rushed breath.

She could hear him rustling about now. "You idiot girl!" Sesshomaru continued from the other side.

Inuyasha grabbed hold of her and pulled him into a quick embrace. Kagome returned the hold and silently wept. He was here, everything was going to be okay. She pulled back, she wasn't sure how much time they had. Inuyasha wiped the tears from her eyes, kissing her. He had missed her and he could feel she had missed him just as much.

Kagome broke the kiss, "Inuyasha," she whispered, "There is something wrong with Sesshomaru."

—

Miroku and Sango returned to the campsite giggly, elated, and hand-in-hand.

"I told you it would only take two minutes." Sango teased Miroku.

Miroku pulled the demon slayer into his embrace, "Actually, wife, that was at least three." He said, kissing her neck.

Sango laughed, "A new record."

The monk let her go, placing a hand to his chest. "Ah! You wound me." He said with mock hurt.

"Ah-hm." Someone cleared their throat putting the couple on edge.

"If you two are done, I'm looking for Master Inuyasha." It was the flea demon, Myoga.

"Myoga, Inuyasha is looking for food." Miroku said regaining his composure.

"But that was a while ago, he should be back soon." Sango said, starting a fire.

Miroku smirked at Sango, "Three minutes, eh?"

Sango blushed and smiled, looking away.

Myoga shook his head, "You two already have three children, do you really need any more? But your family size is not why I've come. Master Inuyasha is in great danger. It seems that his brother, has acquired a dangerous artifact."

"Perhaps that's why Sesshomaru was able to defeat Inuyasha so easily the other day." Sango said.

"Hm, he did seem unusually strong." Miroku mused, "Tell us more about this artifact Myoga."

Myoga jumped up to the fire to chase away the chill of the night air, "Well, you know I've traveled such a long way, perhaps I could rest and have a snack." The flea demon said cheekily as he smiled hopefully at the two.

Sango rolled her eyes as Miroku answered for the both of them, "Myoga, the artifact."

"Very well," Myoga began, "according to the stories, the artifact takes on the shape of what is most convenient for the wearer and once they've put it on, the artifact amplifies the desires and obsessions of the wearer in order to feed on those feelings. In turn, the artifact grants the wearer untold power; along with other side effects."

"If that's true, Inuyasha could be seriously hurt." Sango said, her eyes widening, "not to mention what might happen to Kagome if she stays much longer with Sesshomaru. What other side effects are there?"

"They could be anything," Myoga said, "The stories are inconsistent, but it seems that the artifact affects each person differently."

Miroku sat in contemplation, "I'm worried that Inuyasha may have already found himself some trouble. He has been gone a long time now."

"Then we must hurry and help Master Inuyasha," Myoga said earnestly, jumping up and down, "before it's too late!"

—

Sesshomaru had been surprised by the slap of rolled paper to the face. He hadn't expected that from Kagome, and while he was furiously plotting how he would punish her, it also pleased him to see she possessed some spirit. She had run off to her room, as if that was going to save her.

He got up from where he was sitting and advanced on the door, but was stopped by a flash of light behind him. Kagome stood with her back to him, a hand resting on Tessaiga. She looked back at him, a coy smile spreading across her face.

"Kagome!" He shouted, "You idiot girl."

She moved from where the sword was mounted and made her way to him, "Sesshomaru, there's no reason to get all fussy."

He grabbed hold of her by her upper arms and gave her a bit of a shake, "You hit me and told me I was 'bad', as if I were a common–"

"Dog?" She finished his sentence. She giggled, "But that's what you are, isn't it? A bad dog?"

Sesshomaru tightened his grip on her but she didn't react. Her continued lack of respect for his position and the one she was in angered him. "I should–"

"Slay me?" She cut him off again, "I agree, you should slay me. Slay me the way you did the other day."

Her hands went up to his collar and she pulled him down with a surprising amount of strength. She drew him close and whispered in his ear, "You should make me beg for mercy."

There was playfulness in her tone that confused Sesshomaru. Why wasn't she afraid like before? He had smelt her fear when she was before him on the floor, but now there was no trace of it in her face or manner.

He released her and turned away. He felt as if a haze was falling over him and he couldn't get free from it. What was happening to him?

Sesshomaru looked around his room, everything was a mess. He could hear her laughing at him.

"What's wrong? Have you lost your nerve?" She chided him.

He glared at her. She really was an idiot girl if she thought she could kept insulting him and get away with it. He felt an itch to sink his claws into her tender flesh, like a fever was climbing within his soul; and he would have done just that if not for the doors to her room sliding open.

Kagome emerged from her room looking down and terrified. Sesshomaru's eyes darted to and fro, how were there two of them? Then it hit him, one was not real. How had he not noticed until now?

"Oh dear, it seems my game is up." Said the Pseudo-Kagome stepping up next to Sesshomaru. "But look at her, I bet she would be just as delicious today as she was the other day." Pseudo-Kagome moved passed him and went to stand behind Kagome, "I bet she would even enjoy a little bit more."

Kagome peeked up at Sesshomaru as he stood there silently. "Sesshomaru?"

Pseudo-Kagome's gaze move to Sesshomaru, "Well Sesshomaru? What are you waiting for?"

Sesshomaru closed the gap between the two and took hold of Kagome. She let out a gasp as his claws sank into her neck and back. Sesshomaru bent down and took in her scent, it was different, yet familiar. He stopped and pulled back.

He looked her in eyes, "Why do you smell like–"

Sesshomaru was unable to finish his sentence as a stranger dressed in red burst through the closed doors, breaking them to pieces.

"Kool-Aid guy?" Pseudo-Kagome asked with astonishment.

"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru glowered.

"Oh yeah!" Inuyasha wore his signature arrogant smile and laid a hand on the stolen sword by his side, "Release her."

Sesshomaru looked down at Kagome and saw the fear in her eyes and then back at Inuyasha. His gaze focused on Inuyasha, as his rough tongue slid from her chin up her cheek.

Pseudo-Kagome closed her eyes as she tilted her head back and took a deep breath, a warm smile spreading over her face.