Miko... Kitsune?

Disclaimer: 'Cept Ryuzi, Ume, Tsaisuki, and Renshi, as well as the storyline... InuYasha don' belong to me. Although, I do own a Sessho plushie and action figure! That's 'bout it.

Chapter 20: Taking Over

****
Song: Taking Over Me
Artist: Evanessence
****

*You don't remember me
But I remember you*

Miroku woke hearing the screams. He rushed down the hall, wondering how he had gotten to another room idly as he entered the room he had spent night and day inside for so long. A servant girl was crouched in the hall, weeping and clutching to her face as he dashed into the room and gasped.

He didn't know where they had come from, or how they had passed Sesshomaru's barrier, but he knew them for what they were. Black chains, made of Naraku's miasma, covered Tsaisuki's prone form. They were wrapped about her limbs and waist, writhing like snakes along her pale flesh and her yukata.

His knees hit the floor with a harsh sound as his dark eyes stared hopelessly at the youkai he loved. A youkai appeared behind him, Renshi by the feel of his ki. He wasn't surprised. "Oh Kami," the tiger general gasped.

"What the hell is going on? Why is the servant crying?" InuYasha's voice called from the hall as he rushed inside. "Tsaisuki..."

"Naraku has tied her life-force to his own," Miroku stated hollowly.

"How? I thought he had no power in that realm?" Renshi questioned.

"Kagura," InuYasha answered darkly.

*I like awake and try so hard
Not to think of you*

Miroku reached out, only to pull his hand back as dark energy lashed out at him from her body. His eyes closed in hopelessness and he slumped forward, his head in his hands.

"Master InuYasha! Master InuYasha!" a servant called from the hall.

InuYasha cast a glance to Renshi before heading into the hall. The tiger youkai nodded in understanding before kneeling beside the monk and gripping him by the shoulders. Miroku's body shuddered as the sobs that had been wanting to consume him wracked his body and he fell into the youkai's embrace. Renshi himself stared at the kitsune's prone body in sorrow and frustration before looking away. All his power, all his strength, and he was just as helpless as the human monk in his arms to save her.

"Kagura's awakened," InuYasha informed as he re-entered the room.

Miroku's sobs increased and Renshi cast a saddened look to the hanyou. "Tell the Lord and Lady. They need to know."

InuYasha nodded in understanding as he turned to leave. "Sure, take care of him?"

Renshi nodded back. "Of course."

Soon, it was just the two males and their unconscious love alone in the room. Both consumed by hopelessness, and true hatred for the monster that held her now.

*But who can decide what they dream?
And dream I do...*

~*~*~*~

*I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you *

Ume stared at her captor in silence as he stood before the dark urn that held the heart of the creature called Naraku. She watched in horror as he lifted it up and pulled the demon's heart out as though precious. The chains that bound her were tight and cutting as she tried to stop him.

*To live, to breathe*

Ryuzi laughed madly as he consumed the heart and swallowed it. He laughed with gained power, with insanity as he began to glow dark red with the energy from the heart. Ume couldn't look away as he began to scream and crumpled to his knees in pain. Their eyes locked one last time for a moment. A mere moment before she watched his form change into that of a young, handsome, human man. He chuckled as he looked at her and she wished luck to his pursuers as she felt a tentacle wrap about her and lift her into the air. She cast one last spell to both her daughter and niece, wishing them happiness before she was overcome with blackness and became part of the new body of the demon, Naraku.

*You're taking over me*

~*~*~*~

*Have you forgotten all I know
All we had?*

Kagome gasped as she woke, her body shooting into a sitting position as she felt the power wash over her. "Mother."

"Kagome?" Sesshomaru's groggy voice called from beside her.

"Something's wrong," she murmured. "Naraku."

He was on his feet and dressed immediately. "InuYasha is here." Kagome rushed about and dressed as her mate went to their bedroom door to greet his brother. "InuYasha."

"Kagura's awake," InuYasha informed.

"How's that possible? I thought she was trapped along with Tsaisuki?" Kagome questioned as she joined her mate.

"Tsaisuki... she did something to save Kagura."

*You saw me mourning my love for you and touched my hand
I knew you loved me then*

Kagome's face blanched. "Oh, Kami, no."

Sesshomaru himself looked uncharacteristically emotional as his eyes widened and a look of fear crossed his usually calm features. "When?"

"Few minutes ago," InuYasha answered.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Lady Kagome!" Jaken's voice screeched. "Lady Tsaisuki..."

"Something has changed?" Sesshomaru asked, his face schooled once again into its unemotional mask.

Jaken nodded as he gasped for air. "She... has... awakened..."

"Is it Tsaisuki?" Kagome asked. "Is she in possession of herself?"

Jaken nodded again. "A great light came upon her and the chains left. She then awoke."

InuYasha's face grew hopeful as he sped off towards the sorceress' room. Sesshomaru looked to Kagome, who nodded before they too, followed by a sputtering Jaken, went to see this themselves.

*I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you
To live, to breathe
You're taking over me*

~*~*~*~

*I look in the mirror and see your face*

Sango held a hand to her mouth, tears falling down her cheeks, as she stood outside the room. InuYasha skidded to a halt beside his mate and held her gaze. "Sango?"

She removed her hand, a large smile appearing as she nodded. "It's really her. Oh Yasha... they're so happy."

InuYasha grinned widely as he dashed inside the room. Tsaisuki was kneeling upon the ground, holding onto both of her chosen males with joy. Her luminous, silver, eyes opened and a bright smile overtook her face. "Hello, Yasha-chan."

InuYasha leapt forward, enveloping the kitsune into his arms. He said no words as he breathed in her scent and felt her arms hold him like she had when he was a child. "Tsaisuki..."

"I'm here, don't cry, I'm not leaving again," she murmured.

It was all that it took to get the proud hanyou to start weeping on his own. "Don't do that! Never again! I couldn't lose you!"

He could feel her smile softly as she brushed a clawed hand through his hair. "You never lost me, my boy. You will always be my Yasha-chan."

InuYasha pulled back from her familiar and warm embrace and sniffled. "I was scared," he murmured.

She cupped his face gently and kissed his brow. "It's okay to be scared, sometimes. To deny fear would be cowardice. To overcome it is to be heroic. You have always been a hero in my eyes."

InuYasha smiled widely. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?" she asked.

"Make me feel like I'm all that matters?" he asked.

She shrugged. "It's a gift."

He snorted. "Sure, whatever you say."

*If I look deep enough*

She winked to the hanyou before looking to her cousin and best friend waiting at the door. "I see that you two have been... productive, while I was unconscious."

Kagome blushed and combed down her hair with her claws as Sesshomaru merely raised a brow. "This Sesshomaru was under the impression that you nearly sacrificed yourself for Kagura's soul."

Tsaisuki raised a brow of her own. "I did. I don't know how I was freed."

"My mother," Kagome answered. "I can't explain it. I felt her power flow through me, heard her voice in my mind, telling me that she would give you the power to break free. Then, she was consumed."

"Naraku," Tsaisuki gasped. "He's gained a new form."

"A demon must have consumed the heart," Miroku stated as he stood shakily.

"That means, if we destroy him this time, he's gone for good," InuYasha growled as he moved over to his mate standing just within the door.

"So, now it truly ends," Tsaisuki spoke.

"Hai," Kagome confirmed with a nod. "This time he will not escape."

*So many things inside that are
Just like you are taking over me*

~*~*~*~
Levii: I know, it's short... but I separated the two out for a reason!
Inu: What?
Sess: Ah, I see.
Inu: I still don't get it.
Sess: This Sesshomaru does not doubt that.
Inu: Hey!
Levii: Boys! Cut it out! *shakes head* Men.
Muse: *Appears to be a half-dressed Drow man that still looks suspiciously like Orlando Bloom today* I think it was good, even if it's short... the song's good.
Inu: Yeah, you would like it, you helped write it. I still don't get what you're reason was, though.
Levii: *whispers in InuYasha's ear*
Inu: *realization dawns in eyes* Oh! I get it now!
Levii: *looking to Sessho and Muse* He may be slow on the uptake, but he's still a hottie. Anyways, *turns back to audience* I'd love to hear from my readers! I wanna know if anyone picked up my reasoning! Please, please, please! Send a review! The more I get, the more motivated Muse is to help me write!
Muse: *nodding*It is indeed.
Sess: Are we finished here, woman?
Levii: Impatient dog... Well, that's it for today's chapter! Until next time... Ja ne!
Muse: Review!