Kagome sighed in complete bliss, sinking into the steaming warm water from the bath she had drawn. "This is heaven," she spoke aloud to herself with closed eyes. This is just what she needed after weeks on the road having to bathe in streams and lakes to be rid of dirt and grime. But with the start of the school year it was time for her to immerse herself back into her studies. College wasn't a long way off for her, thoughts suddenly turning towards her cousin and opened her eyes to stare at the far wall. It had been six months since seeing Akiko in the Western Lands. And when their paths crossed with Sesshomaru on the road she was surprised to not see her in his company. "Akiko went looking," was all Rin said. Which meant they went north. But there had been no contact from the pack. Were they all right? Had Naraku found and hurt them in any way? The teen quickly dismissed the idea though, because the enemy would surely gloat if that happened. Not only that but there would be chaos everywhere. He had to be searching though once realizing she wasn't with either party. The half-demon had grown quiet in the recent months.

Kagome thought Akiko would have returned for the new semester, but when the deadline passed to turn in her applications and paperwork the family knew it would not be happening this fall. "We can't force her," Kagome's mom had said when grandpa voiced his worry. "She has a lot on her shoulders at the moment. If Akiko does return we should give her some space. We don't know what she's been up against since the last time we saw her."

If only they knew. Kagome decided to not tell them about her possession, not wishing to worry them. Though if the young woman came back injured or visibly scared then questions would be asked left and right. There would be no way around it. "I miss Akiko and Tobi," Sota muttered.

"So do I," the teen offered with a sad smile. "They will come back when they're ready."

It had been nearly three weeks since the teen had returned to her era when Inuyasha became impatient and made his presence known. Unfortunately it was at her school, of all places, and she had to act quickly so no one caught onto him as the half demon tried to wave her down from across the street on top of a building during gym class. But her, "Sit boy!" command was also out of frustration.

"I don't understand why you couldn't wait," she sighed, walking home from school. Inuyasha was walking beside her along a concrete wall, hands shoved into his pockets and wearing a baseball cap on his head. He didn't exactly blend in though with his kimono and sword attached to the waist, but at least his ears were hidden.

"You were taking too long," he stated.

"I told you school was starting up again and I was going to be busy with my studies. I can't always be traveling to the Feudal Era whenever I like. There are things in my world I have to do to."

"How can you be concerned with that when the jewel shards are still out there?"

"Because I had a life here before traveling through the well. Like it or not I have to balance both." Somehow. It was growing more and more difficult as time went on. With the growing threats and the number of shards found they were placed in more danger as time went on. "Besides, some of those shards have been found in my world in the past. I could miss one if I'm gone too long." He huffed in mild annoyance as they fell silent. "Has there been any news?" Kagome asked, changing the subject. "Any sightings?"

Inuyasha knew exactly what she was talking about. "Nothing," he sighed. "But there have been more snow storms in the north despite the fact that it isn't winter. Sango and Miroku believe she's the cause of it that her and the pack could be fighting demons off that do not agree with their presence. There's even a possibility Naraku is up there, but then we would be heading in their direction. He's still MIA. But there has been other movement within the households that have sworn their allegiance to your cousin."

Her brows furrowed. "How so?"

"Demons have been attacking their lands more often than before. We have been busying ourselves with helping them when need be when you come home."

"Naraku."

"Most likely. Or just an uprising of demons who don't like what is being planned."

"But... they are demon lords and ladies."

His shoulders shrugged. "Lesser demons though always crave power and if they don't like those ruling over their domain and what alliances they hold they wage war."

"If Akiko isn't helping them... won't that strain their relations?"

"How do we know she's not?"

Her brows pinched in confusion. "But you just said..."

"I said there had been no sightings of her. But if Akiko wants to stay hidden she would ask that of them and they would actually heed her request. Demons can be selfish, but sometimes they can be loyal. Especially when it benefits them."

They traveled for a few minutes in silence coming across the city park that was completely empty of children with the sun setting in the distance. She had to head home quickly in order to make it to dinner on time. Inuyasha suddenly paused, causing her to halt as well.

"Inuyasha?" she questioned. His brows were narrowed, staring out over the area in front of them, as a low growl resonated in his throat. "What is it?"

"Something's coming," the half demon answered. A light appeared in the sky among the clouds swinging around every which way before setting a direct course for where they were standing. Inuyasha's hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword ready for an attack when the light came to an abrupt halt in front of them. Only there was something else entirely attached to it. A long sword covered in old wrappings and seals with a circular base at the hilt where the glow was coming from. It was floating as the two shared a look of unease.

"Oh thank god, it slowed down," a voice spoke wearily.

Kagome's eyes widened, exclaiming, "The sword just talked!"

"Sounga didn't say anything, I did!" From the weapon materialized a small spirit. He wore a white robe, an old soul with wide eyes, long white hair with a receding hairline, and an equally white long beard and mustache. He looked exhausted. "My name is Saya. I'm the one whose been keeping Sounga sealed for two hundred years."

"Two hundred years?"

The spirit looked to the half demon, eyeing him carefully. "You're Inuyasha, I presume."

He blinked in surprise, "You know me?"

Saya grinned. "Why yes, you're the Great Lord's youngest son. The one who holds Tetsusaiga, and a half demon?"

"You knew my father?"

"Yes–" Suddenly the sword began to tremble before them uncontrollably and the spirit panicked, "Quick Inuyasha grab a hold of the sword–!" The weapon shot out of its sheath and it flew high into the air before shooting towards the surface once more and embedding in the ground. That was when everything was thrown into chaos. The ground began to crack and cave in as everything around them began to crumble and decay at a rapid rate. That was when Tokyo began to fall. There were screams and shouts, blaring alarms and sirens as windows exploded without warning, structures began to crack and bend before caving under the weight and seeming to have aged fifty years in a matter of seconds. Dust and debris clouded their vision and when everything settled there was nothing left except mounds of concrete and bones. They were horrified.

"What is this?" Kagome breathed. Her home, all of it was gone, as tears began to form.

"This is the future," Saya spoke gravely.

"The future..." So then... this wasn't real. At least not yet.

"Yes, this is what will happen if Sounga is loose. Not only this world, but every world." The spirit looked to the half demon. "Inuyasha you must take hold of Sounga, and suppress him."

"I'm not going to listen to you," he growled, eyeing the still glowing sword. "But I will take it because it belonged to my old man."

"Inuyasha, just be careful," Kagome said. She had a bad feeling about all of this. They had no idea what power this weapon possessed, but based on what they were being shown it could be nothing good. Approaching, the half demon didn't hesitate to grip the hilt and ripped it from the ground and in an instant everything turned back to the way it should be. The teen breathed a sigh of relief, going to join him. "You did it."

"Get away," Inuyasha snapped before she could get any closer. That was when she saw it, that from the unknown sword purple and blue-like veins had not only penetrated his hand turning the skin a dark reddish-purple, they wrapped completely up the arm to the shoulder so tightly that no skin or inch of his kimono was visible. Without warning, Inuyasha's eyes flashed red, as purple marking stretching across his cheeks. His demon side had broken free, head whipping around and growling dangerously at Kagome. The teen took a quick step backwards with fear in her eyes. And it was that emotion that made Inuyasha fight it, managing to regain some of his sanity enough to think straight. "I can take you somewhere Sounga," he muttered lowly. And that seemed to please the sword as it hummed in his grasp. "Kagome, don't follow me!"

"Wait!" Kagome yelled. But the half demon was already running away and disappeared into the streets of Tokyo. There was only one place to go though and even if the teen did not have his unnatural speed she had to try and keep up. Collecting the sheath from the ground the teen began to run. "Come on Saya!"

Rushing up the many stairs that lead up to the shrine her fears were only confirmed seeing the doors to the well thrown open, one severely cracked from the force. There was no time to waste bolting inside the home and running past the dinner table where everyone else sat and took the stairs two at a time. "Kagome?" her mother called as the others watched her go.

"No time to explain!" she shouted back. "I need to go, now!"

The woman didn't question any further standing to help pack a medical kit and food for the road as Kagome tore apart her room filling the large yellow backpack with clothing, toiletries, and other important items. The last of those items was the sheath as she secured it to her back. Her mom was at the door waiting, the sun having completely set hours ago with a light rain coming down. "Be careful and safe," she said, packing the last items inside the bag. Holding out a bento box filled with that night's dinner they hugged tightly.

"I will."

Coming out the other side of the well it was morning and Kagome wasn't surprised to find Miroku and Shippo waiting for her arrival under the trees. They were sitting under an umbrella she had left behind on one of her many trips, the small demon hugging her tightly and happy to see her. But the monk wasn't smiling. He looked worried. "I came as soon as I could," the teen said. "What happened?"

They came to the overlook on the hill and the teen was left gaping at the sight. Kaede's village was in ruins. Nearly every hut had been demolished; the ground having been cut into with so much force one could see the tree roots below the dirt and had even changed the course of the river. But the destruction didn't stop there, stretching into the valley beyond it.

"It was Inuyasha," Shippo spoke sadly. "We couldn't stop him... He turned into a demon."

"Everyone made it out alive," Miroku reassured. "We were lucky."

"Kagome!" Glancing up they watched as Sango descended on the back of Kirara. "I lost the trail from the rain, but he was heading north."

"So is the power of the Dragon Twister," Saya mused.

The sudden, unfamiliar voice startled the others as they glanced around looking to see where it had come from. "Who said that?" Shippo asked.

"I did," Saya answered with a grin, getting right up in the small demon's face. He shouted in alarm, nearly falling off of the monk's shoulder.

"Saya!" the flea demon, Myoga, exclaimed from the demon slayer's shoulder. They had not realized she wasn't alone. "It's been a while."

"You know each other?" Kagome wondered.

"Why yes we do. As a matter of fact, shouldn't you be keeping Sounga dormant right now?"

"Well... maybe I'm a bit off..." the spirit admitted sheepishly, scratching the side of his head.

"Make that five hundred years off."

"Right now is not the time to be pointing fingers," Miroku stated. "We need to get moving and follow the path of the Dragon Twister before Inuyasha goes on another rampage." For the time being it seemed he had exhausted himself, but couldn't allow this opportunity to go to waste.