== CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE ==

DEMONIC EQUINOX (Part 2)

Kikyo walks into the office and sees Sesshomaru is standing by the window, looking down at the city. Below him there is a parade of Tengu doing a fan dance in the streets, with Bakeneko following behind, walking on their back paws, wearing long, beautiful kimonos and holding up "Yokai Unity" flags.

Sesshomaru looks like if he could he'd fly down there and claw all down there – humans and demons alike.

"I question everything about you, Sesshomaru-sama," Kikyo says.

Sesshomaru doesn't even look back at her. "Kikyo-sensei… you of all shouldn't be questioning my morals."

"Or lack thereof," Kikyo smirks.

She throws a stack of files down on the table.

"It's confirmed what we knew all along – Naraku can create separate pieces of himself now. That demon that was slayed in Koshigaya by the name of Goshinki is in fact a part of Naraku. These files contain information on the other four that are already here in the city."

"Have they done anything illegal?"

"No."

"I'll fabricate something against them and we'll get an order to kill as soon as possible. He's already building an army…"

Kikyo sighs. "When Naraku finds out you're looking for him…"

"He already knows," Sesshomaru says. "I sent Rin to find him and she got a face to face audience with him."

Kikyo glares at him. "When were you going to tell me this detail? I need to check the girl to see if she's affect by Naraku at all."

"He's going to make his move soon," Sesshomaru says. "You're in the most danger of us all."

Kikyo nods. "Then maybe it's time I reclaimed the Shikon no Tama."

Sesshomaru nods. "Do what you must. When I come face to face with Naraku I want to destroy him once and for all."

==MEANWHILE

"We can have one beer!" Miroku urges the group, holding up his glass.

Although they weren't technically working Sango still wants to stay sharp, and Inuyasha more than agrees. Kagome isn't the only one that's convinced tonight will just be a pure, harmless celebration. Miroku also wants to kick back and have fun tonight.

"I'm fine," Sango says.

Kagome lifts her glass. "Come on, Sango-chan! Miroku bought this round for everyone to enjoy. Please just has a little."

Inuyasha grabs his glass with a grumble, "Not that one puny beer will affect me in the least!"

Finally Sango relents, picking up her own glass.

"Kanpai!"

Kagome looks up and catches someone's eye in the crowd.

"I – Inuyasha!" she cries, pointing.

The group pause before drinking their beer, looking from their high top table, past the little white fence separating them from the street festivities. Standing on the other side, staring back at them is a little blonde boy with wide blue eyes and three whisker marks on both cheeks.

"Sorry, I'm looking for someone else with long white hair!" the boy says, and runs off.

Inuyasha sniffs twice. "A young fox demon? Is that what you wanted me to see?"

"No…" Kagome says, "I thought I saw… never mind, let's drink."

==LATER

"We're going to use the ladies' room," Sango says, "And then we'll go."

"Alright," Inuyasha says.

Sango and Kagome get up and leave together. Miroku looks at Inuyasha. "What's happened? You guys are acting weirder than usual."

Inuyasha glares at him. "Weider?"

"Don't act like everyone can't see the sexual tension between you two," Miroku laughs. "Like the tension between Sango and I!"

"That's one-sided at best," Inuyasha grumbles.

It's Miroku's turn to glower.

"Feh," Inuyasha sighs. "Fine. I'm thinking about leaving Kikyo for Kagome-chan."

Miroku's eyes widen. "Really?"

"And Sango-san overheard me say that to Kagome so she's treating me like a piece of shit… which she should, because I am. Kikyo doesn't deserve this."

"Yeah, Kikyo-sensei is a such babe!" Inuyasha lifts his fist. "Sorry, I mean, you should do what your heart tells you to."

"Don't be such a pervert, monk!"

"Why do you want Kagome-chan anyway? She's beautiful but is that it?"

"No!" Inuyasha grabs Kagome's half-drunk beer and downs it. "She's smart! She's powerful, almost as powerful as Kikyo, even though she's so new to the force… but what she lacks in experience she makes up for with her passion! She knows what's right and what's wrong, not because of what's she's been taught but by what's inside her heart… and she's one of the few people who can put me in my place when I need it."

Miroku smiles, grabbing Sango's basically untouched beer. "If you think being with Kagome is worth losing Kikyo over… then you should go for it."

"That's the problem – I have such strong feelings for Kagome, but I'm still in love with Kikyo."

"I once read online that if you fall for two people you should go with the second one, because if you were truly in love with the first one you wouldn't have gone for the second one," Miroku says, and he downs Sango's beer.

"Feh," Inuyasha rolls his eyes, "Don't trust everything you see on the internet."

==MEANWHILE

Sango is washing her hands when Kagome steps out of the stall.

"Hiten!"

"What?" Sango asks.

"Hiten and Manten," Kagome says. "They are the thunder brothers! We fought them a few months ago. We killed the younger brother but the older got away. He could fly! That's who I thought I saw in the crowd today."

"What would he be doing here?" Sango asks.

"Good question," Kagome shrugs. "Maybe he holds a grudge?"

"That's a little crazy," Sango says, "But warn Inuyasha just in case."

"Ok," Kagome nods.

They got to the bathroom door and open it. Kagome steps out and comes face to face with Kikyo.

"Oh!" Kagome is surprised. "Kikyo-sensei, what are you doing here?"

Kikyo holds out her hand. "I'm here for the Shikon no Tama, Kagome."

"What?"

Kikyo blasts Kagome with her spiritual energy, knocking Kagome out instantly. Sango catches Kagome before she hits the ground.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Sango cries.

Kyokotsu steps up, looming over Sango.

"Don't get in my way," Kikyo warns.

==MEANWHILE

"They've been gone for a while now," Inuyasha says, glancing back. There are a few portable bathrooms scattered throughout the streets, but the beer vendor is close to a park that has its own bathrooms. Inuyasha can't see the bathroom from here but he knows where they are.

"They're both girls," Miroku shrugs. His face is flushes. He pushes away his fourth empty glass and pulls his head down in his gloved hand. "Women always take forever."

Inuyasha shakes his head. "It's still odd…"

"Let's just… grab another beer and… wait for them?" Miroku suggests, standing up.

"No, we look for them now."

"Inuyasha!" he looks up. "Miroku!" Sango comes rushes over, her hair out and wild around her shoulders, a bruise across her left cheek. Miroku forgets about his beer and goes straight to her.

"Kikyo… kidnapped Kagome!" Sango cries when Miroku grabs her by the chin to look at her injuries. "Kyokotsu is with her. They took her deeper into the forest!"

"Fuck," Inuyasha moves past them.

"Be careful Inuyasha," Sango cries. "Kikyo is crazy!"

Inuyasha comes to a stop when a demon gets right in his path.

"Inuyasha-san, it's been a while," the demon says. "I don't know if you remember me but you killed my brother, Manten. And now I'm here to kill you!"

==TO BE CONTINUED