Shangri La Chapter One:

Investigating the Existence of Haven

An ominous mountain loomed in sight as the lone figure made her way towards it, pummeled by the snow. She was obviously struggling to keep a foothold, but it was hard, with the gale blinding her view. From the corners of her eyes, she could see the lurking shadow of her "stalker", following her every moves with keen amber eyes.

A few days back, Kikyou had received a task to find out the cause of the missing villagers in the north. The few eyewitnesses told encounters of the missing villagers before their disappearance, saying that they will reach a haven hidden amidst the mountain. Soon after, the missing people disappeared on a journey in search of a utopia that never led to any returns.

Kikyou, a young and powerful priestess, was more than obliged to accept the task. She had suspicions of the so-called haven, and would prefer to believe that it was a demon's doings that led to this disappearances. She had learned from experiences that demons have the ability to confuse the human heart and lure them into a deadly trap. With luck, the missing villagers would still be alive, but from the general look of the situation, they would probably be dead.

"Hey, you know you could come out now," Kikyou could no longer take the hidden existence of her stalker.

From behind a tree, a silver-haired humanoid half demon strode out. He was irritated too, Kikyou could tell by the twitching of his little puppy ears. He had never liked to be out in full view with the priestess, but somehow, he had always been following her ever since they met. InuYasha was his name, so she heard from the rare conversations she had with him, and he was also after the precious Shikon no tama. Yet there was something about him, something elusive, that caused her to give mercy. She would have destroyed any demons after the Shikon no tama, but this hanyou, was another thing. In fact, she felt pity towards him, and a sense of...she could not tell, she had never had this feeling before in her whole life as one who was dedicated to the task of protecting the jewel. Could it be what people call love and affection?

Then Kikyou realized that the hanyou was talking to her. "Pardon me? I lost track of what you said," she muttered.

"Hmph, consider your senses good that you felt my presence," InuYasha sneered, "but just you wait, while you are busy with the demons, I'll find a chance to snatch the jewel away."

To this statement, Kikyou only shook her head and continued on towards the mountain, bound to find out the source of the trouble.

* * *

Night fell, and the moon glowed upon the priestess who stood by the mouth of the cave. She peered in carefully, surprised that she could not feel any presence of evil aura. Maybe the missing villagers were right, this could be the haven, the Shangri-La that they have been talking about.

Shaking that thought aside, she entered the cave. InuYasha followed suit, silent and wary, but from the twitch of his nose, Kikyou knew that he was as curious as she.

Hours after hours went by as the pair descend into what seem like an endless downward slope. No traces of any human activities were about. Kikyou was starting to turn dubious and skeptical, wondering if she had went on into the wrong cave or the wrong mountain.

All of a sudden, without a warning, a hole yawned in front of her. She slipped and fell, grabbing her hands out frantically. The only thing she could get a hold on though, was InuYasha's sleeve. Astonishment showed on the hanyou's face (if one could see it in the dark) before he also lost his balance and fell down into the hole along with the priestess.

* * *