Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha


Several hours had past since the group started their journey through the forest, with InuYasha and Kagome in the lead and the other following. They could only see a glimpse of red here and there letting them know that they weren't that far behind their friends. It was hard for Sango to see through the trees the deeper they went into the wood the thicker the brush seemed to get. Several minutes had past since she last saw the hanyou running in front of her and doubt started to fill her mind, was she still on the right path? She coaxed Kirara forwards she needed to find InuYasha. Kirara's speed continued to increase as they dodged the oncoming trees. Suddenly the trees were gone, Sango's eyes started to adjust to the sunlight but all she could see was a red and silver blur in front of her and it was coming up fast. "InuYasha!" panic laced Sango's voice; there was no way they could stop fast enough to miss them. Kirara pushed off the ground with her powerful hind legs sending them directly up in the air causing them to flip backwards and landing several feet away barely missing the couple. Silver and black entwined together from the newly created breeze which knocked them out of their trance causing them to turn around to the creators of the wind. Their eyes feel upon a heap of limbs, Miroku had landed on top of Sango causing a deep blush to creep across her cheeks and Shippo clinging for dear life on Kirara's tail. Realizing she had been noticed Sango threw off the monk and jumped off Kirara and stomped towards InuYasha. "Why didn't you move? You could have been killed! Could you not hear me!" she yelled.

The hanyou just stared at the fuming warrior, and then she saw what had captured their attention so drastically. They were in a beautiful meadow full of blood red and nightmare blue orchids, they were surrounded by them. The scent was a like a sweet poison flooding her nose. The trees which they had come out of moments before seemed to enclose the meadow like a fortress. This place was magical. "Where are we?" asked Kagome still dumbstruck by the beauty around her.

"I…I don't know," said InuYasha in the same tone.

Sango shock her head to remove the daze and turned to look at her comrades. "We covered more ground then I thought. Let's worry about where we are tomorrow I think we all deserve a rest for today's journey," she suggested.

"Suits me just fine," InuYasha huffed, trying to cover his wounded pride for not knowing where they were.

"Kagome I think I see a hot spring over there several feet before the trees, would you like to join me?" Sango asked pointing to the brush where they had just burst through several minutes before.

"Would I!" replied the excited school girl and ran towards Sango.

"Wait for me! I want to come too!" cried Shippo as he ran as fast as he could after the girls.

Miroku waited until the women and child were out of ear shot and then walked over to the hanyou who was sitting at a base of a tree, his back pressed to the trunk inhaling the sweet toxic scent around them. "InuYasha we need to talk," he began.

"What about? Aren't you going to spy on the girls while they bathe?" asked InuYasha surprised that the monk hadn't already started to drift towards the direction that the girls had left.

Miroku sighed, "Unfortunately, this is too important a matter and it comes before my desires."

"Humph since when?" asked InuYasha in disbelief.

"I'm astounded by the faith you have in me InuYasha," Miroku said while putting his hand on his chest as if he was offended.

"Just get on with it monk before the girls and the brat come back," the hanyou said starting to get annoyed by Miroku's antics.

"I didn't want to worry the girls but this place doesn't feel right. I feel like we are trespassing on sacred ground, of beings much higher then we are. I don't think we should stay the night we must keep moving," Miroku's playful attitude was gone and all that was left was a serious man full of urgency.

InuYasha became curious, "What kind of power do you feel?" he began to lean closer to the monk raising his arm and resting it on his raised knee to show him that he had his attention.

"One that shouldn't be tempted InuYasha even for the likes of you," Miroku said sternly.

"Keh, I can handle anything that comes our way, you worry to much, just relax," stated InuYasha and to help prove his point he stretched and then put his hands behind his head.

"I see you won't take my advice then, I pray that our presence will be over looked," Miroku frowned and started slowly walking towards the springs where the girls were. Shippo came bounding back but when he reached Miroku he stopped running and watched the monk but continued to walk towards InuYasha.

"Where is he going?" asked Shippo his wet hair dripping on his green and blue kimono and fur vest.

"Wait for it," InuYasha smirked. After several seconds InuYasha started counting "four, three, two, one..." as he said one he pointed towards the direction Miroku had been traveling. A loud smack was heard and a flock of birds were scared away.

"Pervert!" the sound of Sango finding the monk's hiding place could be heard for miles in all directions.

"He'll never learn," Shippo said as he shook his head and crossed his arms in disgust. Unfortunately the group wasn't the only ones to hear Sango's wrath on the monk. A dark figure moved in the shadows and glowing red eyes turned towards the group's location.

The moon was full and shining down on the group creating a silver glow outlining their features and the fire's light danced across them. Sango was curled up next to a transformed Kirara using her as pillow with her hiraikotsu in hand. Miroku was on the other side of the fire with a cocky grin and Sango's handprint to accompany it, Shippo was in between them and sleeping soundly in Kagome's sleeping bag. InuYasha and Kagome were the only ones awake sitting with their backs to the fire looking up at the clear sky, the stars shining so bright that they dared for you to reach out and touch them. "I love this place it's so beautiful," Kagome said with a smile, she was completely amazed on how this place was not only so beautiful during the day but at night its beauty seemed to enchant you even more. "I could stay like this forever," she sighed letting her head find its way onto InuYasha's shoulder closing her eyes in complete comfort. The smell of the fresh rain and moist dirt met her nose; she couldn't help but wonder how after all that his kimono has gone through it could still smell so good. She was able to feel his muscles tense under his baggy cloths then relax just as quickly and the feeling of security surrounded her. The rhythm of his chest rising and falling was all it took to lure her to sleep.

Although he would never admit it InuYasha loved the feeling of Kagome so close to him how she could melt so easily into him causing him to relax which he so seldom was able to do. Mind you he loved these moments even more at night when everyone was asleep and no one was around to see and ruin the moment. With this thought in mind he lowered his head gently on top of hers and stayed there for several minutes taking in her scent of vanilla and of the shampoo that she loved so much. He watched as several strands of black fell in front of her ivory face, he brought up a clawed hand to gently put it behind her ear when he sensed it. "Figures," he grumbled, raising his head and turning it in the direction of the aura, moving his hand towards the hilt of the sword.

"What?" asked Kagome dazed from just waking up, she sat straight up and rubbed her eyes to get rid of the blur.

Now not afraid of throwing Kagome off of the log that they were on InuYasha jumped up and yelled "We've got company!" he was now in his battle stance the Tetsusaiga was drawn and transformed from the dull rusted piece of junk to a large fang that was almost as long as InuYasha was tall. Miroku and Sango sat straight up and with unbelievable reflexes were ready for battle. Kagome, with all traces of sleep gone, had an arrow ready in her bow aimed in the direction that InuYasha was staring at. Shippo on the other hand was in panic, he fell over the sleeping bag several times and ran towards Kagome grabbing her right leg and peaking around it in the direction that the others were facing bracing himself for the oncoming horror.

"What an aura," stated Sango, senses keen to the oncoming attacker.

"InuYasha this is what I was talking about earlier," Miroku said sternly.

"Yes Monk I realize that, now get ready because it's coming and its coming fast," said InuYasha feeling the power radiate off of their visitor like heat from the sun. Suddenly InuYasha was thrown backwards several feet but easily recovered. "What the hell?"

"What was that thing?" whined a worried Shippo, whatever their oncoming attacker was it was here now and he was unable to see it.

"I would have to say the better question would be where is it," stated Miroku trying his best to sense where the source of the aura was coming from but unfortunately the aura seemed to surround them like the night itself.

"I don't know where the damn thing went I couldn't' even see it," growled InuYasha looking around like mad, any one of them could be in danger, especially if he didn't know where it was and who it was going to attack next. At this thought he took several steps closer to Kagome.

An evil laughter surrounded the group from every angle echoing off of the near by trees and causing chills to run up and down the groups spine, Shippo clung to Kagome's leg like a life line and shut his eyes hoping that this would make the voice go away. Kagome looked down towards the terrified fox child and then looked up to where the bright moon and shining stars once were, but what met her eyes was complete darkness no light source could be seen. "Who are you and what do you want?" demanded Kagome eyes shifting from point to point for a target for her arrow.

The laughter stopped but then was replaced by an authoritative voice filled with pride and laced with hate, "My name is Lunius and I am the darkness. As for what I want, you have trespassed on my land and for this crime you shall pay with it with your lives. The thought of mere humans, demons and a half breed thinking that they were good enough to even step here makes me ill."

"Well that explains the sky," said Sango to the others, coaxing the males of the group to observe the absence of light around them.

After taking a quick glance at the darkened sky InuYasha smirked, "This guy has as big as ego as Sesshomaru," he chuckled at the thought of his arrogant brother. InuYasha then paused and then looked back to the sky, "If you think you are so great how about you let me see you and stop fighting like a coward."

"Very well," said Lunius amused by the idea. A man started to materialize above them; the first thing that could be seen was his blood red eyes which shone with his hatred. His face was pale and seemed to glow with the contrast of his straight black hair which seemed to flow into the darkness. Armor that covered his body, with the exception of his hands, was outlined in silver like the moon had done earlier to their own bodies. But it seemed to flow from the full moon on his chest, this moon looked identical to the moon that was in the sky just moment before. He reminded Kagome of a knight defending his castle, but this knight did not save those in need but destroy those who he thought were beneath him.

"Looks like someone needs a little more light," scoffed InuYasha, still holding his deadly blade towards the now visible threat.

"Hmm… I haven't seen that wretched brother of mine in centuries," replied Lunius talking more to himself then to the group watching his every move. Then his eyes started to shine furiously towards InuYasha. Then a black blade materialized like Lunius had several seconds before, the hilt was the same shade of silver as the moon on his armor and the blade was almost invisible to the eye. He grabbed the sword and lunged at InuYasha with speed unlike any of them had seen before. InuYasha however saw the sword and was ready for the attack and jumped to meet him full on. The swords clashed and sparks flew in all directions lighting up their surroundings. They stayed like this for a couple of seconds, then Lunius chuckled in his throat InuYasha gave the man a confused look and then got his answer when he was flung several feet into a tree cracking it in half as he fell to the ground in a motionless heap.

"InuYasha!" screamed Kagome worry and anger filled her face as she saw the limp half demon at the base the tree. She whipped her head towards Lunius she reloaded her bow and took aim and let the arrow fly. It hit its mark, it pierced his shoulder. A hole was created by the sacred arrow as big as the spiritual aura it created. Unfortunately this was much smaller then what the arrow normal could accomplish.

They all looked at Lunius in amazement, just how powerful was he that he could even withstand the power of the scared arrows that Kagome created. "I congratulate you women, no one has been able to wound me since my last chat with my brother," said Lunius bowing towards Kagome to show his respect, then suddenly he appeared in front of her. Kagome took a step back in shock; luckily Shippo had already gone to Kirara or he would have been crushed by her foot. "Even though you have gained my respect you still must pay for your presence on my land," he smiled and grabbed Kagome's shoulders and pulled her close to him, he could feel her heart racing and breath quicken, how he enjoyed the reaction he gave his victims before his attack. His lips parted in a devilish grin revealing two fangs like InuYasha's, all Kagome could do was stare at the man's eyes, she couldn't move. He took her chin between his forefinger and thumb and moved it to his left revealing her neck to him. His smile grew, and then he plunged his teeth into her neck, releasing a dark liquid into her blood. He withdrew from Kagome, her blood still on his lips, her eyes closed and she fell limp to the ground. Lunius continued to grin then licked the sweet blood from his lips.

"Kagome!" yelled Sango reaching out towards her falling body.

Shippo ran towards the lifeless body, tears swelling and burning at his eyes wanting to escape down his freckled cheeks as he looked over Kagome for signs of life. "Shippo! Kirara! Protect her!" ordered Miroku; he then turned to look at Lunius determination written on his face, "Wind Tunnel!" Miroku cried unraveling the prayer beads from his right hand and turning his palm towards Lunius in one swift motion, revealing a black hole able to suck in anything in its path. Trees, rocks and dirt were flung into the void, he supported it with the other hand making sure not to loose his bearings if he did the result would be disastrous.

"Fool you can't suck in the darkness," Lunius laughed and was about to go after Miroku when Sango threw her Hiraikotsu missing his torso by an inch. Miroku used the distraction to recover his wind tunnel with the beads and jump back towards Sango. Sango caught the giant boomerang with ease and readied her self for another attack, Miroku several feet away ready himself as well.

"Look at you, thinking you can stand a chance against me," laughed Lunius looking down on the duo from above.

"They might not but I do!" a whirlwind came out of the near by trees then leaped into the air towards the man of darkness. Once the whirlwind stopped it revealed a wolf demon connecting his leg to Lunius's face resulting in a small scratch on his lower lip. Lunius brought his hand to his lip catching some of the blood he then looked at it and smirked, "How amusing," He then looked at his attacker who was now on the ground in front of the two humans. Blue intense eyes met his red, the demon's hair was as black as his own but tied into a high pony tail, he had armor surrounding his chest and fur on his shoulders, feet, and wrapped around his waist with a wolf's tail in the back and head band.

"Kouga! I'm so happy you have come," breathed Miroku relieved someone had come to their aid.


A/N: I hope that you enjoyed this chapter just a little more exciting then the first:) haha well please review and tell me what you think, I'm always open to suggestions and constructive critism for my work so i can improve it and make it more enjoyable:) thank you!