Chapter 3
"There's a cave up ahead." Nekokaze pointed out from a perch in a tree. A soul collector came skimming through the air from the direction Nekokaze was referring to and let out a series of graceful bird-like chirps; confirming the cheetah demon's statement. A light drizzle fell from the sky as the rain came in, so finding the cave was good luck for the two.
"I'll only be here until the rain clears." Kikyo stated as she entered the small unoccupied cavern.
"Should I get firewood before the ground's too damp?" Nekokaze asked, following in behind her hesitantly.
"Do what you like." She answered. Nekokaze turned around and exited the cave before climbing into the trees breaking off the driest small branches she could find.
(Elsewhere…)
On the outskirts of a small village in the northwest, Inuyasha and his traveling companions, Kagome, Shippo, Miroku, Sango, and Kirara, were traveling to the west in hopes of finding Naraku.
"We should be on high alert. The villagers say there are a lot of fierce demons in the woods ahead." Miroku stated.
"Feh, I can handle a couple of demons." Inuyasha remarked.
"It doesn't hurt to be careful." Kagome reminded him.
"Whatever." He muttered in his usual stubborn attitude. Kagome rolled her eyes at him; why did she even try? After a while they reached the entrance to the woods that led west; the trees were all dark in color and there seemed to be deep thorny undergrowth everywhere.
"This place sure looks scary. Are you sure this is the only way?" Shippo asked, his voice shaking slightly.
"Why? Are you scared?" Inuyasha wondered with a taunting tone.
"No!" the fox demon snapped defensively.
"Let's just get going." Sango cut in quickly before another one of their little fight ended the same way; usually with Shippo crying. The group made their way through after that, but before they could really get anywhere everything went pitch-black, except for a dim light shining down on the six of them.
"What the hell?" Inuyasha growled in surprise.
"…Welcome, Inuyasha…" A creepy voice emanated from somewhere unknown.
"Shippo was right. We should have gone another way." Miroku mumbled under his breath.
"I'll get this over with quickly..." The voice chuckled.
"You won't do anything!" Inuyasha snapped, unsheathing his Tessaiga. "Wind Scar!" He called out, swinging the attack blindly in a random direction. Nothing happened, except suddenly Kagome let out a panicked scream before she disappeared along with the darkness. They were back in the forest, but where was Kagome?
