Master of Okami

Chapter Four

Dark Castle: Flee, Return, Stay

And chapter four is up! Well I have nothing to say so on with the chapter!

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It was quiet there was no sound not even the wind or a draft and it was soft underneath her. Her body was lying flat and her arms were pulled back. Where was she? It was so quiet, too quiet. There was no light or so she could see. But was she awake or was she dead? She could feel though but it was not very warm. With a start Kasei awoken and sat up and looked around at the dark room. The room was pitch black which made it seem impossible that she could see past her feet to a door. Lightly she pulled her arms up and found that she was tied down but they felt more like chains.

The door beyond her feet slowly opened and even when it did there was no light that flooded in to allow her to see more clearly though she could already. A figure stepped in but did not come over they merely stood at where they entered the room. Even though just second ago she could see the door she could not see this figure in which she lay before. There was hardly even a shadow outline in which she could go by it was almost as if the figure was of the darkness itself. Nonetheless she could smell something that was familiar something that she had learned only not too long ago. What was it? She did not understand though it was familiar. But what would it matter if it could not identify this person?

"I see you are finally awake." A familiar baritone voice came.

"What have you done to me you…you…you…Naraku…?" Kasei sighed in defeat and flopped her head on the bed. What the hell was she trying to act tough for? There was no reason to act tough. The guy had not even done anything to her yet. Yes, of course he kidnapped her and chained her to a bed but not to a wall. Or he did not or had not taken the liberty of raping her yet since being chained to a bed meant she was like totally vulnerable. Or so she hoped he did not already. With that thought Kasei was starting to get scared. But if he did do it then how would he… 'eww, what is the matter with you, Kasei?' But if he did then that would mean… 'Get a hold of yourself, girl! Don't think about such things!' He is so…Kami!

"You seem to be very exhausted." Naraku said. "I did put an excessive amount into you." Naraku continued talking calmly though he could sense her fear. He had not even done anything yet so what was she so afraid of? Of him of course which is the way it should be. 'So much to ensure she does not resist.'

"Huh? An excessive amount?" She asked curiously. Then she thought for a moment. "Wait, are you talking about that…feeling?"

There was no answer and suddenly blazing orbs appeared where he stood. They were narrowed and looked as if they were slightly turned looking at something. In an instant they were gone. Kasei nearly had a heart attack when they suddenly popped out of nowhere. "You can do without me can you not? Of course you can, I have some business to attend to." He turned to the door behind him and exited the room.

"N-no! Wait!" Darkness enveloped the room still, yet she noticed with her vision that there were three or four torches that lined each of the walls. She pulled on the chains with all her might and with one tug the chain snapped. "What?! I broke the chain!" With another mighty tug she freed her other arm from imprisonment. 'How am I doing this?' Though she was freeing herself she was still a little freaked out with the extra boosts of strength she was getting. Maybe it was adrenaline. 'Yeah, I'll just go with that.' She climbed from the bed and peered down upon it. It was laden with many thin soft layers of sheets as she examined it. Looking underneath the sheets she noticed that it was not a bed but a neat layer of fluffy sleeping mats that they used back in the day…or today or whatever. 'It's so soft and surprisingly comfortable.' Kasei thought having half a mind to fall back in and go to sleep because she was so tired. 'I suppose bed is its substitute or something. Enough I have to leave.' She began to walk but stopped and looked back at the bed over her shoulder. Should she try to escape? She had full knowledge of what she was going back to. Suspicion and doubt, people who did not give a care in either of the seven hells. What was she saying? This complete and total stranger…swoops down like the Black Knight and takes her away from it all, kidnaps her away from it all. Who could ever trust someone who kidnaps? Ah, well, the chains were already broken anyway so she turned and slowly opened the door.

She peeked out and there was a hallway that went left and right. She emerged from the roomed and slowly and stealthily tiptoed down the left hall. Eventually not too far away from the door she came from she passed a few moonlight lit windows. Stopping she had come to a fork, a hall that continued on or one that went right in a perpendicular fashion. The hall that continued was ominous since it was even darker than the room she was previously, it was jet. It tended to give her a bad feeling like whatever she does just do not go down that hall. It was a mystery that she did not yet wish to explore. With that she took the hall that went right. Not too far down she came to a three way. She went left then right then left again. There were three parallel halls similar to the one she had came out into when she left the room. The one she had came out into was farther away from the other two and with the smaller paths that connected them both the one she exited into and the one above it looked as if she made a huge room with the help of smaller halls. There looked like many smaller rooms with the structure of the long and small halls. There were plenty of doors but every single one of them were locked, of course besides the one she exited. After a length of searching she was back at that ominous hall, she stared into it not seeing anything. She decided that there was no way she was going in there it was just too haunting. So now what to do?

'Yes, what to do now?' She asked herself as she turned around walking back down the hall. She stopped and looked to the windows she was about to pass. 'The windows, of course!' Climbing into the glassless window she seized up almost losing her balance but she hung on for dear life. "Kami…" She said as she stood on the windowsill startled.

It was going to be a long way down.

'Please kami don't let me die here!' She begged. She decided she would take this nice and slow. Bending down she turned and held onto the sill pushing her legs off letting them dangle. With a breath she tried to calm her raging heart as she closed her eyes and let go. She landed on her toes and momentum caused her ass to slam against her heels and she fell back. "Ah! That hurt!" She threw her hand over her mouth. Hopping up she made a dash for it and slid to halt this time making sure she did not fall to her knees so half her body could end up in a sea of lava. "Kami-sama…" She whispered. Beyond her there was a vast ocean of boiling lava that flowed silently every once and a while it would spurt silently as well. Her eyes were thrice as she stared at the ocean before her. Never in a million years would she have ever thought she would have an experience such as this. It never crossed her mind that one day she would be standing at the edge of a lava ocean. Though still fascinated she turned to the right and moved on. She slowed down when she came to a weird purplish object. It looked like a floating cloud and there was something that made her feel weird about it. Nonetheless, with curiosity she stuck her hand within it and felt around moving her hand grasping and found she held nothing. Her hand flowed through it like there was nothing there. It was continuously moving around the cloud looking parts that made it up moved here and there like water molecules though she could not feel it. Pulling her hand away she got an idea and walked into it thinking that she herself was totally crazy. She found that when she stepped into the cloud she was also stepping onto it. The purple fog of the cloud covered the bottom half of her body as it made her float a few inches above like it did simply by standing on it. It was odd because when she touched it with her hand she could not grasp it yet she stood upon it.

Suddenly it jolted as if it were a system rebooting. Kasei gasped falling forward but found that by the weirdness of the cloud she was leaning on it though still could not feel it. She knee bent down keeping her hands and feet where they were just in case she moved and the cloud decided she was not worthy of floating within it. After the jolt it had stopped for a moment but now it started to float up and at least a foot in the air stopped again. Breathing heavily wondered what it was doing. Would it take her back to the castle because she tried to escape and it just so happened that it caught her. But to her surprise it began to move over the lava which made her even more frightened and her heart beat sped up. If this thing decided to drop her now she would be a dead human girl who just so happened to smell like a demon. It floated and floated until not too long after the purple cloud landed or floated closely to the land which allowed her to step off shakily. As she walked away she noticed that familiar scent still lingered though it was faint but not very. After a bit of walking it suddenly faded away and she could smell it no more.

She took off running and thought it odd because it felt different where she was now than when she was back at the building and even where the cloud landed. She ran for kami knows how long through trees and high grass not really knowing where she was going. She simply ran and ran. It simply took forever to find somewhere she actually recognized. It was the forest in which the monk had stayed she remembered the small circular area. Later on she found the cliff and began to climb it but not before grabbing a few plums just because. After a lengthy climb up the cliff she reached the surface less tired than she was the last time she had done it. With a bit more running to go she finally made it to the entrance of the wolf den after what felt like hours. Well at least two hours had gone by.

Two figures stood at the entrance guarding it. "Ginta, Hakkaku!" Kasei called out when she got close enough.

They were a bit startled by her call. "Kasei is that you?" Hakkaku asked.

"Yeah." Kasei said coming up to them as the two gathered around when she came closer.

"Where were you?" Ginta asked.

"I'm not really sure." Kasei said. "Though Naraku was there."

"N-Naraku?" Both of the boys said together startled out of their wits.

"Um yeah. Where is everyone?" Kasei asked.

"You mean Koga?" Hakkaku asked and Kasei nodded. "Ask someone in the clearing and they'll tell you."

"Y-yeah u-unless you want me to take you there." Ginta said looking around at the forest that seemed a bit chillier than usual.

"No, because if you do go then I'm goin' too!" Hakkaku said.

"Um, I suppose I'll be fine." Kasei said waving goodbye as she walked into the cavern heading to central circle. It was dark with many torches alight and by their light many people could be seem walking in the dark of night. There were many but not as much as there would be in the morning time. She wondered why there were so many but with a little hesitation she came upon one. "Um, w-where is Koga?" Kasei asked. It had been her first time in a while to confront one of the clansmen. This would probably be her last time unless she really needed some answers. But what would be so important to where she would have to talk to these…demons.

The woman looked her up and down as if seeing if she were worth talking to. She had heard something through the grapevine that something happened to her. According to the news she had gotten herself kidnapped or something. Hardly anyone was sure by who besides those who were there with her. This was part of the reason why there were so many of the clan out here to patrol but mostly because of the new guests. "So you escaped from wherever you were held huh? But anyway he's over there between the two right huts." The woman said.

"Oh so you know?" Kasei asked. She was not going to mention the fact that she was captured by Naraku. From Ginta's and Hakkaku's reaction Naraku kidnapping Kasei did not seem like something that would stir up a good reaction from the rest of the clan. Regardless if the word 'kidnap' was in there or not. Somehow she knew that this Naraku was not favored among the clan.

"Everyone knows you were kidnapped. Things travel fast around here." The woman said. "But no one knows by whom."

"Ok." Kasei said walking away not taking the liberty of spilling that bit of information. At the guarded entrance she of course met a guard.

"Who are you?" He asked calmly when he saw her. "You know it's forbidden down this path."

'No actually I didn't know that. That woman seemed to forget that bit of information which was important.' Kasei thought. See now why she did not tell? Not just because they probably feared Naraku but because they were such…kami she did not want to think about it. "I am Kasei I have come to meet Koga."

"The one who was kidnapped?" He asked. "News travels fast around this cave." He said with a hearty chuckle. "Come on in, straight ahead."

"Thanks." Kasei said walking forward. 'Well he was surprisingly kind. I'll probably never see another one of the clansmen like that again.' It was a narrow path but big enough for two people to walk side by side. She had never been in this one before of course because it was forbidden. There were two paths that branched off left and right and went straight by what the guard said. She stopped when she heard angry voices up ahead behind a cloth that separated hall from room.

"Did you see her?! She ran straight to him!" She heard the voice of Inuyasha yell angrily.

"Inuyasha…" She heard Kagome say quietly.

"No, she-she," the dog demon started off like he just could not believe it. "I mean come on, to us she just met the guy but it was like a warm freakin' welcoming!"

"Inuyasha don't…" Kagome said sounding like she was getting irritated.

"No Kagome she's got to be the enemy!" Inuyasha reasoned out of nowhere. Kasei could hear him pacing around stomping madly.

"No she isn't!" Koga shouted but he sounded unsure. Did he doubt her? Though he probably did Kasei was not very surprised. No matter what happened or how long she had been here they still knew nothing about each other. They could not trust her so easily when they knew nothing about her.

"I doubt she is the enemy. That random gasp of pain when Naraku came. The way her body moved as if it were being willed forward by some other force. Her eyes were almost glazed over when she turned behind Naraku. And at the very end he put so much pressure on her that she fainted." The monk Miroku said as if he were thinking to himself.

"It's Naraku!" Inuyasha said as if that very fact should be enough and in some cases it was.

"Yes, well…" Sango started off but trailed not really knowing what to say. "You say she came from the well? Then why did Naraku suddenly come for her out of nowhere? Are you really sure she came from the well?"

"I think her clothes prove that enough, unless someone started to tailor them which I doubt." Kagome said.

"But who would want work for Naraku when he is so coldhearted?" Shippo asked and Kirara growled.

"I think your right Shippo." Kagome said and petted him on the head. "So what are we going to do now?"

'I think they are done.' Kasei thought almost doubtful about going in. A few of them obviously believed she was in league with Naraku. She did not even know him. Kasei began to walk in.

"We…" Koga started but trailed off as Kasei walked nervously into the room. For a split second there was silence when she revealed herself. The demons could smell how nervous she was but the humans could feel it.

"H-hello everyone…" Kasei said in a low tone which seemed to snap them from their stupor. Inuyasha was the first to speak.

"YOU ESCAPED FROM NARAKU'S CASTLE?!" He yelled incredulously.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome said loudly.

"Where is it?! Where is it?!" Inuyasha asked.

Kasei was a bit taken back and she stepped back one. "I-I-I don't know!" She did not even know the place was a castle.

"How could you not know?! You know where it is! Tell me!" Inuyasha said loudly.

Kasei stepped back when Inuyasha took a step forward. "I don't know! I don't know!" Kasei said frantically.

"You're lying!" Inuyasha yelled when he was close enough he grabbed her arm. "Now tell me where it is! I know you were just there!" It was faint but she had the smell of Naraku upon her.

"I don't know! I don't know where his castle is!" Kasei yelled then her mind snapped. "Leave me alone!" She said hitting his arm away with her opposite forcing him to let go and turning. 'I have to get out here!' She thought as she ran with great speed through the narrow hall. Those who sat had stood and everyone called out to her to stop but she did not stop. Bursting out into central circle the guard was not quick enough to take hold of her. She ran through the figures and through the narrow hall that led the to the exit hall. Cutting a sharp right she was almost there the others barely making it out of the first narrow hall. She was almost there and before she knew it two figures took hold of her arms and they threw her to her back. It was a slow moment as her vision went from the wall to the ceiling and then the ceiling becoming farther away in which she could not reach for, the impact happened. Each figure tightly held on to an arm and one leg. "No, no please let me go!" She yelled. "Please Ginta, please Hakkaku!"

"We're sorry. We're not trying to hold you as a prisoner or anything but you just have to calm down!" Hakkaku said. They had prepared themselves for an episode like this ever since the first time it happened. Because they did not stop her the first time she ended up falling from a cliff. So now they had heard her frantic running and braced themselves to catch her.

"No, please!" Kasei begged. "Let me go!"

Ginta was regretful about holding her down like this and had half a mind to let her go. But something stopped him. "We can't! You fell off a cliff the first time and now Naraku is out to get you we can't let you take that chance!"

Kasei breathed heavily though she tried to calm herself. "Please, I won't let him take me, I won't, I won't." Kasei said still breathing ragged. She stared up with pleading eyes at the two boys. "You don't realize how much I've been through; I just want to go home." Kasei said through pants. "I'll go back to that well. I'll dig, I'll dig through to the other side if I have to, just let me go, please." Kasei said panting and she felt their grips loosen.

They could literally feel her misery. The two boys looked at each other talking with their eyes. They felt so bad for doing this especially with her pleas. They felt even worse when the group of six arrived plus the leader of the wolf demon tribe. Their grips loosened even more upon their arrival as everyone stared down at the girl lying on her back in the middle of the entrance. She was close but not that close for her legs were on the inside of the cavern if she did get up she would have to take the liberty of turning around to run and they were ready for her. Well that was if she did not learn to take a swift jump back that is. Kasei saw them and she let her head fall to the cavern floor closing her eyes knowing full well that she would not be running away anytime soon. She was just too tired to hardly even move now that all her adrenaline had been used up. Even before that she was tired; she was tired from all the other days of things happening.

"I won't run away, I promise." Kasei said in defeat almost doubting herself. She knew that if she stayed there any longer she would probably go insane. All she wanted was for it to end. Oh crap that did not sound right.

Koga nodded for the boys to let go and to return to their posts yet they still watched with concern. Koga reached out a hand to her and was doubtful that she would keep her word when she did not take it quickly. But then she reached out and grabbed hauling herself up with his help. There was an awkwardness that everyone who stood in that area could feel. Kasei's eyes were downcast and everyone avoided eyes with her. It was bad enough that she kept running away but someone having to restrain her from running away from them well lets just say it is not a very good feeling.

"We're all glad your safe, Kasei." Kagome said a little quietly dispelling the silence and partly the tension.

Kasei looked up to her and said, "Stay with me Kagome, stay with me." It was quiet but was not pleading.

"Here? In this wolf den?! Hell no!" Inuyasha shouted. Kasei was irritated at hearing him speak. She was not even talking to him.

"We'll stay nearby…" Kagome suggested, "…just in case."

"It's fine with Kagome, but no one else." Koga said. He obviously knew that no one really caught what Kasei was saying. The girl was in a distraught state and if that is what she wanted to make herself feel better then haul Kagome in. But Kagome was welcomed nonetheless.

"Ok." Kagome said.

"You're staying?" Inuyasha piped almost worriedly.

"Yes." Kagome said. This was for Kasei's sake. The girl was in a lot of distress and if she wanted her to stay then so be it. "Bye. I'll leave all my things for you all to use." Kagome waved them off as they exited the cave. They were going to be nearby.

Koga led them past his room and through a hall on the left and the first room they came to he stopped. "This is where you'll stay for the night. Everything you'll need is in there." Koga instructed.

"I'm going to stay here with Kagome." Kasei said.

"Oh, ok." Koga said not questioning her she was already in enough stress. Though it was kind of odd that two girls wanted to sleep together. "I'll send someone over with some more cloth."

"Its ok I'm sure we'll be fine." Kagome said though she was not sure. "Night." Said Kagome as Koga walked off and the two girls entered the room. They divided what little cloth they had amongst the two of them. After doing what they could with their cloth, a clansman came in with more cloth. Koga had brought someone over regardless of what Kagome said but she was grateful. In the end they said goodnight to each other.

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He had taken care of his business which only took a few seconds in the least. By time he had sat down in his room he watched as the girl snapped her chains and examined the bed she had been lying on. Before she left she made a surreptitious glance back at the bed. She was thinking about something but then turned away. She then snuck out of the room and found herself going around and around in circles not knowing where she was going. A few times she had come to the dark hall and her senses told her that she should not go. After a bit of thinking the idea of jumping out of the window came to her mind and it amused him to see how she was going to handle it. The look of fear marred her face and she unnecessary hung from the sill to fall to the ground. He watched her run and slide to a halt before the boiling hot lava a look of awe on her face. But she moved on and came to her point of escape. A floating cloud is what she had found and her curiosity got the best of her as she stood within it and took off over the lava.

After she landed she had run and run for a quite a long time before she somehow found her way back to the wolf den. By time she had found the small group they were talking, mostly Inuyasha, well yes Inuyasha, they were talking smack about her. She stood and listened and when they were done she went inside the room putting everyone in a stupor. The dog demon was the first to yell out which seemed to startle the girl. That is when he knew, when her answer came 'I don't know' she had said. After so much commotion the girl snapped at Inuyasha punching his arm away which was amusing and she then made a break for it. At the entrance she was thrown straight to the ground and held there begging for release. Some of the things she said amused him, there is no way she could escape him. That was such a lie that last thing she said before she was let up off the ground.

His plan worked perfectly.

Oh yes, she will do.

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Kasei awoken the next morning, well that was almost a lie because she could hardly sleep…she just wanted to get the hell out of here! It was like the walls were closing in on her like she was trapped or something. But she could probably escape any time she wanted but it was not the fact that she was, or felt like, she was trapped here it was the fact that she had nowhere to go if she did leave. Dig through that well, yeah right, she was just delusional when she said that. But if all else fails she would probably have to resort to that, her finger nails were long and sharp for the job which seemed odd to her; they had gotten like that over the last few days. What the hell kind of promise was that 'I won't run away, I promise.' Ha! But wait she just forgot she had nowhere else to go. Damn it!

She had been so close yesterday to the freedom of the outside! After that Inuyasha practically tore her arm off…ok, ok he was semi gentle, but still. Suddenly something clicked in her mind. The demonic repelling barrier or whatever was not active any longer. Both Inuyasha and Naraku had touched her with no side effects. Kami was that her last relief or whatever. She had half a mind to go back to the forest in which the monk resided and search until the ends of the earth! She would probably feel better if she had it to protect her once again. Then that Naraku definitely could not touch her! Then no demon could touch her! She might not even be able to touch herself! Ha! But it was no use she did not know where Monk-san had gone or what happened to him. He seemed to disappear right after she left like he was never there.

Oh by the way all her scars had healed. Each one of the parallel gashes had healed completely, muscle, skin and all, and turned to her almost natural skin color for the ever growing tan pigments had gotten to it. It was like they were never there to begin with, such horrible wounds! Even her left hand looked perfect there was no longer a gash there as well. And the gash on the back of her head was like she had never fallen from a cliff and hit her head on a rock. Though it still felt a little dented but smaller than last time she had checked. It was so surreal like a dream; she healed so quickly she almost believed something was going wrong with herself. Doctors would go psycho just to get the secret!

Kasei was sitting against the cavern wall with her knees drawn to her chest. In her thoughts her body rocked itself back and forth slightly. She watched as Kagome slept peacefully. How the hell can this girl stand it here? Oh wait she hangs out with that Inuyasha, who the hell can stand him either? But she did have other friends; Kasei wondered what her purpose for coming here was for. Even that Inuyasha got on her nerves every once and a while which was quite obvious. She had not gotten to know Kagome's friends nor hardly her either. Kasei wanted to at least take that opportunity before Kasei herself did something…drastic. It was odd because a slight stench seemed to come from Kagome like she needed to wash up or something.

The girl roused and her eyes opened into a droopy state and saw Kasei and remembered she had stayed in the wolf den. Sitting up and clearing her head she looked at Kasei once again. There was something truly odd about the girl than when they first met. There was something weird about her eyes, her hair and her skin they all seemed to be changing or something. But at the moment she did not worry about it because the girl looked perfectly healthy even while she sat in a corner rocking on her tailbone. Kagome wiped her eyes to get all the sleep out and yawned as well.

"Good morning Kasei. I hoped I didn't make you wait too long." Kagome said. 'Kami I need to wash up.' She thought having half a mind to take a whiff up under her armpit.

"Good morning. I didn't wait too long." Kasei lied then said. "Want to go to the hot spring?"

"Yeah!" Kagome chirped excitedly. 'Hey! Wait a minute!'

Kasei led her through the exiting hallway to central circle path to central circle to hot spring path to the hot spring. As usual they were running around naked. Now that she thought about it this is one of those things that made them appear more demon than human. Kasei looked over to Kagome who had been looking around on the path saying she had never been down there before. But when her eyes connected to the scene before them they bulged. Kasei turned away; yeah she knew that reaction was coming.

"W-wow…" Was all that Kagome said. At her remark a few people turned to look at her. Kasei remembered that this was how it was on her day here checking out the spring but the only difference is that the clansmen smiled at Kagome.

"Yeah, I know." Kasei responded with a sigh. They had not smiled at her like that!

"Hey, Kagome, how's it goin'?!" A male said from afar. "C'mon in and have a good time while your stayin'!" He said enthusiastically.

"I suppose." Kagome whispered and he smiled to her again.

"Come on Kagome." Kasei said quietly to her.

"Oh, ok." Kagome said a bit startled by Kasei's tone. "Are you angry Kasei?"

"Of course not!" Kasei said with a big fake smile and a happy voice. They made it over to the spring. They made sure the coast was clear and from what they could see no one was watching them. Slipping off their clothes they practically jumped into the spring.

"Ah, so comfortable." Kagome whispered. This was so the reason why she did not bother to care if there were other naked clansmen around. She knew she would not get a better or anything close to a bath than this for a while. So she took her chances hoping nothing would happen. "I'm sure you'll have a good time here until we find you a way home."

"Oh, of course!" Kasei said with a big fake smile and a happy voice. Kagome looked over to her with her greatly altered expression. She sure did not look like she was having a good time.

What was she kidding? After what happened last night Kagome knew that Kasei was not having a good time. She felt bad for not stopping Inuyasha from yelling at her. But what could she do? Kasei amazingly did escape from Naraku's castle or so they thought. She just could not stop him just like everyone else even Koga. Naraku was their sworn enemy and if Kasei knew where his castle was then they had to get an answer. But they never did though Kasei did seem a bit overwhelmed when Inuyasha jumped on her. Kagome could not blame her for claiming she did not know and taking off. Kasei looked like she was going a bit out of it when they found her at the entrance. Just by looking into those eyes Kagome knew that Kasei did not want to be here. Is that why she had asked Kagome to stay? To have some sort of connection that was outside of the wolf den? To know that there was still some sort of hope that she could get out? No, wait, Kagome knew Koga used to kill humans but that had all changed why would Kasei not want to stay here for the time being? There was nothing really wrong with the place it was like a huge hotel with only one floor or something. Kagome was simply doubting herself of course Kasei would not mind, right?

"I'm sorry Kasei." Kagome said of course she was not doubting herself. Kasei said nothing simply looked into the steaming water. "Well have you and Koga become friends at least?"

Everything was fine with Koga it was his clan that she needed release from. But Koga being the leader of them she felt a bit of feint resentment. "Fine." Kasei said simply. "Kagome what did you do to earn the wolf den's respect?"

"Huh?" Kagome said. That question simply popped out of nowhere. Kasei was in a bad mood so she answered it. "Before that even happened or even met them I was kidnapped by Koga." Kagome said.

Kasei looked over to her with slightly wide eyes. "Really?"

"Really. He wanted me to obtain a sacred jewel shard and in the end I helped to defeat their most troublesome enemy. The Birds of Paradise, though they looked nothing like paradise or birds." Kagome explained.

"But why you though?" Kasei asked interested.

"Because I can sense the sacred jewel shards and it just so happened that the leader had one." Kagome said.

"You mean that sacred jewel I learned about in history class? That's real?" Kasei asked and Kagome nodded her head. "When you say 'shard' do you mean it has been broken?"

Kagome nodded. 'I ought to know since I'm the one who broke it.' Kagome thought remembering that day it was around the few days her and Inuyasha had met. "Me and my friends have all come together to looking for it and put it back into its original form."

"I see it seems you are on quite an adventure." Kasei said. 'I see now, no wonder.' They talked more on the subject of Kagome helping Koga and his clan. Then there were all the other enemies they had to deal with on their journey. Their greatest enemy was, to Kasei's surprise, Naraku himself. She had gotten kidnapped by him! But it all sounded quite intense such an ordinary girl from an ordinary future comes to save the day. It was quite interesting like it was straight from a fairy tale. Kasei thought she would not be able to keep up on such a journey.

Kagome and herself had and have still been on this long journey. They have been through so much that one had yet to dream of. Did she truly deserve the respect of the wolf tribe? She had saved and preserved life yet had also taken life even if it was of the most devious creatures. Blood sullied her hands of her enemies and she had no regrets…until now that is. But it was all for a cause, the shikon no tama. And also the death of an evil being who caused so many to suffer including herself and those she traveled with, especially those she traveled with. So had respect truly called up her correctly? Yet almost all beings in this world took life to survive including the wolf demon tribe. She had also tried to do the right thing. No matter what through good or bad Kagome had found the best friends she could have ever asked for. She held a great amount of respect for all of them, yes even Miroku, and hopefully the same was thought of towards her.

Kasei looked to the left at Kagome. Her chin was tilted up slightly as she stared intently into the distance at the cloudless sky. Dark untamed tresses hung about her face and ended afloat on the steaming water. Speaking of respect Kasei's mind wandered to Monk-san. 'Oh Monk-san.' Kasei thought. She did not even know his name and he told her not to worry about it. Kasei just did not understand why she held so much respect for a person she only knew for a day and a half. Yet she knew that if he literally asked her to make haste for the wolf den's hot spring, strip her clothes in front of everyone and do a swan dive into the steaming vessel she probably would have just to know that she did something just for him in return.

"It is ok; we will not see each other again."

"Why do you not wish for me to know you Monk-san?" Kasei whispered with her eyes closed. If only she were still there. In her current predicament it was unbearable to think that she would not be seeing him again and even more so that he himself had said just that.

"Kasei are you alright?" Kagome asked quietly looking to Kasei. She had been lost in her thoughts when she suddenly heard her whisper something to herself. Kagome had heard it.

"Kagome, what is this feeling? I know it is not of love but something else. I would do anything at his very whim…anything. But why anything, I just don't understand that? Yet there are some things I cannot imagine doing with him. But if I can do anything for him then why is it that part of me can not imagine doing this particular thing that I know not?" It was, for some reason, eating away at her very mind she needed answers before her brain rotted away and she would have no sanctuary to bask in unanswered thoughts. "I just don't understand Kagome, tell me."

"You speak of this Monk-san, yes?" Kagome asked quietly wondering who he was. Kasei nodded her head realizing she had let part of her thoughts slip from her mouth. "Perhaps you respect him a lot and because of that you are very loyal to him."

"I am loyal?" Kasei stared quizzically at Kagome nodding until she stopped after a moment. Kasei looked back forward. Loyalty, huh? How could she accumulate such an amount over so little time? It all sounded pretty weird to her. Yet she wanted to know more. "I still do not understand. I was only with him for one day, that's all."

"One day?" Kagome asked wondering what he had done to obtain this reaction. "Then this monk could only be very honorable and you can just sense that and just know that he would not hurt you. You could just feel it." Kagome said trying to think of the words she wanted to say. "And you willingness to do anything for him means you know he would not put you to such a harsh task. And yes you do no love him for you know that he wouldn't ask such things. Those must be your true feelings I hope you could understand from that." Kagome only knew too well she too held so much toward Inuyasha. The only difference between she and Kasei was that Kagome did hold feelings to her protector. She, Kagome, was the bearer of loyalty amongst her friends and whenever she felt the need to she would open her heart to one that was worthy. One would be very lucky to know that someone thought of them like that. Her heart was open to all her friends in which they deserved and she hoped it was vice versa.

"I think I get it a little now." Kasei nodded to Kagome who smiled though it was weird to have gotten something like that in a mere day. Loyalty not love just as she wanted it. Though all was pretty much clear she still felt one thing was unclear she just did not know what it was.

After a good long forty five minute soak and quiet contemplation the two girls climbed out cautiously. Both looked around and quickly snatched up their clothes and threw them on. The time in the hot spring was most enjoyable both girls content with today's converse. Demons were leaving and others walked in and quickly joined the everyday bachelor's party: both genders allowed. They went back to their assigned room. Cloth was strewn across the cavern floor from their quick leave. Kagome folded her section of the soft cloth and Kasei did hers. After their job was done they smiled at each other. Leaving the room nice and neat they headed back out the hallway and into the exit hallway where Koga's room resided.

Kasei stood just outside Koga's room with Kagome and spoke quietly. "Um, Koga are you in there?" There were faint snoring sounds from within so Kasei tried again both the girls leaning in curiously.

There was a groan then silence then there was another louder groan and then a sigh. Shuffling could be heard and footsteps coming the girls way. Koga appeared holding back the soft cloth that was blocking his way. He had his usual attire on consisting of the mid thigh length brown furry skirt, brown furry mid calf length leg warmers and his hair in its high tail. But he did not have his armor on as he usually did. "What is it?" Koga said almost angrily he sounded as though he was woken from a damn good sleep. Pleasant dreams had, for once, filled his mind during a good nights rest; Kasei getting kidnapped by Naraku himself had definitely put him on edge on his feet and dreams. Then a quiet voice intruded stirring him from his sleep; at first he sat back and waited hoping whoever it was would just go away but no they spoke again. He felt drowsy as he slowly put back on his clothes and walked to the entrance ready to give whoever woke him a piece of his mind. But when he pulled back the cloth and saw two girls staring curiously and slightly worried his anger lessened. They must had been worried because they knew they had woken him and thought he would be really angry. Of course he knew it was them, he was just drowsy was all.

"Kagome is leaving and we must take her back to her friends." Kasei said. The girl had to go back and Kasei thought it would be a good idea to go with Koga though something told her to go alone yet she did not listen. "Please?"

"Fine, but you didn't have to ask me. Just hold on a sec." Koga said turning back into his room and there were sounds of clanking. A second later he came out armored up. "Lets go."

The trio walked out of the cave entrance of the wolf den. Kasei saw that every so often Koga would glance back to her and Kagome would too. What? Did they think she would take off to freedom? She had already been over this; there was nowhere she could go so they should just drop it. Oh wait she had not discussed that with them. Oh well. Soon they found Kagome's friends who were not too far away in fact where they were last time by the cliff. Miroku and Sango sat quietly under a tree as Shippo and Kirara lazily slept not too far away together Shippo sitting in the curvature of Kirara's body. Inuyasha, as usual, was sitting in a tree over the monk and slayer.

"Hello everyone!" Kagome said happily walking forward to greet her friends. The hanyou grunted and the two other teens who were conscious quietly responded. The fox and the cat demons stayed comfortably and conveniently asleep.

"Did you have a good time and sleep well Kagome?" Sango asked quietly and Kagome nodded. "That's good."

"Sango you should have seen their hot spring!" Kagome said excitedly. "You should have been in it." Sango said nothing.

"Are we about ready to leave?" Miroku asked and Kagome nodded.

"Good, then let's go!" Inuyasha barked. "Let's get the hell out of here!"

"Inuyash-" Kagome started.

"Foolish wench. I have returned. Now come." A sinister voice said calmly.

'Naraku?" Kasei thought turning to him watching as he descended to the ground.

"Naraku you piece of shit!" Inuyasha stood on the tree branch.

It was not quite the same as before as a small amount of the anxious feeling flooded her once again. Naraku had thrown forth his hand permitting the sensations to go within her. But now his palm was inward his fingers hyper extended as if to say 'take my hand.' Calmly Kasei walked over, the feeling hardly making its effects. She knew what she had to do even without the anxious feeling telling her.

"We have to stop him!" Kagome yelled. She ran over to her weapon that was propped up on a nearby tree. The two sleeping demons roused and Shippo screamed at the mere sight of Naraku and Kasei walking slowly over to his awaiting hand. Kirara snarled in her little form as Kagome turned fitting an arrow on her bow. "Naraku!" She yelled and released it and watched as it soared to him. But it stopped short of him hitting and invisible shield. "Darn it!"

"A barrier!" Inuyasha yelled unsheathing his Tessaiga as it transformed while coming from its sheath. Holding it in front of him he willed it to turn red.

Dramatically, Kasei reached out to the hand that waited for her even before she was close enough to take hold of it. It grasped hers and she gasped as it yanked her to his chest. There was a moment and despite her partial sleep she felt so tired so very tired from all the other days previous. Her left hand came up and grabbed his haori hanging there as she turned her head to her ear. Her eyes were half lidded and her right hand was stilled held by the devious Naraku they were both hanging limp. Kasei looked out the corner of her eye to see the happening of the others. They had all stood in a battle stance with their weapons in hand looking at them like 'what the hell?' or more so. Kasei looked away from them and closed her eyes yet listened all the same.

"Damn it!" Inuyasha could be heard yelling pulling his weapon over his head.

"No don't or you'll hit Kasei!" Kagome said loudly.

"Fuck!" Inuyasha yelled lowering his weapon and was hit with a bit of nostalgia. It reminded him of Shiori the hanyou of the demon bat tribe. The one who held the power of the impenetrable barrier. During their fight she housed that disgusting old bat demon within it. But in the end they were victorious because of the courage of the young girl, Shiori. The girl had the power to control the barrier and her freedom yet Kasei seemed to be in no condition, somewhat, to control her own body from what Miroku had said last time. And in that she could not free herself. That seemed to be the only difference between the situation then and the one that was going on now. "Damn it." Inuyasha said under a breath. No matter how convincing that all sounded to him something was different now. The girl did not seem nearly as strained as the first time she was taken. 'She was yanked right into Naraku's barrier.' Inuyasha thought. "Should I attack now since she's within his barrier?" He whispered to Kagome.

"No, what will that do? Kasei is still in front of him and even if she wasn't that would still be a bad idea." Kagome responded.

"Kasei what are you doing? You don't belong with him!" Koga said loudly. The girl's eyes tightened when the wolf spoke out. Kasei said nothing.

"Good girl." Naraku commended her for her almost willful actions. Kasei nodded slightly against his chest responding because she knew that if she did not then she might be in for it, she even whispered an almost silent 'yes.'

'That bastard Naraku.' Koga thought angrily.

So tired so very tired. Kasei had opened her eyes once again yet they were slowly sliding closed. Every so often her eyes would open widely to catch herself. His body made her feel so comfortable even if she was standing. She felt her muscles become less and less tense with every moment. His hand still grasped her and hers still grasped his haori. No one said anything or did anything for they could not. The feeling was but a distant dream as her ever drooping eyes slid closed. Her once clear mind darkening and slipping away as unconsciousness took hold of her. Oh she was so very tired.

"Kasei!"

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Ah another chapter over and done. Finally now that that huge introduction like section of chapters is over and the true story may begin. How did it go, did you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed typing it? Well I hope so because next time is chapter five! And another thing. Did any of you pick up on the subtle sexual connotations throughout this? "You seem to be very exhausted." "I did put an excessive amount into you." Man both those statements together are just teeming with…bad things. 'begging for release.' Omg what the hell was I thinking? 'She might not be able to touch herself!' I didn't even realize all these until I reread the chapter again. Weird! You know what I would like? If I could capture that moment of Kasei and Naraku standing together around the end. Classic! Man I wish I could draw that! Anyway the other day I saw the movie Hostel II and man I must say that movie was a big disappointment. My friend had said it was a pointless movie and that was proved just be the second movie how very pathetic. It just didn't seem to have very much of a plot you know? I mean Saw has more of a plot than Hostel. Well anyway I hope I didn't give anything away besides the fact that that movie really sucked and you shouldn't waste your money going to see it. Other than that I also saw Ocean's 13 which was actually a good one in which others may like and enjoy. Anyway tell me your thoughts on this chap. R&R!

Until we meet again!