*Sigh* School can be so annoying, and yet I enjoy my friends. This might be the last one until the weekened folks. Or...not. It depends. But if that's so, don't think I've given up on the story. Anyways, enjoy!
"Emiko!"
"What's up?"
"Where's Aika?"
"She went off hunting I think."
"Oh, okay."
The group was wandering through a forest. Emiko was humming softly as she walked in the front of the group. Cynder was slightly behind her, looking up at the sky anxiously.
"Emiko, where's Keirsha?"
"She's off with Aika. Call them if this is bugging you." Emiko replied patiently.
Cynder relaxed visibly, "No, it they're together than that's okay."
"Why do you guys worry about them? They're just animals." Inuyasha said scornfully.
Emiko, Cynder, and Sango all turned on him and smacked the back of his head.
"Ow!"
"Hey! They are not 'just animals'." Emiko growled.
"Shame on you Inuyasha!"
"Do you really want to piss me off?"
"Fine I'm sorry! Geez." he muttered.
Miroku shook his head, "No tact when it comes to women. None at all."
Kagome sighed, "Let's give them a few hours, and then we'll call them. The sun's starting to sink."
Aika and Keirsha flew softly through the air. Suddenly Aika stopped and turned her head. Chattering at Keirsha, she flew off away from the phoenix. With a gentle cry, Keirsha followed her towards some unseen goal.
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Then sun was sinking by the time Kagome called a halt. Cynder and Emiko had called for their Companions, but had received no answer. They sat apart from the group, talking in low voices. Sango knew what they were feeling, having had Kiara disappear before. She walked over to them.
"Hey guys."
"Hey."
"Still no answer?"
"No."
She looked at their worried faces.
"Look, let's go find where they left you and track them down. The sooner we find them, the better."
Cynder thought for a moment, "Sounds good. Thanks Sango."
Sango smiled, "Anytime!"
They stood up.
"Hey, where are you guys going?" Inuyasha asked.
"To find Keirsha and Aika." Cynder replied.
"Fine then I'm coming too." he said, standing up.
"So am I."
"I'll come!"
"Me too."
Emiko smiled at them, "Arigato mina."
Sango, Miroku and Kagome got on Kiara, Inuyasha, Cynder and Emiko by their side with Shippo on Cynder's shoulder. They set off.
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Deep in the forest sat a very small village. In the biggest house at the very end of the road, the figure of a woman stood in the doorway.
"Oh look, we have visitors. I guess I will have to make some…preparations." she said to no one in particular. She started to laugh, her laughter echoing through the decaying home, bouncing off the walls of her lair.
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Inuyasha and the others ran through the forest. They had picked up Keirsha and Aika's trail and where now following it deep into the heart of the forest.
"Look! A village!" Kagome said, pointing.
In the last rays of the setting sun, they could indeed see, a small village.
"Let's go." Cynder said, picking up the pace.
As they arrived at the entrance, they slowed down to a walk.
"It's…deserted." Emiko said.
The village was falling apart, what once had been what looked like a lively place, was now quiet and melancholy, leaves rustling through the broken doorways. There were no sign of any people.
"Are you looking for a place to stay?" a voice asked.
They whirled around to see a woman smiling at them.
She was fair skinned, with long black hair that had braids on either sides and cerulean blue eyes, wearing a voluminous kimono that marked the sign of a rich person. Miroku edged forward.
"Well, yes actually my lady." he said eagerly.
"Monk." Sango said warningly.
The woman spread her arms, "Come with me. I will give you food and rest."
She turned and walked off. Miroku followed her, forcing the others to come after him. The woman led them up to the big main house at the end of the road that was the only one somewhat cared for. She raised her hands and beckoned to someone in the door. Two young girls stepped out, both in their late teens. One girl had very tanned skin that was an almost an orangey tone (like it is when people get over tanned), and dark auburn hair. Her dark gold eyes stared at the visitors nervously. The other girl had very pale skin and purplish black hair. Her violet eyes watched them thoughtfully.
"These are my serving girls." the woman said, "They are youkai, yes, but they are very harmless. We found them wandering the woods, lost and alone. I, along with them, are the only ones to survive a raid on my village."
"I am terribly sorry for your loss." Miroku said.
"Yes it is quite terrible. But I've healed and it is with great happiness that I welcome you." she said, "Do come in. And by the way, my name is Cho."
They followed her up the steps and into the house. As the door swung shut, Emiko looked nervously around. Something wasn't right about the place.
"I will prepare you food. Oh and my servants cannot talk, so do not expect much from them." Cho said, leading them to the dining room. They all sat on mats as the woman left.
"I do not like this place." Cynder muttered.
"You too?" Emiko asked.
"To me it seems okay." Miroku said.
"Monk. Shut up." Sango snapped, "It's because of you that we're in here in the first place."
"Oh, okay." he bowed his head.
"Let's go explore!" Cynder said, jumping up.
"Sure!" Emiko said, following suit.
"Wait guys. How about after we eat?" Inuyasha said.
"Nah. Now!"
"No Cynder. Stay here!"
"I refuse! Come on Emiko!"
"Oh…okay."
They got up and started walking down corridors. They would poke their heads into random rooms and look around, then move on. Emiko walked a little ahead of Cynder and tried a small door hidden in a corner. It was locked. She licked it down and walked in. It was dusty and dark except for tow, big golden jars sitting at the very end, giving off their own faint light.
"Hey Cynder. Come and look at this."
"What?"
They walked over and peered in.
"Oh my gosh." Cynder gasped.
Keirsha and Aika were suspended in a thick, sticky, golden substance. Their eyes were closed, but they seemed to be breathing. Cynder hesitantly poked the substance and licked her finger.
"It's…sap."
"What?"
"Flower sap. Why are they in sap?"
Suddenly, Emiko stiffened, "Those servants."
"You don't think…"
"Yes I do think. They looked like Keirsha and Aika. She made them human…ish."
"Uh oh."
"What?"
"The others. They don't know about 'Cho'."
They ran out and back into the dining room.
"Holy sh…" Emiko stopped up short.
There was half eaten food on the table. Inuyasha and the others were sitting, covered in vines that held them up. Their eyes were closed and their heads were tilted far to the side, exposing their necks and the main vein of blood in their bodies. Cho was standing over Miroku with her hands on their side of his neck. Her nose had turned into a sharp, thin, and long beak that was preparing to plunge into his vein. Cynder yanked out Density and shot a bolt of energy at the bird woman. She flew to the other side of the room and crashed into the wall. Emiko drew out Fireheart and swung a blast of fire at the vines, cutting them. The gang fell to the ground, no longer suspended by the vines, but staying unconscious.
"We must have to kill Beaky before they awake." Emiko growled, shooting fire at Cho.
It enveloped her, but was extinguished.
"Let me handle her. I've been dying for a fight all by myself." Cynder said, stepping forward.
"She's all yours." Emiko said, sheathing Fireheart.
"Fools! You think you can defeat me?!" Cho screeched.
"The thought crossed my mind." Cynder snarled, "Besides, I've got something I want to try."
The woman swelled. Feathers burst from her as her eyes turned a sickly green. Soon, a 20 foot tall humming bird youkai stood towering above them. Cynder smirked and stuck Density in the ground.
"Go get Keirsha and Aika." she murmured to Emiko.
"Kay." she ran over to the two girls, took their arms, and led them away, talking softly and soothingly to them.
Cynder turned to the humming bird demon. Her eyes flashed a deep purple as she shifted. A huge chocolate brown wolf stood there, growling and snarling. She sprang at the demon. Fur and feathers flew as the two attacked each other. Emiko stood a little ahead of Keirsha and Aika, watching from a few yards away.
"Come on Cynder. Beat her up." she murmured.
"It doesn't seem to be working." a high, musical voice said.
Emiko whirled around. The purple eyed girl, who was Aika was looking at her.
"I…I thought you couldn't talk." she stammered.
"You believed the bird youkai? Wow Emiko, haven't you learned not to trust anything she says?" a lower, yet also musical voice said.
Emiko turned to Keirsha, "Keirsha?"
Keirsha raised an eyebrow, "What? Listen, this demon is stronger than you think. Cynder's gonna need all she's got, and Aika needs to be ready to calm her down. We've got to break this ridiculous illusion." she raised her arms, gesturing to herself and Aika.
"Okay…how?"
"Where are our bodies?" Aika asked.
"This way." they ran into the hallway. Keirsha tripped a little and stumbled, "I hate this body." she muttered.
"Ha ha." Aika teased.
"You shut it."
Emiko looked back at them. They acted a lot like her and Cynder. I wonder if they get their personalities from us or if we get our personalities from them. Oh well.
"This way." she called, gesturing.
They ran into the room with the golden jars. Keirsha and Aika took each others and sat them on the floor.
"Now, burn them." Aika ordered.
"Wait, wha?" Emiko asked, shocked.
"We won't die Emiko, we're immune to fire remember? Do it!" Keirsha said impatiently.
"Oh okay." I fell like a little kid around these two. she grumbled inside her head. Taking a fistful of fire in each hand, she sent an onslaught of fire at the jars. The flower sap began to burn and dissolve. As the fire touched Aika and Keirsha's bodies, their human forms began to dissolve as well. When the rest of the sap disappeared, the human forms were gone and a phoenix and dragon sat on the ground.
"Nice to have you back." Emiko grinned.
Keirsha sang softly at her.
"You're welcome. Now let's go check on Cynder, okay?" Emiko said, picking up Aika.
They ran back outside.
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Cynder was slammed to the ground once more as the hummingbird's wings smack her down. This overgrown mattress is starting to really piss me off. she sent a wave of energy sparking from her fur at the demon, who easily dodged it. Okay, that's it! Her eyes grew and even deeper purple as scales erupted from her body. Energy swirled all around her as, with an earth shaking roar, she shifted into a ginormous opal dragon with deep purple horns, claws, wing joints and wing membranes. Energy continued to form and swirl around her as she spread her wings and let out another roar. She threw herself at the hummingbird demon, claws outstretched. Emiko and the Companions appeared and stopped short.
"Oh shme." Emiko said, "Keirsha, Aika, be ready."
Energy swirled in Cynder's mouth. It formed into a ball and shot at the demon. It hit her full blast and, with a shriek, the demon exploded. Emiko hesitantly approached Cynder.
"Cynder? Hey, calm down." she said gently.
Cynder turned and growled at her.
"Crap." Emiko muttered, "Cynder! Get a hold of yourself!"
The dragon youkai kept snarling. Emiko raised her arms and Keirsha dived into her back. The dog youkai rose from the flames and growled right back. Aika started singing a calming song to Cynder. The two faced off for a few minutes, then the purple in Cynder's eyes faded as she few smaller and back into her human form. Emiko transformed back and closed her eyes, fighting the faint weariness she felt.
"Sorry." Cynder murmured.
"Hey that's fine." Emiko grinned, "Now, where are the others?"
"We're over here." a small voice said.
They turned around and saw the still sleepy group watching them from the doorway.
"Cynder? What. The. Hell. Was. That?!" Inuyasha asked.
"The hummingbird?"
"No baka, you! When did this happen?"
"What did you call me?!"
"I…just…you still need to explain!"
"Don't you ever listen? I explained it when Emiko fought Sesshomaru! We can both turn into youkai when we wish!"
"O…Oh." he turned red and looked down, shamefaced.
"Yeah. Now what did you call me?" she asked with venom.
"Uhh…bye!" he took off.
"Hey! INUYASHA GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!"
Emiko sat down and started playing with Shippo as Cynder chased Inuyasha around in circles, "Just another day for our little group." she sighed with a smile.
THE END
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