Lady Tami winced as the groans outside became louder. She could hear the heavy items slamming to the ground and deep gasps emitting from the one suffering. She turned her back, clasping her hands together in a prayer. The firelight from the candle gleamed, illuminating her wrinkled face.

Her lips parted as she uttered a soft prayer, hoping her pleas would be answered. As soon as her chant ended, she clapped her hands and went to extinguish the fire. However, she felt an ominous aura encasing her hovel. She tensed, but when her senses linked on to something familiar, she relaxed. She kept her back turned, even as a foreful gust of wind swirled around her.

"Priestess Tami."

The elderly priestess turned and nodded her greeting. "Kagura, what brings you to my humble abode?"

Kagura folded her fan and reached into her bun. "Naraku wishes to see you."

"See me? What a pleasure." Lady Tami replied as she began to follow.

Kagura walked outside with the priestess following, until she felt pressure holding her down. She investigated to see Lady Tami's hand hauling her backwards. Kagura righted herself before she could stumble. "What are you doing? Get your hands off me!"

"We depart here. I don't want my villagers thinking I'm fraternizing with demons." Lady Tami declined her head. "They already don't trust me enough."

"One little mission could've changed your luck. But you hesitated." Kagura scowled. "Anyway, Naraku is getting antsy. We need to leave. Now."

She plucked her feather clip from her hair and tossed it in the air. Lady Tami stared at the swirling winds broadening the once miniscule feather. The two women found themselves soaring through the air, and vanish into the unforgiving darkness.

_ _ _

Kikyo gently parted the bamboo curtain to witness a heart breaking sight. Seeing Inuyasha curled around an erratically breathing Kagome almost had her drop the ingredients and storm from the place. She banished all thoughts that were screaming to her to let Kagome die. She impertably paced over to the fireplace, the ingredients swaying with her.

Inuyasha's nose crinkled as he inhaled another scent. The scent of cherry blossoms. His eyes widened to see he was buried in a sea of inky black. He rose, his mind frantically registering what had happened. He remembered being so concern for her that he enveloped her in his arms, whispering soothingly to her, beseeching her to stay with him. He supposed he fell asleep next to her and awoke to Kikyo's alluring aroma.

He surveyed the room and found the haunched shoulders of Kikyo working diligently at the fireplace. He secured the blanket around Kagome before walking over to Kikyo. He noticed her shredding herbs and adding it to the pot which she was stirring. He sat down next to her, offering his assistance without words.

Kikyo misinterpreted his helpfulness by thinking he was questioning her. "I'm making some herbal tea that will calm Kagome's breathing. We can only hope it would take care of her fever."

Inuyasha nodded. "Thanks."

"How is she?"

"Still burning up. Her breathing has not improved since we brought her here."

"She may need daily dosage of this tea until we find a way to cure her." Kikyo replied, now standing. "Get me a bowl."

Inuyasha obeyed. Kikyo took the bowl as she passed him and dumped the contents of the pot into the bowl. "How daily?"

"Once every day. If her breathing is irregular, I'd give her it at night too." Kikyo responded. "Hold her up. I'm going to feed her the tea, but I need you to hold her upright."

Inuyasha complied as he settled behind Kagome. He lifted her by the shoulders and allowed her to recline on him. He straightened her so she wouldn't slouch as Kikyo leaned over to give the girl the first teaspoon. The liquid seeped past Kagome's lips, but had problems flowing down her throat. Her body began to rack with vicious coughing fits. Kikyo leaned over further to rub the girl's throat, prompting Inuyasha to help the priestess.

Both hands soothed her for a few moments before her coughing ceased. Kikyo just sat on her haunches as Inuaysha continued to hold her. His finger pressed into her neck to feel for a pulse. Once the erratic beating slowed, Inuyasha nodded to Kikyo. The priestess resumed feeding Kagome the tea. Getting the tea down Kagome became much easier after her fits, much to the relief of both Kikyo and Inuyasha. Kikyo set down the empty bowl and instructed the half demon to allow Kagome fall back on the floor.

Inuyasha cradled the precious Kagome as he led her slowly to the floor. He tucked her in securely and with a prolonged glance at her pale face, he stood.

"I'm thinking of taking her to her time. The healers there may have more powerful remedies that could cure her. And there's no guarantee Miroku will be back with a cure anytime soon." Inuyasha stated.

Kikyo looked at the girl, then back at Inuyasha. "Her breathing is bettter. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to take her home. I shall remain here should your friends arrive."

Inuyasha scooped Kagome in his arms and with a nod of thanks towards Kikyo, bolted from the hut.

_ _ _

A chill swam down Lady Tami at the precarious sight. A castle shrouded in black towered over her and the wind witch as they strolled closer to the courtyard. They met an eerie boy at the threshold, who Lady Tami recognized as Hakudoshi. The boy demanded both priestess and Kagura to see Naraku in his study. Kagura scoffed at his orders and with a snide remark, clasped Lady Tami by the arm and hurried her to the master.

Lady Tami let Kagura lead the way. After a dizzying time of turning constantly, Kagura and Lady Tami saw the black contour of the man leaning against the wall. His unruly long dark curls framed his face. He slowly turned his crimson eyes to the females and to Kanna, who was holding the mirror that showed Kagura and Lady Tami's arrival.

"Tami, you almost let the young wench Kagome go." Naraku drawled.

"Nay Naraku, I was only undercover. It would seem suspicious if I agreed readily." Lady Tami said.

"All those things you said to her had potential of changing her mind."

Lady Tami once again disagreed. "I felt the girl's solid fortitude. I knew nothing I could say, or anyone for that matter, could ever change her mind."

"I sense that you are lying."

"Your instincts deceive you then."

Naraku buried his hand inside his kimono and brought it back out to show the almost whole Shikon no Tama. Lady Tami almost began salivating as the beautiful jewel gleamed in the pale moonlight. She outstretched her hand to trace her finger along the smooth surface, causing Naraku to grin.

"You want the Shikon no Tama don't you Tami?"

Lady Tami sighed. "My villagers can't trust me since I landed them in great debts that has left our village very poor. Water and food are scarce. Children of ages seven and up are forced to work in the fields with their father. Many have caught illness, many of my people have died. Each time a tragedy occurs, I lose their faith in me a little at a time. I feel the Shikon no Tama will be the answer to my prayers. Not only will it give my village wealth, but the trust I destroyed."

"All I ask Lady Tami before you can have the jewel, is Kagome's death. Surely you can handle that."

Lady Tami glared. "Naraku, killing people, especially someone so pure like young Kagome, is unsettling to me."

"Yes, I figure it would be. You are a priestess, and as such, have a gentle nature. Yet, Kagome's death will be worth it when you see the abundance of food, wealth, and their trust and faith in you. Isn't that more important than a single girl's life?"

"I feel dirty to agree, but I can't seem to say anything otherwise. You are correct Naraku. May I ask, however, why it is so important to you that this girl must die? So crucial that you are willing to give up the jewel to see her death?"

Naraku grunted. "You may not ask. My reasons are mine alone. I am not inclined to share them with you. You may however, leave to your village at once. I have food in the storage room you can take with you."

Lady Tami's eyes lit up. She clasped Naraku's cold hand into her own and kissed it ardently. "Oh! Thank you! Those two words can't even describe how grateful I am for your generosity."

Naraku pulled back his hand. "Yes, now leave. Kagura, will you escort our friend here back to her village?"

Kagura nodded and grudgingly took the woman by the arm and again. Lady Tami walked with Kagura, but tilted her head back to give Naraku a grateful smile. Naraku truned his back and felt the presence of Kagura and the woman dissipate.

"A very generous offer Naraku." Hakudoshi, who had entered the vicinity soon enough to hear about food, smirked. "However, why do I get this feeling you didn't offer Tami food from the kindness of your heart."

"I have no heart Hakudoshi, and as such, can't give generous offers. You are right. I merely offered the woman food to keep her in league with us. I fear the Shikon no Tama will not be enough to sustain her to her duty. I'm not certain if the food will be enough either. That's why I'm demanding you Hakudoshi, to follow the woman. Kanna has informed me that the monk and demon slayer are wanting to question her, and it would be disastrous if she tells them the cure for Kagome."

"If she does tell them…"

"Kill her."

"Kill her? That's it?"

"And I will deal with Kagome so she never breathes again."

_ _ _

Kirara stared as her mistress plopped down on a rock. Her hands came up around her face, as though shielding her distress. Kirara sensed Sango's sadness however, and urgently nuzzled her hand. Sango pat Kirara as she continued to weep. Miroku sat down next to her, curling his arm around her shoulders.

"Sango, don't give up so easy. I am certain that there are others who know of Lady Tami as well."

"I'm just haunted by what she said." Sango glanced at Kohaku, who was picking an apple from a nearby tree to eat. "What if I have to lose Kohaku to see Kagome healthy? How can I choose!"

"Sango, calm yourself. Only Lady Tami can provide the answer for us."

Sango nodded. "I know. But what are we going to do since Kumiko won't tell us anything!"

"We'll just have to try to find someone who can tell us something."

"But that might take days! Kagome needs us immediately!"

"Well, it's better than sitting around here. Now come Sango, Kohaku, we have to find someone that may lead us to Lady Tami."

Kirara watched the exchange long enough. She growled, softly at first, but when they ignored her, she went rowdy. Sango and Miroku turned with curious faces as Kirara ran in circles and jumped around.

"She doesn't usually do that unless she wants to take us somewhere urgently." Sango explained as she kneeled by her cat. "Kirara? Is there some place you want to take us to?"

Kirara growled again as she transformed. Kohaku saw this as did Miroku and they rushed to the feline and mistress. Sango was the first to mount the cat, and Miroku helped Kohaku get on then he joined. The members held on as Kirara soared into the sky.

"Are you taking us to Lady Tami?" Sango asked hopefully.

Kirara growled yet again, but it wasn't a furious growl like before. This one seemed more affirmative. Then, Sango remembered the night both Kagome and Kirara went missing. That's when she put the two pieces of the puzzle together.

"So that's where you and Kagome took off that night. To Lady Tami's." Sango murmured as the cat flew higher.

"Sis, where are we going?" Kohaku questioned.

"To Lady Tami."

Miroku raised an eyebrow. "But how? How can Kirara know the way when we didn't get any directions."

"Kirara's been to Lady Tami's before. With Kagome." Sango clarified, and Miroku understood.

The party eagerly scanned their surroundings in hopes of finding the priestess that could save their friend's life.