Chapter 9: We meet again

Kiona continued on her way up the mountain in search of Inuyasha. After what felt like the whole day, she finally stopped and took a rest. How far up could he have possibly gone? She thought to herself as she watched the sunset. She sighed after a moment and decided to go to sleep. What else could she do by herself on a mountain side? She quickly dozed off but after what felt like only ten minutes she was awakened by a roaring noise. She jumped up and looked around not really seeing anything but darkness.

"Inuyasha?" Kiona asked tentatively, "Father?" She looked this way and that but still could figure out what the roaring noise was.

All at once, it attacked. Kiona screamed as the demon hit her across the face and sent her flying. She stood back up was dazed and she no longer knew what was going on around her. The demon was about to make another move, when someone came flying through the air with a sword. Kiona couldn't tell who it was and fell to the floor in light headiness.

"Leave her alone!" The person said, striking the demon across the chest with his sword, killing the demon instantly. The person returned his sword to his hilt and rushed over to Kiona.

"Who are you?" Kiona asked weakly, finally getting over her blow from the demon.

"Inuyasha…" He said, squinted in the darkness to see who he was looking down upon.

Kiona jumped up and hugged Inuyasha tightly. Inuyasha freaked out and pushed her away.

"What's you problem!?" He said, taking a step back and glaring at her. He still didn't know who she was.

"Can't you tell?" Kiona said to him exasperated, "You used to know who I was by my scent? Has that changed?"

Inuyasha looked at her in disbelief and took a step toward her. He could finally make out her big blue eyes and he smiled.

"Is it really you, Kiona?" He said quietly, grabbing her hand and stroking it and he realized that it was no longer warm as he had remembered it, but cold.

Kiona nodded and hugged him tightly. They stayed like that for moment when Yumichi, Sora, and Reina appeared.

"What's going on? We heard someone screaming!" Reina said as they approached.

Inuyasha and Kiona let go of each other quickly and watched as the others stopped before them.

"It was me." Kiona told them, "A demon attacked me while I was sleeping…"

"That was stupid!" Sora said to her, her hands on her hips, "Why did you fall asleep when there was a demon around?"

Kiona frowned at her, "I didn't know there was one!"

Yumichi ignored this, "Are you hurt?"

Sora got up into Kiona's face to check and nodded, "She has a big scratch across her face!"

Kiona blushed and pushed Sora away, "I'm fine! The important thing is, is that we found Inuyasha! Now we can tell him!"

"Tell me what?" Inuyasha asked her curiously, trying to gaze at her through the dark night.

"Naraku is back!" Reina said before Kiona could open her mouth, "Kiona said she saw him!"

"He nearly killed me! Again." Kiona added looking cross.

"So, now what?" Yumichi asked everyone.

"Let's go find Sango, Miroku and Shippo." Inuyasha said, "We made camp not far from here, let's go."

Everyone nodded and followed Inuyasha up the mountain side.