Alrighty peoplz, here's the next chapter for ya! *squeals at the top of her lungs* OH MY GOSHNESS! I have a HUNDRED and TEN reviews! *squeals while running up and down the halls while coming back with a platter of cake* Okay then, CAKE for my ALL my reviewers as well as my eleven most recent ones: VampireSiren, Black Dragon Valkyrie, RosesMoon, Mango-sama, wolf girl 4797, Anastasia Knyte, leafygreen16, BlackCatDemon133, Cherrynekogirl414, karlachan18, and MyLiloITAChIassasin! I LOVE YOU ALL! Also, a GINORMOUS thanks to Mango-sama who has been going over every chapter after I post it, and pointing out any typos to me; as well as giving me tons of incredibly detailed and helpful feedback. You ALL owe her your thanks! Oh yeah, and another thanks to all the people who have already favorited and/or followed this story. Hope you all enjoy chapter 14!

BEFORE YOU READ: Okay, so to clear up a few things about Kaze's powers. Usually when she's fighting, like when she's shooting her spirit energy through her gun, Kaze is using her spirit ENERGY! Another words, she just using the energy, not her actual spirit. On the other hand, when she uses Spirit Projection, Kaze is actually forcing her SPIRIT out of her body and manifesting it into a somewhat physical form.

Terms to know…
Daiyoukai – Great Demon
Youkai – Demon
Hanyou – Half Demon
Miko – Priestess
Inu – Dog

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha, the Inuyasha plot, NOR the Inuyasha characters. I only own my own OC Kaze Hijikata, any other OCs created along the way, and any part of the plot NOT a part of the Inuyasha anime or manga. This fanfic, however, is MINE and I'd like to keep it that way.

Chapter 14-Spiritualist's Path

With Sesshomaru/In the Woods…
The Western Lord made his way back to camp at a languid pace. A rather pleased feeling washed over the Daiyoukai. Why? Let's see… He'd gotten the answers to his questions, got a promise to have the miasma in his leg removed, and managed to piss Inuyasha off all in the last twenty-four hours. Not to mention he got to watch the female spiritualist 'sit' his idiot half-brother several times, which had been rather amusing. In Sesshomaru's mind, all that had made this last day a fairly good one. Perhaps helping the spiritualist hadn't been such a bad idea after all, even if it had caused a few stirs in his beast.

Therefore, the Inu was in a decently good mood when he arrived back to camp. However, the feeling was short-lived as a strange, new feeling greeted him upon his arrival. Golden eyes narrowed in concentration as the Daiyoukai tried to figure out just what was wrong. Everything was just how he'd left it. Jaken was sulking by a bush. Rin was curled up sleeping next the Ah and Un. The spiritualist was…

"Ah, so that was it." Sesshomaru noted with silent indifference. The thing out of place was the fact that raven-haired woman was not where he'd left her. "Hn… it is of no matter." He told himself, for she was back where she belonged; with Inuyasha.

Once again, an unexplainable anger suddenly enveloped his beast at the thought. Did it anger him, the fact that she belonged to his hanyou brother's pack? "Ridiculous!" the Western Lord growled mentally. Why should it matter to him where or who she was with? The troublesome mortal was none of his concern!

"Nnnn… Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin's voice snapped the Daiyoukai out of his internal argument.

Turning his gaze towards the child, Sesshomaru waited quietly for the just waking girl to continue.

A soft silence enveloped them as the human child scanned her surroundings. Chocolate orbs suddenly widened with surprise as she exclaimed, "Where's Miss Kaze?"

"She has returned to where she belongs, Rin." The white-haired male answered calmly, ignoring the frustration that bubbled up inside him as he spoke those words.

"Oh," she said softly, disappointment being detectable in her voice as she leaned back up against the two-headed dragon.

"Then again…" the Daiyoukai paused. He had purposely left the spiritualist here, at his camp. But instead of staying, the insolent wench had not only left but returned to her own pack without his permission! So, on the contrary, Sesshomaru now found that he had every right and reason to be angry! (A/N: *sigh* Always has to find some justifiable reason, doesn't he?)

A deadly smirk worked its way up on the Western Lords face. After all, she had promised that she would return and treat his leg. Therefore, the woman would be forced to come back. "And when she does…" both Sesshomaru and his beast smirked at the thought, "she won't be leaving." It wasn't like he particularly wanted the troublesome human around. It was simply a matter of his pride. He, the alpha of this pack had not given her permission to depart. So, technically speaking, the raven-haired female still belonged here with him. Also, with her around, he would no longer have to worry about leaving his ward in the incapable hands of Jaken, since the spiritualist would also be there to protect her. Not only that, but the white-haired male knew for sure that such an act was bound to utterly infuriate his young half-brother.

His mind now to focused on his alpha pride, Sesshomaru did not notice, question or delve any deeper into reasoning. Now on a one-track mind set, the Daiyoukai was absolutely sure that he'd figured everything out. After all, his reasoning was perfectly just. Too bad for Sesshomaru that not once did he notice his beast grinning like a fool deep down inside of him.

With Kaze/Kaede's Hut…
Kaze woke to yet another splitting headache, also feeling as if someone had stuck her inside of a furnace. Blinking several times, it took the observant spiritualist but a moment to realize that she was back in the old miko's hut. With a good deal of effort, the raven-haired girl pushed herself up into a sitting position, but almost immediately doubled over in a bad coughing fit.

"Kaze, what are you doing?!" Kagome's motherly fussing broke into the stillness as the young miko burst into the room, "You should be laying down!"

"Yeah, yeah…" the red-eyed female grumbled as she wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth, "How long have I been out?"

"About four hours." The midnight-haired miko replied, placing a hand on her cousin's shoulder in order to steady the woozy female.

"Not long…" Kaze noted silently, before moving into a wobbly but standing position.

"What are you doing!?" Kagome squawked as she watched her cousin stumble to the doorway, "And where are you going!?"

"Home." The raven-haired girl replied simply, "I need to make a call."

"A call?" the young miko wondered as she rushed over to lend Kaze her shoulder for support, "To who?"

"An old friend. She's a spiritualist just like me and doesn't live to far away from the shrine." Kaze stated with a small huff, "She'll be pissed, but I'm gonna give her a call so she can come over and fix me up. Now's not the time for me to be laid up."

"Then I'm coming with you." The midnight-haired girl said stubbornly, "You can hardly walk. So, who's going to help you get to the well, huh?"

"Fine, fine, whatever!" Kaze snapped irritably as they made their way through the village.

"Hey, Kagome, Kaze, what the hell are you doing!?" a familiar voice stopped the two cousins.

Turning around, the duo spotted Inuyasha heading their way. Jumping up in the air, the hanyou landed with agile grace in front of the two girls as he pinned them with a stern, golden glare. "Just what the hell are you doing up?" he demanded as he brought his gaze over to the disheveled spiritualist.

"Going back to the other side of the well." The raven-haired girl explained, "There's someone over there who should be able my spiritual wounds."

"And you're going to walk there in your condition!?" the white-haired youth practically shrieked.

"No, I'm gonna fly." Kaze said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she rolled her eyes, "Naw dip, Sherlock! Of course I'm walking!"

"Cheh! Well, not if I can help it!" Inuyasha snapped irritably as he hoisted Kagome and her temperamental cousin onto his back.

"What the hell, Inuyasha! I said I'm walking!" the raven-haired girl exploded.

"Keh! Like hell you are! Forget it!" he snapped back, "You're still injured. So, just shut-up and let me carry you two!"

The furious woman opened her mouth to argue, but a gentle touch and smile from Kagome stopped her. So, now silenced, all Kaze could do was slump forward and try to enjoy the ride. It wasn't a very long one. Considering how fast the hanyou could move, it was only a couple of minutes before they reached the well.

Having now had the time to cool off her temper, Kaze turned back to face her newest friend with a smile. "Thanks, Inuyasha." She said softly before stumbling over to the side of the Bone Eaters Well.

The white-haired youth looked a little taken-aback, but muttered a quick "You're welcome." none the less before dashing off and vanishing from sight.

"Well, are we off?" Kagome inquired as she swung her legs over the side of the well.

"Yeah." the young spiritualist replied, "Let's go."

With Inuyasha/In the Woods…
After leaving the two girls behind, Inuyasha slowed his pace so he could properly think. In truth, he was actually rather worried about Kaze's condition. For, even though he didn't like to admit it, even in the short amount of time he'd known her, the hanyou had already developed a certain liking for the stubborn human. Funny, considering that she was the only person he'd ever met that could actually be even scarier than Kagome. But, like Kagome, Kaze was also extremely kind. Also, she didn't seem to mind in the least that he was a hanyou, and she seemed to trust him enough to put Kagome's well-being in his care.

What bothered Inuyasha was the fact that not only had he begun to take a liking for Kaze, but oddly enough, Sesshomaru had seemed to as well! The white-haired youth had been suspicious after their first meeting, but this second one had proven it. After all, Sesshomaru had actually helped the spiritualist! Seriously, how un-Sesshomaru like could one get!? Not to mention the fact that Sesshomaru was there for her while our certain hanyou wasn't, was also pissing Inuyasha off. It also worried the half Inu. Currently, he had no idea what his older brother was thinking, nor what he was planning. But the white-haired youth had resolved himself to be ready for it, no matter what it might be.

With Kaze and Kagome/Higurashi Shrine…
"Oh goodness, Kagome, what happened!?" Emiko gasped in horror as she watched her daughter practically drag in a half conscious Kaze.

"Just a little scuffle is all, Aunty." Kaze grinned good-naturally but still with a pained expression.

"A little scuffle!?" the gentle woman repeated disbelievingly.

"Yeah, it's really nothing to worry about." The young spiritualist lied. Having now been led over and sat down on the couch she looked up pleadingly to her aunt. "But will you please bring me the phone?" she pleaded, "I have a really important call to make."

"Of course, dear." Kagome's mother said immediately as she rushed off to retrieve the phone. Finding it, she walked back over and handed it to her niece.

"Thanks, Aunt Emiko." Kaze smiled as she dialed in her friend's number. Several second passed before a warm feminine voice sounded on the other line.

"Hello?" the voice said, "You've reached Kurumi. May I ask who's calling?"

"Yeah… Hey, Kurumi! What's up?" the raven-haired girl grinned as she replied.

"Kaze, is that you!? Oh my gosh! It's been forever since I've last heard from you!" Kurumi exclaimed in an excited tone, "How are you doing?"

"About that…" Kaze trailed with a nervous chuckle, "You see, I just moved back to the Higurashi Shrine. But, I'm having a pretty serious relapse right now. So, do you think you could come and umm… patch me up a bit?"

SILENCE…

"WHAT THE HELL, KAZE!? How the hell did go into relapse!? Just what the hell were you doing!?" the young woman on the other line exploded before huffing, "You know what? Never mind! I don't wanna know right now. Geez… I'll be over in a few minutes. So, try not to die before then. Okay?"

"Sure. I'll try not to." The red-eyed girl smiled weakly before hanging up.

About fifteen minutes later, a busty young woman in her early twenties, with long chocolate brown hair and stunning green eyes stormed in. Huffing as she made her way inside, Kurumi glowered down at the raven-haired spiritualist laying weakly on the couch. "Kaze, what on earth…" she trailed off as she took in her junior's condition.

"Yeah, I know. But… would you mind not asking?" Kaze chuckled tiredly as she gazed up at her horrified friend.

"I ought to say no, but I'll say yes simply cause I'm just that good of a friend." The chocolate-haired woman growled as she kneeled down beside the pained girl.

Kagome, who had simple been observing throughout this time, now decided to speak up. "So, before you came, Kaze told me who you were. But what I'd like to know is if you can help her?" she asked.

A smile crossed Kurumi's lips as she replied, "Yes, I can. You see, the reason relapses occur is because when a spiritualist uses their power, it utilizes and puts a strain on their own spirit. Therefore, when overused, extreme damage can be done to the spirit; damage that can only be repaired over time or by another spiritualist."

"I think I see now." The young miko stated, mulling Kurumi's words over in her mind.

"Well, that's great and all." Kaze growled irritably, "But I'm still in pain here. So, if you don't mind, how about putting all that knowledge to use and healing me now?"

"Yes, yes, I'm on it." The busty female grumbled softly, turning back to her raven-haired friend, "But how did you manage to fall into relapse anyways?"

Red eyes averted themselves for their fellow spiritualist. "I used an extraction technique, a sealing spell, and then Spirit Projection." The young spiritualist muttered.

"WHAT THE HELL, KAZE!? ARE YOU INSANE!?" Kurumi shrieked at the top of her lungs, "I mean, you should know better than that! Using all those powerful techniques, especially Spirit Projection! One wrong move and that technique can kill you! In the condition you probably were in, you're lucky it didn't!"

"Damnit, Kurumi, I'm not a child! Don't you think I know that already!?" the raven-haired girl snapped.

Green eyes softened slightly as she looked at the younger female. "Yes, I know you do." She said quietly, a hit of sadness being heard in her voice, "Just… be more careful. Okay?"

"I'll try." Kaze mumbled, her own eyes re-softening a bit.

"Trying isn't good enough!" Kurumi growled, a stern look on her face, "Don't make me call in You Know Who."

Ruby red orbs widened in horror, "You wouldn't dare?"

Silence and a sharpened glare were all the young spiritualist received as an answer.

"Okay, okay! I'll be more careful!" the raven-haired girl exclaimed.

"Good. Now let's begin, shall we?" the chocolate-haired woman asked with a smile. Placing her hands just above the raven-haired girl's abdomen, Kurumi concentrated as she focused her own spiritual energy on her friend's damaged spirit. Finding where the spiritual wounds were located, the busty female quickly set to work on healing the injuries.

Kagome was for the most part silent as the treatment progressed, watching quietly as the newcomer slowly healed the young miko's cousin. Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned into hours. Finally, after a full four of the latter later, Kurumi had at last finished with her work.

"There! She should be fine now." The green-eyed woman stated as she stood up and wiped several beads of sweat from her forehead.

Standing up, the midnight-haired miko instantly made her way over to her best friend. She had planned to ask how she was feeling, only to find that the raven-haired spiritualist had apparently fallen asleep sometime during the procedure.

"Well, I should be going." Kurumi stated as she flicked a strand of runaway hair over her shoulder, "I'd let her rest if I were you. Idiot could probably really use it."

"I will. Thank you." Kagome replied with a deep bow, truly grateful that her closest friend didn't seem to be suffering anymore.

"Don't mention it." The chocolate-haired female chuckled as she headed for the door.

The young high-school student was about to say good bye when a sudden question formed in her mind. "Oh, Kurumi, wait a moment!" she called out as she followed the young woman.

"Hmm? What is it?" the spiritualist inquired, giving Kagome a curious look.

"Earlier, you said that by using their power, spiritualists suffer damage to their own spirit and suffer a relapse." The miko said, "So, what would happen if a spiritualist continued using their power even after they had reached the relapse stage?"

A solemn look came over Kurumi as she answered Kagome's question, "Well, eventually the strain on their spirit would kill them. But it wouldn't be an ordinary death. Since the damage would be being done the spirit, it's the spirit that would die. Therefore, the person would simply cease to exist. There would be no after life for them since the soul would be utterly destroyed. The spiritualist would simply disappear."

Chocolate orbs widened in horror upon receiving this news, "They simply just cease to exist!?"

"That's right." The busty young woman replied sadly, "So, make sure to keep an eye on that idiot, would you. Make sure she doesn't go and get herself killed."

Eyes flashing with determination, Kagome nodded, "I will."

Whoot! Mission accomplished, chapter finished! Haha, if only Sesshy-chan knew just how much trouble his 'alpha pride' is going to get him into. XD Ugh, Kaze's relapse is FINALLY over! Hip, hip, HOORAY! Next chapter we should REALLY start to get into the swing of things. :D Anyhoo... please, please, PLEASE review! Your constant feedback has been making me SOOO happy! So, keep up the good work! Also, please follow and favorite as well. See ya'all in the next chapter!

You're up Mango-sama. *glomp hugs before giving you another brownie* I leave it to you!

Rock Out!
Kira