Pure Rukh Chapter 21: Lingering Hate, an Inuyasha + Magi/マギ Crossover fanfic

Title: Pure Rukh

Rating: T

DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Magi belongs to Shinobu Ohtaka. Two respected mangaka! I do not own the characters in any way nor the story plot. Only the idea of this fanfiction!

MizukixTsukiyomi's Notes: After a long wait, I finally found the inspiration and motivation to write this chapter out. Out of all the stuff I write, I got to admit this is the hardest one. It must be the action, but I also challenge myself to write longer chapters for this fic since it will be pretty long. And also I wanted to get the Madaura arc out of the way because after this...well we dive into different interactions and more into knowing how Kagome is incorporated into the Magi world.

As promised, an extra long chapter and I am still not fully satisfied with how I wrote this (not even sure if that makes sense). I have been dealing with headaches for the past 2 weeks and school, so I tried my best writing the best I could. I do hope you still enjoy!

Side note: I cannot thank you all enough for the reviews and support! Seriously, this story is growing so much, and I cannot believe we are almost to 800 reviews! I need to work harder now!

Chapter 20: Lingering Hate

All of it was too abnormal, yet the smiles and the glee of all the children he had seen was something he rarely saw on the children outside in the real world. Aladdin's eyes narrowed as he saw the many young children enjoying the food before them in the large dining room of the cave he had been brought into. A cave made of many exits and entrances Orba had called home. Why Orba and his crew had not been caught was due to the secret 'mountain' island in the middle of the ocean. It's only way was either swimming underneath or over, but the distance underwater and in the skies were unreachable by normal human power.

The magi's eyes landed on the soup before him. It was soup he had seen being cooked by the same children as he was given a tour of the place. Nothing was normal about the scene, yet he could not say much as he took in the joys of the children around him. Joys hardly expressed in the countries dealing with famine and poverty.

"Eat up."

Looking up to the voice beside him, Aladdin watched as Orba took a piece of bread from the main bowl in the middle before taking a bite.

"Orba-kun…that's your name, right?" Aladdin questioned. "Why are there only children here?"

He exhaled, turning to the face the two children across their seats. "Take a look at those two."

Following his line of sight, Aladdin blinked. Two children he recognized that were on the same boat as him, were filling their stomachs of food non-stop. The looks of deprivation of the very source they were taking in obvious to the eye. Their frail bodies barely able to hold a spoon or cup with balance.

"They're the kids I brought in." Orba whispered. "Until now, I'll bet they haven't had a meal like this in their lives. The other kids you see here are from similar backgrounds, same or less. Now that they're here with Aum Madaura, they are discovering the blessing of filling their stomachs to their hearts content and having no other worries in their lives."

Aladdin could not help but feel his heart shrink with guilt. So far he had been lucky to be able to have less worries than the average human on this earth, but seeing this innocent children having no choice in the matter of where they are born and their social status, it gave him that guilt. Were countries stooping this low to be ignoring their people?

"Aum Madaura!"

"It's Aum Madaura!"

Hearing the gasps and shouts of excitement from the other children, Aladdin turned his head to the left to see a mysterious woman with wavy violet locks coming to sit at the end of the room where a throne-like chair awaited her. Close to her chest, a young girl of four was cradled carefully and with love.

"What good children you are." Aum Madaura spoke, her tone soft as she smiled at the kids.

"Madaura! Orba's air bubble saved us once again!" One of the boys spoke.

"I see." She chuckled. "Well done, Orba. Please continue to look after your little brothers and sisters, okay?"

The corners of his lips stretched into a smile of admiration, "yes, Aum Madaura!"

Opening her lavender eyes, Aum Madaura raised a brow at the sight of the blue haired boy sitting next to Orba. "Oh? A new face. Welcome, little boy. I am happy to have you here."

Aladdin took in the look on her face: a selfish happiness. Around her hues were the color of coal, and it did not help to hear her words. Those words were not a welcome, at least he felt. "Are you…Aum Madaura?"

"Yes," she replied as she petted the top of the little girl's head on her chest, "I am Aum Madaura. I am the mother of all the miserable children who live in this unfair world. Now that you are here with me, you're safe now, little boy. All the things you feared: starvation, cold, anxiety, and illness…I am here to protect you against all of that, and more." Her eyes narrowed; the coldness in her hues matching the smile she gifted them. "Come here to Madaura!"

Getting no reply or movement from the boy, Aum Madaura's eyes narrowed slightly. Was he afraid of her? "What's the matter, little boy?"

"On the ship coming over, I saw children who had collapsed." Aladdin quickly replied, eyes glued to hers. "They kept saying it was for 'Madaura's' sake, yet they had exhausted all of their strength. Is that what you call a blessing?"

Taking in the whispers of confusion of the children present, Aum Madaura's sights remained on the blue haired boy.

"Why are you questioning it?"

Heads turned to Orba's threatening stare.

"We're alive because of Madaura." He continued. "We will gladly die for Madaura."

"He's right!" Another boy nodded, standing from his seat. "If it will make Madaura happy, we will die for her!"

"Listen, Madaura!" A smaller girl exclaimed with a huge grin, "I'll be glad to die for you, too!"

"Madaura!"

One by one, each of the kids stood with tears streaming down her cheeks as they chanted away their lives for the woman before them. Aladdin remained silent; he was too shocked to say anything of the matter. He sensed no brainwash, and yet these children, so young and innocent, were already talking about death as if it were a mere topic of every day life.

"Little boy. "

Aladdin's eyes landed on the sympathetic expression the woman gave him.

"I can see that you're still a bad child," Aum Madaura sighed, "but don't worry. In time, you will understand. Soon, you will learn that Madaura is your whole world."

"Thank you for lending us your ship…".

Watching the blonde teen give him a deep bow, the captain of the merchant ship shook his head with a smile. "Our sailor survived, all thanks you and your friends." He chuckled as he watched Alibaba straighten back up. "Use it to your heart's content!"

Alibaba's shoulder dropped as he felt relief there were no hard feelings to using the ship they had first boarded to follow Hakuryuu's roots he planted on Orba's cargo. As much as he and the others tried to make the navy of the soldiers of the country budge and take action against the pirates, they rejected the idea of fighting. He sighed, remembering Kagome almost close to bursting into a physical fight if it were not for him and Hakuryuu stopping her from doing so.

"W-What?! Aladdin has been kidnapped?!"

Turning to the female voice, Alibaba blinked noticing both Hakuryuu and Morgiana behind Kagome as the miko held a crystal sphere on her palm. Curious himself, Alibaba walked towards the trio before looking over Kagome's shoulder to see none other than Yamraiha pushing Sharrkan away from the crystal to face Kagome.

"O-Oi! Damn you, don't push me, Yamraiha!" Sharrkan shouted, having had his cheek pressed harshly by Yamraiha's palm.

"Is that…?" Alibaba whispered, hearing both their teachers arguing back and forth.

"Ah," Hakuryuu turned to the blonde, "Kagome-dono found it in Aladdin's luggage; it's the Eye of the Rukh, a Magic Tool that allows you to communicate with someone in a distant location. She is talking with Yamraiha-san and Sharrkan-san at the moment."

Morgiana turned to Alibaba, "she thought it was best to inform them on the situation."

"Also didn't want to deal with a certain king." Kagome whispered under her breath. She had one herself, but she wanted to test it out with Aladdin's to see if his was connected to Yamraiha or Sinbad. The second Yamraiha answered, all worries washed away from her. Eyes back on the communicator, Kagome jolted in her spot as she saw the person she had been avoiding presenting her with a glare. "A-Ah…Sinbad-san...". Where the heck did Yamraiha and Sharrkan go?

"Kagome-san."

Sinbad's voice made the miko sigh as the others became curious at the tone Sinbad gave off.

"Yeah, yeah." Kagome nodded, knowing she was about to get lectured. The last thing she needed in this crisis was to be addressed like a child and about her carelessness. Time and time again it occurred with Inuyasha, and there were times she wanted to lecture back – and she did at times. 'Okay, most of the time.'

"I overheard the conversation. Why did you not contact me as soon as it occurred, Kagome-san." Sinbad exhaled.

"Did you know this was happening with your merchants?" Kagome questioned back. "It looked like it wasn't the first time, and these pirates are not regular pirates, they are children."

"Children?" He repeated. "Hm, we were aware of the incidents, but this is new. I never suspected children to be the cause." Watching him hook his fingers under his chin, Sinbad sighed once more. "As far as Sindria is concerned, we can't allow our trade route with Actia to be menaced in such a way. There is now the worry for Aladdin-kun as well. I will send back-up-."

"There is no need." Kagome cut him off.

"Kagome-san."

The three teens behind her looked at each upon catching the demanding tone.

"There is no need for it, Sinbad-san." Kagome reassured him of her decision. "We will manage somehow."

"You are dealing with Magic Tool users, Kagome-san." His brows furrowed. There was no telling what would happen of them if there was someone behind the scenes of the whole scheme. Children as pirates? It sounded too good to be true, and having Magic Tools at that? Someone was obviously supplying them. "Kagome-san, it isn't just-".

"Children." Kagome finished for him, "I know, Sinbad-san. I also do have a hunch there is something fishy about all of this."

"Fishy…?" Alibaba whispered to the two. "Is that some kind of expression?"

Silent, Sinbad continued to stare at the miko. Judging by her serious glare, he knew she was determined to solve this on her own with the other three. He closed his eyes before parting his lips to speak, "Kago-oomf!"

Kagome blinked as the image of Sinbad quickly pushed away and both Yamraiha and Sharrkan came into the picture.

"Kagome-sama!" Sharrkan shouted.

"I told you to not call me that, Sharrkan-san…" Her brow twitched. Rumors must have continued to spread since she left about her so-called 'relationship' with the king.

"If you need us, let us know immediately!" He spoke as Kagome watched Yamraiha agree with the statement.

Composing herself, Kagome returned the nod. As she grabbed Aladdin's bag to place the communicator back, she heard Sinbad's voice.

"Kagome-san."

She stopped; her eyes dropped to his concerned eyes. Looking away, the miko became he was more worried about her safety. Taking a look at the three behind her, she then turned her attention back to Sinbad. "Sinbad-san, if anything happens, I'll let you know, but only if it's out of my hands." Seeing his smile, her eyes reflexed into a glare, "but I can handle this, have some faith." She narrowed her eyes in thought before looking back down at Sinbad. "Actually, I do have a favor to ask of you, Sinbad-san…

He raised a brow in return.

Well this was first.

"Very well." Sinbad nodded. "If I don't hear from you the next morning, I will be sending people there."

"Yeah, yeah." Deciding to turn off the Magic Tool before he said anything else to give her pressure and worries, Kagome stuffed the item into Aladdin's bag. Despite her confidence to go head-to-head with an unknown enemy, the level of that confidence was not high.

"Man, those Magic Tools are something…" Alibaba commented, a little surprised to find such a useful tool to begin with. With most Magic Tools he had come to witness, they were being used to start a war. He was not sure if Kagome was about to ask for reinforcements, and he was expecting it. After all, everyone was aware of Sinbad's care for the miko. 'But,' his eyes landed on Kagome's back, 'she has faith in us; I can't let her down. We have to get Aladdin and the other children back no matter what.' Eyes landed on Hakuryuu's spear laying on the floor before noticing the Djinn's magic circle embed on the silver blade. "Nee, Hakuryuu…".

"What is it?" He blinked the moment he felt Alibaba's arm land around his shoulders.

"Y-You seem to have really mastered how to use Zagan, huh?" Alibaba whispered. "G-Good for you…".

Hakuryuu blinked again, "uh…thank you very much." Feeling Alibaba's hands grip at the clothing on his shoulder, he could not help but crook a curious brow.

"Well, you know…," Alibaba cleared his throat, "that other thing. Don't tell me…that you… can perform a full-on Djinn Equip, too. Can you? You can't, right?"

The corner of Hakuryuu's lips curved upwards having caught on Alibaba's intentions. Patting the top of Alibaba's hands, the smirk grew. "Well, now…what do you think?"

Alibaba's brow twitched as he heard Hakuryuu's words like bait. "W-What the-? You mean you can do it? Then teach me, bastard!"

"I don't want to~."

Smiling at what seemed to be their growing friendship, Morgiana nodded to herself. It was a wonderful sight to see the two princes becoming closer and making up after the whole ordeal that had occurred both in Zagan's tower and on the way to Actia. Turning her head to the miko, she smiled only to stop at the sight of Kagome expression. "Kagome-san?" She whispered. Noticing her miko's eyes glued to Aladdin's bag, Morgiana remained silent, but observant.

No doubt Kagome felt her guilt heavier than most having become close to the magi. Not as a miko, but as a friend.

'You don't think it is best to get back-up in this situation, Kagome-sama?' Aramitama spoke.

His words weighted down her brows in concern as she turned to the direction of the ship's lead. Off in the distance, a mountain-like island could be seen and judging by the roots of Hakuryuu's Djinn, that was their destination.

'It would only delay the rescue.' Sakimitama replied for her. 'There is no telling what they are doing to those children and Aladdin-kun.'

"I see an island ahead!" One of the sailors shouted from above.

Replacing her hold from Aladdin's bag to her bow, Kagome turned to Morgiana. "Morgiana-chan."

"Yes?"

"We are going to need your help here."

Morgiana blinked before placing her eyes at the island. "Is our destination beyond that small island?"

Hakuryuu gave her a nod, checking the roots of his power leading up to the said island. "Looks like that is where they have stopped."

"All right," Alibaba cracked his knuckles, "let's go-." The prince blinked as he felt hands gripping at his wrist. Following the arms, eyes narrowed suspiciously at Morgiana's eyes still glued to their target. "Um, Morgiana? What are you doing?"

"She's is going to throw us." Kagome replied as she placed her bow securely over her shoulder. "Those islands are surrounded by mountains, and the only way to go in is to sink or fly."

The grip on his wrists tightened; Alibaba immediately shook his head. "H-Hold on! This is suicide-wah!"

Hakuryuu blinked as he watched Morgiana twirl in place as she swung Alibaba in a circle. It was not until he caught a glimpse of Alibaba's head shaking quickly in objection to the slow release of his hands. Wait, this is how they were going to enter? In less than two seconds, Alibaba was released into the air and flying towards the island.

"We have to make a surprise attack." Kagome spoke, giving Hakuryuu a nervous smile. "There is no telling exactly what we are dealing with, but one of our own is in danger."

He understood, and in that moment, he saw something different within the woman sprout. He had believed her to only be a love interest of Sinbad, but only by looks. After learning she was a miko, the curiosity grew.

But there was no telling just how strong she was or could become.

"Hakuryuu-san."

His head turned to the Fanalis girl waiting to throw him. He gulped, hoping his landing would be less frightening than the throw.

"O-Orba! Orba! We have trouble!"

Turning around to the child running into the dining room, Orba blinked noticing the panic in his eyes and the sweat clinging to his forehead. "What is it?"

"The ship…the ship is…"

"Ship?" He repeated.

"There he goes." Kagome whispered as she placed her hand over her eyes to cast away the sunlight. The idea of having their strongest, physically, member throwing them into the air was frightening, but it was effective. Not to mention Morgiana had no problem doing so.

"Are you ready, Kagome-san?" Morgiana asked, turning to the miko.

Nodding back, Kagome secured her bow and arrows once more before letting Morgiana grab her wrists.

Orba's eyes widened as he followed the roots and plants laced around their ship. What kind of sorcery was this? Why was their ship getting swallowed by roots? The roots, both large and small, curled around ever inch of their main ship and into the sand and water of their home. Was this an enemy attack?

"W-What the hell is this?" Orba cursed under his breath.

"Enemy attack! From the south! A ship is heading straight towards us!"

Hearing the call of those guarding the top of the island, Orba tilted his head back to see the sun blinding his focus to the shadows flying into the island.

"Straight towards us?" One of the girls from the back whispered.

"Kakou!"

Orba took a step back as a pink light swirled underneath the four shadows and safely floated them down to the water. The pink light under their feet reflected onto their persons before the mysterious power disappeared creating mild winds, blowing away focus from the pirates.

"W-Who are they?" Another child whispered.

Orba's attention went directly to the black-haired woman with her index and middle fingers to her lips before she lowered them to grab her bow. Taking another look at the others in the group, his eyes widened once more. "Y-You guys-?!"

Alibaba blinked, having been awed by the light the miko produced to catch them gracefully once Morgiana had joined them in the fray of their throw. She had called out a catching barrier from what he heard her shout, and in that instant the light caught them. When did she learn a new trick? He did not recall her having that power before, but then again, there was a lot they did not know about her.

"Are you three okay?" Kagome asked keeping her eyes on the pirates.

"Yeah," Hakuryuu nodded as he twirled his spear in hand, "but it's too early to check, Kagome-dono." Directing their line of sight to Orba, the group immediately got into their fighting stances.

Slowly, Alibaba gripped the hilt of his weapon before bringing it out to point the edge at Orba and his followers. "Well, at least we are now. What do you say we go on a rampage?"

"M-Madaura!"

Attention to the boy running into the dining room, the woman's eyes narrowed suspiciously upon noticing the fright in his expression.

"T-There are three people here! Two males and two females!" He reported.

A smile of relief washed over Aladdin's expression as he heard the report. 'It has to be them!' He never doubted them to arrive, but it did worry him a bit when they did not know that the true enemy was in fact an adult woman. Hearing one of the older teens yell out his orders to get ready for battle, Aladdin was quick to stand and follow. Tackled by two other younger kids, Aladdin blinked as he heard heels echo in the room before coming to stare at the hem of Madaura's white gown.

"There is no need for you to go, little boy." She spoke, chuckling as she saw Aladdin's eyes roam up to her face. Her arms stretched out signaling for him to come to her. "Come here…".

Lowering her bow to lessen the tension – at least she hoped - Kagome straightened herself out. She observed the enemies on the other side; it pained her to see that in reality they were just children. Taking a step forward, and watching the children take defensive step back, Kagome hoped words would be their best weapon.

"We are only here to take back our friend, and these children to their parents." She spoke, earning herself a glare from Orba.

"Not gonna happen." Orba replied, lips turning into a grin. "Those kids will become our brothers. They're gonna be Aum Madaura's children! Aaron! Bjorn! Bjork! Jump!"

Taking out his blade, Alibaba came to stand beside the miko. "I think we may have to use some force."

The four of them bent their knees in preparation for their dodge as they saw Orba shooting water towards the three males he called out. The same technique he had used to robbed them was making itself a show again. Inside each of the three bubbles floating above them, three people were connected through a weapon that looked similar to that of Orba's, but only one person, the one at the front, had the control of aim.

"So they are Magic Tools…". Kagome whispered.

"Well," Alibaba's eyes narrowed seeing the end of their weapons light up blue, "those weapons won't work on us!"

"You sure about that?" Orba scoffed.

A huge geyser of water erupted from the three weapons having merged into one attack towards them. Quickly jumping out of the way, Kagome and the others looked up once more to see their advantageous smirks.

"They're way more powerful than they were before." Hakuryuu commented as he took his own stance. "We need to find a way out of this trick."

"Magic Amplifying Insect…"

Eyes rose to their left to see one of the bubbles carrying the three teens aiming at them.

"By connecting our Magic tools, we're increasing their power." One of the teens explained. "You didn't even know that? You guys from the east are so behind the times!"

Blowing another blast of water, the droplets rained over the four of them after having dodged another of their attacks. The miko's eyes rose once more to look at the said Magic Tool. If only they knew how behind this world was from the one she came from. Her hands sneaked over her shoulder before grabbing an arrow from her quiver and placing it on her bow.

The last thing she wanted was to hurt them, but sometimes force was needed.

The blasts from outside shook the cave from inside; Madaura's eyes shined with glee as she saw the dirt from the ceiling freckle down to the ruins of the cave. "Sounds like they're putting up quite a fight." She chuckled under her breath. Petting the heads of the two children hugging her sides, she then turned her head over her shoulder to see Aladdin being forced to follow her into a room where her riches laid.

The magi's brows dropped in worry as he took in the faces of joy of the children once more. "Why are you all…?" The question died off from his lips, still unsure how to take in the happiness around him yet knowing there was nothing right about the situation or the person in charge. 'This can't be what people call happiness…'.

"Happiness?" Madaura repeated, finally turning around to face the confused magi. "Children like you shouldn't be concerning yourselves with such complicated issues. All that matters is that I will make you one of my good little children." Raising her right hand to her face, she turned her hand for the magenta jewels on her finger tips and knuckles to catch Aladdin's attention. One last smirk decorated her lips before the jewels lit up in a magenta glow and become brighter with each second passing. "Be good little boy, okay?"

Blast after blast, all they could do is dodge. With the advantage on their side as they roamed the skies, the four of them were stuck on the ground. Each time Alibaba or Hakuryuu tried to use the rocky walls to jump, Orba would direct the bubbles by making them fly higher and out of reach.

"Dammit!" Alibaba cursed. "They would stay still for a second!" He watched as Morgiana's kick missed its target as Orba directed the bubble away from her range and Kagome's arrow missing another of their attackers. They were getting nowhere at this point.

Morgiana landed next to the three as they watched the bubbles being directed into the many holes of the caves and appearing from another.

"Come over here!" One of their attackers teased.

Their surroundings became silent with only the small waves of the water rippling back and forth from the shore. The four took a step back as they stood back-to-back in a circle while keeping their guard up. Hiding in the holes was an obvious plan to throw them off balance.

"Just where did they go?" Alibaba whispered.

Catching the first glimpse of a bubble inside one of the holes, Morgiana quickly pushed Alibaba out of the way as Kagome and Hakuryuu jumped back from the attack. Instinct pushed Hakuryuu to have his wooden arm extend its roots out from the origin of the shot and destroy the entrance of the hole completely.

"Hakuryuu-kun!" Kagome quickly stood behind him as she managed to make a barrier in time and deflect the water spurt coming from the other side.

"Over here!" The teens laughed as they hid once more in the dark caves.

Kagome cursed under her breath; she lowered her barrier. "This is just a game of cat and mouse for them."

Another blast came towards Alibaba and Morgiana; both jumped on opposite ends. Tired of the constant chase, Morgiana bent down before sprinting off towards the walls of the caves. Kagome and the other two blinked watching as the female Fanalis walked her way up the wall and into one of the holes without fear.

"Did she just…?" Alibaba whispered.

Kagome replied with a nod. "Looks like it."

"That was a piece of cake!" One of the male teens laughed as he comfortably directed the bubble to continue straight down the path of the tunnel. Their laughs soon died off as they heard heavy stomps coming from behind; heads turned over their shoulders to see one of the girls from the group running towards them with an expression exploding of rage.

Morgiana quickly kicked the bubble, popping it in the process and letting the three teens fall to the floor. Her foot came over their weapons before crushing it under her weight. She chose to ignore their quivering begs before turning her head to the small halls leading to various entrances and exits. "Hmm, looks like a desert rat hole."

'To your right, young one.'

Morgiana blinked having heard the female voice in her head. 'It's that person again…'.

Hearing people chuckling through the hole from her right, Morgiana waited before blinking at the sight another bubble carrying another three male teens. "Ah."

The males screeched as soon as they saw the girl sprinting towards them without mercy.

Screech after screech, the holes did nothing but amplify the murder occurring inside. Kagome blinked a couple of times before turning her head to Alibaba and Hakuryuu. "You two okay?" She asked.

"I can hear screaming from inside the walls…" Hakuryuu commented, awed that just by sound, he could imagine the destruction.

"I am pretty sure it must be pure hell in there." Alibaba's sweat drop loomed over his head.

Hearing cracks on the top pikes of the mountains, heads tilted upwards to see chunks of the caves of Morgiana's aftermath raining down on them. Kagome quickly placed a barrier around them, protecting them from both the big hits and the overflowing dust. Kagome snuck a glance from the cracks of smoke to see some of the children who attacked them with the Magic Tools unconscious; Alibaba and Hakuryuu followed suit to find Morgiana coming down with one of the boys in hand after having opened up the cave's inner outer shell.

"I've defeated them all." Morgiana landed on the sand.

"Amazing…". Hakuryuu whispered, surprised that she alone was able to take them down with no scratch on her.

"Good one, Morgiana!" Alibaba cheered. "You're awesome!"

The miko sighed in relief; she had felt a pulse from Sakimitama earlier when Morgiana bravely jumped into the nest. She was glad to know that at least Sakimitama was protecting her even though it was minimal, for now.

'Thank you, Sakimitama.'

'With pleasure, Kagome-sama.'

Light gasps caught the miko's attention to her left only to see three smaller children looking from behind the cracked wall. The second their eyes met, the children scurried away with fear leading them.

"Let's go after them." Hakuryuu came forth.

The three nodded before heading into the cave.

Chuckling under her breath, Madaura watched as the glow of her jewels got stronger, and the magenta color changed into a gradient of bright red. The boy before her seemed to be lost in the glow, and it was only a matter of time before-.

"Madaura!"

Her eyes glided over to the entrance of the room to see Orba and three of his strongest brothers behind him.

"They've breached the cove!" Orba warned as he tried to catch his breath. "They have also destroyed our ship during an avalanche!"

Madaura held back a curse; she hid her frown behind her hand. This was not in her plan. Sighing out her annoyance, she masked her disappointment with the gentle smile she knew they loved. "It's all right. After all, those children are still basically children, aren't they?"

Orba nodded, "except for one, I think."

"One?" She questioned back.

"One of the girls seemed to be an adult."

The woman's eyes narrowed dangerously. She definitely could not have another adult in here. Her power would not work. She would have to quicken her pace. Madaura chuckled before her eyes lowered back to the magi whose eyes remained pure. "That means more new members of our family, isn't that right, little boy?"

Deflecting weak blades one after another, Alibaba could not believe these many children were here. Just exactly how many were kidnapped? Not to mention they were all, at least the older ones of age, were trying to defend their base with knifes.

Morgiana kicked them away, careful to not place too much strength into her physical attacks. They had decided to run into the entrance of the cave, but Kagome had reminded them that despite their attacks and the look of murder in their eyes, they were still children.

At least by outer appearance.

"It's one brat after another!" Alibaba cursed as they continued their way down the lit hallway. "Just what the hell is going on here?"

Kagome's brows furrowed in worry. Aladdin was of their age, and there was no telling what could happen to him. Whoever was behind this had no heart if they were raising the children to be killers. 'Aladdin-kun, please be okay.'

"Kagome-dono!"

Hakuryuu's voice snapped her out of her worries only to take a jump back from a little girl's blade. Kagome's eyes widened as she saw, what looked to be a four-year-old, girl holding a knife with the intention of murder flaring in her eyes.

Yet, her whole body shook with hesitation, and her aura was a mix of light and darkness.

'This child…'. Kagome's shoulders dropped.

"This young?" Alibaba's voice quivered.

"W-We've got to protect Madaura!"

"We've got to protect Madaura!"

"Madaura!"

Their attention was pulled to the multiple of younger and same age kids holding their own weapons to kill. They were taken back, shocked, and horrified by the scene. Now surrounded by kids, the four of them were stuck.

"W-What is making them do this?" Alibaba whispered.

"Not so much a what, but a who."

Eyes landed on the miko.

"Children learn from others, and that others are usually by the adults in their lives. With their parents gone, and having been brought here, it is no puzzle to assume there is someone behind all of this." Her knuckles went white as her grip on her bow tightened. "Whoever it is, is taking advantage of their loneliness and need for comfort."

"You have them, too, little boy – don't you?" Madaura asked. "Those memories of being lonely? Memories of those being kind to you?" Extending her jewel hand out, a smirk decorated her features as a magenta smog began to envelope the magi.

Aladdin remained still, but his whole body relaxed in the embrace of the smog. His eyes lowered to the ground as memories from the beginning of his journey and the people he had met sprouted in his mind. Those smiles that came from Baba, Alibaba, Morgiana, Ugo, and Kagome had made him feel whole and loved. He felt so – "happy…".

"Is that so?" Madaura chuckled. "Well, let's bring out a little more…I'll give you what you seek. Continue to relax.".

Aladdin's eyes went completely blank as deep images of his lost memory slowly emerged.

Stopping a blade coming at him with his bare hand, Alibaba winced as he felt the sting. The little boy released his hold on the hilt as soon as he saw Alibaba's blood beginning to ooze out of his hand and coat the sharp edge of his knife.

"Y-You have to stop this…". Alibaba held himself back from screaming. The one thing he wanted to do was to yell in some sense, but he had to understand. After what Kagome had said, it made sense. These children were at a tender age of barely knowing what was right or wrong. The only ones who could judge for them were the adults they saw as role models.

Kagome came forth, extending her hand out to help the frighten boy. "It's okay. We aren't here to hurt you-." Pulled back by Hakuryuu, Kagome watched as Hakuryuu stopped the boy from attacking the miko and pushing him back by using bottom-end of his spear.

"Kagome-dono, you cannot let your guard down. They are children, but it looks like they will continue to attack."

She blinked back, unsure how to reply. "Well, yes, but…". They were still children.

"We should just ignore them and keep moving." Hakuryuu suggested as he took the first step forward.

Kagome, Alibaba, and Morgiana gave each other a silent look before following behind Hakuryuu. Before they could turn the corner of the hall, a child's voice from behind stopped them.

"W-Wait!"

Heads turned to see one of the young girls crawling towards them.

"D-Don't kill Madaura!"

"Right!" Another boy shouted. "Don't kill her!"

"Don't kill her! Don't kill her!"

The words were repeated like a mantra, and at this point, it had silenced them. Whoever this Madaura person was, they had the full support and love of these children and losing them would mean the end of the world for them.

"W-We were abandoned in the slums!" The first girl shouted, "s-she took us in and raised us! She always treated us so kindly, like a real mother! Please don't kill her!"

Hearing their cries of anguish only made it harder to leave them behind. From what they had gathered, Madaura was a woman, but for them to feel so loyal to her was the confusion. This woman was kidnapping them, and yet they had said she took them in and was like a real mother.

"We need to go." Hakuryuu spoke, pulling their attention away from the kids. "Aladdin-dono needs us."

Taking one last look at the children, Kagome felt her heart shrink as she saw their tears. They meant it, and they meant well. These children were simply trying to protect their protector.

Or at least the protector in their eyes.

"They are fighting for their mother…" Alibaba commented. Having turned the corner to a set of stairs leading upwards, his thoughts remained in the pile of children begging for the life of their mother. Whoever they were about to face, to become the evil person in those children's eyes – he did not want that.

"So what?" Hakuryuu cut in. "Even if that is true, they're still pirates."

Kagome glanced at the Kou prince from the corner of her eyes. Judging by his use of tone against parents, there was a lot of hate. Stopping at a divided path, Kagome took the opportunity to turn to Hakuryuu.

"They are children who are only following a person that is giving them shelter and food. They don't know any better, Hakuryuu-kun. Yes, their actions are wrong, but they are being taught to do these things." And there was no doubt the children were always thinking about doing it for this Madaura person.

"That still doesn't give them the right to steal and plunder." Hakuryuu replied.

Sight dropping to the floor, Morgiana's expression softened with guilt. "I also…under the care of my foster parents', I was ordered to do things I am not proud of and wounded countless people."

Hakuryuu's eyes widened slightly.

"When I was a kid," Alibaba spoke, turning to face the Kou prince, "I did whatever my mom told me, too. I'm sure it must have been the same for you, Hakuryuu…"

Kagome and the others waited for a reply; Hakuryuu closed his eyes before releasing a soft sigh.

"I don't know…since in my case, my elder sister was like a mother to me."

Morgiana's eyes widened as she remembered the small talk she had with Hakuryuu after Dunya's funeral. Al Thamen had murdered his family, but to her knowledge, only his older sister and himself were left of the family. Did that mean his mother was also killed?

Feeling a small ounce of darkness in Hakuryuu's aura, Kagome's lips parted to speak only to see Hakuryuu choosing a path already.

"Let's keep moving." He spoke, not even taking a second to look back.

Left behind, Kagome watched as Hakuryuu took the lead with Morgiana and Alibaba running behind him. The three of them were wise for their age, but at the end of the day she had to remind herself that they were also still children. Children who still had a lot to learn. Being part of a world that it was rare to hear people losing families or harboring hate so young, she had a difficult time understanding.

But perhaps that is just how small her world had been until now.

"Now then," Madaura's smirk stretched as she sent another wave of smog to surround the petite magi's body, "who is it that you want to see the most, little boy?"

Her words melted in his subconscious mind, but the question was simple enough to bring out the answer. An answer that still seemed to be blurry to him though. In his mind, he wandered in an empty street of an unknown land. He continued to walk towards nothing with only Madaura's question being repeated.

It was not until a few shadows holding different shaped staffs cleared a path for him. He blinked, noticing a shadow having the same frame and likeness to Ugo. 'Ugo-kun…?' He looked to his other side and saw another line of shadows with the staffs. 'Everyone is here, too…'. A wave of rukh caught his attention to the front; he stopped his walking to see three shadows waiting for him, two females and one male. The one female at the front displayed a smile before her hands extended out to welcome him with a waiting embrace.

A gust of wind cleared out his surroundings leaving him only with the woman waiting for him and both now standing in a peaceful sky. He blinked, taking a few steps closer to take a better look at her.

"I know." He whispered. "In that other world, you're my mother, aren't you?"

Madaura's smirk appeared the moment Aladdin's knees hit the floor. It seemed her power was finally working on the boy despite his stubbornness. She snickered, watching as he fell on all fours, "you wanted to see your mother, didn't you? Well," her arms stretched out, "your mother is right here. I'll never make you feel alone."

Snapping out of her illusion, the color in Aladdin's eyes returned before they narrowed into a glare. Biting his lower lip, the magi felt his heart skip a beat after having heard her words of him being lonely. Images of the friends he had made along the way and those still by him appeared in his mind. "I'm not alone…".

The sudden open of the doors caught their attention; Aladdin's eyes widened with a smile as he saw his four companions on the other side.

"Aladdin!" Alibaba called out for him.

Running towards the magi, both Kagome and Hakuryuu helped Aladdin back on his feet before following Alibaba's and Morgiana's eyes leading to the woman walking up another set of stairs. Handing Aladdin his golden flute and wooden staff, Kagome sensed his aura spike with relief. Despite his status as a magi and his usual courageous demeanor, he, like all the other kids in this cave, were still vulnerable to raw emotions. Now with Orba and the other teen pirates blocking their path to Madaura's private room, they knew this was going to get messier than before. The only sound left was that of the crackling flames on top of the candles in the room and the echoing clanks of Madaura's heels.

Kagome took a step forward, seeing as the only adults in the room where Madaura and herself. "Are you this Madaura we have been hearing about?"

Scoffing at the girl's question, Madaura stopped at the final step before turning to face their intruders. "I am surprised you all were able to make this far. So brave."

The miko's eyes narrowed with suspicion as she read on the woman's aura. If anything, the reading she was getting was anything but good. The dark aura that lingered around the children was hers, that she could conclude.

"Be careful…" Aladdin whispered. "Something isn't right with her powers."

Chuckling once again, Madaura's lips curved into a darker grin. "Well, I guess I wouldn't mind an older person in the group, might as well make you a test subject along with taking the other children as mine!" Raising her jeweled hand up, Madaura's glow exploded once more. "Magic Tool, Holy Mother Halo Fan!"

Blocking the bright light with their arms, the five of them caught a glimpse of a fan-like image feathering open like a peacock's tail and enlarge in front Madaura's person and shine its many colors onto them. All five were mesmerized by the art on the image as they took in the small details of famous women in history and the jewel-like shines decorating it with comfort. Their eyes remained glued on the art, almost pulling them into a new warmth.

The fan quickly disappeared, clearing out the bright light and letting the children and Kagome blink with confusion. Kagome was the first to look at her hands and forearms before coming to look down at her body. Had something changed? Her looks? She did not feel tired, yet…she had felt something. "It didn't do anything…?" She whispered. Taking another look at Madaura, Kagome's glare returned as she took in her comfortable features. Madaura was not even uneased by their presence. A sudden pulse in her heart alerted with both danger and confusion. Her eyes slowly lowered to her chest as she felt another pulse.

"M-My chest…". Alibaba commented, catching the miko's attention.

Him, too? Had he felt the same pulse? A body falling on their knees made her and Alibaba turn their heads to Morgiana looking up at Madaura's delighted expression.

"Mother…". She whispered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Mother?" Kagome repeated. Why would she…?

"What are you saying Morgiana?!" Alibaba exclaimed.

Reality hitting back, Morgiana blinked out of her confusion. The words that had escaped her lips barely registering in her head. "W-What…what am I saying…?" Her eyes remained glued on Madaura, but the image she saw was that of the mother she had lost long ago. "But…that is my mother there."

Kagome took another look at Madaura from the corner of her eyes. Mother? Reading Morgiana's aura, she felt the same tingle the other children harbored. She had done something, but the question was, what?

"What are you saying, Morgiana?!" Alibaba repeated. "Can't you see she is playing a trick on us?! Don't be duped by a weird spell like-!" He blinked; he lowered his sword. The moment he felt his cheeks become wet from his tears, he had to stop his thinking. His free hand came to wipe the tears away. Why are was he crying? Why? "W-What the hell is this…?"

Snickering at their confusion juggling back and forth, Madaura's glare darkened. 'Maternal love. That is my weapon, little ones.' She released another wave of smog to the group, smirking as the tears continued to fall and coughs echoed. 'No one can flee it. The yearning for one's mother, swirling inside them. The nostalgia for home; those bonds can't ever be escaped.' To watch them struggle only continued to enlighten her, yet she was not surprised to find the older female in the same storm of emotions like the others.

Yet the girl still struggled to even more knowing it was all but a trick.

"Stop messing with us!" Alibaba shouted, trying his best to raise his blade to his enemies.

Madaura's was felt around Alibaba's, making the miko curse under her breath. So each of them were seeing their mothers, hearing them, and overjoyed to see the smiles they once missed.

She understood, because in her own eyes, where Madaura stood, there stood her own mother. The one person she always came crying to, laughing with, and missed. A mother probably missing her like crazy, and they were who knows how many worlds apart. She held back her own tears; she bit her bottom lip. She could not show weakness, and right now, her companions needed her more than anything.

The sound of Alibaba's weapon dropping to the floor and a second later his knees, she gripped her own weapon. The continuous cries of Morgiana's need for her mother, and the silence from Hakuryuu was not helping.

"That's right, what good children." Madaura praised. "Though I have no idea what kind of convenient dream you're having. Now then, I wonder what kind of dream this good little boy is having." Her eyes landed on the black-haired teen who had remained silent compared to the others.

Taking a quick glance at Hakuryuu from the corner of her eyes, Kagome cursed under her breath. Out of all of them, Hakuryuu held the most of Madaura's aura and that was beginning to worry her.

'Shoot, I need to think of something fast. Anything!'. Eyes back on Madaura's gaze, Kagome knew she had to bring them out now. She had hoped to keep them a secret, but at this moment, they needed anything to help them escape this trick of hers! 'Sakimitama? Aramitama? What can I do here?'

'Perhaps I can be of some assistance.' Sakimitama spoke soothingly. 'Although I must warn you, Kagome-sama. We haven't been able to increase your use of rukh and reiki, so the effect might not be strong enough.'

Kagome's brows furrowed, 'effect? What are we talking about…?' Hearing Hakuryuu's knees be the next to touch the ground, Kagome cursed under her breath. 'Sakimitama! There is no time to waste!'

'Very well, then…'.

Listening to Sakimitama's instructions, Kagome's worries became heavier. This was something she had not done before, nor was she was aware she could do, but this was beginning to show her she needed to stare honing her skills if she wanted to find out more about herself.

'Are you ready, Kagome-sama?'

Kagome whispered her ready response, before placing her hands together in prayer. She needed to at least try.

Watching the black haired male fall to his knees, Madaura laughed as she saw her powers were slowly working on them. "This is mere child's play! I shall use this Halo Fan to control every future leader all over the world while they're still in their childhood! By doing so, I ensure that every human in the world will belong to me one day. No child can live on his own. Children just can't handle conflict and agony by themselves! Now then," her eyes narrowed on the group, "I'm sure all of you have something going on, too, don't you?"

"K-Kagome-onee-san!" Aladdin called out as he saw Alibaba's mind slowly giving into Madaura's illusions.

Concentrating Sakimitama's reiki into her hands, Kagome felt Madaura's aura overtake those of Alibaba's, Morgiana's, and Hakuryuu's. She could not waste anymore time. "Aladdin-kun, cover them while I dispel this smog."

"Right!" He nodded. Preparing his wooden staff, Aladdin watched as the pink glow from Kagome's hands quickly encircled them. He blinked, fascinated by the barrier she executed before hearing her spell.

"Kiyomeru!" Sakimitama's reiki turned a bright pink before a white light soothed over the smog around them and dissolved it in the air.

Aladdin watched the smog slowly disappear from their sight and before he could question her, he heard her speak.

"Aladdin-kun, place some barrier around them if you can. I am only able to dispel Madaura's smog for now, but she still leaking it." Her eyes narrowed, watching as Madaura pushed another wave of her tricks towards them. "Hurry!" As much as she wanted to save them, Sakimitama's words echoed in her head.

'My reiki is able to place and erase illusions, but it uses a huge amount of your reiki as well. You have to place your hands together and concentrate that you can at least leave one ounce of your reiki in you or you will faint on the spot, if not worse. You may have a huge amount of reiki, but you haven't trained it yet to do so.'

That was all she needed to decide that if they were to get out of this, she needed to start training her reiki. Feeling Aladdin's rukh surround Alibaba, Morgiana, and Hakuryuu, and himself, she quickly retracted her and Sakimitama's reiki. A heavy exhale made her feel the emptiness inside of her; now she understood what Sakimitama was trying to warn her. 'If I calculate it right, I only have about half left.' She looked at the teens over her shoulder, 'and they still aren't safe.'

"A-Aladdin…Kagome-san…". Alibaba whispered as he blinked out of the illusion. He had felt Madaura's power being sucked out of him and being replaced by a warmth more welcoming than the one he was being pulled by. But the warmth he had been given was only for a split second before realizing the reality they were in.

"Alibaba-kun," Aladdin whispered, coming to stand next to him, "you know that lady is not your real mother, right?"

The tears still streamed down his cheeks; the truth was known, yet his own hope wanted to believe his real mother was still there. "I know…I know that, but…".

"Even if she was your real mother," Aladdin continued, "are you okay with just mindlessly obeying someone else?"

"Eh…?" He blinked back.

"He's right." Kagome cut in. "Parents are important, but at the end of the day, you need to live your lives by thinking on your own. You need to live the way you want Alibaba-kun."

Alibaba's bottom lip quivered before his head hung down. "Are…you two okay with that? Do you not miss your mothers? Your families?"

The question struck the two of them with silence; Kagome and Aladdin looked at each other before each gave it some individual thought. Of course they missed their mothers, their families, and being able to see those smiles that made them feel at home.

But life was life, and controlled by fate, there was only so much they could control.

Sighing under her breath, Kagome took a step towards the Balbadd prince before squatting down to his level. Displaying a soft smile of her own, Kagome held back the tears herself. "I'm okay as long as I have friends like you by my side. Everything will be okay."

Alibaba stare remained glued on the miko. How could she be so strong? Mentally and emotionally? She had already shown her worth physically, but to be strong in the other two areas? Was that even possible? Or maybe…

"Alibaba-kun," Aladdin spoke, "she's right. As long as I have the memories of the people I met, I don't feel alone. Don't you feel anything inside of you? People entrusted their feelings to you, right?"

Kagome's eyes glided back to Alibaba and waited for his reply. Watching him grab his weapon off the floor, she nodded before turning to Morgiana. Judging by the expression she held, she had been listening to the conversation and taking in their words. It was important for people in general to remember those who they love and love them back to keep them going. Separation from loved ones was not supposed to hold you back, but only fuel you to continue for yourself and for them.

Morgiana gave them a nod and slowly came to her feet along with Alibaba. Following their movements, Kagome heard Madaura's execute another wave of her smog.

"No!" Madaura shouted. Kagome quickly deflected her smog again with the help of Sakimitami's reiki. "W-What?!" Why was she able to push her power away just like that? They were able to reject her Halo Fan?! She understood why it would have not worked on the older female because of the age, but it should have been foolproof on the children!

Kagome pulled back Sakimitama's protective reiki before returning Madaura's glare. At least it showed that this time she was really cornered.

"How dare you!" Orba shouted. "Everyone! Protect Madaura with your lives!"

They all blinked back upon seeing the swords the teen pirates held against them. Alibaba shook his head before whispering to the miko.

"Did…did your power not work on them?"

"Unfortunately, I don't have the energy to expand it to them." She replied, hating herself for having to admit that.

Eyes landing back on Orba and the others, Alibaba took a step forward. "Guys, snap out of it! Don't you see that lady is playing a trick on all of you?! You are all being deceived!"

Laughing at his futile attempt to break them out of her curse, Madaura pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. "It's no use, boy. No one seeks a mother's love more than a child who has lost it at a young age. That is why I can make such good use of orphans from the slums. You'll never be able to reverse the brain-washing I've subjected them to!" Her laugh continued to echo as she turned her back to the group and walked towards her room leading to her secret treasures. All she needed to do for now was to gather what she needed and escape.

"Dammit!" Alibaba turned his head to the silent Kou prince. "Hakuryuu! Stop her with that move of yours! Oi! Hakuryuu!"

Kagome and the others glanced at the called prince from the corner of their eyes. Waiting in silence for him to reply, the four of them watched as Hakuryuu stood up from the ground his field of vision still shut. Kagome's lips parted upon feeling something waver within Hakuryuu's aura.

'It's not Madaura's-!' Pupils dilated as she saw Hakuryuu's wooden hand face them before four thick roots exploded out to attack. Unable to place a barrier on time, the four of them were pushed back.

"W-What the-!?" Alibaba coughed the dirt they had collided with thanks to the forceful shove. "Hakuryuu-!" He blinked noticing the miko's arm stretched out in front of him as they remained knelt on the ground.

"Wait…," she whispered, "something isn't right."

Alibaba and the others, confused by the miko's words, looked over to Hakuryuu twirling his spear in one hand before aiming the sharp blade towards them.

"Mother…," Hakuryuu whispered, eyes filling with hate, "I have to go and save you…".

"Mother?" Alibaba repeated. "What the heck are you talking about?!"

Watching the edge of his blade glow gold, Kagome's and Aladdin's eyes widened once again recognizing the magic circle appearing. This was not good.

"Oi! Hakuryuu!" Alibaba called out once more.

"This is not good at all…". Kagome quickly placed her hands in prayer.

Hakuryuu's eyes narrowed as the glow brightened, "dwell within me…"

Aladdin quickly prepared his staff, "Kagome-onee-san…"

"Zagan!"

The golden glow shifted to a purple as the left side of Hakuryuu's body was changed into the Djinn Equip they had heard about. Black scale-like texture appeared over his legs and arms and what looked to have been his hair ornament on top turning into a long-like ponytail of Zagan's patterns and triangles. On his face, the iris on his left eye had gone completely white and only black markings covered the area along with a third red eye appearing on his forehead.

The voices of his friends calling him were muted by the continuous replays of his past. A past that had literally burned down his father, brothers, and his future and left nothing but ashes of hatred. Twirling his spear over his head, he quickly jumped in the air and directed his spear down to where his new enemies stood.

Quickly jumping back, the four of them took their own defenses.

"W-What is this?" Morgiana whispered.

"Hakuryuu!" Alibaba shouted. "What are you doing?!"

Having caught Hakuryuu's transformation and change of heart, Madaura laughed as she stood under the door frame. "Apparently, that one still seems to be the sole child among them. Poor boy. Now then, use your power to fight for Madaura!" Continuing her way inside her room, Orba and two of his other pirate brothers followed to assist in the escape.

"Madaura is esca-!" Aladdin, having attempted to run after the woman, was stopped by Hakuryuu jumping in his path. His eyes widened as soon as he saw Hakuryuu's spear coming his way for an attack but was quickly deflected with the help of Kagome's barrier.

Hakuryuu's glare swiftly directed itself over to the girl as her hand glowed pink. Deciding a different approach, Hakuryuu jumped back in the air and slashed an 'X' with his spear before the shape glowed purple.

The miko cursed under her breath as she felt a surge of corrupted aura surrounding Hakuryuu's attack. Before she could stop it, dark creatures erupted and dove towards them.

Alibaba slashed through the serpent-like creature, letting the purple blood rain down on his him and the area before looking back at the corrupted prince. "Monsters? What the heck is going on? Where did they even come from?"

"It looks like it's Zagan's power." Aladdin replied, watching as the creature disappeared into nothingness.

"Zagan?"

"By Djinn Equipping one half of his body, he is closer to the level of an actual Djinn, and so it's not just the plants…he can even grow the microbes in the air." Aladdin explained.

As Hakuryuu landed at the stairs blocking their path to Madaura, Kagome took in a deep breath before her hands in prayer released her reiki out on either side of her. To Alibaba's, Aladdin's, and Morgiana's shock, they watched as holographs of two people appeared within the miko's reiki: a woman and a man. Both with long straight locks of an ever darkness and silk robes resembling those of eastern lands.

The woman, smiling softly, kept her hands inside the magenta and white colored robes illustrated with gold as her black eyes narrowed at the Kou prince on the other side. "Quite a disappointing look the young boy has there."

Morgiana blinked, taken back by the familiar voice. That was the same voice she heard inside her head sometimes.

"The disappointment is in how easily that boy could be swayed by that woman's tactics." The male spoke as he straightened himself out. Patting away the invisible dirt on his red and black long silk kimono. His eyes opened, revealing the hue of ruby jewels. "Are you sure about bringing us out, Kagome-sama?"

"Kagome-sama?" Alibaba questioned, head turning to the miko. "Wait, these two…"

"We talk later." Kagome interrupted. "Right now Hakuryuu-kun needs us." The questions were certainly there, but with time ticking, she needed to save Hakuryuu as soon as possible. Whatever corruption she felt growing within Hakuryuu, she had a bad feeling about it. "Sakimitama, Aramitama, can we purify him?"

"It will be difficult with a moving opponent like him." Aramitama answered as he kept his eye on Hakuryuu's twirling spear, "but I think we forgot to inform you, miko, Sakimitama's power falls under illusions, while my respective powers fall in physical strength. We cannot fully purify the black rukh he is harboring."

"Black rukh!?" Alibaba exclaimed. "What do you mean?"

"I thought that was what I felt…" Aladdin whispered. So he was not mistaken.

Creating another opening for his creatures to attack, Hakuryuu's raging scream echoed within the cave. Both Sakimitama and Aramitama quickly placed a barrier around them all, purifying the creatures in an instant the moment they touched the outside surface.

"This won't do…". Kagome whispered under her breath as she followed Hakuryuu's movements. "We need to get closer so I can do something."

"What can we do?" Morgiana asked. "We will help!"

Taking a look at Alibaba, Aladdin, and Morgiana, Kagome sighed; she hated the thought of needing them as a distraction.

'Perhaps I can be of some assistance.'

Kagome blinked upon hearing an unfamiliar voice within her head. 'Who-?'

'My powers have the ability to cleanse the soul, but I cannot do it at a long distance, Kagome-sama. The boy needs to be saved.'

'Are you…?'

'Nigimitama.'

'The soul of friendship…'.

"Kagome-san?!" Alibaba called out as he watched Aramitama and Sakimitama hold the fort.

Shaking her head, she accepted the help, shoving questions to the side for the time being. "I need a distraction." She whispered to Alibaba. "Can you do that? I need to get close enough to Hakuryuu-kun so I can cleanse his soul." Although she was unsure if it were to work.

"Got it." Alibaba nodded back. Tightening his hold on his sword, he turned to face the barrier.

"Aramitama! Sakimitama!" Kagome shouted. In an instant, both souls returned within the miko. Nigimitama's powers were still fairly new and having already used Sakimitama's abilities for the first time here, she was unsure just how much Nigimitama needed of her reiki. She only hoped it would not suck her dry, but if it came to save Hakuryuu, then she could not really think about that. "Alibaba-kun! Go!"

Alibaba rushed to the right, catching Hakuryuu's attention just as planned. Calling out his Djinn, "Amol Saika!" His blade grew in length and was inked black with red veins connecting his forearms to the hilt. He quickly jumped forward to meet Hakuryuu's weapon. Colliding weapons, both pushed back and forth to gain the advantage.

"Oi! Hakuryuu!" Alibaba grunted, feeling the obvious strength change. "It's no use, Hakuryuu! You are fighting for someone who doesn't care about anyone but themselves!"

'Allow me to help.' Aramitama spoke through Alibaba's consciousness. A pulse of Aramitama's reiki enveloped Alibaba's weapon, but Hakuryuu's Djinn Equip proved to the boy that it was not something to underestimate. There was a reason the strongest in the world at the moment were people who could manage an Equip.

"Kagome-onee-san!" Aladdin called, watching her sneakily trying to run behind Hakuryuu. "He is using Magoi Manipulation!" Not only was Hakuryuu in Djinn Equip, but he was exhausting his magic use! It was obviously the first time of his transformation, and he was using everything within to keep it going.

"Magoi Manipulation?" Kagome repeated. If she remembered correctly from the scrolls she read in Sindria's library, then Hakuryuu was manipulating his magic to create strength on himself and his weapon. 'Then this makes it easier. Nigimitama? What do I need to do?'

Alibaba was on the defense as he continued to block each strike of Hakuryuu's spear. He cursed under his breath feeling the heaviness of each strike, but one look at Hakuryuu's blade, he noticed the cracks starting to form. He was becoming a beast at this point!

"It was you! It was you! It was you! It was you!" Hakuryuu repeated with each attack. Blood spurt out from his tight grips, legs, and from his head as the seconds ticked by.

As soon as Hakuryuu had Alibaba's clothing pinned down to the ground with his spear, Kagome took the moment to mask her presence with the help of her reiki and ran towards Hakuryuu's back. 'Let's hope this works!' Her usual light pink glow emerged from her hands before they were placed on Hakuryuu's back.

Hakuryuu's scream erupted; he quickly took out his spear from the ground and prepared it to swiftly slice whoever was behind him.

"I'm sorry, Hakuryuu-kun…". Kagome closed her eyes as she felt a different reiki go through her arms before enveloping herself and Hakuryuu within an light blue sphere. Concentrating Nigimitama's reiki into pushing out the rage inside Hakuryuu's soul, Kagome's eyes narrowed as she felt stings of pain.

She was overdoing it.

His rage continued but judging by amount of blood his body was letting out, he was already reaching the limits of Magoi Manipulation. Kagome pushed Nigimitama's reiki a bit more.

Screaming from both the pain, the memories that continued to overfill him, and his hatred, Hakuryuu soon felt all of it leave. He began to heave, but with his remaining strength, tried to push Kagome off of him. "It was you! It was you! It was you who turned mother….! Wasn't it?! It's all your fault!"

One last push of her reiki, Kagome heard the snap of his blade; Hakuryuu's eyes slowly closed as he felt his body go numb. All thought his screaming, Kagome's could not help but let her expression fall into shock.

Her own body went weak, letting go of the unconscious Kou prince fall to the floor as she fell to her knees.

"Hakuryuu-san!" Morgiana called, running to his fallen body.

"It looks like he is just unconscious." Aladdin spoke, seeing the worry in Alibaba's eyes.

Fingers curled into his palms after putting away his blade. The hatred on Hakuryuu's face was not fake, and one he was willing to sacrifice his life for. "What…what the hell was Hakuryuu talking about?" Alibaba questioned. Turning to the miko, his lips parted to ask only to see a few tears streaming down her cheeks. "Kagome-san…are you okay?"

"Kagome-onee-san?" Aladdin came to her side.

The miko's shoulders dropped; her eyes remained glued on Hakuryuu's body. Nigimitama had cleansed out the darkness in his heart, for now,but he had also failed to tell her his powers were able to read on a person's sad memories.

"I'm okay…". She replied. "I'm…okay."

"Kagome-onee-san!" Aladdin called. "We need to go after Madaura!"

Looking over her shoulder, the miko's eyes narrowed slightly at the room Madaura had escaped through. She only hoped her other plan would work.

Quickening her pace through the tunnel leading out the caves, Madaura scoffed as she looked at Orba directing the bubbles around them. After having gathered most of the gold and jewels in her room into treasure boxes and having Orba and the other two pirates to help, she hoped their escape would go smoothly. She rolled her eyes as she thought back to the group that messed up her plans. "Who had time to play around with them? Let's withdraw!"

Eyes brightened at the sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. As soon as the two bubbles carrying them and treasure made it out, they gasped upon feeling a net capturing them on the spot. The net weighted them down to the rocky surface of the cave's shore; confusion made them turn their heads left and right not knowing where it had come from.

"Madaura!" Orba called out.

"You wretches, we've got you surrounded!"

Their heads turned to the sea only to see two huge Actia Navy ships sailing to the shore with sailors on the defense and offense.

"Surrender!" One of the sailors shouted. "Great Holy Mother!"

Body shaking at the sight of her end, Madaura could not believe what was happening? How did they even find this place? Why would they even come? "Why would you come here now?" Hearing another group of footsteps behind them, Madaura looked over her shoulder to see the group she thought had been taken care of there. "W-What?!" Her eyes landed on the red-haired girl who had the black-haired boy on her back. They had defeated him!?

"Is that the Actia Navy?" Alibaba blinked, surprised to find the very ships they saw at the other country here. He was confident they were not going to help with the issue, yet when Kagome said to follow Madaura, she seemed calmer than before.

"Yeah," Kagome nodded as she tried to catch her breath, "I asked Sinbad-san to tell the Actia Navy to take action. Like hell I was going to let them sit on their butts when the children of their country had been taken." If anything, she was glad Sinbad agreed with her plan. She feared he would have said 'no' knowing of his status, and even as king, they could not do just anything they wanted.

"That makes sense." Alibaba replied, watching as the sailors landed on the shore and proceeded to arrest Madaura and the pirates. "Sinbad-san was able to move, especially when a Sindrian merchant ship had set off to take out the pirates instead."

Angered by the capture, Orba quickly sliced through the bubble and net. Wasting no time to attack, he aimed his Magic Tool on his arm to the sailors on the ship, ignoring the fact they all held crossbows. His eyes went wide the moment the arrows were released without hesitation and aiming to his death.

A burst of fire blew away the arrows, surprising both the navy and Orba. Looking to his right, Orba was speechless at the sight of Alibaba having come down from the rocks and walking towards the navy ship without fear. "Y-You…!"

"Both sides," Alibaba's eyes narrowed, "put down your weapons!" He sighed as he looked at the young pirate over his shoulder, "time to back off; you're only option here is to surrender.

Kagome and the others remained silent; their eyes remained glued on Orba looking back at Madaura before letting his sword drop to the floor. They understood him perfectly, and nothing hurt more than to lose the only warmth you had left in the world.

From the corner of his eyes, Aladdin watched as Kagome placed her hand over her chest and trying to regulate her breathing. Perhaps the others were unable to notice, but he could see the decrease of rukh around her, and most were at a weak pink color. "Kagome-onee-san…?"

She looked down to the call of her name.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked.

Kagome nodded back, before petting his head. "I'll be okay." It was future reassurance, and she was sure that would only fuel his worry, but at the moment – her eyes landed on the unconscious prince – she was worried more about him.

"Guess the king of Sindria isn't so useless after all."

Hearing the words coming out of the miko's mouth pained him more than he thought. "K-Kagome-san…your words wound me."

The miko's brow twitched as she saw the said king - through the Eye of the Rukh Magic Tool - clutching at his chest. He seriously could be a drama queen. At least she concluded that on her own. After getting all the children from Madaura's cave and arriving back to the country of Actia, she had regained a bit of her strength. At least she had to feint her health for now in front of Sinbad after he had called her immediately. He must have received a message from Actia's navy about going towards Madaura's lair.

"So?" Sinbad spoke again. "How are they doing?"

Looking at Alibaba, Aladdin, and Morgiana taking care of Hakuryuu under a tent, she could tell their were worried just with their expressions. What worried her the most was the lingering aura she had thought she expelled. "To be honest," she whispered, eyes still on the teens, "I more worried about Hakuryuu-kun."

"Hakuryuu? What is your reason?"

The memories of reading his past kept replaying in her head. He had dealt with his family being killed, a palace being burnt down, and in the end, feeling alone. It made sense why he had fallen to Madaura's power. Not to mention, the past with his mother…

She could not share Hakuryuu's dark past with Sinbad or anyone else; she had pried into his personal past herself.

"We're going to transport her now." The navy announced as they walked the tied prisoner to another boat.

"Madaura! Madaura!"

Attention was pulled to the pirate children all tied in a group as the sailors surrounded them. Their cries for Madaura continued while they watched their mother being walked in front of them and towards a ship. Kagome looked over her shoulder, watching the pain in the young children's eyes, and the pain on the parents waiting to see their children.

"Madaura!" Orba called, being at the front of the group. "I don't want you to go!"

Madaura stopped in front of Orba before sending him a smile. "It's going to be all right, little ones." She gave them a nod, but her own anger was beginning to boil from within. 'Damn, what a pack of useless brats they are! Ah, how those fawning faces irritate me!' She was not supposed to get caught, and her plan was foul proof, yet now she was here, being walked to the ship. Feeling the pull on her wrists from the rope, she glared at the sailor in front of her before feeling something hard being thrown to the back of her head.

"Kill her."

Kagome and the others turned their heads to the group of parents that had begged them to save their children, now carrying both weapons and rocks.

"That woman…," one of the mothers spoke, tone heavy and dipped with hatred, "kill her right now!"

Madaura's eyes widened as she heard the parents' chants collecting into a curse.

"Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!"

Madaura shook her head as they got closer to her. She gasped in pain the moment she felt them drown her into the crowd and beginning to pull on her hair, limbs, and dropping her onto the floor.

Kagome and the group fell silent as they watched the revenge taking place. Holding the Eye of Rukh in her hand, she felt herself shake in fear the moment she felt a spike of corruption around both the parents and the children.

Running to the miko's side, Alibaba and the others watched the horrifying scene. Alibaba shook his head, "w-we have to stop them-!"

A blur or white and black passed the corner of their eyes. Before they could register the Kou prince running to the masses of people, they fell silent the moment he broke the group apart and showcased a beaten up and bruised Madaura.

"Hakuryuu…?" Alibaba whispered. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the prince stealing one of the sailor's sword from its sheath. "Oi…".

Coming to the defend Madaura, Hakuryuu held his sword against the parents. "Hold up." He spoke, eyes narrowing at their advances.

"Hakuryuu-onii-san!" Aladdin called. "Is he still under the spell…?"

Kagome shook her head, still silent and observing Hakuryuu's intentions. No, the spell was gone. Nigimitama and she had made sure of that, but the corruption she felt linger was not of Madaura's. "What is he…?"

"Oh, my little boy!" Madaura laughed in relief, hands clasped in prayer. "You came to save me, didn't you? Hurry, come to me…come to your mother." Her smile widened as she saw the black-haired boy turn to her, "come here…you're such a good boy. My little boy, Hakuryuu!"

He returned the smile.

Pupils widened slowly as they processed the split second it took for Hakuryuu to raise his sword in the air before slashing it across Maduara's neck and severing the head. Silence stretched throughout the harbor, and everyone's view remained glued to the spilled blood and lifeless body of the woman.

"Kagome-san? Kagome-san? What is happening?" Sinbad called, having heard nothing from the other side for a few minutes now.

The miko's eyesight shook from the disbelief. She could not believe what she had witnessed. 'Hakuryuu-kun…why…'. Closing her eyes, she did not dare to look at Sinbad. "Sinbad-san, I apologize, but I have to hang up."

"Wait! What happened? Kagome-san-!?"

All that was left were the wailings of the children as they tried to scoot to their mother even as the sailors tried to cover the body with a cloth. Opening her eyes, Kagome watched as Hakuryuu returned the sword back to the confused sailor and walked towards them.

It was not Madaura's lingering corruption, that she was sure of.

"Why?!" Alibaba shouted. Having pulled Hakuryuu away from the public eye, he cornered him behind a wall while Kagome was away dealing with the navy. "Why did you do a thing like that?!" Hearing the children continuously crying did not help the situation, and it only confused him further as to why Hakuryuu went forward to killing Madaura.

Hakuryuu leaned against the wall as he crossed his arms, "that was me executing the leader of the pirates. Did you not hear what the people wanted? Don't forget our objective was to wipe them out, right?"

"The objective was to rescue Aladdin-kun and get the children back." Kagome cut in. "I don't think I have to mention that your actions were also not appropriate in front of those children."

Turning to her arrival, they fell silent at the sight of her glare on the Kou prince. Returning the glare, Hakuryuu sighed. "She looked just like my own mother to me, so I did what I wanted to do."

The others blinked in confusion to his words; Kagome's brows furrowed in response.

"Your mother?" Alibaba repeated. "If she looked like your mother, then why-?"

"That is the reason why. You see, I remembered – remembered that my mission is to kill Al Thamen's witch who defected to my uncle's side, and later seized control of the Kou Empire. That mission is to kill my very own mother."

'Then…,' Kagome thought back to the memory she had seen of a young Hakuryuu being in a room full of men clothed in white and covering their faces with white cloths and his mother standing before him. A room where he felt alone and frighten, especially after Hakuryuu asked for the truth of his father's and brothers' deaths. The truth of her evil intentions of having killed her very own family, marrying the new emperor, his uncle, and becoming adopted into the new Kou family.

The witch he spoke of had silenced him, weakened him, and had him cornered to this very day.

The witch had full control of Kou and Al Thamen.

"I made a promise to myself," Hakuryuu continued, staring at his wooden hand, "that no matter what, I would kill the witch of Al Thamen, Ren Gyokuen." Staring at the body of Madaura on the ground near the ship, his eyes narrowed. "She was quite similar to the Great Holy Mother, you know. Not caring the least about her own children. Such a woman shouldn't be allowed to live."

"Are you saying that's why you killed her?" Alibaba's view tightened.

Hakuryuu raised a brow in return. "Either way, she was a criminal on her way to the scaffold, wasn't she?"

"You still have no judgment on who gets to live or die." Kagome cut in. "What you did back there was to settle a personal score. You killed her to satiate your revenge…for now."

Sudden gasps from the harbor caught their attention to see Orba having escaped his binds and stolen a sword from another sailor. Following his line of sight, Kagome and the others watched as Orba charged towards their mother's killer.

Hakuryuu quickly grabbed Orba's wrist with his hand, stopping his range. Orba's eyes widened in shock at the fact he had been stopped in time. Cursing under his breath, he tried to push the sword towards Hakuryuu's body even though Hakuryuu's strength continued to push him away.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Orba shouted.

Alibaba and the others blinked, having noticed him taking off his Magic Tool and the blood spilling out his amputated arm.

"O-Orba!" Alibaba called out.

"I'll get my revenge for Madaura! I'm gonna-!" Tripped by Hakuryuu's leg and hit on the back of the neck with Hakuryuu's palm, Orba coughed as he fell to the ground.

"What are you talking about?" Hakuryuu's expression hardened. "How many people did you kill in this village? Some of them were women, weren't they? They were someone's mother, too. Yet those are the words you spew the instant your own mother is killed? Don't you find that to be just a little too self-serving? The truth is," the took a step towards Orba, "you were starting to realize the truth, weren't you? The fact that the Great Holy Mother was only using you. You were starting to question yourself, weren't you? Did any of you gain even on thing from all that? There is no reason to grieve. After all, you guys…were never loved in the first place-."

Skin against skin echoed as they watched Hakuryuu's face turning to the side from the miko's hand slapping his cheek. Kagome's chest heaved as she faced Hakuryuu with pure rage. "That is enough." The disgusting things he was spewing himself had her questioning who was on the bad side.

Angered by her hit and her words, Hakuryuu pushed her away before heading towards the exit of the town.

"Wait a minute!" Alibaba shouted as he walked past them. "Come back here, Hakuryuu!"

Saying nothing back, Kagome watched the Kou prince collect his belongings and walk away. No, there was no excuse to his words or actions.

"Come on, let's go."

Kagome's and Aladdin's attention was drawn to the children as they saw a trail of black rukh beginning to form around the children. With each step they took, the black rukh continued to spread. No doubt in their minds it was due to Hakuryuu's words and their loss.

"We've got to stop them!" Aladdin whispered to the miko.

Checking the children and Hakuryuu, back and forth, Kagome looked at Morgiana to divide the help. "Morgiana-chan, go check on Hakuryuu, please." She needed to deal with the young ones first. The black rukh was there, but the growth was still young. A full purification was not needed just yet. She received a nod from Morgiana before the girl sprinted off after the prince. 'Nigimitama…please follow Hakuryuu and Morgiana.'

'Of course, Kagome-sama.'

And once again, she felt the same pull of reiki from her chest. Only one soul remained in slumber. Turning her attention to the children, she quickly made her way to the navy, stopping them from putting the children on the ship. "Please wait!" She called out.

"What do you all want now?" One of the captains of the squad grunted.

"Please," she gave a small bow with her head, "hand those children over to us."

"What did you say?" His brow rose at the girl. "You are overstepping our authority, woman."

"Excuse me?" Her brow twitched in response. This better not be an issue because she was a woman.

"No." Alibaba interrupted, catching the miko by surprise as he came in. "Our country bears at least half of the responsibility for those pirates."

'Our country?' The miko questioned herself. Balbadd? No, that could not be what he was referring to.

"After all," Alibaba continued, "it was a ship under royal orders from Sindria that was attacked by the Great Holy Mother."

"Oh…". Now that was an idea; Kagome smiled at Alibaba for having helped. Seeing the sailors nod to themselves, she relieved the kids had avoided the darkness she did not want for them. She stuck out her tongue to the sailors in victory. She never planned to use Sinbad's name or his country, but she guessed the connection to him had its benefits.

After all, her intentions were to save the people who needed saving.

"Are you really…," Morgiana gulped as she saw Hakuryuu stop in his walk, "are you really going to off on your own?" She chased him all the way to the exit of the town, and with the sky burnt in a gradient of violets, she had been afraid Hakuryuu was truly leaving them behind.

"Yes." He replied without looking back.

Morgiana watched as he took another few steps towards the forest. "Please wait!"

He stopped at her polite yet pleading order.

"I…I don't want to say goodbye to you like this, Hakuryuu-san. Please talk things over with the others-".

"Then," he cut her off, "come with me, please."

Morgiana fell silent at his request, even as he finally turned to face her.

"Come with me to the Kou Empire."

"W-What do you mean?" She whispered out her question. What did he mean by going with him to the Kou Empire? Did he even register what he was saying? "Hakuryuu-san-?"

"I'm in love with you…Morgiana-dono."

Her eyes slowly widened; she felt her surroundings go silent. Had…she heard right? Or had the wind miraculously shifted his words? Her throat went dry, and her body became heavy to the confession. A confession she never saw herself worthy to receive.

"I…," Hakuryuu presented her with a soft smile, "I am in love with you, Morgiana-dono." Putting his things down on the ground, he finally made his way to her. Coming down to one knee, he ignored her small jolt before continuing his confession. "You are truly a splendid woman. You're strong, kind, and beautiful. That's why I…," he reached out and grabbed her left hand, "I want you to become my wife."

"H-Hakuryuu-san…what's the matter with you?" She felt her sweat go cold, and her heart beating non-stop. "You're acting very strangely-!"

"I'm serious about this, Morgiana-dono! Ever since that day on the beach in Sindria…". Looking at her hand, he gave it a gentle grip, "you shall…become the empress of the great empire that I am about to build." He pulled her in and gracefully captured her lips with his own before gently placing his other hand behind her head.

A gentle kiss both receiving it with a wave of different emotions.

"Sindria?"

Pulled out of her wait for Morgiana, and hopefully Hakuryuu, Kagome looked at Orba and the other pirate children behind him having questioned Alibaba's plan to go to Sindria. With the children now placed on Sindria's ship, it was no surprise to her or Alibaba that the children wee in doubt about the plan.

"Right." Alibaba nodded as Aladdin stood by his side. "They agreed to take custody of you guys. I'm sure that somewhere in Sindria, you can make a life for yourselves. For now," he walked closer to him, "that's all we can do-."

Smacking Alibaba's hand from his shoulder, Orba took a step back. "Don't touch me! We're Madaura's children! We are not going anywhere!"

Hearing the objections from the others, Alibaba was speechless. Did they really think they could stay attached to a person like this?

"We…," Orba continued, "don't have a reason to exist anymore…".

The flock of black rukh erupted once more, taking Aladdin back. He quickly prepared his wooden staff once more but stopped his own rukh the moment he saw Kagome walking past him and coming to stand before Orba and the children.

"K-Kagome-san?" Alibaba whispered, taken back by her appearance.

Without saying a word, Kagome let her own purification barrier surround the children. For the small amount of black rukh she saw, the reiki she had left was plenty. She squatted down to their level before presenting them with a genuine smile. "Your role isn't over yet, Orba-kun; you have a duty to protect your brothers and sisters here, right? Also," her hand slowly came to lay over his head, "the king of Sindria can be easily manipulated if you use my name. If he gives you trouble, just call me, okay, but I promise he is a good man. Go," she petted his head, "go and live a good life, all of you." The last thing she wanted was to hear children say they had no reason to live.

"I guess…I don't have the power to change people, huh?" Alibaba spoke as they watched the ship set sail. It pained him he had been unable to change Orba's mindset, and had Kagome cutting in, but he himself did not know what to say at that moment.

"I wouldn't say that." Kagome replied, placing her hand over his shoulder. "You do have a way to change people. You have a pure heart, Alibaba-kun; don't lose sight of who you are."

Returning the smile she gave him, he nodded back. The real world was tough, and yet, he admired her way of moving forward. He needed to be strong for the future.

"Morg-san…" Aladdin caught their attention to turn and see the said girl slowly walking back to them.

"Morgiana, where is Hakuryuu?" Alibaba asked.

"He's…," she closed her eyes, "he's already left the town. He set off for the Tian Shan Plateau on his own."

"What?" Aladdin blinked. "Without even saying goodbye?"

As Alibaba began to walk towards the town, Kagome's eyes narrowed on the Fanalis girl. Something was off.

"Alibaba-kun?" Aladdin quickly followed behind.

Rage filled his stamina to walk, and thinking to how Hakuryuu was handling the situation irked him to new levels. Alibaba's held back a growl as he made his way into the town. "That guy…he's a lot like Kassim – Kassim who killed his hateful father to protect his little sister. They have the similar look in their eyes."

Aladdin stopped the moment he saw his friend punch the nearest wall. "Eyes…?"

"If…if Hakuryuu ends up killing his mother, too," he tried his best to hold back the tears remembering Kassim's hatred stretching out to his death, "he's going to regret it! I have to stop him!"

"A-Alibaba-kun, calm down, okay?" Aladdin held him back by gripping onto his clothing. His hold was soon broken the moment he saw Morgiana run behind Alibaba and stopping him from moving forward. "Morg-san…". He looked over his shoulder, watching as Kagome ran towards them with concern weighing heavily on her expression.

"Please wait!" Morgiana begged.

"What is it?!" He exclaimed. "I have to go to him-!"

"I beg of you!" Her gripped on him tightened; her eyes clenched shut. "Please!"

"We will go."

Alibaba turned his head to the miko who had spoken and the magi who nodded back.

"Would that be okay, Morgiana-chan?" Kagome asked. At this point, this mess was about to escalate to a level she wanted to avoid, and after hearing Nigimitama's side of the story from overlooking the two, she now knew why. Her eyes softened as she saw Morgiana's shoulder shake with her cries, and the memory Nigimitama had placed in her head.

With a heavy heart, Morgiana had to pick a side.

And she was currently with them.

"Hakuryuu-kun."

Looking over his shoulder at the call of his name, the Kou prince watched Aladdin carefully lower the miko down from his magic turban, before coming down to the ground himself. His expression remained unchanged, even as Kagome stopped a few feet in front of him. He remained silent and unwelcoming to the talk.

"Are you leaving?" She asked softly.

His eyes nor body gave her a reply or reading of his emotions.

"Alibaba-kun and the others don't want to see you go." She continued.

Hakuryuu's sights landed on the silent magi standing before coming back to stare at the miko's sorrow. Perhaps she did feel bad about her hit, but they were at different levels of thinking. At least, from right and wrong. "Is that so…". He replied with a soft smile.

Brows furrowing with worry, she slowly shook her head. "We can't say goodbye like this." The concerns she had expressed with Sinbad still chained many thoughts in her head, and seeing Hakuryuu leave now, she now imagined the worst. "Hakuryuu-kun-."

"Kagome-dono."

She blinked, taken back by his interruption and firm tone.

"I am afraid I'm about to ignite a war that will split the Kou Empire into two."

Her eyes and Aladdin's slowly widened. What…?

"What that happens," Hakuryuu continued, "will you two lend me your power as a magi and as a miko?" He was not new to the myths of magis and miko and the advantage of having them. If anything, the one having them by their side should be considering themselves blessed to be granted such knowledge and connections.

Letting the shock wash away, Kagome exhaled. Unfortuantely, she had to be left in a world were greed was easily their manipulation and drive. Revenge was their fuel, and hatred had become a part of who they were. Whatever this whole miko, magi, and king stuff was, she felt it in her heart and gut that it was not a matter to take lightly.

It was something that could bring both peace and destruction if done recklessly.

"I…," Aladdin spoke first, "I don't like wars. I do want to help you because you're my friend…and I'll be there for you whenever you're really in trouble, but…".

"Sinbad-sama has already told me that he will join forces with me."

Kagome's brows twitched in response.

"You two are allies of Sindria, aren't you?"

Eyes slowly coming to look at the young prince, Kagome stopped him by saying anything more. She took a step forward, catching his attention. "We know Sinbad-san, and his country, but," standing in front of Aladdin, a mild-glare appeared, "war is not something we are choosing to get ourselves involved in, even if it does include Sindria."

He took another look at Kagome's expression, hoping to find a small break in her, but – his eyes narrowed back – he found nothing. Every word she had just said was the truth. A soft laugh escaped his lips, "I see. It turns out Sinbad-sama and yourself are very different."

Taken back by his words, Kagome could not help but release the tension within and display her confusion. Different? She wanted so much to ask about his mother and Al Thamen, but found her throat go dry. How was she even supposed to ask without sparking his hatred? If what he said and what she saw was true, then Kou was a threat, for now; his obsession with revenge was barely forming an everlasting promise within.

"I had a feeling this would be both of your responses." He cut into her thoughts.

"Hakuryuu-kun," Kagome's did not miss his the tightened grip over his spear, "battles started out of revenge…" memories of her own sprouted of the darkness Miroku, Sango, Kouga, Inuyasha, and the others had carried for years, "it only breeds more sorrow. Is there any way to extinguish your flame of vengeance?" It was binding him to the past, and stopping him from seeing the future he had potential for. "We should-."

"Kagome-dono. Aladdin-dono."

Both Aladdin and Kagome blinked at the sight of his respectful bow.

"You've done so much for me over the last few months. I truly enjoyed my time with all of you. As someone who has only ever opened his heart to his elder sister, it actually feels like I've made some friends, but," he straightened up, "that time is over now. Thank you very much."

Unable to say more, the two of them watched him turn back around and continue his path. For once, Kagome felt unable to do anything to stop him. She could not when she herself had experienced the pain and need for revenge.

And she was sure she could she fall to it if something horrible occurred now.

"Kagome-onee-san?" Aladdin looked up to the silent miko.

'Kagome-sama?'

She closed her eyes at the sound of Nigimitama's voice. She could do nothing to stop him now, but…

'Nigimitama…,' opening her eyes, she saw the last blurry bit of Hakuryuu's person, 'I have a favor to ask.'.

MizukixTsukiyomi's Notes: And that concludes this chapter! A few side reminders, the story will work its way to answering the questions about how the jewel is connected, the four souls, and Kagome herself. Trust me it will all tie in together. If you would like to see previews, updates, or conversations on Pure Rukh, my tumblr is the place where you will see that!

Now we can all guess what next chapter might lead to...

Translations:

Kakou - to enclose, to shield, to surround

Kiyomeru - to purify, cleanse, to ward off

Please review and thank you for reading!

Ja~ne!