Naraku returned later that evening, barely aware of his steps he was so lost in thought. What could this mean, he thought begrudgingly. Have I lost so much focus over a pathetic human girl? What a waste, such a useless distraction. He paused. Curse that wench, I cannot be involved in such distractions. I'll teach her to … His thoughts were cut off when he stepped foot in the ethereal castle. The stillness, the staleness. Just like it was before Faith arrived. His eyes widened as his pace quickened. He gracefully made his way passed torn down walls and abandoned rooms until he reached the end of the passageway. He turned around quickly only to be face to face with Kagura. He reached out quickly, and before she even saw him move, he had her pinned by the neck against a splintered wall. Her eyes widened as she let out a small sound of surprise.
He narrowed his eyes at the Wind Sorceress. "Where … is … she?" He gritted, his voice trembling for multiple reasons. She adjusted her weight in his grip, which only caused him to grip tighter. "I … do-don't know." She gasped, her voice barely audible in her desperate attempt to gather air. His eyes grew sharp as he slammed her again. "You don't know?" He spat out. "You don't know, do you? How convenient!" His malicious tone furthered Kagura's fear. What is he planning? Am I Faith's Keeper? Faith … why did you leave? Kagura thought desperately. Her thoughts were running into each other, jumbled in her confusion.
Naraku let out a growl of frustration as he carelessly threw her to the floor. Her body skidded across the ragged floor as her she tried hard not to cry out. He sneered down at the struggling woman sprawled out onto the floor. "Useless." He growled as he stepped over her body.
She rolled over, grimacing in pain. "Faith …" She muttered, coughing up small amounts of blood. "Bastard." She managed to squeeze out before her world went black.
Naraku made his way back outside, the sun was just beyond the horizon, and the aura of the castle was blinding. He looked down at the soil and saw the rapid foot prints. He knelt down to find that they were indeed Faith's. "She ran?" He whispered to himself. He stood fully erect once more, his eyes following the trail of these frantic footsteps. "Kanna." He said sternly. His demonic voice reached his incarnation, Kanna, and a few moments later, the white clad apparition was walking towards Naraku. Her feet barely gracing the ground as she held her mirror absently.
"Yes, Master Naraku?" Her weak voice inquired. "Tell me, Kanna, what had that little wench running?" Kanna held out her mirror tentatively out for Naraku to see. He could see the moment he turned his back on her, the array of emotions that dominated her face, the pain, her falling to the floor. She whispered Naraku's name as a single tear tread down her pale cheek. Her eyes opened frantically as she fought back the tears. He saw her running, Inuyasha, he saw her and that mutt walking alongside each other casting playful glances at each other's direction.
"Enough." He demanded as he waved the scene away. "Kanna, what is it that she saw? What was her vision?" He questioned, his harsh whisper directed only at the girl. "I do not know. There is a demon not far that may help. He can see things as well. Just like Faith." Kanna's voice was so meek that it would be hard to hear her if one were not paying close attention. Naraku's curiosity was inflamed. "A demon, you say? Where is this demon?" Kanna's mirror showed a sickly looking demon, his body barely clothed, his pale, rot looking skin barely clinging to his poorly fed bones. The demon looked up as if he knew he was being watched, and Naraku's eyes widened to see that this demon had gouged out wounds where his eyes should be, and suddenly, the mirror turned blank.
Naraku recognized the cave that the deranged demon was residing in. "Get back inside. Kagura may be wounded." He ordered as he headed in the direction of the demon.
Without another word, Kanna soundlessly made her way back inside.
Faith, I must know what you saw. Why were you crying? How dare you leave? Naraku thought. His anger gave way to something else. Something he could not quite recognize. Was it sadness? Or something else? And with that, he set out to find this demon, this seer. He was going to know what Faith saw, no matter how long it took. And then, he was going to find her.
Inuyasha and Faith have been walking for what seems like hours. Maybe it has been hours, who knew? They joked around, talked and all the while avoided the topic of Naraku. Faith wasn't sure she could handle talking about it right now. Even when she was talking to Inuyasha, her thoughts and focus would drift with Inuyasha's occasional push for attention.
Faith's vision rattled as she was once again violently brought back into reality. Inuyasha's playful smile soon disappeared when he saw the confused look on Faith's face. "Hey … you ok in there?" he whispered, concern was written all over his face. "Yeah, mutt. I've told you a thousand times that I'm just tired. No sleep and all that." His face contorted, his eyes glazed over in thought. "Hey," she nudged back, "Don't think too hard, you might hurt yourself." She laughed. "Ha … ha. You think you're just sooo funny, don't ya?" He retorted. She puffed up. "As a matter of fact, I am. I'm a comedic genius. Laugh before my funny-osity!" She swelled. He knocked her over in one push. "Yeah, yeah, keep talkin' weirdo."
He was now looking down at a fallen Faith. She laughed. "Oh, ok!" She said as she pulled him down on the ground. She started tickling him and he let out the most girlish giggle which naturally only caused Faith to laugh more. "Oh yea!?" He declared and quickly turned the tickle fest on her. "Take that!" He yelled. After a few minutes of a violent tickle fight, they laugh on the ground gasping for breath.
"Ha, I … totally … won … mutt." Faith breathed out. He laughed. "Keep dreamin'" he huffed. They laugh there for a few minutes before Inuyasha reached over and grabbed her hand. "Huh?" Faith responded out of surprise, her widened eyes now looking into Inuyasha's thoughtful ones. "Ya know, you really scared me back there. I thought something bad was gonna happen to you." Faith opened her mouth to say something when she realized she didn't know what to say. I know. I'm sorry She thought. Inuyasha continued. "I'll always find you. I'll always look." He said as he climbed to his feet, brushing the remaining leaves off of his robe. He offered his hand to Faith, and after a moment of bewilderment, she accepted. They looked at each other, and in that second, Faith knew that no matter what happened, Inuyasha would be there. And in that second she wanted to do the same.