**New chapter! Sorry that it's rather crappy D: I fail at fighting scenes. I have awesome ideas in my head, I just fail at typing them T_T but I do try! I hope you enjoy this next adventure :3 **

"I'm bored," Ashley was laying on a bale of hay, her arms dangled over the edge of it.

Kagome looked up at her, "It'll be dark out soon, so there's not much we can do."

Ashley sighed and groaned at the same time, "Yeah, I kind of figured…" She glanced up at the sky. The sun was half-way hidden by the trees, making them look black against its bright exterior. "Jay would love this sky… knowing her, she'd try to paint it…"

"She paints?" Sango raised a brow as she flipped through a book that Yuki's mom said she could borrow until they left.

"Yeah. I do too, but I like drawing more. She just… does anything, except for ceramics. She fails at 3D stuff," Ashley chuckled slightly, but soon quit.

Shippo climbed onto the hay next to Ashley, "You two like art, then?"

Ashley nodded, "Yeah. Well, I'm going to college for art already."

"You're that old?" Kagome looked shocked, "I thought you were a high schooler still."

"Thanks for that compliment," Ashley laughed, "but yeah, I'm going to school to be an art teacher. Jay's thinking about going to school for art, but she's not sure yet."

"I see…" Kagome nodded, "I'd like to see some of your guys' artwork sometime," she smiled up at Ashley.

Sango nodded, "Same. It's fun looking at what others are capable of doing with their hands and a piece of paper."

Ashley smiled, "I'd love to show you some of my artwork. If someone has a piece of paper and a pencil, I could actually draw something before the sun disappears." She looked at the sky, about one-fourth of the sun was over the trees.

"Actually…" Kagome rummaged around and smiled as she pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket, "I do have a piece of paper. Though, I don't have a pencil…"

Shippo jumped onto Ashley's shoulder, "You forgot Ash, I can shape shift!" He beamed and used his fox powers to shift into a pencil.

Ashley's eyes grew, "I didn't know you could do that…"

"Oh… yeah that was Jay who knew…" Shippo mumbled quietly.

Ashley didn't hear what Shippo had said, she was already working on a picture, "I prefer drawing anime styled characters, which is what I'm doing." She looked at Sango, "Have you seen anime or read manga?"

"Uh…" Sango blinked.

Kagome nodded, "Yeah, remember that picture comic I brought a few months ago?"

"Oh! Was that an anime?"

"Erm… no. It was a manga," Kagome said as she glanced over Ashley's shoulder, "That's pretty good."

Sango peeked over her shoulder as well, "Oh wow, I love how you have her hair styled like that."

"Thanks. It's fun coming up with hair styles and clothing for characters," Ashley had a smile on her face.

Shippo watched, "I'm excited to say that I'm helping you with this!"

Ashley laughed.

"Aw, the sun's gone… well, most of it," Kagome looked at the sky. The sun was hidden behind the trees. There was still some light, but not enough to allow good sight.

"It's okay. I'll finish it tomorrow. Well, if Shippo lets me." Ashley let go of Shippo as he turned back into his fox form.

He smiled, "Of course!"

"Hey, what are you four doing?" Miroku walked up to the hay and leaned against his staff a bit.

"Ashley was just drawing for us. She's really good," Sango answered.

Miroku nodded, "I see… The sky's very pretty," he gradually placed his hand on Sango's rear, "Much like y-"

Sango sucker-punched Miroku, "HANDS OFF!"

"He never stops, does he?" Ashley peeked down at him.

"Nope," Sango fumed and walked off, "He should've learned by now though."

Kagome stood, "Well, we better go inside. A lot of odd creatures like to come out at night."

"Eh! Don't leave me!" Ashley jumped off of the bale of hay, landing on Miroku. "Oh, sorry," she quickly got off of him and ran after Kagome and Sango.

Miroku cringed, "Eeehnnn…" he held his stomach, "that was too painful." He slowly sat up and rubbed his torso.

"Hey, where's Kagome? I thought she said they'd be over here?" Inuyasha walked into view and scratched his head.

"They just left, actually," Miroku turned towards the directions the girls had disappeared to.

Inuyasha grumbled, "They never stay still, do they?"

"It seems like that." Miroku and Inuyasha made their way through the darkness and found the girls sitting outside Yuki's home.

Kagome looked up at them, "Hey!"

"I have the supplies gathered so we'll be ready to leave in the morning," Inuyasha crossed his arms and leaned against a wall.

"Okay. We'll head out and keep searching for Jalynn," Sango said, reassuringly.

Ashley let out a breath. She had wondered if they were going to continue their search. If they weren't, she was going to leave the group in order to find her friend.

Kagome nodded, "Yeah, we can't stop looking for her." She looked at Inuyasha, who looked doubtful.

Miroku felt the tension coming from Inuyasha and whispered, "What's wrong?"

"I doubt she's alive. She's been missing for over a day; you know about all the stuff that's out there. Plus, Naraku and his puppets are out there. They could've captured her and…" Inuyasha trailed off, knowing that Miroku knew what he meant by all he had said.

"Even so," Miroku sighed and looked up at the night sky, "we cannot give up, for Ashley's sake."

"What are you two mumbling about over there?" Sango eyed them.

Miroku smiled, "Nothing! Just that the sky's very pretty tonight."

Inuyasha grunted, "I'm just glad the New Moon's not for a while…"

Ashley cocked her head, "Why do you say that? Besides the fact that it's completely black outside when it's the New Moon…"

Inuyasha stretched, "Eh, I just don't like the New Moon…" he suddenly froze in mid stretch. His ears twitched and he looked over at the forest as he straitened himself out.

Everyone became silent when they saw a serious look come across his face, "Inuyasha? What is it?" Kagome took a couple steps towards him.

"I don't know… I thought I just heard someone yell," There was silence for a few seconds. "Eh, I must've imagined it. Let's get to bed befo-"

"AH!" Ashley screamed and ducked as a cannon-like object came flying at her.

Kagome, Sango, Shippo, and Miroku all ducked as debris flew all over the place.

"Great, it's the Band of Seven," Inuyasha grumbled as citizens in the village started to scream and scramble around.

Ashley blinked some dust from her eyes, "The who?"

"The Band of Seven is a group of thieves that Naraku created. They're human… well, mostly. One of them looks more like a cyborg more than a human because of all the weapons attached to him," Kagome explained as she stood, "We need to make sure Yuki and her mom are ok. Inuyasha, Miroku, you two-" she cut off and blinked when she realized the two of them were already in battle. "O..kay…"

Ashley stood and rubbed her shoulder, "Let's go." She pushed her way through some wood, Sango, Kagome, and Shippo were doing the same, "Yuki, are you okay?"

Shippo jumped onto Kirara when she transformed into her bigger form, "Yuki!" Kirara bit down on some of the wood and moved it with her teeth.

"Help!" There was a small sound coming from a large pile of debris and wood.

Ashley ran to it, "Guys! Over here," she shoved her body against the wood in an attempt to move it, but failed, "Gah! Move!" Her hands started to get splinters as she shoved harder.

"Here…" Kagome got to where Ashley was and tried to move the wood with her, but it was too heavy. "Ugh! Why won't it move?"

Sango looked at Kirara, "Keep Shippo safe and try to get the other citizens to a safe place." Kirara nodded as if she knew what Sango was saying and flew off. Sango looked at the piece of wood and shoved her body against it as well. The wood started to move slightly, but it was suddenly blocked by something massive.

"Would you like some help?" A manic smile came across the guy's face as he shoved the wood at Ashley, Kagome, and Sango which revealed Yuki and her mom, who were in the fireplace hearth, hiding.

"AH!" Ashley screamed and a shadow figure appeared between the piece of wood and her, Kagome, and Sango. "WHAT IS THAT THING?"

Sango and Kagome glared as they got ready for battle, "Kyokotsu, one of the Band of Seven."

"Hehehe… how fun!" Kyokotsu reached for Yuki, who let out a loud scream of terror.

Sango pulled out her Hiraikotsu and ran at him, "He's mine!"

Kagome nodded and ran towards Yuki and her mom. Ashley joined her and grabbed Yuki when Sango's weapon slammed against Kyokotus's arm, taking his attention off of the others.

"We'll get you two to a safe place, don't worry." Kagome said reassuringly as they fled the torn up home.

Ashley looked around as the village they were in started to get plundered. "This is horrible! Why would someone do something like this?"

"If there's one thing you need to know, it's that feudal Japan isn't as safe as a lot of people think it is," Kagome dodged some rubble that fell towards them.

"I can tell…" Ashley furrowed her brows slightly and grabbed Yuki and shielded her from a ball of flame that spewed from an explosion. Her eyes grew, "Explosions?"

Kagome glared and pulled out an arrow, "Renkotsu… Ash, go with the villagers and find Kirara. We'll be okay here." She shot an arrow and it penetrated a cloud of dust. The arrow came back at them and Kagome dodged it and glared at the figure that emerged from the dust.

A grin spread across the male's face. Purple stripes came up his face and his eyes seemed to be white. "So, you're going to challenge me? Then bring it on." He laughed and flames started to shoot from his mouth.

Ashley screamed and another shadow illusion appeared, which came between all of them and the flames. The illusion swallowed up the flames, rendering them useless.

"Heh? What's this?" Renkotsu looked up at the large shadow, "Are you one of Naraku's creations?"

Kagome blinked and looked at Ashley, who shrugged. Suddenly, a figure came flying at them, knocking them down. An unconscious Sango lay there, some blood trickled down her mouth.

"SANGO!" Ashley yelled her name, terrified. She then glared at the large guy who joined the Renkotsu dude… Kyokotsu was his name.

"That puny little girl had no fight in her. Worthless," Kyokotsu cracked his knuckles and glared at Ashley, Kagome, Yuki, and Yuki's mom.

Yuki cringed at the glare and buried her face into her mom's chest. Her mom held her tight and looked at everyone with fright.

Suddenly, Ashley stood, her fist was clenched.

"Ash…?" Kagome held an arrow in her hand as multiple shadows started to appear.

"What's this?" Kyokotsu looked at the figures, curious. Renkotsu shrugged.

Ashley glared, "No one hurts my friends." She flicked her wrist and the shadows lunged at the two thieves. They didn't scream or anything, but went to attack the shadows. They learned quickly, though, that they couldn't hurt the shadows.

Kyokotsu tried to punch one, but his fist went right through it and into the ground. "What the? GRRR!" He continued to punch away, not realizing how stupid he looked and shrugging off the blood that was starting to drip down his fist.

Renkotsu analyzed the shadows and realized Ashley controlled them, "What is your name?" he looked right at her.

Ashley glared, "That's none of your business." She glanced at Kagome, who had one of Sango's arms wrapped around her neck.

"Heh… if that's what you say… then," Renkotsu shot some more fire from his mouth and threw some explosives all around him. The place lit up and the shadows disappeared.

Ashley shifted and took a step backwards when she saw what had happened.

Yuki's mom grabbed Yuki and held her close.

"Look out!" Kagome went to drop Sango so she could push Ashley out of the way.

A blade shot through the flames right at Ashley's chest. Her eyes grew and before she could comprehend what had happened, a figure with long, silvery hair was standing in front of her.

"Inu..yasha…" Kagome was relieved.

"Take everyone and get out of here," Inuyasha sounded annoyed.

"Inuyasha," Kenkotsu glared at him.

Kyokotsu grinned and cracked his knuckles, "A fight worth fighting."

Renkotsu shook his head, "No, I call this fight with him."

Inuyasha tightened his grip on his blade and he glared back, "What are you guys doing? What have these people done to you lot?"

"They breathe our air. That's what they did," Renkotsu opened his mouth slightly wider and flames billowed from his mouth again.

Inuyasha lifted his blade and yelled, slashing the flames.

Kagome and Ashley carried Sango away from the battle, Yuki and her mom right behind them. Kirara appeared from the forest, Shippo on her back.

"Kagome! What's wrong with Sango?" Shippo started to get scared.

"She got hurt while fighting. Take Yuki and her mom to safety."

Kirara wasn't fond of that idea and she showed it by glaring at Kagome.

Kagome looked at Kirara, "We'll protect her. Don't worry."

Yuki climbed onto Kirara, still scared. Her mom climbed on after her and held on as Kirara took off.

Ashley looked around, "There's a tree over there with some bushes that could hide us."

"Good idea," Kagome shifted her direction towards the tree and the two quickly carried Sango to the safety of the shrubbery. Ashley placed a hand on Sango's head and frowned. "Where's Miroku?" Kagome looked at the village; her eyes scanned what she could see.

Ashley also looked, "I… don't see him." She became worried. Sure he was a pervert who needed to have his eyes stabbed out of their sockets, but he was a nice guy and one of her friends.

"Neehnnn…" Sango shifted slightly and her brows furrowed.

"Eh! Sango, you're okay!" Ashley was relieved she felt like hugging Sango, but she refrained from that action so she wouldn't further hurt her. She then thought of Jalynn. She wouldn't have cared. She would've just hugged the person, not caring if she hurt them further with the joy of knowing that they were still alive. She frowned.

Kagome looked at Ashley, "What's wrong?" Her eyes averted to Sango, who was shifting from a lying down position to a sitting position.

"Nothing…" Ashley pushed the thought away and focused on what was happening there and then.

"Ugh… that bastard punched me right in the chest…" Sango rubbed the area and cringed, "It knocked the air right out of me. I thought my heart had stopped…" She then looked at the battle, "I don't see Miroku." There was immediate worry in her voice and her eyes became panicked.

"I'm sure he's fine!" Ashley said reassured, but before Sango or Kagome could reply to her optimistic saying, a large bombshell blew up the tree they were by. The three girls screamed and covered their heads. Ashley's eyes grew when the splinters of wood stopped falling, "What the?"

"RUN!" Kagome and Sango both grabbed Ashley and dragged her from the scene. Steel wires came slashing down on the spot they had just been in.

Ashley squeaked in terror as the figure stepped out from its hiding place. Her eyes grew, "IT'S A FREAKING CYBORG!"

Sango glared and turned around, throwing her Hiraikotsu at him, "That's Ginkotsu."

Ashley flailed, "How do you all know these freaky guys!"

Kagome dodged some burning wood, "Umm… well Inuyasha's kind of to blame."

"Kind of?" Sango snorted as she grabbed her boomerang as it came back. It had no effect on Ginkotsu, but it did distract him momentarily. She then let out a scream as she went flying into the ground. A male figure lay on top of her, dazed. "Ah! Miroku!"

"Oh… dear Sango…" Miroku cringed as she shoved him off of her. "Please, bear my children."

Sango glared and slapped him when she realized his hand was, somehow, on her butt. "NOT NOW MIROKU!"

Ashley sweatdropped, "He really had the nerve to do that at a time like this?"

Inuyasha suddenly appeared. He had been thrown back by Kyokotsu and Renkotsu. He growled, "You guys are a pain in the ass!"

That's when they all realized they were surrounded by all of the thieves. Ashley gulped and tried to form some shadow illusions, but there was too much bright fire to do that. Sango was backed up against the others, rendering her Hiraikotsu useless. Kagome had an arrow out and aimed while Inuyasha had Tetsusaiga clenched between his hands. Miroku had his staff in his hand and wind tunnel at the ready.

The Band of Seven all grinned. "So, we finally have you trapped, Inuyasha and friends," Bankotsu had his halberd was resting in his hand, but was in a position that could easily strike his enemies. "Let's do what we were told to do." His smile disappeared and he raised his weapon, as did the others.

Inuyasha let out an angry growl and slashed his hand, using his iron reaver soul stealer, and came down on Bankotsu.

"Enough!" A loud, stern voice rang out.

Inuyasha stumbled from the sudden voice and face planted into Bankotsu's chest.

"I didn't know you swayed that way, dog," Bankotsu frowned at him.

"I am not a dog!" Inuyasha went to punch him, but stopped when he saw a slim, curvy figure behind the thieves. He stepped backwards, confused. "Who are you?" Annoyance was in his voice.

Kagome looked in the direction Inuyasha was looking and she furrowed her brows with confusion. Sango's jaw dropped slightly, but was quickly wiped away when she realized Miroku was practically drooling.

A devious smile appeared on the woman's face as she stopped in front of Inuyasha and the others. Her legs were long, covered by black fabric and boots. Her top was low cut and short on the torso, revealing much of her stomach. Her breasts were large and voluptuous and black gloves ran up her arms. "I'm Shiharu, the Band of Seven's boss."