"Why would you let him take the jewel shards!"

After Team Urameshi had left her home. Kagome was again the victim of Inuyasha's fury. If she had forced them, the two would be outnumbered. A chance she wouldn't like to take. Though when thinking on the mysterious band. The leader Yusuke left an impression her, spiritually.

His power was immense even for a human. The fact he was able to out fight Inuyasha was impressive. Who was he really? And his friends were just as strong and abnormal as he.

"Are you even listening!?"

The question awoke her from thought. "I'm sorry, I was lost in thought"

"Why did you give them the shards? Just answer me that!" His anger knew no bounds. Shouting almost heard, if they hadn't moved to the woods.

"Listen, we don't who they are, what they do, or if they have others with them we need to find out more" Kagome snapped something common among their arguments. The Hanyou growled while making a sour look. She glared just as strong, her arms crossed.

Koenma's Office

The young lord sat at his desk, and in front was Botan. Nervous as usual standing squirming. A smile plastered, as Koenma stared angrily.

"Where on earth is Yusuke!?" A shout surprised Botan. A yelp echoed, as flinched in response.

"Yusuke has decided to come in the morning, he says he has a source you may want to talk with" answering hesitantly

The news made the young lord erupt in anger. A tantrum bursts from his tiny body. George the ogre stood helpless attempting to calm him. After doing so, a huff of two. "Fine, we'll talk in the morning!"

A sigh of relief escapes both Botan and George.

Yusuke's Home

The detective lay on his bed. Shards positioned on his desk. Glowing faintly in the night. Staring carefully at them, where did these things come from?

He tossed and turned over the question. If these things were so strong how come Koenma didn't have these? Or why he wasn't even aware of them before? A cyclone of questions with no answers filled. In order for him to receive any he would have to wait.

Morning

Kagome had gotten dressed, no school outfit just jeans and a shirt. Inuyasha had slept over anxious. Following out the door closely behind. "No, Inuyasha!"

"Come on Kagome!" Trying to force his way into this meeting. The Miko rejected his company. His temper may put wrench in whoever she was meetings mood. Something she couldn't risk depending on who she was meeting. "I don't trust these people! They could be after the shards themselves!!"

His pleading and arguing just furthered her frustration. Her expression matching her mood. "Listen Inuyasha, I'm going to this meeting though you need to tell the others what's happening is that clear?"

The stern talking, angered him extremely. Though her reason was understandable. Growling he approached the Bone Eater Well. Soon falling down in a flash of light. Kagome sighed exhausted as she punched the bridge of her nose. "Troubles I see"

Spooked by the question, Kagome swung around. To see a blue haired woman, holding a oar in hand. A friendly smile greeted her. Unsure if she was friend or foe. "Who may you be?"

"Oh apologies I'm Botan, the farrier who'll take you to your present destination"

"I think you have the wrong person"

"No, I'm for certain you're Kagome Higurashi" replying a bit aggressively. "I was sent by Yusuke Urameshi, to take you to Lord Koenma"

Kagome didn't know who Koenma was, but knew who Yusuke was. Having second thoughts she then accepted. Letting go if her oar, as it floated mid-air. Botan sat on one end, as Kagome hesitantly sat on the other. "Hold on"

"Wha-!?" A suprise shout as the two shot upwards. At high speeds coming to an absolute stop. Causing the teen to barely fall off. A steady trip as they floated through the sky. Adjusting her seating and a sigh. "Could've gave me a little more warning!"

"I thought I did"

Furthering their journey, Kagome began to see a line. This line subtlety turned more and a more into a river. Purple in color, with a foul smell and heavy mist. "Where are we?"

"The River Styx no doubt" Botan spoke steering the oar. Unaffected by aura that this place spued out. Following the river, a large gate of some kind slowly came into view. It intimidated her to the bone. Stopping at the front as the hopped off the oar.

"Whoa" entering a long hallway, dark unable to see. A sound hits her eardrum, people rushing. Instantaneous talking and yelling echoed. As the two pushed through the doors

"Your in for it now!"

"Not to day!!"

As two ogres rushed each other. Kagome almost instinctively ready to fight. Til they went past each other, holding papers. She then realized the whole room was filled with them. Working desk jobs, dumbfounded by the situation. "What the-?"

"This way" Botan lead the way to another hallway. Kagome still in shock to see Demons working normal jobs. "Suprised aren't you"

"I didn't expect to see this"

"Most don't they expect us to be blood thirsty, well there are a few like that" she explained with a smile. Continuing down a better lit passage. She began to wonder who this Koenma was. Is he a warlord? A ruthless sorccer? The options were endless. "Here we are"

Kagome swallowed hard, and braced herself.

Past

Inuyasha had arrived at Kaede's hut with Sango and Miroku. Shippo was absent due to the persistants of the four.

"Where's Kagome? I thought she would arrive with you" the priest asked. Sitting in the corner away from Sango.

"She's not coming"

"Why on earth not?" Sango asked hastily, unsatisfied with the answer.

It was here Inuyasha began his story. Mention the team that attacked him at the shrine. Describing each person, he mostly fixated on the leader. Even detailing how aura felt, heavy, strong, but felt indecisive. Kaede listened closely particularly when he spoke of demons and humans working together. "Interesting"

"Kaede? Do you know these demons?" Miroku inquired.

"No, but this does give me a better idea on how our world works in the future" the elder contemplated this. If this were true then peace would be close at hand.

"Kaede?"

"Hmm?"

"Who would want these jewel shards more than anyone else? In future terms" Inuyasha asked hoping the old crone had something of worth. The fact someone would want these in the near future startled him.

"Hmmm, I've heard stories and other unsavory rumors" Kaede remembered her sister bringing stories from other places. Some made her wonder, others made fear. "There is rumor among demons... of a place that no man can enter..."

Ominous in tone, the group began to listen hanging on every word.

"It is called Makai, no one knows where it is, some say it's hidden within the mountains, others in the deepest of forests" a grim tale as she continued. Kikyo talked about this particular quite often. "Here demons thrive"

"A oasis for demons?" Miroku asked

"Not just that, people have heard whispers among them speaking of Kings, and other unusual behavior" adding to the mystery, Kaede learned from her sister. That most of demons from small areas disappeared. A small number compared to the thousands of others.