Chapter 4: Reunited With Memories of the Past

Yosei awoke to find herself in an empty room. "What happened? I can't remember falling asleep." She said as she got up and exited the room. She began to walk down a corridor which led her to the courtyard of the castle. As she entered the courtyard she noticed that even the morning light could not penetrate the dark clouds which surrounded Naraku's castle. "Did you sleep well?" said a voice from beside her. Yosei turned to see Naraku in his baboon pelt standing a few feet away from her. "I have a surprise for you" said Naraku as he snapped his fingers. The sound of chains and struggling guards came from inside the castle. The noise came closer and closer, until Yosei could see the silhouette of a huge beast being led by five guards.
Yosei stared as the creature came closer and closer, squinting her eyes in attempts to focus. As creature made it to the end of the corridor and made its last steps into the courtyard Yosei gasped in disbelief. "Fa.Faori!?" she said with her hands over her mouth. A huge black griffin stood before her, its shekels clanging as it struggled to move toward her. Tears began to stream down Yosei's cheeks as she ran to embrace him. "I thought you were dead. I thought I had lost you forever!" said Yosei as she embraced Faori even tighter. The griffin wrapped its wings around Yosei. Yosei loosened her embrace and stared into Faori's eyes. They looked different to her. They were not the wild free-spirited eyes she had once known, no, the eyes she looked into were tired and lifeless, showing almost no emotion at all. This caused her to cry even more. "That is enough." said Naraku as he signaled the guards to take Faori away. "No! What are you doing? He cant leave now, he just got here!" said Yosei as she held her embrace on Faori. "Yosei, do not forget that you have a job to do. If you are successful you shall see your friend again. In fact I will set him free." "But what if I'm not" said Yosei as she watched Faori being taken away. "He will die." Yosei stood there clinching her firsts in anger. "Okay." Yosei huffed "Where can I find this Inuyasha?" "My insects shall lead you to him. Now go!" Naraku summoned his insects and they began to fill the sky. Yosei walked to the middle of the courtyard and placed the ancient mask over her face and covered herself with the hood of her robe. She grabbed the talisman she had been wearing and ripped it of her neck. Long purple flames extended from her hand as the talisman transformed into a scythe with the same tri-dragon symbol on the blade as was on the talisman. Dark purple flames began to surround her and whip around wildly as a barrier formed. She took off in a purple ball of light, trailing behind Naraku's insects. "I shall kill you Inuyasha so Faori will be free."

Kaede's Village

It was now sunset and Inuyasha and the gang were just beginning to settle in for the night after another day of unsuccessful shard hunting. "It's been two stinkin' weeks since we've collected any shards!" said Inuyasha angrily. "Be patient we'll find some soon, we always do." said Miroku calmly. "Yeah, and we usually get more than we bargain for." said Kagome sarcastically as group entered a small house in the village. They began to prepare their beds for the night when Kagome noticed Inuyasha outside staring at the sunset. "What are you looking at?" Kagome asked curiously. "Are you thinking about her again?" "No!! Why are you so nosey anyway?!" said Inuyasha as he pointed his finger in Kagome's face. "I'm just worried that's all. Yah know, you've been acting funny all day. Why have you been so grumpy lately?" asked Kagome as she pushed Inuyasha's finger away. Inuyasha stepped back and sat down Indian-style. "It's the new moon." he muttered grumpily under his breath. "Huh, what was that?" said Kagome as she leaned down with her hand to her ear in attempts to hear more clearly. "It's the new moon! Okay, I said it! I'm going to bed." said Inuyasha as he stormed into the house. "Ohhhh, the new moon. So that's why he's been so grumpy." said Kagome innocently as she yawned. "Whew, I'm tired I think I'll go to bed early too.
Nightfall came quickly. The sound of Naraku's insects filled the air as Yosei arrived in the Forbidden Forest just outside of Kaede's village. "Ah, so that's where they are." said Yosei as the fire barrier that surrounded her extinguished. "The darkness of the new moon will give me an advantage tonight." she said as she looked at the village under the cover of the trees. "It seems that everyone is asleep. Good." said Yosei as she hopped onto her scythe and glided slowly towards the village as if it were a witch's broomstick. Naraku's insects remained in the forest. Yosei floated past the houses one by one in search of Inuyasha and the jewel shards. "How will I know which one he is in?" she said as she started to become frustrated. Yosei then passed by a small house. Pain began to surge through her arm and the jewel shard embedded in it began to pulsate. "That must be it." said Yosei as she held her arm to her chest. She landed on the roof of the house and grabbed some leaves in her hand. A breeze began to blow and Yosei took the leaves that were in her palm and blew them to the wind. The leaves turned to purple flames and took the shape of a bird which flew around the houses of the village catching them on fire. "That will serve as my distraction and buy me some time." she thought to herself. Kaede along with two villagers ran to the small house where Inuyasha and the gang were asleep. She quickly slid open the door. "Inuyasha the village is being attacked!" said Kaede as she tried to catch her breath. Miroku and Sango ran outside to see the flaming bird and Naraku's insects buzzing in the sky. "This is the work of Naraku!" said Miroku as he stared at the insects. "Naraku!?" exclaimed Inuyasha as walked towards the entrance of the house and began to unsheathe his sword. Sango rode off on Kilala and began to fight off the fire bird and Naraku's insects. "Perhaps you should stay here with Kagome, Inuyasha. Remember you are human now and your Tetsuiaga will prove useless." said Miroku as he ran off to join Sango in the fight. "No way! Shippou, watch Kagome!" said Inuyasha as he looked at Kagome who was still sleep. Inuyasha joined Miroku and Sango who were attempting to put out the fire which had spread to the crops. Shippou got up to peek out the entrance of the house. Yosei took out a seed from her pocket and palmed it in her hand. She began make her way slowly off the roof and peeked into one of the windows of the house. Yosei took the seed, which was now glowing red and cracked it with her nail. She threw it into the window as it began to let off fumes. Shippou ran to Kagome but the poisonous fumes got to him and caused him to pass out before he could reach her. Yosei's hooded silhouette stood at the entrance, the eyes of her ancient jackal mask glowing.