Alright....the uploading program was being really mean to me recently,
that is why this chapter is so late. Gomen!! *bows* I also went to Florida
for a family wedding, and that added to the delay as well.
Anyway, thank you for the reviews!! It makes me really happy to see some people are enjoying my story. *runs around happily*
Oh! Two people finally asked me a question I have been waiting to respond to:
Are Marisa's Eyes changing color?
I cannot directly answer this yet, but I can tell you that the colors are not a grammatical error. The answer will be revealed in later chapters, so keep reading!
Disclaimer:
Nenuiel: I love my new kimonos!! *runs around acting pretty*
Korva: You shouldn't have bothered. You are going to die soon.
Nenuiel: () C'mon Korva-chan....you're still not mad at me for chapter 5 are you?
Korva: How DARE you write Yuri? YOU MUST PAY!!
Nenuiel: *points to review board* I got more reviews though...*Korva runs away* I wonder if I did over do it...*gasps*
Korva: *drags an unconscious Sessho-maru* Now, say you will NEVER write Yuri again, or Destruction Man will get it. (that is what Sessho-maru's name translates to)
Nenuiel: *eyes filled with tears* What have you done to my Sessho-maru??!! Alright, alright!!! I promise to never write Yuri again!!! *kneels and hugs the demon*
Sessho-maru: *stretches* What are you crying about woman? I was only asleep.
Nenuiel: *eye twitches* You...! *smacks him over the head with a HUGE frying pan* For once, I am glad to admit I do not own Sessho-maru and the other characters!
Sessho-maru: *snarling* Why did you hit me?! You should have hit her! *points to Korva*
*both begin to argue while Korva laughs insanely*
~*~*~
Blood Oath: Ice and Fire
~*~*~
"Three days have passed since we brought the wench here," Inu-yasha yelled, "we need to go looking for the shards!!!" The girl he was arguing with looked up at him with a stubborn expression, "I am not leaving until she wakes up!!!" The other members of their company watched on with interest as the battle brewed. "She won't wake up for weeks, with wounds like that!!" he argued. "I don't care; I think she deserves to wake to a friendly face after what's happened to her!!"
"You bitch! Will you just list..." he shut his mouth at the pained look that etched across Kagome's face. Tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks, she turned away so he wouldn't see them fall. *Shit,* he swore, *I didn't mean to call her that...I didn't mean to make her cry.* He reached out a hand towards her back, "Kagome, I..." He never got to finish, because she suddenly turned around and screamed at the top of her lungs, "OSUWARI!!!!" Inu-yasha's face was soon stuffed with dirt, "Osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari!!!" She yelled, forcing him back into the earth eight more times. Finished, she stormed past her wide-eyed viewers and disappeared into the hut. Shippou tried to follow, but was grabbed by the tail by Sango. Even after the spell wore off, Inu-yasha laid motionless. Miroku bent down next to the Hanyou's still form, "You alright, my friend?" No sound came for a few moments, then a faint voice reached the monk's ears, "Can't say I didn't deserve that." Inu-yasha gingerly sat up, shaking dirt out of his ears. "Deserved it? You asked for it when you called her that....that...name." the demon huntress chided him, slightly blushing. "Indeed, Inu-yasha, you haven't called her that in a long time. What in the name of Buddha possessed you to call her that now?" The half-demon turned his head away, his eyes glowing with a strange emotion, "Feh, doesn't matter." Miroku looked at Inu-yasha's face confused, while Sango's eyes shone with understanding. "I'll go and talk to her, Shippou, you stay out here," the exterminator told them. She quickly vanished into Kaede's small home. The boys looked on after her, astonishment pasted on every face.
Tears spilled down Kagome's cheeks furiously as plopped herself next to Marisa's wrapped form. Hugging her knees next to her chest, she cursed her weak heart. *Why do I have to care so much for such a stupid, arrogant prick!!* she thought ferociously. Footsteps gently resounded behind her. "Kagome-chan?" a woman's voice asked carefully. The pouting girl sat silently not answering. Sango set herself silently next to her brooding friend, "Come, Kagome-chan, can't you cut him a little slack?" The girl she referred to glared angrily, "Why should I? All he cares about is those stupid shards!! He doesn't care about my feelings!" The huntress shook her head side to side, "Yes he does. He was about to apologize to you before you 'sat' him." Kagome blinked in disbelief, distrust in her eyes, "Yeah right, I bet he was going to say something stupid like, 'Why do you humans have to be such weaklings', or something like that." Sango tilted her head to the side, "I honestly doubt it. He looked like he was sincere to me." Pulling her knees closer to her, Kagome whispered what really bothered her, "I thought he was done calling me names like that. He hasn't called me a 'bitch' since we met you." Sighing, the demon-exterminator placed one hand on the girl's shoulder, "He's been under a lot of stress, just like the rest of us. Because of her." She waved her hand over Marisa's body. "What I think he was trying to do was drag you away from here. From your worry, sadness and confusion. He hates seeing you sad; I see it in his eyes." Kagome looked at her friend,
"Do you really think so?"
"I do," Sango replied, a gentle smile on her face. She then rose, and extended a hand, "I suppose we should give those boys out there another chance, how about you?" Kagome gave a cheerful smile, nodded, and accepted Sango's hand. Rising from the floor, she gave a wicked smile, "Even if he is mean to me, I can always 'sit' him." Both girls broke into laughter as they stepped into the bright morning sunlight. Coming into gazes of those outside, Kagome commanded cheerfully, "Well, what are you waiting for? We got jewel shards to find!" Inu-yasha's jaw almost dropped to the ground in surprise, and Kagome barely stifled a giggle. She picked up her huge backpack, "It's a good thing my bag was already packed." She walked by an amused Miroku, a confused Shippou, and a disorientated Hanyou. "Wha...what....where...when...?" Inu-yasha stuttered from behind her back. Turning around, she looked into his golden eyes, "I thought it was time I got away from here, just for a little while. Besides I've got go back to my time soon, it's almost Christmas." The confusion instantly was replaced by annoyance, "What do you mean you're going back soon?! You just got here!! And what is this 'Christmas'!!"
"It's a family celebration in my time! And just to remind you, we collected three jewel shards in one battle!! That's pretty good I think!" They began another heated argument as their feet crunched on the snow. "They argue too much," Shippou complained from Sango's shoulder. His perch nodded her head in silent agreement, while Miroku responded, "I've told you before Shippou, this is the way that Kagome and Inu-yasha make up." Sango looked at him slightly impressed, "I never thought of it that way, Hoshi-san." Taking advantage of the huntress' attention he asked, "Really?" while patting her butt. Tensing and blushing, Sango raised her Boomerang Bone, and swung it at his head at full strength, "HENTAI!!!" Inu-yasha and Kagome stopped arguing and turned around. "Would you quit it Miroku?" the demon snapped, "You're slowing us down." Kagome took a closer look at the fallen monk, "Umm...Inu-yasha? I think he's knocked out."
"AARRRGGGHHH!!!! Now we have to wait for him to wake up, the stupid baka!!"
**
Kaede had been out healing a sick child in the village, and arrived just in time to see the troop heading out. She did not stop them, they needed to collect the shards quickly, and she wanted time alone with the girl in her hut. Since her discovery, she had been careful to see that none of the bandages had not been removed. Even Kagome's protests that the ones on the face needed to be changed had not persuaded her. She stepped into the gloom of her almost empty hut. Shuffling to the futon, she kneeled herself down beside it. Carefully, just in case her guess was wrong, she unraveled the coverings on the face. When what the wrappings were hiding was revealed, she took in a deep sigh, of relief or worry she did not know. The scars that had been freely bleeding a few days were before, were now completely closed and beginning to fade. "It is as I thought," she muttered, "she has self-healing powers." She knew, however, that she should not unwrap the rest of the body quite yet, for the wounds were more serious and deeper there. Sitting there, she seriously contemplated on what she should do next. Kagome had told her Marisa's story, but something was deeply wrong with Kagome's perspective. Something, she felt, was missing. Then her eye caught Kikyo's papers still piled neatly next to where she sat. A spell that could be extremely useful in this situation was hidden within those documents. *Should I?* she pondered, *The last time I used that spell, the child and I almost perished.* Her curiosity and need for knowledge finally overcame her fearful qualms. She quickly walked over to the parchments, and gently fingered through them. Finding what she was looking for, she glanced at the ingredients she needed. Selecting several sacred plants, herbs, vials and other necessities, she began her preparation work.
**
"Which way is it Lady Kagome?" asked Miroku. Shielding her eyes from the glaring afternoon sun, the Miko-in-training pointed to the southwest, "That way, and its moving fast. From what I can sense, there are two shards." Sango walked up next to her, "Which way are they going? Away or towards us?"
"They were heading our direction a second ago, now they are running from us," Kagome answered. "Then let's go already," Inu-yasha growled, "We've wasted enough time just talking." The demon-huntress nodded, then turned to the small two-tailed cat (is she a demon?) next to her, "Kirara!" The small feline soon transformed into a giant creature. Miroku, Shippou, and Sango climbed onto her back, while Kagome placed herself in her normal position on Inu-yasha. He immediately leapt into the air, leading the chase. His silver hair reflected the orange of the sky as he jumped nimbly from tree to tree. *Finally,* he told himself, *something to take my mind off everything!* They had left the village yesterday, following rumors of the shards late into the night. Miroku had summoned a bad omen cloud above a nice inn, providing shelter from the storm that had ensued until early that morning. It had delivered a fine, thin layer of snow luckily, allowing them to travel. Farther away from 'her' and her scent. Inu-yasha shook his head, *No, I need to get her out of my mind!* "Are you ok Inu-yasha?" Kagome's quiet concern asked. "Fine, just had something in my ear," he lied. He hated lying to Kagome, but he needed to so that he could smother the desire that still plagued him. Marisa, despite her wounds, had been in heat, seducing his senses with her enticing smell. He had allowed the group to stay to make sure that the girl was alright, but when the scent threatened to overwhelm him, he had to leave. It wasn't just that, he also wanted to stop seeing Kagome tear-streaked every morning, with a salty odor hanging over her. His heart was now exceptionally confused, now that three women fought to control it. He felt an obligation to Kikyo, and still loved her slightly. Kagome gave him a serene presence, a feeling that he was really cared for and accepted. That and he felt furious when anything threatened her. Marisa just confused him altogether; he didn't know why he kept on being attracted to her. There was something about her that made her desirable, that being her beauty, scent, defiance of him, maybe even her unquestioning acceptance of what he was. Suddenly, a thick snow storm enveloped him, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Whoa!!" he shouted as he was knocked to the ground. He heard Kagome groan beneath him, "Damn," he cursed as he rolled off her. She lay still, eyes closed, and he leaned in, *Kami, did I hurt her?* He carefully cupped her cheek in one hand, leaning over her to get a better look at her face. Her hazel eyes fluttered open, "Inu-yasha?" They quickly realized that their mouths were barely an inch away from each other. Blushing, they broke apart as fast as they could, Inu- yasha standing up and Kagome scooting herself in the general opposite direction. Trying to break the silence that followed, Kagome asked, "What happened?" Inu-yasha could barely hear her over the howl of the storm, "I don't know." Through the thick snow, he could see tears coming to Kagome's eyes, "Do you think the others are ok?"
"They'll be fine, they have Kirara with them," he told her. The snow, as quickly as it came, disappeared. Kagome's eyes widened, "Inu-yasha! One of the shards is really close by!!" A rustling came from the forage to the left of Inu-yasha, then a large icicle was thrown at him. Dodging it, the Hanyou's sharp eyes managed to catch a white blur heading towards the girl who helplessly watched him, "Kagome!!" he yelled, but his warning came too late. A demon had the girl in his grasp, a white hand held in position at her throat. His long nails scraped slightly against her skin, freeing a few drops of blood. "Hand over the shards, and the woman shall live," his grey eyes gleamed with warning. Kagome's eyes pleaded from within the blue- haired creature's hold, begging him to help her. "Kagome," Inu-yasha asked suddenly, "how many shards does he have?" Her eyes opened in surprise at his question, then filled with understanding. "One," she told him. "Heh, an ice demon with one shard is no problem," he said arrogantly. "Are you not frightened for your woman?" the Youkai asked in surprise. "She's been through worse, now, prepare to die you bastard!!!" the Hanyou cried as he flung himself forward. The ice demon raised his free hand, "Cold grave!!" Inu-yasha was instantly encased in a prison of ice. Kagome stared in fear and horror, "INU-YASHA!!!!"
**
Kaede poured the dark, rich fluid that she had left to settle for 24 hours into a drinking bowl. Breathing through her mouth to avoid the stench of the liquid, she prepared for the final task. She brought out two spelled time candles, and placed one next to her, the other by Marisa's head. Beside her was an illumination stick, so that she could light the candles as soon as she drank the contents of the bowl. Before she did that, she punctured one of her fingers with a sharp needle, releasing a small river of blood. She held it over the bowl, and allowed four drops to fall into it, each representing the four parts of her soul. Picking up the wooden object with her free hand, she gulped the nasty substance down her throat. When she had completely emptied it she reached out the same hand to light the candles, first Marisa's then hers. She felt the properties of the fluid begin, and hurriedly chanted the finishing spell. "Soul of mine, break ye chains," she murmured, touching the bloody finger to her forehead, then she placed it in the middle of Marisa's, "Till the candles be spent, be free to wander in places unhindered." Kaede's eye grew vacant as the spell took full effect, the candle ticking down the time she had left.
**
Kirara mewed softly, picking herself up out of the snow. Shaking her small body to rid some of the snow from her body, she walked over to her mistress through the blizzard. She licked Sango's face gently, hoping to wake her before she froze. The exterminator stirred, then rose into a sitting position, in a daze. "Kirara?" she asked quietly. The cat meowed in response. Sango turned her attention to the storm around her, "Where are the others?" Kirara bounded through the snow, and came upon a dark hump nearly covered with snow. "Hoshi," Sango began, "Miroku, wake up! We're in trouble here." He moaned slightly, then reached behind her and once again rubbed the huntress' butt. She growled in annoyance, slapping him hard across the face. "Ow..." he groaned. "That's what you deserve, you lech!! Now, come, we need to find Shippou." She rose from the ground just as the snow ceased to fall. "Huh? What is going on here?" asked Sango. Miroku rose warily from the cold powder, "It is most likely a demon."
"You got that right, mortal," came a shivering voice from all around them. A little girl with blue hair and grey eyes popped out of the snow, holding a limp kitsune in one arm. "Shippou!" cried Sango. "What do you want with us?" asked Miroku. "Well, duh, I want the shards of the Shikon jewel you posses," snapped the little demon rudely. "Hand them over or the little raccoon dies."
"He's a fox," Miroku corrected her. "He is?" the small ice demon checked again, "Yeah, well, it doesn't mat-" A staff snapped itself over her head. "ITAI!!!" she yelped, "That hurt!!" Sango picked up the dropped Shippou, and slowly started her way back to Miroku's side. The little child shook in rage, "Ice serpents!!" From the snow rose tendrils of malleable ice, wrapping themselves around Sango's legs, torso, and Shippou's still form. One with a very sharp edge placed itself next to Sango's throat, ready to kill at any time. Miroku stood there in shock and anger, "Now, shall we try this again?" asked the ice child as she smiled wickedly at him.
**
*Where be she?* Kaede wondered as she floated in colors of blue and red. She looked in all directions, looking for any sign of the girl's soul. Not seeing anything, she felt a knot tie in her stomach. *Could it be the girl's soul be broken? That she be an empty husk?* Then she felt a very faint flicker of power from where the sapphire took over the ruby. Sighing in relief, she pushed herself towards the calm cerulean. She finally saw a shape appear, a small plot of land from the looks of it, but with a tree like none she had ever seen. The towering plant was the center of the floating isle, giving it light from its blue flowers and holding the soil together with its dark roots. As she grew closer, she could see a woman lying between the roots down at the base. Her clean brown hair seemed to grow from the tree, making her appear one with it. She wore a light blue dress that bared her pale shoulders and lower legs, but covered everything else. Her hands were crossed regally across her stomach, her eyes closed with deep slumber. Kaede's eye widened at the simple beauty before her, awed by what she saw. Just as she was about to land, she was stopped by some kind of barrier. *Some kind of magic shield?* she questioned running her hands down the surface. *While she is asleep? This girl is very powerful indeed.* The young woman stirred in her sleep, obviously feeling something bothering her barricade. Marisa slowly opened her eyes, letting the old woman know that she felt no danger or fear. Her cobalt eyes studied Kaede for a long time. The Miko waited patiently. The shield suddenly dropped, as it never had existed. The wise woman passed through, feeling the barrier rise after she had settled herself on the grass sprinkled with white blossoms. They remained still for a time, just staring at each other. "Who are you priestess?" a melodious voice asked, softly if not gently. The old lady answered solemnly, "Kaede am I." Marisa remained silent, yet moved her arms to either side of her, and carefully pushed herself into a sitting position. "You know what I am," it was not a question, "You are also the one who is taking care of me." Kaede nodded, "Aye." Her blue eyes softened, "Then you delayed death, I owe you my life, Lady Kaede."
"Nay, you owe it to Kagome. Twas she who brought you to my care," the Miko told her. Sky-blue eyes brightened, "I did arrive in the right time, then." A happy, tired smile blessed her lips. Kaede opened her mouth to ask her a question, but was stopped by Marisa already answering, "You want to know how these wounds came upon me. I tried going through the well, it was only by the grace of the gods that I managed to pass."
"Gods?" Kaede asked. "Yes, from what I know, there are four in there, three of them goddesses, and one is not very pleasant." The old priestess understood the understatement that came with the facts, "How long till you wake?" Marisa waved her hand towards the sea of colors that surrounded them, "See the blue? That is my miasma. When this place is completely controlled by my aura, I am free to awake. One third is already done, which was done in four days. So by my count I should rouse in eight sunrises." Kaede sat on the ground, ready to talk the hour away. "You should leave," Marisa said, "it is still not safe here." Kaede tilted her head, "Stuck am I, the spell wears off in an hour." The woman blinked at her, "What spell did you use to get in here?"
"A timed soul-transfer spell."
"What?! Dear woman, there are better spells to use that let you leave at will!!" Marisa cried out. "Now you are in terrible danger!" at that thought, a creature formed itself from the red of its will. "A dragon?" asked Kaede, turning to look at what Marisa was staring at. "Not just any dragon, you are looking at Lord Death himself. I don't think I have the mental strength to protect us both." The Miko turned to look at the thinking girl, "I am a priestess, old I may be, but still powerful. I shall shield us first, ye gather ye strength." She closed her eyes, and set up her own magic shield. "A hiding barricade? Very inventive, that will work for a time," Marisa said, letting down her barrier. Death had released a breath of flame as his hindrance fell, but was surprised when the small island of refuge disappeared. He flew around looking and searching, but not giving up. Marisa closed her eyes, to store her power for when it was needed, "Tell me when you require me to wake." Kaede watched at the frustrated dragon swarm around them, "Let us pray that the fates are kind to us this day."
~*~*~
This is my longest chapter yet!! And I have a major cliff hanger!! *evil laugh* Now my cruel and evil sister is taking MY computer for her own wicked deeds. ;__; Oi!!! Give that back!! I need it!!! *sister runs stealing computer* While I am chasing my younger sibling to reclaim what is mine...review Review REVIEW!!!!!
Anyway, thank you for the reviews!! It makes me really happy to see some people are enjoying my story. *runs around happily*
Oh! Two people finally asked me a question I have been waiting to respond to:
Are Marisa's Eyes changing color?
I cannot directly answer this yet, but I can tell you that the colors are not a grammatical error. The answer will be revealed in later chapters, so keep reading!
Disclaimer:
Nenuiel: I love my new kimonos!! *runs around acting pretty*
Korva: You shouldn't have bothered. You are going to die soon.
Nenuiel: () C'mon Korva-chan....you're still not mad at me for chapter 5 are you?
Korva: How DARE you write Yuri? YOU MUST PAY!!
Nenuiel: *points to review board* I got more reviews though...*Korva runs away* I wonder if I did over do it...*gasps*
Korva: *drags an unconscious Sessho-maru* Now, say you will NEVER write Yuri again, or Destruction Man will get it. (that is what Sessho-maru's name translates to)
Nenuiel: *eyes filled with tears* What have you done to my Sessho-maru??!! Alright, alright!!! I promise to never write Yuri again!!! *kneels and hugs the demon*
Sessho-maru: *stretches* What are you crying about woman? I was only asleep.
Nenuiel: *eye twitches* You...! *smacks him over the head with a HUGE frying pan* For once, I am glad to admit I do not own Sessho-maru and the other characters!
Sessho-maru: *snarling* Why did you hit me?! You should have hit her! *points to Korva*
*both begin to argue while Korva laughs insanely*
~*~*~
Blood Oath: Ice and Fire
~*~*~
"Three days have passed since we brought the wench here," Inu-yasha yelled, "we need to go looking for the shards!!!" The girl he was arguing with looked up at him with a stubborn expression, "I am not leaving until she wakes up!!!" The other members of their company watched on with interest as the battle brewed. "She won't wake up for weeks, with wounds like that!!" he argued. "I don't care; I think she deserves to wake to a friendly face after what's happened to her!!"
"You bitch! Will you just list..." he shut his mouth at the pained look that etched across Kagome's face. Tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks, she turned away so he wouldn't see them fall. *Shit,* he swore, *I didn't mean to call her that...I didn't mean to make her cry.* He reached out a hand towards her back, "Kagome, I..." He never got to finish, because she suddenly turned around and screamed at the top of her lungs, "OSUWARI!!!!" Inu-yasha's face was soon stuffed with dirt, "Osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari!!!" She yelled, forcing him back into the earth eight more times. Finished, she stormed past her wide-eyed viewers and disappeared into the hut. Shippou tried to follow, but was grabbed by the tail by Sango. Even after the spell wore off, Inu-yasha laid motionless. Miroku bent down next to the Hanyou's still form, "You alright, my friend?" No sound came for a few moments, then a faint voice reached the monk's ears, "Can't say I didn't deserve that." Inu-yasha gingerly sat up, shaking dirt out of his ears. "Deserved it? You asked for it when you called her that....that...name." the demon huntress chided him, slightly blushing. "Indeed, Inu-yasha, you haven't called her that in a long time. What in the name of Buddha possessed you to call her that now?" The half-demon turned his head away, his eyes glowing with a strange emotion, "Feh, doesn't matter." Miroku looked at Inu-yasha's face confused, while Sango's eyes shone with understanding. "I'll go and talk to her, Shippou, you stay out here," the exterminator told them. She quickly vanished into Kaede's small home. The boys looked on after her, astonishment pasted on every face.
Tears spilled down Kagome's cheeks furiously as plopped herself next to Marisa's wrapped form. Hugging her knees next to her chest, she cursed her weak heart. *Why do I have to care so much for such a stupid, arrogant prick!!* she thought ferociously. Footsteps gently resounded behind her. "Kagome-chan?" a woman's voice asked carefully. The pouting girl sat silently not answering. Sango set herself silently next to her brooding friend, "Come, Kagome-chan, can't you cut him a little slack?" The girl she referred to glared angrily, "Why should I? All he cares about is those stupid shards!! He doesn't care about my feelings!" The huntress shook her head side to side, "Yes he does. He was about to apologize to you before you 'sat' him." Kagome blinked in disbelief, distrust in her eyes, "Yeah right, I bet he was going to say something stupid like, 'Why do you humans have to be such weaklings', or something like that." Sango tilted her head to the side, "I honestly doubt it. He looked like he was sincere to me." Pulling her knees closer to her, Kagome whispered what really bothered her, "I thought he was done calling me names like that. He hasn't called me a 'bitch' since we met you." Sighing, the demon-exterminator placed one hand on the girl's shoulder, "He's been under a lot of stress, just like the rest of us. Because of her." She waved her hand over Marisa's body. "What I think he was trying to do was drag you away from here. From your worry, sadness and confusion. He hates seeing you sad; I see it in his eyes." Kagome looked at her friend,
"Do you really think so?"
"I do," Sango replied, a gentle smile on her face. She then rose, and extended a hand, "I suppose we should give those boys out there another chance, how about you?" Kagome gave a cheerful smile, nodded, and accepted Sango's hand. Rising from the floor, she gave a wicked smile, "Even if he is mean to me, I can always 'sit' him." Both girls broke into laughter as they stepped into the bright morning sunlight. Coming into gazes of those outside, Kagome commanded cheerfully, "Well, what are you waiting for? We got jewel shards to find!" Inu-yasha's jaw almost dropped to the ground in surprise, and Kagome barely stifled a giggle. She picked up her huge backpack, "It's a good thing my bag was already packed." She walked by an amused Miroku, a confused Shippou, and a disorientated Hanyou. "Wha...what....where...when...?" Inu-yasha stuttered from behind her back. Turning around, she looked into his golden eyes, "I thought it was time I got away from here, just for a little while. Besides I've got go back to my time soon, it's almost Christmas." The confusion instantly was replaced by annoyance, "What do you mean you're going back soon?! You just got here!! And what is this 'Christmas'!!"
"It's a family celebration in my time! And just to remind you, we collected three jewel shards in one battle!! That's pretty good I think!" They began another heated argument as their feet crunched on the snow. "They argue too much," Shippou complained from Sango's shoulder. His perch nodded her head in silent agreement, while Miroku responded, "I've told you before Shippou, this is the way that Kagome and Inu-yasha make up." Sango looked at him slightly impressed, "I never thought of it that way, Hoshi-san." Taking advantage of the huntress' attention he asked, "Really?" while patting her butt. Tensing and blushing, Sango raised her Boomerang Bone, and swung it at his head at full strength, "HENTAI!!!" Inu-yasha and Kagome stopped arguing and turned around. "Would you quit it Miroku?" the demon snapped, "You're slowing us down." Kagome took a closer look at the fallen monk, "Umm...Inu-yasha? I think he's knocked out."
"AARRRGGGHHH!!!! Now we have to wait for him to wake up, the stupid baka!!"
**
Kaede had been out healing a sick child in the village, and arrived just in time to see the troop heading out. She did not stop them, they needed to collect the shards quickly, and she wanted time alone with the girl in her hut. Since her discovery, she had been careful to see that none of the bandages had not been removed. Even Kagome's protests that the ones on the face needed to be changed had not persuaded her. She stepped into the gloom of her almost empty hut. Shuffling to the futon, she kneeled herself down beside it. Carefully, just in case her guess was wrong, she unraveled the coverings on the face. When what the wrappings were hiding was revealed, she took in a deep sigh, of relief or worry she did not know. The scars that had been freely bleeding a few days were before, were now completely closed and beginning to fade. "It is as I thought," she muttered, "she has self-healing powers." She knew, however, that she should not unwrap the rest of the body quite yet, for the wounds were more serious and deeper there. Sitting there, she seriously contemplated on what she should do next. Kagome had told her Marisa's story, but something was deeply wrong with Kagome's perspective. Something, she felt, was missing. Then her eye caught Kikyo's papers still piled neatly next to where she sat. A spell that could be extremely useful in this situation was hidden within those documents. *Should I?* she pondered, *The last time I used that spell, the child and I almost perished.* Her curiosity and need for knowledge finally overcame her fearful qualms. She quickly walked over to the parchments, and gently fingered through them. Finding what she was looking for, she glanced at the ingredients she needed. Selecting several sacred plants, herbs, vials and other necessities, she began her preparation work.
**
"Which way is it Lady Kagome?" asked Miroku. Shielding her eyes from the glaring afternoon sun, the Miko-in-training pointed to the southwest, "That way, and its moving fast. From what I can sense, there are two shards." Sango walked up next to her, "Which way are they going? Away or towards us?"
"They were heading our direction a second ago, now they are running from us," Kagome answered. "Then let's go already," Inu-yasha growled, "We've wasted enough time just talking." The demon-huntress nodded, then turned to the small two-tailed cat (is she a demon?) next to her, "Kirara!" The small feline soon transformed into a giant creature. Miroku, Shippou, and Sango climbed onto her back, while Kagome placed herself in her normal position on Inu-yasha. He immediately leapt into the air, leading the chase. His silver hair reflected the orange of the sky as he jumped nimbly from tree to tree. *Finally,* he told himself, *something to take my mind off everything!* They had left the village yesterday, following rumors of the shards late into the night. Miroku had summoned a bad omen cloud above a nice inn, providing shelter from the storm that had ensued until early that morning. It had delivered a fine, thin layer of snow luckily, allowing them to travel. Farther away from 'her' and her scent. Inu-yasha shook his head, *No, I need to get her out of my mind!* "Are you ok Inu-yasha?" Kagome's quiet concern asked. "Fine, just had something in my ear," he lied. He hated lying to Kagome, but he needed to so that he could smother the desire that still plagued him. Marisa, despite her wounds, had been in heat, seducing his senses with her enticing smell. He had allowed the group to stay to make sure that the girl was alright, but when the scent threatened to overwhelm him, he had to leave. It wasn't just that, he also wanted to stop seeing Kagome tear-streaked every morning, with a salty odor hanging over her. His heart was now exceptionally confused, now that three women fought to control it. He felt an obligation to Kikyo, and still loved her slightly. Kagome gave him a serene presence, a feeling that he was really cared for and accepted. That and he felt furious when anything threatened her. Marisa just confused him altogether; he didn't know why he kept on being attracted to her. There was something about her that made her desirable, that being her beauty, scent, defiance of him, maybe even her unquestioning acceptance of what he was. Suddenly, a thick snow storm enveloped him, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Whoa!!" he shouted as he was knocked to the ground. He heard Kagome groan beneath him, "Damn," he cursed as he rolled off her. She lay still, eyes closed, and he leaned in, *Kami, did I hurt her?* He carefully cupped her cheek in one hand, leaning over her to get a better look at her face. Her hazel eyes fluttered open, "Inu-yasha?" They quickly realized that their mouths were barely an inch away from each other. Blushing, they broke apart as fast as they could, Inu- yasha standing up and Kagome scooting herself in the general opposite direction. Trying to break the silence that followed, Kagome asked, "What happened?" Inu-yasha could barely hear her over the howl of the storm, "I don't know." Through the thick snow, he could see tears coming to Kagome's eyes, "Do you think the others are ok?"
"They'll be fine, they have Kirara with them," he told her. The snow, as quickly as it came, disappeared. Kagome's eyes widened, "Inu-yasha! One of the shards is really close by!!" A rustling came from the forage to the left of Inu-yasha, then a large icicle was thrown at him. Dodging it, the Hanyou's sharp eyes managed to catch a white blur heading towards the girl who helplessly watched him, "Kagome!!" he yelled, but his warning came too late. A demon had the girl in his grasp, a white hand held in position at her throat. His long nails scraped slightly against her skin, freeing a few drops of blood. "Hand over the shards, and the woman shall live," his grey eyes gleamed with warning. Kagome's eyes pleaded from within the blue- haired creature's hold, begging him to help her. "Kagome," Inu-yasha asked suddenly, "how many shards does he have?" Her eyes opened in surprise at his question, then filled with understanding. "One," she told him. "Heh, an ice demon with one shard is no problem," he said arrogantly. "Are you not frightened for your woman?" the Youkai asked in surprise. "She's been through worse, now, prepare to die you bastard!!!" the Hanyou cried as he flung himself forward. The ice demon raised his free hand, "Cold grave!!" Inu-yasha was instantly encased in a prison of ice. Kagome stared in fear and horror, "INU-YASHA!!!!"
**
Kaede poured the dark, rich fluid that she had left to settle for 24 hours into a drinking bowl. Breathing through her mouth to avoid the stench of the liquid, she prepared for the final task. She brought out two spelled time candles, and placed one next to her, the other by Marisa's head. Beside her was an illumination stick, so that she could light the candles as soon as she drank the contents of the bowl. Before she did that, she punctured one of her fingers with a sharp needle, releasing a small river of blood. She held it over the bowl, and allowed four drops to fall into it, each representing the four parts of her soul. Picking up the wooden object with her free hand, she gulped the nasty substance down her throat. When she had completely emptied it she reached out the same hand to light the candles, first Marisa's then hers. She felt the properties of the fluid begin, and hurriedly chanted the finishing spell. "Soul of mine, break ye chains," she murmured, touching the bloody finger to her forehead, then she placed it in the middle of Marisa's, "Till the candles be spent, be free to wander in places unhindered." Kaede's eye grew vacant as the spell took full effect, the candle ticking down the time she had left.
**
Kirara mewed softly, picking herself up out of the snow. Shaking her small body to rid some of the snow from her body, she walked over to her mistress through the blizzard. She licked Sango's face gently, hoping to wake her before she froze. The exterminator stirred, then rose into a sitting position, in a daze. "Kirara?" she asked quietly. The cat meowed in response. Sango turned her attention to the storm around her, "Where are the others?" Kirara bounded through the snow, and came upon a dark hump nearly covered with snow. "Hoshi," Sango began, "Miroku, wake up! We're in trouble here." He moaned slightly, then reached behind her and once again rubbed the huntress' butt. She growled in annoyance, slapping him hard across the face. "Ow..." he groaned. "That's what you deserve, you lech!! Now, come, we need to find Shippou." She rose from the ground just as the snow ceased to fall. "Huh? What is going on here?" asked Sango. Miroku rose warily from the cold powder, "It is most likely a demon."
"You got that right, mortal," came a shivering voice from all around them. A little girl with blue hair and grey eyes popped out of the snow, holding a limp kitsune in one arm. "Shippou!" cried Sango. "What do you want with us?" asked Miroku. "Well, duh, I want the shards of the Shikon jewel you posses," snapped the little demon rudely. "Hand them over or the little raccoon dies."
"He's a fox," Miroku corrected her. "He is?" the small ice demon checked again, "Yeah, well, it doesn't mat-" A staff snapped itself over her head. "ITAI!!!" she yelped, "That hurt!!" Sango picked up the dropped Shippou, and slowly started her way back to Miroku's side. The little child shook in rage, "Ice serpents!!" From the snow rose tendrils of malleable ice, wrapping themselves around Sango's legs, torso, and Shippou's still form. One with a very sharp edge placed itself next to Sango's throat, ready to kill at any time. Miroku stood there in shock and anger, "Now, shall we try this again?" asked the ice child as she smiled wickedly at him.
**
*Where be she?* Kaede wondered as she floated in colors of blue and red. She looked in all directions, looking for any sign of the girl's soul. Not seeing anything, she felt a knot tie in her stomach. *Could it be the girl's soul be broken? That she be an empty husk?* Then she felt a very faint flicker of power from where the sapphire took over the ruby. Sighing in relief, she pushed herself towards the calm cerulean. She finally saw a shape appear, a small plot of land from the looks of it, but with a tree like none she had ever seen. The towering plant was the center of the floating isle, giving it light from its blue flowers and holding the soil together with its dark roots. As she grew closer, she could see a woman lying between the roots down at the base. Her clean brown hair seemed to grow from the tree, making her appear one with it. She wore a light blue dress that bared her pale shoulders and lower legs, but covered everything else. Her hands were crossed regally across her stomach, her eyes closed with deep slumber. Kaede's eye widened at the simple beauty before her, awed by what she saw. Just as she was about to land, she was stopped by some kind of barrier. *Some kind of magic shield?* she questioned running her hands down the surface. *While she is asleep? This girl is very powerful indeed.* The young woman stirred in her sleep, obviously feeling something bothering her barricade. Marisa slowly opened her eyes, letting the old woman know that she felt no danger or fear. Her cobalt eyes studied Kaede for a long time. The Miko waited patiently. The shield suddenly dropped, as it never had existed. The wise woman passed through, feeling the barrier rise after she had settled herself on the grass sprinkled with white blossoms. They remained still for a time, just staring at each other. "Who are you priestess?" a melodious voice asked, softly if not gently. The old lady answered solemnly, "Kaede am I." Marisa remained silent, yet moved her arms to either side of her, and carefully pushed herself into a sitting position. "You know what I am," it was not a question, "You are also the one who is taking care of me." Kaede nodded, "Aye." Her blue eyes softened, "Then you delayed death, I owe you my life, Lady Kaede."
"Nay, you owe it to Kagome. Twas she who brought you to my care," the Miko told her. Sky-blue eyes brightened, "I did arrive in the right time, then." A happy, tired smile blessed her lips. Kaede opened her mouth to ask her a question, but was stopped by Marisa already answering, "You want to know how these wounds came upon me. I tried going through the well, it was only by the grace of the gods that I managed to pass."
"Gods?" Kaede asked. "Yes, from what I know, there are four in there, three of them goddesses, and one is not very pleasant." The old priestess understood the understatement that came with the facts, "How long till you wake?" Marisa waved her hand towards the sea of colors that surrounded them, "See the blue? That is my miasma. When this place is completely controlled by my aura, I am free to awake. One third is already done, which was done in four days. So by my count I should rouse in eight sunrises." Kaede sat on the ground, ready to talk the hour away. "You should leave," Marisa said, "it is still not safe here." Kaede tilted her head, "Stuck am I, the spell wears off in an hour." The woman blinked at her, "What spell did you use to get in here?"
"A timed soul-transfer spell."
"What?! Dear woman, there are better spells to use that let you leave at will!!" Marisa cried out. "Now you are in terrible danger!" at that thought, a creature formed itself from the red of its will. "A dragon?" asked Kaede, turning to look at what Marisa was staring at. "Not just any dragon, you are looking at Lord Death himself. I don't think I have the mental strength to protect us both." The Miko turned to look at the thinking girl, "I am a priestess, old I may be, but still powerful. I shall shield us first, ye gather ye strength." She closed her eyes, and set up her own magic shield. "A hiding barricade? Very inventive, that will work for a time," Marisa said, letting down her barrier. Death had released a breath of flame as his hindrance fell, but was surprised when the small island of refuge disappeared. He flew around looking and searching, but not giving up. Marisa closed her eyes, to store her power for when it was needed, "Tell me when you require me to wake." Kaede watched at the frustrated dragon swarm around them, "Let us pray that the fates are kind to us this day."
~*~*~
This is my longest chapter yet!! And I have a major cliff hanger!! *evil laugh* Now my cruel and evil sister is taking MY computer for her own wicked deeds. ;__; Oi!!! Give that back!! I need it!!! *sister runs stealing computer* While I am chasing my younger sibling to reclaim what is mine...review Review REVIEW!!!!!
