If you want to see the disclaimer, go back to the first chapter!

Chapter 13: The Mission

                "Mikomi!" Tora laughed happily.

            "Hey kiddo," Mikomi tried to smile at her friend, but it turned into a frown.

            "What's wrong?"

            "Nothing," Mikomi sighed, "For once everything is perfect."

            "Oh…" Tora frowned then skipped away to find Aoi, and see if together they could find Rekka. "Aoi!" Tora called.

            "What?" Aoi asked frowning.

            "Something's bothering Mikomi, and I need to find Rekka," Tora smiled at the kitsune. "Could you help me find him?"

            "Okay," Aoi swallowed nervously as Tora took his hand in hers. He finally found his brother's scent and led them to Inuyasha's tree. "Hey, Rekka! Tora needs to tell you something important!"

            "What?" Rekka came down from the tree and sat down to listen.

            "Mikomi's acting funny, and she won't tell me what's wrong. Could you help her?" Tora pleaded.

            "Um… I'll try, but I may not tell you why she's acting funny," Rekka gulped.

            "That's okay; I just want her to stop acting funny. She didn't smile at me like she normally does, and she frowned when I tried to talk to her. I'm worried about her… I know she'll talk to you when she won't talk to anyone else," Tora grinned at him happily. Then she got serious. "She hasn't spoken to Sanhi all day! Sanhi is not in a good mood either, yet whenever the 'pervert' is around, she's unusually better tempered."

            "Oh, thanks Tora. I'll go talk to Mikomi, okay?"

            "You will? Oh thank you Rekka!" Tora gave Rekka a hug. When Rekka walked away, Aoi decided to leave too, but Tora hugged his back and told him, "Thank you Aoi!"

            "Um… you're welcome," Aoi replied stiffly back to her.

            "I like you, Aoi," Tora buried her face into his jacket. "I feel safe around you."

            "Oh?" Aoi raised a brow.

            "Yeah, can we be friends?" Tora released him from her hug.

            "If you wish," Aoi replied.

            "You're funny, and cute," Tora covered her mouth, turned around and ran away.

            "She thinks I'm funny… and cute?" Aoi swallowed hard.

            "I can't believe I told him that!" Tora blushed in her room.

            "Tora, what's wrong?" Sango asked when she entered the room.

            "I told this boy he was cute…" Tora swallowed, "…then I ran away."

            "Oh, who is the lucky boy?"

            "Um… I'd rather not say…" Tora blushed.

            "I understand. Did you know that when I first met Miroku, I formed a crush on him?"

            "Before you were married, even though he was a pervert and a lecher?" Tora inquired.

            "Yes, and eventually, he admitted that he liked me," Sango smiled at the thirteen-year-old.

            "She thinks my name is funny or that I look funny…" Aoi sighed as he waited for her to return. He waited half of an hour before Tora came back.

            "Hi, Aoi," Tora blushed.

            "Do you think I look funny?" his mouth betrayed him as he scowled.

            "No! You look well…"

            "…funny?"

            "No! You look…"

            "…stupid? Like an idiot? Like a fish?" Aoi glared at his feet.

            "YOU LOOK HANDSOME!" Tora covered her mouth again.

Aoi blinked in surprise, "Why do you say that?"

"It's the truth," Tora replied softly.

"Tora… you confuse me."

"And you belittle yourself too much," Tora replied. "Even if you do seem to have a nice sense of humor."

"Tora…"

"What?" Tora frowned.

"Did you mean to call me cute, and handsome?" Aoi questioned her.

"Yes," Tora sighed.

"I think you're really pretty, and cute," Aoi smiled at her. She grinned happily at him and hugged him tightly. He slowly put his arms around her and hugged her close to him. She fell asleep in his arms, lulled by his protective, warm presence.

"That's the third time she's ever been asleep, while she's been here," Mikomi smiled at Aoi and stepped out of the bushes.

"It is?" Aoi asked.

"She has bad dreams, and when she wakes up… she cries and will tell no one," Mikomi sighed softly.

"Who are you?" Aoi asked.

"I'm Mikomi."

"I am Rekka's younger brother, Aoi-Metsuki…"

"Aoi," Tora murmured in her sleep.

"I think she likes you," Mikomi winked at him and then walked away.

"MIKOMI!" Rekka yelled worriedly.

"What?" Mikomi asked coming up from behind him.

"Mikomi," he sighed. "I couldn't find your scent."

"Oh?"

"And Tora wanted me to check on you because she was worried…" Rekka blushed.

"Why was she worried?"

"You didn't look 'like you normally do', according to her," Rekka replied softly.

"She came when I was thinking about that centipede… the one that pushed us all into my time," Mikomi frowned.

"Oh," Rekka wrapped his arms around his Mikomi.

"… The Dragon!" Tora woke screaming.

"Tora?" Aoi hugged her tightly as she shivered.

"Tora!" Mikomi whispered, and ran at top speed to Tora and was shocked to see the boy still holding her.

"Aoi… I was so scared…" Tora cried into his shirt. Aoi tightened his grip around her.

"Mikomi…" Rekka caught up to her.

"I wonder what scared her so badly." Mikomi looked at her little friend worriedly.

"Aoi will help her, Mikomi. He always is gentle, yet he finds it hard to show his feelings," Rekka smiled down at his Mikomi.

"I hope she's all right," Mikomi took a last look at the kitsune boy, and the human girl. She turned and walked down a path.

"Mikomi! Wait for me!" Rekka growled.

"Rekka," Mikomi laughed and waited at the edge of the forest. "I hope Aoi will be able to help her."

"Mikomi!" Rekka grumbled when he caught up to her and pulled her into his arms. He saw her smile as she moved closer to him. She pointed toward one place that she knew of. "Huh?"

"Let me lead for a little?" Mikomi smiled at him. "I wish to show you something my parents told me about."

"Why?"

"You're special to me," Mikomi touched his cheek lightly with her hand.

"Aoi, it was horrible!" Tora cried into his chest. "There were shadows everywhere, and then there was my sister… and she told me to find the Dragon. She told me she was supposed to find it and protect it when she was old enough, but since she's dead… I have to. She told me that if I didn't, all my friends would die! She told me that… and then… I saw everyone die…"

"Tora, it was only a dream," Aoi sighed.

"No, I've had it every night, ever since my family died. Always the same dream… and how would I make something up, like the Dragon, when I've never heard of it before!"

"I never said I didn't believe you…" Aoi looked at her sadly.

"I… I guess I'm like Mikomi's mother was," Tora swallowed hard.

"Mikomi? My brother's female?" Aoi blinked in confusion.

"She loves your brother, but she doesn't belong to him," Tora glared at Aoi. Aoi would have backed away from Tora, but she was still in his lap. "Anyway, Kagome was Mikomi's mother. Kagome was supposed to protect the Shikon no Tama. Anyway, it shattered, and she and Inuyasha, that was Mikomi's father, went and searched for the Shikon no Tama with your father Lord Shippo, Lord Miroku, and Lady Sango."

"Oh, and your point is?" Aoi asked looking away from her.

"I guess I'd like you and my other friends to help me find the Dragon," Tora stared at the ground, and gently got out of Aoi's lap. Aoi reacted and pulled her back. "Aoi?"

"What?" he barked sharply.

"Why did you pull me back?"

"I don't want you to get a chill or something," Aoi glared at her.

"Thank you." Tora asked, "Aoi?"

"What?"

"Thank you for letting me sleep in your lap, and for protecting me," Tora smiled up at his face again.

"…"

"Mikomi… where are you taking me? Do you even know where we are going?" Rekka frowned as Mikomi pulled him further into the forest.

"It was my father's place, and I know exactly where my father has treaded. I can not forget his scent, nor can I that of my mother."

"…"

"We've arrived," Mikomi smiled as she saw Rekka's shock. There was a small waterfall, one that you could bathe under, and there was steam rising from it. But Mikomi continued, "There is more…" She smiled openly at his gawking, as she led him to the base of the waterfall.

"Shikon no Tama," Mikomi touched the falling water gently. "Please let us pass."

"Mikomi?" Rekka blinked in surprise, as the falls parted and there stood the entrance to a cave.

"Enter quickly," Mikomi turned to him and grabbed his hand. She pulled them both into the cave that was under the waterfall.

"What are we here for?" Rekka asked Mikomi as she finally stopped.

"What else, only the Shikon no Tama," Mikomi laughed at his shock. "I am half miko, and it is my duty to protect it."

"But I thought your parents used the jewel!" Rekka stared in horror at the Shikon no Tama.

"They lied, because they needed to protect it. Magic washes away in the water, and so it's scent of power is hidden."

"Mikomi!" Tora suddenly shouted in fear. Aoi gasped and pulled her closer to him. She must be dreaming again…

"Tora… Tora… you are only dreaming," Aoi rocked her gently until a smile appeared on her face. She woke up.

"I have to find those two! Demon coming! They could be killed!" Aoi held her one-minute and the next she was on his back, and clinging for dear life, as he rushed to where Rekka and Mikomi were.

"Tora, I'm going as fast as I can," Aoi replied softly. Tora still clung to him tightly.

"Humans were not meant to fly…" Tora shook on his back in fear.

"I thought you knew… I'm kitsune," Aoi replied and kept moving towards Rekka and Mikomi.

"Well, I didn't. I guess I never noticed," Tora swallowed. "Now that I do notice… you still look handsome."

"…" Aoi blushed.

"Mikomi… why show me this?" Rekka looked at the keeper of his heart. (Doesn't that sound sweet?)

"I wanted to show, you that if you wanted, you can become a full demon without the Shikon no Tama," Mikomi whispered softly. "My father is proof of that."

"You want me to become full youkai?"

"NO!" Mikomi's eyes were wide with fear. "Only if you wish it, then I wish it for you. I love you just the way you are, Rekka."

"Do you love me, or another? Like your father…" Rekka felt his heart clench waiting her reply.

"The only men that have a place in my heart are my father, my uncle Sota, and you. The others are only friends or acquaintances." Mikomi burst into tears. Her heart hurt to have him ask such a question.

"I'm sorry Mikomi," Rekka's arms were around her. "I had to ask… because I love only you. I'd never try to hurt you."

"I understand, Rekka," Mikomi hugged him closely to her.

"SHIKON NO TAMA!" a screech deafened the couple.

"Kikyo!" Mikomi screamed in horror.

"I don't know who the hell you demons are, but the Shikon no Tama stays with me!"

"Does that mean that Rekka killed Naraku?" Mikomi glanced at her boyfriend.

"What are you talking about?"

"This is the REAL Kikyo…" Mikomi muttered softly. "Mother left you to guard it. I had forgotten… My apologies Lady Kikyo."

"Why do you show me respect, halfling?" Kikyo glared at Mikomi, her bow raised.

"My mother never liked you, but half understood you. My father once loved you, but you turned on him. He would have lived, and remembered you, but a demon murdered him and the rest of my family. I am the child of Inuyasha and Kagome, the one hope of my family. I relieve you of your duties to the Shikon no Tama to rest."

"You are his daughter…" Kikyo smiled sadly and walked up to Mikomi. She touched Mikomi's cheek and blew away, as dust in the wind.

"Mikomi!" Rekka cried out and pulled her towards the back of the cave.

"Rekka, what's wrong?"

"That dust… could have killed you!" Rekka hugged her tightly to him.

"I'm okay, Rekka, you don't need to worry so much," Mikomi stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him gently.

"MIKOMI!" Aoi was yelling loudly.

"Aoi! I'm frightened!" Tora held onto Aoi's back tightly.

"Aoi? Tora?" Rekka frowned.

"Over here!" Mikomi let Rekka carry her out of the cave. She pouted the entire time, until he put her down.

"Mikomi!" a blur of red hurtled itself into her.

"Aoi, what's going on?" Rekka asked his brother.

"… Huff… huff… she had… a bad… dream," Aoi got out before he collapsed into Rekka's arms, tired and worn.

"AOI!" Tora screamed and ran to him. "I'm so sorry! This is my entire fault!"

"Tora…" Rekka began, but he stopped when Mikomi looked at him. Mikomi walked over to the teenager, and wrapped her arms around her like a mother would a frightened child. Slowly Mikomi rocked Tora repeating that Aoi was fine and he was just tired. Tora cried herself to sleep, and Mikomi carried her home, while Rekka carried Aoi.

"Aoi… it's my entire fault!" Tora cried, she had run away from the house.

"Tora!" Mikomi called frantically, "Tora!"

"Mikomi…" Aoi glanced at the older girl of his brother's. "Tora?"

"She doused me in perfume! Rekka and Shippo too! We can't smell her and I'm allerg—achoo—ic!"

"I'll find her," Aoi frowned. Why would Tora leave?