Sorry this took so long to get out, but I was trying to make the chapter longer and I went up to my friend's cabin for a few days and, well, she took away my writing goods to help me "relax". So, to all of you who have decided to stand beside me despite my horrible updating skills, thanks, very much. On with my twisted tale!

"Ahh, Inu…Inuyasha, you'd better come see this!!" Sango stuttered as she stared down at the remains in front of her. Inuyasha was at her side in a flash, also peering down at the body. There, stuck neatly out of what appeared to be the creature's forehead was a single arrow. Inuyasha hastily snatched it out of the youkai and wiped the bloody arrowhead off in the dirt next to him. He held the shaft close to his nose and drew a deep breath.

*YES! * he thought immediately, *her arrow! It has her wonderful fragrance woven around it like…like… I don't even know what like, but it is hers!!* As he got lost in his thoughts, Sango stood and continued looking around the clearing.

"Inuyasha, there is an arrow in each one, all the same kind of arrow too." The hanyou snapped out of his dreaming, almost sighing at being torn away from his phantom Kagome. He glanced around the area, verifying what Sango had just told him.

"I wonder how she could have done this alone…" Inuyasha wondered aloud. He couldn't even imagine how he himself would have been able to. *Maybe, just maybe, she had reached her full potential and tapped into the enormous power the old hag keeps talking about.* The half-demon walked around the small patch over earth once more, admiring the work done by his beloved, then went off in search of the trail he and the demon killer had previously been following.

Miroku and Shippou had reached Kaede's village in amazing time, daylight still being with them. The pair headed straight for the old woman's hut, eager for rest after how hard they had pushed themselves that day.

Upon arriving, the two were greeted by the old miko, then accepted a quickly prepared meal. Afterwards, they all made themselves comfortable for the long story.

(Insert the whole previous fic here because I refuse to rewrite all of it.)

Once they had finished their narrative, it was deep into the night and the fire was merely a bed of simmering coals, bathing the room in a crimson glow. Shippou glanced around the small room, noting the color. The Kitsune shuddered, hoping that it was neither an omen nor a warning.

Kaede had listened the entire time without interruption. She just watched the monk and the demon take turns speaking. By the end, she did have a few things in mind. "Miroku, Shippou, methinks you are the bearers of joyous news, as well as troubling. The good news be that the young priestess is learning to tap into her great power. The unsettling news be I fear ye may have greater trouble in finding her before it be too late."

"But, Lady Kaede, how is it that Lady Kagome is able to disguise her scent thus? And what do you mean by 'too late'?" Miroku leaned forward against his staff as he asked. Shippou's ears perked too, not wanting to miss any information about the woman who had become a mother to him, despite all their differences.

"Aye, her scent be a tricky bit of work. She must be either very competent in her skills as a miko or very lucky in stumbling on very useful abilities of hers. What must be done is a meditation, a communing with the earth and all the powers housed within it. By doing such, one loses oneself in the universe and become an indistinct part of it, therefore, one would have no other odor than that of pure earth. It takes very great power to accomplish this, however. If Kagome has found a way to dip so deeply into hers, I fear she will be lost to ye forever." The dark ending to the elder priestess' speech left the twosome curious as well as terribly frightened.

"What to you mean by lost?" Miroku ventured again, hoping it was not what he was contemplating. Shippou unconsciously took a fistful of Miroku's robe in his tiny paw and held to it like a security blanket. Lady Kaede sighed, trying to phrase the answer carefully enough that the pair would get a general idea of the result of Kagome's disappearance, as well as not sending them straight for her. The woman wanted to give the girl a chance to avenge her family, but did not want to allow the girl to destroy herself. She finally thought of just the right words.

"She may make your task of finding her nigh to impossible with her new abilities. I understand that the demon Inuyasha is somewhat capable of following her hidden trail, but if she chooses to conceal herself, not even Inuyasha will be able to find her. If she does this, she is beyond your reach, for good." Miroku and Shippou exchanged looks, trying to see if either of the other could dechipher the old miko's explanation. Almost in unison, they turned back to her, puzzled looks on their faces. Miroku cleared his throat and stood. He nonchalantly cast his eyes around the room and then settled them once again on the graying woman seated before him.

"Lady Kaede, my the young fox and myself find shelter here tonight?" Kaede smiled at the monk, glad to be free of the questioning. She spread her hands, indicating that they may stay and choose the spot they wished to sleep in. Sippoou glanced around as well, appraising the room.

"I will just sleep with you, Miroku," the fox declared, knowing that the monk would provide a comfy place to rest, along with a pleasant amount of heat. Miroku just snorted and settled down in a corner. Shippou hopped onto his shoulder, snuggling between him and the wall.

Yes, yes, another short chapter, but a chapter all the same. You must all be nice to me because I am in great pain. I dropped a bowling ball on my toes yesterday and my big toe is all swollen and pretty colored. So, love me and my fic and I am sure it will get better.

PhantomLogic