It's been a while, but I've been a little busier lately than I'm used to.  Okay, here goes the next chapter.

The Horrid Cries of the Nothing Woman

Chapter Four

     Through the forest thick with fear the beast was resigned to the darkness.  The shadows.  Lurking.  Hunting.  Wishing.  Hoping.  Wanting.

     New flesh.

     New thoughts.

     A new power to fill his veins and give him the strength to live once again.

     To live . . .

     To rule . . .

     He was growing closer to a power . . . the very power that could bring him back to life.  To make his powers undeniable.  Unquestionable.  Unmistakable.

     Most of all, unstoppable.

     A power yet untapped.

     A healing source . . . a magic only possessed by few humans . . .

     He wanted it . . .

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     Inu-Yasha's bright eyes were fixated upon the edge of the forest, his muscles tense as a lofty shadow exploded from the underbrush and nearly fell onto the ground before him, gasping for air.  The hanyou stepped back in shock, "Miroku?"

     "You . . . you must . . . get back inside . . ." he wheezed.  "Where . . . where is Kaede?"

      Grabbing the Monk by his arm, Inu-Yasha helped him back to the hut where he fell to his knees in front of a kindling fire, dropping his staff by his side.  Obviously he was very distraught, his calm hands shook violently as sweat poured from him.  Pale and frightened . . . Inu-Yasha could smell his fear and bristled, it wasn't normal for the Monk to feel that way.

     Inu-Yasha felt for the hilt of his sword . . .

     "There is a . . . an evil coming . . ." he gasped, holding his hands to the fire to warm from the cool night.  "My masters only mentioned it . . . they read the signs and knew it was on its way . . . that was why they called me to them when they did."

     Sango sat up from her spot along the wall, Miroku glanced over to her slowly, his eyes examining her . . . at first Sango retreated back as if she didn't care . . . but it was true concern in his eyes, not perversion . . .

     Once satisfied that Sango was okay, he rubbed his hands together over the loving flames.  

     "An evil?" Shippou questioned, bouncing up and down in fright before diving behind Inu-Yasha for protection.  "Oh, where? Where?"

     The hanyou crossed his arms in front of his chest, his claws never far away from his sword and his eyes never far adrift from Kagome.  "What kind of evil?"

     Kaede frowned, handing the Monk a small cup of warm tea.  "Is it as I sensed?"

     "I am afraid it is." Miroku answered slowly, taking a long, comforting swig of his drink before putting the empty cup to the floor.  "The Monastery doors were sealed just as I was leaving," he happened to glance over to Kagome, he paled.  "I see the Athema was already here."

     "The Athema?" Inu-Yasha growled.  "What in all the hells is an Athema?"

     Sango shuddered.  "The A . . . Athema?  I have only heard of such a thing."

     Miroku only nodded sullenly as his response and his worry deepened.  "I see Lady Kagome is recovering . . . and who is this young lady in our midst?" he leaped to his feet and eagerly approached the strange woman fitfully asleep in the corner.

     "She was attacked in the woods," Sango began, a hint of jealousy in her voice.  "So we brought her here."

     "Really?" he forced his elated smile to fade and turned away. 

     "HEY!" Inu-Yasha roared, instantly becoming the center of attention.  He pointed to Kagome.  "What about her?  You mentioned this Athema-whatever and you seem to know a lot about it!  What about Kagome?"

     Miroku stood upon his feet and crossed his arms across his chest thoughtfully.  "Truthfully I do not know very much about this Athema, only what the Monks know of it.  It is a creature born of the hells who was said to one day rise and consume the world and all it's life, turning it into an eighth Hell – so to speak.  But first, he must take lives to live himself."

     The hanyou glanced over to Kagome with an angry frown.  "So, you're saying that . . ."

     "Kagome will live, she did not come into contact with it, did she?"

     "Not . . . I don't know . . ." Inu-Yasha stuttered.  "She was with us the whole time . . . I don't know what this thing looked like . . ."

     "It feeds upon psychic energies and true human magic . . ." Miroku spoke slowly, deliberately glancing down to the pale Miko.  "Just pray that she will not come into contact with it."

     The young woman stirred where she lay with an agonizing moan, she blinked her hazel eyes open.

     Sango leaned over to her curiously with a concerned frown, placing a gentle hand on her arm.  "Are you all right?"

    "There . . . de . . . demon . . . village . . ." she muttered nearly incoherent, panic welled in her sleepy gaze as she looked at the strange faces staring back at her.  "Adahan!"

     Inu-Yasha blinked hard, glaring at her.  "Adahan?  Who's that?"

     The woman began to tremble as she forced herself upright, ignoring the pain the ripped through her entire body and the blood that stained the floor where she lay and matted her hair against her head.  Her skin was still pale and cold as she shook, eyes flashing all about in terror . . . incoherent . . .

     Shippou bounced up in front of her.  "What's wrong?"

     She threw herself back against the wall with a shriek, sending the kitsune pup into Inu-Yasha's protective arms in surprise.  "Waah, I just asked a question!"
     "Calm down, lady!  We're not here to hurt you." The hanyou tried not to growl, but his impatience was as clear as day.  "What happened to you?"

     "Adahan . . ." she mumbled.

     "Who's Adahan?  What happened to you?  Why were you in the woods?  What happened to Kagome?"

     "Do not be pushy, Inu-Yasha." Miroku lectured, quickly pushing in front of him lest he terrify the woman to death.  His eyes meet hers, pleading for answers.  "Ma'am, do you remember what happened?  Anything at all?"

     It was a long time before the woman's gaze met Miroku's and yet she found no comfort with him.  Clutching her knees against her chest like a child, her being no more than a blossoming adult, tears welled in her frightened eyes.  "Where . . . where is this . . . place?"
     "We found you in the woods . . ." Sango tried to explain softly.  "You were hurt."

     "Adahan?  Did you find Adahan?" she asked quickly.

     Inu-Yasha bristled with irritation.  "What happened?"

     Miroku, on the other hand, placed a tender hand upon hers and gave a gentle smile, hoping that it would ease her stress.  "Do you remember what happened back at the village?"

     The woman blinked hard and frowned, thinking.

     "Well?" Inu-Yasha grumbled, glaring at her with his fierce eyes. 

     "My friend means no harm in his impulsiveness, my lady." The Monk apologized.  "Do you remember anything?  Anything at all?"

     She shook her head slowly.  "N . . . no . . ." she shuddered.  "I don't remember anything . . . just . . . just death . . ."

***sigh let me know what you all think?  I wish I could write more today, but I'm fresh out of good ideas for the moment.  Okay, not really, I just don't have time.  Please read and review.  Let me know what you think!***