Dec, 27, 2000.

Sister, Sister

By Yashira

Chapter 3

"Kagome," Sango began carefully, choosing her words with deliberate care as a gentle breeze blew her raven locks against pale cheeks. "How bad do you think this situation with Necoa is?"

Kagome turned startled eyes at Sango, her brown eyes reflecting the concern that she had failed to hide there. "You're worried about Miroku, huh?"

Sango flushed deeply, trying to deny the accusation with a wave of her hand. "No I'm not—It's just that that female youkai had those Hell Bees to command and that stinking fire attack too. If both Inuyasha and Miroku are incapable of fighting- that means only you and me are left to protect the village and their sorry butts….."

Kagome, from her perch on the hill, glanced down at the bustling villagers with sad eyes. They were, even now, repairing the damage done to their homes and livelihood even though the threat of the youkai's return hung heavy in the air. She gave a troubled sigh and that brought a surprised look from Sango. "Kagome?"

"I don't know what to say, Sango… I really don't."

VVV

Miroku gripped his staff tightly as he stopped quietly beneath the tree Inuyasha sat lost in his own mind-consuming thoughts. He didn't even call out a "hello" to the houshi that stood underneath, but just sat staring at nothing.

"Inuyasha-" Miroku began almost too quiet for even himself to hear.

"…"

"Inuyasha, we have to talk…"

"….Miroku…" Dropping down beside him in one quick leap, Inuyasha made no attempts to deny the sullenest and concern in his face. "I know.. I know… how do we protect them when we can't even protect ourselves…."

"…." Miroku didn't look at him, but instead glanced up at the warm sunlight whose heat did not warm his chilled flesh; he shrugged. "This Necoa must have a weakness…"

"Where is it then?" Inuyasha demanded angrily, "What is it?"

Miroku was silent… "Yashira…"

"Feh, what do we need that bitch for?"

"As far as we can tell," Miroku pointed out dryly, "she was the only other person who was able to deal with that cat youkai. Can you think of anyone else who could do that much?"

Inuyasha scowled at him, not looking at all happy as he glared at the country side. "…"

***

"Now young Shippo," Myoga interrupted with head raised proudly as a tone of self importance echoed richly from him on his spot on Kirara's head. "Getting water for the villagers is a very honourable thing."

Shippo, scowling and glaring, was eyeing the youkai flea darkly. "Then why don't you help me-"

"I?" Myoga's tone was meant to address the fact that he was a mere flea and as such was totally unsuitable in this laborious task. Running away was another story.

"That's what I thought. You only came with me cuz you thought it was safe-"

"Hey I'm offended that you would-" But the kitsune wasn't listening, instead he was scooping his 2 pails of water from the spring as he did his utmost to tune out Myoga.

Grumbling sharply as he scooped up some water, Shippo abruptly stopped as his sense of smell caught something on the wind. It caused his already small heart to twitch violently. This smell… Jerking his head up he was shocked to see Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's older brother, staring down at him as if he were a dirt rag. "What.. what are you doing here?"

"You dare tell me where I can and can not go," Sesshomaru glared down at him, his whole aloof attitude making Shippo's stomach queasy. "Jaken… deal with this peon."

His servant, a ugly toad-like youkai, came forward brandishing a staff threateningly as he turned ugly frog eyes on Shippo. "As you wish my lord."

Myoga was the first to go. He disappeared so quickly, urging Kirara to fly like the wind, that Shippo was left alone in two seconds flat. Forgetting the buckets, the kitsune nervously backed away. Sesshomaru had never come so close to this particular village before so whatever he had in mind, couldn't be good... especially not with the recent attacks sent by Naraku's youkai. "Uh.. uh…" With the staff in hand, Jaken summoned forth the fire of destruction and Shippo stared at the approaching flame in the same way a deer stared at an approaching car. "Eep! I'm going to die…"

"Heaven ascension blast!"

Blinding blue-white light hit the fire head on, bursting and sizzling in such a way that a fog spread out before them bouncing against the ground like little plastic balls. The dazzling purifying light hit the staff dead on, knocking it from Jaken's smarting fingers and throwing it far from him. Yashira stalked forward, the look in her blue eyes full of hatred, her body full of arrogant confidence, as her black braided hair whipped out behind her. She strode right towards them as if she hadn't a care in the world. "So it is a good thing that I did not leave this area just yet…" Her words were filled with disgust and laced with venom.

Sesshomaru stared at Yashira, his amber eyes seeing the woman that had approached, with startled eyes. "You…" He stopped in mid-speech as she spat out disgustedly;

"More Youkai, huh? I'll teach you to pick on an innocent child."

"No one interrupts Master Sesshomaru, woman," Jaken was indignant and ready for her, but he wasn't ready for the sudden jerk on his collar by Sesshomaru who called back to her;

"Another time, woman." His voice still echoed as he moved away in uncharacteristic departure. He usually never ran, just walked. Within seconds, they were gone.

"Hey are you alright?" Yashira asked with concern as she dropped down beside Shippo. Her eyes widen in surprise as she realized belatedly that he wasn't just a child, but a kitsune… "You're a youkai."

Shippo saw the alarm in her face and the way her fingers suddenly clutched tightly at the bow she still carried. It was as if she were suddenly regretful in saving his life and was about to turn around and claim his. He cringed.

"Shippo!!!" Inuyasha's scream was full of alarm as he came running with Kagome, Sango and Miroku behind him. Myoga, on Kirara's head was leading the chase.

The first thing Inuyasha saw was Yashira kneeling in front of a cringing Shippo as she gripped her bow tightly. Instantly he jumped to the wrong conclusion. "You bitch. How dare you attack Shippo!" Jumping immediately for her throat, Yashira glanced up at him in surprise.

End of Chapter 3.