Foreigner By: OtakuSailorV
Chapter 20 Part 2
Where I left off in chapter 20 once again. ............................................................................ ............................................................................ ............................
Heather sat in the straw watching the demons watch her. "So, what's the boss doing with another live human? He ordered us not to eat this one too." They were all whispering & staring at her hungrily. She felt a tad uncomfortable but shook it off. "Hi, I'm Heather. What's shakin'? She asked with a bright smile. They all stopped talking & stared at her harder than before. "That's Ok, take your time." She grumbled & tried to find something to entertain herself. Kouga burst in through the water with a large boar on his back. Heather looked at it with wide eyes. What was he bringing that back for? He wasn't going to eat it while she was there was he? If so he'd have to clean up the puke. He walked over & stared at her. "Eat." He said & dropped the pig. Heather looked first at him then the pig. "I'm not hungry." She said as the sickness overcame her. He wanted her to eat that thing raw! He stared at her closely with his face really close to hers. "Fine." He said after a while of her staring back without blinking. He picked it back up & walked out of the cave. Heather shrugged when he left & finished untying her hands. "Not like I really needed to do it but it was something to keep me occupied." She muttered as she rebound her hands with her magic. The two demons from before came over & pulled her up. "Kouga wants to see you outside." They said & drug her to the exit. The wolves jumped up happily & walked beside her all the way. When she got out side Kouga was holding a wooden bucket in one hand & watching her every step. She walked to him the rest of the way & gave him an angry look when she arrived. "Hi." She said. He handed the bucket to her tied hands. "Fill this with water." Heather looked at the waterfall & small pool of water by her side. "Why?" She asked looking back at him quizzically. "Because I want to see you do it." Heather shrugged & the ropes fell from her hands. "Going to need these untied." She said handing the ropes to him. He stared at them then at her. Holding the bucket by her side Heather stooped down & put the bucket in the small pool of water. Lofting it back up she gave Kouga a sour look. "Ta-da. Water." Heather said gesturing to the bucket. He gave her an angry look. "Not that way fool." He said & knocked the water out of the pail in her hands. Heather looked at the spilled water on the ground. "Could have at least put it back where it came from." She grumbled when she looked back up at him. He narrowed his eyes further. "Do it with those powers." He said. Heather put on an innocent looking curious face. "What powers?" She asked poking her lip with a finger. His face went red with anger. "The powers that helped you create those!" He yelled pointing to the wings that Heather had yet to put away. She flapped them carelessly & looked over her shoulder. "What?" She said giving him a quizzical look. Kouga started to look quite angry. Covering his face with one hand he growled out an order to one of the demons. "Ginta." "Yes sir?" The wolf youkai with the black tuft looked up. "Show her what I'm talking about.' The youkai hustled to obey. "This miss." He said holding up her wing. Heather smiled at him. "Oh, why didn't you say so?" She asked holding the wing in her hand. "I forget about these things all the time. They kinda get in the way though." They watched as her wings disappeared. "Wha.?!" Kouga asked looking at her smiling face. "Water right? I can give you water." The bucket that he had picked up & was holding spilled water over the rim. The water trickled out of his pail faster & faster until a small continuous waterfall poured over the rim. "I can do all kinds of water." Heather looked up at the sky. The demons followed her gaze to see dark clouds over the mountain. The wind blowed & thunder was heard in the distance. Gasping they watched while rain poured down, first slowly then it picked up until it was pounding around them. Heather stood in one place staring up into the rain. "Stop!" The rain ceased before the words had fully formed. The clouds were gone & left nothing but soaked ground & soaked demons. "I said water in the pail not to drown us in rain!" Kouga growled at the smiling girl that was soaked through. "Well, I got a little carried away." Kouga watched her turn & walk back toward the entrance. "What would happen if you went completely out of control?" He asked. She still smiled but her voice was serious. "This mountain would no longer exist." The ropes in his hands disappeared & reappeared around her wrists. "I think Ginta & Hakkaku should take me back now." The demon turned at his name. "How?" He asked looking at her. She smiled at him. "I am a girl of many mysteries." She said again. He gave her a confused look while she walked toward the doorway behind the waterfall. Turning she smiled. "It's getting late." She pointed with one bound hand to the setting sun. "Shouldn't you guys get some rest? Besides it will look pretty strange if I walk in by myself." She waited by the door while they walked over on either side & walked beside her into the cave. Once inside the chatter died down again. The wolf demons looked at her with alert eyes again as she walked over to the straw & sat down. Hakkaku tried desperately to find out how she had guessed his name when a voice entered his head. 'Sorry Hakkaku but I don't want anyone to know quite yet about how I found out your name. Please don't spread the rumor around.' He stopped & went rigid for a moment then turned toward the girl sitting in the straw. Her smile widened & she waved at him then pressed a finger to her lips & winked. He gasped & turned away. Kouga entered the den only a few minutes later to find his wolves being petted by the girl that had made him so confused. The demons around him started to talk. "What are you going to do with the human Kouga?" "Are we going to use her against one of our enemies?" "What has gotten into the wolves Kouga?" He looked over at the smiling girl that simply waved at him as if he were nothing but a friend. He stiffened & walked over to his nest that was next to Heather's pile of straw. "We will nothing as of yet. She will not speak of her powers as of yet." He said looking at the demons. Heather leaned against the wall & loosed her bonds a little to get her fingers in position. "Guess I'm staying here for the night." She thought aloud & snapped her fingers. Her bag appeared in her lap & she dug in to grab her dragon. Hisui groaned as she was plucked from the bag. "Hey, wake up. You've been asleep all day. Too much sleep is bad for you." The dragon opened one eye to look around. "The only dangerous amount is none." She said & clambered up Heather's arm. Hisui crawled sleepily to her head & sat down, staring out at the demons that were staring at her. Shifting her weight Hisui took another look at the demons. Her glowing green eyes locked onto Kouga longer than the others. "Affirmative captain." She said aloud to an unheard command. Snapping her fingers Heather changed her wet clothes & straw for clean dry ones. Sighing she settled in & fell instantly asleep. The dragon atop her head lifted both eyes open fully. They pierced around the room & light filtered out in green shafts around them. Kouga watched the dragon for several minutes before he walked over & stooped down by Heather. She appeared to be asleep but he wasn't entirely sure. He poked her nose with one clawed finger. She wrinkled her nose & her eyebrows knitted. The youkai around him held their breath when she rubbed her nose with the back of her hand then rolled over. Hisui walked down her arm & back into the pack, the green light faded from her eyes while she went. Kouga watched the girl until his eyes could no longer stay open. The others had fallen asleep long ago but he refused to sleep while there was no one to make sure she didn't wake up & escape. His eyes felt like they were heavy as rocks. They flitted shut & he thought for a brief for a moment that he would only rest them for a few seconds. But they didn't open again until a strange music forced him to wake. He stared into the dark cave. His eyes moved over the demons that were sleeping peacefully in the den. The music filtered softly into the cave again. He turned his head groggily to see that the girl's bonds lay on the floor & she herself was gone. His eyes popped open & all thoughts of sleep left him. Hopping to his feet Kouga ran out of the cave & followed the music to the top of the mountain. Heather strummed on the electric guitar that she had transfigured when she had reached the top. Sitting on the edge she watched the sky start to lighten into dawn. Hisui was sitting on her shoulder watching the sky as well when footsteps were heard coming up the slope. Kouga could hear words at the bottom of the path. They were soft & he had not heard the song before but he listened silently to the song.
All the memories I have are beautiful in my mind,
But they don't feed the hunger deep inside my soul.
And tonight I thought,
I'd just be sitting in my sorrow.
But now I must wonder why.
What did it really mean to you?
I just can't see it any more!
I just can't see it any more..
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhhhhhhh..
He had almost reached the top now. He could hear another song begin as he climbed past the crater that was full of wolf bones. Growling at the remains of the Birds of Paradise that he saw he continued on.
Softly, let me hear
Of the distant future,
So bright it can't be seen,
Like a white sand moon.
She stopped strumming on the strange instrument & finished the song with a turn of her head in his direction. "I thought you might be the one to find me." She said with a smile. "Because of those Shikon Shards in your legs you can sense things even better than the other demons. They never heard a single word of my song accept in sleep." She turned back to the sky. "I came here to see the sunrise from the top of this mountain. I thought you would be able to see the whole country from here, but you can only see a small portion." She sighed & put the instrument down on the ground where it instantly disappeared. He walked the short distance & stood by her, looking out at the sun. "You would have run off, wouldn't you?" He asked casting a glance at her. "No, I had no intention of leaving quite yet. Besides the heart is a terrible thing to break." He looked down at her. Her eyes were sad & showed no sign of the bouncy, hyper girl that he had seen only hours before. Was this the same girl? "Hmph." Was all he said while sitting down by her. The tiny dragon eyed him for a moment before looking away. "I guess it is time that I got back." Heather stood & grabbed her pack. "Everyone will be awake if I don't leave soon." She started to leave but Kouga grabbed her arm. Tuning she looked at him. "Yes?" She asked. He looked up at the calm girl. How had she changed so quickly? "You." He began but she was expecting the question. "I am not always so hyper & annoying. Just when I'm happy or want to have fun. It's not rare to find me in this demeanor though." She started to walk away again but was held back still by his clutch on her arm. "What's wrong?" She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. He stared up at her. What was so sad that she had to leave the cave? He stared at her in puzzlement until he heard a noise from the valley below. "Hey, Kouga?! You testing that witch again?!" It was one of his pack. Heather looked around & the bonds appeared on her hands. She looked down at him. "Test my flying." She ordered him. He looked at her in amazement, her voice was harder & more severe than before. He stood & looked at her with slight anger. How dare she talk to him, a full demon, that way! Who did this girl think she was? "Throw me." She ordered & nodded toward the edge. He looked at the edge then her. "But." He began. Heather lost her patience. "If you won't then I will." She stomped over to the edge in her baggy shirt & bare feet & stood on the edge for a brief moment before her legs bent & she jumped. "Geronimo!" She screamed as she went down. Kouga peered over the edge to see her wings burst out in a blast of black feathers then she glided to the edge by the tribe of wolf demons that had noticed her decent. Kouga glided down through the air after her. The cloud of black feathers had disappeared as soon as they can come. Landing on the edge by the sour faced girl he pushed her forward. "Well I guess she can fly." He said in an angry tone. Heather gave his shin a small kick. Growling he looked at her angry face. She had already changed her clothes to loose fitting jeans & a long baggy shirt. "Duh." Was all she said to him. He was about to say something back when Ginta spoke up. "Hey Boss! We just received warning that a tribe of bird demon that was related to the Birds of Paradise is coming to seek revenge. Heather grabbed her waist then remembered that she had to transfigure a sword first. Sighing she looked up at Kouga. "When will they be here?" Ginta looked at the girl. "Well, they should be here in a few hours." Heather released her own bonds. "I can't make them disappear if that's what you want me to do, but I can fight them." She rubbed the place where the ropes had rubbed her hands. The demon tribe started to laugh. That is, all except for Ginta, Hakkaku, & Kouga himself. Heather gave them all a sharp look that made them stop. "I'm serious." She said in a low growl. Kouga looked at her angry face that darted to look at the sky. "Your calculations are a bit off though Ginta. They're gonna be here in about 2, no 3 minutes. You had better get ready." Heather reached for her pack & dug out the dragon that had slipped inside for a nap. "Hisui, my sword!" She said & the tiny dragon started to roar. A light appeared above her head & Heather reached up & snagged it from the air. It changed from a light to a sword that was long & broad in her hand. Its hilt was gold & the handle was the same. At the far & near end of the sword a jewel was set into the blade. A red one at the top & a blue one at the bottom. Heather raised the sword over her shoulder & scowled at the on-looking demons. "Well? You had better move your tails! They're coming!" Kouga was the only one that didn't take off. Heather watched the demons go before turning to him. "Hmph, you had better go to. Don't worry I won't leave now that I've taken the time to get my sword out." She walked to the edge of the small cliff & looked at some dots that were rising out of the country & coming at enormous speeds toward them. "I fight with my bare hands." Kouga said cracking his knuckles. Heather copied him. "Good for you." She said & raised the sword & pointed it at the group of dots. "Kablam!" She called & a ray shot from the end & hit a dot that fell from the sky to the ground. Heather laughed & put the sword down. "I had to do that, sorry." She said looking at Kouga with an amused grin on her face. He grinned too & they both watched as the dots got bigger & the demons to come to their aid.
Hikari stared out at the forest for some time after they had left Bokseno behind. She had the strangest feeling that the trees were looking at her & talking. She couldn't quite say why but it did seem that the wind carried whispers of her around. 'Reincarnation.' A wind wrapped around her & passed through the leaves of the nearest trees, whispering it's message all the way. 'A priestess & a goddess in this place of darkness.' Came a hushed, or maybe it was astonished, wind. Kagome turned & looked around. "Sesshoumaru?" Hikari asked looking at the trees around her. "Yes?" He asked. Rin sat on the back of Ah-Un & was staring out into the forest. She listened to the song of the woods & watched the leaves blow in the sun. 'Strange travelers.they bring things of great power here.' Rin sat upright & looked at a particularly old tree. "Rin wants to know what the things of great power are." She said looking at it. "I was wondering if these trees could talk like Bokseno." Hikari said scooting away from one that brushed a leafy branch over her head. Both questions were asked at the same time & both were answered at the same time. "They live in this forest that Bokseno lives in. It is possible that you can hear their speech." 'The things of great power draw the attention of fools that wish to exploit it.' Rin looked at the tree opposite the other, why had it answered her question? Hikari watched Rin carefully. "Rin, who are you talking to?" Rin stared at the trees as they went passed. "Trees." She said. Another wind blew by. 'A Goddess, A Priestess, & a.' The wind died before Hikari could catch the rest. Rin looked at the trees intensely. "Things of great power." She breathed. "Are the things items like a leaf or an acorn?" She asked. A tree ahead of them whispered the answer. 'The things of great power are not items but living things that are neither found often on this planet or of earthly limitations. You child are a Thing of great power. You have seen death & lived, that makes you an other worldly being.' Rin looked around. Was the tree speaking of her or Hikari? 'Goddess incarnate.' Breathed the wind. Rin fell asleep, dreaming of flying on large wings with Hikari. Inuyasha twitched his ears. They had left the forest some time ago but he couldn't get what the wind had breathed right in his ear out of his mind. 'You will make our future brighter but will lose something in the process.' He had been so shocked that he had had no time to ask what it meant before it had breathed something else. 'Do not worry, the great quest is near it's end.' He wondered what the loss would be. Was it Kagome, would she leave him forever or would she.? No! He shook the thought from his head. Kagome would not meet that fate as long as he lived! But if not Kagome then what? Was it Sango or Miroku, or maybe Shippo or Kohaku? Was he going to lose his brother or one of his friends? He tried to think on other things but could not. Kagome sat beside him, as troubled as he was. The wind had whispered something disturbing into her ear too. 'She will come for you & the attack will be quick & without hesitation.' Kagome could think of only one person that would want her dead, Kikyo. At first she had thought it was Naraku, but he wasn't a she or maybe.nah! Kagura might want her dead, but then again, Kagome was the one that Naraku wanted dead so Kagura would want her alive if it troubled him so much. 'Attack of 2 priestess's. One that was of this time, the other has not belonged here for sometime.' Kagome couldn't help but wonder if they meant the mysterious girl that had been present with Kikyo for some time. She sighed & involuntarily leaned against Inuyasha while she thought on. They had been travelling for a good time before they reached another forest covered way. Rin was still asleep on Ah-Un with Kohaku riding in front of her. Kirara sat on his head with Myoga atop Kirara. Sesshoumaru lead the way still. Hikari pranced beside him. "So, how far are we from the castle?" She asked. He looked ahead. "Give it about four more days." He said with a smile. Hikari nodded & thought again of what it would look like. Inuyasha tried desperately to remember the castle at which he had spent some of his child hood but nothing came but the smell of flowers & someone calling him & laughing. Kagome saw his deep in thought look & decided she would guess what he was thinking about. "Thinking about Kikyo?" She asked sticking her face close to his. He didn't even look at her when he shook his head. "No.I'm trying to remember what it was like at the castle but all I can remember is flowers, laughter, & someone calling my name." Sesshoumaru glanced back at him. "That would be the old flower garden that your mother used to keep. It was partially underground with a stone set of windows looking outside. Father with his claws created the entire thing. You used to hide in there all the time from us, you're sent was hard to detect among the sweat smelling flowers." Inuyasha suddenly remembered that the laughter was his own. He was laughing at a servant that was failing to find him. The voice however he could not place. "Inuyasha get out of the flowers. You'll worry everyone to death & you're trampling your mother's favorites." He could still hear the scolding voice. But it was not the servants that was relying on her nose & only said his name every few minutes. He looked up at Hikari's back. Could it have been? Night fell & Hikari had the odd sensation that someone was using magic. Looking to the sky she saw rain clouds over the mountain. "Oh great." She muttered seeing the clouds. Sesshoumaru turned & followed her disgruntled gaze. "Heather?" He guessed. Hikari nodded. "No doubt about it." She shook her head & sighed. Sesshoumaru put an arm around her. "She's just being herself. Being her best friend I would think that you would understand that." Hikari giggled & put her arm around him. "I do. But I just don't want Naraku to hear about her & then we'll have to go rescue her because she'll think it's a great game to play innocent with Naraku." Rin walked over & placed a flower wreath that she had just made on Hikari's free wrist. "Pretty flowers from Rin to Hikari-san!" She smiled &ran off to Sango & Kagome. Hikari turned to see everyone covered in the girl's flowers. Inuyasha had a lopsided one set on his head. Kagome had 2 bracelets to each arm & a head wreath. Sango was similar. Miroku had one on his staff, his arms, his head, his neck, & a small one around his ponytail. Hikari held down a laugh at the monk. Kohaku was decked out too. Kirara had a collar of flowers on. Ah-Un had one to each head. Myoga had a single flower petal since he was so small. Jaken had several on him as well. Sesshoumaru received one soon after Hikari. They both laughed at the other. "Thank you Rin-chan." Hikari said, accepting another wreath. Rin smiled & ran off. "Rin will make more for Hikari-sama!" Hikari smiled at the little girl weaving around her legs. "Ok Rin." It was soon night & the party had to stop again. Saisei was almost a flower bush himself with all the wreaths that Rin had given him. Shiro was the same. Hikari laughed at her dragon & plucked a wreath from where his eyes should be. "Can you see Saisei?" The dragon snorted a comment but Hikari closed his mouth before it was fully formed. "Ah, ah, no colorful words with the tots around." She said waving a finger in his eyes. He grumbled again & disappeared from her palm, leaving the wreaths behind. Hikari sighed & put the wreaths around Ah-Un. Jaken was asleep on the back of the Ah-Un, wearing all the wreaths that Rin had made for him. Hikari giggled as she walked away from him. Looking up at the mountain she thought she heard music but was sure that she was wrong. Cuddling against a tree she soon was comfortable & fell asleep. Rin walked sleepily over & plopped down by her side, leaning against her. Sesshoumaru returned from the convenient river that rang near the path only to see the girls sleeping under the tree next to him. Sighing he dropped down on the ground & sat against the tree next to them. Sango made a bed out on the ground & put Kohaku gently down on it. "Stay asleep." She whispered over & over to herself. Kohaku never moved as she slid him into the futon. Miroku plopped down on the other side of the fire that Inuyasha had made & rolled out his futon. Getting up Sango retrieved hers & rolled it out. Settling in she noticed Kagome asleep by a log on the side of the road, about 5 feet from her. Smiling at the claws that were planted in the branch above Kagome she closed her eyes. Shippo slept on top of Ah-Un's head with Myoga on his belly, something that he was used to. With a sigh Inuyasha let his eyes look back down at the girl on the ground below him. Kagome looked so peaceful when she was asleep. He thought to himself until he saw a white strip go across the sky. It was one of Kikyo's soul catchers! He dropped down from the tree & watched it glide across the sky. Coming down level with him he saw it was carrying something besides a soul. A small scroll was in it's many legs & as it drew nearer the scroll slipped out & fell into Inuyasha's arms. Opening it with tense fingers he found that the inscription was not Kikyo's at all but belonged to someone else who smelled like her. 'Dear Shard seekers,
I, as the mysterious priestess, am sending a formal greeting to you via soul catcher. We will meet you half way along your journey tomorrow. Be prepared & tell no one. This message will self-destruct.'
Inuyasha read the note with no signature through twice before he crumbled it up & ate it. The self-destruct thing had no effect on him because he had no idea what the words meant anyway. "Tell no one." He thought aloud while climbing back into the tree. Did that mean he wasn't to tell Kagome either? He rubbed his head & lay back against the tree. Closing his eyes he let himself sleep on the matter for now, see what tomorrow brings.
Cool. Long chap again. Not the longest though. In the next chap we get to meet the 'mysterious priestess' that's been hanging around with Kikyo. We'll also get to meet Sesshoumaru's relatives, two of which are twins. Plus, what happens when Heather fights the with the wolf demon tribe! Finally, Kagura discovers her & thinks she is none other than Hikari herself who went through a few changes in the well. Naraku ponders his feelings for Kikyo & Kanna walks around aimlessly, sucking souls. Saisei learns how to talk fluently & tries to keep Hikari away from Sesshoumaru. That's all for now! See ya! Bye!!
~ OtakuSailorV
Chapter 20 Part 2
Where I left off in chapter 20 once again. ............................................................................ ............................................................................ ............................
Heather sat in the straw watching the demons watch her. "So, what's the boss doing with another live human? He ordered us not to eat this one too." They were all whispering & staring at her hungrily. She felt a tad uncomfortable but shook it off. "Hi, I'm Heather. What's shakin'? She asked with a bright smile. They all stopped talking & stared at her harder than before. "That's Ok, take your time." She grumbled & tried to find something to entertain herself. Kouga burst in through the water with a large boar on his back. Heather looked at it with wide eyes. What was he bringing that back for? He wasn't going to eat it while she was there was he? If so he'd have to clean up the puke. He walked over & stared at her. "Eat." He said & dropped the pig. Heather looked first at him then the pig. "I'm not hungry." She said as the sickness overcame her. He wanted her to eat that thing raw! He stared at her closely with his face really close to hers. "Fine." He said after a while of her staring back without blinking. He picked it back up & walked out of the cave. Heather shrugged when he left & finished untying her hands. "Not like I really needed to do it but it was something to keep me occupied." She muttered as she rebound her hands with her magic. The two demons from before came over & pulled her up. "Kouga wants to see you outside." They said & drug her to the exit. The wolves jumped up happily & walked beside her all the way. When she got out side Kouga was holding a wooden bucket in one hand & watching her every step. She walked to him the rest of the way & gave him an angry look when she arrived. "Hi." She said. He handed the bucket to her tied hands. "Fill this with water." Heather looked at the waterfall & small pool of water by her side. "Why?" She asked looking back at him quizzically. "Because I want to see you do it." Heather shrugged & the ropes fell from her hands. "Going to need these untied." She said handing the ropes to him. He stared at them then at her. Holding the bucket by her side Heather stooped down & put the bucket in the small pool of water. Lofting it back up she gave Kouga a sour look. "Ta-da. Water." Heather said gesturing to the bucket. He gave her an angry look. "Not that way fool." He said & knocked the water out of the pail in her hands. Heather looked at the spilled water on the ground. "Could have at least put it back where it came from." She grumbled when she looked back up at him. He narrowed his eyes further. "Do it with those powers." He said. Heather put on an innocent looking curious face. "What powers?" She asked poking her lip with a finger. His face went red with anger. "The powers that helped you create those!" He yelled pointing to the wings that Heather had yet to put away. She flapped them carelessly & looked over her shoulder. "What?" She said giving him a quizzical look. Kouga started to look quite angry. Covering his face with one hand he growled out an order to one of the demons. "Ginta." "Yes sir?" The wolf youkai with the black tuft looked up. "Show her what I'm talking about.' The youkai hustled to obey. "This miss." He said holding up her wing. Heather smiled at him. "Oh, why didn't you say so?" She asked holding the wing in her hand. "I forget about these things all the time. They kinda get in the way though." They watched as her wings disappeared. "Wha.?!" Kouga asked looking at her smiling face. "Water right? I can give you water." The bucket that he had picked up & was holding spilled water over the rim. The water trickled out of his pail faster & faster until a small continuous waterfall poured over the rim. "I can do all kinds of water." Heather looked up at the sky. The demons followed her gaze to see dark clouds over the mountain. The wind blowed & thunder was heard in the distance. Gasping they watched while rain poured down, first slowly then it picked up until it was pounding around them. Heather stood in one place staring up into the rain. "Stop!" The rain ceased before the words had fully formed. The clouds were gone & left nothing but soaked ground & soaked demons. "I said water in the pail not to drown us in rain!" Kouga growled at the smiling girl that was soaked through. "Well, I got a little carried away." Kouga watched her turn & walk back toward the entrance. "What would happen if you went completely out of control?" He asked. She still smiled but her voice was serious. "This mountain would no longer exist." The ropes in his hands disappeared & reappeared around her wrists. "I think Ginta & Hakkaku should take me back now." The demon turned at his name. "How?" He asked looking at her. She smiled at him. "I am a girl of many mysteries." She said again. He gave her a confused look while she walked toward the doorway behind the waterfall. Turning she smiled. "It's getting late." She pointed with one bound hand to the setting sun. "Shouldn't you guys get some rest? Besides it will look pretty strange if I walk in by myself." She waited by the door while they walked over on either side & walked beside her into the cave. Once inside the chatter died down again. The wolf demons looked at her with alert eyes again as she walked over to the straw & sat down. Hakkaku tried desperately to find out how she had guessed his name when a voice entered his head. 'Sorry Hakkaku but I don't want anyone to know quite yet about how I found out your name. Please don't spread the rumor around.' He stopped & went rigid for a moment then turned toward the girl sitting in the straw. Her smile widened & she waved at him then pressed a finger to her lips & winked. He gasped & turned away. Kouga entered the den only a few minutes later to find his wolves being petted by the girl that had made him so confused. The demons around him started to talk. "What are you going to do with the human Kouga?" "Are we going to use her against one of our enemies?" "What has gotten into the wolves Kouga?" He looked over at the smiling girl that simply waved at him as if he were nothing but a friend. He stiffened & walked over to his nest that was next to Heather's pile of straw. "We will nothing as of yet. She will not speak of her powers as of yet." He said looking at the demons. Heather leaned against the wall & loosed her bonds a little to get her fingers in position. "Guess I'm staying here for the night." She thought aloud & snapped her fingers. Her bag appeared in her lap & she dug in to grab her dragon. Hisui groaned as she was plucked from the bag. "Hey, wake up. You've been asleep all day. Too much sleep is bad for you." The dragon opened one eye to look around. "The only dangerous amount is none." She said & clambered up Heather's arm. Hisui crawled sleepily to her head & sat down, staring out at the demons that were staring at her. Shifting her weight Hisui took another look at the demons. Her glowing green eyes locked onto Kouga longer than the others. "Affirmative captain." She said aloud to an unheard command. Snapping her fingers Heather changed her wet clothes & straw for clean dry ones. Sighing she settled in & fell instantly asleep. The dragon atop her head lifted both eyes open fully. They pierced around the room & light filtered out in green shafts around them. Kouga watched the dragon for several minutes before he walked over & stooped down by Heather. She appeared to be asleep but he wasn't entirely sure. He poked her nose with one clawed finger. She wrinkled her nose & her eyebrows knitted. The youkai around him held their breath when she rubbed her nose with the back of her hand then rolled over. Hisui walked down her arm & back into the pack, the green light faded from her eyes while she went. Kouga watched the girl until his eyes could no longer stay open. The others had fallen asleep long ago but he refused to sleep while there was no one to make sure she didn't wake up & escape. His eyes felt like they were heavy as rocks. They flitted shut & he thought for a brief for a moment that he would only rest them for a few seconds. But they didn't open again until a strange music forced him to wake. He stared into the dark cave. His eyes moved over the demons that were sleeping peacefully in the den. The music filtered softly into the cave again. He turned his head groggily to see that the girl's bonds lay on the floor & she herself was gone. His eyes popped open & all thoughts of sleep left him. Hopping to his feet Kouga ran out of the cave & followed the music to the top of the mountain. Heather strummed on the electric guitar that she had transfigured when she had reached the top. Sitting on the edge she watched the sky start to lighten into dawn. Hisui was sitting on her shoulder watching the sky as well when footsteps were heard coming up the slope. Kouga could hear words at the bottom of the path. They were soft & he had not heard the song before but he listened silently to the song.
All the memories I have are beautiful in my mind,
But they don't feed the hunger deep inside my soul.
And tonight I thought,
I'd just be sitting in my sorrow.
But now I must wonder why.
What did it really mean to you?
I just can't see it any more!
I just can't see it any more..
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhhhhhhh..
He had almost reached the top now. He could hear another song begin as he climbed past the crater that was full of wolf bones. Growling at the remains of the Birds of Paradise that he saw he continued on.
Softly, let me hear
Of the distant future,
So bright it can't be seen,
Like a white sand moon.
She stopped strumming on the strange instrument & finished the song with a turn of her head in his direction. "I thought you might be the one to find me." She said with a smile. "Because of those Shikon Shards in your legs you can sense things even better than the other demons. They never heard a single word of my song accept in sleep." She turned back to the sky. "I came here to see the sunrise from the top of this mountain. I thought you would be able to see the whole country from here, but you can only see a small portion." She sighed & put the instrument down on the ground where it instantly disappeared. He walked the short distance & stood by her, looking out at the sun. "You would have run off, wouldn't you?" He asked casting a glance at her. "No, I had no intention of leaving quite yet. Besides the heart is a terrible thing to break." He looked down at her. Her eyes were sad & showed no sign of the bouncy, hyper girl that he had seen only hours before. Was this the same girl? "Hmph." Was all he said while sitting down by her. The tiny dragon eyed him for a moment before looking away. "I guess it is time that I got back." Heather stood & grabbed her pack. "Everyone will be awake if I don't leave soon." She started to leave but Kouga grabbed her arm. Tuning she looked at him. "Yes?" She asked. He looked up at the calm girl. How had she changed so quickly? "You." He began but she was expecting the question. "I am not always so hyper & annoying. Just when I'm happy or want to have fun. It's not rare to find me in this demeanor though." She started to walk away again but was held back still by his clutch on her arm. "What's wrong?" She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. He stared up at her. What was so sad that she had to leave the cave? He stared at her in puzzlement until he heard a noise from the valley below. "Hey, Kouga?! You testing that witch again?!" It was one of his pack. Heather looked around & the bonds appeared on her hands. She looked down at him. "Test my flying." She ordered him. He looked at her in amazement, her voice was harder & more severe than before. He stood & looked at her with slight anger. How dare she talk to him, a full demon, that way! Who did this girl think she was? "Throw me." She ordered & nodded toward the edge. He looked at the edge then her. "But." He began. Heather lost her patience. "If you won't then I will." She stomped over to the edge in her baggy shirt & bare feet & stood on the edge for a brief moment before her legs bent & she jumped. "Geronimo!" She screamed as she went down. Kouga peered over the edge to see her wings burst out in a blast of black feathers then she glided to the edge by the tribe of wolf demons that had noticed her decent. Kouga glided down through the air after her. The cloud of black feathers had disappeared as soon as they can come. Landing on the edge by the sour faced girl he pushed her forward. "Well I guess she can fly." He said in an angry tone. Heather gave his shin a small kick. Growling he looked at her angry face. She had already changed her clothes to loose fitting jeans & a long baggy shirt. "Duh." Was all she said to him. He was about to say something back when Ginta spoke up. "Hey Boss! We just received warning that a tribe of bird demon that was related to the Birds of Paradise is coming to seek revenge. Heather grabbed her waist then remembered that she had to transfigure a sword first. Sighing she looked up at Kouga. "When will they be here?" Ginta looked at the girl. "Well, they should be here in a few hours." Heather released her own bonds. "I can't make them disappear if that's what you want me to do, but I can fight them." She rubbed the place where the ropes had rubbed her hands. The demon tribe started to laugh. That is, all except for Ginta, Hakkaku, & Kouga himself. Heather gave them all a sharp look that made them stop. "I'm serious." She said in a low growl. Kouga looked at her angry face that darted to look at the sky. "Your calculations are a bit off though Ginta. They're gonna be here in about 2, no 3 minutes. You had better get ready." Heather reached for her pack & dug out the dragon that had slipped inside for a nap. "Hisui, my sword!" She said & the tiny dragon started to roar. A light appeared above her head & Heather reached up & snagged it from the air. It changed from a light to a sword that was long & broad in her hand. Its hilt was gold & the handle was the same. At the far & near end of the sword a jewel was set into the blade. A red one at the top & a blue one at the bottom. Heather raised the sword over her shoulder & scowled at the on-looking demons. "Well? You had better move your tails! They're coming!" Kouga was the only one that didn't take off. Heather watched the demons go before turning to him. "Hmph, you had better go to. Don't worry I won't leave now that I've taken the time to get my sword out." She walked to the edge of the small cliff & looked at some dots that were rising out of the country & coming at enormous speeds toward them. "I fight with my bare hands." Kouga said cracking his knuckles. Heather copied him. "Good for you." She said & raised the sword & pointed it at the group of dots. "Kablam!" She called & a ray shot from the end & hit a dot that fell from the sky to the ground. Heather laughed & put the sword down. "I had to do that, sorry." She said looking at Kouga with an amused grin on her face. He grinned too & they both watched as the dots got bigger & the demons to come to their aid.
Hikari stared out at the forest for some time after they had left Bokseno behind. She had the strangest feeling that the trees were looking at her & talking. She couldn't quite say why but it did seem that the wind carried whispers of her around. 'Reincarnation.' A wind wrapped around her & passed through the leaves of the nearest trees, whispering it's message all the way. 'A priestess & a goddess in this place of darkness.' Came a hushed, or maybe it was astonished, wind. Kagome turned & looked around. "Sesshoumaru?" Hikari asked looking at the trees around her. "Yes?" He asked. Rin sat on the back of Ah-Un & was staring out into the forest. She listened to the song of the woods & watched the leaves blow in the sun. 'Strange travelers.they bring things of great power here.' Rin sat upright & looked at a particularly old tree. "Rin wants to know what the things of great power are." She said looking at it. "I was wondering if these trees could talk like Bokseno." Hikari said scooting away from one that brushed a leafy branch over her head. Both questions were asked at the same time & both were answered at the same time. "They live in this forest that Bokseno lives in. It is possible that you can hear their speech." 'The things of great power draw the attention of fools that wish to exploit it.' Rin looked at the tree opposite the other, why had it answered her question? Hikari watched Rin carefully. "Rin, who are you talking to?" Rin stared at the trees as they went passed. "Trees." She said. Another wind blew by. 'A Goddess, A Priestess, & a.' The wind died before Hikari could catch the rest. Rin looked at the trees intensely. "Things of great power." She breathed. "Are the things items like a leaf or an acorn?" She asked. A tree ahead of them whispered the answer. 'The things of great power are not items but living things that are neither found often on this planet or of earthly limitations. You child are a Thing of great power. You have seen death & lived, that makes you an other worldly being.' Rin looked around. Was the tree speaking of her or Hikari? 'Goddess incarnate.' Breathed the wind. Rin fell asleep, dreaming of flying on large wings with Hikari. Inuyasha twitched his ears. They had left the forest some time ago but he couldn't get what the wind had breathed right in his ear out of his mind. 'You will make our future brighter but will lose something in the process.' He had been so shocked that he had had no time to ask what it meant before it had breathed something else. 'Do not worry, the great quest is near it's end.' He wondered what the loss would be. Was it Kagome, would she leave him forever or would she.? No! He shook the thought from his head. Kagome would not meet that fate as long as he lived! But if not Kagome then what? Was it Sango or Miroku, or maybe Shippo or Kohaku? Was he going to lose his brother or one of his friends? He tried to think on other things but could not. Kagome sat beside him, as troubled as he was. The wind had whispered something disturbing into her ear too. 'She will come for you & the attack will be quick & without hesitation.' Kagome could think of only one person that would want her dead, Kikyo. At first she had thought it was Naraku, but he wasn't a she or maybe.nah! Kagura might want her dead, but then again, Kagome was the one that Naraku wanted dead so Kagura would want her alive if it troubled him so much. 'Attack of 2 priestess's. One that was of this time, the other has not belonged here for sometime.' Kagome couldn't help but wonder if they meant the mysterious girl that had been present with Kikyo for some time. She sighed & involuntarily leaned against Inuyasha while she thought on. They had been travelling for a good time before they reached another forest covered way. Rin was still asleep on Ah-Un with Kohaku riding in front of her. Kirara sat on his head with Myoga atop Kirara. Sesshoumaru lead the way still. Hikari pranced beside him. "So, how far are we from the castle?" She asked. He looked ahead. "Give it about four more days." He said with a smile. Hikari nodded & thought again of what it would look like. Inuyasha tried desperately to remember the castle at which he had spent some of his child hood but nothing came but the smell of flowers & someone calling him & laughing. Kagome saw his deep in thought look & decided she would guess what he was thinking about. "Thinking about Kikyo?" She asked sticking her face close to his. He didn't even look at her when he shook his head. "No.I'm trying to remember what it was like at the castle but all I can remember is flowers, laughter, & someone calling my name." Sesshoumaru glanced back at him. "That would be the old flower garden that your mother used to keep. It was partially underground with a stone set of windows looking outside. Father with his claws created the entire thing. You used to hide in there all the time from us, you're sent was hard to detect among the sweat smelling flowers." Inuyasha suddenly remembered that the laughter was his own. He was laughing at a servant that was failing to find him. The voice however he could not place. "Inuyasha get out of the flowers. You'll worry everyone to death & you're trampling your mother's favorites." He could still hear the scolding voice. But it was not the servants that was relying on her nose & only said his name every few minutes. He looked up at Hikari's back. Could it have been? Night fell & Hikari had the odd sensation that someone was using magic. Looking to the sky she saw rain clouds over the mountain. "Oh great." She muttered seeing the clouds. Sesshoumaru turned & followed her disgruntled gaze. "Heather?" He guessed. Hikari nodded. "No doubt about it." She shook her head & sighed. Sesshoumaru put an arm around her. "She's just being herself. Being her best friend I would think that you would understand that." Hikari giggled & put her arm around him. "I do. But I just don't want Naraku to hear about her & then we'll have to go rescue her because she'll think it's a great game to play innocent with Naraku." Rin walked over & placed a flower wreath that she had just made on Hikari's free wrist. "Pretty flowers from Rin to Hikari-san!" She smiled &ran off to Sango & Kagome. Hikari turned to see everyone covered in the girl's flowers. Inuyasha had a lopsided one set on his head. Kagome had 2 bracelets to each arm & a head wreath. Sango was similar. Miroku had one on his staff, his arms, his head, his neck, & a small one around his ponytail. Hikari held down a laugh at the monk. Kohaku was decked out too. Kirara had a collar of flowers on. Ah-Un had one to each head. Myoga had a single flower petal since he was so small. Jaken had several on him as well. Sesshoumaru received one soon after Hikari. They both laughed at the other. "Thank you Rin-chan." Hikari said, accepting another wreath. Rin smiled & ran off. "Rin will make more for Hikari-sama!" Hikari smiled at the little girl weaving around her legs. "Ok Rin." It was soon night & the party had to stop again. Saisei was almost a flower bush himself with all the wreaths that Rin had given him. Shiro was the same. Hikari laughed at her dragon & plucked a wreath from where his eyes should be. "Can you see Saisei?" The dragon snorted a comment but Hikari closed his mouth before it was fully formed. "Ah, ah, no colorful words with the tots around." She said waving a finger in his eyes. He grumbled again & disappeared from her palm, leaving the wreaths behind. Hikari sighed & put the wreaths around Ah-Un. Jaken was asleep on the back of the Ah-Un, wearing all the wreaths that Rin had made for him. Hikari giggled as she walked away from him. Looking up at the mountain she thought she heard music but was sure that she was wrong. Cuddling against a tree she soon was comfortable & fell asleep. Rin walked sleepily over & plopped down by her side, leaning against her. Sesshoumaru returned from the convenient river that rang near the path only to see the girls sleeping under the tree next to him. Sighing he dropped down on the ground & sat against the tree next to them. Sango made a bed out on the ground & put Kohaku gently down on it. "Stay asleep." She whispered over & over to herself. Kohaku never moved as she slid him into the futon. Miroku plopped down on the other side of the fire that Inuyasha had made & rolled out his futon. Getting up Sango retrieved hers & rolled it out. Settling in she noticed Kagome asleep by a log on the side of the road, about 5 feet from her. Smiling at the claws that were planted in the branch above Kagome she closed her eyes. Shippo slept on top of Ah-Un's head with Myoga on his belly, something that he was used to. With a sigh Inuyasha let his eyes look back down at the girl on the ground below him. Kagome looked so peaceful when she was asleep. He thought to himself until he saw a white strip go across the sky. It was one of Kikyo's soul catchers! He dropped down from the tree & watched it glide across the sky. Coming down level with him he saw it was carrying something besides a soul. A small scroll was in it's many legs & as it drew nearer the scroll slipped out & fell into Inuyasha's arms. Opening it with tense fingers he found that the inscription was not Kikyo's at all but belonged to someone else who smelled like her. 'Dear Shard seekers,
I, as the mysterious priestess, am sending a formal greeting to you via soul catcher. We will meet you half way along your journey tomorrow. Be prepared & tell no one. This message will self-destruct.'
Inuyasha read the note with no signature through twice before he crumbled it up & ate it. The self-destruct thing had no effect on him because he had no idea what the words meant anyway. "Tell no one." He thought aloud while climbing back into the tree. Did that mean he wasn't to tell Kagome either? He rubbed his head & lay back against the tree. Closing his eyes he let himself sleep on the matter for now, see what tomorrow brings.
Cool. Long chap again. Not the longest though. In the next chap we get to meet the 'mysterious priestess' that's been hanging around with Kikyo. We'll also get to meet Sesshoumaru's relatives, two of which are twins. Plus, what happens when Heather fights the with the wolf demon tribe! Finally, Kagura discovers her & thinks she is none other than Hikari herself who went through a few changes in the well. Naraku ponders his feelings for Kikyo & Kanna walks around aimlessly, sucking souls. Saisei learns how to talk fluently & tries to keep Hikari away from Sesshoumaru. That's all for now! See ya! Bye!!
~ OtakuSailorV