[Disclaimer: Lalalalala… oh… you want a disclaimer huh?…] … [Okay I don't own Inu Yasha… happy?! You dragged it outta me *cries*]

What it Takes to be Whole

Chapter 4: Into the Mountains

The sun was beginning to rise, and the faint glow tickled Kagome's cheek. It was a cold morning, but the cool air was sweet and sugary.

'Kaede must be cooking,' she thought to herself. She opened her eyes, and met face to face with Youkai's piercing expression.

"AHH!" she yelped. She jumped out of the bed and landed on someone. She turned her head to see Ningen there. "What are you guys doing? Are you stalking me?!"

"Oh please," Youkai mumbled under his breath. "You come up with the most ridiculous thoughts," Kagome stood up, her nightgown flowing against her legs. She clenched a fist; her anger building inside her like a planned explosion.

"You think you're funny?!" she yelled. "SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT!!!!" Ningen laughed as Youkai's body was subjected to repetitive beatings.

"Do you think Kaede will mind the crater?" he said jokingly. Kagome sat down after her tantrum and looked calmly at him. "Let him be,"

"Yeah," she responded. "Don't worry, I plan on needing your help for the journey to the priestess," In a blaze of speed, Youkai jumped out of the hole and ran up to Kagome, fuming angrily.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE TAKING HIM??" he yelled. Kagome looked at him, quite peacefully compared to her past reaction. She snickered a little bit and closed her eyes.

"Sit,"

***

Breakfast was over quickly, the sweet smells still wafting in the air. Kagome looked at everyone that sat around her. Ningen was refined; he ate gratefully, with dignity. She always loved this side of Inu Yasha, but unfortunately it had always been buried under layers of insecurity and pride. Youkai was strangely quiet, maybe because of the large purple bruise that also shared residence on his face. Kaede also ate with them, slowly savoring the sugary texture of her creation. Kagome sighed. Ningen looked at her with concern.

"What's wrong Kagome?" he asked her. She was slow to respond, deeply lost in her world of thoughts.

"I miss them," she said softly. Youkai looked up at the unprovoked confession.

"We all do," Ningen countered. "Besides, soon it will be alright to see Sango, right?"

"We don't even know if she'll be okay," she argued. "We don't know…" Kaede tried her hand at comforting her.

"We have to have faith," she told her gently. "Sango's wounds will heal, she will recover," Even as they spoke, Sango was being treated in a distant hospital in a region north of where they stood. Her wounds from Naraku were deep, her scarlet blood refusing to stay within her body. Every second was a passing breath, one that could be her last. That fact terrified Kagome.

"We should focus on the task ahead," said Youkai coldly. Kagome was taken aback by his sudden disrespect, but even thought she didn't want to admit it, she knew he was right.

"Youkai!" Kaede scolded.

"No, it's alright," Kagome assured her. "After all, he's right," She put down her bowl and gathered her things. She grabbed her backpack filled with supplies and began to walk away. She looked over her shoulder, back at the circle of friends.

"Where do you think you're going?" Youkai demanded.

"Sit boy," A loud crash echoed as his breakfast melded with the contours of his face.

…

"Hehe," she laughed. "Ningen, let's go,"

***

The snow made a faint crunching under their feet., an imprint that left its mark on the unscathed mountainside. The sun was still low, daybreak only hours before, all the while it shone down on the pair that trudged on.

"Ughhh…" grunted Ningen. "How much further?" She stopped to allow him to close the distance between them. Kagome had walked quite a bit faster, thoughts swamping her once carefree mind. He looked at her, and was wondering why she was staring at him.

"What??" he pestered . She was captivated by him - his ebony hair was caressed by the frigid wind, ferociously pushing her teenage hormonal lust toward its limits.

"STOP IT!" Ningen yelled. "You look like you're gonna eat me!" She couldn't help but laugh at the absurd thought . She giggled a little more before seeing Ningen's very confused expression.

"I'm pretty sure that there isn't much more," she said, and began to walk again. With his mouth wide open, Ningen's jaw hung in both disbelief and confusion.

"Argh…" he mumbled. "This girl will be the death of me…" He began to chase after her, but was unexpectedly blinded by a sudden blast of arctic wind. He shielded his eyes, his face burning from the frost. When the wind settled, he put his arm down to scout for Kagome.

"Kagome?!" he yelled. "Kagome!!!" he screamed. But it was no use. All that responded was a deafening familiar echo., reverberating off the ever expanding mountains.

"Now where did she go??"

***

The serpent writhed its body around Kagome, easily choking her of air. It was dark, but faint candlelights revealed the half-serpent, half-woman that coiled around her fragile form.

"Are…" Kagome stuttered. "Are you the black priestess?" It nodded in response, the hissing tongue slithering from her mouth. "I…I need your help," It began to snicker and laugh boisterously.

"Hahah," It continued laughing. Its long fangs protruded from her jaw, poison dripping on the an already heavily corroded stone floor.

"I'm too hungry to grant favours," It licked its lips, Kagome squirming in its grip. She was in trouble…

OKAY! Chapter 4 of this story is finally up. Personally, this is one of my favorites. I'd appreciate any feedback that you guys have for me. Thanx a lot!

- DWOT