Last time. . .
"Why do you seek the girl that can detect the Shikon no Tama?" Miroku asked.
"To get Naraku, measly human. I had a shard before and wish to have it back. I figure while I am at I will take the whole thing. I hear it is nearly complete, and it could make me very powerful. I have heard tales of the girl that can tell where it is." He looked from Sango, to Kagome, and then to Kameko. "I see three human girls here. I will just take all of them then, and when I find out which one she is, I will kill the other two."
"No, you can't do that!" Shippou shouted.
The giant plant just laughed. "I would like to see you try, young one." Before anyone could react he stretched out his hand towards the group. His forefinger began to grow and extend towards Sango.
Chapter 15 – Gunjukoujou (War Plant), Part II
"Kagome, run!" Miroku and Inuyasha shouted together. She nodded and ran, with Shippou held tightly in her arms. She found a hole besides a tree for her and Shippou to hide in.
Sango poised herself, waiting for the right moment to attack. That right moment never came.
A stream of fire came from Sango's left side, where Kameko had been standing. When Sango turned and look she saw another youkai, female, with glowing green eyes. The female youkai had a whirlwind of fire about her; her hair was pitch black and moving like a flame. Her right arm was stretched out before her, open palm, and fire was coming from it. The fire burned the extending forefinger of the plant youkai.
"Ahh!" The plant youkai cried. He withdrew his plant finger and glared at the new youkai. "Where did you come from? Do you dare challenge the great Gunjukoujou?!"
She turned her glowing green eyes towards him. "You threatened to harm my friends. I was just preventing you."
'Her friends,' Sango thought. 'I have never even seen this youkai before.'
"Who do you think you are?" Inuyasha barked at her. "This is my fight!"
The female youkai ignored him. "I am not from here. I dare say that you are as great as you portray to be. For I have never even heard of you, Gunjukoujou."
'Her voice sounds familiar,' Miroku thought.
Kirara, who had been waiting patiently in between Sango and Miroku, growled at the newcomer. The youkai looked at the fire-cat straight in the eyes. Something must have exchanged between them, for Kirara stopped growling and turned her attention back to Gunjukoujou.
"I will crush you then, after I have taken care of these measly humans and hanyou." The giant youkai turned back to Inuyasha, but he was gone.
While the plant youkai had been distracted by the female youkai, Inuyasha had grown impatient. He had jumped up to the highest tree near by and was air born, a fatal swing waiting for Gunjukoujou.
"Cutting Wind!!!!" Inuyasha yelled, swinging his sword. The air rip opened and cut Gunjukoujou all over.
The youkai seemed to laugh for a moment, and then his face went blank as his body fell apart in many pieces. Inuyasha land near an eyeball, and crushed it with his foot. He sheathed Tetsusaiga and walked towards the female youkai.
She had her hand stretched out again, and was burning the remains of Gunjukoujou. The whirlwind of fire that had was around her, had settle to that of a calm campfire. Her pitch-black hair was now swishing about her shoulders, as if a soft breeze were disturbing it. The fierce glowing green eyes from before were also calm now.
"Who are you?" The dog hanyou demanded.
"Don't do anything rash, Inuyasha," Miroku warned.
She looked at him. "I am one, but two, yet I am also a third."
Inuyasha gave her a look. "What the hell are you talking about. I'm asking who you are, because if you don't answer I'm going to take you out just like that flower that's laying around us."
Sango didn't like this. "Kirara, go get Kagome and Shippou." From past experience, she could see Inuyasha getting himself in trouble. Only Kagome would be able to talk him out of this.
"All you need to know," the she youkai said, "is the name Kyrae." As the last word came out of her mouth the fire, and everything that came with it, disappeared. Before Inuyasha stood a girl, looking much like Kagome, save for the tan skin, red streak in her black hair, and green eyes.
"Kameko!" Inuyasha said in surprise.
Kameko looked at him, mumbled something, and then proceeded to faint. Instantly Inuyasha caught her.
"Was that really she?" Inuyasha asked.
"Maybe the youkai is able to take over bodies?" Miroku suggested. "I haven't sensed and youkai energy from her, so that is my theory."
"You could be right. She doesn't smell like one either, though her scent doesn't seem to be normal," Inuyasha replied.
"That can be explained by the fact that Kameko comes from a different land," Sango said. "And Houshi-sama's theory does seem reasonable, except that she called us her friends. Which is why she attacked the plant youkai. How do you explain that?"
Miroku and Inuyasha exchanged looks. Neither had any theories or ideas on why a female fire youkai would take over Kameko's body and have them still be her friends.
"What happened!" Kagome cried as Kirara came with her on her back. Shippou was on Kirara's head.
"Is Kameko-chan going to be ok?" The kitsune youkai asked.
Kagome hopped down and went over to her friend. Inuyasha awkwardly held Kameko, not wanting to offend Kagome is some way.
"We're not to sure," Sango said. "We were trying to figure out exactly what happened ourselves."
Kagome looked to her other friends. "You're all right, then?" She looked at Inuyasha. "And you destroyed that plant youkai?"
"Yeah, I did." Inuyasha grumbled, and hoped that Sango or Miroku would say who also helped. He picked Kameko up and put her on the back of Kirara. "She should probably go back to Kaede.
"I'll go back with her too," Kagome said.
"What! You just go here!" Inuyasha protested. "If that Gunjukoujou wanted you so badly, that means Naraku must be near by."
"I know that, but I need to take Kameko back to my era, she doesn't belong here, and this isn't her fight."
"Feh." Inuyasha pouted. "Fine, take her back. It'll be good to have things they way they used to be."
Sango had zoned out. She was thinking back on the last thing that the female youkai had said.
"All you need to know is the name Kyrae."
'Kyrae, I have heard that name before.' Sango thought. 'In the stories my otou-san would tell me about my okaa-san's side of the family and the tragic story of her obaa-sama, Kyrae-sama, sister of–'
"Sango-chan," Miroku said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
She looked at him. "Yes I'm fine. I was just thinking."
"Yes, it looked like that. We are all going back to the Kaede's village."
Sango nodded, following Miroku, who was heading towards the others as they began their journey back to the village.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I don't want to go", whined a 13-year-old girl.
"And I don't want to stay here forever," replied a mirror image of the girl. "Maybe we can convince them to give you the Shikon no Tama."
"But they chose you. You're the older one," the first protested.
"Only by a handful of seconds, you're much better with the villagers than I am. I am too restless. I would draw more attention to the jewel if I move around. If it stayed here, you can protect it better. It should be your job Kikyo.
Kikyo pondered this for a moment then shook her head. "Why don't we both guard it? Grandmother always said that we were stronger together. We can just tell the taiji-ya that they will have to make both of us protectors of the Shikon no Tama. When you get restless, Kyrae, we can travel-"
"Then who shall take care of little Kaede? She is only seven summers old. We cannot leave her or take her with us." Kyrae sighed and sat down. They were in their hut. It was the day before they would have to be separated. In all their 13 years, they had never been more then a day apart, and that was only when Kyrae had gotten herself lost in the nearby forest when they were five. However, for this, guarding the Shikon no Tama, they were willing to separate. It was going to be on their terms though.
"We're priestesses, descended from a long line of priestesses. It's in our blood," Kyrae said. "When called upon we must fulfill our duties. They duty of the Shikon no Tama has been given to me, but in my heart I know that it's wrong, and not my calling."
Kikyo sighed and sat down next to her identical twin. "To bad we just couldn't switch spots without them knowing."
Kyrae smiled. "That's it. We've switched places before when playing tricks."
"But we were always found out, and none of those switches lasted long."
"Trust me, Toshi." Kyrae said, using their nickname for each other. "I have a plan."
AN: Well, what do ya think? Sorry I haven't updated in a very, very long time. Just so much has been happening. I've got college to deal with and I have a boyfriend to think about now. ::silly grin:: Any-hoo. Otou-san = father, okaa-san = mother, obaa-sama = grandmother (respectfully). Any Q's, just ask. Thank you to all of those that have waited patiently and that have reviewed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!