Nobara: Hiya, I'm so sorry it took so long for this chapter but between
writer's block and other stuff, I've been really busy.
Inuyasha: Try lazy
Nobara: Don't start with me!!
Inuyasha: But it's so fun seeing you mad.
Nobara: Shut up!
Inuyasha: Why don't you try and make me?
Miroku::holding Nobara back with his staff:: Inuyasha why do you aggravate her so? You know it's a pointless battle....
Shippo: That you'll never win!
Inuyasha: Where the heck did all you come from?
Miroku: Well it's not a very hard story, you see back when our parents were alive and in love....::Sango hits him on the head softly::
Sango: Can we just start the story?
Miroku::turning Nobara loose:: Sango! It's been so long since I've seen you seeing Nobara didn't add you to this!
Sango: I asked her not, I'm going to Tahiti! Can you say surfer dudes?
Miroku::gropes her:: Why would you want surfer dudes when you have me?
Shippo::sighs:: Hello!!! We have a story that needs starting!!
Nobara: Right, right. Chaper 5; Memories.
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The next morning Crystal woke up alone at the camp other than Kiara. Her first thought was Good Ridance but then it crossed her mind, "Now what do I do? I don't know squat about the feudal era." She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and took one more glance around before heading down to the river. The water was cool and clear and relaxing. She splashed her face to chase away any remaining sleep that might be lingering in her eyes. Normally she would have swam in water such as this, but she didn't think it a good idea when she didn't know where the monk was. "Morning Crystal!", shouted a small boy's voice. The fox then jumped on her. Crystal tumbled backwards to the ground, not expecting this. "Morning Shippo," she said in between giggles.
"Where's Inuyasha?", she asked sitting back up. "I dunno, he ran off early this morning. Miroku's out finding food and so is Kouga," replied Shippo. So Crystal and Shippo played in the stream until the sun is high in the sky. "I'm hungry," said Shippo,"You're always hungry," Crystal replied smiling. "So?!", exclaimed the tiny fox. Crystal and Shippo went back to the camp where they found Miroku coking breakfast. "Ohayo," he said cheerily. "FOOD!!", shouted Shippo jumping from Crystal's shoulder. Crystal giggled and began brushing her hair. Miroku watched her intently as Shippo burnt his tongue on hot catfish. To him, she looked more like Sango than Kagome or Kikyo, or any of the other women. She reminded him of the day Sango died.
::Flashback::
Sango: Naraku, return my brother!
Naraku: Consider him yours.... ::Kohaku emerges from the shadows of the castle::
Sango: Kohaku...::takes a step towards him & is met by his chain blade::
Naraku: kukukuku.....
Sango::trying to block her brother's attacks:: Kohaku! It's me Sango! I know you still remember me somewhere deep down::
Miroku::helping Inuyasha & Kagome with Naraku:: Sango
:: Each of the battles wore on, Sango never struck at Kohaku but only blocked his swings. Soon though, she was cut all over and bleeding heavily. But during the battle, Kohaku's shard was freed from his back::
Sango: No, Kohaku...::falls over onto Kohaku's limp body::
Miroku:Sango! ::root pierces his hip and knocks him to the ground::
Kagome::runs over to Miroku:: Miroku-
Miroku: Forget me, help Inuyasha! ::stumbles over to Sango::
::Naraku had jerked Miroku's leg from its socket, but pure rage kept him going to protect Sango. He finally made the dicision to even the odds for the others. One last time he unleashed his wind tunnel and drew in the poison bees that hindered the attacks of Kagome and Inuyasha. All the bees were gone and the poison surged through Miroku.::
Miroku::sweating and breathing hard:: I'm sorry I couldn't save you Sango.
Sango:: pulls herself next to him and places an arm around him:: You have saved me ::cough of blood:: more times than I can count ::wince:: good bye Miroku-sama.
Miroku::clasping her hand:: Sango...
::And with that Miroku blacked out or died one, he never fully figured that out::
::End Flashback::
"What Miroku?", Crystal asked, finally noticing that he was staring at her. "Nothing, nothing Lady Crystal," he replied,"You can just call me Crystal," she added before putting her hairbrush away. "Lady Crystal!", shouted the small toad who popped from the woods. He carried a staff with two heads on it and looked familiar. "Do I know you?", she asked staring at the strange creature. "It is I, Lord Sesshomaru's liege man," it said standing in front of her. "Oh, your the frog that kept irratating me yesterday," she said, a serious look of realization crossing her face. "I'm not a frog," he said quietly,"I am here to find Lord Sesshomaru he came looking for his brother." Is Sesshomaru planning to take the Tetsaiga again, Miroku wondered as he kept his eyes closed listening to everything around him.
"Well, I haven't seen hide or hair of any of them that's been stalking me other than Miroku," Crystal said. "Crystal, I wasn't stalking you, only watching over you","Watching over me hoping that I'd take a bath","That's not necessarily true-", "Miroku, you can't lie to me, you know you can't","Yes, I'm afraid the lady does have a gift for seeing through trickery," Miroku said ending the conversation. So everyone sat in silence. Crystal was humming to herself watching clouds, Miroku was just there, Jaken was pacing worrying about his master, and Shippo sat by Crystal intently studying Jaken. "What exactly are you?", Shippo finally asked Jaken. "What do I look like? Isn't it obvious that I'm - LORD SESSHOMARU!!", Jaken cried hurdling himself into a clearing where Sesshomaru stood gazing at the sky.
The inu just stared at his minion and then to Crystal. "I trust that you have been in good care since I left you with my brother?", he spoke in his cold voice. "Y-yes, I have," she replied rather meekly. She still didn't know what to think of him, he was so frickin complexing. "Good, then he won't die today," he replied and turned his gaze back to the sky. She smiled, it sounded like her and her own brother. At the memory of her brother she frowned, but quickly her smile reappeared at the sight of the strange animal grazing by the woods. In a way, it was a lizard, and then it was a two headed horse. Probably the strangest thing she'd ever saw. It looked up at her and stared as if looking into her soul. Slowly it trotting over to Crystal and scanned her some more. Crystal held out her hand palm down and the creature sniffed her hand. The hand was accepted and it nuzzled her face with the left nose while the right one was gently scratched.
"Ah and Aun," Sesshomaru thought to himself,"have taken to her. They only did that for Rin. This human girl may just be more important than I suspected."
::Flashback::
Rin: Lord Sesshomaru! There is a strange castle ahead!
Sesshomaru: Rin, wait here ::flies off leaving her with Ah and Aun::
::Sesshomaru had landed in the courtyard gracefully. Taking a look around he saw Inuyasha and his human woman fighting Naraku, their friends were off the the side seemingly dead, and the wolf and a redhead sat by the mangled body of what he saw as the wind sorceress. With a few strides he was by the bodies of the slayer called Sango and the houshi Miroku. They were both dead. Neither breathed, both smelt of death, and both had died in the other's arms. Silently he unsheathed Tensaiga. He was closest to Miroku and swiftly killed the demons trying to carry off his soul. Within a few moments, he stirred and sat up::
Miroku::looks at his hands then to Sesshomaru:: T-thank you
Sesshomaru: Feh, I only wish to kill you myself. ::turns to Sango & searches for her demons::
Naraku::his tentecles snatch the sword from Sesshomaru:: Ah, ah, ah. Now that's not playing fair! ::snaps the sword::
Sesshomaru:: a glint of shock and a twinge of anger flash in his eyes:: ....
Rin::running from a swarm of bees:: Ahh!! Sesshomaru-sama!!!
::Naraku and Sesshomaru snapped their attention to the little girl that was running across the courtyard::
Naraku::an evil smile crosses his lips:: Look at this, a poor lost human girl. This must be her unlucky day. ((a/n: Yea,yea I know, they may seem a lil out of character but I'm trying my best here!!))
Sesshomaru::his eyes flare red:: Naraku you will not harm a single hair on her! ::lunges at Naraku::
::As Sesshomaru dived for Naraku, Naraku attacked Rin with a blast of miasma. Rin wasthrown back several feet and lay motionless on the ground. Sesshomaru stopped his assult on Naraku and ran to Rin. Gently his picked her up in his one arm and looked into her pained eyes. Her breathing was hard and difficult for her delicate human lungs could not bear the miasma. Suffering was streaked across her small face. The eyes the color of chocolate were pleading to have her pain ended. Sesshomaru felt something hit his heart that had never been felt by him before or again. It was compassion. He'd seen her dead before, but now he watched her dying, suffering, slipping away from him. What he did next, he did because he loved her and knew that he couldn't save her. His claw slipped down her arm, leaving a cut and a larger amout of poison. She let out a small sigh and her life floated away from her body::
Sesshomaru::laying her down beside Sango, he turned to Naraku with his bangs covering his eyes:: Naraku, you die today by my hand! ::lunges at Naraku again::
::End Flashback::
Sesshomaru faded back into reality, fully ready to vanquish the memory of the death of the only person who had cared for him. "I'm going to head back to camp, you're welcome to join me if you wish," Crystal said as she scratched the nose of Aun. "I will decline your offer," he replied simply and turned to leave. Jaken watched just as confused as ever. Ever since Sesshomaru had met that girl, he seemed, weaker. He was more kind towards select people around him, he hadn't even abused Jaken today. Maybe he's just like his father, and has an attraction for human women Jaken thought and shrugged it off. Sesshomaru watched from the coner of his eye as she turned and began off towards her camp.
The inu began to walk away, but he was never too far as he couldn't swoop down and save her from danger again. She silently settled down by the charred remains of the fire wood within the ring of stones. "Kouga! Wait up!" was the only sound that rang among the trees. The voices were familiar to Crystal. She turned to look at where the voices came from and saw that the wind had picked up. The whirlwind had burst from among the forest and stopped two feet from Crystal. There stood Kouga with a dead boar hung over his shoulder. Right behind him were belly shirt and mohawk. "Hello Ginta, hello Hakkaku, Kouga, what's with the pig?", she asked looking at the animal. "Your lunch. I wouldn't be a very good mate if I let you starve," he said as he dropped the boar on Shippo and walked over to Crystal.
"Good mate?! How many times am I going to tell you this?!?! I AM NOT YOUR MATE!!", she shouted at him. "Don't be ridiculous! You know I'm the only one for you," he replied cooly as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. For the second time since she'd met him the few short days, she turned around and slapped him as hard as possible. "Don't touch me you ugly hairy varmin!", she shouted and stormed away. Ginta and Hakkaku stood in wonder. This one had much spirit in her that would not easily be broken. She was alot like Ayame, the wolf maiden who would have been Kouga's mate. Kouga watched her stalk angrily into the forest muttering curses on him under her breath. Thinking of Ayame clouded over Kouga's face. A mixture of pain and anger swept through his eyes. Yes, he had avenged the redheaded fireball but it had not brought her back.
::Flashback::
Kouga: Ayame! Stand down! I'll handle Kagura!
Ayame: I won't see you hurt any worse than what you already are!
Kouga: It's not your place to kill Kagura! It's me that will avenge my brothers!
Ayame: It was my kin too that was killed! ::turns back to face Kagura::
Kouga: Ayame! ::she ignores him & continues battling Kagura::
::Kouga could do nothing other than sit on the side lines where Ayame had dragged him. Kagura had ambushed him and silced him up too badly for him to even move. Ayame had followed him and challenged Kagura in Kouga's place. Kagome took a small amount of time to bandage Kouga and stop his bleeding.::
Kagura: Aww, how sweet. The wolf pups can die together. Fuji no Mai!
Ayame: The only one who dies today is you! ::leaps at Kagura::
::For how long it went on, Kouga would never know. Finally Kagura fell to ground and didn't move. Ayame walked up to Kouga and wiped the trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth away.::
Ayame: See? I told you I could do it.
::Just when Kouga had began to relax, Ayame's body jerked and her face twisted into a mask of shock and pain. Blood ran down her stomach and the armor of her midriff splintered and fell away as a wind blade ripped through her body.::
Kagura::standing up:: You fell right into my trap. Never turn your back on an enemy, even if you think they are dead.
Kouga::leaning forward to catch Ayame's body as it fell forward:: Ayame!
Ayame::blood trailing from the corners of her mouth:: I'm sorry I failed you.
Kouga: You didn't fail, you were decieved. ::he leans down and gently kisses her lips::
Ayame::her entire body relaxes and her breathing ceases::
::Kouga layed her body down and stood up. Turning his eyes towards Kagura they began to glow red. Without a word he began to walk towards her. Her wind blades not having any effect on him other than leaving a few simple cuts. She reached for her feather to escape but Kouga was faster and driven by rage. He grabbed her wrist and in one sharp turn snapped it like it was a twig. Now that her right hand was broken, she wasn't much of a challenge. Repeatedly he beat her until she could no longer move on her own. She fell to the ground in a mangled heap. The wind sorceress looked up at him and smirked.::
Kagura: At least now I can be free.
::Kouga used his bare claws on her and severed her head. It flew from her body and rolled to his feet::
::End Flashback::
"Kouga are you okay?", asked Ginta. "Yea, I'm fine," Kouga replied "Should you go and find Crystal nee-chan?", Hakkaku asked. "I'd let her cool down first. She's like Kagome when she got angry. Very Scary!", commented Shippo who was still trying to free himself from the weight of the boar. "Maybe the racoon's right," said Kouga,"I'M A FOX! NOT A RACOON!", yelled Shippo as he pushed the boar off him and jumped up into Kouga's face. Miroku sat as calmly as possible still gazing after Crystal. Finally he grew tired of Kouga and Shippo's argument and followed Crystal. He never did find her, but he did find Inuyasha. The hanyou was standing in front of the God Tree staring into the leaves that rustled in the breeze.
"Inuyasha, I believe you need to go find Crystal. She's run off from camp after another meeting with Kouga," said Miroku stepping up to Inuyasha. "Figures," was all he replied. "You need to keep that girl within your sights at all times," came a new voice from the shadows. Both the houshi and hanyou turned to see who it was that had joined them and saw it was none other than Sesshomaru. "Why do you care Sesshomaru? To you she's just another human woman," Inuyasha said to his brother. "No, what that girl is is beyond the knowledge of anyone other than one of father's oldest friends. Do you know how old Totosai is?", asked Sesshomaru staring blankly at Inuyasha. Jaken was right by his side still trying to figure out his master's strange behavior.
"Old enough I'd say," Inuyasha replied. "Indeed. He is old enough to remember Midoriko. He's a useful man when he isn't being threatened. I spoke to him of this girl, Crystal, he told me a story about the priestess sisters of long ago. Midoriko indeed had a sister. She was raised in the wilderness by wolves when her parents abandoned her. When she finally came into civilization, she had no name. So they called her Fire Rose. Because she had a firey attitude an was exceedingly beautiful, like a rose. As you thought Crystal was the reincarnation of Kagome, Sango, Ayame, and Rin. It turns out that Rose's soul split into four souls when she died. Kikyo got the compassion part of her soul, Sango the strength, Ayame the courage, and Rin the love. When they all died in this time period, the souls reformed into one in Crystal's time and became her soul. So Crystal is actually the reincarnation of Fire Rose," said Inuyasha.
"So why do I have to keep her in my sight if she's capable of defending herself?", asked Inuyasha. "Because Naraku's son Narakuin is searching for her. If he finds her and can tap into her powers, he'll be even more invincible than Naraku was with the completed Shikon no Tama." Inuyasha cast his eyes to the ground in thought. After a few moments of silence a small fluffy white snow flake drifted from the sky. "Snow? In the summer months?", Miroku pondered out loud. "This is the doing of Narakuin. I suggest if you want this girl to live, you find her Inuyasha," said Sesshomaru as he disappeared again. "He's right, from what I saw of her clothes. She'll freeze to death before too long," commented the monk. "If you insist," said Inuyasha before leaping into the trees and disappearing into the forest.
~~~~~
Crystal stumbled through the knee deep snow on the mountain. Last she looked it was July and it didn't snow in July! Her tank top and cut offs were hardly anything to keep her warm and so she continued on trying to find some sort of shelter. But it seemed that the futher she went the heavier it snowed and the colder she grew until she could no longer feel her arms or legs or her face and neck. It finally became to much and she tripped over something buried in the snow. She lay there not moving and barely breathing. The world around her began to grow dark until she blacked out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Nobara: I'm so sorry it took so long for me to write this but I've been busy.
Inuyasha: *cough* Lazy *cough*
Nobara: Don't start with me dog boy! I've dun warned ya once!
Inuyasha: What are you gonna do to me? Huh?!
Nobara: I'll think of something, I have plenty of blackmail on you!
Inuyasha: So that's how you got me to work for you!
Nobara: Yuppers.
Inuyasha: How did you get blackmail on me?!
::Shippo waves from the corner::
Inuyasha: Why you little rat!! ::begins chasing Shippo::
Shippo: AHHHH!!!!!!
Nobara: *sighs* Well, until next, byez! And review please! I'll give ya cute picture of Inuyasha in butt naked on a bear skin as a puppy!
Inuyasha: You wouldn't dare!
Nobara: Try me!
Shippo: How bout ya give em a cookie? Cookies are yummy!
Nobara: Okay, review and you can have your choice of a blackmail picture or a cookie.
Inuyasha: Take the cookie! Take The Cookie!!
Shippo & Nobara: Bye, Sayonara, Adios, or however you say it!
Inuyasha: Try lazy
Nobara: Don't start with me!!
Inuyasha: But it's so fun seeing you mad.
Nobara: Shut up!
Inuyasha: Why don't you try and make me?
Miroku::holding Nobara back with his staff:: Inuyasha why do you aggravate her so? You know it's a pointless battle....
Shippo: That you'll never win!
Inuyasha: Where the heck did all you come from?
Miroku: Well it's not a very hard story, you see back when our parents were alive and in love....::Sango hits him on the head softly::
Sango: Can we just start the story?
Miroku::turning Nobara loose:: Sango! It's been so long since I've seen you seeing Nobara didn't add you to this!
Sango: I asked her not, I'm going to Tahiti! Can you say surfer dudes?
Miroku::gropes her:: Why would you want surfer dudes when you have me?
Shippo::sighs:: Hello!!! We have a story that needs starting!!
Nobara: Right, right. Chaper 5; Memories.
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The next morning Crystal woke up alone at the camp other than Kiara. Her first thought was Good Ridance but then it crossed her mind, "Now what do I do? I don't know squat about the feudal era." She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and took one more glance around before heading down to the river. The water was cool and clear and relaxing. She splashed her face to chase away any remaining sleep that might be lingering in her eyes. Normally she would have swam in water such as this, but she didn't think it a good idea when she didn't know where the monk was. "Morning Crystal!", shouted a small boy's voice. The fox then jumped on her. Crystal tumbled backwards to the ground, not expecting this. "Morning Shippo," she said in between giggles.
"Where's Inuyasha?", she asked sitting back up. "I dunno, he ran off early this morning. Miroku's out finding food and so is Kouga," replied Shippo. So Crystal and Shippo played in the stream until the sun is high in the sky. "I'm hungry," said Shippo,"You're always hungry," Crystal replied smiling. "So?!", exclaimed the tiny fox. Crystal and Shippo went back to the camp where they found Miroku coking breakfast. "Ohayo," he said cheerily. "FOOD!!", shouted Shippo jumping from Crystal's shoulder. Crystal giggled and began brushing her hair. Miroku watched her intently as Shippo burnt his tongue on hot catfish. To him, she looked more like Sango than Kagome or Kikyo, or any of the other women. She reminded him of the day Sango died.
::Flashback::
Sango: Naraku, return my brother!
Naraku: Consider him yours.... ::Kohaku emerges from the shadows of the castle::
Sango: Kohaku...::takes a step towards him & is met by his chain blade::
Naraku: kukukuku.....
Sango::trying to block her brother's attacks:: Kohaku! It's me Sango! I know you still remember me somewhere deep down::
Miroku::helping Inuyasha & Kagome with Naraku:: Sango
:: Each of the battles wore on, Sango never struck at Kohaku but only blocked his swings. Soon though, she was cut all over and bleeding heavily. But during the battle, Kohaku's shard was freed from his back::
Sango: No, Kohaku...::falls over onto Kohaku's limp body::
Miroku:Sango! ::root pierces his hip and knocks him to the ground::
Kagome::runs over to Miroku:: Miroku-
Miroku: Forget me, help Inuyasha! ::stumbles over to Sango::
::Naraku had jerked Miroku's leg from its socket, but pure rage kept him going to protect Sango. He finally made the dicision to even the odds for the others. One last time he unleashed his wind tunnel and drew in the poison bees that hindered the attacks of Kagome and Inuyasha. All the bees were gone and the poison surged through Miroku.::
Miroku::sweating and breathing hard:: I'm sorry I couldn't save you Sango.
Sango:: pulls herself next to him and places an arm around him:: You have saved me ::cough of blood:: more times than I can count ::wince:: good bye Miroku-sama.
Miroku::clasping her hand:: Sango...
::And with that Miroku blacked out or died one, he never fully figured that out::
::End Flashback::
"What Miroku?", Crystal asked, finally noticing that he was staring at her. "Nothing, nothing Lady Crystal," he replied,"You can just call me Crystal," she added before putting her hairbrush away. "Lady Crystal!", shouted the small toad who popped from the woods. He carried a staff with two heads on it and looked familiar. "Do I know you?", she asked staring at the strange creature. "It is I, Lord Sesshomaru's liege man," it said standing in front of her. "Oh, your the frog that kept irratating me yesterday," she said, a serious look of realization crossing her face. "I'm not a frog," he said quietly,"I am here to find Lord Sesshomaru he came looking for his brother." Is Sesshomaru planning to take the Tetsaiga again, Miroku wondered as he kept his eyes closed listening to everything around him.
"Well, I haven't seen hide or hair of any of them that's been stalking me other than Miroku," Crystal said. "Crystal, I wasn't stalking you, only watching over you","Watching over me hoping that I'd take a bath","That's not necessarily true-", "Miroku, you can't lie to me, you know you can't","Yes, I'm afraid the lady does have a gift for seeing through trickery," Miroku said ending the conversation. So everyone sat in silence. Crystal was humming to herself watching clouds, Miroku was just there, Jaken was pacing worrying about his master, and Shippo sat by Crystal intently studying Jaken. "What exactly are you?", Shippo finally asked Jaken. "What do I look like? Isn't it obvious that I'm - LORD SESSHOMARU!!", Jaken cried hurdling himself into a clearing where Sesshomaru stood gazing at the sky.
The inu just stared at his minion and then to Crystal. "I trust that you have been in good care since I left you with my brother?", he spoke in his cold voice. "Y-yes, I have," she replied rather meekly. She still didn't know what to think of him, he was so frickin complexing. "Good, then he won't die today," he replied and turned his gaze back to the sky. She smiled, it sounded like her and her own brother. At the memory of her brother she frowned, but quickly her smile reappeared at the sight of the strange animal grazing by the woods. In a way, it was a lizard, and then it was a two headed horse. Probably the strangest thing she'd ever saw. It looked up at her and stared as if looking into her soul. Slowly it trotting over to Crystal and scanned her some more. Crystal held out her hand palm down and the creature sniffed her hand. The hand was accepted and it nuzzled her face with the left nose while the right one was gently scratched.
"Ah and Aun," Sesshomaru thought to himself,"have taken to her. They only did that for Rin. This human girl may just be more important than I suspected."
::Flashback::
Rin: Lord Sesshomaru! There is a strange castle ahead!
Sesshomaru: Rin, wait here ::flies off leaving her with Ah and Aun::
::Sesshomaru had landed in the courtyard gracefully. Taking a look around he saw Inuyasha and his human woman fighting Naraku, their friends were off the the side seemingly dead, and the wolf and a redhead sat by the mangled body of what he saw as the wind sorceress. With a few strides he was by the bodies of the slayer called Sango and the houshi Miroku. They were both dead. Neither breathed, both smelt of death, and both had died in the other's arms. Silently he unsheathed Tensaiga. He was closest to Miroku and swiftly killed the demons trying to carry off his soul. Within a few moments, he stirred and sat up::
Miroku::looks at his hands then to Sesshomaru:: T-thank you
Sesshomaru: Feh, I only wish to kill you myself. ::turns to Sango & searches for her demons::
Naraku::his tentecles snatch the sword from Sesshomaru:: Ah, ah, ah. Now that's not playing fair! ::snaps the sword::
Sesshomaru:: a glint of shock and a twinge of anger flash in his eyes:: ....
Rin::running from a swarm of bees:: Ahh!! Sesshomaru-sama!!!
::Naraku and Sesshomaru snapped their attention to the little girl that was running across the courtyard::
Naraku::an evil smile crosses his lips:: Look at this, a poor lost human girl. This must be her unlucky day. ((a/n: Yea,yea I know, they may seem a lil out of character but I'm trying my best here!!))
Sesshomaru::his eyes flare red:: Naraku you will not harm a single hair on her! ::lunges at Naraku::
::As Sesshomaru dived for Naraku, Naraku attacked Rin with a blast of miasma. Rin wasthrown back several feet and lay motionless on the ground. Sesshomaru stopped his assult on Naraku and ran to Rin. Gently his picked her up in his one arm and looked into her pained eyes. Her breathing was hard and difficult for her delicate human lungs could not bear the miasma. Suffering was streaked across her small face. The eyes the color of chocolate were pleading to have her pain ended. Sesshomaru felt something hit his heart that had never been felt by him before or again. It was compassion. He'd seen her dead before, but now he watched her dying, suffering, slipping away from him. What he did next, he did because he loved her and knew that he couldn't save her. His claw slipped down her arm, leaving a cut and a larger amout of poison. She let out a small sigh and her life floated away from her body::
Sesshomaru::laying her down beside Sango, he turned to Naraku with his bangs covering his eyes:: Naraku, you die today by my hand! ::lunges at Naraku again::
::End Flashback::
Sesshomaru faded back into reality, fully ready to vanquish the memory of the death of the only person who had cared for him. "I'm going to head back to camp, you're welcome to join me if you wish," Crystal said as she scratched the nose of Aun. "I will decline your offer," he replied simply and turned to leave. Jaken watched just as confused as ever. Ever since Sesshomaru had met that girl, he seemed, weaker. He was more kind towards select people around him, he hadn't even abused Jaken today. Maybe he's just like his father, and has an attraction for human women Jaken thought and shrugged it off. Sesshomaru watched from the coner of his eye as she turned and began off towards her camp.
The inu began to walk away, but he was never too far as he couldn't swoop down and save her from danger again. She silently settled down by the charred remains of the fire wood within the ring of stones. "Kouga! Wait up!" was the only sound that rang among the trees. The voices were familiar to Crystal. She turned to look at where the voices came from and saw that the wind had picked up. The whirlwind had burst from among the forest and stopped two feet from Crystal. There stood Kouga with a dead boar hung over his shoulder. Right behind him were belly shirt and mohawk. "Hello Ginta, hello Hakkaku, Kouga, what's with the pig?", she asked looking at the animal. "Your lunch. I wouldn't be a very good mate if I let you starve," he said as he dropped the boar on Shippo and walked over to Crystal.
"Good mate?! How many times am I going to tell you this?!?! I AM NOT YOUR MATE!!", she shouted at him. "Don't be ridiculous! You know I'm the only one for you," he replied cooly as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. For the second time since she'd met him the few short days, she turned around and slapped him as hard as possible. "Don't touch me you ugly hairy varmin!", she shouted and stormed away. Ginta and Hakkaku stood in wonder. This one had much spirit in her that would not easily be broken. She was alot like Ayame, the wolf maiden who would have been Kouga's mate. Kouga watched her stalk angrily into the forest muttering curses on him under her breath. Thinking of Ayame clouded over Kouga's face. A mixture of pain and anger swept through his eyes. Yes, he had avenged the redheaded fireball but it had not brought her back.
::Flashback::
Kouga: Ayame! Stand down! I'll handle Kagura!
Ayame: I won't see you hurt any worse than what you already are!
Kouga: It's not your place to kill Kagura! It's me that will avenge my brothers!
Ayame: It was my kin too that was killed! ::turns back to face Kagura::
Kouga: Ayame! ::she ignores him & continues battling Kagura::
::Kouga could do nothing other than sit on the side lines where Ayame had dragged him. Kagura had ambushed him and silced him up too badly for him to even move. Ayame had followed him and challenged Kagura in Kouga's place. Kagome took a small amount of time to bandage Kouga and stop his bleeding.::
Kagura: Aww, how sweet. The wolf pups can die together. Fuji no Mai!
Ayame: The only one who dies today is you! ::leaps at Kagura::
::For how long it went on, Kouga would never know. Finally Kagura fell to ground and didn't move. Ayame walked up to Kouga and wiped the trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth away.::
Ayame: See? I told you I could do it.
::Just when Kouga had began to relax, Ayame's body jerked and her face twisted into a mask of shock and pain. Blood ran down her stomach and the armor of her midriff splintered and fell away as a wind blade ripped through her body.::
Kagura::standing up:: You fell right into my trap. Never turn your back on an enemy, even if you think they are dead.
Kouga::leaning forward to catch Ayame's body as it fell forward:: Ayame!
Ayame::blood trailing from the corners of her mouth:: I'm sorry I failed you.
Kouga: You didn't fail, you were decieved. ::he leans down and gently kisses her lips::
Ayame::her entire body relaxes and her breathing ceases::
::Kouga layed her body down and stood up. Turning his eyes towards Kagura they began to glow red. Without a word he began to walk towards her. Her wind blades not having any effect on him other than leaving a few simple cuts. She reached for her feather to escape but Kouga was faster and driven by rage. He grabbed her wrist and in one sharp turn snapped it like it was a twig. Now that her right hand was broken, she wasn't much of a challenge. Repeatedly he beat her until she could no longer move on her own. She fell to the ground in a mangled heap. The wind sorceress looked up at him and smirked.::
Kagura: At least now I can be free.
::Kouga used his bare claws on her and severed her head. It flew from her body and rolled to his feet::
::End Flashback::
"Kouga are you okay?", asked Ginta. "Yea, I'm fine," Kouga replied "Should you go and find Crystal nee-chan?", Hakkaku asked. "I'd let her cool down first. She's like Kagome when she got angry. Very Scary!", commented Shippo who was still trying to free himself from the weight of the boar. "Maybe the racoon's right," said Kouga,"I'M A FOX! NOT A RACOON!", yelled Shippo as he pushed the boar off him and jumped up into Kouga's face. Miroku sat as calmly as possible still gazing after Crystal. Finally he grew tired of Kouga and Shippo's argument and followed Crystal. He never did find her, but he did find Inuyasha. The hanyou was standing in front of the God Tree staring into the leaves that rustled in the breeze.
"Inuyasha, I believe you need to go find Crystal. She's run off from camp after another meeting with Kouga," said Miroku stepping up to Inuyasha. "Figures," was all he replied. "You need to keep that girl within your sights at all times," came a new voice from the shadows. Both the houshi and hanyou turned to see who it was that had joined them and saw it was none other than Sesshomaru. "Why do you care Sesshomaru? To you she's just another human woman," Inuyasha said to his brother. "No, what that girl is is beyond the knowledge of anyone other than one of father's oldest friends. Do you know how old Totosai is?", asked Sesshomaru staring blankly at Inuyasha. Jaken was right by his side still trying to figure out his master's strange behavior.
"Old enough I'd say," Inuyasha replied. "Indeed. He is old enough to remember Midoriko. He's a useful man when he isn't being threatened. I spoke to him of this girl, Crystal, he told me a story about the priestess sisters of long ago. Midoriko indeed had a sister. She was raised in the wilderness by wolves when her parents abandoned her. When she finally came into civilization, she had no name. So they called her Fire Rose. Because she had a firey attitude an was exceedingly beautiful, like a rose. As you thought Crystal was the reincarnation of Kagome, Sango, Ayame, and Rin. It turns out that Rose's soul split into four souls when she died. Kikyo got the compassion part of her soul, Sango the strength, Ayame the courage, and Rin the love. When they all died in this time period, the souls reformed into one in Crystal's time and became her soul. So Crystal is actually the reincarnation of Fire Rose," said Inuyasha.
"So why do I have to keep her in my sight if she's capable of defending herself?", asked Inuyasha. "Because Naraku's son Narakuin is searching for her. If he finds her and can tap into her powers, he'll be even more invincible than Naraku was with the completed Shikon no Tama." Inuyasha cast his eyes to the ground in thought. After a few moments of silence a small fluffy white snow flake drifted from the sky. "Snow? In the summer months?", Miroku pondered out loud. "This is the doing of Narakuin. I suggest if you want this girl to live, you find her Inuyasha," said Sesshomaru as he disappeared again. "He's right, from what I saw of her clothes. She'll freeze to death before too long," commented the monk. "If you insist," said Inuyasha before leaping into the trees and disappearing into the forest.
~~~~~
Crystal stumbled through the knee deep snow on the mountain. Last she looked it was July and it didn't snow in July! Her tank top and cut offs were hardly anything to keep her warm and so she continued on trying to find some sort of shelter. But it seemed that the futher she went the heavier it snowed and the colder she grew until she could no longer feel her arms or legs or her face and neck. It finally became to much and she tripped over something buried in the snow. She lay there not moving and barely breathing. The world around her began to grow dark until she blacked out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Nobara: I'm so sorry it took so long for me to write this but I've been busy.
Inuyasha: *cough* Lazy *cough*
Nobara: Don't start with me dog boy! I've dun warned ya once!
Inuyasha: What are you gonna do to me? Huh?!
Nobara: I'll think of something, I have plenty of blackmail on you!
Inuyasha: So that's how you got me to work for you!
Nobara: Yuppers.
Inuyasha: How did you get blackmail on me?!
::Shippo waves from the corner::
Inuyasha: Why you little rat!! ::begins chasing Shippo::
Shippo: AHHHH!!!!!!
Nobara: *sighs* Well, until next, byez! And review please! I'll give ya cute picture of Inuyasha in butt naked on a bear skin as a puppy!
Inuyasha: You wouldn't dare!
Nobara: Try me!
Shippo: How bout ya give em a cookie? Cookies are yummy!
Nobara: Okay, review and you can have your choice of a blackmail picture or a cookie.
Inuyasha: Take the cookie! Take The Cookie!!
Shippo & Nobara: Bye, Sayonara, Adios, or however you say it!