Emerald green eyes scanned the fog filled forest. It seemed so odd that a world so natural could be so unnaturally silent. It didn't suit well with Kurama's instincts. Forests were places where life thrived and lingered. Here, there was no life. Only choking silence, with no sunlight to ease away the shadows.

For a moment, Kurama wondered if this idea of his was very wise. Going forward to an unknown destination, scouting unknown territory, alone, with barely any knowledge of their target...it wasn't Kurama's way. Usually. But giving their circumstances, he didn't have much of a choice to go against these plans now. They needed him to get this information. There were people that needed saving in there besides the countless number of heartless demons contained within. Kurama could at least be certain of the fact that there were innocents in there that did not deserve their being imprisoned. People like this Kagome that the one called Inuyasha spoke so fondly of, though Kurama perceived that the hanyou did not realize how obvious his affection was.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" asked a voice from the shadows behind. Kurama started slightly in surprise. Turning his head he found Kigeko eyeing him dubiously. Her hands were shoved deep within the depths of her pockets as her shoulders slumped slightly.

"Quite certain," Kurama responded.

Kigeko nodded. "I see," stepping lightly, she managed to reach his side, and stopped just short of an inch from him. "So, you're just enjoying the surroundings then?"

"I was studying them, if you are so curious."

"Not curious." she sighed. "I simply wanted to warn you. Don't stay longer than is necessary. If you feel you have been sighted, leave. Immediately. We cannot afford to lose our last set of fighters."

"We?"

Kigeko nodded. "I was under the impression we were working together on this."

"Are we a team then?"

"You could call it that if you like."

"I would hardly call it that, no offense." Kurama whispered, his eyes piercing the fog to better find a quick and safe exit.

"Non taken. I would hardly call it that myself."

Kurama nodded.

"The east, then." he stated, nodding his head only slightly. "It is the safest road?"

"It is by far. Good luck, fox."

Kurama nodded, and with that he set off at a brisk pace. Kigeko's eyes could hardly follow his swift movements, and he was soon lost beyond the fog.

------

His nose carried him to the castle grounds within seconds. Kurama eyed the area around him to make certain that there was nothing obvious placed out to trap a curious spy. Sensing, seeing, and smelling no danger, the fox demon leapt atop the sturdy stone wall that acted as the castle's main perimeter and defense system.

Kurama caught no scent of magic upon the wind, though the castle itself reeked of demon energy. There was not one doubt in his mind that there was at least one thousand demons hidden within the confines of the stone edifice.

It lie hundreds of yards from the wall upon which Kurama kneeled, leaving plenty of room for traps and alarms to be sprung upon any sense of foreign activity. Suiting enough, dark clouds began to form overhead while heavy winds began to pick up. A storm was blowing in it seemed.

A strange scent found it's way to the air, and Kurama's senses screamed uncountable warnings to his mind. But he ignored them, knowing well enough that such an act alone was foolhardy.

"I cannot afford to back down," he frowned, his eyes glaring at the castle as though it alone were the reason that nature and fate had suddenly decided to become his greatest opponents. "They are all depending on me. I must discover all I can!" With a sudden bound of courage and faith, Kurama leapt upon the grass and froze. One knee was placed upon the ground as well as the adjacent hand. The other held high his rose whip, preparing for an attack.

Nothing.

Kurama frowned, his eyes darting each and every way. Surely this was some trick. No man, human or otherwise, would be so foolish as to leave all this space between the outside world and his stronghold unprotected! It's a trap! Kurama confirmed to his mind. A very clever one. Let the intruder think they are safe, allow them to step a little further into your boundaries before you ensnare them.

"Clever." complimented Kurama, though he knew that no one was around to hear it. The demon tensed all of his leg muscles and bound from where he stood to a point some twenty meters away. As he flew over the grassy plains, the ground exploded beneath him. Other things, creatures no doubt recruited by this Imashirou, sprouted forth tentacle like roots beneath the ground that moved to ensnare the intruder and crush him mercilessly.

"But not clever enough."

He landed again upon the ground, taking a short breath before leaping further into the air. Again, more underground explosions went off, flames and heat that would melt the skin of any living being. Roots reached up to grab what might have survived and squeeze all remaining life left from the trespassers, but this time they came up empty.

More leaping, fleeing, and outmaneuvering the hellish security system before Kurama was able to reach the safety of the fortress could trust that the ground beneath him was sturdy. A quick glance in either direction, and Kurama was bounding up the stairs agilely. But a sudden wave of searing white light caught the kitsune off guard, and he was hurtled backwards into the grass.

Before he could react, Kurama could not save himself from the danger he now found himself in. The ground beneath him erupted in flames as roots reached forward from the earth and wrapped tightly about his burnt and weakened body. Screaming against the pain, Kurama abandoned all hope of being rescued before the thought crossed his mind. No one had followed him, for they were all depending solely on him to obtain the information they needed to rescue those trapped inside.

They're depending on me. Kurama's mind screamed as he felt his life force ebb. I can't fail them. He winced, mind and muscles tensing from the almost unbearable strain.

I CAN'T FAIL THEM NOW!

------

Miroku sat huddled in the corner of his own prison. The room was dark, and as always, very cold. His own robes were barely able to keep his skin covered, and the shivering had only grown with time.

"Funny, I thought eventually I would have grown used to the cold." he muttered, closing his eyes tight against the seizure-like tremors that wracked his body. For long hours now, he had questioned where the others were. Sango was gone, as well as Kagome and Shippou. Inuyasha he had at least expected to be around, but with a sinking feeling Miroku had soon come to the conclusion that he was alone not only in his cell, but wherever his cell had been placed.

His own site did not extend far beyond the bars that held him captive. The shadows were too black for his eyes to pierce. Desperately he called out, but there was not an answer from anyone, stranger or friend. A defeated sigh soon echoed from the monk's lips, and sinking as deep into depression as he did into his cage, the young man decided that he had best start getting acquainted with his surroundings. He had a feeling he would be here for a long time.

Boredom, however, soon began to take it's toll, and Miroku, having nothing better to do, tried desperately to piece bits of this mystery he was experiencing together. They had been in a deserted hut, taking shelter from a fierce and unforgiving storm. Lightening strikes had erupted everywhere, relentlessly striking the earth as thunder resounded over the seemingly empty plains. Eardrums beating heavily, and hearts filled with trepidation, they had all sought protection with each other in the rickety wooden enclosure. Then, without warning, it had been ripped to pieces around them. He and Sango had been flung to one end of the field, while Inuyasha had followed Kagome and Shippou to the other.

So by all rights, Sango should be here with him.

"Sango?" he called out into the darkness. "Sango, are you here? Are you all right?"

Still nothing. Miroku allowed a defeated sigh to escape his lips a second time, before resting back into the shadows and giving up entirely for the moment. Miroku's hair was singed, and his face and arms stung with the burns the lightening transport had induced upon him.

A sudden, dawning realization sprung upon the young monk has he pondered upon his own injuries. Maybe he was the only one who survived the transport? Perhaps the others had received the full bunt of the heat, and had been incinerated? Now only Miroku was left, a prisoner of some unknown monster with no hope of being rescued.

Sickness overwhelmed the monk as he pondered this possibility. His heart would not accept what his brain believed to be so true.

"No. It can't be." he snarled against his better instincts. "They can't be....gone...." but the tears fell before he could stop them, and soon Miroku felt more alone than he had ever thought possible.

------

"He should have been back by now," stated Inuyasha as he sat watching from the tree branches. "He should have been back long ago."

But no one was there to hear the hanyou's paranoid ravings. No one cared anymore. Just about everyone was sick of hearing whatever he had to say. That's how he had ended up out here to begin with. Kigeko had kicked him out, with some heavily worded support from the others, including the arrogant little Hiei. Frowning against his better instincts, Inuyasha settled himself deep within the bowls of the tree and waited for the red headed demon to return.

It didn't take long.

Kurama returned, burned, charred, bloody and looking both very ill and tired. Inuyasha did not hesitate to land at his side and question him, but the glazed look in the kitsune's eyes told the hanyou that he would not be receiving the information he desired this night. With a sigh, he lifted the young man over his shoulder. Pressing the knot, he took his newfound comrade into the depths of the ground where the fog concealed them safely.

------

Author's Note: Well, I think you guys have been waiting long enough. I figured I'd give you all a treat and give you two chapters in one day. Hope we're all happy now that we have Miroku back, though he is seemingly very depressed and hopelessly confused. Don't worry though, everything will be okay soon enough.