Fantasy-Seal: Hey I'm back! I went on a small vacation for a bit so I couldn't update, which I truly am sorry for not doing, but since you have been waiting so patiently here's a new chapter! By the way since I have Kiona here, she's going to be the one announcing the disclaimer from now on. I know I said that there's only going to be one disclaimer but since I have other characters coming in, I feel that it is necessary to put a disclaimer.

Kiona: Fantasy-Seal doesn't own Inu Yasha and co. but own only her own characters. She also wants me to add that she's broke so don't sue her, you won't get any money if you do so, it's a waste of time.

Thank you to:

Tachisukumu: She ran, pretty fast too! LOL! Thanks for reviewing! Glad you liked it!

Chapter 10: The Fire Tribe

The morning sun peeked over the horizon, greeting the gang. Kiona still had her eyes closed, but was smiling. She opened one of her eyes to look at the group she was now in.

Kagome's eyes fluttered open when the sun peeked through the sky; she stretched and got into a sitting position. She stared to the sky; it was painted with pinks, baby blues, and a number of colors.

"Good morning Kagome," said a light voice. Kagome faced the place where the voice was from and found Kiona, with her back still to the tree, her eye's shut and a small smile on her face.

"Morning to you too Kiona," replied Kagome, stifling a yawn. She took another look at the sky; she sighed and lay on her back still staring at the beautifully painted sky above her.

Kiona opened both of her eyes and followed Kagome's gaze, "Beautiful isn't?" She asked. Kagome nodded and continued to stare at the sky. "Every morning I wake up the sky always greets me, with beautifully painted colors surrounding it, and it just seems to calm me."

Kiona smiled, "Yes it does, doesn't it? It reminds me that it's a new day and a new way of learning, and that it brings new life to us everyday." Kiona stared at the sky when she was saying this, and her eyes portrayed that she was remembering a long lost memory, that had been triggered when she looked up at the sky.

'I wonder what she's thinking about. Maybe she's remembering a time long ago or something like that. Or maybe she's being reminded of something. . .' thought Kagome.

"I guess that you can say that, Kagome." Kagome was startled; a look of shock was on her face, before she remembered that Kiona can read minds.

"I'm being reminded about the time when my little sister and I had a big fight. She ran away for a few days, I felt guilty, since it was my fault, so I went after her. I found her in her little hide-away in the forest, she had her head down, she was crying. She knew I was there and she didn't let me near her. I waited until she spoke, she was saying that I don't care for her, and nor do I love her as my sister. My heart crushed, I thought that she had known, I only did what I did so that my friends won't see me as a softie, my friends only know me as a fighter with no mercy.

Since I was listening to my little sister, I didn't know that my friends were watching me from afar. I got up and hugged my sister, I told her everything, why I did what I did, and she forgave me. I looked at the sky and saw that it was dawn, and that the sun was making everything I said have more meaning, there I made a promise to my little sister, that I would always love her, car for her, and be there for her, as long as I live." Kiona laughed, "At that very moment after I said it my friends came out, and told me that they saw everything. So now every time I see the dawn sun, I'm reminded about my promise to my sister, I'm also reminded that I need not hide who I am any more." When she was done, she looked at Kagome; her eyes gleamed with awe and admiration.

"How long have you kept your promise?" asked a still groggy voice behind Kagome.

"Well, I don't remember how old I was when I made that promise but I think about a good 160-ish years." Kiona looked at Kagome and Sango, "A promise like that, I'll always keep, and never break." The two nodded, their eyes held much awe and admiration for Kiona, for the loyalty to her sister. And the fact that she had kept that promise for so long.

Kagome wondered for a second, "You never told us your sister's name." "It's Kina; you'll be able to see her when you get to my tribe." The two girls nodded once again and set out to do what their supposed to. Like cooking breakfast, fixing up their area and such.

Once everybody had done that and ate they went on to Kiona's tribe, with her in the lead. Apparently Inu Yasha wasn't too happy with her being in the lead but compromised that she gets to lead but he gets to go ahead any time he wants, except when they are near the tribe's area.

A Long While After

Kiona stopped abruptly, and turned around to face the rest of the group. "You're going to be entering my tribe's area, and right now they are very protective, so stick close to me and you'll be fine." She turned around, and walked some more until she was face to face with a wall of vines. She pushed them aside and went through, still holding on to the vines. The group walked through, and found them selves face to face with, four fearsome looking tigers, giving each member of the Inu gang a look.

Kiona saw this and stood in front of the whole group, protectively. "Don't you know who these people are? Go unto your human form now. That's an order." Commanded Kiona to the tigers, who where in an instant in their own human form. Each of them had a black kimono or haori and had katanas bound around their waists by a black sash. They saw who was addressing them, and stood in rapt attention. The people who stood before Kiona were two males and females.

The two males bowed respectfully to Kiona, the two females followed the males lead and gave Kiona a warm smile.

Kiona still looked at them, but gazed around before finally saying "you may stand at ease, it's only me. Besides none of the leaders are here, and we're all friends, so neither of us is going to get in trouble."

The four calmed down, and relaxed. "So Kiona, who are they?" asked a female, she had orange eyes and her brown hair tied up in a ponytail by a ribbon. She wore a kimono that reached to her elbows, on her right arm was a long white scar; it reached from her elbow all the way down to her wrist.

"These," gestured Kiona to the gang. "Are the people who my father were looking for. You know the people who saved a village not to far from here." The four nodded.

"So this is the group that we have heard about," said a male this time, he had dark brown eyes that could have been mistaken for black, and his jet-black hair was spiked. His haori was sleeveless, thus showing his muscular arms.

Kiona nodded, "Want me to introduce them to you guys?" The four nodded eagerly, they all wanted to know the people who defeated an extremely strong demon.

"This is Sango, Kagome, Shippo, Miroku and finally Inu Yasha," said Kiona pointing to each in turn. The four bowed to the gang. And since the Inu gang were guests, they bowed as well, even a scowling Inu Yasha.

The other guy spoke, he had eyes like the first male, dark brown, and his light brown hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, a lock of his hair flowed freely by the breeze. He too had a sleeveless haori. "Now that we know you, would you like to know who we are?" The gang nodded.

A female took a step forward, she had red eyes, and her gleaming black hair reached to her waist and her kimono reached to her wrists. "I'm Kahen."

The girl with brown hair tied up in a ponytail, stepped forward, "I'm Sora."

The guy with black spiked hair stepped forward, "I'm Kouen."

The last person to step up was the guy with light brown hair, "I'm Tenkuu."

'Hmmm . . . . Don't these names translated into English mean something?' thought Kagome. Sora's soft voice broke Kagome's train of thought, "Yes, as a matter of fact." The Inu gang just stared at her, Sora blushed. "The girl you called Kagome, thought that each of our names," waving a hand at herself, Kahen, Kouen, and Tenkuu. "Mean something in English and they do. Sora means sky. Kahen means petal. Kouen means flame. Tenkuu means wind."

Kagome looked surprised. Kiona on the other hand looked upset, "Sora don't you remember to stay out of people's minds? Kagome didn't give you permission on accessing her mind."

Sora looked down during the whole time Kiona was speaking, "Sorry Kagome for accessing you mind and reading your thoughts with out your permission." She bowed in apology to Kagome.

"Don't worry Sora, I don't mind," said Kagome, still cheerful. This surprised Sora, 'but didn't I just intrude into her mind and read her thoughts with out her allowing me to do so? Isn't she supposed to be mad at me?'

Kiona gave Sora a stern gaze, "Sora, don't do that again, ok?" She nodded. "Sora, Kagome didn't get mad at you because she always forgives people, she never gets mad at someone for something that they did by accident," Kiona added, her gaze softened as she looked at Sora, her face relaxing and all signs of worry gone.

"Didn't you just read my mind?" Sora asked.

Kiona shook her head, "People say that the eyes are the way into seeing a person's soul and mind. So I just looked into your eyes and saw the surprised in your eyes, and guess at what you were thinking. Besides if I read your mind you would have known."

Sora nodded, and fell silent. Kiona looked around her and realized what she was supposed to do, "Sora, Kahen, Kouen, Tenkuu, would you like to escort us?"

The four nodded eager once again, but this time that they might be able to hear of the strange group's tales. Quickly they took a side, and Kiona lead them to the village.

Once the Inu gang arrived they stood in awe, all around them were beautifully made huts, there were happy demon children playing in the road, and the adults working or just taking here and there. 'This almost looks like Keada's village, children playing, people working but all together and happy.' Thought Kagome as she continued to walk, looking around her. When her eyes found a part of the town she saw that a go portion of that area was town down, and burned, 'that was made by Naraku's minions. I hope that the people there are all right.' Here brow creased in worry, Sango too saw the area, both knew that the other will do any thing to help so, words didn't need to be said, and they kept on walking, here the houses were in better condition.

Sango nudged Kagome and gestured with her head another part of town, another portion of its area was burned down, and the road charred black from the ashes blown by the wind.

Kiona continued to lead them the middle of the village, she stopped in front of an elegant looking building, even though it suffered damage during the attack. She turned around to look at her guests, "You're going to meet my father now, as I have told you he is under stress, so mind your words and be careful of what you have to say." Giving a good glare at Inu Yasha, him being the one she directed it to. She pushed the door and led them past a few room's before she reached one where a 2 people, one a male with dark red hair, and a white scar going across one of his eyes. The other was a girl, her long red hair, held up in a ponytail, a few strands portraying her face; the tips of the hair surrounding her face were colored black. (A/N: I know the Fire tribe has a lot of red and black, what can I say? I like red and black.)

"I'm home," stated Kiona, as she walked in with a genuine smile on her face, lighting up the whole room, which had a glum feeling in it. Kiona began to speak again, "Father I have brou-" but was cut off when the girl in the room jumped up and hugged Kiona, the momentum from her jump made her and Kiona fall to the ground. "Kina!" gasped Kiona, all the breath was knocked out of her when Kina jumped/hugged her. "I'm glad to see you too, but can you please get off of me so I can breathe?!"

Kina quickly got off but continued to hug her big sister "I missed you," her voice slightly muffled. "Why did you have to go away for so long?" she pouted, she let go and went into a cute/angry stance, but her eyes betrayed her, it showed that she really happy her sister is back and that she missed her.

Kiona hugged her sister, "I had to find some people, on dad's orders. Since I'm back though. . ." she trailed of, with a mischievous glint in her eye. Kiona grabbed Kina around the waist and twirled around, Kina was surprised but was laughing merrily; Kiona stopped twirling and set her down. Kina smiled and nearly fell; she was still a bit dizzy.

Kiona's eyes landed on her father, he was smiling. She went passed Kina; who was still walking around dazedly, and went up to her father his arms opened wide waiting for his beloved daughter. She hugged him, she let go, staring at her father, and thought 'he's so stressed. I should at least help out for a while before leaving; besides Kina probably wants to play with me.'

Kiona directed her father's attention to the Inu gang. "So, you have come. I bid you welcome," said Kiona's father, his masculine voice gentle and kind. "Follow me, we shall discuss things of utmost importance else where."

He then turned his attention to Sora, Kahen, Kouen, Tenkuu, "You four, return to your posts. I shall see to it that you may have a day off from work any time you want; you have done well in escorting our guests." They bowed respectfully and left a bit disappointed but happy that they get to have a day off.

'They aren't too happy to leave,' thought Kagome a smirk on her face.

'What's she thinking of?' thought Inu Yasha but when he saw Kagome smirk he thought he knew but something else came to mind, 'That's my smirk! MINE! I'm the only one who gets to use that smirk, its mine for kami's sake! When does she ever use my smirk? Since it's Kagome I'll let it pass, that is until I talk to her. ' He didn't get mad though, (AN: Weird, right?) he just continued to follow Kiona and her father.

Jiokhan, Kiona's father slid aside a divider to show a beautiful room. There were pillows on the ground were they could sit on, he waved a hand allowing them to sit and relax.

"We know you are after Naraku," began Jiokahn. "Since we are on your side and we too want Naraku destroyed, we are willing to help and aid you. We shall send a few of our fighters to go with you, and we also shall come to your aid if need it be. Do you agree?" He finished with a stern look in his face.

Everybody in the Inu gang looked at Inu Yasha, since he said he was the leader and everybody followed him, sometimes, it was he that's supposed to make the decision. 'It sounds like a good proposal; I mean we can use a bit of help and all. Besides Kagome's giving me a look that says 'I'm going to sit you if you don't do the right thing.' So I guess that means. . .' "I agree," stated Inu Yasha.

Jiokhan looked surprised, "How did you come to your decision without talking or discussing among your friends?"

Inu Yasha blinked, and looked at the people he's grown to, "Well, we have been a group for a while now and well as we spent everyday together, I guess that we have grown on each other. Also I know that even if I don't agree, Sango and Miroku will go up to you and say that I agreed and I just said what ever I said just because I needed to think about it. Kagome here would do the same thing, but she would help out the villagers before telling you. Also that, we have been together for so long I guess we sort of know what each of us are thinking." He finished, Jiokhan and Kiona looked surprised by Inu Yasha's speech but not as surprised as Kagome, Sango, Miroku and even little Shippo.

Miroku being a bit light headed at the moment, said this, "Wow! That's the first time you every mentioned us in a good way, normally you would have said that we were a bunch of people who always needs you help." He finished chuckling, what he didn't see was Inu Yasha was no longer sitting beside him but was standing over him, a vein popping out and his clawed hand turned into a fist. (AN: You know what's coming right?)

:: BAM!!!!::

Miroku meet the beautifully carved wood, wood meet Miroku's face. "Owww! What was that for Inu Yasha? I was merely complimenting you on the fact that you have changed and that I'm glad that you see us as friends!"

"Feh!" usual Inu Yasha comment, he sat down and quickly turned to Jiokhan, he still had a stern expression on his face but in his eyes were holding in merriment, "if you wish to laugh you may, it is a funny situation is it not?" At that Jiokhan and Kiona laughed whole-heartedly. They were laughing so hard that everybody joined, heck even Miroku even though they are laughing at him.

Kagome seeing that Inu Yasha was laughing madly decided to wrap up the small meeting, "So I guess that's it," she said to Jiokhan. "We are very thankful for your generosity in helping us defeat Naraku."

Jiokhan nodded, "You may stay as long as you need. We shall hold a small meeting and interview, candidates who shall join you in your quest. Regretfully I can not join you; I shall do my best in aiding you. Kiona and Kina shall show you to your rooms."

Everybody got up and bowed to each other, Jiokhan opened the door and being a gentleman let the ladies go first.

"Follow us," said Kina. She grabbed Kiona by the hand and led the Inu gang to their rooms.

"Miroku and Inu Yasha you are going to have this room," Kiona pointed to a door on her left. "Kagome, Sango, Kiara, and Shippo, you can have this room." She pointed to a door on her right.

"Kagome, Sango do you want to go to the hot springs? There's on near here, I know that I dropped in on you on a bad moment, here's my way of making it up to you. So how bout it?" asked Kiona.

Kagome and Sango looked at each other, and nodded, then turned to Miroku and Inu Yasha. "Since you know very well of what the consequences of following us, I suggest you don't come, that is not unless you want to eat dirt. Then come on by," said Kagome, smirks on the three girls. They know that it was enough to keep them away so the brought their stuff and let Kiona take the lead.

Kina grasped Kiona's hand, and asked "Can I come too?"

Kiona looked at Kagome and Sango, seeing them nodded was enough for Kina. She jumped up and down and ran ahead twirling. The three older girls smiled, wishing to play along but since they are supposed to be older, resisted.

With the Girls

Kina who now stopped twirling, spoke up "Why did the sliver-haired hanyou hit that man with the staff on the head?" Kiona joined in, "Yeah, why did he hit hent- Miroku?" 'Kina doesn't need to know what hentai mean . . . yet that is. With Miroku being around the women I think that she's going to find out pretty soon.'

Kagome and Sango giggled, "Inu Yasha doesn't want people to think that he is soft, he wants people to see him tough and he wants them to be afraid of him."

They group of girls stopped at the hot springs. They played, swam, had a water fight, and talked. Once they were done they dressed up once again and went back to the village.

When they came there Sora came up to them panting, "A demon attacking the village," she managed to say between gasps. Kagome's mind focused, her main concerned was the village and she took of running, knowing that the rest would be following her.

All five of the girls ran as fast as their legs could carry them. 'Be careful Inu Yasha, I'll be there soon enough. Just hold on.' Thought Kagome as she ran, when they reached the village they were stunned, frozen to the ground.

The sight before them was monstrous. Sango normally strong and determined voice was shaky at the sight, "What is that?"

Fantasy-Seal: Cliffy! R&R people!!!!!! I'll be waiting for them!!!!!

Kiona: So will I!!!!!! I bet that you guys are wondering at what Fantasy-Seal has in store for the Inu gang and myself, but the bad thing is that I don't know what's gonna happen!!! Starts panicking.

Fantasy-Seal: You'll see . . . . . . . . . . . . (cackles menacingly.)

Kiona: Oh crap! I don't think I want to know now!