Chapter 4: A Great Power, a Great Enemy
A week went by and the two trouble makers were back on their feet and regaining their strength. Kari and Kili were sparring in a clearing. They had decided to stay a while longer. Even though the monk had his wondering hands, Kaede, Inuyasha, Kouga, and Miroku were pleasant company and they enjoyed their time with them. It was another sunny day and the forest was filled with the sounds of tripping water, birdsong, and the clack of the wooden staffs of the sparring duo.
Kari and Kili were a whirlwind of people and staffs. They moved so quickly that the best human would be no match. Their sparring continued unwavering. Neither let a strike go past them and neither was able to find their mark. They were a perfect match, or would have been if a curious dog and an inquisitive wolf had not come upon their practice. Kouga, feeling like a trouble maker, threw a stick straight toward Kari's upper body. She saw it coming, but Kili's blow was aimed at her head, so if she ducked Kili's blow, she couldn't deflect the stick. To Kouga's amazement, Kari back flipped while swinging her staff upward, causing her to jump over the stick and, surprisingly, braking Kili's stick in the process. Turning around, Kili threw one half of her stick toward the bushes. A resounding "thunk" could be heard as Kari landed. "What was that?" Kari asked.
"THAT WOULD BE MY HEAD!" Inuyasha screamed as he jumped out from the bushes while rubbing the rather large bump on his head.
"Well, if you hadn't interrupted our sparring, you wouldn't have gotten hurt, now would you?" Kili scolded.
"It wasn't my fault!" Inuyasha screamed at Kili. "It was Kouga!" Kouga strolled out of the bushes as if nothing had happened.
"Hi. Nice moves," he remarked.
"Kouga!" Kari yelled.
"Well it didn't look like you were going to get anywhere fast," he replied.
"Have you ever heard of exercise? You know, working with your body so you get stronger and into shape!" Kari yelled back.
"It doesn't look like you need to get into shape to me," Kouga said with a smirk.
"Thanks, but I think you may need some work," she said casually and walked away. Kili was trying very hard to stop from laughing.
"Ouch," Inuyasha said with a smirk on his face.
"Shut up," Kouga replied. But he was smiling along with the rest of them.
"Get your head down from cloud nine, wolfy boy. She is way out of your league," Kili shouted behind her shoulder as she walked away. Kouga and Inuyasha followed after them in hot pursuit. Kouga wasn't going to give up that easily.
After about an hour trying to track her, Kouga found Kari sitting on a rock in a small clearing deep in the forest. She sat with her legs crossed and her eyes closed. Kouga strolled up to her and waved a hand in front of her face.
"Hello! Anyone there?" he said softly. No reply came from Kari. "I know you can hear me," he said with a grin. Still no reply came from the placid wolf demon. "I just want to talk t..." he was cut off by the air starting to crackle around him. He paused and looked at Kari. She seemed to be undisturbed by this. The power that lashed around them was incredibly strong. Suddenly, the entire clearing was surrounded by a rushing whirlwind of white water and ice. Above, lightening raced in crazy patterns, depicting his worst fears. The air around them became moist and humid, yet icy cold.
Kari started to sway. Her eyes came open and slowly looked at Kouga. Her eyes were no longer their usual blue and purple, but had glazed over as an ice blue, coving all but the pupils. The look pierced through his soul. He shivered with the intensity of it. He was unprepared for this. The power within her started to frighten him. A voice sounded from all around him. It was Kari's voice, yet her lips never moved. "Why did you follow me?"
"I...I ... I wanted to talk... but I can see you're a little busy..."
"Sit!" she commanded. He gently thumped to the ground. "Close your eyes." He hesitated. Why would she ask him to do this? "Now," the voice said curtly. He closed his eyes.
He was instantly swept into a current of ice cold water. In his mind's eye he could see rushing torrents of white snow and ice piercing the blackness of his mind. He struggled to open his eyes. He clawed at them to awaken from the biting cold and the ripping ice. He was flung wildly around like a rag doll. It suddenly stopped. He could feel the tingle of warmth on his skin. Voices were coming to him. He slowly opened his eyes, and the world came crashing down around him. Kili, Inuyasha, and Miroku were crashing through the underbrush, shouting his and Kari's name. Kari was standing on the rock, glaring down on him.
"Please tell me we made it in time!" he could hear Kili shouting to the others. They burst into the clearing to find a Kouga covered from head to foot in melting, white ice and an angered Kari glaring down at him. Kili paused and told the others to stop.
"Think again before you follow me, wolf. Keep your distance," She turned to go, but then paused and looked back at Kili. "Give me time," she whispered and walked off in the opposite direction.
Later that day, Kari silently walked into the camp. Kili and Inuyasha were cooking dinner while Miroku and Kaede were sorting herbs. Kouga was nowhere in sight. Kari sat down by Kaede.
"What ye did was foolish, child," she said without looking up. "Using your full power when you are not yet totally recovered is very dangerous." Kari delicately arched her eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"After a detailed description from Kouga, you showed amazing potential. Your abilities are beyond what we expected. But Kaede is right. You shouldn't use that kind of power yet," Miroku replied. It was all Kili could do to keep from laughing. "What?" Miroku asked.
"I am no weakling," Kari replied with a smirk. "I studied for years at an ancient school with Kili. We are beyond what any of you could ever imagine."
"You see," Kili said as she stood, "Kari comes from a line of Chikara Wolf Demons. They have immense power. I come from the Kowagaruno line of dog demons."
"But you are only half demon, like me," Inuyasha stated.
"Just because I am only half, doesn't mean I can't use as much power as she. Looks can be very deceiving. You have the same potential as me," she replied with a somber expression.
"But if you are so powerful," Miroku stated, "why didn't you use it on Kagura?"
"She is in league with Naraku. We...met Naraku a while back. He knows how to lock away most of our power. We work hard and practice in order to break that wall, but to no avail. The only thing we can do is use minor spell on our weapons, and that is only if we have our weapons with us," Kili explained
"I see," said Miroku.
"Dinner's done," Inuyasha said, trying to change the subject. They all gathered around and started to eat. Inuyasha and Kouga had hunted before, bringing back an entire stag. It was as excellent a dinner as could be made while in the countryside. Halfway through the meal, Kouga appeared. He looked a little disheveled but better than when they had last seen him. He looked around and took the seat furthest away from Kari, who hadn't even acknowledged his presence. After dinner, Inuyasha went up to Kouga.
"Listen, Kili and I were talking, and she told me about Kari and her past. Maybe you should go talk with her. She probably needs someone right now."
"Since when are you Mr. Sensitive?" Kouga asked sarcastically.
"I am not sensitive! I am a warrior!" Inuyasha yelled indignantly.
"Sure sounds like it to me," Kouga replied.
"I was...I was just...just being tuned toward her emotions. That's all," Inuyasha huffed.
"Yeah, sure..." Kouga said over his shoulder as he walked away. He walked over to where Kari was sitting. She was polishing her sword, but tears dripped from her leaking eyes, mixing with the oils on her blade. She made no attempt to wipe the silent tears away as they continued to stream down her face. "Kari?" Kouga said gently as he kneeled down next to her. "Kari, what is it?"
"It's nothing of your concern," she replied curtly and continued to polish her sword. Kouga nodded and sat with his legs crossed.
"I'm sorry, Kari, for following you before. You led so many false trails that I thought it was a game instead of a warning. I am truly sorry."
"Just make sure you don't do it again," she replied in a shaky voice. Some time passed with nothing changing accept for the increase of tears. She threw her sword down in frustration. "Why can't I stop crying!" she wailed. "I must look like a blubbering fool!" she announced with a pathetic attempt of a smile. Kouga gently put his arm around her.
"It's okay. Go ahead and cry," he whispered to her gently.
Meanwhile
Kili and Inuyasha were sitting on Kaede's roof, looking at the stars. It was a cool, clear night. The wind rustled in the tree tops and you could hear the gurgle of the stream.
"What do you three do?" Kili asked. "I mean, I know that you guys are fighters and stuff, but what do you do? What are you after?"
"We all have something against Naraku. Kouga's pack was slaughtered by him. Miroku's wind tunnel is a curse from Naraku put upon his family."
"What about you?" Kili asked, turning toward him.
"Naraku killed my human mother, the only person who loved me, when I was eight. Ever since I have tried to find him. I finally did the night that we rescued you two. But I couldn't go after him. Now that he has two of the Yokai Stones, it makes what I need to do all the more urgent."
"I'm sorry we held you back."
"No need to be sorry," he said smiling at her. For the first time in as long as she could remember, Kili blushed.
"Umm... heehee...uh..." Kili stumbled. Suddenly, Inuyasha hit his nose and a flea was smashed on his hand.
"Lord Inuyasha!" came a small squeak.
"Myoga..." Inuyasha growled.
"What are you still doing here, Lord Inuyasha? I thought you were on hot pursuit and then I find you lying around here for weeks! What is wrong with you? Why don't you..." Inuyasha flicked him with his finger, causing him to fly over the roof and beyond sight.
"Who was that?" Kili asked.
"My old friend Myoga, who apparently arrives at the wrong time and is never there when needed," Inuyasha replied grumpily.
"So, anyway..."
"Yeah, anyway..."
"Aaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!" someone screamed in the distance.
"What the hell...?" Inuyasha and Kili leapt from the roof and ran toward the scream. They arrived to an interesting scene. Kouga was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face. An infuriated Kari was standing over an unconscious monk.
"What happened?" Kili asked, afraid of the answer.
"Miroku, here," said Kari through clenched teeth, "had decided that his wandering hands weren't enough to piss me off, but his mouth had to run away too! I am in no mood for groping hands and lecherous talk! Goodnight!" With that Kari stomped off to the hut. Miroku started to stir.
"Should we help him?" Kili asked.
"No. He disserves it. He's had plenty of warnings. He just can't seem to get the message through his thick head of his," Inuyasha replied with a shrug.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, let's just go," Kouga said as his laughter abated. They all slowly walked back to the hut, leaving the naughty little monk to tend for himself.
A few days later was filled with dark clouds and thunderous rain. The five demons were inside the hut, talking about what they should do. They had spent ample time at Kaede's. Kari and Kili were getting anxious to be on their way and Inuyasha, Kouga and Miroku were eager to be off after Naraku. They begged the girls to come with them, but they gently turned them down. Their business with Naraku was over and they wished to be on with their lives. Unfortunately, the rain was keeping them from leaving, so they contented themselves with the Three Stooges while they waited for their time of departure.
"Are you sure you want to leave?" Miroku whined.
"For the millionth time, yes. We have to go back to..."
"We just have some unfinished business to attend to," Kari interrupted. They girls had been very secretive about many things. This was no exception. The three didn't bother asking. They knew they wouldn't get an answer.
"Ye are fit enough to travel, but ye must promise me that ye will come back and visit me," Kaede said. "I be a lonely old women and pleasant company is appreciated."
"What about us, old hag?" Inuyasha cried out indignantly.
"I said pleasant. Ye are a trouble maker more than anything else, Inuyasha," she said calmly. Inuyasha mumble something under his breath. A sorrowful atmosphere enveloped the hut.
"Don't worry," Kili said. "I bet our paths will cross once again."
"How do you know that?" Kouga asked suspiciously. Kari and Kili looked at each other. Kari nodded and walked out of the hut. No one tried to stop her. For the past few days she seemed distant and easy to anger. Kili sighed and plunged into the story.
"Sakuso and Sanyli, I am sure you've heard of them..."
"They are Naraku's minions!" Miroku said amazed.
"Yeah, well, they weren't when we knew them."
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked hotly. He was still in a bad mood from the remark that Kaede had given him.
"About ten years ago, in human years, Sakuso and Sanyli were our good friends and partners in crime. We were unstoppable together you would have known us as the..."
"The Dorobu," Kouga finished incredulously.
"You were the most feared demons next to Naraku!" Inuyasha said.
"Yes, we were. But we didn't know that they were to turn to our worst enemy." She paused for a moment. "Sanyli was in league with Naraku from the beginning. We never knew this, until we caught her trying to slit my throat in my sleep. With my own sword as well! Kagura wasn't the only one who gave me a scar in a dishonorable fight." With that, she pulled up her sleeve and revealed an "x" marked into her flesh. "This scar will never heal over. It is a mark to be recognized by Naraku. It is a mark that will tell him that I am stronger than his minions, but not strong enough, for Sanyli escaped." She rolled her sleeve down to again hide the mark. "It is her I hunt and her blood I hunger for. I will not rest until I kill her with by bare hands. I told her secrets I would only tell a sister..." her voice trailed off.
"You did not tell these things to Kari?" Inuyasha asked, stunned.
"She tried to turn me away from Kari. It was working slowly. But when she had gone one step to far, and I had suspected of her, she tried to kill me." She was silent for a long while. Kouga shifted uneasily.
"What of Sakuso?" he whispered. Kili looked up with haunted eyes.
"What Sanyli did to me was but a mere trifle compared to what Sakuso did to Kari. She did nothing to harm me, but she took something of Kari's which she could never regain." She paused again, not wanting to go on.
"She took away my dignity," came a voice from the doorway. It was a hollow, emotionless voice. "She stripped me of my self respect and made me no better then any other whore." Her voice became bitter and acidic. "She assisted in helping the Thunder Brothers, who served Naraku, in raping me." Her voice became hardly above a whisper. "She sealed my power through her own water powers. She bound me in ice and delivered me right into their filthy hands. I was in their control for only three days before Kili rescued me, but three days was three too many." Her voice was barely audible by the last words. Kouga rose but Kari motioned him to sit down. Her face was devoid of emotion. The look scared him. A silent tear rolled down her cheek. "When I find her, I am going to make her suffer for what she did to me." Her voice was filled with enough venom to cause a cobra to shrivel in fear. "She will pay not only in blood, but in soul." More tears coursed down her cheeks. "I...I have to go..." The rain had stopped and she ran outside. Kouga was about to follow her but Kili stopped him.
"Don't," she said while blocking him with her arm. He pushed Kili aside and ran after her.
"So how are our paths to cross," Inuyasha asked, trying to break the silence.
"Sanyli and Sakuso are bound to Naraku. You are after him as well." She paused for a moment and stared off into nothing. "Though our paths lead in different directions, they will cross at Naraku."
"Then let us travel together. If you come with us after Naraku, you are bound to find them!"
"We travel alone, and that's final," she said curtly. She looked straight into his eyes. "I wish it could be different but that is how it is so." She was looking into his eyes, but she wasn't seeing him standing there. She was seeing something entirely different. She didn't see the hut around her. Kili was seeing something that no other person could have seen. She had a glimpse.
"What family did you say you came from," he asked suddenly.
"The Kowagaruno family," she said suspiciously.
"I heard that they can see the future, but many say that it is just a myth," he said, worried he was crossing a line. She turned to him with icy eyes.
"I am only half Kowagaruno. I only see glimpses, and I only see glimpses of people who have very confused or powerful auras."
"You saw me?" It wasn't a question. It was a statement. She gave a small nod.
"And Miroku, Kouga, Naraku, Kagura, Sanyli, Sakuso, and Kari, but I have seen her before."
"What did you see?" he asked. He was scared of what she would say.
"I saw...saw... I saw you collapse dead. Kari was fighting Sakuso and I had just killed Sanyli." She paused and drew a breath. "Miroku and Kouga were fighting with Kagura, but Miroku couldn't use the wind tunnel because of the insects, and Kouga was wounded very badly. He could barely stand. I was on my knees and Naraku was laughing. He was laughing!" She cried out in anguish and fell into Inuyasha's arms.
"Why them?" he pleaded under her breath. "Why do these poor girls have to be caught up in this?" He held Kili until she fell asleep in his arms, tormented by horrifying nightmares.
"Kari, stop!" Kouga yelled. Kouga had been chasing after her for almost an hour and had finally caught up to her. She was running as fast as he, but she had the head start. "Please stop!" She slowed to a stop and sat down, panting. He caught up with her and sat down. "You're going to run yourself into a heart attack!" he yelled at her. "Maybe I want a heart attack!" she yelled back. "Maybe I am running away because I don't want to be around you any more! Did you ever think of that?" she cried. He scooted close to her and tried to put his arm around her. She pushed his arm away and sat there with her eyes cast to the ground. "Stay away from me! Or do you want to do to me the same as what the Thunder Brothers did! You just want to seduce me!" Tears were streaming down her face as she stood. "An evil deed done sweetly is still an evil deed," she hissed. "Kari..." he said, shocked. "No!" she yelled and she started to back away. "Kari, I would never..." She laughed insanely. "Yeah right, why else would you be so kind to me?" He ran up to her before she could get away, and grabbed her shoulders. "Look into my eyes Kari. Look at them!" She slowly looked into his eyes. She was expecting coldness. She was expecting evil. She saw neither. She saw kindness and caring. Before she could see anymore, he hugged her to him. She tried to resist but soon gave into the embrace. Sunlight started to filter through the cloud cover that had made the entire forest seem dismal. She felt the warmth tickling the back of her flesh. "You are my my friend. I would never hurt you. I give my word on my life I would never do anything to hurt you." She slowly looked back up to his face. His eyes looked down at hers with so much kindness. She had never had this kindness from a man. "I know that the only reason you are leaving us is because you are nervous around us. I know that you are uneasy around men. I understand why, now. Please come with us." "You're right. That was one reason. But there is more to it than that. Kili told me..." she choked on her words. She couldn't tell him what she had seen. She just couldn't. Not now. Not after he had been so kind. They had to leave them so they wouldn't be connected. They had to leave them so they wouldn't be hurt. "Why? What is it?" he asked gently. She had to look away from those eyes. She couldn't tell him. "I can't tell you," she whispered. A single tear ran down her cheek. He brushed it away. "Don't cry anymore. You are surrounded by friends. You shouldn't have to cry anymore." She stopped herself. "Just as you have shown me kindness, I must return it," she said softly. "To do so, I must leave you." "How could leaving me be kind?" he asked, slightly hurt by her words. She never was able to answer him for they heard a cry coming from the direction of the hut. They ran in the direction of the scream.
A week went by and the two trouble makers were back on their feet and regaining their strength. Kari and Kili were sparring in a clearing. They had decided to stay a while longer. Even though the monk had his wondering hands, Kaede, Inuyasha, Kouga, and Miroku were pleasant company and they enjoyed their time with them. It was another sunny day and the forest was filled with the sounds of tripping water, birdsong, and the clack of the wooden staffs of the sparring duo.
Kari and Kili were a whirlwind of people and staffs. They moved so quickly that the best human would be no match. Their sparring continued unwavering. Neither let a strike go past them and neither was able to find their mark. They were a perfect match, or would have been if a curious dog and an inquisitive wolf had not come upon their practice. Kouga, feeling like a trouble maker, threw a stick straight toward Kari's upper body. She saw it coming, but Kili's blow was aimed at her head, so if she ducked Kili's blow, she couldn't deflect the stick. To Kouga's amazement, Kari back flipped while swinging her staff upward, causing her to jump over the stick and, surprisingly, braking Kili's stick in the process. Turning around, Kili threw one half of her stick toward the bushes. A resounding "thunk" could be heard as Kari landed. "What was that?" Kari asked.
"THAT WOULD BE MY HEAD!" Inuyasha screamed as he jumped out from the bushes while rubbing the rather large bump on his head.
"Well, if you hadn't interrupted our sparring, you wouldn't have gotten hurt, now would you?" Kili scolded.
"It wasn't my fault!" Inuyasha screamed at Kili. "It was Kouga!" Kouga strolled out of the bushes as if nothing had happened.
"Hi. Nice moves," he remarked.
"Kouga!" Kari yelled.
"Well it didn't look like you were going to get anywhere fast," he replied.
"Have you ever heard of exercise? You know, working with your body so you get stronger and into shape!" Kari yelled back.
"It doesn't look like you need to get into shape to me," Kouga said with a smirk.
"Thanks, but I think you may need some work," she said casually and walked away. Kili was trying very hard to stop from laughing.
"Ouch," Inuyasha said with a smirk on his face.
"Shut up," Kouga replied. But he was smiling along with the rest of them.
"Get your head down from cloud nine, wolfy boy. She is way out of your league," Kili shouted behind her shoulder as she walked away. Kouga and Inuyasha followed after them in hot pursuit. Kouga wasn't going to give up that easily.
After about an hour trying to track her, Kouga found Kari sitting on a rock in a small clearing deep in the forest. She sat with her legs crossed and her eyes closed. Kouga strolled up to her and waved a hand in front of her face.
"Hello! Anyone there?" he said softly. No reply came from Kari. "I know you can hear me," he said with a grin. Still no reply came from the placid wolf demon. "I just want to talk t..." he was cut off by the air starting to crackle around him. He paused and looked at Kari. She seemed to be undisturbed by this. The power that lashed around them was incredibly strong. Suddenly, the entire clearing was surrounded by a rushing whirlwind of white water and ice. Above, lightening raced in crazy patterns, depicting his worst fears. The air around them became moist and humid, yet icy cold.
Kari started to sway. Her eyes came open and slowly looked at Kouga. Her eyes were no longer their usual blue and purple, but had glazed over as an ice blue, coving all but the pupils. The look pierced through his soul. He shivered with the intensity of it. He was unprepared for this. The power within her started to frighten him. A voice sounded from all around him. It was Kari's voice, yet her lips never moved. "Why did you follow me?"
"I...I ... I wanted to talk... but I can see you're a little busy..."
"Sit!" she commanded. He gently thumped to the ground. "Close your eyes." He hesitated. Why would she ask him to do this? "Now," the voice said curtly. He closed his eyes.
He was instantly swept into a current of ice cold water. In his mind's eye he could see rushing torrents of white snow and ice piercing the blackness of his mind. He struggled to open his eyes. He clawed at them to awaken from the biting cold and the ripping ice. He was flung wildly around like a rag doll. It suddenly stopped. He could feel the tingle of warmth on his skin. Voices were coming to him. He slowly opened his eyes, and the world came crashing down around him. Kili, Inuyasha, and Miroku were crashing through the underbrush, shouting his and Kari's name. Kari was standing on the rock, glaring down on him.
"Please tell me we made it in time!" he could hear Kili shouting to the others. They burst into the clearing to find a Kouga covered from head to foot in melting, white ice and an angered Kari glaring down at him. Kili paused and told the others to stop.
"Think again before you follow me, wolf. Keep your distance," She turned to go, but then paused and looked back at Kili. "Give me time," she whispered and walked off in the opposite direction.
Later that day, Kari silently walked into the camp. Kili and Inuyasha were cooking dinner while Miroku and Kaede were sorting herbs. Kouga was nowhere in sight. Kari sat down by Kaede.
"What ye did was foolish, child," she said without looking up. "Using your full power when you are not yet totally recovered is very dangerous." Kari delicately arched her eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"After a detailed description from Kouga, you showed amazing potential. Your abilities are beyond what we expected. But Kaede is right. You shouldn't use that kind of power yet," Miroku replied. It was all Kili could do to keep from laughing. "What?" Miroku asked.
"I am no weakling," Kari replied with a smirk. "I studied for years at an ancient school with Kili. We are beyond what any of you could ever imagine."
"You see," Kili said as she stood, "Kari comes from a line of Chikara Wolf Demons. They have immense power. I come from the Kowagaruno line of dog demons."
"But you are only half demon, like me," Inuyasha stated.
"Just because I am only half, doesn't mean I can't use as much power as she. Looks can be very deceiving. You have the same potential as me," she replied with a somber expression.
"But if you are so powerful," Miroku stated, "why didn't you use it on Kagura?"
"She is in league with Naraku. We...met Naraku a while back. He knows how to lock away most of our power. We work hard and practice in order to break that wall, but to no avail. The only thing we can do is use minor spell on our weapons, and that is only if we have our weapons with us," Kili explained
"I see," said Miroku.
"Dinner's done," Inuyasha said, trying to change the subject. They all gathered around and started to eat. Inuyasha and Kouga had hunted before, bringing back an entire stag. It was as excellent a dinner as could be made while in the countryside. Halfway through the meal, Kouga appeared. He looked a little disheveled but better than when they had last seen him. He looked around and took the seat furthest away from Kari, who hadn't even acknowledged his presence. After dinner, Inuyasha went up to Kouga.
"Listen, Kili and I were talking, and she told me about Kari and her past. Maybe you should go talk with her. She probably needs someone right now."
"Since when are you Mr. Sensitive?" Kouga asked sarcastically.
"I am not sensitive! I am a warrior!" Inuyasha yelled indignantly.
"Sure sounds like it to me," Kouga replied.
"I was...I was just...just being tuned toward her emotions. That's all," Inuyasha huffed.
"Yeah, sure..." Kouga said over his shoulder as he walked away. He walked over to where Kari was sitting. She was polishing her sword, but tears dripped from her leaking eyes, mixing with the oils on her blade. She made no attempt to wipe the silent tears away as they continued to stream down her face. "Kari?" Kouga said gently as he kneeled down next to her. "Kari, what is it?"
"It's nothing of your concern," she replied curtly and continued to polish her sword. Kouga nodded and sat with his legs crossed.
"I'm sorry, Kari, for following you before. You led so many false trails that I thought it was a game instead of a warning. I am truly sorry."
"Just make sure you don't do it again," she replied in a shaky voice. Some time passed with nothing changing accept for the increase of tears. She threw her sword down in frustration. "Why can't I stop crying!" she wailed. "I must look like a blubbering fool!" she announced with a pathetic attempt of a smile. Kouga gently put his arm around her.
"It's okay. Go ahead and cry," he whispered to her gently.
Meanwhile
Kili and Inuyasha were sitting on Kaede's roof, looking at the stars. It was a cool, clear night. The wind rustled in the tree tops and you could hear the gurgle of the stream.
"What do you three do?" Kili asked. "I mean, I know that you guys are fighters and stuff, but what do you do? What are you after?"
"We all have something against Naraku. Kouga's pack was slaughtered by him. Miroku's wind tunnel is a curse from Naraku put upon his family."
"What about you?" Kili asked, turning toward him.
"Naraku killed my human mother, the only person who loved me, when I was eight. Ever since I have tried to find him. I finally did the night that we rescued you two. But I couldn't go after him. Now that he has two of the Yokai Stones, it makes what I need to do all the more urgent."
"I'm sorry we held you back."
"No need to be sorry," he said smiling at her. For the first time in as long as she could remember, Kili blushed.
"Umm... heehee...uh..." Kili stumbled. Suddenly, Inuyasha hit his nose and a flea was smashed on his hand.
"Lord Inuyasha!" came a small squeak.
"Myoga..." Inuyasha growled.
"What are you still doing here, Lord Inuyasha? I thought you were on hot pursuit and then I find you lying around here for weeks! What is wrong with you? Why don't you..." Inuyasha flicked him with his finger, causing him to fly over the roof and beyond sight.
"Who was that?" Kili asked.
"My old friend Myoga, who apparently arrives at the wrong time and is never there when needed," Inuyasha replied grumpily.
"So, anyway..."
"Yeah, anyway..."
"Aaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!" someone screamed in the distance.
"What the hell...?" Inuyasha and Kili leapt from the roof and ran toward the scream. They arrived to an interesting scene. Kouga was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face. An infuriated Kari was standing over an unconscious monk.
"What happened?" Kili asked, afraid of the answer.
"Miroku, here," said Kari through clenched teeth, "had decided that his wandering hands weren't enough to piss me off, but his mouth had to run away too! I am in no mood for groping hands and lecherous talk! Goodnight!" With that Kari stomped off to the hut. Miroku started to stir.
"Should we help him?" Kili asked.
"No. He disserves it. He's had plenty of warnings. He just can't seem to get the message through his thick head of his," Inuyasha replied with a shrug.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, let's just go," Kouga said as his laughter abated. They all slowly walked back to the hut, leaving the naughty little monk to tend for himself.
A few days later was filled with dark clouds and thunderous rain. The five demons were inside the hut, talking about what they should do. They had spent ample time at Kaede's. Kari and Kili were getting anxious to be on their way and Inuyasha, Kouga and Miroku were eager to be off after Naraku. They begged the girls to come with them, but they gently turned them down. Their business with Naraku was over and they wished to be on with their lives. Unfortunately, the rain was keeping them from leaving, so they contented themselves with the Three Stooges while they waited for their time of departure.
"Are you sure you want to leave?" Miroku whined.
"For the millionth time, yes. We have to go back to..."
"We just have some unfinished business to attend to," Kari interrupted. They girls had been very secretive about many things. This was no exception. The three didn't bother asking. They knew they wouldn't get an answer.
"Ye are fit enough to travel, but ye must promise me that ye will come back and visit me," Kaede said. "I be a lonely old women and pleasant company is appreciated."
"What about us, old hag?" Inuyasha cried out indignantly.
"I said pleasant. Ye are a trouble maker more than anything else, Inuyasha," she said calmly. Inuyasha mumble something under his breath. A sorrowful atmosphere enveloped the hut.
"Don't worry," Kili said. "I bet our paths will cross once again."
"How do you know that?" Kouga asked suspiciously. Kari and Kili looked at each other. Kari nodded and walked out of the hut. No one tried to stop her. For the past few days she seemed distant and easy to anger. Kili sighed and plunged into the story.
"Sakuso and Sanyli, I am sure you've heard of them..."
"They are Naraku's minions!" Miroku said amazed.
"Yeah, well, they weren't when we knew them."
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked hotly. He was still in a bad mood from the remark that Kaede had given him.
"About ten years ago, in human years, Sakuso and Sanyli were our good friends and partners in crime. We were unstoppable together you would have known us as the..."
"The Dorobu," Kouga finished incredulously.
"You were the most feared demons next to Naraku!" Inuyasha said.
"Yes, we were. But we didn't know that they were to turn to our worst enemy." She paused for a moment. "Sanyli was in league with Naraku from the beginning. We never knew this, until we caught her trying to slit my throat in my sleep. With my own sword as well! Kagura wasn't the only one who gave me a scar in a dishonorable fight." With that, she pulled up her sleeve and revealed an "x" marked into her flesh. "This scar will never heal over. It is a mark to be recognized by Naraku. It is a mark that will tell him that I am stronger than his minions, but not strong enough, for Sanyli escaped." She rolled her sleeve down to again hide the mark. "It is her I hunt and her blood I hunger for. I will not rest until I kill her with by bare hands. I told her secrets I would only tell a sister..." her voice trailed off.
"You did not tell these things to Kari?" Inuyasha asked, stunned.
"She tried to turn me away from Kari. It was working slowly. But when she had gone one step to far, and I had suspected of her, she tried to kill me." She was silent for a long while. Kouga shifted uneasily.
"What of Sakuso?" he whispered. Kili looked up with haunted eyes.
"What Sanyli did to me was but a mere trifle compared to what Sakuso did to Kari. She did nothing to harm me, but she took something of Kari's which she could never regain." She paused again, not wanting to go on.
"She took away my dignity," came a voice from the doorway. It was a hollow, emotionless voice. "She stripped me of my self respect and made me no better then any other whore." Her voice became bitter and acidic. "She assisted in helping the Thunder Brothers, who served Naraku, in raping me." Her voice became hardly above a whisper. "She sealed my power through her own water powers. She bound me in ice and delivered me right into their filthy hands. I was in their control for only three days before Kili rescued me, but three days was three too many." Her voice was barely audible by the last words. Kouga rose but Kari motioned him to sit down. Her face was devoid of emotion. The look scared him. A silent tear rolled down her cheek. "When I find her, I am going to make her suffer for what she did to me." Her voice was filled with enough venom to cause a cobra to shrivel in fear. "She will pay not only in blood, but in soul." More tears coursed down her cheeks. "I...I have to go..." The rain had stopped and she ran outside. Kouga was about to follow her but Kili stopped him.
"Don't," she said while blocking him with her arm. He pushed Kili aside and ran after her.
"So how are our paths to cross," Inuyasha asked, trying to break the silence.
"Sanyli and Sakuso are bound to Naraku. You are after him as well." She paused for a moment and stared off into nothing. "Though our paths lead in different directions, they will cross at Naraku."
"Then let us travel together. If you come with us after Naraku, you are bound to find them!"
"We travel alone, and that's final," she said curtly. She looked straight into his eyes. "I wish it could be different but that is how it is so." She was looking into his eyes, but she wasn't seeing him standing there. She was seeing something entirely different. She didn't see the hut around her. Kili was seeing something that no other person could have seen. She had a glimpse.
"What family did you say you came from," he asked suddenly.
"The Kowagaruno family," she said suspiciously.
"I heard that they can see the future, but many say that it is just a myth," he said, worried he was crossing a line. She turned to him with icy eyes.
"I am only half Kowagaruno. I only see glimpses, and I only see glimpses of people who have very confused or powerful auras."
"You saw me?" It wasn't a question. It was a statement. She gave a small nod.
"And Miroku, Kouga, Naraku, Kagura, Sanyli, Sakuso, and Kari, but I have seen her before."
"What did you see?" he asked. He was scared of what she would say.
"I saw...saw... I saw you collapse dead. Kari was fighting Sakuso and I had just killed Sanyli." She paused and drew a breath. "Miroku and Kouga were fighting with Kagura, but Miroku couldn't use the wind tunnel because of the insects, and Kouga was wounded very badly. He could barely stand. I was on my knees and Naraku was laughing. He was laughing!" She cried out in anguish and fell into Inuyasha's arms.
"Why them?" he pleaded under her breath. "Why do these poor girls have to be caught up in this?" He held Kili until she fell asleep in his arms, tormented by horrifying nightmares.
"Kari, stop!" Kouga yelled. Kouga had been chasing after her for almost an hour and had finally caught up to her. She was running as fast as he, but she had the head start. "Please stop!" She slowed to a stop and sat down, panting. He caught up with her and sat down. "You're going to run yourself into a heart attack!" he yelled at her. "Maybe I want a heart attack!" she yelled back. "Maybe I am running away because I don't want to be around you any more! Did you ever think of that?" she cried. He scooted close to her and tried to put his arm around her. She pushed his arm away and sat there with her eyes cast to the ground. "Stay away from me! Or do you want to do to me the same as what the Thunder Brothers did! You just want to seduce me!" Tears were streaming down her face as she stood. "An evil deed done sweetly is still an evil deed," she hissed. "Kari..." he said, shocked. "No!" she yelled and she started to back away. "Kari, I would never..." She laughed insanely. "Yeah right, why else would you be so kind to me?" He ran up to her before she could get away, and grabbed her shoulders. "Look into my eyes Kari. Look at them!" She slowly looked into his eyes. She was expecting coldness. She was expecting evil. She saw neither. She saw kindness and caring. Before she could see anymore, he hugged her to him. She tried to resist but soon gave into the embrace. Sunlight started to filter through the cloud cover that had made the entire forest seem dismal. She felt the warmth tickling the back of her flesh. "You are my my friend. I would never hurt you. I give my word on my life I would never do anything to hurt you." She slowly looked back up to his face. His eyes looked down at hers with so much kindness. She had never had this kindness from a man. "I know that the only reason you are leaving us is because you are nervous around us. I know that you are uneasy around men. I understand why, now. Please come with us." "You're right. That was one reason. But there is more to it than that. Kili told me..." she choked on her words. She couldn't tell him what she had seen. She just couldn't. Not now. Not after he had been so kind. They had to leave them so they wouldn't be connected. They had to leave them so they wouldn't be hurt. "Why? What is it?" he asked gently. She had to look away from those eyes. She couldn't tell him. "I can't tell you," she whispered. A single tear ran down her cheek. He brushed it away. "Don't cry anymore. You are surrounded by friends. You shouldn't have to cry anymore." She stopped herself. "Just as you have shown me kindness, I must return it," she said softly. "To do so, I must leave you." "How could leaving me be kind?" he asked, slightly hurt by her words. She never was able to answer him for they heard a cry coming from the direction of the hut. They ran in the direction of the scream.