Sorry it took so long for the update. I had writers block big time. This chapter is a song one to the song "Anxiety" By The Black Eyed Peas. Enjoy!

Curse Of The Flame

Chapter Two: Anxiety

So much anxiety she carried on her shoulders. It was starting to get to her. She was extremely paranoid. Sure, she felt safer with InuYasha, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku but she still felt vulnerable.

Kariudo awoke the next morning, noticing everyone rushing to get everything packed up. She groggily stood up and wondered over to everyone.

"What's the rush, guys?"

"We just need to get going soon; demon sightings have been reports lately." They finished cramming everything into Kagomes backpack, which was bulging at the seams.

"Well, that's everything. Let's get going!" Kagome tried to lift the backpack onto her back, but nearly fell over from the weight. Kariudo walked over to Kagome and took the backpack off her back.

"Want me to carry it?"
"Sure, Thanks!" Kagome grabbed her bicycle and hopped on it. Kariudo effortlessly swung the backpack over her shoulder and followed the rest of the group.

Kariudo started to feel light-headed, but trudged onward. She finally stopped at a tree, holding her head. She dropped the bag beside her, and leaned against the tree. Miroku noticed her had stopped walking, and was leaning against a tree.

Lord, please, please, please, take away my anxiety.

"Kariudo, are you alright?" Miroku concernedly asked.

"Yeah...I think.....I just...have a lot on my mind...The anxiety is starting to get to me..." Just as she said that, her knees gave out on her. She nearly fell over, but Miroku quickly grabbed her, and held her upright.

Paranoia has brought me to my knees.

"Kariudo, are you sure you are okay?" Miroku asked, still holding her up.

"Yeah..." She said as she lifted Kagome's backpack on to her shoulders and ran down the path to catch up to the others. Miroku watched her as she unsteadily ran after the others. Miroku started off behind them, eventually catching up to them./

They soon arrived at the next village, just as the sun started to set. Miroku noticed Kariudo didn't pay much attention to where she was walking, obviously in deep thought.

Anxiety is bashing my brain, and terrorizing my soul.

Everyone made camp in a small clearing in the forest, close to the village. After that was finished, Kariudo silently walked off into the forest, and sat down at a tree. Her head tilted backwards, resting against the trunk of the tree. Miroku quietly followed her, and sat by the tree she was sitting against. He tapped her shoulder, and she must have jump three feet in the air.

"Whaddawhat!? Oh, it's just you..." She said, sitting back down.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's not you. It's me. I'm just...paranoid..."

I feel like I wanna slap somebody, turn around and just slap somebody, but no, I won't give into it.

"What exactly has you so paranoid?"

"The very fact that someone is out to kill me. I just know it. I don't know who though...I just...have a lot of anxiety..."

"Hmm, wonder who would want to kill you..."

"I don't know..."

"Perhaps we should head back to camp? You could use a good nights rest."

"I guess so..."

Lately my whole aim is to maintain and regain control of my main frame.

They silently walked side-by-side down the narrow path back to camp. Everything was quiet, until Kariudo felt someone's hand touch her bottom. She immediately jumped away, and slapped Miroku hard. She felt bad she hit him that hard.

'Pervert...' She thought, continuing down the path.

Miroku on the other hand, should have seen the harsh slap coming. He rubbed his cheek where a scarlet red hand print was.

When they reached camp, Kariudo sat down by a tree, and drifted to sleep.

Sango and Kagome noticed the hand print on Miroku's face, and they both had the same thought in their head; "Miroku tried to letch Kariudo..."