"Kagome.....WAIT...." Inuyasha called, bounding after her impatiently. Kagome ignored him and continued running, dodging trees and pushing through thickets in her haste to answer the summons only she could hear.
"Kagome, wait - please!" Sango called desperately as she sprang onto Kiara's back, followed closely by Miroku. Springing into the air Kiara raced to catch up with Inuyasha.
"Don't forget me." Shippo cried, jumping up and down to get their attention. Kiara swooped to ground level as Miroku threw an arm out and grabbed the kitsune tightly by the vest. Yanking the trembling Shippo into his chest Miroku tried to calm the distraught child as they hurried after Inuyasha and Kagome.
"Kagome," Inuyasha began landing in front of her within a few moments. "Why..." his voice died as she ran up to and sidestepped him without a sound, or any indication that she saw him. Kagome's raven hair flowed behind her as she moved past him. Her tan legs gracefully carrying her towards her destination and away from her friends. What startled him the most, however, was her eyes. Normally a deep chocolate brown that he could willingly drown in, at the moment they glowed. Literally glowed. Inhumanly glowed a vivid violet color. "Kagome, what...what happened to you?" Inuyasha reached a clawed hand out to her retreating back, the quiet question going unanswered in the silence of the forest.
Flying high above the tree tops on Kiara, Sango called to him "Inuyasha what's happening?" Shaking his head Inuyasha shrugged, confusion evident in his expression.
"Inuyasha, why are you standing there?" Shippo demanded. "There is something wrong with Kagome. You have to stop her! Inuyasha, her eyes were glowing." Shippo stopped and shifted uncomfortably on Kiara's back his eyes locked with the hanyou's golden ones. "I'm scared for her... why'd she run away like that?" Shippo spoke quietly, his tremulous voice broadcasting his emotions clearly.
"I'm not sure Shippo," Inuyasha answered, looking quickly at the grass beneath his feet. Raising his eyes Inuyasha met the kitsune's gaze squarely, "But I promise I will get her back and she will be okay." Nodding quickly, Shippo took a deep breath and squared his shoulders.
Miroku squeezed Shippo's shoulder gently in reassurance suggesting, "We'd better follow Kagome then, so we may confront whatever demon has ensnared her."
Taking a deep breath, Inuyasha nodded and leapt after her, Kiara and the others following closely.
"If you want this bauble," the woman taunted the bandit's with a laugh displaying a small green silk-wrapped package, "then come and get it."
"Give me the Heart of Flame bitch, and we might kill you instead of turning you over to Mistress Kagura." The bandit leader's voice was gruff as he attacked, attempting to force her back into his comrades. Sweat dripped from his brow as his attacks were dodged with smiles and laughter.
"Give you my prize?" Shrugging, Crystalia returned the package to her pocket with a laugh. "Don't be absurd. Why would I do that? You haven't even caught me yet!"
The bandits grumbled, some chuckling knowingly as they shifted closer, confident that their superior numbers would prevail. Leering at her, the bandits' eyes gleamed as they imagined their hands on her soft, pale skin. Her creamy breasts and thighs bared and ready for any pain or pleasure they could devise. Salivating the bandits closed in, greedy for their taste of heaven before they consigned her to hell.
"You'd better look again, girl," the bandit leader ground out, "we've got you surrounded. You might as well surrender now." Dragging his gaze up and down her body lasciviously he finished, "You will surrender everything before this day is complete."
Crystalia didn't bother to reply as the twang of an arrow released was heard mere seconds before one of the bandits behind her screamed. His comrades watched in horror as he was engulfed in purifying flames. A small pile of ash all that remained of him moments later.
"The next one to move, dies." Kagome yelled, an arrow knocked and sighted on the group.
"Sure you want to push this fight?" Crystalia asked. "We both know Kagura isn't worth dying for. And we both know that you are going to lose."
"I'm not worth it? Not worth it?" Kagura shrieked floating to earth on her giant feather. "I will skin you alive and leave you to rot in this field, you insolent witch!"