Disclaimer: No, I do not own anything related to Inuyasha. I just watch the anime. The characters of Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi

Chapter 3: Confrontation

Headlights of a passing car lit up a deserted alley. At least, it appeared deserted.

"Blue, for the last time, Boss does not know what we are doing. You agreed it was a good plan to watch the shrine. What happened?"

"I don't know, Red, maybe we are better off telling Boss before he finds out we went behind his back. He won't be happy if he finds out."

"Keyword is 'if', Blue. That won't happen."

Both figures stiffened in alarm.

"Red, do you feel that. The jewel is not at the shrine any longer. It's moving towards us."

"Do you think another group managed to steal it?"

"I don't know, Red, but we should find out. Whoever has it will be here soon, and we should get the jewel. It is no longer protected by the shrine family."

"I agree, Blue. I will confront them, you wait in the rear to cut them off from reinforcements."

This is great thought Souta. Now, Kagome will get better and everything will go back to normal. Souta's thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of a shadow emerging from an alley.

"Now what do we have here, a human managed to steal the jewel?" The shadow stepped forward into the light of an overhead street lamp. "Give me the jewel, boy, and I will not be forced to kill you. Your choice."

Souta simply glared at his attacker. The man had bright red hair pulled back in a low ponytail. His black clothes were loose and allowed for movement. But Souta's gaze was caught by the man's red eyes and pointed ears.

The man seemed uneasy with Souta's silence, so he tried again. "Kid, give me the jewel or I will kill you."

Souta finally gathered his wits and asked, "What do you want with me?"

"I already told you, kid, I want the jewel. What, did you forget?"

"Well you can't have it, leave me alone."

The man seemed startled by Souta's apparent lack of worry about the situation. "Aren't you afraid about dying over some stupid jewel?"

"I need the jewel, get your own. And stop calling me kid."

"Listen, kid, I am trying to get a jewel, and you are not making it any easier. Just hand it over."

"No, I need it. Leave me alone."

"I think the kid has figured out that you, Red, are a simpleton and an idiot."

Souta jumped at the voice coming from behind him. He whirled around to face the new threat. The woman behind him was beautiful. She had black hair tied back in a low ponytail also, her eyes were blue and she had ears on the top of her head. But Souta was staring at her face.

"Ms. Mika?"

"How did you know that Blue's name was Mika?" demanded the man, walking over to stand next to his partner.

"Easy, Red, this is one of my students. He must have recognized me." Responded the woman since Souta was still too surprised to speak.

"Ms. Mika," Souta began, "I didn't know you were a demon."

Mika shook her head, "no, Souta, it is Souta right." She received a nod and continued. "I am a half-demon, Red here is a full demon, but his real name is Taro. How do you know about demons?"

"My sister knows a half-demon, I've met him too." Souta replied.

"How did you get the jewel?" asked Red.

"Red, you idiot, this is Souta Higurashi, he lives at the shrine. We almost attacked one of the shrine protectors. Boss will never let us live this down. Don't worry Souta, we can't hurt you without getting into trouble." Mika sighed in annoyance, and then realized something. "Souta why do you need the jewel?"

"My sister is sick, I was going to wish for her to get better."

"Kagome? What happened to her?" asked Mika.

"She's been in a coma for the past two weeks, but the doctors say nothing is wrong with her. I saw a shadow attack her right before she fell..." Souta trailed off.

"This is bad, Blue," whispered Taro, "how could Kagome get hurt?"

"Souta," began Mika, "would you mind if we come with you to see your sister? The hospital is closed, so you would need us to take you to her window in order to get in."

"Alright," responded Souta, "but you promise not to hurt me or my sister, and you can't try to take the jewel?"

"Agreed," promised Mika and Taro.

Taro picked up Souta piggyback style and sprinted away towards the hospital with Mika beside them.

Souta began to get bored as the buildings flew by. "Hey, Taro, why do you and Ms. Mika have two names?" he asked.

"We work for a demon called the Boss. His job is to protect humans, so he sends us out on missions. He gives us nicknames so people won't know our real names and find out who we are. Mika is Blue and I am Red."

"So you are kind of like spies?"

"Something like that, but the Boss only gives us the easy missions, nothing dangerous."

"What do you mean?"

"This mission was to find the jewel. All we had to do was follow the power of the jewel and watch to make sure no demons were around. That's how we knew the jewel was in your shrine and how we found you."

"All you had to do was stand outside and wait, sounds boring."

"That's what I thought too, so I convinced Mika that we needed to protect the jewel from any thieves. That way, if a thief came we could fight them."

"That would be awesome. Could I watch if it ever happened?"

"Boys," interrupted Mika, "no talk of fighting. We have arrived at the hospital. Souta, which room is your sister in?"

"The one on the fourth floor, in the corner."

"Which corner?"

"I don't know, but she has a view of a parking garage and a park."

"That would be, that room." Mika jumped up to the windowsill of Kagome's room, opened the window, and went inside.

"Hold on, Souta," cautioned Taro. "I am going to jump too."

Taro jumped and grabbed hold of the windowsill. Mika reached out, grabbed Souta and pulled him into the room. Taro swung up to join them. I guess Grandpa's ofudas really don't work thought Souta. Cautiously the three walked over to the bed with Kagome. Souta pulled the jewel out of his pocket, closed is eyes, and wished "I wish my sister would wake up from her coma."

Souta opened his eyes; nothing had changed. Kagome was still asleep. "What was wrong?" asked Souta. "I thought the jewel could do it."

"So did I, kid," said Taro, "maybe the jewel can't heal."

"This no ordinary coma," whispered Mika, "this is the work of a spell. A very powerful spell that the jewel cannot break."

"You mean that shadow was a spell?" whispered Souta.

"Yes, and I do not know how to break it."

"What am I supposed to do now?" whined Souta, tears beginning to form, "I just want her back. What is so wrong with that?"

"Calm down, kid," reassured Taro, "crying is not going to help. But we know some people who might know the spell."

"What do you mean?" asked Souta.

"You are going to have to meet the Boss and plead your case. If he agrees, then he will give you permission to use every resource we have to break this spell." Mika explained.

I have to meet the Boss.