As they flew through the air on Kirara's back, Kohaku
and Hakudoushi could see the damage caused by all the snow
that had fallen. They looked at all the houses and other
things covered in at least five feet of it. It was the most
snow that either of them had seen in their entire lives.
They arrived at Kikyou's place in almost no time at all. Bankotsu and Renkotsu were outside in the front yard, building a snowman, and Mukotsu was inside, watching a show called Majo no Jouken. Kirara landed at Bankotsu's feet.
"What happened?" Bankotsu asked as Hakudoushi and Kohaku dismounted Kirara's back.
"We were attacked," Hakudoushi explained, "buy a pair of ice demons. They kicked the crap out of Kagura-"
"And took Kanna," Kohaku finished.
"We better get her inside," Renkotsu said. He lifted Kagura up and brought her inside and laid her on the couch. "Mukotsu, get her a hot water bottle or something."
Mukotsu nodded and went into the kitchen.
"These ice demons," Bankotsu started, "Have you seen them before?"
The boys shook their heads. Then Kohaku felt something bite his neck. He slapped it, crushing the flea that was trying to feed on him. The flea fell into Kohaku's hand, and he realized who the little guy was.
"Myouga!" Kohaku said. "How've you been?"
Myouga groaned. "I've been better," he said, reforming himself. "I was listening to your conversation about those ice demons, and I think I might be able to help you find them."
"Really?" Kohaku said in amazement.
Myouga nodded. "I believe you were attacked by the ice ninja, Shimoka. Is this correct?"
Kohaku nodded.
"Shimoka lives in a shrine far to the north," Myouga explained. "I can show you the way there. That's most likely where he's holding Kanna."
"No offence," Bankotsu said, "But I don't think that two kids could take on this ice ninja."
Myouga smiled. "Thanks for offering to help, Bankotsu."
"What!?" Bankotsu exclaimed, "No, I didn't offer to help, I just."
Mukotsu brought in a filled water bottle and asked Renkotsu if he could heat it up. Renkotsu obliged, and used his flames to heat up the water. Mukotsu then took it over to Kagura, who began to wake up.
"C'mon, Bankotsu," Renkotsu said, "Let's help 'em. I mean, when was the last time we really fought anything?"
Bankotsu sighed. "Fine," he muttered, "We'll help."
"Help with what?" Kagura asked as she sat up.
Hakudoushi walked over to her and sat down beside her. "Kagura," he said, "We have a slight problem."
The cell was cold and dark. The only light came from the small window near the top of the brick wall. The only place to sit, besides the cold floor, was an uncomfortable bed made of wood. So, it was there Kanna sat, looking into her mirror. She was watching her friends, who were devising a plan to rescue her. Then she heard footsteps approach, so she hid her mirror under the bed.
"I bet you're hungry," the guard taunted as he held a tray with very little food on it. He slid it through the bars and "accidentally" dropped it. "Oops," he smiled wickedly, "Clumsy me. Well, enjoy."
He walked away, chuckling to himself. As he did, Kanna hopped off the bed. She walked over to the food and picked some of it up. She looked at it for a few seconds, and then threw it hard against the wall.
Meanwhile, in the main chamber of their shrine, Frostbyte and Shimoka were busy thinking about their latest fight. However, Frostbyte was thinking about a little bit more than just the fight itself. She had never seen a woman quite like Kagura before. Sure, there had been those other women. But this one, she thought, was different. This one was definitely a keeper.
"Shimoka," she smiled, "I think I'm in love."
Shimoka looked over at his partner. "The wind witch?" he asked.
Frostbyte nodded. "Don't you think she's cute?" she asked.
Shimoka shrugged. He wasn't into that sort of thing. Fighting was his life. It always had been, and it always would be. Warriors like himself didn't need love.
"Well," Frostbyte said, "I don't care what you think. I'm gonna make her mine. And hopefully she cares enough about her cute little friend to try to rescue her."
"And when she does," Shimoka said, holding up his sword, "we'll be ready." He thrust the blade deep into the wooden flooring. Frostbyte smiled wickedly.
During their last night out in the freezing snowstorms of the outskirts of La Saia's kingdom, a great gust of wind came and ripped the tent as if it was a piece of wet paper. InuYasha and his gang no longer had protection against the wind and snow. They were more or less screwed, but they did not give up. They walked through the freezing weather and eventually they came to a small hill. It had one straight side, which led to the opening of a cave that could provide shelter. As they entered it, Kouga sensed something. It was as if he had been here before, but he couldn't remember when it was.
They walked through the cave until they could no longer see the opening. It was dark, but at least it was warm. They unpacked their things and decided they should rest for the night. Finding KooriKisaki's fortress would be impossible in this weather, so it was decided that they should return to La Saia's village in the morning.
When they had unpacked everything, they calmed down and slept, completely unaware that a single Hyoukoumori was watching them. It returned to its home and filled Gyouka in on the details.
"So," he muttered to himself, "They are trying to find us, eh? Ha! They won't be able to."
"Sir," the Hyoukoumori squeaked, "Is that cave not part of Fuyuka's domain?"
Gyouka smiled. "Yes it is," he said. "But where is he? I haven't seen him in a long while."
"I believe that he and his wolf tribe had gone to look for shards of the Shikon jewel," the bat said. "They have been gone for a while, now that you mention it."
"Find them," Gyouka ordered. "I think it's time that InuYasha met our entire family."
The Hyoukoumori nodded and flew in search of some other ice bats to look for the leader of the Kooriookami
[that's 'Ice Wolf,' for those who don't know]
tribe: Fuyuka.
Kagura, Kohaku and Hakudoushi, with the help of Bankotsu, Renkotsu, Myouga and Kirara, were now ready to rescue Kanna from the ice shrine of Shimoka. Myouga refused to come at first, but with a little persuasion, he decided to change his mind. He was the only one out of all of them who knew where Shimoka's shrine was.
Kagura took a feather from her hair, and with a flick of her wrist she tossed it into the air. It grew big enough for her, Kohaku and Hakudoushi to ride. Bankotsu and Renkotsu had to share Kirara. Kohaku took Myouga in his hand, climbed onto Kagura's giant feather and the seven of them were off.
Once again, snow had started to fall. It seemed that it would always start snowing when they would try to do something important. It was as if something was watching them and didn't want them to succeed.
Myouga guided them through the storm. They passed over many villages and forests. Eventually they were led to a remote location. A lone shrine stood in the middle of a clearing of a deep forest. Snow covered the ground and trees. The shrine itself wasn't really all that fancy. It was more like a little red bungalow. But, inside was a different story.
The party landed in the trees, so those who dwelt in the shrine would not detect them. The snow began to fall harder. They hid behind the trees and peered around to see the shrine. It didn't look like it was guarded.
"Piece of cake," Hakudoushi whispered. "We go in, we get Kanna, and we get out."
"It will not be that easy," Myouga said. "It may not look guarded, but there are things in there that we should be aware of."
"Spill the beans then, insect," Hakudoushi snapped.
"There are guards in there, that's all you need to know for now."
"Strong?" Bankotsu asked. Myouga chuckled and shook his head.
As they were talking amongst themselves, forming a plan to sneak into the shrine, they didn't notice a group of small animals coming up behind them. The animals were like little balls of fluff. They were snow white, so they blended into the scenery very well. Their eyes were a solid gold color. They were the Yukikyuu, the snowball demons. Sure, upon first glance they were cute little critters. But, if someone got them mad enough.
And that's just about what Kagura and company were about to find out.
They arrived at Kikyou's place in almost no time at all. Bankotsu and Renkotsu were outside in the front yard, building a snowman, and Mukotsu was inside, watching a show called Majo no Jouken. Kirara landed at Bankotsu's feet.
"What happened?" Bankotsu asked as Hakudoushi and Kohaku dismounted Kirara's back.
"We were attacked," Hakudoushi explained, "buy a pair of ice demons. They kicked the crap out of Kagura-"
"And took Kanna," Kohaku finished.
"We better get her inside," Renkotsu said. He lifted Kagura up and brought her inside and laid her on the couch. "Mukotsu, get her a hot water bottle or something."
Mukotsu nodded and went into the kitchen.
"These ice demons," Bankotsu started, "Have you seen them before?"
The boys shook their heads. Then Kohaku felt something bite his neck. He slapped it, crushing the flea that was trying to feed on him. The flea fell into Kohaku's hand, and he realized who the little guy was.
"Myouga!" Kohaku said. "How've you been?"
Myouga groaned. "I've been better," he said, reforming himself. "I was listening to your conversation about those ice demons, and I think I might be able to help you find them."
"Really?" Kohaku said in amazement.
Myouga nodded. "I believe you were attacked by the ice ninja, Shimoka. Is this correct?"
Kohaku nodded.
"Shimoka lives in a shrine far to the north," Myouga explained. "I can show you the way there. That's most likely where he's holding Kanna."
"No offence," Bankotsu said, "But I don't think that two kids could take on this ice ninja."
Myouga smiled. "Thanks for offering to help, Bankotsu."
"What!?" Bankotsu exclaimed, "No, I didn't offer to help, I just."
Mukotsu brought in a filled water bottle and asked Renkotsu if he could heat it up. Renkotsu obliged, and used his flames to heat up the water. Mukotsu then took it over to Kagura, who began to wake up.
"C'mon, Bankotsu," Renkotsu said, "Let's help 'em. I mean, when was the last time we really fought anything?"
Bankotsu sighed. "Fine," he muttered, "We'll help."
"Help with what?" Kagura asked as she sat up.
Hakudoushi walked over to her and sat down beside her. "Kagura," he said, "We have a slight problem."
The cell was cold and dark. The only light came from the small window near the top of the brick wall. The only place to sit, besides the cold floor, was an uncomfortable bed made of wood. So, it was there Kanna sat, looking into her mirror. She was watching her friends, who were devising a plan to rescue her. Then she heard footsteps approach, so she hid her mirror under the bed.
"I bet you're hungry," the guard taunted as he held a tray with very little food on it. He slid it through the bars and "accidentally" dropped it. "Oops," he smiled wickedly, "Clumsy me. Well, enjoy."
He walked away, chuckling to himself. As he did, Kanna hopped off the bed. She walked over to the food and picked some of it up. She looked at it for a few seconds, and then threw it hard against the wall.
Meanwhile, in the main chamber of their shrine, Frostbyte and Shimoka were busy thinking about their latest fight. However, Frostbyte was thinking about a little bit more than just the fight itself. She had never seen a woman quite like Kagura before. Sure, there had been those other women. But this one, she thought, was different. This one was definitely a keeper.
"Shimoka," she smiled, "I think I'm in love."
Shimoka looked over at his partner. "The wind witch?" he asked.
Frostbyte nodded. "Don't you think she's cute?" she asked.
Shimoka shrugged. He wasn't into that sort of thing. Fighting was his life. It always had been, and it always would be. Warriors like himself didn't need love.
"Well," Frostbyte said, "I don't care what you think. I'm gonna make her mine. And hopefully she cares enough about her cute little friend to try to rescue her."
"And when she does," Shimoka said, holding up his sword, "we'll be ready." He thrust the blade deep into the wooden flooring. Frostbyte smiled wickedly.
During their last night out in the freezing snowstorms of the outskirts of La Saia's kingdom, a great gust of wind came and ripped the tent as if it was a piece of wet paper. InuYasha and his gang no longer had protection against the wind and snow. They were more or less screwed, but they did not give up. They walked through the freezing weather and eventually they came to a small hill. It had one straight side, which led to the opening of a cave that could provide shelter. As they entered it, Kouga sensed something. It was as if he had been here before, but he couldn't remember when it was.
They walked through the cave until they could no longer see the opening. It was dark, but at least it was warm. They unpacked their things and decided they should rest for the night. Finding KooriKisaki's fortress would be impossible in this weather, so it was decided that they should return to La Saia's village in the morning.
When they had unpacked everything, they calmed down and slept, completely unaware that a single Hyoukoumori was watching them. It returned to its home and filled Gyouka in on the details.
"So," he muttered to himself, "They are trying to find us, eh? Ha! They won't be able to."
"Sir," the Hyoukoumori squeaked, "Is that cave not part of Fuyuka's domain?"
Gyouka smiled. "Yes it is," he said. "But where is he? I haven't seen him in a long while."
"I believe that he and his wolf tribe had gone to look for shards of the Shikon jewel," the bat said. "They have been gone for a while, now that you mention it."
"Find them," Gyouka ordered. "I think it's time that InuYasha met our entire family."
The Hyoukoumori nodded and flew in search of some other ice bats to look for the leader of the Kooriookami
[that's 'Ice Wolf,' for those who don't know]
tribe: Fuyuka.
Kagura, Kohaku and Hakudoushi, with the help of Bankotsu, Renkotsu, Myouga and Kirara, were now ready to rescue Kanna from the ice shrine of Shimoka. Myouga refused to come at first, but with a little persuasion, he decided to change his mind. He was the only one out of all of them who knew where Shimoka's shrine was.
Kagura took a feather from her hair, and with a flick of her wrist she tossed it into the air. It grew big enough for her, Kohaku and Hakudoushi to ride. Bankotsu and Renkotsu had to share Kirara. Kohaku took Myouga in his hand, climbed onto Kagura's giant feather and the seven of them were off.
Once again, snow had started to fall. It seemed that it would always start snowing when they would try to do something important. It was as if something was watching them and didn't want them to succeed.
Myouga guided them through the storm. They passed over many villages and forests. Eventually they were led to a remote location. A lone shrine stood in the middle of a clearing of a deep forest. Snow covered the ground and trees. The shrine itself wasn't really all that fancy. It was more like a little red bungalow. But, inside was a different story.
The party landed in the trees, so those who dwelt in the shrine would not detect them. The snow began to fall harder. They hid behind the trees and peered around to see the shrine. It didn't look like it was guarded.
"Piece of cake," Hakudoushi whispered. "We go in, we get Kanna, and we get out."
"It will not be that easy," Myouga said. "It may not look guarded, but there are things in there that we should be aware of."
"Spill the beans then, insect," Hakudoushi snapped.
"There are guards in there, that's all you need to know for now."
"Strong?" Bankotsu asked. Myouga chuckled and shook his head.
As they were talking amongst themselves, forming a plan to sneak into the shrine, they didn't notice a group of small animals coming up behind them. The animals were like little balls of fluff. They were snow white, so they blended into the scenery very well. Their eyes were a solid gold color. They were the Yukikyuu, the snowball demons. Sure, upon first glance they were cute little critters. But, if someone got them mad enough.
And that's just about what Kagura and company were about to find out.