Kirara and Ah-Un had been flying for almost an hour before they finally reached the peak. They stopped in the air and waited for the people on their backs to decide what to do. Kouga sniffed the air and cursed when he didn't catch Kagura's scent. Miroku and Sango looked around but they also couldn't feel anything.
"Let's go that way." the monk pointed at the right side of the mountain and the cat demon flew toward the new destination, Ah-Un followed.
Soon enough Miroku felt a strange force that seemed to push him away. When he looked at the place where he thought the source of the power was, he didn't see anything suspicious – just rocks. He told Kirara to stop and closed his eyes, starting to chant something. A vision of the rocks in front of him appeared in his mind, and as he continued chanting, a cave entrance appeared.
"Houshi-sama?" Sango looked at him in confusion when she saw him smirk.
"The cave is right there." he threw an ofuda, opening his eyes in the process. The ofuda pasted on the rocks and after pulsing a few times, the barrier shattered into pieces and the cave entrance appeared.
Suddenly, Kouga sniffed the air. "Watch out!" he yelled at the two humans and a few wind blades flew out of the cave.
Miroku and Sango didn't even have the time to blink, as Kirara, having sensed the attack too, easily avoided it. Kouga sighed in relief and just when he was going to ask his human friends if they were alright, Kagura stepped outside of the cave.
"What are you doing here?" she asked a little surprised.
"Where is the baby?" Miroku demanded, pointing his staff toward her.
"That's why Naraku sent us here." the wind sorceress said mostly to herself, not paying attention to her attackers. "So, where are Inuyasha and his annoying girl?"
"Worry about him in Hell!" Kouga yelled and drew out his sword, standing up on Ah-Un's back, and ready to jump at her.
"I see that Sesshoumaru is here too." Kagura pointed the two-headed creature with her fan. "I bet that he will be the one to…"
"Will you shut the fuck up and fight?!" the wolf demon lost his patience and yelled. He was just about to attack when Sango stopped him.
"No, don't." she said and looked at Kagura. "I don't think she wants to fight."
"Me too." Miroku agreed and released the prayer beads around his right hand. "Will you explain?"
"It's simple." the wind sorceress shrugged. "I will help you get the baby, if you help me take my heart back."
After she finished, everybody remained silent. For Miroku and Sango there wasn't a reason to deny Kagura's offer for alliance. After all, their enemy was Naraku. But the decision wasn't so easy for Kouga. This woman had killed many of his men and he had sworn to take his revenge by killing her, not becoming allies. For him, joining forces with her would mean that he was betraying his men.
"Kouga," Miroku started, realizing what the wolf demon's dilemma was.
"I agree." Kouga said calmly, but then his eyes narrowed at Kagura and his voice became low and threatening. "When this is over, you will fight me, for killing my men."
"Very well." Kagura nodded after a second, and Ah-Un and Kirara landed at the cave entrance. "The baby is inside, Kanna is with it." she said and moved away to let them in.
"Aren't you coming?" Sango asked and eyed her suspiciously.
"I will be right behind you. Kanna mustn't see me." the wind sorceress explained.
"It sounds logical enough." Miroku said and taking the demon exterminator's left hand, pulled her after him inside.
"Just try something funny." Kouga threatened.
"That would make you very happy…" Kagura said sarcastically.
"It would give me the perfect excuse to kill you." the wolf demon stepped closer to her and cracked his fingers, but the damned woman just smirked at him, pissing him off even more than he already was.
"Come on, you two!" Sango's voice was heard and they turned toward the entrance. "You will have enough time for this later."
The two demons 'Humph'ed and followed the humans. Kirara and Ah-Un exchanged looks and lied on the rocks, waiting for their friends to come back. The cat demon didn't transform to her smaller form, just in case if Naraku learns about Kagura's betrayal and sends someone else to help Kanna.
Now, let's see how the other group is doing… Well, considering the fact that it consisted of a stubborn and grumpy hanyou and an arrogant and ignorant dog demon, the atmosphere wasn't very pleasant. The said hanyou was walking ahead, with his hands folded in his sleeves and a serious expression on his face. We can't say for sure what the dog demon's expression was, but it showed that he didn't really think that they would accomplish something with the upcoming battle. Or maybe he was just desperate? Yeah right, like that would ever happen!
There was another person in the group – an about sixteen year old, very good looking and strange clad for the time and age girl. She walked a few steps behind the two men and kept glancing first at Inuyasha, then at Sesshoumaru. She wasn't concerned about the dog demon's behavior – he was always like that. She wanted to talk with Inuyasha but he would never do that in front of his brother. So, she decided that her worries could wait.
"Are we close?" the girl asked after about fifteen minutes of walking.
"Yes." the hanyou answered without turning to look at her. "There's a portal up ahead. It will take us directly to Naraku's castle."
Hearing him talk so confidently did it for Kagome. She had promised not to question him but all this was just getting too much for her. How could he know so much about Naraku's castle?! Suddenly she got it – the shouki crystal. She remembered about that glimpse of the castle, Inuyasha had talked about. Unbelievable! He had…
"I can't believe you lied to me!" she almost yelled, stopping and fisting her hands.
Inuyasha turned around to look at her in pure confusion. Was she talking to him? He would never lie to her, then why… "What?" he asked and stepped closer.
"You lied about the shouki crystal!" Kagome also stepped forward. "It's still inside you, isn't it? That's how you know all that stuff about Naraku."
Being caught completely off guard, the hanyou made a step back and stared at her in shock. He had intended to talk to her about that but, as always, she had rushed the things. "K-Kagome… I-I…"
"Pathetic." Sesshoumaru's voice startled them. He was standing aside and was silently watching the show, until now. "Considering your reaction, I see why he hasn't told you." he said coldly and Kagome looked aside, obviously ashamed of her behavior. "Shall we go now?"
"I… Um… Yeah…" Inuyasha stuttered and grabbing Kagome by her right hand, pulled her with him. "That was creepy." he said after they were a good ten meters ahead of the dog demon.
"I'm sorry." Kagome said quietly and tried to pull her hand away, but he held her tighter.
"No, I should've told you earlier." the hanyou whispered, turning half way to look at his brother. "I really didn't mean to lie to you."
"I know." the girl sighed and lifted her head to look at him. "Sesshoumaru, defending you, was more than creepy." she said and Inuyasha tripped. "Be careful!" she laughed.
The three walked for another fifteen minutes and reached the end of the forest, where the rocks became vertical. They stopped and looked up. The mountain was really high and they were thankful for the portal. Otherwise, they would have to climb on foot. Not that this was a problem but anyway, the other way was easier and safer.
"Is that it?" Sesshoumaru asked and looked at the rocks in front of them. One pretty big rock didn't exactly fit among the others.
"Yeah." Inuyasha nodded and stepped ahead. He reached forward with his right hand and it disappeared up to the wrist.
A few ripples, as if his hand was in water, appeared. Still holding Kagome with his other hand, Inuyasha pulled her with him as he entered the portal. Sesshoumaru waited for them to disappear completely and followed them. The next thing he knew was that the three were again together in a long and dark hallway.
TBC