Part2

Jak grasped the Mari's hand before she disappeared beneath the surface of liquid earth. Keira sat in the other seat of the hover car looking severally worried and tired. Daxter curled on her lap looking at scene on the ground. Jak pulled Mari from mud, cold, tired, and muddy. Zero who didn't tire very quickly being a reploid, Aided Jak in getting out. Metallic body wet and muddy from the quicksand.

Keira leapt down from the hover car and landed with grace on the ground. Her usual blue bouncy hair swayed as she moved about. Daxter landed on the ground and leapt back up onto his pal's shoulder. Keira knelt down next to still unmoving Mari. Who's breathing was rough and trouble some. Her eye's only half open and The pupils of them dwindling upwards. Keira placed a gentle hand on Mari's fore head. Then with drew it slowly and stud up the usual fierce expression and Worry plastered across her face.

"She's VERY sick Jak, we gotta hurry back to some place warm, And Quickly."

Jak nodded, Keira leapt on to the back seat of the hover car. Jak Picked up Mari's limp and feverish body. He placed I the backseat with Keira.

Their was a terrific sound of ripping leather as Keira ripped the covering of the second passenger seat in the front off. Using them as Kind of a warming device to help Mari. Zero told Jak that He could keep up with them. In The backseat, Mari's brown haired head laid in Keira's lap. Mari's pale body shook with every breath taken in.

The drive did no take long but it wasn't smooth either. Jak had problems with his steering and was constantly hitting walls with out meaning to. Mari didn't seem to notice it but Keira was getting up set at Jak for is poor driving skills. Mari started to twitch in her sleep and mumble. Much of it was not understandable at all. The only thing distinguishable amongst the slur of words was 'mother'. This puzzled Keira, were was this young girl's parents?

They arrived at old, warn hut, but it was not to shabby looking. The walls made of tree and roofing of and odd assortment. A bright yellow Flame, 4 feet in height burned in the center of the room. Untouched and still eating hungry at freshly laid down wood. Keira carried Mari to bed that lay near the wall. She laid as many warm blankets as possible over Mari. Following that, Keira laid a bowl of water out, and a rag. Jak and the reploid, Zero, stud around the front door kind of watching. It didn't take long for Keira to send Jak out for something.

"Mother…mother I'm sorry…mother"

Mari was getting better and better slowly. Her ramblings in her sleep had become more real and made sense. She was calling out, apologizing to her mother. Mari would twitch in her sleep continually, Fighting a mental battle.

She dreamt of a land in combed in fire. Her house burning in the pale red light that consumed it all. The world was burning, it was cry and their was not water to put out the flames. Mari stud amongst it and knew that it was not just any fire. It was fire that could not be put out no matter how many waves of water splashed over the burning embers.

Mari stud their unable to move and help her parents or her brother. Forced to watch as a massacre happened before her eyes.

Suddenly, the shadows formed a shape in the fires It was tall and hooded. Beneath the obsidian hood Was a pair of glowing red eyes. A thick smell of blood lingered in the air. Mari could not move from her spot, almost frozen to the ground. No matter how hard she tried she could not move not even her fingers. The figure reached out at her, It's bony hand dripping with blood.

"AHHAHAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

Mari was alone now, a cold sweat running down her forehead. The room and Area she was in. She felt as if she had been a sleep for years. Her body ached terribly, her chest hurt with every breath and all her joints hurt too. Her body felt weak and worn. A cold drift filtered threw her body, she tugged the blanket around her still pale body.

Keira had a gentle smile caressing her rosy face. She took the wet rag and dapped the sweat off of Mari's forehead. Who looked completely dumbfounded.

"Um, how long have I been out?"

"All last night and into the late evening of today Mari."

"Oh.."

Mari didn't bother to ask about how come Keira knew her name.

"You were calling out for your mother in your sleep, what happened to her?"

Mari looked away from the sweet blue eyes that were Keiras.

"I don't know"

Keira thoughtfully wrapped her arms around Mari's cold shoulders. Holding Mari like a mother would to a frightened child after a nightmare. Mari's body filled with a warmth she hadn't felt in ages.

"Well then, Till we find her, then I'll be your Mother Mari, Judging from what Zero said, your quite the trouble maker."

Mari still looked away and Keira let go of her. Mari flumped back down onto the pillow and bed silently. Tears rolled out of Mari's eyes on to the pillow. Keira Laid a hand of Mari's shoulder, trying to help comfort the still scared Mari.

The Next day..

By the next morning Every one had a decided that once Mari felt better they would head off. Zero had decided upon staying for no particular reason at all, just that didn't quite feel up to flying off right now. Jak was finding it hard to understand why Keira had decided that Mari was their now foster daughter. Daxter on the other hand was being his usual talkative self and pervert. Daxter in away, reminded Mari of Miroku and his perverted ways.

They were currently sitting about on the ground most of them eating. Zero wasn't because he couldn't, he was robot after all. It was a kind of odd meal and didn't real taste like much other than fried chicken. Daxter was insisting that he wasn't going to eat it. Jak had already eaten on plate and Mari was still working on her first one. Keira ate but didn't really to much else except get ready for a walk.

Jak had finished His food finally, Keira announced that they were all going to set out on a journey. The Journey, as Keira was going on about it, was to look for Mari's parents. Even though Mari had already said they weren't in the dimension. Jak was still a little confused but Daxter had explained enough to him. Even though Daxter did explain it, Jak was still confused on to why he was now a 'foster' father to Mari. Course Jak hadn't really objected to the idea, he just didn't quiet know what to do.

Around mid day they all actually set off and made some good distance till it was lunch. At that point Zero said he needed to head back to the HQ to 'regenerate' so he did that and the others had apples for lunch. The apples really weren't all that filling and Mari suggested that they go hunting.

So with that in her mind and Keira having begged Jak to go with Mari, They went hunting. They didn't have much luck however, they did manage to catch a rather large duck and shiny jewel piece.

"Hey Keira!"

Mari was the first to really say anything about The jewel piece. She ran over the hill down by the tree were Keira was resting. Mari held out her hand to show Keira the jewel piece.

"hm? What is it?"

"It's a jewel piece we found while out hunting!"

"did you find anything to eat along with it?"

"Yeah, Jak caught a duck"

Their was a satisfied yep in the background coming from Jak. Daxter was out doing is own little thing and hopefully not getting into trouble.

"Here, you skin it like this.."

Keira was showing Mari how to cook the duck, which Mari had no experience in. Hell, the girl had never cooked raw food in her whole life. Jak was just leaning against a tree laughn' it up! Daxter on the other hand came bounded up from twin oaks that were to the left. His eyes were big and wide and the pupils shrunken with fear. His orange shaggy fur looked mussed and slightly dirty. He leapt on to Jaks shoulder with out slipping.

"Jak! Jak ol' buddy ya gotta save me!"

Their was a deep sigh from the whole group. The explanation was not needed. The Deep roar in the forest behind them was enough. Jak pulled out one of guns (CHOOSE One) And prepared him self for what ever come out of the green leaves of the forest. Their was another roar and Rumbling of the ground Beneath the ground.

"Its B-big!"

Daxter stuttered with fear. Mari had another sensation to just drop kick the stupid ottsel. Their was not time for that however, From the forest burst a giant centipede demon with what looked like a metal head skull gem imbedded in its forehead.

"that's a demon!"

Mari shrieked and under Jak's own direction was told to form them, Keira and Mari, to go find cover. The two girls ran off to find cover in the immersive forest. Its thick shadows formed by the leaves that covered it at the top like a roof. The birds flew away from the scene in fright, They did not want to become a meal to a demon. Mari however was as afraid of the demon as she was of the metal head when she first came to this world. Brown locks of hair swished about as she turned head back to face the demon and Jak who faced it.

"Give me the Jewel shard creature or die"

"Jewel shard? Listen, We ain't got no Jewel shard!"

"Then die"

IT sung a massive claw down unto them. To their own good fortune it missed and smashed the tree they were under. Shattering the wood into thousands of splinters and chunks that flew threw the air.

Under the cover of the canopy Mari and Keira hid. Upon hearing the Demon's cracked voice speaking of a jewel shard. Mari new instantly that the world of which they were in changed again. She pulled out the pink shining jewel and held in her palm. It glistened and glowed with firousity unnatural to a jewel. It was then that Mari knew, this was not a natural jewel. It the was a piece of the shikon jewel, The jewel of four souls. They both looked at the jewel with curiosity, Till a ear piercing cry shot threw the air. They turned their heads just in time to see the demon's claw come back to its side. Four spines on its claw dripping with crimson blood. The grass speckled with dots of blood all over it. Then the most horrifying of the scenes, Jak lay in the grass, gun a stray, Four cut marks across his body. Daxter had cut that spanned from his knee down to his tail. The blue drap that covered his chest was stained purple from the blood.

"Jak!"

Bother girls screamed in unison. They ran from their spot down the grassy field to his side. Keira defensively picked up his fallen gun and took aim. Mari tried to move him from the spot were he had fallen. When she could not move him fast enough, she tried to wake him.

"Keira he will not wake!"

Keira fired her shots.

"Die BASTERD!"

Mari had not heard that from Keira but it mattered little in the long run. She tried again to wake him, it did not work again. She pulled him as best she could, but it was too slow.

"WIND SCAR!"

Their was crackling sound and Three bright strips of light that tore threw the hard earth. They seemed like yellow raging fires that cut threw everything in their path. They cut below the demon and covered it were the lines were. It screamed in pain and the marks cut threw its body and area became covered in light for a brief moment.

Mari was next to Jak, Keira frozen in place. Daxster, wasn't mobile but he looked as though he had awaken from a long sleep.

A young teenage girl ran towards them, dressed in what looked like a school uniform. Her hair was Raven black, she looked like she was from something Mari new.

"Are you guys all right?"

No one answered, She saw Jak's battered and beaten body. She let a shrill cry for him and turned her head.

"Inuyasha! I'll need your help carry one of them!"

Mari went over to Daxter and picked him up, seeing a man in red with silver hair and a dog ears pick Jak. Who made only a pain groan but did not move. Crimson blood smeared across Mari's shirt and hands but she didn't seem to notice. Mari now knew who it was that had rescued them but didn't quite know what to think.

Three days latter

Jak had been wrapped up in some bandages that Kagome had with her. InuYasha Had pulled his usual stunts when greeting some one. Miroku and Sango mostly kept to them selves, but Shippou and Mari had decidedly gone out to get some herbs for the wounded. Daxter had gotten much better and was even talking more now.

After Jak was fully healed…

InuYasha took a deep yawn that morning his tree top area. Shippou sat on Mari's shoulders humming peacefully to him self. His hazelnut hair bouncing about as he moved and hummed. Keira help Jak a little even though he complained that he didn't need any. Miroku had to walk infront of Sango after pulling one of his specialties on her. Kagome had Daxter, now completely healed and missing Tess.

They walked down the road almost completely silent. They'd been walking sense morning and with out stop so far.

" Man, My feet hurt bad"

Mari complained silently to her self. She honestly couldn't feel Shippou on her shoulders he was so incredibly light compared to other things. He was as light as a feather, plus he was like her little brother.

"Hey, I smell food Kagome!"

Squealed Shippou. InuYasha bossily joined in on this that he could smell it too. It smelled really good.

They only had to walk a little further and then they could stop. Over the second bridge was a bright town, full of people. Kagome looked about it and decided what they heck, lets go threw.

"DEMON! DEMON!":

Screamed a man how ran off into the crowds. No even looked his way, apparently convinced he was crazy. Yet he was not! He'd seen Inuyasha and Shippou, who ere demon and part demon. Mari gave a bit of a snicker at this while Kagome wondered what had gotten into him.

They decided that it was better to have Inuyasha and Shippou stay behind. They all agreed that this was best thing to do, Sango, Mari, Kagome and Keira decided that they wanted to go look about town and check it out. Miroku and Daxter went into the city too, but for women, much to Sangos disgust at Miroku. Jak Had protectively said that he'd go with the girls.

The five of them walked down the street with out any trouble. They continued down the road. Keira and Mari's hair tied back to hide their lung elf ears. Kagome and Sango were dressed in some kimonos, as were the rest of them now.

"MMmmmm… that smells good! Do you guys smell that too?"

"Yeah!"

Mari, Kagome, Keira And Sango said in unison. The four girls turned to face each other and smiled evilly. They giggled happily and dashed off in the direction of the scent.

"ooooooohhh"

The four Girls said. They stud in front of a building, the sign over head said 'Aka-beko'

Mwahahaha that's all for now!