Author-chan's notes: *holds up a wineglass full of pineapple juice* Here's chapter ten! Cheers! *drinks from glass, then spits the juice out* All right! Who was the wise guy who switched my pineapple juice with apple cider?! *Pan over to see a snickering Director holding two bottles of juice*

*Disclaimer- *Author-chan is standing on a stage, hands on her hips. The Director is there too, but he's hiding behind a curtain*

Author-chan- *muttering* Okay, Director-chan if you want to play hardball, you're going to get hardball. PREPARE TO DIE!!!! *Author-chan disappears in a cloud of smoke*

Director- *coming out of hiding and looking around just to be safe* I wonder what she's planning. It can't be good, knowing her.

*Suddenly Author-chan reappears holding a giant crate. Author-chan is laughing insanely*

Author-chan- MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! PREPARE TO MEET THY DOOM, DIRECTOR-CHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Author-chan then takes out a crowbar and opens the crate. Out of the crate bursts a giant, deadly stream of CHIBIS!!!!!!*

Director- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! NOT CHIBIS!!!!! *blinks* Wait a second, what are chibis?

Author-chan- *sighs* This is a chibi. *Holds up a Chibi Inuyasha who is scowling at the director (AN: For all you people who are wondering, the Chibi Inuyasha is in hanyou form, not human. YES! DROOL AT HIS WHITE-HAIRED, FLUFFY-EARED CUTNESS!!!!)*

Director- Oh. Is that it? They don't look dangerous. What can a wimpy looking thing like that do to me?

Chibi Inuyasha- *glaring/growling at the Director* SAY WHAT?!!!

*Chibi Inuyasha looks prepared to rip out the Director's throat, but Author-chan restrains him –barely*

Author-chan- *cooing over Chibi Inuyasha* Now Inu-chan, it isn't fair that you get to tear up Director-chan all by yourself. I'm sure all the other chibis want a shot at him.

*Sesshoumaru, Miroku, Sango, Naraku, Kouga, Kikyo, Kagome, Kanna, and Kagura –all in chibi form –are surrounding the Director. Chibis Sesshoumaru, Naraku, Kouga, Kikyo, and Kagura all look ready to kill the Director. Chibi Kagome is trying to calm them down, Chibi Kanna is just looking into her mirror, Chibi Miroku is hitting on Chibi Sango, and Chibi Sango looks prepared to kill Chibi Miroku*

Chibi Miroku- You know, Sango, you look beautiful even in that form. *starts rubbing {ahem} restricted areas of Chibi Sango's flesh*

Chibi Sango- HENTAI!!!! *Slams Hiraikotsu onto Chibi Miroku's head*

Chibi Miroku- *a little dazed* I love a strong woman. *passes out*

*The Director gapes at what happened to Chibi Miroku. Author-chan sees this and snickers at the Director*

Author-chan- *addressing the Director* Guess what, Director-chan? Each of these chibis are stronger than they look. You've seen the Inuyasha anime, right?

*The Director nods mutely. Author-chan grins wickedly*

Author-chan- Each chibi is as strong as their bigger counterpart.

Director- *Eyes popping out of their sockets* A-all of them?!!

Author-chan- *smiling* Yep! *turns to chibis* GET HIM, MY PRETTIES!!! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! *lets go of Chibi Inuyasha*

*All the chibis (except Kagome, Kanna, and Miroku –who's unconscious) attack the Director*

Chibi Kagome- Guys! Don't hurt him! *all the other chibis ignore her*

Author-chan- Hey, Kanna, can you do the Disclaimer for me, since everyone else is busy?

*Kanna stares at Author-chan with those bottomless eyes of hers, then complies*

Chibi Kanna- Author-chan does not own Inuyasha or any other anime. However, she does own any original characters used in the story as well as the plot.

Author-chan- Thanks Kanna-san! *Kanna nods, then disappears. In the background you can hear the chibis beating up the Director*

Director- AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! GET THEM OFF!!!!!!

Author-chan- That's what you get for switching my pineapple juice with apple cider!!! *Leaves the Director to his fate of getting beat up by kawaii chibis*

A Clean Slate

(Chapter Ten: Enter Yumeko)

Back in the forest with Miho a few minutes later

Miho was struggling with bonds that Kumo had placed on her. She gave up after awhile when she finally convinced herself that there was no way that she was ever going to break these bonds. The young woman felt hot tears slide down her cheeks. Glancing upwards, Miho tried to think of a way to get out of this.

"I can't break Kumo's webbing, so I should stop trying at save my energy for something better," Miho thought out loud, "If I try calling for help, it would just be a waste of breath. I don't think there would be anyone around to hear me. And besides, if there were anyone out there, Kumo probably would have set up traps. *Sigh* Maybe I should just wait for Kumo to come back. He's not after me, after all. He'll probably let me go when he's got Shiro-chan. Oh Kami!!! Shiro-chan!!! How could I forget! That spider is going to kill Shiro-chan!!! I have to get out of here and warn Aki-san!" Miho struggled harder. After a few more minutes, she stopped, feeling completely exhausted.

"Why am I so tired already?" Miho murmured sleepily, her head drooping, "It's only been a few minutes. Unless Kumo's webs have some sort of sleep spell. That…must…be…it…." Then the young woman fell into a deep sleep.

***

Elsewhere in the woods with Masato, Aki, and the other clueless boys

"I think we're lost!" a random boy called out.

"No we're not!" Masato shot back.

"But we don't even know where this demon put Miho-san!" another boy wailed. Masato whirled around to glare at his crew.

"Shut up, all of you!!!" Masato snarled, "We won't be able to find Miho-san like this!"

"I agree," Aki nodded, "We should break up into groups of two, and spread out throughout the forest. If any group finds Miho first, they should yell out for the others."

"I make the decisions here, freak, not you!" Masato yelled, pushing Aki aside, "Now troops, break up into pairs, and spread out and find Miho-san. Yell for the others when you find her."

"That's what I said!" Aki cried.

"No it's not!" Masato snapped, "I thought up the idea myself."

"Dear gods!" Aki cried, pretending to be amazed, "You actually thought up an idea? That's amazing! I thought you were brain dead!"

"Shut up, freak!" Masato snarled.

"Ha! Make me, baka!" Aki shot back.

"Fine!" Masato yelled, and the two boys began to fight. While Aki and Masato threw fists at each other, the other boys broke up into groups of two, and spread out to search for Miho. Masato was about to hit Aki in the face when his opponent interrupted him.

"Hey, wait a second," Aki said looking around, "Where did everybody go?"

"They must have broken up into groups to find Miho," Masato concluded, after he looked as well.

"But where's our partners?" Aki asked.

"I have no idea," Masato muttered.

"You don't think…" Aki began. The two boys looked at each other.

"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR PARTNER!!!!" they screamed at the same time.

***

Somewhere else in the forest with Shiro/Inuyasha and the stranger

"Baka, baka Aki!" Shiro growled to himself, "Why did he have to leave me behind?" Shiro had lead the stranger, not to the hut like Aki told him to do, but into the forest. Inuyasha, being the stubborn dog-boy that he was, decided not to miss out on all the fun.

"You should have listened to your brother, young one," the stranger commented.

"Aki is not my brother," Shiro growled.

"What is he, then?" the stranger asked.

"He's just a friend," Shiro replied, "Aki just found me. I don't have a family."

"Neither do I," the stranger said, "My only living family member, my older brother, died a few months ago."

"How did he die?" Shiro asked.

"Murder," the other said shortly.

"Do you know who killed him?" Shiro asked. The stranger got a hard look in his crimson colored eyes.

"Yes," the ruby-eyed stranger growled, "The hanyou Inuyasha."

***

In some unknown place, far away from the village

Yumeko sat in a dark room, waiting for her mother to appear. She kept her head bent so that her loose long black hair would cover her face. The girl silently cursed her hair. During these meetings with her mother, Yumeko was required to let her hair down, to follow the ancient customs of her clan. She didn't understand why her clan was the only one that required their members to use their hair as a veil when they talked with the matriarch or patriarch of the clan. Other families didn't have to follow such a silly custom. But then again, her clan was different from most others.

On a normal basis, Yumeko pinned her hair up in a neat bun. She was taller than most women, and could look strait into the eyes for many men. Her abnormally pale face made her look unhealthy to most people, but that trait was common among her family. Her eyes were a dark green with no pupils. After all, most dream youkai didn't have pupils.

"Daughter," a stern voice suddenly said out of the blue, even though the young woman had been alone, and she had not heard a single rustle of the screen doors.

"Hai, Hahaue-sama?" Yumeko answered, without lifting her head. (AN: In case you don't know, Hahaue-sama is a very, very respectful way to speak to one's own mother.) Miyuki, the matriarch of the dream youkai tribe, studied her second child.

"Daughter," Miyuki started, "The clan has chosen you to carry out an important mission. According to rumor, the Tetsusaiga has been spotted in a human village. Do you remember what the Tetsusaiga is?"

"Hai, Hahaue-sama," the girl replied, "The Tetsusaiga is a demon blade of mass destruction. It is said that the Tetsusaiga could kill a hundred demons in one stroke. It was forged from the fang of the Great Demon of the West, Inutaisho. But Hahaue-sama, I thought the Tetsusaiga was in the possession of one of Inutaisho-sama's sons. Why would an inu youkai live around humans?"

"It seems that you heard wrong, Daughter," Miyuki said icily, "My spies have confirmed that the Tetsusaiga is now in the possession of a human child, not a demon. I want you to retrieve the Tetsusaiga for our clan. Not only is it a powerful weapon, but the Tetsusaiga might give us a claim over Inutaisho's old territories. With his land in our control, we would have endless resources. With these resources, and the powers of the Fang itself, we will finally be able to destroy our enemies!"

"As you wish, Hahaue-sama," Yumeko said meekly.

"Good," Miyuki said with a small smile, "The child that possesses the Tetsusaiga is currently living in a human village east. I want you to take that sword from him and bring it back here as soon as possible."

The young woman nodded. Rising, the young youkai bowed to her mother and prepared to leave. Just as the young dream youkai reached the screen door, her mother called out to her.

"Don't forget to kill the child when you get the sword," Miyuki said in a cold tone, "He will be of no use to us after we have the Tetsusaiga."

"I understand," Miyuki's daughter murmured. Then, she walked out of the room.

***

Back with Inuyasha/Shiro and the stranger

"What did you say your brother's murderer's name was?" Shiro asked, feeling a little bit dazed. The boy shook his head to try to clear his mind. For some odd reason, everything began to spin and fog seemed to blanket everything in sight.

"Inuyasha," the stranger repeated, clearly not feeling the same discomfort his companion did. Shiro began to feel even dizzier.

"What did you say your name was?" Shiro asked, trying to keep his head clear.

"I didn't tell you my name," the stranger admitted, "I am called Kumo." (AN: If you haven't figured out yet that the stranger was the spider demon Kumo, well then you should probably read more carefully next time.)

"My name is Shiro," the boy murmured. Kumo's eyes widened slightly.

'Shiro? Is that not the one that mortal woman, Miho, told me not to harm?' Kumo thought to himself, 'I thought "Shiro" was but a fake name that murderer Inuyasha was using to confuse the mortals. It appears I was incorrect. Shiro and Inuyasha are two different beings! I am amazed my description of Inuyasha was poor enough to be confused with a human child! Perhaps I should have mentioned the dog-ears. But indeed, Shiro is exactly how I described Inuyasha to Miho: A boy who wears red garments and a sword by his hip. And he wears a rosary about his neck as well. I should have mentioned the dog-ears.'

While Kumo was busy beating himself up for his stupidity, Shiro was feeling worse by the second. In mere moments, the boy had gone from looking relatively healthy, to looking near death. Shiro's skin was extremely pale, and he had dark circles under his violet eyes. The boy was also swaying from side to side, his balance completely gone. Sweat ran off his brow like a river gushes water.

'It seems the rumors of Inuyasha being here are false,' Kumo thought, unaware of what was going on with Shiro, 'If that is so, then I kidnapped a mortal woman for no reason! Kuso! Things do not bode well for this unfortunate one.'

"K-Kumo?" Shiro murmured, tilting slightly, "I-I –"

"Yes?" Kumo turned around right when Shiro fell towards him. Luckily, Kumo had fast reflexes, and he was able to catch the unconscious boy before he fell to the ground.

"Kuso!" the youkai swore out loud.

***

Back in the village with Yumeko

"So this is the place where the Tetsusaiga lies," Yumeko mused to herself as she studied the tiny village. Yumeko had just arrived at the village a few minutes ago. The dream youkai had masked her pupil-less eyes with a spell, making them look like they had pupils and that they were hazel instead of green. As Yumeko studied the village, the first thing she noted what the lack of people.

"I wonder where they all went," the dream youkai murmured.

"They all went out to find Miho-san," a voice near her elbow piped up. Yumeko looked down to see Kimiko standing there.

"Is that so?" Yumeko said, raising an eyebrow, "Who exactly is this 'Miho'?"

"Miho-san is one of the village women here," Kimiko answered, "She was kidnapped by a spider youkai, and the village men are out in the woods trying to find her and save her."

"How did you know that she was abducted by a spider youkai?" Yumeko asked.

"Simple. Earlier today, a stranger came to town and told us all about it," Kimiko replied, "I didn't get to meet him myself, but Rika-san saw him, and told me about him."

"This is bad," Yumeko said, frowning.

"I know that Miho-san was stolen by a youkai, but I am confident she'll be rescued, so don't worry," Kimiko chirped.

"No, you don't understand," Yumeko began.

"I don't understand what?" Kimiko asked.

"Never mind," Yumeko sighed, "It's not that important."

"Alright, if you say so, Miss…"

"Yumeko," the dream demon supplied, "This unworthy one is known as Yumeko."

"I'm called Kimiko," the younger girl chirped. The two bowed to each other.

"Do you know a place were I can stay?" Yumeko asked, "An inn or something?"

"Well, you can stay at our house," Kimiko suggested, "We have an extra room that we never use. You can stay there. I'm sure my brother won't mind at all."

"Thank you Kimiko-san," Yumeko smiled.

"You sound so formal!" Kimiko giggled, "Call me Kimiko-chan, not san."

"Alright, Kimiko-chan," Yumeko nodded. Kimiko grinned, then skipped towards the direction of her home.

"Come on!" Kimiko cried. Yumeko smiled at the younger girl, and followed at a slower pace.

'This child doesn't know it, but the spider youkai tend to disguise themselves as allies and helpers, when in reality, they are the felons. That man she mentioned, the one who warned everyone of the spider youkai in the first place, is most likely the spider youkai himself!' Yumeko thought to herself. Suddenly, her smile turned briefly into a smirk, 'Well, well, well, it looks like I have a little bit of competition.'

***

Back in the forest with Kumo and Inuyasha/Shiro

'Kuso!' Kumo cursed in his head 'I hate all these trees! They are all slowing me down!' The disguised spider youkai was running though the forest, carrying an unconscious Shiro on his back. Kumo had not changed back into his true form, because it would have only slowed him down more. (AN: Imagine a giant web of flesh trying to navigate its way around tall trees that were closely clustered together.) Kumo had decided that Miho would probably know what to do about Shiro. After all, being a spider youkai, Kumo didn't have much experience taking care of sick human children.

'I shall ask Miho-san to help the boy, then I shall ask for her forgiveness,' Kumo reasoned as he ran, 'or should I do it the other way around? Kuso! Kumo no baka!!! Accursed woman, and her accursed kisses! What did she do to me?! I am getting all sappy! I sound like a bleeding, mortal, human!!! Kuso!!!' The demon continued to swear in his head as he ran. In a few minutes, Kumo was standing in front of the tree that he had tied Miho to. Placing Shiro down on the ground, the youkai turned to the sleeping form of Miho.

"Mortal! Awake!" Kumo commanded, changing his voice back into the eerie deep one he used in demon form. Kumo frowned when he noticed that Miho did not listen to him. He tried again.

"Foolish mortal! I order thee to awake!!!!" Kumo snarled again. The girl did not stir a bit. Moving closer to her, Kumo leaned over so that his mouth was next to her ear. He took a deep breath, and was about to yell in Miho's ear, when suddenly he stopped.

"Eh? What's this?" Kumo wondered. In his surprise, Kumo unconsciously switched his voice from his demon one to his human voice. Sniffing at Miho's neck, Kumo reflexively pulled away from her, and drew his kimono sleeve across his face.

'I would know that smell anywhere!' Kumo thought, his eyes wide, 'That is a magical sleep powder. But I put no sleep powder on the webs I used to tie up Miho-san. But if I did not put the powder on, then who did?' Muttering to himself, Kumo pulled out a long hunting knife, and cut apart the webbing that was holding Miho captive. As soon as the webbing was cut, they disintegrated into thin air. Kumo then lay Miho down next to Shiro.

"What do I do with you now?" Kumo asked the sleeping humans.

"Miho-san! Shiro-chan!" a voice cried. Kumo's head jerked up, and he turned to face Aki and Masato who had arrived on the scene a few moments ago.

"How long have you been here?" Kumo croaked, looking from Aki to Masato, and then back again.

"Long enough to see you cut Miho free from that webbing," Masato answered. Kumo almost sighed in relief when he realized that they didn't hear him use his demon voice.

"What are you doing here, stranger?" Aki asked, "I thought I told Shiro-chan to lead you back home."

"Unfortunately, Shiro here decided to play hero and find Miho-san by himself. I simply followed him," Kumo shrugged.

"What happened to Shiro-chan?" Aki asked, bending down to check on his "little brother".

"When we were walking in the forest," Kumo began, "Shiro suddenly fell over. I have no idea what caused it."

"Mou! Not again!" Aki growled. Kumo raised an eyebrow.

"He has done this before?"

"Aa," Aki sighed, "That boy seems to tip over every other day! The second I take my eye off him, he's fallen over unconscious!"

"Ha! That brat's a wimp, just like his brother, eh, Aki?" Masato snickered. Aki glared at his "partner".

"Who is Shiro's brother?" Kumo asked.

"This freak over here, remember?" Masato answered, jerking his thumb at Aki. Kumo shook his head.

"Shiro told me that you were not his blood brother, Aki-san," Kumo stated, "He said that you found him. Is that true?"

"Yes," Aki admitted, "But that doesn't mean that he is not my brother."

"Listen, all this chit-chat is cute and all, but shouldn't we get Miho-san and that brat out of here? That spider youkai might come back," Masato reasoned. Aki nodded in agreement, while Kumo bit his lip to stifle a laugh.

'Ha! Idiotic humans!' Kumo thought in disgust, 'Little do they know that their spider youkai is right before their faces!'

Author-chan's notes: Finished! It's about time too! Kumo is freaking me out! One minute he's all evil and youkai-ish, then the next minute he's semi-sweet and confused, then he's back to being evil! Every time I make Kumo all evil and stuff, I keep seeing Yami Bakura from Yugi-oh! pop up in my mind!!! Mou!!! (You have my permission to bop me over the head if Kumo all of a sudden starts stealing people's souls and stuffing them into playing cards.) Don't worry, I'll flesh out Kumo's personality a bit more, later. Same thing with Masato's personality.

And poor Shiro/Inuyasha! He's gone off and fainted again. Well at least this time he's not alone, Miho fainted too. Erg! I should put some more Kagome, Shippo, Sango, and Miroku somewhere. I think I'll do that in the next chapter. I'm so frustrated!!! And I want my pineapple juice!!! *cries*

Well, ja ne for now!