Disclaimer: Do you think I own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho, because I DO NOT!

The Unchosen Path II

Chapter 4: Escape

WindEmpress: Skip our usual intros! I am startin' the story NOW!


"Got it?" Alexia whispered to her cousin, Angel. Alexia had explained her plan very thoroughly and nearly silently to Angel. First, they had to find some sort of herb to help Angel heal her broken leg, luckily, Angel had found dandelions, aloe vera, and thypin (WindEmpress: A plant that I just made up. It has small white flowers with a light sprinkle of white on the leaves and stalks. Aren't I weird?).

Angel nodded with a smile. She found a skull and smashed the plants together and, much to her displeasure, she ate it. Nearly gagging as she swallowed, she felt the aloe-vera filling slither down her throat. She coughed and nearly vomited as she finished the rest. "Alexia . . . Are you sure these are the right plants?"

"Of course!" Alexia whispered, "I've memorized the entire book by heart."

" . . . I sure hope so . . ." she coughed once more and wiped the corner of her mouth. Without realizing it, she put her full weight on her broken leg and walked around. "What next?"

"You do know you're walking on your broken leg, right?" Alexia said pointing to Angel's broken leg.

Angel looked down at her leg and noticed that she was standing on her leg. She smiled and said, "Of course, I knew I was walking on my bad leg . . ."

"Right . . ." Alexia got up and walked to the gate where they were placed captive. Oddly, the room was large enough to be a classroom for evil demon experiments. Back to the story, Alexia saw that Kagura was leaning against the wall and looked extraordinarily bored. Alexia smiled and turned around to give Angel the thumbs-up.

Angel nodded. I really hope this works . . . She closed her eyes and listened to everything around her (Firestar: Coolie part!). She could feel a flame burning in the palm of her hand, but it wasn't what she wanted: she wanted something explosive. She closed her eyes and concentrated her energy onto her hand. She forced herself to get angry, which was the nature of explosions, to cause her actions to go according to plan.

She suddenly opened her eyes and her eyes held flames in them. She caused an explosion near the place where Kagura stood and another by the wall in their cell. Just as they had planned, Kagura had only hear the first explosion and rushed to see what had happened. Meanwhile, Alexia and Angel raced out of their captive compartment and transformed to race away without hesitation.


"Give me . . . Your soul . . ."

Aris' body was slowly losing its soul. She didn't know how much longer she could stay under this demon's mirror until she became a permanent empty shell. She turned her gaze away from the mirror and crawled away until she could feel some strength returning to her, but it still wasn't enough for her to transform. Aris picked herself up and limped away, but she could hear the girl coming after her. There's no way to escape . . . I might as well surrender-

Suddenly, something leaped out of the forest and at the white demon. The girl fell over, but stood back up before the thing could attack her again.

Aris turned around to see what had attacked the demon and she nearly fainted in surprise. "Sifa!"

Sifa, now suddenly in her human form, raced over to Aris and helped her up. "I thought you were better than that."

"Really funny, but how did you find me? That demon blocked my scent-"

"I can always find you, no matter where, or even what, your doing."

Aris looked at her. "You had a certain point behind that, didn't you?"

Sifa nodded and helped Aris up. She put her arm around Aris and held her up for support.

(Firestar: Can't you tell that they really ARE like us?) "You're not going anywhere," said a voice in the mirror.

Sifa was about to look at it, but Aris put her hand over her eyes. "That's how it happened to me; don't look into the mirror at all!"

"Okay, but could you turn the lights back on? Thanks. Now, who the hell says that we're leaving?"

Naraku appeared in the mirror again, but neither of them was looking at it. Too bad for Naraku . . . "You've entered the barrier that I put around the area, there's no way for you to leave."

"Okay, you SOB! For trying to kill Aris, your stupid mirror is going down!" Sifa picked up a rock and blindly threw it; somehow, it landed on her intended target and broke the mirror. "Ha, ha! Shit, does that mean that there are now seven mirrors more to destroy us?"

"No, the mirror is busted," Aris said as she felt her strength returning to her. She stood up straight and looked directly at the demon. "Pay back time!" She shifted to her tiger form and Sifa into hers.

They attacked side by side at the demon, Sifa slashing blindly and Aris doing the same. At the last second, Kanna and the barrier disappeared.Aris and Sifatransformed back to their human forms and started forward.

"Wait, what happened to the other two?"

"You mean the t-"

"Yes, those two, do you know where they went?"

Sifa shook her head. "I'm sorry; they disappeared before I could even think."

"You do know what could happen if Naraku gets a hold of them, right?" Aris asked stopping.

"No, I don't even understand why he wants them in the first place!"

Aris looked into the sky. Numerous stars dotted the heavens and the blood colored moon still stood. "Before I answer your question, what of Tsuki?"

"Tsuki has been possessed by Yoru. I left right after I heard that you were being attacked, but he didn't come right out and say that you were going to die. He said that you were going to become an empty shell."

"I would have if you hadn't shown up . . ."

"Yeah, you owe me big now. So what's your explanation?"

"Well, Naraku knows of their . . . Powers and knows that they're just beginning to grow. You know as well as I that their powers are great enough to destroy the planet, right?"

Sifa shivered. "Yes, but don't speak so highly of them, they're only whelps."

Aris nodded and continued, "He feels that he could use their powers for his purposes. He could, too . . . That's why we're here: to make sure that no one tries to manipulate them. But, I have this feeling that there's going to be quite a lot of trials for them to go through . . ."

"Trials? What kind of trials?"

Aris turned her gaze to the ground. "Trials like the Elemental Trials."

"You mean like what you had to do . . ."

The Elemental Trials were trying times that came to anyone who carried any elemental abilities. Each trial came with everyday situations, but each one tested how well you could work your elements. "Almost like mine, but they have to amalgamate in order to do so."

Sifa jumped backwards. "Amalgamate? What the hell does that mean?"

"Fuse."

"You mean-"

"They have to learn to work together to accomplish their abilities, trials, just about everything else. If they wish to avoid each other, then their abilities will drop. If they stay away from each other for years, well then . . . There will be no more of them."

"They die?"

"No, they'll become humans again."

"Ahh! That's not good!"

Aris smiled. "I highly doubt that will happen anytime soon, so don't worry. Besides, their alliance between each other is extraordinary. Nothing will be strong enough to break their bond to each other."

"That's good to hear . . . I guess . . ."

Aris smiled. "Come on, let's go save them!" She took off at top speed with Sifa following at her heels.


Hiei and Kurama found Yusuke and Kuwabara on the edge of the forest waiting for them. Their run through the forest hadn't helped them to find the two missing girls.

"Did you find out what we needed?" Yusuke asked. Botan had left shortly after they'd visited with the two girls.

Hiei arrogantly sighed and rolled his eyes. "What information did you need? I heard more than I needed from the younger one!"

"What're their names, for one thing?"

"The younger is named Alexia and the older is Angel. Anything else?"

"How old are they?" Kuwabara asked out of nowhere.

"Why do you need to know?" Hiei said with a glare in his eyes.

Kurama looked back into the sky, still seeing the red moon. "Something is odd about them," he said without looking away from the sky.

They turned to Kurama with curiosity. "What are you mumbling about?" Yusuke asked.

Kurama took his gaze from the sky to look at them. "Isn't it ironic that they look exactly alike? They have so few differences it makes you wonder."

"Are you saying that they're related?" Kuwabara asked.

"Of course-"

Just then, they heard someone scream in the distance. After that, there was a loud crack from behind.

"I swear this forest goes in circles!" said a voice, "Did you do this to make me angry?"

There was more shuffling and a few more cracks. If these people were trying to be stealthy, they weren't very good at it. "Why the hell would I do that?"

Yusuke and Kurama looked at each other. "Do you think it's them?" Yusuke asked.

"Sounds like them."

They moved towards the sound and moved the brush aside to find two girls, but these two were not the ones they had been hoping to find.

"Sifa, you idiot!"

"What the hell did I do!"

"Your nose is worse than your brain!"

"I'm taking that as an insult!" (Firestar: How many times is that now that they've said that quote?)

"You should," Hiei said.

Sifa jumped and looked at him. "Look, Aris! It's those idiots!"

Aris looked to the source of the sound and staggered backwards.

"Did you lose your balance?" Sifa asked.

Aris nodded. She looked at the four of them and smiled. "Didn't mean to bother you . . ."

Yusuke remembered who they were (WindEmpress: One memory point for Yusuke!) "Hey, aren't you the two who attacked us from the start?"

"Uh . . . Yes?"

"They're the ones who were helping to protect them," Kurama said. He looked at Aris and still saw the mark his rose whip had left and felt a little guilt.

"Oh, in that case, have you seen them?" Yusuke asked.

"How do we know we can trust them? They attacked us from the beginning!" Kuwabara said.

Again, Hiei rolled his eyes at his stupidity. "If you haven't noticed, they were trying to guard Angel and Alexia, you dumb ass."

Kuwabara scratched his head (WindEmpress: The poor idiot . . . NOT!) and thought long and hard.

"I wish I could say that we've seen them, but we haven't even heard a sound of their whereabouts," Aris said. Even though they had been through quite a bit of the forest, she had yet to find any trace to them, Sifa wasn't any better.

"I bet they're hiding really well . . . Or they were caught and were blown into OBLIVION!" Sifa said with sudden hyperness.

Aris jumped away from Sifa. "I hope you aren't really serious about that . . ."

"Sorry, I was hyper for a minute and I had to say it. Anyway, they could have been caught . . ."

"I really hope not." Aris turned to the four before her. "If I agree to help you, then you agree to help me, right?"

"I don't know, you might attack us again," Yusuke said.

Aris smiled. "Don't worry. I know you're not here to kill them, so I have no reason to rip you apart."

"You think you can beat me?"

Sifa started laughing. "Do you know who you're even talking to?" She continued to laugh; they eyed her as though she needed to go to a mental institute. "You're talking to the Chil-"

Aris put her hand over Sifa's mouth. "Now is not the time to speak of my identity . . . Not with unpure souls within this area ready to prey on anything that holds any power." She spoke with such a serious tone that it scared Sifa into silence. Aris released her grip on Sifa and straightened.

"Are you talking about us?" Hiei asked.

Aris shifted her gaze to him. "No, I'm talking about Naraku. Anyway, let's try to find them. Any leads as to where they are would be greatly appreciated."


Alexia and Angel ran through the forest, stumbling on rocks and roots along the way. They didn't look back as they had run away from the castle and back into the forest. Unbeknownst to them, the castle had collapsed because of Angel's explosive attack and Kagura was on the lookout for them.

Because of the explosion, Yoru had lost his concentration on possessing Tsuki and the curse. Tsuki had regained control of herself and kept control of herself. Poor Yoru . . .

Back to the two girls . . . They raced away from their captive place without a care as to where they were going. Every sound in the forest caused them to panic, even their own footsteps. No one was around to help them and there was no comfort in the dark forest in the middle of the night.

"Alexia! Wait my leg!" Angel called as she felt a slight pain return to her previously injured leg.

"Hurry up! I can't stay here any longer!" Alexia said, slowing down for her cousin to catch up.

The poultice was wearing off; each step caused Angel more pain, slowing her down. Within seconds, she had to slow to a walk and then to a dead stop. Alexia was by her side still.

"I'm sorry . . ." Angel said limping so slowly forward.

"Don't be sorry, come on. Let's get out of here," Alexia said placing her arm around Angel to support her.

"Thank you." Alexia's support helped, but only a little as the poultice disappeared from her: she could no longer use her leg. (WindEmpress: Oh, the suspense!) They stopped to sit down and rest. They could make another poultice, but none of the herbs were around them and Naraku's minions were looking for them. It would be best to hide until help came . . . If help came.

"What do you think everyone else is doing?" Angel whispered.

"Knowing Naraku, he probably sent attacks on them." Alexia was beginning to hate this primitive world with Naraku and toilets made of dirt. (WindEmpress: Sorry, that was graphical, but I couldn't think of anything else!) "Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"If we ever find those people again, you know the ones that offered to train us? Well, if we ever find them again, I want to go with them. I'm tired of staying here; I don't see how Kagome does it."

Angel nodded. She didn't want to admit it, but she wanted to go back to her real time.

Suddenly, the bushes rustled and the sound of footsteps echoed around the forest. Alexia and Angel shrunk together closer, almost as though it would be safer if they stayed closer, and nearly cut-off the other's blood circulation. The footsteps came closer and closer, nearly causing both of them to have a heart attack!

"There's something over here," called a voice.

"I don't think we'll have our heads for too long," Alexia silently said to Angel.

Angel was too afraid to answer. She had no movement and no way of defending herself with a broken leg. If they were attacked, at least Alexia could escape and hopefully find the others.

The footsteps were only a few feet away behind the brush. They both hugged closer and waited for the worst. The person emerged from the brush and looked at them.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" (WindEmpress: So much for hiding . . .) They both screamed at the same time, hoping their screams would scare them away. When they stopped, they saw that the person had covered their ears to block out the sound.

"Damn, must you scream like that? Holy cheese on rye! It's them!"

"AAAAHHH-" they stopped dead when they got a good glimpse of them. "Hey, we know you!" Angel said.

"Oh, well! AAAAAAHHHHHH-"

Angel put her hand over her cousin's mouth. "If you don't quit it, Naraku's going to find us again." She released her and looked at him.

"Wait, how do we know that you're not one of Naraku's dudes that are looking for us?" Alexia asked eyeing him.

"You're a pervert."

"Anyone would know that!"

The boy looked annoyed. "You're name is Angel and yours is Alexia."

"GOOD LORD, HOW DID YOU KNOW?"

"Alexia! Quit yelling! I know you're traumatized, but come on, even I don't yell that much," Angel pleaded.

"Okay then, where are you're other dudey friends?"

The boy, obviously Yusuke, if you didn't know, turned around and the other three stood behind him with an additional two more.

"Aris! Sifa!" Angel and Alexia said at the same time. Alexia raced over to them, leaving Angel to fall over without any support.

"Damm'it Alexia! If you're going to help me, at least do it right!" Angel said supporting herself with her arms.

"You don't help me . . ." Alexia said innocently.

"My-give-a-damn's busted! I always help you, like homework."

"Homework doesn't count!"

"Yes it does!"

"No it doesn't!"

"Yes. It. Does!"

"No. It. Doesn't!"

"STOP IT!" Yusuke yelled. "I can't take it anymore! You," he said pointing to Angel, "go over there and you go over there! Problem solved!"

The other two (WindEmpress: Kurama and Hiei) snickered and tried to hold back laughter as both girls blinked in confusion.

"Who died and made you leader?" Angel asked, still on the ground.

"I did!"

Angel looked at him. "You don't look dead . . ."

"I've died once before!"

Again, she looked at him. "Reincarnated? What were you before? A frog?"

Alexia started laughing, Sifa and Aris looked at each other and Yusuke's friends (too lazy to name them all) chuckled.

"No! I . . . It's . . . Never mind! And I thought she was the idiotic one," Yusuke said pointing to Alexia.

"Hey!" Alexia said. "I'm perverted, not idiotic!"

"Whatever!"

Everyone was silent and Angel was still on the ground, because no one really cared for her, and Alexia had gone off into another world.

"Are we going?" Aris finally asked.

"What?" Sifa said.

Aris rolled her eyes and went to help Angel (WindEmpress: Finally!). She supported Angel the same way as Alexia had, but with more strength. "You both have to make a choice now. Either you stay here with Tsuki and Ken'oshi or you can go with these four."

Angel and Alexia looked at each other. The answer was obvious as to which they'd choose. "We'll leave this place!" they said at the same time.

Aris blinked when they answered at the same time. How on Earth do they do that?

"Then its settled," Hiei said, "they'll come with us and . . . What about you two?" he asked Aris and Sifa.

"We'll drop by from time to time to make sure that they're okay and you're not trying to kill them."

"Yeah, what she said," Sifa said.

"Before we leave, we'll tell Inuyasha and them that you've left."

Angel sighed. "Yeah, about that . . . You're going to have one pissed off puppy to deal with when you say that."

"Yeah, what she said," Alexia said. Sifa scolded her.

"Alright then, we'll see to Inuyasha," Aris said.

"And we'll take them away," Kurama said.

"You mean we're going to prison!" Angel and Alexia said at the same time.

"No, you're coming with us!"

They looked at each other and smiled. "Yeah!"


WindEmpress: Now the good stuff comes!
Firestar: EWW!
WindEmpress: (rolls eyes) Baka tora!
Firestar: Hey, what is that supposed to mean!
WindEmpress: Just as it sounds: stupid tiger.
Firestar: Ha, ha . . . Funny . . .