( yay...finally chapter five!...its short and i'm sorry i promise i'll make the next oneat least 10 pages long...hopefully longer...)

The group continued down the dirt path as they discussed the matter at hand. Kumi and Kazou in front with Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango close behind. After hearing parts of the story Kagome got a little curios about it, "so, why are you here if the problem's in the south?"

Kazou paused for a moment and thought to himself before starting to tell the story.

( Flash back )

A elderly man in a dark green god like kimono walked out from behind the door of his quarters then closed it quietly behind him. He looked up at Kazou with wise gray eyes.

Kazou stood in front of then man's bedroom door quietly and awaited his orders, he got down on one knee before his lord. "Lord Kisho, your orders sir?"

The lord sat before Kazou, "At ease, Kazou." Lord Kisho sat quietly while Kazou stand up before the lord. "Come," said the lord as he led Kazou down a long hallway to large room with a huge Buda statue on the right side of the room. The wooden doors with rice paper covered windows, the curtains were of the best silver, white and blue silks in the lord's land. There were pillars of gold along the walls on either side of the room that were each seven feet away from the next. Each pillar had a symbol on it and a name for each guardian.

Lord Kisho sat on a white pillow in the middle of the silent room and lit an enscent. He spoke as the incense slowly burned and allowed its sweet fragrance to flood the room. "Kazou, I know you have sensed the strong disturbance in the south, am I correct?"

Kazou simply nodded to the partial meditating lord.

The smoke from the incense started to swirl around in front of the lord then formed a vision, an illusion to show Kazou what the lord was trying to tell him. In the illusion the smoke created a view of dragons raging and fighting amongst each other. Some were destroying villages and devouring demons and humans alike.

( end of flash back )

"I went to help Kazou out, but they over powered me easily so I went to find Suoh. No matter where I looked I couldn't find him. His monsters and weapons were gone as well." Kumi added on her piece while she walked beside Kazou and fixed her hair.

Shippo stirred on the top of Kagome's bag. He sat up and yawned, his stomach growled and he started to complain, "Kagome, I'm hungry. Can we stop, please?". His short line of whining started the chain of whining.

Kumi gasped then jumped in front of Kazou with the face. "Kazou" she made watery chibi eyes and spoke in a chibi like voice for added effect, "Kazou, Kumi is hungry, we go eat? Please, please, please"

"Nope" he turned his head and kept walking.

"Kumi, stay focused we're trying to find Suoh and Michiko. Besides I think you could go at least another week without eating considering how much you eat."

Kumi huffed but pressed on, "Jeez Kazou, you can be such a---" her eyes widen when she finally caught on to what he had just said. She paused for a moment then bristled and glared at him from the corner of her eye, "You just called me fat, didn't you!" She growled under her breath then an idea popped into her head. She stood tall and walked in front of him then said "Well I never, sir. I am deeply offended." She stopped then laughed to herself, it was a small inside joke she'd play to get his attention or spite.

She'd imitate the last girl he courted, her name was Natsu. She and Kazou courted for about two months till he found out she was with someone else as well. He hated to be reminded of her but Kumi, being the stubborn person she is uses it to get him attention.

He looked at her with a cold glare, it worked so well she went silent and started walking behind him. He looked forward and continued walking after calming down.

Shippo blinked at them then shook his head, "jeez…." he tilted his head slightly to the side and scratched it, "what's their problem?"

" Shippo, be nice." then Kagome looked to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, are we going to stop, is getting kind of late and I wanted to get some studying done before I fall asleep."

"What is with you and studying for those stupid tests! We're not stopping, it isn't even night yet!" he growled then stomped forward.

"Inuyasha, it is sunset and in a few moments it will be night. Therefore, we should stop now so we can eat, relax and Kagome will have time to study." Miroku stated calmly and raised an eyebrow in question if he helped at all to convince the stubborn demon.

Sango stepped forward, "Miroku is right after all, we've been walking since early this morning."

"Fine" he said through clenched teeth then started to mumble something about weak humans. He led them to a clearing with a nearby hot spring and small stream. He jumped into a tree and watched them from above as they set up camp.

After camp was set up Kagome and Sango gathered up their soaps, shampoos and towels. Kagome turned to were Kazou and Kumi were sitting beneath a large oak. "Kumi, would you like to come with us?" Kagome gave a warm smile then finished with, "We were going to the hot springs to bathe."

Kumi looked at Kazou who just shrugged, closed his eyes and leaned back against the tree. She gave him a kiss on the cheek then went off to join Kagome and Sango.

Miroku sat next to Kazou and laid his staff on the ground in front of him then looked up at Inuyasha who was sitting in the branches and staring down at them. Miroku sighed. "I'm not trying to pry but I'm curious, why are you so strict with Kumi?"

Kazou opened his eyes and said, "I'm not, she makes it seem that way. I don't tell her to do much of anything…Lord Kisho paired us together a few decades ago."

Miroku raised an eyebrow, "Paired?"

Kazou started to explain, "Lord Kisho saw Kumi was getting out of hand and dangerously energetic. It got so bad she started kill people, demons and destroying villages. Only reason she wouldn't be terrorizing the land was if Lord Kisho sent her on a mission. She was still unruly. After debating with the lord of the eastern lands they found a solution. Kumi was to have a keeper."

"So you're just following orders, if that's so then why does she get cowardly around you when you're temper starts to flare the least little bit?"

Kazou sighed and stared at the ground, "Everything was going great until three days later she got bored and ran off to start destroying a nearby village. I tried to stop her numerous times but when all else failed my temper took a turn for the worse--"

"You didn't hit her did you?" Miroku asked with widened eyes.

"No, I couldn't, but my anger and pride took over. When this happens my eyes turn a malevolent purple, my claws turn black, and my sword starts to get a black mist around it."

"So you did fight with her?" Miroku stared at the sword that was propped up against Kazou's shoulder as his hand held the hilt.

"no, I merely scared her."

"Was there something else?"

"Yeah, After I got passed this stage I pulled the sword from its sheath and slammed it to the ground. The force split the ground from my feet to her heels, she stopped dead in her tracks and turned to see my fangs bared and my eyes glowing. She stepped back as if she was going to run like hell but I wasn't taking any chances. I snarled then gave a demonic roar."

"Are you saying that's all it took to scare her into listening to you?" Inuyasha asked in a flat tone.

"I didn't do it on purpose, I couldn't control my anger back then. It was what happened after the roar and the ground splitting that scared her."

"What was it?" Shippo jumped onto Kazou's knee and stared at him.

"Yes, I'm curious as well according to what you said she must've seen plenty of horrid things in her journeys." Miroku stated as he picked Shippo up and set him on the ground.

"A few moments after the roar everything got quiet. The ground started to shake again as the split got wider and deeper till green smoke started to come from it. I'd finally came back to reality by now, the next thing I heard was a sickening groan and I looked up to see Kumi scared stiff as she starred at the many undead beings that climbed out of the ground."

Miroku's eyes widened as well as Inuyasha's, Shippo tried to imagine it when he did he regretted it and scurried over to Kagome's over-sized bag to hide. "Can't you guys find something more pleasant to talk about then undead, mindless bones coming after people!" he shouted from Kagome's bag then went back into hiding.

Kazou and Inuyasha laughed at the kit. "Damn coward" Inuyasha spat after Shippo went back to his little hiding place. Miroku sat quiet and watched while soaking up what Kazou had said.

(hot springs)

Kagome sighed as she sunk neck deep into the water. Sango stood with the water up to her shoulders with Kumi leaning near the edge with her arms supporting her from on land.

"Kumi, you said you were from the east, right?" Sango looked at Kumi from where she stood soaping up a rag.

Kumi yawned and opened her eyes lazily, "yea, why do you ask?"

Sango became quiet for a moment and went into deep thought as she stared at the soap in her hands.

"Sango, what's wrong?" Kagome asked and started to walk over to her friend.

Kumi blinked and watched Sango carefully. 'What if she knows? Kazou and I would be exposed and in so much trouble! All I can do is hope she doesn't' Kumi thought with panic filled eyes. She started to bristle subconsciously.