Well, here's chapter 4! Hope you like it, and sorry about not updating sooner… I had to go and visit a friend whose cancer has come back and figured you would all forgive me. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for reading!

Chapter 4: Strong Hopes

Amara yawned gracefully as she woke to her first morning in the feudal era. She rubbed her back sorely and silently left the miko's hut and into the morning air. The sunshine enveloped her lithe form and set a glow to her pale skin. Her long, fluffy tail swished slowly behind her as she observed her surroundings. The village's inhabitants were working hard in the late hours of the morning and several confused glances were sent her way. She ran her fingers through her hair as she began walking towards a nearby woman. She was determined to fit in well in the feudal era, and highly doubted tight blue jeans and a baby tee were appropriate.

"Excuse me?" The woman looked up and Amara could smell the fear leak into the woman's scent. "Could you tell me where the seamstress lives? I'm staying with the miko Kaede and am in need of her services." Amara sniffed discretely once more and was relieved to find the woman's fear had subsided. 'Must not trust youkai…'

"My daughter can bring you there if you would like. She is heading in that direction to get water, so she could drop you off on the way."

"Thank you." Amara bowed respectfully and turned to the young girl who'd appeared beside her. The girl was looking at her tail in wonder, and Amara swished it to the girl's delight.

"You have a pretty tail, lady. Are you youkai? You won't eat me, will you?"

"Thank you, I am a youkai, and no, I promise I will not eat you, nor anyone else." The small girl smiled brightly at the demon woman and picked up two buckets. She proceeded to lead the way speaking almost constantly and stopping occasionally to watch the youkai's progress. Amara couldn't prevent the small smile that crossed her features as she listened to the many questions that came from the small child. No sooner had the young girl announced their arrival did Amara sense another youkai in the area. She concentrated and realized the aura did not belong to any of Kagome's companions, and that it was a possible threat to the quiet village. She made her decision and turned to the little girl.

"You better go home until I return. I think the village might be in trouble, and I want you safe." The young girl nodded at the serious tone to Amara's voice and headed towards her home at a quickened pace. As soon as the girl was out of sight Amara caught notice of a small whirlwind headed towards her quickly. She dodged out of its path in time to watch it dissipate and leave a lone wolf youkai in its wake.

"Who are you, demoness, and why do you have MY Kagome's scent all over you?" demanded the wolf demon as his bright azure eyes met with her golden stare.

"It does not concern you, wolf," Amara's tone was cold. She almost perfectly resembled an angry version of Lord Sesshoumaru, the prince of cold stares, and Kouga inwardly winced. "I do not believe Kagome is anyone's woman as of yet."

"She's mine! I'll kill you if you stand in my way. I intend to take her back with me. She's stayed here long enough…"

"Fool… as if a wolf could kill me…" Amara smirked as the wolf demon lunged at her claws extended. He snarled viciously when she sidestepped his attack and he hit the dirt. "Get up, filth. You should know better than to attack me… never underestimate your opponent." The wolf demon bared his fangs and lunged again. With a flick of her wrist a fire whip spread from her fingertips and knocked the wolf into a nearby tree.

With a sickening thud the wolf landed at the bottom of the large pile of branches. "Stupid bitch…" He grunted as he disentangled himself from the tree branches and stood. His eyes slowly made their way up Amara's body as she stood in a bored position. She noticed his gaze and lashed her whip out once more bringing the wolf demons body to kneel before her.

"Submit." Amara spoke calmly. She heard his growl and her whip soon attached itself to his neck, the flames licking at his tender skin. "I do not wish to kill you, but I will not hold back any longer. Submit to me wolf, and leave this place with your life.

"Never! I will never-" Neither demon nor demoness had noticed the small audience their fight had gained. Nearby Sesshoumaru stood with an amused expression upon his normally stoic face. He had noticed the female's absence from the hut first and had gone in search of her only to find she was beating the wolf demon senseless. Kagome arrived just as Kouga, the wolf demon, was refusing to surrender. She glared at the smirking taiyoukai and stomped over to the slowly strangling wolf.

"You can let him go, Amara. He won't do anyone any harm."

"I already figured out he's harmless, but do you really want me to let the ignorant fool go, Kagome?" Kagome sighed and nodded.

'Just my luck…' Amara called her fire whip back to her and stood her ground as the wolf rubbed his sore neck. He was going to be sore for a while after being beaten to a pulp by the fierce Inu demoness. Now that he had a chance to look her over he noticed she was quite attractive, though no one, youkai or human could match up to his intended mate, Kagome. He jumped up and grabbed Kagome's small hands but dropped them quickly as two growls sounded. He knew one was the demoness, and as he looked around his eyes came into contact with Inuyasha's amber orbs. Inuyasha was still growling lowly, and Kouga doubted anyone but the youkai could hear the threat in its tone.

"Hey Dog breath! I've come to take my woman." Kouga grinned as Inuyasha's growl deepened but stepped back when a tinge of red began to find its way into the hanyou's eyes.

"She's not your woman. In fact, she's not anyone's. Kagome isn't some prize to be won, and I won't have you hurting her," After a short pause he added, "Wolf shit!" and drew Tetsusaiga. Kagome stared in shock for a moment before she regained her senses and glared at Inuyasha and Kouga.

"WHAT do you two think you're doing! No more fighting!" Kagome's miko powers flared around her in spirals of pink light as she fought the urge to knock both men upside the head. Inuyasha nodded vigorously and sheathed Tetsusaiga as Kouga jumped several yards away from Inuyasha. She began to calm down, and as her breathing returned to normal her miko powers settled. 'That was strange…'

"Wow! That was amazing, Mama!" exclaimed Shippo as he leapt onto Kagome's shoulder. "You scared Inuyasha bad!" He clapped his hands happily and giggled at the hanyou's death glare.

"Yes, I'm certain I've never seen anything quite like that display of power, Lady Kagome." Miroku was watching Kagome with interest. A miko whose powers were as strong as Kagome's was rare, and he hadn't heard of such a one being born since Midoriko, the creator of the Shikon no Tama.

"Her increase in power is due to the bond made by the prophecy. This Sesshoumaru assumes the demoness has faced the same side affect." Sesshoumaru stared intently at the female Inu youkai who seemed to draw his attention constantly. He was intrigued by her strength and attitude. She was innocent and pleasant one moment, and as cold and emotionless as he the next. Amara was a puzzle to Sesshoumaru, and Sesshoumaru was not one to back down from the challenge of solving her.

"My senses have increased dramatically. I can hear the men hunting several miles from here quite well if I concentrate, and the spell I use to cover scents has little effect right now… I can't begin to imagine what I would be smelling otherwise." Amara winced inwardly at the thought and shook herself to rid her mind of such thoughts. "My strength and abilities haven't changed." Her long tail wrapped itself around her waist and she watched Sesshoumaru's face carefully. He nodded slightly and began walking towards Inuyasha's Forest at a slow pace.

"This Sesshoumaru must meditate. Read this carefully; I will speak with you later concerning it. You may also show it to the old miko as she may be able to help." He handed a rolled scroll to the monk and continued on his way. His tail fell from his shoulder disentangling itself from the large pelt he wore. His fluffy tail flicked behind him occasionally and the companions turned and left in the direction of Kaede's hut leaving an entranced Inu youkai female drooling slightly as she followed Sesshoumaru's fluffy tail to his firm rear. A call from a giggling demon exterminator woke her from her hentai thoughts and back to the real world with a heavy blush. She ran up to the demon exterminator's side and her blush deepened when the slayer shot her a knowing look. They continued in silence and passed a slowly walking hanyou and miko on their way to Kaede's hut. Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief once he was sure they were out of earshot and turned to the confused miko beside him. She looked up at him when he lightly touched her arm, surprised by the small show of affection.

"I'msorryKagome." Mumbled Inuyasha quickly as an almost invisible blush appeared on the hanyou's cheeks and he suddenly found a small pebble to be the most interesting thing in the world.

Kagome blinked and the only word able to escape her lips was, "Huh?" 'Did Inuyasha just APPOLOGIZE!' Inuyasha blushed harder and repeated himself loudly enough for Kagome to hear him. She smiled at him and he felt his spirits soar.

Kagura jumped from her hiding place amongst the branches of a tree nearby and landed soundlessly. 'Naraku would be pleased to know more about the prophecy…' She smoothed out her magenta kimono with white feathers scattered upon it and looked around for signs of danger with her crimson eyes. Deciding she had gone unnoticed she pulled the white feather from her black hair and it became large enough to carry her on the winds. She sighed as she floated high above the treetops, 'Will I ever be free of Naraku?' Two cold pairs of eyes followed her form as she left, one as golden as the sun, and the other the richest of ambers.

Several hours later----

Kagura arrived at Naraku's castle and entered through the miasma barrier surrounding the structure being sure to use her wind control to prevent the poisonous gas from killing her. She landed slowly and looked up to be met with the empty silver gaze of her sister offspring, Kanna. "Naraku is waiting, Kagura. This way." The small silver clad girl lead the way through the halls of the crumbling castle, an occasional glint coming from the mirror's non-reflective surface she carried. The mirror held the souls she captured, and had only been broken once while trying to absorb Kagome. The souls swirled eerily upon the surface as Kanna stopped in front of Naraku's personal chambers and gestured for Kagura to enter. The wind demoness entered the rooms cautiously and stood in front of Naraku's baboon pelt clad figure.

"What did you learn, Kagura?"

"Their powers have increased with the prophecy. The miko's powers were visible, and I believe the demoness' senses have become more perceptive. They have become more of a threat now that they are united. I suggest we attack immediately to ensure their powers do not continue to grow." Naraku dismissed her with a wave of his hand and he grinned threateningly.

'It seems you are worth more everyday, my lovely Kagome. You will give me what I want when the time comes, and no one will stop me.' Naraku called to Kanna and proceeded to watch replays of Kagome. Kaede had placed a barrier around her hut preventing such acts against her when Kagome had first come to the Feudal era, so he settled for seeing Kagome's angelic face replay when he could not see her in the mirror.

I could stop here, but I'm going to give you all a nice LONG chapter-since I made you wait so long…

Kaede's village---

"PERVERT!"

SMACK! A dazed Miroku smiled lopsidedly as a blushing demon exterminator huffed. 'That cursed hand is more trouble than anything I've ever met… I think Naraku's curse of the wind tunnel has gotten to his head…' Kagome and Amara were rolling on the floor in their laughter at the expression that had overtaken the slayer's face the moment Miroku's hand had come into contact with her firm bottom. It was this sight that Sesshoumaru first beheld upon entering the small hut. His eyes widened a small fraction when he spotted the monk talking to a kettle and he had to restrain himself from telling the monk that the kettle agreed to bear his children.

"Have you all read the scroll?" Sesshoumaru's eyes scanned the inhabitants of the hut and he continued after receiving a nod from everyone present. "You then know that I must take you with me to my lands and train you." He stared at both miko and Inu youkai female as they nodded once again in affirmation.

"If we truly are the sisters of the prophecy then it is our duty, Lord Sesshoumaru." Amara set her face in a determined expression and turned to Kagome. "We will do what is required of us in the scroll to the best of our abilities."

"Very well. I would like to leave for my home as soon as possible. I have matters to attend to in my lands and have been away long enough."

"We plan to visit the seamstress for some more kimono's and kimos for the both of us. Once that has been done we will be ready. We could leave after dinner tonight if you like…"

"That is acceptable. This Sesshoumaru can wait until then."

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru's gaze locked with Amara's and she continued on, "I would very much like a sword. Are there any sword smiths you could recommend?"

"There is an old man named Totosai. He can provide you with the sword you desire." Amara nodded and smiled her thanks. She and Kagome stood and left the small hut towards the seamstress' home to ask for more fighting kimonos. Amara had never finished her trip in the morning due to her scuffle with Kouga, and was anxious to replace her modern clothing.

Kagome observed Amara as they walked in silence. 'I just can't figure her out. One minute she's the most innocent and compassionate person I've ever met, and the next she's as cold as Sesshoumaru. She's powerful too, but I don't understand how she became so in our time…' Kagome was thrown from her thoughts when the village seamstress yelped in surprise upon seeing the strange youkai that was with Kagome. "Hello Mira-san! This is Amara." Kagome chirped smiling reassuringly at the seamstress while she gestured to Amara's form. Mira's green eyes stayed warily glued to the elegant youkai for a few moments before she greeted Kagome. Mira lead the two women into her home and began laying out different patterns and materials for the kimonos Kagome and Amara had come to order. Amara quietly took in her surroundings and her eyes fell to a deep black fabric deep in a pile of fabrics. She walked towards it and picked the fabric up. The fabric slid over her fingers like water and in the light red and silver rippled across its surface. Amara turned to find the seamstress staring at her curiously.

"Do you like that fabric? I have just enough for one more kimono and all the trimmings if you want… I also have a fabric that goes with it perfectly for the kimos…" Mira began to search through a deep bin of fabrics and with a smirk of satisfaction pulled out another black fabric. The fabric she'd pulled out shimmered constantly and deep blues and purples danced across it enticingly. The fabric was just as soft as the one Amara had grabbed, and Mira smiled when she brought out two more fabrics and Kagome's eyes lit up in admiration. "I think you'll like these, Kagome." One fabric appeared to be a pale cream color, but when the light spread across it came to life in hues of silver and pink. The other was a white, but when it was shifted blue would shoot across it leaving the observer wondering if the color had ever been there. "I can make you each two kimonos with this fabric. With help from my daughters I can have them ready by this evening. I know you are leaving and would like to take them with you." Mira smiled at the girls and placed the seemingly black fabrics in Amara's hands and the cream and white in Kagome's. "I have your measurements, Kagome, but I will need Amara's so I can leave room for her tail." Amara nodded and stepped forward. After several minutes of measuring the seamstress smiled and ushered the two women out of her hut. "I'll send my daughter Kimi to bring your clothing to Kaede's when everything's finished." Kagome and Amara bowed their thanks and left the smiling seamstress to her work.

Sesshoumaru landed his youki cloud softly and growled when he detected Inuyasha's scent near Kagome and Amara. 'The hanyou is with my woman.' He blinked at his thought and began walking in the group's direction. 'I wonder where that came from…' Kagome was talking animatedly with Amara while Inuyasha sat in a tree nearby keeping a watchful eye out to protect the two women. Amara was the first to sense his presence and he watched with curiosity as she turned towards him and waved. Inuyasha and Kagome both noticed the action and Inuyasha jumped down from the branches next to Kagome. Sesshoumaru let his barriers drop and stepped into their lines of sight. "This Sesshoumaru will test you to determine your strengths." Both Kagome and Amara nodded while Inuyasha keh'd.

"I'll go first if you don't mind." Kagome stood and grabbed her bow and arrows. Sesshoumaru raised one of his elegant eyebrows at her and nodded. He walked into the middle of the large clearing the group was situated in and turned towards Kagome. He nodded and she took aim.

"Begin."

Kagome launched an arrow quickly screaming, "Sacred Arrow!", and pulled another from her quiver taking aim and shooting quickly. She blinked when one of her arrows hit the dirt where Sesshoumaru had been standing moments before. She frowned and searched for his aura. It was faint and disappeared as soon as she felt it. She fired quickly and Sesshoumaru blinked in surprise as an arrow raced towards him. He leapt quickly to his left and she fired once more, still aware of his position.

'She was able to see through my barrier… She's powerful for a human.' He flipped and spun towards her set on knocking her down. Kagome's eyes widened as she jumped to the side quickly only sustaining a small scratch to her right cheek from his claws. Sesshoumaru landed gracefully several feet away from her and inclined his head slightly signaling the end of their small bout. "You fight well, for a mere human." Kagome bubbled with rage but kept her temper in check as she took in several deep breaths. Sesshoumaru could smell her anger and watched as she reeled her anger in and calmed. 'She's smart for a human as well…'

"My turn!" Amara smirked as she stepped onto their makeshift battlefield. "Don't go easy on me!" Amara wiped the innocent mask from her face and replaced it with a calm, collected and confident one. She stood facing the taiyoukai as they stared one another down attempting to detect weakness. Sesshoumaru nodded and the fight began. Amara leapt out of his poison claw attack and landed gracefully before springing from her position to pass under the leaping Sesshoumaru. She unleashed her fire whip and smirked as a lock of his hair floated in the breeze. Sesshoumaru's youkai screamed to accept the challenge and he did with ease. He released his poison whip and the two youkai began an elegant but deadly dance as they circled one another. Blow for blow the two were well matched until Sesshoumaru drew his sword. Amara growled and she and Kagome began to glow. Kagome's pink aura mixed with Amara's blue instead of clashing. The swirling purple aura settled itself over Amara and Sesshoumaru looked into her eyes to find they were speckled with sapphire. She grinned and sped towards him. Kagome was staring at her hands in wonder as the two youkai battled on.

'I could've sworn I had claws a moment ago… How strange…' She turned her eyes back to the battle and was startled to see both youkai tiring. The purple aura that surrounded Amara was fading slowly and Sesshoumaru was breathing hard.

"Enough. This Sesshoumaru thinks it is time to return to the village." Sesshoumaru huffed as he struggled to slow his erratically beating heart. 'She's almost a perfect match for my youkai skills. It was only when I drew my sword that she was at a disadvantage…'

"I agree." Amara straightened and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. She was exhausted and doubted she would be able to use her floating abilities to travel to Sesshoumaru's castle. She inclined her head slightly and turned to follow Kagome and Inuyasha who had begun the hike back to the village.

"You did well." Sesshoumaru passed her shocked form silently and she blinked.

'Did ice man just compliment me?' Amara watched his retreating back and said a quiet thank you. No human could have heard it, but Sesshoumaru's youkai hearing caught the whispered reply clearly. He stifled the small smile that threatened to appear upon his face as he continued on his way.

Lost in her thoughts Amara made her way towards the village paying little attention to the small pinpricks on her neck signaling a small loss of blood. Myouga, the flea demon sighed contentedly after his small meal. The Inu youkai female's blood was rather tasty, and she seemed to be going in the direction of his master, Inuyasha. 'What luck I have today.' He crawled into a lock of her hair and settled down for the free ride he'd managed to catch. 'Master Inuyasha will be very pleased to hear the news… How interesting…'

TBC

Narria: HA! A cliffy… hehehe…
Kagome: You really shouldn't do that you know…
Narria: Why not?
Kagome: Look over there!
Narria: looks in direction Kagome points REVIEWERS! HI GUYS! Whatcha got all those pitchforks for?
Reviewers: GET HER!
Narria: Uh oh… umm… runs away… THANKS FOR READING!

Reviewers:

WEREWOLFSBANE01: Lol! l33t is so great! Here's chap for so no more chasing! see ya Thanks! I don't know which site you're reading on, but I'm glad you like the story!

Well? Was that chappie long enough for ya? It's due to my lack of updating when I said I would… I had to go visit a friend with cancer, so I put this chapter on hold until I had time to finish… Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!

Narria