Ok, just to do a quickie explanation to why Kohaku is traveling with Kikyo, to all those who haven't read the manga (I like to keep up with the manga regularly, and much of this story is based on what the characters are doing at the time). Kikyo figures that the only way to kill Naraku is to complete the Shikon no Tama and then purify it, along with Naraku. Well, she needs ALL the pieces, including Kohaku's. Kohaku, wanting revenge on Naraku, agrees to give up his fragment, so he travels with Kikyo, looking for other fragments. Kikyo doesn't really want to take Kohaku's life, so they haven't done much in that direction. But anyyyyyhow, that's why they're now travel buddies. Ok on with the story! Hope ya like it!

Kagome woke up, on a cold, cold ground. She lay on the ground for a second, feeling dizzy, weak. She still had InuYasha's haori around her. Somehow, she felt that give her strength. Slowly, she raised herself up, and righted herself in a sitting position. She then noticed that she wasn't near the campsite anymore. Fear gripped her heart, and she felt her mind racing. Where was she, what was going on, where was Kanaye? She felt a sharp pang of pain race through her arms. She looked down at her sleeve, and noticed that it was covered in blood. She slowly rolled back her sleeve, revealing two large bite marks in her arm. "The last thing I felt…" she thought, "…was something bite me…where am I?"

She looked around herself, squinting through the darkness. She seemed to be in a large room, made with black pentacles surrounding the walls. She slowly stood up, steadying herself. She felt stronger now, so she was sure that Kanaye was gone. She touched the walls, but pulled back quickly with a small cry as she felt the sting of electricity course through her hand. She stepped back, cradling her injured hand. She looked around herself, trying to find some door, or hole in the wall, some way that shows how she got in, and perhaps could get her out. There was none. She started to feel dizzy, and fell to the floor, trying to think clearly, but she couldn't think well at all. She could feel the occasional pang of pain, emitting from somewhere deep around her heart. Everything seemed to be a blur; she thought that she was going to throw up. "I have to get out of here, have to find InuYasha…" she thought.

Suddenly she heard a small voice cry out. "Kagome!" said Shippo, rushing up to her. "Shippo…are you alright? How'd you get here?" asked Kagome, hugging the little kitsune. "When Kanaye took you away, I managed to hide under InuYasha's haori with you. I couldn't leave you alone Kagome, not with him!" Kagome smiled, and looked at Shippo seriously. "Shippo, do you know where we are?" Shippo looked unsurely around him. "I-I'm not sure…I think we're in a prison of some sort…" he answered."I think the walls are s'posed to keep you in, that's why there are all those weird signs on them…"

Kagome suddenly got a thought. "Shippo, do they know that you are here?" she asked. Shippo shook his head. "Do you think you can break through the walls, and get out?" Shippo gulped, and nodded. "First, touch the walls; see if they do anything to you." said Kagome, afraid that the same effect that befell her would happen to Shippo. She didn't want him to get hurt. But it was their only chance to escape. Shippo walked nervously up to the walls, and reached out his hand. It shook slightly, an inch away from the wall. Shippo concentrated and thought, "Be brave, be brave…for Kagome." He closed his eyes, and made contact with the wall.

Meanwhile…

Kikyo scanned her eyes across the open field, looking down to her old village. She felt a pang of nostalgia as she stood there, feeling the wind ruffle through her hair. This place…she had tried to avoid it before, it brought back to many memories, things that she had wanted to forget. But, somehow, in the back of her mind, this placed comforted her, made her feel like she was coming back home. She closed her eyes, letting the wind flow through her, cleanse her soul. Kohaku stood behind her, waiting patiently for her to start moving down.

He knew that he shouldn't ask, but he felt curious. "Kikyo-sama…was this…" "My old village, yes." Kohaku looked at her, surprised at her quick answer. He was about to ask why they were there when Kikyo answered his question before it finished crossing his mind. "I need to warn InuYasha; tell him to keep Kagome hidden for a few days…if not everyone will fall into a great peril. A new evil has arisen, and if that evil manages to get Kagome's spiritual powers…there is no telling what can happen." Kohaku looked back at the village, and understood why Kikyo had been so secretive lately, hiding in the forest, and not coming out until now. He realized that even though Kikyo did not say it, she knew that she was in danger as well, and it was incredible risky for her to be out here in the open.

"It's…that baby…Naraku's heart, isn't it?" asked Kohaku. Kikyo nodded. "He's managed to overcome his own master, and steal the Shikon no Tama, incrementing his powers. But he won't rest until he has completed the jewel, and adds Kagome's power to it." Kikyo stood facing the village, and started taking a few steps down the grassy slope. Kohaku followed obediently, gripping the handle of his sickle (his scythe-like weapon) tightly. He felt his heart pounding, afraid to see his sister again. He knew that he wouldn't be able to stand it. But he followed Kikyo anyhow, trying not to think about it.

She walked boldly into the village, ignoring the villager's stares as they froze when she passed by them. Some couldn't make out weather she was a ghost, or a kitsune in disguise. The old bowed down to her, while the young stared in wonder, looking at the spiritual miko. Kikyo ignored them, and went to straight to Kaede's hut.

She entered the hut, and found her younger sister stirring a small pot of stew on a warm fire. Kaede lifted her old eyes, and stared for a second of surprise at the return of her older sister. "Kikyo…" she said softly. Kohaku stood silently behind Kaede, looking around him for a sign of his sister. He silently prayed that he wouldn't have to see her.

"Is InuYasha here?" Kikyo asked. Kaede shook her head, "They left here three days ago, why would that bring you here?" asked Kaede, bewildered. Kikyo hid her sudden shock of fear coolly. "Come, Kohaku, we need to keep searching." she said trying not to appear hurried. She kept her mask of empty feelings, while inside of herself, for the first time, she was afraid.