Author's Note: I just want to get this chapter out and over with cause I know ya want to read it, so I can't reply to everyone's reviews like I would love to do! Please read and review! Enjoy!

lady kjerston of the western.....Now don't you just feel too damn special?: Ugh! I hate it when that happens! When I get to a story that has just been updated and everything, I want to read it and so I go 'Click' and expect to read the next chapter, but the damn thing's not even there yet! I had to wait for hours! lol, I like change the wolrd. my fav song though from the whole Inuaysha ending theme thingies, is um, Shinjitsu No Uta. When I downloaded an episode of Inuyasha, at the end this song was playing and it was so sad! At the end of it, Inuyasha is like drowning or something and I almost cried. (sniffle sniffle tear tear) trunkslover22 is so cool! I have her email and everything and we talk a lot! Yeah, she's awesome! lol, sexy piece of cake?.....Hell I want some!!! (Swipes it from you and hides from freaks) And don't squish me! Look! (Points maniacally at chapter with wide eyes) I updated! Thanks for your review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter Five: Faith Without Action is a Mask

"Ha! Yes, I win again!" Exclaimed Asoka with much joy. His brown hair blew in the wind as he stood up and dusted his clothes. "What? You did not, you cheated!" His best friend Taikan shouted and his sisters nodded in agreement. "Oh really? How?" Asoka asked.

"Because... you keep winning, that's why." Taikan answered with furrowed his eyesbrows. Asoka looked at Sanae with his sweetest eyes, "Do you think I cheated Sanae?" He asked innocently.

Asoka had quite the crush on Sanae, and almost all the children knew about it. Sanae has a hint that he likes her a little, but nothing more. He always tended to hang out with her a lot and flirt with her. Taikan didn't like this as much as he thought he would. He would often growl at Asoka to get away from his sister when he got too close to her and was about to make a 'Miroku' move on her. Sanae didn't really pay much attention to this in the whole scenario, but got mad at Taikan for yelling at Asoka.

Sanae shrugged her shoulders, "Well, I guess if Taikan is lying, then no." She replied. Taikan gave her a double take, "What? What the hell do you mean by 'if i'm lying'! I- oh forget it! I hate this game!" He said loudly and crossed his arms over his chest again.

"I don't feel like playing anymore, let's just lay down or something." Keiko said and laid on the grass. Teishin smiled and did what she did. Kaden and Rikku were soon to follow and that left the other three standing. "Oh fine." Taikan grunted and did as did what the others were doing. Asoka made sure that he lay next to Sanae, which caused a growl from Taikan and so Asoka scooted away from her a few inches, a stupid grin on his face as he waved nervously at Taikan.

Kaede showed up from the hut with an empty wooden pale, "I'm sorry to trouble ye young ones, but could one of ye fetch a full pale of water from the stream?" Kaede asked with much kindness. Taikan jumped up, "I will Lady Kaede." He volunteered and ran to her. He turned around and glared at Asoka, "Come on Asoka, I want ya to come with me." He said. Asoka looked over at him lazily, "Oh alright, if you wish." He murmured and he walked to Taikan.

As they both left to go to the stream, Kaede went back inside and Keiko sat up. Sanae sat up too and looked at her, "Hey Keiko, I know you and my sisters are keeping a secret from me, I want to know what it is, now." She said to her.

Keiko froze, 'Uh oh. Man! I can't keep a secret! I'm gonna blow it!' She thought and her mind went back to a week ago.

---Flashback---

As soon as Taikan and Sanae had left to go get a ball to play with, Keiko rushed to her older brother, "So Asoka, tell me your secret please! I promise I won't tell!" She kept saying. Asoka and Teishin looked at her, and so did Kaden and Rikku.

"You have a secret?" Kaden asked, and the look on the others' faces seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Asok calmly closed his eyes, "Keiko, we all know you can't keep a secret, so I'm not going to tell you." He said simply. Keiko gasped and looked hurt, "Oh come on, you can tell your only little sister can't you...?" She asked as sweetly as she could.

Asoka rolled his eyes but then smiled, "Alright fine, I like Sanae. There." He said to her, but then jumped, "But don't tell her! I'm going to surprise her." He said to Keiko and she nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah yeah alright, I promise." She answered. Asoka now had an annoyed expression, "And why does that make me feel like she'll tell the entire world?" He muttered to himself It was obvious to everyone that she really wasn't going to keep that secret to hersefl forever, but oh well, nothing they can do about it now.

---End of flashback---

Keiko nodded to herself, remembering the exciting memory very well. She really didn't want to tell her and ruin it for Asoka, but she was just one of those people who can't keep their mouths shut.

"Well?" Sanae asked impatiently.

Keiko rubbed her neck nervously, "Um well, you have to guess..." She said and Sanae sighed in frustration, "But, if you were to say that Asoka is practically in love with you...I'd say great guess!" She said as she smiled sheepishly.

"N-No way! He does?... I knew it." She murmured the last part to herself. She now grew nervous, "But, what do I do? I'm not any exprert on this kind of stuff! Should I tell to my Mom?!" She nearly cried. Keiko walked up to her and put a friendly arm around her shoulders, "Oh don't worry about it so much, just keep pretending that you didn't know about it yet." She said calmly.

"I-I guess that could work.." Sanae trailed off, and then she rolled her eyes, "Gosh, I was right all along, he does like me." She finally reasoned. Keiko shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, and they were right all along too, I can't keep a secret."

The two girls began to laugh as they saw Taikan and Asoka come back from the stream.

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Taikan and Asoka walked to the stream to fill the pale of water for Kaede. "I wonder what our parents are talking about, they've been in the house for quite some time now." Asoka stated as he walked next to Taikan, "I don't know either, but I don't think it's all that good." The young hanyou said.

Asoka looked at him with question, "Really? How is that?"

Taikan's eyes gazed into the past, "Well, when my sisters and I were playing ball yesterday, we went into the forest and I saw this inured bird demon that said it was attacked by this-uh this powerful monster demon. And earlier today, my dad came back from getting Rikku, I guess she was somewhere else, and he looked so, so frightened. I've never seen my father look like that before." Taikan trailed off.

They both stoppped at the stream and the boys knelt down in front of it, "I'm sure that's what they're talking about, I mean, what else could it be?" Taikan had continued. Asoka nodded to him and dipped the pale in the stream to fill it, "I agree, I think we're going to have to fight some monster before it destroys the whole world." Asoka said. Taikan nodded, "Yeah, we have to help our parents fight the demon, but I'm not sure if they'll let us."

"They'll have to. My mother is pregnant, remember? And my father doesn't have his wind tunnel anymore." Asoka stated. Miroku had told his children of his curse, and how they would have possessed the same curse as he, if it did not kill him before then. Asoka remembered how shocked he was to hear such a curse could ever exist, that at the same time was useful in battles, then would eventually kill you.

They stood up and walked back to Kaede to give her the needed pale of water, "You're right Asoka, we'll help our parents fight this demon, no matter what." Taikan clenched his fists.

Later that evening...

"It's dinner time everyone!" Sango announced and all the children ran into the hut. It appears that Inuyasha and his family stayed for a longer time, considering that they needed to discuss their plan further. Time of grieving was over now, and everyone knew this.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Shippo called from outside. Everyone heard his deep voice from outside the hut and smiled. He had grown up so much within the twelve years that Kagome has lived here. To Kagome, if he were in her world, he would look to be in his late teens.

"Yeah, come on in Shippo." Sango giggled as she had called him in from her kitchen. The tall fox demon entered with a bright smile, "Sorry if I'm late for anything, I had to help more people rebuild houses than I had thought. That bug demon that attacked must have been a big one." He said and sat down next to Kagome.

All of the adults sat in one room and the kids in the other. Of course, the adults made sure they could see their kids from where they were if any of them were to misbehave.

"It's fine, you didn't miss a thing." Kagome replied to him.

"We're just about to serve dinner, so you're just in time." Sango called from the kitchen area. She stirred the large pot of stew above a fire then she pushed back her hair in a low ponytail.

"Great!" Shippo exclaimed happily and he turned to Kagome, "So, how are you Kagome?" He asked her. Kagome's smile instantly faded away. They had all forgotten that Shippo didn't know of this new demon, "Shippo, we all have something to tell you."

Everything was explained. Inuyasha told his story to fox demon of the earlier events that had taken place and Shippo's heart sank.

"Not again." He murmured sadly to himself, thinking of all the innocent people the mad demon could have killed already. Everyone silently nodded in agreement.

Everyone knew now that this burden must be faced, but with much bravery. Even though this was nothing new to them, they still had every right to take precaution. They had to know this demon before they could battle it, but that could not be done so easily.

This whole thing reminded them all of the past, before they had destroyed Naraku and were still fighting him, when they were still in search of the jewel shards, and when they discovered their love for one another. This new battle to try and win seemed so impossible to do at the moment, but if memory serves, they've done the impossible before.

Kagome looked ahead of herself and smiled lightly, "Yes, but we should enjoy the time we have now, and discuss this tomorrow." Inuyasha looked at her and nodded, then he glanced into the room where his children were playing, "Yeah, we live today, and fight tomorow."

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That night, the world didn't make a sound.

Inuyasha, Kagome, and their kids had gone back home. After they had dinner at Sango and Miroku's home, they couldn't form a plan just yet. They needed to know more about their enemy before they can plan anything. Inuyasha had not liked that, he says the longer we hold it off, the more people it can kill. Of course he knew that everyone agreed with him, but Inuyasha just wasn't the strategizing person of the group and did things full on force at instinct... Which wasn't so smart at times.

Inuyasha lay awake, holding a sleeping Kagome by his side securely. With her back to his chest, Inuyasha closed his eyes against Kagome's long dark hair and sighed. 'I'll just have to wait until tomorrow to think of something with the others.' He reasoned and stopped moving all together to fall asleep...

"Inuyasha." A voice called.

"What?" Inuyasha whispered to himself, not knowing where he was. "Who... Who's calling me?"

"It's me, Kikyo." She said and called him closer, "It's alright Inuyasha, open your eyes and come."

Inuyasha slowly opened his eyes to see that he was in his own forest, but by a small and soundless river. He saw Kikyo sitting in front of the river, her back to him. He watched her hair, loose from its band, blow lightly in the wind. 'Am I dreaming?' He wondered. He looked down at himself and made sure he wasn't half naked. Once he saw that he was wearing his pants and haori he sighed in relief.

"Come join me Inuyasha." Kikyo called out softly to him and he slowly walked to her. He stopped at where she was and sat down next to her. Inuyasha, very confused, did not speak but looked at Kikyo anyway.

"Yes, you are dreaming Inuyasha, so do not worry." Kikyo spoke and looked at him with kind eyes.

"Y-You're in my dream? Wait...Can you do that?" He asked, feeling very silly at the moment.

Kikyo giggled and nodded vaguely, "Yes I can."

"But, what for? Why are you here in my dream of all places?"

Kikyo hesitated. She had just wanted to see Inuyasha for old time's sake and talk with him about the wonders of the world. However, she had come for a reason, a reason that she didn't covet, "I am in your dream Inuyasha, because I have come to warn you." She said as she looked into the clear water of the lake. The water sparkled as the sun shined on it with its beautiful rays.

"Warn me, about what?"

"About the enemy you and your friends are about to encounter before long." She replied and looked down, her bangs covering her eyes. "Inuyasha, you and your family, along with all of the world's people are in grave danger. He will strike yet again, I can sense it unmistakably." She said in a quiet voice.

Inuyasha blinked, "But, uh, why didn't you just tell me earlier? Like in a vision or something? It would have been very helpful then."

She looked up, "I couldn't. The only time I can contact you is to come into you're mind only when it and your body were fully at peace."

"I see." He replied and looked at the water. "But can we stop this demon? Is there even a chance? When will it come Kikyo?" He asked worriedly and turned to her fully. Inuyasha was in a panic state for Kagome and his children, could he protect them from this demon?

"There is only one chance Inuyasha...Only one." She said and looked at him.

He stuttered, "Only... only one? But-"

Kikyo shook her head once, "Inuyasha, if this chance is failed, there will be no more life, it's as simple as that."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed in thought and he looked at the flowers that were by the river, 'No more life...' No, he didn't want that, no one could ever want that.

"What is it Kikyo? What is this one chance? Whatever it is, I'm going to take it, if it's the only alternative." He said and looked at her again.

"Look into the water." She said and Inuyasha tentatively did so. He came closer to the lake and looked into it. Kikyo came closer to the lake too and outstretched her fist above the water. She opened it and let pink and light blue flower peddles fall gracefully into the water. Kikyo placed her hand in the water and brought it across, creating a small wave in the river.

Inuyasha waited patiently to what he was about to see.

A cave on a high ledge of a mountain came into view. "What you need to defeat this demon is only in there Inuyasha." She said and brought her hand in the center of the water. She created another small wave to make known three glowing spheres of the colors dark blue, red, and pink. They were absolutely beautiful and had their own sparkling aura around themselves.

"W-What are they?" Inuyasha asked as he looked closer at the water where the shining orbs were.

"They are known as the orbs of Higan. They were guarded by the tiger demon tribe and were also its creators." Kikyo said.

"How were they created? What's their purpose?" Asked the hanyou and kept his gaze on the water.

"Truthfully, they were created by accident about one hundred years ago, which is all I know about that. However, once the tiger tribe had learned about what they had created, they discovered it was pure of any darkness and so did everything they could to keep it untainted of any selfish ambition or contamination." Kikyo and Inuyasha nodded.

"Their purpose was to mainly help those in need. When the tiger tribe went into war with their sworn enemies, their leader had died. They used these orbs to try and bring him back to the world of the living, which they had succeeded. Nevertheless, once they made their wish, the orbs' auras faded and they lost their powers. The tribe, much less anyone else, never thought the orbs would die after one wish. And so, they locked them up in that cavern in the mountain upon their kingdom as a place of appreciation that their leader was brought back to existence." Kikyo said and looked at Inuyasha.

"The dark blue orb there is the orb of Chiyuu, meaning wisdom and courage. The red one is called the orb of Ikioidzuku, meaning strength and to gather it and take heart. The final one is the dark pink one called the orb of Seiren, meaning purity, honesty, and selflessness. Having just one orb is powerless, but with all three together, you are able to make one wish, but each time a wish is made, their powers die for one hundred years and come back to life again until someone else makes a wish."

Inuyahsa nodded again very slowly, the information sinking in, "I-I get it. I need to get all three of them to make my wish to stop the demon forever, then they won't work for one hundred years." Inuyasha said, but then looked at Kikyo, "Are you completely sure that this will work?" He asked.

"Yes absolutely. As I had stated before, together they are called the orbs of Higan, which means one's dearest wish. You have a wish Inuyasha, and now you must grant it." Kikyo said to him with a smile.

Inuyasha smiled back, "Where can I find them? And, how do you know about this?"

"They are in the South, which was where the tiger demon tribe always remained. Their kingdom is near a massive mountain to which the orbs are located. You must be careful Inuyasha, the tiger tribe may still be living there, if not that, then surely other demons of all kinds roam around there now, it is not safe."

Inuyaha nodded, understanding the danger of what he'd get himself into.

Kikyo continued, "And I know about them because my ancestors and their followers waged war with the tiger demon tribe. They knew about the orbs and needed to use their power instead of using the Shikon jewel, which was more fragile at the time, building its power..." Inuyasha nodded. Kikyo's smile grew, "Besides that, The Mountain is very large and hard to miss, so I trust you will not become lost."

After that said, Inuyasha turned to Kikyo and hugged her. Kikyo let out a surprised gasp, her eyes softened and she hugged him back.

"Thank you Kikyo... Thank you for helping me." Inuyasha whispered.

Kikyo nodded, "What are friends for?" She asked, hearing Kagome say that once before to her demon exterminator friend.

Inuyasha pulled back and stood up, "Is that all I need to know?"

Kikyo stood up as well, "Yes, please take care Inuyasha. The area has not been seen by a human for years now; do not travel there without caution."

"I'll be okay Kikyo, thanks again." He said to her and started to walk away to the spot of where he first was when he had opened his eyes in this dream.

"Inuyasha."

He stopped and looked back at her.

Kikyo sighed and smiled, "I suggest you to have much determination and courage in your heart, and keep your morals high, because a man who stands for nothing will fall for anything, remember that."

Inuyasha smiled back and said softly, "I will Kikyo." He waved and walked into the forest.

Kikyo watched with sad eyes at his retreating form, "Inuyasha, I'm happy for you. You now have everything you've ever desired in your arms right now. I should not be so cheerless, should I?" She said to herself and turned to look towards the river.

Kikyo was sad yes, because she could not have what Kagome has right now, not Inuyasha necessarily, but just someone to love unconditionally and with all her heart. She did love Inuyasha that way, but she wasn't sure if it was just a friend's love.

Kikyo gasped, 'I... I truly don't love him anymore...' She clutched her heart and closed her eyes as a solitary tear slipped down her cheek.

Could love just die?

Was it even there before?

Kikyo learned so many things all her life that showed her a new meaning. And now, in these times of damnation and suffering, she realized that her love that she thought existed, died. Her love for Inuyasha is no more. She smiled as she remembered those memories between them in the past before Inuyasha was to forever be conquered by a mere spell. They'll forever be in her heart. Little do people realize that love so easily began with a smile, grew with a kiss, and ended in a teardrop.