Roar! Hehe. I'm a monster.

            Okay, now that that's out of my system, I'm gonna actually say some stuff.

            I don't have time for many comments, but one quick one. Recently I got asked for a cameo appearance. I will rarely do this unless I have a golden opportunity, and as luck would have it I have one. Just two words of advice: One man's gold is another reviewer's absolute horror, and be careful what you whish for. See if you can spot the cameo. Thank you.

*****

            Houshi-Sama…

            The voice was gentle, smooth, and warm.

            Houshi-Sama…

            Miroku had no interest of anything of the sort.

            Houshi-Sama…

            The voice was growing slightly more insistent. It was getting harder not respond. Was this death?

            Houshi-Sama.

            Miroku's eyes snapped open. Yes. Definitely Death. He was floating, to the best of his knowledge. It was dark. He couldn't see a thing. Not even his own hand. He couldn't really feel anything either. He didn't even know if he had a hand anymore. Granted, he couldn't have felt anything when he was alive either. The paralysis had slowly spread through his body. Sango had been carrying him the past several days. He had just been slowing her down, and without being to move, he didn't have much of a life, anymore. Maybe he was better being dead.

            You probably would be. The soft voice agreed with a giggle.

            Miroku's eyes widened, and he tried to move. No such luck. Paralyzed in death. That was very, very bad. What a boring afterlife.

            Nonsense. The voice contradicted. From what I've heard, death is very interesting. And you can't be paralyzed when you're dead.

            Miroku's eyes narrowed. "You can read my thoughts." He stated, not knowing what on earth he was talking to.

            Remarkable. The voice stated, and giggled again. You seem to pick up on things faster than some.

            "Who are you?" Miroku asked.

            My name is my own. The voice informed him primly.

            "Where am I?"

            It would appear that you are floating a void of total darkness. Isn't that something?

             "Why am I floating in a void of total darkness?" Miroku asked carefully, trying to keep aware. "If I'm not dead, then what's going on?"

            There was a light chuckle. And now we get to the important questions. You are here because I want you to be.

            "And why, pray tell, is that?"

            Because you are dying, and so are all your friends. You have lived up until this point on blind luck. While as fun as relying on luck is, I'm finally stepping in to make sure your around a little while longer.

            "And why would you do that?"

            Because I feel like it. Any questions?

            "A great many." Miroku murmured. "What do you mean we're dying?"

            I mean that the injuries and effects of that the fight with Morkleb had on you will eventually lead to your death, whereupon Sango, who is using you as a post tying her soul to this world, will no longer have that, and quickly depart, concordantly leaving Shippo with no protection whatsoever.

            Miroku inwardly froze. "What about Sango?" He demanded.

            Oh, come, now, Houshi. You are really going to tell me that you haven't noticed it? You can see the deadness in Sango's eyes. They eyes are a window to the soul. Sango is healthy on the outside, but inside, she is dying.

            "Why?"

            The chuckle came again. Always with the whys… Well, then, I suppose I'll tell you. You see, your wind-tunnel is not simply a void, as one would think. It is actually a one way gate, as it were. Beyond this gate lies a place where living creatures from this world were not meant to go. Sango, in an effort to save you, went through this place. This place warps things… particularly souls. Sango's soul is being changed. However, she is unconsciously fighting tooth and nail. The result is that her soul is being torn apart.

            Miroku closed his eyes. "What can I do?"

            The change will come, sure as the tide. She must simply stop fighting it. She is running the wrong way. She is running away from the change, and the events of that night, but she must stop, and turn around.

            Miroku sighed. "How do I do this?"

            You must simply be there for her. As long as you are there, she will not let herself go. She seems to have bound her soul to you, but that won't protect her much longer. You must bring her to me.

            "And how could I do that? I can't move."

            Oh, right. I forgot about that. You can move now.

            "What do you mean?" Miroku demanded, whipping around, and glaring at the direction the voice was coming from. Then he looked down and blinked. He moved one hand, then the other. He could feel them, perfectly. He moved his legs, and rolled his shoulders. "How?" he asked, slightly dumbfounded.

            Because I want you to be able to walk. It makes things easier. Now, you will help Sango live.

            "How will I find you? Aren't I with you now?" Miroku asked, confused.

            Technically, we're in your head. You're sleeping right now. It'll be morning in about an hour.

            Miroku was silent for a moment. He still couldn't see who was talking to him. "So this is just a dream?" That was somehow disappointing.

            Yep. Melodramatic, isn't it. But it's the easiest way to communicate with you. Your minds are off guard when you're sleeping, so I can wiggle in and use whatever I find to communicate with you.

            "So is this real or not?"

            Do you really want to get into the philosophical definition of real? I had to think about that one a really long while before I came to a decent conclusion. Took about seventy eight years, if memory serves.

            Miroku's eyes widened. "What are you?" He demanded.

            You probably couldn't even comprehend that. The voice remarked. Suffice to say that I am a friend for now.

            "And how will I find you then?" 

            An old friend will show you the way. You must simply let her find you.

            "I see…" Miroku said.

            Whoop! The voice said with a giggle. Sorry, the sun's coming up. Now, wake up.

            Miroku blinked and

*****

            sat up, breathing hard. The sun was barely coming up, and the desert was glowing brightly. Miroku yawned, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes with his good hand. Then he paused. He was moving. His eyes widened, and he moved his good hand in front of his face. Slowly he sat up, and the memories of his dream rushing back to him. So… they did have a friend here after all… or at least, someone who was helping them for some reason.

            Sango was lying across the meager remains of the camp fire. Shippo was lying near her, sleeping peacefully. He smiled and leaned back against the tree behind him, and shifted his hand through the sand beneath his fingers. It felt good to be able to feel good again.

Then he realized the obvious, and jumped away from the tree. He turned around quickly, and looked at it. It grew strait up out of the sand. Around the base, the sand was starting to turn into soil. He whipped around, and starred around their little camp. All around them little saplings were growing out of the sand. There were a few big trees, around them, but most of them were saplings. Even as he looked around the green, emerald leaves on the trees began to whither, and fall. Before they hit the ground, they had crumpled into a soft loam the ground around each tree, and immediately new buds began forming on the tips of the branches. Miroku blinked as a new little twig sprouted directly between his feet, and grew a single leaf. He looked behind, where they had come from. There was clear desert there, with only a few little sprigs of tree coming out of the ground. He turned to face the path they had yet to travel. It was riddled with trees, and the soil was growing thicker. He turned around to face the trees around the campsite. They were also growing. And shedding leaves, then growing them back, then shedding again. This was very odd.

He shrugged, and sighed. Stranger things had happened, though, and they needed to get going.

*****

Aaron tore down the street at high speed, juggling the pieces of gold as he went. This could be very fun. He hoped this captain Morgan was fast. He looked over his shoulder with a grin, not dropping a single piece of gold. His eyes widened suddenly as he saw the pirate captain sprinting after him, seemingly completely uninhibited by the thick leather boots he wore, and he looked ready to kill. He was gaining.

Aaron nodded. A good chase indeed. He stopped juggling, and started running, tearing through the streets expertly, dashing past youkai and slaves alike, causing general mayhem and destruction as he went. He stopped suddenly, figuring he had time, and glanced to the side. Standing by the side of the road, looking very put out, was a young girl. She was short, only about five feet tall, and had long, waist-length auburn hair. A light spray of freckles covered her face, and her eyes were a dark, lush green. She looked annoyed, and was muttering about upstart sixteen year olds.

Aaron raised an eyebrow, and glanced up and down her figure. He grinned, darted in, and suddenly planted his lips on hers. As quick as he was, he dashed out again, threw a piece of gold at her, and dashed away down the street.

The girl looked aghast, and looked down at the piece of gold. "What the!?" She demanded, outraged.

The gold was suddenly snatched out from under her hands by a very enraged pirate captain. Morgan was about to chase off after Aaron again, but stopped, cast a glance at the girl, and said: "Arrrrrrr."
            With that he disappeared down the street, once again chasing Aaron.

The girl blinked twice in utter confusion, the sighed, shook her head, and went back to muttering.

As Morgan and Aaron raced through the streets, two shadows dashed across the rooftops above them.

"These men are idiots, Oni! Why the hell are we following them?" One figure hissed in Chinese.

"Because, Shin." The other figure said patiently. "People causing this much mischief in Shinjuku will undoubtedly get the attention of lord Sesshoumaru. Then we strike."

The figures nodded to each other, and dashed away again.

****

Gah! Once again, sorry for the short chapter. I'll try to make the next one longer. It'll probably end up that way anyway, as it's gonna be a fight scene. Mwahahaha!

Next chapter: Sesshoumaru vs. Oni and Shin!

And a quick thing to whomever wanted to know, Aaron has had no past experience with Morgan. That was in the old crappy version of this fic. They have just met for the first time.

And to Shadow with green Eyes: Please don't flame me. You asked for it. Literally.