Sorry about the previous chapter. I'll admit the e-mail's contents were pretty sick. Let's continue on, shall we?

Oh, and I have a question at the end of the chapter. I'd like to know your opinion.

-Randall Flagg2

(1)

In America, the man with the pony tailed hair stood outside of a house. So this was it then, his destination. All he needed to do was enter and voila, he could find the blasted Masaki residence. Oh yes, this would be enjoyable.

"Hope your ready." the man whispered into the night. "You'd better be ready, because here I come, ready or not."

He pulled the hood of his sweater down over his eyes and went towards the house.

(2)

"Aunt Kazuko?" asked a small boy with brown hair, "May I watch TV for a bit?"

A woman of medium height with black hair smiled warmly. "No Shippo, it's your bedtime. You can watch TV tomorrow." she said.

The boy pouted. "Come on Aunt Kazuko, just one show? I promise I'll go the second it's over!" he whined.

"Well, alright, but just one dear. Then go to bed." she said sweetly. The boy smiled and ran off towards the family room, leaving the woman behind.

Mikage Kazuko was, as one could guess, Miroku's aunt. She had lived in Japan most of her life, but after her late husband had grown bored with their native country (she could never figure out what had brought that on) they had moved to America. Sadly, Kazuko's husband, a good man named Nobu, had died shortly after their arrival from cancer, leaving her to fend for herself. She considered herself a good person, which she was mostly. Her nephew Shippo could attest that.

As of late, Kazuko had been especially worried about her second nephew Miroku. He had been under so much strain. When he had first arrived here, he had told her everything that had happened in Japan, especially how he had almost been killed by that terrible man. And the way he had looked when he had told her about that girl Sango had frightened her. She had never seen him look so sad. He looked on the verge of self ruination. She knew that he had secretly loved her with all his heart and that without her his life had lost something deeply important. And she especially felt sorry for his poor friend Inuyasha. It was unbelievable the things they had both been through. But Miroku was a better, happier person now. All the depression had melted away and he had become a normal person again. Nevertheless, she was still worried. He may have recovered, but he still deeply desired somebody to love. Furthermore she hoped that going back to his native country would not reopen old wounds.

As these thoughts ran through her mind, she yawned. Kazuko, feeling tired from the day's work decided it was time to turn in for the night. First however, a spot of tea would hit the spot. She began to go into the kitchen.

(3)

The man paused outside the door. The bitch inside had better have the information he needed. She would, if she wanted to keep her head on her shoulders.

He raised his hand to knock.

(4)

Kazuko sipped her tea slowly. There was nothing like a spot of green tea to tide you over before bed. From the other room, Shippo's television show could be heard. Maybe she would let him stay up later then she had said.

As she finished her tea, there was a knock at the door. Kazuko got up, wondering who it could be at this late hour. She reached the door and opened it.

"Who are-" she began, and that was all she got out before the man's foot suddenly flew up and struck her in the face. With a cry, she fell to the ground. The man stepped in. She tried to rise, but he kicked her again, this time in the stomach.

Shippo immediately came rushing in, a look of terror on his face. "Aunt Kazuko! What's going on?" he yelled.

"Shippo, go to your room!" Kazuko said quickly.

"But Aunt Kazuko-"

"Go to your room!" Kazuko shouted. Not wanting to anger her any further, Shippo ran upstairs. When he had vanished at the top of the stairs, the man in the sweater moved in.

"I want you to tell me something ma'am, and I want you to tell me now." He grabbed Kazuko up by the collar of her dress and brought her close to his face.

"Whatever you want, I don't know what it is, so please-"

The man suddenly reared back and savagely backhanded her. "Shut up." he growled. "I want to know where in Japan I can find the Masaki residence."

Kazuko's eyes widened. He didn't mean the residence of Miroku's friend? What would he want with him?

Lying through her teeth, Kazuko said "I don't know."

Beneath part of his hood, Kazuko saw the man's lips curl back in a snarl. He let go of her, and suddenly he leaped into the air and brought hit foot out. Kazuko was spun around by the force of the blow and fell flat on her back. She began to sob, half from pain, half from fear.

"I said I don't know!" she sobbed. "Please just leave me alone!"

The man grabbed her by the throat and began to squeeze it with all his might. Kazuko's vision began to go hazy from the lack of oxygen.

"Let me put it this way bitch," the man snarled, "if you don't tell me where and howI can find this Inuyasha, I'll kill you." His snarl became a sadistic grin. "And it's not just you I'm going to kill. After I'm done with you, I think that little boy of yours looked a bit lonely. Maybe he could use some company."

Kazuko's eyes widened with horror. "You wouldn't! You wouldn't dare you bastard! I'll call the police if you-"

"Do you really want to do that?" the man asked. "Even if you called the police, they wouldn't make it here in time. All they'd find was your corpse next to the corpse of your boy and I'd be long gone! I suggest you just give me the information I need before I kill you."

Realizing she had no choice, Kazuko conceded. "Okay." she moaned. "I'll give you his phone number and you can ask from there." The man let her go and she staggered to the telephone. Blood was beginning to run from her nose. She picked up the receiver and dialed the number to the Masaki residence.

(5)

As Inuyasha, Miroku and Sesshomaru were sitting down to dinner, the telephone began to ring. Sesshomaru went across the kitchen and picked up the receiver. "Hello?" he said.

"I need to speak to my nephew Miroku please." said the voice. Sesshomaru beckoned for Miroku to come. The boy went to Sesshomaru and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?" Miroku asked into the receiver. When he heard the voice on the phone, he smiled. "Hello Aunt Kazuko! How are you?"

"Dear…" Kazuko's words trailed off. "Somebody needs to speak to you." Before Miroku could ask who, another voice answered the phone.

"Hello you bastard, how are you doing?" The voice was cold, merciless, frightening to say the least. Miroku had never heard this man's voice in his life, but he could sense that this man had nothing pleasant on his mind, whoever he was.

"What do you want?" Miroku asked slowly.

"I want to know where you live boy. I want to know the residence of the Masaki household, and I want it now."

"Why? What's it to you?" Miroku said.

"Let me put it this way boy. If you don't tell me, I'm going to kill your aunt and cousin right here and now. I promise you that you will hear them scream."

Finding his anger at last, Miroku said "Listen to me you psycho, if you do anything to my aunt or cousin I'll fucking kill you."

"This is your last chance to tell me boy. One more slip and your aunt will die, as will your cousin." The voice was still as cold as arctic ice.

His anger turning into fear once more, Miroku said "Fine. The location is 1246 Cypress road, Tokyo Japan. Are you happy now?"

"Smart move boy, you just saved two lives. I'll be on my way now."

"One more thing." said Miroku. "Who are you? At least tell me that."

There was silence for sometime. Then the voice said "If you must know, my name is Katsuro Higurashi. I'll see you later." The line went dead.

Miroku hung up slowly. He was shaking badly. Then at last, he stepped back towards the table and sat down.

"Who was it?" Inuyasha asked. "What did they want?" Miroku merely shook his head. "Tell me." Inuyasha said coldly.

"I think we know who wants to kill you Inuyasha."

Inuyasha froze. So that was what had been going on. "So what was his name?"

Miroku whispered "A man named Katsuro. Katsuro Higurashi."

To be continued…

Anyway, question. I want to know if I should change my name to something slightly different like Randall Flagg2000, or something like that. Or it could be entirely different. Any of you got any opinions?

-Randall Flagg2, for awhile longer