Chapter Five: The Voice of the Devil

"But then why are you part demon?" Her voice echoed in Katsuo's head. "Why she detect you?" Katsuo asked.

A second voice snarled, "How such I know? But everyone else is oblivious especially Inuyasha." The voice hissed the half-demon's name with great hatred. Katsuo sensed his 'other half's' pure hate. "It's because of the damned Inuyasha and his friends, I must live off you!"

Katsuo was taken back. "It's not like I wanted you to be a part me. When I asked for the strength of a demon I didn't ask for a half-dead weakling like you."

"SILENCE." The second voice hissed. "Soon, Katsuo, soon. I will only be powerful once we find it. Then my revenge with be complete. First thing, this Kai girl is the daughter of that half-breed?" Katsuo nodded. "Perfect, dispose of her..."

"What!" Katsuo asked dazed. He was asked to slay Kai...How could he?

"No!" Katsuo cried as he jerked awake. His face was covered in sweat. He remembered vividly the day he made the pact with a demon. In exchange for strength, he would assist him in the demon's revenge. It seemed like a good idea at first. But now he must kill Kai? Could he avoid it?

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked. He turned to look at her. She was sitting on the steps of the hut. "I am worried about Kai." Inuyasha sighed and sat next to her. "I mean she hasn't said anything since the night she got here." Silence fell as they remembered the argument.

"Miroku mentioned her strange behavior," Inuyasha said. "He is wondering if it has something to do with that Katsuo guy." He added with a slight growl. Kagome had to smile at that. Of course Miroku would suspect something between Kai and the man whose life she saved.

"I just wish that she would come talk to us if she had a problem, "Kagome admitted. She fondly remembered when Kai would tell her everything that crossed her mind. Sure the girl wouldn't shut up, she thought. But I miss those days. She's like a stranger...

Kagome turned her face to look at Inuyasha and judging from his expression, he was thinking something around the same lines. She sighed and placed her head on his shoulder. Inuyasha wrapped his arm across her shoulders and both thought about the daughter they loved so much.

Not far away, Kai was walking to the God Tree (forget the real name, but you know what I'm talking about right?) The young woman took a deep breath and smelled the wonderful scent of flowers. The tree managed to bring her a certain confront that she could only find there. Growing up, she heard many stories about the tree and its effect of her parent's fate.

Kai sat at the base with her back against the trunk. All doubts and insecurities faded from her mind as she slowly closed her eyes. She had only dosed off for a couple minutes before a rustle in the brushes brought her back to reality. Opening her eyes she saw her best friends looking down at her with expressions of concern.

Shading her eyes from the sun, with a slender clawed hand, she peered at Kohaku and Shippo. "Hey guys," she said.

"Kai," Shippo started. He paused for a second as if trying to remember a long speech from memory. "What is wrong with you?" Kohaku added, far more harsh than he intended. Kai flinched and looked away.

"I don't know," she answered honestly. Her eyes filled with sadness and Kohaku and Shippo sat on either side of her. Their presense gave Kai the strength to say what was on her mind. "Katsuo is a quarter demon," she said flatly.

Shippo and Kohaku looked at her in alarm. The corners of her mouth twitched to a grin that was a little lopsided. "His story is a lie." They nodded, knowing this was true. "That man is so strange. Whenever I am around him, I feel like there is something evil ready to attack." Looking at her friends she realize, she lost them. "Nevermind you guys. I just know something is wrong."

"Kai..." Shippo said.

"She hates you," the evil voice told Katsuo for the thousandth time. Katsuo grew angry at the demon in his mind. He slammed his fist into his left temple to silence him (smart huh?) He winced in pain but felt it was worth it noticing the devil's voice had stopped. "She still hates you!" The voice grew louder. Katsuo couldn't stand it anymore. "Kai doesn't hate me, she can't!" He felt the demon in his heart hammering at every insecurity and doubt. Katsuo's heart was crumbling under the pressure. But that girl gave him strength. Somehow...

"Katsuo, you fool," the voice continued. "You made a promise. Why can't you keep it?" Suddenly a red mark appeared on Katsuo's palm and his hollered in pain as it began to burn. "You swore in blood, now I will lend you the strength, but you must hold up your end." Katsuo fell to his knees and sighed in defeat. A sword appeared in his right hand. His senses were enhanced to that of a demon. Katsuo felt his control slipping and the demon in the back of his head began to emerge. His body began to change as Katsuo's soul was being splintered by the evil demon's influence. His human foundation was crumbling.

"Now sit back Katsuo and I will show you how its done," the voice said, but it didn't come from Katsuo's mind but his mouth. Katsuo watched in horror as his body was being controlled. The demon sensed Kai and her friends and took off in a run toward the God's Tree.

Katsuo was cursing himself into damnation for trusting this demon. Why was I such a fool? he thought despartely. The demon arrived at the base of the tree to be greeting by a hard blow to the face when the flat of a blade. Wincing in pain, he looked at his attacker.

Kai was standing in front of Shippo and Kohaku with her Akahoshii drawn and her eyes widened. "K-katsuo?" She asked her voice barely heard. She swallowed and then roasted him a glare that could revival the flames of Hell. "I was right. You are evil." Her voice was slightly shaking with rage. Katsuo staggered.

"So she does hate me," Katsuo thought in the back of the demon's mind. He felt his soul collasp and the demon had completely taken over. He went through another change and a fire erupted on his back revealing a scar...shaped like a spider. (Oh, c'mon you saw that one coming!)

Shippo's face paled as he saw the demon in front of Kai. The nightmare from fourteen years ago returned...

"Naraku..."