Shashomiru: Updates…….. Wee.

Hack: Joy.

Shashomiru: w00t… Here we go.

The gang walked along in silence. It was quite awkward. Thankfully, Inu Yasha broke it.

"This is pointless."

"Come, now, Inu Yasha. We can't just let the boy wallow in whatever this so called "Witch" could be putting him through." Miroku patted his back.

Inu Yasha sighed and lowered his head.

"Niku ago ne!" Fro-Fro leapt up and down before the group in front of a batch of boulders.

"What is it, Fro-Fro?" Penman followed forward in curiosity.

"Kiku!"

Upon walking up to the boulders, beyond, them was a sight to see. There, stood a tall, old castle-- the castle of the Bitch of the North.

"Look at THAT…" Starecrow stared in awe.

"This must be the place." Sango began to step over the boulders, but Miroku pulled her back.

"Wait! Sango... be careful. There could be traps all about the place."

"Yeah." Inu Yasha unsheathed his Tetsusaiga. (LOL There's a froggy on the window! .o.O;; Sorry… ) "You gotta make sure it's safe before you just jump in like that. You could get yourself kil—"

"Are you guys coming or not?"

Inu Yasha and everybody looked over at the Castle gate to see Seto and Fro-Fro already standing there. They blinked.

"…Waisting time."

"Gah, come on guys…" Inu Yasha began toward them, everyone else following behind.

The Evil Witch suddenly entered into Ryou's domain. She locked the door behind herself and pulled up a chair.

"Can… Can I help you?" Ryou stared at her, baffled.

"Hm? Oh. No. I'm just here to watch you slowly die." She smiled.

"No!"

"Yes! It's MY castle and I do as I wish!" She crossed her arms.

"Oh, Fairy, we have to do something! The sand is fading quicker than I proposed it would!" Ryou stared frantically at the hourglass.

"I'm sorry, Ryou—I'm thinking!" The Fairy grabbed her head and shook herself. "What am I going to do…"

"Tick-tock drip-drop, time is running freely, Ryou…" The witch laughed smugly under her breath.

"Fairy... Please… Help…!"

"I'm sorry, Ryou, I'm thinking!"

Ryou gazed at the hour class and slowly moved his hand to it. Upon his fingers contacting the soft glass, he was given in return a painful shock that coursed through his hand. "Agh..!"

"Ah, ah ,ahh. Never touch black magik." The witch laughed maniacally.

Seto and the gang pressed themselves again the castle walls. It was important that they stay completely out of site for fear of whatever could be lurking about…

"Alright guys…" Inu Yasha looked back at the gang, whispering. "Just follow close behind me and you'll be safe."

"Funny hearing that from an animal…" Seto sneered.

"Except you. You can protect yourself, ass."

"It isn't like I haven't had to protect myself in the past, Canine."

"Just shut up and follow me."

The gang continued on through the darkened corridors. It was silent and dim, being small, poorly lit torches (lolerz, that makes no sense whatsoever. watches you reread it ) were the only things that lined the walls and provided any light whatsoever. As the gang continued, they began to hear a chanting of a sort. It grew louder and louder as they moved deeper within.

"What is that…?" Shippou clung tight to Miroku's shoulder.

"I'm not sure…" Miroku responded.

The chanting continued to grow louder, arousing the gang's curiosity.

"What do you think the chanting is?" Sango looked about the darkness.

"Hm. It sounds like they're saying… Pen. Pen, Pen!" Penman smiled.

Shippou shook his head. "No, they're saying Pill, pill, pill."

"Pill?" Seto raised an eyebrow.

"What do you think it is, Inu Yasha?" Kagome clung tight to his arm as they all came to a halt.

He sniffed the air and growled softly. "Smells like evil…"

"Looks like trouble." Starecrow pointed in front of them in pure darkness.

The chanting began to grow louder quite quickly. The words were more audible now as Evil Ham-Hams began to speed toward them.

"Oh, no! It's the Evil Ham-Hams!"

"They're back for more. " Starecrow smiled.

"Kill, kill, kill! Kill, kill, kill!" The Ham-Hams laughed freakishly as they smiled, showing sharp fangs and heading straight for the gang.

Penman laughed. "Ohhh, that's what they're saying."

"Run, you idiots, RUN!" Seto turned about face and frantically began running away. (Like a little girl. :3 With a dress. Tehe. It's pink.)

"Aww, they're so cute."

"Com'on, you idiot, before you get yourself killed!" Inu Yasha grabbed Starecrow and began with the rest of the gang.

They all made several turns, following Seto, the Evil Ham-Hams close behind chanting their Kill Kill Kill's.

"Hey, Kaiba-ass, do you even know where we're going?" Inu Yasha called from behind.

"No, of course not, I lost ourselves a long time ago! Grr." Seto kicked himself for admitting it. He had tried to keep it to himself that he was clueless as to where he was going.

"You DUMBASS! You don't even know what part of the CASTLE we're in!"

"Wait, shut up! I think I hear something." Seto began to slow a bit.

"Uh, yeah, that would be the Monotonous chants of the Evil Blood Craving Hamster behind us!" Inu Yasha snarled.

"Why are you slowing down! They're going to catch us!" Miroku ….spoke.

"I hear something. Listen." Seto came to a stop and listened.

Everyone else also came to a stop, panting and trying to hear over the Ham-Hams who were still traveling closer.

A small sound was heard from a distance.

"I think I hear it!"

"It has to be him." Seto began forward again.

"Who?" Penman questioned.

"Guuh… who have we only been searching for the past 24 hours?"

"o.o….B-…Batman?"

"NO! Ryou, dumbass!" Inu Yasha scolded him for his stupidnessididity. (lolerz)

"lol, oh yeah!" He laughed at himself."

"Help me! Somebody help me!"

"He's close!" Seto turned a sharp corner. He came to a sudden halt as he met with two large doors.

"Somebody help me!" Ryou banged upon the large doors, the witch laughing loudly.

"Won't you give up?"

Starecrow slowly walked up to the doors and gently pressed his cheek against them. "Ryou, my dear friend. Is that you?"

"Starecrow! Oh, thank goodness! Starecrow, you must help me!"

He gave a warm smile. "Don't worry. We'll get you out."

"Oh, thank you!"

"It's drawing closer…" The Fairy sat in front of the Hourglass with her legs drawn close to her chest, staring deep into the mound of red sand. "Time is almost…—"

"Time is almost up, Ryou." The witch smirked maniacally.

Ryou's eyes began to fill with tears. "Please… Please hurry!"

Inu Yasha grabbed Starecrow and shoved him back away from the door. "Don't worry, kid! We'll get ya out! Just hang on!"

"Please hurry…"

Shashomiru: MWUAH! ENDED.

Hack:...

Shashomiru: Suffer! What will happened in this unexpected turn of events? You'll have to wait to see….