Disclaimer: Don't Own InuYasha

CJ-Tashio: I'm so glad you continue reviewing... it helps me a great deal. It gives me extra confidence to continue writing this fanfic. Thank you so much. Oh... and about Botan, she really wasn't 'just there'... see I have a surprise in store for you....but I wouldn't want to spoil it, so... just hang in there, K?

Thanks for your support.

Chapter 5:

Kaede smiled towards an irritated hanyou, "Now... ye shall not be as foolish as to continue yer violence, ye shall know that with that one word, ye will be paralyzed..."

"He's bound to get distracted, and when that time comes, I'll snatch it away from him..." InuYasha answered. Hojo wished this was a nightmare, but the pain was proof enough that it was otherwise. "Come child, we need to take care of yer wounds," Priestess Kaede informed. Hojo nodded. Veins popped out on InuYasha's forehead as she watched the elder priestess and the punk with weird clothes retreat towards the village. 'Stupid kid!' she thought as she followed suit, they would not stand in her way.

Once in Kaede's hut, InuYasha invited herself in and settled right on the floor with her arms crossed. "Ye came?" Kaede questioned. "Ha... of course I did." InuYasha answered. Hojo lost quite a lot of blood and Kaede tended to his wound while InuYasha just sat there, waiting. "Yer name is Hojo, am I right?" Kaede asked. Hojo nodded. "Yes. I guess I forgot to introduce myself," he said, wincing as the pain struck him with every word he spoke. "I heard ye tell InuYasha before ye unsealed her," she said as she finished covering his wound. "Oh... about that... I guess I should apologize.... but I'm not sorry enough to do so," he said, "...see, if I wouldn't have done that, we would all be dead by now... every single one of us..." Kaede nodded, "I guess ye have a point." Hojo's mind found a new thought, 'What about this... jewel?' but Kaede seemed to be reading his mind, for the next thing she said was regarding the lilac marble Hojo held in his right hand. "What a place we're left in... now that the Shikon Jewel has appeared again in this world...the evil beings who desire its power will soon be flocking here..." Hojo's heart stopped, "You mean... like monsters?" he asked, swallowing the lump in his throat. "In this era of war and chaos, the powers of the Shikon Jewel can make any ambition a reality..." she said, looking too peaceful for such a turn of events. Hojo was struck, "You, why do you want the jewel?" he asked, locking his brown eyes on InuYasha's golden ones. She ignored his question and turned her face away with her nose held up high in pride. "You're strong.... Why do you need more power?" he continued his interrogation. Priestess Kaede smirked, "She's only a half-demon..." she said. InuYasha immediately stood, glaring daggers in her direction. "Old hag, you're acting quite familiar. Do you think you know me?" InuYasha asked, with a threatning growl.

"Ye don't remember me? Ye don't remember Kaede, the little sister of Botan?" she asked. "Kaede...?" InuYasha repeated. Kaede nodded, saying, "It's been fifty years, and some of us grow older,"InuYasha still couldn't believe it. "You... were that little brat? I know Botan died, but.... Miroku must be even more withered than you!" she said, folding her arms in front of her. "No.... Miroku died the same day he sealed you," she answered. "Oh really? Nice to hear some good news."

"I wouldn't start celebrating just now, InuYasha.... there is the matter of reincarnation.... don't ye agree Hojo?" she said, folding her arms in front of her and closing her eyes as if everything were just fine and dandy. Hojo had been distracted for a while, thinking of how he would return home. When he heard his name, however, he snapped out of his inner ramblings and came back to reality. "What was that, Lady Kaede?" he questioned the priestess. "That's bull... he doesn't even look like Miroku...." InuYasha stammered. "InuYasha, ye were the first to call him Miroku... how was that so?" Kaede questioned. "Well... his scent..." InuYasha answered quietly. "Dearest, yer ability to sense the evil aura of the forest, the jewel hidden within yer body, and yer ability to sense it within the demon's remains.... what other answer is there?"

Hojo couldn't believe what he was hearing. "However, Botan was the only one who could purify the evil aura within the sacred jewel..." she said. "Huh? You mean... this thing still carries an evil aura?" he asked. The old priestess nodded. "It is most unfortunate, for it was pure as long as it did not fall into a demon's grasp... but since it did.... it is now tainted and we have no power to purify it."

Hojo shuddered. "That is why you must hurry to yer time..." Kaede said. "Wait... a minute... what do you mean by time?" InuYasha asked with clear confusion in her golden eyes. "Time... yes... but how? And how did you know?" Hojo asked. "It is quite clear child... a soul takes at least a hundred years to reincarnate... and ye are wrapped in strange clothing..." she said with a smirk. Hojo nodded, "Yes. I fell into the well, and next thing I know, I'm here... but how is that possible?"

A/N: I'm not intentionally evil, andI promise to continue soon. I just hope it pleases you all. I'm trying hard, I really am. Please review with comments and questions. Thank you so much.