Disclaimer: This one does not own InuYasha. NOO... this one does not go by the name CHEZA... which doesn't belong to me either. OK... I think my ear-ache has gotten the best of me. I hope you're enjoying yourselves with this topsi-turvy version of InuYasha. On with the show.


Chapter 13

Yura was confused. Irritated, bored and confused. Why would a sane old hag call a young maiden, BIG SISTER? This was far more bizarre than anything she'd seen. And she had seen her share of crazy drama.

'Perfect. She's distracted,' InuYasha smirked. She couldn't see the demon, but the invisible string that held her against her will was slack. Oh, she was bound, I tell you. Bound to a tree, by invisible 'hair'; However, now that the hair was slack and since the only barrier she could actually see was the tree: She sliced it with her claws.

"Hm... my fault. I guess I'll have to just leave without your precious hair... which, may I add, is wasted on you. However, I will be taking this..." Yura's voice rang, from within the hair.

At that time, she snatched the tiny pouch from which the alluring scent of the Shikon Jewel came. The pouch the monk held in his hand.

"HEY! Give that back? Wherever you are... whoever you are..." Hojo called to an invisible demon.

"We need to get that shard back!" InuYasha stated the obvious.

"Ye are the only one that can see the hair, Hojo. Together with InuYasha ye will be able to find where this demon is."

"Right," he answered.

"You're badly injured. We need to dress your wounds." Kagome stated.

"No. These are but flesh wounds. Ye must also help InuYasha and Hojo. Take these..." Kaede said, handing Kagome her bow and a few arrows.

"Eh? Are you sure?" Kagome questioned.

"No chance. She'll end up being the damsel in distress if we take her. She'll be kidnapped or something." InuYasha began.

"Hey, I'm right here, you know. Stop talking mess and let's go find that 'demon'." Kagome said, straightening her back in pride and walking towards Hojo's side.

"Alright. Well, let's go then." Hojo said, bending on one knee and helping Kagome unto his back.

"Hm... what are you? Her horse?" InuYasha bickered.

"Eh? You little... it so happens that I... I..." she couldn't find a reasonable explanation, "PUT ME DOWN, HOJO... I can walk, alright?" Kagome said, mentally kicking herself for being cruel to the wrong person.

'I'm not weak and I don't need him carrying me around like an injured child,' she mentally defended herself. Yet, it felt as though it were somehow a routine, as if it wasn't just the second time she rode on Hojo's back.

"As you wish, but we must hurry."

'There's so much of it, but this coppery one seems to be holding it in gear.'

Holding out his hand, he grasped the single hair. "Here, InuYasha. Cut through this one." He said. But she couldn't. InuYasha could not see it. Neither could Kagome. "Ugh..." He heard. And a sudden cut appeared on Kagome's cheek. Blood outlined the cut and that gave him an instant idea.

"This should help!" He said, making sure InuYasha could see his blood on the hair he pulled through his hand.

"I see it. IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!"

-------

"Here, it's made from the hair of the fire rat. You may need it more than I do." InuYasha stated, handing Kagome her haori. She was not only a girl, she was a human. She was perhaps the one most destined to be harmed in a situation like this.

"Wait! Hair of the fire rat? That which will not burn when thrown into flames?" Kagome recognized.

"Yep!" InuYasha smirked, glad she didn't need to explain herself.

"Thank you, InuYasha!" Kagome answered whole-heartedly.

"Yeah! Well you wouldn't need it if you weren't so weird-looking."

"You should talk, dog girl!"

"YEAH! WHATEVER!"

And as the rest of the hair fled like an army without its commander,

"SHH... the hair is leaving. We should follow it." Hojo interrupted both girls.

"Follow it? We can't see it, boy!" InuYasha decided to remind him.

"This way. Follow me." He announced.

-------------------

"That giant hair ball!" Kagome pointed.

"I see you're back for the Shikon Jewel. By the way, what on earth happened to it?" Yura questioned, standing on a single strand of hair.

"That is none of your business. Hand it over and I might just spare your life." InuYasha threatened.

"Hm... You're that demon bitch I heard was running around playing fetch with a reincarnated monk. You're gathering the shards, I pressume. But? Who's that other girl?"

"I have nothing to do with those half witts..."

"You're all half witts to me. You're a half-demon, remember?"


A/N: Yep! Short... very short chapter.

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