Chapter 2 – Dangerous Encounter
Kamihana

Three days had passed. Kamihana had quickly proved her usefulness when a martial arts master came into town. His request? Give him the Shikon Jewel shards. He'd refused to fight a demon as that was 'unfair' but accepted when Kamihana had challenged him. He didn't live to regret it. As soon as Kamihana had downed him a demon had come and snatched him away. He was probably in a demon's stomach by now.

Impressed, Kagome and Shippo invited Kamihana to join them. Kamihana accepted happily. Now they were on the move. Everyone had immediately taken a liking to Kamihana. Unfortunately, there was one problem. Kamihana and Inuyasha didn't get on so well. She'd called him mutt more than a couple times and he called her Kikyo by accident more than a couple times too. It was a beautiful morning when one such argument rang out in a clearing near a small river.

"I thought I told you not to call me Kikyo!"

"And I thought I told you not to called me mutt!"

"You are a mutt!"

"I'm a hanyou! Not a mutt!"

"You're a dog hanyou, mutt!"

"Exactly, dog. Not mutt!"

"A dog is a mutt!" Kamihana grabbed a rock with a sharp edge.

"Hey! What are you doing, idiot?"

Kamihana was really angry now. "What does it look like?" she shouted then she threw the stone. Anger had clouded her head though, so Inuyasha dodged easily.

Thump!

"Hah! Missed -" Inuyasha started to taunt.

"My lord! You're bleeding!" Kamihana froze. No it couldn't be. Kamihana prayed she hadn't just done what she thought she just did.

"Somebody over there threw a rock at my lord!" There was the sound of footsteps and thwo figures appeared out of the foliage, two small, one adult. Kamihana's face was pale.

"Why couldn't my rock have just hit a tree?" she moaned softly, barely audible to even her own ears. Golden eyes turned to her. Kamihana swallowed hard. She'd forgotten about youkai hearing.

"So it was you," Sesshoumaru stated simply. It wasn't a question. Kamihana winced. This was not her good day. She licked her lips.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Inuyasha butted in angrily.

"That's my line," Sesshoumaru replied. Kamihana noticed a cut on his right cheek, right in between the red markings.

"Silence, half-breed! Do -"

"Shut up, Jaken. Take care of Rin." Jaken shut up. Sesshoumaru continued. "I have no business with you, brother. My business is with the girl."

"Well, you can't have her!" Kagome's voice was heard. She had an arrow cocked in her bow and her bowstring was already drawn and taut. "Move closer and this goes into your eye!" Both Inuyasha and Jaken had an expression that said, "Of course. You'll hit him. Right." Sesshoumaru's face betrayed no emotion. Kamihana could see Miroku and Sango as well. Miroku was prepared to open his Wind Tunnel and Sango was in attack position. "Kamia," Kagome's voice spoke again. Everyone but Inuyasha now called Kamihana Kamia for short. "Go. Run. We'll take care of him." It was obvious who he was. Sesshoumaru looked vaguely amused. Kamihana looked to Kagome and nodded. She turned back to face Sesshoumaru and slowly backed away.

"Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!" Inuyasha lashed out with his claws at Sesshoumaru who dodged easily. Kamihana took the opportunity and ran into the forest.

She ran as she'd never run before. There was a reason Sesshoumaru was named what he was named. She didn't want her name to appear on his list of people killed. Soon though, even her strong body faltered. She looked up and was surprised to see the Sacred Tree Inuyasha used to be pinned to.

A snapping of a branch alerted her to the presence of another. She spun, expecting Sesshoumaru or Kagome. She saw neither.

"Kikyo," Kamihana whispered, surprised. Kikyo stepped out from the shadows. She was wearing the same Miko robes as always and she held a bow and arrow in her hands. She stared at Kamihana without a word. Kamihana stared back.

"Mirror images. This girl looks more like you than your own reincarnation does," Sesshoumaru's soft voice was directed at Kikyo. Kamia and Kikyo both turned their attention to him. Kamia licked her lips. Damn, she was too tired to run.

"Yes," Kikyo answered. Her eyes turned back to Kamia. Kamia was backing away from Sesshoumaru, towards the Sacred Tree. Sesshoumaru also turned to Kamia. He seemed amused at something. Kamia felt her back bump against the tree. She was breathing hard and knew that both Kikyo and Sesshoumaru could feel her barely-checked terror.

"You are dead," Sesshoumaru stated. Kamia kept her eyes open, determined to face her death bravely. Sesshoumaru leaped towards her with inhuman speed and drew his sword all at once. Kamia pressed against the tree, hoping for a miracle.