Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and setting (oh, and a few of my own creations…)

Authors Beginning Note: Explanaition takes up most of what I have to say.

Power Core- The idea I came up with is this. It's similar to the thought of having psycic powers. Everyone has them, but only on certain levels.

The mikos are 'in tune' with their power and are consciously aware of them. Humans do have this power. After all, Mikos and humans are the same thing. Normal humans however, don't show signs of their powers because they are not consciously aware of them, or they wouldn't be able to handle it if it comes to them. Therefore it takes a special type of human to be a Miko

Demons can use this power but only to the extent of their powers nature and even then that can be limited, depending on the strength, of body, mind, and soul. Their limitations are because they aren't conscious of their powers. It just comes to them.

All beings power(s) are deep within them, not neccissarily on a physical level, nor a spiritual one. It's just kinda there. Accessing their power takes a special type of training, heart, or way of thinking, assuming it is possible. One must excersise their whole being in order to be able to weild their power without it going out of control resulting in their death, or in worse case scenario the deaths of those around them. Imagine if Inuyasha was just a human and had his demon capabilities, but didn't have the strength to control them, he might have accidentally sliced someone (ex: the Good Kikyo, Kagome, Keade, Shippo, ect…).

But on a warning note, this is all fantasy, made up, no real basis to it on anything else. So don't go starting a group saying this and that about this stuff and how you think you can do it. There are only two powers and that is good and evil. Theoligically- God vs Satan. Of course we all know good wins in the end.

Enjoy the chapter!

Shout it outs!

Valese: Inuyasha may not be the most romantic, but I figure he'd know just what to get Kagome. As for where he got it, I think I explained it right before the birds started fighting...hmm. Anyhoo.

Mai is kinda based off of the idea of a harpy, yes. But she is also kinda my own creation. So yes and No. In my 1st Spirited Away Fic, I used harpies though.

And no, I don't think any of my reviewers are annoying, especially when I get such great input.I find it enjoyable answering Qs. It helps withmy writing and tells me a few things I should be doing differently. So, you got questions, I've got answers (te he!)

animefreak808: When you think about it, some of my chapters are barely one whole page long, so...if you averaged it out, my story could probably be 10 pages less.

Anyhoo-If we're going to be rolling down any hills, I just gotta know whats at the bottom first. I'd hate to go on a one way rolling course into a crocidiles mouth or something. LOL!

Since you apperently haven't read my bio (lol) I am 100 gilr, chick, woman, lady, what ever form of word you describe the female species.

Tanwen-Whitefire: You should quite getting grounded. It would make things sooo much easier. LOL! Anyway, glad to hear from ya in your last review.

Such talkative reviewers. So much fun!

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 54

Feathers Falling

"Now, Kouga. Why is it exactly that you come here?" Mystina took off her cloak and draped it over a chair. Her body was almost completely visible in it's absence. Her chest was covered by a singly cloth wrapped around the front once and crossed to tie at the back of her neck. Her skirt, which was held by a leather thong, was slitted on both sides up past the point of indecency.

With all of the silk in her room…you'd think she would be able to come up with some decent to wear…especially for her line of work…but then again…she's probably just the distraction…

Ayame's harsh interior didn't show through her cool exterior. True, she looked far from asking Mystina to be her best friend and suggest a sleep over, but she looked civil enough to participate in a serious, polite conversation.

Everyone sat somewhere, weather cross legged on the floor or in the few carved chairs made into the tree that there were. Mystina herself arranged herself comfortably on a pile of pillows made of silks and feathers. She laid in such a way as to make any one think who could not hear, that she was offering herself to those in the room.

"We came here to ask that you help us, thinking you had not heard of the War. You said you've heard of Naraku's war, so then why haven't you done anything about it?" He asked sternly. She shrugged.

"I do not see how it effects the thieves, or me for that matter."

"Are you that stupid? Or has age made you senile?" Her eyes flashed.

"If last I recall correctly, I was the one who outwitted you in our little tussle."

"Then you are spoiled and niave."

"Kouga, I welcome you here like a guest, and you treat me like stone. I'd watch my footsteps more carefully."

"Damn you Mystina!"

"Do not raise your voice to me!" She stood up and toward over him.

"And I say the hell with you and all of this foolish bantering. There are people who are probably dieing as we speak!" Ayame stood up and stared at Mystina who coolly gazed at the girl.

"Watch your tongue, or you might find it missing come sunrise."

"I'd like to see you try, but when the time comes, if Naraku isn't stopped, you will find yourself in a worse place than mine, and girlish threats won't cause him to so much as flinch as he has you and your band of first rate thieves are enslaved, tortured, sliced, and killed. You with all of your silk and precious gems. Your talk of highness, your manner of regalness. None of that will get you farther than as a whipped slave attached to a lustful pig!" Ayame spat in Mystina's face, and in return she was slapped.

"You bitch!" Natsuko tore at her face as she lunged past and readied herself for another attack when Kouga stood up.

"Enough!" He cried. Natsuko didn't recede until Ayame frigidly stood her full height and signaled with a twitch of her finger to back down.

"You have soothsayers, what do they say will happen?" Mystina stood with all the grace of an outraged queen.

"They say they can see nothing."

"And you lie."

"You dare…"

"You're afraid."

"I am no such…"

"You are more cowardly than the wolf packs we left behind!"

"I don't want to hear…"

"I don't care! You have to hear!"

"We are not warriors…"

"Even monks take up their staffs…"

"They are…"

"You are afraid…"

"I fear nothing…"

"You lie. I smell it, we all do…"

"I fear NOTHING!"

"And you LIE!"

"Get out! Get out now!" She yelled deafening all other noise. Kouga was riled and ready to do something, anything. The rest weren't in better shape.

Mystina looked at all of them as they didn't move and she seathed even more.

"You have worn my patience. Get out before I choose to end your lives now." She shook and reluctantly they left. Mariko was last, she glanced back at the Yukai.

"If I may. Even in the short time I've been here, I have heard your men say that you are brave. But I think you just have never feared before or had anything to loose. Now you do. You have your Theives of Elodia. You are their leader and you fear their deaths and you incapapbility to prevent them from dieing. Fear is a common thing among everyone, even the strongest but it is the brave who do what is right even though they shake and tremble. I think that if you truly look, you will find that you can be brave as well."

"You know nothing!" Mystina raged. Mariko quickly turned to catch up with her comrades.

Even as she said it, she knew it rang false and she knew the truths she was faced with. She slumped against the gnarled walls of her tree and wept.

"Out of my way." Inuyasha let out a ferrel growl. Mai clucked in a way similar to a chicken. Her grin showed amusement.

"Why the hurry Inuyasha? We just met. I think we should take some time and aquaint ourselves."

"Tetsusaiga!" He lunged at the cursed demon and missed completely as she flew into the air, spreading out her dark wings.

"Inuyasha!" the familiar scream nearly threw the Hanyu into a wild frenzy. He felt his blood pump thickly in rage, but slowly breathed in and out, not daring to do a thing until it was under control.

I can't let myself loose control…At all costs…if I do…Kagome be dead before I can help her…or worse…I may kill Kagome myself…

"What's the matter Halfling? Does something bother you?" She smiled all the more, her lips dripped blood. Inuyasha aimed Tetsusaiga at the flying witch.

"Tetsusaiga!" He leaped at just the right time and struck her across the chest in a downward arc. She fell behind a tree, while he landed gracefully to his feet.

"Inuyasha, please, please help me." He heard a whimper from the place that he had just wasted Mai.

"Kagome!" He raced, hoping that Mai had not captured her.

"Hello." Inuyasha was struck repeatedly by razor feathers that flew at him too fast for normal eyes to glimpse.

"Where…is she!" He was kneeling, looking up into the dancing ice in Mai's eyes.

"What are you talking about Inuyasha?" She mimicked perfectly in Kagome's voice. His eyes narrowed.

"Does that bother you?" She said normally. Mai flapped her wings and the air pushed him onto his back. She leaned seductively by his ear.

"Inuyasha." She breathed out in Kagome's voice. He couldn't move.

"Inuyasha, why?" She frowned, he didn't react.

"Inuyasha, why? Why did you let me die, Inuyasha? I thought you loved me. I know I…" Her crying imitation of Kagome was cut off as her throat was clench by tight nails digging into it.

"Die." He said, sending a pulse of energy into her body, making her explode in a red light from the inside out. Feathers fell to the ground lazily and his vision blurred. It was like a dark dream, slipping in and out of thoughts, not holding a single solid thing to himself but how beautiful the feathers are, and how beautiful Kagome would be wearing white ones on her back in the form of wings.

Authors Ending Note: It's semi short, but so is the time frame I'm writing in. Sorry. I have relatives here, so I got booted off my computer and onto mom's (which is different than mine, and it's kinda weird-also in a different room so my 'vibes' are being disrupted –LOL!) So, I'm going to have to leave you all off. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Feliz Dia de Acion de Gracias!- As they say in Spanish.