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: This will be my last official update till January, however, (that is a key word) I will be doing a little mini Christmas story during this time. It shouldn't be more than 10 chapters long.

I am suffering from writers block, so, this is also a contributing factor to the lateness of my next chapter. If anyone would like to suggest something (especially on the Wolf Youkai segments) or just tell me what you like about my story so far and what you would like to see more of, I would be joyful to hear!

I hope you enjoy!

Shout it outs!

Tanwen-Whitefire: No worries, I finally got a copy of my own, and a DVD player to watch it in (yes, I'm finally into the world of technology!) And, your inspiring ideas will be in a different, maybe not so similar way as you put it, but they inspired-thats all that counts, so just to let you know. LOL-I love your singing :)

animefreak808: Thanx soooo much! And glad I could be of help. Merry Christmas to you!

Rayame325: I can't wait to see the second one either. Sooo cool. Probably won't come till next year though. (sigh) Patients isn't my most virtuouse quality. Oh well. Thank you for the review!

kit: Gah! Nightmare! Well, maybe you can place an order??Anyhoo, glad you think so!

purplepixie89: Perfection can't be rushed (not saying my story is perfection...but same idea applies :) )

And thank you to all of my other reviewers! Free invisible cookies for everyone!

Chapter 56

Moving Forwards

"Kouga, we're being followed." Ayame snarled in a hushed tone, making no indication that she knew of their extra companions. He nodded and kept walking. All of them kept together, their bodies tensing, but every thing else about their composure was tranquil. At a clearing, still in the forest, Kouga stopped.

"What is it you want?" The wolf Youkai made a circle, prepared for a fight. A tall thin man stepped out of the forest cover.

"I hear you're looking for an army."

"What makes you think that?" Hakkaku questioned. The man raised a shaggy eyebrow.

"The room of Lady Mystic is not so private as she thinks."

"So you question her loyalty?" Ayame asked surprised.

"Not a question of loyalty. Just a question of when to let go. She can't take chances. Treats us like little children." The wolves shuffled their feet, not sure what to think.

"Well, we do need all who are willing to fight…"

"But, you're thieves, not warriors." Mariko quietly said.

"True 'nough, but we've run into a rumble or two. We knows how to fight well enough." He chortled.

"How many are coming?" Kouga asked, doing calculations in head.

"Hun'red an' eighty I s'pose."

"Are you bringing your own provisions."?

"Plenty 'nough food to keep us nicely till summer season. I dare say you's would be grateful fer it to."

They seemed to relax the more they thought about it.

"How fast can you and the other Thieves of Elodia travel on open ground?" Ayame asked. The man seemed to think about it as he rubbed the stubble on his chin.

"Well, can't say all us could stay up to pace with your speed, seeing you's are Youkai, but faster than most humans." With final glances at each other, they smiled.

"Well then, we have at least a weeks worth of walking ahead of us. No doubt the fighting has already been started." The man gave a sharp whistle.

"What was that for?" Ginta asked covering his sensitive ears. The rest of their group mimicked his action as well. They let their hands drop, but their ears were left ringing loudly.

"Callin the group. We does spy work too, so we communicate by sound. They should be following close behind nows. By the way, me name's Bartholomew."

"Bar…what?" Ginta scratched his head.

"Bartholomew, but peoples just call me Bart." Hakkaku and Ginta shrugged.

"Lets get going already! The soon we get their, the sooner we can pound that little sucker, Naraku, into the ground!" Natsuko growled impatiently. Without any more words, they flew off into the woods and Bart disappeared into the forest greenery.

Soon, the forest was covered in men in camouflage, all running either on the ground, or hopping from branch to branch. Even with all of the people, the forest remained silent, except for the occasional snapping of twigs or crunching of leaves.

"Miroku, look! The sun is coming up."

"And the Raven demons seem to be flying back to where they came from." She nodded. As the tendrils of soft hair spilled into the sky and over the treetops, the dark clouds seemed to reach out and cover the sun, making what light there was turn a dark red and the rest of the sky black.

"I think it's going to rain again." Miroku nodded. With a gentle push of the knee, they flew down into the middle of the Miko camp where many were injured, though not all so seriously.

"How is everything."? Sango asked a passing girl who looked no more than twelve, but wore the ranking clothed of a full Miko.

"They could be better. Luckily not many died."

"Have you seen a girl named Kagome? She is about yea tall, black hair, brown…no blue eyes, and she wears strange clothes."

"No. I'm sorry. I need to go now." She sped off into the mess. Kirara jumped on to Sango's shoulder, and the three companions began a search of their own, occasionally stopping the passing Miko or to help.

"Miroku, why can't we find her? She should be here!" Sango was beginning to worry and become agitated. Miroku set a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure she's fine. Kagome can take care of herself." Sango shook her head, she still didn't feel right.

That's when they heard a few gasping noises.

"Somebody get a clean rag of water!"

"Go get the Northern Priestess."

"We need priestess Mariko." People who could were scrambling everywhere. Others were looking up at the three people at the edge of the forest, and began to become restless, not sure weather they should make a path, or crowd.

"What is the meaning of this, I…" Mariko looked on.

"Somebody go get Keio."

"I'm right here." He replied pushing his way through the camp.

"Miroku, it can't…no…" Sango began to sway, and Miroku held her up in his arms. Tears fell down without her knowing it.

She was entranced by the silver haired Hanyou who carried a girl dressed in green, limply in his arms and a small Kitsune boy on his shoulder who nearly tipped over from exhaustion.

"She has failed." The man said looking at the ashes that were once a heart of a demon. The woman in the room gazed out impassionately at the hordes of demons and men posted.

"No matter. I will wait. In the mean time, I have another army supplied elsewhere. Would you like to know where?" He said gloating. The woman didn't even turn.

"What you do is none of my business. I care only for my revenge." He frowned, his red eyes blazing. A green snake like creature flew through the air and gave an orb of light to the woman who quickly absorbed it.

"And how do you plan to exact your revenge?" She waited, eyes flickering, moments passed and the man began to grow impatient.

"By taking what is mine. I do believe you said you had a purpose for me being here, or is this meeting merely for your eyes to wander where they should not have been placed in the beginning?" She turned sharply to him. Her eyebrows drawn downward in disdain.

"I have a question for you. Why is it that you do not poses the jewel now? Surely it would be an easy matter for you to grasp it." Her lips drew in tighter and her eyes more dangerous.

"I hardly think that a matter of discussion. If you have nothing of real importance to discuss, than I take my leave." She walked out the mat door and through the open deck hallways looking out across the vast valley. The few soul collectors near her followed at a reasonable distance, and swirled in the air with fluid grace.

She happened to chance a glance at the earth and see a small flower growing. Slowly, she reached out and just as her finger touched it, it wilted and turned to dust.

"Thus is my curse. I am to live without living, never truly touching anything. Never to feel love or joy. My powers are no longer pure, and my heart is its reflection." She spat on the ashes and stood up, leaving as if she hadn't stopped.

"Well, is our numbers satisfactory to you?" The woman's tail shifted irritably as she looked up at Sesshoumaru who glanced over his shoulder, barely, at the new recruits they had come by passing through a hidden city.

"Is this all that would fight? Pity. We don't stand a chance." He turned back and began to stoically walk along an unbeaten path.

"You ungrateful…" She trailed off, knowing full well that arguing would do no good to anyone.

"Why do we follow him?" A red headed rogue panther demon questioned.

"Yes. I to question if it is reasonable to follow just one Yukai." The petite girl replied. Before the big lug of a panther brother could reply, the woman cut in.

"You three were there just as I was when those two fought. Sesshoumaru is a powerful ally, though temporary as it may be. If his brother Inuyasha is there to fight as well, and has improved on his sword skills any, than surely those two could create a lot of damage, and I for one want to make sure to be on the right side."

"But the half breed Inuyasha is weak. He lets a human walk next to him like an equal." The red haired answered.

"Hmm. That will yet be decided. Come. We do not wish to fall behind."

Authors Ending Note: Blame it on the writers block.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Felice Navidad!