Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own any other characters other than Aldrea. And the plot to this fanfic. Oh, and the cat Sheila, though I personally don't own a cat.

A/N: Would appreciate reviews.

Chapter II: Getting Ready

Inuyasha jumped up out of the vine covered well and set Kagome gently on the ground. The scenery surrounding the well had changed drastically. Where once there was the Higurashi Shrine, there now was a grass filled clearing in the middle of a forest oflofty trees.

Out of the blue, a small tan blur flew into Kagome's arms with a cry of joy. Kagome laughed as she staggered back from the force of the loving tackle and looked down to what was now identified as a small creature with a bushy tan tail. The little figure was a young male kitsune, or fox demon, with red-brown hair and cute green eyes. He wore a green leaf patterned vest, brown overalls, and had adorable little fox feet. He squealed delightfully as Kagome pulled a lollipop out of her pack with a flourish.

"Here's a little gift for you Shippou."

"Thanks Kagome!" Shippou said gaily as he took the lollipop from Kagome and proceeded tostrip offthe wrapper. Asthepupdid this two more people walked out of the forest and into the clearing. One was a young woman with long, strait, black hair who was wearing a green and white dress, and had a large boomerang slung across her back. She held a bundle that carried a katana and a black fighting outfit for youkai exterminating, and on her shoulder sat a small tan cat with two tails, each sporting black rings near the tip, and red eyes.

The otherindividual was a young monk who wore dark purple and black robes; light blue prayer beads were wrapped around his right hand, and as he walked the staff which he held would make a chiming sound. His hair was black and hekept it in a short ponytail. Both of the newcomers had dark brown eyes, and they greeted Kagome with large smiles.

"Sango! Miroku!" Kagome shouted, "It's so great to see you again!"

"It is good to see you as well, Kagome." Replied Sango as her cat mewed in agreement and lept from her owner's shoulder to rub against Kagome's leg.

Kagome kneeled down to pet the fire cat demon. "I missed you too, Kirara."

Shippou looked intently at Kagome with wide eyes. "You won't leave us for that long ever again. Right, Kagome?"

"That's right, Shippou. Two weeks is far too long to be away from you guys."

"If I might make a suggestion," ventured Miroku, "Kaede-dono would be very pleased to see you, Kagome-dono."

"Well," replied Kagome hesitantly. "I was hoping to start searching for the Shikon no Tama (Jewel of Four souls) shards right away."

Inuyasha stared at Kagome with an incredulous expression plastered across his face.

"What? Can't I be ready to leave without delay for once in my life?"

Inuyasha quickly recovered and whipped his head to face the opposite direction. "Feh! Never mind!"

Miroku shook his head. "Oh well. We shall not be able to accompany you on such short notice, but we will catch up with you in the next town over."

"Oh, okay. Wait! Before I forget, I have something for you Sango." Kagome began searching her backpack for something as Sangogazed on with a puzzled expression. "Aha! Found it!" She pulled out a large, heavy book andgave it to Sango.

"Oh, thank you. What is it?"

"It's The Complete Works of William Shakespeare! I thought you might like it."

Sango bowed to Kagome, gratefully accepting her gift. "You and Inuyasha should be going now if you wish to reach the next village in good time."

"You're right!" Kagomerotated to faceInuyasha. "Let's go!" she chirped with cheer.

Inuyasha grumbled, picked up Kagome's backpack, turned around, and beganstalking away followed by an unbearably chipper Kagome.

"See ya later guys!" Kagome shouted as she ran to catch up with the swiftly movingInuyasha.

Before longKagome was hiking along in front while Inuyasha lagged behind. Inuyasha wasgrumbling about a 'stupid wench' or something of the sort, while tugging at the necklace he wore. When he tried to remove it, all it did was shine red and would not go past his chin.

Kagome unexpectedly came to a dead halt and Inuyasha almost collided with her.

"Watch where ya going wench!" he began, but never finished. The reason being was that right in front of them a strange portal had just opened. At thatpoint three people walked out; a woman, man, and child.

"Hi!"

Aldrea just couldn'tcomprehend it. Every single time she tried to leave, the vampires alwaysinitiated the same argument.

"When will we get fresh blood?"

"Yeah, I'm tired of those blood donations!"

Aldrea, instead of turning into her true form (which she usually did), and towering over them until they agreed with her, simply threw her hands into the air and gave in. She was toojoyful to care about muchat that moment in time. "Alright, you may kill any person who survives the wolves and plants."

"But hardly anyone makes it that far!" whined a vampire child, "No one bothers to try anymore. Can't we go hunting?"

"Fine, as long as you make sure you kill them properly before you eat. I do not wish to be responsible for any more vampires. The blood donation society is already becoming too cautious."

"Hurray! Can we all go at once?"

"Most definitely not; two vampires at one time is fine, buttwenty-eight moreis out of the question."

An elderly man, who had been a vampire for only two years, stepped forward. "Why don't we go out fifteen at a time and pretend we're a gang?"

Aldrea turned to him, her temper begining to wear thin, and stated simply that gangs don't have sixty-seven year old men tagging along; besides the fact that gangs are easier to become captured by the police. "You may only hunt in pairs each night and are allowed to kill one person each. I know it is not much, so you must share."

"Yes ma'am."

Aldrea began to walk out of the basement when she remembered something, stopped, andtilted her head to the side, revealing a twisted smirk. "Oh, and by the way, when you are finished with the bodies, the wolves are patrolling the forest borders during the day. They shall be hungry." After saying her bit, Aldrea walked out and began looking for the black cat Sheila whotook residencein her house. Aldrea found her loungingon the windowsill, taking a small nap. She was an all black cat, except for her two front paws, which were white. "Sheila, I need to talk with you."

The cat glanced at her, then stood up and stretched. "You're leaving, aren't you." replied Sheila while staring in nonchalance at her claws. "It's about time too. Nothing interesting has happened to me since I was a kitten."

"You cannot come with me this time. I need you to watch the house while I am away."

Now, anyone listening to their conversation would just hear cat noises and a person talking to her self. Aldrea canspeak all languages at once by broadcasting her thoughts. It is part of the curse which science had bestowed upon her.

"Sheila, I need you to stay!"

Sheila just looked away and acted as indifferent as only a cat can.

Aldrea was beginning to lose control of her temper. She covered her ears; grasping the sides of her head, she fell to her knees, flaring up her ki. Sheila froze in the middle of idly washing her paws and began to tremble, knowing what was about to take place.

Aldrea then rose slowly, and with a deadly gleam in her eyes, turned towards Sheila. "You shall stay." Aldrea's voice was unnaturally calm and laced with malace.

Sheila nodded her head once and tore away from Aldrea's soul piercing gaze, leaping from the windowsill onto the floor. She berated herself for even thinking about going against Aldrea's wishes.

Aldrea watched Sheila leave, then her eyes softened and she collapsed; sweat ran down her nose to create a salty pond between hertrembling hands. She inhaled deeply to calm herself. "I must keep a more efficient control over my anger," sheremarked ruefully to herself.Her eyes hardened again and a voice similar to hers, yet colder and oozing with evil spoke. "You can't last for long!" Aldrea's mouth warped into a horrific grin, and then she cackled. Her face contorted into an expression of pain and suffering as she battled inwardly with her anger. She stood still for a moment, and then put on a bright and cheerful face for her visit with the space-time continuum, her eyes the only thing betrayingher feelings ofsadness and exhaustion.