Sorry for the wait. Here's the next chapter...Well I dont have anything else to say here...so.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer:...same as last chapter...

Chapter Seven: The Secret of the Tainted Blood

Kai was laying on her back motionless in a temporary "hospital". Her pale face was beaded with sweat. It's been two days since the raid and the young woman still didn't wake up. Inuyasha and Kagome were concerned for their daughter and feared the most when she didn't heal as fast as she normally did. Inuyasha noticed a change in her scent but he couldn't quite place it. Kai was changing, they knew but they were unsure of to what degree.

"Kaiaya," Midoriko called. Kai snapped her head and saw the priestess. Around them was a darkness that terrified but soothed Kai's soul. The stronger priestess read her tight expression and asked. "Do you know why the dark effects you so?"

"If I knew I wouldn't be so damn scared." was the tense reply. The priestess nodded as if she expected the answer. "You are torn in two, my dear. Someday you will realize how torrmented your soul is."

"Torrmented soul?" She alarmed. She knew she wasn't happy but torrnented? Kai couldn't reason that she was depressed or anything.

"Your blood divides you. Half of you is hanyou, which in turn is split between human and demon. The other half is miko. Your father feared your demon side would emerge as his had but he never considered the other half to be more powerful."

"What are you saying?"

Sigh. "I am here to warn you. Do not fear your demon self, but your darker half."

"Darker half?" She muttered to herself as the scene faded into the same lair she was in last dream. Standing in front of her was a woman with long flowing black hair that passed her waist. Her eyes were veiled by her bangs.She looked to be four years older than Kai. She was wearing a midnight blue haori with crescent moon prints, that was cut off above her navel. Her right shoulder was exposed because of the oversized collar. Her hakama pants were black and the slits on the sides of her thighs reavealed red bands wrapped around her leg; dangling from them were two knives.

The woman lifted her head. She was wearing a purple headscarf tucked behind her human ears. Around her neck was a golden locket with a chain of rosary beads, unnervingly similiar to Inuyasha's. Kai peered into her face. The woman's eyes were mismatched, one amber, one violet. Her right hand clenched a maroon crystal. Realization dawned on her, as she reconized the woman's pale face. She was staring at herself.

"Kasumi!" Naraku hissed, his anger rizing far over his climax. The raven witch rolled in her eyes and pretended not to care on the outside. But inside she was hurt by Naraku's harsh words. Her mind wandered to the man she met earlier. His name was Kohaku, she thought. He treated me like a human. "I give you one simple task and you screwed to up! You deliberating disobeyed me. Do you really wish to die?"

"If I wanted to die," She said her voice cutting through Naraku. "I would have killed myself." She added bluntly. Naraku smirked.

"You couldn't." Kasumi stared him down. "Not after what happened to your mother..." His voice trailed dramatically. Kasumi snarled like a wild beast but in her eyes was a flicker of vulnerability. Naraku had directly aimed at the weak spot in her heart. Kasumi stepped back. How did Naraku know? How did he know her mother commited suicide?

"What does she have to do with this?" Kasumi demanded. "I think you know." Naraku said. "What I told you that I could resesrect her?"

Kasumi's eyes widened. To see her mother again...was it worth following Naraku? "What's the catch?"

"No catch." Naraku said quickly. He paused. "Ok, maybe one...I need your help. If you can steal the Ice Pendant, I can bring back the dead."

"The Ice Pendant? You're a fool. The pendant can't bring back the dead."

"Do you know for sure?" Kasumi paused. She didn't. But she would damned if she let Naraku get the better of her. But for her mother was it worth it?

"I will collect the soil from her grave, and with the Ice Pendant it will be like she never left." He said almost too sweetly that it seemed impossible that it was Naraku speaking.

"How do I know that you won't go back of your word?"

"I swear by the Shikon Jewel." He said. He pulled it out of his pocket and held it out for her to see. "But it ensure that you don't doublecross me. You must swear also."

"Fine." Kasumi placed her right hand over the the pink jewel. Naraku covered her hand with his. Kasumi flinched and a voice screamed in her head. "YOU MUST REMOVE YOUR HAND!"

"I c-can't."

"Can't what?" Naraku demanded in alarm. But Kasumi wasn't able to reply, because a bright light was emitted from their palms. The unmistakable light of the Shikon Jewel reflected off of every surface. It magnifyed and Kasumi felt her hand burning. She screamed and jerked it away as far as Naraku's crushing grip allowed. She was tricked.

The seal on the jewel cracked but if Kasumi's hand would have stayed on it longer than it would have disappeared completely.

Kasumi fell to the ground clutching her wrist. Her hand was numb and the burn on her hand was closing up rapidly. The effort to heal herself exhausated the last reserves of her spirtual powers. Kasumi swayed and fainted on the stone floor, betrayed.

Normally. I would end here but since I hadn't updated in ages I will continue...

"Lord Inuyasha," Myoga said. "Lady Kaiaya still hasn't recovered?" Inuyasha sadly shook his head. The old flea sighed.

"Kagome says her wounds have recovered but she won't wake up. Her scent grows weaker everyday." Inuyasha said, his voice was slightly haunted. "Do you have any clue why?"

"Well." The old flea considered something for a second and then replied. "You are aware of what happens when human blood and demon blood mix." Inuyasha nodded, unsure of what the old flea was getting at. Myoga paused, as if unsure of what else to say without offending the half-demon. "Lady Kaiaya is half miko. And miko's have the power to purify demons." Silence greeted his statement, but he gained the courage to continue. "Her priestess blood had been supressed by her demon blood but since her last encounter with Naraku, her power has been unlocked."

"That doesn't make sense." Inuyasha said bluntly. "Now that she has tested her power and used it, rather violently I might add, her demon blood no longer has the strength

"The ironic thing is, that the same thing happened to you with your demon blood instead." Inuyasha pondered that for a moment. Did that mean her demon side was being purified? And what happens when she had no demon blood left?

Inuyasha stood up and walked into the room were Kai was laying on a crude cot (I know they didn't have cots in the feudal era, but you know what I mean, right?) Her face was white marble, contrasting with her dark eyelashes and hair. Sitting next to her was Kiyoshi.

"Oh. Hello sir," he was startled by Inuyasha and jumped to his feet. He looked over Kai's father expecting him to be upset with him being in the room, but when the hlaf-demon made no remark, he relaxed.

"Does she look any better to you?" Inuyasha asked abruptly, apparently not interested in the reason behind Kiyoshi's prescense.

"Well. Her wounds healed but..." He stopped. Inuyasha nodded in understanding. She just needed to wake up. However, that was the hardest part.

Kiyoshi watched Inuyasha sit by his sick daughter. Deep concern was etched on his face. Kiyoshi saw how much him cared for his daughter. He nodded and felt compelled to give the two some room. Kiyoshi turned and left, without looking back.

Inuyasha collected his dignity. He kissed Kai's forehead. "Get well soon." He whispered. He stood up and Kai twitched. "I love you, Kai."

Do I have to spell it out? R-E-V-I-E-W! (lol)

-SMR