Hey sorry for the long update. As you know I have writer's block and the quality of my writing has gone downhill. :sigh: Sorry about that. I am trying to make these last few chapters better. (yes i said 'last few') I will probably end up revising my stories in future. Then they wil be less confusing! Anyways, I'm not sure how many fans I have with this story, but this chapter is for you guys out there.

Disclaimer:...same as the chapter before last, before last chapter, before last chapter... (i know it makes no sense. )

Chapter Eleven: Betrayal?

Kai shivered as she thought of last night's drama. Kohaku still hasn't shown his face in the village, and everyone is beginning to question whether it was him who threw the incriminating sickle. There was no doubt in the authenticity of the weapon, but there was a certain degree of suspicion about the wielder. Was this really Kohaku or a figment of Naraku's deceitful illusions? To many questions made Kai's head spin and the more she though of it the more she grew sick with disgust. Naraku would feel no remorse impersonating the boy.

It made Kai uneasy. What form would Naraku take next? Kai had no shortage of friends who could be turned into weakness. She cared deeply about her friends and of Naraku took advantage of that…

Kiyoshi was cussing out Kasumi randomly, despite the fact she wasn't around to hear his harsh words. He couldn't believe the witch saved Kai's life, and then turned around and stole the Ice Pendant. He growled at the mere thought of the girl. He was brooding and vowed to kill her. Chandra and Shippo migrated from the fields to hear news of the village. Chandra's skin was tanned with a slight burn do to overexposure to the sunlight. Her fuchsia eyes were filled with happiness and her sense of innocence outshone her demonic aura. She was in such a bright mood that rubbed off on everyone. Shippo didn't look as young as he did before. Kai was stunned to realize that he had actually grown. Although he was still short, Chandra only came up to his elbow. They made a comical couple, and Kai felt a surge of energy between the two. Wistfully she drew a conclusion to her friend's enlightened behavior. He was in love.

But Chandra was a child, Kai thought. Despite her extreme maturity, her outward appearance placed around seven years old. But being a demon age was hard to determine. Nobody else in the village seemed too thrilled with the budding romance and even attempted to separate the couple. Kai felt that punishment wasn't fair. She was grateful Shippo had found someone. She sighed. Why couldn't she find someone?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a distinct obscene outburst. She turned to see Inuyasha yelling at Sango. The two friends were fiercely arguing. Kai didn't know the reason behind the confrontation and listened in.

"That wasn't Kohaku!" Sango screamed as tears of frustration building up in the corners of her eyes. "Kohaku could never hurt Kai. You know that!"

"Naraku could have tricked him." He growled. Kai was taken back; her father never spoke so harshly to Sango. The two continued their shouting match and Kai wandered from the village. She could feel the presence of the Jewel, but it was faint. As hard as she tried she couldn't locate the source.

Kai stood at the base of the God Tree. She walked closer to examine the bark. She ran her finger down a hole on the surface. The hole was empty but evidence of the arrowhead that nearly sealed her father's fate forever remained. Kai often wondered about the infamous priestess named Kikyo. She heard different accounts depending on the parent who told the story. The story never failed to bring tears to her eyes and hatred in her heart. Naraku nearly ended her parent's destinies because of the Jewel. Her hair stood up involuntarily. The mention of the Jewel caused an instant craving that she couldn't explain. Did she desire the Jewel?

That's silly, she thought. I want the Jewel out of Naraku's hands…nothing more. There was a rustle in the brushes and she sharply turned her head and shouted. "Who goes there?" She drew the Akahoshii and pointed it straight in front of her. She silently warned the interloper (hehe this is one of my vocab words) that she had no fear in using her weapon.

Kiyoshi emerged with his hands in the air. "Relax, Kai." He said. "It's just me." Kai lowered her weapon but her guard was still raised. Her glare didn't shift. "Uhhh…Kai?"

She blinked and let her shoulders lower slowly.

"Sorry…" She said her voice trailing. Quickly snapping out of her trance, Kai straighten and stared into Kiyoshi's worried eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off.

"Why did you always come here?" He asked. His voice was completely relaxed despite his past expression. Kai was soothed by his voice.

"This place is an important part of my past, or more my parent's than mine." She snuck a glance at his dumbstruck expression and sighed. "This is the tree where my father was sealed away. Nearly sixty-five years ago."

"He was shot by Kikyo." Kiyoshi said. His eyes held a strange gleam. Kai looked at him in shock. "Oh, I heard the story in the village. Is was Kikyo right?" He added cheerfully. Kai began to think about it. Did Kaede mention it?

"Yeah." She said quickly, after realizing the silence she created. "She believed that my father betrayed her. It's so, so tragic." She stumbled trying to find the right word.

"I would never betray you Kai." Kiyoshi said seeing her saddened expression. "Never." He put an arm around Kai's shoulder. Her stomach flew into her throat and her cheeks were flushed. Wrapping his other arm around her Kiyoshi pulled her into a tight embrace. Kai felt herself go numb, her legs and heart melting. "Kai, I want you to be with be forever." Kai could scarcely believe what he was saying. Then the tone of his voice changed. "Even in death."

"What?" Kai asked alarmed. What did he mean by that. She tried to pull away but he crushed her closer forcefully. She winced in pain and felt her anger boil. Then a sharp point was driven into her back. Kai screamed in agony and Kiyoshi finally released her. She swayed and slid down onto her knees. She placed her hand on the bleeding wound. It wasn't too serious, but if it wasn't treated…

Kiyoshi stood watching her with a grin. Kai squirmed on the ground. He kicked her in her stomach and she was rolled onto her back. He crouched down and whispered in her. "Sayonara, Kaiaya." He stood up and left.

"Kiyoshi!" She cried out. He didn't turn. He kept walking. "No!" Kai shrieked. She refused to believe that was Kiyoshi. But she couldn't rationalize her overwhelming hatred. She saw a vision of her snapping his neck and laughing cruelly. Her mind was being clouded by evil thoughts of vengeance. She would damned if she left him get away with this. But she was too weak to go after him on her own. For the first time Kai wanted the Jewel to use. To kill Kiyoshi…

Kai stood up and drew the Akahoshii and threw it down. Kai felt her blood run as cold as an artic stream. She no longer felt her pain, and in its absence laid deep resentment. She was no longer Kaiaya Higurashi, but a specter of her former self. She didn't have a drop of humanity left. "Kiyoshi's" betrayal created a creature worse than Naraku. A dark priestess.

Naraku sat back and stared at his handy work through Kasumi's mirror. He pushed Kai off the edge. With her new burning desire she would be too easy to manipulate with the power of the Jewel. He chuckled and turned to his right. Standing next to him was Kohaku. He wore a metal shackle on his wrist. He looked at Kasumi, who stood at his left. Directly behind him was Kagura. Her red eyes void of any emotion. This was his private army and he couldn't wait to add Kai to it.

He dismissed them and decided to take a nap. Kohaku charged at Kasumi when they were away from Naraku. "You have to help her!" He shouted. Her grabbed her shoulders and shook her to empathize his point.

"I agree." She said. "Kai can seriously kill someone if she isn't stopped."

"That's why we have to help her." He said stubbornly.

"I can't just chase after her though." Kasumi said. "I would be killed. But if I warned Inuyasha…" She looked at Kohaku. "Do you get what I am saying?" He nodded, but he wasn't happy with the way this was going. He had no insurance that Inuyasha could help, or that Kasumi was loyal to her word. He knew she healed Kai after he nearly killed her. And Naraku punished her so harshly. Kasumi's back was littered with long gashes. Her flesh will be scarred forever. But he still couldn't trust her, because what she did to Kiyoshi.

"Why did you save Kai?" Kohaku asked her. She seemed startled by the question. She considered her response and said. "I couldn't let her die because she must kill Naraku so I will be free." She said. Kohaku noticed a certain hollowness in her words. Whether she truly thought that, he would probably never know. But he knew Kasumi wasn't as evil as she often claimed she was.

She is like Kai, he thought, as evil as she appeared on the outside; inside she is ruled by compassion. But in place of compassion is loneliness.

Kasumi called her birds and turned to Kohaku. "Stay here and make sure Naraku doesn't know I am gone. If he does, don't get involved. He will have my head, not yours. You need to live to see your friend. Watch for my ravens." Kohaku thanked her as she disappeared into a black fog.

"Good luck Kasumi and Kai." He said.

Kagome felt as if a dagger pierced her heart. Dread filled her as she thought about her dying daughter. Despite the wonders of technology, nothing in the modern era could help Kai. She sighed. There was a way to overcome this, she thought. We just need to find a cure.

She walked into the shrine house and stared down the well that connected to her other life. The life, that was full of peril. She sighed. Kagome knew that she had to do something before it was too late. Resettling her bag of mostly medical supplies, she jumped down the well and anticipated the not-so-soft landing.

Sesshomaru, Rin, and Jaken walked past the well, as Kagome was crossing over. She was climbing over the rim when Sesshomaru appeared. She was half-expecting to see Inuyasha, but to see his brother was quite the shock for her. Clumsily, she swung her leg around the rim and stepped onto solid ground.

"What happened?" She asked. She skipped introductions because she knew something was wrong. Otherwise why were they there?

"Kagome," Rin said her usual cheerfulness missing. "Naraku has control of Kagura. And-." Sesshomaru interrupted her.

"I smell Kaiaya's blood." Kagome dropped her bag. She was too late!

Ok, this chapter is better than last so I am doing better. Right? If you are unhappy with what just happened, just know thatthis story will probably have a happy ending, but I might do something different...hmm, that gives me an idea...

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-SMR