Love beyond the Western Lands: The Curse of the Black Gem

Chapter 12: Riko's Secret and her Betrayal

A/N: -Smiles nervously- Ok, you know the sword So'unga, Inu no Taishou's sword? It actually turned out to be spelled, Sou'unga. Heh…Sorry!

Sesshoumaru shook Kikyou lightly. "Kikyou," he said softly as he shook her shoulders. "Wake up!" "Meh (HAHAHAHAHA!)!" Sesshoumaru thought. "Sara never said anything about waking up is fast!" With another rough shake, Kikyou finally awoke. "Nyeh?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "We're home," Sesshoumaru said softly. Kikyou looked up. The sun was rising from the horizon and the castle was in sight.

Kikyou smiled. It felt like an eternity for her to be away from home. She missed everyone at the castle, Satsuma and her favorite waiting lady, Haruka. She would have been longing to see Riko if Sara had not given them that piece of disturbing information. As the group landed, Enju, Rin and Tomo awoke. xD Jaken somehow fell off and was clinging on the fluff for dear life. Sad how Sesshoumaru decided not to help him… (I just HAD to put that in LOL!)

As she made to leap off the fluff, she forgot one important thing. "Kso (xD it means Shit!)! I forgot my legs need a week's before I can stand!" she thought, pissed and angry. "SHIMATTA (It can mean damn or F234! –Smiles- You choose!)!" Kikyou screamed before hitting the icy floor. With a sweeping movement, Sesshoumaru caught Kikyou with his fluff. "Arigato!" Kikyou breathed. Sesshoumaru smiled. With another fast movement, he swung Kikyou into his arms, the two of them falling into a deep passionate kiss. "Ah… it was a long time since this happened…" they both thought.

"Ehh…" Rin and Tomo were red-faced, at a lost for words. "Ne (This is another way to say Hey! XD Only more respectful. XD I least I think so lol), Rin-Chan?" Tomo stuttered. "Hmm?" "W-when do you think we are gonna do that?" Rin glowered over Tomo, her eyes SCAAAAAAAAARY. "YOU THINK I WOULD KNOW!" she screamed. "Eh… That was why I was asking you," Tomo said slowly, his navy haired blown in the opposing direction. "Well this is my first time seeing this!" Rin bellowed again, lowering the volume, though Kikyou and Sesshoumaru did not seem to hear or notice.

Rin and Tomo looked the other way, determined not to see their parents kissing. XP Hell, they never even seen their parents kiss! Enju and Jaken were not bothered by it since they were adults. They were already half way to the entrance, where two lady guards bowed in respect as did Enju. When Jaken was looking the other way, not bowing back, Enju gave him a sharp kick in the butt, with her pointed boot, which made him yelp and bow hastily. The guards snickered at the sight. "Rin, Tomo!" Enju called. "Come on in!"

Rin and Tomo ran in the house, still red-faced. Soon enough, Sesshoumaru and Kikyou broke off from their passionate kiss. Sesshoumaru remembered that Kikyou could not walk yet so with a sweeping movement of his arms, he picked Kikyou up bridal style and walked into the castle, nodding his head to the guards as they nodded back in respect.

Sesshoumaru walked into their bedroom and set Kikyou down on the bed. "I'll be back with a glass of water," Sesshoumaru said, making to leave the room. "Sesshoumaru!" Kikyou called after him. "Eh?" Sesshoumaru was millimeters from stepping out of the shoji door (xD it's the slide door they use in Japan and is used with paper also to cover up the square holes xD).

"Onegai (Please)… bring Riko in here…." Kikyou said quietly. Sesshoumaru sighed. "You won't see her until you get some rest and get some strength back." Kikyou lowered her thin eyebrows slightly. "I won't eat anything until I see her, Sesshoumaru, please." "You won't see her until you eat something." Kikyou opened her mouth to argue back, but seeing it would do no use as her husband once made a decision could not be changed.

"Fine... I'll have some onigiri (Those REAAAAALLY tasty rice balls with a short strip of seasoned seaweed at the base. :gets hungry by thinking about them :) and green tea," Kikyou said. Sesshoumaru smiled. "I'll be right back." He came back with Haruka who, was smiling and was holding a tray of two steaming onigiri with a cup and a kettle of hot green tea.

Kikyou's face instantly lightened up. "Haruka-Chan!" Haruka's shining lavender bound hair shined in the candle light as she laid the tray down beside Kikyou's futon. "It has been a while, Kikyou-Sama," Haruka said as she poured the tea into the cup and offering it to Kikyou. "Yes, it has," Kikyou said, accepting the warm cup. She took a sip. "Ah, Haruka's ingredients and Sesshoumaru's instructions," Kikyou thought, savoring the tea in her mouth. She swallowed it and took another sip. "Delicious," Kikyou thought again.

Sesshoumaru bent and kissed Kikyou on the cheek. "I'll be in the studies. I'll know when you are ready to get Riko." Kikyou kissed him back with her petal soft lips. "Arigato," Kikyou said with a serene smile. Sesshoumaru threw her his trademark smirk and walked out of the room. Kikyou picked up an onigiri and looked at it with a hungry eye. "I made that onigiri myself," Haruka said. Then immediately, Kikyou took a bite of it: She knew Haruka would never poison her and knew a few waiting ladies who would. The onigiri was DELICIOUS: Seasoned and salted until it was right then some curry was mixed with the rice. "This is delicious, Haruka!" Kikyou exclaimed, flashing her black eyes at Haruka's soft navy ones.

Haruka smiled. "Arigato! It was my family's special recipe I had learned before I served Sesshoumaru-Dono," Haruka said cheerfully. Kikyou picked up the tray and held it to Haruka. "You have this one, Haruka. You made it and since it is so delicious, you should enjoy one your self." "Eh? Hontoni (Really, Truly)!" Haruka exclaimed, obviously surprised. Kikyou nodded. When Haruka hesitated, Kikyou picked up the onigiri and pushed it in Haruka's mouth. Tears were shining in Haruka's eyes as she took it from her mouth after a bite. "Arigato!"

Kikyou smiled. "You're welcome." With a flick of her fingers, another cup appeared and she poured the tea for Haruka. The two women chatted and ate and drank. In half an hour, they were both done eating. "Kikyou, you are much kinder than all the other waiting ladies I have served," Haruka said, picking up the plates and tray. "NANI! THERE WERE OTHERS!" Kikyou exclaimed, almost yelling.

Haruka put on a nervous smile. "Eh heh heh, no it was nothing like that! They were staying in the castle for the time being and Sesshoumaru were to marry them until he saw the way those soon-to-be ladies were treating the servants." Kikyou chuckled. "Arigato for the onigiri, it was delicious," Kikyou said, smiling. Haruka smiled, her navy eyes shining. "It's no problem! Should I prepare some for Rin and Tomo as well?" "If you would want to, Haruka," Kikyou said.

Haruka flashed one last smile and walked out the room, the ends of her sash fluttering behind her. "Rin-Ojousama (This honorific is for the daughter of rich people xD I don't know if there is one for boys though heh)! Tomo-Sama! Where are you?" Kikyou heard her voice down the hall. She chuckled to herself.

Suddenly, she remembered how Riko would call to her like that when Tomo and Rin wandered off: It made her sick to her stomach. Kikyou sighed again. "Chuuya (Pronounced: CHOO-yah)! Roujen (Pronounced like its spelled XP Tried to make the name sound Chinese ish –smiles at failed attempt-)! " Kikyou called. A girl with auburn hair put up pucca (Pucca hair EXXXX DEEE! XD!) Style and solid emerald eyes and another girl with onyx color pucca hair and narrow sapphire eyes walked in.

"Chuuya, I would like to go get Sesshoumaru for me," Kikyou said. The girl with auburn hair tried to hide a sign of laziness. "Why can't you go get him yourself? After all, you ARE his wife," Chuuya said cockily. A vein was throbbing Kikyou's temple: Chuuya looked amused. "Baka (Idiot, fool, dumb, or stupid)!" Kikyou practically screamed. Chuuya looked scared, though Roujen never failed to comply with Kikyou's request. "I would if I could! But why would I be lying a futon!"

Chuuya was speechless. Roujen made to speak but seeing the look on Kikyou's face (She was shooting her "It's not your question, don't answer it" look XD), she remained silent. "I can't move my legs, Chuuya," Kikyou said calmly. "Now if you don't go get Sesshou…" "You're gonna do W H A T?" Chuuya said heftily. Kikyou smirked: She knew that Chuuya was wanted by a certain group of bandits for some reason that Chuuya wouldn't reveal… which means that Chuuya cannot be kicked out of the castle which was her refuge. "… You will be hung by your feet and legs at the solitary tree, which Sesshoumaru-Dono did not wish to have."

Chuuya merely blinked. "Meaning?" Kikyou ruffed up her hair along with a roar of frustration. "MEANING YOU WOULD BE SIGHTED BY THOSE BANDITS!" (Ok, that was supposed to be a funny part! XD You know how sometimes Kagome yells at Inuyasha and Kagome's head gets BIG and Inuyasha's like HOLY CRAP? XD It's like that right now lol! XD) Chuuya was stunned as her skin crawled (XD LITTERALLY! XD). Roujen was attempting to stifle a laugh but Kikyou appeared to welcome it.

"Don't laugh, don't!" Roujen thought in her head, pressing her lips together so she wouldn't smile. "Kikyou-Dono is UPREDICTABLE!" But she couldn't take it. She burst out laughing. Chuuya shot her glares of defiance, but Roujen continued to laugh. Kikyou was O.o. "Damn it! I want to laugh to but I can't!" Kikyou thought (xD I just had to put this in lol). Chuuya looked as if she was gonna take a pair of chopsticks and shove them up Roujen's nose.

Kikyou managed to keep a straight face. "Well, Chuuya? GO." Kikyou commanded. Chuuya bared her teeth for a moment then stalked off. "Roujen, I would appreciate it if you can go get Riko for me as well," Kikyou asked kindly. Roujen smiled and bowed. "As you wish Kikyou-Dono," Roujen said and backed out of the room. "Hmm…" "This uneasiness around those two…. I don't understand it…." Kikyou thought. "…it's as if they are youkai… and they are not… what are they?"

In a few minutes, Sesshoumaru arrived in her room and kissed her on the forehead and Kikyou hugged him. In a few minutes, Riko came in, looking nervous. "You wanted to see me, Kikyou-Sama?" Riko said uncertainly. "Hai, Riko," Kikyou said.

"Riko," Sesshoumaru began. "What happened… 50 years ago?" Riko froze. "Nani?" Riko thought scared in her head. "They found out!" "W-why do you ask?" "Is it possible… you were revived with a transmutation circle… 50 years ago?" A drop of sweat rolled down Riko's temple. "I… Yes… I was…" Kikyou sighed. Sesshoumaru leaned against the wall in such an Inuyasha-ish way, with his arms tucked in his sleeves. "I'm sorry, I should I have told you this…" But Kikyou didn't hear her: A sharp pang went through her chest. "Whoa…" Kikyou thought in her head. "…did I just feel a vibe of darkness chiming through Riko?" Sesshoumaru was looking at Riko slightly suspicious. "Riko…" Kikyou said slowly, creasing her eyebrows down into a fierce V before looking up at her. "…were you a Kuro Miko?"

Riko's aura altered from a serene purity to a vile evil. "Shimatta! They found out!" Suddenly, Riko blinked her eyes; the calm purple grey turned into a fierce dark violet. Her vibrant black hair began to flair fiercely. Scarlet rogue began to glaze over her lips as they creased into a fierce smile as her teeth began to slightly sharpen. Her Miko uniform began to morph into a blood red haori and a midnight black hakama. "Hnh."

"So it has happened!" Kikyou and Sesshoumaru thought. "Any mention of something like that will get her dark side over taking her entire body, overriding the Yin-Yang of the soul and body!" Kikyou flinched. Her Shinidama Chu swooped down and picked her up from the futon, her white haori and hakama fluttering as she received the support of the eels. Sesshoumaru gave a sharp kick and took lift.

Riko began to cackle. "Ahahahahahahaha! So what if I was reborn with a transmutation circle? So what if I was a Kuro Miko?" Kikyou clenched her teeth. "Anata wa (You XD the wa is just there for… O.o I dunno lol)…" Kikyou began. Riko smiled cruelly and nodded. "Yes, I have spent two years living with you, just so I can get a vessel of a Shikon no Tama… The work was strenuous… the plan took a long time… but it paid off! I received a vessel that bestows the power of the Shikon no Tama!" Riko jerked off the necklace from her neck and held the shimmering blue chain as the navy pendant glowed with lavender.

"Anata wa teme (You bastard)..." Sesshoumaru growled. Riko smiled, the blood red lips curling up and baring her sharp white teeth. "Do you think your language can hurt me?" She put the necklace back on and pulled out a blue flower. Sesshoumaru and Kikyou's eyes widened: They knew this sort of attack (xD A bit taken from the 1st Inuyasha Movie: Toki o Koeru Omoi: Affections Touching Across Time At least I THINK that's the Japanese name…): Flower's Fury.

As Riko plucked off a petal and held it up to her lips, Sesshoumaru placed his hand on Toukijin's hilt as Kikyou's bow and arrow appeared with a shimmering sparkle. "Hehhh…. so you know of this attack, Kikyou," Riko said, putting much emphasis on Kikyou's name with disrespect. "And you Sesshoumaru… you could have had me instead of that wench." "WHAT!" Kikyou yelled. "I KNOW I DID NOT HEAR THAT!" Kikyou drew an arrow and held it.

Sesshoumaru scoffed. "True, Riko," Sesshoumaru. "Play along with me," was the look Sesshoumaru gave Kikyou when she was white with fury. Riko smirked. "Ehhhh? So you will abandon that bitch (Kikyou pulled her arrow on to her bow) and come with me?" Sesshoumaru smirked and slowly drew his Toukijin. "You ARE breath-taking, Riko," Sesshoumaru began, and then took his fighting stance. "But I would rather have Kikyou than a power hungry whelp like you!"

Kikyou smirked. Sesshoumaru continued to smile with glee. Riko fumed with anger. "Hmph!" With a blow of her lips, the petal flew out of her fingers, breaking down and turning into hard cold crystals flying towards Kikyou and Sesshoumaru. Kikyou and Sesshoumaru swiftly leapt out of the way. As Kikyou nocked an arrow, Sesshoumaru swung Toukijin, a wave of red light running towards Riko. Kikyou shot her arrow, glowing the same shade of red as it fused with Sesshoumaru's wave.

The blast hit Riko, but when it disappeared, it left no mark on her! Riko gave a light laugh. "Hmm mm!" Before her were Chuuya and Roujen, holding Tomo and Rin hostage. Chuuya grasped a long straight halberd while holding Rin at the waist. Roujen grasped two broadswords while snaking her arms around Tomo. "Nani!" Kikyou exclaimed.

Suddenly, Chuuya's form began to change. Her auburn pucca hair turned to a Prussian blue. Her eyes diffused into the same shade of blue. Her clothes changed into a blue combat kimono while Roujen's hair morphed into lavender while her eye color swirled into a paler shade of it. "It can't be…." Kikyou thought in horror. "Ruri and Hari!" Sesshoumaru said aloud.

Ruri smirked as she poked her halberd higher up Rin's neck. "Hmph! So you remember!" "What happened to Menoumaru, Hari?" "Tchah! That old bastard, we killed him before he even had the chance to react," Hari said smugly. "In fact, killed like a chicken overrun by a pack of wolves," Ruri said.

Suddenly, dark purple gleams seemed to reside in Ruri and Hari's chest. "The Shikon no Tama from Riko's necklace! Soo ka (I see)! Riko broke apart the pendant, leaving her with the biggest piece! With a special technique, no one could sense their Jaki (xP don't remember if I told you but it is like a demonic aura), no matter HOW strong their Kii (Spiritual energy) is!" Kikyou said in one puff.

"Ah, so you saw through it!" Ruri said. "So that's how you killed Menoumaru! Riko gave you both parts from her Shikon necklace, empowering you both enough to kill Menoumaru!" Sesshoumaru shot out. "But that doesn't explain how Riko got you two on her side." Ruri's smile grew wider. "Simply, she was power hungry," Ruri said. "With us assisting her, she can gain anything she wants as long as we do her bidding."

"Because you were careless enough to allow me to take control of your lives," Riko said. "Nani!" Sesshoumaru thought. Ruri and Hari's collars simply opened up. A red glow was in their neck. "A simple command of death to those shards and I can torture them to their death," Riko said, smiling.

Ruri and Hari said nothing but had hard expressions on their faces. Rin squirmed under Ruri's grip. "HEY! STOP MOVING!" Rin stopped moving when Ruri ran her halberd up to Rin's chin. "Ruri, Hari…" Riko began. "KILL THEM!"

In the time that Ruri and Hari raised their weapons to strike, Tomo and Rin made strange symbols with their hands. "KAWARIMI NO JUTSU (Body Replication Technique XD Naruto bit!)!" they both yelled. As soon as the weapons struck Rin and Tomo's would be bodies, a flash of smoke engulfed Ruri and Hari.

Riko smiled victoriously, not caring about the incantation because she knew Rin and Tomo were dead. Sesshoumaru kept his head knelt in sadness… then smiled. "Hnh…" Kikyou smirked as the smoke disappeared. There was Ruri and Hari, the blades of their weapons in… tree trunks!

"Nani!" Riko exclaimed. She glanced around as Ruri and Hari spread out in the court yard and began circling it in an ungodly speed. "RAARGGH!" A roar of two was heard from behind Riko. As she turned around, Rin and Tomo lunged over Riko like tigers targeting their prey.

Riko was stunned as the two grasped her body, toppling her into the snow. Rin and Tomo leapt off over her as Riko got back up. Kikyou stowed her bow on her back and yanked out Ni Hon and the Shinidama Chu quickly hovered her to Riko. "I may not be able to stand, but my legs may have enough strength for this…" Kikyou thought.

Kikyou swung her sword like a lasso. Strangely enough it began to loosen up like a rope: It looked like links of chains made of jewels (-Smiles- Soul Calibur bits! XD! Ivy is the girl who uses a weapon like that. –Kicks ASS with that character!-)! As she got closer to Riko, she leapt off the Shinidama Chu (Her legs SEARED with pain) and landed on Riko's back who was in the midst of getting up. "AAAGH!" Riko screamed. Kikyou jumped off her back, throwing Riko back down in the snow as Kikyou rolled on the snowy floor.

As Kikyou fought Riko, Sesshoumaru, Rin and Tomo were having a pretty hard time with Ruri and Hari. Suddenly, an arrow shot from no where, loosening one of the clasps that held up Ruri's hair. Looking from down the direction of where the arrow was shot, a Miko with wavering periwinkle hair and solid silver eyes stood with the bow in front of her.

"Hnh?" Hari looked up from pinning Tomo on the floor. Kikyou's blade turned into a chain whip and wrapped around Riko's neck one last time then pulled it off, making Riko cough up blood as she kicked Kikyou in the chest sending Kikyou flying until a Shinidama Chu blocked the impact.

"Omae wa dareda (Who the hell are you)!" Stated Ruri harshly, practically pissed that one of her pucca buns was sliced loose. "Watashi wa Miko Cha-Yang (I am Miko Cha-Yang. This character's for you, Raver Spike! Raver Spike is my friend, Demoness Kikyo on –Smiles- I'm currently helping her with her first fanfiction series! Would be nice if you drop by and give a review! She's on my Favorite Authors list, so go and give her some reviews!)," the girl spoke.

"Baka," Hari spoke. "You should not have interfered." Hari ran at Cha-Yang, swinging her blades recklessly, but in a beautiful fashion. A red curved flash of solid light soared towards Cha-Yang. Cha-Yang made no move to defend her, simply raising her bow and spun it in front of her as the light hit her. While blocking it and waiting it to charge with her bow's Kii, she caught a glimpse of Kikyou.

"Oh... so that's the Youkai Miko Kikyou," Cha-Yang thought. She narrowed her eyes as the red light grew brighter. "Hmm… she has quite a lot of Kii…. Even more than me!" Soon the light emanated heat. With a swift push, the wave of light soared back to Hari. "HAAAH!" Cha-Yang screamed as she repelled the charged light back to Hari. Hari's own attack blasted her off her own feet as she came in contact with a sturdy oak tree. Snow shook from the branches and landing on Hari's wounded body. X.x was Hari's appearance.

Cha-Yang walked away, pretending no one was there. She leapt on the roof of the castle and sat there watching. Kikyou ignored it as a Shinidama Chu swooped under her feet. Landing on Riko's back again, her Ni Hon swung around Riko's head in her chain whip form. "EEEKAAGHRRH!" Riko choked from lack of air. "Damn…" Kikyou thought rolling off her back. "Her neck was supposed to be broken after that sudden jerk…" Shinidama Chu picked her up again as Riko drew a katana. Kikyou sheathed Ni Hon as she drew an arrow. "Sakura no Doku (Sakura's Poison)!" Kikyou shot her arrow, missing Riko by an inch as the snow exploded upwards and turned into pink sakura petals.

Riko hurled more blood on the ground, staining the snow. A glint of metal was seen as Riko fumbled with her chest. A zing in the air and a scream as the slender acupuncture needle hit Kikyou in her shoulder. With another swing of the snake sword, Riko tripped. Suddenly, Riko and Ruri (holding Hari's disabled body of course) retreated and met with several arrows.

Riko simply knocked away Cha-Yang's arrows with a simple smack of her forearm. Riko leapt on the roof as Cha-Yang hit Riko with her bow. Riko hissed with anger as she pushed Cha-Yang off the roof, as Cha-Yang managed to land on her feet while shooting an arrow, slicing the second clasp which held Ruri's pucca bun together.

Riko stood on the roof, smiling once again. "I have no need to stay here any more…" She fumbled with the necklace. "…I came for what I wanted. Farewell… perhaps, one of these days, I shall kill all of you." Rin and Tomo ran up, huffing while hurling spears with some of the castle guards, but with a flash, Riko, Hari and Ruri were gone.

"It's all over now!" Rin and Tomo yelled to the guards. "Back to your positions!" The guards walked back to their fronts with Rin and Tomo.

Cha-Yang bowed to Kikyou and Sesshoumaru. "Arigato gozaimasu," Cha-Yang said gratefully as she regained her posture. "I was looking for a chance to kill Riko and the other two." "Douitashimashite (You're welcome XD Long, I know)," Kikyou said. "But who are you, and how did you know Riko was here?" "My name is Cha-Yang, I am a Miko," Cha-Yang replied. "I was passing this castle and suddenly felt a dark presence, so I entered to investigate. I'm sorry I entered, uninvited…" But Kikyou and Sesshoumaru already had forgiven her for that.

"But that doesn't explain how you detected it was Riko," Sesshoumaru said, his expression with the usual poker face. Cha-Yang sighed. "As you all knew, Riko was resurrected from the dead with the help of a transmutation circle. Before she died, she was a Kuro Miko. After she was resurrected, her Kuro Miko side was sealed away.

"Before she died, she killed my entire family. My family had a special Bloodline ability that allows us to inherit the powers of another family member when they die (Kinda like Menoumaru, eh?). Riko killed them all to get ultimate power, immortality and eternal youth with some sort of strange liquid. But without me dead, it was incomplete. I was able to kill her but after she was revived, I need to take back the power in order to stop her."

Kikyou and Sesshoumaru glanced at each other. "There may be a possibility she would go join forces with Naraku," Kikyou said. "A BIG possibility," replied Sesshoumaru. Kikyou turned to Cha-Yang, more like shifting since she was lying in the snow. "It would be best if you travel with us for a while," Kikyou said to Cha-Yang.

Cha-Yang nodded in agreement. "But I'm afraid I will need some provisions… can you provide me with some?" "Yes, just tell Shunjo," Sesshoumaru said, pointing to a girl about 14 years old, "What you need and she will give them to you." Cha-Yang bowed. "Arigato wo Yasashisa ne (Thank you for your kindness, I think Yasashisa can also mean hospitality XD)," Cha-Yang said as she walked to Shunjo.

Rin and Tomo ran up to Sesshoumaru and Kikyou. "Are we going with you?" Rin asked eagerly. Sesshoumaru knelt down with a small smile on his face. "No, Rin not this time." "Why not?" Tomo asked, obviously angry at the fact he was not allowed to accompany his parents on their conquests.

Kikyou sighed and ran her hand through Tomo's hair. "Tomo, this is different now," she said. "The situation we are currently in is different from all the others. The enemies are stronger now. You and Rin won't be able to hold them off, even with our help." "Then without us going, you are only weakening yourselves," Rin said. Sesshoumaru gave a light laugh. "Rin, Tomo, the castle needs warriors. You both are the strongest in the castle. You must stay to protect the castle and the Shikon no Tama (Remember, the original one is in the shrine!). Enju is here: She will be able to help."

Rin and Tomo, recognizing defeat, nodded. Kikyou and Sesshoumaru kissed them, and ushered them back inside as Cha-Yang walked back to the two. "I've got my things together," she said. "Good," Sesshoumaru said. "We can leave now." A huge fluff of cloud appeared before them as Sesshoumaru climbed on followed by Cha-Yang. Jaken scrambled on at the last minute screaming, "Sesshoumaru-Sama! Wait for me! Sesshoumaru-Sama!"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Inuyasha sat by the fire, warming his hands as Kagome slept with her head in his lap. Inuyasha shuddered from the brisk wind and paused to pull the blanket higher up Kagome's shoulders. "It's so damn cold these days and it never seems to stop snowing!" Inuyasha thought brashly in his head. He looked over at Miroku and Sango, who were snuggled together in a sleeping bag Kagome had given them while Shippou slept on their heads.

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "And THOSE two act like it doesn't bother them," Inuyasha thought with a hint of amusement and disgust. Suddenly, a colder wind swept over them, only Inuyasha, who wasn't in a deep deep deep sleep, sensed a lot of cold Jaki. "What the… this Jaki is so fierce!" Inuyasha thought, suspicious. "I suppose its ok now that it passed… but it was SO strong! Stronger than Naraku's perhaps…"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Naraku sat up by his window, looking out as everyone else but the Kuro Miko were asleep. Hakudoushi entered. "Took you long enough to get back," Naraku said. Hakudoushi threw him a dirty look. "How do you expect me to find him in this storm?" Naraku chuckled to himself. "True, true…"

Tsubaki's head perked up. "Something in the air," Reia said. Naraku smiled. "I've been waiting for this moment, Riko, that you would get reverted back to your corrupted side," he said. "And you were right, Naraku," Riko said. Ruri and Hari also stepped out from the shadows. Naraku looked at them.

"Why are these two here?" Naraku asked. Riko's lips forged a smirk, her lips shimmering a glow of a blood thirsty red. "Watashi wa otetsudai anata wa, Naraku (I want to help you, Naraku)," Riko said.

To be continued…

A/N: Whoo! That was LONG! xD Anyway, I took that time to SLAVE over this chapter for you guys! I expect LONGER and more reviews! Also, I will be answering reviews through chapters now. –Smiles- Yep! Now you can see your names in my chapters for thanks for reading my chappies! XD Anyway, good luck reading this chapter! –Smiles again- Made this EXTRA juicy for you! Hehe, no really, please give a good review xD