Chapter Disclaimer: Other than the animes mentioned in Chapter 1, I do not own Azukai or Peter. My brother, who's pen name is James of Gales, owns those names.
Chapter 7: Koga, the Wolf Demon
Ash and Kari were unconcious on a grassy plain, under a tree, when a beautiful black-haired woman in a white maiden robe, red imperial pants, bow and a wicker basket-full of arrows, approached the unwary kids. When she knelt by Ash, she stretched her arm over the trainer, and placed it on his chest. TH-THUMP! TH-THUMP! She felt Ash's heartbeat, which told her that he was alive. "Good, this young man still alive," she quietly muttered. The woman noticed the clothes that he wore. "I wonder if Kagome knows him." That's when the woman saw two hands holding each other. 'It seems this boy and the girl are in love with each other. Still, the sight somehow reminds me of the times of me and InuYasha, and how-' Her thoughts were interupted by calls from five approaching peasents in raggy clothes.
"Lady Kikyo," one of the pesants called out. "Is something troubling you?" The woman looked over to the poor, middle-aged men, with the sight of disapointment. That's when the men saw the two, with the look of fear in their eyes, as if to say that Kikyo found two dead children. "Did a demon kill them?"
"They're fine," Kikyo said, then ordered. "Prepare a carrying bed for the two, and make it a large one." She looks back down at the held hands. 'I don't want to separate their hands for any reason.'
"Where are we taking them?" another man asked. Kikyo saw a village on the horizon and recognized it.
"Lady Kaede's place. My sister will watch over them." When the men nodded, they went to work on a make-shift gurnee out of long branches, and some flexible fabrics. After they completed the gurnee, two of the men, with Kikyo's help holding the two hands together, loaded Ash and Kari on to the gurnee, followed by four of them lifting the make-shift bed by using the handles, and started to walk to the village, with Kikyo in the lead.
A small child, in a fur vest, blue noble pants and a bow in his hair for a ponytail in his red hair, was examining Pikachu when the mouse started to come around. ("What on earth happened?") it weakly muttered, trying to move anything, even it's tail. The child was surprised to see the Pokemon rising.
"Good. You're awake," he said, calming down from the recent shock. Pikachu saw the child, then looked over to see Al, Gatomon and Asuka, passed out from the trip. "I've already checked them, and they'll be okay." Pikachu breathed a sigh of relief. Then, four other people appeared, and approached them. One of the two men was in a red noble robe and pants, with white hair coming down his back, along with what appeared to be short dog ears. The other man, with black hair, was in a monk robe and pants, and carrying a staff. One of the two women was black-haired and in a school uniform, including a green skirt. The other was also supporting black hair, wearing a kimono-like outerwear, with what appeared to be a giant boomerang strapped to her back.
"How are they, Shippou?" The white haired man asked.
"Knocked asleep, but they'll be fine, InuYasha." Pikachu saw the man who didn't appreciate helping them out. "Well, except this one." Pikachu ran up to Al and shook him, trying to wake him up. Al slowly opened his eyes and saw Pikachu.
"Pikachu, could you wait five minutes?" he groaned, not realizing that other company was nearby.
("You can go back, after we talk to this group,") the mouse roared, pointing to Shippou. Al quickly finished opening his eyes, and sat up.
"Okay, what's going on?" the alchemist questioned in confusion.
"We were willing to ask you the same question." InuYasha moaned. "Like, how you got here?"
"InuYasha," the 'schoolgirl' spoke up. "He just got up. Give him some time to get his bearings together."
"Hey, I'm not responsible with your friends, Kagome." She was starting to show some steam, when she saw the staff man kneel by Asuka. "What's Miroku doing?"
"His usual."
"He doesn't quit, does he?" Miroku was reaching for Asuka's buttocks, as if to get a feel of the once Eva pilot. Al was seeing trouble coming.
"Wait, don't touch-" Al tried to warn, but it was too late, as Miroku's hand touched down on the rear of the redhead. Asuka's eyes shot open as the monk was starting to rub the soft seat, and her eyes were starting to glow an evil red. Asuka grabbed Miroku and started to pound down on the lecture.
"HOW DARE YOU GO AND DO THAT, RUBBING MY ASS, YOU DISGUSTING PERVERT!" Asuka screamed out, which got everyone rather frightened, more than just seeing Asuka's brutality. With one more uppercut, the monk was sent flying right back to where they were arriving from. Asuka was still very mad with the display, as if some jerk had just violated her bubble.
Meanwhile, in a cathedral, in a different place, two young men, a brunette in beast fur, and with an arm blade, and a blonde in a t-shirt and tight fit jeans, welding a double-scythe, were ready to fight when Asuka's scream is heard. The blonde heard it and looked into the direction, while the brunette started to shiver in fear.
"The demon," the brunette studdered. "The demon's here, Peter." The blonde raised an eyebrow at the frightened brunette, like he had no idea what he had mentioned.
"Well, this is a gust of wind of a new direction," Peter stated, then chuckled. 'Wonder what got Azukai's nerves in a cold spell?' Anyways...
"If Naraku fought her, I'd be praying for him," InuYasha squealed with a bit of fear. The attack woke Gatomon up.
"Oh man, what just happened," she groaned, not realizing what just happened. Pikachu walked over to the Digimon.
("Trust me, you don't want to know,") it noted, trying not to provoke the redhead anymore than she already was. Then, a white cat, with black stripes, red eyes and two tails, ran up to the two other creatures and observed them, then, pounced on Pikachu and started to tickle it. Kagome saw this as cute.
"Looks like Kilala's found himself a new playmate, Sango," she grinned. After a while, everyone got done with introductions, including Miroku, bandaged up from the attack. "So how on earth did you wind up in the Feudal Era?" Al brought out his key.
"We used these keys to travel through portals when they come together," Al started. "There were six of us together, however..."
"Some of your friends are missing?" Miroku guessed. Asuka nodded, but still looked angrily at the monk, like she doesn't forgive him for the earlier action. "I won't go asking about supporting a son."
"Anyway, is there a way we can help find these friends of yours?" InuYasha questioned in a sarcastic tone.
"This is serious," Al growled, then flashed slips of paper with transmutation circles. "Don't make me use these."
"What are those pieces of paper going to do?" Al flashed a smirk, then, slapped a slip on the ground, clapped his hands, and placed them on the slip. Then, a statue with a very large waterpot shot out from the ground. Everyone, but InuYasha, cleared out of the way, as the pot tipped and poured ice cold water on the hot-headed half-demon. When the pot emptied, InuYasha was soaked from dog ear to toe, with his face frozen in a stunned figure.
"Pikachu?" the young Elric summoned. Pikachu walked up, in front of Al and started showing sparks.
"If my science is correct, water conducts electricity, right?" Kagome hypothesized.
"Give him a Thunderbolt." Pikachu fired a Thunderbolt at InuYasha, shocking him as the water created more pain. After five seconds, the mouse stopped the shock, and left InuYasha a little smokey. "Now will you help us, or do you want another Thunderbolt?"
"We'll help," Sango pleaded, trying to prevent more pain towards the half-demon.
Meanwhile, Rin was slowly waking up on her own power. She peered around, trying to piece her surroundings, which was near a forest. She, also, noticed that her friends were nowhere in sight. "I wonder where Ketchum or Elric are?" she questioned herself. Then, a rustling by a shrub caught Rin's attention. She gripped her katana's hilt, expecting something ferocious to appear. Then, a little girl in a tattered plaid kimono with a ponytail popped out, with a rag and a pot of cold water. Rin released the grip and put her arm to her side.
"Oh, you're awake, aren't you?" the girl asked. "That's good to know. Lord Sesshomeru was worried about you."
"Lord...Sesshomeru?" That's when a tall, white-haired man in noble robes, and a fur mink drapped over his shoulders, appeared. Rin was in awe, never seeing this kind of elegance before in her life. Then, she noticed that one of his arms were missing. "You must be Lord Sesshomeru, are you not?"
"I am," he agreed. "It seems that Rin was taking care of you when I was killing a few demons out of pity." Rin looked at the little girl, then back at Sesshomeru.
"This girl is named Rin, too?"
"Where are you getting at?"
"My name is Rin Kamishiro, and I am a swordswoman."
(A/N: The Rin we know will temporarley be I.D. as Kamishiro, just to avoid confusion.)
Kamishiro, then, unsheathed her katana and pointed at the demon. Amazingly, Sesshomeru did not flinch. Kamishiro felt some kind of aura that paralyzed her in fear. 'His aura. He is very strong. I don't think I can beat him.'
"I do not wish to fight you." Kamishiro was surprised to hear that, like he read her mind, and knowing that she would die if she battle. She sheathed her katana back. "Is there something you want to address?"
"There are several things, like the location of my friends. Have you seen them?"
"I wouldn't have an idea, unless you can describe them to me." Rin looked up at Kamishiro with concern in her eyes, as the Aoi student described Ash and the others the best she can. Sesshomeru, then, knew two of the people she was talking about. "The people who you call Ketchum and Kari? I have seen them on my way to pick Rin up."
"Do you know where they are?"
"My best guess is with a friend of my younger brother, InuYasha, who goes by the name of Kaede. She's a priestess who lost her older sister, Kikyo, in the hands of Naraku 50 years ago."
"Can you take me there?" Sesshomeru nodded, giving Kamishiro a reason to smile. "Thank you, Lord Sesshomeru."
What about Junpei? He started to wake up to a cute looking redhead in white wolven clothing. His eyes shot wide as the girl stared down at the brute. "Did I die and go to heaven?" he asked in an easy matter.
"With the way your life has been?" she mocked. "As if." Junpei sat up, and into the view of hundreds of hungry wolves. The girl turned to the pack. "Go out and hunt for food, if you want." The pack dispersed to look for food. "You should be lucky that I'm here. Koga would not hold the pack back."
"It's nothing. I could take those dogs on," he grunted as he punched his fist into his open hand. That's when another voice was heard.
"You think you can take on my wolfpack, alone?" a older teen sounding voice echoed. Both the girl and Junpei looked to the direction of the voice, and saw a young, black-haired man in fur armlets and leggings, and tattered cloths, in a smugged look. "Ayame, what the hell are you doing with this human? I thought you detest human men."
"Blame your two goons for bringing him in, Koga," Ayame protested. Koga tried to swallow his throat.
"Ginta and Hakkaku brought this jerk here?" This got Junpei steamed. Anyone who called him a jerk would be left on the turf in a heap of pain. This was no exception. He sprung to his feet and stomped over to Koga with his fists clentched.
"How dare you call me a jerk!" he roared as he threw a punch to his face, but Koga simply flipped his head to the side, letting the flying punch fly. After several more punches were thrown, Koga swung his leg in defense, but Junpei lifted his arm, and blocked the attack.
"You've got spunk, coming from that ill-tempered body of yours."
"Well, you've got skills yourself, compared to those losers you hang out with."
"You shouldn't have said that." The fight continued as Ayame stood there in a trance.
"We should be near Lady Kaede's home," Kagome said, as the group walked to the village. Asuka decided to walk beside InuYasha, staying clear of Miroku and his perverted ways.
"So what's so special about these other friends of yours, Alphonse?" Sango asked.
"Well, Ash was the first one in a string of connections from Pallet Town, all the way to New York, and then, here," Al explained, as if speaking about the rules of alchemy.
"One real threat, besides me," Asuka started. "...Is Rinny, since she's the only swordswoman in the group." That's when Kamishiro, along with Sesshomeru and Rin, appeared from behind the wall of trees, also walking to the village. Both groups paused their stroll as they stared at each other. Then, Al's face lit up at the sight, knowing that Kamishiro is okay.
"Rin," he called as he ran to Kamishiro, excited to see her again.
"Elric," she replied as she watched the alchemist approach her. Suddenly, out of nowhere...
"Well, what do we have here," Miroku grinned after swiftly passing Al and held Kamishiro's hands. "Such a fine and delicate woman. Would you be able to bear me a son?" Before Kamishiro could answer the question..., CLANK! Asuka rushed to Miroku and clocked him with one of Gatomon's gauntlets that she borrowed. Miroku collapsed in a heap from the head smash.
"That girl has such a short temper," Sesshomeru mumbled.
"I agree," Kamishiro acknowledged. Asuka started to calm down after bashing Miroku down.
"I do apoologize, Rin," she grinned.
"You are not the person who needs to apologize, Asuka." Al ran up to Asuka's side.
"Rin, it's good to know you're okay," he said, showing a relieved smile, since he had no idea if Kamishiro was in any danger.
"It is. Have you seen the others around?"
"No, we thought you did."
"I see. We should get to the village to see if anyone is there." Rin approached the three in utter confusion.
"Hey, who's this little angel?" Asuka questioned.
"Her name is Rin."
"Rin?" The redhead scratched her head. "Well, this should be confusing." Rin looked depressed when she heard Asuka mention that.
"I'm sorry," the little girl moaned. Pikachu and Kilala ran up to Rin and tried to comfort her. This caused her to giggle, seeing these cute creatures willing to play with her.
Ash was starting to open his eyes from the sounds of the crackling fire, as he appeared to be recovering from some sort of shock from the trip. "Man, talk about turbulance," he groaned. "How long have I been out?" He bobbed his head to see Kari starting to open her eyes.
"Ye have been out for longer than when my sister found ye," a sound of an old woman bellowed, sounding like an aged reporter. Ash rose up and peered at an elderly woman with gray hair and an eyepatch, looking like a priestess. "Before ye ask, I am Kaede, a priestess of the shrine in the village. My sister, Kikyo, had several pesants carry ye two here, from the open field."
"Priestess Kaede?"
"Tell me, are ye friends of Kagome?" Ash was really confused with the question.
"No, it's the first time I've heard of a name like that."
"The reason I asked is the clothes ye wear. Lady Kagome would recognize them." Kari was hearing the conversation when she was trying to sit up. Ash was looking more and more confused, not understanding the situation. "Is something wrong, child?"
"Well, there are so many things I want to address, but where to start is the problem, like the location of our friends. Could anyone of them be with either this Kikyo or that Kagome?" Kaede just smiled, like she knew what was going on.
"Well, speaking of Kagome, she and InuYasha's group are at the front gate of the village." Kari turned to Ash, like she wanted to see if this Kagome could help them.
"Ash, maybe we can find the others with her help," she offered.
"I don't know, Kari," Ash moaned. "It sounds like too much of a long shot."
"I understand ye concern," Kaede acknowledged.
"Thanks for your worry, but why?"
"InuYasha is somewhat short tempered, and is ruthless without the close eye of Kagome."
"Like a leash?"
"Indeed." Ash got to his feet. "Are ye going to meet them?"
"I am. Can you keep an eye on Kari for a little bit?" Kaede nodded. "Thanks." Ash exited from the shrine and headed to the front gate. When he got there he saw InuYasha's group and Sesshomeru's party watching the sight. Sango was kneeling by Miroku, still KO'ed from Asuka's gauntlet punch.
"I guess there are some things that need to die, like that lecturous act you do," Sango sighed. Ash walked cautiously to the sight, seeing Al and Kamishiro having a friendly conversation. Sesshomeru, then, saw the approaching trainer.
"Kamishiro, we have company," he motioned. Kamishiro and Al looked to Ash, and ran to him with relieved faces.
"Ketchum, you're okay," Kamishiro cried as she jumped onto Ash and hugged him. He was surprised that the swordswoman would hug him like that.
"Whoa, Rin, I'm all right, and so is Kari," Ash muttered. Kagome slowly approached the three, with Pikachu and Kilala on her shoulders. "So you're Kagome, right?"
"Yeah, did Kaede mention me?" she asked.
"She did." Pikachu also joined by jumping on to Ash's head. "Hey, I missed you, too, buddy. How you been?"
"So how did you stay with Kari the whole time?" Al wondered, as if to say that he didn't believe Ash.
"That's actually a good question. When I woke up, my hand was still held captive by her since entering the portal from New York."
"It seems that this Kari is a very attractable young lady," Miroku said, with a mischivous smirk and a nod.
"Keep in mind, the other girls aren't the nicest damsels to fool around with," InuYasha pointed out, refering to Asuka and Kamishiro. All Miroku could do was sheepishly laugh. Ash, then, realized that Junpei wasn't with them.
"Guys, we're missing one," he motioned.
"Oh, you mean Jerk Pain?" Asuka joked. "Well, if he wasn't with us, or them, or you, then where can he be?"
"Maybe Kaede can help with that." After everyone thought it over, all but Sesshomeru proceeded to Kaede's Shrine, as Ash carried Rin on his back. Sango turned to the demon.
"Don't you want to come with us?" she asked. "I mean, your human friend is coming, and-"
"Just make sure she's out of danger," Sesshomeru monotoned. After the large group arrived at Kaede's Shrine, and introduced each other, Al addressed the business about the keys. Ash listened in to his friend explaining the journeys, while having Rin and Shippou sit on his lap, making them both comfortable. After Al finished speaking, Kaede had the floor, ready to help with the situation at hand. She held out an ofuda and ordered Al to place his key in front of the fire she had ignited, and told him to place the ofuda on the key, since only he could have access to the key. The fire spun around the five, startling the fox demon and having Rin in a state of awe. After 10 seconds, the ringing fires shot out to the mountain, and flew towards a cavern, where Junpei and Koga were taking a break from their fight, when the fire split and circled around the two.
"Whoa, what's going on?" they shrieked in unison. Ayame saw where the fire came from.
"It came from the village," she barked. "Kaede's shrine."
"We should head there," Koga said. "Who knows what Kagome or the stupid mutt, InuYasha, are doing there."
"Are you saying we should postpone our fight?" Junpei growled.
"Well, can you explain why we have fire rings around us?"
"Tch...Fine." All three exited from the cavern, and ran to the village, like a race, and Junpei was falling behind. 'I don't believe this. I was able to run faster before when I was looking for toilet paper back in that damn fantasy world. How can I be this far behind?'
"Koga, slow down for us!" Ayame called out. "We don't have jewel shards in our legs like you do!" Junpei didn't understand what she meant by the 'shards in the legs.' Back at the shrine, Kari and Asuka had their binoculars out as they saw the flames speeding down the mountains. Kari wasn't sure why there were two flames approaching.
"Do you think that the fire also found our next partner?" she asked.
"Sure appears so," Asuka groaned.
"I take it that you and the M.A. don't get along very well, do you?"
"Pikachu has worse terms."
"It isn't because he made fun of that Brett Favre jersey, is it?" The redhead chuckled at the comment.
"I thought the jersey was cute on it." Koga was running at full speed when he saw the two girls, and slid to a complete stop. Kagome and Sango were watching from the doorway, just as Koga's slide was performed. Asuka crossed her arms, then swung them back out and straightened them. "Safe!" Kari giggled at the act, knowing that a good friend of hers played baseball as well.
"Hey, is Kagome inside?" Koga asked. Kagome walked out, with Pikachu on her head, who jumped on a few seconds ago.
"Hey, Koga," she cheered.
"Do you know why there is this ring of fire around me?" Kagome appeared puzzled by the sight.
"Did you, by any means, find a key recently?"
"What do you mean? Does it have anything to do with the ring around me?"
"It probably does. Kari?"
"We have a possibility that you will join us in a journey of unknown specifications and the only connections are these keys," Kari explained as she flashed her key. Koga became more confused as he had no idea what was said. That's when Junpei and Ayame arrived, but collapsed when they reach Koga's impressive distance.
"Koga, don't you know patience?" Ayame whined.
"Oh man, I feel like I ran a marathon," Junpei moaned. Ash and Rin helped the exhausted two inside where they had some extra P.B. bars from when he and Asuka chefed out by the Aoi Campus. During the time that Kamishiro and Al explained what is going on with the keys, InuYasha yanked Ash away and to the entrance to the village.
"So, what did you drag me out for?" the trainer asked, trying to be polite.
"Ash, I didn't want to say this in front of everyone, but-"
"Let me guess, you have feelings for Kagome, but don't know how to present them, right?"
"Half."
"Half?"
"It's love, and it does somewhat involve Kagome. It's her brother, Sota."
"O...kay..."
"He's only 8, and he's got a crush over some girl by the name of Hitomi. He turned to me, since he thought, because of my relationship with Kagome, I would have advice with girls."
"Which you don't?"
"Yeah. When I met you, I noticed lips on your lips, like you've been kissed recently, am I right?" Ash blushed, since the last person who did it was Kari. "Ha! I knew it. Did that brunette give you that lovemark?" Sesshomeru approached the two, and wanted to hit InuYasha for that teasing.
"That's not the proper way to ask, little brother," he muttered.
"Don't butt in to our conversation, Sesshomeru!"
"To seek advice about love from a young boy, and to forget what it was when you and Kikyo had shown affection."
"Don't bring that up!"
"Face it, brother, you are a disgrace when it comes to yourself. You seek others to help you in anything other than battle, isn't that right?" Ash stepped in between the two, and pushed them away from each other.
"Alright, break it up you two," he said, trying to calm them. "You guys shouldn't argue like this. You're brothers, why don't you tell him if you know more than I do?"
"I'm not a demon who's supposed to be loved. Half-demons are the same way."
"But being that is just being that. Love means percing the borders between people who show an equivelance to each other and-"
"That's love?" InuYasha shrieked. Then, a voice came from the front of the village.
"What's going on here, fifth child?" It was Asuka, who wanted to know what InuYasha wanted with Ash. "Geez, as if a dimensional concussion ripple wasn't much of a headache already, seeing the three of you ready to tear each other apart'll give everyone a migraine."
"Like what you gave to Miroku for desicrating your dumpster?"
"...And what do you mean by 'dimensional concussion ripple?'" Ash also questioned. "Was that what got us separated?"
"About time you caught on, Ashy," Asuka teased. "The dimensional concussion ripple, or DeCoR, as I like to call it, doesn't occur a lot, but when it does, the shockwave disrupts any bodily mechanics and leaves the body paralyzed. When we were hit with the DeCoR, it ripped us away from each other, except for me and Alphonse, and you and 'sweet brunette' for some reason."
"She has a name," Ash growled, believing Asuka was mocking Kari's background. "Besides, what are you doing here, and not with Kaider?"
"That's Kaede," IunYasha growled as well.
"Well, I wanted to go look for the seventh key for Koga," Asuka replied. "Besides, it gives me a chance to stay away from that perverted monk."
"Does that explain the injuries he had suffered?" Sesshomeru asked.
"He doesn't keep his hands to himself," InuYasha moans.
"At least Brock tries to get the women his way, and it doesn't involve rubbing them the wrong way," Ash monotones.
"You mean this 'Brock' person doesn't touch the tail?"
"No, but he does need to act a little more noble." Ash, then, turned to Asuka. "So, let me guess, you want me to help you find that key, right?"
"You will?" She wondered, then snickered. "Wunderbar." That's when a new voice rose up.
"I may not know anything about any key, but as far as knowledge goes, your death will be here," the voice said. Then, howling winds diverted the attentions of the four to a black-haired woman in a white and magenta striped kimono, and holding a fan over her face. She folded the fan to reveal her pinkish-red eyes, along with the evil stare.
"Kagura," InuYasha called out.
"InuYasha and Sesshomeru, two sons of the legendary dog general, and soon to be dead," Kagura grinned. "And just for appitizers, those two children will join you in the trip to hell."
"Yeah, you see..." Ash started with a confident smirk, since, a minute ago, he saw Kikyo getting her bow and arrows, and aimed it at Kagura. "I doubt you can get us. I mean, really, what do you have that we don't?"
"Are you wanting a demonstration, child?" During this time, both InuYasha and Sesshomeru unsheathed their swords. InuYasha's sword appeared to be larger than the sheath, and it also had fur coming from the thumbguard. Ash grabbed Swellow's Pokeball and was ready to release it, but turned to Asuka first.
"Second child, is the watch ready?" Asuka shook her head. "Then, stand back." Kagura raised her fan up, then swung down forcefully.
"Dance of the Dragon." A vicious blast of winds were shot out of the fan, and headed right towards the four.
"Swellow, use Whirlwind!" Ash threw his Pokeball and released the bird. Swellow started to flap its wings hard, and created several gusts at Kagura's gusts. InuYasha was impressed with Swellow's act, unaware that Kikyo was nearby.
"Allow me," InuYasha ordered, then lifted his sword. "WIND SCAR!" He swung his sword, and when it struck the ground, a burst of energy was shot out and headed straight to Kagura. The attacks hit her, but not enough to keep her out. That's when Kikyo fired her arrow at Kagura, but it missed completely and it was heading to Ash. He saw the arrow heading his way.
"Not good." As the arrow inched ever closer, Ash needed a way to use the arrow to his advantage. He, then, had an idea. He performed a two-plam catch with the arrow, followed by a spin, and throwing the arrow back at Kagura. She swated the arrow away, but became suspicious with the arrow.
'Where did that arrow come from?' she thought. That's when she turned around and saw the priestess. 'Kikyo? What the hell is she doing over here?' Her attention was distracted long enough for Ash and Asuka to make their move. As Kagura turned back around, she recieved a heavy uppercut to the gut. Asuka jumped into the air and performed a perfect jumpkick to her ribs, shattering a few of them, and pushed her back few feet. Kagura tries to get up, but the injuries were like daggers to her organs, and remained down. Sesshomeru seemed a little disapointed.
"I guess I wasn't needed today," he moaned. Ash turned around to the demon, as he was sheathing his sword.
"Sorry about it, man," Ash said. "Did you want to fight her?"
"No, Tokijin would have been boring. Seeing Tetsaiga and you in action was more entertainment for us. Besides, it would have been a waste to use Tensaiga on you."
"That's enough, brother," InuYasha said as he was sheathing his sword. Kikyo was approaching the group when Kagura got on a giant feather and escaped. InuYasha saw Kikyo, like a girlfriend who's been gone for weeks. "Kikyo."
"InuYasha, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thanks to these three." Swellow cawed in agreement.
"So you're Kikyo," Ash said, trying to make sense of the situation, then smiled. "Thank you for helping us earlier today." Kikyo started to smile, understanding the trainer, but Asuka was oblivious to what happened.
"Tell me," Kikyo started. "The girl who was with you, what is so special about her?" Ash knew she was meaning Kari, and didn't want to hold anything back.
"Her heart is pure with a light only felt by the darkness. In a sense, we first held hands at a church and..." The more Ash was explaining about it, the redder his face became with embarassment and affection. "...Let's just say, I've fallen for her." Kikyo giggled a little, while Asuka and InuYasha were laughing like hyenas. This started to get Ash angry. "C'mon, guys, I mean it." That's when Kagome, Koga and Kari appeared as they heard the whole thing.
"InuYasha," Kagome ordered. "Sit!" The beads on InuYasha neck began to glow as the weight jumped. Then...POW! InuYasha's face hit the dirt, hard, and stopped his laugh. Koga bopped Asuka in the head to make her stop laughing. That's when, Kagome saw Kikyo.
"I guess I'll take my leave," Kikyo moaned, then walked off into the horizon. After a bit of clarification, a little while later, Asuka had assigned a group to go look for what appeared to be Koga's key. The group, however, did not contain Ash, Kari, or Miroku, as they had headed back to Kaede's shrine, along with Sesshomeru.
"I know why Asuka doesn't want me around for the trip," Miroku started. "But why did she not want you with her on this trek to find the next key?"
"She was right there when Ash admitted to loving Kari," Sesshomeru replied. "And so was I. Ash is no ordinary human, but then again, they are from the future." Kari was wondering what the deal was with Ash and InuYasha.
"So, what did InuYasha want with you?" she asked, thinking it might have been for a sparring match that would've injured the jet-black haired trainer, which would've worried her.
"Well, it was that a sibling of Kagome's had asked him about love, in which he was clueless about. If Brock was with us, or with InuYasha when her brother blurted out that confession, he would've been all over it."
"Why not ask me about it, instead?" Miroku spoke up.
"A lecturous monk like you would've given Kagome's brother the wrong idea," Sesshomeru pointed out, giving the monk a reason to dip his head in shame.
"That would explain the brusies we saw eariler today," Kari joked.
Meanwhile, the other group came across a lake when Al's key, which was in his hands, started to glow. Then, a shine was lighting a portion of the lake. "Over here," he called everyone. All peered at the lake as the shine at the bottom of the lake and Al's key were shining simultaniously, making everyone coo in awe.
"Well, Koga, here's your chance," Kagome cheered. Koga nodded, then, jumped into the lake. He swam to the bottom of the lake where the shine originated from. It was the seventh queen's key, as Koga picked it up. Then, he pushed up from the bottom and torpedo'd to the surface, and held the key high in triumph. Later, back at the shrine, he showed Ash and Kari the key.
"So, guys, am I in your gang of thieves?" he joked, making Ash giggle.
"You bet," he said as he held his hand out for a handshake.
"Is it all right for a five instead?"
"Sure." They both high fived each other so hard, the soundwave could be heard for miles. Both boys were perplexed at the occurence. "That one had some gusto." Kamishiro and Junpei giggled a little at the surprised faces. That's when Sango noticed that Kilala wanted to be with Pikachu and Gatomon.
"Say, Ash," she called. "Kilala feels like it wants to go with you. Is it all right?" Ash hesitated to answer about it, since he already had his Pokemon and Gatomon to take care of, as well as his other teammates. Then, Kamishiro stepped up.
"We can take care of Kilala," She said. Koga, then, approached InuYasha with a smirky tone.
"Hey, mutt-face," he called, making InuYasha angry. "Take care of Kagome. If she's harmed by Naraku or anyone else, your head'll be mine."
"That'll be be the day," InuYasha growled with a grin. Kagome sweat dropped at the sight in front of her. Then, the seven key holders gather, along with Pikachu, Gatomon, and Kilala, and held up their keys, making the portal appear. Ash turned around one last time at the group that Koga will depart from.
"InuYasha, think about the borders when you see Sota again," he reminded, then face the portal. "Let's go." The ever-growing group entered the portal, followed by it disappearing. Miroku was a little puzzled by what Ash said.
"What did he mean by 'the borders?'" he questioned.
"Something about not letting differences get in the way of love, I don't know," InuYasha muttered.
"I figured as much." The key group arrived at the front gate with stairs, with two wide logs on either side of the gate were protecting it. Kamishiro took her key out when it started to glow at the staircase.
"It seems as though, the next key is up there somewhere," she noted. Then, a young tanned man, with very short black hair, and a black uniform, saw the group.
"Hey," he called out. "Have you come to pay respect to the Misaki shrine?" Everyone looked over to the guy and wanted to know what he meant.
"Actually, we were wondering if you've seen a key like this," Al said, as he showed his key. "We believe that a key is at this shrine you mentioned." The young man thought it over for a second, then, shook his head.
"Can't say I have. I'll ask the girls if they've seen it, although I doubt it." Ash decided to step up.
"We do apologize. Let me be the introduer," he said. "My name is Ash." He turns and points to the group. "Over there's Alphonse, Asuka, Junpei, Kari, Koga, and Rin."
"Please to meet you. I'm Tenchi...Tenchi Misaki." The two shook hands.
TO BE CONTINUED...
The group is now at the Misaki shrine and have made a friend with Tenchi, but can you imagine the chaos with his girls that he shortly mentioned? Little do they know that this'll hold the final key. Tune in soon for the insanity of the Shrine.