While flying through the air and soaring above the many treetops below, the foursome still had no luck of finding the half-wolf demon anywhere; it was like he had disappeared into thin air or something. It was then that Kura spoke up, breaking the silence.
"By the looks of things, we're not going to have anymore luck searching for him from the skies. I'd say it would be best to land and track him on foot," the young hanyou suggested. Everyone turned to her with curious eyes and then nodded.
"We might as well. It's the only other plan we've got," Nekura added solemnly.
"Well then, let's get going," Sango put in and before they all knew it, Kilala had already changed course and was now heading deep into the Forest of Inuyasha. As soon as they landed, everyone jumped off of the cat demon's back and decided that it would be more efficient if they all split up and went in different directions. They had also agreed that if they were to run into danger that they were unable to face, they were to meet back at the tree that Kikyo had once pinned Inuyasha to fifty years ago. Kura knew all about that story, seeing as how her mother and father used to tell it to her over and over again when she was just a young pup. After hearing that story so many times, she had begun to develop a certain dislike for the priestess; then again, could you blame her? The woman pinned her father to a sacred tree for fifty years and the only reason he managed to break free of the curse was because her mother had pulled the arrow out that was lodged in his body. That was her favourite part of the story and she would always ask her parents to repeat it over and over again. But now that she was older, she didn't need her father to tell her that story anymore; in fact, she would even tell to him on some occasions.
"Kura?" Once again, Nekura's voice managed to snap the half-demon girl back to reality.
"Huh? Oh Nekura, what is it?" she asked.
Nekura arched a suspicious eyebrow. "Nothing really, I just wanted to know whether or not you wanted me to come along with you or if you prefer to go alone…"
"Thanks but no thanks. If I find Isamu, I want to fight him by myself. I don't want anyone to help, not even my father. I need to prove to myself that I can fight solo, without needing any back-up support from anyone…"
"Okay, but if you find yourself in trouble, don't hesitate to come and find me; you know that I'll always be here for you, right?" Nekura placed a hand on Kura's shoulder as she tilted her head slightly to the right.
"Of course I know that. Don't worry, if I need the help, I will come and find you. That's a promise that I'm willing to keep." Both girls than shook hands in agreement and headed off towards completely opposite paths. Sango and Miroku, on the other hand, decided to go together, even though it was more Miroku's idea, which we all know why he would have suggested that. They had barely walked twenty steps when…
SLAP!
"Lecherous monk…" Sango murmured to herself and continued walking, leaving Miroku laying on the ground behind, a handprint etched onto the side of his face. As soon as he noticed that his wife had left him in the dirt, he picked himself up and hurried to catch up to her. As soon as he was walking alongside her again, the demon slayer glared over at him with a look that made him shiver in fear. He knew right then and there that if he tried her patience once more time, he would find himself not only with a few broken bones, but also in need of dire emergency care. He wasn't about to risk his health…at least not yet…
As Kura trailed on, she had become wearier of everything around her. It seemed as though she couldn't trust anything or anyone for fear that evil could be lurking anywhere. Suddenly, she heard a rustle coming from a nearby bush and almost jumped back in shock. However, she managed to remain calm and took a few steps towards the leafy green plant. She outstretched her right arm, prepared to pull back the leaves and find out just who or what was spying on her. Could it possibly be Isamu out searching for her again? If it were him, she would be ready for anything that he might try and pull. She wasn't going to let him get away this time; she couldn't put her friends in danger a second time, it just wasn't going to happen. She would retrieve all the weapons that he had stolen and defeat him once and for all, without the help of her father or her friends. Just like she had kept telling herself over and over again, this was her battle and hers alone.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't daddy's little girl?" the shadowy figure mocked, now coming into clear focus, which only proved that Kura's instincts were indeed correct.
The female hanyou growled lowly. "Isamu…"
"Of course. Who else would it be?" he smirked.
Kura snorted. "I don't know. Who else has no life and wastes his time trying to defeat a young girl and her father over and over again? Why don't you just give up already? You know that it's useless to try and defeat me, let alone my father, so why don't you be a good little wolf and run along home?" she taunted, motioning for him to do just that.
"Not until I get what I want!" the wolf snarled.
"Oh, and what might that be?"
"You!" Isamu then leapt forward in an attempt to grab a hold of the girl; unfortunately, the half dog demon was too quick. She saw his plan coming from a mile away and jumped up and out of the way, landing in a rather tall tree. She turned to look at the wolf that was now muttering a few inaudible words to himself. She mentally laughed and stuck her tongue out at him; this gesture only made the male even more eager to capture her.
"Don't think that you've won yet, girl! I'll have you soon enough and when I do, you'll become my mate!" Kura shuddered at that thought. Fighting this guy was bad enough but to mate with him? That was simply preposterous and there was just no way in the seven hells she was going to do that. Besides, if Isamu tried to do anything to that nature, Inuyasha would be the first one to have his head. She smirked, hoping that that day would come soon…after she had had her fun of course.
"In your dreams!" Kura shouted back.
Isamu smiled, showing off his pearly white fangs and ran off into the distance. Kura sighed and then jumped down from the branch she was currently perched on and landed gracefully on the ground below. She looked around and examined her surroundings, making sure that Isamu was nowhere in sight. Once she realized that the coast was clear, she headed off in a different direction, hoping to find a place to reflect on her thoughts…