A Tempting Fate

Chapter 9: The Arrival

By Kaguya's Chaos

Miroku stared up at the lightened sky with drawn brows and a serious tint to his eyes. His normally smiling mouth was turned upside down into a deep scowl as he thought about the ship that had sneaked in after them from behind. The one bringing Hojo and some chick, as well as Onigumo toward them.

Earlier that morning, at dawn precisely, the captain had called down to his and Sango's cabin to say a ship was following behind them. Miroku had stared at the intercom with sleep-confused eyes and slight irritation. He had argued that that was Taisho Industries ship, but the captain had argued that it was an unknown. Myojin's ship was BESIDE them, not behind.

Miroku clenched his fist in anger as he stared at the small white dot a little off in the horizon. 'So the little weasel is following us? Doesn't matter. I doubt he knows what he is getting himself into. Even though I hate to think of what it implies, Kagome is the only known grown woman on an island full of horny youkai males...I doubt ANYONE would be able to take her away if one of them claims her.'

His face darkened as his scarred right hand clenched even more so. 'If ANY of those bastards touches her in any way she doesn't approve of or hurts her in anyway, I will kill them. Important or not.' He vehemently thought as he glared to the water below him. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand land on his shoulder.

Miroku whirled around to stare into the face of his wife and let out a small smile. Sango smiled back and hugged him. "Now it looks like you need to be comforted." She said with a slight laugh and Miroku smiled ruefully. His eyebrow rose and he stepped out of her arms to turn and stare into the pink and orange hued sky.

Sango sighed and wrapped her arms around his chest and pressed her cheek into his shoulder as she too stared out to sea. "We'll get there soon, and she'll be just fine. Smiling through an impossible tan and tattered shipwrecked clothes, looking for all her worth like she was a character from 'Giligan's Island'. Her arms will wave around and she'll launch herself into our arms shouting about the strange fish she had caught the day before and how she'd missed us while she'd been on the tropical island."

Miroku smirked as he pictured his perky cousin sitting in the white sand with a huge smile plastered to her slightly sunburned face. Sango seemed to picture the same thing and also smiled. Both were brought from their inner musings when a shout to their left alerted them to the approach of Myoga and a sour Jaken.

"Ahoy!" Myoga shouted, a grin on his face as he waved an arm about to gain their attention. Miroku grinned back and shouted back.

"What's up?"

"Have you noticed the ship following us?" Myoga asked and Sango frowned while Miroku answered with an animalistic snarl.

"Yeah. It's that bastard, Masaru!"

"What do we do about them?" Myoga asked, an interesting gleam in his eyes. Jaken and Sango watched and listened as the two men discussed, or rather shouted, their thoughts to one another.

"Nothing for now!"

Jaken frowned at the humans response and decided to enter the conversation.

"Why the hell not!"

Miroku groaned as he felt all eyes on him. He hadn't wanted to mention his reasoning's in front of Sango. She'd flip, what with the mention of mating and youkai and...stuff...No, telling her was out of the question.

"Uh..."

Myoga grinned as he picked up on the man's tentative thoughts. Although he had some semblance of what he meant, he heard the answer anyway. "Because to do so would slow us down when we could just reach the island and then beat the slime-ball down." Miroku said and Jaken seemed pacified, for the moment at least.

Myoga smiled and nodded while Jaken huffed and went back into the cabin he had to share with the flea youkai. Sango eyed her husband with suspicion then decided to let it go. She shook her head and headed back into the yacht herself.

Miroku watched as Myoga sat on the deck chair beside the rail and did likewise. As he did so, his eyes landed on the scars running over his right hand. It had been an accident that had caused his hand to shatter and his bones to be replaced by metal pieces. It had hurt. Of course it did, but Miroku hardly remembered how it had happened. All he remembered was coming to the building that his aunt had frequently gone to.

Then the next thing he knows he is in the hospital with his mother explaining that he had been pushed by a robber on the get-away and his hand had been run over as he lay in the street. He had been confused about the explanation, but was soon confirmed that this was indeed the truth.

The scar left behind in the aftermath reminded him everyday of why he hated cars. When he had first met Sango through Kagome, he had been worried that the girl, that would later become the love of his life, would think him a freak due to his scars. After a while she had said she hadn't cared about his scars and had hugged him. He had taken advantage of their position, and had taken his first feel from her behind.

He remembered Kagome's shocked face and Sango's fist flying at him before he again awoke in the hospital wondering how he had gotten there. Since then, he had devoted his time to convincing his amused cousin and new girlfriend his hand had been cursed. 'Who would have thought the angel of my dreams would marry me?' he asked himself as he stared out the now blue sky. He didn't notice the curious glances that Myoga kept sending his way.

:On the Island and in Kagome's mind:

Kagome stared at Midoriko with slight awe and sympathy. The woman had been through so much in such a short amount of time and yet she hadn't gone insane from it all. But the story was not over yet. There was still major holes in the plot and in some of the characters personalities. The whole thing with Subaki was so frustrating too!

'Why can't she see Midoriko was in love with the man first!'

Midoriko chuckled at the young woman listening to the story and tried not to answer the obvious question written all over her face. "There is still more to go...Now that I have rested my voice and collected my thoughts, would you like to continue?" She asked softly and Kagome rapidly nodded.

"I called for Subaki for hours. Damien and Davis told me to just give up. They said the 'fool girl' had gone and run off. I never thought of the fact that her reason for running off might have been Damien. He never did tell me what had been said when he had left her to come find Davis and myself. I had always assume he had just walked off and Subaki had stalked off in a huff. I never would have guessed that she would become as corrupted as she did. This was a mistake on my part. When next we saw her, it was the next morning, and she had looked so different..."

:Into the story:

Midoriko sat staring into the fire, tears trailing down her face. Her hands rested in her lap uselessly, and her shoulders where slumped. Her once lively eyes were dull, and her thoughts were reflected on her face. On each side of her sat Davis and Damien, both trying to soothe her while trying not to jump for joy at the thought of the missing woman.

Shifting slightly, Midoriko turned to the two men and gave a weak smile. "I'm going to get some rest. If...if Subaki comes back while I am asleep, would you two wake me please?" She asked, her voice terribly hoarse. Both men nodded and Midoriko sighed as she lay down and fell asleep, heedless of anything around her.

Davis said he would take the first watch and Damien nodded. He too lay down and fell asleep next to Midoriko.

The next morning, all three weary and worn humans trudged to an unknown destination, all life seemingly drained due to the defeated miko in their midst. Damien eyed the woman he loved and silently wished to hold her. To soothe the tortured look from her face and give some semblance of sympathy to the woman.

Guilt slightly chewed at his insides as he realized the annoying girl's disappearance was largely keyed by his hasty words from the other day. He hadn't meant to be so harsh, but he had sensed that his brother would move in on his woman and had wanted to go to her. The witch had thought to detain him and as such deserved the harsh treatment.

Davis glanced between the miko and his brother with a thoughtful look. He was almost positive the idiot had said something to the girl to make her run off. She was now probably dead, and it was Damien's fault. Now to tell Midoriko and get her to hate Damien.

Midoriko stopped at a random clearing and sat down. She licked her dry, cracked lips and silently wished for water. Not really thinking of what he was doing, Davis offered to head to the trickling water he heard and get her something to drink. Midoriko smiled appreciatively and said a broken, "Please...?" In response.

Damien watched his brother go but didn't think of anything other then the fact that he now had Midoriko all to himself, and he was going to tell her how he felt. Even though it was an inappropriate time, he couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't pine after a woman in his company and not tell her how he felt. It just couldn't be done! The awkward silences, the stolen glances, the erotic dreams! His face flushed as he thought of the latest one he had had last night...

Midoriko sensed the way Damien was tensed and looked toward him. Her dark brown eyes melted into a light chocolate and a small smile stretched her face. "What's the matter, Damien?" She asked softly and watched as the man fidgeted around a bit. He avoided her eyes and a hint of worry colored her emotions.

Damien gulped down the nerves trying to choke him and tried to look at the object of his affections. This was harder then he thought it was. 'W-where do I begin? "Midoriko, I love you!" No...to abrupt...how about... "I know this may sound strange, but I like you..." No...too wish-y wash-y...' He continued to think to himself and when Midoriko voiced his question, he blurted the first thing that came to mind.

"I'm worried about Subaki." His eyes widened, as well as hers. 'SHIT! NO! WRONG THING!' He shouted at himself as he watched a strange emotion paint over her eyes. He had meant to express sympathy to her about her sister to get in her good graces first and had blurted it out all wrong. His heart sank as he watched a polite detachment settle over the miko's face and she plastered on a fake smile. 'Great job, Damien! Remind her of her missing sister, why don't you!'

Midoriko was startled at Damien's reply and tried to keep the heartbreak from showing. 'He loves her...' She thought despairingly as she tried to put a reassuring smile on her face. 'T-the least I can do is console him until we...find Subaki...'

"Oh..." She wound up saying and tried to smother the sob that wanted to climb out after it. "Well, I-I'm sure we'll f-find her..." She finished lamely and Damien stared in horror as the woman turned away, tears glimmering in her eyes. Without a thought as to what he was doing, he grabbed a hold of her shoulder and turned her to him. At the same time, he leaned forward and placed his other hand on her damp cheek.

Their lips met in a short, surprised, motion and both closed their eyes at the heat coursing through them from the action. Midoriko's tears fell still from her eyes as she allowed herself to indulge in the feel of her secret love's attention. Damien moved both hands to cup her cheeks and wiped the salty tears away.

Midoriko moaned and tensed, feeling herself wake up from the sudden trance she had fallen under. She pushed away as tears fell in a quick recession down her flushed face. Her shimmering eyes looked up into his confused emeralds in silent torment. Damien watched as a pain filled emotion covered her beautiful features. 'What...?'

"I can't do this Damien! Not when-"

"You love Davis, then." Damien interrupted, stating more then asking, and Midoriko looked up in startled confusion. Damien shot to his feet and paced away from her. His heart was slowly cracking as he tried to reign in the urge to scream and cry out in frustration and loss. Midoriko stood up and walked over to the man, slight hope growing in her own broken and mangled heart.

"Dam-"

"If you love him, then-" Damien interrupted her once again, only to be silenced by Midoriko's fingers on his lips. Midoriko stared up into his own tormented eyes and nearly cried out in joy as the obvious made itself known to her. Damien loved her, not her sister.

She leaned forward and tugged the man down to her as she kissed him with all the pent up need, attraction and frustration kept inside of her. Damien's eyes widened as he tried to process what was happening exactly. His heart skipped a broken beat only to race in excitement. Had he read her wrong? Did she love him as much as he did her?

Both held each other with a fervor born of desperation and love. Both trying to convey their feelings while trying to shut out the outside world.

:.evil.:

Subaki watched from the trees in disbelief. Beside her, Naraku smirked in triumph. The whole scene could not have gone better, if he did say so himself. What he was even more delighted to discover was that the older brother was crouching in the bushes, also watching the scene, water canteens forgotten on the ground. Ahhhh. Delicious drama...

Subaki felt her body go numb as she watched the two kiss and embrace, hungrily. Her heart had shattered at the fact that the man she had fallen for and her own sister were going at each other as if they were starved. Her mind was at a standstill as she watched the two in a morbid sense of fascinated horror.

Midoriko let out a slight moan and Subaki's thoughts kicked back to life. And the first thought to cross her mind? 'THAT BITCH!'

Davis watched in rage as his brother embraced the woman he had wanted himself. Feelings of betrayal and heartache were on the forefront as well. 'How dare he!' He wanted to scream as he watched the two get into it even more so. A wave of nausea hit him and he stumbled back a few paces.

The twigs snapping under his foot didn't alert the two and Davis felt the urge to run. Giving into this feeling he turned tail and left. Up above, Subaki had caught the motion and watched as the captain ran, a plan forming in her tainted mind. She leapt off the branch and after the man. Her newly changed silver hair flashing behind her.

Naraku tore his envious gaze from the two to watch his latest creation run off after the other sailor. He knew the two of them would team up and had decided to watch from a distance as the drama unfolded. He had only set the stage, now it was time for the show.

As he left toward his lair, he thought over the interesting night he had had with the young, dark miko and the way she had been in bed. True, he had thought of Midoriko throughout the whole experience, and may have cried out her name at some point, but he had enjoyed the woman's "charms".

During his "encounter" with the miko, he had slipped in some of his blood, changing the miko into a miko-youkai half-breed. Her hair had changed to a gray-ish silver and her eyes had hardened into a glacial blue-violet. It seems his blood had an adverse affect on her, because scars had appeared over the top of her veins, creating a criss-cross of intricate lines. Unfortunately, they were very noticeable, but a glamour spell kept those covered.

She was an all-in-all successful experiment...now to catch the older sister...

:With Subaki and Davis:

Subaki watched with slight disgust as the man emptied his stomach content on the floor of the forest. The stream beside him gurgled as if in disgust as well. As soon as he had started to dry heave, Subaki had slowly approached him, trying to ignore the acrid scent wafting toward her.

Davis stood up and turned, wiping his face clean with his dirty sleeve. He stopped short to see the beauty before him. The long exotic silver hair was the first to catch his attention. The violet eyes and wicked smile played a part in his enrapture as well. Without a thought as to what would happen, he approached the woman before him.

Subaki watched the mesmerized captain and a spark of hope entered her now decrepit heart. Maybe if she approached Damien, he would react in a similar fashion and leave her traitorous sister behind? Just as quickly as it had appeared, the hope disappeared and Subaki felt a rush of malice fill the space. She turned her full attention on the man before and her grin broadened.

"Hello, captain. How have you been this last day?" She asked and was a little disappointed her voice was still the same. Davis seemed to be equally disappointed before his eyes widened as he recognized that annoying voice.

"S-Subaki? Is that YOU!" He asked incredulously as he took a step back from her changed form. "What the hell happened to you!"

A sneer passed over Subaki's face as she relived the last day in her head. Sure Naraku was good looking, but he sure as hell was lacking in the bedroom department. 'Who taught him to have sex anyway? Monkeys!'

She dashed these thoughts from her mind and focused on the sailor before her once again. "I have been through some...interesting...things. Lets just say I've changed for the better." Her smile fell into a dramatically hurt frown. "I come back to you guys only to see my sister and Damien...!" She trailed off and added some fake tears for effect.

Davis sure was as dense as she thought when he instantly believed her act. His eyes frosted over and his posture stiffened. He stumbled over to her and put his arms around her, trying to comfort her. Subaki wrinkled her nose at the slight stench coming from him. 'Ugh, doesn't he ever bathe?'

"It's alright. I too was shocked that Midoriko-san would fall for that bastards tricks!" Davis growled out and Subaki stiffened. 'How dare he blame Damien! It was stupid Midoriko who-' She cut off her own thoughts as she remembered Damien's hurtful words before she was "kidnapped". 'Then again, he is a bastard.'

Davis stared down at the crown of the woman's silver head and smirked. He had seen through her hurtful act and knew she was just stringing him along. He was angry at the couple and hadn't faked the rage in his being, but he went along with whatever she was trying to do.

'This may help lead me to the one who killed off my crew, and get rid of Damien along the way...'

:out of the story for now:

Kagome stared at Midoriko in fascinated silence. She had been describing the intense emotions she had felt while kissing Damien and Kagome had to admit, she was envious. 'Hojo never made me feel like that...' She thought scowling at the artificial grass underneath her. In front of her Midoriko stared off into space, a silly grin splashed over her face and her eyes twinkling with their own light.

Staring at the woman once again, Kagome sighed and reclined against the ground. Her blue eyes turned to gaze into the perfect blue sky and fluffy white clouds. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Midoriko's soft voice reached her ears yet again.

"Both Davis and Subaki came back to the camp at the same time about an hour after our first kiss. I was shocked at the change my little sister had undergone. Her hair was an unnatural gray-ish silver. Her eyes were like the depths of a frozen lake, cold, blue and riddled with hidden dangers. Her skin looked unhealthily pale and her expression was of veiled malicious contempt.

"Davis looked neutral, as if he hadn't noticed Subaki's change. Damien hadn't noticed his brother's strange behavior, and, truth be told, I hadn't either. Subaki had stolen the attention, and perhaps this had been her intent.

"She had sat within our camp without any awkward feelings. She didn't give any details on where she had been, or what had happened to her. The only thing she had admitted to was that she had changed, but for the better. I hadn't questioned her on it, only too happy to overlook the strangeness of the situation and thank the Kami for her safe return to me.

"This had proven to be my downfall..."

:Back into our "happy" story:

Midoriko walked behind Subaki and Davis, Damien right beside her. Her hand was firmly clasped within Damien's own as they searched about them warily. Subaki seemed to be chatting amiably with Davis about random things, and the former captain seemed to listen with half an ear.

Damien smiled down at the miko beside him and tried to keep from kissing her. After he had learned of her feelings for him and had convinced her of his own, he couldn't seem to keep his hands, or his thoughts, off her. Midoriko glanced up and caught his green eyes in her own. They both stared deeply into the others eyes, communicating the longing both felt.

Neither saw the disgusted glance from both Davis and Subaki directed in their direction.

"So where are we headed, Captain?" Subaki forced through gritted teeth as she turned angry eyes and a forced smile on Davis. Davis frowned and turned his gaze back to the front, well, his front anyway. His green eyes darkened into a blackish color as he stared into the equally blackened forest.

'Where are we going? WHERE are we going! What the hell kind of question is that? And how shall I answer that? "Oh...over into those trees there, and after a while...off into more trees...and eventually into the ocean!" What an idiot.' Davis thought as he tried to keep his anger from showing in his face.

The other day, Subaki and himself had come to an agreement, just before they had reached the campsite. They would try to separate the 'happy' couple behind them. Subaki had fooled Midoriko into not questioning her on her strange disappearance and then her new look. Damien hadn't pressed it as the fool was too interested in Midoriko to care about her sister. But Davis knew better.

Something had happened to the girl and he was willing to stake his life on the fact that the murderer, that had desecrated his men, was the one who had done this. Who the hell else would be on this god-forsaken island!

Just as Davis's thoughts had come full circle, a strong, feminine voice called out to them, halting their fruitless trek.

"Well, well, well. What have we here?"

Midoriko's head shot up to stare at the woman standing on a tree branch above them. The woman's black hair was twisted into a bun atop her head and her eyes were a glowing crimson in the darkened canopy. The woman's clothes were an outlandish red and white and in her hand she held a fan, covering the bottom half of her face.

"Who are you?" Damien asked out loud and Subaki's eyes narrowed in recognition. She had seen this woman in Naraku's lair.

"I am called Kagura of the wind." The woman, now identified as Kagura, said loftily as she clicked the fan shut and smirked at them, showing her delicate fangs and slightly pointed ears. 'She's a youkai!' Midoriko thought as she watched the woman for a moment then turned her eyes to Subaki in slight worry.

Kagura's eyes slid over the group in mild interest until her gaze landed on her master's little project. She smirked inside her head as she remembered the woman's grumbling yesterday morning. Talking about monkey lovers and what not. 'If only she knew!' She remembered crowing to herself as she smirked at the youkai-turned miko.

Kagura glanced over at the miko that was Naraku's true objective and fought the urge to wince in sympathy for the woman. Midoriko's brown eyes were glued to Kagura with wary interest. 'No doubt admiring my lovely kimono.' Kagura thought in smug satisfaction as she raised her fan to hide her smirk.

"What do you want!" Davis shouted and Kagura smirked down at the captain. 'You.' She thought and laughed mentally at the corny clichéd line. 'Yeah, right!' She tampered down her humor and replaced her smirk with an emotionless mask.

"I'm afraid this isn't going to be a pleasant visit. I am here to test you, you could say." She said and raised her fan, planning her attack, even as the small unfortunate band before her, scrambled for a way to withstand the coming attack. Midoriko took a step back and withdrew the bow and arrows she had been working on since late last night.

Damien stood in front of Midoriko and Davis stood beside him. Subaki stepped out of the line of fire and watched with narrowed eyes as the man she wanted and the man she was using defended the woman who had betrayed her.

:With Midoriko and Kagome:

Kagome's hands fisted in the grass as she leaned forward, anticipating the details of the fight. Midoriko watched the young woman with a smile and shook her head sadly.

"I do not remember the fight so well, only the after affects. Subaki had chased after Kagura, supposedly to 'finish her off', as she claimed she was doing. She came back empty handed and with the excuse that the 'coward had run too fast'. Damien had been wounded...terribly. Th-there was so much blood! Davis had slight scratches and whatnot along his arms, but nothing like Damien had. I had no more arrows left of the fifty or so I had made. Shallow cuts were ringed around my arms and legs but again nothing serious.

"Davis and I, and later Subaki, carried Damien into a cave with a waterfall." Midoriko looked sharply to Kagome as the young woman's sapphire eyes raised to her own. "One I am sure you know very well. The same one you were taken to, to heal.

"I had spent the night and the whole of the next day tending to the wounds along his body. Davis had helped, but he was steadily losing touch with reality. Talking to rocks and his reflection in the water. Subaki had stayed withdrawn and in the back of the cave, watching everything with sharp eyes. I think, that was when I first started to doubt my sister. And Davis."

Midoriko became quiet and stared down into the field before them. Her miko robes moved gently in the breeze, and her long dark brown hair swayed in time with the unvoiced melody.

"A day after sitting with Damien, I realized he wasn't going to get better. His body burned with fever, his wounds were infected with gangrene, and he had lost his eyesight. Blood continually flowed, whether from his wounds, his mouth or his nose. He had been wounded internally and there was nothing I could do. I stayed by his side and kept him as cool as I could, knowing, almost from the beginning, that he wouldn't make it. That our love would end, before it could even begin.

"For nearly two days I stayed in the cave and watched as my love slowly died. The second night, he passed away in a fit of pain. I had wished I had died along with him, but to do so would be selfish of me. For I had a duty to uphold and his death only reminded me strongly of what it was I was there for. What it was that had gotten all of us stuck on the damn island, sending us all to our deaths."

Midoriko paused in her story, and Kagome watched the woman with tearing eyes. Her heart wrenched for the pain the miko felt. Even as Midoriko looked up into Kagome's eyes, Kagome felt her sympathy and pity dissipate into a sense of foreboding.

"What had started it all, and continues to do so this day...

"The Shikon no Tama."

:Lets go to the one's we forgot:

Shippo tugged on Rin's hand incessantly and tried to coax her into leaving the tree-line. He stood with his free hand on his left hip, his mouth set into a grim line and his head tilted in a condescending way. Rin couldn't help but think he looked just like their father in that pose. She stifled back more tears and frowned back at the stubborn kitsune in front of her.

"No! Shippo! The bad man might be out there! Looking for us! We can't go to the beach! What about Kagome-onee-chan! What will she say when she figures out we left the cave? What do you think she will do? What about Sesshoumaru-sama and the others? They looked pretty mad at Kagome-onee-chan when she left the cave! And they chased her into the woods! What if we were supposed to go after them and try to help her! What if-"

"Rin! Stop! Kami!" Shippo shouted and Rin instantly shut her mouth. Tears lined her eyes and threatened to spill, but never reached her lashes. 'If that Naraku-guy hadn't already known where we were, he will now! She just had to open that large mouth of hers!' He thought as he dragged the semi-reluctant Rin behind him toward the abandoned beach they had washed up on.

He sat down on the still warm sand and watched as a thin line of fuchsia and orange dotted the wavy horizon. Beside him, Rin also sat, exhausted over the trek they had embarked on to get to the beach. Why were they at the beach? She didn't know. Shippo had shot to his feet as soon as the adults had run off to play tag in the woods. He had said something like not wanting to be watched and then had started out of the waterfall.

Rin sighed as she watched the sun rise marginally. Her eyes caught a brief glimmer of movement on the horizon and squinted, trying to catch what it was.

"Are...are those...monkeys?" Shippo asked and both kits turned their heads to stare at the other incredulously.

:XD:

KC: OK! I'll try to lay off the monkeys!

:XD:

Inuyasha lifted his nose into the air and tried to get the scent he sought after with such a desperation. Beside him, Kouga was doing the same in a similar fashion. Both had swept over the four miles that covered the west side of the island. They had searched the cliff side and a half-mile inland, decided that the second opening had to be near the open air to produce a slight breeze.

Kouga sighed as he felt his slight hope start to dissipate. Inuyasha glanced over at the wolf and growled. "Dammit, Kouga! Get your ass up! The sun's coming up! We don't have time to waste on sitting around in idle wonder!" He shouted and took a deep breath to calm down, just as a breeze "incidentally" wafted a particular scent passed his nose.

He froze as Kouga opened his mouth to argue back. He drowned out the wolf's protests and concentrated on the faint scent. 'Yes...it's definitely Kagome's.' He thought as he raced off in the direction it was coming from without a word to Kouga.

Kouga, for his part, was in the middle of his favorite rant about how hanyou dog's were awful creatures, when he too caught the scent. His whole body froze and then sprang into action, closely following the hanyou.

Over and under branches, bushes, sticks, creatures and anything else Kami put in their path, they traced the scent to a very well hidden cave facing out to sea, much like the other one. The only difference? There was no Sesshoumaru, Michael, Gabriel...or annoying barrier. With triumphant smirks, both idiots, I mean "hero's", entered the cave to track the scent of the woman they wanted to claim for themselves.

:with Sesshoumaru:

An eye twitched. A leg spasm caught the eye. A hand clenched, and a throat let out an agonized sigh of frustration. Sesshoumaru kept his eyes closed and tried to block out the outside annoyances. Beside him, Gabriel kept just as still, meditating. Beside Gabriel, Michael was fidgeting around like a fish on land.

"Why are we even waiting here!" The assassin burst out and Sesshoumaru ignored the fool, while internally he asked the same question to himself.

'Why am I waiting out here? For that human woman, no less?' He asked the question to himself once again for the seventh time since he had gotten complete control over his body and mind. His inner beast purred in the back of his mind and his hand tightened in slight annoyance. 'Is it simply because it is mating season? Or is there another reason?'

He shifted at this thought and a slight frown marred his serene features. 'Could I have...could I have feelings for her? For Kagome?' His frown deepened briefly before it was wiped clean off of his face. While outside he looked calm and complacent, inside his mind waged an internal temper tantrum. 'It's not possible!'

But no matter how he kept telling himself this, a small part of him strongly disagreed. Just as he was about to smother the voice completely and assert himself he cared nothing for the woman, the barrier broke and Kagome's strong scent hit their noses.

Michael, Gabriel and Sesshoumaru shot to their feet and gazed into the cave with shocked trepidation. For not only did Kagome's scent reach them, but also Kouga's and Inuyasha's. Without a word being said, all three shot into the cave and followed the girls scent closely. The sunlight peaked over the edge of the cliff and lit the threshold of the cave, signaling the beginning of the day that would change all of their lives.

:Back with Rin and Shippo:

Rin idly kicked at the sand in irritation as Shippo poked at a washed ashore jellyfish with a stick. Neither paid attention to the water or the three boats coming closer to their small beach. They didn't notice, that is, until a strange scent met their noses. Both shot to their feet as they looked up to see the white ships just off shore.

"Shippo!" Rin squealed as she rushed to her brother in slight fright. Shippo stood gaping at the boats and the smaller crafts carrying people onto the shore.

"HEY!" A faint shout from one of the boats caused the children to jump and tears to cloud their eyes. The two small boats closest to the beach hit sand and a man leapt over the side running toward them.

Shippo felt a tear slip over his eyelids as he pushed Rin behind him and stared at the violet eyed, short black haired man running in their direction.

"We're saved." Rin whispered in a hushed voice as she shoved her face into Shippo's back, sobbing slightly in relief. The man reached the two children and slid to his feet in front of them. Without warning, both kits shot at the man and cried into his shirt in happiness.

"We're saved!" Both shouted as they sobbed into the silk shirt. They didn't notice the approach of two old men or the young lady. The man awkwardly pat their backs and murmured words of comfort. Shippo looked up at the man and for a moment he saw Kagome reflected in this man. 'A-are they related?'

"Are you related to Kagome-onee-chan?" Rin asked as she too pushed away from the man to notice the resemblance. The young man's eyes widened and, with a strange mixed look of worry and excitement in his eyes, leaned forward and nodded.

"Yes! I'm her cousin! Do you know where she is?" the man asked as he grabbed their shoulders and shook them slightly.

"Miroku. Don't shake them!" The lady who stood beside the one known as Miroku said in reprimand as Rin tried to stifle her renewed tears. Miroku sighed and sat back slightly, letting the children go.

"Hi. My name's Sango." The woman said as she leaned down and smiled at them warmly. Rin smiled back and Shippo kept his silence. The two old men behind the younger couple approached and the particularly grouchy looking one opened his big mouth. "Who cares about that, woman! Sesshoumaru-sama is still missing! We have to-"

"You know Sesshoumaru-sama too!" Rin yelled out and all eyes swung to her. She stepped behind Shippo in shyness and peeked from behind him. Shippo looked Miroku in the eye and finally opened his mouth.

"They aren't here. They ran into the woods." He said and got blank stares in response. It was going to be a long day, but well worth it. Rin thought as she and Shippo began to recite all that had happened on the island since they had landed. None of them noticed the three people standing behind them, listening with rapt attention.

Neither did they notice the two sets of red eyes watching from above.

:XD:

KC: There you go folks. I have finished the latest installment for now. I was originally going to finish Midoriko's story and put in Sesshoumaru/Kagome fluff...but I figure I can make you wait a LITTLE longer...XD Well, Miroku and the gang have finally landed on the damn island! Yay!

I want to thank EVERYONE who reviewed! You give me the courage I need to continue with my crack-pot ideas. Thank you. I have saved EVERY review I have received for a reason. I am going to thank you all in the last chapter. I promise!

I ran some of my future ideas for the story passed my best friend and she said they were good idea's. So if you hate them...BLAME HER! J/K! I will try to have the next chapter out as soon as my poor hands can type it up! School is a pain in the ass and my teachers are homework fanatics. :sigh:

Love you all and I hope you RR!

.XD.