Chapter 5

"That was too easy." Antu said. He appeared inside the cave he had found. "The fools had no idea what was in store for them. And now the shards are mine."

Antu looked at the glowing shards. When first got them they had been white, now they had turned a shade of dark purple. He opened the bottle cap and put the shard into his hand. He felt the power as it pulsated. It then disappeared as he absorbed it.

It was a rush Antu had never felt before. He was swimming in a sea of power. He felt his senses and abilites grow as he absorbed the shard.

"Yes, with this power, nothing can stop me." He said. "I have become more powerful than any human, demon, or Jedi."

He then noticed the buzzing. He looked around and noticed, flying just outside the cave, looking at him, was an oversized bee. He looked at it as it looked at him, and then it just flew away. He ignored it for a few moments, but then masked his presence and followed it.

-

The poisonous insect looked on as Inuyasha and the others got beaten back. The person defeating them then took the jewel shards and flew away. Naraku had sensed a demonic presence and told the insect to follow whoever's it was, and it did. The demon insect almost lost the person when he disappeared but followed him back toward the cave. Soon after that the man noticed the insect and it flew away, back to Naraku. It approached where Naraku was residing, a small house on a mountainside. Inside was Naraku, standing and waiting for the insect to return. Kagura and Hakudoshi were waiting as well. The insect buzzed something to Naraku and then flew away.

"It appears there is a new player in our little game." Naraku said. "He even managed to steal the jewel shard from Inuyasha and the others."

"Do you want me to retrieve the shard for you, Naraku?" Hakudoshi asked.

"Not yet Hakudoshi," Naraku said. "If this person so easily defeated Inuyasha and his group, we should not attack him head on. Kagura, go search this person out and bring him to me."

"Yes, Naraku." Kagura said, almost reluctantly, but pulled the feather from her hair and rode away, following the poisonous insect that had appeared to guide her.

"Do not worry though Hakudoshi," Naraku said, once Kagura was away. "We will get the jewel shard, and it will be one more for me to add to the nearly completed jewel."

-

Antu followed the insect the small house, masking his presence completely. To all others, he was nearly invisible. He hid in the shadows nearby and let his mind drift into the Force. Through the Force, he saw the insect buzz-talk to the person standing in the room. The other two, both woman, were sitting nearby. The man standing was certainly intimidating, with the bones and tentacles coming out of his body. But Antu was not worried. The man began speaking.

That one is Hakudoshi, Antu thought, regarding the small child sitting down with the scythe nearby. And he is Naraku. And that one he just sent out to get me is called Kagura. I'll have to remember their names.

Naraku said something again after Kagura left.

So, Naraku has the rest of the scared jewel. And many more than the one shard I have. There must be a way for me to get his shards. But I can't keep Kagura waiting.

He disappeared.

-

Kagura got down from her feather and approached the cave entrance. A man was standing outside, looking like he was waiting for her.

"Kagura," The man said. "I've been expecting you."