Back in his castle Naraku looked up from Kanna's mirror, face distorted in rage. He slammed his fist against the wall and shouted. "You lucked out this time Inuyasha but next time I will kill you! ...Kagura!"

She jumped and stepped from around the corner. "Yes?"

He glared at her. "You couldn't handle one little wolf?"

She snorted indignantly. "You didn't see her change? I don't know who she was but she wasn't about to let that wolf demon die."

Naraku turned back to Kanna. "Let us watch this black wolf and find out more about her." He said as Kanna made the mirror swirl and zoom in on me.


I whimpered, laying my head on Inuyasha's arm. He stared at me blankly, his eyes closing.

Suddenly a bright light surrounded me and everyone stared in shock. I yelped and then grew silent as my shape began to change. When the light disappeared a girl sat in the wolf's place. She had pure silver hair past her waist and ice blue eyes with very pale skin. Her nails were long and rounded, not sharp, and her teeth were normal and she had no wolf ears or tail. The facial markings were gone as well.

Yusuke blinked. "Kira?"

I nodded and stared at myself. "It's the new moon. I'm not a full demon so I change for half the night of the new moon." I stared at Inuyasha sadly. "And he changes for the entire night."

We turned at some rustling in the bushes behind us but relaxed as Sango emerged. Kirara followed behind with a badly injured Kouga on her back while Miroku kept him from falling.

"What happened here?" Sango asked, looking around and laying her eyes on Inuyasha and me.

"Did you... defeat Naraku?" Kouga managed to ask.

I shook my head. "It wasn't really him. It was one of those puppet things." I turned to Inuyasha. "I wish there was something I could do!" I shouted in frustration.

"You can." Yusuke said and I stared at him. "When your brother was hurt you went to his side as a wolf and healed him. Concentrate and do it for him too."

I stared at him for a second and then turned to Inuyasha. I closed my eyes and placed my hands on his arm, focusing. My eyes sprang open again, glowing bright green and my hands began to glow as well. Sparks shot off and flowed through Inuyasha's body and his eyes slowly opened. He stared at me. "What're you doing?" He muttered weakly watching my glowing eyes and hands. Neon green light spread from them and went all along Inuyasha's body, hovering around wounds and moving on as they healed.

"I thought she was a human right now." Kagome questioned. "How is she doing this?"

Yusuke shook his head. "This isn't a demonic power, this is hers. You saw me shoot that blast right?" Kagome nodded and he continued. "That was my spirit power. I'm human too."

As I finished I pulled my hands away and blinked a few times before my eyes returned to their normal color. Inuyasha open and closed his hands a few times and sat up. "Th-thanks." He stuttered.

I grinned and responded. "No problem!" I stood slowly and walked over to Kouga. "If you get off I will heal you too."

He nodded gratefully and slid off Kirara's back, landing in a heap on the ground. "Lean on me." I said as I sat beside him. He placed an arm around my neck and I closed my eyes again. When reopened they were glowing bright green again and I placed my also glowing hands on Kouga's chest, blushing slightly. The green light spread all around his body, sealing up the numerous cuts covering him.

As I finished up he raised his arm and clenched his fist. He grinned at me and I smiled back. "Thank you...?" He trailed off as I collapsed onto him. He caught me and held me in his arms. "What happened?"

"She's never used her spirit power before. Well, only once but she was in a panic. She probably just exhausted herself." Yusuke explained. "After some sleep she'll be fine again."

Suddenly Inuyasha sprang to his feet and kicked at Kouga who leapt out of the way, still holding me. "What are you doing mutt face?" He yelled.

"Let go of her!" Inuyasha demanded.

"What for?"

"Because I said so! She doesn't want you holding her!"

"She healed and fought with me so why wouldn't she?"

"She was just pitying you! She did more than I would've done."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Stop it both of you!" She yelled. "Kira needs rest and you're not helping her get it!"

Kouga nodded. "Of course." He said and set me down gently against a tree. Everyone else found a place to rest and they spent the night in the clearing surrounding my sleeping form. While Inuyasha and Kouga glared at each other, daring the other to go near me, Hiei and Yusuke crept to my side and fell asleep on either side of me. Gradually all was quiet as everyone drifted slowly to sleep.


I awoke the next morning in a daze. "What happened?" I asked, sitting up slowly.

"You tired yourself out from using too much spirit power before you've learned how to use it right." Yusuke explained, coming to my side.

"Oh..." I rubbed my eyes and looked around. "Is everyone ok now?"

Inuyasha leapt over to me and tightly embraced me. "Thanks to you." He said. I looked him over. There were no more cuts of any kind on him and his hair was silver once more. His ears were back too and I poked one of them. "You look funny without them." I joked.

He grabbed one of mine back. My demonic features had returned while I was resting. "And so do you!"

I laughed and looked up at him when suddenly my eyes filled with tears. Inuyasha watched as they swirled dark blue. "What's wrong?"

"I-I thought I was going to lose you! I kept having dreams so I did something too soon to get them to take me back here!" I cried, sobbing into his chest. "It hurt so much!

He slowly wrapped his arms around me and glared at Hiei and Yusuke. "What did she have to do?" He growled.

"We were supposed to train her and get her ready so she could accept her spirit energy that's been gathering over the years for her. Instead Koenma said she couldn't leave until she took it back inside her body. She did it and it almost killed her buther longing to see if you were alright kept her alive." Yusuke said over my cries. "That and the thought that she might have killed her other brother." He added.

"What? She killed Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha shouted in shock and my tears doubled at the images it brought to my head.

"No, she almost did. She was obviously having serious troubles absorbing the energy. I've done it before and it is very painful. It tears away at your insides if you're not strong enough to handle it. Sesshoumaru saw this and went to her side. When he got close a massive bolt of green light shot from her body and hit him, shocking and hurting him very badly. He would've died but for some reason she then transformed into a wolf and managed to heal him enough to wake him up. Yukina and the others are tending to him right now so I'm sure he's fine." Yusuke assured me.

"I didn't mean to..." I muttered to myself. "I told him to stay away but he didn't listen!"

"It's ok." Inuyasha said with a comforting hug. "They said he's fine so he is. You should... go check on him."

I looked up at him, surprised at his words. "Do you mean it? I won't be back for a while I think..."

He nodded and looked away. "He needs you right now more than I do."

"Oh thank you!" I screamed happily as I leapt on him with a hug. "I'll come back as soon as I can ok?" He nodded as I stood and bid my good byes to Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Shippou as well.

As I turned to speak to Kouga he came forward and embraced me. I felt my entire face burn bright red as he spoke. "I will miss you very much Kira. Without you I would probably be dead by now." I nodded but he still held me and I was unable to free myself from his grasp.

"Sit" Kagome whispered and Inuyasha slammed lightly into the ground.

"What was that for?" He demanded.

"Just leave them." She responded.

"At least he's not bothering Kagome anymore." Shippou pointed out.

"But she's my…! …Fine." Inuyasha muttered, glaring at Kouga in disgust as he still held me.

I tried to pull away uncomfortably but he wouldn't let go and Hiei finally couldn't watch any longer. He stepped forward and began prying him off of me. "She has to be leaving now." He muttered, growing very annoyed. "Her brother needs her!"

"Hmm... Then I shall keep you no longer." Kouga decided as he finally let go. I backed away, my face bright red and he laughed. "Awww, I've embarrassed her."

"Good bye." I muttered quietly as I turned to leave with Hiei and Yusuke. I heard Kouga disappear into the woods and turned smiling to everyone else. "See you later!" I called to them.

As we went out of sight Miroku spoke up. "I wish she would stick around here longer."

Sango glared at him. "What for?" She demanded.

"She's an excellent fighter even without all of their training and her healing powers are very useful." He explained. "Why? What'd you think I'd say?"

Sango blushed and looked away. "Nothing..."

Kagome looked around. "We need to find a place to camp. How about we go back to Kaede's village for a while?" Everyone agreed and they all set off towards the village.


Hiei, Yusuke and I were just reaching the well. "Ready?" I asked and they both nodded. We linked hands and got ready to enter when suddenly a hand grabbed the back of my shirt. I screamed as I toppled backwards towards it and came face to face with a grinning Kouga. "I thought you had left!" I yelled in surprise and Hiei glared at him and Yusuke rolled his eyes.

"I knew you were coming here and I wanted to ask you something." I looked at him and he continued. "Why were you sitting here so long ago?"

I closed my eyes and grasped the locket that hung around my neck. "I was waiting for someone." I replied.

"For who?"

"The one who made this necklace for me."

"And who was that?" Kouga asked, as Hiei and Yusuke listened in.

"His name was Sean. In return for saving my life, I leave you this to remember me by." I said, reading the back of the locket.

"But... why were you waiting by this well?" Kouga pressed.

"Because, he came from a different world. He arrived through a well one day just like Kagome did. He later told me that he was taking pictures of the wildlife and he fell into this old well. When he climbed out again he was here. He still had his camera though and that's how he got our pictures to go inside this locket. He went home and made it and then came back with it later."

"What's a... camera?" Kouga asked.

"It's a little box that has a button that you press on it. If you do it makes an instant painting that's perfect with no mistakes for you to keep. Next time I come here I'll bring my camera and show you."

Kouga nodded and asked another question. "What did you save him from?"

"Well, I didn't really save him. It was a lesser demon that attacked him and I saw it. I got Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru to come and help me and they killed it while I brought him to safety. He still insisted that I saved him though. After he left for the last time he promised he would come and visit so every day I would spend some part of it just sitting on the edge of the well, waiting for him to come."

"Now that's dedication." Kouga said, smiling. "Can I come with you this time? I would like to see this other world of yours."

I looked at Hiei and Yusuke uneasily. "I don't think that'd be ok..."

"Oh, I see." Kouga said, sniffing slightly and turning away.

I instantly felt bad. "Maybe next time alright?"

He brightened. "Yes, next time!"

I smiled as Yusuke asked me, "Sean. That doesn't sound very Japanese."

I nodded. "This well does bring you to America."

"Then how could you understand him?" Hiei asked.

I shrugged. "I guess I have the gift of tongue. So... can we get going?"

Kouga stood back and watched as the three of us linked hands once more and leapt into the well. With a flash of light we were gone and Kouga was left alone, staring down into an empty hole.

As we climbed out of the well back on the other side Yusuke made a suggestion. "You liked your laptop right?" I nodded and he continued. "Why don't you go home and bring it this time? We'll find some kind of internet connection for you to use."

My face lit up. "Really? Thank you so much!" I ran happily to my house to get it.

While I was gone Hiei looked at Yusuke. "Was that really such a good idea?"

"Why not? She's going to be doing pretty much nonstop training for almost a year every single day. She should be able to have some free time where she can talk to friends online and just relax."

Hiei stared at him. "You realize she brought her CDs and camera too?"

Yusuke nodded. "But you can't talk to people with those and she hasn't really used them yet anyway."

They waited thirty more minutes with no sign of my return before they started to worry. Slowly they began walking towards my house and as they approached shouts were heard from ahead. They cleared the forest and Yusuke burst out laughing while Hiei rolled his eyes. My four younger human siblings had leapt on me at first site, poking and pulling every part of me, especially the tail and ears. At this moment I was trying to pull my littlest brother off of my tail of which he was holding onto with no intention of ever letting go. "Jack!" I screamed. "Get off of me now!"

"No!" He screamed back, laughing. To him this was just another game of wrestling. My mom wasn't helping because she didn't want me to leave either and she was slightly angry that I'd dyed my hair. She didn't buy the fact that it changed by itself. I growled and hissed fiercely in Jack's face but he just laughed harder. I sighed and looked up, noticing Hiei and Yusuke for the first time. "Guys, help me!" I cried in desperation.

Still laughing, Yusuke approached me and leaned forward to my brother. "Hey buddy, would you mind letting go now?"

Jack shook his head and looked away as a reply, suddenly growing shy in the face of strangers. "Ok then..." Yusuke gently picked him up and started to pull, stopping quickly at my cries.

"You can't to that!" I yelled. "He's pulling my hair and it hurts!"

Hiei entered the fray. "You know if this were a fight you'd be dying right now. All they'd have to do is grab your hair, which is very easy because you have so much."

I glared at him. "Well, there's no way I'm cutting it!"

"At least tie it back." Hiei suggested as he walked over. He leaned down into my brother's face. "Are you going to let go now or am I going to have to make you?" He muttered threateningly.

Jack looked up at him for a second and then retreated to my mom, tears filling his eyes. "He's scary..." Jack whimpered as he watched us.

Free of my brother's grasp I turned to my mom. "Send me an email if I get a call about driving." I whispered. "And a reminder for when the concerts coming up. I really don't want to miss that so I might be able to get them to let me go still."

My mom nodded. "What about the beach trip for the fourth of July?"

"Send me the address of the place we're staying at. I just might show up with a bunch of random people but we could sleep outside so don't worry about overcrowding even more, ok?"

My mom agreed and I ran to catch up with Hiei and Yusuke, who were waiting at the edge of the woods. I smiled, waving over my shoulder with one hand, holding the laptop and power cords in the other. "See you later!" I called.

"Bye!" Nick, Will, Megan, Jack and my mom all called as I disappeared into the woods.

Yusuke set the new destination in his watch once we were out of view and Hiei and I both grabbed hold of him. In a flurry of wind we were gone, the leaves swirling in our wake.

We touched ground again in Yusuke's yard and while we were still landing Sesshoumaru burst through the door. He ran to my side, checking for any type of injury. "Why were you gone so long?" He paused as he ran a hand through my green highlighted hair.

"It wasn't that long..." I muttered. Then looking at his face I continued. "I healed too many people and it made me tired. I passed out and they let me sleep until I was better."

He pointed to the computer I was holding. "And what is that?"

"Umm..." I hesitated as the others came outside as well. "We stopped by my house to visit for just a second and I brought my computer so I could keep in touch."

Sesshoumaru stared at me for a second and then muttered, "What does it do?"

I held back a laugh and turned to Yusuke. "Do you have internet connection so I can set it up and test things out?"

"Sure, follow me." He said and walked inside. I followed him with Sesshoumaru right behind me and Kurama, Hiei, Kuwabara, Botan and Yukina right behind him. We went into a room where Yusuke got down on his knees and pulled a couch slightly from the wall. He dug around and somehow came up with a cord that he plugged into the wall. He took the computer from me and plugged it into the other end of the cord. He then plugged in the power to a socket in another wall and handed me the fully hooked up computer. "Try it out," he said.

I thanked him and opened the top, sitting the computer on my lap. Everyone peered over my shoulders as I turned on the power and typed in my password. We waited as it turned on and I blushed as the desktop pictures of Sesshoumaru appeared first thing. I clicked the AIM icon and it slowly opened. "It works!" I exclaimed happily. As soon as I was logged on, five messages popped up. One was from a girl on Gaia online. She told me she had my avatar drawing ready and I thanked her while opening a webpage so I could get it from her. Two more were from people on myOtaku who I knew through my website. They were freaking out trying to figure out if I was serious in my last post. The last two were classmates wondering where I had been for so long. I invited all four of them into a chat room together and told them to wait and I would explain what has been happening after I responded to someone else really quick. I went to the Gaia girl and accepted her private message happily and thanked her very much for it. After she was done talking I returned to the chat room. All this while Sesshoumaru and the others had been staring over my shoulder. None of them had any idea what I was saying because Sesshoumaru couldn't read and the others couldn't read English.

"Someone's pretty popular." Kurama laughed.

"What are all those?" Sesshoumaru asked, referring to the open windows covering the screen.

"Those are the conversations I'm having with my friends right now." I explained. "They all have a computer like this and they're sitting in front of it typing to me as I type to them."

I turned back to the computer and told the one's in the room who didn't go to my site to go to it and read my most recent post. Then I explained briefly were I was and what had been happening. I could tell they did not believe me at all so I promised that I would put up real pictures of everyone eventually.I finally got away by saying I had to go train and then put up an away message, refusing to respond to there never ending messages.

Yusuke pointed to my message box, filling with messages. "Aren't they still talking to you?"

I shrugged. "They're just saying the same things over and over again. I'll explain stuff later."

Kurama turned to me. "Would you like to learn how to use all of that spirit energy? Then you hopefully won't pass out when you use a lot at once."

"Yes please," I said nodding and followed him and Kuwabara outside. As soon as I was out of the room, Sesshoumaru collapsed onto the couch, clutching his stomach. He was still in a lot of pain from the shock I gave him.

Botan went to his side. "Oh! Are you alright?"

He grunted before replying slowly. "I've never felt this much pain before, not even when I lost my arm..." The others stared at his arm, just realizing there was just an empty sleeve hanging there but he ignored them and continued. "I'd hate to fight her once she's mastered it. Where will they be training?"

"In the woods somewhere isolated. Kurama won't risk hurting someone while she still has no control. He and Kuwabara will be in danger too by just being near her." Yusuke responded.

Sesshoumaru nodded and made to stand up but fell back again with a groan as the pain spread through him. "Don't try to move." Botan ordered. "Yukina?"

Yukina stepped forward and turned to Sesshoumaru with a slight bow. Slowly she reached out her hands and began to heal him. Immediate relief flowed through Sesshoumaru's body so he just sat helplessly and watched as she worked.

Outside I was still following Kurama and Kuwabara. "Where are we going?" I asked.

"Somewhere away from people." Kurama replied. "Right now you probably have little or no control over your powers and we don't want to hurt someone."

"Oh..." I muttered quietly as we continued still further.

Finally we arrived at our destination. It was an old dead forest, full of nothing but dark shadows and clawing branches. I smelled not one animal inside and heard not a single bird's chirp. "I-in there?" I stuttered.

"Why?" Kurama asked laughing. "Are you afraid?"

"No!" I responded quickly but my shiver gave it away. "It just feels weird, that's all. There's no life left in this forest."

"Exactly. There's nothing you can accidentally hurt. Did you realize that your brother was still in extreme pain?" Kurama asked.

I shook my head and stared at him. "He... was?"

Kurama nodded. "Yes, but he didn't want you to worry so he tried to act ok. Yukina probably is healing him right now."

"The big baby." Kuwabara laughed.

I glared at him, my eyes flashing red. "Shut up! How about I shock you now?" I yelled.

Kuwabara backed slightly away but Kurama agreed. "Yes, maybe you should practice that now."

I stared blankly at him. "...What?"

"Are you crazy? She'll kill me!" Kuwabara screamed.

Kurama laughed. "No, I mean she should practice her aim by trying to hit a tree with a bolt like that."

"So we... have to go inside?" I asked, referring to the woods ahead.

"Yep, let's go!" Kurama said as he came up behind me. He started shoving me in the direction of the trees but I didn't budge. He ended up holding my shoulders and pulling me backwards inside, my heels dragging in the dirt. He stopped, noticing Kuwabara wasn't coming either. "Do I have to drag you too?" Kurama called and he came quickly.

"I don't think it feels very good either..." he muttered.

Kurama released me, turning to stare into the gloom of the woods. "I'll admit it doesn't feel welcoming," he began as he caught my arm before I could run away. "But it's the best place to train. Let's go in." He began to drag me again and Kuwabara followed closely behind.

We continued on in this way until we reached a wide clearing where Kurama finally released me but I stayed close to his side, peering around the gloomy forest. I sniffed the air. "I can only smell rotting bark..." I muttered, holding my nose. "I wonder how this entire forest just died?"

"Maybe a chemical spill." Kurama suggested, turning to me. "Well, we should start anyway. Face the tree you will try to hit." I obeyed and he continued, "Now focus and hold out your hand, palm flat, towards it. Close your eyes and imagine bringing all that energy to your hand."

I closed my eyes and concentrated. A moment later I spoke. "It feels warm." My hand had developed a slight green glow around it.

Kurama nodded. "Good. Now pull the imaginary trigger and shoot it off." I thought hard about a trigger being pulling in my mind and staggered back as a huge neon green beam of light erupted from my hand. "Hold it steady!" I heard Kurama say as he stepped away, and I grasped my shaking wrist with my free hand to hold it still. I pointed it at my tree, the one with the roots sticking partly out, and watched it disintegrate almost instantly inside the blast as well as the trees behind and around it.

"How do I stop it?" I yelled but as I spoke the blast started weakening and eventually dwindled away. I collapsed where I stood and stared at the wide path I had made in the forest while holding my head. I slowly fell backwards and lay there motionless.

Kurama's smiling face appeared above, looking down on me. "Are you dizzy?" He asked, giving me a hand.

I nodded as I took it and was pulled to my feet. "Pretty good right?" I asked.

Kurama laughed. "Yes. You have Kuwabara scared."

I glanced over at him as he got to his feet and yelled back. "No I'm not!"

I laughed and turned back to Kurama. "What now?"

Kurama paused for a moment before speaking again. "I want you to try to shape it into different things that could be used in battle. Show me how it works on the trees that surround us."

"Like his sword?" I asked referring to Kuwabara and Kurama nodded so I closed my eyes. I heard him backing away as I mentally pictured a sword in my hand made out completely of my neon green energy. I held my hand in the position it would be in if I were really holding a sword and concentrated my energy on the picture in my head. Suddenly a line of light shot out of my hand and shaped its way slowly into a sword. Eventually it totally detached from my hand as well so it seemed just like I was holding a glowing sword, more detailed than Kuwabara's versions. The blade was broad and flat with a noticeable handle.

Kurama came slightly closer clapping. "Try holding that shape for a while and attacking something."

I nodded and closed my eyes for a second as the sword flickered and then ran straight ahead at the trees before me. I swung the sword three times and jumped back quickly. The tree stayed the same for a moment before suddenly falling sideways into three pieces.

Kurama came up behind me. "I see you have skills with a sword as well. Has Hiei secretly started his training?"

"No." I said blushing and scratching the back of my head. "I guess I just watch too much TV." I added with a laugh.

He smiled. "Try something else now, something you haven't seen us do yet."

I nodded and closed my eyes again. The blade of my sword grew thicker and thinner while the sharp end began to round off. The hilt rounded as well and when I finished I held it out laughing. "It's a baseball bat!"

Kurama laughed too and then pretended to grow serious. "Now, can you make balls to go with it?"

"Hmm..." I stood there, leaning on my makeshift baseball bat and held out my empty hand. Green light swirled around it for a second before coming together in my palm to form a sphere the size of a softball. I set it down by my feet and made two more before tossing them all to Kurama. I took a batting pose and called out playfully. "Pitch them to me!"

Kurama laughed and backed away some. "Try to catch them Kuwabara." As he began to throw I suddenly cried "time out!" and he stopped. "Come here Kuwabara!" I called and he came quickly to my side.

"What is it?" he jumped as a green glow appeared around his hand, shaping its way around until it was a baseball glove.

I laughed. "Now you're ready!"

He laughed too and slid it off his hand. It still held its shape and he showed Kurama before putting it back on and retreating behind him.

"Are you ready?" Shouted Kurama and I nodded as I took up my batting stance. He threw the ball as hard as he could at me and I swung my neon green bat. With a spark the two collided and headed straight back at Kurama. He threw himself to the ground as Kuwabara grabbed the ball in his glove. As the ball hit him he slid back a few feet, leaving skid marks in the ground, but came back smiling. "I didn't feel a thing through this glove!" He said.

Kurama got off of the ground and dusted himself off. "Maybe I need one as well then..."

I laughed and looked at him. "I didn't mean too. It just goes where I hit it and I have no control over that."

Kurama chuckled. "I know but I think that's enough of this. You're exhausting your energy."

I sighed jokingly and all of my creations disappeared in clouds of green steam. "What now?" I asked.

Kurama was silent for a moment and then spoke up again. "How about making a shield around yourself?"

I nodded and closed my eyes for a second. A moment later a green wall sprang up behind me, then one in front of me and on all sides. Finally one appeared above and below me as well. "I'm stuck in a box!" I yelled as I pushed the side in front of me causing the entire thing to topple over. I fell flat on my face but came up laughing. Unlike my earlier creations, the walls of the shield were transparent and easy to see through so I could know what was going on. "Hey Kurama!" I called. "You throw pretty hard. Hold out your hand and test this things strength."

Kurama nodded and held out a hand as a solid appearing green ball appeared in it. He pulled back his hand and let it go as hard as he could. It slammed into the box, causing it to slide backwards but otherwise nothing happened. He approached and ran his hands along the place where the ball had hit. "There are no dents or anything..." He said.

I reached up and pushed the top and it sprang open so I could climb out. I leapt down and warned Kurama and Kuwabara. "Have either of you seen Dragonball Z?" They both shook their heads and I continued. "Well, they shoot blasts out of their hands and I want to try but I have no idea what I'm doing so you might want to back away." I added with a laugh.

They both did as I asked quickly and I placed both hands at my side. Unable to position both hands forward like they would in the show I just placed them together so the fingertips were slightly bent and lightly touching their counterpart on my other hand. I looked over at the others and laughed before I grew serious and stared straight ahead. Suddenly a bright light appeared in between my hands and grew larger, forming the shape of a ball. I let my hands drift apart as the ball grew larger until I was holding a ball half the size of my body at my side. "Can I shoot it off?" I called to Kurama.

He stared at me for a second. "Go ahead." He finally decided and I squealed with joy as I pushed forward suddenly, letting the ball go. It shot forward into the center of the forest clearing a massive path through the trees that just kept going and going. Finally it was out of sight and I walked over to Kurama and Kuwabara beaming. "Did you see that? That was awesome!" I screamed happily. Suddenly I fell forward with a sigh and Kurama caught me. Behind us the box like shield I had created sizzled out into nothing and I passed out.

"What happened?" Kuwabara yelled.

Kurama set me gently down so I was leaning against a tree before calmly replying. "She's tired herself out, that's all. She made so many things just now. She's so much stronger than she looks." Kurama smiled at my resting form before continuing. "That should give her a good advantage in the tournament because they won't be expecting anything big. And did you notice how solid her things looked? They hardly had any sparks fly off or anything and they're so strong."

Kuwabara nodded. "My sword gets all these zappy line things coming off when I use it. It's constantly moving but hers stays still."

About an hour later my eyes fluttered open again and I looked around, holding my head. "Owww..." I moaned. "Did I overdo it?"

Kurama offered me a hand and taking it, I was pulled to my feet. "Just a bit." He said, laughing.

I blushed and released my head. "What do we do now?"

"We practice more." Kurama paused as I stared at him and then continued. "We need to work on your ability to handle using it. We can't have you suddenly pass out in the middle of the ring. You were out for an hour."

"But... how do I learn?"

"You have to practice for many days, just like I did." Said Kuwabara, stepping forward.

"Well then, what do I do now?" I asked, staring up at them both.

"Use more energy. You'll start getting used to it until you no longer grow dizzy at all. That should take a while though." Kurama said. "Make another sword. See how quickly you can have it done."

I nodded and closed my eyes. A second later I reopened them and stared at the bright green sword in my hand. "How's that?" I asked proudly.

"Hold it still." Ordered Kurama as he came to my side. He reached out and began running his hands along the smooth, solid feeling blade of my sword. "This is really made of your energy? It's hard to believe..."

I looked up at him. "Why?"

Instead of answering, Kurama called Kuwabara over. "Now make your spirit sword."

Kuwabara held out his hand like he was holding an invisible sword and then an orange line shot out and up from his hand. I stared from his to mine before speaking. "They're... different." Kuwabara's sword was dancing around in his hand, never still, and random sparks would fly off periodically. Mine on the other hand, was perfectly still, looking like a plastic, neon green broadsword.

Kurama nodded. "It may be from the difference of spirit energy you two have." After that little discovery, they had me make all kinds of different things and even use them in little battles against them. Mostly my shield was tested in those, but I did cross swords with Kuwabara a few times.

For the final round I lasted over five hours before I finally passed out and Kurama decided to stop the training. With a yawn he scooped me up in his arms and carried me back to Yusuke's house. It was very early in the morning so when we arrived Kuwabara headed straight to bed while Kurama laid me in mine gently. Sesshoumaru was soundly asleep at the foot of my bed and remained motionless. Kurama laughed as he placed the covers around me and then turned to leave. "Hello Hiei." He whispered.

"How good is she?" Hiei asked as he followed Kurama into the next room.

"She would've gotten pretty far in the tournament without any training though she would pass out a lot." Kurama chuckled in response.

"What's her best now?"

"She lasted over five hours while constantly using her energy. When she passed out at the end of that we decided to come back. She uses her energy in ways I've never seen before..."

Hiei glanced through the doorway at my sleeping form. "How so?"

"She made a baseball bat out of her energy but it didn't spark at all. It looked completely solid like a plastic bat. She made balls and gloves the same way."

Hiei stared at Kurama. "You were playing games with her?"

"Well, she was using her energy so it was training. She is also very quick with her swings. I think she was a very good player before we took her."

"What else could she do?" Hiei pressed impatiently.

Kurama laughed. "If you're so interested we'll have her show everybody tomorrow, but she made a sword and a seemingly impenetrable shield. It was like a box that she climbed inside so she was protected on all sides and from below and above. She is very smart and I don't think she knows it yet. You should come with us tomorrow and start her sword training as well."

Hiei nodded. "Maybe..."

Kurama stood and yawned again. "Well, I'm going to get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." He left Hiei alone in the room. Sliding to his feet, Hiei approached the room where I lay sleeping but stopped before entering. He listened for any hints of a bad dream he could save me from but I slept peacefully tonight. He finally gave up and retreated to a couch where he laid down and drifted into sleep.

He awoke early the next morning to a tapping on his shoulder. He rolled over and barely caught himself from crying out as he saw who it was. I had been told by Kurama to wake him so we could train and had sat there nervously tapping him for several minutes before he finally woke up.

Hiei narrowed his eyes at me. "What?" He yelled.

I blushed and pointed to the sword at my waist. "I'm sorry! Kurama told me to wake you up so we could go train some..."

He nodded and sat up, his face turning red. "I'm sorry I yelled just now." He muttered and quickly left the room.

I stared after him for a moment, my face still burning, before I finally stood and followed him out. Kurama was talking to Yusuke. "We'll be gone for the entire day most likely so don't be surprised if we don't come back." He said as he turned to me. "Ready?"

I nodded and we set off for the forest we had practiced in yesterday. Hiei fell in step with us after a while and Kurama smiled to himself as we continued. Just like yesterday I stopped at the edge of the trees.

"What are you doing?" Hiei asked, staring at me.

"It feels even weirder than yesterday!" I cried as I stared into the darkness.

Kurama patted me on the back and laughed. "It's ok! You have us here to protect you!"

I laughed and smiled up at him. "Ok, let's go."

We went slowly into the forest and stopped in the clearing from yesterday. I gasped and grabbed onto Kurama's shirt. "The holes are gone!" I cried as I buried my face in him.

He placed a comforting arm around me and stared around. "You're right..."

Hiei looked around too. "What?"

"Yesterday she blasted quite a few holes in these trees and they don't seem to be here anymore."

"Are you sure this is the same clearing?" Hiei asked.

I lifted my head and nodded. "I can smell Kuwabara's scent still!"

Kurama pried me off of him and went over to the trees. "These were definitely destroyed." He murmured, bringing his hand along one's surface.

I sank to the ground and began to whimper. "Ghosts!" I cried. "I told you this forest felt weird! They're no animals or anything. There's no life in here!" I looked around growing terrified. "Now they're going to come after us seeking revenge for destroying their home!"

I screamed as something touched my back but turned to see that it was only Hiei. "Relax, nothing will happen." He said quietly and I nodded.

"Do we still have to stay here?" I whimpered as Kurama returned.

He nodded. "Nothing has happened to threaten us at all so we have nothing to fear." He said, offering me a hand.

I took it and he pulled me to my feet. "Now, let's show Hiei what you did yesterday."

"Ok..." I whispered and held out a hand. A softball sized ball of glowing green energy appeared in it. It flickered once and then seemed to grow solid, like a plastic toy. I handed it to Hiei who stared closely at it.

"What else?" He asked.

Instead of answering I held out my hand again as if I was holding something and a baseball bat appeared in my hand, looking as solid as the ball. In the other hand I made a glove shape itself over my hand. Hiei didn't look amused so I dropped them both on the ground, making them keep their forms. I made my solid looking sword next and added it to the pile as well. I stepped away and made the giant cube shield form around myself. I popped open the top and began to climb out but Kurama stopped me.

"Let Hiei test its strength." He said so I stayed put.

Hiei stared at Kurama. "Are you sure?"

Kurama nodded. "Don't overdo it but we want to see how much it can take."

Hiei nodded and held out his hands. Two purplish black fireballs appeared in them and he faced me. "Are you ready?"

I nodded and closed my eyes as Hiei threw the first ball as hard as he could. It hit my shield and sizzled into nothing. He stared at it for a second and then made the second flame triple in size before throwing it too. It did the same thing but also slid the box back a few feet. Hiei looked over at Kurama who nodded, and made a massive black and purple wall of flame shoot out of his hand at me. I screamed in shock as it crashed against the side of the shield and I fell backwards. I watched in fascination as the flames enveloped the entire cube but didn't even once begin to break through to me.

I sat on the ground laughing as Kurama and Hiei ran up to me to check if I was all right. Hiei's face was one of pure shock as he saw the sizzling green box with not one sign of weakening. He sighed and leaned against it, wondering how it was so strong. Suddenly he fell backwards through the wall and landed in a heap beside me.

I burst out laughing as he glared at me. "I'm sorry!" I gasped through giggles. "But you were just standing there and I couldn't resist!"

Kurama stifled a laugh as well and Hiei turned his glare on him. "You have to admit, that was really funny." Kurama chuckled.

I wiped the tears of laughter from my eyes as I got to my feet. "I really am sorry..." I said, holding a hand out to Hiei.

He stared at me for a second before taking it hesitantly. I laughed as I helped him up. "You can relax, I won't try that again. But you have to picture it! You'd be laughing if it was someone else right?"

Hiei paused for a second before the corners of his mouth began to turn.

"I see you, you're holding back a laugh!" I smiled at him. "Why don't you just give in and let it come for once?"

Hiei stared at me before walking to the wall. I opened it and he left quickly. I stared over at Kurama who just shrugged as he watched Hiei leaving too.

When he reached the trees and still didn't stop, I sprang out of the box to chase after him. "Wait, please don't leave!" I cried. "I said I was sorry!" I caught up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Hiei spun around and glared at me and I fell backwards under his gaze.

I sat on the ground calling after him but he kept going. Once he was out of site I looked around. The scary dead trees were all around me in every direction and I was starting to grow afraid again. I felt something touch my back and turned, expecting Hiei again. "Look, I said I was sorry. You don't have to-" My eyes widened in shock as a white, transparent figure grinned back at me. I sat and stared back, unable to move.

It was a boy of around 16 with shaggy hair and gray eyes though the rest of him was entirely whitish and translucent. He slowly reached out a hand and ran his fingers through my hair. "So pretty. Seeing ones like you make me want to be alive again..." He whispered with a smile. "And you're special. You can see me and I can even touch you!" He shook his head, still smiling. "I haven't been able to touch the living in so long..." He clamped his hand over my mouth before I could scream and continued like nothing happened. "Most of the time no one can hear or see me either, so you really are special. I saw you shooting off things yesterday. I grew the trees back so you could practice today too but you seemed more scared by that than happy. Now I'm going to uncover your mouth but if you yell I won't be responsible for what happens."

He let me go and I stared at him, my eyes full of terror. "Are you a ghost?" I barely managed to whisper.

He nodded with a smile. "Yep! And you're able to interact with me like I'm still alive! My name is Sasuke. What's yours?"

I stared at him before answering slowly. "Kira..."

He smiled again. "Kira! That's a cool name." He poked one of my ears and I flinched. He ignored it and kept talking and grinning. "What are you?"

"Wolf demon..." I whispered.

He plopped down on the ground in front of me and I scooted back. He moved forward so I backed further and we continued doing this until my back hit a tree and I could go no further. He laughed. "Why are you so afraid? I haven't hurt you."

"You threatened to." I muttered quietly.

"I wasn't serious!" He said but quickly clamped his hand over my mouth afterwards. "But please don't cry out! I haven't had someone to talk to in so long and I've been so lonely." He pleaded.

I looked into his eyes and began to feel sorry for him so I nodded and he released me. "Can't you make yourself appear more solid?" I whispered.

Sasuke shook his head. "No, but if you concentrate on seeing me you might be able to see me more clearly."

I nodded and stared at him and he slowly began to appear more solid. I could even see the blue of his jeans and his shirt turned black and his hair brown. The eyes stayed gray though but his skin became less pale. "Umm... how... did you die?" I asked very quietly.

He sighed and looked away for a moment. "I was hit by a car. Some friends and me were joking as we walked down the street, shoving each other and stuff. One shoved me right as a car was speeding by..." He shook his head and smiled back at me. "But that was a long time ago."

"Why weren't you taken to spirit world or whatever?" I asked.

"That girl tried to get me to come but I kept running away. Eventually she gave up and I've stayed mostly here since then."

"But... why wouldn't you go with her?"

Sasuke shrugged. "I didn't want to leave this world yet."

I stared at the ground. "I've died before. Several times actually..."

He jumped and stared at me. "Then how are you-?"

I gave a slight laugh and looked up at him. "Over five hundred years ago I fell down a magic well that transported me to America where I shortly after died of a disease. I was then reborn into a human family there and raised by them until I reached my teenage years and died of the same disease. The process repeated until some people found me and gave me the antidote. I was reunited with my real family and then started training because when I died I kept getting more and more spirit energy. That's probably why I can see you so well too. It's because I've died so many times already."

He stared at me for a second. "How do you know you're not justa reincarnation of your former self?"

"Because my body disappeared after I died each time and I still had the demon blood in me when I was found." I explained. "And I still had the memories of five hundred years ago."

"Oh..." He sat still for a second and then looked up at me. He slowly crawled over beside me and leaned back against the same tree. He slipped an arm around me and I began to pull away but stopped as I looked at his sad face.

"If I spend today and tonight with you will you go with the girl to spirit world?" I asked.

He looked over at me in surprise. "Really? But how will I find her?"

"She's staying in the same house I am. She's taken a human form for now."

Sasuke stared at me. "Wow, you really are special."

We sat there for a moment in silence before he turned to me. I stared back at him and even as a ghost I could see his cheeks turning red. "Do you have a boyfriend?" I shook my head in surprise and he continued. "Not ever?" I shook my head again. "I've never had a girlfriend..."

"I'm... sorry." I whispered, my face turning red as well. We sat in silence for a long time again, his arm still draped around me, as I thought as hard as I could. Hiei! Bring Botan here tomorrow morning! I hoped he could sense my thoughts and would forget his grudge and listen.

The sky seen through the trees above us began to grow dark and I felt my head slipping. Soon I was asleep, resting on the ghostly figure beside me.

Sasuke smiled at me as I slept and gently stroked my cheek. I sighed in my sleep and grew quiet again, snuggling closer into him. He blushed and leaned back against the tree with his arm still around my shoulders.


Meanwhile, Kurama had just found Hiei. "Hiei, I can't find her!" He yelled but Hiei crouched on the ground holding the sides of his head. "Hiei...?"

"Shut up!" Hiei cried as he closed his eyes. Hiei! Bring Botan here tomorrow morning! The words rang clearly through his head. Where is here? He thought in reply but he received no answer. He stood and looked at Kurama. "She's fine. She's here in this forest and she's asked me to bring Botan here tomorrow."

Kurama stared at him. "Do you think she's found a ghost?"

Hiei nodded. "But I wonder why she didn't scream? She always screams..." He shrugged and walked back towards Yusuke's house. "Well, she didn't seem scared or in trouble so let's do as she says."

Kurama chuckled as Hiei walked away pretending not to care. With one more look around he ran to catch up with him.

A furious Sesshoumaru greeted them. When he saw them returning without his little sister he had jumped up from the couch where he was being healed and ran to the door, momentarily forgetting the pain. "Where is she?" He yelled.

"Calm down." Kurama answered. "She has decided to spend the night in the forest." He walked over to Botan and whispered to her. "She wants you to be there tomorrow morning. We think she's with a ghost."

Botan nodded before quickly changing the subject. "So... Who's hungry? I am!" She cried and left the room laughing nervously.

Sesshoumaru shot Hiei and Kurama a nasty look before collapsing back onto the couch and falling into unconsciousness.

Kurama laughed. "He reminds me of you Hiei."

Hiei jumped at the comment. "No way!" He shouted before leaving the room as well. Kurama laughed to himself again before going into the kitchen with everyone else.