As we were walking up to Yusuke's house, Botan ran out to greet us. She embraced me warmly but quickly backed away. "Why are you all wet?"

I looked away, my face growing red, as Hiei glanced sharply at me. "I fell into the pool." I lied.

"How did you manage to fall in?" Yusuke asked.

"Well, you know…" I answered. "Brothers can be mean."

They seemed to accept this and ushered us inside to have us tell them about it. As I talked I noticed that Gin, Toya, Chew and Rinku were all still there. They were all especially interested in the part where I shot off the arrow made of energy and when I transformed into a wolf again.

Sesshoumaru looked at me when I finished. "Could you change right now?"

I looked up. "Into a wolf? Probably…" I closed my eyes and pictured the green-flecked black wolf again and within one minute I had changed.

I wagged my tail as Kurama patted my head with a smile. "That could be useful in a fight. Wolves are quick and fierce, also smaller and harder to hit. If you could change in mid attack it would be very helpful to you."

"She can also change her size more than normal." Yusuke added.

I barked and wagged my tail as I went outside and behind the house. Everyone slowly followed me and I moved slightly away from them. Cocking my head to the side I stared at them as I grew larger. I stopped with my back level to the house and then laid down in front of them with my head on my paws.

I watched their shocked faces as they all stared at me until Kurama slowly approached. He stretched out a hand and I stayed still as he reached up to scratch beside my nose. "This could give you an advantage as well." He said jokingly. I stared at him still, laughing on the inside. He backed away and I closed my eyes, as my body glowed. My shape shifted to a girl again and when I stopped glowing I was normalsizedand lying on my stomach. I grinned as I got to my feet and rejoined them.

"So?" I asked. "How was that?"

"Good." Kurama answered. "Now you need to learn how to fight in that form. Yusuke will take you now to start."

Yusuke shot a look at Kurama. "I will?"

"Yes, we'll join you later to see how it's going."

Muttering to himself Yusuke walked away with me trailing behind him. We stopped shortly after and he turned to face me. "Are you ready? Kurama wanted you to learn to change while in mid attack so let's practice that first."

I nodded and he motioned for me to run at him and I did. I closed my eyes but suddenly was hit hard in the stomach. I fell to the ground clutching it. "Ow!" I yelled as Yusuke crouched before me.

"Don't close your eyes. It causes you to lose sight of your opponent and it leaves them an opening to attack."

"But I was picturing the wolf!"

"So? I'm just telling you what will happen. Let's try it again."

I nodded and stood to face him as he walked a bit away. "Now!" he yelled and I charged at him, leaping in the air with a punch. He caught it and right after he did I changed so he was now holding my paw instead of my hand. "Too slow." He said as he released me and I changed back. "Next time I'll strike back."

I nodded as I backed away a little and charged again. Right before I reached him I jumped over so I was coming at his side but he caught my punch again and landed one of his own in my stomach. He released me and I staggered back as a wolf again. "That might have been slower than the first!" he said.

I changed back in a crouching position and glared at him, my eyes red but not glowing. "I'm trying." I muttered.

"Trying won't be good enough in an actual fight."

"Then let's do this!" I yelled as I got to my feet again. I jumped at him but was again brought down by a punch. Growling I glared at him as I got up once more and changed back to normal again. We continued in this way until well into the night when Kurama finally came out to check on us.

He arrived him time to see my wolf form getting knocked away by a blow from Yusuke. "So you're still having trouble?"

I changed back and glared at him, my eyes still red. "It's hard to do!" I yelled angrily.

Kurama held up his hands defensively. "I know. We'll just keep working on it until you get it. I came to ask if either of you wanted some dinner?"

Yusuke immediately accepted and disappeared inside the house but I shook my head. "I have to do it at least once before I can stop." I decided and Kurama slowly walked towards me.

"Then I will be your opponent for a while." He offered as we continued the fight.

Half a day passed before Kurama grew tired of it as well and had Kuwabara take over. Still I could not do it. Soon a week had passed and it had rotated once moreback to Yusuke.

We stood our ground and faced each other. I was breathing very hard even though we hadn't moved in several minutes. I hadn't stopped for over a week and I was getting very extremely and hungry.

Yusuke looked me over. "You really need to take a break."

"No!" I yelled. "I made a promise to myself…"

Yusuke at me for a second before preparing himself. "Are you ready?"

I nodded and ran at him suddenly, leaping at him while still ten feet away. I stared at him, my eyes red and focused on the wolf in my mind even while open. My cry turned to a howl and Yusuke jumped back in surprise as I landed at his feet as a wolf and sprang up again to land on top of him. I pinned him to the ground with my paws on his shoulders and my growling face in his.

Kurama and the others had come to watch and were now staring unbelieving. "She finally did it." Said Kurama with a sigh of relief. "I was afraid she would starve herself."

Yusuke stared up at me while trying to figure out how I got there. She jumped while normal but landed as a wolf… so that means she finally did it! He thought to himself. "Good job." He said but grunted as I collapsed on top of him.

Kurama ran over to his side and he and Kuwabara rolled me off of him. Yusuke held his stomach and muttered, "thanks. Wolves are pretty heavy."

Kurama nodded. "She lasted just long enough to know she had done it."

"How do we get her inside?" Kuwabara asked as he stared at me, a giant black wolf with strange markings, a necklace and green speckled fur.

"We'll have to carry her somehow…" Kurama muttered as he approached me. As he set a hand on my side my eyes suddenly opened and flashed red as I stared at him. I whimpered and then transformed back tonormal before passing out again. Kurama laughed. "Well, that was helpful." He scooped me up in his arms and carried me inside, laying me on my bed while Yusuke and Kuwabara exchanged glances and followed.

Yukina approached me slowly. "Does she need healing?"

Kurama shook his head. "No, she's just exhausted herself."

They left me to rest and three days later I walked into the kitchen like nothing had happened. "I'm hungry." I announced and Botan laughed as she got me something to eat.

"You know that you did it right?" Kurama asked me and I nodded.

"That's why I finally gave in to the pain." I gratefully accepted the bowl Botan gave me and started eating quickly.

Yusuke turned to me. "What was it you promised to yourself?"

I froze and set down the bowl slowly. "That after I did it I could ask to visit Inuyasha again. I know Sesshoumaru wants to go back as well." I muttered as I stared at the bowl.

There was a long silence until Kurama finally answered. "I think that would be ok. You've accomplished a lot so far and you can take a little break."

Hiei intervened. "But she spent a full week doing one thing!" I glared at him.

"But during that time she increased her speed and resistance to pain as well. She was hit hard every time she failed. Changing that fast is a useful skill too." Kurama explained and Hiei could think of no other problems.

"Then lets go!" I exclaimed gleefully as I grabbed my sword and camera.

Hiei glared at me. "What are you bringing that for?"

"Because taking pictures is fun…" I muttered before heading outside with Sesshoumaru right behind. Kurama shook his head as he followed me and Hiei came next with a glare. Yusuke and Kuwabara came last.

When we gathered outside Yusuke set the watch and we all grabbed onto him. In a flurry of wind we were gone. I looked around the leafy forest and turned towards Yusuke. "Can I?" He nodded and I took off through the woods.

"Can she what?" Hiei muttered.

"Go visit her human family." Sesshoumaru answered as he sniffed the air. "They are nearby."

As I approached the door Jack suddenly screamed my name and leapt through to hug me. I laughed and looked up to find Nick coming towards me with a limp in his step. I went up to him cautiously. "What happened?"

"I had surgery." He muttered.

I gasped. "I had forgotten! How'd it go?"

"Ok." He said simply.

I turned to find my mom behind me. I grinned. "Surprise!" She just kept staring at me so I asked, "What's wrong?"

"I thought you had left for good when you didn't come to support Nick."

I shook my head. "No way! I just didn't know about it."

"I sent you an email!"

I rolled my eyes. "As soon as I got back from the beach I went outside and trained. I didn't stop until over a week later before I finally accomplished my goal and could no longer stand. I slept for three days and now I'm here again."

My mom stared at me, slowly nodded and finally embraced me. "We've missed you."

"I know." I stood back up. "Where's everyone else?" I looked over to find Nick staring over my shoulder and turned. "Hey." Sesshoumaru, Yusuke, Hiei, Kurama and Kuwabara had grown tired and come to see what I was doing. I smirked as I turned to my mom and handed her the camera. "Since you didn't trust me you must now suffer the consequences!" I laughed as I approached them. "A picture of me with the four of you and then just me and Sesshoumaru!" I caught Hiei's arm as he tried to run away. "No, you too."

My mom got ready to take the picture as I stood in the middle of Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara and Hiei. With a flash it was done and Hiei quickly darted away. I went over to Sesshoumaru and stood at his side next and he put his arm around my shoulder. I grinned and he gave a light smiled as my mom took another picture. "Thank you!" I cried as I took the camera from her and put it back in the tiny camera bag.

My mom disappeared and came back with the digital camera. "Stand beside Nick, Kira." She ordered.

I laughed as I did. "Oh no, look what I've started!" She snapped a few pictures of us and some with Jack before she finally let me go.

I waved as I called back to her. "See ya when I see ya!" Then we disappeared into the woods and approached the well without any more distractions. Hooking hands and leaping in we were instantly transported to the past and I smiled as I emerged, blinking in the light.

"I have something to do." Sesshoumaru said as he started away.

"Can I come?" I asked as I began to follow him.

"No." He replied coldly so I just watched him leave.

After he was out of sight I turned to the others. "Let's go find Inuyasha!" They nodded and we started walking.

About an hour later Hiei turned towards me. "Do you have any idea where we're going?"

I nodded. "I've been following his scent since we got here."

Hiei groaned. "Then why are we moving so slow?"

"Because I feel like being lazy." Suddenly Hiei punched me in the back and I fell flat on my face. "Ow!" I screamed, rubbing my nose. I leapt to my feet with a growl and took off after him. Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara exchanged looks before running after us as well.

I was gaining on Hiei. "Get back here!"

"I knew you were just trying to annoy me! You're perfectly fine now!" He called back. While he had his head turned something had appeared in his path. He narrowly avoided it and as I caught up to him it grabbed my hands as I skidded to a stop.

"I've missed you." I blinked and stared at him. It was Kouga!

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I sensed you approaching and couldn't help but come." He responded as Hiei walked angrily over and the others caught up as well.

"Well…" I muttered, my face growing red. "We were in the middle of something…"

"What was it?"

"We're going to find Inuyasha."

"Why do you want to see him?"

I pulled my hands away angrily. "Because he's my brother!"

Kouga nodded. "Well, I'll see you later then." He took off suddenly, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.

I wiped my watering eyes and coughed before I could speak again. "Let's go." I started walking again, ignoring the whispers behind me.

"Who was that?" Kuwabara asked.

"Her old boyfriend." Yusuke answered with a grin.

"No he's not." Hiei muttered. "He's the one who pushed her through the well and got her lost in the first place."

They finished their talking and caught up with me again as we entered an old forest. I fell in step with Hiei and suddenly pushed him sideways. He stumbled over into a tree. "What was that for?" He yelled.

"For hitting me in the back earlier!" I shouted back and we both fell silent again. A little while later we saw an old village ahead. I pointed to it. "They're all in there."

As we came closer a group of armed people on horses ran to us. They saw my ears and tail and immediately went on guard. "What do you want here demon?"

I clenched my fist and stepped slightly forward. "I'm just looking for Inuyasha. Is he here?"

"What is your business with him demon?"

"I have a name you know!" I growled at them and they backed up a few steps.

Suddenly a red blur darted past them and landed on me. "Where have you been for so long?" he shouted.

I looked up and smiled. "Hello Inuyasha."


An hour later we were all gathered in Kaede's hut as I told of my recent adventures.

"So you can transform like Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha muttered, as he looked me over.

"Yeah..." I replied hesitantly yet proudly also.

Inuyasha nodded and stood. "Where are you going Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.

He turned. "We're going to take Kira around and show her some changes since she's been here."

"Are you sure that's wise Inuyasha?" Miroku asked.

"Of course I'm sure." He replied.

"I can look after myself." I added as I stood as well. "Let's go."

Slowly everyone got to their feet and we all left the hut, bidding Kaede goodbye. We just started walking for a while and enjoyed the peacefulness of the green fields surrounding us. As night fell we headed into a small forest for the night and spread out around a clearing.

Morning found us already traveling towards nowhere again. Halfway through the day we stopped for a lunch break and that's when things heated up again.

"Are you Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha looked up at the feeble old man who had spoken. "What's it to ya?"

The old man paused for a second and looked around, resting his eyes on me. I scooted next to Inuyasha. "He smells weird Inuyasha. He's not human."

Suddenly the old man broke into loud laughter. "I see I've been discovered already!" His voice was now hard and cold and he began to change. His tattered graying hair became long and black and his eyes flashed to ice blue. He grew in height until he reached about six feet and his body became heavily muscled. All the while he was still laughing.

Everyone leapt to their feet and Inuyasha drew his sword and pointed it at him. "What do you want?"

The man held out his hand and a staff appeared in it. "My name is Akumei. I was sent to find you." He pointed it towards me and I backed up a few steps.

"Why me?" I yelled at him.

"You're very pretty." Akumei replied simply.

"Shut up!" I screamed back at him.

"Why you…" Inuyasha ran at him but was stopped by a force field.

Miroku stepped forward cautiously to try to break it but the man acted too fast. Some invisible force began sucking me towards Akumei and I yelped as I dug my claws into the ground butI was pulled to fast. As my feet entered the shield Miroku leapt forward and grabbed my wrist, starting to pull. I whimpered as I was held from both sides and kicked out at the man as he tried to grab me around the waist. Inuyasha ran forward to grab my other hand but Akumei tapped my leg and something ran through me, shocking both Miroku and Inuyasha and flinging them back. He laughed maniacally as he scooped me up in his arms.

"Let go of me you freak!" I screamed at him as I scratched at his chest and face with my claws. It was useless. He had created another shield around just himself.

"You're not a very nice girl." He said with a smirk as a light surrounded my body and I was paralyzed instantly.

With a cry Hiei threw several fireballs at the force field but none made a dent. Yusuke shot it with a massive spirit gun attack but still nothing happened. Akumei laughed again. "It seems you have some powerful new members but that is not enough to help. We'll be waiting for you." A brilliant light surrounded us and everyone shielded their eyes. When they blinked them back open we were nowhere to be found.

"Damn it!" Inuyasha yelled as he pounded the ground.

"I knew we shouldn't have let her come here!" Hiei said angrily to Kurama.

"We'll find her, don't worry Hiei. Be ready for any messages from her." Kurama replied and Hiei slowly nodded.

"What do we do now?" Shippou cried.

"We start walking and wait for a sign." Kurama suggested and everyone agreed.

Kouga suddenly sprang out of nowhere. "Where's Kira?" He asked after looking around for me.

"Shut up Kouga!" Inuyasha yelled at him.

Kagome called Kouga over and told him what happened. "Then I will stay until she is found." He declared and refused to leave.


"What have you done?" I screamed as I looked around. We were in some woods now and I hadn't even noticed him begin to move.

"Quiet yourself. I simply transported us away from them." Akumei muttered as looked at me, still mostly paralyzed in his arms. His voice didn't seem as menacing now but I didn't let my guard down.

"But why?" I asked, looking up as my eyes suddenly swirled blue.

"Your eyes…" He shook his head and continued. "I already told you, you're very pretty." He sat down against a tree and left me in his lap, laying my head on his chest. My face blazed red as I attempted to move but still couldn't. "It's too bad too." He went on. "Because I was ordered to kill you or send you away."

"By… Naraku?" I asked, my fear showing in my eyes.

Akumei laughed. "How did you know? But that's not important. I don't want to kill you so I'll just have to send you away and hope you end up somewhere nice. We should enjoy the little time together we have."

"You're an idiot!" I screamed and he looked down at me, slightly surprised.

"Oh? And why is that?"

"You're trusting Naraku! Do you not know that he somehow finds a way to backstab everyone? His enemies and allies included!"

"That's because they involved the sacred jewel in things. I simply asked for a large amount of money, something he does not care for."

"No, it's because he's a screwed up psycho!"

Akumei clamped a hand over my mouth. "What are you doing here?" He asked coldly.

My eyes widened as Kagura emerged from the trees. "Just checking in on things. You're growing too attached to her." I flinched as she grabbed my face. "You should let me kill her right now." She smirked at me. "Not so tough now, are we little wolf?"

"That wasn't the deal." Akumei replied calmly. "I could kill her or send her away forever. It's my choice."

Kagura pulled away. "How very noble of you, sparing the maidens life. Fine." She pulled a feather from her hair and in a flash it appeared huge and she sat on it. "I'll be back." She lifted up and flew away into the distance.

As she disappeared from sight Akumei looked down at me with a smile. "You're making this harder by caring about me."

"I do not!" I yelled. "You kidnapped me!"

"Sure…"

There was a short silence, which I finally broke. "What do you mean by sending me away?"

"I just send you somewhere, probably to another world but I don't get to choose which one because I don't know what's out there."

"But I just returned to this world. I don't want to leave again!" My eyes turned darker blue letting a few tears fall and Akumei wrapped his arms around me, trying to be comforting. Unable to resist I could just sit there and allow it. We stayed like that, with me in his lap and he holding me to his chest, for a few more hours before I was sure he had drifted into sleep. The paralysis spell was wearing off, however I remained still for fear of waking him.

Hiei! Can you hear me? I thought.

Wherever Hiei was he suddenly stopped and clamped his hands over his ears as he crouched low. Yes, what's happening?

He's asleep but I'm scared to move in case it wakes him!

Tell me where you are!

I don't know. I'm deep in a clearing in some forest…

Send something into the air so we can find you.

Ok!

I'm sorry, but that's all the time she has to talk today. I gasped as Akumei looked down at me. His mouth never moved but I could hear him clearly in my head. You'll have to try again some other time.

Kira! Akumei placed a hand on my head and I could no longer hear Hiei's voice. "What did you do?" I screamed at him.

"Simple. I blocked everything out. I'm a telepath too you know."

I stared at him in pure hatred and shock before striking him suddenly in the face and leaping to my feet. I hadn't gone more than ten feet before something wound around my legs and I fell flat on my face. I spun around to find a shining rope wrapped around my feet with the other end in Akumei's hand.

He glared at me with those ice blue eyes as he pulled me back in. "What was that for!" he yelled as he rubbed his cheek.

I stared at him. "For everything! For taking me away from my family and friends! For threatening to send me away forever! For ending our conversation short!" Tears of frustration were streaming down my face and he made to wipe one away but I slapped his hand back. "Don't touch me!"

I almost felt bad at his hurt face but quickly decided he deserved it. "I wanted you to feel free for your last moments here but now…" Akumei stood and walked behind me, grabbing my hands in his. I tried to pull away but his grip was too strong. He dragged me backwards by my arms and set my back against a tree, tying my wrists together on the other side so they were wrapped around the tree behind me. He sat down beside me and I glared at him with red eyes. "At least I haven't hurt you." He said as he made to remove the sword that still hung at my side. He jumped back as it shocked him and nursed his hand. "Why didn't you warn me?" He yelled.

"Why should I?" I screamed back.

He ignored me and fingered the small camera bag handing under my arm. "What is this?" I didn't answer so he took it. Pulling out the tiny camera he stared at it for a second. "What is this thing?" He asked again as he started messing with it.

"Don't! You'll break it!" I cried suddenly and he froze.

"What is it then?"

"Untie me and I'll show you."

Akumei snapped his fingers and the strange ropes disappeared. I rubbed my wrists before taking it from him. "It's a camera. It takes instant pictures that you take out of it later."

"Instant pictures? Take one of me and you." Akumei said.

I jumped. "Why?"

"To earn back your right not to be tied up again."

I muttered as I got to my feet and set it on a branch. I looked through it and centered it on Akumei before returning to him. "Don't move or it will miss you. When the red light leaves it will take the picture." I cried out as he pulled me close to him and held me there so I couldn't move. I finally gave up my struggles and glared at the camera as it flashed. I rose to get it and put it back in the bag carefully.

"Wait, where's the picture?"

"I have to take it back to my world and get some people to take it out for me!"

"Why can't you?"

"I don't have the right tools."

"So I won't get to see it?"

"Not unless you let me go!"

Akumei sighed. "We both know that will not happen."

"Why not?" I shouted.

"Because that's when Naraku comes after you. If you do not do as he asks."

I looked away and held out my hands slowly as a ball of green energy appeared in them. I held it over my head and started to shoot it off but Akumei tapped me and it sizzled away. I blinked. "What did you do!"

"I will not let them find you that easily!"

"But… how did you stop it?"

"I have my ways… You're energy is trapped inside. You can do nothing more now unless I release it."

I growled at him as I crossed my arms and leaned against a tree with my back facing him. Akumei slowly moved over towards me and watched me closely.


"How do you know that he will go through with it?" Kagura asked, as she looked up from the mirror Kanna held.

"He is too greedy to pass up the prize I have offered." Naraku answered coldly.

"How will he keep from being killed after the girl is gone?"

"Now that's not my problem is it?" Naraku chuckled evilly as Kagura glared at him.


I blinked a few times and sat up. Did I fall asleep? I thought as I looked around. I leapt up with a shriek and Akumei fell over.

He sat up rubbing his head. "What?"

I just glared at him slightly shocked. During my slumber he had crawled over and fallen asleep beside me as well and had actually begun leaning on me! "What gives you the right to touch me?" I screamed at him.

"We'll, I am the kidnapper. You can't do anything unless I wish it." He replied smugly.

With a cry of frustration I took off in some random direction through the woods but another rope found its way around my ankle. With a menacing growl I looked at him and a split second later I was the green flecked black wolf. The rope slipped from around me.

"Whoa!" Akumei said as he stared at me. "That's a neat trick!"

I faced him baring my fangs and took a step back. I leapt to the side as another glowing rope flew from behind me and sprinted off into the darkening woods. With a cry Akumei sprang after me and gave chase. He's fast! I thought as I heard him crashing through the woods behind me. My ears twitched and the sounds suddenly stopped. I kept going however but ducked as a black feathered bird suddenly darted over my head. It landed in front of me and changed swiftly into Akumei and I barked as I leapt to the side at the last minute. Ten ropes suddenly sprang from his hands and wound themselves all around me and I was dragged to the ground.

Thrashing and snarling I glared at Akumei with glowing red eyes as he grinned at me. "Nice try but I am a man of many tricks as well." I started to increase my size but he tapped my leg before I could bite him and I could no longer move. He tapped me again and I changed back to my demon form, still tied up with several ropes. They adjusted themselves around me, holding my arms and legs still even though I was frozen.

"I had hoped our time together would be more pleasant." Akumei muttered as he scooped me up bridal style and carried me back to the original clearing from where we had started. He set me down against a tree and a rope tied me securely to it as my head fell forward and I pulled my knees to my chest. My arms hung tied at my side. Akumei stared at me. "Are you already able to move? Maybe I should do it again…" He reached towards me but paused as I looked up at him. My tear strewn face and deep blue eyes shocked him at first. "Why…?"

I spoke softly through cries. "I can't believe you're doing this. I haven't seen my brother for five hundred years and now that we've finally found each other again you're tearing us apart? And now I've met some more people who are depending on me to help them! Without me they could all be killed and it's entirely your fault! I hate you!" I buried my face in my knees and began sobbing as Akumei regarded me silently.

"Maybe I should kill you, to put you out of your misery…"

"Then go ahead." I mumbled without lifting my head. "But you'll want to wait for them to arrive am I right?"

I heard Akumei walk slowly over across from me and sit down against a tree. My ear twitched as a raindrop hit it and more followed quickly after. Soon it began to pour and Akumei walked over to me. Without a sound he made the rope holding me disappear and moved me into the cover of the leaves before retying me. The entire time I never looked up but only stared at the ground as the rain mixed with my tears.

A few hours later I finally ventured to lift my head only to find Akumei staring straight at me. I looked away from him and instead up to the sky from which the rain was still pouring. I blinked as it fell on my upturned face through the leaves and searched the sky until I found the moon, full and round. As I stared at it my eyes began to turn bright silver and Akumei stared at me as they changed. Suddenly I took a deep breath and began to howl at the moon. Akumei leapt to my side and clamped a hand over my mouth but I bit him and continued, unable to control myself. My shape changed by itself and soon I was the wolf, sitting perfectly motionless yet still howling with my eyes closed but facing the pale moon.

Crashing sounds erupted from the woods behind me but I continued as Inuyasha, Kouga, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kirara, Yusuke, Hiei, Kurama and Kuwabara all arrived on the scene. Still I continued howling and Akumei glared at everyone while nursing his bleeding hand.

Kouga stared from my howling form to the moon and sniffed towards me, recognizing my scent. Kira can transform? "It has her under some kind of spell!" He cried aloud as he tried to come to my side. He ran face first into another shield made by the angry Akumei. "Are you the one who did this to her?" Kouga yelled at him.

"All I did was take her. She started howling on her own." Akumei replied calmly as he wrapped up his hand. He then held it out and the staff appeared in it. He reached out and poked me in the side with it but I kept howling. Grasping it with both hands he swung as hard as he could at my head as the others watched helplessly.

Right before it hit I leapt to the side and my eyes opened. They changed slowly from glowing silver to glowing red as I glared at him. "Now I've gotten your attention." Akumei muttered as I stepped forward, growling deep in my throat. My muzzle was wrinkled in rage as I advanced slowly.

Shippou leapt to Miroku's shoulder. "She's really scary!"

Miroku nodded. "I'm not even sure if she knows what she's doing right now."

With a snarl I lunged at Akumei who thrust his staff in my face. I caught it in my mouth and crushed it in half without effort as I edged closer.

"This… could get ugly." Sango muttered as she watched in shock.

"Go stop your girlfriend!" Yusuke whispered to Hiei.

Hiei glared hatefully at him. "No she's not. Shut up!"

Hiei quieted as I sprang at Akumeiwho spun to the side as my claws caught the side of his robes. He smirked as I came at him again and whipped a sword from beneath them, catching me in the chest.

With a piercing yelp I hit the ground with a thud and lay still. Inuyasha charged the shield and hacked at it with the Tetsusaiga. He backed slightly up. "Wind scar!" He screamed and the attack erupted from the blade.

When the dust cleared the barrier was still intact and Akumei had come to my side. As he approached I snapped weakly at him but he smiled sadly and laid a hand on my shoulder. "Ever the fighter." He muttered. In a flash I was transformed back to my normal demon self and he pulled me onto his lap, supporting me with an arm.

"Don't touch her!" Inuyasha screamed as he renewed his attacks.

Ignoring everyone Akumei stared at my heavily bleeding chest. A thin red line could be seen through my sliced clothes running across just below my neck. As my shirt began to turn red he shook his head sadly. "It's your own fault." He said as he looked at my graying eyes.

"Un… tap my energy." I managed to whisper.

"Can you heal yourself?" I didn't respond so Akumei laid his hand on the side of my face. I looked up at him pleadingly as he stared back at me and moved my hair from my cheek. My eyes widened as he suddenly forced his lips onto mine. Many gasps and cries of rage erupted from around us but I couldn't speak or react. When he finally pulled away I saw a tear fall from his eyes. "Goodbye, it's been fun." He looked away and then back at me. "I'm very sorry." He whispered.

I stared up at him, my vision blurring. "A…ku…mei?"

He embraced me softly. "Heal yourself when you can." A faint light enveloped me and suddenly I disappeared from sight. Everyone watched in shock as Akumei picked up a piece of my cut shirt and stared at it for a second. He moved silently over and plopped against a tree with a sigh.

Inuyasha fell suddenly through the barrier as it disappeared and grabbed Akumei by the front of his robes, hauling him to his feet. "What did you do with her?" He screamed.

"She's gone." Akumei replied sadly.

"To where?" Inuyasha yelled as he shook him.

"I don't know." Akumei said quietly. He grunted as Inuyasha's fist collided with his face and he staggered back into a tree.

Inuyasha held the sword high over his head. "Bring her back now!"

Akumei wiped blood from his lip. "I can't but as long as I'm alive she'll have a chance to get back here."

"What do you mean?" Asked Kouga, stepping forward.

"I've sent her to another world somewhere but I have no say in where she ends up. Eventually she could find herself back here again but she needs me to transport her. If the one who started the transporting dies then the victim is lost forever."

Inuyasha ignored him and charged Akumei with the sword raised and Akumei boldly awaited his fate without flinching. "Inuyasha sit!" Kagome screamed and Inuyasha collapsed just short of the target. Akumei blinked as Kagome approached him. "I can tell you miss her greatly already. Why did you go through with it?" She asked sadly.

Akumei stared at the ground. "I had no choice. If I didn't do it then he would've killed me next."

Inuyasha got to his feet again. "Naraku?" he muttered and Akumei nodded slowly. "We're staying with you until she returns and if you object you are dead!"

Akumei nodded again and sat down against a tree with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. Slowly everyone sat around the clearing as well, shooting nasty looks at Akumei. They didn't notice Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara all attempting to hold Hiei back from the unsuspecting Akumei.