more to come


Naraku had a soft smile on his face, walking down a flight of steps, his snake servant behind him, " Aren't you worried they'll essssssssscape?"

" Not at all. This manor is impenetrable and guards are stationed every six meters."

" Yessssss but.."

Naraku stopped when he reached the bottom, turning slowly, a certain look in his crimson eyes, voice soft yet firm, " Don't question me."

Mojo quickly nodded, making notes to do just as he said, knowing there was an evil lurking just under his flawless skin. He just nodded, smile never faltering as he simply turned and continued on his way. The snake slithering behind him when the sound of sudden shouts were heard somewhere in the manor.

Naraku just nodded as if he expected it, " As I thought." Turning down a hallway, heading towards the sound.

A sudden explosion rocked the ground underneath Mojo's body yet, he continued to follow. So bad he wanted to dash towards the scene, to see what was happening. Another explosion and dread was curling up his spine. He didn't know how Naraku can possibly walk at a time like this. Didn't he want to know what was going on, was they escaping? For a second he paused, the sudden scent of blood that covered the fortress made his stomach drop. Naraku was calmly walking down the hall towards the smell.

Shouts and screams. He could hear them all. Clashes of metal and sharp weapons. Rage. Power. His heart was racing and he could hear his blood pounding in his ears. What was going on, was he excited or scared?

It seems like they been walking forever, his tail twitching behind him. Finally they reached the end of the hall, seeing it open into a huge lobby, stopping behind his master. It was a battle he soon realized. A battle full of chaos, blood and death. A small army of demon guards surrounded twin girls. Yelling and shouting for them to take back the prisoners.

Mojo watched as Kagome stood her ground, blood dripping from the metal chain she must have gotten off her shackle, running the supposed to be non-lethal weapon around necks of guards and watching them fall to the ground.

A third explosion was seen as Kagome now glowing chain wrapped around another demon guard setting it aflame before she kicked him in the stomach, the body blasting into a million flaming pieces causing a massive train reaction as the lighted body parts touched other demon guards blowing them to bits.

It was so bright mojo had to turn away, shielding his eyes with his empty hand. It took a moment for everything to adjust back to normal for him to turn around again.

Kagome had fallen to her knees from the loss of power and energy used in the sudden attack. Guards stepping over dead bodies to surround them. Kikyou standing with her makeshift staff protectively in front of her fallen sister.

They charged her. But Kikyou was good, ducking under a grabbing hand, rising her knee to the demon's stomach, dodged another attack, striking the demon in the side with her staff, then twisting on her feet, slapping it with the other end. Blocking a blow to her legs, she kicked a demon to the floor then stomped on his face, staying in front of her sister, letting no one by her, cracking the back of her staff to the neck of a demon, twisting it to an unhealthy position.

The guards took a step back, realizing the determination in the young woman's spirit, watching her twirl her staff in her hand, mind set in one direction. Keep Kagome safe.

One guard frowned, " Rush her." He said in heavy, raspy voice. The guards nodding their heads before doing as they were told. Kikyou stood her ground as they quickly surrounded her, she looked to the broken stick in her hands, then just frowned. Fuck it she thought, dropping the two halves on the floor, putting up her fists and turned hitting the guard closer to her. She dodged a hit to the stomach catching who ever the guard was with a mean uppercut.

Turning she ducked under a grabbing arm, grabbed the guard by his uniform and just hurled the guy over her head like a rag doll. She then twisted out the way of a kick, catching the guard's leg and threw him into his two comrades. She was fighting them off as best as she could, but there was still more then her, a hit to the side completely caught her off guard. The sweep of the feet that came next coming out of nowhere. Eventually they had her down and out, holding her arms and legs, lifting her struggling screaming body off the floor.

" Leave my sister alone."

The guards holding Kikyou turned with the twin still in their arms to see a standing, angry Kagome, her hands glowing an earthy brown. Her movements fast and smooth as she step through the stances. Her leg coming up flamingo style, her arm punching out straight. The wooden floor beneath them shaking before boards began rising out of the ground. She then turned gracefully, her leg going around in a windmill kick, her hands clapping then pushing forcefully away, palms up. Parts of the boards splitting apart forming long pointy stakes. Kagome spun, stepping her legs together, slapping her hands in a prayer, bowing her head, as the stakes moved at break neck speed, stabbing the guards holding Kikyou to the ground like nails, killing them instantly. Kagome walked over, helping Kikyou stand, when they both heard a voice.

" Well done girls, I see you both been working on your fighting skills, I'm impressed."

They turned to see Naraku walking over to them with a smile on his handsome face, hands professionally tucked behind him in a powerful yet calm demeanor.

She just frowned, standing in front of Kikyou, " Leave us alone."

" Why would I do that, I'm your friend."

Kikyou shook her head, " If the plan was to use me to get to Kagome it was a bad idea."

Naraku raised a brow, smile still on his face, " Why would you think that?"

Kikyou raised a brow, " You must not have done your homework buddy. We're not a normal family."

Kagome frowned, " Kikyou shut up."

She just shook her head, " What. It's true, this guy's an idiot thinking you would come to save me or something." her brown eyes looked back over to the hanyou, " First off half breed, I don't need saving, I can take care of myself thank you very much. And second of all, if you wanted Kagome so damn bad all you had to do was ask, I probably would have helped you."

The statement made Kagome pause and turn, looking to her sister, " Really? You would really sell me out that easy?"

Brown eyes just rolled, " What, its not like we're besties."

Kagome frowned, forgetting Naraku was standing there for a moment, " I'm your sister."

Kikyou shrugged, crossing her arms, " Your point?"

Kagome shook her head, " You just fought off demons to protect me."

A head full of hair shook as she disagreed, " Well duh, I need you to get out of here, I can't do your damn death drop."

Kagome just paused, appalled at what she was hearing, " I can't believe this." she shook her head, " You're such a bitch!"

Kikyou frowned, " Well you shouldn't have tried to kill me when we were kids."

Naraku smirked, enjoying the entertainment the sister's were providing. He had wondered long ago why no one has ever visited Kagome in prison but now he seen why. He had thought they locked her up because of her lack of control but they honestly believe she committed some sort of crime. " The brain will do what it must to protect itself, even by forcing one to forget."

Kagome blinked and turned at what the half breed just said. She frowned, " Look Naraku, you really don't need her here, just let her go and I'll stay so we can talk this out."

Naraku just smiled, " I would love to do that my pet, but I do need her." he waved his hand and the two were once again surrounded by demons, " But if you go back to your cell quietly I will not have her harmed."

Kagome just raised a brow, knowing it wasn't a request but decided to bargain anyways, " Can we get some food and maybe a radio to listen to some music?"

Naraku smirked, " Deal."

Kagome nodded, taking Kikyou's hand, " Lead the way."

Kikyou frowned, " Are you really gonna do what he says?"

" Just shut up before you get us killed." she hissed, making her follow one of the guards as he led them back to their room.


An hour or so passed, Kikyou poked at the toast and sticky rice they were given, " Can't believe you traded our freedom for this."

Kagome just frowned, turning the small radio they also gave her over in her hands, " Can't believe you would trade my freedom for yours." she mumbled.

Kikyou just rolled her eyes, taking a bite of toast, " Please, this is all your fault anyways. You're the one that picked the super save a hoe job. You couldn't be normal if your tried."

Kagome pulled the 6 inch blade she got off a down guard out of her pants and started unscrewing the back of the radio, " Well that's what happens when your tossed in max security at age 8."

" It's your own damn fault."

Hands pulled the back of the radio off, " Would you stop saying that."

Kikyou looked up, " What, you want me to start lying to you?"

Kagome just shrugged, " You've been lying to everyone else, why not to me too."

A slender brow raised, " What are you talking about, I do not lie to anyone."

Blue eyes glanced over to her sister for a moment, staring at a face that was so similar to her own yet so different. She suddenly shook her head, turning back to what she was doing, " Forget it, say what you want."

Kikyou frowned at the look her sister just gave her, " No, what do you mean? What did you want to say?"

Kagome shook her head, pulling wires out the radio, " It's nothing, just starting to think he was right."

Kikyou turned to her, " Who was right?"

She used the blade to strip some wires before twisting them together, " Naraku."

Kikyou barked out a laugh, " The asshole that kidnapped us? Your taking his side now, what was he right about?"

Kagome just pulled out some more wires and started sliding them into different slots, " About the brain doing what it needs to do to protect itself."

Kikyou frowned, for some reason a sinking feeling settled in her stomach, " How do you know this guy anyways?"

Blue eyes again looked at her, it was the face her sister was making that made Kikyou swallow the lump in her throat, " What is it Kagome, who is he?"

Kagome just shook her head, again turning back to what she was doing, " You know, all these years, I thought you hated me because of what happened." she said as she carefully placed the back of the radio back on after rearranging the insides.

" I thought you lied to them to get me sent to jail." she said, turning on the radio and slowly clicking through the stations, " But now I see you really don't remember."

Kikyou frowned, watching her sister, " Remember what Kagome?"

She ignored her, flipped through the stations, Kikyou shook her head, that sinking feeling now in her chest, " Remember what Kagome!" she said louder than she meant to.

Blue eyes glanced to her for a second, " We weren't alone in that kitchen."

Tears watered Kikyou eyes and she blinked them away, not sure why she was feeling so afraid all of a sudden. She shook her head as she took a quick breath, " What are you talking about! I know what happened that night, you tried to kill me, it was you! It was just me and you and you went crazy!"

Kagome ignored her sister, her fingers clicked the dial once more to the channel she was looking for, her team always left an open comm line on channel 4 of their secured lined. she grabbed the radio, " Baba, Baba can you hear me?"

There was static for a moment before there was an answer, " That's my mini me, got your hands on a radio didn't you?"

Kagome smiled, " Sure did. They got me and Kikyou."

" We're on your location now, its a manor in the middle of nowhere."

She frowned, " This place is crawling with guards and I feel that dark priestess here too."

" Copy that. Where are you?"

She grinned, " Like any other princess, the highest room in the tallest tower."

" I got eyes. But this place is surrounded heavy. Mini me I'mma need your help to get you out."

Kagome just nodded, " What do you need?"

" A distraction."

Kagome again nodded, " I'mma light it up."

" We'll wait for your signal."

Kagome put the radio down and stood, " Kikyou get behind me and put up a barrier."

The twin raised a brow, " For what? And what does light it up mean? And how did you move the wood before?"

Kagome looked to her sister, " I met the spirits of the elements, they all gave me gifts. You already know this."

Kikyou stood, " No, I know you have fire powers not that you can move earth, wind and water too."

Kagome just shrugged, " Well now you do. So put up that barrier or be burned alive."

Kikyou frowned but stepped back against the wall behind her sister and did what she said. Kagome sat on her knees and took a deep breath, she felt a sudden heat sweep over her. Spreading through her limbs making her gut tighten with anxiousness. Her jaws clenched harshly the muscle sticking out sharp. Her knuckle white from fisting her fingers so tightly. Kikyou saw a sweat drop touch the ground and sizzle, a soft puff of steam rising.

Fire danced in Kagome's blue orbs before they were completely consumed with red. A wild-fire, red aura of hellish proportions swirled around her glowing body. Abruptly she stood, pushing both hands into the air when she stood straight. Twin dragons of fire danced around Kagome's form before forming a wall, moving from Kagome's body like a wave, turning everything in its path to volcanic ash as it went.

Unfortunately for Kagome, her heighten power came with a lower energy metabolism. When Kikyou dropped her hand, her barrier fell with it. She looked around and seen her sister had dropped to one knee. She took a step towards her, tempted to help her but shook her head and turned. Kagome glanced up, struggling to catch her breath and just frowned, seeing Kikyou run out the room through the gaping hole where the door use to be.

" Of course." she mumbled, before tapping into her reserve of energy, stumbling to her feet. She could hear footsteps coming and knew she was not in the condition to defend herself. She hurried down the hall in the opposite direction of the screams, her best bet was to run and hide until Gruff found her.


They made the 4-hour trip into a 2-hour trip, but still it felt like it took them to long to get there but Gruff was afraid to orb, not wanting to risk being sensed by the hanyou. It took them about an hour to get to the manor after parking in the outskirts of the woods and trekking through the forest for better coverage. So, the clock was donning on 6 pm.

The sky was still blue but darkening when they arrived at the outskirts of the manor. They stopped in the tree line, doing a bit of surveillance. Dead laid around the manor, probably the original owners and servants of the home. Souta frowned, it stinks something fierce, low-level demons surrounded the manor, feasting on dead flesh and bones.

He covered his nose with his shirt and focused, searching for his sister, it was faint but the power of a priestess was definitely there. " Kagome's in the manor." he frowned, " There's another priestess here too. A dark one in the back of manor."

Gruff frowned, " Damn holy." he then glanced to Souta, " No offense."

He smirked, " Offense taken."

Sesshomaru looked to the manor, " Plan of attack?"

Gruff opened his mouth to respond but then heard a soft beep in his ear, he smirked at the sound of his daughter's voice. She found a way to make contact, " Baba, Baba can you hear me?"

He touched his ear, " That's my mini me, got your hands on a radio didn't you."

" Sure did. They got me and Kikyou."

Gruff looked around, " We're on your location now, its a manor in the middle of nowhere."

" This place is crawling with guards and I feel that dark priestess here too."

He nodded, agreeing with her, " Copy that. Where are you?"

" Like any other princess, the highest room in the tallest tower."

He smirked at the silliness of his child, " I got eyes. But this place is surrounded heavy. Mini me I'mma need your help to get you out."

" What do you need?"

He frowned, " A distraction."

" I'mma light it up."

He nodded, " We'll wait for your signal." he said before letting go of his ear and turning to the team. He looked to the youngest of them, it only took the mention of Kagome in trouble to get the teen to come with them, " Kagome's going to make some noise, we wait for her signal then fight our way in. Then we duck for cover and search the building trying to stay in the dark. After we find Kagome and Kikyou, we get the hell outta dodge and blow this bitch up with everyone still in it."

Sesshomaru raised a brow, it was odd hearing the man talk just like his wife. The similarities in their mannerisms were uncanning. " What about the dark priestess?"

" She is in the back; we will converge there to deal with her last."

Souta just nodded, agreeing with the plan, " Okay, let's do this."

Gruff nodded before pulling a 9mm from his pants and handing it to the boy, he was pulling the extra clips he carried from his pockets before he wondered if the kid even knew how to use a weapon. He blinked, seeing Souta, slap the magazine in with practiced skill, cocking it back to slide a bullet in the chamber.

He seen the man raise a brow, looking at him with a shrug, " Kagome's my sister, of course I know how to handle a gun."

Gruff nodded with a smirk, " Good to know." he said, handing the kid 4 clips and a 10 in blade. He then turned to the demon lord who had So'unga in his hand, " Ready?"

Sesshomaru just nodded, he could feel the power of the sword calling to him, wanting to cause chaos but he ignored it. His mind was focused on one thing right now and that was getting to his wife. He did however change his shoes before they came here, there was no way he was running into battle in a pair of his favorite sneakers.

The three crouched, waiting in position, the sun was still up, slowly setting but still lighting the sky. A sudden explosion rocked the ground, Gruff nodded that was the signal, he glanced to Souta, " Stay by my side."

He rolled his eyes, " I'm not a baby."

Gruff frowned but turned, he counted to three in his head before launching forward, Sesshomaru was right behind them, So'unga out and swinging. The low-level demons immediately attacking, but the three hacked away at them, making their way to the front door. They didn't have to kill them all, they just had to get into the manor. Souta was releasing waves of power, purifying most of the demons and the miasma in the air to help the other two teammates.

Gruff crashed into the door of the manor, he turned, waving his hand, " This way!"

Souta and Sesshomaru followed, slicing at demons as they ran down the hall. Sesshomaru focused, searching for the aura of his miko, he sliced at a demon, " She's above us."

Gruff punched his way forward as Souta killed the demons, he left unconscious, they came to an intersection in hall, the teen frowned, " Which way?!"

Sesshomaru blinked, seeing a horde of demons coming from the right, " Not that way." he mumbled, pointing his sword at them, a blast of lightening escaping his weapon, electrocuting the demons in the way.

Gruff turned left down the hall, " This way."

They ran down the hall, a sudden bull demon tackled Souta through a sliding door. He stood, pulling himself from the rubble, " Keep going!" he frowned at the demon, mumbling, " I got this."

Gruff huffed; he did want to leave the kid behind but knew that he couldn't. Turning, he dashed into the room and kicked the demon in the side before chanting a few words and rising his know glowing green hand. His power zapped at the demon, turning it to ash, Souta just frowned, " I had it covered."

Gruff just shook his head, " I'm not getting yelled at if you get hurt."

Sesshomaru was waving them forward, " Let's go."

Quickly they made it to the second floor of the large home, not seeing as many demons, they tried to keep quiet for the element of surprise. The hallway was dark and eerie in the setting sun, making shadows dance against the walls and glass windows. Gruff crept carefully, Sesshomaru to his right, Souta to his left, blue eyes taking in all of his surroundings.

Gruff moved silently, the dimness making his eyes seem to glow. He paused, a noise catching his attention, he pressed his back against the wall, waving his hand for the others to do the same. Slowly, he peeked around the corner, he saw the tip of what looked like to be a snake tail, slithering down the hall. He frowned, deciding it was best to wait it out since the demon wasn't coming this way, he didn't want to draw any more attention to them.

The hallway was clear by the time they reached the end of the hall, there was an old laundry chute on the wall. The team made a semi-circle in front of him when Gruff turned his back to get it opened. Taking out a knife, he stuck it into the door and gave it a twist. When the door lifted a crack, he jammed his fingers in and pushed the sliding door up. He glanced down, then up seeing the rope but no basket. He glanced at the others as they continued to guard his back, " Let's go."

The two nodded, he climbed in first, grabbing the cord and climbing up. He felt the rope strain a bit as the other did the same, but it was holding pretty well. He climbed up the rope at a decent pace before seeing another sliding door. Using the same technique as before he got the sliding door opened. Peeking inside and not seeing anything, he ducked back into the shaft and nodded, " All clear." he mumbled before climbing out.

They gathered in the hallway again forming their triangle, Gruff in the front, Souta to his left, Sesshomaru to his right. They crept silently down the hall towards the smell of ash and chard wood. They were passing the room Kagome and Kikyou must have been held in when Gruff suddenly stopped, ducking, everyone immediately following suit, he heard something, someone was coming. He put a finger in the air and swirled it for a moment. Scatter, the signal meant. Souta and Sesshomaru nodded and bounded off, finding a hiding spot.

Gruff was standing on a window ledge, behind a draping curtain, perfectly hidden from sight. He silently watched as three demons turned down the hall and made their way towards the burned room they just past. They seemed to be talking to one enough, but the hissing made the words hard to understand.

" Sssssshe is sssstrong."

" Oh shut up Mojo, she's not that strong."

"Dev look at what she's done, the miko is pretty powerful."

" I still don't know what the big deal is, chick don't look like she can take a cat, less likely an army of us."

" Did you see what she did to half the staff when they first tried to escape? She was lethal."

" That was then, this is now, have you seen her lately. She can barely walk; we got her in that room dumb easy."

Green eyes suddenly seen Souta drop onto of the demon that speaking about his sister, cracking its neck as he landed on its head. A green whip lashed out, slicing into the one next to Souta. Gruff dived forward without thinking, wrapping an arm around the snake, forcing its snout to its neck so it couldn't make a noise. He then lit his hand and touched its back.

Not watching as it died, Gruff turned, green eyes narrowed, " What the fuck was that?" he hissed.

Souta just frowned, " He was talking shit about my sister."

Gruff shook his head, " We could have followed them to her dummy."

Souta rolled his blue eyes, " He already said she's in a room, let's just go check the damn rooms."

"We wouldn't have to check every room if..."

Sesshomaru stepped forward, " We don't have time for this. Let's go." moving down the hall.

Gruff just shook his head as Souta followed the demon lord, " Kids, I swear."


more to come