"Are you sure we're heading the right way Kagome?" Inuyasha asked as the group was following the girl.

"Sure we are. I can sense a shard of the sacred jewel far off past this forest." Kagome explained as she pointed straight ahead.

"Whatever you say then." Inuyasha huffed.

"Take it easy Inuyasha you do know that Kagome wouldn't lie about sensing the jewel shards." Shippo said as he jumped on Kagome's shoulder.

"Its fine let him pout and what not. He's just getting antsy about collecting them all." Kagome said told the little demon, giving him a pat on the head.

"I am not getting antsy!" Inuyasha barked.

"Yeah you are but its alright we all need to hurry and find the remaining jewel shards before Naraku does." she said.

"Heh, as if I'm letting that bastard become a full demon. That wish is just for me only." Inuyasha growled as he put his hands in his sleeves.

"About that…..are you sure its what you really want Inuyasha…? You are already in a class of your own is becoming a full demon still something you want to be?" Kagome asked the half demon.

"Of course…I've told you, there is nothing more than what I want is to become a full demon."

"Let him keep thinking that." Miroku whispered in Sango's ear. "He's not forgetting the possibilities that could happen if the jewel does turn him full demon. I mean we've seen it before on the battlefield."

"You do have a point…." Sango said and Kirara meows.

Mirkou nodded his head. "Thats what I worry about his idea."

Inuyasha growls. "What are you two talking about behind my back?"

"Oh nothing Inuyasha." Miroku said as he touches Sango's butt to change the topic, which resulted in her smacking him hard across the cheek.

"Idiot." Shippo said.

As that was over the group had finally got out of the forest and at a path that led straight to a village and in the distance they could hear the sounds of a swamp nearby.

"Looks like we made it." Sango said. "Do you sense the jewel still Kagome?"

"Its closer…" she said as she looked around. "But its….moving…"

"So that means whoever has it is nearby watching us probably." Inuyasha growled as he too looks around while using his ears to pick up sound.

"Lets keep moving and see what happens." Miroku said.

As the group quietly walked closer towards the village the more the jewel shard moved around following them.

"Whats going on with it now Kagome?" Sango asked

"Its moving around as if it is flying…but it is indeed following us." she said.

"Flying huh?" Inuyasha said as he reaches to grab his sword.

That is what would then trigger the holder of the jewel shard to come out and fly towards them at some speed missing they're heads with its talons as it came around again to aim at them again.

"Oh great its one of those damn demon crows!" Inuyasha scoffed as he brought out Tessagia

Everyone prepared to hit the demonic bird but it would then fly away and into the village where it had attacked a couple of villagers to make a scene for them to hurry over and find out what happened to those it attacked.

A lady was trying to calm her baby down and a man carrying wood had fallen over due to the crow scratching his head as it fly by them. The crow would continue to mess with people as it made its round in the village, anyone who was outside would get spooked by it.

The group would run into the village and spot the chaos the flying demon had created and immediately started helping those who were affect besides Inuyasha who went on to chase the demon.

"Come here you coward!" he shouted at the demon who was flying further away from him.

"Should one of us go after him?" Shippo asked as he helped Sango and Kagome pick up wood.

"Kiara follow Inuyasha and make sure he doesn't do anything reckless!" Sango ordered the demon cat who nodded and transformed, following Inuyasha's scent through the village.

She caught up to Inuyasha who had now left the village and was following the bird towards the swamp. What he didn't see was tons movement in the trees and some red eyes on the branches as the demon crow got closer. It let out a caw and flew into the swamp.

"Heh as if you are gonna get away from me!" before he could enter the swamp Kirara had quickly jumped in front of him and roared for him to stop. Growling at the trees in front of them as Inuyasha could now see that there was demon crows by the dozens just staring down at them with glowing red eyes.

"Thanks Kiara." Inuyasha said as the cat demon started to push him away, having a huge wave of uneasy come over the demon.

While being pushed away Inuyasha caught a glance at something in the swamp grounds staring right at them with glowing red eyes. It looked like a deer with its arms tucked in a black robe watching quietly as the two walked back into the village. Then the demon crows started to move, feathers falling from the sky as Inuyasha continued to watch till the demon pointed at them and the birds started coming after the two.

In the village everyone was done checking up on each other when they all heard the sound of crows coming towards the village. Inuyasha and Kiara quickly ran into the village and that made many people hurry into they're home's for protection as the crows were following the two.

When the group notice the noise coming from they're area of the village they would spot the two demons hurrying over towards them.

"Hey you two!" Kagome greeted did you ca-" she stopped when she saw them run past her.

"Run!" Inuyasha shouted at the group.

When the noises got louder the group turned around they would then see the huge flock of demon crows coming right at them.

The group are soon running, following the other two in front as they are trying to escape the demon crows from possibly pecking or tearing them to shreds.

"Inuyasha what did you do?!" Kagome shouted at the half demon.

"I did NOTHING!" He shouted as they kept on running.

As they all are running a villager catches they're attention. "Come! Hurry in here for protection!" the villager shouted to the group.

They all rushed into the villagers home without any of the crows noticing where they had taken off too which made them all disperse through the village on the search for them.

"Thank you for helping us." Miroku said as everyone was on the floor panting like crazy from the excessive running.

The villager who helped them was a elderly woman with her family hiding across the room they were in. "Ye must have done something pretty bad to upset the demons in the swamp." she said. "What brings young travelers like you here? And what is thy purpose?"

"We were just looking for shards of the sacred jewel and one of those birds…had it." Kagome explained. "We did not mean to anger anything well…maybe Inuyasha."

"I said I di G!" Inuyasha shouted.

"Keep your mouth shut and those birds won't find you. Those crows are the monk fleet, they watch over the village and the swamp for anything out of the ordinary."

"Like what…?" Shippo asked.

"Well anyone who plans to harm the sacred tree deep in the swamp." the woman answered. "Anyone who is a threat would either be trapped in the swamp or chased out. Looks like you were just lucky with those fast legs of yours to outrun those birds otherwise they would have either torn you apart or dragged you back into the swamp to suffer punishment."

"Oh please I was just chasing that crow that had a shard of the sacred jewel in its possession. As if I would do any harm." Inuyasha huffed.

"Inuyasha…when are you not reckless?" Shippo said.

"I have to agree with Shippo on that." Miroku said.

"Yup." Both Kagome and Sango said at the same time.

"H-Huh? Oh shut up all of you!" Inuyasha growled, ears pinned down.

"Child I don't need your friends to tell me that you are indeed a reckless person." The old lady said to the half demon.

Inuyasha growled in response.

"Easy boy." Kagome said as she brought a hand up to rub his ear. "We are not here to start fights."

"Running from those birds doesn't sound all that bad now." He muttered, his temper going down as he let her continue rubbing his ear.

"Sorry about him." She apologized.

"Tis fine child I have dealt with people and demons a lot like him in the past." the old lady replied.

Inuyasha felt a growl rising his in throat before Kagome moved onto the other ear to rub and that fortunately kept him quiet.

"So you said these crows under control of someone or do they just assume who's a threat?" Miroku asked.

"They follow a monk who lives in the swamp as its guardian. He will tell the birds what to do when people enter or are around the swamp, it is not like the birds to come out like that at all."

"A monk?" Miroku asked.

"Yes, but he's not just any monk like you. He's a demon monk who has lived in the forest as its guardian for years."

Inuyasha looked at the old lady as he remembered the mysterious and yet creepy looking figure in the swamp just as Kirara had stopped him from entering it and how it had quietly demanded the birds to go after them.

"This demon monk….does he have a deer skull on his head and a black robe?" Inuyasha asked.

"Aye. He does. I've only seen him a few times…whenever I went into the swamp to find lost children. He seems to find them and lure them to the tree or keeps them there until we find them, but we are not sure of his intentions."

"Tsk a demon helping out children? That is uncommon." he said as he puts his arms in his robe.

"It is uncommon but in our experience he doesn't harm us or the children but we never let our guard down when he is in our presence." she explained.

"Does the demon monk have a name?" Sanyo asked.

The old lady nods. "His name is Shika."

"Shika? Makes sense since he is a demon wearing a deer skull to hide us his face." Inuyasha scoffed.

"I'm surprise you know that." Shippo said to the other which triggered Inuyasha.

"Wanna come by that again brat? I'm not some idiot." He said through his teeth as he grabbed the fox demon by his fluffy tail.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome warned.

Realizing her tone he let go of Shippo and looked at her. "Y-Yeah?"

"Sit boy."

Inuyasha would then crash on the floor with a loud thud as Shippo quickly jumps on Kagome for protection.

Everyone would look at Inuyasha before resuming the conversation.

"Shika is rather tricky to figure out, but the monk is powerful…more powerful than any other monks out there." The old lady said. "There are rumors though of him having the ability to steal powers from other demons and give powers to weaker demons. He is a monk who could help with anyone's desires."

"Whoa really?" Shippo whispered.

"He is also said to turn anyone into a demon." the lady finished.

That got Inuyasha full on attention as he sat up and looked at the lady. "Tch you really think he is capable of doing that?"

"It is only a rumor." she said.

This got Inuyasha thinking before Kagome placed a hand on his arm. He looked back at her, seeing the look of concern on her face. "Don't worry about it. Its like she said its just a rumor, besides I don't think that Shika even likes me since he is the one who commanded those birds to attack us."

"It is what you wanted though…" she said. 'Even though I like him just the way he is, thats what makes him special too me. Thats why I love him….and plus…' her grip on his robe tightens. 'I worry he will forget who he is…what we are too him…'

"Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered which snapped her out of her thoughts.

She loosens the grip on his robe. "Ah sorry."

"Guess I can't compare to him then." Miroku groaned. "And here I thought I was strong because of the wind tunnel."

"Yeah but when its got you'll be completely useless." Sango said.

"That hurts me when you say that my lovely Sango." he flirts.

'This is surely a wild bunch….' the old lady thought to herself as he quietly watched the group.

As this was going on the elders family started to get comfortable with a group like this. The elder would motion for her family to get up. "No need to be so scared of these travelers, they're practically harmless…well most of them are."

Inuyasha huffs.

Two small kids would run up to Shippo, one was holding a ball in her hand while her brother looked up at him in curiosity.

"Want to….play?" The girl asked Shippo.

"Huh? Oh sure!" Shippo agreed as he jumped off of Kagome and ran off with the two kids somewhere in the hut.

"My name is Sara and this is my younger brother Kai!" the girl introduced herself to the fox demon as they were running.

"Would anyone like some tea?" said the elder. In which most of them agreed.

—

In the swamp Shika had arrived at the sacred tree where someone in a black robe was waiting for him.

"Got they're attention Shika?" the man asked.

"I have peeked the interest of the half demon I was described. If we are correct someone in that village will mention of me and what I do, and if that doesn't work…" the crow that had that the jewel shard with them. "They still have a reason to walk into the lions den if they want this here shard of the Shikon Jewel."

"We'll have the crows watch for them since they'll make a move soon. Soon as we get word you can have all the fun you want with them, you know its been a while since you've turned someone into a full demon." the man said.

"We shall see. My intentions right now are luring them here father."

"Right right." the man yawned.

"Have someone keep an eye out in the village for the group, if any of them decide to come over here inform us imminently." Shika commanded the crows around them.

With that the crows all started cawing in agreement with the others demands. It was so loud that the village nearby could hear it, including Inuyasha who tried to ignore the sound of them.

"You hear that? Shippo asked the group in the middle of playing with the two kids.

"The crows…" Sango said.

"I wouldn't worry yet." Said the elder. "Its coming from the swamp. It wouldn't be wise to go out now right after Shika had demanded them to chase you."

"Don't worry." Inuyasha said as he was laying on his side, ear twitching from hearing the crows in the distance. "I'm not going." He opens his eye and looks straight at Kagome. "If anything its a trick to bring us down there." he explained.

"Inuyasha is right." Miroku said. "Thats probably what he wants if he is after us."

What the group didn't know was that when nightfall came Inuyasha would make his attempt to walk near the swamp.

As the half demon was slowly making his way to the swamp a demon crow had caught him trying to sneak in and imminently let out a caw to alert the others. This made one of the crows fly away to alert the monk who was waiting under a lifted tree root. A arm came up from the shadows and the demon bird perched on it cawing to the demon monk who came out of the shadows.

"I wasn't expecting one of them to make an attempt this late at night, I guess I was wrong." he said as he brought the crow the shard of the Shikon Jewel. "Go ahead and find father and stay with him until he gives you the word. I want to test this half demon out first before I start tempting him."

The crow then took the jewel and flew off back towards where Inuyasha was with the demon monk slowly following.

—

As Inuyasha was sneaking out of the hut, one of the kids woke up to the sound of him slowly getting up and leaving the hut. Rubbing his eye the small boy notice the half demon was gone and woke up Shippo.

"Shippo…Shiippoooo." the boy shook.

"Hmm…what is it Kai?" Shippo said.

"The man with the red robe…he's gone!"

"What?!" Shippo shot out and quickly jumped over to Kagome and shook her. "Kagome! Kagome!" Shippo shouted as he shook her.

"W-Wha-!" Kagome groaned as she shot up. "What happened?!"

"Inuyasha! He's gone!" Shippo said.

"What?!"

The others had quickly gotten up as well upon hearing Shippo freak out.

"No surprise that Inuyasha went out this late to visit the swamp." Miroku said as he got up quickly.

"He has some nerve to lie to us like that if he wants to become a full demon so badly." Sango said.

"Is that why the lad took off?" the elder asked.

The group nod they're heads.

"With what happened earlier, him going in alone is a bad idea. He may have gotten in to see if he could fulfill his desires to become a full fledged demon but Shika probably believes he is a threat." she explained to the group. "So please be careful and bring him back before Shika finds him first."

"We will." Kagome said as she looks at the rest. "Lets hurry!"

"Right!"

The group then runs out of the hut and on they're way towards the swamp. Hoping that Inuyasha wasn't too far deep inside it.