So you were attacked by a demon known as Naraku?" Rei asked.
"And you claim that Naraku orchestrated the death of Inuyasha's pack?" Kuri asked. "That is strange. I thought it was someone called Onigumo. But I am sensing they are the same. And yet…not the same. It is…strange."
"So you can sense him?" Kurama asked. "Do you know where he is now?"
"Well…" Kuri said softly. "I can only tell you that the demon Naraku possesses many Jewel shards, is very far from here, and has murder in his heart. If he got near I would know right away. But he will be after us. Especially me, because of who I am. That's why you confronted me, right Kurama?"
"Ah…yes, of course," Kurama said.
"Yeah right," Inuyasha said. "He was just trying to kill two birds with one stone, right Kurama? You were gonna take advantage of her, and then use her to bait Naraku!"
"I had no such plans," lied Kurama, while feeling up an unsuspecting Rei.
Both Inuyasha and Kuri punched him in the face.
"HEY!" Rei yelled. "It would interest you to know we've entered a battlefield."
Kuri and Inuyasha looked down to find bodies.
"This can't be a battlefield," Inuyasha said, sniffing. "It smells of ink, not blood."
"Whoa…" Kuri wavered a bit on her feet and faceplanted.
"What happened?" Inuyasha said.
"She appears to be spiritually drained," Kurama said. "Her sixth sense must be too sensitive to be near so many dead bodies."
"That's true," Rei said. "We normally can't let her near anyone dead. These bodies must still have souls residing in them that cannot be put to rest because of an unfortunate cause of death."
Inuyasha lifted Kuri. "We need to find somewhere to rest so she can get better."
They walked for a while until they reached a mansion.
"Here would be perfect," Kurama said.
"And how do ya think we're getting in?" Inuyasha asked him.
"We ask politely," replied Kurama.
He knocked on the door. Two guards answered.
"I have noticed a dark cloud looming over this mansion," Kurama said. "In order to cleanse your house, my friends and I need only stay this night. Our friend is infirmed and in dire need of care."
"We have no need of you," the guard said.
"You cannot turn them away!" The princess Mana said, appearing at the door. "Look at that girl, she is my age! That could be me! Let them in at once!"
Xxx
Kuri awoke to find herself tucked in a nice warm bed. She looked up to see a familiar woman tending to her.
"Hello," she said. "I am Princess Mana. Are you feeling better?"
"I am, thank you," Krui said softly. "Where are my friends?"
"Dining in the next room," she said.
"Thanks," Kuri replied.
Kuri walked in. Shippo jumped on her shoulder. "Are you okay, Kuri?"
"Of course!" Kuri ruffled his hair.
Suddenly Kuri sensed something. Inuyasha seemed to smell something. They all ran outside.
"It's the black cloud I spoke of!" Kurama said.
"You weren't making it up?" asked Shippo.
They all ran out to face the demons. Inuyasha and Kuri pulled out their swords and Reiko grabbed her bow and arrow. They began attacking, but were soon drenched in ink and blood.
Inuyasha passed out from sensory overload. Kuri washed off his face and fastened on a surgical mask.
"Just keep it on when you face noxious fumes," Kuri said, and they resumed fighting.
Kurama got in front of them, using his Makai Bulbs to eat all of the ink.
"Quick! Follow the trail!" Rei yelled.
They all headed off, following the scent of ink until they reached the artist's hut.
He emerged, surrounded by a dragon.
"Inuyasha! Go ahead! The mask will keep you from passing out!" Krui said.
"I'm going!" he replied, destroying the dragon with one blow.
"Good going!" Kuri yelled.
The only reason Kuri wasn't fighting was because she was still recovering from the bout with the corpses, and the ink was so drenched in misery that it really wasn't helping. Then Kuri realized it. All of this was disguising the Jewel shard in the man's bamboo ink pot.
"Inuyasha! The ink pot has a jewel shard!" Kuri yelled.
"Why wait until now?" He asked, now faced by more demons.
Kuri ran to help him, Reiko at her side. Kurama and Shippo were recovering.
"What are you doing?!" Inuyasha yelled. "You're still exhausted!"
"Whatever!" Kuri yelled back, slashing madly. "Go get the shard before we get killed!"
Inuyasha went around the demons and destroyed the inkpot, but Kuri had just gotten slashed by a demon. Kuri dropped into Rei's arms, semiconscious.
Kuri watched as Inuyasha attempted to spare the man's life, but he called for his ink, and it betrayed him.
Inuyasha sighed and walked over. "What the hell happened?!"
"She's fine," Rei said. "She'll be alright."
Kuri slid out of Rei's arms and picked up the Jewel shard, purifying and absorbing it. My wounds lessened a bit.
"You forget that I'm strong, Inuyasha," Kuri said.
"Only cuz you act like an idiot!" he yelled back.
"Well," Kurama said. "I, for one, am glad to be joining two beautiful woman on their quest."
He grabbed their waists and pulled them toward him, causing a fight to break out between him and Inuyasha about a 'hands-off policy.'