Maria ushered the children out the door. "Lets go, let's go, we only a few hours to get our shopping done."
Hermione was looking around confused. "umm Maria, you don't have to take me with you, I packed everything i need before i came here."
Alison came up to her. "Dear Little Harmonie, Rule one when dealing with mother don't argue life is so much easier that way." The two boys nod in agreement.
"Your parents suggested a new swimsuit for you, unless you really want to wear the one, you outgrown last summer?" Maria replies
Alison put her arm around Hermione's shoulders "Besides I need advice on my own swimsuits, Mother doesn't give good observations, no offense, mum."
"None taken." Maria replies "Besides you packed books, and your school uniforms. I don't mind spending on money on my young friends."
"But maria, you can't, i mean i have some money saved up." Before she could say another word Harry covered her mouth "Mione, i love you like my own dear sister but please don't argue with her and Ali-nii you will lose."
"I suggest listening to them, I learned the hard way." Sesshomaru commented as he walked into the foyer. "Maria just let me back into the bedroom.."
"Forty years ago." Maria states looking at her finger nails.
"But but you don't have to do that." Harry just laughs and easily Lift her up and carry her out the door to the market a smile on his face.
"Harry, do you even know where you are going?" Yasha questions
"We're heading to the market right?" He easily had Hermione on his back.
Maria shook her head before heading to the limo that was waiting in front of the manor.
"Oh hehe silly me I'm to use to going there." as he carry the girl to the limo.
"That's for normal demons, the ones who don't want to socialize with humans." Maria replies
"Well thats true momma but I forgot Hermione not one of us." He frowns slightly reminded once more how different he was from his friends.
Yasha grinned and put his feet on Alison's lap, which earned him a playful growl and shove off the seat. "What you don't want to rub my feet. Twin-mine?"
"Rub your own feet, I'm not your maid." Alison answers, with dusting off her shorts.
Harry just laughs "Yasha will you ever grow up?"
"Nope, try in a couple more centuries." Yasha responds
"Yahsa you silly pup." Hermoine says without thinking as she slaps his arm.
Yasha grinned
Harry laughs as well Ya-Kun your supposed to be the mature one not me or keikei."
"Doesn't mean I have to give up on having fun." Yasha answers
"True" as he pulls out a fruit bar to snack on and looking out the window.
They soon reach central London and they all pile out.
They went to one of the high end shopping malls, Maria gave them all precise instructions, they could shop on their own, but the older children were responsible for the younger. Yasha and Harry went off in one direction and Alison nearly dragged Hermione in a different direction while Maria went off in search of her own needs.
"Alison, no these places are to expensive for just a swimming dress." Hermione protested as Alison pulled her into the shop.
"Hermione, I hate to break it to you, but all of my family's immortal, we own half the world, we have enough money to buy this place out." Alison replies, as she went into a shop, "Now let me have some fun, its the first time, I had someone close to my own age to dress up. Topaz just glares and growls at me when I even hint at her dressing up."
"But please Ali this is to much you have Harry to dress up all this stuff is to fancy for me."
Alison stopped and turned and let out a sigh, "To be honest, I don't have many friends, my band mates are my only friends, they don't see me as a Princess, they see me as Ali, future rock'n'roll super star, but at DPA, the other royal demons stay away from me like I'm going to contaminate them."
The human girl just smiles. "Ali, i have no problem with being your friend just because your Harry's sister and i want to be your friend."
Alison smiled and her eyes looked down at her shoes, "There is something else, that most people don't accept human or demon."
"What that you're a lesbian, i don't care if you're happy then thats all that matters to me."
Alison looked up and smiled. "Extremely, now if only I can get my brother to be happy."
Hermione blushes "I'm sure you can find someone that will make him happy." She says in a little voice.
"Doesn't work like that for us, demons" Alison replied
"Isn't that how it was for your mother and father?" She asks as smiles shyly.
"Mom thought she was a human for the first sixteen years of her life. " Alison replied
"Hmm that's strange Harry never said anything about that when we talked before."
"Harry doesn't know everything about our parents." Alison replied
"Oh i never thought that but its just he told me how your parents first admit they loved each other."
"Took mom, months to get over her inferiority complex and realize that she was worth it." Alison replied
The girl smiles "I find it hard for me to believe your mum not confident.
"Yeah, I got lucky in the mother department. " Alison replied
"I guess i just hope I'll be that lucky as well." He mind drifts to how warm Yasha was in the library.
Alison went and started looking at summer dresses, and bathing suits. "I think you're a bit smitten with my twin."
She blushes crimson "Well he is handsome and so easy to talk to even more than Harry and his mind is so sharp."
"My twin's a lot of things and a coward when it comes to the female of any species." Alison replies, "I have to weed out the idiots, who just want him for wealth and power of position, another reason why I gave up any and all claims."
Hermione smiles "well i don't see him that way, if i was that shallow i would be after Harry."
"Let me tell you about a tiger demon." Alison replied
Hermione listens to the story "Oh my goodness poor Harry so young and already being bother."
Alison nods "luckily mom threw that demon was thrown back to Asia"
"I mean I never saw Harry or Yasha like that they're just my friend even if i fancy Yasha like that. " Hermione replies
Alison smiled "You said you wanted to learn to fit in with us." she raised her eyebrow at the young girl.
"Well yes, i mean Harry's my first and best friend and i know this is his world, so I have to learn if we want to stay friend and well maybe get Yasha to you know but mostly so i don't stick out so much when we're together in this part of his world." She rambles on. Her face flushed.
"There isn't much books can teach you, but first lesson, never protest about getting new clothes." Alison replies, as she had clothing over her arm.
Hermione eyed her suspiciously. "I think that's something you and your mother does only." She said in mock seriousness.
"we do what?" Alison questions blinking, her eyes were a shocking shade of blue along with her human disguise.
She waves her hands around "This taking me someone you barely know on a shopping spree."
"Ron was just like you, protesting about buying a new set of pots and pans for his mother, I gave him my credit card to the Foundation's bank account." Alison states "I don't mind spending money."
Maria walked into the shop with her hands full of shopping bags. "So how goes your end of the shopping?"
Alison gave her mother a look that said she's being stubborn like Yasha.
"Try out your outfits, Alison." Maria replies, as she looked at the nearest seating and sat down. She looked at Hermione and looked at the empty space beside her.
Hermione took the hint and sat down next to Maria.
"You mind explaining why you're being a stubborn mule?" Maria questions
She blushes Maria its just to much I know your all well off but i guess im just overwhelmed.
"I don't think so, when I was your age, I wasn't well off, that's just something that happens when you live as long as I have, I was in the foster care program in Japan, I never had much, just going from home to home when I aged out of those homes." Maria explains, "When I was first together with Sesshomaru, I promised myself that I would help as many people as possible, I have a few charities that work uncover of human agents, I also a few charities that make use of demon work."
"And that speaks wonders of your heart, Maria. I guess its just mostly the fact at how quickly you all just treat me like i was friends with harry for years and not just few months."
"Because we're good judges of character, not to mention a keen sense of smell." Maria replies, "Now, just humor me and look through the clothing."
The girl sighs. "Fine, it looks as if my arguing will just be useless anyway." She laughs as she looks for a simple swimsuit but Alison shoved some more mature two piece suits.
"Alison Minako Taisho, do keep in mind that Hermione is only twelve years old." Maria states
"But mother, I'm just teasing her and you have to admit she does have a great body." She smiles sweetly at her.
"For a twelve year old." Maria replies, "Don't make me ground you all summer."
"Yes mother I'll stop." Alison stops and leaves Hermione to try on the swimsuits.
Harry and Yasha came in knowing this was Alison's favorite place to shop. "So the girls done or do we have to stop for food and water?" Yasha questions
Just then Hermione steps out in one of the more risque swimsuits."Maria, are you sure this is not to much?"
Yasha's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.
Maria seen his reaction. "Next piece. Before my son decides to limit your contacts with any males excluding fathers and professors."
Hermione eeps and runs back to her dressing room. Harry blushed deeply "umm I'll think I'll wait outside." He turns and leaves the room.
"Drag your brother out." Maria replies
Harry grab Yasha's arm and dragged him outside and away from the shop. "Please tell me he's gone." The girl squeaked out."
"Yes, he's gone." Maria assured
"Merlin's beard that so embarrassing he saw me dressed like that." Her face red as a tomato.
"Remind me to show you some pictures of Yasha as a baby. Some of those are embarrassing." Maria states, as she went about the store herself and got things, she knew a young girl would wear. She gave them to Hermione.
"Or I can sing his least favorite song that I made up when we were younger." Alison replies
"Thank you." She takes the clothes and quickly heads back to the dressing room.
After the two girls picked out their clothes, Maria paid for them, "Now anything else?"
"Music store so I can get some more strings and composition books?" Alison questions
Maria nods.
"Which happens to be next to bookshop." Yasha states as he seen his mom, sister, and Hermione leave the clothing store.
Her eyes brighten but she squeaks and she see Yasha and hides behinds Maria." That's nice may we stop for a moment. "
"Hermione, you can't avoid him forever." Alison states, "Come on, we'll go to the bookstore first, then the music shop."
She hides and all but runs into the store.
Harry's jaw was hanging open "momma what just happen?"
"Nothing, you need to know about yet." Maria replied
"Yes momma." he walks in and wonder around.
Hermoine was hid in a corner holding several books.
"It's not that bad, Yasha walked in on me and Topaz." Alison states
"Oh my goodness he didn't. " her eyes go wide.
Alison nods "sure did, he seen more of me and Topaz then needed"
"Oh my, well at least he didn't see my bum or worst."
Alison nods
Hermione giggles as she stacks her books.
"So don't be embarrassed about it, take it as a compliment." Alison replies, as she picked up a book and rolled her eyes at the cover.
"What Ali I happen to like the series."
"Demons don't look like this..." Alison replies, as she stuck her tongue out at the book. She put it back on the shelf.
"Well I know that now but when i first started reading this this how i saw them now i see how wrong he was." She sighs
Alison shrugged "Why read about fairy tales when you grew up listening to your parents adventures."
After shopping, and a grabbing a some food, the family return back to the estate, where Sesshomaru was waiting for them, with a flick of his wrist threw and envelope at Alison.
Alison opened and her eyes brighten at the invitation. "We're going this year?"
"What is it, Ali-nee?" Harry asked as he carried his bag inside.
"Okay have fun." Harry turns to his friend "come on, Hermione, we need to get ready for Kikyo, when she shows up."
Kikyo shouldered her bow and quiver, and looked at Faith. "Are you sure you want to accompany me?"
"Yeah please I wish to with go with you." She fixes her robes smiling slightly.
"Very well, we shall test your knowledge on medicinal plants along the way." Kikyo replies, as she went down the path out of the gate of the Order's Temple.
She walks beside Kikyo answering her questions.
"Very good, now all our road can you find such plants?" Kikyo questions
She looks around and starts to points out the plants as she sees them till they reach the manor.
Kikyo was allowed in when the gate guard seen her, Faith followed after Kikyo in her proper place as an apprentice.
Harry felt her as soon as she cross the gates and he ran to see her smiling like a fool.
"Slow down, Harry or else you will end up getting burned." Kikyo cautioned as she looked at Faith's who's having a hard time controlling her power.
Harry stopped in his tracks looking at the girl next to Kikyo. "Forgive me, I was excited to see you, who is this with you?" He bows to them in respect of the positions they hold.
"Her name's Faith, and she came to the Order from your orphanage, once I was able to sense her growing spiritual power, she's one of the victims of the fever, I treated a few years ago." Kikyo answers
"I am honored to meet you, priestess. " he said in a formal tone his manners kicking in.
Hermione came rushing out as well. "Harry, what in blaze are you up to now."
"According to sister Kikyo, I was Priestess Keade in my former life, so I decided that I should learn to control my power from her." Faith answers, her eyes looking at Kikyo with a devotion only a family member had.
"Then you are in truly good hands, Kikyo is a great teacher." Harry agreed "I wish she was my teacher sometimes."
"He's always this enthusiastic whenever I enter the estate, he can sense my reiki." Kikyo explains as she seen Hermione. "Have you two got your overnight bags?"
"Yes just me me a second and I'll tell momma your here and grab our bags, Hermione which one is your bag for tonight?"
Hermione told him. She then looked at Kikyo, her eyes bright with questions.
"Go ahead and ask." Kikyo states
Hermione squeak and begins asking question about temple life and the training and also about Faith's past life, she could remember.
Faith shook her head. "Nothing more then flashes, kinda like looking through cheesecloth."
"You're going to find out, since we're going to the temple." Kikyo replies "That is if Harry doesn't get his butt in gear."
"Hey I'm not slow." As he bounds off yipping in joy.
"And he's going to get himself fried to crisp." Kikyo mutters "Harry, will you wait up or do you wish for a funeral?"
"No Kikyo, i do not." He slows down and waits for everyone else.
Everyone there saw, he was excited to get going.
Kikyo lead the group, while still questioning Faith on her lessons so far. Hermione was listening and realized there was a lot that Kikyo didn't reveal about her life. She wasn't at all child-like, she was a woman grown in a child's body, did this happen to everyone that entered the Temple and the Order of Four Souls?
"Faith, which herbs are we missing from the garden that only grows in the wild?" Kikyo questions
She thinks for a bit her mind straining "I think is tallow root, Holly and i can remember the last one."
"Well, lets go search for it, shall we?" Kikyo suggests as she left the path and entered the meadows.
Hermione follows as does Harry. "You know Mione, this is where I got most of my lessons on herbs from since i was 8 years old every week since me and Kikyo first met."
"Not this field, precisely, We found herbs on the estate's property." Kikyo states, "You can search for plants as well, and I will tell you if they were cures or not." she knelt in the field using the light to search for herbs, placing the ones, she needed into a small basket that was placed at the beginning of the paths in the meadows.
"I know, Kikyo, i was just saying this is how i got most of my lessons from you was hunting herbs for you." The to wizards spread out and began to gather herbs that the knew.
She was in the middle of searching when she sensed something. She turned sharply, "Who Goes." she demanded
Harry froze and drops to a low crouch putting himself between the strange and Hermione.
A monk with an impassive expression entered the clearing. "I remember you, demon."
"There are no demons here" Harry growls.
"Harry, he's not looking at us." Hermione states, as she watched the conversation between Kikyo and the monk.
Kikyo's eyes widen as she recalled their last meeting. "You will not leave me be and continue on with your current life."
Harry felt an anger building with in him. "Monk, leave my friend alone, she's done nothing to you." He tell the monk as he moves closer to her.
"I will continue my goal to destroy the demon that continues to possess you, Priestess." The Monk states, as he grip the rosary beads and held a dragon shaped sphere.
Faith knew this was coming and step in front of Hermione and Harry and placed a barrier around them.
"Not this again." Kikyo muttered as the monk unleashed the spell, the spiritual dragon encased her intent on squeezing the life out of her.
Harry growls and was about to attack the monk.
Hermione grabbed Harry by his shirt and slapped him across the face. "Are you stupid or something?"
"No, I'm not, he's attacking my friend."
"Do you have a death wish?" Faith questions, "You're behind a barrier to protect your sorry butt." she turned and witnessed a massive explosion of spiritual power. The dragon pieces hit the barrier and were purified.
"Okay Hermione, i just got mad okay like she doesn't have enough on her mind." Harry replies
Kikyo landed on the ground, trying to gain her breath back. Faith released the barrier and ran to her mentor. "Sister Kikyo, are you alright?"
"Hopefully, that is the end of the monk again." Kikyo bit out as she looked past her to see the monk limping off with the aide of his staff. "I am not the same Kikyo, as I was before the last time we met, Sir Monk, You will not seek vengeance against me for something that happened five hundred years ago."
"You still bring suffering to all around you."
"What's next Tsubaki returning to curse me yet again?" Kikyo questions herself as her mind drifted to the dark priestess, who cursed her to fall in love.
"Come on, Kikyo, lets go to the temple, you have to rest." Harry says.
"Harry, shut up." Kikyo states, as she just knelt there. She closed her eyes and her soul collectors appeared "Find Enju." she commanded them.
The collectors disappeared and within seconds someone appeared from flames.
"Well Priestess, I see you got yourself in trouble again." the woman laughed as she went and knelt down in front of the Priestess. Kikyo climbed onto the woman's back.
"Nani?" Harry says confused.
The young woman with orange eyes looked at Harry. "So you're the one, who everyone's been speaking of, I doubt its a pleasure to meet a specter."
"A what, I'm no ghost." Harry huffs "and who exactly are you?"
"Silly boy, I was referring to myself, I am the specter, my name is Enju, originally from Japan but I wander the world, you may have seen me in the market working on a pottery wheel?" Enju answers
"Oh yeah i do remember seeing you."
"Well, let's get going." Enju states, as she continued to walk to the Temple. "Kikyo's told me about you, but she's my first real friend since I was reborn. Even if we had a bad start to our awkward friendship."
"Oh what do you mean ?" Both Harry and Hermione asked at the same time.
"Kikyo met me while I was trying to end my existence." Enju replied
"Why would you do that?"
"Because she's already dead." Kikyo replied
"Well i guessed that when she said she was a specter but why were you even around?"
"I was reborn so a demon could use my pottery skills to her purposes." Enju replied
"What she needed new vase for her home." Harry tries to joke.
"No." Enju replied
"Then what really happened?" Hermione asked after she cuff harry in the back of the head.
"The demon wanted me to make clay soldiers for her, I was the one, who helped reanimate Kikyo from bones and graveyard soil." Enju replied
"What but how could you thats monstrous vile even."
"She wanted to get the jewel of four souls." Kikyo replied
"But that was shatter by aunt Kagome and the pieces were scattered by the winds.
"As the first protector of the jewel, I had the ability to sense the shards" Kikyo replied
"But if that was true why are you still here?"
"I was reborn with my memories of being The Tragic Priestess Kikyo to atone for my sins, Enju can't return to dead." Kikyo replies, she focused on breathing in the scent of herbs that even now clung to Enju's skin.
DarkPriestess66: Some of you wouldn't know this, but I had a co-writer, and last night, he passed away according to his FB page, I would say its true, since you don't lie about stuff like that and He didn't contact me this morning via text...so I guess its just me again working on my fanfics.