Sorry I haven't updated in a while and that this chapter is so short! More is on the way. Thanks for the kind reviews! Please to continue to do so :D

Chapter Five - Blood And Mystery

"Sorry, did you just say... Kagome?"

"Yeah, what of it?" Koga hissed, anger clear in his voice.

"It's just, I had a—"

She was interrupted by a massive explosion from the entrance of the cave. Ginta and Hakkaku screamed in unison.

"What the hell?!" Koga yelled and ran in the direction of the sound.

Tomoyo rushed after him. "What is it?!"

"Kiyohime," he spat.

"Kiyohime?"

He ignored her and called out to his comrades, "Ginta! Hakkaku! It's the Kiyohime. Get ready for some serious trouble!"

Tomoyo spotted the silhouette of a woman outside that was moving.

She was truly beautiful, with dusky blue eyes and sharp chiselled cheekbones. Her lips were plump and perfect red, and her midnight locks partially covered her perfect face. Tomoyo stared at her, spellbound, and sucked in a terse breath.

"Koga?" she asked cautiously, "Who is that woman?"

"That ain't no woman! What you see is just a glamour! It's really a monster that's been after us for a long time! Looks like she's finally found us."

In a matter of seconds, the woman was inside the cave and standing beside Tomoyo. The beautiful glamour melted away to reveal sickly pale skin and knotted wild hair. Her lips curled back over her razor-sharp teeth in a snarl, but even that wasn't the most terrifying part.

The most frightening aspect about her were the two black chasms in the places that her eyes should be.

Tomoyo shrieked and jumped back. The creature lurched forwards and as she did her nails grew into long talons. They glowed a bright purple and Tomoyo squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for the painful impact.

Slice!

Tomoyo slowly opened her eyes. Standing in front of her was...

"Hakkaku?!"

He fell to the ground in a heap, the sound of his body hitting the ground splitting through her ears with the crumple.

What? What?

"HAKKAKU!" Ginta screamed and darted towards his fallen friend. He kneeled beside him and studied his wounds.

There was a huge gash across his stomach.

Not good.

"Why did he...?" she breathed, voice slightly cracking.

She dropped to the ground beside the injured wolf. "Hakkaku," she whispered, "Stay with me." She grasped his hand tightly and felt tears forming in her eyes.

Slowly, Hakkaku opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"I did it..." he choked, "Because you remind me... of her. And she... was good and kind—"

He spat out a huge mouthful of blood and clutched at his wound.

Koga was frozen. There was only one word to describe how he felt right now...

Fear.

Was he going to lose another one of his friends? He couldn't!

"KIYOHIME!" he shouted and ran towards the beast.

Her mouth curved into a hideous smile and she outstretched her hands. A blinding light shot out from them and blasted Koga. He was thrown back against the cavern wall, and collapsed onto his back.

"Koga!" Ginta shouted frantically.

Koga tried to stand up but his back had received a deadly injury, and caused him to cry out in pain.

"You... bastard," he snarled, eyes bleeding red.

"I don't understand what's happening," Tomoyo said as she stood and walked slowly towards the Kiyohime, "But... you're going to have to leave now."

Okay calm down, Tomoyo. This is just a really, really realistic dream. This woman can't hurt me. I'll wake up soon. I bet this is one of those dreams where you die and then wake up. Right?

"Filthy human!" the Kiyohime screeched, "Stay in the dirt where you belong!

She held her hand out in front of her again and screamed, "DIE!"

"Why is everyone treating me like a piece of crap? " Tomoyo muttered and closed her eyes, bracing herself for the attack...

But I never came.

She opened her eyes and looked around.

Koga and Ginta were just sitting there on the cave floor, their eyes wide. Hakkaku was still unconscious, and the Kiyohime was... woah.

The creature was sprawled out on the floor, dead, bruises and scratches covering its body. It's mouth was hanging open as if in a permanent scream, and Tomoyo's blinked slowly as she surveyed the corpse.

"What the hell?" Koga barked as he clambered to his feet, groaning.

"... What?" Tomoyo breathed, confused.

Ginta scratched his head. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?!"

"How the hell did you kill that Kiyohime?!" Koga yelled, pointing at the corpse accusingly.

What?

"Me?"

Cough! Cough!

Hakkaku had regained consciousness and was coughing vigorously.

"Hakkaku!" Ginta shouted, overjoyed, "Are you okay?!"

"Not... really," Hakkaku mumbled a small grin, then frowned. "Where'd the Kiyohime go?"

"The girl!" Ginta pointed to Tomoyo, "She destroyed it!"

Tomoyo felt like her eyes were going to bulge out of her head.

I destroyed it? What is he talking about?! ... I just wanna go home.

How did she do that? I guess you'll have to wait and see ;)