Disclamier: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the character from that show. If you find a character that you're not familar with then it is mine.

Vitanie rolled over with a groan. She had gotten very little sleep and now the sun was already up and telling her it was time to get up.

"Vee, it's not like you to stay in bed," Hiroshi said tapping the end of her bedroll with his foot. "We're not far from the village where the priestess Kaede lives. We can stop there until tomorrow if you'd like," he finished getting slightly worried.

"Be quiet farm boy," she replied sitting up to look around. "What happened to the baka wolf?" she asked starting to undo her loose braid so that she could redo it. Her white hair shone in the sunlight making the contrast of black strips even more apparent as she brushed it out fully.

"He went to scout out the land ahead, he said he smelled demons around," Mari answered putting the now full bottle of water next to Vitanie. Just as she finished with her braid the wolf demon Yuki walked into the little clearing.

"I take it everything's okay?" she asked looking over at the wolf demon. He was antsy and anxious, he usually wasn't this nervous about anything. "What's wrong?"

"There is a lot of overpowering demon scents around here. Can't you sense them at all?" he asked bewildered.

"Yea, I sense them, but we are in another demon forest so that shouldn't seem odd. But we should be moving, the sooner we get to the village the better I'll feel about everything," she sighed.

They were almost done with their own journey. One more stone and then they would finally face the demon that had been trying without fail to steal the elemental stones from them. She had the stones for wind, water, earth, and fire so all they needed now was the spirit stone. That was when they hit a wall; no one knew anything about the stone. They had been searching for it for almost two years and now they might finally have a lead. They were told to seek out the priestess Kaede, she was known to have great wisdom when it came to things like this. So they were now on their way to meet the priestess and with hope on their way to find their final jewel shard.

Half an hour later they reached the village. Vitanie, Mari, and Yuki waited just outside the village while Hiroshi went in to talk to the priestess. Early in her journey Vitanie had learned that even though she was a half demon she wasn't welcome in many villages, so her and her demon companions usually waited outside the village until they were invited in. She expected Hiroshi to be gone for hours but it was only a few minutes later that he returned with elderly women in the robes of a priestess.

"Ye must be the friends that the young man spoke of," she commented as she walked forward. She had a quiver of arrows on her back and a bow in her hand, but she made no move to use it so Vitanie relaxed and answered.

"Yes, we were wondering if you could answer some questions for us. We had heard that you might be able to help us."

"We will see, but for now please come in so maybe we could enjoy some tea," she said with a smile.

"That would be lovely," Vitanie answered letting Mari jump onto her shoulder and following the women into the village. At the bottom of a set of stairs that lead to a shrine a small hut sat, it was this hut that the priestess went into holding the thatched door hanging to invite them in. It was a cozy little one-room hut and not what Vitanie was use to. She had grown up at the Sunrise temple with her mother and they had a huge house with multiply rooms and a big roomy kitchen. It was much different from where Kaede lived. Vitanie walked in slowly and sat around the small indoor cooking fire, she looked around the room and saw nothing that spoke of material wealth, but the whole village was small and didn't seem large on trade. They were a farming village much like her hometown had been, but at home they had more stores due to the temple. Travelers came from all over to visit the temple so some smart farmers had sold their fields to neighbors and had opened Inns bringing more commerce and money to their village.

"Ye seem surprised about something - -" she paused to get a name.

"I'm sorry let me introduce myself," Vitanie stuttered surprised that she had not done so already. "My name in Vitanie, you have already meet Hiroshi, this is Mari," she said inclining her head toward the little cat demon in her lap. "And that is Yuki."

"An interesting group. Two full demons, a human, and a half demon," she said with a smile, especial when she saw Vitanie start at the mention of half demon. "Yes, I can tell that you are only half. I know of another half demon whose hair is much like yours except without the strips."

"Do you know many half demons?" Vitanie asked clearly interested. She had never seen or met another half demon so far on her journey, so she was curious about the only other half demon that she had heard about.

"Nay, child. Inuyasha and yourself are the only half demons that I have meet," she answered as she poured some tea. "Now I believe you had some questions for me."

With a sigh Vitanie took her tea and then began to tell her story so that Kaede would know what was going on in hopes that it would help with finding the answers she was looking for.

"So ye are looking for the elemental stones?" she asked calmly.

"Yes, I already have earth, wind, water, and fire. But we have been having problems find the elemental stone of spirit. We've been looking for it for almost two years without any luck," Vitanie informed the priestess setting her now empty teacup on the floor in front of her.

"That better not be the shikon jewel your trying to find," a gruff voice said from the doorway. Yuki, who had been leaning against the wall, jumped forward into an attack position, while the others just turned toward the door.

"The shikon jewel? I've never heard of it," Vitanie replied puzzled, tilting her head slightly as she answered. "What is it?"

She heard of almost inaudible 'Feh' before he clearly stated, "If you don't know don't worry about it." Just then from behind him a girl about Vitanie's age entered the hut.

"Hi, Kaede. Oh - - I'm sorry I didn't know you had company. Hi, I'm Kagome," she said brightly a large almost complete pink jewel swinging from a chain around her neck. The jewel gave off a soft pink glow and reminded Vitanie of the elemental stones, but she didn't feel the pulling sensation she got whenever she was around the stones. Kagome had her hand held out so Vitanie grasped it and dropped it quickly as she turned back to Kaede.

"I see ye have found the jewel. I will take it that Naraku is now dead as well," Kaede asked the new comers with interest.

"Yes, we got the jewel yesterday, and also managed to get the two jewels from Koga," Kagome smiled. Out of the corner of Vitanie's eye she saw Yuki tense when Kagome mentioned Koga. Before she could even turn and ask him about his reaction he pounced with a question.

"You know Koga?" his voice was low barely suppressing a growl.

"What do you care, you're just another mangy wolf like him," the man who had first come in sneered.

"Inuyasha," Kagome warned him. "I'm sorry about Inuyasha he usually isn't this rude."

"So your Inuyasha?" Vitanie asked turning and sitting forward.

"What the old bat, been talking about me?" she asked shooting Kaede a dirty look, that she brushed aside with a sigh.

"Only that you're a half demon," Vitanie replied unfazed by his inhospitable attitude. Inuyasha growled lowly and his ears flattened against the top of his head. Hiroshi couldn't help but laugh, because it reminded him so much of Vitanie. Inuyasha turned on him giving him a look that would make anyone back away. Vitanie saw it though and her anger rose to meet his. "I'm sure Hiroshi didn't mean any offense so why don't you sit down and relax," she snapped standing to face him. She then turned slightly toward Hiroshi while still keeping an eye on Inuyasha. "And why don't you get your lyre out and keep your mouth shut for awhile before you hit anymore nerves. Oh and Yuki, what is your problem with this Koga, I've never seen you so hostile over a name before," she remarked eyeing the still wary and tense wolf.

"Koga," he growled. "He tried to take my pack from me. He was trying to take over my land and pack," he stated and then continued to mumble under his breath.

"Well obviously he didn't win, so sit down and shut up. And you," she said turning toward Inuyasha, "don't you dare raise your voice or insult my friends ever again or you will see just how angry and hostile I can get," she snarled before turning around and sitting back down.

Her little act of anger didn't settle well on Inuyasha's mind. He began to get agitated and seethe with anger. When it looked like he was just about to lose it he was pushed aside and a monk and another young woman came in.

"What do you think your doing blocking the door Inuyasha?" the monk asked. In response he got a 'feh' and the half demon turned and walked out of the room.

"What's his problem?" a young fox demon said from the shoulder of the monk. Vitanie looked up at the rest of the little group before turning back towards Kaede and answering. "I'm afraid that's my fault. He was ticking me off so I told him what I thought, but I think I had some help with that," she finished eyeing Hiroshi, who just ducked his head and turned to pull his lyre out.

"Sorry again about Inuyasha," Kagome said. "He can be hard to deal with at times." She then turned towards the others and saw their nods of agreement. With a smile she turned back towards Vitanie and came to sit down next to her. "Now where are my manners? As I said before I'm Kagome, this is Miroku, Sango and Shippo," she introduced point to the monk, young woman, and fox demon in turn. Vitanie smiled and did the same for her group.

"I'm Vitanie, the angry, baka wolf in the corner is Yuki, the guy with the lyre is Hiroshi, who should start playing that thing soon," she said eyeing him again. "And this little lioness is Mari," she finished. Shippo jumped down from Miroku's shoulder and walked up to Mari.

"Hey Shippo, don't over do it," Kagome warned. "You leg was pretty badly hurt yesterday."

"I'm fine, I'm a demon remember so I heal fast," he shrugged off. "Mari, right?" he asked the little lioness. Mari got up from where she had sat when Vitanie had stood to confront Inuyasha and hid behind Vitanie. Shippo turned toward her with a confused look on his face. Vitanie smiled sadly before turning toward Mari.

"It's okay Mari. No one's going go hurt you here. I'm sure Shippo just wants to be your friend," she soothed. Mari came out a little from behind Vitanie and looked at the little fox demon that was about her height if not a little taller.

"That's right," Shippo added. "I just want to be your friend. It isn't everyday that there is someone close to my age around. Do you want to go outside and play?" he asked hope hinted in his voice. Mari lifted her head and looked up at Vitanie.

"It's your choice Mari. You can go outside with Shippo if you like." With that she lowered her head and nodded at Shippo. He took her hand and they ran outside. Once they were gone Vitanie turned to Kagome, "He's a sweet kid." She commented motioning toward the door where they had last seen Shippo.

"He is, but I feel bad for him though, he had to grow up so fast," she replied sadly. Vitanie nodded guessing what had happened.

"Let me guess, and I'm sure I'm right. His parents were killed by another demon and he was on his own until he meet up with you and your group," she stated in a matter of fact way.

"Yeah how did you know?"

"It's the same thing that happened to Mari," she answered with a smile. "I caught her trying to steal a fish from our camp fire."

Kagome started laughing at that, "We caught Shippo trying to steal our Shikon jewel shards. They both have a lot in common," she mentioned shaking her head slowly. "So you were talking about the shikon jewel when I came in, are you looking for it?" she asked. Both Miroku and Sango turned their heads toward Vitanie and her group a little wary of the answer. But instead of Vitanie answering Hiroshi spoke up as he plucked the strings on his lyre.

"We've never heard of the shikon jewel before, what is it?"

They all looked on the group in surprise before relaxing around the cook fire. Kaede cleared her throat and told them the story of the Shikon jewel or Jewel of four souls.

"So the jewel increases a demons strength?" Yuki asked getting excited.

"Down baka," Vitanie snapped at him. "We are only here to get information on the spirit stone that is all. Sorry about that," she directed toward Kagome and her friends.

"As long as he doesn't try to steal the jewel, it's fine," the young woman named Sango replied.

"Trust me he wont," Vitanie replied giving Yuki a glare that would have made anyone else retreat. Yuki shrugged the look off and remand leaning against the wall trying to look like he didn't care much about the conversation. Vitanie turned back to the others with a sigh before rejoining the discussion. "So that's the jewel around your neck, right?" she asked turning to look at the shining stone Kagome was wearing.

"Yes, it is. We just managed to get it back from a demon that had collected most of the shards. We actually have the whole jewel - - I just haven't put the last few pieces together with the jewel yet," she finished in a bare whisper. Vitanie looked at the girl and saw a strange sadness in her eyes. She then took a closer look at the group.

Kagome had strange clothing on that she couldn't place from any of the villages she had been to. The shirt was much to short and the fineness of the dying was better then that of most of the clothing of the nobles that she had seen. When she had came in she had been carrying a bow and a nearly empty quiver of arrows. The other girl had a nice kimono on but she had leggings on underneath and had been carrying a large boomerang in that was now leaning on the wall behind her. The two women were confusing her slightly but nothing seemed weird about the monk whom was sitting not far from her. She turned to the girl named Sango thinking she could figure her out faster then Kagome.

"That weapon," she said pointing to the boomerang, "isn't that a demon slayers weapon?"

Sango started for a second a little surprised at the change of topic, "Yes it is. It's called the Hiraikotsu. It's a large boomerang made out of the bones of a demon," she commented.

"It's very impressive," Vitanie replied before turning to Kagome. "And your clothes Kagome, they're very - - um - - different."

She laughed nervously "Yeah, I know. I'm not from around here."

"I noticed. Now we were talking about the jewel weren't we? Can I take it you haven't finished putting it together because that means your quest will be over?" Vitanie inquired giving the girl a close look. Kagome shrank a little under the gaze but that didn't stop her from giving a brief nod. Vitanie nodded in return. It was something she understood because it was something she had actually been thinking about. Even though she wanted to find the spirit stone she knew that once she didn't the search and quest would be over. Their final battle was drawing closer and then her friends would go their own ways. She wasn't looking forward to that possibility.

"If might ask a question?" the monk Miroku spoke up before Vitanie could ask her next question.

"Please go ahead," she replied.

"You seemed to have questions for Sango and Kagome, but none for me. Why is that?" he asked trying to catch her eyes.

"Sango had a strange weapon and Kagome strange clothing. There wasn't anything odd about you that I could see just by looking," she answered with a shrug. She then turned back to Kagome and Kaede ignoring Miroku's hurt expression. "The jewel of four souls sounds like what we would be looking for but I don't get the same feeling that I got when we found the other elemental stones. No, that is absolutely not what we are looking for. Do you happen to know were we might be able to find it Kaede?" Vitanie had been addressing Kaede but it was Miroku who replied.

"You wouldn't happen to be looking for the Elemental Star Stones would you?"

"Yes, do you know where to find the spirit stone then," she asked quickly turning back to the monk.

"Perhaps," he answered slyly. "I will tell you under one condition." He was once again trying to catch her eye.

"What?" Vitanie asked warily. She got the sudden feeling that she should proceed with caution and that she would probably be better off on the wild goose chase they had been on before going to find Kaede.

Miroku suddenly leaned forward and took her hand, looked straight into her eyes and asked, "Would you bear my children?"

"Miroku!" Sango yelled and Kagome yelled in unison.

Yuki pushed himself off the wall and was cracking his knuckles getting ready to punch the monk and Hiroshi stopped playing and was staring at him in shock. Vitanie sat there in silence completely caught off guard at the unexpected question. She didn't even noticed until it was too late that one of his hands had moved from her hands to stroking her butt. She then came out of her shock by pulling one of her hands free and slapping him hard across the face and then with his other hand still in hers stood and flipped him over her shoulder and down to the floor so that he landed squarely on his back. She then turned to Yuki and Hiroshi, "Come on we're leaving!" she snapped.

"But the information," Yuki reminded her.

"Forget it, I'd rather continue on the hunt instead of getting the information here," she stated before turning and walking out the door.

Sango was now standing over where Miroku lay dazed; when she saw that he was able to focus again she laid into him. "What run out of human girls to ask so you have to move onto half demons? How could you, you lecherous monk?" she snarled her eyes full of fire and anger before she too ran out the door before breaking into tears.

Kagome sighed and placed a hand over her eyes, "Miroku you really messed up this time. Sango might have been able to put up with your lecherous ways while you still had the wind tunnel but now that Naraku's gone you have no excuse."

"While I think I have a great excuse for not going after her to apologize," the monk moaned. "I can't move."

Yuki walked forward and stood over the fallen monk. "You're lucky that Vitanie let her anger out on you instead of me. I would have killed you before stopping," he spat before walking out the door to find Vitanie. Hiroshi and Kagome also rose and left leaving the monk lying on the floor in pain.

That's all for now, so please read and review (I'll even take flames just don't expect me to respond). I'll try to get the next chapter up quickly depending on the reviews. Thanks.

Vee