Tora-chan: Hey everyone! Great news, my desktop computer is completely fried. Wondering how that is great news? It's great because two days before the untimely demise ofmy computer from hell I ordered a new laptop. And low and behold it arrived early so now I have more time to work on my stories, because now I can carry my stories wherever I go. See the death of my computer was a good thing.

Yuki: Girl you make no sense whatsoever.

Tora-chan: I know isn't it great? I do not own Inuyasha just the insanity that I call a story.

Hiroshi: Will you please stop stealing my job?

Tora-chan: Sure, but right now on with the story!

----------

Last time: Inuyasha and Kagome spent time together, Miroku and Sango spent time together, and Vitanie found out some stuff about the elemental stones from Sen. (poor Sen I feel so sorry for him now)

----------

Vitanie walked back through the barrier at the edge of the forest and headed back toward the house. She was still thinking about everything that Sen had told her about the elemental stones.

If the stones slow take control of you then why do they not affect me the same way? I never felt like they were trying to control me, in fact I don't sense any power from them when they're around my neck, she wondered almost running into Yuki who had just stepped out the kitchen door.

"What did that blasted demon tell you that has you running into people," he snapped at her.

"What the!" she yelled completely taken off guard. "Don't scare me like that baka wolf?"

He growled and turned to stomp back into the house.

"You know he's been worried about you," Hiroshi said as he walked up with Shippo, Mari, and Kohaku.

"I told him not to. But I guess you can't stop the sun from shining by telling it not to," she sighed as she fiddled with the chain connected with the wind stone.

"That's right, so maybe you can see things from his point of view. Now what did Sen tell you to have you right by us without a word, especially when Mari was trying to get your attention."

"I'll tell you once my mom gets home, and then we can get some information about the spirit stone from her. Besides I only want to tell the story once, it will be hard enough without having to retell it a bunch of times," she said before turning and heading into the house leaving a very curious musician behind.

-----

Inuyasha had felt Vitanie return from forest along with a lot of tension and worry. Though he didn't want to let go of Kagome from where they sat in one of the trees, he knew that they should probably go and see what was going on. Kagome had fallen asleep in his arms so he leaned forward and gently kissed her neck.

"Kagome, wake up," he whispered in her ear not really trying to wake her. Kagome though did wake with a smile on her face.

"That's certainly a better wake up then you yelling at us to get moving," she teased. "Now what's going?" she asked as she remembered that she was in a tree.

"Vitanie's back and she seems to be upset about something. Didn't she go to see that wood fairy?" he asked as he jumped to the ground and then put Kagome down lightly on her feet.

"Yes she did," she said eyeing him. "And when did you start caring about others feelings?" she asked a small twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

"Feh, don't read into it. It just she's the one that has most of the information about the elemental stones, that's all," he grumbled trying to act like he didn't care.

"Come on," Kagome laughed, "let's go see what happened."

As they reached the back door they saw Hiroshi watching some of Shippo's fox magic tricks with Mari and Kohaku.

"Where's Vitanie? I felt her come back from the forest," Inuyasha asked as he eyed Shippo and made sure he didn't try to play a prank on him with his fox magic.

"She went inside. Vee said that she will tell everyone what happened once her mother returns from the village," Hiroshi answered.

"Yes, she said something about it being hard enough telling it once she didn't want to keep retelling it," Kohaku commented throwing a worried look toward the kitchen door, which was the last spot he had seen her. ( A/N: Kohaku is such a sweet boy being worried about her!)

Just as he finished the statement Sango and Miroku walked up with Akiasa. The night before they hadn't been able to tell much about what she looked like, but now with the sun out they saw that the priestess was a middle aged woman with her black hair hanging down to her upper back and was just starting to turn grey, though her blue eyes relieved that she still felt young and had a long life in front of her.

"I can guess what Sen told her," Akiasa answered with a sad sigh. "I was hoping she wouldn't find out about the stones, but obviously that didn't happen. Now let's get inside so that we can discuss what you all came here for. Akemi, could you please bring in some water on your way in," she called to her son as he too started to head toward the house.

"Sure thing, I'll be right there," he answered turning toward the well as everyone else walked into the house and to the large receiving room.

Once everyone was settled Vitanie walked into the room with a ticked off wolf demon following her.

"I told you to leave me alone Yuki. That means don't follow me! I was trying to think about something but your incessant questioning is driving me insane," she snapped as she took a seat between her mother and Akemi. "Now sit down and shut up so that we can discuss what we're going to do next."

Yuki stalked over to a wall and leaned against it, not sitting down, but not leaving out of anger either. There was a slight growl from Yuki especially after he heard Inuyasha mutter mangy wolf, before they could start arguing though Vitanie spoke up.

"Well let's get started. You all know that I went into the forest to talk to Sen, and before you grumble too much Yuki he had a mate so shut up," she paused as she glared at the wolf. Everyone else laughed at his surprised expression especially since it was the first time Vitanie had admitted that she knew Yuki liked her.

"Okay, so I talked to Sen and he told me some interesting things. First off he knew about the stones and was one of the last to see all five stones together. I'm gathering that they separated before you became the priestess here because that was just over fifty years ago," she said giving her mother a questioning look.

"That's right I ended up her almost twenty years after that happened. The priestess that was here before me and trained me told me about the spirit stone and that is was our job to protect it. That is one of the reasons that we worked on barriers so much," Akiasa answered.

"That's right, my father told me about the spirit stone and the wind stone. But when my grandfather got cursed by Naraku we gave up the right to protect the wind stone in fear that it might get sucked into the wind tunnel," Miroku added from across the room where he sat next to Sango.

"You must be Miroku then," Akiasa replied with a smile. "Yes I remember hearing about how your grandfather ended up with that curse and from what I've seen of you so far you take after him." Everyone laughed as the monk had at least some mind to blush at that comment.

"The wind tunnel?" Vitanie questioned. "Oh wait I remember you telling me about that when I was about ten. How a lecherous monk ended up with a generational curse because of his perverted habits. The curse was a void on the right hand that would eventually pull everything into it including the one who held the curse. The only way to break the curse was to destroy the demon that placed it, correct?"

"That's right," Miroku mumbled softly.

"Yes that is right. I remember meeting your father once, Miroku. He came to me to see if there was anyway I could place a barrier around you so that the curse would not be past to you. I traveled with him for a short while so that I could see you and see if there was anything I could do to help. The funny thing is that I had just had Vitanie and had to take her with me. So in truth you two knew each other while you were both babies," she laughed. Then she quickly sobered with her next comment. "I truly am sorry I wasn't able to spare you from the curse, though you seem to have broken it since."

"Yes the curse has been broken. So my life is no longer in danger from the wind tunnel, but who knows what will happen on our journeys," he replied with a huge smile on his face. At that moment he reached over and started rubbing Sango's backside which caused her to turn and slap the monk hard.

"Yes, you most certainly take after your grandfather and your father for that matter," Akiasa laughed remembering a similar event when she traveled with the young monk's father. "Now what else did Sen tell you, Vee? I'm afraid we got sidetracked."

"He said that there were four demons that took the earth, fire, wind, and water stones. Each demon knew that the stone would eventually start to control them. But they still took them and promised to protect them, with there lives," she finished in a whisper.

Akemi sighed at the pain that crossed Vitanie's face. He already knew the secret of the stones. His mother had told him just after Vitanie had left on her journey.

Akiasa saw the look on Akemi's face from where he sat on the other side of Vitanie. He was such a sweet boy and she knew that he would gladly take her place if he could.

"Yes there were four demons that took the other stones. Namely Michio a bull demon who had the wind stone, Yori a female dog demon with the fire stone, Benjiro a moth demon held the earth stone, and Chika a flower fairy had the water stone," Akiasa told them.

"Yes and Chika was Sen's mate," Vitanie informed them unable to keep a few tears from sliding down her cheek.

"What?" Yuki asked incredulously.

"But all those demons - - the one's that held the stones," Hiroshi stuttered.

"What about them?" Inuyasha snapped.

Vee looked up at him pleading for him to keep his comments to himself. The look she gave him was so filled with sadness and pain that he quickly muttered a sorry before she answered his question.

"Those demons - - we had to kill to get the stones," she whispered.

There were several gasps around the room while both Kagome and Sango got up and wrapped there arms around Vitanie who had started to sob. Mari was staring at the ground silently while Yuki slide to the ground in shock. Hiroshi who for a change had not had an instrument with him seemed lost until he finally left and came back with his lyre a look of sadness and pain on his face. Once Vitanie had control again she thanked Sango and Kagome for their concern and told them that they should sit back down with the others.

Akiasa placed a hand on Vitanie's knee and smiled at her, "its okay. They all knew the danger they faced and knew that one day the stones would take control over them. There is only one thing that would stop the stones from taking control over the one that carries them. That is for the bearer to also possess the spirit stone and have a pure heart. While all the demons that took the stones had a pure heart they did not have the spirit stone."

Vitanie looked over at her mother and saw the pain on her face.

"Each of those demons came here after the previous priestess passed on to talk to me." Akiasa continued. "Sen also came since he was able to once again see Chika, even for a short time. We talked about keeping the stones safe and at that time I went to the Kakusareta Chishiki Shrine and erected a stronger barrier around it. We had decided that it wouldn't be fair for one of the demons to have the spirit stone while the other three slowly became possessed. Then they once again left for the shrines where they would protect their stones."

With a deep breath Vitanie turned toward her mother determined now to see this finished so that she could properly mourn those who gave their lives for the stones. "How do I get the spirit stone without having to hurt either you or Sen?" she asked boldly.

There were a few more gasps around the room at the question.

"What do you mean by that Vitanie?" Kagome asked her hands clutching the jewel around her neck unconsciously.

"The ones that guard and protect the spirit stone are my mother and Sen. And I would like to be able to get the stone without having to hurt anyone else," Vitanie told them calmly.

"Well that makes sense," Sango said taking a quick glance at Kohaku who returned the glance, both thinking about when they had to fight each other because of Naraku. "I mean that's something I can perfectly understand. Just tell me what I can do to help," she said determined to not let someone else have to fight the ones they cared about.

Akiasa smiled at the demon slayer, "You've made some good friends here Vee. One's who will stand by you, but thankfully you won't have to fight either me or Sen. You will have to go to a shrine about one week's journey from here to get the Hoshi Ken."

"The Star Sword? Why do I need a sword?" Vitanie asked completely confused now.

"The Star Katana, actually, is a sword that has the power to break through the barrier I have erected around the shrine where the spirit stone is. You must first get the sword and then bring it here before you get the stone," Akiasa explained.

"So where is this shrine that we have to get the sword from?" Yuki asked.

"Who needs that sword my tetsusaiga can break through barriers," Inuyasha boasted. "Let's just go up and get this spirit stone and be done with it."

Akemi chuckled, "Impatient are we?"

"Why you little. . ."

"Yes I know. Vitanie has called me a brat several times. But you can't break through that barrier. I sensed the power of your sword since you entered the temple grounds and it isn't powerful enough to break the barrier," Akemi said with a smile.

"Since when can you sense a weapons power?" Vitanie asked in shock.

"It's something that has developed since you left. Like I could sense the power that now flows through that staff I gave you. It had no power when you left but bnow it does. I'm going to have to figure out how you did that," he shrugged.

"No wonder you keep on trying to walk off with my staff," she muttered.

"What do you mean my sword isn't powerful enough?" Inuyasha demanded not liking the fact that he was being ignored.

"From what I have gathered from the power of your blade it was forged from the fang of a dog demon, two dog demons if I'm not mistaken. It has the ability to break through some barriers and turns red when it does so. The attacks are the Wind Scar and the Backlash Wave. You also gathered another attack later call Adamant Barrage. With that attack your sword turns into solid adamant and then when you swing the sword it shots hundreds of shards of adamant at the enemy. I'm sorry but even though your sword is extremely powerful it isn't strong enough to break through the barrier that three separate people have taken the time to strengthen," Akemi answered with a smile still on his face.

Inuyasha was sitting there with his mouth hanging open along with everyone else who had been traveling with him. That is except for Kagome.

"How did you know all of that?" she asked in a near shout.

Akemi shrugged, "I read it from the power the sword releases. It's very easy to see if you know what to look for."

Inuyasha finally got control of himself but didn't even say anything he just turned away with a scowl now that he was told just what his sword could and couldn't do by someone who had never seen the sword in action. Sango stifled a giggle while Miroku had a huge grin on his face. Shippo bounced over to Kagome and looked over at Inuyasha in shock before turning toward Akemi.

"It's amazing the only one able to shut Inuyasha up that quickly before was Kagome. You have to tell me how you did that," Shippo declared to Akemi. By then no one else was able to stop the laughter that filled the room, all at Inuyasha's expense.

After several minutes Vitanie took a breath and turned back toward her mother. "Okay I think we've strayed from the topic again. Where is the Shrine that the Hoshi Ken's at?"

With a smile on her face she answered, "It's a week's journey to the west of here. If you follow the river west for about a day you'll hit a large meadow. From there head north for about half a day until you hit a trail. That path will lead you straight to the shrine at the base of one of the mountains," she finished.

Sango looked over at Miroku at the mention of heading west; he saw the look and nodded to show he understood what she was asking.

"The meadow about a day's journey from here, would that be where the Tijian village once stood?" she asked quietly.

Akiasa threw her head up and stared at the young slayer. "How did you know that? I thought I was the only one who remembered where the village once was."

"I had a friend growing up that was from that village, he said he was the last of his kind. He died in a raid of our village several years later," Sango answered though she kept her eyes on the floor.

"I never knew anyone survived. Could you please tell me his name?" Akiasa asked as tears started to form in her eyes.

Sango looked up at the priestess and saw the tears and sadness at the destruction of the village; she knew there was no harm in telling her about her friend. "His name was Kane Kado."

"Kado survived! I'm so glad to hear that he lived through the massacre. He was such a sweet boy," Akiasa said as the tears started to fall. "He used to go and pick flowers for me just outside the village. He was always wanted to please others and make others smile. I'm truly sorry to hear that he died later on, but at least he had a longer life then I first thought."

"He said he stayed next to the leader as long as he could, but that the leader pushed him into a cave behind some trees right before he died. He once said that he owned his life to Kin Tora and would do anything to get him back so that he could repay the debt," Sango finished tears also falling down her face.

Vitanie was also crying for she had heard of these people. Kado would have been her older cousin and Kin Tora was her father.

"Father saved him, so that he could live. He didn't want the Tijian's to die out. He wanted Kado to continue living for as long as he could," she whispered.

"Father? Kin Tora was your father?" Miroku asked now have the answer to one of his questions. "That means you're half Tijian."

"That's right. Vitanie is half Tijian, her father was Kin Tora, and she is now the last of her kind," Akemi answered from where he now sat between his mother and sister trying to comfort them.

After a while they were able to talk again with only occasional sniffles heard here and there. They planned on what they would do a decided that the next morning they would leave and head for the Tijian village. They would stay there for the night before continuing on in search for the Hoshi Ken.

---------

Tora-chan: Wow, this is the longest chapter so far. I'm very proud of myself for that.

Yuki: What's the big deal so it's about a page longer then normal, big whoop.

Tora-chan: I wasn't expecting you to understand Yuki. Now I would like to thank Gfam89 and RoCkRcHiK for there review for chapter 15 and Shikahanyou for all the reviews she has given for all the chapters she's read so far. You guys are the greatest. I would still like to know who the other five or six people are that are reading my story, so please review, pretty pretty please.

Yuki: Sheesh now you're begging.

Tora-chan: Watch it Yuki or I might just have to do something really embarrassing to you in the next chapter. Like have Morio show up and tell really embarrassing baby stories about you.

Yuki: Fine I'll behave. Words of advice to everyone out there: Don't tick off writers.

Tora-chan: You better believe. Oh I would like to apologize for all the typos and mistakes in chapter 15. I reread it today while I was typing this chapter and found several mistakes. I would also like to apologize now for any mistakes that are in this chapter, I am my own editor so there are bound to be mistakes that I miss. Thank you for understanding. Okay Hiroshi you can finish off now.

Hiroshi: That you for reading and putting up with this crazy authoress and wolf. Please review and have a nice day (bows).

Yuki: Did he just call me crazy?

Tora-chan: Yep so deal with it. (Walking away from computer).