Tora-chan: Once again I'm back. Sorry about all the waits but this writer's block is a major pain.
Aillas: Isn't that why I'm here?
Tora-chan: Yes so why aren't you HELPING?!
Vitanie: Yelling at him won't help you.
Tora-chan: You're right, but it makes me feel better.
Aillas: How about you start the chapter and see what happens.
Tora-chan: Watch it bud, if you bug me too much I might just have to write Tren and get her to send that undead cat of yours just to drive you nuts.
Aillas: You could do that or you could start the chapter.
Tora-chan: (Growling at Aillas)
Hiroshi: Here's the next chapter for your reading pleasure. And I would like to apologize for Tora-chan for taking so long. She has recently started another semester of school and is working a lot. Forgive the lateness of this chapter please.
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Last time: Rest, relaxation, and continuing forward. Pretty slow and lame chapter now that I read it again (Man I hate writer's block!!!!)
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Vitanie walked around the bend in the trail and stopped in shock before letting out a resounding yell.
"Yippee!!!"
At the yell Yuki and Inuyasha both rushed forward ready for a fight causing Vitanie to stare at them before breaking out laughing.
"You guys need to learn how to understand a yell of joy when you hear one," she said between chuckles.
"Vitanie, what's going on?" Kagome asked coming up behind her.
"Oh, look at that," Sango commented looking at the large temple in front of her. "This must be the temple that the sword is at."
"Yeah so let's get this sword and get out of here. I just want to get home again and take a nap," Vitanie replied trying to smoother a yawn.
"Well if you let yourself rest and heal properly then we wouldn't have this problem now would we," Hiroshi grumbled.
"You're just upset because Vitanie got her way once again," Kohaku laughed, causing everyone around them to start chuckling at the musician.
"For that I should put you all to sleep," he grumbled while everyone ignored him.
"It looks well cared for, so perhaps we should go and get the sword, stay the night and then head back tomorrow."
"Miroku you're just looking for a free meal and a roof to sleep under," Vitanie laughed.
"The cat's right we should get the sword and leave. The sooner we're gone, the sooner we get the last elemental stone," Inuyasha remarked.
"I didn't say that, dog breathe. I just commented on Miroku's statement. I have no problem with staying here for the night. But shouldn't we first see if the priest or priestess here will let us stay, before decided on what we do," Vitanie sighed and slightly growled; not liking Inuyasha speaking for her.
"Yes let's go see if there is anyone here," Sango stated as she moved forward. Before she could make it to the gate she was stopped by a yell.
"Who willingly trespasses on the land of our sacred shrine?" a voice boomed out from the gateway.
The group looked up and tried not to laugh at the short man that stood there. He was trying to look intimidating but didn't succeed in the least. The only one's he was taller then was Shippo, Mari, and Kirara (when she wasn't in her larger form).
After swallowing the laughing fit Vitanie wanted to have she bowed to the man, "We are sorry to intrude but we are searching for the shrine that holds to Hoshi Ken. We would also like a place to stay for the night if possible."
The man gazed at her with obvious disdain in his eyes picking up on the demon traits of hers and some of the others.
"Why would reasonable humans mingle with demon filth?" he scoffed ignoring her question. "There is no reason for humans to mingle with inferior beasts. The humans may stay here but the others should leave before I purify you," he sneered at her.
Before anyone could argue a wooden bowl went soaring threw the air and hit the short man in the back of the head. "Shaiming! That is no one to speak to guests!" a voice exclaimed as a girl walked toward the gate. The girl was a contrast compared to the man. She was tall standing about Inuyasha's height with short golden hair. She was young as well being about the same age as Sango and Kagome. "I'm sorry for his rudeness please come in and rest," she smiled at them.
Once everyone was inside the gate Shaiming closed it grumbling about demons and purifying the need to purify the lot of them.
"Don't let his attitude fool you. He's very pleasant once you get to know him. My names Mani and you've already met Shaiming," she smiled pointing towards the shorter man.
"Those are interesting names. They don't seem to be from this area," Miroku commented walking forward to stand next to Sango.
"Very perceptive; we are from the mainland. Our families moved to this shrine when I was a baby. Shaiming and I were told that it was our duty to protect the Hoshi Ken until the rightful owner came for it."
"You shouldn't so willingly give out information like that," Yuki grumbled just loud enough for Mani to hear.
"I'm not worried. I was meditating when you got here and I know that you aren't a danger to us. Now come and rest I'm sure you're tired from your journey," she smiled ushering them into a house on the shrine grounds.
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"This is too easy!" Inuyasha exclaimed ten minutes later when they were left alone. "The way that girl is acting makes it way too easy for people to come here and take the sword. What's to say the sword isn't already gone?" he questioned uneasily looking around the room.
"Inuyasha will you relax, Mani doesn't mean any harm. Besides be glad that you're able to rest. Hopefully we'll be back on the road tomorrow on the way back home," Vitanie sighed as she stood up and walked toward the door.
"And where are you going? If anyone needs to rest it's you," Hiroshi snapped as he stood up to follow her.
"Hiroshi, sit and create a new song. I'm going to talk to Mani about getting the Hoshi Ken," the half tigress sighed rubbing her forehead from the headache she felt coming on.
"I'll go with you. I wanted to talk to Mani as well," Kagome said joining her at the door.
"Sure lets get out of here before they stop us," Vitanie grinned dragging her out the door with her.
"Sorry about that," she sighed a few minutes later. "I just needed to get out of there before Hiroshi decided I needed a nap."
"Don't worry about it," Kagome shrugged. "I noticed you get along great with your friends but you guys fight a lot as well. How have you guys managed so far?"
Vitanie looked over at Kagome in shock before shrugging it off, "I guess we get along. They all joined me for different reasons. Hiroshi needed protection, Yuki wanted the power of the elemental stones, and Mari didn't have any family to return to."
"But you were looking for the stones and they decided to help," Kagome guessed as they moved towards the main shrine, causing Vitanie to laugh. "Did I say something funny?"
"No, I'm sorry. It's just I didn't even want to hunt for the stones. It was actually Hiroshi that wanted to follow the rumors of them. Especially after Yuki attacked us thinking we had them."
"What? Yuki attacked you!"
"Yeah, the first time we meet. Turns out that Rei told Yuki that I had the elemental star stone. The stupid wolf wanted the power to protect his pack so attacked me. Hiroshi put the whole pack to sleep with his lyre. At the time we didn't even know that he could that. It wasn't until several weeks later that we came across Yuki and the pack again. Only this time they were fighting for the wind stone. Yuki was badly injured and probably would have died if I hadn't taken control and gotten the remaining wolves to tend to the injuries."
"So that's how you got the wind stone, Yuki gave it to you."
"No," she blurted. "I took the stone from the remains of Michio the bull demon. When Yuki tried to take it from me later he couldn't touch it. And before you ask, he didn't attack me again. I told him to take the stone. The stone rejected him," she sighed once again fingering the light blue-grey stone absently.
"You seem to have some fine friends. I see Akiasa's worries about the stones were for nothing," a voice said from directly in front of them.
"Mani, I . . ."
"I saw you two walking toward the shrine, but you seemed to have stopped to talk. I decided to meet you halfway," she smiled. Vitanie and Kagome looked over at each other shock evident on their faces. "I can tell that you didn't even realize that you stopped walking. Now come I'm sure you have many questions to ask. And I'm sure Vitanie Tora that you wish to know more about the Hoshi Ken."
"Wait, how did you know my full name?"
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With Leiko and Hideaki
"You stupid fox, where are you leading me, we have walked by that rock formation about five times. Is there a reason you're leading me in circle?!" Leiko yelled
"I don't get it, the path was here before. I know it's around here somewhere," Hideaki muttered to himself as he went crawling through the brush trying to find the path that was suppose to lead toward the western fox dens.
"Hey idiot did it ever occur to you that most fox demons specialize in allusions. That means you could be on the path and not even realize it," Leiko smirked from where she decided to lean against a tree waiting for the black fox to decide to give up and try another way.
"I know that, Lei. I am a fox after all and this is my family we're talking about. But I should be able to find it. Anyone with family blood should see it without any problem. I don't know why I can't see it!" he finished in a yell as he stood up with sticks and leaves stuck in his hair.
Leiko couldn't help it and started to laugh at the sight of the frustrated and anxious fox. "Who knew you would get so flustered."
"Would you shut-up!" he yelled walking over to her.
"Whatever. Now come on we should head somewhere else before the sun sets," she shrugged ignoring his frustrated growl.
"Why did I agree to take you with me?"
"Because you need me to - -"
"Hey why did you stop?" he asked just as she hissed and tackled him to the ground hiding them both in the bushes. Just above them a fire ball exploded.
"You're too late fox. Now you will see what happens to those who betray me," they heard Rei's voice cackle before his demon energy disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
"What the. . ." Hideaki started and then stared at the bare path a few feet away. A light breeze was blowing down the path carrying the scent of blood and burning flesh. With in a second of thought Hideaki was down the trail with Leiko following closely behind him.
They stopped at the edge of a group of dens. All of the openings had been collapsed so there was no escape into the cave system that traveled through the mountain. Black fire surrounded the clearing in front of the dens where the bodies of fox demons lay upon each other. Some where alight from the black flames but others had stomachs and throats cut. And in the middle of the clearing where three fox demons torn to pieces. One looking to have been no more then eight years old.
"Hideaki?" Leiko asked quietly. At the sound of her voice he fell to the ground before lifting his head a screaming his rage into the sky.
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Tora-chan: Wow I finally finished. It only took me months to write it.
Vitanie: Doesn't that mean that Aillas isn't doing his job?
Tora-chan: It sure does. And Tren said I could beat him up if I wanted to.
Aillas: She only said that because you can't kill me (shrugging)
Tora-chan: You're lucky I don't hurt my muses.
Vitanie: No you just cage them and send them to other people
Tora-chan: If you don't cut it out Vitanie I'll cage you and ship you out.
Hiroshi: If you do that, you'll never get any writing done.
Tora-chan: I know (sighing) could someone please end the chapter? (Walking off looking for chocolate)
Hiroshi: Thanks for reading, please review as Tora-chan needs a pick me up. Oh and RoCkRcHiK Tora-chan wanted to let you know that she felt obligated to get this chapter out for you.
Vitanie: Yeah and thanks.
Hiroshi: I hope everyone has a nice morning, day, and night (bows)
Aillas: Agreed and Cheerio.