"So what's on the agenda today, Miroku?" Sango asked attentively. She gave him a sideways glance as they stood side by side in front of the mansion they had stayed in the night before.

Miroku put a hand to his chin in thought, eyes closed, and "We should continue business as usual."

Kagome joined them from behind, catching Miroku's words, "And what would that be?" She asked.

"It would be traveling where ever you tell us to, Kagome. Do you sense a jewel shard anywhere nearby?"

She paused for a moment, "No…"

"Well, then we should simply wander to the next village." He smiled, "That always seems to bring something our way."

Just as they had come to an agreement, the last of their group joined them. Inuyasha came up from the rear right, and Rei from the rear left. They stayed on opposite ends of the group, as far away from each other as possible.

"So it's decided then." Inuyasha started down the dirt path through the village with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

Kagome, Miroku, and Sango looked at each other, then at Rei. Rei quietly followed. So they rest did as well.

Miroku eventually caught up with Inuyasha and the girls stayed together behind them.

Shippo was perched on Kagome's shoulder as usual. He wasn't as talkative as he usually was. He seemed to be distracted at the moment. Kagome noticed him looking around.

"Shippo," she asked, "What are you looking for?"

"Rei's ravens, I haven't seen them around."

Sango perked up, "Your right! Where are they Rei?"

"Around." She looked to Sango and Kagome, "Their pretty smart. Even if I can't see them, I know their around. They wouldn't abandon me."

"They must be really loyal." Kagome mused.

"Yes, they are. They used to be my only friends before I met Serena and the other Sailor Scouts."

Sango and Kagome looked at each other.

Shippo spoke what they were thinking, "You must miss them, huh?"

Rei looked at her feet as she walked, "Yeah, I do. I'm sure their worried sick over me too."

Their conversation moved along from their as they walked. Rei told them about what her friends were like, what the Sailor Scouts were, and what they did. Each of the girls connected to Rei in their own way. Sango knew what it was like to be missing a mother or father. Rei was sad for her and thought her lucky to have a younger sibling. Kagome could relate to Rei's previous lives, even though being a reincarnation wasn't really the same thing. Kagome and Rei also talked a little about their favorite hobbies and their favorite foods, and where they liked to go when they were back in the future.

Miroku and Inuyasha weren't as talkative. They each walked in silence, not saying more than a few words here and there about the weather. Miroku had the sense though that Inuyasha just appreciated the company.

Kagome was curious about how Rei planned on finding Kikyo.

Rei answered, "I don't plan on finding her at all! If I wait patiently, she will come to me."

"What makes you so sure?"

"It's what I saw in the fire. She is the one who wants me out of the picture because she thinks I am going to kill Inuyasha for Naraku. That will make her want to come af1ter me.""Yes, I see." Sango agreed, "If you were to go after her, she would second guess herself and it would be harder to confront her. "

Kagome still didn't quite understand, "That makes sense but, why do you have to kill her? Is it only because she wants to kill you?"

"Kagome!" Sango scolded. "Rei has no other choice if she wants to return home. How would you feel if you had to stay here with us for the rest of your life?"

Kagome didn't know how to answer so she didn't say anything. If she said it would be awful, she might insult her friends. If she said she wouldn't mind, they might question her values for not wanting to return to her family.

Sango knew it was a difficult question, that's why she'd asked it.

"It alright, I understand what she's saying. That is the only reason though…I can't just stand back and let her kill me, or run away from her forever." Rei didn't want to tell them everything she had seen, about Kikyo killing Kagome. "Besides, she is already dead.

"True," Sango agreed, "You would simply be sending her back to hell."

"I guess your right then." Kagome sighed, "Besides, if we continue to look for Naraku like we have been, were bound to run into her."

"Is she after him as well then?" Rei asked, "I was unclear of her motives."

Sango answered, "Yes, she seeks revenge. Probably just for her death, since her true feeling toward Inuyasha are unknown to us."

"Sound's like a good idea then. I have a feeling he'll be going after me soon anyway, so it shouldn't take long to run into him."

"Oh, that's right!" Kagome realized, "You still have a sacred jewel shard in your hand."

"Right, he'll be wanting it back."

Sango sighed, "Then it's a waiting game controlled by him as usual I suppose."

Kagome agreed, "Isn't it always?"

Kagura sat at the opposite end of the room form Naraku. She had grown curious about him lately; his activity had been minimal if at all in the last week or so. She voiced these thoughts to him timidly.

"Yes, I know. I am practicing patience and waiting for an opportunity to arise." H answered.

She asked.

"I will wait for Inuyasha and his friends to locate a sacred jewel shard. Kikyo has disappeared, so she is of no help."

"It makes sense." Kagura nodded.

"So, now we can take it easy for a while."

It would take the rest of the day and evening before they would reach the next village. It was well secluded, and was rather small in size and population.

They fist spotted it when they came to the top of a wooded hill.

"Wow!" Shouted Shippo. The view was amazing, and they all took a moment to appreciate it.

The village was built like any other, with rice patties, huts, live stock and a town center.

"How does a village so secluded get by?" wondered Kagome.

"They must be smiths of some kind, look at the smoke from those huts." Sango pointed to the outskirts of the village.

"Hmm…" Miroku wondered. "Yes, they must specialize in producing a good and seclude themselves to preserve their craft."

"Whatever the reason, they must have food. I'm starving!" Inuyasha exclaimed and started down the hill.

The rest followed suit.

The path was down hill and slightly treacherous, as it grew more narrow. Inuyasha was still in front of the group and soon left them far behind as he bounded down the hill with ease.

Kagome was not pleased, "Inuyasha, you jerk! Don't just leave- whoa!" She had to stop as she slipped on a disturbed rock. Luckily Sango was behind her to grasp her arm.

The two women continued cautiously down the hill together. Shippo followed at their heels just as easily as expected of a fox demon.

Miroku extended an arm to Rei, "Are you alright, Lady Rei?"

"Huh, so far…" her voice was unsure.

She took his offer and wrapped an arm around his.

So the remainder of the group continued down the hill in pairs. When they reached the end of the trail, the land leveled. Rei took her arm away from the monk and they stopped to have a look around.

"What's that clanging sound?" Shippo asked, ears wiggling.

"I don't know." Sango wondered, "I noticed it too as we were coming down the hill.

Kagome looked around, "Where's Inuyasha?"

Miroku raised his shoulders, "Looking for food? We'll catch up with him."

So the group continued, with Rei and Miroku in the front and Sango and Kagome behind.

Coming up to a home, an elderly lady was outside hanging laundry.

"Excuse me!" Miroku called and hurried forward.

Rei followed quickly behind.

"Excuse me ma'am, but I was wondering if you've spotted someone walk by, he isn't hard to miss."

The old lady looked up slowly from her basket of clothes. She peered at Miroku questioningly and then turned her head to Rei. Her eyes furrowed as she took them in, concentrating. Suddenly, she seemed to have realized something.

"Help!" She screamed.

Miroku put up his arms in surprise, "What? No! He won't hurt anyone…"

The lady turned around and shouted, "Help! Kuro miko!"

Miroku looked to Rei.

"What?! But I'm no such thing!" Rei looked around waving her hands in panic.

Sango and Kagome joined them. Sango asked, "What's wrong with her? She won't stop screaming!"

Miroku turned around, "No, really? I hadn't noticed."

Kagome pointed ahead of them down the road, "Huh, guys?"

The three turned around, "WHAT?"

"LOOK!"

When they turned around, a mass of men from the rice fields were seen rushing towards them. In their hands they held their tools of farming; shovels, reapers, knives and ho's.

Rei took a step back, "What the hell?"

Sango looked to Miroku with rage, "What did you do, monk?!"

"Nothing!" He said with obvious hurt on his face. "They're after the dark miko!" He pointed to Rei.

"Whatever they want, RUN!" Rei shouted and spun on her heels.

They rest turned to follow, but they were soon met by more men.

"Were surrounded…" Sango cursed. She grasped her Hiraikotsu.

"What do we do?" Rei asked to the monk.

"I'm not sure, but if they pressure us we may have no choice but to use violence to escape."

For the moment the crowd of men was content with trapping them within their circle. Then from the side, the men parted to let someone pass. It was an older man on horseback wearing a strange robe of black.

He stood before them, and surveyed the group. "Take the miko and the monk."

"Not so fast!" A growl was heard from above.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called.

His figure was currently flying over the heads of the villagers, and landed in the middle with his friends.

"Do not hurt them, they are only human!" Miroku warned.

"What else do you plan on doing then?"

A man came forward and grabbed Rei's arm, "Hey, let go of me! I haven't done anything!" She tried to pull away, but another man came forward.

Inuyasha turned to help, but he was soon mobbed as the rest of the men came rushing forwards.

"Don't hurt her, stop!" Miroku was no help as he also was grabbed from behind.

Sango confronted the man, "Hey, what is the meaning of this? Let our friends go!"

The man looked to her and Kagome, "So you are friends with these people?"

Sango realized her mistake, and made her move. She grabbed Kagome and pulled her close. Reaching into her breast pocket, she brought out a small black capsule.

"Grab her!" the man ordered too late.

A cloud of smoke erupted from Sango and Kagome.

"Kirara!" Sango called.

"Their!" a man from the crowd called.

Kirara avoided spears as they were thrown at her from below. She struggled a bit from the extra weight of three people. Inuyasha usually would have carried Kagome, but it was too dangerous to be on the ground.

Kagome spotted Rei and Miroku, "Sango, there!" She pointed below them.

The miko and monk were being dragged towards the hills, with their hands tied behind their backs.

Sango and Kagome called out to them.

Rei and Miroku heard their calls and got to their feet. They slipped their hands under their feet raised their hands to their friends. Miroku was closer, and was the first to be grabbed. Inuyasha hopped off and started beating off the men away from Kirara. Rei took advantage of the confusion among her assailants and started to run ahead. Kagome held a hand out and they grasped for each other.

Just as Kagome was about to pull Rei to safety, Kagome felt herself falling. She looked down to see a man holding Rei.

Rei tried to kick him off but her legs were locked, and both hands were with Kagome.

"Aah! Sango!" Kagome called.

Sango noticed Kagome's slipping form, and tried to pull her up. It was to no avail as the man gave one mighty tug, and pulled both Kagome and Rei back to earth.

The women toppled with a scream. They were instantly covered in men to subdue them.

When Inuyasha turned around, they were nowhere to be seen. From his left, Sango and Miroku were also having trouble. Miroku was still tied and Sango was busy deflecting spears from Kirara, who was struggling to gain altitude.

Inuyasha had no choice but to assist the friends that he could see. After beating off some men, Kirara was able to get away. He and his friends escaped into the wooded hills that surrounded the village. They would have to go back for Rei and Kagome.

Authors Note: Im sorry this update was so overdue, but its the end of the school year so things are a little hectic. How'd you like this latest chapter? Send me a review!