"Basically, the Heartless are beings that don't have hearts, so they travel from world to world stealing hearts from other people." Sora explained.

"Then no wonder they ignored Inu-yasha! He doesn't have a heart!" Shippo exclaimed as if he had just discovered the secret of the universe. That comment rewarded him with several large lumps on his head.

"Sora, do ya recon that they followed us here?" Goofy asked looking at Sora quizzically.

"Why would they follow you here?" Kagome asked, clearly trying to understand the situation. Donald, who was still strongly against telling them, stepped on Goofy's foot harshly.

"Don't tell them anything! Remember, the king told us to preserve the world order!" Though far from helping the situation, Donald's comment only fed Inu-yasha, Kagome, and Shippo's curiosity. Sora, realizing that the situation was only going to get worse, decided to step in.

"Look, strictly speaking, we're not supposed to tell anyone about the Heartless or where we come from."

Everyone was silent for a minute, then Shippo said with a look of realization dawning on his face,

"Hey... you said that the Heartless go from world to world, right? So does that mean you guys travel from world to world too?" Sora, Donald and Goofy flinched. "So I was right!" the boy said triumphantly, correctly interpreting the expressions on their faces.

"Could you please not tell anybody?" Sora asked pleadingly. Even though Kagome looked like she really wanted to know more she said,

"Okay, we'll leave you alone about it. And we promise not to tell anybody."

"What about our friends Sango and Miroku?" Shippo asked. Sora mulled it over and replied,

"Well, only if you trust them not to spread this around." Changing the subject, Inu-yasha asked,

"So, why did you come here?"

"Sora accidentally sent us here," Donald said throwing an accusatory look at Sora before continuing," and we were taking a look around when that demon attacked us."

"And I saved you." Inu-yasha added slightly conceited. Donald seemed to have an unusually short fuse at the moment and snapped back saying,

"We didn't need your help!"

"Okay, jeez you don't need to get so cranky." Inu-yasha said then turned toward Sora and Goofy and asked," Is he always like this?"

"He kinda reminds me of you Inu-yasha." Shippo said wickedly. A few minutes and several lumps later, Kagome suggested they go visit the nearby village together.

"Um, actually... since the Heartless are drawn to me, they'll probably congregate at the village and attack the villagers." Sora replied regretfully.

"Well," Kagome said thoughtfully," I guess we'll stay here with you."

"That's not necessary - we're just fine on our own!" Donald said, but Goofy cut in and exclaimed ,

"What a great idea! Sora, they could help us find the Keyhole."

"Well, I guess if they want to..." Sora replied.

"We've got better things to do than help you look for some hole." Inu-yasha said stubbornly.

"Sit!" Kagome commanded. Shippo spoke up and asked,

"What's a Keyhole?"

"Basically it's, well, it's a keyhole for the heart of this world. If we seal it using the Keyblade," he pulled out the Keyblade for show," then the Heartless can't enter it." They seemed content with Sora's explanation and agreed to help look for the keyhole.

"So, where should we start looking for it, Sora?" Goofy asked.

"I guess we should head for where the Heartless are strongest."

"Um, I'll just stay here and wait for you guys to get back." Shippo said with a shiver. Inu-yasha picked him up and said with a wicked grin,

"Oh, you're coming too Shippo. You're not sacred are you?"

"O-Of course n-not!" Sora couldn't help but notice that Shippo didn't seem very enthusiastic about going.

"So which direction are we headed in, Keyblade Master?" Donald seemed to be trying to intimidate Inu-yasha by rubbing Sora's title in his face. Mastering the impulse to laugh, Sora replied,

"Umm...northeast of here."

"Well, then let's get a move on." Kagome said enthusiastically. So the six of them walked through the trees with Sora at the lead and Inu-yasha bringing up the rear mumbling something about cruel and insensitive women.