Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha Characters, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I'm merely using them for my own twisted enjoyment. I do however, own all Original Characters, this plot line, and all the fan fics referenced in this story. :D

Terms:

Virid: green

Sulphureous: bright yellow

Niveous: snowy; white

Nacarat: bright orange-red

Atrous: jet black

Ultramarine: deep blue

Rubiginous: rusty-colored

Chapter twenty one:

Two days later Naien and Bankotsu had discussed in detail, everything she could possibly remember about each characters and events in the series. She patiently answered his many questions. For the last two days he'd grilled her over and over again on the information and then decided what he would and wouldn't share about with the others.

Now Bankotsu stood beside Naien as the Inutachi slowly began entering the camp. It was already half way through the day when everyone had finally arrived.

Miroku frowned. "Not really much luck on our parts. We were able to find out some of the lesser demons are stirred up but that's it."

Bankotsu grinned. "Naien and I found some local bandits on the road talking about an explosion coming from mount Hakurei."

They were sitting around the fire while Kagome made everyone a quick lunch.

Over the past few hours Bankotsu had Naien write up a new list of information and only what he'd agreed for the others to know. Naien stood up and grabbed the list handing it to Bankotsu.

Everyone looked on in curiosity.

Bankotsu smirked. "This is a list of things Naien has remembered from the series about us, so far."

At everyone's shocked gasps Naien explained calmly. "Where I come from there is an anime named Inuyasha- It's about how Kagome freed Inuyasha from the tree and all their adventures together." At their raised brows and suspicious looks she concluded. "Long story short, that's how I know about all of you and Naraku, as well as what he plans to do next."

Bankotsu handed the list back to Naien and nodded for her to take it to Inuyasha.

She nodded and walked over to the hanyou handing him the list.

Scanning it over he passed it to Kagome, who read the list and explained it to everyone.

Placing her sulphureous bag on the ground, and taking a seat, Kagome placed the book in her lap. "So you said Naraku has already left mount Hakurei?" She stared at the pair of lovers.

Naien and Bankotsu nodded.

Remembering what the list contained, Miroku frowned as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Than this means the heart is already created?"

Naien nodded. "It won't be much longer before Hakudoshi comes into the picture, unless we can stop it first and for that to work - "

Perusing the list again Sango looked up. "Kagome has to get kidnapped, doesn't she?"

Naien nodded. "The way it plays out, Sango and Miroku go with Kagome to a strange village and end up getting tied up, with their weapons taken away. Kagome gets taken into the hut and the baby peers into her heart."

Taking charge Bankotsu finished. "Here's the thing - in order for this to work you have to play along like you don't know anything. If Kagome plays her part right, we can nab the baby, kill the wind demoness and destroy Naraku all in one swoop."

Naien sighed. "Bankotsu and I will have to fade into the shadows like we're no longer in existence. Obviously I can't give you all the details, because you have to play along and make things look real." Turning to the anxious teenager, she instructed. "Just trust that Inuyasha will save you Kagome."

Bankotsu smirked. "Know also that Naien and I will be close by at all times, no one will see or sense us, but we'll be there." Watching their mouths open he held up a hand and spoke firmly. "Don't ask how either."

Naien grinned. "Magicians never reveal their secrets, right Kagome?" She winked at Kagome, who nodded.

Sango, Miroku, Kagome, and Inuyasha, all nodded.

Naien informed them gravely, "Unless we stop him soon the heart will become two infants and then we'll have a whole new world of bigger problems. For now let's focus on finding that infant."

Everyone nodded their agreement.

Naien instructed, "Kagome take your friends back to Shintaro's village and check on them, everything will fall into place after that." Signaling to Bankotsu she took the book putting it away and they began to pack up their belongings.

Inuyasha sighed. "Alright guys, let's pack up and head out to Shintaro's village." They ate lunch and set off to Shintaro's village.

Bankotsu took Naien's hand and they took off on their own mission fading into the scenery around them.

Bankotsu pulled a pellet out of his pocket and shattered it in his hand. Holding his hand over their heads he allowed the dust to blanket over himself and Naien causing them to disappear without a trace of where they'd gone to.

Inuyasha and the others frowned when they could no longer sense the mercenary leader and his wife, but made their way to the village.

XOXOXO:

At Shintaro's Village

Shintaro and his three elder sisters were passing out food to the villagers from an enormous iron pot when Kagome and the others arrived.

As Shintaro and his sisters' made their way over to Kagome and the group, Inuyasha shoved his hands in the sleeves of his fire rat haori and went to stare out at the water.

"Miroku, Kagome, you came back," Two of the sisters happily declared.

Miroku replied, "You're all looking well if I may say so."

Sango kept a watchful eye on her lecherous companion.

Kagome noticed Inuyasha by himself. She quietly walked over standing beside him. "Aren't you glad Inuyasha?"

He spoke softly, "Huh? Yeah," hearing Shippo having trouble moving a log, from the stack in the middle of the village, Inuyasha's tone became bored. "Hang on Shippo, I'll give you a hand, " He walked over collecting a small load of wood to carry over.

Kagome stood on the beach watching Inuyasha and thinking about the situation with Kikyo. She watched Inuyasha helping the tyke.

They helped they villagers a while and set off down the road again. Inuyasha and Miroku noticed a demonic aura in the area and Inuyasha ran to where it had been scented, finding in its path a destroyed village.

As Miroku and Inuyasha set about digging graves for the villagers, Kagome, Shippo, and Sango, went around gathering fresh flowers to place on the graves.

Shippo ran over with his arm load. "Here these are for the graves."

Miroku was currently digging in the grave. He looked up. "Thanks, but we have enough now."

A strange looking old man approached and said in a wizened old voice, "Excuse me, but it would seem there's been a tragedy. Please allow me to help?"

The Inutachi gasped and agreed. Kagome bowed to him. "Thanks very much."

He set to work on the graves with them. Once all the villagers had been buried and laid to rest. They sat around talking with the old traveler.

"So you say you came from the area around mount Hakurei?" Miroku asked.

"Yes, I've been on a pilgrimage traveling around these lands. I heard that mount Hakurei, the sacred mountain, had collapsed and that an evil aura was spreading south."

"I see," Miroku frowned as the others remained quiet.

"Oddly enough, it's exactly as that priestess said."

Everyone gasped and once the old man was sure he'd gotten all their attentions, he continued, "It was two days ago, an injured priestess washed up on the river bank near a village on the other side of the mountains. She mumbled about being wounded by Naraku and then she said that she had to go after this Naraku fellow."

Inuyasha's eyes widened. 'That has to be Kikyo, there's no doubt. So she did survive.'

Kagome felt shocked to her very core. 'Kikyo…'

The old man continued, "However, her injuries were so serious, she may have already died from them."

Knowing it was what he wanted to do the most anyways, Kagome ordered, "Go Inuyasha."

Unsure he'd heard her right, He asked, "Kagome?" staring at her curiously.

In a voice filled with conviction, Kagome said, "This is no time to hesitate, now hurry. Kikyo must be waiting." Staring directly into the amber eyes she loved so much, she hid her own feelings deep inside.

"Yes." Inuyasha bowed his niveous head. "Forgive me," He ran off to search for his first love.

Jumping onto the time traveler's shoulder, Shippo looked at her intently. "Are you sure about this Kagome?"

Kagome looked away. "It can't be helped." Sad that Inuyasha had to leave she knew deep down he'd never forgive himself if he didn't.

Inuyasha ran off in the direction he'd been given. 'Forgive me Kagome, I have to be sure this time whether Kikyo is dead or alive, otherwise I won't be able to go on,' He continued running toward his first love.

Kagome and the others decided to continue down the road after waiting an hour with no sign of Inuyasha returning. They journeyed down the dirt path away from the ruined village.

"Inuyasha hasn't returned, "Sango pointed out as they ambled down the path.

Miroku calmly led the group away from the destroyed village. "Well, let's keep going."

Kagome remained withdrawn and quiet.

Shippo walked alongside the humans sending his surrogate mother looks of deep concern. 'I hope she will be okay.'

Miroku stared sideways at his somber friend. "Inuyasha will undoubtedly pick up Kagome's scent and find us that way."

Sango sighed. "I guess." She too was worried for her dearest friend.

Nacarat hair flapping as he bounced into the air Shippo piped in enthusiastically, "Oh he's right." He sent a side glance at the silent teenage priestess.

Picking up the sound of a horse and many feet approaching Shippo and Kirara quickly made a beeline for the cover of the tall grass, slipping away unseen.

A man riding a horse with a small army of armed villagers came up behind them. "Hold it right there you three. You all look suspicious." His horse galloped up to within a foot of them.

Kagome blinked. "Eh?" her head titled to the side.

Sango shrugged. "Maybe he means your clothes Kagome."

The small group of friends turned to face the newcomers.

The man on the horse stared down at them. "There have been many strange happenings in this vicinity lately, so we have been ordered to detain all suspicious looking travelers," staring down on the bothersome trio from the back of his mighty steed. "Now come," he ordered with his reigns in hand.

Sango slipped over to Miroku and spoke in a low voice. "What do you think? We can easily defeat them and escape."

Miroku chided softly, "Come, come my dear Sango, don't start talking like Inuyasha." He whispered back, "Besides just look at them, they're ordinary humans if you ask me. We can escape any time we choose." The two never took their eyes from the armed men.

The atrous haired man on the horse bellowed. "What are you two talking about over there?" He turned to his me. "Get the rope and tie them up!"

The armed villagers quickly surrounded the trio and bound them securely, removing their weapons as well.

Curious as to what was going on the trio decided to allow the people to restrain them and followed as they were led to the village.

XOXOXO:

In the grass Shippo pet Kirara staying out of sight and kept his voice low. "Oh no, this is bad. We have to find Inuyasha and bring him back - let's go Kirara." The two little demons set off to retrieve their wayward hanyou friend hoping to find him in time to rescue their other friends.

XOXOXO:

Bankotsu and Naien had crouched behind the trees, moving over to listen intently, the minute they'd picked up the sound of horse hooves.

Naien nodded to Bankotsu.

He soundlessly peered through the thick underbrush waving Naien over to crouch beside him.

She too carefully peered through the foliage and nodded moving back to let him continue his silent surveillance.

They strained their ears barely catching the village man's words, but they caught enough to know their plan was falling into place.

Ultramarine eyes watched intently as the trio was led toward a village. As soon as it was safe to follow and not get caught, he silently motioned for Naien to follow him.

She nodded once that she'd understood.

The mercenary stealthily followed the people from behind the thick, ample cover of the trees and underbrush, with his lover following right behind him just as proficiently and silent.

As they heard the horse stop Bankotsu peered through the foliage again and after realizing they'd been taken to the village. He moved back and motioned for Naien to remain silent. Without a sound he instructed her to follow him and they moved back deeper into their surroundings. He led her over to a tree and kept his voice very low. "It seems that's the place," He indicated the village not too far from them.

Naien nodded. "Now we wait and see how things will play out from here."

Bankotsu nodded. Taking her hand he led her around the rougher terrain attempting to circle around the area and get into the best position for them to be able to run in to help, without giving away their surprise attack until the very last minute.

The two lovers quietly made their way around to behind the stone wall by the villa and sank back into the light cover of trees, biding their time as they watched for any signs of trouble.

XOXOXO:

A/N there's chapter twenty one all, enjoy! :D