he Wolf Miko

Author's note: ok I really what to get this thing started and more interesting so I'm going to try what I can and just pray to Kami that it'll work.

Here we go!

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Chapter Eight

The Mystery Beyond

The Black Knight and the Sorting of the Two

Miko Priestesses

"NO! NOT THE SPIDERS! KEEP THE SPIDERS AWAY!" Ron was having another one of his spider nightmares and was jerking, tossing and turning, not even waking up Hermione who he knocked over and caused her head to fall back on the seat. Draco woke from the ruckus and almost didn't notice Niruki and Kirara laying by Nanako's still unconscious form.

"Weaslbee! Can you keep quiet?" Draco scolded hitting Ron on the head. "Awe. What was that for?" Ron asked sleepily, but Draco didn't hear. Harry was up now and saw with disbelieving eyes of what Draco was doing. "What are you still doing here? Don't tell me you actually care for someone else." Harry stated coldly. "Shut-up Potter!" Draco whispered, checking Nanako's temperature and bandages. "What happened to her? Is she okay?" Draco asked worriedly. "She'll be fine and I don't know what happened to her." Kagome said also worried and. Nanako's eyes fluttered open and she was welcomed by the sights of all the occupants.

"Excuse me! I need my space." Nanako said sitting up. "Ah my head hurts!" Nanako said cradling her head in her hands. "Nothing too bad, is it?" Kagome asked handing Nanako a container of herbal tea. "No. Thank you." Nanako said gratefully taking the container and downing it all in one gulp. "Pretty good. What's it made from?" Nanako asked handing back the container. "You don't want to know." Kagome said hoping her sister would understand.

"Time to change into robes everyone." Hermione said rubbing her head and getting her school robes from her trunk. Immediately Nanako stood, as if she were never wounded, and shoved the boys out of the compartment and slammed the door in their faces. "I don't want anyone seeing me change, Hermione I'd appreciate it if you would leave for a moment because I need to speak with my sister in private. If you refuse I'll shove you out as well and not let you re-enter the compartment till I'm finished. Hermione, seeing the same look she had earlier, did not argue with Nanako and left to another compartment to change in. She eventually found a compartment with Ginny and Luna Lovegood so she joined them. Outside the compartment of Nanako and Kagome were Harry, Ron and Draco, who were still surprised at Nanako's strength.

"She just pushed us out with hell knows how many wounds and acted as if they were nothing. Do you thing she's mad at us?" Ron asked staring at the door. "I don't think so Weasly. Come on we can go to my compartment and get changed there." Draco said, more of a suggestion than an order. "Are you actually being nice to us? You know it's not you Draco. Even more, this all started when Tikara appeared. What kind of effect does she have on you?" Harry asked trying to figure out why Draco was acting so odd. "I don't know and even if I did it's none of your business Potter" Draco said coldly, coming to the room and letting Ron and Harry enter before himself.

"Kagome." Nanako said pulling down her hair and taking off her demon slayer's uniform. "What is it Nanako?" Kagome asked pulling over her blouse and packing up her earlier clothing. "I have something to confess." Nanako said quietly. "What is it?" Kagome said concerned. Nanako took a deep sigh before beginning

"On the day we came to the headquarters of the Order, before you woke up, I went to the well house and jumped into the well, I then proceeded in taking off the seal that kept the well sealed off for both worlds. At first it didn't work but when I tried a second time I managed to finally break it and I got to the other side. It was raining so I doubted if Inuyasha or Sesshomaru were anywhere close they would determine my scent."

Nanako looked at her sister's shocked face. "You could have gotten yourself killed!" Kagome said, shaking her sister by the shoulders.

"I know, but when I climbed out there was only Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Korero, and Yukura. They told me that Inuyasha had been missing for weeks on end, and hadn't been seen since a week after they betrayed us. No doubt to see Kikyou, so I didn't ask anything besides how the children were doing. I also found that Sesshomaru had gone to the mainland to deal with some demonic governmental issues there and he wouldn't return for at least two years. So naturally he left the children with Miroku and Sango as well. Oh you should have seen them! Yukura has grown so big and looks just like you. He's funny too, not to mention Akira, His little puppy ears and he looks just like a mini version of Inuyasha, he has such a character. I missed them all, Sango gave me her demon slayer's uniform to give to you, and she expects to see us every now and then to help her fight Naraku. She fashioned a new uniform for herself and Kohaku's back with her, I don't doubt going. Miroku said that if Inuyasha was to come by they wouldn't tell that the well was no longer sealed, I made sure to seal the well in the feudal era so only those who we wanted could enter, which would of course exclude Inuyasha and Sesshomaru.

I also took the Fuyōheki from Akago, Naraku and Hakudoshi's heart, so it shouldn't be too long before Naraku is defeated." Nanako finished holding Niruki for comfort.

"I'm happy for Sango, and that Naraku hid his heart, but you shouldn't have gone," Kagome said with tears in her eyes. "You would have done the same, wouldn't you? You wouldn't want to live the rest of your life not knowing if your children were dead or alive or if they were living happy or miserable lives. I couldn't stand it, and to be truthful, it was worth risking my life if I knew I'd see my children one more time!" Nanako said with tears in her eyes and beginning to sob. "Don't cry, and I'm not mad, to be honest I would have done the same thing if you hadn't. Besides this isn't about Inuyasha or Sesshomaru anymore, it's about the children, Sango, Miroku, and killing Naraku." Kagome said also crying. "We'll beat them, I know it. I just hope it won't be too late and the war will end soon." Nanako said hopefully.

"By the way, how are Ichiro, Kira-kira, and Tikara?" Kagome asked finishing dressing and wiping the tears from her eyes, happy to know everyone was alright. "They were doing so well, and strong, one thing I'm grateful they got from their father. I made them promise they wouldn't tell Sesshomaru I was ever there if he came back from his trip, they argued of course but I told the oni would come and get them if they didn't listen to me." Nanako laughed and cried at the same time remembering the looks on her children's faces. "I can imagine." Kagome laughed.

"Hey who brought me in here? Last thing I remember was falling in the corridor in the next car." Nanako said realizing she didn't even know how she got back. "A guy calling himself the Black Knight carried you in." Kagome replied thoughtfully. "What did he look like?" Nanako asked interested in her would be savior. "I don't know he had a mask on and faced away from me." Kagome said bluntly.

"Oh, looks like Kagome has a secret admirer." Nanako teased. "Somehow I highly doubt that.' Kagome said laughing. "Why?" Nanako asked shocked at the reply. "The reason for him facing away from me was because he was looking at you." Kagome said looking Nanako straight in the eye telling her she wasn't lying. "Me? Why? I'm nothing special." Nanako asked, taken aback. "He apparently thought so; he laid you down, took off your ancient gas mask, took off his glove and caressed your cheek." Kagome said, her voice escalating. "Hang on. Which cheek?" Nanako asked thinking of something she felt in her sleep. "Umm I think it was the right cheek." Kagome said thoughtfully. "So that's what that warm feeling was." Nanako thought, with her hand on her chin. "YA THINK? YOU MOVED FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, AND THAT, my friend is probably why he didn't stick around to see you to your waking moment. He didn't want you seeing him, at all." Kagome pointed out, leaving Nanako with a priceless clueless look. "Yah that just proves he doesn't like me." Nanako said suggestively.

"Oh geez! Can you get a clue? He was bending down to kiss you no doubt!" Kagome was going a wall now. "What ever you say sis, what ever you say. Tell ya what, we'll wait till school and I'll ask him when the next tragedy hits, Kay? I'll do you one better, I'll set up a date with him for you." Nanako said with a big ear to ear grin on her face. "ARE YOU NUTS? He's not going to be waling through the halls as The Black Knight! OH ya. Will Mr. Black Knight pleasee come to the headmaster's office, Mr. Black Night to the Headmaster's office?" Kagome said imitating a teacher or the announcer, not getting to Nanako at all, leaving her laughing. "That's a good one Kagome." Nanako complemented.

"My point is he's probably got a secret identity." Kagome said getting to the point. "All right. All right. I get it the Black Night is not real. The Black Knight is my stalker." Nanako joked, not getting anything from Kagome, stopped laughing and looked at her. "Gee, tough crowd." Nanako commented. "Actually he just might be your stalker." Kagome pointed out.

"Wait I was just joking about that." Nanako said afraid she gave her sister one of those crazy ides people sometimes get when the other person ends up being stupid or doing something stupid. "We'll wait for a demon to come after us, and then we'll see if he saves us, I mean you, and then WAM! We know who his secret identity is." Kagome said getting the evil, crazy look.

"Genius plans Einstein. Accept, what if a demon doesn't come after us, I mean me? Hmm then what'll we do?" Nanako said leaning against the door with her arms crossed. "Oh we can just have Totosai attack us and Myoga suck the blood from us. We'll call it Project Black Knight, No! Plan A" Kagome said coming out of her evil scheming stat before Nanako made her comeback. "Great plan. You go ahead with that, with out me. I'm going to get the others and tell them we're dressed." Nanako looked over to Kagome who was laughing like a lunatic.

"I think she had too many of those Chocolate Frog thingies." Nanako looked over to Kagome's seat and sure enough there was a small mountain of Chocolate Frog wrappers. "Oh well we'll just see how your great plan A is going to work out with out me. What's next Plan B?" Nanako said to herself closing the door behind her. "And if that doesn't work we'll try Plan B. What do you think Nanako? Huh? Nanako where did you go?" Kagome asked looking around her before looking under the seats.

As Nanako walked down the hall she heard the voices of Draco, Ron, and Harry. "So where are Crabbe and Goyle?" Nanako heard Harry ask, she was now leaning on the door to hear in on the conversation, she knew it wasn't right to eavesdrop, but with something like this, she might find out more of why Harry didn't like Draco. "They decided not to come back this year, not to mention they couldn't since their grade level was so low." Draco replied arranging his tie. "I see, so why you so nice to us?" Harry asked again, hoping Draco wouldn't snap this time.

"I don't know it's something that's come over me. Don't think this will last Potter, I still don't like you." Draco said going slightly into his cold domineer. "Point taken. Do you by any chance..." Harry was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Yes! Who is it?" Draco asked going by the door. "It's Tikara. Are you all decent?" Draco looked at everyone in the compartment, realizing his mask was poking out of his trunk, he stuffed all things that where sticking out back into the trunk before replying. "Yes we're fine." He was about to open the door before it slid open and he came almost nose to nose with Nanako, accept she was at least a head shorter than him so it was more like nose to ponytail.

"Decent huh? Your tie is crooked and your hairs a mess." Nanako pointed out, going over to Draco and redoing his tie, causing his face to turn crimson. "Your dressed, but you don't even have your school robes on yet," Nanako scolded, finishing his tie and dinging a comb on the seat next to her started tiding Draco's hair. "You know you remind me of mum." Ron teased. "Shut-up Weaslbee!" Draco shouted. "It's okay, besides I've taken care of children, not that you're a child, but I wouldn't blame Ron for noticing." Nanako said calmly destroying Draco's age old temper.

"There, now you can all come back to the compartment, though I'd watch out for Sango if I where you. She's concocting a scheme to find out who the Black Knight is, the guy that supposedly saved me and returned me back to the compartment." Nanako said turning into the corridor with Ron, Draco, and Harry at her heel. Nanako ran faster to get to the compartment to see if Kagome was still in her genius condition. "NANAKO WAIT UP!" Draco shouted trying to catch up to a girl who has had to run for her life many times. Nanako turned to the name. "What did you say?" Nanako asked looking at Draco closely. "I told you to wait up." Draco said. Nanako blinked at him before continuing on to the compartment. "I thought I heard him call me Nanako. Does he know who I am?" Nanako asked herself that question over and over. "Why did I call her Nanako? That isn't her name, but why did I feel such the urge to call by that?" Draco thought. Nanako turned to look at Draco, he was looking at the floor seeing his eyes deep in thought and realization, and Nanako thought he might have figured out something, and indeed he did, but he had no intention of keeping it quiet.

"THERE'S BLOOD ON THE FLOOR!" Draco shouted shoving Harry and Ron to opposite sides of the corridor and taking a side himself, stepping out of the trail of still running blood. "Well of course there's blood on the floor, how else do you think I acquired all these wounds." Nanako said as if it where as normal as getting a cup of tea. Nanako slid the door to their compartment and walked in finding Kagome asleep, relieved to find that when she would wake she would be back to the normal Kagome. Nanako looked back at the three boys and was surprised to find the train hilting to a stop so soon, it was so quick that Nanako had no time to react and therefore landed on top of Draco who had fallen backwards and before he knew it she was on top of him. "Kami-sama! Honto-ni-sumimasen, daijoubou-ja-nai?" Nanako was so flustered she started talking in Japanese and was blushing at the situation. "Hold on, it's ok and please speak in English." Draco said laughing at Nanako's reaction of her falling.

"I...I said are you alright?" Nanako asked now a bit more calm. "I'm fine." Draco said standing and holding his hand out, Nanako took a moment to look in the compartment and saw that Kagome had fallen over on the floor and rubbing her head. "Eeto." Nanako was reluctant to take Draco's hand. "In English." Draco reminded her. "I'm sorry it's nothing important." Nanako said, mentally scolding herself. "Do you think you can teach me Japanese?" Draco asked pulling Nanako up with great care not to bring her pain. "Hai, that means yes and Neko, cat, and eeto is kind of like saying um or err, you know." Nanako said explaining the language and how it worked, while she got her things together.

"Do you need help?" Draco asked, having already gotten his things. "Yah can you hold Niruki?" Nanako asked grinding before all her things along with Kagome's feel on top of her. "Sure, accept who's Niruki?" Draco asked before jumping at Niruki's surprise visit on his shoulder. "Are you Niruki?" Draco asked petting the cat. Niruki meowed in reply. "Yeah that's her. Nanako said carrying all her and Kagome's things out of the train. "Are you sure you don't need help?" Draco asked again, unsure if Nanako could carry a hiking backpack, a overfilled yellow backpack, a duffle bag, and two trunks. "I've got it, besides, with all the stuff we've packed I doubt anyone would be able to pick all this stuff up, and Sango's going to carry her junk when I get out there." Nanako said confidently, not knowing Kagome had escaped off with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna, to avoid having to carry her share of the luggage.

"I don't know about that but here give me that." Draco said taking all the weight off of Nanako. With all the stuff from the Feudal era and all the things a girl needs. Draco had a hard time carrying everything. "Are you sure?" Nanako said beginning to laugh at Draco who had just fallen over on his back. "What the hell do you carry in these?" Draco asked struggling like a turtle on its back, Nanako burst out laughing. "Here I'll take that, thank you very much." Nanako stated while taking everything and ran outside, leaving a very shocked and bewildered Draco, still on the floor; he jumped off the train before it took off at full speed. "Took you long enough, I thought the train was going to leave with you on board." Nanako laughed taking out her Hiraikotsu, sword, dagger, mask, bow, and arrows out of her trunk, she refused to go anywhere without her weapons at hand.

She left her other things amongst the big pile of luggage that was to be taken to the dormitories during the feast. She took Kagome's yellow backpack to give to Kagome, "I'm going to kill her for leaving this behind." Nanako grumbled, climbing into a carriage with some hesitation, and waited for Draco. "What's so important about this bag? And, what's that?" Draco asked pointing at the Hiraikotsu. "This? I think some point or other this year you'll get to see what it does." Nanako said, avoiding having to blow her secret, the corner of her mouth twitching. "What can a thing like this do? It must way a ton." Draco said examining the Hiraikotsu more. Nanako took in a deep sigh. "You'd be surprised, and it only ways about forty pounds. You exaggerate things too much; say what are those things pulling the carriages?" Nanako asked exhausted and eager to go to bed and release her stress. "Forty pounds?" Draco asked in shock that Nanako could carry a forty pound boomerang, and all the other stuff she had. "Damare." Nanako said sleepily. (Quiet, or shut-up) "You're a strange one." Draco said looking at Nanako with interest. "You have no idea." Nanako mumbled. "Thos things are Thesterals they appear only to those who have seen others die." Draco said interested in her history. "Have you seen someone die?" Draco asked Nanako a little unsure if he should have asked the question or not. "Yes. Have you?" Nanako asked with her eyes closed and leaning against the seat. "Yes." Draco replied at the comeback of the same question he just asked her. "Well there you go," Nanako said now falling asleep.

Flashback

"It's a girl." Nanako said happily wile looking at her new born daughter. Nanako then looked around the birthing room and found a small tub of which she used to clean the child. "What shall I call you little one?" Nanako asked looking at the little happy baby. "My I enter?" Sesshomaru's voice came from the bamboo entrance. "Yes Sesshomaru." Nanako said giggling "May this Sesshomaru see it?" Sesshomaru asked kneeling behind Nanako. "Yes and the baby is not called an it, she's a girl and I'm trying to decide what to name her." Nanako stated, handing the baby to Sesshomaru. The baby had gold eyes like her father; silver hair, White wolf ears, and was smaller than a loaf of bread. Sesshomaru and Nanako looked at each other deeply,

"Kira-kira." they both said together. Nanako then started laughing. Sesshomaru looked at his daughter and looked up to asked Nanako a question, finding she was no longer there he assumed she had gone to rest in their sleeping quarters. Nanako had left to bathe in the hot springs. Relax, and loosen all her tight muscles. After Nanako had changed, and felt completely revived she ran around the castle chanting "I HAVE A DAUGHTER!" and cleaning everything in sight, though Sesshomaru was highly opposed to this cleaning the entire palace and insistent on letting the maids do their duty.

Nanako was as stubborn as Inuyasha and ran down every corridor she could find, with a feather duster in had, she fluffed him with her newly acquired cleaning weapon and had Sesshomaru behind her trying to restrain her from cleaning another window, floor, or room. "I refuse! They need to rest, they're always cleaning." Nanako shouted still cleaning as she ran "As do you, you only gave birth a mere hour ago." Sesshomaru said breathlessly, getting tired. "Don't tell me you're tired already?" Nanako teased cleaning the ornaments a ways from Sesshomaru. "Yes I'm tired! How can you do this? Bakaga!" Sesshomaru admitted exasperatedly. (Bakaga: Impossible) "Are you saying women can't clean after they give birth?" Nanako asked as if he had just insulted her.

'Hai. I have never met a woman who cleans, runs, or has as much energy as you." Sesshomaru said, sliding down the nearest wall and wiping off his brow. "So does that mean you don't love me anymore?" Nanako said hurt "NO! And don't you ever think that. I'm merely saying in words from your time. That you're a strange girl, but that in no way stops me from loving you." Sesshomaru said waling over to Nanako and grasping her shoulders. "Thank you Sesshomaru. Am I really that strange?" Nanako asked earnestly. "Yes you are the most odd, strange, random person I have ever come across in my centuries of life, and before you ask, not even Stusokei was this energetic, at any point." Sesshomaru said smiling at Nanako playfully before she darted away to go clean the gardens.

"I love you Sesshomaru!" Nanako yelled from a distance leaving a bewildered Sesshomaru said with a look of hopelessness.

End Flashback

Kagome was still dusty from her fall back in the train and was absolutely annoyed at all the noises coming from around her. She didn't want to carry anything, so she left Nanako to it, she knew she would have to pay for her selfishness sooner or later, but she would pay Nanako back and besides, it would be understandable. She hadn't been selfish for so long she needed to do something. Though probably leaving Nanako to carry everything without telling her wasn't the best thing. "So Sango have you ever played Quidditch?" Harry asked. "Huh oh, never heard of it." Kagome said interested, that was until she saw the castle.

It was interesting, but she'd seen too many things like it in the feudal era, castles like this, that where owned and ruled, by an evil demon or it was said that the oni of hell lived in a castle like that. "Do you like the castle?" Kagome heard Hermione's voice come to Kagome in an annoying tone. "It's ok." Kagome said plainly. Harry Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Luna all looked at each other in complete surprise. "What?" Kagome asked, looking at everybody. "We're sorry, it's just, that everyone who comes to the castle is, well usually surprised by it, and their reaction isn't usually 'it's ok', if you know what we mean." Ginny stated shyly.

"Oh, I see, hey I've been meaning to ask, what those things are pulling the carriages." Kagome said pointing to the front of their carriage. "You mean you can see them?" Harry, Ron and Luna asked. "Yes. Why?" Kagome was now wondering if she said something wrong. "Well it's because only those who've seen people die can see them." Luna said in a silky voice that sounded like, a teacher giving a boring lecture. "Oh." Kagome said bluntly. "Who did you see die." Hermione asked trying to find out more about the girl in front of her. "That's personal." Kagome said coldly. She looked out the window, wanting to find out how much longer she would be on the carriage for, she saw the school. But the thing that worried her most was that there where dozens of soul collectors outside. Kagome just thought that they couldn't enter into the school and hoped she would be safe. "What is it Sango?" Ron asked wondering what the sharp intake of breath was. "It...It's nothing." Kagome said hoping no one would look outside.

Once they all arrived at the big oak doors of Hogwarts, the soul collectors stopped following them, and Kagome and the other's had to depart for the sorting ceremony. Everything was explained, of each house and what to do after being sorted. While Professor McGonagall left to announce the sorting and retrieve a few things, Kagome took the opportunity to talk to her sister about the soul collectors. It wasn't too hard, being as they where the only two tall girls amongst an army of eleven year old children. "HEY!" Kagome shouted waving her hand trying to get the attention of Nanako and walk over to her without, stepping on anyone's toes.

"What is it?" Nanako said sleepily. "I saw soul collectors outside." Kagome whispered. "Yeah that reminds me." Nanako said now wide awake, and put Kagome's backpack in her face. "Next time don't leave me to do your dirty work, I'm not Dog-Ears." Nanako said; glad to get the weight off her back. "I'm sorry. Forgive me?" Kagome said in her most possible cutest pleading voice she could muster. "Oh please, I forgive you. But that thing doesn't work on me." Nanako said, letting Kagome drop off her bag in the pile of people's belongings, which had been taken over by Hagrid, Kagome finally found her other things and placed her bag along with the rest, taking out her bow and arrows. No telling when she would need them, with soul collectors around she had to be ready for anything.

Nanako and Kagome had to stay behind, separated from all the other people to be sorted. They were told to come out when they where introduced. So Kagome Nanako, Kirara, and Niruki waited. They assumed they had to pull a name out of a hat being as someone seemed to be calling out houses, and there was a hat mentioned in the sorting ceremony, heck the hat was called the Sorting Hat for crying out loud. At last the time came for both girls to come up and be sorted, the introduction speech had ended and they where both being called up to be introduce themselves. Though the moment Kagome and Nanako walked through the door the hat was singing about the four houses. Instantly Kagome shirked and started to panic.

"KIRARA GO AFTER IT AND HURRY!" Kagome screamed out of fright now on her knees still screaming, all Kirara did was meow but Kagome took that as a completely different meaning. "AAAAAAHHHHHH THAT THING'S RENDERED MY CAT HELPLESS, SHE CAN'T PROTECT ME NOW! AAAAAAAHHHHH!" Kagome screamed. "If that's true than that hat's a DEMON!" Nanako screamed the last word, snatching the hat from the stool and throwing it at the wooden doors at the far side of The Great Hall. Causing Kagome to scream louder and run away from the hat to stand behind Nanako. "You know you could use your arrows." Nanako suggested. "NO WAY! Besides I don't want that thing purified...I WANT IT SHREDED!" Kagome screeched, the entire hall was quiet now, not even a whisper was heard, well at least till the hat started screaming the moment it hit the doors.

"Some how I highly doubt this beginning year's feast will be like the usual." Ron whispered. Harry nodded in agreement. "Shut-up you stupid hat!" Nanako ordered. Nanako had been in front of the hall and center of attention, though she didn't notice it then. The moment the hat hit the ground Nanako had jumped, digging her nails into her wound. "BLADES OF BLOOD!" Nanako attacked, only succeeding in ticking the hat in a few places, making it more torn and battered than it had been.

"Die demon!" Nanako shouted, attacking the hat again, only this time strangling, twisting, and trying to it out like a wet towel "PLEASE SAVE ME SOMEBODY!" The hat screamed. "DON'T THINK I WON'T BE MERCIFUL HAT! TELL ME, ARE YOU WORKING FOR NARAKU?" Nanako asked ripping out peaces of the rim, making the hat squeak in pain. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF!" The hat whined. Just then Myoga came and sat himself on the hat's pointed tip. "IT IS NOT A DEMON!" Myoga shouted, trying to restrain Nanako and put some sense into her while still dealing with Kagome's cries, that had the effect of a bomb on Myoga tiny ears.

"NO IT'S A DEMON!"

"NO IT'S A HAT!"

"NO IT'S A DEMON!"

"NO IT'S A HAT!"

"NO IT'S A DEMON!"

"NO IT'S A HAT!"

"NO IT'S A DEMON!"

"NO IT'S A HAT!"

"NO IT'S A DEMON!"

"NO IT'S A HAT!"

"NO IT'S A DEMON!"

"NO IT'S A HAT!"

"NO IT'S A DEMON!"

"NO IT'S A HAT!"

"NO IT'S A DEMON!"

"NO IT'S A HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

"DEMON!"

"HAT!"

This went on for about twenty minutes before Myoga finally had an idea of how to save that hat, save the feast, and keep his hearing for another thousand years. "IT'S AN INCHANTED HAT!" Myoga finished at last, now breathless of all the arguing at the top of his tiny little flea like lungs. "Oh it is?" Nanako asked, Kagome's screaming as if a spider were on her head and crying, simmered down to a childlike sniffle. Nanako poked and prodded the hat, and sniffed it, and came to a conclusion. "It's a hat...no wonder I didn't sense a demonic presence." Nanak said replacing it back on its stool. "Gemon-ne." Nanako said bowing. "Hey that's why Kirara didn't transform, she knew it was a hat, and therefore wasn't a threat." Kagome said speaking in Japanese and in realization.

"Well I must say you have put up quite a show for us tonight Miss. Akiko-Higurashi, but I am head of Slitherin, and this is the earliest in the history of this school that I have had to deduct points from any student. What ever house you are sorted in, you will have fifty points deducted from it. I pity the house that gets you. As for you Miss. Higurashi, I'll let you off with a warning." Snape's cold voice came to be heard amongst the students. "Yes sir." Kagome said ready to be sorted. "Sorry." Kagome whispered as she walked by Nanako to sit upon the three legged stool. A few moments passed.

'Aaahhh i see great strength, love, passion, nobility, bravery, heart hack, regret, sorrow, beauty, kindness intelligence, betrayal, love and courage.' The hat said to Kagome, trying to place her in a house. 'Um your not angry at me are you?' Kagome asked the hat mentally, the thing that shocked her, was that it replied. 'Not at all, you have all the qualities of...' "GRIFINDOOR!" The hat shouted and Kagome jumped off to join Harry, and Ron.

There was a roar of cheering and clapping before Nanako took he seat on the stool. Now it was Nanako's turn. The hat was placed on her head and Nanako felt the butterflies in her stomach. "I'm sorry for what I did." Nanako whispered, not knowing if the hat heard her or not. "It is quite understandable, from the past I see within you, it's only logical you'd react in that way. MMMM I see pain, heartache, betrayal, kindness, strength, beauty, intelligence, courage, loneliness, love, fear, oh and what's this? I see a dark side, all your regrets, broken dreams, loneliness and bitterness, and despair. Mm where to put you. I think" There was a long pause before Nanako heard the hat's voice again mentally or otherwise. "SLYTHERIN!"

Nanako received the same results as Kagome, though she didn't have any friends to speak of at that table she didn't even know where Draco was, he had become to be somewhat of a friend but she doubted he would be in a house with so many people that gave off an evil and sinister aura. Nanako walked the ends of the table, hoping to find an empty seat but no one seemed to want her near them, just then she was pulled into a seat looking around to find who had pulled her, she found Draco grinning ear to ear. Nanako looked down to see a girl had been shoved out of the seat she was in.

"Oh I'm sorry, I'll go find another place to sit." Nanako said apologetically and trying to stand herself up but was being held down, "Draco I have to move, she had this seat first." Nanako said trying to pull out of Draco's crisp. "That's right! Dracypoo she pushed me, why are you letting her sit there?" This girl whom Nanako had not acquired the name quite yet accused her of pushing her out the seat she was currently in. "I'm sorry if I pushed you it was truly an accident." Nanako said politely biding into her lye but not saying anything as not to get into more trouble than she already was in. "And besides that's my plate you're sitting in front of." The girl stated matter as-a-matter-of-fact. "Again I'm sorry..." Nanako was interrupted by Draco.

"First thing Parkinsin, I'm not your Dracypoo, second, I'm the one who pushed you, and third, if you want your food here." Draco said taking Pansy's plate and switching it with the empty one across from Nanako. "You can sit there." Draco said coldly placing the empty palate, and clean silverware in front of Nanako. Pansy growled, and stomped off to the far side of the table, to go and complain to how he just treaded her to her friends. "Draco. Why'd you push her?" Nanak finally asked, getting ready to scold him.

"Because she's a prat and I wanted you to sit there." Draco stated, taking a bite of corn on the cob. "Well that was mean.' Nanako said sympathetically. "Are you joking? Mean? That's nothing compared to what you were about to do to the Sorting Hat." Draco laughed. "Well if you lived a life like mine you wouldn't be laughing." Nanako pouted. "I didn't mean anything by it." Draco admitted, seeing she was more interested in Feeding Niruki fish. "How's she like that?" Draco asked, trying to get Nanako to let her guard down a little. "It's not going to work Draco, and she likes it just fine, shrimps her favorite meal." Nanako replied, not looking Draco in the eye.

Aside from demon guts. Nanako added mentally Draco watched Nanako intently, he saw her drop the piece of shrimp she was holding for Niruki, and looked to Nanako's face for a reason, he saw she was in excruciating pain she was curling up like a ball to try and dull the constant painful throbbing in her back. "Tikara what's wrong?" Draco asked placing a comforting hand on her back, taking his hand back he saw that his hand was covered with blood. Draco immediately took action. "MADAM POMFREY! MADAM POMFREY!" Draco yelled, standing to gain more attention. "What is it Malfoy? Madam Pomfrey asked wearily. "It's Tikara! She's bleeding!" Draco explained. "Oh it's probably just a finger prick," Snape stated, taking a sip from his goblet. "NO it isn't!" This time he was going to make sure Nanako got the attention she needed, Draco looked down to see Nanako clutching her shoulder, there where droplets of blood starting to form on the floor behind Nanako and her robes where already soiled with blood. Draco did what first came to mind; he ran to the staff table, blabbed Professor McGonagall and dragged her to the bleeding girl. "SEE!" Draco shouted blacking a comforting hand over Nanako's blood covered one; there was now a puddle of blood where the droplets once began.

"MERLIN'S BEARD! SOMEONE GET ME A STRETCHER!" McGonagall shouted to the healer, whom had dismissed the call for help earlier. "WHAT HAPPENED?" Kagome asked with tears welling up in her eyes. "Your sister has, for some reason wounds that have reopened, and pretty large once at that. If Poppy can't heal her, we'll have to send her to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maddies and Injuries. You should come with us, Draco you come as well." Professor McGonagall said placing an arm around Kagome and keeping the stretcher floating with her wand, Niruki was by Nanako's head trying to comfort her through her painful fear. Draco didn't speak once till they got to the Hospital wing Madam Pomfrey hadn't come in yet so Nanako was the first to enter the huge infirmary.

Nanako looked out the widow from her position on her stomach and floating on a stretcher, Nanako saw what Kagome warned her about earlier; Soul collectors. Immediately Nanako's eyes went wide in fear. "Kikyou wasn't the only one with soul collectors, Stusokei had them too! Is she here to kill me? Or are they Kikyou's? Either way they're bad news." Nanako thought, trying to figure out a way out of this lonely death. Nanako was placed on a bed, having the curtains pulled around it and she was examined, Draco and Kagome had to wait out side.

"It looks bad," Pomfrey said. "Do you think you can do something about it Poppy?" McGonagall asked eagerly. "I don't know, this claw marks look like they where done by a werewolf." Pomfrey stated. "Well what about this one?" McGonagall asked pointing to the arrow scar on her back I don't know. I'll put something on it to stop bleeding, but I'm afraid that's all I can do." Madam Pomfrey stated pulling the curtain over for her to go to her office and get the potion that was needed to stop Nanako's bleeding. After a good hour of applying potion to Nanako's wounds, retrieving and dressing Nanako in her nightgown, Kagome and Draco where allowed to see her. "So what'd they say?" Kagome asked sitting in a chair closest to the window, Draco came by shortly with a stool to sit on and sat closest to Nanako. "They said I had to stay over night so they could examine me." Nanako said in a broken voice.

"What's the matter?" Kagome asked concerned. "I'M SCARED! I'm scared." Nanako sobbed with new tears in her eyes. "What of?" Draco asked comfortingly Nanako just held Niruki more tightly and cried into her fur. "Soul collectors! Theyaren't just Kikyou's out there, it's Stusokei's too. And, and I'm terrified!" Nanako sobbed, hugging Kagome. "It'll be okay they can't come in here."

"Yes, but only if no one opens a window near us." Nanako stated shaking. "No ones going to get you." Draco said caressing Nanako's cheek. "We have to go, visiting hours are over and we need to go back to our dormitories now." Kagome said reluctantly. "I...I understand." Nanako said trying not to cry, "I'd thought that when I left the feudal era all my problems and fears would be over." Nanako thought as her sister and friend left. During the night Nanako couldn't sleep. The soul collectors where still outside. There was a sound of robes and footsteps coming. Nanako pretended to be asleep, closing her eyes, and waiting for the footsteps to keep moving and fade, Nanako had begged Kagome to bring her Hiraikotsu, bow and arrows to her, and she had always kept her dagger at her side, no matter what. Nanako felt a light breeze on her face and then a warm gloved hand. The instant she moved the hand moved away, as if scared.

Nanako then pretended to fall deeper in sleep, in taking breaths evenly. She then felt the hand on her cheek again. Nanako took her chance and grabbed the person's wrist and tried to look him in the eye. "Who are you?" Nanako asked, with kind eyes and a true intention. "I am the Black Knight." The man said. "Are you the one who saved me earlier?" Nanako asked, finally getting an answer to her questions. "I did not save you. You saved yourself, I merely took you to safety." the man replied. By now Nanako had let go of her hand. "I see." Nanako said, clutching the sheets.

Nanako looked outside and saw the soul collectors still out there. Nanako turned to the Black Knight and found him halfway across the room. "WAIT" The man turned to her. "Won't you please stay with me?" Nanako asked in a scared voice, never admitting it to her self before now. The Black Knight came and stood on the stool Draco had sat on earlier. "Will you not let me touch you?" he asked in a sad voice. "Do-in-koto-da?" Nanako asked in a flustered voice "ahou- damare-baka kosu shimata! " (What did you say? moron shut-up, idiot, dam, shit, darn shoot!) "Please I'm sorry if I said something wrong." Nanako blankly and shook her head no in an apologetic way while she spoke

"Honto ni sumimasen. I'm very sorry I asked you to stay here and I insulted you. I hope you'll forgive me. You see I'm so afraid of being alone at my time of vulnerability." Nanako admitted looking out he widow at the soul collectors "Wh-what did you mean by touch me?" Nanako asked looking back at him. "I meant just what I have been doing." The Black Knight said calmly. "And just what have you been doing?" Nanako asked now a little more nerves. "This." he said taking off his glove and touching her cheek.

"Why am I so interesting to you?" Nanako asked lying down; letting the Black Knight run his warm hand up and sown her bare arm. "I wish I knew." He replied taking her hand and kissing it. Nanako placed her hand on his cheek, she saw fear, doubt, and regret at that moment reflecting in his eyes before she placed her hand on his cheek as he had to her. His eyes closed as if in peace and in comfort for the first time, as if his fears and all that ailed him left his very binge. "Why do you hid behind a mask? Is it because you have something to hide or are you hiding behind it." It was a rhetorical question. She meant what is he hiding? I he hiding himself or his fears, or doubts.

"Why do you want to know who I am?" Nanako looked at him realizing she wouldn't get her answers at that moment. "Because, evil has something to hide, and good may hide but reveals themselves when the time comes. I just want to prove you're not evil." Nanako said gently. The Black Knight replaced her hand on the bed. "But I am evil." He replied frustrated and somewhat afraid of what she would think. "How so?" Nanako asked, a little bit bleak.

"I have the mark of the Dark Lord, I am to do his biding." the man said looking away. "Was taking me to safety or coming here his biding?" Nanako asked doubting completely that he was bad. 'No." he replied in a low voice. "Then you're not bad, or evil." Nanako said coming to that conclusion and saying it as if the discussion was over. "But I bare the mark of the Dark Lord, and all who have it are evil." the man sad turning quickly to Nanako trying to get her to understand. "Did or did you not want the dark mark?" Nanako asked strictly getting irritated. "No, but that doesn't change anything." the man stated as if her point meant nothing. "Wrong! That's everything." Nanako said gently and strong. He then turned away from her after her reply.

"Don't you dare turn your back on me!" Nanako pulled him back before he could get away. She pulled him on the side of the bed so he couldn't avoid her gaze. "Listen to me. You didn't want it so you're not evil." Nanako stated forcing him to look at her. "But I'm in Slitherin! All who are sorted there are evil." He stated determinedly. "I'm in Slitherin and do I look evil?" Nanako stated. "NO." He replied averring his eyes from her pure brown ones. "See? There's my point." Nanako stated, finally feeling like she was getting some progress. "You don't belong." He just said coldly. "What do you mean?" Nanako asked, letting go of his face, but keeping a good grip on his arm. "Your kind, good, and I'm not, no one in that house is." He said as if he where alone in the world. "That may be true, but I have a dark side, a dark past, that's why the sorting hat put me there, it said that's why I belonged. It makes perfect sense too, after all I've done, I may not know all my crimes but I know I deserved the punishment." Nanako said sadly.

"Please don't ask of what I've done. The wounds of those events are still too fresh and I can't bear to relive them again. I to have a mark, but it is not that of Voldemort. In my past I've encountered four war gods, demons that gave themselves such title as gods, thy forced people to become their slaves by placing four claw marks on their victims backs, and that is what landed me here, my scar, and my wounds from my past battles reopened and are causing me more pain than when I first acquired them. I don't complain about it, I know others have it worse than I and, complaining doesn't land you anywhere but deeper in misery." Nanako told the Black Knight, explaining that he was lucky, and should count his blessings.

"Does it hurt?" he asked softly. "Not as much as before." "I understand what you're trying to say now." the man said, gently. "Good. Cause I had a hell of a time trying to hammer that into your head." Nanako said happily. "Thank you." he stated before standing. "Hang on? Can't you stay till sunrise?" Nanako asked grabbing his sleeve like a child afraid to be alone. "I don't deserve to be in your presence." He stated lousily. "Don't give me that crap." Nanako said beginning to cry. "Besides I'm going to take the mark off you." she sobbed. "It's impossible, it can't be removed, and if I want it removed I'll die." He stated coldly. "Won't you just trust me?" Nanako pleaded. He had no choice but to give in. "I promise it won't kill you." Nanako said sniffing.

"How do you plan on doing this?" He asked skeptically. "Just watch and don't tell anyone I can do this, my sister knows because she has the same kind of power." She waited for a nod and looked down. "The mark's on my left arm." He directed her. "I know I could since the dark magic eliminating from it." Nanako told him. She pulled up his sleeve to see the snake inside the skull's mouth. She then put her hand on top of the mark. Nanako's hand and body then began to glow an aqua blue, as if she where surrounded by blue mist. He then felt a warmth come from the place where the mark was, it made him curios, never before had he felt such warmth, it was always constant the cold throb of the mark. The moment Nanako completed what she wished to do her hands released his arm and she fell back on he pillow. "That probably earned me another night in here." Nanako said weakly, but with a happy smile. He looked at his arm and his eyes went wide. "It's gone!" He stated breathlessly. "Well what else did you think? I turned it invisible?" Nanako asked jokingly. "I, I don't know." he replied breathlessly.

"Good night." Nanako said sleepily. "Sweet dreams. Nanako." Instantly Nanako's eyes opened. "How do you know that's my name?" She asked pulling the Knight closer. "I just feel that is what I should call you." he replied. "I see but could you please not call me that?" Nanako asked pleadingly. "Why not?" He looked at her as if she were crazy. "Because of people coming after me and my sister, like the demons I told you about, their looking for me, that's why their mark bled." Nanako said urgently. "Than what shall I call you?" he asked amused. "Tikara." Nanako replied plainly. "Very well Tikara. I shall stay with you till sunrise, if I do not see you before then, we will meet soon." The knight said tucking Nanako in and jumping to the higher rafters of the room. Like Inuyasha would if it where Kagome in this bed and not her. "Thank you for protecting me. I'm not afraid anymore." Nanako chirped happily, and closing her eyes for some well earned rest.

She never did get the answer to why Niruki was covered in whiptcream, but didn't mind it. The thing that worried her the most was why Kikiokstu wasn't amongst the screams, when she encountered the Dementors. Did he turn ecil? Or did Naraku kill him before the others? Nanako hated to think of her second youngest like that and prayed to Kami-sama that they where all still alive in her era, She decided to find out more information in the morning and get the day over with, hoping that the soul collectors retreated into the Forbidden forest. She overheard the introduction of Totosai the night before, while she and Kagome where still in the hall, waiting to be announced, but the headmaster said it would be easier for their professor to introduce himself during his classes. He said he doubted he would be seen by everyone at least that was the message. So if she was lucky, she would be able to have some classes the coming morning. The moment Nanako opened her eyes, Nanako nearly mistook the early morning darkness for late night, a habit she acquired from the feudal era. "Go back to sleep Tikara." A low voice stated calmly. "You're still here?" Nanako said sleepily. "Yes, now go to sleep." the man said in the shadows of the room. "I'm surprised he's still here." Nanako thought to herself, comforted by his presence and the fact that the soul collectors had finally left. 'What where those things outside the window? Where those soul collectors she spoke of yesterday. I suppose I was wrong, her name was Nanako." The Knight thought, jumping down and checking on Nanak for the last time before the rising sun hid his blond hair, signaling time for him to take his leave.

Author's note:

Okay! I wonder if my editor hates me now for making a chapter this so long? It's longer than chapter five! Well here are more interesting questions for you people to hopefully answer with some reviews. If you think these are interesting.

Does the Black Knight have a thing for Nanako?

If so what is Draco going to think of this when he finds out?
Who is the black Knight?

Are Kikyou and Stusokei near the school"

If so what do they want?

What is Kagome and Nanako's first lesson? And who's substituting for Care of magical creatures? (Not Grublyplank)

What does everyone think of Snapes humiliating house point docking? Taking from his own house, honestly

Some things for you people to ponder while I work on the next chapter.