Kikyo continued to travel until she came across a small village. Hmmm…Why are all the villagers standing around in one spot? She decided to go and check it out.

"Excuse me?" Some of the villagers turned and their faces were ecstatic.

"Are you…are you a priestess?"

"Why yes I am. What is going on here?" Kikyo asked concerned.

"Well, priestess, this place…it has been disturbed."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this grave is the burial place of the most ruthless killers from years ago. They called themselves the Band of Seven."

"Hmmm…I've never heard of them. What exactly is the problem?" They stood back and let Kikyo examine the place. The tomb had been tampered with and Kikyo could not sense the presence of their souls.

"What is it priestess?" one of the villagers asked frantically. "It can't be…it mustn't. The band…if resurrected could be bad for villages everywhere!"

"But who would want to resurrect them?"

"Well, I saw…some of us…the ashes are no longer there. Someone removed the ashes from the tomb. That could only mean one thing—someone wants to bring them back! Please priestess, tell me that you can do something to…to prevent this!"

Kikyo looked around at the shaken villagers. She could pray true enough, but it would do no good. Whoever was here, their ashes and bones were not anymore. Kikyo knew she couldn't help but she needed to put them at ease. No point in letting them worry. The Band of Seven or whoever was long gone away from here.

"I will purify this spot for you all before I continue on my way," she said with a smile.

"Oh…oh, thank you priestess!"

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"Well, I still can't get a whiff of Naraku," Inuyasha said angrily.

"Inuyasha, don't feel bad. We'll catch up to him soon," Kagome said cheerfully. The friends continued to walk in silence looking for a village to rest at. They had been traveling pretty much non stop for the past three days. Inuyasha let his mind wonder for a few. I wonder how my Kikyo is doing. I hope she's alright. I'll kill Sesshomaru if…

"INUYASHA LOOK! A VILLAGE!" Shippo cried happily.

"Yes, finally. Maybe we can get some food. I'm starving!" Sango said happily.

"Yeah, and a bath," Kagome added.

"Well, let's go," Inuyasha mumbled as they headed towards the village.

"I think that's enough for today," Kaede said tiredly. "I'm getting sleepy and you two have school tomorrow. You don't want to be sleepy during class do you?"

"Aww, come on grandma. I want to know what becomes of Kikyo," Kagome groaned.

"We'll speak more of my sister another day."

"Well, Miss Kaede, I hope you won't mind me coming back to hear more of the story. This Naraku person has intrigued me and I have taken a liking to the Lord Sesshomaru." Kaede smiled weakly at the young Haku.

"No problem at all young man. Walk Kagome home will you now?"

"Sure thing," he replied undressing Kagome with his eyes. She frowned at him before waving good-bye to her grandma.

They walked along in silence, for both Haku and Kagome were pondering the story in their head.

"What do you think will become of Kikyo?" Haku asked, breaking the tight silence.

"I don't know," Kagome replied thoughtfully. "At the moment, I'm not so sure how I feel about Kikyo."

"What do you mean?"

"Well…she is dead after all so…so how fair is it for Inuyasha to be running after her, when her live reincarnation is right alongside him?"

"You sure you don't feel that way because you two have the same last name?" he asked smirking at her.

"No! That is not it you ass! I just think that…if Kagome is the reincarnation of the priestess, then wouldn't they look alike somehow?"

"Yeah…I suppose you have a pretty good argument. But still…Kikyo was his first love. He has every right to want to make things right. They were cheated out of their love for one another by Naraku. I want to know more about this Naraku person. He sounds so interesting." Naraku…why is that…why does that name ring a bell?

"Um…Haku, we just walked by my house," Kagome said, interrupting his thoughts.

"Oh…oh yeah. I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"So I guess I have no choice but to see you tomorrow then."

"Oh don't be that way. You know you can't wait to see me tomorrow. You're so attracted to me you can't stand it."

"Why you…" Haku pulled Kagome into a gentle kiss. He pulled away a second later, but only enough to nibble at her lower lip. She was about to pull away but he slipped in his tongue, and deepened the kiss. He let out a soft growl as he ran hand up her thigh and under her skirt, caressing her rear through her silky panties. She gasped a little as his hand found its way back to her thigh and in between her legs. Not tonight… Haku pulled away and stared at a distraught looking Kagome.

"Sleep good Kagome," he said before walking off into the night.

Kagome slept through most of her classes, for she didn't get very much sleep the night before. She had been troubled by the same weird dreams, this time in a different location.

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"Kikyo! Kikyo please…don't make me do this!"

"Inu…yasha…you know it's…for the best…"

"But…"

"You know there's no guarantee we'll still be…"

"INUYASHA…you told me you cared for me…"

"Listen to her Inuyasha. If you truly love me and want what's best then you'll…"

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"Kagome?" Kagome jumped up.

"Present!" she shouted. Everyone outside just stared at her. "Huh? Where am I?"

"You're…outside. We had literature outside today but once again you fell asleep," Koga said softly.

"Oh…oh I didn't…"

"Kagome, is there something you need to tell me?"

"What do you…what are you talking about?" Koga grabbed Kagome's hand and stared at her face to face.

"Listen Kagome, I know…that you aren't interested in me. I've always known," he said sadly.

"Koga, listen…" she began but he cut her off.

"No…Kagome, I just…I always hoped that if I just continued to treat you with kindness and respect, that you'd…grow to like me, but I guess…that's not the case." Koga took a deep breath and let out a sigh.

"Koga?" she asked in barely a whisper. Koga responded by leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips. "What…was that for?" she asked curiously.

"Well Kagome, I've always wanted to do that. Anyway…I am letting you go now. You are free to do as you please."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, I kinda figured you had a thing for Haku so…" He looked down at the ground and Kagome saw a tear hit the ground. She immediately felt a pang of guilt and her stomach turned to jelly. "Well, good-bye Kagome."

"Wait! Koga…" But he had run out of the school yard and was long gone. Kagome sat down on a nearby bench and began to cry. She wasn't sure why she was crying but she just had to let it out. A few minutes later, she felt a pair of arms embrace her. She looked up to see Haku, staring down at her looking concerned.

"Come Kagome. Let's get going." She was in no mood to argue so she let him lead her out the school gate and up the sidewalk towards Kaede's.

"About time that little punk let you alone," Haku said shortly. Kagome stared at Haku furiously.

"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT? HE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT NICE TO ME…"

"I know, but you don't go for that type of thing," he replied nonchalantly.

"WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT?"

"He's done everything in the world for you yet you still somehow managed to keep pushing him away. You never pushed me away like you did him."

"Ugh! YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE…"

"Ah, we're at your grandmother's house. Come, come Kagome. Let's be nice for granny alright?" Kagome cursed loudly under her breath before heading up the stairs to her grandmother's porch.

"I'M UNDER THE TREE YOU TWO!" Kaede shouted. Haku and Kagome turned and headed towards the big oak in the yard. "Have a seat you two. We're going to go ahead and get started. There's quite a bit I need to tell you today so let's see…we left off with Inuyasha and his friends staying at a nearby village…"

AN: Sorry for such a small chapter but I've been super busy:P I'll write and post more this weekend! Enjoy!