The gang arrived at the small castle around noon the following day.
However what greeted them did not under any circumstances meet their anticipations: frayed people skittering about going haywire over something or other. It took a good half hour before anyone in the group managed to get some ones attention.
The answer was that the youngest princess had disappeared and could not be found.
Well now that didn't sound very good. Naturally searching for her would be included in the former deal of extermination, of course they would be rewarded even more when they brought her back alive.
"A low calibre demon like the ones I sense around here shouldn't be enough to abduct anyone, I don't understand. . ." Kagome was worried as per usual. Though it did strike them as odd, what she said was essentially true after all.
"Maybe" Miroku chipped in "there is a stronger demon here that we just haven't noticed yet?"
"Keh, yeah right! And Naraku is still alive!"
A servant that had seen the princess sneak away that same morning and asked to follow with the group suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"What would be defined as a stronger kind of demon?"
Everyone turned to look at the plain girl whose existence they had already forgotten about.
"Per say, a talking dog?"
"A talking dog!"
The servant blinked. "Yes, is that a bad thing?"
They all let out a loud groan.
At about the same time the gang had arrived at the castle, said princess was currently a good bit away from said place.
"Kiba! I'm hungry, I'm tired! Let's stop for a while." she whined. Wearing the standard five layers of kimono in this heat trekking through the forest really wasn't the best idea.
"Very well my lady" the dog replied sitting down in the shade.
A small wind rustled the topmost leaves of the trees but the two adventurers at the bottom felt nothing of it.
Her stomach growled "urgh! I really need to eat! Kiiba, can't you get something for me?"
Brown eyes flashed amber for a second, or maybe it was just her imagination, as Kiba turned to look at the distressed young girl.
"Oh worry not my Lady. That won't be necessary."
"? . . . wha_" she hadn't been imagining it, the eyes were indeed amber and directed straight at her. He bared his fangs, and seemed to be changing shape but she didn't see into what because in that instant, everything went black.