Stirring from what seemed like a deep sleep, the boatman groaned. From the sounds of hushed murmuring and the constant shuffling of feet, he couldn't help but open his eyes tiredly. At first everything seemed blurry, with different colors dancing around his vision, and it took him a few seconds to realize they were people. Realization struck him when he found himself seated on the floor of small hut, where the scent of candles wafted; it was a familiar scent, and as his eyes finally focused, he made out two towering figures standing over him, and he immediately stilled.

"Well, well, the bastard finally comes too!" Seethed a certain half demon.

From the corner of the room, little Shippo leaned forward to inspect the scene. "Is he awake?"

Next to him, the older man took notice of another figure, dressed in purple monk's clothing, towering over him as well as intimidating like, and after a few moments, the boatman realized he was tied down by thick rope. "What is the meaning of this? Who are you?"

"We should be asking you that," Miroku replied before kneeling in front of him threateningly. "You're going to answer some questions and we expect honest answers."

Inuyasha huffed. "I still say we could have used a different tactic!"

Miroku spared his friend a glance before sighing disappointedly. "Violence doesn't solve everything, Inuyasha. We want him conscious if we want answers."

After awakening some time ago, the young priestess still couldn't believe they had finally fulfilled their promise to the King. The Princess was safe and now the supposed culprit behind all this was caught and ready for questioning. "He's right," She sided with the monk.

Even the witch sisters, who were standing there amongst the group, couldn't help but find this entire predicament questioning. Why on earth would the boatman appear as a suspect of kidnap and violence? It didn't seem plausible.

"Alright you! Start talking!" Serena jumped in.

Before either of the residents residing within the witch's hut could begin the questioning, the door suddenly opened, turning all heads and questionable glances away from the boatman to two individuals standing in the doorway. It wasn't difficult to discern the duo stepping inside; the first was a familiar slayer, her garments tattered a dirtied from her previous battle, followed by a stoic young swordsman, whose cleanly appearance was baffling yet a relief to see. Lastly, following after, was Kirara, her white fur dirtied and mangled, yet she seemed alright.

Upon instantly seeing her partner step into the room, Serena hastily fluttered to his side. Repeatedly she kept asking if he was alright, where he had been and so on and so forth; it was obvious the little fairy was a little overly worried and concerned about her companion.

It didn't take the priestess a second of hesitation to hurry across the wood flooring to greet her friends' safe return. "Are you guys alright? What happened?" Yet, before she could question further, Kagome found herself enveloped in the slayer's strong grip, and though it baffled her, she returned the hug before pulling away.

Sango smiled before nodding in reassurance. "We're alright. What about you?"

"I'm fine." Kagome replied, but when she caught sight of a scar upon Link's face, she moved away from her female companion and stepped closer to the younger boy. "Something happened, right?" Though she wanted to trace her fingers along the new scar, she held back and instead followed the two back to her friends standing around the culprit on the floor.

Link nodded slowly. "You can rest assured that Sakon is no longer among us. He has been dealt with to his last breath."

"Are you serious?" Serena asked. Even this seemed difficult to believe.

"What?" Kagome gasped. "He's dead?" Kagome immediately turned to Sango. "You fought him?" She asked surprisingly.

"Is this true?" Miroku asked before stepping away from the boatman.

From Link's silent nod, Sango nodded. "Yes, it's true," She replied. "We found him in some strange structure near the outskirts of the Palace."

"Structure? What did it look like?" Shippo asked.

Sango pondered for a moment. "Well, there were torches on the outside of it and—"

At the mere mention of a structure on the outskirts of the Palace, Koume suddenly interrupted the young woman. "Oh, why you must be speaking of the Royal Family's Tomb! Yes, we know exactly where it is!"

From the sight of a rather large, robust man seated and tied up a few feet away from her and her friends, Sango couldn't help but look from him to everyone else quizzically. "Did something happen?"

Inuyasha directed his thumb over his shoulder before snarling at the thief, who returned the half demon's glare with one to match. "We caught this bastard trying to make off with Kagome!"

"What are you talking about? I've done no such thing!" The boatman argued while attempting to free himself from the rope constraining him. Sadly, he failed and growled in annoyance.

Inuyasha glared. "Shut up! We caught you red handed, you lying prick!"

Completely flabbergasted by this entire scenario, he turned his attention to Koume and Kotake, standing there observing the scene while sipping a small cup of hot tea. "Sisters, what's happening? Why am I tied up like some wild hog?!" He asked, and at this the sister's shared a look.

"Oh dear…it seems he's stricken with amnesia…" Koume muttered.

Kotake coughed before downing the rest of her tea and setting it aside to rest on the countertop where her many different assortments of potions sat. "As you have heard, you were caught red handed. You tried to make off with this young girl," She pointed to Kagome, who embarrassedly looked elsewhere. "You put these two men and herself in quite a lot of danger. We ask that you cooperate and tell us everything."

"Like I said, I have no idea what's happening!" He replied thoroughly pissed off. "I've done nothing wrong! You should know me by now!"

Serena wanted to laugh at the lie. "You expect us to believe that?"

Miroku glared. "You kidnapped our friend."

Inuyasha nodded before fisting his hands. "And you threw freakin bombs at us!"

For a moment, the boatman blinked at them before shaking his head. "Why would I do that when I've never even met you? And why would I waste perfectly good bombs on the likes of you?"

"Why you—" The half demon made to attack the man, but he was held back by Miroku.

Baffled, Miroku half turned to stare at the man while holding his friend back from attacking. "Sir, this is serious. We believe you were an accomplice to another called Sakon."

"Who?"

Miroku sweat dropped before releasing Inuyasha, who by this point was beyond annoyed.

This time, Kagome approached him. "You don't remember anything? Nothing at all?"

He shook his head. "That's what I've been trying to say for a while now!"

Almost unnerved by the loud bickering between the boatman and 'certain' companions of his, Link crossed his arms and decided it was his turn to question. "What is the last thing you remember?"

Though he could have argued back, the robust adult pondered to himself. He closed his eyes and tried to search for the answers, but all that came to mind were fragmented images that he hardly remembered. "I remember chopping wood in the forest, but anything after that is a blur," He admitted.

Inuyasha pressed him further. "Do you expect us to believe that?"

He scowled indignantly. "Believe it or not, it's the truth!"

Miroku sighed. "Is there anything else? Did you meet anyone?"

Again the boatman considered his words before closing his eyes irritably. He really couldn't remember much. "Well…now that I think about it…I was approached by someone…I couldn't see their face, but this person snuck up from behind me and…"

"And?" Sango asked.

He furrowed his brow. "I can't remember anything else. Listen, I'd never harm anyone, much less a child for that matter!"

Kagome mused. "Perhaps it's possible he was forced into this…maybe he is innocent."

"Well that's a great possibility, but if he was allied with the person whom you spoke of, then we'll have no choice but to hand him over to his majesty for questioning…and punishment," Koume explained.

Kagome gasped. "Punishment? But what if he's innocent?"

Of course Kotake merely shook her head before pouring herself another cup of tea. "Innocent or not, the Princess's life was at stake, and as we live in his Majesty's Kingdom, we cannot simply ignore this matter. We must abide by the rules."

"So we hand him over?" Shippo asked, and at this everyone grew silent. Well if he was guilty, then he deserved it. The kit wasn't too sure if he could easily believe a word said by the culprit.

A sudden thought came to Sango and she immediately turned to Link. He returned the stare knowingly and withdrew a small, white box from his satchel before presenting it to his companions, who in turn merely stared in question.

"What's this?" Kagome asked.

"We found this after Sakon's defeat…" Link replied before opening it to reveal what appeared to be an assortment of medicine, each either encased in small vials or kept in a small pouch in pill form. Some of the vials seemed oddly similar to that of Jo-Ho's assortment, only more peculiar. They highly doubted that Sakon was some type florist gathering herbs and plants as a side job.

Inuyasha, Miroku and the rest occupying the room, all except the boatman, gathered around to view the contents of the box. It was indeed quite strange, and neither had really seen anything like it.

Sango picked up a small, wooden, cylindrical container before emptying a few colorful pills into her open palm. "He used these to enhance his strength and speed during our battle."

A familiar vial of purple liquid suddenly caught the priestess's attention, and she immediately pointed at it in alarm. "That's the same vial he used on me!"

"Are you certain, Kagome?" Miroku asked, and at her nod, he narrowed her eyes.

Kagome frowned. "I think it might be paralysis…"

Kotake took the vial before suddenly shaking it up hastily and peering into the clear container, where its color gradually changed into a silver hue before returning to its dark shade. After that, she uncorked the lid and sniffed before pulling away at the pungent smell. "This is an Intimate Potion, and yes indeed are the effects of paralysis strong. I gather the maker of this knew exactly what he was doing when brewing it."

Everyone blinked. "Intimate Potion?" They asked simultaneously.

Upon hearing this, little fairy Serena's light turned a vibrant shade of red. She knew what that word meant.

Kotake nodded as her sister looked into the box curiously before inspecting the small containers and pouches. "Whoever swallows this will…become instantly aroused…and well I'm sure you youngins know the rest."

Immediately after hearing this, Inuyasha grew defensive and grabbed the priestess by her shoulders. "Did he make you drink that?"

Kagome nodded embarrassedly before hiding her eyes behind her bangs. "It's alright, Inuyasha. I'm fine and he's gone now so…"

"And that's what bothers me…" Miroku suddenly interrupted. "Now that he's dead, we don't have any clues as to who was manipulating Sakon…"

Inuyasha cursed. "Damn…we're back where we started!"

Kotake and Koume suddenly found themselves cackling in obvious aloofness, that the group couldn't help but stare stupidly before quizzically sharing a glance with each other.

"If it's information that you seek, we can give it!" Kotake replied gleefully.

Koume turned to her sister with excitement. "Oh sister, do you mean it? It's been so long since we've used dark magic!"

"Indeed it has been far too long, eeh hee hee hee!" Kotake laughed. "If my assumption is correct, then we'll have an answer as to why the boat keeper did what he did and so much more! Hurry and fetch the head! We've no time to lose!"

Without wasting any more time, Koume suddenly shot out of the room with her broomstick in hand before soaring off into the skies, where the Deku Princess and her monkeys stared curiously from their spot near the spring.

"Wait…did she say head?" Shippo asked, and from his question, everyone nodded.

Miroku scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I'm pretty sure it's required for the potion…Hmm." But what head were they referring to? Surely it wasn't what he was imagining. Then again, with witches, you never could tell what they might come up with or use in their dark magic.

Immediately after her sister had left to fetch the head, Kotake had quickly darted up the secret ladder leading up to the upstairs where her hurried footsteps were heard by everyone occupying the room below.

"What's she doing?" Shippo asked. He really had no idea what was happening or what exactly was about to transpire.

"Girl with the holy powers!" Kotake's voice bellowed from upstairs, and from the loud, unexpected voice, Kagome jumped. "Help this old woman to reach this shelf! You too slayer!"

While the two climbed the ladder to the second floor, they were immediately presented with a cloud of dust, sending the two into a coughing fit. Books and junk galore were tossed and scattered about the wooden floor, and the room was so untidy that the two had difficulty locating the old woman.

"Over here! Hurry up! Why you're as slow as Gorons!" She beckoned them forward, where she stood upon a pile of old tome's, their covers and bindings cloaked with dust over the years. As the old woman motioned them closer, Kagome grimaced as she and Sango had to climb up the pile to help her reach the top shelf.

"This?" Kagome asked while pointing to a colorful jar filled with different herbs and roots."

Kotake nodded eagerly. "Yes! Take that whole collection there!" She turned to Sango before ushering her to the other shelf opposite of them. "You gather those on the bottom shelf, Singo!"

Kagome couldn't help but muffle a small snicker at the name.

"I'm sorry, my name is Sango. I'm afraid I never intro—"

"Do not correct this old woman, Singo!" Lashed the old woman suddenly, and Sango blushed embarrassedly when she caught her female friend laughing from the pile of books. "Now hurry up and gather those bottles! You too, Chatome!"

Kagome gaped at the incorrect use of her name, and at the sound of Sango giggling off to the side, she glared. "What? That's not even close!"

Kotake suddenly swung an old cane in the air at the young girl, who surprisingly almost fell off the pile with an eep, if not for her grabbing onto the shelf in time. "What was that?!"

"Nothing!" Kagome replied before hurriedly fetching the different jars from their placement on the dusty shelf, while trying to ignore the scrutinizing eyes of the old witch watching her.

After finally collecting what they needed from upstairs, the girls returned awkwardly down the ladder, carrying loads of jars and books before setting everything down upon the floor where Kotake quickly examined them.

Pleased with their quick process, Kotake then turned to Inuyasha and the boys, who had settled for standing around lazily. "You dog boy! Be a good boy and fetch some firewood!"

"Excuse me?" He growled.

Kotake narrowed her gaze. "Do not growl at this old woman. Now git! And make it quick!"

Feeling a twitch develop beneath his eye, he stalked out of the room and leapt off the porch, nearly surprising the Deku Princess below who hadn't seen him approach and watched as he darted into the Woods of Mystery for a purpose unknown to her.

After Inuyasha had left, Miroku curiously approached and picked up an old tome before opening it to read its dusty pages. "Am I to presume these are spell books?"

"You'll be right in assuming so," The old witch replied before turning to the monk. "Do this old woman a favor and fetch some water from the spring" She picked up a small bucket before handing it to her. "I believe 15 trips ought to be enough."

Miroku sweat dropped. How on earth was he going to manage to bring a bucket of water up the ladder from her spring outside and 15 no less? "Uh…"

"Now then, Chatome, Singo, you can start by sorting out the dry ingredients first…"

As the older woman ignored him, the monk awkwardly left the hut and proceeded down the ladder, with Shippo hastily following after to offer his assistance. On the way down, the monk greeted the young Princess, who in turn offered her greeting. "How are you fairing? I apologize that it's taking us some time to return you back to the Palace…"

"Oh, do not worry monk. I see that you and the witches are quite busy," She replied before approaching the monk by the spring. "I must tell you…that man that you caught was with the man whom kidnaped your friend," She explained, and at this, Miroku nodded.

"We have come to realize this as well, your highness…but unfortunately he can't recall ever meeting him, let alone attacking us."

The Princess found this all indeed perplexing. "I don't mean to pry, but what is happening at this moment?"

"One of the sisters went to fetch something that might help prove if whether the boatman is innocent or not and who exactly is behind all that's befalling Termina," He replied before heaving the bucket out of the spring and toward the ladder.

Shippo suddenly transformed, and in doing so, made the process much easier for his male companions.

OOO

As soon as Inuyasha arrived with a bundle of firewood collected, and as soon as the cauldron had time to boil, Kotake searched through her old book and began searching through the pages.

"This better be worth it…"

Kagome shook her head at her half demon friend. "So now what?" She asked the older witch.

Kotake peered up from her reading and her eyes fell onto the black pot and then to the mess of jars scattered on the floor at her feet. "Start tossing them in."

Nodding, the two girls began uncorking the lids, and one by one, they poured the roots and leaves inside. Some jars held dried insects, such as frogs, butterflies and even larva and eggs that clearly resembled that of a Dragonfly they had fought previously.

"No, no no! Just toss them in," Kotake explained, and at this, Kagome canted her head and Sango paused in pouring.

"You mean the jars too?"

Kotake nodded. "Of course! Pouring is old school. Now a days we just throw the damned things in all at once! It makes brewing potions much simpler!"

Hearing this, Link immediately paled as did Sango. All this time they had been drinking…glass? That definitely did not sound healthy at all.

While this was all taking place, everyone had relaxed in the room, watching as the girls hovered around the giant pot, stirring in many assortments of leaves, insects and what not. Eventually a cloud of smoke sprang from the pot in an array of colors that left Kagome awing in surprise.

Kotake placed her withered green finger into the mixture before bringing it to her mouth. While her tongue glided over her lips, she made a small face before throwing another jar inside, this one causing a mini explosion.

Kagome and Sango covered their face at the smell and smoke filling the room, and Miroku had to quickly open the door to let in some air.