New Enemies and New Friends: Chapter 6

I don't own Inuyasha or anything else in this story.

I want to warn everyone that from the end of this chapter and throughout the rest of the story the setting is past the anime and onto the manga. That's not to say I'm sticking to all the real details but I might mention something that you don't want to know yet. I won't point out what is true to the manga from what I make up and I'd prefer if no one else dose either. Okay I think that covers it other than please tell me what you think.

***********************************************************************

 

A few uneventful days passed by, during which Karma and Shippo’s wounds healed completely. Karma finished Shippo’s sword with help from Inuyasha who even used his claws to add realistic details into the handle. Sango rubbed the blade with her boomerang’s polish so it shined. Miroku proved true to his nature earning quite a few slaps from Sango and Karma. Kagome was happily content in the feeling that Karma belonged with them. They were all a bit surprised when Karma began calling Inuyasha "Little Brother" and variations meaning the same thing, but the first time she did so Inuyasha sent them a look that promised dire consequences to the first person who so much as commented. It became as accepted as Shippo calling him "dog-boy." As they neared the village and the well a sad air hung about the group because they knew once Karma crossed back into her own time they would never see her again because her home land was far from Japan.

"I’ll miss you," Karma said as she hugged Miroku, Sango, and Shippo, "I promise I’ll write to you all and send the letters to Kagome to deliver, after I take a course on Japanese writing. But until then Kagome can read my letters for her to you, since she knows how to read english as well as speak it."

She turned to take Kagome’s hand and they jumped into the well. There was a flash of light then temporarily blinded Karma was being lifted by two sets of hands each holding one upper arm. She was set down on the grass leaning against the well with Inuyasha and Miroku each kneeling by her sides. Sango and Shippo were standing before her and from behind she suddenly heard Kagome’s voice.

"Is Karma…? Oh good you’re alright." Kagome said as she climbed from the well and sat down slightly in front of Inuyasha, "I was so worried. When I reached the well house without you, I jumped right back through."

"Karma… I didn’t want you to go away." Shippo cried, "Please don’t be sad you can stay with us and when I grow-up I’ll take care of you."

"Are you alright?" Sango asked when Karma merely sat against the well with her head slightly turned to the ground blinking as if to clear tears from her eyes.

"I’m fine, really." Karma said when her vision cleared from the bright light she had seen in the well. Then she sang to herself,

 

"There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.

There’s nothing you can see that isn’t shown.

There’s no where you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.

It’s easy. All you need is Love, love, love.

Love is all you need."

She grinned at their bewildered expressions when she realized she had been singing aloud and not in her head.

"Sorry, that is a song from my time and my language. Well actually it’s from before my time a little, but I love the band who sings it anyway. The Beatles songs are just loaded with good theories to live by. The one I was singing pretty much was just to remind myself that as long as I’m with people I love, I can’t be anywhere I’m not meant to be. I do love you all already and Shippo, sweetie I’m not very sad not to be able to go back only a little worried about how the Captain is taking my disappearance."

"Good. So since you’re staying now will you teach me in-ga-lish?" Shippo asked happily as the others nodded their approval of Karma’s speech.

"Sure pipsqueak." Karma laughed.

"Well then since you don’t seem to upset about still being here I really need to see how much work I have waiting and I want to see my family." Kagome said then asked, " Do you guys want me to bring anything back for you to use during your wait here?"

Karma immediately said coffee then after the others gave Kagome their requests she pulled a wad of bills from her pocket.

"Take it," Karma said when Kagome shook her head, "I know its American money but I’m sure you can exchange it, besides demon hunting pays damn good and I really don’t need this here." Kagome reluctantly took the money then Karma added, "Can you bring some real shampoo and conditioner? Oh and some anti-bitch pills and feminine products."

"Anti-bitch pills?" Miroku asked confused as to why she would need pills to repel a woman.

"They stop pain and mood swings during a woman’s monthly flow." Karma said.

All three women laughed as the blush spread across Miroku and Inuyasha’s faces. Shippo just looked disgusted and said,

"We really didn’t need to know that, Karma. It’s disgusting and bad manners to mention." He finished in a mockery of one of her earlier lectures.

"Let’s go Kagome." Inuyasha snapped trying to hide his embarrassment at such a natural thing being discussed openly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile far away in a distant mountain range Kikyou had entered a village tucked into a large wooded valley. She had been warned by a family of orphaned children to stay away from the village because of a terrible illness that had taken their parents as well as many others in the village. Fortunately for the dying people, she ignored the warning knowing that no illness could harm her. Immediately upon entering she assigned a few healthy villagers the chore of gathering specific herbs, describing the ones they were unfamiliar with. She ordered a group of healthy men to separate the people who were most ill from the others then requested to be shown to a hut with large cooking pots and a fresh supply of water. She entered the hut behind a village woman who had offered her home to the priestess. Directing the woman to set her largest pot to boil, Kikyou began sorting through herbs she had on her. Some she placed into the water over the fire, some she set aside for another potion, and the rest she put back into hidden pouches within the folds her robes. As the villagers came to the hut delivering the herbs she had sent them for, Kikyou inspected the herbs to make sure they were correct before tossing them into the concoction brewing over the fire. As it cooked she took a smaller pot and mixed the herbs she had set aside with cool water. She said a prayer over the small pot then began scooping the potion into cups for the healthy villagers.

"This will protect you from falling under the illness." Kikyou told the villagers that were in the hut assisting her, "After you each drink it, you will take the potion to everyone who has yet to become sick."

They did as they were told and by the time every healthy person had taken it, the potion cooking was finished. Kikyou blessed the large pot and every individual bowl she handed to her assistants ordering them to treat the most ill before the others. As the sun sank lower into the sky Kikyou set up a rotation shift so her tired helpers could rest and the many patients could still be cared for. Despite many protests Kikyou chose to return to the forest for the night.

"Do not try to disturb me for any reason. I must meditate and renew myself in order to assist you all. I will return three hours after the sun has risen have water boiling and all the herbs I sent you for today waiting for me."

Kikyou headed into the forest without even waiting for the villagers to acknowledge her orders. When she was deep into the trees she erected a barrier to prevent any villager who might not follow her order from entering her chosen area. Suddenly two girls floated down from the trees carrying a young man.

"Have you located Naraku’s whereabouts?" Kikyou asked as the trio landed.

"No, Lady Kikyou. However we have heard rumors of a female fire-demon who killed two old ones of her tribe in order to take a Shikon shard for herself." The young man replied.

"A fire-demon with a shard you say, Kohaku." Kikyou looked past the trio blankly consulting within in herself.

Midoriko, I do not like this. Naraku hasn’t released any of his shards in over a year, what could he be planning now.

Kikyou we must get to this shard. Forget the village and leave tonight, we must find the demon at all costs and this is the first time we have had a lead since he absorbed the heart back into himself. If he is luring demons again it must mean he is vulnerable once again. Although I do not sense the shard being used as of yet.

No Midoriko I will not forsake the village after giving my word to return. On the morrow I will make enough potions to sustain them and we shall depart afterwards.

Kikyou finished her mental conversation with the mother of the Shikon Jewel and gazed at Kohaku and her human form soul collectors.

"Kohaku you will come with me to the village in the morning." Kikyou then informed her servants, "I require the two of you to collect as many souls as possible. Once you have done this you will stay out of sight until Kohaku and I are finished. We will then track this fire-demon, hopefully it will lead us to Naraku."