FOLLOW THAT JEWEL SHARD!

DESPITE THE SETTING SUN, HEAT WAS STILL VERY SWELTERING. IT WAS unusually warm for this time of year; it was the middle of autumn, and yet the leaves on the trees were still very green, and the thermometer Kagome carried with her – when she looked at it earlier – showed the temperature to be in the mid-seventies. It made Kagome wish she had worn a T-shirt instead of her green and white school sweater.

She wiped some sweat from her forehead as she laid out her sleeping bag. Once again, they would be sleeping outside. Kagome had been doing this for so long that she didn't mind anymore – unless she ended up sleeping on a rock or a tree root that was digging into her back. Inuyasha and Miroku had gone off to gather some firewood while Sango and Shippo prepared some fishing line. Once Kagome finished setting out her sleeping bag, she would join the older woman and the young fox in trying to catch some dinner.

If there was one thing Kagome could say about this period of time, it was that the water wasn't as polluted. The only thing they had to worry about was disease from dead bodies courtesy of the wars, and while it was unlikely that there would be any battles this far out, they were still going to make sure to cook the fish thoroughly – after all, raw fish had other diseases and parasites that they didn't pick up from corpses.

With her sleeping bag set out, Kagome took a moment to stretch before going to join Sango and Shippo at the river. She took a line from Shippo, baited it, and cast it into the river.

"Warm weather we've been having lately, isn't it?" Kagome asked, trying to start a conversation.

"It was never this warm last year," Sango said. She brushed her silky black hair off of her shoulder. Her pink, white, and green kimono belied a strong-willed woman, whose strength rivaled that of the strongest men – in fact, it took two men to carry her primary weapon, a large boomerang called the Hiraikotsu. "Actually, it was right around this time when we started getting some snow."

"I remember that," Shippo said. "I would always stay snuggled up in Pa's fur when it got really cold." As he spoke, his voice started trailing off.

Poor kid. He really misses his father. I don't blame him. I've been missing my father too, after that car accident.

"Hey!" Shippo cried as something tugged on his line. "Hey, I've got a bite!"

"Pull it in, Shippo!" Kagome cheered. "You can do it!"

Shippo started losing his footing on the sand. "I think it's a big one!"

Kagome dropped her line and grabbed Shippo. "I've got you, Shippo!" She started pulling, Sango joining in a second later. "Holy cow, it IS a big one!" The three of them pulled as hard as they could, Shippo pulling on the line while Kagome and Sango pulled on Shippo.

"I think I've almost got it!" Shippo said.

The three of them fell backwards as the line snapped, breaking the stick in half. They sat up and looked at the river, watching in dismay as the stick floated downstream.

"Well, so much for that fish," Shippo said.

"Don't worry, Shippo," Sango said. She looked over to her line. "Looks like I've got something." She started pulling on her line. After a few minutes, she pulled a nice-sized trout – a fish about eight inches long – onto the shore. "Um….Anyone want to split a fish?"

##############

Nearly two hours had passed, and they were all gathered around the fire, cooking their fish. There was one fish for each of them, a total of six – Sango had caught a second one so she could feed Kirara, the two-tailed demon cat that traveled with her. Kirara scratched at some fleas – Inuyasha couldn't help but wonder if one of those fleas was Myoga, Inuyasha's self-proclaimed vassal – while everyone else did their own thing. Inuyasha and Miroku monitored the fish; Shippo was playing with one of the little toys Kagome had given him; Kagome was reading one of her school textbooks – she still had to stay on top of her studies, even while playing superhero in the Feudal Era – and Sango scratched Kirara behind her ears.

Miroku took one of the fish from the fire and examined it. "I'd say they're done," he said.

"Good," Inuyasha said as he took his fish from the fire. "I'm starving." He hungrily dug his teeth into the fish.

Kagome took two bites of her fish, but stopped; she felt something in her mind, drawing her attention to the north. She looked, but all she saw was the dark forest. But there was something back there, she knew there was something approaching.

Whoever or whatever it was had a shard of the Shikon Jewel.

"Guys, I'm sensing a shard of the Shikon Jewel," she said. She pointed. "It's coming from that direction. And I think it's getting closer."

Inuyasha looked in the direction Kagome was pointing. "Well, that's a first. The Jewel shards never come to us." He stood up, his hand grasping the handle of the Tetsusaiga. "How close is it, Kagome?"

"It's getting closer by the second," Kagome said. "It'll be here any minute."

"Wait a minute," Miroku said. He stood up, holding onto his gold staff. "Kagome, Sango, do you feel that demonic aura?"

"Yeah," Sango said – as a Demon Slayer, she was trained to feel demonic auras, as was Miroku; as for Kagome, that skill just came naturally thanks to her spiritual powers. "It's stifling."

Inuyasha sniffed the air. "Smells like Naraku."

"Dance of Blades!"

"Oh shit, watch out!" Inuyasha cried. He leaped over the fire, throwing Kagome out of the way, and everyone else dived away, as several stark-white blades made out of wind slammed into the ground around them.

They all looked up. Floating in the sky, a good fifty feet above them, was a large feather, and sitting atop the feather was one of the several people Inuyasha absolutely despised.

"Kagura. What the hell are you doing here, bitch?"

Kagura leaped off of her feather, landing gracefully in front of them. "Do I need a reason to visit my friends?"

"I wouldn't call us friends," Inuyasha said. He pulled the Tetsusaiga out of its sheath; it grew into its powered state, a much wider sword with a tuft of fur on the handguard. "Unless friends cut each other's heads off." He charged for Kagura, who easily leaped out of the way. "Running away? You just got here."

"Your fight isn't with me, Inuyasha," Kagura said. She put her thumb and index finger in her mouth and whistled. "Jurorenmaru! It's your show!"

"Who is she talking to?" Sango asked.

"I think we're about to find out," Miroku said. He prepared to unwrap the rosary beads off of his right hand.

Someone stepped out of the darkness and into the light of the fire. He looked human, with his green kimono and short white hair. He had two broadswords strapped to his belt, one on each side, along with two knives next to them. There was a sash slung over his shoulder, two ends tied in a knot in front of his chest. He crossed his arms in front of his chest as he looked Inuyasha over.

"You're the one my employer wants dead? I was expecting someone….Well, I was expecting more."

Inuyasha tightened his grip on the Tetsusaiga. "Who the hell are you?"

The man lowered his arms and placed them on the handles of his swords. "My name is Jurorenmaru. I'm what you may call a bounty hunter. And I take it that you are the half-demon Inuyasha. It's nothing personal, but I have to take your head to my employer. Again, nothing personal – it's just business. You understand."

"Naraku hired you, didn't he?" Kagome asked.

Jurorenmaru turned to Kagome. "It's a pity that you're on the hit list as well. I would really hate to have to kill a beautiful girl like you. But maybe we can have a little bit of fun before I end it."

I don't know what he means by that, but I don't want to find out, Kagome thought in disgust.

Inuyasha put himself in front of Kagome. "You're not laying a hand on Kagome, you son of a bitch. You hear me?" He raised the Tetsusaiga above his head; wind started swirling around the blade. "I'll kill you first. Wind Scar!"

He slammed the Tetsusaiga into the ground, sending out a massive blade of wind. It dug up the ground, creating a deep gorge as it headed right for Jurorenmaru. Jurorenmaru leaped out of the way, landing on the branch of a nearby tree.

"Hey, Inuyasha." He took out his broad swords. "You missed."

"Hey! Asshole!" Sango yelled, catching Jurorenmaru's attention. She shifted her weight, getting ready to throw the Hiraikotsu.

"You're a lucky man, Inuyasha," Jurorenmaru said as he leered at Sango. "You've got two gorgeous girls traveling with you. I can just imagine the wild time's you've been – HELLO!" He leaped down from the branch, barely a few seconds before the Hiraikotsu shattered it. "That would have been bad."

Sango caught the Hiraikotsu as it came back at her. "You're lucky I missed."

"I know. If that had hit, I'd be dead right now."

"Jurorenmaru," Kagura said. "Stop toying with them and just kill them."

"All right, fine," Jurorenmaru said. "Besides, the sooner I kill them, the sooner I get paid with that jewel."

"Wait, you mean the Shikon Jewel?" Inuyasha asked.

Jurorenmaru put one of his swords into the ground, tip-first, and reached into his kimono, pulling out a small magenta stone. "Right now I've just got this little shard. It's a simple down payment. Once I deliver your heads to Naraku, I'll get the rest of the jewel. Or at least what he's gotten so far. I'll probably have to find the rest by myself."

"I was wondering why I felt that jewel shard getting closer," Kagome whispered.

Jurorenmaru, having heard her, turned his attention to her. "You can detect Shikon Jewel shards? I might keep you alive until I find the rest of the shards. And we'll have plenty of fun in the meantime."

Inuyasha charged for Jurorenmaru. "I don't think so, asshole!" He got ready to cut Jurorenmaru down. "DIE!"

Jurorenmaru quickly blocked Inuyasha's attack with one of his swords as he took the other sword out of the ground. He got ready to cut into Inuyasha's waist. Inuyasha quickly moved out of the way and punched Jurorenmaru in the face.

"Ouch! Okay, that hurt," Jurorenmaru commented as he took a step back.

Kagura unfurled her fan. "Geez, he's not taking this very seriously." She got ready to wave the fan. "Dance of – "

She was interrupted by an arrow flying past her face.

An arrow fired by Kagome.

"The next one won't miss, Kagura," she said as she notched another arrow on the bowstring.

"You're right," Kagura said as she turned to Kagome. "It won't." She got ready to wave her fan again.

Oh boy. Kagome quickly leaped out of the way as Kagura waved her fan, sending her wind blades in Kagome's direction. She felt the breeze off of the wind blades, telling her that they were missing her by just a few feet.

Sango threw the Hiraikotsu at Kagura. Kagura waved her fan, creating a huge gust of wind that blew the massive boomerang back. Sango caught it as it flew back at her.

"Looks like I get to take care of the Demon Slayer," Kagura said as Sango ran at her. She stepped out of the way as Sango swung the Hiraikotsu at her, before throwing a punch. Sango blocked the punch, and countered with a roundhouse kick to the side of Kagura's head.

Kagura quickly righted herself and charged at Sango again. She leaped over Sango's leg sweep and kicked Sango in the face. Sango quickly leaped back to her feet and glared at the female demon.

Inuyasha and Jurorenmaru's weapons met. They stared at each other through their crossed blades. Inuyasha bared his teeth and growled as he struggled to push back against Jurorenmaru. Jurorenmaru was surprisingly strong. Inuyasha dug the balls of his feet into the ground as he tried to gain the upper hand.

"I'll admit, you're tough," Jurorenmaru said. "But honestly, I've faced tougher. You're nothing special. But I'd be lying if I said I've faced a half-demon before. You're the first."

"You know what your problem is?" Inuyasha asked. He kicked Jurorenmaru back and swung at him again; Jurorenmaru blocked the Tetsusaiga with his swords. "You talk too much." He kicked Jurorenmaru back as the wind started swirling around the Tetsusaiga again. "Wind Scar!" Jurorenmaru leaped out of the way of the Wind Scar and landed behind Inuyasha. "Damn it! I missed!"

"Don't you have any new tricks up your sleave?" Jurorenmaru asked.

Inuyasha brandished the claw-like fingernails of his free hand. "Try this. Iron-Reaver Soul-Stealer!" He slashed at Jurorenmaru with his claws. Jurorenmaru ducked out of the way and punched Inuyasha in the knee. "Ah! Shit!" Jurorenmaru got ready to kick Inuyasha in the face; Inuyasha grabbed Jurorenmaru's foot. "I don't think so, dick head." He threw Jurorenmaru to the ground as he stood up. He tightened his grip on the Tetsusaiga and raised it above his head. "You're going down!"

Jurorenmaru flipped out of the way, just before Inuyasha's sword hit the ground. "Whoa! Okay, this is going to be more difficult than I first thought."

"Jurorenmaru, you know that if you don't kill them, you don't get the Shikon Jewel," Kagura said as she grappled with Sango.

"I've got her, Sango!" Shippo cried. He held out his hand. "Fox Fire!" A small green fireball flew out of his hand and headed for Kagura. Kagura kicked Sango back and flipped out of the way; the fireball went harmlessly past her. "I missed!"

Kagome aimed another arrow at Sango. "I won't." She let the arrow fly. As the arrow streaked through the air, it was surrounded by a bright aura. Kagura quickly moved out of the way. "Shoot." She looked over to Jurorenmaru, who was now fighting both Inuyasha and Miroku at the same time – Miroku was using his staff to fight. Jurorenmaru kicked Miroku back, giving Kagome a clear shot as she aimed another arrow. "Hey! You! What's your name!" She let the arrow fly.

"Oh crap!" Jurorenmaru cried as he put up one of his swords to block his face. The impact of the arrow knocked the sword into his face. "Ouch!" He looked at the other side of the sword; the arrow had left a scorch mark on the metal. A sacred arrow? Then that girl's a priestess! He flicked his sword, throwing the arrow off, before putting his swords away. "You want this jewel shard, Inuyasha?" he asked. "Then come and get it."

"Gladly," Inuyasha said. He charged for Jurorenmaru. Jurorenmaru leaped out of the way. "Hey! Hold still, you son of a bitch!"

"You're going to have to follow me if you want this shard," Jurorenmaru said as he sank into the darkness of the forest. "Kagura, we're leaving."

"Suit yourself," Kagura said. She flipped away from Sango. "See you around." She followed Jurorenmaru back into the forest.

"Hey! You're not getting away!" Inuyasha cried. He hurried after them.

"Inuyasha, wait!" Kagome cried after him.

Inuyasha stopped and turned face Kagome. "No time to wait, Kagome. Kagura and that bastard are gonna get away with the jewel shard! We have to follow them! If you idiots don't want to follow then you can just wait here!" He hurried into the dark forest.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried. She stomped her foot on the ground. "That idiot. He doesn't even know where he's going." She reached into her backpack and took out a flashlight. "Come on, guys. He's going to need our help." She slung her backpack over her shoulders and, turning on the flashlight, headed into the forest.

###################

The beam from Kagome's flashlight illuminated the forest around them. Inuyasha had gotten down on all fours, forced to sniff our Jurorenmaru and Kagura.

"Do you have anything yet, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked.

"Get off my back," Inuyasha snapped. "There's a lot of forest scents to go through."

A whistle from up ahead caught their attention. They looked in the direction the whistle had come from, saw Jurorenmaru, Kagura and someone else standing at the entrance of a nearby cave. That someone else blended in with the darkness thanks to his black armor and blue shoulder and knee pads.

"Is that…." Sango started. Her voice caught in her throat as the beam of Kagome's flashlight illuminated her younger brother, Kohaku.

"Dragging the kid into this too, Kagura?" Inuyasha asked as he stood up.

"You want this jewel shard?" Jurorenmaru asked. "Well, come and get it."

"You're asking for it!" Inuyasha yelled as he ran at Jurorenmaru. Jurorenmaru, Kagura, and Kohaku, slipped into the darkness, disappearing into the cave. "Damn it!" He ran into the cave. "Get back here!"

"Inuyasha, wait!" Shippo called after him. "We don't know what's in there!"

"Too late," Miroku said. "He's already in."

"Looks like we're going in too," Kagome said. She took a deep breath. "Let's go, everyone."

####################

Inuyasha stopped running as he neared the exit of the cave. Looking around, he saw he was back in a forest, only things were looking different than he remembered. The canopy was thicker, the trees looked like they had monstrous faces built into the bark, and the scents and sounds were foreign to him.

"What the hell is this?"

"Inuyasha!" He looked behind him as everyone else came running out of the cave. "Are you alright?" Kagome asked between breaths.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Inuyasha replied. "But I lost that asshole Jurorenmaru. Kagura and Kohaku are gone too."

"What do we do now?" Sango asked.

Inuyasha turned to Kagome. "Can you feel the jewel shard? How far away is it?"

Kagome pointed to the north. "Somewhere that way. It's getting further away. They must be on one of Kagura's feathers."

"Well ain't that just peachy," Inuyasha hissed as he kicked at the ground. "Well, let's get going. We'll catch up to them eventually." He started walking down the trail.

Kagome and the others hung back. They were worried about what was lying ahead.

This was some place they didn't recognize. Maybe it was just another part of the same forest, maybe it was something else entirely.

Either way, they didn't want to take any chances.