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As the group minded there own business, the barrier flickered silently and invisible to those without any spiritual attributes. The barrier made of youki was visible to other youkai but that was it. That barrier was strong in itself, telling of the strength of the old fox youkai. Beneath the barrier was the barrier from the monk Keita. It was strong but it wasn't the intoxicating purity that Kagome's was. Beneath it all hummed the barrier from the staff, unknown to all except those that knew of the strength of it. Only Tomo and Hotaru would know its existence and presence. As far as anyone knew the barrier had fallen when the attack upon the village came. It had flickered and died, seeming to fall completely. It had not, merely seeping into the ground and coating the entire land with purity. Already the crops were beginning to soak in the pure ground, thriving.

Outside the village and forest, eyes surveyed the village below them. They had already deemed that they could not enter in easily. The female looked to the male human that sat with her on the feather. How were they to do his bidding when they couldn't even enter the village? The boy raised his eyes and gave a brave nod. He would be the one to lure them out. He would lure out the ones they were sent to retrieve. The female nodded and settled the feather on the ground. She watched the boy disembark. Before she could wish him luck, a Saimoshu appeared. Lifting into the air breezily, she turned away, gathering youkai toward the forest. Those who were sensitive to the feel of youki would feel the darkness gathering.

The boy stumbled through the barrier. He had allowed some of the youkai they had gathered to injure him and wound him. He was now bleeding heavily from a gash on his shoulder and had numerous cuts all over his body.

Hotaru had grown lost in thought. His touch startled her back into the world. Staring down on him, she studied him. Her human side was blushing like mad and amazed at the fact that he was touching her. Of course that wasn't her now so she remained somewhat aloof. Allowing a small smile to appear, she nodded to him. "I thank you for your support."

In that moment, a stirring brought her attention towards the forest. It didn't remain within the forest though. It moved beyond the forest. Something was building out there. It was malevolent and evil. She was very certain of that. Rising as though nothing was wrong, she turned to look down at Masato. "Whenever the need shall arise, I shall call upon you. For now... I believe I wish to go inspect the shrine. Perhaps you can try to reach within the bow and seek out the female there. She is no doubt confused and frustrated." Bowing her head slightly, she headed to the shrine.

Hiro had followed Kino around, watching over her. It was almost as if he felt the need to be around her. When Keita appeared, he growled in anger. He did not like the boy. He moved between Lorelai and Kino. He didn't snap but he made his displeasure known to all. Even the children and moved from around him, keeping their distance.


Tomo woke from his sleep feeling somewhat refreshed. He felt better. Rising from the bedding, he moved to the door and headed out. Finding himself near the old fox youkai, he moved over to him. "Hello sir. I see ye have finished the huts." He grinned, settling near the old fox.

The boy stared at the girl that helped him. She was obviously the hanyou their master wanted. What about this girl that drew him to her he had no idea. Perhaps it was the purity in her that he could see through her eyes. He didn't understand why his master wanted the two of them. He didn't wish to place them under his control but he had to remain ever vigilant in the secrecy of his returned memories and emotions. His master had yet to take note of it thankfully. He felt a faint worry over his sister but obviously, she was still in the shadow realm. Word had reached the rest of the incarnations about their task in that other world. A world he himself had never known to exist.

Feeling his master's presence in his mind, he spoke quickly and hurriedly, giving the air to urgency in his words. "My sister. Our village was attacked. She and I ran away but the youkai aught up to us." He pushed away, standing. "We have to hurry. We split up and the youkai started chasing her." He darted bak out of the barrier, running as quik as he could.

Outside the barrier, the wind youkai watched the boy run out of the barrier toward the thick of the youkai. She waved her fan, and the scent of the youkai turned from the path that the boy was taking so the two wouldn't be able to scent them. Once they were far enough away, the youkai would attack and incapacitate them. She would then remove them from the area. She was troubled by her actions but she steeled herself. Perhaps there would be some way to help them in some small ways. Perhaps they would be able to help her retrieve her heart and free her sister as well as the boy.


(Feel free to auto what happens with these two and the youkai. There are others that control these two characters but considering they are currently Hiatus, I am taking over as their controller until I get word from them. For right now, they are npcs.If anything, go ahead and mod them and knock yourselves unconcious lol.)

Kino gently pushed Lorelai's herbs back to her. "We don't need the herbs. I need you to help me keep him still." She watched as the younger fox cleaned the boy's wound. Kino placed her hand directly onto the injury, which would have sent a jolt of pain through the kid. She and Lorelai would have to hold him down. After a few moments, Kino removed her hand and the wound was sealed, with just a scar remaining. It was the worst of his wounds, so she paused to examine the others. Kino hesitated, glancing at Lorelai. She wasn't sure if the hanyou had seen this power before.

Then suddenly, the boy started speaking quickly about his village being attacked. Before Kino could question him about it, he jumped up and started running toward the barrier. Kino was instantly to her feet, looking to Lorelai to see if she was going to go after the boy too.

Kino ran through the barrier after the boy. She spotted him ahead and glanced around suspiciously. Living in a wolf pack can teach you to treat every situation with caution. But she could not smell any danger in the trees. She still felt an impending evil force, but she couldn't focus on it. She was too concerned with the boy. As they caught up with him, she grabbed the shoulder she'd already healed and stopped him. "Stop and let me finish healing you. If you stay injured, you'll be no good to your sister in a fight." They boy looked at her, questioning. Then he stood still, looking between the two foxes. "I'm sorry. What are your names?" Kino had already healed the cuts on his legs by the time he asked. She stood up to start working on his torso and smiled. "I'm Kinoka. Everyone calls me Kino." The boy then looked to Lorelai. "And you?"


{{ I'm assuming Lorelai would chase after him too. I don't think she could let a kid run off all injured, trying to fight demons. 3nodding }}

While Kino treated the boy's shoulder, Lorelai managed to help pin him down while rubbing the boy's back in a soothing motion to try and provide some comfort. Once Kino was done, Lorelai released him while she asked, "How are you feeling? Any better?"

The boy actually took her by surprise as he suddenly took off after explaining how he'd gotten separated from his sister. Lorelai uttered a cry of protest and quickly started to chase after him. "Oi! You mustn't run around like that in your condition, you're still bleeding! D'you have a death wish or something?!"

Lorelai shifted into the form of a fox so it would be easier for her to run and catch up with their wayward patient and planted herself in front of him. As Lorelai reverted back to her original humanoid form, she was panting slightly and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder in what she hoped was a reassuring gesture. "Kino-chan's right, you can't just go running into battle in your condition. Let her heal you first and then we'll help you go after your sister. Okay?" Lorelai gave the boy her best friendly grin she had to offer as she gladly introduced herself upon his asking for her name. "My name is Lorelai Dannehur, but I also answer to Lori. What's your name?"

As Gramps continued his conversation with Tomo, perhaps it was because of the old fox's age that he was blissfully unaware of the youkai gathering outside the layered barrier. Otherwise he would have been more concerned with the village's safety and trying to pinpoint his granddaughter's current location instead of exchanging idle pleasantries with the monk. He gave a wide grin and nodded as he wholeheartedly agreed with Tomo. "Ah, Lady Hotaru is wise indeed then. I share the same ideals that she does concerning our three races. I believe we can all exist in harmony as equals if we just work at it. This village is a fine example of that, in my opinion. Perhaps...when things calm down in the village a bit and it doesn't look like it needs any protection, one day I may just take you up on your offer and go traveling. Lori's bound to go off on her own again. No need for her to go and hog all the fun."

Lorelai was completely taken off guard by the unexpected swarm of demons. She was so caught up in defending herself, she didn't even notice when Kohaku left to rejoin Kagura. Lorelai's only weapons were her fists, claws, feet, and teeth which she was using to the best of her ability. However, she was soon distracted by a demon literally giving her a hotfoot. "YEOOOOOOOOOOW! Hotototototot! Water, water! WHERE'S WATER?!!!!!!!!" While she frantically danced and hopped around in an attempt to put out the fire on her foot during her panicky search for water, another demon came up and knocked her in the back of the head, effectively stunning her. Lorelai made a rather unintelligent sound as she collapsed on the ground. In her daze she could be heard mumbling, "Look at the pretty stars...." Lorelai's words were a bit slurred due to a mild concussion as she rambled on about the imaginary stars dancing around her head. Meanwhile, the fire on her foot had gone out. The skin on her foot wasn't bleeding or singed and was still in one piece, but it did have a painful reddish glow to it. Lorelai was going to be in pain when she finally came to her senses.

Kino's head was nearly spinning as everything broke down. She could faintly hear someone call her name, but she couldn't focus. Instinctively, she enveloped herself in flames and emerged in her warrior form. She set to work setting some of the demons on fire. She spotted a woman on a giant leaf, attacking the barrier. Flames lit up her arms as she aimed for the leaf and Kagura's fan, but suddenly her vision tunneled and went black. A demon had taken advantage of her distraction and struck her. She collapsed, red hair catching fire and then fizzling to black as she revertd back to her normal form. The demon that struck her would pick her up fireman style and carry her to the leaf. He would also do the same with Lorelai. Then he looked up at Kagura, seeking approval for his actions.