"InuYasha, do you believe it wise to have angered that sorceress?" Miroku asked as they group settled around the campfire.

"Pft, if anything it was your fault for trying to make a move on her. Don't blame it on me!" InuYasha retorted as he crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes.

"You were both in the wrong," Kagome said to her traveling companions.

"Don't you find it odd though that a half demon, as stunning as she was, was allowed to live in that village so peacefully?" Miroku asked.

"Not really. She lived there first and then the villagers moved by her because of her powers. Her being a half demon only amplified her powers I believe. Besides, she wasn't mean, she was really feisty" Sango replied.

"She seemed so young," Kagome added as she looked at Shippo's sleeping form in her lap.

"I don't know… Something doesn't feel right," frowned the monk, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"You're just saying that because she was completely disgusted by your behavior," Sango growled. "Not that I blame her," she then added to no one in particular.

*Random Flashback Time!*

The group had been traveling for a while with no sign of the shards. InuYasha was getting agitated which was, in turn, making him take it out on Kagome.

"I'm not just a Shikon detector!" Kagome snapped after the last of InuYasha's snide remarks.

"Oh, so you serve another purpose?" InuYasha asked.

"I could just go home, ya know!" the miko threatened.

"Like hell! I wasn't the one who shot the jewel with a sacred arrow!"

"Will you two please stop arguing? We have more important things to worry about right now, like trying to find more shards," the demon slayer sighed.

"Besides, I think I see a village up ahead and the last thing we need is for you two to argue and alarm villagers like last time," Miroku added.

"Whatever," came the inu hanyou's reply. Kagome just shot him a dirty look and kept on walking.

"Let's ask around the village and see if they know anything about some shards," Sango suggested and with that the group journeyed to the small village up ahead.

"Excuse me, sir," Kagome said upon meeting the first villager she saw. "Would you happen to have heard any recent news about some sacred jewel shards?"

"No. I haven't. Many of the villagers here don't bother with outside affairs. There is a half demon sorceress that lives close to the mountains on the outskirt of this village though. If anyone would know about the shards, Tsukiko would" he answered.

"Thank you," Kagome said and the man went on his way.

"A half demon sorceress?" Shippo questioned.

"As odd as it maybe, it's worth a try," Kagome said.

"I think we're wasting our time. We should be looking for shards, not for people who have heard about them," griped InuYasha.

"Yes, except looking hasn't gotten us very far recently has it?" Kagome bit back. InuYasha grunted and they all headed to the edge of the village in search of Tsukiko.

"This has to be her place," Shippo pointed out as they reached a rather large house.

"May I help you?" A voice asked. They turned to see a girl walking towards the house from a thicket.

She had long, thick and silky black hair that stopped just short of her waist. One eye was a brilliant lilac color and the other was the color of fresh spring grass, both with cotton candy blue flecks. Her skin appeared as smooth as glass and was a light russet color. She wore a pink kimono with bright yellow, green, and blue lining and sashes that hugged her frame nicely. Her eyes, claws, and a pair of lynx ears that rested on top of her head were the only ways of knowing she was part demon. Other than that, she appeared to be a normal girl, around the age of 17.

"Are you Tsukiko?" InuYasha asked gruffly.

She arched an eyebrow. "Seeing as you're seeking me, you think you'd be nicer."

"I'm sorry for my friend's rude behavior. I'm sure he was just intimidated by your beauty," Miroku smiled as he approached the female half demon.

Tsukiko arched an eyebrow. "People like you belong in jail." Sango and Kagome giggled at her statement.

"We have a question for you," InuYasha said as he ignored the monk.

"You really aren't well with making friends, are you? If you need my help, it would probably help if you didn't just bark out commands and such… no pun intended," Tsukiko frowned.

InuYasha growled. "We aren't here to make friends. We're here to see if you've heard of any recent news about the Shikon shards so we can get on with our journey!"

"Well I don't like your attitude. If you want information I suggest you lose the attitude, Puppy-Dog," Tsukiko said simply, stressing the nickname that caused InuYasha to growl.

"I'm sorry about them. We really would appreciate your help though," Kagome said, feeling that it would be a wise idea to step in. Tsukiko looked at Kagome for a second and signed.

"Fine, I'll tell you what I know but only because you seem to be more decent than you're other two companions. I heard of some news from a wanderer. There has been recent demon activity within the lands towards the northwest and more than usual," Tsukiko said as she addressed Kagome and Sango.

"That doesn't mean that it has anything to do with shards," InuYasha commented.

Tsukiko gave him a pointed glare. "Well, if you would let me finish before interrupting me, perhaps I was getting with that."

"Please continue," Sango urged.

"As I was saying, there is a lot of demon activity within the lands to the northwest. The ruler of that land is on the verge of losing his throne due to internal conflict and because of this, the demons fear for their safety. I have heard that many of them are indeed, seeking the Shikon jewel as another means to protect their selves. I, however, wouldn't venture there," Tsukiko informed.

"Why the hell not?" asked InuYasha. After hearing that there were shards in the northwest, he was determined to go. With more shards, they were closed to killing Naraku and he was closer to becoming full demon.

"Well, for one because the Lord of the northwestern lands has lost his damn mind. He's a ruthless demon with no concern for the well beings of others now that he's lost his mate and child. Secondly, the lands there are full of power hungry demons after shards that you possess, and lastly, the ruler of the western lands is a completely gorgeous asshole," Tsukiko stated as if this was common news.

InuYasha smirked. "Yeah, that Western lord is an asshole, already."

"This is one of the reasons that you shouldn't be going there!" Tsukiko said.

"Don't worry about us, we can handle ourselves, especially against Lord Jerk of the West," InuYasha assured her.

"You seem very sure that you can beat him. There is a reason that he was made the Western Lord. He filled the footsteps of his father rather well and is a merciless ruler," Tsukiko said. InuYasha tensed at the mention of his father's legacy. Technically InuYasha was Prince of the West but because he was half demon, he wasn't allowed to have rights to the throne. Once Sesshomaru had inherited the west from his father, he had seen to that much.

"Western Lord? Does she mean Sesshomaru?" asked Kagome.

"You know the western lord?" the female half demon inquired.

"Hmph, something like that," scrowled InuYasha.

"Well excuse me. I didn't know he had friends. I'll have to ask him why he didn't tell me that last time we had tea," Tsukiko scoffed as sarcasm coated her words.

"I assure you, girl, he doesn't" InuYasha conformed. Tsukiko gave him a mildly confused look. "Come guys, we can make some progress before nightfall," InuYasha said as he turned to leave.

"You're welcome, Rude-Ass," Tsukiko said to InuYasha's retreating back.

"I'm sorry about that. We really do appreciate all of your assistance," Kagome bowed.

"I'm sorry about the guys in our group," Sango said as she too bowed and took her leave.

"I'm sorry that our encounter was so short, but know that I will be visiting you in my dreams tonight. A beauty like yours will not be forgotten so easily," Miroku said as he tried to approach Tsukiko, however, he ran head first into a barrier. She had an eyebrow raised at him in disgust.

She watched the group disappear through the forest and frowned. 'That half-demon need to be taught a lesson. He thinks too much of himself but I do believe that I have just the thing.'

***END RANDOM FLASHBACK TIME!***

"InuYasha, is it time to camp yet?" Kagome whined as the group trudged on slowly. He grunted but looked as the sun kissed the land and casted an orange light on everything under it. The night went as usual, the girls took a bath, everyone had supper, they say around the fire and talked a bit, and then everyone went to bed and prepared for their journey to the northwest.

During the night InuYasha, Sango, Miroku, and Kirara woke up upon feeling the aura of an incredibly strong youkai. "Kagome, wake up!" yelled InuYasha as he jumped down from the tree he had been perched in and prepared for battle. Sango and Miroku were also on their guard. "KAGOME!" InuYasha called out again.

"Stop yelling, will ya!" grumbled a half awake Kagome as she sat up in her sleeping bag, careful to not wake up Shippo, who had learned to sleep through InuYasha's yelling.

The group stared at Kagome in awe. "What's wrong?" she asked in a voice mixed with confusion and panic. The group merely continued to stare, for where Kagome had once been there was now a full blooded, and very strong youkai.