Chapter 1

The First Step

Breath burning, eyes blurring, it was taking everything Shipo had to push through the swiftly swirling snow.

He had to get to the den. He had to!

It had taken every bit of strength in his weary little body to get Koga into the cave Shipo had stashed him in. But, the Alpha wasn't out of danger yet. The wound in Koga's chest had still been smoking when the kit raced out of their hiding place, afterall. And, without help, it didn't look like he'd make it much longer.

A sudden gust of wind knocked the bounding kit to his knees but Shipo pushed himself back to his feet as he continued in his mad dash. Koga needed help.

No! He needed Kagome.

Shipo had seen her heal a whole mountain! Surely, the Alpha's wound would be nothing for her to handle. But, first, Shipo had to get to her.

She was at the den. The flare of reiki had proved it. She'd saved the den again….. Shipo just hoped she still have enough energy to save Koga, too.

SSS

Hakkaku had never been more confused and terrified in his entire life. What the hell was happening today?

One moment the whole den was fine, then it exploded into a writhing mound of death and, right when it seemed they were thoroughly screwed, a blinding light hit it and enveloped the mountain in sizzling energy. Again.

Now, the smoke was gone; dissipated as if it never existed. And, that raised Hakkaku's defenses all the more!

What the hell was going on?

"Hakkaku!"

The male heaved an irritated sigh as he struggled to keep from snapping when he spotted Shipo's tiny body rushing towards him. What did the kit want, now?

The beta was busy enough just trying to keep up with who in the pack had survived the attack, a number he wasn't liking at all. And, with the sudden snow sweeping in, Hakkaku had his claws full. There was no way he had the time for whatever trick the kitsune had up his sleeve.

"HAKKAKU!"

Unfortunately, the little brat wasn't understanding that.

Right when the irritated warrior was about to tell the kit to leave him alone, Hakkaku was suddenly thrown off-balance by a cannon-ball of bright orange fur knocking him in the chest and gripping his armor with trembling tiny hands.

"You gotta come, Hakkaku!" the kit cried into the beta's face. "I tried everything I could to help him. But, Koga is hurt and he needs your help and I can't carry him all by myself and I don't know how much-longer he's going to last!"

Barely following the kit's mile-a-minute chatter, Hakkaku was able to catch one thing that had ever hair on his head stand on end. Koga was in trouble!

"What's wrong with Koga?" he demanded, suddenly thrusting the clinging kit out arms-length from him.

Bright teary eyes looked up at him in shining desperation.

"He was attacked," the kit squawked. "He needs Kagome to heal him. I don't know how much longer he can last by himself."

Everything sped up and slowed instantly in Hakkaku's mind. Without hesitation, he dropped the kit and immediately started calling out to other hunters scrambling about.

"Ayumu!" he barked, dark eyes zipping one way then the other till the shaky scout finally wobbled towards him. "Sister Kagome and Ginta went towards the river. Go find them."

The scout nodded but he seemed hesitant. Hakkaku snarled in frustration before giving the pale boy a shake.

"Are you there?" he demanded, starling the young male. "Well?"

"R-Rokurou….."

The stammer had Hakkaku looking towards the laid out body of the large hunter by the den. Whether he was dead or not, Hakkaku couldn't tell. But, he didn't have the time to check.

"You listen to me," Hakkaku snapped, causing the scout to look up at him. "Koga is injured and needs Sister to heal him. Unless you want your Alpha to die, pull yourself together and bring her back here. Now!"

Hakkaku felt a moment of relief when the fog of confusion cleared from Ayumu's eyes. Suddenly nodding again with a determined gleam, the scout turned on his heel and rushed towards the river.

That was when the beta went to his next task. Quickly scanning the calming crowd, he pointed towards a few of the strongest males wandering aimlessly about.

"Eiji, Bunta, you come with me," Hakkaku shouted over the chaos. "Jiro, you keep things together here!"

Hakkaku didn't wait for the affirmative from the old healer. It didn't matter, anyway. Koga needed them.

Turning back towards the stunned kitsune, Hakkaku nodded sharply at the tiny boy.

"Show us," he ordered, as the other two warriors approached from either side.

Without delay, the kit scampered off into the falling snow, the three wolves in hot pursuit.

'Just hang on,' Hakkaku prayed in his head. 'We're coming.'

SSS

Kagome didn't know how long they'd been flying.

When they had first taken off, her thoughts had felt as scattered as the flakes whizzing past them but the gradual rocking of the nekomata she was perched on with the hoshi, Miroku, had a nearly soothing effect on her mind. So soothing, when the priestess had thought she'd only close her eyes for a moment, she'd drifted into a deep sleep.

But, sleep was what she preferred at the moment. Sleep was quiet, calm, solitary. And, sleep was the only thing that left her mind at peace. There was no doubts, no fears, no worries or regrets. All within her was still.

So, when she felt a hand gently shaking her from that stillness, it was pure instinct that had her flicking an arm up, smacking something painfully hard.

The startled yelp had Kagome sitting up suddenly but the strained groan had her staring about to try and pin-point who was suffering around her.

Blinking the strain of sleep from her eyes, Kagome quickly hopped down off of Kirara's back and rushed over to Miroku's bent-over form.

"Are you alright?" she asked, panic starting to take over. "I'm so sorry! You just startled me and I—"

"It's alright," the hoshi's muffled reply could barely be heard through his hand over his face. "Really, it's alright, my lady."

Kagome blanched when the hoshi lifted his head upward, the red line of blood staining his skin from his nose.

"I can honestly say you are not the first woman to strike me in the face, Lady Kagome," Miroku added with a slight chuckle. "Though, you are the first to draw blood."

Kagome felt her face redden in horrified embarrassment. This was not how she wanted to start her new mission in life. To bloody the one trying to help you was really not the recommended way to begin.

"I swear, it was an accident," she promised again as she pulled out a lose rag from her hakamas' pocket.

While Miroku was smiling as he took the offered rag, the warmth in his face suddenly chilled and tightened when he snapped his eyes back towards the darkening horizon. A familiar coolness washed over Kagome, as well, as she felt her legs begin to tremble.

He was coming!

"We have to hurry," Miroku ordered as he rushed to his feet and grabbed Kagome's hand to tug her insistently towards the surrounding low hills.

Kagome didn't wait to race after Miroku's swift steps. The hoshi was actually quite nimble for one who has devoted himself to meditation and peace. However, Kagome was grateful she was able to keep up with him at a full-run.

Those years in the mountains hadn't weakened her stamina, thankfully.

White flakes rushed past her as they ran, Kirara covering their retreat. However, the large nekomata would have to leave soon. She couldn't be caught by Naraku's evil.

Right when Kagome was going to tell Kirara to leave, Miroku slowed to a stop before a gaping cave in one of the hills. The slushing water of a river ground and rolled into the dark entrance. Miroku then turned and faced Kirara without hesitation.

"This is where we part," he replied firmly to the curious nekomata. "The barrier around the temple won't allow yokai in. Besides, your mistress is undoubtedly waiting for you. Go."

A quick glance to the darkening horizon was Kirara's only hesitation before she leapt back into the air, running on the whipping wind.

Kagome swallowed the lump of despair to see her friend leave, once again. This was no time to cling!

Turning back towards Miroku, Kagome watched as he calmly extended his hand towards the cave swallowing the icy river. Glancing inside, she spotted a narrow lip running down the cave wall, just big enough for one to walk.

Kagome knew she had to do this. The only way to stop Naraku was to get stronger. And, to get stronger, she had to train. Still, why did this feel so….final?

"My lady?" Miroku asked, worry coloring his voice as his steady eyes focused on her face. "I'm afraid this is not the time to hesitate."

Kagome nodded in agreement. He was right. There was no point in putting this off. It was childish nerves. Nothing more.

With a deep breath, Kagome stepped through the barrier, the warmth of reiki soothing to her spirit as the shadowed darkness swallowed her whole.