Welcome back.

"Wow you're fast, sir!"

The servant exclaimed as he just tried holding onto his shoulder, barely, as Bryant sped down the hallways and corridors to reach his friend who was tired. Before long, he'd found Misty and the boy she was battling, Ember, on the floor, panting and completely exhausted. She was fine, aside from a few cuts, bruises and burns on her skin. He was bleeding just a bit as well, since her water blades were really sharp. Both of them were smiling faintly to one another until Bryant showed and Misty looked up in surprise. Weakly, she spoke.

"Mr. Bryant! You... you found me."

"Who's this guy?"

"Ember, this is my friend Bryant. Bryant this is my friend, Ember. Well, now we're friends."

"Nice to meet you, dude." He hoisted himself up and wobbled over to Bryant, extending his hand. His hands were sort of charred due to his excessive use of fire, but he'd be fine in an hour or two. He could still use fire even with his burnt hands. Alright, one part of the team was reunited with the other. That was good. Ember went over, after shaking hands with Bryant, helping Misty up to standing once more. She smiled and wobbled over to Bryant as well, hugging him. Never was she so happy to see another one of her friends instead of the darkness of this castle anymore.

Meanwhile...

"Try as you might, Inuyasha, you will not defeat me. Nothing shall defeat me, as strong as they are. My emptiness is all the power I need. You see, when pesky things like emotions are out of the way and all you know is darkness, your powers become greater. Your sense become greater because the task at hand you're doing, is all you're focused on. And when you give something all of your focus, you're bound to win. Just give up."

He stated emptily again. Inuyasha was already steaming mad and just recovering from being a pancake. By that, I mean, he was thrown into a wall and squished between the rocks. He was fine, as Rocky had held back a bit, because he didn't truly want to hurt him. But, now he was starting to question; What's with this kid? Does he actually want to kill Inuyasha, or does he just want to battle him and rough him around a bit? It just didn't make sense. The things he was saying made Inuyasha feel like he wanted a fight to the death. But how he was acting was giving off totally different vibes.

"Alright listen! Either you fight me to the death right here right now, or you don't fight me at all. Maybe a little spar, but that's it. It has to be one of those options, I won't accept an in between type thing. That's exactly what you're doing now! So what's it gonna be Rocky?"

"Didn't your friend give you orders not to kill me, specifically?"

"Well yeah, she did. But right now I don't give a damn about her stupid orders. I want to fight and you want to fight. So why not make this a death match? I mean I really am trying for your death, and I could try even harder. Didn't you say you wanted to die honorably? That you don't care whether you live or die as long as your opponent does it with honor?"

Rocky nodded, his empty gaze staring ahead at Inuyasha. So young, and yet, so helpless.

"Then let's rumble! I'll fight you to the death. At least your death, this way, will be honorable."

"No. I will not fight you to the death. I know for certain you won't win and if we fight to the death, that means killing you. If it was my order to kill you, I would kill you. But, if it were not I would not. Since nothing has been specified on my part, I will not harm you."

"Man whatever! You're so damn confusing it ain't even funny! Kagome told me not to kill you, she didn't tell you not to kill me. But I think we should fight to find out whether you can do that, don't you agree?"

"No, Inuyasha. I will go on your friend's orders then. You shall not kill me, and I shall not kill you. After all, I do not wish to harm you or anything really. I have already begun to feel a pit of grief for wrecking some of the walls around this place."

"Man... this guy's unreal."

Inuyasha crossed his arms and stood there, calmly, for once. He sighed and spit on the ground. Rocky placed his hand at his side, calmly and gently, sensing that Inuyasha didn't have the will to fight anymore. The only thing Rocky would do if he came at him again was pacify him by some method of rock magic. Which is what he was originally doing, not trying to kill Inuyasha. He sighed as well and awaited Kagome's return.

Meanwhile...

"Okay!"

I called out happily, awaiting the elixir to drink it. Perhaps she could make it taste like something.... ooh Strawberry! These did come in different flavors. Some genius wizard invented it when he almost died drinking the elixir because it tasted so bad. It was a bit exaggerated, but that's what they said about it in the magic store. I shrugged and awaited Mero's return.

"Hey Mero? One last request! Can you make it taste like Strawberry?"

I chuckled lightly to myself. Mero was such a good friend.

Meanwhile...

"Have you had enough yet?"

"Not even close, my dear."

Both of them parted for a moment and spread apart. The guy had managed to get no more cuts on Arcadia's skin, and the cuts that were on her skin were already regenerating. There was a difference, a visible difference in them now, however slow they were healing. She had the upper hand in this match and she would show it. What was she doing up till now? Playing a game with him? I had no doubt in my mind that Arcadia could end all from the start if she wanted to, but, she didn't. Maybe she was analyzing her opponent to get a better view of their strengths and weaknesses? Who knows? Maybe, underneath the serious and concentrated and deep exterior she always has on, there was a person who loved to have fun and was thankful to be blessed with these great psychic powers.

"Ma cherie, you are quite the speedy one! Your powers are amazing! Sacre-bleu!"

He cried out comically as Arcadia was able to shift in behind him and grab him in a choke hold. In this time, she disabled him from his sword, he dropped it on the ground. She smirked and sped to pick it up, after choking him a little more, before he could get it. She now had a sword and was all powered up. Arcadia meant serious business. He coughed a bit and looked at her with both gleams in his eyes of fear and hatred. How dare she disarm him and yet, he was scared.

"Shall we go in for another round? Let's see how nicely your sword can cut open your skin. I would love to see that crimson color of yours on this floor instead of my own. After all, I think it would just decorate this room perfectly, give it a very distinct touch. Don't you think? That is, it comes at a price. You'll have to shed lots of blood, and goodness only knows what that might cost you? Your life perhaps?"

She smirked and felt the sword with her index and middle finger plated together. She stroked upward and just from that alone, he was steaming. He began to charge into battle without the sword he once used so proudly. She began to jump and fly backwards, controlling her psychic powers to help her in this "flight". He couldn't catch her. After all, without his sword, he was only just a mere mortal. He took swings at her and she pulled that same in and out flicker effect. He was so confused, he began to look around with fright. There was no telling where she would appear next. As he went to swing in one direction, she grabbed his wrist and lowered herself to him some. She whispered in his ear..

"Goodbye...."

She smirked and his eyes widened with fear, as well as when the metal of his sword that he once held had made contact with his soft heart. She'd stabbed him, and quite hard, directly where his heart was. The blood spattered all over the walls, on the floor and even some of it on Arcadia's face. As she did this, she sincerely and softly smiled to herself. She'd managed to defeat him and he'd become the only opponent she'd ever faced, in record of her memory, to have made her go up a level when fighting her. That was something to be proud of. Eventually, he stopped bleeding and fell to the ground of the castle flooring, dead. Arcadia shut his eyes and pulled the bloody sword out of his chest, leaning over him as he lay there, completely gone.

"You were a worthy opponent, sir. You were the only one to make me go up to that power level before. You should rest and be proud of your accomplishment. Now, I must leave you. But, I thank you sir, for the sword. And I'm very sorry you had to die like this."

She smiled and took the sword with her, beginning to run off into the darkness and down random corridors, in search of her other friends. She wanted to reunite with them, but she knew she'd have to find them first. That... was another thing she didn't wish she had to do. After all, after that fight, she was the least bit exhausted.

Meanwhile...

"Hey Kagome? Have you found any yet?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. Around this area there should be a creature, with one in his arm. Watch out, that could grant him a number of things, depending on how he uses its power. It could give him super strength, it could give him some sort of mystic power. Just be ready for anything. He seems to be alone, it's our lucky day!"

Kagome cried out as they snuck in closer to the creature's layer, where he seemed to be cooking something for himself to eat. The creature appeared to be a small, not even grown, around young teenage, maybe, dog boy. He wasn't a wolf like Koga, and yet he wasn't a cat like Inuyasha. He was more or less, just a dog boy. With the ears and tail of a dog, and the body and voice and other features of a human boy. Kagome blinked. So this was their opponent?

"Hey little guy. We just are here to..."

"To take my jewel shard you meanies! I know your types of people and I won't let you have it! I won't."

"I'm sorry, but little boy, right now we need that jewel shard for our friend. You see, it's sort of an emergency and we have to hurry. So do you think there is some way you can give it to us without a fight? Maybe a trade off."

"Hmmmmm, well alright. I'll give you the jewel shard, if you, blondie, rub behind my ears and brush my tail with this brush. And if you, priestess, kiss me."

Kagome blushed and seemed completely disgusted and weirded out by what the kid just asked her to do. However, before she could say anything in protest Kendra happily agreed, giggling and walking over to the dog boy. She grabbed the brush and began to brush the fur of his tail softly. He started to wag it a bit, but tried to keep it still enough for her to brush it. Once she was done doing that, she scratched behind his ears and he blushed and wagged his tail excitedly. It felt so good to be treated so kindly by other people, by girls nonetheless. He seemed so lonely. And just looking at him, what harm could it to? - Kagome thought. And so, she walked over to the dog boy and gently lent down, kissed the top of his head. He opened his eyes and seemed displeased with that. He held out his lips. Kagome was seriously not up for this, but she guessed she had to do it. She lent down and briefly kissed his lips before he smiled in the separation between them, after the kiss had ended. Kendra stopped scratching behind his ears and he awoke from his feelings of genuine pleasure to give them the sacred jewel shard.

"Here you go, girls. Thank you for doing that for me. I really needed that and it's just not the same if I do it for myself, you know? Anyway, take good care of that. And hopefully, I'll see you soon!"

"Yeah, soon, definitely."

"You mean you're just gonna give it to us like that?"

"Well a deal's a deal right? Now, scram before the pack comes back and finds you taking the jewel shard."

Both Kagome and Kendra thanked the boy before returning through the portal to where they originally started their mission. On the floor with Rocky and Inuyasha in the mysterious castle. Kagome smiled as she walked over to Rocky.

"We're back. And I want you to have this Rocky. Clutch it and place it pressed up against your chest. You may feel slight pain, but that's normal. Trust me it will help you."

He shrugged and took the "gift" of the jewel, clutching it softly and placing it up against his chest. Momentarily, the jewel seemed to seep and fuse into his skin, not long before entering under it and into his heart. He seemed to cringe in pain, trying to take it, but ultimately it hurt more than he could ever hide. The jewel shard placed itself in his heart and shone its light once. Suddenly, Rocky's empty and sorrowed appearance began to change to that of a normal teen's expression. Kagome smiled, it worked!

"Gee, thank you miss. Whatever you did, thank you. I can't thank you enough for this gift you've given me. However can I repay you?"

"No you're just welcome is all, Rocky. I wanted to make sure you had the chance to live life like the rest of us. You can repay me by keeping that jewel shard safe for us and protecting it with all of the life you now have in your body. That jewel shard is important. Without it, you'll just go back to being empty again."

He nodded, understanding what it was he must do. His innocent and now lifelike eyes looked to Kagome curiously again.

"I sure will. But there has to be something else I can do to make up for what you've done for me."

"Well, Rocky. How would you like to be friends?"

"Sure! I'd love to be your friend Kagome. And I really like Inuyasha too, he's so cool and the way he fights is awesome. It's no wonder you two are such a great team. And Kendra, well she's cool too. Thank you for being my friends and for everything you've done for me. I really appreciate it. It was an honor to meet you Kagome and everyone."

He hugged Kagome firmly and she smiled, relaxing into his grip and hugging him back.

"And it's great to finally meet you too, Rocky."

Inuyasha spit on the ground again, obviously not one for mushy moments. Kendra sighed in sheer happiness that the moment had gone just as she had planned. Now all that was left to do was to reunite themselves with the others. But going back would be a complete waste of time. How were they to do this? Now they had to think of a plan. Everything...finally, and I do mean finally, was coming together and NOW we would get the chance to save my parents and the kingdom I love.