Sango's Lost Sister

                                                                                  Chapter 2B

AN: I want to dedicate this chapter and give a big thank you to SakuraNeko56 for all the wonderful suggestions she has given me. Quite frankly, I hit writer's wall, as I call it. (an idea or two is there, but getting it out....). I would have never thought of some of them. So the credit for this chapter goes to her.

The next morning, Saika stood at the fort's entrance, looking out over the forest while waiting for her companions to join her. While the young woman waited for her students she concentrated as her sharingan vision to kick in; turning her eyes red. She then scanned the area for any demonic auras that might be around. In a moment, she felt something, but it was weak. It was quite weak but she felt it nontheless. Yes, Saika is completely human. The thing is, she was born with ths ability to sense and see demonic auras. As she broke her concentration, Saika heard three sets of running feet approaching her and turned around to greet them.

"You three ready to go? I have a feeling things might happen today. So be ready for anything." Saika stated as she turned foreward and started at a steady pace for a bit.

"Hai sensei." the three students stated at the same time, following their leader.

Throughout the day, the group travelled in a northwestly direction to where Saika felt a strong pull in her soul. She didn't know why, but she felt she was pulled to go in a northly direction. Saika had tested her students in killing most of the demons they had encountered. They had done well, and had been allowed to take a fang or claw, once their teacher had purified the said parts with her other special abiity.

It was late in the afternoon when they came to the top of a hill and saw a rather large village below them. Saika could see that her travelling companions were tired from the long journey and made her way down to the village. To be honest, she was a little on the tired side herself. As they got closer, she recognized it. It was the village of Togura-Kamiyamada that had a temple and it's buildings on one side and a small military academy. It was a village of great strength and a good size.

As they came within a couple hundred yards of the gate, Saika stopped when she felt six auras some distance away from the village. Two of them felt somewhat familiar; one human and one of a demon. Drawing her attention back to her surroundings, she found she was standing in front of two guards. They stepped forward and crossed their swords, effectively blocking the way.

"We must know your names before we allow you to pass." one guard announced firmly, but in a friendlly manner.

"I am Saika, a shinobi leader from the village of Sunagukura (land of wind). These are my students, Keiko, Injuro and Mikano. We are on a mission and heading for the Zenkoji Temple. We ask if we can stay with you for the night. If we can be of any service to you in payment, we woulld be glad to help you." Saika introduced and bowed in repect, as did her students.

"Please wait here lady Saika. We need to tell our bosses." the other guard stated and disappeared inside. A moment he came back with a man who was both wearing a priest and a soldier's outfits (I'll let you use your imaginations here) that suited him quite well.

"Shinobi Saika?! You have indeed graced our humble temple fortress. I have heard of you and your powers. Please come stay with us for as long as you need. The guard tells me you wish to do something for us in return. No matter what we try we can't seem to get rid of the demons we are having trouble with. Please come this way." the priest/soldier replied with a deep bow.

"We will be more than glad to rid you of these pests. May I ask what your name may be please?" Saika replied and inquired as they walked down a long hallway.

"Forgive me my lady, my manners have escaped me. My name is Inari." the man now known as Inari apologized. Here is your room and there is a dining hall connected to it. If you wish, I can reserve it for just you and your friends."

"It is nice to meet you Inari and a reservation would be nice. I need to inform you that I have the sharigan second sight ability. When I sense a demonic aura, my eyes will turn red and then I can see where it is." Saika informed Inari so he wouldn't be startled if it happened.

"Yes, I have heard of that ability. Is there anything else my lady?" Inari asked.

"There is. I need to check out a couple of familiar auras about an hour or two west of here. I need to check them out. I can travel quite quickly through the trees, so I should not be too long. I will leave my students here in case your demons show up sooner than expected." Saika advised.

"Very well my lady. I wish you godspeed in what you need to do." Inari replied. Saika bowed and followed her three students in to the room.

"Wow, this room is huge!" Mikano exclaimed with a whistle.

"And the diningroom is pretty big itself!" Injuro exclaimed, peeking through the door at far side of the room.

"I'm glad you like it. Listen, I need to leave for a short time to check something out. If the demon comes before I get back, one of you come and get me. I will be heading that way." Saika replied, pointing westward.

"Hai sensei." the three answered together.

With a firm nod, Saika leapt off the balcony and ran towards the forest, jumping in to the nearest tree. Opening up her senses, she found the auras she had detected earlier and sped off in that direction. Running at a quick pace through the trees, it wasn't long before the auras were at their stongest. With one final leap, she landed on a branch as close as she dared without being detected.

'I see father was right, you are alive and doing well my sister. And Kilala is still with you.' Saika thought to herself. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the cat nekomata she still remembered and cared about. 'Kilala, kilala. It's me, Saika; Sango's sister. I am still alive, I wish to talk to you. Come in the direction you hear my voice in your small form.'

With InuYasha and his friends

Kilala was sitting beside Sango, enjoying the attention she was getting from her mistress when she suddenly lifted her head and looked in the direction Saika was waiting. She didn't think she would ever hear that voice again. But she couldn't deny what she was hearing in her mind; albeit an older, stronger voice of the little girl she had played with all those years ago.

'Saika, is that really you?!' Kilala thought back.

'Yes it is Kilala. I need to talk with you for a few minutes.' Saika replied and watched as the demon cat stood up and started running to where she was hiding.

"Kilala, where are you going?" Sango called out after her friend but it was already too late. Kilala was already halfway to her destination. Within a couple of minutes, Kilala jumped in to the forest, transforming in to her large form, She looked up as she saw Saika jump from the branch she was standing on. Kilala quickly sniffed the air and started purring as she recognized the scent of her second mistress who had disappeared all those years ago.

"It is good to see you again Kilala, I missed seeing you." Saika replied as she pet the proffered head of the purring Kilala. "Look Kilala, I only came because I sensed yours and Sango's auras a while ago. I am need at the Togura-Kamiyamada temple fortress. That's where my students and myself are staying for the night. And we will be helping them with the demon troubles they are having."

"Moewrr." Kilala rumbled quietly from her chest and tilted her head, indicating Saika to continue.

"I have done very well over the years. I am now an emerald star ninja of the Sunagukura village, north of here. I have my students with me for training while we deliver a package to the village near Edo. I don't know why Kilala, but I feel that there is a reason I need to be in this area. Some thing I need to obtained." Saika replied and then sighed.

"You must know Kilala, I haven't quite forgiven Sango for what she did to me. Because of her, I have been unable to get married because of the scar on my face." Saika replied as she watched as Kilala wince as she pulled the cloth away from her face, showing the ugly six inch scar on he side of her face. "I won't kill her Kilala, but she must answer for what she has done. I will test her fighting skills at another time. If I do not see you again, I will leave a message with the priestess in the village you and your companions stay when resting from your journey."

"Sensei, you are needed at the village. The demons are appearing and they look tough." Keiko called out as she ran up to them. Kilala let out a small warning growl at the girl.

"It's alright Kilala, she is one of my students I have been training. Keiko, you must learn to approach in a quieter manner." Saika scolded lightly., then smiled. "But thank you for coming."

"I am sorry sensei. It won't happen again." Keiko answered looking down.

"Whoever you are, get away from Kilala." Sango yelled out as she threw it hirokotsu at Saika and Keiko. Kilala jumped back as Keiko ducked.

"Damn it slayer, watch where you're throwing that weapon. Or are you still incompetent at doing so?" Saiko yelled back, catching the huge boomerang and throwing the weapon back at her sister, with a slight twist she thought the slayer would recognize. Within two seconds, she fished something out of her pocket. "Kilala, give this to Sango. She might recognize it.

Kilala took the object in her mouth and headed back to Sango. As Sango caught her weapon with a surprised look on her face, Kilala landed beside her, letting out a disapproving growl. The others approached, wondering if everything was alright. She stared at her weapon for a moment. There was only one person she knew who could throw the hirokotsu with bit a wobble and have it stay airborne.

"Kilala, was that Saika?" Sango asked.

"Meow." Kilala answered and nodded her head.

"And I just messed up again." Sango groaned. She started to go after Saiko, but Kilala got in her way and nudged her towards their camp. "I will be be seeing her again some time?" Again the nekomatta nodded her big head. She opened her mouth, and dropped the small object in to Sango's hand. She indeed recognize it, but chose to examine it later, and pushed it under her right shoulder guard and headed back to camp.

"Shouldn't we go after that girl and invite her to stay?" Kagome asked.

"Whoever she was, she's long gone. Probably headed back to where she's staying." InuYasha replied. "Why don't you and Sango go for a soak in the hot spring nearby. I think Sango needs time to think." InuYasha replied and pointed in the direction to where he could smell the hot spring.

Miroku and Kagome looked at him for a moment, surprised that he was being considerate for a change. Half an hour later, the girls were enjoying the hotspring; even if they weren't talking at the moment.

"Sango, please tell me who you think that girl was. My curiousity is starting to get the better of me. Kilala seems to know." Kagome asked, finding it a little hard to sit still at the moment.

"That girl is my sister Saika, Kagome. I'm sure of it....and she's still alive. I only know of one person who could throw hirokotsu with a slight wobble without having it fall. And this was her favorite pin she used to keep small objects in place on her outfit, so she wouldn't lose them." Sango stated with a far off look in her eyes.

"You'll see her again Sango and you can apologize to her." Kagome replied, trying to reassure her friend.

"I'm sure of that Kagome. But I don't know if she'll forgive me. Even as a kid, she could be unforgiving at times. She had a pretty high standard rules and ethics for herself." Sango answered. Kagome could only nod in understanding. Her grampa could be that way at times.

Okay, I think I'll end the chapter here and get on to the next scene in the next chapter.