"Ah, Lady Satsuki, do not worry, I've come with the required ingredients to remove such a nasty scar from your image."
Naruko's older sister rested on an empty field with the grassy land divided by a small river. Around her were the remains of countless soldiers who stumbled upon her. Her loyal servant hurried to her, carrying a vast array of herbs. However, the demon woman's eyes were fixated on her reflection and the scar her sister left. Images of the half-blooded girl and the human who stood with her passed by.
"Do not."
"Excuse me?" the imp asked, shocked.
"I told you to forget about this reminder." She opened her kimono slightly to let the scar breathe, "Once I meet them again, I'll make that human see my sister share this mark with me. But hers will be more than a skin-deep wound."
On her side of ancient Japan, Naruko shuddered, "What's this shiver?"
Kaede, who walked to the well to see the hanyo still waiting, asked, "Perhaps you should let them come on their own. It's not as if your stay will make them arrive faster."
"And be with the hair creep?" Naruko growled, "That bitch has been marveling at that lump of hair so long it's sickening."
"Which would sum up why I had to leave my house for a while." Kaede admitted under her breath before addressing the dog girl again, "Your interest in those two is obvious. Whatever fate has linked you together can't be taken lightly."
"Because someone must be plotting this, right?" The hybrid girl growled, "If they are, they have a sick sense of humor. Don't worry, though, I'll rip out their throat."
"Just now, there are tales of demons who terrorize a nearby region." Kaede started, "Yura managed to confirm those rumors."
"Ain't that the most normal thing in this world?" Naruko asked, irritation obvious in her tone, "Do you want us to do what you humans can't normally do and get rid of them?"
"I wouldn't be here if it weren't more important." Kaede held her chin, "I will have to wait for the others to arrive to give you the rest of the details, though."
"And there we go." Haruto said as he climbed out of the well with Kagome's bike on his back, "Told you I could do it."
"I didn't doubt it, I said you shouldn't have, but thanks." The girl told him with a sincere smile, which made something inside Naruko despise that cutesy expression.
"Perfect timing." Kaede told them, "Do join me on my abode. I have news."
At said place, Haruto felt very uncomfortable. Yura had a large, childish smile with her eyes practically glowing with glee. His hair was in her hands, used to make a string she was playing with to make many shapes and images. Spider webs, spelling her name with it, and even catching and controlling flies like they were puppets. People could make the most out of the simplest things to amuse themselves, she was proof.
Opting to let the very happy demon be, all other pairs of eyes focused on Kaede. "I have heard word of a powerful duo of demons known as the Thunder Brothers wreaking havoc in nearby villages in their search for the Shikon Jewel. They're on their way here now as we speak."
Naruko snorted. "Is that it?" She asked dismissively before a cocky smirk appeared on her face. "Looks like I'll be getting to practice with Tessaiga some more."
"Don't underestimate them, Naruko." Kaede warned, her good eye narrowing. "I hear they're quite powerful and have been more volatile as of late."
"Where are they exactly?" Haruto asked while cracking his knuckles. "If they're as dangerous as you say, we've gotta stop them now." Haruto was more than eager to put down monsters on a quest for power.
"Do we have to though?" Yura groaned, already feeling her goody-two-shoes master was gonna drag her into this. "We could just let them pass by or just give up the—"
"Stiffen." Haruto growled, making Yura freeze up in place. He wasn't in the mood to hear a suggestion of sacrifice. "Anyway, we have to stop them. Where are they? I'm ready to give them a good right hook." He said, more pumped than angry once again.
"Yura would have to be the one to tell you." Kaede sighed. This would mean unfreezing her and in all honesty, most of the people in the room would prefer that not happening right now.
"Alright, move." At his command, the hair kunoichi rubbed the stiffness of her muscles, "Now, tell me where they are. If you want to make suggestions, make sure they're reasonable for all of us." He commanded more than advised.
"That was totally reasonable." She grumbled under her breath as she got up.
"Stiffen!" he snapped, and then exhaled tiredly when realizing he still needed the hair yokai's help, "I guess this'll be tougher than common cultural differences."
"I would have done the same if it had been Naruko." The schoolgirl commented.
"Hey!" said dog girl exclaimed, "Just because I say shit like it is doesn't give you the right to humiliate me like that!" she grumbled and looked away, "Anyway, where are these guys, old hag? The sooner I test out my new sword on them, the better. We can leave the kunoichi behind for all she's worth."
"Excuse me!?" said yokai snapped once back to normal, "I'll have you know I could've easily tracked you and that girl through that well if I so desired!"
"Like I care." The hanyo glared at her, "As far as I'm concerned, you're an alternative to my nose."
Kaede frowned at the impatient girl, "I know you're eager, but they have spread misery and death everywhere they go. Thread carefully if you are willing to go to their hideout, but you'll need to find them first. And your nose doesn't have their scent, so let Yura guide you."
The hybrid girl ground her teeth while the scantily clad kunoichi grinned smugly at her. Both Haruto and Kagome sighed, knowing they'd be seeing more of that soon.