Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or it's characters. Everything belongs to thier respective owners. I only own the OCs
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1
Ki and Hareiki Hill
"Yes, we can help you…" The purple-robed Monk replied to the King.
The group had finally arrived in the next town. This town was a village connected to a palace.
Inuyasha insisted that they kept going since the gatekeeper informed them that not only was "Inuyasha's kind not welcome here" (which then they agreed to let them though when Kagome persuaded him.) they also told the next village was an hour's trip.
But due to Kagome's sore feet and Miroku's odd wanting to stay Inuyasha's vote was overruled. At first the others expected Miroku to go saying the fanciest house in the village was in need of an exorcism, but were surprised when he headed straight to the King's palace. Even that was a bit extreme for Miroku.
While the group was waiting for one the servants was running for the King, Miroku explained his need to stop here.
"You see," He stated. "This kingdom has been terrified of a supposed Demoness who lives up on a hill top." He gestured to a hill a good distance away. "They've never been attacked and supposedly a Priest who lives here has met, and befriended this Demoness." He explained in his usual calm Miroku way to the others. Now they stood before the King and were telling him they'd "talk to" the Demoness.
"Oh! Many blessings bestow you! What is the price you require?" The fancily dressed ruler asked Miroku.
"All we ask is a dinner and shelter for the night." He replied smiling. The King gladly accepted the terms.
"I'll get our Priest, the one who saw the Demoness, to take you to her hut up on Hareiki Hill." He turned, his long yellow-orange robes floated momentarily. "You!" He said pointing to one of his many servants. "Fetch the Priest." He commanded. The servant bowed and ran towards the rest of the town.
Inuyasha snorted from the back of the group. "Why are we helping these miserable humans? We could be searching for the last Jewel Shards. Or at least the one Bankotsu got away with." He glanced to Miroku. "What's so important about this Demoness? We've come across towns with worse Demon problems."
Kagome, who was standing next to him, sighed and replied. "We might come across a Shard while we're here. Did you think of that? Maybe this Demoness has a Jewel shard."
Inuyasha snorted again. "If she has a Shard why doesn't she attack this village? And wouldn't you sense it?" he had a point. More times than not, if a Demon had it's hands on a Jewel Shard they wouldn't exactly be inviting villages to tea parties. And it was also true Kagome didn't sense anything.
"That's why we're here." Miroku joined in. "I've heard rumors that the Demoness who lives atop that hill," He stopped to motion to the hill behind the castle's wall. "Has a grudge against Naraku, or the other way around. Either way she's out for his head."
"Excuse me." A new voice came though the group's discussion. Their heads turned to a man walking with a cane towards them. He was elderly but was holding onto his life easily. His robes indicated he was the Priest the King talked about. "Did you say 'Naraku'?"
They nodded. "You know something about him?" Inuyasha asked suspiciously.
"I am the Priest of this village. You are here to deal with Ki, correct?" He asked gently, like a mother with children.
"Ki… this is the Demoness you saw?" Sango asked, Kirara cradled in her arms.
"Yes." He sighed. "The villagers and the King are under the illusion that all demons that do not travel with a human are evil." He sighed again. "Ki is harmless. She even saved a fly from a Spider's web."
"We'll just see for our selves." Inuyasha replied.
"I would reccomend not attacking her, I don't wish to make enemies with her family." He warned them.
"Who's her family?" Miroku seemed most interested. But it wasn't surprising, it was always good to know what you were getting into and to know Demon Tribes in the area.
"Many years ago to the East of here her family ruled. I don't know where the rest of her family is now. A rumor says it just past the next town over, but you can't believe everything you hear." He sighed again. "She is of the Tiger-Cat Demons."
"How do you know so much about her?" Sango asked.
He chuckled. "We've actually become quite good friends. She's quite pleasant to be around. She's the first true friend I've had in while."
"Let's just go see h--…." Inuyasha started before holding his nose to the air.
"What is it?" Kagome asked urgently.
"I smell… blood." He stated before glancing towards the hill. "Coming from there!"
Miroku started his way before stopping. So did Kagome.
"So much Demonic energy! Surely this can't be Ki's!" The priest said, bewildered at the sudden excess of Demonic energy being exerted.
"Let's go!" Inuyasha yelled. Kagome climbed onto his back and they took off. Kirara jumped from Sango's arms and transformed, Miroku and Sango climbed on her back.
The priest, carrying his own weight, ran along beside them.
"Heh heh heh. I'm starting to like this. Isn't this FUN?" A scratchy voice called over the forest's noises.
"Let's hurry up!" Shippo yelled to Inuyasha.
"Right!"
"C'mon Kirara." Sango yelled to her cat demon. Kirara growled in agreement.
They bolted to get there faster. Finally they reached the top of the hill. From the top to the others side there were no trees. A small hut sat to their side.
"I don't see her…" The priest muttered between breaths as he caught up with them.
"Look!" Miroku pointed as two figures fell from the sky. The smaller, thinner one hit the ground first and caused a bowl of dust to pick up. When the other figure hit, the ground rocked.
"Heh heh heh! See? How much fun this is? We should play this more often… too bad this'll be our last game! Heh heh heh!" The scratchy voice rang out again.
"Ki! What are you doing?" The priest obviously recognized the voice as Ki's. He turned to Inuyasha and Kagome. "Go see what it was, or who it was that got shot down!" He more or less commanded.
Inuyasha nodded and leapt off towards the two objects. He didn't argue because he knew it would be better if he did go see. Otherwise there would've been a "Who made put you in charge?" question yelled.
He leaped and landed behind a small sword. Shaped much like a Katana. He glanced around. Then he noticed a small figure.
"Oh my…" Kagome said jumping from his back and rushing to a small girl's body. Kagome knelt by her side. "She's human." She stated. A series of cutes covered her body, bruises already forming under her skin.
A low pain-filled moan bled though the girl's mouth.
"A-And she's alive!" Kagome said amazed. Inuyasha landed on the girl's other side.
"D…Do not hurt K-Ki." She mumbled.
"What? Why? Did she do this to you?" Kagome asked worried. If that Demoness hurt a child I'll make sure to personally….
"Y-Yes… and No." The girl's eyes opened. Two bright green orbs stared at Kagome. She closed her eyes and strained herself to sit up. She inwardly cringed as pain exploded though out her body.
"You shouldn't get up." Kagome warned, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder, trying to push her back down. The girl shrugged it off.
"Don't. If you want to live to see tomorrow, don't get in my way." She said standing up. She cringed as her weight was put onto one knee as she began to walk towards the sword.
"What's you probblem kid? You want to die?" Inuyasha growled.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome said astonished. Inuyasha shrugged. "Please, young one, sit down."
The 'Young One' shot a glare back to Kagome. This reassured her that she meant what she said.
"At least what is your name?" Kagome asked.
"… Call me…Ki." The girl replied. She finally got back to the sword that was sticking out of the ground.
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What do you think? I'm very pleased with this chapter. Of course it's not my vote that counts, it's yours: person sitting on your butt staring at this computer screen. That's right. I see you. Now be a good reader and review. Or I'll drop-kick your computer to the Antarctic Computer Testing Plan, where it is killed slowly and painfully! Bwa ha ha ha ha!
~Kat