The sky was overcast. There was little to no wind this day. It felt a little cooler than normal, which was good.
They had returned to Kaede's hut, walking back to the familiar village. Izumi had travelled with them. She had said her goodbyes to the small fishing village where she had lived for a short while, thanking the old woman for taking her in, looking after her.
She had said goodbye softly to Yuji, the man and woman speaking softly, a little aside from the others. It was apparent Yuji was upset Izumi was leaving, but she could no longer stay. Not that she remembered who she was, she had to leave. She could no longer remain and be Shisuta.
They had walked back, in a subdued silence.
They all seemed to be aware of the older woman's silence. Izumi seemed to be brooding over something, and no one really knew what to do or say. It was so unlike the woman.
InuYasha was convinced it had something to do with Sesshomaru. He had seen them talking, and had seen Izumi sink to the sand to sit, looking up at the demon lord. Had seen Sesshomaru stride away, only to return seconds later. Their body posture had been that of an argument or something.
He had wanted to go and find out what the hell was going on, but there had been a huge track of melted sand between him and them, and he would have had to take a long way around.
By the time he was about to say to hell with it, and risk it, the woman had stood and had returned to them.
The hanyou mentally sighed. He didn't know what he was supposed to do to help Izumi. Neither did Miroku. The monk felt there was more to the woman's quiet, that she was possibly mourning her loss of a connection to the Goddess Amaterasu.
InuYasha had no idea how to fix that, either.
Kaede had been glad to see them, and had set about fixing up the smaller hut near hers for the woman to live in. It was the older one InuYasha and his friends had used before, but it had been a while since they had been in it. Now it was swept out, aired out, and ready for Izumi and the others. Between Kaede's and Izumi's huts, there should be room for everyone.
Six days had passed. Izumi was resting, and no one really knew where to go after this, or what to do. Mikado had promised Miroku she would show up as soon as possible, and Izumi was feeling somewhat cranky over that as well. She did not know the Celestial Plane had come under attack, and was wondering why Mikado seemed so blase about the whole thing.
Kagome and InuYasha had gone back to visit her family. InuYasha only stayed a night, not wanting to intrude too much. He was still nervous about doing something to upset Kagome, and have her regret giving him another chance.
She stayed over there for two more days, and should be returning some time today, although she wasn't sure just when. She had left her sword with him, as usual, not wanting her mother to see it.
He sat outside, back against the old woman's hut, arms crossed, eyes closed, trying to find some way to make sense of everything that had happened.
Izumi had told him he hadn't been to blame for her death, but...he still felt there must have been something he had done. None of it made any sense. She said she made a mistake, but what? What kind of mistake made a Senmin die? Pull a flaming mountain down on top of herself, obliterating an island, destroying a village's wharf, and killing herself?
He tapped his fingers on his upper arm, trying to think.
Just when he'd almost think he was getting a handle on something, that damn image would come to him again, Izumi, sitting on the sand, looking up at Sesshomaru. They had been too far for him to see any expression that might have been on her face, but he still didn't like the looks of it.
Damnit, there was too much going on, he couldn't concentrate on anything!
Kagome threw her backpack up through the well, and climbed up behind it. She sat on the edge with a whoosh of breath. Sometimes that well seemed like it was over a hundred feet deep. And the more she carried on her back, the deeper it was!
Well, she was here now. She brought food, medical things, and a few magazines. She hoped reading them might give Izumi something to do besides feel so down. She hoped to distract her by showing the woman the fashions of her time.
It was a lame attempt to try and lift the other woman's spirits, but she knew of nothing else to even try.
She picked up her backpack, and started walking from the well, letting the backpack dangle from her hands.
We definately have to find some way to help her. Mikado still hasn't shown up, and it's starting to worry Izumi. It's worrying me too. How long can a battle rage, anyway?
She sighed, deeply.
Kagome had only walked about a minute, when she looked up on the path, and blinked to see, of all people, Kikyo.
The other woman stood there, watching her, her face cold and angry. Kagome halted, feeling uneasy, for some reason.
She didn't know why, not really. Except that InuYasha had told Kikyo, to her face, that his place was with Kagome now. Sango had told her how angry, how upset, the other woman had been.
Even though I'm glad I won, I can't help but feel a little sorry for her. I can't imagine how I would feel if I thought the man I loved cast me aside for someone else.
Well...actually, she could. That's what caused the great fight and rift that had formed between her and InuYasha. The rift that was finally closed. But still...
"Um...hello...Kikyo," Kagome said, weakly.
"Do you have the Shikon?" the priestess asked, bluntly.
Kagome blinked, and nodded, lightly touching her shirt where it rested against her cleavage, "I do, yes."
"Give it to me."
Kagome blinked again. She still wanted it?
"Kikyo..."
"I said give it to me, Kagome," Kikyo said, her voice angry, "Didn't InuYasha tell you? I let you have it for a while, but now it returns to me."
Kagome's stomach rolled a little. Great, something else to be upset over.
"No."
"Kagome!"
"No, Kikyo. I'm sorry. I know you spent you entire life guarding this, protecting it. You have every right to feel that it belongs with you again. But it doesn't. I need it for what's to come. The Handmaiden of Amaterasu told me that I have to carry it now. To use it."
Kikyo's face was red with anger, "You think you understand me? You think you know me? You don't know anything. You're a little girl, playing at being a woman, and you're going to be killed as a result."
Kagome blinked.
"Not that it matters," Kikyo said, her anger swiftly dying out. She half turned, as if no longer interested in the conversation, "When you die, both InuYasha and the Shikon will come back to me. Where they belong."
What a hateful thing to say! Kagome thought, a little shocked, She's practically wishing I were dead.
"Well...if I die, then you can have the Shikon. I won't need it anymore. And if InuYasha wants to return to you, that's ok too. I won't be around to know, I guess."
The priestess shot Kagome a hate-filled glance, and Kagome tried to remain calm.
"Until then, the Shikon stays with me. I don't know why you'd ever want it again anyway. This is your chance to start the life you wanted. Free from responsibility and strife. Go find a village and start anew, as a priestess or not. You're free, Kikyo."
"You are such a fool, it pains me to even speak to you."
Kikyo turned, and strode off into the forest shadows.
Kagome remained where she was, feeling her heart pound a little. She hadn't expected that, certainly not today. The priestess' anger was like a cold wind.
She was glad InuYasha hadn't been there.
He told Kikyo, to her face, that his place was with me now, but...I think I'll always doubt, a teeny tiny bit. Always worry a little. Way in back. But I won't ever let it show. I won't ever let it strain anything with him. I told him I'd try my best at this, too, not just him.
Kagome breathed yet another deep sigh, and started on her way again.
She hadn't gone more than two minutes from her encounter with Kikyo, when she heard her name being called.
Curious, she turned, to see a tall, strange man walking quickly towards her.
"Kagome?"
She stopped, looking back at him, "Um..yes?"
He walked up, looking down at her. His face seemed pleasant enough, light brown eyes, dark brown hair.
"You are Kagome, yes?"
"That's right. Can...can I help you?"
The man looked sternly at her, "You need to give the Shikon back to the Priestess."
Kagome blinked, shocked.
"She sent you after me!? I don't believe it!" Kagome heard her voice getting a little sharp, a little shrill, "Look, I'll tell you the same thing I told her. No. The Shikon is mine now. I have to use it. Maybe when all this is over, if she still wants it so badly, we can work something out. But right now I need it. It's my weapon, sort of."
"You're being very childish."
Kagome looked at the man as if he were insane. She shook her head.
"This conversation is over. Tell Kikyo she might as well stop. I'm not giving it to her, at least not now."
Kagome turned, and started to march back towards the village, where her friends were probably waiting for her. She was starting to seethe. She couldn't believe Kikyo had sicced some poor soul on her, getting a complete stranger involved in what was going on!
Kagome suddenly felt a hand grasp her arm, just above the wrist, hard, yanking her to a stop.
She started to turn, anger roaring up inside her, "I said she can't-"
And looked into the face of Jemu.
The man stood as tall as ever, bald, save for one waist-length scalp lock. He wore a black shirt and pants, much like a uniform. One ice green eyes glittered at her; the other side of his face and other eye were covered with a silver half-mask.
Kirara had ruined that side of his face during the battle.
The battle for Kagome's heart and soul.
Her anger died as quickly as icy water on a fire. Fear raised it's head instead.
Kagome forgot the Shikon, she forgot anything. All that filled her heart and mind was a blind, panicking fear. Her chest ached with the memory of the agony he had visited on her each time she disobeyed him, or was slow top respond.
"NO!" she screamed, and tried to lunge away.
Jemu's grip on her arm was like a vise, and she couldn't move.
Panicking, she battered at him with her backpack wildly, trying to tear loose.
Grinning, Jemu tore the backpack from her hands, throwing it hard to the side.
"Ah. You haven't forgotten me. How sweet."
"Let go of me! NO!"
She tore at his hand, trying to weaken it enough to get clear.
"I'm very vexed with you, Sweet," Jemu said, his voice hard, "You disobeyed me. That makes me angry."
Jemu lifted his other hand, and slapped Kagome across the face, hard, then backhanded her, the retort loud. Kagome cried out in pain and shock.
She lifted a foot, and kicked the Shadeling in the leg, hard.
Jemu didn't flinch.
"I see you're still not listening."
Jemu reached out, and grabbed a handful of Kagome's hair. Turning in place, he literally threw her, hard, where she crashed into the brush, bouncing off and landing hard on the ground.
Kagome sobbed, crawling to her feet. She had to get away. Jemu would kill her. He'd kill her outright.
As Kagome tried to get to her feet, her leg gave out, and she staggered. Whimpering, she tried to half-run, half-stagger to the safety of the forest, with Jemu walking right behind her, grinning.
"Can't run? Shame."
He reached out, and grabbed a handful of her hair again, yanking her backward.
"No!" Kagome sobbed, "No! InuYasha! INUYASHA!"
"He's not here, you stupid little bitch," Jemu grinned, shaking Kagome violently, "Not even he can hear this far.
Now, what should we do with you?"
Kagome struggled, and he grabbed her shoulder, hard. The shoulder she had recently been injured in. Pain lanced up and down her arm.
Sobbing, she turned, and sank her teeth into his arm, biting hard and deep.
Jemu squawked in pain and shock, pulling back. Kagome lunged backwards, leaving Jemu with a handful of black hair.
Again, she tried to run.
Jemu grabbed her by the back of her shirt, and turned, shoving her hard, pushing her forward, where she went crashing into a tree.
Stars flashed before her eyes, and her legs gave out. Her back to the tree, Kagome slowly sank to the ground, eyes dazed.
Way back, in the back of her mind, Kagome was screaming at herself to get up, to run. But her body felt heavy and dulled. As if she were numb from the neck down. She heard Jemu walk towards her, felt him grab her hair and shirt, felt him lift her up.
"I'm going to squeeze your neck until your head pops off," Jemu grinned.
A few seconds later, she heard someone else approach, heard someone else talk.
"You need to put her down now."
"No!"
"Now, Jemu."
"NO! I want to kill her, Omek."
"If you do, you are opening a huge can of worms. If you kill Kagome, her side will be able to strike back, and we don't know how. Now. Put her down."
Kagome felt herself land with a thud, and she sank down into blackness.
The child huddled in the bushes, wide-eyed, staring out. He had been gathering berries in the forest for his mother when heard two people talking. He had looked out to see two women talking. One he didn't know, the other he did. She was the preet, nice lady who had looked after him once when he was sick. She went around with the monk, the other pretty lady who killed demons, and the half demon person. The little boy couldn't remember her name, but he knew her well enough.
The nice lady and the new lady talked, and the little boy could tell by their voices they were angry with each other. When the new lady left, he had been about to come out to talk to her, when a new man walked up. He talked to the nice lady for a minute, and then...
He changed!
His appearance, and even his clothing.
And he started beating up the nice lady.
The little boy huddled, terrified. He wished he could do something, but all he had was a basket half filled with berries, and he was so little. He was even little for his age, smaller than the other children in the village.
Tears filled his eyes as the nice lady cried and yelled in pain.
Then she fell against a tree and didn't move. Then a new man walked up, and they talked. It looked like the new man, the one called Omek, walked away with the funny-looking one with the silver mask behind him.
The nice lady lay face down on the ground, and didn't move.
The little boy shivered, and started to move out of the brush. Since he had hidden, the sun had moved a little, and it was getting colder.
He walked over to the woman, and knelt down beside her, lightly touching her.
"Miss? Are you...are you ok? Miss?"
There was no answer.
He started to cry a little. He was scared, and didn't know what to do.
A horse whinnied.
Terrified the strange-looking man was coming back, the little boy turned, and dove back into the brush.
Seconds later, he saw two horses walk along the path, and right behind them, were two more.
As he watched, 20 or so horses walked along the path, all with men on them, wearing armor. Two wagons were pulled near the back. One was red and gold, with dragons on the side. The one in back was a plain wooden one. The men carried poles with flags on them.
The horses in front saw the woman lying on the path, and they stopped, stamping their feet.
One of the men in front got off his horse, and walked over. He knelt, and turned the nice lady over.
A voice came from within the red and gold wagon, a red curtain pushed back. The little boy couldn't see who was inside, but it was a man's voice.
"What is it, Captain?"
"A young lady, sire. She's beaten up. Unconscious."
"Alone? Out here?"
"So it seems," the captain looked around.
There was a pause, then the man in the wagon spoke again, "How bad is she?"
"She needs healing, my lord."
Pause.
"Carry her to the healing wagon, then, and get my healer to look after her."
"At once, my lord."
The captain picked the woman up, and carried her to the back of the plain looking wagon. He walked up some steps, and carried her inside. Then he came back out, got on his horse, and they all started on again.
The little boy huddled in the bushes, terrifed, until the shadows moved again. Then he pushed his way out of the brush, and ran for his home.
"These vegetables look pretty good," Miroku said, pulling another one from Kaede's garden.
"Considering how dry it's been, they're very good," Izumi agreed.
The monk and the woman knelt in the garden, getting some vegetables for that night's supper. The sun was dipping low in the sky.
"Thank goodness the river is nearby," Sango said, dusting off another vegetable, "It's been easy to keep them watered. Still. Izumi, is this heatwave part of the coming war?"
Izumi nodded, "Yes. I'm not sure how or why, though. Mother Amaterasu wouldn't tell me. There are some things even a Handmaiden cannot know. Hopefully, the seasons will return to normal once it's all over."
"If it's ever over," came a voice, complaining, from behind them.
Izumi turned to see InuYasha perched on the fence that ran along the vegetable garden. His arms were crossed, and he looked somewhat put out.
"What's the matter, InuYasha?" Miroku asked.
"Nothing," the hanyou grumbled.
Sango softly laughed, "Kagome's late, and InuYasha's feeling left out."
InuYasha blushed, "If she was going to stay another day she could have told me! I wouldn't have come back so soon."
"Maybe she just lost track of time," Izumi said gently, "It can't be easy for her to catch up on everything when she returns."
"Yeah...maybe..." InuYasha grumbled.
The hanyou turned and looked in the direction of the well, expecting to see her walking towards the village, but there was still nothing.
What was taking her so damn long?
I would have stayed another day if I knew she wasn't coming right back.
"Ex..excuse me?" came a voice.
They turned to see an older man walking swiftly towards them, holding a little boy by the hand. The little boy looked dirty and frightened, and as they drew closer, the hanyou could see the little boy had been crying.
Miroku got up and dusted off his robes, and walked over, "Yes? Can I help you?"
"My son. Tatsuo, he saw something in the forest. He needs to tell you, right away."
"Saw something?" Miroku bent over a little, smiling charmingly at the little boy, "Was it a demon or something?"
The little boy shook his head.
"A wild animal?"
The little boy shook his head.
His father tugged lightly on his arm, "Tatsuo, please, you must tell them."
Sango and Izumi had joined Miroku, and they all stood, looking at the little boy. Tatsuo stuck two fingers in his mouth, and started to suck them nervously, scared.
Miroku knelt down on the ground, trying to be smaller, "Now then, you have nothing to be afraid of. You're safe now, and with your father. We certainly aren't going to hurt you, no matter what you have to tell us. We're listening. Go ahead."
Tatsuo stared solemnly at the monk, then his face screwed up, and he started to cry, "He hurt her!"
"Who hurt who?"
"The man! The funny-looking man! He hit her and hit her and hit her!"
Sango and Miroku exchanged glances. InuYasha frowned, and slipped off the fence, walking up to stand behind them, arms still crossed. Someone was beat up?
"Calm down now," Miroku said gently, "Take a deep breath."
Tatsuo did as he was told, his chest hitching with tears.
"Now then. You saw someone, some woman, get hurt? When?"
"Today. When I was picking berries."
"What happened to the woman?"
"She lay on the ground, really still."
Another glance shared around the group. Sango spoke gently, "Did she get up after?"
"N-No. Another man came and picked her up and put her in a wagon and left. The man in the red and gold wagon said to put her in the other wagon." Tetsuo scrubbed his eyes with his fists, smearing dirt and tears.
"That doesn't sound good at all," Miroku murmured.
"Did you recognise this woman?" Sango asked softly.
Tatsuo nodded.
"She's from this village?"
A nod.
"Do you know her name, Tatsuo?" Miroku asked.
The little boy shook his head, "No, but you do."
The monk blinked, "I do?"
Tatsuo nodded, "She travels with you, all the time, and she healed me when I was sick last week."
There was a stunned silence, broken by InuYasha.
"Kagome!? Do you mean Kagome!?"
Tatsuo nodded, "Yeah, that's her name. Kagome. She called for you. I know your name, 'cause it's different. She called for you, but I guess you didn't hear her," the little boy added miserably.
"Where is she!?" InuYasha stepped forward, eyes wide, "Where did this happen!?"
"Out where I was picking berries. Just a little way from the Bone Eater's Well."
"What did he look like?" InuYasha demanded, pushing his way past Miroku and going down on one knee.
The little boy looked like he was going to start crying again, "He was mean-looking. He had no hair, except for a long piece, and he wore armor, and..."
"No hair, except for a long piece?" Sango asked, confused.
But Miroku was one step ahead, "Was he wearing a mask made of silver, that covered only half his face?"
The little boy nodded.
"Jemu!" Sango gasped.
"Oh Gods," InuYasha cried, and turned, lunging from the village, heading up towards the well.
Miroku and Sango were right behind him.
Izumi looked at Tatsuo, her face pale, and spoke, "You said another man picked her up, dear? And put her in a wagon?"
"That's right."
"Were they carrying banners? Ah...bright cloths on poles and spears with symbols on them, maybe?"
The little boy nodded again.
Izumi bent down, and picked up a stick. She handed it to the little boy, "Tell me what color the banners were, and try to draw the symbol or picture on the flag, as best you remember."
InuYasha ran, flat out, a crimson streak in the forest, long silver hair streaming out behind him. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, and fear. Fear for Kagome.
How could he have been so stupid!? He knew Jemu was still out there! He should have known the Shadeling would probably want revenge on Kagome for telling the others what he had planned, for having them defeat him, break the spell. The last Shadeling would definately want Kagome back.
The little boy's voice echoed in his head as he ran.
"He hit her and hit her and hit her!
She lay on the ground, really still.
She called for you, but I guess you didn't hear her.
She called for you."
Then someone...picked her up and put her in a wagon!? What the hell!?
InuYasha broke into the clearing, still running towards the well, but he caught Kagome's scent, and he slid to a stop, silver hair fanning out around him.
It was faint, as time had passed, but it was there.
Kagome's scent.
Kagome's scent, mixed with her fear, and blood.
His heart pounded as he looked around, trying hard not to panic.
"Kagome! Kagome! Can you hear me!?"
Silence. Not even a bird.
His eyes fell on a small glint of red, and he ran over, to see her smaller backpack, lying against a tree, the straps broken, the contents spilled out onto the ground. Not knowing what else to do, trying to fight back the desperation he was starting to feel, he crouched and started stuffing the spilled items back into the bag, thinking only that she would want them back.
He stood up, ears starining for any sound, nose searching for a fresher scent.
In the setting sun, his hanyou eyes fell on something else lying on the ground, and he moved to it, Kagome's backpack dangling from one hand. Crouching, he bent, and picked it up, looking at it for a second before he realized he was looking at a hank of her hair, yanked from her head.
His hand closed convulsively around the hair, tight.
"You bastard," he hissed.
"InuYasha!"
He looked up to see Sango and Miroku atop Kirara, angling down to where he stood, "Did you see any trace?"
"Just her...her backpack," he said, voice thick with worry, "And..." he held out the hank of hair, speechless.
Miroku flinched when he saw what InuYasha held, and spoke levelly, "From the air we could see a long trail of hoofprints. There must have been a platoon or something coming through. I don't know of any army that would be travelling in this direction, though."
"Are you sure it's a portion of an army?" InuYasha turned to Miroku, "It could have been anyone!"
Sango shook her head, "They kept a straight line even when there was room to spread out. That speaks of military training."
"Why would they take Kagome!?" InuYasha demanded, a cold feeling in his stomach. Kagome was attractive, and had been unconscious...
Sango read the hanyou's expression, and shook her head again, "I don't think so, InuYasha. Tatsuo said that a man in a red and gold wagon said to put Kagome in another wagon. Red and gold sounds like the general or high ranking person. Anyone like that simply wouldn't see Kagome as anything other than a commoner. It sounds like he might have been concerned about her...condition."
"Sango's right, there's no sense in panicking just yet, InuYasha. Let's follow the trail they've left. An army, even a smallish one, can't travel too quickly."
"Right," InuYasha said, and turned, starting to run, following the tracks, Kagome's hair and backpack still in his hands.
"I was going to ask him if he wanted to fly," Sango said, "But I think he'd rather run."
Miroku nodded.
They followed the trail along the ground easily. 20 or so horses with wagons leave nice heavy trails, and as the sun set, they made good time.
Until the trail suddenly, shockingly, ended. Right in the middle of a field, the hoofprints, wagonwheel ruts, everything, just ended, as if they had all stepped onto a ship or something.
"What the hell!?" InuYasha snarled, looking around, growing frantic, and angry, "They can't have just vanished!"
Miroku and Sango had dismounted Kirara, and were looking the trail over as well. Despite the hanyou's protests, it seemed they had just vanished. Not a single blade of grass was out of place less than a foot from where they had been standing.
Sango walked around, looking down, chewing lightly on a fingernail, "Hmmmmm."
The monk turned to her, "Sango?"
"InuYasha, Miroku. Look down. What do you see?"
"I see a stupid trail that just ends in the middle of nowhere! Damnit!" InuYasha almost howled.
Miroku gazed at the tracks, turning his head this way and that, then shook his head, "What am I looking at, Sango?"
Sango, the demon-hunter, the tracker, pointed, "The tracks all spread out here. The people and the horses are milling around. See? They're not longer in their military order. They're just sort of wandering around."
"You're right," Miroku blinked.
"So!?" InuYasha demanded.
Sango never took her eyes off the ground, "Easy InuYasha. I'm as worried as you are. Hmmm. Why would they suddenly break rank like that? It makes me think of when an army sets up camp. You know, spreads around, gathering wood, water, things like that. Only they're obviously not here."
Miroku and InuYasha fell silent, waiting for Sango to work it through.
The demon slayer walked around a little, looking here and there. Once she even got down on her knees and peered closely at the grass.
After a moment, she stood up, and joined them.
"I think, whatever happened, wasn't unexpected. I mean...they didn't just vanish after all. Something picked them up and moved them. And they were expecting it. Ready for it."
InuYasha's hackles rose, and he got a strange shiver down his spine.
"Like that sphere thing that carried us to Lord Tarangoi's castle."
Miroku nodded, but spoke, "It would have had to have been immense, though, to carry all those people and horses, not to mention at least two wagons."
"You don't think Tarangoi took Kagome, do you!?"
"Do you smell him, InuYasha?"
The hanyou paused, then shook his head, "No, but...it's been so long, I might not even remember what he smelled like. But the people I can smell seem unfamiliar to me."
InuYasha fell silent. Had Lord Tarangoi somehow escaped his brother and come looking for revenge on Kagome? She had been the one to foil his plans on entrapping demons in his castle as protection.
He looked down at the hank of Kagome's hair he held. That was where Kagome got that terrible scar on her shoulder. She had been trying to get InuYasha out of the castle, because Lord Tarangoi was going to use InuYasha as the capstone. The one demon...or half, in his case...that would be the final piece. He would force the other demons to protect the castle. His soul would have been ripped from his body, and imprisoned in the walls.
Kagome had been trying to use the sphere to get InuYasha out when she had been struck with a crossbow bolt. And still, she had not hesitated, had pulled the lever that teleported InuYasha away from the castle, to safety.
Her captors had removed the crossbow bolt badly, and it had scarred. She was always so self-conscious of that scar...
He clenched his fist around the hair for a second, then wrapped it around his finger. Taking one of his own hairs, he tied it into a loop, and grimly tucked it inside his haori.
"So what do we do now?" Sango was asking Miroku.
"I have no idea, to be honest. We have no way of trailing them, no way of even knowing who they are."
"I heard Izumi asking Tatsuo if he could describe the banners to her. Maybe Izumi will recognise who they are."
"It's the only thing we have to go on, right now," Miroku said.
They turned, and started back towards Kaede's hut.