Kagome shivered bitterly, hugging her arms around her petite form. The land here wasn't cold, hell it was almost summer; but ever since Kagome and her companions had entered the East Country, she had been feeling awful about this place. Probably because of the rumors circulating this land...The schoolgirl thought miserably, shuffling her feet along the dirt path.
A few weeks ago, whispers of an almost nameless fear grasped the hearts of humans in the East Country. This is where Naraku's cloud of miasma had been headed...in the direction of the Ox Tiger. Kagome thought absently. Does Naraku have something to do with the rumors about the spectres?
Inuyasha was walking alongside Kagome. He stopped suddenly, his eyes closed and his ears twitched back and forth in concentration.
"What is it Inuyasha?" Kagome asked softly. She stopped a little way a head of the half-demon, gripping her bow for protection. Miroku and Sango who were behind the pair, stopped as well, Shippo anxiously perched on Miroku's shoulder.
"Horses. And lots of them." He cocked his sliver head to the right and everyone followed his gaze. A countless amount of men, all atop horses were making their way through the small villager nearby. They were clad in their lord's armor and banners floated in the unsteady breeze. The villagers looked on, each one uttering a small prayer or wishing the men luck on their mission.
"Warriors off to another battle I presume." Miroku said.
"Not likely. I didn't sense any uprising around here." Inuyasha replied.
"Maybe their off to subdue some demons or troublemakers." Sango added, adjusting her hold on Hiraikotsu.
"Look at them all geared up. Talk about overkill." Shippo muttered.
"Well, it doesn't concern us. Let's get moving. We'll see if we can make a few more miles before the day is through." Inuyasha stated, everyone started walking again except for Sango. She seemed to be calculating something before she came to a decision.
"Everyone, wait." The others abruptly stopped and gazed expectantly at the demon-slayer.
"What is it Sango?" Kagome inquired.
"Inuyasha," Sango glanced at him. "The new moon is tonight."
The half-demon narrowed his eyes and looked up at the clear sky in thought. "How do you know?" He finally asked. Kagome gazed at her female companion, puzzled.
"Well, this is what I figured. Last time, Kagura had seen you're transformation and we were afaird that she might tell Naraku. Luckily she hasn't, yet and this means that we have a second chance. No more taking risks about you're transformation. Which is why I mentally take a countdown on when you're next transformation may be which is tonight." Sango explained. Kirara meowed in agreement, nuzzling closer to her mistress.
"A very wise choice Sango." Miroku beamed at the slayer.
"That's good to know, isn't it Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha crossed his arms in his haori, mumbling an almost incoherent thanks.
"I guess that means we'll be staying in a village tonight." Kagome sighed happily.
"Yes! Warm food!" Shippo cheered.
As the sun rose high above the sky, the small group made its way towards the small peaceful village. Crop fields were bordered near the entrance to the village; a few men were slacking off their duties to talk about the recent disturbance. The Inu gang overheard the men who were attempting to be secretive.
"I heard that the border guard was completely annihilated." An old man whispered fearfully.
"I heard it was awful. Decapitated bodies and blood everywhere. There's no way a man could've done it." Another villager said.
"So the rumors are true then. The phantoms of the Band of Seven mound have been resurrected." A third man trembled.
Phantoms from the seven man mound? Sango wondered, she slowed down to listen.
"Excuse me gentlemen. May I speak to you for a moment?" Miroku questioned politely, moving down a hill to speak to the village men.
"What's that idiot doing now?" Inuyasha scoffed. Kagome nudged him with her elbow and glared heatedly at the half-demon.
"We may find some answers. We can't pass through here without finding out what's going on." Sango said.
"Whatever." Inuyasha grumbled. He always had to have the last word.
Miroku and Kagome knelt by the villagers listening to the tale that they began to unfold. The schoolgirl held on tightly to the fox demon Shippo as she listened to the frightening story. Sango stood off to the side, while Inuyasha was behind her having almost no interest in the explanation.
"There was a temple built around here to quiet the souls of the Band of Seven." One villager said.
"And what is this Band of Seven?" Miroku asked.
"From you're appearances, I'm assuming that you would have been too young to remember. Their story started only a decade ago. It is believed that they ended up traveling to our territory in the east."
"They were ruthless mercenaries." The old man shivered uncomfortably. "The whole band of them. They served no one lord. Instead they lived as Ronin, finding temporary employment in battles they happened to come across."
"This doesn't sound too good." Kagome whispered, hugging Shippo to her chest.
"There were only seven of them but their strength was incredible. Especially the leader's. He was of a small build but he possessed herculean strength. It is said that he was the youngest of the Band of Seven but he commanded that cruel, murderous group with his power. The Band could do the work of one hundred men and their rage was unnecessarily savage. Those who were slain by the Band of Seven were sliced to pieces or burned alive." A villager stated sadly.
"The only people capable of such atrocities are those with a real pension for murder." Miroku replied.
"You said it." Kagome hugged Shippo even tighter who seemed to be nearly choking with the pressure.
"Anyway, the warlords had second thoughts about the mercenaries who they now feared. So they sold them out and ordered them hunted down. It's said that the mercenaries put up a hard fight but it was all in vain."
"I would think so." Sango said.
"The Band of Seven escaped into the mountains but they were completely outnumbered by the warlord soldiers who came at them. They were finally captured just a little north of here. They were each beheaded and then their bodies were buried."
"Still..." A villager added, "The villagers feared their curse and decided to quiet the seven souls. Eventually they erected a tomb at the base of the sacred mountain. The tomb of the Band of Seven."
"I see..." Miroku stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I heard you talking about they're spirits being resurrected." Kagome loosened her hold on Shippo who scampered onto Inuyasha's shoulders.
"It's true. They say that the tombstone split into two and there was no lightening on that day either. It was believed that the seven souls escaped from their imprisonment. Isn't that right?" The old man asked.
"It's true." A man beside him answered.
A few moments of silence followed. The Inuyasha gang gazed at each other with apprehension. Miroku coughed. "Thank you. You men have been very helpful. I have one more thing to ask of you. Do you men know where the nearest inn might be?"
"Look. I don't know why we have to stay in a village tonight. I mean, it's a complete waste of time and money." Inuyasha complained. The villagers had given them directions saying that the only inn in town was just past the marketplace. The sun was already beginning to set as the group made it's way through the deserted market.
"You know Inuyasha, some of us don't want to sleep on the cold ground every night." Kagome replied, staring darkly at the half-demon.
"And some of us don't want to sleep in beds!"
"And some of us do!"
"And some of us want to sleep on the cold ground!"
"And some of us think that's ridiculous!"
"And some of us think my idea isn't!"
"Well, I'm used to sleeping in a home alright?"
"Hmph. That's just because you're pathetic." Inuyasha pouted.
"Excuse me?" Kagome growled.
"You heard me. I mean, without my strength you guys would be useless. Except for maybe Sango, she might be able to hold up on her own." Inuyasha droned on, unaware of Kagome's seething wrath.
"Are you saying that I can't hold my own in battle?" She repeated slowly.
"Basically. Where would you be without you're priestess powers?"
"Inuyasha..."
"What Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, oblivious.
"How dare you call me useless! Sit boy! Sit boy! Sit boy!" Inuyasha yelled as his neck was hurled toward the hard ground. The demon fell flat on his face. "You jerk!" Kagome huffed and started storming away towards the inn.
"That wasn't wise to invoke Kagome's wrath." Miroku scolded.
"Yeah, Kagome's probably really hurting right now." Shippo added. The little fox demon leapt up onto Miroku's shoulder and the two headed after Kagome.
Inuyasha sat up in the dirt. "She's hurting?" He groaned and brushed away the remaining clots of dirt that had gathered on his face.
Sango stood near Inuyasha, waiting for him. Kirara cradled up in her arms sleeping, the tiny cat demon meowed in her dreams and shifted her position in the demon slayer's arms. It's so amazing. From an outsider's viewpoint, Inuyasha and Kagome would only be seen as constantly feuding. It's interesting though, the love they hold for each other. Neither of them are willing to admit it, wait, who am I to say if those two will ever end up together? At least, I know that Kagome is in love with Inuyasha though at times it doesn't seem like it. She told me and I've even observed a couple of occasions. Love is a strange thing and so is Inuyasha. He is so difficult to figure out!
The half-demon raised his molten amber eyes to see Sango standing close to him, gazing at him thoughtfully. He raised his eyebrows. "What are you thinking about Sango?"
Sango snapped out of her reverie. "I don't...you know...uh, think." She stammered.
"Then how can you be a demon slayer if you don't think?" Inuyasha scratched his forehead.
"But I do think."
"Then how-? You just said you didn't-What are you-?"
Sango giggled warmly. He never ceased to amaze her. "Never mind Inuyasha. Let's just get to the inn before nightfall and catch up to the others." She held out a hand for him to take.
He gratefully took the hand and pulled himself up. "Where was that inn again?"
"That way." Sango pointed forward with one arm.
"Can we just, you know, walk slowly?"
"Why?"
"So we don't catch up to Kagome." Inuyasha almost whimpered the last word. They both started forward.
"Alright. You know, you never cease to amuse me Inuyasha." Sango stated.
"How am I amusing?" He demanded.
"I don't know..." She admitted.
"You know what you are Sango?" Inuyasha asked playfully.
"What am I?" She inquired.
"You're...well, I can't think of anything right now..." Inuyasha stuttered.
"Well, tell me when you do." Sango chuckled.
Sango and Inuyasha caught up with the others at the entrance of the inn. Kagome had cooled down with much persuasion from the two guys. Miroku, meanwhile, had talked to the inn owner and figured out that the rooms were too expensive to stay in.
"Why don't you perform another fake exorcism as usual?" Shippo suggested.
"What do you mean 'as usual'?" Miroku asked icily.
"Don't worry guys. I think I've got enough." Sango added. She reached into her pink shaded kimono and pulled out a small drawstring pouch from her waist. She put the pouch in Miroku's hands.
The monk cocked his head sideways but opened the small pouch and poured the contents in his hands. His violet eyes widened as money fell out of the small thing.
"Where did you get the money from?" Kagome asked.
"Sometimes Kagome, if you're in your era for a long time, I exterminate demons in other villages. This is what I got from last time you went home and I think it's enough to pay for a night at the inn." Sango explained.
"Good, we're settled then. I'll go pay for a room." Miroku slid the money back into the pouch and went inside the inn while the others waited outside.
Kagome strode up to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha?"
The half-demon glanced sideways at her, his body tense.
"I'm really sorry for saying sit-" The necklace glowed and sent Inuyasha to the ground. Kagome winced. "So many times..."
"Leave me alone..." Inuyasha moaned. As he said this, Inuyasha's features began to change. His silver hair turned ebony and his piercing amber eyes merged to violet ones. The half-demon's claws shortened to nails and his adorable dog ears disappeared to be replaced by regular ones.
"You're human again Inuyasha." Shippo stated the obvious.
"At least you won't unease the villagers in the inn so much now." Sango said.
Kagome helped Inuyasha up who blushed profusely. "Whatever."
Everyone else entered the inn as Miroku was finishing his deal with the owner. "So, I trust you travelers will want you're meals prepared right away?" He inquired politely.
"Of course, if that's not a bother." Miroku replied. He placed the amount of money into the man's hand. He pulled the drawstring pouch tight and handed it back to Sango.