Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except for those of my own creation. Everyone else belongs to Takahashi Rumiko-sensei, Shogakukan Comics, Sunrise and Viz Communications. I am poor, so please don't sue!

The Castle of Broken Souls

By JediK1

Chapter One: A Peaceful Day Shattered

Kagome Higurashi smiled at the beautiful day as she gently walked her bike along the path. The sun shone brilliantly in a near-cloudless sky, filtering through the trees above to create small golden pools on the soft ground below. A soft breeze was blowing in from the east, caressing her cheek and blowing her ebony hair away from her porcelain face. As Kagome took in the tranquility of the moment, she felt at peace for the first time in weeks.

A tiny sound brought her attention down to the basket between her bike's handlebars. Shippo, the little kitsune child that she had taken in after the encounter with the Thunder Brothers, lay in the wicker basket, fast asleep. One hind leg was slung over the edge of his makeshift bed and had begun twitching slightly as he dreamed. The girl giggled at the little fox demon. He must be chasing butterflies again, she thought happily.

"What are you laughing at?" Inuyasha, who had been leading the group, called back over his red-clad shoulder.

Kagome raised one stern finger to her lips in an attempt to silence the hanyou. With her other hand she pointed at the sleeping form of Shippo. "He's asleep," she whispered.

"Well, wake him up! He shouldn't get to sleep when the rest of us have to walk!" He paused as he watched Kagome stop on the path and cross her arms. "Feh. Fine, if you won't wake the little runt up, I will!"

Kagome watched as Inuyasha turned and reached for the basket. Before his clawed hands even came near the sleeping demon, however, Kagome decided that she had had enough of Inuyasha's foul attitude.

"Sit."

Inuyasha crashed into the ground, creating a hanyou-shaped impression in the soft earth. "Serves you right, for picking on a defenseless little kid like that," she said as she steered her bike around his prone form.

Miroku, Sango, and Kilala all watched the familiar display in amusement. This was just the start of another day in the lives of the six travelers, and it was moments like these that helped the group find comfort in the darker times. One such time would be upon them at nightfall, when the moon hid her silvery face and Inuyasha made his monthly transformation into a normal human.

While the half-demon stood and patted the dust off of his haori, Kagome moved to take the point position on the trail ahead. Sango moved to her side and the two women began speaking quietly, casting quick glances at their male companions with secretive smiles on their beautiful faces. The men, slightly perturbed by Kagome and Sango's discussion, simply turned their heads and pretended to ignore the two.

After awhile, the group decided to search for a suitable resting place along the side of the trail for a lunch break. As they scanned the area, Inuyasha's sharp ears picked up the sound of horses farther up the path. "Someone's coming, and it sounds like they're in a hurry."

The words were barely out of his mouth when a large dust cloud rounded the bend in front of them. The party was moving so quickly that the travelers had to throw themselves from the path to avoid being run down.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" Inuyasha cried as he reached up and dragged one of the riders from their mount. As the man hit the ground with an audible thud the rest of his company drew their horses to a halt. They were all men, and each wore the fine garb of noble retainers. Every one of them bore a look of surprise and fear on their faces as they focused their attention on their fallen companion.

"My lord Yojikin!" one of the men asked. "Are you injured?"

Inuyasha and the others turned to look at the man the hanyou had assaulted. He was pulling himself up from the ground, and as he straightened their eyes widened at the quality of his garments. The man called Yojikin wore fine red silk robes, embroidered with the golden insignia of a clenched fist upon his right breast. His face was smooth, with a slight beard starting near his earlobes and lining the angular jaw to meet at the squared chin. The manner in which he bore his strong, youthful body suggested that he was of noble blood.

"I am fine, Ranushu." The man's rich baritone voice rang out with more than a hint of annoyance. "Who is the one that dared pull me from my horse? I demand retribution!"

"Feh." Inuyasha stepped forward, arms crossed. "What do you mean by retribution? You're the one that almost killed us! If I hadn't heard you coming, you probably would have, too, and never noticed!"

"Yes, well, when those of higher blood approach peasants should know better than to stand gawking."

Kagome, who had moved forward to stand beside Inuyasha, reached out to grab the hanyou's arm as he tensed at the lord's words. "Listen here, you pompous-"

"Inuyasha, maybe we should just get going. This guy obviously isn't going to apologize for being a jerk. And besides," she added, "he really isn't worth our time." She cast him a meaningful glance, and gave an inward sigh of relief when she felt his arm relax under her hand.

"What have we here?" Yojikin turned his ice blue eyes onto Kagome, looking her over in a manner that made her skin crawl. "A woman, giving orders to a man? Even a beauty such as you should know your place, wench."

Miroku and Sango exchanged worried glances. Even though Kagome was normally the level-headed member of the group, comments like that were known to shorten her temper considerably. Shippo, who had been tossed from his basket when Kagome leapt from the path, jumped onto Miroku's shoulder. "What's going on?" he asked sleepily. Sango motioned for the little kitsune to be quiet as she watched Kagome's face turn red in anger.

"My place?" the girl asked incredulously.

Now it was Inuyasha's turn to keep Kagome from pounding the obnoxious lord. He blinked his golden eyes and abruptly turned his back on the nobleman. "Come on, Kagome. Let's get out of here. You're right; he's not worth it."

The lord laughed. "Look, men, at this fine example of manhood! He takes orders from his woman!" The retainers joined their lord as he mocked Inuyasha's retreating form.

Inuyasha and Kagome, who had almost reached the remainder of their group at the edge of the path, turned around. "Nobody laughs at me!" Inuyasha growled as he pulled forth the Tetsusiaga from its sheath. Since the lord was a human, the sword did not transform, and Inuyasha stood on the path holding his battered blade.

Yojikin stopped laughing and smiled at the half-demon. "There is still the matter of compensation. You have damaged my fine silk, and I demand repayment."

"I'd think that walking away in one piece would be compensation enough, wouldn't you?" Kagome stared at the lord, still disgusted by the way he had eyed her earlier.

"Hmm..." the nobleman turned his steely eyes to the hanyou. "If you give me the girl, I shall consider your debt paid. I would rather enjoy teaching her the proper manners of a woman." His lips twisted into a sick grin that made the small company shudder collectively.

"Are you serious?" Inuyasha lowered his weapon slightly as he stared at the lord in disbelief. When Yojikin nodded, Inuyasha raised his sword once more. "I have another idea. I think you should just get back on your horse and get out of my sight before I decide to use this!" He pointed the Tetsusiaga meaningfully at the lord.

"I can see why you would be hesitant to give up such beauty. Fine, then. Ranushu?" The retainer who had spoken earlier dismounted and pulled a coin purse from a bag hanging at his saddle. He walked over to Inuyasha, emptying the coins into his palm and offering them to the half-demon.

"You're trying to buy me??" Kagome cried. She was now very tempted to grab the Tetsusiaga from Inuyasha's hands and finish the lord herself. The half-demon intervened, pushing Kagome back with one hand and brandishing the sword with the other.

"Kagome, go and stand with the others." The girl reluctantly stalked off to where Sango and Miroku stood. When Inuyasha was sure that she was no longer behind him, he crouched into a battle stance. "As for you," he said to the lord, "I think that you should go. Now."

The nobleman glared at Inuyasha. "You are refusing me? Fine, then." He motioned for his retainers, and the one he called Ranushu placed the reins of the lord's horse in his hands. Yojikin mounted, and as he turned his steed back down the path he stopped next to Inuyasha and leaned down. "Know this. I always get what I want, demon or no." As his words sunk in, the lord and his entourage galloped away, kicking up dust in their wake.