This chapter does contain some violence.
Inuyasha had followed the girl's scent through a well used, if overgrown path through the forest. Her scent is all over here. Is she even trying to stay hidden? He thought to himself. Any demon, or half-demon would have no problem finding her, and then she'd be in real trouble.
"Inuyasha, look, a hut." Kagome pulled him from his thoughts. The place looked awful. There were several spots where it appeared someone had attempted repairs, but done a poor job of it. Nothing but a dirty length of cloth covered the door, and even that was filled with holes. This is where she lives? Why bother with a hut if it's in such bad shape? A cave would be nicer. "Is she inside?" Kagome asked him.
"Yeah. She's there. She isn't alone, though." Inuyasha replied, surprisingly unconcerned.
"Really? Are they human?"
"Nah, they're all half-demon, it smells like. And brats, too." He told her quietly. Kagome knew dealing with other half-demons brought out Inuyasha's softer side, especially children. She suspected he looked at them and saw himself as a child. He'd never admit it, of course. "Wench, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" He asked, alarmed.
"I'm going to see if she'll let us in. Something isn't right with this village, and I think Kiwako knows what the problem is. Besides, she might need help. You saw how awful those villagers were."
"Well, what do ya suppose we do? We can't just- Shit! We gotta get out of here. Let's go, Kagome!" Inuyasha gestured for her to get on his back, appearing very alarmed. Likely, it was the villagers coming to run the half-demon out of the village. That wasn't a sight he wanted Kagome exposed to.
"Inuyasha, what's going on? We can't just leave!" She shouted at him. The poor girl needed their help, especially if children were involved.
"Look, I know you wanna help, but we can't this time." He told her, exasperated.
"And why not?" Kagome huffed.
"Men from the village are coming this way, and it ain't gonna be pretty. They probably plan to run her off."
"Well, we can't let them."
"What're you gonna do? Could you really shoot your arrows at a bunch of humans?" He had her there, and they both knew it.
"How far out are they? Can't we at least warn her?" She pleaded.
"Fine. But you get outta here." Being with me makes you just as much a target as any half-demon.
"I will. Stay safe."
"No weak human's gonna hurt me." He assured her with a scoff. Now he could hear the villagers, as well as smell the smoke coming from their torches. Pitchforks and torches. Why's it always pitchforks and torches? Don't they know that won't do any good against a half-demon? Inuyasha thought as he ran into the dilapidated hut.
"What's happening?" The frightened four year old butterfly half-demon asked Kiwako.
"Get out of here, Yuuki. Take the others and find Iwa."
Suddenly a red-clad figure crashed into their hut. Kiwako began to growl and snarl as menacingly as possible, determined to protect the children she considered hers. "Children, run!" She shouted, believing Inuyasha to be a threat.
"What the hell are you doing? All of you get out of here before they set this place on fire. Go!" His shouting seemed to get through to the child, causing her to grab the two youngest and run. Kiwako, however, simply stared at him.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"Damn it, it doesn't matter who I am! We need to leave, now!" Inuyasha shouted as he grabbed her and ran.
He's taking too long… Kagome thought worriedly. Yes, she knew Inuyasha was strong and humans weren't really a match for him. Unless they had a monk or priestess. I know these people hate demons, and half-demons. Especially half-demons. I can't just stand here. So, she decided to try and find him. The closer she got to the hut, the more smoke clogged her lungs. They set her home on fire, she thought sadly. Kagome could hear shouting, but could make out any figures through the smoke. She couldn't sense Inuyasha, either, but there was another aura nearby.
"It's one of 'em! Get'er!' A voice shouted through the smoke. Suddenly, a small figure burst through a cluster of bushes, angry humans on her heels. To her horror, Kagome realized one man held a long wooden handle like a staff, and the other a horsewhip. They intend to beat that child! She watched, wide-eyed as the girl fell and her pursuers approached. "This oughta teach ya, ya filthy half-breed." One man sneered.
"No!" Kagome shouted before darting in front of the child. The man who spoke before, clearly the leader, simply pushed her down. With no other option, Kagome rushed over and threw her body over the child's, shielding the girl. In their anger and hate fueled haze, the villagers didn't seem to notice. Or they simply didn't care. Blow after blow was rained down upon her back, eventually breaking the skin. These men have no idea what they've just done. Kagome thought as she held in her cries of pain.
Inuyasha had finally gotten Kiwako and the kids out of danger when he stopped in his tracks. "I smell blood." He said before running off.
I apologize that it took so long getting this posted. I've been a bit busy, and just didn't feel up to writing most of the time. This was actually supposed to be part of a longer chapter, but I felt bad for making you all wait, so it got cut in half.