So apparently, the old woman, Kaede agreed with Kagome's off the wall plan of talking with the villagers of this forsaken place. That had been over twenty minutes ago, and frankly Keiame was becoming fed up of the nonsense she was hearing. From annoyed villagers to villagers who didn't know squat, it was all becoming very irritating. "Hey…!" At least she wasn't the only one feeling miserable. Inuyasha, too, was getting annoyed. "We've looked through the entire village now!"
"I know! And we're not getting anywhere!" Keiame agreed.
"So if it's not this village… maybe it's the next one—Akebi village," Kagome suggested. Keiame turned to her, eye twitching.
"And you didn't say this before because?" she asked.
"The village gossip was a bit interesting…"
"Who the fuck cares about mysterious fields, which may, or may not, hold mystery? And if I hear another arthritis story…!" Keiame shouted. She yanked on her short hair in frustration. "I just wanna get home, ya freak!" The girl crossed her arms, ignoring the hurt look on Kagome's face. "Let's just go already!"
"But… There are all sorts of demons on the way to the next village," Shippo stated. He sounded a bit scared. His voice quavered and his shoulders tremble.
"What's there to worry about? Inuyasha can get rid of them like always," Keiame shrugged. Inuyasha chuckled, crossing his arms in a smug manner.
"That's right! Inuyasha has no brains, but he's got plenty of brawn!" Shippo teased.
"Shut it, Shippo!" Inuyasha did not find that funny at all. He delivered a strike to the young demon's head. The fox demon yelped and complained. Keiame rolled her eyes at the spectacle as Kagome scolded the half-demon. She placed her hands on her hips. Come to think of it, Inuyasha and Shippo were both demons, and yet… they were different somehow.
"Hey, I've got a question! Why aren't you two demons vicious like the other ones we've met?" Keiame asked. "Seems a bit odd to me."
"What? Are you talking about Inuyasha and Shippo?" Kagome's question nearly caused Keiame to snap.
"Naaaah, I'm talking about the other two demons that live in this village!" she sarcastically replied.
"Inuyasha isn't really a demon, though…" Kagome ignored the sarcasm.
"I think the two ears on top of his head and the physical strength of him makes him a demon, but whatever, I don't care anymore," Keiame grumbled. "Can we just get to the next village already? I'm tired of being around your stupidity and I think it might be contagious." She crossed her arms as Kagome pouted lightly. "But since there are demons out there who don't intend to just let us pass, we should bring medical stuff. I'm not planning on going to this Akebi village with injuries."
"That's a good idea," Shippo agreed. "We should go shopping."
"Let's get this over with," Keiame sighed out. "The sooner we get to this village, the sooner I can get home."
0-0
Once items were bought and a farewell was given to Kaede, the group of four was on the road again—the Road to Akebi, that is. Keiame pushed herself forward. She was sweating, aggravated, and seconds away from passing out. Countless demons encounters had occurred in a half hour's time. "When will it end?" Keiame wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Are we there yet?" she groaned out loud. "This whole thing is getting ridiculous! I'm tired of ghosts, wolves, bats, and gigantic earthworms! Where is this village already?"
"Quit complaining!" Inuyasha told her. "We're almost there, so-" He stopped talking. Keiame sighed heavily. He always stopped moving, and then sniffed the surrounding area whenever they were about to be attacked. "Get ready, you guys! They're more of them this time!"
Suddenly, four demons popped out of nowhere—two wolves and two ghosts. "Damn it…! I just wanna get to the next village!" Keiame screamed. She ran at the wolf demon on the far right. "Is that so hard to ask?" Her fist connected with the demon's snout. This seemed to be most effective when dealing with wolves. Used to the growl, Keiame hurriedly stood by Inuyasha's side again. He would protect her from the furious demon. However, it was Shippo who had her back. He jumped into the air, crying out his attack's name.
"Fire Bombs!" He threw a handful of large firecrackers at the wolf demon. Surprisingly, the wolf vanished. That new attack Shippo had was very effective. Keiame had to smirk. The little brat was becoming useful.
"Yes…!" Kagome pulled an arrow out and aimed at the last wolf demon. "Please… hit the mark!" The arrow went flying. However, it landed in front of her target. Keiame deadpanned. It was a sad day when even a child bested a teenager. "Sorry…" she murmured as if that would make it all better.
The bat demon launched his attack, going for Keiame. She braced herself for the attack by crossing her arms. A poisonous mist surrounded the girl. She held her breath and closed her eyes. Inuyasha's voice rang out. "Got it…!" His claws dug into his chest, and then shot his arm forward. Red blade-like projectiles pierced the flesh of the enemies. "Blades of Blood!" The damage that was dealt actually caused the remaining demons to freeze. After a couple of seconds, they, too, vanished. Keiame sighed heavily, dropping to the ground. "Heh. All those guys put together don't stand a chance against me!"
Shippo ran forward, and picked up the things left behind by the demons. Medical stuff and money—who knew demons carried around stuff like that? It was ridiculous. The first couple times it happened, Keiame shrugged it off as a coincidence. However, she learned that all demons carried around things for humans to use. Why couldn't it be so easy to get money in her world? All the countries in the world would be rich if demons existed just to give money. Keiame's eye twitched at the thought. She looked down at her leg. No, it just wouldn't be worth risking your life. She had gotten pretty effective at dodging the creatures attacks, but sometimes, they were faster.
"Oh, you're hurt!" Kagome turned to her. "Let me take care of it." Keiame glared at the other school girl as she rubbed the medical herb on her injury. As far as she was concerned, this injury could have been avoided if Kagome had not missed during the last demon encounter. There had only been one demon! What the hell was she aiming for? Mentally, Keiame sighed. Kagome was not a fighter. She was a healer. She could not blame the girl for being semi-useless in battle. "There, that should do it!"
"Okay, okay—can we go now?" Keiame muttered, going around Kagome. "I think I see something up ahead." She squint her eyes. "Oh wait… It's just another traveling salesman. God, they're everywhere…!" She walked pass the man as he opened his mouth to say the same thing the last guy said. "For the love of all that's stupid—I don't want to buy anything! And tell your persistent cousins to drop it, too!"
"Hey, you don't need to be rude, Keiame!" Kagome scolded.
"Trust me, retard, I can get a whole lot ruder," Keiame replied, locking her hands behind her head. "Now let's go!" That's when something shiny caught her eye. She squatted down, ignoring Kagome telling her that it was indecent, and picked up the item. It seemed to be some kind of ring. Shippo jumped on her shoulder.
"It's a power ring!" he exclaimed in amazement. "It can raise the power behind your attacks!" Keiame raised a brow, and then unceremoniously placed it on her ring finger.
"This was actually a good find," she said, petting Shippo on the head. "I'm glad you have useful information, Shippo-chan."
"I'm a guy!" He bit her finger, and then jumped on Inuyasha's head. "You better learn that sooner than later!" Keiame merely stuck her tongue out.
"Stop teasing," Kagome said. "The village is just up ahead." Her brown eyes stared off into the distance.
"Thank you!" Keiame ran forward, causing the others to follow along. "Sweet, demon free village! Oh, how I've missed you!"
"Would you please stop kissing the dirt?" Inuyasha scowled. "People are staring!" Keiame sent a glare his way, and then smirked. She stood from her knees.
"Why…? Jealous that you're not kissing the dirt like usual?" she asked. "I'm sure Kagome can arrange something for you, Inu-kun!"
"Sh-Shut up!" Inuyasha ran after Keiame, who took off into the village. "Get back here, you little runt! I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"
"You have to catch me first, fleabag!" Keiame retorted, sticking her middle finger up at the dog demon in the process. She was so busy taunting Inuyasha to run faster that she did not see the person standing in the middle of the road until he was too late. She collided, head first, into the idiot that didn't think to move. "Ow…!" She rubbed her bottom. "Walk much, asshole?" Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kagome finally caught up just as Keiame stood.
"What's going on?" Shippo asked.
"You guys can't get out of the village either?" the stranger said.
"Huh? What makes you say that?" Inuyasha asked.
"Your clothes are different, so I figured you're not from around here."
"I guess you're right about that, but why would you think we couldn't get out of the village?" Keiame muttered, scratching the back of her head. "Do people not normally escape?"
"I don't think escape is the word you want to use…" Kagome murmured.
"Because of the spider! There's a big spider wandering around the place! No one can leave the village because everyone is scared," the stranger continued. A chill went up Keiame's body.
"Spider…? I hate spiders!" She shuddered, hugging herself.
"I don't like them much either," Kagome had to return the spotlight to herself.
"I don't think that's the problem," Shippo stated his opinion. The stranger then went into a rant about how creepy the spider was. Keiame found herself rolling her eyes. She kicked the man in the shin to get him to shut up.
"Talk straight, old man!" Inuyasha nodded his head in agreement with Keiame's actions.
"Sorry, sorry… Damn brats…" the stranger grumbled. "Anyway, until the spider is taken care of in the temple, no one will leave this village."
"Thanks for the info, old man, but I think I'll stand clear of this gigantic spider," Keiame retorted, walking away. Kagome reluctantly followed after the girl.
"So you're saying we're not going to help?" she asked.
"Why should we?"
"Because it's the right thing to do!"
"Obviously, you're living in a fantasy world. You shouldn't be offering help that you can't provide. You are about as useless as shit in battle, ya retard," Keiame said, continuing to walk. Kagome suddenly stood in front of her, hands on her hip.
"My name is Kagome, not retard! Kagome! Kagome! Ka-go-me!" she explained with a frown.
"That's what I said—retard," Keiame replied, side-stepping the irritated schoolgirl. "There's a lake up ahead. I'm going to wash my legs. I'll be right back!" She ran forward, not waiting for the other's response.
When she reached the small body of water, she realized that it was another person standing there, right at the water's edge. Keiame blinked. The person wasn't moving. Judging from the hunched back of the person, she could tell that it was an elder. "What rare use of the Shikigami power." Judging from the voice, this elderly person was a male. Keiame blinked again. He must have been talking to himself. Elderly people liked to do that, after all. However, the old man turned and faced Keiame. The young girl found herself stepping back. "When you were in danger, do you remember what you cried out?"
"I believe it was something about laughing at a funeral, but how would you know?" Keiame narrowed her eyes in suspicion. The old man only cackled out and replied with a vague answer. Keiame pressed her lips together. This old man was odd, but something he said before bugged the hell out of her. "Just what did you mean by Shikigami power? What is it?"
"It is a spiritual power deep inside every creature. It can be controlled and wielded as attack or defense," the old man replied. Great—crazier shit, Keiame thought. "You have only just awakened your powers. You don't even know how to use them yet."
"At least I'm more useful than Kagome's ass…" Keiame murmured.
"I do not know who this Kagome is, but she sounds pitiful."
"Haha…! I think we're going to get along great! What's your name?" The old man said that his name was Kakuju. It was a bizarre name, but Keiame only shrugged. She stepped closer to the old man. "You know, you shouldn't style your hair that way. I bet it makes it harder to see things."
"Yes, well, I'm already losing my eyesight, so it doesn't matter, anyway, right?"
"I suppose so… Say, about this power… can you teach me how to use it?" Keiame asked. "If it's in every creature, then it's in me, too, so learning how to control it shouldn't be too much of a big deal."
"Okay, then stand in front of me," Kakuju ordered. Keiame did as such. "Hold my hand, close your eyes, and be very still." Keiame hesitated a bit.
"I think I need an adult…" she muttered.
"I am an adult!" Kakuju took a hold of her hand and laughed crazily.
Suddenly, Keiame's body began to glow. Gusts of winds seemed to come out of the ground underneath her, blowing up her school skirt and her short brown hair. She shivered, yet the wind was hot. The feeling that overwhelmed her felt as if it was going through her entire body. She gasped, feeling Kakuju release her hand. The feeling had also disappeared. "Whoa…!" She pushed down her shirt, and smoothed down her hair. "What was that?"
"I have fully awakened Shikigami within you. Now you must learn to use it," Kakuju stated. He moved to stand next to the girl. "Do you see that rock? Do you see how it sparkles?" Keiame nodded her head, forgetting Kakuju couldn't see well. However, the old man paid no mind and continued speaking. "It reacts to Shikigami power. If you can break it, you can control Shikigami. Why don't you try it now?"
Again, Keiame nodded her head. She went over to the large rock, trying to figure out how to break it. She shrugged her shoulder. "Here goes something…" She reared her fist back, and then launched it forward. The rock was turned to rubble before her very eyes. Keiame gapped at her handy work. If her eyes hadn't been deceiving her, then the rock had turned red when she hit it before crumbling. "Holy crap from a dog demon! I'm like Tsunade from Naruto!"
"So now you know how to use the Shikigami power." Kakuju's voice stopped the teenager from celebrating. Keiame nodded her head with a smile. Finally she had met someone she liked. In addition, the old man had told her something good. "Then, I'll sure we'll meet again."
"Wait, wait, wait! I'm just supposed to know how to use it now?" Keiame's skeptic voice made the old man frown. He slowly nodded. "How can that be? Just once and I'm like a master, or something?"
"Well… no… There's still a lot more you can do with Shikigami."
"So you're telling me that I can only smash rocks?" Keiame almost hissed when Kakuju gave an affirmative answer. "Well, then teach me more than just breaking rocks, old man!" She crossed her arms. Kakuju opened his mouth, probably to protest. Keiame was quick to interrupt. "I guess that means you're going to be teaching me, huh?"
"That wasn't my plan…" Kakuju turned away. Keiame grabbed the front of his kimono. "Alright, alright!"
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
So for the next two hours, the old man trained the schoolgirl. There were times when he wanted to stop, but Keiame was ruthless. Each time Kakuju asked for a break, the teen glared at him and asked if he wanted to continue walking. Honestly, how could a girl threaten an elderly person that way? Kakuju watched the girl wipe sweat from her forehead. Actually, she was sweaty in more places. That's the only place she liked to wipe, though.
The old man sighed heavily, drawing Keiame's attention. She gave him a grin. "Okay, okay. I've spent enough time here anyway." Kakuju nodded his head, and then quickly moved away. The girl blinked. She had never seen an old person move so fast. Keiame snickered a bit before walking off. Inuyasha and the others probably weren't worried about her, but it had been a long time. Keiame flexed her fingers before smirking. "I can't wait until I surprise those freaks with my own freaky power! Buwahahahaha!" She instantly stopped. "Oh no… I'd better keep my cool or else I'm turn into one of those retards…" The girl walked away from the small body of water back into the village.
"Hey, Keiame, you retard! Where the hell were you?" Inuyasha's voice brought her from her thoughts. The girl spotted the group a few yards away. She instantly glared at the red clad demon. "We're going after the spider demon for a family we ran into, so get your butt in gear."
"Hey, don't steal my insult!" Keiame ran forward. "And I already said that I'm not going to-"
"There's money involved," Shippo stated
"When do we leave?"
Inuyasha deadpanned.
0~0
