Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha. Four Chapters and this disclaimer thing is already annoyingly redundant. I mean really, do you really think that I own InuYasha? No, no you don't.


Chapter Four: The Journey Begins

I plunked myself down on the grass exhausted. I went to the Higurashi Shrine at about 1:30 P.M. Once Kagome and I started training, we didn't stop until… about 6:30. I'm no math magician, but I know that I've been shooting arrow after arrow for at least four hours. Now I'm HUN-GRY! Kaede is getting some food ready, and Kagome finally let me take a break. She said I'm a really fast learner, but I think she's just saying that to make me feel better. I just started getting the hang of actually hitting the targets. You know…instead of accidentally almost piercing Kaede's good eye.

"Hey Pandy!" Kagome called, "Get off your lazy butt, the foods ready!"


Once we finally finished dinner and were all sitting around talking.

"Hey, wait a second…" I said as I thought of something, "Where's InuYasha?"

"Oh, InuYasha, Miroku, Sango, and all the kids, mine and Sango's, are visiting Koga," Kagome answered, "I would have went as well, but at the time I wasn't feeling very well."

"Wow, I would love to meet them one day," I said, "Are you feeling better now?"

"Oh yes, I just needed some rest."

"Are we going to train some more tomorrow?" I asked.

"Actually, tomorrow morning you should start your journey."

"What?" I shouted, eyes wide, "I'm not ready yet, I'll get torn apart by demons!"

"You might not have mastered archery, which makes sense, yu just started today, but you are an extraordinary fighter, and as time goes on your skill with the bow and arrow will increase."

"You sure about this?"

"Positive!" Kagome assured me, "At least I hope so…"


"Let me light up the sky, light it up for you, let me tell you why, yeah I would die for you…" I sang softly as I marched through the lush forest. I've always loved traveling, and the idea of seeing the world has always amazed me, so I thought that I should just explore; find out what life in the past was like in the past. I haven't come across any demons yet, and I don't really want to. I kept waking until I came across an amazing site.

"Wow, it's gorgeous," I breathed, admiring the massive waterfall I came across.

'Maybe I should just take a quick swim, it's not like anyone's around, and I have extra clothes in my bag,' I thought to myself as I put my iPod away, 'For once I'm glad I carry, like, six different outfits in my magical bag of mysteries.'

I slipped out of my clothes and jumped in the cool, refreshing water. I slicked my wet hair back, and swam over to some rocks. There was a rock beneath the water that I sat on, then I leaned back on some bigger rocks behind me and I had the perfect view of the waterfall, I could just stare at it forever…

"Pick up the pace men!" A mysterious voice said. A mysterious male voice. And I was only in my bra and underwear! "We want to be at the next village before the sun sets, unless you guys don't want to sleep on actual beds!"

I silently slipped out of the water, and still hiding behind some large rocks, I started putting my miko outfit back on, just wanting to get some clothes on so I wouldn't be caught half-naked in front of the group of boys.

"But I'm tired," A feminine voice whined.

'I guess they aren't all boys?' I thought confused.

I reached for my bag and my bow, about to sneak away without anyone noticing, when of course at that time, when I am almost gone, I trip on a rock and fall on my face.

"My face…" I whimper involuntarily before I dashed behind a large boulder.

"Who's there?" the first man called out, readying his weapon, "Come out now and maybe, just maybe, I'll let you live."

Gathering up my courage, I stepped out from my hiding place.

"Hey guys," I said with a wave, "I'm Pandy… so no need to worry about me, I was just leaving…"

"No, no… feel free to stay," a short, squat man said with a perverted wink.

'I don't know what, but there's something about them that seems so… dangerous,' I thought, 'Better not mess with these guys.'

"Back off Mukotsu, like any girl would want to stay with you around," the man who I presume is their leader said. He had the most stunning cobalt blue eyes and his long brown hair was tied back in a tight braid.

'Mukotsu... there's something about that name that rings a bell.'

"So… what are you names?" I asked, eyeing them nervously.

The leader smirked and took a step towards me, "I'm Bankotsu, leader of the Band of Seven."

I let out a gasp and stepped back, 'I learned about the Band of Seven in history and they were MERCENARIES. Oh God… Kagome told me about when she fought them too, she said they were CRAZY strong… but didn't they die? Kagome did say she made a wish on the Shikon Jewel to bring back anyone manipulated by Naraku like Kohaku, Sango's little brother, so I guess it makes sense.'

"So you've heard of us?" Bankotsu asked with a smirk.

"Maybe… but there are only five of you!" I retorted.

"Well Kyokotsu is usually out getting a snack, and Ginkotsu is with him, we don't see them too often anymore," he explained, "So the guy with the claws is Suikotsu, that's Jakotsu, then there's Renkotsu, and you've already met Mukotsu."

After he introduced all of his "brothers", I decided to get away before they got bored and decided to slice me to pieces with his halberd.

"Well it was really great meeting you guys, but I need to get going," I said, tying back my damp hair into a ponytail.

"Where are you going?" Bankotsu asked, thought I wasn't sure if he was genuinely curious, or just messing with me.

"Well I'm sort of just traveling around, seeing different places…"

"YOU could travel with us you know."

"WHAT?" the other members of the Band of Seven shouted, (except for Mukotsu who of course, was jumping up and down with joy.)

"I am NOT having a GIRL travel with us!" Jakotsu protested in disgust.

"She'll slow us down!" Suikotsu and Renkotsu yelled in unison.

"We can't be seen traveling with a miko!"

"HUZZAH!"

Protests erupted from everyone, (except Mukotsu).

"Chill guys, remember how we'be been needing a girl to pour our sake and cook for us?" Bankotsu explained, causing the men to get lost in thought at the pros and cons of this idea.

"Hey guys?" I said interrupting their thoughts, "One, I don't want to be your "servant" or whatever, two, I can't cook; last time I "cooked" I set the kitchen on fire, and another time I gave three guys food poisoning."

"Kitchen?" Bankotsu asked.

"Poisoning?" Mukotsu asked with interest.

"Never mind," I answered.

"Alright, you got your break, now we need to get to the next village," As Bankotsu said these words, his brother instantly jumped to their feet.

'These guys are seriously loyal, and it's funny considering Bankotsu is the youngest out of them,' I thought, 'At least they're leaving me in one piece, now to start walking in the OPPOSITE direction.'

"Hey!" Bankotsu called, looking back over his shoulder, "Where do you think you're going?"

'Damn! So close!'

"I was headed this way though," I lied, pointing in the direction opposite of where they were going. I was actually going to go in the same direction as them, but I would rather not travel with a group of KILLERS.

"You aren't heading that way because we are going this way," Bankotsu ordered.

'NO!' I wanted to scream, 'I'm not going anywhere with you!'

But I didn't.

"Fine," I complied.

I wanted to scream, to fight… but I didn't. He won. So instead, I kicked a rock out of my way, and followed the killers, wondering how I'm going to get out of this mess.


Yay! Chapter four is finally done. Sorry if you don't like how I left out Kyokotsu and Ginkotsu. I'm just really trying to get Bankotsu and the others in character because I don't want them to be OOC or anything. It's hard to manage a bunch of characters and keep them in character at the same time, but I will have Kyokotsu and Ginkotsu show up sometimes. Remember to Review!