~ Chapter 3: Undercover ~
"Kagome, you are doing wonderful." The priestess looked up at her master who was standing a few feet away, "I am so proud of all that you have accomplished. The world will be grateful to have a woman like you protecting them."
She gleamed, her smile wide across her small face, "Thank you, Master. I would have never been able to do this without you. I appreciate all you have done for me."
He walked closer, his eyes glazed with pride as he watched his pupil, "You know, Kagome, when I sensed your soul floating in the realm of limbo, I could tell that you were not ready to move on. You had died unsatisfied, unfulfilled with your purpose in life." He began gazing up at the sky, "Your spiritual powers were begging to break through and do something meaningful. I knew you would be perfect for this job, and I knew your soul would be able to gain that satisfaction it was missing."
"Master, what else do you know about me?" The woman stared up, taking a deep breath as she awaited the answer.
He took a deep breath, "I know not much about you besides the desire your soul had to complete its purpose to bring goodness to the world." He shook his head and watched the ground, "But it matters not who you were. It only matters who you are now, and who you are becoming. Remember that, and continue allowing yourself to blossom."
If he had knew it would have been his last whiff, he would have breathed harder than he ever had. His nose crinkled at the realization that it was gone, golden eyes darkening with frustration. "Dammit!" He shouted, gritting his teeth as his fangs peeked through, "All I smell now is death and blood." He looked around, eyes shuffling to get a good look at the environment, knowing that they may be passing something dangerous. Or at least mildly dangerous. But he couldn't sense any demonic auras nearby.
"Death? Let us proceed with more vigilance, then." Miroku ascertained, eyes narrowed on the path ahead, "We wouldn't want to get too distracted by some demon that we fall further behind on our quest to find Kagome."
Everyone nodded in agreement, bodies preparing to quickly dissolve any possible battles. Inuyasha's chest tightened as the smell got stronger, more repulsive and stale. Whatever took place had to have happened yesterday, and the dead must have been left on the ground to rot. It was the only conclusion he could make, considering how spoiled and nauseating the scent was. They were on a path near a woodland area, trees surrounding one side of them, while a wide valley on the other. The wide open space provided the hanyou with no obstacles to obstruct his vision and no way for a possible culprit to hide, but the trees looming over them all on the side, that was what he knew he had to be careful of.
"Look over there!" Shippo yelled pointing to a large tree a bit deeper into the timberland. Squinting his eyes in order to get a better look, the hanyou focused his gaze in order to see what the fox demon had been referring to.
"Bodies?" He noted, seeing the mangled remains of several weak demons that appeared to be snake-like, long figures with no arms or legs were wrapped up in branches, their blood staining the bark a brownish-red. He huffed and looked back forward, having a bad feeling about this, but not wanting to investigate.
"Do you think we're still going the right way?" Sango questioned, herself, too, looking ahead instead of back at the dad bodies hung on the tree. She was disturbed by the manner in which they were left, but like the hanyou, did not want to waste any time trying to figure out what happened. They were weak demons most likely, and weak demons get slain all the time by traveling hunters and other demons. It could very well just be one of those situations, and the perpetrator may as well have gone far off by now, making any investigation pointless. Still, she didn't like the sight of them just dangling there.
Kikyo looked around, "There is not any way to know for sure since her scent has faded, but most travelers would use a path such as this." She observed, not seeing any other trails around them, "So, it is wise to follow this rather than picking a different direction and going aimlessly."
Everyone grunted in agreement. Still, it was a pain without her scent to lead them.
Breaths took up their quiet moments, but those moments became long hours of heaving and wondering if they'd find her anytime soon. Or if they were even going in the right direction. Each had contemplated why the priestess would have left the mountain area in the first place if she knew that Inuyasha would have eventually gone back to find her, unless perhaps she didn't plan on fighting him again any time soon and that's why she left. It had seemed like the most logical reason, and it was comforting in and of itself, the though of her going out of her way to not get into a battle with them. They had begun to think that she was feeling something about them, somewhere in the depths of her soul pushing and shoving to reach the surface. One could only hope.
The night sky fell upon them, stars hanging like ornaments on a navy tree. The clouds had disappeared in the darkness of the upper atmosphere, the only light coming from the moon's reflection of the sun, borrowed and dimmed in comparison. Shadows marked the crevices of Inuyasha's face, but the determined expression shone through like a candle, burning with passion.
"We should find a village soon. Your wounds are mostly healed, but the stress of keeping your body in movement for such a long time could cause you pain." The dead priestess whispered, light and airy as her breath blew on his silver tresses.
"If we stop now, we might lose Kagome for good." He growled.
"Kagome will have had to rest, too." The dark haired woman insisted, her voice now more demanding and harsh. He felt another growl emitting from his throat, but he didn't know how to object to her when she urged him as such. He glanced back at his group mates, whose faces were painted with fatigue, the skin below their eyes darkening.
"Fine. But as soon as the sun rises, we're back at it." He tried to make his voice rough, but it was still laced in the politeness he often used when directing his words at her.
They stumbled upon a quiet village, and Miroku, as always, took it upon himself to be the speaker of the group. He politely requested a place to stay for the night, offering some money in exchange. As usual, many of the villagers looked at Inuyasha in fearful confusion and hesitated. Mumbling amongst themselves, they came to another confusion.
"There is a demon terrorizing this area." One elder man said, tone shaky and full of aged static, "We will provide you will housing, but only if you promise to slay this demon."
"Keh, forget it, then. We ain't got time for this." Inuyasha immediately responded, waving him off before turning to walk away. The rest of the group stayed in place though.
"Maybe its the demon who killed all those other demons in the forest." Sango added, now feeling guilty at the thought of leaving these people here with no aid whatsoever. They looked up at her, seeing that she was a demon-slayer, with eyes wide and sparked with hope. Inuyasha stopped and shook his head with disdain.
"No." He repeated, "We can't just go around taking jobs like we don't got stuff to do."
"Then, I'll do it early in the morning." Kikyo asserted, nodding at the elder man, who smiled, his wrinkles deepening in his skin. She had seen the fear that had twinkled in his features when he described their dilemma, the other townsfolk also displaying the same fright, women clinging onto each other as the man spoke. She was still a priestess, and felt a dutiful pressure when people called for help. Despite not wanting to waste time either, especially since once Kagome was saved, they could go back to hunting Naraku, she couldn't refuse them.
Furrowing his brows together in agitation, he knew he couldn't let her go off by herself while everyone else rested. He just wished that everyone listened to him for once on what course of action was best for their mission. They would no doubt find another town, one that would just take money instead of begging for services. However, guilt ached at the thought of disappointing her, especially since he knew that once she made up her mind, that was it. And even if he left the village, odds are, Kikyo would remain.
"Fine. Whatever. I'll deal with this demon in the morning." He scoffed, turning back around and marching back to his place in the group, "Now, can we get a place to sleep. Everyone's gonna need some shut eye as soon as possible so we can take care of this and head out as early as possible. And I don't wanna hear complaining." His gaze followed over to the child as he spoke that last part.
They were led to a small, but suitable hut. Everyone got in their places to get some sleep, silence taking over. No one said their goodnights, just allowed their minds to drift off, muscles relaxing while they could. The atmosphere was peaceful, bodies at ease. Inuyasha surveyed his now sleeping companions, deciding that, if he was going to stay, he might as well get some shut eye, too.
The morning was laced with warmth and luminosity, and Kagome enjoyed the feeling as she pushed her legs onwards, using the trees as her primary means of travel when she could. She loved jumping from branch to branch, the rush of air hitting against her, the challenge of remaining balanced.
She had slept near a stream for a few hours, but just kept waking up, thinking about what everything she was feeling meant. But her mind couldn't seem to piece together what had happened, the puzzle incomplete and ungratifying. She had decided that she should continue looking for the hanyou for at least another day or two before returning to her hut for some rest, and if she couldn't sleep she might as well move forward. And she did, she soared above her ground with no restraint, wild and carefree in her demeanor, flashing nature a small grin.
I think I'll be able to recognize his demonic aura. It was quite unique. She thought, now feeling the vibrations of the world in search of his. The world buzzed with little tremors as it took in all the emotions and ambiances. It was thrilling, a rush of pleasure as waves of life forces continued to pulse around in the atmosphere, invisible but oh so present.
"Oh? I think I found it!" She raved, "Who would have thought that he would have been this close to my hut." She rushed over, hitting the ground lightly as she dropped down from a branch. Her speed slowed, and her pace became that of what a common woman may be walking, the fan clutched in her palm as she made one swift motion to open it, raising it up to cover her as she got into character. Her lips pursed against its silk, the soft caress feeling as though her mission was in fact flirting back, and she had hoped she could sway the odds to her favor herself. She was a fan of romancing the world around her, down to the tiny accessories.
As she walked, she heard the sounds of village commoners coming closer, the chit-chat swooping through the breeze and being carried like children on a hayride. It was giddy, it was calm and it was relaxing. It was the sound of simple living, presenting itself through the seconds not wasted in anything bigger than itself.
Why would Inuyasha be here? In some place so soothing? She placed a barrier around herself, just to ensure that there would no way to sense her presence.
At first, she approached behind some trees, hiding around twenty feet away from everyone, but seeing villagers in the distance going about their daily lives. The men were focused on their work, sweat droplets forming on their foreheads and upper lips. There heads would rise as they gazed up at the sun as if to ask it to back off a bit, wiping the perspiration off in one fowl swoop of their wrists. Skin tanned in the head, but their ethics did not seem to die out. And every once in a while, one would make a comment that had them all laughing, open mouths without a care in the world, just only existing in the present.
The women would come by, woven baskets full of fruits, vegetables in herbs, vibrant in their colors, like natural rainbows grown from the earth instead of the sky. They would pass a few on, and the men would eagerly take a huge bite before expressing their gratitude, lips thinning as they widening in hardy smiles across their faces. And the women would blush at their words of thanks, glowing in a pink hue, before they headed back into town, immersing themselves in lighthearted conversation. Little glances would be taken back, careful as if each were a stolen moment that they were forbidden from having, but they took anyways because temptation had the best of them. But the women were unapologetic in their curiosity, allowing themselves each second of time to linger before putting their hearts back in their chests.
Kagome observed like an outsider, objectively taking in the small world, giving stories to those who she had not even had names for. She had almost forgotten the mission until she had heard his name uttered in the scene.
"Oh, Inuyasha!" One man shouted, and soon enough the hanyou came into sight, leaping over to the group of working men, "Have you and Lady Kikyo defeated the demon, yet?"
"Keh." His voice was rough and callous as he lifted up a large container, "Yeah, he was hidden in some old urn. But don't worry, the bastard has been taken care of. Won't be bothering anyone else anymore." Though seemingly rigid and disconnected from everyone, he handed the urn over with ease and politeness, scanning the area as he did. His amber eyes burned with intent, displaying a level of intensity as he took what appeared to be a whiff into the air while the townsfolk stared at the urn. Disappointment flashed before his eyes darkened.
"This urn belonged to an older woman who died here not too long ago. She had come to the village with it, so no one knew who the urns belonged to." One man replied.
"She must've been doing some weird magic with it." The hanyou replied, still throaty, "When she died, whatever demon she had called was probably set loose. But, like I said, it ain't your problem anymore. We took care of it." With that, he bent his knees before launching himself back up into the air, taking him farther into town. The men seemed un-phased by the harshness of his tone, almost as if it had been naturalized. As if he talked like that regardless of how he felt so much so that no one paid any mind to it. In fact, the men seemed giddy to have heard the news.
Kagome waltz along the outskirts of town, remaining out of sight, her barrier protecting her. She hadn't been sure where the half-demon had gone, or why it seemed as though he had participated in some sort of evil demon extermination, but she went looking for what she hoped would be answers. It didn't make any sense to her. The scene had just told her the story of Inuyasha the hero.
She found the group near a stream on the other side of the town, focusing all of her energy on seeing and listening.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Kikyo asked, still clad in her traditional red and white garbs.
"It ain't like I mind helping people." He scoffed, "Keh, but we got a mission and a damn important one, too. So let's save all the hero work for after we find her."
"Your tone is quite unsettling." She replied, face hardened by his attitude, as if she had suddenly becoming painted stone, a statue of sorts, an unwavering gaze uncomfortably pinning him down.
But he just looked away, looking partially guilty with a hint of uncertainty in his face.
"Inuyasha always has an attitude." The young fox demon exclaimed, almost as if he was excited to share the news, "He's like a moody child; it's pretty pathetic."
"Shut up, you little brat!" The hanyou pulled up his red sleeves, veins pulsing through his lean arms as his hands balled up into hard fists. Even his fingers looked as though they were packed with muscles. The small child made a quick yelp before his arms flew up and wrapped around his head in preparation for the worst.
"Kagome would never let you hit me!" He shouted, his small voice echoing over, as if the wind had especially picked it up to bring over to the hidden priestess. She froze in her place, breathing speeding up as she felt the pulse in her neck at a much higher intensity than ever before. She blinked over and over again, as if wondering if she was in a dream, one blink away from waking up. Her disbelief lodged itself in her throat, making every swallow of air painful.
And for a moment, she let her barrier down.
It was only a moment, and she scrambled in her mind to get it back up. But just as she had frozen, his movement stilled just as his fist went to knock into the young fox demon's head. He was paused, leaving everyone around him in bewilderment. His gazed around, and Kagome quickly hid behind the nearest tree to avoid any interaction. She could feel her heart beating against the skin of chest, and her hand raised to clutch it in place, fearing that it would be too loud to keep her secret presence.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" She heard the monk's voice, smooth as it slipped out.
There was a pause before an answer, long and slow, but she heard him quietly, "I...I sensed her. Just for a second but... she's close."
She pressed the fan against her face, jaw clenched with the heads of her brows raised slightly in panic. Worry lines formed on her forehead, pupils darting from one area to another in an attempt to look for an escape plan. She saw scattered trees and bushes and a curvy path leading out into the fields. Following that wouldn't work. If the hanyou went out in search of her, he's be able to see her without a doubt. And if she wandered away from the path, with the trees loomed, she may make more noise stepping on fallen leaves and branches. He's alert and focused, so she couldn't risk being loud at all. But she didn't know where else she could go. If he catches her, she'll no doubt have to fight him again. She can't afford to have him knowing that she's investigating them. If he is bad, he may try to use her uncertainty against her, tricking her into thinking he's good because he'll know she'll be watching.
Oh, besides me. There are a few bushes close together. If I crawl, I might be able to get to the other side of the village. She got down on her hands and needs, feeling the blades of grass caress her bare calves. She heard Inuyasha call out for her, desperation in his voice. But she just kept up the pace until she behind another tree. When she peeked from behind it, the others were almost out of sight, but she caught the half-demon exploring some of the shrubbery, insisting that he had sensed her. Smelled her.
She kept walking until she knew she was safe, her feet taking her around the perimeter of the village, eyeing the ground. How could he have smelled me? There's no way he knows my scent. The forest around the mountain is much too crowded with the smell of flowers, so much so that it would clog up his sense of smell. Nothing here seems to be adding up...
"Excuse me." Kagome lifted her gaze to see an older woman smiling at her with much sincerity, "Can I help you?" Kagome tensed up, not planning on having any contact with anyone here, though relieved that it was some woman instead of any of the others. She scanned her, seeing her clad in a plain, white cotton kimono, gray hair tied up in a pony tail with short strands falling onto her forehead. As the older woman smiled, the lines on her aged face deepened with delight, wrinkles forming on the outer corners of her green eyes.
"Oh... I, umm..." She stuttered, cursing herself for not paying enough attention to have seen this coming.
"You were watching those people over there. Especially eyeing the half-demon, were you not?" She chuckled, "But don't you worry. My name is Aki, and your secret is safe with me."
My secret? "Oh, yeah, my secret... right." Kagome hesitantly replied, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, "Thanks." What is she talking about?
"I just adore watching young love bloom." Aki cooed, "And don't worry, a darling young lady like yourself is sure succeed in her endeavors."
She thinks I'm watching him because I have secret feelings for him? Well, I guess that's better than her knowing the truth about who I am. "Y-Yeah... I just can't help but watch him sometimes. Stole my heart from the moment I saw him. Ha-ha!" She raised her hand and scratched the back of her head, lips spread in an attempt to look sincere.
"Why don't you come with me, dear. I'll make dinner. I'd love to hear about you, and I have some tips for love. I may be old, but it only means I have life experience." Aki continued to chuckle.
As Kagome was about to say no and make a run for it, she heard the others getting closer, his voice echoing in her ears. Oh no, I need to move. And quick! "Advice? I'd love some! Let's go, then!" Grabbing the old woman by the hand, she led her into town as quickly as possible, "Where's your hut?" She kept her eyes peeled for anyone who may recognize her.
"U-Uhh... over there." Aki pointed to a small hut among a few others, "You sure are a spirited one, aren't you?" Kagome just laughed and hurried inside, where she was sure the silver-haired man wouldn't find her. She was relieved, letting out a long breath.
"So, tell me, how did you meet the half-demon? Is it still not unusual for them to mingle among humans?" Aki asked as she caught her breath, "Human villages are so weary of anything they don't know about, so I cannot imagine this half-demon was just a regular man living in your village."
Kagome glanced around the hut, seeing nothing much but a futon and a fire pit. This place was relatively empty, almost as if she had just moved it, "No, we were actually enemies at first. But you know how that goes. I tried to kill him, but couldn't. One thing led to another, and yeah, we became allies." She looked over at the old woman again, who was now watching her very carefully as well. Kagome wondered why she decided to base their first interaction on the the forest fight a couple days ago, but she brushed it off. It was all a lie anyways. They weren't allies and even if she doesn't kill him, they'll go their separate ways and probably never see each other again.
"Enemies at first? You know, I think the love that overcomes the hate is the strongest. It's the one that had to go through the most." The old woman walked closer to Kagome, sweet face faltering as her smile grew wider, "Why are you not with him then? You seem to be running away."
Pausing, Kagome tried to think of another explanation, "Well, uh, we became allies but we ended up going our separate ways, ya know? Completed our mission together. Don't want him to see me watching him and all, haha!" Suddenly, the sincerity that had once graced Aki's features seemed to be disappearing, eyes becoming more focused and less gentle. The priestess began watching her back, feeling uncomfortable, now.
"Y-You said you had advice?" She quickly added, still smiling. Does she know I'm lying? Maybe she knows Inuyasha...
"Oh, yes." She chuckled, her laugh more dark and sinister, "If you want to know more about his past, I'd investigate. Not all is always as it seems you know. Some people can have some unpleasant surprises." Kagome cocked an eyebrow, now scanning the older woman from head to toe in an attempt to try to figure her out, but the sincere and jolly demeanor quickly returned just as quickly as it had left, "Oh, but of course, if everything checks out just fine, then go on. Confess to him. Happy ever afters only come once in a blue moon, you know." Her expression softened, becoming more care-free again. Wrinkles creased further as she chuckled, a light and sweet tone coming from her mouth.
Wow she's weird. But I can sense that Inuyasha has left, probably to try and find me. "Well, thanks for the advice. But I must go." She bowed politely before running out of the hut, fan covering her face again as she did. Feeling relieved to be out of the small hut, she ran in the direction that she could feel the silver-haired man heading off to. She had way more to worry about than some eccentric and slightly creepy old woman and her odd love advice. So much for her age giving her good experience. That was completely awkward, and definitely does not inspire me to go out and find real love anyways. Well, at least she provided a good hiding spot for the time being.
"I wonder where he thinks I'm going." She whispered to herself, entering the outskirts of town, where she had originally been caught, "Well, I guess I'll find out."
"Are you sure she was here?" Kikyo questioned, "There has not been any sign of her, and when we asked, no one saw any woman in a black tunic, or any priestesses for that matter, entering the village." They continued, now everyone on foot, as they tried to decipher where to go from here. Inuyasha had his arms crossed and eyes shut, mostly to appear unapproachable as he was trying to avoid questions like this to begin with, but also since he wanted to concentrate on his other senses.
"I'm telling ya I sensed her spiritual powers. And I smelled her." He huffed, his attitude becoming more and more present in his conversations with her as their journey went on, "She probably put up a barrier or something. And the townspeople didn't see her because she wasn't in the town to begin with. I smelled her near the trees on the perimeter. She must have ran after that... But I know it was her. It ain't like I could confuse her aura and her scent."
"No, it seems you have memorized both of those pretty well. How silly of me to ask." She shot back in a manner so unusual for her. The rest of group shot each other glances before turning their gaze back on the two previous lovers. Inuyasha's eyes had shot open, one brow lifted as he side-eyed her, mouth a perfect line across his tanned face. His muscles seemed to tense beneath his robe, body hardening like stone. He didn't seem angry, though. Uncomfortable, maybe. Even irritated. But the gaze itself held little aggression.
He opened his mouth in an attempt to combat her clearly mocking response, but closed it, opting for a low sigh instead. After a moment, he shut his eyes again and began focusing on the environment, his ears tuning in on any quiet sounds, his nose sucking in all the scents around him. And it was much to Kikyo's dismay that he did that. She knew he would not have bit back at her, no. He never went that far. But she thought he would defend himself, and in the process, try to compromise with her. Or at least comfort her in some way, just to show that he understands why she's been so aggravated.
A priestess always has a sense of duty. And while Kagome may need me, these days of ignoring Naraku are impeding on us stopping him from using the jewel for evil. He's already killed many, and it's clear that this woman can fend for herself. Defeating Naraku means saving many more people from his wrath, and my duty is to prioritize a menace such as him. Inuyasha's priorities are skewed because of his feelings.
They kept walking, lips shut as though there was a force that kept them that way. Words were swallowed, gulped down like an the atmosphere shoved it back. Everyone wanted to say something just so they didn't have travel in this mood, but it just was not happening. Sango looked around her before spacing out, her mind travelling back to the memories of her friend. Just like Kohaku, Kagome died a terrible death. I just couldn't believe it when Miroku told me. I need to save my brother, but... she's still my friend. She'd do anything to help me. She deserves for me to give up some of that time to find her. She thought of her younger brother, with a tainted jewel shard in his back, under control of one of the most evil men she's ever met. But I will save him. And when I do, I'll have Kagome by my side, like she's always been. Helping me along the way.
She looked over at everyone else, satisfied to see that the others, who also have a reason to give up on Kagome to go after Naraku, were here. They wanted to fight for her. Despite her reservations, even Kikyo was here, too.
"A jewel shard. It's coming our way." Her sudden, low voice started everyone. Kikyo looked around as she tried to pin point the exact direction that it was coming from, reading her bow and arrow.
That smell. It's gotta be one of the band of seven members." Inuyasha growled, and as the mysterious jewel holder neared, the hanyou sighed in agitation, "Jakotsu."
He appeared from their right, everyone ready to attack.
"Oh, what a rude welcome! But don't worry, I'm just as eager as always to see you, Inuyasha!" His high voice slithered over, like a snake sneaking through the grass. He pulled out his Jakotsuto, a sadistic grin plastered on his face. He stepped closer, chucking as he took did, his movement airy and cheerful, despite having his sword over his shoulder.
"We ain't got time for you, Jakotsu." Inuyasha seethed, pulling out Tessaiga without hesitation, "Keh, so I suggest you get going if you know what's good for you."
"And miss out on an opportunity to engage in battle with such an adorable man? You clearly don't know me at all, then." The dead man cocked his head to the side, playfully, "Besides, my sword is dying to be stained with your blood. You'd be the hottest man I've ever killed! Can't just walk away from something like that, right?"
Growling, Inuyasha could feel his impatience wearing thin, like the stretching of a material until it breaks. "Guess it's time to get this over with." He lifted his sword, uninterested in participating in the conversation any further, "WIND SCAR!" A flash of light rippled through the sword, extending out as the powerful attack soared towards the enemy. But Jakotsu just leaped to the side, evading the wind scar with little effort.
"How predictable. I'm offended that you thought you could do me in so easily." He faked a frown and wiped a non-existent tear from his face, "Have I not proven to you what an amazing opponent I am?" He lifted the Jakotsuto, swinging it as he dramatically continued to whine about the wind scar, but the blades on his sword traveled mercilessly. The hanyou jumped out of the way as the last blade his the ground where he had been standing. Smirking, the dead man whipped all of the blades back.
Inuyasha lunged at him, and swords began to collide in a fierce attempts to decapitate the other. The sound of metal hitting metal rang like a bell, high and pulsing. Each man was flaunting their agility, lighting leaping into the air at every point, feet never thudding against the ground. Growls could be heard from the hanyou's throat as it vibrated in lively agitation. All he could think about was every second that passed, and how far Kagome may be travelling ahead of them while he was stuck fighting this un-dead psychopath. Dammit why can't I just kill him! He thought to himself as he continued to swing over and over again, each one being countered by Jakotsu's sword. The fight continued, much to everyone's dismay.
"WIND SCAR!"
Huh, what's that sound? I can sense Inuyasha but... there is also someone else. Kagome's mind raced as she picked up the pace before leaping onto a tree branch to take a good look at what exactly was going on, and as she peeked carefully through the leaves, she saw the hanyou engaging in battle with some man. A human man, with a purple stripe traveling down each eye like thick lavender tears. His black hair was tied up in the back, and he wore a purple kosode and leaf patterns on it. But something about him seemed off, it was eerily wrong. Oh, I wonder what's going on.
They were both moving very fast, swords clashing but never landing a good hit on the other. It was so intense that not even Kikyo could shoot an arrow without risking hitting her companion. She saw the demon-slayer gripping her large boomerang, but hesitating. There was never a good time to throw it. It was way to risky, and Inuyasha seemed to be holding his own well enough against this mystery man.
"Hey! Get going down this path to try to find Kagome. I'll catch up when I'm finished with this demented murderer." The silver-man called out before swinging again, gritting his teeth as he narrowed his eyes in on his enemy.
"Demented murderer? Oh, that's new. But c'mon Inuyasha, you and I both know there's a thrill in killing." The feminine man insisted, now grinning as he dodged the attack, "Don't act like you don't get a kick out of just fighting me."
They both swung at each other, "Your nothing but a bastard who kills innocent people for fun. Don't group me with you."
This man is a murderer? And Inuyasha is his enemy? She shook her head, This keeps getting more and more confusing. If Inuyasha is bad, why would he care if other people did bad things, too? He doesn't even want to be associated with the serial killer.
"We're not leaving." Kikyo retorted, her arrow still aimed as she looked for an opening to shoot him. But it was not looking very good. At this rate, it appeared that it was all up to Inuyasha to stop this strange man. The fighting continued, sword against sword, with no one really winning at this point. It just seemed like the battle could go on forever. And it seemed like it was. The apparent murderer just kept a deranged smile on his face, looking absolutely delighted the entire.
"When I kill you, I think I'll take those fuzzy ears of yours as a cute souvenir." The man joked, "A keepsake from the most adorable man to be slain by my sword. And don't worry, when I go to slaughter some villages, no one's death will be as satisfying as yours."
"You bastard!" Inuyasha shouted as he lunged again.
But then suddenly, all the fighting stopped. And everyone was looking up as a small group of what looked like bees seemed to be passing by. What's going on now? She wondered before hearing the monk call out to everyone, "It's Saimyosho!" He pointed as the strange man quickly put his sword away, an annoyed look now gracing his face as he pursed his lips.
"Well, looks like this battle is getting cut short. How unfortunate." He hummed to himself, "But don't worry. I'll be back for you again. Bye-bye Inuyasha." And with that, he took off in the direction of the trees, following the bees who loomed beneath Kagome. She was still hidden by the leaves around her, but that didn't stop her from curiously jumping to down to follow this strange man. Especially not if he was hell-bent on slaughtering innocent people. She would catch up to the others after she investigated.
She dropped down, noting how the bees were already pretty far ahead the strolling man, who was humming nonchalantly to himself as he went onward. They were larger than normal, with an odd color-scheme and a clear demonic aura that encapsulated them. Their strangeness beckoned her attention, but she figured she should be more focused on the man whom Inuyasha just battled. She began speed-walking to catch up to him, still trying her best to keep quiet as she did.
"I know you're there." She heard him speak suddenly, as he whipped his head around. The smile that was on his face faded as he looked her up and down slowly, a scowl replacing it, "Oh, it's just a woman. I was hoping maybe they sent that sexy monk to come after me. I would stalled for a bit longer. But anyways, I'd leave if I were you. You may not know, but I happen to be rather well trained assassin, and I will have no quarrels with ripping you to pieces if you annoy me for too long."
"You will kill just a simple woman for walking the same path as you?" Kagome cocked an eyebrow in disgust.
He turned his head back to the path ahead of him, "I usually kill for fun, but seeing as fighing a vile woman such as yourself would not be fun, I'd be doing it just so I don't have to see your face again." He continued to stroll, as if he had been participating in common small talk instead of imparting threats. He didn't even seem phased by the thought of killing her, as his posture and demeanor remained the same, just seemingly more agitated that she was a woman, a concept she didn't quite understand, and didn't want to understand.
"What do you know about Inuyasha?" She questioned, also seemingly unphased by his threats, "You were trying to kill him. And he you."
Now, she had caught his full attention, and he whipped his body around in surprise. This entire time, he had just thought she was some random human woman who happened to be walking the same path as him, "You know Inuyasha? Hmm, well my battles are my business. A lady like you should learn to mind her own, though it appears I'll probably have to kill you beforehand."
"He called you a demented murderer who kills innocent people." She replied, her tone low and cold as she continued, still unbothered by his threats, "Why would he do that?"
"That adorable man doesn't seem to like the thought of innocent killings. Boring, I know." Jakotsu was now holding his sword, preparing to swing, "I hate it when they have morals. But his passion to stop my comrades and I just makes the battle that much more fun." He didn't swing, though. Just approached her until they were both just a mere inches away from each other. "Now, I hope you'll die quickly so I can keep it moving."
"I notice you have something inside of you. Something tainted by evil. It's keeping you alive." Kagome quickly noted, realizing that she could see a deep purple light coming from his neck, and it reeked with corruption, "I knew something was off with you when I saw you, but I now realize that you are just a walking corpse."
"Huh? You can see my shard? Well, guess that means I'll definitely have to kill-" His talking was cut short by Kagome's glowing hand reaching up and grabbing his neck, targeting the tainted shard that rested within him. His eyes widened as he realized just how strong she was, the glowing aura slowly burning his skin as her grip tightened.
"W-What? Am I really going to be defeated by a woman?" He seethed, gasping for air as he did.
"Not just any woman." Kagome huffed, "I am the strongest priestess to ever grace your presence. So, let that fact comfort you as you die... Unless, you tell me why you're after Inuyasha, and everything you know about him." She did her best to maintain composed as she listened desperately in hopes that he'd reveal some useful information about who the hanyou was as a person. Perhaps a backstory of sorts.
"W-Well, I guess that's better than dying by your despicable hands." He strained, "Inuyasha is just a hanyou trying to defeat Naraku and it seems any evil that comes his way. A hero of sorts I suppose. I don't know much more about him, I just take orders. And I kill. If I'm ordered to kill Inuyasha, I do my best to."
"Naraku? Inuyasha and Naraku are enemies?" She asked, now even more confused than ever. She recalled that name as belonging to a half-demon that her master also wanted her to kill. She just would not have guessed that both of those men would have been against each other.
"Yes, but I can't say I know the whole origins of that. Once again, I just take orders." He hummed, "Now, would you mind letting me go. I'd prefer not to have to look at the face of a woman for this long."
"Resign yourself from a life of killing and I will." Kagome turned her head to the side, her features stoic and cold. Jakotsu could feel the shivers running up his spine as she looked at him through unblinking eyes, but he just shook it off, trying to regain his composure and process her demand before he scoffed. Kagome tightened her grip on him again, earning a small yelp from the man. Her eyes warned of consequences as her gaze continued to dig deep into his corrupted soul. But he just looked away now, his lips pursed together as he contemplated his next move.
"I can't say that I'll resign myself from killing, no." He chuckled, "I like it too much." He tried to raise sword quickly to slice her stomach, but she leaped into the air and avoided the attack, letting go of his throat in the process. He took the opportunity to get far enough away from her in order to whip his Jakotsuto and allow his attached blades to soar over to the priestess, who dodged the attack again, leaping towards him. However, she didn't notice when he whipped his sword back, the blades returning, and cut her calf with it, startling her. His blades were brought back to him, and he took the opportunity to run, leaving her to tend to her wound.
"What kind of sword was that?" She whispered to herself as she covered the cut with her hand, shocked at his attached blades that seemed to zig-zag like a snake, "I can't afford to leave any blood behind, or he might be able to smell it. I don't know how he knows my scent, but I can't risk getting caught just yet." She used her free hand to rip a piece of the bow was tied around her wait and used it to create a wrap around her wound. It hadn't been too painful or serious, but she didn't want any blood dripping on the ground.
So, he got away. I should have killed him... Who knows what kind of havoc he plans on causing. She sighed, feeling a tinge of failure as she stood, strengthening her barrier and turning to head back in the direction of Inuyasha, who was now probably well ahead of her. She began sprinting, still concealing herself behind the trees, sensing him as she neared. Her mind was racing in circles, trying to understand what she had just been told about the hanyou. She inhaled almost as if she hoped a long breath would allow her to think clearer.
This is the second time Inuyasha appears to be some hero... But I can't trust it, yet. I mean, so what that he has enemies who are also bad. That doesn't mean that he, himself, isn't also bad. He could be bad in a different way. Right? She thought to herself as she kept on going, her curiosity peaking now more than ever.
And soon enough, she could hear their voices in the distance. Time to get back at it.
Well, what did you think? I decided to have this take place during the Band of Seven saga, mostly because I love that saga and I think it'd make for interesting story to have some of them lurking.
I know Kikyo references Mt. Hakurei and her almost death, which doesn't take place until after but I decided to flip flop a little, since I didn't decide until this chapter to include them. This is taking place smack dab in the middle of the saga, where I've decided that Jakotsu has not yet been defeated, which means Renkotsu has yet to take his shard, which means Bankotsu never killed him. The others are dead, as they would be in the anime.
Alright! I'll include a reference to what happened during Inuyasha's previous battle with Jakotsu where he was supposed to have defeated him, so that it all makes sense.
So, what did everyone think? Is undercover Kagome successful? Do you think she'll be able to put the pieces together? And what about her master?
I live for reviews so please please please keep them coming! They encourage me to keep going!