CHAPTER FOUR: The Hunt Begins and the Deal with the Devil
Inuyasha smiled at his group as they got ready for the hunt that was to follow. Turning from them, he walked over to Kouga and grinned, patting the wolf demon on the back, "I'll get her back. So don't worry so much Kouga." He told his 'friend' as Kouga just nodded and turned back to his pack, still sulking slightly.
Rolling his eyes and sighing, he returned to Sango, Miroku and Shippo, his smile still on his face, "Inuyasha…" Sango said as she held her two-tailed companion in her arms and looked at the smiling half-human, "Are you sure it was her?" she asked.
Inuyasha nodded, "I'm sure of it. After all, if Kouga smelt her as well, then it has to be." He told her as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry so much Sango, I will get her back, no matter what." He told her with a grin as he looked down at Shippo who was tugging on his pant leg to get picked up. "Always the little kid, eh Shippo?" he asked as he bent down and picked up the fox demon and cradled the small child in his arms as he walked to the mouth of the cave and looked out at the forest.
Sango and Miroku smiled when they watched Inuyasha pick up Shippo before they turned to each other, "Do you think that…" Sango blushed slightly and moved her arms closer to her stomach.
Grinning, Miroku just laughed, "That our little one will be just as kind as Inuyasha? Or that they will be just as cute as Shippo?" he asked as he moved closer to the demon hunter and took Kirara from her arms before he put the cat demon on the ground, "The answer to both the questions are yes, our child will be as caring as Inuyasha is when it comes to Kagome, and yes, our child will be as cute, if not cuter, than Shippo." He told her as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.
"Knock it off you two, enough sappy moments, I think I've had that covered for the last little while." Inuyasha's loud voice drifted into the cave, making the two jump and pull apart, laughing as they gathered their stuff up and joined Inuyasha at the cave mouth.
Miroku smiled at Inuyasha, "We're ready." Sango nodded her agreement as she felt Kirara jump onto her shoulder and mew softly in her ear.
Nodding to the group, Inuyasha held Shippo closer to him as he headed down the path from Kouga's cave and into the still wet forest. The group stuck close together, carefully following the scent their leader was picking up very faintly, even if it would come and go every few hours, costing them precious daylight as they waited for Inuyasha to pick up the scent of their friend again. As day slowly faded into after noon, the group had made it ten miles from their starting point, a good distance away, however, they now sat around a fire in the middle of demon country.
Every now and then, a roar of demons fighting would reach their ears and send them into high alert, each one of them getting ready to fight before they realized the demons weren't after them. At least not yet. Looking at each of them, Inuyasha had to smile; it was all because of Kagome that they were all together, it was because of her they made up their small mismatched family. Looking at Sango and Miroku cuddling on the other side of the fire, deciding names on their un-born child he felt like laughing. Two years ago, Sango wouldn't have looked in the monk's direction, let alone bed him, and now, not even a week before Kagome had…he didn't think about it, they had bedded each other, with great results. They were to be parents which made everyone excited. Except Kagome. She had never known.
"Inuyasha?" Shippo's voice shook him from his thoughts, "Are we gonna find Kagome?" he asked, his child like behavior coming through loudly as he looked up at his friend, tears starting to pool in his eyes.
Pursing his lips together, Inuyasha looked at the small demon before picking him up in his arms again and cuddling him close against his chest, noticing the fox didn't argue it, "Shippo, how many times have I told you I'd get her back for you?" he asked as he pulled away from Shippo so he could wipe the fox's tears away.
Shippo thought, "Hm…a lot?" he asked with a small smile, knowing it would make Inuyasha feel better.
"Exactly, so don't worry." Inuyasha told the fox as he put him on the ground and leaned back, "No matter what, I'll get her back Shippo." Closing his eyes, he smiled to himself as he thought of rescuing Kagome, if his hunch was correct and she had actually been taken by Naraku.
I would run into Naraku's castle, Tetsiaga in my hand as I looked at Naraku in the face as he held Kagome captive in some dungeon. I'd tell Sango, Miroku, and Shippo to go find Kagome because I'd want to kill Naraku myself. I'd wind scar him from here to…to somewhere else, and he'd die by my hands. Kagome would see this and rejoice and, a grin covered his face, she'd give me a kiss for saving her. Yeah…that's what I'll do…
"Hahaha, you've let your guard down Inuyasha."
Stumbling out of his dream he pulled his sword from his side as a giant blade of wind sliced through the ground next to him. Quickly looking around, he noticed the others had pulled their weapons out and readied themselves for a fight as well., "All right Kagura…where are you?" he snarled, wanting the wind princess to show herself.
Kagura smirked behind her fan as she stepped out from behind a tree and looked at them, her eyes glinting with laughter as she looked at the poor, pitiful half-demon. He looked horrible, his fire rat clothing was torn, and in some places, patched, and his usually succulent silver hair looked matted and grayed, he had been worrying about his girlfriend. "I've come to make a deal with you." She told them as she lowered her fan, causing everyone to take defensive positions before she snapped it shut and tucked it into her outfit.
Miroku glared at her as he held the prayer beads around his wrist, ready to take them off in a moment's notice, "Make a deal with us?" He asked cautiously as he stared at her.
Nodding, Kagura moved closer to the fire and sat down, gently folding her legs beneath her before beckoning the others to do the same, laughing when they still held their weapons close to them in case she changed her mind, "Yes monk, a deal. One that will get your pretty little girlfriend back Inuyasha." She looked out the corner of her red eye at him.
Inuyasha looked at Kagura, "You know where Kagome is?" he asked her, still cautious of the wind princess.
Kagura nodded before she took out her fan again and drew a map in the dirt, "She is being held by Naraku in his castle eight miles south west of here." She circled the location in the dirt, "Naraku is well protected, his barriers are the strongest he's made yet, and there are demons circling, readying themselves for a chance to get at the miko, or whoever gets near enough," she tapped the area surrounding the circled spot, "I however, can get you in, unnoticed by Naraku and the demons, if you would like my help." She told them as she looked at Inuyasha, noticing the hopeful glint in his eyes.
"What do we have to do for your help?" Sango asked as she glared at the girl, keeping her grip on Hirokotsu tight.
Closing her eyes and shrugging, Kagura leaned back and braced herself on her arms, "You must get my heart back from Naraku." She told them simply as she opened her eyes and looked at them all again, "Do we have a deal?' she asked.
Inuyasha looked at the map then at Kagura, "How do we get in?" he asked, his way of telling her that they would cooperate, for the time being.
CHAPTER END