Chapter Seven
It is said that the darkest hour is the one before sunrise. If it is true, then it provided her with wonderful cover as she moved from tree to tree. Stopping just outside the perimeter of the familar village.
As the sun started to wake, so did those of the village.
Voided eyes saw much yet they saw nothing at all. For much of the night she meditated; the jewel shards in front of her. Her intent was to familarize herself with the power each one emitted.
Her late night search gave information that two individuals held such trinkets. Closing her eyes she could feel the stones close. Several women and children were playing in the stream and open field past the gully. A dark haired human girl was of interest, once she opened her eyes again.
Around this strange woman's neck was a small bottle held by leather, inside were shards from a sacred jewel. A smile appeared. Her lord and master would be pleased. She found the first target and so quickly.
"So you travel with Inuyasha." Amato commented to Kagome. She was leaning over the bridge, looking in the water.
Kagome nodded. "We're looking for some things."
"Sacred things?"
Kagome nodded again.
"Did you know my mother also?"
"No. Not as well as Inuyasha."
"You like him, don't you?" Akumo appeared from nowhere. Amato was supressing a chuckle.
Kagome blinked. "Wh-what makes you think that?"
Akumo held an apple in his hand, one of the last ones of the season. Pulling out a knife from inside his shirt, he began to cut it. "The way you look at him and he to you. It's easy to see."
She blushed.
"It's the same way our parents looked at one another." Amato smiled.
"They didn't love one another." Akumo's voice was sullen. "If it wasn't for three kids, she'd be a memory in his mind. Just a part of a past he'd rather not think about." He pushed off the bridge, taking his leave.
Amato stepped out of the river, on the bank of the field side. "He's really not that bad."
Kagome looked back toward Akumo. When she faced Amato, she had a smile. "I know."
They walked in silence, sometimes stopping to watch the other kids play. "He thinks that it will impress our father if he acts strong."
Kagome remained silent. Unsure of what to say.
"Deep down..." Amato stopped.
Kagome looked at him. Searching with her own eyes, to see what he saw. "Amato?"
Something in his voice set shivers down her back. "Go back to the village." Narrow gold eyes were observing the hill top horizon. A breeze blew his hair across his face. "Now Kagome!"
Some force of nature pushed them away from one another before a move could be made.
Kagome landed on her back then rolled onto her stomach. In that instant something or someone was on her back, holding her down.
"So nice of you to provide these shards." A voice said, close to her ear. "And without much of a hassle. I do thank you."
Between breaths and strands of hair, Kagome could see that the bottle necklace had been removed and in the hand of someone else. The pressure on her back was relieved some. Apparently a small group had started an attack.
An arrow flew through the air, but was caught by the stranger. She through it back in the direction it came.
Akumo had run over to Amato, bow and arrow in hand. After letting the arrow fly from his fingers, he proceeded to help his twin up.
"Akumo the arrow!" Amato, half up, jump in front of his brother.
A blur of white and silver appeared in front of them. Spots of red soon mixing.
Inuyasha ran past Kagome chasing after the assailant.
Kantari appeared, suddenly, twenty yards in front of the intruder. With him blocking the front, Inyasha to the right, and another to the left, there wasn't much room for escape.
Voided purple eyes were narrow behind the veil that covered much of the head; so not to be noticed. The body, too, was conceal, save for the hands.
Amato, Akumo, and several armed villagers filled in the hole.
"Give back those shards." Amato held bow and arrow ready.
The attacker stood straight, moving to look at Amato, Akumo, and the other villagers. A smile came to her face, though no one else could see. She pulled the necklace from her pocket, swinging it in front of them. Amato tightened the grip on his weapon.
Kagome moved silently next to Inuyasha. "I'm detecting four jewel shards."
Inuyasha glanced back at her. That was a lot but he knew that in the end it would be a victory for them.
Kagome pulled out a sacred arrow. "I'm going to extract them." Despite the quietness of her voice the assailant turned in her direction; mocking within her voided eyes.
She lifed her hand, the necklace hanging, and motioned her to bring it.
