Chapter 8 – Spiked Fear

Shippo followed behind Katana silently. He decided it best to keep his opinion to himself around this female. Though, she smelled like his foster mother – and first big crush of his life – she wasn't the same person, and could easily kill him with a swipe of her claws. A scary thought after traveling with only an inu-hanyou for so long.

Glancing back Katana caught Shippo's eyes with her own. Raising a brow she silently asked him to speak. Of course, like most he averted his gaze and avoided the question. Shrugging she decided it must not be that important, or maybe he just wasn't comfortable talking with another full-blooded youkai…

Easily and without trouble, Katana walked through the night air. Another perk to being a youkai: seeing in the dark. Well, she couldn't see the colors, but she could see the outline of things, and determining objects far away before you hit them is a good thing. She could now easily walk through the darkest of nights as long as the moon shone down just a bit, for even a youkai was blind in complete darkness.

Grace added to this! Not being as clumsy as before, Katana could walk for miles without tripping. It was always embarrassing to trip around the others, or over roots at the most inappropriate of times. Now, it would be even more embarrassing since she was considered of lethal grace and beauty, but also because youkai don't trip often.

Not to mention, that her baser instincts told her of these things as well. When total darkness controlled the night, a youkai could use their baser instincts to walk along familiar territory. Like… Sesshoumaru could probably walk his entire lands when darkness had taken over. However, that didn't happen often, or perhaps at all meaning that they'd never have to rely on their baser instincts unless controlled by their beasts, or lost.

Like that would happen to us, her beast snorted.

Katana scowled replying, stay out of my thoughts baka beast.

Like I'd do that, it sneered, before fading into the background. Glad to be rid of it, she closed her eyes, lifted her hand, and rubbed at her eyelids. Sometimes she hated that stupid beast…

Lifting her nose to the air, Katana determined the best place to camp for the night. Her nose sniffed out all the unwanted attention and she headed in the opposite direction. True, they would follow her, but once Shippo was put to rest, then she would take care of the lesser youkai. After all, slicing a corpse to pieces was just making her claws itch to kill something, living.

Shippo stopped when she stopped and watched as she gracefully sat down. Blinking he wondered how much Kagome had changed. She wasn't clumsy, she wasn't talkative, she wasn't defenseless at anytime now, and she barely looked the same. True, she was now far more beautiful, and could even rival one of the kamis' above in beauty, and grace, but she just wasn't the same.

"Sleep Shippo," Katana urged, "You will need your rest…"

Sitting close by her, he watched as she moved around, before drawing a sword from her side, and placing it across her lap, much like Inuyasha would have done. Shrugging he figured it was just for easy access, and stared at her for a moment.

"Take a picture, Shippo, it will last longer," Katana joked, using twenty-first century words. Her face never changed, and her eyes stayed their cold color, though there was a bit of light around the sides upon being with her friend. Staying emotionless made the joke seem less 'funny' apparently.

"Huh?" he gasped, breaking eye contact with the goddess before him.

Shaking her head, Katana replied, "It means that 'tis rude to stare for so long."

"'Tis? Since when did you start saying, 'tis?" Shippo whispered.

Meeting the kits eyes, Katana shrugged once more saying, "Does it matter? 'Tis something I caught from Keade, I guess. Either way, it is in my vocabulary and will probably stay there for a while."

Katana watched as he once again began staring at her, and sighed. Such a good kit, but this new form demanded he do as she said. Inuyoukai parents only told their pups' once, and if they didn't do it, they were punished, though not harshly.

"Sleep kit," she growled.

"Hai…" Shippo said. With that he laid down, facing away from her. His thoughts were swirling, though he really didn't want to speak with Katana just yet. He wasn't used to her, and if she was more like Sesshoumaru now she, she probably wouldn't answer most of his questions. Plus, just saying "Hmm," if not an answer.

Her youkai ears listened to his beating heart. Sighing, she figured it was best that she was gone for him to sleep. Then as she began to stand, his heartbeat slowed, and the kit fell into slumber in her presence. Strange, not even Master Zuku would fall asleep when near me, why does he, she wondered?

He trusts you; her inner youkai spoke up, growling a bit from being in his presence. Obviously, the beast was standing by its statement of not going around kitsune's because what was it… oh yes, He is a kitsune, as an inuyoukai we do not mingle with such low creatures. All they do is tricks. Well tricks or not he was her responsibility.

Leaning back, she decided it time to 'depose' of the lesser youkai following them. After all, she didn't need anything sneaking up on them during the night. Standing, Katana walked into the forest, and the sound of silent screams, and howling deaths filled the night not long after.


"Did you see her eyes Miroku?" Sango cried, "They were so cold… I saw so much hate within those blue depths."

"Hai… but it would seem that hatred is not directed at us, but at Inuyasha," Miroku sighed.

Sango began to calm before saying, "He's not taking it well either."

"Do you think he'll take her advice of training? Katana did say she'd come back to kill him," Miroku, who always spoke his mind, wondered aloud.

"Why are you calling Kagome, Katana?" Sango cried out.

"It was her choice to change, Sango, and as her friends we must respect her decision and treat her with the respect she deserves. In order to do that, we must call her the name she demands everyone does, and back down when she comes for Inuyasha," Miroku patted his wife's arm.

Sango sat there thinking, I don't want to respect what Kagome's become. Why should I have to call her this, Katana? Why would she even do this to herself? Why the hell would I have to do all this, and why would she even take action like this? It's just not right…

Miroku once again sighed, "Wife, Katana was our friend, and… as much as I hate to say this, we must stand by her side… that hatred was formed by something Inuyasha has done, and knowing her it probably has to do with his mating to Kikyo."

"I know… but I can't accept this new Kagome," Sango whined, "Not after I saw her… just kill another with no regret… she didn't even look guilty, Miroku."

"Katana…"

"Whatever, husband," Sango slapped his arm. "I can't do, as you did, Miroku! I can't just stop calling her the name I have been for years, just because she's changed it."

"Can you start calling her, Katana, when she slices off your head, and hands it to you on a silver platter?" Miroku asked, raising an eyebrow in curiousity.

"N-nani?" Sango gasped. Would… she do that, and over a name that only represents her title, and strength, not who she is?

Miroku patted Sango's arm lightly, saying, "Sango, she has changed. From what I have experience, and from what I saw in her…" he paused trying to find the right words, "She is now more like Sesshoumaru. Cold, quick, and probably has a bad temper. Should you disrespect her decision, and call her Kagome, she might very well slice you to pieces."

Sango gasped, nearly frightened. Ever since Kagome had left, her life as a taijiya had gone astray, and she began to slacken in her duties… and well, she wasn't as good as she used to be. After raising her first child, she had nearly forgotten everything, and began from scratch again. Hard work, but she wasn't as good as she used to be, and didn't know if she could take on Kag… Katana.

"This of course, would be because she feels you are betraying her someway. Like when Inuyasha said her name, and she hissed 'Katana', while her eyes flashed a furious red. She was angered then, because Inuyasha took it upon himself to disrespect her decision after she'd told him, her new name, and could have killed him because of it," Miroku smiled, "It is not your fault if she does…"

Sango began to cry into her hands once more, "We are like sisters Miroku, why would she ever so that?"

"Were you not listening, wife?" Miroku scowled.

Sango nodded, and sighed trying to hold back her tears. Whatever caused this major change in Kagome; no Katana was very, very bad.


Her head snapped up, her nose twitching furiously. Katana glared at the nearest tree, trying to determine how close they'd gotten. Blood was spilled upon her front, and she felt ashamed for being so careless. I shouldn't have tried to go without killing for so long, she thought.

The wind shifted once more, coming straight at her, and she growled deep in her throat. Small creatures, mainly ones come to feed off of her 'kill', or like a massacre from what she'd done. Lifting her upper lip in a snarl, Katana paid no mind as she raced off.

Bloodlust youkai were not something she wanted around her kit!

They would be savage, and tear him to pieces! They would give no mind that he was merely a kit going onto his puberty years. Their beasts overran their minds and the creatures would kill anything in the way. That included a small, yet growing kitsune pup. Damn! Just great Katana, the first day back and you've already put him in danger, she hissed to herself.

Picking up pace, she felt the white orb beginning to form around her. She wouldn't give into her youkai so easily, but right now she needed to get to Shippo as fast as possible. From merely losing track of time, the lusting youkai were closer to him then she was.

Faster! She hissed.

Her beast rose up, its eyes darker in thought, then faster we go!

Good, Katana watched the world around her dissolve, until all she saw was a stream of white around her. Her stride was long, fast, and she felt her feet leave the ground after so long. Her arms hung behind her, though she could feel it more then see. Once more her nose twitched, and she slashed to her left, frightening what she was sure was the first of the youkai.

Stopping, her eyes flashed over her prey. Five out in the open, one hiding toward the east, smirking, Katana tilted her head downward as if in defeat.

The first baka stalked forward, taking her stance as true, and growled low. Her tongue changed, and she growled out :What do you want: Ggrrrrr: Keeping her head down, Katana watched through her parted hair, keeping close eye on all of them, but focusing on the one ahead of her.

They seemed to talk among themselves, whining, snarling, and each using a language she did not understand. Glaring, Katana waited, but her answer was when the first reached out to touch her.

Something shivered up her spine, something more powerful then all these youkai together. It was coming toward them, but for now it was not a problem. Waiting… waiting… suddenly Katana snatched the hand reaching for her, and easily tossed the youkai over her shoulder, ripping his arm off in the process.

The second came at her as soon as it saw its comrade fall. Like the first, it was controlled by baser instincts completely, and hurled itself at her. Without thinking, Katana allowed her body to kneel, letting the youkai fly over her. Turning on one heel, she turned in her kneeled position, and let her purple whip fly, slicing the youkai to pieces.

Two more, thinking that numbers would work better then merely hurling themselves, came at her together, each at one side of her. Once they were close enough, Katana slashed out her whip once more, and spun in a circular motion, slicing through them both. When her spinning stopped, she looked over at her handy work to find them cut into sections.

Flipping toward the kit, she scooped him up into her arms, and quickly placed him a safe distance away. Again she tilted her head down, in a sign of submission, and watched their reactions. A small smirk appeared on her lips when the final one out in the open came toward her, but stopped, making Katana growl.

Without second thought, Katana hurled herself toward the final one, letting her claws be known, and thrusting them into his stomach. Then she turned, jumping up into the air, and laid her hand on the flying youkai's shoulder, easily jumping over him, and tearing at his back.

The flying youkai fell not long after, and she silently laughed it up. Though, she did make sure to slice it up to prevent it from coming back.

Once again Katana's nose twitched, smelling something foul. Her head snapped up, and her eyes widened. Turning her head, she felt her heart beat a little faster. No… the youkai she didn't take down… it was right on top of him!

Before she could move, something else, white in color slashed through the youkai. Taking in a sudden gasp of air, Katana raced toward the young kit. Once more she scooped him into her arms, and pulled him close, whimpering softly.

She hated that emotion, but the quickness of her heart told her that she had indeed been reduced to fear for a moment. The moment she could have lost him, if it hadn't been for… that flash of white…

Katana glared up at the taiyoukai, her eyes cold, but softened a bit in gratitude. She seemed to pierce through his very emotions, when his eyes widened, and he sat there staring at her like an idiot. Sighing she said, "Arigatou, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Hmm…" was his only reply, but she could tell that he wished to speak more. Maybe it was because of her strange clothing, or maybe it had something to do as to why she was in the region. Whatever it was, she was sure he was going to ask it…