Wow! It's only been 10 days since my first post! I'm love writing this story, it's bunches of fun. This chapter was a hard one. I knew where I wanted to go with my story, but I just couldn't figure out how to get there. I am happy with the result I think..If I can continue going in the direction I want to go in. haha. Ok, anyway. This is by far the longest chapter yet. I'm REALLY REALLY pumped for the next chapter, it's gonna be awesome!!!!!
The group traveled in silence, Shippou and Miroku tried to create meaningless light conversation, but it always died off after a few half-hearted replies. Inuyasha was busy trying to pick up any trace of Naraku, but he was also distracted by the discussion he and Kagome had previous to their departure from Kaede's town. Kagome clung to him rather feebly, her grasp slipped and she nearly fell off him several times. Her mind and heart were somewhere else as well, wondering why Sango had told her to ride with the Hanyou. Of all of them, Sango was suffering the most. She could not erase the image of Kagome kissing Inuyasha from her mind. Every time she glanced at Kagome, all she saw was that picture, as if it were burned into her cornea. She didn't even bother looking at the Miko anymore. Deep within her chest, an aching stronger than any wound she ever received had emerged and begun tearing at her core. Inside her mind, her numerous conflicting emotions clashed with logic and reason, and neither side was winning. She was truly falling apart, but on the exterior, she remained cold and distant.
They journeyed for hours until Shippou spotted a village. They decided to stop and seek any information on Naraku. They entered the village and discovered it was entirely vacant. No one had lived there for at least a month. The homes were scorched and the ground around them was covered in ash. Inside each of them, there was nothing of use or value. Seeing no point in remaining, they continued, leaving the empty village behind them. Within the next three hours, they discovered two more towns similar to the first, scoured and scorched. It looked like the work of a hoard of bandits or a small army, but everyone remained apprehensive, speculating if it were the work of a certain maniacal half-demon.
They continued to travel again, for only one hour, until Miroku spotted smoke in the distance. "It looks like a recent attack. Do you think we should check it out, Inuyasha?" he asked, though he did not intend to listen to the Hanyou's opinion anyway. Knowing that the monk had already decided, Inuyasha grumbled something unintelligible and started heading towards the origin of the smoke. Eventually, they came across a smoldering village, pillaged and burnt to the ground as the others before. The way it was still smoldering was evidence that it had only been attacked the night before. "We should check for survivors..." murmured the monk. Cautiously, they all went their separate ways, looking for anyone who had endured the assault and flames. Soon, they all met in the center of the village. "So, none of you found anyone…" said Miroku, glancing about the group.
"No survivors," said Sango, "No bodies, no bones at all." Miroku nodded, it was the same as the other towns.
Inuyasha shifted his weight impatiently, "Well no one is here, so what's the point in staying to investigate. Let's get the hell out of here."
"These attacks could be tied to Naraku." suggested the Monk.
"I don't smell him anywhere. Here or in any of the towns before it!" Inuyasha retorted.
"We all know he can shield his scent simply so your inadequate nose can't find him, Inuyasha." said Shippou, hitting another one of Inuyasha's soft spots.
"But what would necessitate him to pillage and ransack the towns as well?" asked Sango, "It looks like the work of bandits."
"Exactly, it's just bandits. I'm not gonna waste my time on them." Inuyasha said stubbornly.
"It doesn't look much Naraku's doing."Miroku admitted.
"Or… maybe he wanted to throw us off…" said a meek voice. Everyone looked at Kagome, including Sango for an instant before she immediately looked down.
"What are you thinking, Kagome-sama?" the Monk inquired, trying to understand her thoughts.
"Well…Naraku is evil and devious; he would destroy dozens of villages if it meant it could keep us off his track. Perhaps he pillaged these villages to make us think it was bandits and not look into it. I feel as if he is searching for a jewel shard, and if we're lucky, he hasn't found it yet." said Kagome sheepishly.
Miroku marveled at Kagome, "That's brilliant, Kagome-sama!"
"It's just a theory…" she muttered.
"A good one!" said Inuyasha, excited at a chance to challenge Naraku, "We gotta to beat him to the next village!" He was already picking up Kagome and running before Sango and Miroku could realize what happened. "SANGO!" he yelled in full sprint, "Take Miroku and scout ahead for the next town!" Miroku and Shippou scrambled onto Kirara's back before Sango could take off without them. Kirara leapt into the air, charging after Inuyasha swiftly. As they passed, Sango looked down at the Hanyou, mainly towards the girl clinging to his back. She saw that the Miko was already staring back at her, but she couldn't make out the expression on her delicate and beautiful face. The Taijiya hastily averted her gaze and urged Kirara higher, into the sky and farther away from the couple. From the sky, Sango could see the order that the villages were attacked in and that it formed a path that went east. She could see the next likely town just a few miles ahead of them. They headed towards it.
The village was untouched; there was no scorching or ash, just humble dwellings and the townspeople, who went about their day as if they were entirely unaware of the destruction that surrounded them. They remained quiet when the group arrived, speaking in hushed voices and watching the Hanyou with nervous and careful gazes, as people often did whenever Inuyasha lunged at the ground and began to sniff it for no apparent reason. Miroku got off Kirara and raised a hand to quiet them. "Do not be alarmed, he is a harmless oaf." assured the monk. Inuyasha probably would have attacked him, had he been paying attention.
Kagome felt ill, her knees wanted to give out beneath her. She touched Miroku's back and whispered, "I sense a tainted jewel shard…"
Inuyasha stood up, "It also smells like death here, a lot of recent death."
Miroku nodded, "We have been searching this area for a very important item, a cursed jewel shard, in order to purify it." At the mention of the shard, the whole community began to clamor, discussing something the strangers should not know anything about. Finally, a relatively muscular but scruffy young man emerged from the crowd. He looked not much older than Kagome, his hair was short and wild, and his face was dirty and twisted with animosity.
"We don't want his kind coming here and causing anymore trouble." He stated, callously regarding Inuyasha, "You all should just leave and take that bastard mutt with you." Inuyasha growled and Kagome put her hand on his shoulder.
Another man emerged from the gathering of villagers. He looked older than the first man, perhaps 19 or 20, but had similar features and body structure. His face was calmer, more mature, and actually quite handsome. Unlike the younger, he wore his hair tied back in a neat ponytail and dressed cleanly. "Peace, Takeshi." He said, patting the younger on his head, "Forgive my younger brother's rudeness. I am Izanagi, the eldest son of the head of this village."
"We have reason to believe that there is a jewel shard in this town. If we leave it here, all of you are in grave danger." replied Miroku. Takeshi scoffed and his older brother's grasp on his shoulder tightened.
"I see." said Izanagi, he looked down at his brother and sighed. "…About 2 months ago, a wounded monk came here, seeking a place to rest and recover from his terrible injuries. We are a giving community, we helped him." His calm voice got firmer, "But he died." He studied Miroku for a moment, deciding whether to continue or not. "We buried him, but within his possessions we found a jewel shard. We should have buried it with him, but a priestess who was living here at the time said that the shard carried an evil power, she wanted to protect it." Kagome looked at Inuyasha, who was listening intently, his ears twitched. He was thinking of Kikyou. He looked at the Miko and knew that she was aware of what was on his mind. He frowned when she took her hand off his shoulder. "The village head…my father, had been gravely ill until the jewel shard was found and he miraculously recovered. He did not want to surrender it too the priestess and he cast her out of the village. He refuses to give up the fragment. Anyone who enters his home has been found with their throats slashed open in the doorway." His eyebrows furrowed and his fists clenched, "My own sister, his daughter, was murdered by his hand."
Sango frowned; she was all too familiar with the subject of family killing family because of the power of Shikon Jewel. Kagome also knew what the Taijiya was thinking, but did not move to comfort her as she did to Inuyasha, for fear of being rejected. "Where is your father's home?" asked Miroku, "We will go in and take care of this." Inuyasha's ears twitched tentatively as everyone followed Izanagi and Takeshi to the Village Head's home. "What an ominous feeling…" murmured Miroku, "Do you feel it?"
"Yes, it's similar to a miasma." replied Sango, clutching Hiraikotsu. Kagome seemed unaffected by the heaviness in the air, but she remained focused on her feet as they walked, trying to center her attention on the jewel rather than Sango and failing. She sighed.
Izanagi stopped just outside the door and looked at Miroku with a very serious expression. "Please…if my father is still alive… kill him." said the eldest son, "He deserves to die for what he did to my sister." Takeshi did not speak; he just stood by his brother's side with his eyes focused suspiciously on Inuyasha. Miroku nodded, though he doubted that anything would remain of the father that Izanagi referred too. Right now, his soul was most likely consumed and his body possessed by some demon, he would have to kill him anyway.
"Sango-sama, stay out here in case we scare him out, protect the villagers. Kagome-sama, you too." instructed Miroku. Shippou wanted to be useful, but just looking at the house made his hair stand on end, he settled on Kirara's back. Miroku approached the home with his shakujo supporting him; he stood still in front of the entrance, conceiving a strategy. Impatient as ever, Inuyasha pushed the monk aside and went in.
Kagome quietly watched the men enter the house. Something didn't feel right. She clutched her vile of jewel shards close to her chest. She looked at Sango, who also seemed anxious and was glancing over the group of villagers. She whispered to the Taijiya, "Sango, do y-"
"Don't talk to me." snapped the demon exterminator, "Not here, not now, not ever." She walked away from Kagome and closer to the entrance of the house. Kagome was shocked at first; she just wanted to ask if Sango felt as uneasy as she did. Then, the Miko felt tears well up in her eyes.
"Now, now, don't worry." said a voice from behind her. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulder and flinched as she turned to see the Izanagi at her side. His tried to soothe the Miko, "I'm sure you're friends will be just fine. I think they can handle my father." Instead of comforting her, his voice sent chills down her spine. His face may have been calm and inviting, but his eyes were burning as he looked at the house.
"Come on out, old man!" shouted Inuyasha as Miroku followed him into the center of the residence. "We need that shard you got!" The house was gloomy; the only living inhabitants were a few spiders spinning massive webs in the corridors and rodents skittering about underfoot.
The monk stepped forward and shook his head, "Quiet down, Inuyasha. I don't think yelling will d-" before he could finish, he saw the gleam of a blade as it swung toward his neck and he stumbled backwards quickly. Wielding the blade was an older man; his physique was comparable to the two younger men outside.
"How did you get in here? So he sent in stronger demons, huh? Get out of this house!" growled a gravelly and strained voice. He swung his sword down again, he was fiercely strong for his age, but Miroku blocked it with his shakujo and knocked it out of his hands. Inuyasha grabbed the man and threw him against the wall, pinning him there.
"What do we do now?" said the Hanyou.
"Izanagi said to kill him but, this man...is not possessed. There is an evil presence here, but it is not from him." replied the monk. The man was thrashing, trying to escape Inuyasha's grasp and causing himself injury in the process. He was desperate, but not demonic.
"Let go of me! I must protect it! The demons cannot have this shard, I will not give it to the likes of you." he cursed, clawing at Inuyasha's arms.
"Shut the hell up!" yelled Inuyasha, throwing him against the wall again and knocking him out. He felt the man go limp and looked at Miroku. "What? It'll be easier to handle him this way anyway." Miroku sighed and fished through the Leader's pockets until he pulled out a particularly large jewel shard.
Inuyasha slung the unconscious man over his shoulder and carried him out of the house. As he appeared, the crowd of villagers gasped. Miroku followed him, the shard safe in hand. "He ain't dead." said Inuyasha to a small group of women who seemed to be on the verge of tears as they watched him carry what looked like the corpse of their leader past them. He stopped in front of Izanagi, who was still standing by Kagome, "I knocked him out, the monk says he wasn't possessed and there must be some other reason for the deaths. We found a shard, but there's still somethin' in the house." For only a moment, Izanagi's face warped from his calm expression to that irritation and anger, but it went back to normal before Inuyasha blinked.
"Thank you very much. You saved my father." He said, his voice sincere, "Won't you allow us to pay you back by giving you lodgings for the night?"
"And food as well?" asked Shippou, jumping off Kirara excitedly.
"It is the very least we can do." replied Izanagi, he patted the young fox demon on the head and smiled broadly at them. His grin lasted especially long in Kagome's direction. Miroku reached out and dropped the tainted jewel shard into Kagome's hand. It was immediately purified. Izanagi couldn't help but watch her as she put it with the rest of her collection, in the vile that nestled itself just above her breasts.
"In that case, maybe you could supply us with women as well?" asked the monk, who prepared himself for an attack from Hiraikotsu that never came. Sango was distracted, observing the home from where she stood near the entrance. Izanagi laughed, thinking that the lecher was joking. "Takeshi, let us lead our guests to the home we have been staying, it seems our home is still not safe for us."
The younger brother glared at Izanagi and almost argued, but swore under his breath instead, "Yah, whatever. Follow me." He grumbled. The crowd was dispersing, returning to their business and discussing the exciting events that had just taken place. Everyone in the group followed Takeshi, except for Sango, who lingered by the house a bit longer. She had a bad feeling, something was definitely wrong. She decided her only chance for answers was to talk to the village head when he woke up, but part of her was almost certain that Izanagi would not allow it. Eventually, she wandered after them. As she walked, she accidently allowed herself to think of Kagome. She felt a twinge of guilt when she remembered how she snapped at the Miko…but she could not help it now. She looked ahead to see Kagome walking beside Inuyasha and Izanagi. She felt ill; Kagome really did not need her, did she? She had attractive men falling all over her. Izanagi was obviously intrigued by the Miko, he couldn't take his eyes off her. Sango couldn't blame him; in the sunset Kagome was radiant. He pale skin glistened, her long, wavy raven-hair shined and curled about her lovely face, and her brown eyes sparkled as they reflected the red-orange sky. Sango shook the thoughts from her head. Kagome kissed Inuyasha, she wanted him, not another women. Sango was resentful, how did she allow herself to fall for Kagome's words and think that their affair would actually last? How could she believe that the Miko really loved her? She kicked the dust and cursed as she walked.
Kagome felt uncomfortable being surrounded by all the men. Takeshi was trudging in front of her, sulking with his head down. Inuyasha was striding beside her on the right, carrying a nearly dead man on his back. Izanagi sauntered on the left side of her, chatting away about the beautiful weather and not seeming at all concerned about the terrible state his father was in, nor the fact that his younger brother was extremely upset. Lastly, Miroku wandered behind her with Shippou on his shoulder, the two were laughing about something Shippou said at Inuyasha's expense. She tried to turn her head to find Sango in the group, but saw her nowhere. She grimaced when she remembered the cold and rather rude way Sango spoke to her. It wasn't fair, really. Kagome broke up with Inuyasha in order to be with Sango, and now they weren't even talking because Sango may or may not have seen her kiss Inuyasha. It's not like she even enjoyed kissing the Hanyou! She only did it to prove he was still in love with Kikyou and he would always be. She felt herself getting angry before she was pulled away from her thoughts by Izanagi asking her something that she didn't quite hear. She smiled at him politely, "I'm sorry, Izanagi-sama, I was lost in thought, can you please repeat yourself?"
"Please, Miss Kagome, call me Izanagi. I asked where you are from, you're clothing is so different from anything I've ever seen." He mused, eyeing her up and down and paying particular attention to her short skirt. The way he looked at her was unnerving, she laughed tensely.
"We'll just say…I'm not from around here." she replied. He chuckled and nodded, then mentioned something about her beauty. She wanted the elder brother to stop hitting on her, so she hooked her arm under Inuyasha's. The Hanyou was caught off guard by her action, but didn't say anything. She just smiled at him, hoping Izanagi would think that she was with Inuyasha. By now, Sango had caught up and saw Kagome holding Inuyasha's arm. She cursed again. They finally arrived at the brother's residence.
It was a fairly nice home, large and clean with several servants wandering around, tending to the gardens and doing chores or preparing food. They took the Father to a dim lit room next to the one they would be staying in and laid him down. Izanagi insisted on binding his hands and feet together in case he decided to attack them when he woke up. He then took one look at his younger brother and told him to clean up in order to respect their guests; Takeshi argued a bit but eventually did as his brother asked. His hair wasn't long enough to tie back, but his wild black hair suited him. He was just as handsome as Izanagi when he wasn't covered in dirt, but he still had a youthful face. He was polite to Kagome and Miroku, but he did not treat Inuyasha or Shippou the same. He refused to dine with them and left before dinner was served even though his brother told him he would not be served later. Miroku inquired to Izanagi about his brother's hate and mistrust of demons. Izanagi explained that his mother was killed by a demon when Takeshi was only 3 and he, himself, was 8. Kagome felt bad for the younger boy, having to grow up without a mother. The group shared a large dinner, during which Kagome found herself snuggling closer and closer to Inuyasha each time Izanagi spoke to her, until she was nearly in his lap. Sango claimed she had no appetite and was raging by the end of the meal.
"Izanagi, there is something we haven't told you that is very important." Miroku finally said.
"What is it, good friend?" asked Izanagi, his smile never faltering though Miroku's voice sounded troubled.
"My friends and I believe that your village is the next target of an attack...by a vicious demon named Naraku." Miroku stated.
"Is it because of the shard you found?" Izanagi queried.
"Yes, but we promise that we will protect you and your people if he does choose to attack here." said the Monk.
"Well, thank you, my friends. I do have faith in your strength." said Izanagi, "It seems I should retire to my own room. Please feel free to call on me if you need anything." He winked at Kagome, who shuttered with disgust. "Goodnight, my guests." Kagome was extremely relieved to watch him exit the room. She pushed herself away from the very confused Hanyou, who had thought they were broken up as of that morning and didn't know what to think now. Kagome looked across the room at Sango. Upon eye contact, Sango got up and walked outside angrily. Kagome wondered if she should follow. She sat, having idle conversation with Miroku until she could develop the courage to go find Sango. She was determined to go to her and set things straight. Maybe they could sleep in each others' arms again that night. Kagome found the Taijiya roaming aimlessly in a garden.
"Sango-chan.." she whispered. Sango's body stiffened as it normally did at the sound of the Miko's voice when it was unexpected. She groaned. "Sango-chan, please talk to me."
The Taijiya was silent for a long time, Kagome drifted toward her until she was standing awkwardly only a few feet away. "I have nothing to say to you." She frigidly replied.
"Please Sango, I think you are mistaken. If you'd just let me explain wh-" Kagome began, before the demon exterminator cut her off.
"Stop it Kagome, just stop it. I know very well what is going on here!" said Sango, her voice rising in volume as she reached the end of her statement. "It's Inuyasha, you want him. I get it. Just leave me alone!"
"N-…Sango it's not wh-" Kagome tried to intervene but Sango wouldn't stop.
"I saw you kiss him, Kagome. Don't deny it! You- You were just toying with my emotions all along weren't you?" she shouted, the agony inside her laced her voice. "Just go fuck around with the Hanyou! I don't care what you do! I don't care about you anymore, got that? I don't love you!" They were both quiet again, just staring at each other. Sango had stated she had nothing to say to the Miko, but she was lying and once she began yelling she couldn't stop. It was strange how they could be standing so close, but never feel so far apart. Sango breathed and heard her own words in her head,'I don't love you'. She looked away from Kagome and swore loudly, then left the garden. For a long time, Kagome just stood there without moving, without even blinking. Sango had said it; she said she didn't love her. What she had expected to be a heart wrenching pain ended up becoming a blind fury. How dare she!? She had no idea what Kagome was prepared to do for her, and now she was throwing it away without even allowing the girl to explain! Not only did she make false accusations, but she told her to 'fuck around' with Inuyasha. Fine then, if that's what she wanted, that's what she'd get. Kagome returned to her room with a new resolve, revenge.
Ohohohohoho. Finally Sango says what's on her mind, but damn, Kagome isn't gonna have it. I'm SOOOOOOO EXCITED for the next chapter. You should be too, just saying, it's gonna be really good. :) I gotta go now, I have a date in 15 minutes and I'm still in my robe! haha, I had to post before I could go on my date even if it risked me being late, that's how much I love you guys. LoveAffection&Review, please and thank you!