SECRET OF THE CURSED MASK
Chapter Ten: A Familiar Face
"Oh, you've come back," Kaede realized as the group of seven entered her home just as it was getting dark.
"We're back, Kaede!" Aang announced.
"So, did you find any clues?" Kaede inquired curiously.
"No, not really," Sokka reluctantly admitted.
"But, Sokka learned how to use the power of Shikigami," Shippo announced. "Just as Inuyasha was about to get killed, he was saved with the Shikigami power."
"Oh, shut up, Shippo!" Inuyasha shouted angrily.
"No, it just freed everyone and that was all," Sokka revealed. "I have so much to learn, or I'll just slow everyone down."
"Even if it takes time, don't push yourself so hard. Be patient," Kaede told Sokka. "I'm sure you're all very tired, so it's probably best if you go to bed now."
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired," Shippo agreed a bit groggily.
"I agree. Well, good night, Kaede," Kagome replied as she walked further into the hut, soon followed by the others…
"Hey, Inuyasha. Should we take the day off today?" Kagome asked Inuyasha curiously. Everyone had gathered in the main room of Kaede's house after breakfast to discuss what they should do for the day, with the exception of Kaede, who had left earlier to aid a sick child in the village.
"The day off?" Inuyasha repeated.
"What's up, Kagome?" Shippo asked curiously.
"Our friends here must be exhausted, since everything is so new," Kagome explained, referring to Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko. "I thought we could take it easy today."
"I see. You're so nice, Kagome. I agree," Shippo openly admitted.
"Yeah, that sounds good," Aang agreed as he nodded his head.
"But, I don't think it's a good idea for us to split up," a familiar voice announced.
"Huh? Oh, it's Myoga," Inuyasha realized when he recognized the tiny demon flea standing at his feet.
"It's been a while, Inuyasha. I agree with Kagome's last suggestion," Myoga admitted. "There are demons all around. We should make teams before we take off, just in case."
"I agree with Myoga. We don't want to get into any trouble," Kagome replied.
"So, let's make up two teams and go about our day," Shippo suggested.
"Agreed! What do you think, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked curiously.
"Well…sure, why not?" Inuyasha hesitantly agreed.
"Really! It's decided, then. So, who do you want to travel with today, Katara?" Kagome asked curiously.
"I'll go with you, Inuyasha," Katara announced.
"Same here," Sokka added.
"I guess I'll go with you two, then," Inuyasha reluctantly agreed.
"It's been awhile, so I think I'll go collect chestnuts," Shippo announced as he stood up.
"Me, too," Kagome added as she stood up as well. As they headed for the doorway, Aang quickly stood up and joined Kagome and Shippo.
"Oh, I love chestnuts! Can I come with you?" Aang pleaded.
"Sure, Aang, you can come," Kagome replied with a smile as Zuko got up.
"I suppose I'll join you as well," Zuko revealed. As Kagome, Shippo, Aang, and Zuko left the house, Inuyasha stood up, along with Katara and Sokka.
"Inuyasha, can you please help me with something?" Katara requested as the three of them left Kaede's house.
"With what?" Inuyasha asked curiously.
"I'm looking for a certain herb that Kaede told me about," Katara explained. "Can you help me find it with your nose? It has a peculiar smell, so you shouldn't have any problem finding it with your nose."
"Is that right? What a pain in the butt," Inuyasha muttered under his breath. "Fine, I'll help you."
"Okay. Kaede said that we can find this herb in the forest near here," Katara replied as she, Sokka, and Inuyasha headed for the woods…
"Can you find it?" Katara asked curiously. She and Sokka were standing along one side of the trail they were on, while Inuyasha was on the opposite side of the trail on his hands and knees, sniffing at the plants growing along the edge of the trail.
"Be patient, Katara. I can kind of smell it," Inuyasha announced as he continued to sniff at the plants like an animal would.
"Ha, ha, ha. He's very serious about this, huh, Katara?" Sokka chuckled softly.
"He sure is," Katara agreed as she glanced about aimlessly. "Huh? Hey, wait a minute…" she muttered softly as she spotted a particular plant behind her. She knelt down and pulled out the plant from the ground. "Um…actually…Inuyasha!"
"Don't bother me! I said I'm looking for it!" Inuyasha shouted a bit irritably as he continued sniffing around.
"But, Inuyasha, I found it," Katara announced as she held out the plant she just picked.
Inuyasha stopped what he was doing, stood back up, and turned around to face Katara and Sokka. "What?" he exclaimed.
"Sorry about that, Inuyasha," Katara apologized. "Thank you for your help, though."
"What a waste of time! Well, I'm glad you found it," Inuyasha replied. "But it really doesn't smell like much from here."
"Yes, you have to squish it a little first. See?" Katara explained as she removed one of the leaves from the plant and crushed it a little bit in her hand.
"Let's see. Huh!" Inuyasha gasped loudly with an alarmed look on his face.
"What's wrong, Inuyasha?" Katara asked curiously as Inuyasha quickly covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve.
"You fool! Get that away from me!" Inuyasha complained loudly.
"But, why? It smells good," Sokka pointed out.
"It doesn't matter, just take it and go away. Now!" Inuyasha demanded as he pointed down the path back to Kaede's village with his free hand.
"Okay, we're going," Sokka replied as he and Katara headed back to Kaede's village. "Geez, what's his problem?"
"Well, Inuyasha's sense of smell is much more sensitive than ours, Sokka," Katara reminded her older brother. "While the herb smelled pretty strong to us, it must have been painful to Inuyasha's sensitive nose."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Sokka muttered out loud…
"So, what now? We can't just stay here," Zuko pointed out as everyone left Kaede's house the next day.
"Before we go anywhere, we need to get supplies first from the merchant's stand, Zuko," Kagome explained.
As Sokka ran ahead of everyone, he noticed a stranger standing near the merchant's stand. He was a young heavy-set man with short black hair, and he was wearing a dark purple and purple-gray striped kimono, a thin dark blue sash, dark blue pants, sandals, and a dark orange bandana tied around his head.
"Hey, you! Did you know you can get some really tasty cakes around here?" the plump stranger addressed Sokka.
"What a large person," Sokka muttered under his breath as the others joined him.
"He's just fat!" Zuko remarked. Katara quickly nudged Zuko in the arm where there was no armor, silently warning him with her eyes to keep his comments to himself.
"Um…cakes? I don't know, we've only just arrived," Sokka explained.
"I see. You don't know. Hmmmm…Hmmm?" the plump man gasped slightly as he looked directly at Sokka. "Hey, I've seen you before. Now, where was it?"
"Umm…I don't know you, sir, but where did you see me?" Sokka asked curiously.
"Hmmm…where was it?" the plump man wondered out loud. "Oh, yes! In Kasasagi Town!"
"But, I don't know where that town is. This is the first time I've heard that name," Sokka explained.
"No mistake…Kasasagi Town. That's where I saw your face," the plump man revealed.
"I'm getting tired just listening to him," Kagome muttered under her breath. She took a deep breath before announcing, "Okay, so let's go get those supplies, and then we'll go back to Kaede's house and gather the rest of our things."
"Oh, you know of Priestess Kaede? Will you tell her that Kimbei stop by?" the plump young man requested. "I'd go myself, but I'm afraid I must be on my way."
"Okay, we'll tell her. Nice meeting you, Kimbei," Aang replied as Kimbei started to leave…
"This will definitely last us for a while," Katara openly admitted as she carried her full traveling bag back into Kaede's house, followed by Sokka, Aang, and Zuko.
"Yeah, definitely," Kagome agreed as she entered the hut with her full backpack strapped over her shoulders, along with Inuyasha and Shippo. Just as Kagome took his backpack off and placed it on the floor, Kaede had returned to her home.
"Hey, Kaede!" Aang greeted.
"Good morning to you all," Kaede replied.
"So, how's that sick little boy you went to see the other day?" Kagome asked curiously.
"He's doing just fine, Kagome. A few more days rest, and he'll be back outside playing with the other children," Kaede replied.
"Oh, Kaede, we met someone named Kimbei by the merchant's stand," Aang announced.
"Kimbei, aye…I remember that young man. Kimbei used to live in this village years ago, when he was still a child," Kaede recalled.
"And not only that, Kaede, but Kimbei claims that he's seen Sokka before in a place called Kasasagi Town," Katara revealed.
"Well, well, Kimbei says he saw you before," Kaede addressed Sokka.
"Yes, he said he's seen me before. But, I've never been to Kasasagi Town," Sokka pointed out.
"He's definitely a bit of a gluttonous young man," Kaede openly admitted. "But, he's no liar."
"Hmm…I wonder where he's seen me…" Sokka muttered thoughtfully.
"If it really bothers you, why don't you go to Kasasagi Town?" Kaede suggested.
"I guess so. There isn't much to do around here anyway," Kagome pointed out. "And in the city, we can hear stories about the shards of the Shikon Jewel."
"Are you talking about those sparkling crystals that the demon spider had?" Aang asked curiously.
"Yes," Kagome simply replied.
"But, it's asking a lot to have you come with us to Kasasagi Town," Sokka pointed out.
"Oh, don't worry about it, Sokka," Kagome replied.
"But I don't want to slow you down," Sokka declined.
"Slow us down?" Kagome repeated.
"Sokka, what are you saying?" Katara asked curiously. "You know that we don't know our way around here. We need their help."
"What are you guys going on and on about?" Inuyasha asked a bit suspiciously as he held his hands behind his head. "If we're going to go to Kasasagi Town, we'd better get going."
"You're going to come, too, Inuyasha?" Aang asked curiously.
"Hey, don't get me wrong. It's only 'cause I'll do anything to find the shards of the Shikon Jewel," Inuyasha openly confessed.
"Thank you, Inuyasha," Sokka replied as everyone started to gather their belongings for the journey…