Chapter 10: Wanted
Alice stretched and yawned as Inuyasha lead the group out of Kaede's house and towards the local shop. For once in this world she slept peacefully with no unexpected guests or training, just nice and quiet rest.
When they arrived at the store a large man walked up to Alice asking, "Hey you! Did you know that you could get some really tasty cakes from around here?"
"What a fa… large man"Alice mumbled as she looked at the man.
"He's just fat," Shippo replied innocently from Alice's shoulder.
"Shippo! Shh!" Kagome scolded him.
Alice sighed before speaking up, "Um cakes? I didn't know, I've only just arrived."
"I see, so you don't know. Hmmm. Hmmm?" the man replied before taking a closer look at Alice who backed up a bit after seeing the man look closer at her.
"What?" she snapped.
"Hey I've seen you before! Now where was it?" the man trailed off, oblivious to the annoyance in Alice's voice.
"Huh? Where did you see me?" Alice asked the man.
"Hmmm… where was it? Oh yeah! In Kasasagi Town!" the man replied in sudden realization.
"What? I think you've mistaken me for someone else, I've never been to Kasasagi Town," Alice said.
"No mistake! I definitely saw you there," the man said with certainty.
Alice sighed. "I told you, I've never been there so you must've seen someone else," she replied, growing more annoyed with the man.
"Let's go, I'm getting tired of just listening to him," Kagome said, also getting annoyed by the man.
Alice nodded and quickly took up the offer as the group headed back to Kaede's house.
"What was that guy talking about?" Shippo asked.
"Keh, who knows," Inuyasha replied as they stepped into the house to see Kaede.
"Well, well. Kimbei says he saw you before in another village," Kaede said as everyone entered the house.
"Is that his name? But I think he mistook me for someone else, I've never even heard of Kasasagi Town until now," Alice replied.
"He's definitely a bit of a gluttonous young man, but he is no liar," Kaede responded.
"Hmm… I guess you could say that, but that doesn't make any sense though. I've never been to Kasasagi Town so how could he have seen me there?" Alice asked.
"If it really bothers you that much then why not pay a visit to Kasasagi Town?" Kaede offered.
"I guess so, there isn't much to do around here anyway and in the town we could hear stories about the shards of the Shikon Jewel," Kagome replied.
Shikon Jewel? That's right; I remember hearing that that spider demon had one of those things in its possession.
"The spider had one of those shards right?" Alice asked Kagome.
"Yep," Kagome confirmed Alice's thoughts.
"But it's asking a lot for you guys to come with me to Kasasagi Town, are you sure you don't mind?" Alice asked.
"Don't worry about it," Kagome replied.
Alice laughed before turning back to Kaede, "I guess we're heading out now, thanks for the advice."
"Not a problem my dear. May your journey be safe," Kaede replied.
"Are you guys ready yet? Let's get going already," Inuyasha said irritably.
"Inuyasha, you're coming too?" Alice asked as she raised an eyebrow.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm only coming because there could be shards of the Shikon Jewel involved," Inuyasha replied.
Alice smiled and the group set off towards Kasasagi Town.
/././././././
Alice looked up at the many large buildings in Kasasagi Town as the group entered it.
"This is Kasasagi Town. It's a pretty big place and they sell practically everything here," Kagome explained while Alice continued to marvel at the town.
"Hey, do you think they sell any juice here," Shippo asked.
"I doubt it," Alice replied.
"Why would they sell something like that?" Inuyasha said before looking around, "There sure are a ton of people here."
"Yeah, I think we should split up and ask the locals about anything that has happened in the area. What do you think?" Kagome asked Inuyasha.
"Sure, if we stick together it'll be dark long before we've asked everyone," Inuyasha agreed.
"Okay then. We'll ask everyone and then meet back here right?" Alice said as everyone nodded and began to walk off in different directions.
As Alice began walking around she couldn't help but think that she could get lost in the huge town, but she quickly pushed the thought away.
Hmm, I guess I'll go check over there first Alice thought as she walked over to a big house with a sign next to it.
When she got closer to the sign she heard the man next to her say, "Hey, I've seen you somewhere before."
"Huh?" Alice replied while casting a glance over at the man. "Where did you see me?"
"I've seen you somewhere before…" the man repeated.
"Uh, yeah. You already told me that," Alice replied a little worried.
"I know! You're that girl on the wanted poster," the man said in sudden realization.
"Yeah, yeah… What!" Alice exclaimed after she finally realized what the man said.
The man immediately ran out into the center of the pathway yelling, "M'lord! M'lord! The girl on the wanted poster is right here!"
"Ehh!" Alice yelled back shocked at what was happening.
What the heck is this guy talking abou… Alice's thoughts were cut off as she looked closer at the sign in front of her. On the sign was a flyer that held her picture and the words above it read "Wanted."
"Ehh!" Alice yelled again as she swiftly grabbed the poster and brought it closer.
What the heck! When Alice looked up however she saw that she was surrounded by castle guards.
"Get the girl," one of them yelled.
"What! No! This must be a misunderstanding! I didn't do anything, I swear!" Alice yelled as she backed away from the guards.
But she didn't go more than two steps before she hit the wall behind her. Panic filled her as she watched as the guards approached her.
"Don't let her get away!" another guard yelled and soon Alice felt strong rough hands grab her arms and drag her forward.
"Stop! Let me go!" Alice yelled as she struggled to get free of the guards grip.
Her efforts were in vain as she felt the guard tie her hands behind her back with a rope and push her to her knees. Alice tried to reach for her sword, but a guard was already holding it, keeping a close eye on her in case she tried to take it back.
What's going on! Alice thought as she tried to get away from the guards.
After a few minutes of constant struggling, the guards managed to lead Alice into a mansion's courtyard. Once there, they pushed Alice forward so hard that she fell over on her stomach, unable to catch herself since her hands were tied up behind her.
After a moment Alice recovered herself and painfully looked up to see what she presumed to be the lord of the mansion.
"Well, well. It's the girl from that wanted poster. You gave us quiet a hard time finding you, but now we've finally caught you," the lord said happily.
"Baka! Let me go! I didn't do anything! I just came to this world like three days ago for kami's sake" Alice yelled up angrily.
"This world? What're you talking about?" the lord asked puzzled at what Alice had said.
"Umm…" Alice replied trying to think of how she could explain things.
But before she could answer the lord continued, "Never mind that. You're here because Kagura wanted us to catch you and that's reason enough to do it."
"Kagura? Who the heck is she?" Alice asked, still angry that she wasn't freed or even helped up from her position.
"You wouldn't know her, she's a messenger from the castle," the lord replied quickly.
"Well, then she's got me confused with someone else because I didn't do anything!" Alice yelled.
"Are you nuts? Kagura, make a mistake? Impossible!" the lord argued.
"Everything is possible!" Alice countered.
"Silence! Until Kagura gets here you'll wait in jail," the lord finished as Alice felt the guards yank her up, drag her back a bit and throw her into a cell.
Once in the cell, the guard untied Alice's hands and closed the cell door.
"Behave yourself until Kagura arrives," he ordered.
Alice was too busy rubbing her sore hands to even bother listening to the guard. When she looked up, Alice saw that the guard had left and she walked over to the corner of the cell, as far away as she could get from the mansion as possible, and slid down the wall in defeat.
There's no way for me to get out. I can't use my Shikigami because there's nothing to hit. I guess I'll have to wait until what her name gets here. Alice sighed. Why does Kagura want me captured? What did I ever do to her? I haven't even met her for kami's sake!
As sunlight glistened through the cell, a glimmer caught Alice's eye as she looked towards the wall to her left.
That color… It's serpentine rock! Alice thought as she jumped up and pressed her hand towards the wall. Yes! I can get out of this dump!
Alice quickly looked to see if the cost was clear before sending a blaze of Shikigami towards the wall. The wall immediately collapsed, leaving a good sized hole in the wall and Alice quickly went through it.
I have to get back to the other fast…
Alice then proceeded to sneak out of the castle when she saw her sword resting on a tree nearby.
My sword! Alice immediately took one quick step towards her sword before drawing back in disappointment as she saw a guard next to it.
Dang it! I'll never get my sword back without being seen. I guess I'll just have to leave it then. Alice sighed before running quietly out of the mansion and into the town, careful not to be seen by any of the villagers.
As she ran through the town Alice began to panic. Everything looks the same! How can I tell where I am! For kami's sake, please don't tell me I'm lost Alice thought as she ran through the town, running faster with each step she took.
Alice sighed in relief as she finally realized that she was near the entrance of the town and saw everyone waiting for her.
"Oh, there you are Alice!" Kagome said as Alice ran up.
When Alice reached the group she felt herself panting hard from all the running she did and raised one of her hands to rest her head on it.
"Hey, are you okay?" Inuyasha asked worriedly and Alice noticed her was looking at the already red bruises on Alice's wrist that she got from the rope that was tied so tightly around her wrists.
"Yeah," Alice said exhaustively once she finally straightened up and looked at the group, holding her injured wrist.
"There were wanted posters of you everywhere! So I was getting worried when you didn't show up right away," Shippo explained.
"Hmph, I know, because of those stupid posters I got taken away to the village headman's house and throw in a cell," Alice mumbled angrily.
"I thought so. But I'm glad you got out of there safety. Hey, where'd your sword go?" Kagome asked as she noticed Alice's sword was missing.
"Don't even bring that up," Alice replied dejectedly as she remembered leaving her sword behind.
"But why are there wanted posters of you?" Shippo asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, that's the best part. Some baka named Kagura, or whatever her name is, told those morons in the mansion to catch me for who knows what reason," Alice spat as she felt herself grow warm with anger and irritation.
"What? Kagura!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"Yeah Kagura. She's the one who ordered the guards to catch me. They said she was some messenger from the castle. Why? Do you know her?" Alice replied.
"Yes, do you remember me telling you the story of the shards of the Shikon Jewel?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah, of course, what about it?" Alice replied.
"Well, there's a despicable demon named Naraku that is trying to get his hands on the Shikon Jewel as well," Kagome explained.
"He likes to use people to his advantage and entertainment. He's pure evil," Shippo put in.
"I've fought him many times but he always manages to escape. He's the most evil demon of them all," Inuyasha growled.
"Okay, but what does this Naraku guy have to do with the situation we're in now?" Alice asked confused.
"Well, Kagura is Naraku's female incarnation," Kagome replied.
"Huh?" Alice said starting to understand things "So that makes Kagura bad too right?"
"Exactly. She uses the wind to fight and can even possess the dead. She's disgusting," Inuyasha spat.
"I see. Then tell me, why is she looking for me?" Alice asked.
"If they went as far as putting up wanted posters of you, then maybe it has something to do with you coming to this world," Kagome replied.
"I agree, it sounds like something Naraku would do," Shippo added.
"That's just great. It seems like everywhere I turn there's someone after me," Alice muttered.
"Well if Kagura is coming here, then we might as well stick around and wait for her," Inuyasha said.
"Sure, I'd like to ask her just what she wants with me. Plus, I do have to get my sword back," Alice agreed.
"Okay, then let's go to the village headman's house," Inuyasha said as the group headed out.
This time, Alice found navigating through the town much easier, probably due to Inuyasha's sense of smell, as they reached the mansion much quicker than she would've thought.
When they walked up to the guard at the entrance to the mansion, Alice talked to him saying, "Hey, I want a word with that village headman if you don't mind."
"Hey, where have I seen you before? It can't be! You're the girl on that wanted poster," the man exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah I know already," Alice muttered before she saw the man approach her.
Alice quickly stepped back yelling, "Oh heck no! I'm not going back to that crappy cell!"
"Let's run to the edge of the city for now, there's nothing we can do here," Shippo said quickly as everyone began to run away.
When they got to the edge of the town, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"That was close," Shippo said after everyone settled down on the outskirts of the village.
"Keh, why do we have to keep running away?" Inuyasha complained.
"Well they are just humans, it's not like you can fight them," Kagome replied.
"Yeah, your right but we'll never reach Kagura at this rate," Inuyasha growled.
"What do we do?" Shippo asked.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but why don't you guys pretend to turn me in," Alice offered.
"What?" Kagome replied in surprise.
"Listen! Those guys are after me right? And they still want me captured. If you guys say that you caught me and turned me in, then you'll be able to get into the mansion easy," Alice explained.
"I see! We pretend that we're villagers, say that we caught you, and we'll get in no problem," Shippo said as Alice nodded, "Still, the plan is pretty risky."
"Yeah, it could be pretty dangerous too, and without your sword you can't fight as well as you did before," Kagome agreed as worry flashed through her brown eyes.
"It's pretty dangerous to take you right into the mansion," Inuyasha put in.
"But I can take care of myself just fine," Alice argued.
"Still, we need to find a safer plan," Kagome replied.
"Hey! How about Shippo transforms himself?" Inuyasha asked.
"What?" Alice said bewilderedly, "Wait a second."
"What? This plan is better because even if they tie you up and throw you into a cell, you'll still be able to escape," Inuyasha argued.
"It seems like I always get the short end of the stick in these types of situations," Shippo muttered.
"That's a great idea, no one can see through Shippo's disguises," Kagome added.
"There's no one else but you who can do this Shippo," Inuyasha said as Shippo visibly brightened up at the praise he was receiving.
"Alright, I guess I'll do it," Shippo replied confidently as he disappeared in a flash of smoke.
When the smoke cleared, it was like Alice was looking into a mirror. Shippo had perfectly transformed into her.
Well, this game just got wayy more interesting~
What is the so called connection between Alice's being here and Naraku? Don't worry, you'll find out eventually ;D
Please read and review~