Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter Tweleve
Naraku moved swiftly through the forest. He could feel the jewel shards that Kagome held. They were within his grasp.
Tonight he will have Rina steal the rest of them as the town sleeps. Up ahead he noticed a small fire glowing.
Rina and Kanna were sitting by the fire. Kagura was off on the side.
"Where have you been?" He asked but didn't wait for any answers. "I have a job for you tonight."
"Yes master." She said simply. She eyed Kanna to see if the young girl would tell of the day's events. The black eyed demoness said nothing. Even Kagura was silent. Which was unusual.
"I want you to take the rest of the shards that human girl has." He continued. "Go though when they are sleeping. That would surely be a blow." He added with a slick grin.
Akumo was putting Hanae to bed when Amato walked in. He proceded to his cot and sat.
"You think I've lost it, don't you?" The dark purple hair of the older twin seemed black as the last of the sun's rays were giving in to night.
"Mother taught us to behave our own way. Establish our own path." Amato brought his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. "She'd say that you did a good thing today."
Akumo gave a stiff nod.
Hanae looked up from her laying position with wide purple eyes. "Ma..." She giggled lightly. "Da.."
Akumo tensed.
Amato chuckled and smiled. "I think Hanae agrees."
The infant smiled. "A-ku-mo." She giggled again. "A-ma-to."
He looked at her; making a face, she laughed harder.
Amato jumped up and moved over to her crib.
"Ma!" She said loudly. "Ri."
"That's right. Ma is Rina." He smiled. "Ri-na, can you say it."
Hanae enjoyed the attention. "Da."
"Da?"
"Go to bed, Hanae."
Amato looked at his twin. "I thought we were on Ma? Now Da. She's going the wrong way, if we're doing the alphabet."
Akumo rolled onto his bed. He laid on his back, eyes closed.
Amato sat on the edge of his. "She isn't coming back, is she Akumo?" Gold eyes stared intently out the window. The stars began to show their light. "Mother's really gone." His brother didn't answer. "Funny, we were all playing only three months ago." He glanced at Hanae. She was fast asleep. "Goodnight." With a breath, the candle beside him was out.
Akumo sighed deeply.
/Remember, even if I'm away I'm always with you Akumo. Just think of the things we do together and you'll never forget./
"I won't forget." He whispered. "I promise."
Rina moved stealthly between the houses. Everyone seemed to be sleeping. Some of the dwellings were empty, which meant that there was a group somewhere. Hopefully this task would be an easy one.
The house she deemed Kagome's was dark. Perhaps no one was inside. The second window on the left side belonged to the master room. This is where she'll find the remaining jewel shards.
Slowly the window was opened. Once inside she glanced quickly for any signs of life. The building was empty. However there were no jewel shards either. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Naraku will not be happy when she returned with this report. He'll scowl and curse, then come up with a new plan; maybe.
She made it back through the window efficently. Noiselessly it was closed. She got past two houses before a voice stopped her.
"A traveler normally doesn't strike twice in the same place." Sesshomaru stepped from the shadows. "Unless something in particular has gained their attention."
"As you can see," She held out her hands. "I have stolen nothing."
"Where are the shards." Kagome yelled from the roof to the next house. Her bow steady in her hands.
"I gave them away." The humor was lost.
Inuyasha came from the side. "We'll just have to get them back." He unsheathed Tetsusaiga.
She stood her ground. "You shouldn't fight with trembling hands." A dagger flew by her, embedding itself in the siding of a house.
Kagome let an arrow go, missing it's target as she disappeared. Suddenly she became unbalanced. Inuyasha caught her before she hit the ground.
Miroko held the remaining jewels. "This is too easy."
Sango threw her boomerang.
With one crack of her whip, Miroko cut the huge weapon in half.
Miroku was in the process of undoing his hand when Naraku's insects appeared.
Inuyasha clentched his teeth. This was Naraku's doings.
Kantari threw another dagger. It missed flesh but did manage to cut the back of the face mask.
