"Aaahh," I gasped, my eyes opening wide. Immediately my body went into frenzy, my fingers curling and twitching as I assessed my unfamiliar surroundings.
"Kaname! Kaname, sshh it's me, its Kagome," whispered a soft voice. Small hands came over mine clutching them tightly. I stared and indeed found my eyes locking with Kagome's warm brown ones.
"What," I asked dazed. My vision was blurry, my head aching all over with one of the biggest headaches ever.
"She's still out of it," I heard Shippou say solemnly. I didn't bother to look up at him, as I was too confused to even realize what happened. I was laying on a futon of some kind, the ceiling covered with straw. A hut maybe? I breathed in a low hiss. A sharp pain was radiating along my right arm. Agh this is just not my day, I thought bitterly.
I closed my eyes, ignoring the shallow breaths coming from all around me. The others were probably watching me. The memories slowly began to flow through. The two demands, me running off, Naraku trying to possess me, the masked man . . ..
"That rotten bastard!" I roared quickly getting to a sitting position. Everyone but Inuyasha jolted at my sudden shout, his or her eyes glancing nervously around my face, questioning my sanity. That's right the masked man, he had knocked me out. Stopped me just when . . . My thoughts paused my gaze switching automatically to Inuyasha.
"The demon. What happened?" I asked. Inuyasha frowned looking more annoyed than angry. "\
"I took care of him. No thanks to that mangy wolf, almost got in my way," he said angrily. I watched him closely enough to notice him give Kagame a severely dirty look. Kagame herself was looking pretty angry by the way her finger tightened around mine. Not now, I thought shaking my head. I have my own problems to deal wit.
"Kaname," Miroku said clearing his throat.
"What is it," I said not turning y gaze from Inuyasha's.
"You should know this but—"
"So you're awake," a new and familiar voice interrupted. My head snapped up and I found my gaze meeting up withe the masked man from before except his face was uncovered, a small smile curling on his lips.
What was he smiling about? I thought, outraged.
"What the hell are you still doing here?" Inuyasha asked annoyed. The man didn't turn his gaze away from me when he answered.
"I needed to see if she is alright." My temper rose at this.
"No thanks to you!" I shouted throwing the blanket off me to rise.
"Kaname don't!" Sango, Kagome, and Miroku all said at the same time. I ignored them marching up towards the masked man.
"You rotten bastard! How dare you attack me from behind? You have no spine!" I shouted throwing a punch towards his face. The man smirked as he immediately swished his face out of the way.
"You left yourself open," he taunted putting his hands into his own pockets. My eyes narrowed, my anger bubbling hot inside me. I was going to throttle him.
"You little weasel!" I screamed summoning rounds of kicks and punches at his face, each getting dodged easily. My hand seared with pain as my next punch was blocked my forearm but I didn't even wince, my own frustrations leaking into my attacks.
"Your attacks are weak. It seems you haven't recovered completely yet," he obverse his smile evaporating. I scowled throwing another punch, all my strength pushed into it.
"Should we stop them?" Sanyo asked nervously.
"No, I think we should just let Kaname figure this out. It was either her or Inuyasha," Miroku answered. The masked man, suddenly, stopped dodging his hand wrapping around my wrist tightly, holding me in place.
"Get your hands off me," I yelled raising my hand to throw another punch. However, just as I raised my hand my vision started to blur, my mind going into swirls and swirls. I hadn't realized that I'd fallen until I felt the masked man's arms around my shoulders.
"It seems I might have hit her too hard," he said in a low voice.
"Oh dear," said an elderly woman's voice out of nowhere. "Has Kaname awoken? Dear child why is she up." Agh why was I always the one collapsing. Temper flaring I slapped the masked man's hands away, pushing at his chest hard.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway?" I glanced at my friends whose eyes became primarily trained on me. Great now I was the crazy one. "And why did you guys allow it!"
"If you would calm yourself for a moment then I will explain," the masked man replied harshly. Annoyed I reached and gripped the front of his robes tightly within my grasp. Just to say, I wasn't in the best of moods when put one the spot.
"Don't you pull that crap on me," I snarled into his face. His eyes widened in shock, and I could hear a sharp intake of breath from behind me. Even so no one budged, the air dense with tension. "I have every right to be angry when a man that I don't know knocks me out and then pretends that he did nothing wrong! I'm not being hysterical, I'm being rational to an individual I see as a threat."
It was then that I had a full look at the man's face, well his very surprised face. His face was round and harsh, his eyes not as slanted considering they were wide with surprise. A long gash-like scar ran along the right side of his jaw, which was strong ad angular. He had a hooked nose, and his skin was particularly pale compared to most people. If not for my searing anger, and annoyance with this man I would admit that he was decent looking.
What? I thought, suddenly realizing what I just said. Revolting in disgust I pushed the man away harshly. Stop, Kaname what the hell are you thinking!
The man's eyes narrowed at me, his face hardening. "You should be thanking me after the reckless stunt you pulled," he said. I raised my eyebrows at him my fists tightening like they always did when I got pissed off. I gave him a sardonic smile motioning my head out the hut.
"Get out before I smash your face into smithereens," I said in a fake sweet voice.
"Boy Kaname is scaring when she's mad," Shippou whispered from behind.
"Your telling me," I heard Inuyasha reply in a low voice. I paid no mind, however, my mind focused on other things.
"Save your threats for someone else, Kaname." A nerve quirked inside me at the mention of my name. "You neither scare nor intimidate me. Last night though, if not for my assistance you would be at the hands of Naraku."
"I was doing fine without your help," I hissed. He shook his head his frown deepening.
"You have no idea how easy of a target you are right now, especially when you are such a novice with your powers," he said.
"How exactly is that?" Mirk asked approaching to stand next to me.
"Someone was trying to possess her last night. I could feel it, she was basically giving herself away!"
"And how would you be such an expert?" I snapped. "Your shadow thing? How could you possibly know about what I'm going through and what I do?"
"Don't you yell at me!? You should learn to show respect, girl," he snarled rushing over threateningly. I could sense Inuyasha and Miroku tense as he approached, but I didn't move. Soon his overbearing form towered over mine, his body rigid, his hands clamped into tight fists. I glared back at his enraged face, determined to keep my face composed and calm. His eyes were wide and fiery, a deep frown plastered there. He looked about to hit me. Throat dry, I shouted back a retort at his annoying mug.
"Respect is earned. I'll show you respect when I deem you worthy of it you damn creetin," I snapped taking a step closer to him. His eyes followed me carefully and we both were inches apart, like two beasts assessing one another before ripping each other's throats out.
"You don't get to decide anything for me you got it!" The man bared his teeth opening his mouth to say something.
"Kaname, all of you please calm yourselves," Kaede said suddenly. I froze as she approached the two of us her back hunched and eyes sharp as ever. We both looked back at her in surprise, the tension almost evaporating with her presence. "We need to talk this over. Ryu, you should better explain this all to Kaname."
"Ryu?" I shrieked staring blankly back at him. His eyes shifted to a glare but he said nothing.
"Let's sit down, Kaname," Sango suggested suddenly, grasping me by the shoulders gently. Not wanting to cause any trouble I let Sango lead me away to the floor and set me back to the futon. We all shifted uneasily around my futon, all of our expressions grim,
"Ryu," I said. It wasn't a question, but a confirmation as I stared at Ryu. He nodded resting his palms on both his knees.
"That is what I call myself," he replied.
"What is that supposed to mean," I snapped, annoyed at the ambiguous statement.
"Easy Kaname, let the man explain himself," said Miroku.
"Yeh child, patience will be rewarded," Kaede boded to my right. My teeth clenched tight, grinding hard against my soft gums in my own irritation.
We glowered at each other, no one talking for a long time. Was it from the tension or lack of words, I didn't know?
"Your were using too much power last night," Ryu said. "By using all that energy in your body, you made your body vulnerable to attack. Like that time in the forest—"
"How do you understand so much?" I interrupted hoping to not tread details on that episode. Ryu became puzzled, probably at the surprise at my sudden interruption. However, he continued to answer my questions.
"Your powers felt similar to mine. I can feel your presence even now. I felt it the first time I saw you and your friends. I'm sure you felt something when you are near me." Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Kagame, and Kaede all stared back at me, waiting. I pondered on Ryu's words. IT's true; I had always felt some extra presence in the times I came near this man. In truth, it had creeped the crap out of me, but I didn't intend on divulging that anytime soon.
"What do you mean you get my presence?" I asked hoping for more elaboration. Ryu sighed itching his head in concentration.
"It is difficult to explain. Your powers are so different than mine."
"What are you powers exactly," Inuyasha probed. Ryu looked to see Inuyasha frowning at him, his nose wrinkling as if he smelled something bad.
"They are darkness itself. I can maneuver around the darkness and use it to my advantage. That is why you and her can smell me."
"What sort of scent are you getting from this guy Inuyasha/" Kagome asked him. Immediately his dog-ears perked at her voice.
"It's difficult to say . . . " He paused staring at the floor in hard concentration, his nose sniffing a couple times. Curious I proceeded to do the same, trying to see if I smelt something like the many times before . . .
I closed my eyes, drawing away all other scents and noises, concentrating on everything from Ryu's direction. Automatically a metallic scent filled my nostrils, dank and musty. Like the scent you smelled when around blood . . . .
I shuddered at the comparison opening my eyes. Inuyasha was still silent his frown not disappearing.
"Inuyasha? Is there something wrong?" Sanyo asked.
"No, it's just his scent . . . it's strange, like something . . . metallic but different. It's very heavy sitting this close to him," he drawled his expression confused. Ryu nodded.
"That's right. You smelt it too right Kaname?" I flinched at the mention of my first name.
"Wha?"
"You smelt the same thing," he repeated not even bothered by my obvious obliviousness. My mind quirked. I hadn't really told anyone I was smelling demons, only Inuyasha . . . I glanced at the others who still had their attention mostly on Inuyasha who still stared at the floor with a very troubled expression. Miroku as well looked disturbed his eyes closed while his arms were crossed over his chest. Probably trying to sense any demonic energy from Ryu.
"Kaname?" Ryu probed interrupting my thoughts.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," I babbled abruptly, deciding not to fully disclose everything. Why was he expecting me to tell him everything in one sitting? Ryu quirked an eyebrow at me. Oh crap he knew I was lying. What should I do?
"Anyway, will you please explain why you're still here then?" I accused hurriedly. "I didn't ask for your help nor did I need it! You had no business intruding—"
"Are you mad or just plain stupid?" he snarled suddenly. Immediately the atmosphere became tense again. Great Kaname. Nice you started another fight, great progress you made. I remained silent staring back at him stupidly.
"You were possessed by that being right in front of my eyes and you think that you didn't need help? This just proves that what I did was right."
"Why would ye be concerned?" Kaede interceded. Everyone flipped his or her heads towards her.
"Because I've felt that presence before, very long ago," Ryu said.
"Where?" Mirkoku asked.
"When I was a child. It is a being that once was part of a clan of people with immense power. They all were part demon and kept themselves well hidden. Until one of them decided she wanted more power and wiped away all of her kind, and sought to suck all the energy from the surrounding clans."
"And your part in this?" Miroku asked. Ryu glanced back at me as he continued his explanation.
"My clan was one of the few small clans that aligned with the Kururgi clan—" I gasped loudly at this my hands grasping my mouth. Kagame frowned as everyone else looked doubly confused.
"Kururgi clan?" Inuyasha said.
"Hey Kaname isn't that your—"
"Your mistaken Shippou," I quickly interrupted a flashy smile spreading my features. "I've never heard of that name."
"You lie," Ryu said.
"Go to hell," I snapped. I soon rose to my feet and burst out of the hut unable to take another minute of this interrogation.
