Another few weeks had passed by and the pair found themselves the target of another youkai, tho this one appeared as a smog over a battlefield and that particular battlefield that was littered with skeletons left over. Their bodies were partially covered with armor, tho most of it was torn up. Gagging she was quite surprised that upon entering the area her Hanyou companion asked about food, just before the youkai showed up. This was just the beginning of their duo becoming a trio, tho Inuyasha wasn't particularly happy about the added member. Shippo was a fox demon, a kitsune and as such he liked to play tricks. His first meeting with them had Inuyasha's fur ruffled as the little demon particularly liked to pick on him, using all sorts of his tricks and toys to make the older male look stupid while he played on Kagome's heartstrings. Kagome loved the little male like he were her own kid, treating him with snacks and showering attention on him while giving the Hanyou a cold shoulder.
Upon learning his reasoning for stealing, well, attempted theft of the shards that Kagome had stored in her big yellow bag, she had implored him to join them since he was now an orphan and although he was hesitant at first he did end up joining them, giving them information as well on his father's killers. Both males that had killed his clan and his father had Shikon jewel shards in their head enabling them to strike against anyone that dared to come before them or into their path with little resistance.
"They are the Thunder Brothers," the kitsune stated, his pain still tinged his tone and Kagome felt the urge to hug the little guy close. She wasn't sure why she felt that way for the little demon, but she had felt a connection with all that she had come across. Every person brought forth a new feeling or connection with them and to this little guy she felt maternal instinct to protect him.
"And they have three shards?" Kagome inquired. "Did your father have a shard as well?" Shippo nodded at both statements.
"They kill anyone, but in particular they're after the shards." He looked thoughtfully at the ground, small tears falling down his cheeks. His red hair fell forward to cover the moisture.
"Well, they do have the shards and that means we have to take them back," Kagome muttered thoughtfully, but the small fox's chuckle brought her brown eyes back to him. His green orbs were filled with contempt at that that thought and she wondered why when Inuyasha spoke up, backing her plan on needing to get the shards back from the Thunder Brothers.
"Sorry, but humans aren't strong enough to beat them down," he said looking apologetic at her. "But to even think that a Hanyou would think he was strong enough to interfere in youkai fights is even more laughable." Kagome's eyes narrowed on the child. Sure, he was cute, but that was hateful and before Inuyasha could voice the obvious temper brewing in his eyes, his stance now tense with the emotions swirling at the insult.
"It doesn't matter what we are," she stated. "I could say that just because you are a full blooded demon your current form couldn't even make a dent in a human like me." He looked at her in surprise, his own anger rising at her comment. "Just because you can be hurtful doesn't mean you should." Even though she was upset with his statement she was just sure he had this childish ideal because of his own kind. She knew from her look into Inuyasha's past that Hanyous were looked down upon because of their mixed blood and that almost all demons seemed to share this dislike for what they considered the weaker race. He looked thoughtful about the words she had spoken.
"Okay, humans aren't all weak, but Han-" 'THUMP' Shippo was silenced with a squeal as Inuyasha knocked him in the skull. That was the beginning of a rather strange relationship between the two, but as the trio moved along the road, after a small scuffle between the new member and the pair that had been working together for a few weeks at that point, looking for more Shikon shards as they also kept their eyes out for the brothers that had murdered Shippo's father and clan. "Kagome, how is it that you ended up with this Hanyou anyway?" The raven haired girl looked at him as they continued walking down the road. "Most humans wouldn't even have given him a chance to get near them and yet you let him travel with you."
"Well, that's kinda a messed up tale," she stated, now giving the male in question a side eye. He was walking in front of them, looking aggravated at the fact that he had to walk slower. "I freed him from a tree and after destroying the jewel, on accident, I made a pact with myself that I would get all the shards and put it back together."
"And her, being to weak and all, needed this Hanyou to fight all the bad guys while she seems to get herself into trouble," Inuyasha stated, cutting in with a scoff at her story telling. "She can't fight and she has no real power to speak of," he continued, her eyes narrowing and her brows coming down. Shippo noted that even as she was starting to glower that the half demon had either taken no notice of it or didn't seem too worried about the human's fury. He, on the other hand had seen the wrath of his own mother when his father would piss her off and knew that this male was about to land himself in a hole. What he failed to realize, not knowing about the beads around the half demon's neck, was how right he was.
"Osuwari!" she hissed, the half demon hitting the ground with a resounding thud and while Shippo stopped to stare in awe and surprise the raven haired female continued on. "Stupid male," she muttered before inquiring, "You coming Shippo?" He nodded, tho it took a moment for him to take his eyes off the fallen Hanyou.
"Wow," he whispered as he finally turned from the scene and headed off to catch up with Kagome. Inuyasha grumbled as he tried to fight the beads hold on him. When they finally released him from their power he growled at the female in the distance. She was just mad because he was right, he was sure of that tho he didn't admit that even with her needing him for his strength he also needed her for her ability.
That evening found the pair setting up camp, Kagome pulling the ramen out of her bag as well as a small pot to boil the water needed to make the meal. Shippo looked at the cylinder container with curiosity. He had never seen this thing she had assured him was food and noting that the half demon up in a tree was looking down at them, well, at the meal with what could only be described as adoration he believed her. Soon the trio found themselves around the fire, all of them digging in, Shippo finding that the thing called ramen was quite yummy, but not as yummy as the snacks that she also had given him.
"What is this called?" he asked holding up the small pink box with some long sticks with what appeared to be mud on the ends of it. He was sure that it wasn't what it appeared.
"Pocky," she supplied. "It's a cookie dipped in chocolate or other flavors like strawberry." Still unsure, but knowing that the ramen had been good he opening it up and took the wrapper out, his eyes darting to her. She assisted him in opening the package before handing them back. He took a single one out and smelled it. At the interesting smell he took a tentative taste, his eyes growing wide at the sweet taste before going into a frenzy to inhale the snack. Kagome giggled, Inuyasha scoffed and jumped back into the tree next to the campsite. Rolling her eyes at the male's attitude she got her sleeping spot ready, her sleeping bag rolled out and the fire stoked to keep them warm on the cool night. Shippo found a spot to lay close to the fire and soon the pair were asleep as the half demon watched the forest around them, his eyes glowing in the moonlight from the crescent moon.
"Fuck," he muttered as he noticed the stage of the moon. Is it really about to be that time? He questioned to himself. He usually kept up with the phases of the moon, but with all the that had been going on he had forgotten to keep up with it. What was he going to do? He couldn't very well leave the girl with just a kid to watch her, but he couldn't be around them if the phase of the moon was new. Taking note that it was indeed a waning moon he decided that the next day he would find a town for them to stay nearby or in if possible, tho also taking into account that even just leaving Shippo with her he doubted that any village, except for Kaede's, would take in the pair. Then again since he hadn't been paying attention to the phases he could also have as much as three days til the new moon. Sighing he closed his eyes for a moment to formulate his plan of escape. He failed to notice the shadow that lurked just mere yards from the campsite. It's dark eyes narrowed in on the pair sleeping, it too had taken notice of where Inuyasha was. He could smell the scent of all of them, rather excited for the female scent it picked up. Looking up at where Inuyasha slept it knew it would have to wait if it wanted to get its prey.
As the sun rose on the sleeping pair, the darkened skies growing lighter with each passing minute, the shadow that had been waiting hours before was gone. It had gotten an idea of what it was up against and what the female looked like. It was who he thought it was, tho something was different in her smell, her age questioning since it had been but a child at the time. It was sure that the news of her death had been true when the Shikon no Tama had disappeared.
With a stretch Kagome sat up, the cool morning breeze causing a shiver to pass thru her. She wanted to get comfy and warm again, but she knew they needed to continue on in their quest, but at Inuyasha's words she tilted her head a little at him.
"We should stop at the next village," he said, coming from out of the woods. She walked over to him, her head still cocked to the side, and looked him closely in the eyes. "W-What the fuck are you doing?" he asked, taking a small step back at her fervent gaze. When she went to reach out to touch his forehead his hand shot out and stopped her with a tight grip of her wrist. "What are you doing?!" His voice had raised with that last sentence.
"I just wanted to make sure you didn't have a fever or something," she stated, Shippo piping in after waking to Inuyasha's raised tone. He growled at the female's strange behavior while also wanting to punch the kitsune for his two cents. Instead he was distracted by the sounds of someone walking around in the forest, his ears changing direction as he assured himself that they were alone or if not how many entities were around them. When the sound didn't come he turned his attention back to the female before him, his hand having found its way to her mouth, while his other hand was still grasping her wrist. She said something, tho it was muffled by his hand. "Mmmph mmmph mmph mmmmph?" He released her, a light pink dusting his cheeks for a microsecond. "What was that about?"
"I heard someone in the forest," he stated. She looked confused. "I heard someone in the forest, sneaking around," he clarified. Now she understood because in this day and age it wasn't unheard of for someone to be forging in the woods, but for them to be sneaking that meant that they were either hunting or stalking something. Inuyasha believed it to be them judging by his words. "They stopped tho before I could confirm where they were." What he didn't want to tell them was that he was unsure of if he had heard it or if it was just an animal. "Lets get a move on while it's still morning." Finding the statement weird, but choosing to just ignore it she nodded and the trio was off while in the forest a shadow breathed out, its eyes following the group. It waited for them to get further down the rode, knowing it could scent them out, before it followed behind. A few hours later they saw that not far in the distance there was a village, the size of it a little bigger than Kaede's own village. Inuyasha just needed to see if it was going to be a new moon that night or not. He was sure that someone here could tell them how far the next village was so he could decide if they needed to stop or not. "Wench, when we get to the village we need to find out when th-" He stopped, his steps faltering for a moment. I can't ask her to do that! She'll want to know and then she won't stop asking when I refuse to tell her my reasoning. "When they last saw a demon with strength that was abnormal or something."
She watched him, making him a little nervous but she just said, "Its strange that you would want to help humans." He almost fainted at her line of thought. Shippo asked why she had said that as he didn't know Inuyasha all that well. Not that he knew her any better, but he also found it strange that a Hanyou would want to help humans, period. He frowned at her.
"Not to help humans, stupid, but to see if a demon possessing a jewel shard was in the area." She still didn't look like she believed him, her mouth opening a little as if to speak when the sound of screaming filled the air. Turning to see which direction it had come from they found that the village they had been approaching was now smoking, the terrified sounds of women, children, and men getting louder. Were they getting closer? Kagome didn't even hesitate as she took off running, Shippo close behind her. Grunting at the stupidity of the pair he ran after them, grabbing them both and throwing them onto his back he sped up. This time he heard no complaint from Kagome as she clung tight to him. As they grew closer they could see what was causing the people to flee and what they found was quite terrifying to kitsune and the human while Inuyasha scowled in frustration. Before them was chaos, the people of the town divided as some fled while others seemed to be the ones doing the damage. There was a person running around setting huts on fire while another brandished a knife, blood dripping off the blade from his victims. Another human shoved a young woman to the ground, tearing at her clothing in his obvious attempt to rape the poor lady.
Kagome shook off her terror, the acts in front of her something that happened in her time, tho not like this! She ran to aid the woman in the clutches of the male, Inuyasha blinking but also going to aid the people. He started off with the human and the blade, throwing the male back as Shippo stood on the road watching them. He didn't know if he could help with anything. After all he was just a kid with toys to aid him. Kagome kicked the male from behind, her foot finding purchase on the male's most sensitive part. As he crumpled to the ground in agony she helped the woman up and sent her away, her eyes falling on the male whining at his punishment. Feeling like he would be grounded for the moment she went after the male lighting fires when Shippo called out to her, "Kagome, they're possessed!" She didn't hear him as she tackled the male to the ground, the torch that he had been using tossed to the grass and going out. That didn't affect the male under her as he began to fight, his curses filling the girl's ears. As she struggled against him, Inuyasha had heard the kitsune and turned his attention to him. The man that he had been taking down still stuck in his grip, the Hanyou's hand holding the collar of the knocked out male.
"What are you talking about?" The fox pointed off in the distance where on a hill overlooking the land sat a horned male. His dark hair seemed to flow down his back, his clothing seeming to be that of a skinned human. Without a second thought he was off to talk with the demon. Shippo ran after him, Kagome forgotten for a moment until the strangled cry of the female drew the kitsune's attention. He turned to see her being tossed to the side, the male grabbing the dropped torch and heading back to finish his job since he couldn't continue finish his task of setting huts on fire without the fire! He could hear Kagome curse as she pushed herself back to her feet. She reached behind her and grasped at the arrows in her quiver before she remembered that she didn't have a bow! With a gulp the kitsune took a gulp before taking off to assist the girl. Inuyasha paid them no heed as Shippo jumped on the male, quickly doing as he had to Inuyasha when they had first met. The small statue fell from his fingers and onto the male's head, knocking him to the ground and unconscious. With a sigh of relief Kagome thanked him and inquired as to where their other companion had gone.
"He went after the demon that has possessed these humans!" he cried while pointing off into the direction where Kagome could now see the silver haired male bounding off after another demon, tho she could only see his back. His cape looked back at her with empty eye sockets, the flesh flapping in the wind created from his movements.
"Let's go!" And with that they were off, tho not as fast as the half demon. "I hope he catches it!" Little did she know that while they were chasing after the duo another creature was following closely, staying away from the chaotic village. Luckily for them the ones that had been creating the destruction were now passed out, while others were confused as to what they were doing in a burning village.
For those that have stuck by this story, thank you again. I have delivered on a new enemy, tho I will continue on to each of the group, keeping their original stories...well, I may and I may not. Thanks again to those that are following the story or those who are still reading my fanfic. :)