They took off, Inuyasha once against pushing for them to find another village. He was so pushy about it that Kagome had begun to question his need for the village. He wasn't one to need a place full of humans as he didn't sleep in a hut, nor did he use the hot springs and he most certainly didn't need human interaction. Even when they were back at Kaede's village he had not slept indoors or talk to the villagers. He stayed in his favorite tree in his forest, not even bothering to talk to her when he didn't have to. She sighed as they continued on the road toward a close village. The further they got seemed to make Inuyasha more antsy or maybe it was the fact that is was late afternoon, the sun now dropping low in the skies.
"So, Inuyasha," she said, speeding up to ride next to him. "Why do we need to get to a village again?" He ignored her. "I mean it's not like we don't camp out on a regular basis." Again he gave her nothing. He didn't stop, he didn't speak, hell, he didn't even seem to acknowledge her presence much less her questions. Getting a little annoyed at his silent treatment she braked, stopping in the middle of the road and waited. At first she was sure he hadn't noticed, but just as she was about to say something he stopped, but still didn't look at her.
"Stop asking stupid questions," he growled. "Do I even have to answer to you?" A pause as his head turned slightly toward her. Shippo looked at Kagome, the aura of anger starting to heat the space around her small form. He knew this was going to blow up and he wasn't sure what to do to avoid getting caught in the middle. "You're not my mother and you sure as fuck aren't my mate so what makes you, no, what delusional mindset do you have that would make you believe that you can demand answers from me." He turned away again and began to walk more briskly. He didn't even wait for her and that was her breaking point. Putting her feet on the pedals she was off again, at a more brisk pace as well, but instead of bugging him again she biked past him, one word vocalized.
"Osuwari." That was it and then the Hanyou found himself again in the dirt, tasting the Earth in a way that had become a regular habit when he snarled at her. He was almost up when her voice echoed from further down the road, the tone having become pissy as she had more time to stew on his words and actions. "OSUWARI!" He was thrust back down again, this time kissing the ground with more force. Shippo shook his head at the older male's lack of tact.
When will he ever learn how to talk to a female? Again he was brought back to the way his parents had argued and when that happened he always took his mother's side as he was the definition of a mama's boy. He loved his father, but even at a young age he had learned who wore the pants in his family and that was his lesson about the opposite gender.
"What the fuck is his problem anyway?" Kagome grumbled as she sped up. She knew she couldn't outrun him but she was going to make sure it would take him a minute to catch up to them. "I have a right to know why he is acting this way, don't I?" Do I though? I mean he's right about one thing...I'm nothing to him. I am a companion on a road trip to correct my mistake and he is just here to get the jewel himself. Not that she would let him. "Whatever." The little fox demon just laid down on his father's pelt, the basket shaking softly with every little bump on the dirt road. Strangely enough he found it was soothing in a way and soon found himself drifting off.
It didn't take long for Inuyasha to catch up with them, but being his rather snarky self he just passed them, his eyes looking up for a moment at the skies as he sped forward. She didn't care, well, at least that was how it appeared as she turned her head away from him when he passed.
On the other side of Japan an older woman stood at the entrance of a cave, her eyes narrowing at the raven haired woman that sat there with her back to her. She had failed in her attempt to bring back the woman hiding out. She had thought that all the rumors of her death had meant that her soul was still free for her to take, tho it seemed that she was wrong in that assumption. She wouldn't have wanted to come back. She had been sure of that for she had been there when the female had died, holding the very item that she, herself, had coveted for her own needs. I will have to destroy her and yet, I can not bring myself to do something against her. Perhaps it was the fact that the creature could still move, still dead in her eyes, she still seemed to be reacting to something off in the distance. Maybe it is because of the shard that I baked into her body? Could that be the reason that her creation could still move, tho without purpose she was nothing more than a shell. She needed her soul. Looking back to the forest beyond her home. Hopefully, I will have my answer soon and then the decision of her life will made.
The trio finally found a village, and just before the sun could set. Inuyasha seemed relieved and to her surprise he abandoned her at the edge of the hamlet without so much as a goodbye. Still rather pissed off at the Hanyou's behavior she ignored his departure and headed further into the village, unaware that the shadow was now perched close, the form moving on the edge of the village. As she continued to walk past huts, her bike now just being pulled with her as Shippo looked around the area in question, she noted that there was a large castle-like structure further on and wondered as to why it was so beautiful while the homes she traveled past were so downtrodden and run down. She did recall that in history class there were tales of Lords that taxed their people to the point that they could not even live off their lands while the Lord ate large, unneeded meals that usually went to waste. Was this the home of such a man? As she drew closer she noticed a monk, a young one at that, was standing before the gate of the large home. Discarding her bike close by, asking the kitsune if he wouldn't mind waiting with it, she headed closer. He was conversing with the guards, neither of which seemed happy to see the monk. Strange... She contemplated on whether to move on or to be her rather curious self and find out why a Lord wouldn't allow a monk to enter their home.
"Listen, Houshi," a rather older male said, coming from beyond gated entrance. "If you fail in removing the evil that plagues our master's home then you will find yourself without even a grain of rice for your troubles." Nodding the Monk was allowed to pass, Kagome now moving closer to see what evil she could feel from the just the outside of the house. She noted that there was indeed something haunting the home, but she was also certain that it had in its possession a shard, she could feel the aura of the tainted item coming from the home. She was uncertain as to what she could do, standing there in deep thought when one of the guards noticed her lurking.
"What are you doing here, girl?" he inquired, moving closer. "Do you need something from that monk? Do you know of him?" She shook her head.
"No, I was just curious as to what you would need with a monk," she said, spinning a small lie since she had really been more curious about the home itself and the fact that they had an infestation of something that was using the shard to further its own needs. "I can sense that you do have a youkai lurking, tho he doesn't seem all that strong." This caused the guard to raise a brow at her words.
"Ah, so you are a demon then? Or are you as human as you look?" He looked her up and down, noting the strange clothing that she wore. She still was clothed in her jean overalls, tho she was rather dirty from her travels, she was sure he was unsure about her because of her attire. "Well, no matter what you are we have a monk that has claimed that he can dispel the evil from our master's home tho no other has been able to clear the home." Before she could move away from the gate several members of the home came out, including the master of the house. He looked rather upset at being outside, leaving only the monk in his home. Immediately after the last of the staff had left the home a loud sound pierced the air, the sound of a fight in the home shaking the grounds. Many of his staff seemed worried, inquiring as to what they should do. They wanted to enter the home again, tho the sounds belayed that they should wait. Their master also stated that he had been told not to go in until their savior had said as much.
Hmmm...It seems as if i isn't where it was before. In fact it almost seems.. She moved away from the gate and crept off toward the back of the home, her brown eyes taking it all in as she looked for where the shard was moving. Was the youkai moving out of the house? She could take it down, she was sure if she needed to, but alas it wasn't the demon that was moving toward her. It was the monk, and he wasn't just chasing the youkai out, he was packing a rather small wagon full of items from the home. Raising her brow at his dubious behavior she wondered if there ever was any threat. Moving closer she failed to notice that her stalker was still creeping around, keeping its eyes trained on her. Her foot landed on a twig, the sound drawing the attention of the male attempting his robbery of the home he had just "helped".
"Who is there?" he asked before seeing her standing there, looking at him with open confusion and a bit of disgust. "Who are you?" She shook her head, as if to tell him that she wouldn't disclose that information. She is a beautiful one, tho garbed rather strangely. He gave a mental head shake. As much as he wanted to do his normal routine with the female before him he knew that he didn't have much time to spare before the people of the home came in to investigate the silence that permeated the home. "Never mind, I have things to do and places to go." Hoping on the settee of the wagon he got ready to head out, the rein in hand.
"You mean people to swindle and places to hide in?" At her tone, and the fact that she was turning to look in the direction of where two guards still guarded the entrance to the home. "Maybe I should scream and have them come to find you trying to make off with your haul?" Her question made him tense up, the thought of getting caught not a great future. Not that his future was that far off. Sighing, he took just seconds to make his decision and snapping the reins he bore down on her, his right arm yanking her up next to him by the still rather tender arm. Before she could yelp he warned her in a low tone.
"I wouldn't do anything. Even if I would hate to hurt a beautiful girl as you, I could with just a flick of my wrist. I could just swallow you into the eternal hole that is in my right hand." She bit the yelp that wanted to escape her mouth and nodded. She was in a rather tricky situation as she couldn't chance that he was telling the truth and dying or whatever happened if one got stuck in an eternal hole...
Shippo looked around anxiously. Kagome had been gone for a long time...He had just watched as she talked to the male guard, getting more information he was sure of about any strange things happening. Still feeling a little worn out, he felt his body grow heavy. Little did he know that it wasn't his fatigue getting to him, it was something that was scenting the air with its fragrance. Smirking at the ease it had put the kitsune out with it moved back into the darkness, no one having knowingly seen it. It was as if it were invisible to the eyes of humans with just its appearance. Rushing off to its prey it failed to notice that there were another pair of eyes watching it. A male youkai? He smells of graveyard dirt... The tarnished gold eyes watching the figure run off. What is he doing? Jumping off the branch, the male followed the shadow, only getting sidetracked by the lavender smell that seemed to fog the air. Ah, shit. He hit his knees with several other villagers. He wasn't going down this easy! Using what little energy he had in this form he shoved himself back while holding his breath in. Bursting out of the pocket of sleep inducing toxins he hit the ground and rolled back into a tree. Taking a moment to take in the cleaner air he pondered as to what he could do in this form to keep up with another demon. Why am I following him tho? He smelt weird? Was that why?
That was when he realized that he couldn't see where Kagome was. Sure, she might have done what they always did at a village or she might be stupid enough to fight a demon with a shard...Was she that stupid? "Yes, yes she is. God dammit!" He couldn't help her if she had gone and done something stupid, but looking around he found that besides the scent in the air there was nothing else he could do but try to use his brain this time and track her. Usually he had his heightened sense of smell, but in this form it was non existent. Groaning in frustration he took off after the shadow again, but as soon as he turned the corner his attention was drawn to Kagome being swept up into the arms of monk, a look of fear crossing her features. "Kagome!" he yelled. She turned toward him, her eyes wide as saucers. Her confusion was evident as she didn't recognize the male calling her name. The only thing that made his name cross her mind was his voice. She would recognize that voice all to well.
"I-Inuyasha!" The male holding her tossed her across his lap, his hand that held the reins pushing down on her as he did as he had threatened. With a flick of his wrist the beads that had crossed over his hand and arm the cloth fell away from his palm...
"Wind tunnel!" The answer to her inner question of his threat being legit pulling at Inuyasha's hair and clothing toward it. Intending to keep himself anchored he forgot that he had no claws in this dark haired form. Doing the next thing that came to mind he used his sword, even tho it was rusty, to anchor himself to the ground. The monk smirked and whipping the rein again continued to make his escape as Inuyasha attempted to not get stuck in the winds produced by the right palm. "Don't follow or I shall have to use this on her!" When he felt that he was at a safe distance the monk covered the palm again and turned to her. "I believe I was speaking the truth. Now sit still and when we have gotten far enough away I will deposit you on the ground and be on my way." 'Clink' Lifting her up a little he noted that around her neck was a small bottle with several shards of the jewel. Smiling at his luck he failed to notice that she had tensed, a look of repulsion on her face.
"What the hell are you thinking?!" she shrieked, her hand coming with a resounding smack against his face as his hand on her ass stilled. He pushed her back down, the slap having no effect on his awareness. "You are so dead when you let me go," she grumbled, her lips pressed into the seat of the wagon. He believed her, but at the same time he was not too afraid of a little stick of a girl.
"How about you just," with a yank he freed the jar from her neck, "leave now then!" Tossing her off the carriage he sped off, now in his possession the jar of shards and all of his stolen goods. Life is soooo good. Now to go and sell these things.
Kagome stood up stiffly, her body still reminding her that she wasn't super woman by any standard and she should stop punishing herself with her attempts to try and be otherwise. Dusting herself off she set off after the male, but only took a few steps when Inuyasha grasped her arm. "Leave him be," the male stated. "We can't mess with that male. His attack is too deadly for me to deal with in this state." She opened her mouth, still shocked at his transformation, but also debating how to tell him that the monk had the shards. "Come on." She stood her ground, his stride pausing at her resistance. "Come on, wench."
"He got my shards," she whispered, head going down. "Sorry." There was no response, the silence almost deafening save for the crickets that chirped around them. She looked up and found him looking nonchalant, almost anyway. Save for the vein that was throbbing at his temple he looked rather calm. She was sure he would burst and she was defiantly in the splash zone.
Instead of blowing up at her he took a deep breath and stated, "Well, there is nothing we can do tonight, so lets go get Shippo and find a place to camp close by." He turned, releasing her, and headed back to where he had left the kitsune. She was surprised. Not just at his failure behave as she had come to know in the short time. He was mad this time and she was sure it would have been a fight that would have ended with him in the ground, but he had held it in check, choosing to be rational. Blinking she followed after him, the stalker still following close, tho he had been torn between getting the shards that the girl had had on her and fulfilling his main mission. His master would be upset if he failed in either, but the girl was first on the list and more urgent a matter.
Hi, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)