Author's Notes: Apologies for taking so long. I've been doing other things.. Not that it's an excuse. Well, I actually wrote about 20 pages, so I've split it into two chapters. It's funny how in college I absolutely abhorred writing 10-20 page papers (because that's all it seemed like I fricking did was write papers for every single class!), but when it comes to writing on my own as a hobby, it's whipped out in a day. How many of ya'll can relate? Stupid papers. Anyways, I hope everyone is doing well and binge reading while they have the time. I know I wish I could!
Happy reading!
Nocturne - Chapter Twenty Two: The Others
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
o - o - o - o - o
Her heart pounded in her chest, but the adrenaline that had coursed through her veins earlier left Kagome feeling drained. She stood up slowly, her hand clenched around her bow. The sound of wood cracking, like a branch broken underfoot, caused her eyes to widen. She felt perplexed until it registered that the crack had come from her bow. Kagome glanced down to see her bow snapped in two, barely hanging by a splinter.
Great, she thought, how opportune. Kagome looked around but did not see anyone, nor could she sense the presence of yokai, either full nor half-blooded. With a start, she realized which way Inuyasha had pursued the hanyo spy and dashed off in that direction.
They had gone towards the village where Setsuna had been left. While Kagome knew the girl would be protected, that did not stop her from running as fast as her legs could carry her.
Kagome spotted the group nearly right where she'd left them. She was almost out of breath when she finally came to a stop.
"Mother?" Setsuna questioned at the sight of Kagome running towards them. She ran over to her mother, meeting her several feet away, and hugged her around her middle. Everything seemed fine, Kagome realized, and the only odd thing they had seen was her sprinting towards them.
Sango sauntered over to Kagome as well and grabbed her arm, "What's happening? Where's Inuyasha?"
Kagome glanced over at Shizuka, who'd been left behind with Sango, Rin, and Setsuna. The woman had a faraway look in her eyes, her complexion pale. Kagome wondered what she thought and if she could sense the danger. "We're being watched. There were….others…" Kagome told them. She watched as perplexion washed over them all and for Sango, desperation shortly after.
"Others?" Sango demanded harshly. "What do you mean?" Then, having thought better of it, she turned her attention to Setsuna. "Where did the children go, little one? Before you left?"
Setsuna glanced at her mother, looking for guidance but receiving none. "They said they were going to...umm." A guilty look crossed her face, and she toed the ground nervously. Wherever the group of children, the trainees, had gone to play was not somewhere, they were supposed to go alone.
Rin, ever the calm one despite the circumstances, moved close to Setsuna and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. You can tell us without fear. We must know."
Her thoughtful words allowed Setsuna to open up and whisper that they'd gone to play in a meadow, where the stream passed by. It was a place where families went to play and relax on a hot summer's day, but children were forbidden from going alone due to the wicked current that pushed the stream along. The edge of the stream bed was gentle and shallow. However, several feet out - where the stream widened - it became deep and tumultuous for those unversed in swimming, which many of the village children were.
Sango cursed beneath her breath and looked around, hoping the youngsters had thought better of their ill-advised plan and made for home, but she couldn't have been so lucky. Her husband, Miroku, was nowhere near the village, having left with the twins to visit a nearby town for supplies and news. She had to deal with this and the fear for her younger children on her own.
Kagome knew of the spot. They had visited there often enough years ago. "Rin, you remain behind and look after Setsuna. Go find Kohaku and tell him what's transpired." Her voice was calm and steady, but inside she felt unsettled. Together, Kagome and Sango jogged to where the children were playing.
They arrived in the meadow and could hear the laughter of children echoing amongst the trees and the splashing of water. It was a generally pleasant sound, but it was tainted with the knowledge that their lives may be at risk. It only took a few moments to encroach on the happy encounter. The children all played, carrying on without knowing their felicitous romp had been intruded upon.
Sango breathed a sigh of relief to see her children and the others untouched. Still, with yokai enemies about, they needed to be cautious and regroup back at the village to set up a perimeter. Kagome glanced around with searching eyes, ensuring that they were not being watched. All looked clear, and it was at that moment that a hush settled over the area.
The splashing and giggling ceased as they noticed the adults that had appeared. Sango's two children, Katsu and Hiro, looked equally ashamed at having been caught. Their followers all looked equal parts shocked and outraged that their fun time had been exposed.
"M-mother?" Katsu, Sango's eldest boy, stammered, rising and pulling his exposed legs out of the shallow stream. He shuffled from foot to foot in a guilty manner, avoiding his mother's scrutinizing and angry gaze.
"You all know that you are not allowed here on your own."
One of the younger girls mumbled under her breath but loudly enough for all to hear. "That half-breed couldn't keep its mouth shut."
Kagome's head snapped to the girl's comment. She had to assume this was the 'Mei' Setsuna had complained about. The girl shrunk under Kagome's glare and turned her head away. "Let's go. Back to your parents, all of you." Her authoritative tone prompted the children to jump up and start on their way back, and Sango frowned at her two boys who walked over towards their mother.
Sango grabbed them both their ears and despite the gravity of the situation, Kagome stifled a laugh. She'd seen mothers grabbing kids up by their ears from her timeline in the future, but it was another thing to see it in action. Sango hissed harsh words to her boy while Kagome hurried to follow the other children back to the village, leaving Sango to follow behind with her miscreants.
They hadn't gotten very far before Kagome saw a figure in the distance. She sighed when she realized it was Setsuna. The girl had disobeyed and followed them to the meadow, with Rei following at her side. Once they got closer, the children all gave Setsuna accusing glances. They made sure to tromp past her and express their displeasure without saying their inner thoughts aloud and risking the wrath of the priestess behind them.
Kagome ground her teeth together in annoyance as she took in her young child. "Why have you disobeyed me?"
Setsuna pouted and looked up from under her lashes at Kagome. She bent over and picked Rei up, cuddling him for comfort. "Sorry, mother. I was worried about you. Rei was, too." She held the kitten out, which mewed his agreement.
"You aren't old enough to place yourself in danger," Kagome chastised. "What if something were to happen to you? I could not live with myself, and your father would be devastated."
Setsuna pursed her lips and looked up with watery eyes, pulling Rei back to her chest. Kagome couldn't maintain her stern appearance any longer and dropped to her knees to embrace the girl, careful not to jostle Rei between them. "Let's hurry back."
They still didn't know if the hanyo enemies were nearby, and Inuyasha had not returned, to their knowledge, from chasing after the one who had attacked her earlier. Who knows where they had run off to or whether the man was leading Inuyasha on a game of cat and mouse. Kagome hoped that Inuyasha would keep him away and busy while they ushered the children to safety, but things were never that simple.
A child's scream could be heard from ahead, and Kagome pushed herself up from the ground and saw two forms flying past them. The red from Inuyasha's fire-rat robes was visible as he chased after the hanyo spy. Inuyasha stopped in the clearing in front of the kids, grimacing at the sight of them fleeing and screeching in fear.
"Fuck!" He yelled. His eyes flicked back, taking in Kagome, gripping her daughter tight and Sango with her two boys in her arms.
The other children ran in varying directions to find cover.
Inuyasha growled in frustration. "Get your small asses back here! Fucking idiots scattering all over the damn place!"
"Children!" Sango yelled so that her voice carried over to the younglings. "Remember your training! Regroup!"
The four youths seemed to snap out of whatever panic that had taken them over. Simultaneously, they sprinted past Inuyasha and Kagome to huddle around Sango, who they knew and trusted. They all bore guarded looks bordering on fear. This was likely their first encounter with an enemy outside of the straw dummies that lined the training fields.
The spy jumped out of the woods with a mocking roar. The children shrank back but did not scream from fear. The hanyo seemed to believe he would get a rise from the younglings. He chuckled despite their steely-eyed gazes.
"Keeping the old man on his toes has grown a little tedious." A lopsided grin split his face revealing his long canines. "I guess you lose your edge after you settle down."
Inuyasha grimaced but didn't respond to the jab. "What the fuck do you want, cocksucker?"
"I'm just having a little fun old man."
Kagome tugged on the back of Inuyasha's suikan. His ears swiveled on the top of his head, indicating he'd heard her, but he did not take his eyes off his enemy. Kagome whispered low, "Inuyasha, there were others…"
He turned his head back a fraction to give her an aggrieved look. He'd been so focused on going after the one in front of him that Inuyasha had allowed himself to overlook others' evidence. He cursed under his breath and began to feel slightly unsettled and unprepared for the situation unraveling before him.
Kagome had noticed earlier that Inuyasha was not carrying Tessaiga at his hip, something he seldomly did anymore. Had he been carrying the blade, Kagome figured this hanyo wouldn't be so cocky.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Kagome called out.
Inuyasha sneered at the question. "What the fuck does it matter who he is or what he wants? He'll be dead soon. Let him tell his tales to someone in hell."
The hanyo laughed again, his scared face crinkling with mirth. "You seem to have it backward old man! It will be you who is dead soon, so what is the point in telling you my name?"
"And who will carry the honor of defeating the great Inuyasha? A nameless wonder?" Kagome prodded.
"You may call me Feng," he claimed.
"That's a stupid name," Inuyasha barked out. "You really think someone with a simple name like "Feng" could really take me out?" It seemed like Inuyasha was goading him on, but really he was being a little clever by getting the young and impulsive hanyo to talk.
The goad seemed to work and the hanyo, Feng, looked livid. He didn't get the chance to say or do anything more.
The whirring and clinking of metal could be heard, catching the group off guard. The hanyo quickly dodged an attack from Kohaku's kusarigama. The sickle embedded in the ground where Feng had stood before Kohaku expertly pulled on the chain with his hands, releasing the weapon from the loamy earth and pulling it back.
Kohaku had arrived, bringing with him five other slayers. Rin had done as instructed, notified her husband what was happening, and the taijiya had rallied some of his team to head off the intruders. The other slayers were dressed in typical taijiya fashion, with colored armor pieces covering their shoulders, chest, and waist. All carried vicious-looking weapons that had been primed to slay exactly what stood before them. Kohaku signaled with his hand, and the five taijiya broke off into varying directions, surrounding the hanyo intruder.
Feng laughed as if it were a great joke, amused that someone believed they could best him. This one seemed to think highly of himself, Kagome thought, and that was always a recipe for disaster. Even though the chances of bringing Feng down were high, it was also very probable that there would be a significant loss on their side as well. The hanyo was a wild-card, and like any wild-card, you played them at your own risk.
Another figure appeared running into the clearing, this one with long-white streaming hair. Kagome instantly recognized Shizuka from her delicate appearance. She looked concerned, rightly so, and stopped once she saw the enemy surrounded by taijiya.
Inuyasha looked startled at her appearance. "Get back!" he barked at her, causing her to visibly shrink.
Feng put his hands on his hips and threw his head back with roaring laughter. "You gotta be fucking kidding me!"
The taijiya surrounding Feng tensed, but did not take their collective eyes off their enemy, waiting for a signal from their leader.
Feng gestured with his hands, pushing his arms out towards the woman who was like him. "Would you just look at that! He thought they'd killed you, but I guess they are just too soft."
"The fuck are you talking about?" Inuyasha called out, trying to take the attention off Shizuka while ascertaining what this unsettled hanyo was referring to. "You really do have a few screws loose to come here and fuck with this village."
Feng quivered mockingly. "Ooo, I'm so frightened." His look darkened, and he stood straight, taking a dangerous turn. "To think I could be unnerved by your paltry display of defense?" He scoffed and nodded towards one of the taijiya surrounding him. "These mortals and their "weapons" will do no good when the time comes."
"You talk too much," Inuyasha warned. "So, you can either leave, or I will make you leave. But I promise you won't like where I send you."
"Big words from an old man," the hanyo jeered. He put his hands behind his head and looked towards where Shizuka stood frozen and smiled. "Dear sister...Keyuri? I think that's what Father said your name to be. Or someone else did? I can't recall, though I think he only ever referred to you as a blunder."
Shizuka trembled, her golden eyes wavering with unshed tears. Those words had a noticeable effect on her, her head falling down in defeat.
No longer able to put off his anxious feelings at seeing Shizuka assaulted - even verbally - Inuyasha sped over to her, closing the distance in seconds. He stood in front of her and narrowed his eyes at the hanyo, visually daring him to say more.
Feng shrugged. "I shall pass along your greeting then if you've nothing to say." Then he chuckled to himself, knowing the entertainment of his own words.
Kagome stood now exposed, holding the shoulders of her daughter and her heart racing. She felt woefully defenseless, being human, without any weapons that didn't require close quarters. Even Setsuna was unblooded, having lived a sheltered life, untried in the ways of real combat. Somehow this seemed to be a diversionary tactic.
Movement caught her eye, and the 'others' Kagome had seen earlier all jumped out from their various hiding places. No sooner had they hit the ground, the taijiya surrounding Feng turned to assess this new threat, taking their attention off their primary target. Feng used the diversion to leap over and land on top of Kagome and Setsuna, knocking them down and eliciting a shriek from them both.
Kagome's mind raced along with her thundering heart. What could this wild creature want with her? Why toy with her? She pushed Setsuna almost underneath her body, covering her child with as much of herself as possible to keep the crazy man away.
"I see you went and made one yourself," the hanyo sneered as he crouched over her. His clawed hand went out and picked up a loose strand of Setsuna's long white hair that covered the ground. She shivered and still held Rei close to her chest. The small nekomata made a menacing growl in her arms, a warning.
Kagome smacked his hand away. "Touch her and see where I send you," she hissed, placing extra malice on her emphasis of "I."
"So protective is the bitch of her pup," he laughed.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled reflexively. He had not moved, still standing protectively in front of Shizuka. He seemed at war with himself over whether to protect his current love over his former.
Kagome could see from the corner of her eye as one of the new hanyo stalked closer to where Inuyasha stood. He threatened Shizuka's safety should Inuyasha leave to defend Kagome and Setsuna. Inuyasha knew he was being pinned down and made his choice to stay put.
"I wonder what it is about you that seems to drive them to protect you?" Feng said softly. His arms were now placed on either side of Kagome and Setsuna. "You don't seem that special, and you're not even that pretty." He made an amused face. "Either way, Father wants you." He chuckled at his inner thoughts.
Her spiritual powers teemed just below the surface, ready to spill over and blow the hanyo away. However, Kagome was afraid to unleash the holy light with Setsuna next to her. What impact would that have on her, who also had yokai blood running through her veins? Would it kill her? That was a risk Kagome could not and would not take, so she protected her with her body and life, if necessary.
Kagome heard a rumbling from beneath her, like some feral animal trapped in a corner. At first, she thought the sound came from Rei, who had not yet struggled to be free, but upon second thought, she realized it was coming from the small girl. Setsuna's small arm pushed out from beside her mother and grabbed the hanyo's haori, pulling him closer to them both with a fantastic display of strength for one so small.
"Mother is beautiful," she growled along with Rei. "Father says so!" She released his haori and put her palm flat, with a glowing light emanating from it.
Kagome gaped at the sight, having never witnessed such a thing from her child. She watched in astonishment, and Setsuna released a blast of spiritual energy that sent the hanyo flying backward. Kagome flew up and pulled Setsuna off the ground as well, and they retreated back to where Sango stood to guard the younglings.
They watched curiously as Feng convulsed on the ground for a moment. He had collapsed within himself and grabbed his arms, pulling into a fetal position before his legs pushed straight again. His silver-white hair seemed to glitch, and what Kagome could only describe as a wave of mortality ebbed over him as his yokai features diminished, revealing human ears and coloring for but a brief moment. The entire episode was over all too quickly, and Feng jumped up in shock.
All who watched did so in a shock of their own at the display, and the quarrel was forgotten momentarily. Even the new hanyo intruders had dropped their defenses and gaped openly at their comrade.
Feng grimaced and retreated silently, launching himself away and into the far reaches of the woods beyond the perimeter of the village. The hanyo's brethren followed suit immediately, jumping off and away, leaving Kagome and her friends dumbfounded and alone.
They all hurried back to the safety of the village immediately, no one questioning what they saw. It was best to wait until they could regroup before discussing the matter, lest they open themselves up to another attack they were woefully unprepared for.
Sango led the children to their respective homes, telling each of the child's parents of their disobedience to which they were promised swift punishment for placing their young lives in danger.
They regrouped half an hour later at Sango's home, which was the most significant occupancy in the village by now, boasting multiple rooms and a sliding door.
Rin had accompanied Kohaku to this impromptu meeting after learning of the occurrence, refusing to be left alone for her own safety. She assured her husband that it was much safer among her friends than alone, to which Kohaku grudgingly agreed. He'd initially wanted her far away from them, for fear that they would be attacked again. But, he took solace in knowing her words were valid.
Minus Miroku, who was still away on a working trip with his two eldest daughters, the rest of the group assembled around the hearth. They sat in solemn silence for a moment, each contemplating the severity of the situation. Inuyasha held Shizuka in his arms, whose head was buried in his chest, looking for an outlet to express her quiet grief. Kohaku also held Rin in a loose grip, stroking the side of her arm.
Setsuna broke the silence. "Mother, what did I do to that man?" She stared down at her hand in curiosity, turning her palm up and down.
Everyone in the room, except Rin, also wondered the same thing. Kagome grabbed Setsuna's hand and wrapped it in her own. "It was spiritual power, like mine."
The child nodded her head, not taking her eyes from her hand as if it would spontaneously erupt with light at any moment. Setsuna had never witnessed her mother use her holy powers, there had never been any need, and Kagome had fallen out of practice.
"So she inherited your abilities, big deal." Inuyasha dismissed any relevance with a wave. "But what would be nice to know is what happened and the monk, of all people, may have the best chance of explaining."
Sango nodded in agreement. "I've never seen the likes of it."
Rin spoke up tentatively. She'd been apprised at the circumstances by Kohaku earlier but had not witnessed the oddity. "No one has seen the effects of spiritual power released on one of mixed blood. I imagine what Setsuna possesses is unique."
Sango considered for a moment. "What would kill a yokai, erasing it from existence, does the same for a hanyo, leaving only a human behind."
Inuyasha's eyes flashed with unease at the notion. "We don't know anything."
"You saw it with your own eyes, same as me," Kohaku insisted. "It even cowed our enemy enough to retreat."
"He was a fucking pussy and hyped up on himself like some arrogant little cock."
Kagome shot a needled gaze at him. "Sounds familiar to someone I know."
Inuyasha sneered at the thought. "I ain't nothing like that kid."
"So," Setsuna broke in. "If I did something like that to Uncle Inuyasha, he...he would die?" her soft voice broke.
"No! No, that wouldn't happen. Don't think like that, darling," Kagome consoled. She pulled Setsuna close, mimicking how Inuyasha held Shizuka.
"You really think you can kill me, runt? Ask your mom. I ain't that easy to get rid of." Inuyasha's words seemed to put Setsuna at ease, and she smiled at her uncle.
Shizuka clutched his suikan and looked up at Inuyasha's face lovingly. Kagome couldn't help but think that the woman was an enigma. It was also perplexing and a revelation that the hanyo had called her sister. "Keyuri?" Kagome said, testing out the name.
Shizuka's head snapped up in alarm at the name. Her eyes forlorn while she opened her mouth to say words that would never pass her lips. She quickly closed her mouth and clenched her jaw, nodding her head.
Everyone quickly recalled that event and began articulating their confusion aloud.
"'Sister,' he said."
"She is the half-blood daughter of Fan Tsenpo?" Kagome questioned. "I suppose it makes sense."
"Most yokai would kill a hanyo on sight," Kohaku mentioned, looking at Inuyasha. "No offense," he added quickly, recalling the sensitive topic for several people in the room. Inuyasha grunted his assent, and Kohaku continued. "Why would a daiyokai even deign to mate with a human in the first place?" He then glanced at Kagome, who gave him a pointed look.
"Look," Kohaku said, "All in this room are exceptions to the rule that most yokai are biased, intolerant beings with a superiority complex. It would not make sense for any of you to even exist without a clear intent for the alternative to be true."
"You've made your point, little brother," Sango interjected. "The mystery now lies in understanding why a bigoted daiyokai would go out of his way to do so. From what we know, which is very little, he is unhinged, yet patient."
"This is all too similar to Naraku," Inuyasha recalled. "That fucker would plot the day away. But we don't even know what this new dickhead wants or why he would bother fucking with us."
Kohaku shook his head in disagreement. "It seems fairly clear that he has targeted us in association with Lady Kagome and Lord Sesshomaru."
"Keh. Fucking figures, he would drag us into this shit. Where is he anyway, huh Kagome?"
"Hold your tongue, Inuyasha. Is that the example you set for those who may look up to you?" Kagome chided with a stern tone and gave a subtle look in Setsuna's direction. The girl held her uncle in high esteem, much to Sesshomaru's chagrin. Kagome had made sure that Sesshomaru had nothing derogatory to say about his younger half brother in their daughter's presence, lest Setsuna develop an inferior view of herself.
Inuyasha grumbled to himself. "You know what I mean!"
"I can only imagine that these few slipped through the perimeter, and there are more than what we've seen," Kagome rationed. It had dawned on her that Sesshomaru had kept the severity of the situation to himself. He must have known that these intruders were all half-bloods from across the sea, sent to spy, and stir up trouble. She felt anger well up in her chest to think he'd kept something so important from her as if she were a small child incapable of handling the reality of their circumstances. He was treating her as less than what she was, and it was infuriating to be kept in the dark and coddled like some delicate flower.
Rin stretched her legs and placed her hands upon her large belly, grunting with effort to make even the smallest move. Her husband, Kohaku, sat at attention and helped her move to a new position, ever alert to her needs. Rin had pieced together what her eyes had not seen. "He's created an army…"
"An army?" Inuyasha asked in perplexion. To fathom a battalion of hanyos like himself, was incomprehensible.
"It makes perfect sense. It's genius."
"It's unheard of."
"But, why?"
"Think about it? How difficult would it be to rally an army of yokai? There are always struggles for power within the ranks. And no yokai would dream of allying with humans, so that is out."
Inuyasha would not have it. "No yokai would debase itself to fuck mortal women to knock them up multiple times."
"Not someone like Fan Tsenpo. He is a collector, you said," Kohaku looked to Kagome, who nodded. "He was probably collecting human's imbued with powers and using their offspring to create an army completely loyal to him and completely dispensable. No one would question such a powerful being, especially if he were discreet."
"A half-breed army. All just as powerful as you, Inuyasha, but with no remorse or compassion."
"Fuck."
"My people are trained especially for this. We outnumber them."
"There is no way you can know how many hanyos Fan could have...The man is centuries old, far older than even Sesshomaru. Who knows how long he's been creating his army."
"Do you think Shizuka knows?"
"Leave off it," warned Inuyasha. "I ain't letting you draw her back into this shit. She's already been through enough."
"She can help us. It is in her benefit as well to do so! You think Fan would care to spare her? Especially now that she has aligned herself to his enemy?"
He shook his head. "I said fucking no, dammit!"
Kagome sighed and looked pleadingly towards Shizuka. The woman seemed petrified once her name had been brought up, she may not be any help anyway. Kagome recalled that Shizuka had been accompanying the lady Tsering and could not know what Fan was about. But, her knowledge, even as limited as it may be, could be priceless in their effort.
"Please, Shizuka," Kagome implored. "Share with us what you know. Please help us to protect ourselves and our loved ones." She gestured to those in the room. "You may be the difference between life and death."
Inuyasha growled at Kagome's disobedience, but Shizuka pulled away from his grasp and sat straight. Her once cowering gaze was replaced by a look of resigned confidence. She had not even uttered a word, but her eyes spoke volumes of the depravity she'd witnessed in her life. Shikuza nodded and looked around the room, locking eyes with everyone for a second to instill her allegiance.
Kagome scooted towards Shizuka. "Is there anything you can tell us that may help?"
The woman brought her hands to her chest, crossing them, and nodded.
Sango realized that this would be easier "said" than done. She moved closer, as well. "Let's keep it to yes and no questions, so as not to overwhelm her."
"Will that be okay with you, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, looking up into his hardened eyes. He scoffed and threw his arms together petulantly. "Shizuka is...um...Fan Tsenpo creating an army."
Shizuka nodded once in response.
"We should know how many bodies he has to call on," Kohaku urged. "Even an estimate would be better than our own misguided guess."
"Are there many?" Kagome asked.
Shizuka pondered for a moment and then nodded, gesturing to herself and taking a hand to slowly point with her palm open in a sweeping motion starting at her opposite shoulder until her hand was outstretched beside her.
Everyone followed the gesture with their eyes, and Kagome chewed on her lip in thought. "What does that mean?"
"A lot…" Sango said.
"The village, maybe?" Setsuna asked timidly. Kagome looked over at her daughter with a smile. So young, and bright, she thought. And innocent to the dark ways of the world, Kagome recalled.
Rin swallowed audibly. "Are you- are you saying there are as many as in the village? That's hundreds..."
Shizuka nodded and looked down in regret. She had no words to express her dismay nor the intricacies that needed to be shared.
Kohaku stood up, gently ensuring Rin was able to support herself. "There is much we need to know and likely not much time to find an answer. Those were not ordinary scouts. They were probes sent for testing our boundaries and finding our weakness. That does not happen unless the enemy is prepared to strike!"
"Calm the fuck down, kid," Inuyasha spat. "That dickhead I was chasing around was just being an arrogant little cock. He wasn't a damn probe. Just some little shit that's too big for his britches and trying to prove himself."
Kagome rolled her eyes in annoyance. "The fact that you, of all people, think that is astounding. You can't actually believe this was just some remarkable coincidence?"
A voice cut into their debate, startling them out of their anger. "Perhaps this one can shed light on the answer."
o - o - o - o - o
A/N: Good news! I have another chapter on deck! I need to proofread and edit, so I will try to get it out by the end of the week to give you all time to digest this chapter.