Ch. 124- The Events Since Then
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Arashi © Me
Birds chirped as they sat perched in the trees, some preening their feathers and others just resting before taking flight once again. On the ground, right below the Sacred Tree where Inuyasha had once been pinned, Shippo sighed as he blew away some dandelion puffs into the wind while Kirara and Arashi lied around with him, just as bored as he was. However, as Shippo tossed the empty stem onto a nearby pile, Arashi's ears perked as he turned to the direction of the Bone Eater's Well, and soon after, Kirara perked up in alert, as well.
"What's up, you guys?" asked Shippo, prompting the nekomata and little demon dog to run off. "Hey! Wait up!" Soon, the kit got to his feet and chased after them before they arrived at the Bone Eater's Well, where a familiar flash of light burst forth. Not long after, a hand reached up over the side and hoisted its owner up, revealing that it was none other than Kagome, hefting her big yellow back over the side.
"Kagome!" Shippo cheered as he ran up and hugged her. "You're back!"
"Hi, Shippo!" Kagome greeted as she held the little kit in her arms. "It's good to see you, too!"
A cacophony of meows and barks soon got her attention, causing her to laugh as she stroked both Arashi and Kirara on their heads.
"And you, too, Kirara and Arashi," Kagome said. At that moment, Shippo finally noticed something rather different about the priestess.
"Hey, Kagome?" Shippo asked. "What are you wearing?"
"Huh?" Kagome muttered as she stood up and looked herself over... revealing that she was wearing a brown jacket with a faux fur collar, a light blue shirt, a green short skirt that was similar to her uniform only that it had a lighter green stripe around the hem, a pair of brown sheer leggings, and dark brown boots that reached up to her knees. "Oh! You mean my new outfit?"
"What happened to that fuku thing you wear?" asked Shippo.
"Well, every time I come here, I end up damaging it in some way," Kagome began, "and my Mom can't keep buying me new ones, so I decided to wear something a little more suited for travel. Do you like it?"
"Yeah, it looks great!" Shippo exclaimed.
"Kagome, you're back!"
Kagome turned to see Miroku and Sango approaching from over the hillside.
"Hi, guys!" Kagome greeted.
"Well, well," Miroku mused. "That's a new look for you, Kagome."
"Very nice!" Sango added.
"Thanks," Kagome answered.
"Hey, where's Inuyasha?" asked Miroku as he noticed that the half-demon was nowhere to be found.
"He was right behind me," Kagome said as she noticed that he hadn't followed her out of the well.
"Excuse me!"
Kagome turned to see Inuyasha trying to climb out of the well, and by the looks of things, he seemed to be struggling.
"A little help if you don't mind?!" Inuyasha questioned.
"Oh!" Kagome gasped as she ran over and grabbed his hand. "Sorry, Inuyasha! Let me help you!" She grunted as she began to pull him over the edge...although she seemed to struggle a bit, herself. "Unh! Jeez, Inuyasha, I think you put on weight while you were over at my place! I gotta tell Mom not to give you so many helpings!"
"Oh, ha-ha," Inuyasha laughed, sarcastically as he finally managed to come out of the well. "Gee, that's so funny, I forgot how to laugh!"
Suddenly, Arashi barked as he jumped into Inuyasha's arms, happily licking the half-demon's face, which caused him to burst into laughter, which made the others laugh, as well.
"Forgot how to laugh, huh?" Kagome quipped.
"Well... I've been wrong before," Inuyasha said as Arashi sat on his shoulder, panting excitedly.
"So how have things been since we were gone?" asked Kagome.
"Funny you should ask," Sango replied. "Kaede actually something important to tell you and Inuyasha."
"Really?" Kagome asked in surprise. "What is it?"
"You'll have to come with us," replied Miroku. "She'll tell you about it."
"Lead the way, then," Kagome said as they all walked to the village.
"...Um, Kagome?" asked Inuyasha. "Have I really put on weight?"
Kagome snorted while the others began to laugh.
"I'm pretty sure she was just kidding, Inuyasha!" Sango said.
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha asked. "Because these robes are pretty flowy and they tend to hide a lot, and you know your mother feeds me more food than she gives you and-"
"Inuyasha, you're not getting fatter!" Kagome reassured. "I was just messing with you!"
"Someone's a little self-conscious, aren't they?" Shippo asked.
"Hey, watch it, you!" Inuyasha spat.
XXX
After a while, the group arrived at the village and had congregated inside Kaede's hut, where the elderly priestess had poured them all a cup of tea, each. Kirara and Arashi, meanwhile, just sat curled up together in a corner of the room.
"So, Kaede," said Kagome as she held her teacup. "You said you had something to tell us?"
"Yes, indeed," Kaede replied. "However... I wish it was good news that I am about to tell you."
"What's going on?" asked Inuyasha, sitting against the wall with the Tetsusaiga in his arms, as always. "Does it involve the Sacred Jewel?"
"Not quite," Kaede answered. "However, it does involve Kikyo."
Miroku, Sango, and Shippo didn't miss the subtle gasp that both Inuyasha and Kagome gave.
"...What about Kikyo?" asked Inuyasha.
"While I was out tending to my herbs," Kaede began, "Rikichi showed me this." She then put down a piece of parchment... as well as a hand-drawn image of Kikyo.
"Whoa! Look at that!" Shippo exclaimed.
"What are these?" asked Sango.
"It seems that Kikyo is on the run," Kaede answered. "She is being hunted down by both monks and samurai alike. Apparently, she has been exposed as the false priestess she has become."
Kagome bit her lip while Inuyasha glanced over at her, worriedly, as did the others. They knew that the trauma that Kikyo put on her back in the Forest of Illusion was still fresh on Kagome's mind, so it was no wonder she was still so tense.
"Where is Kikyo?" asked Kagome.
"That, I cannot say," Kaede replied. "I heard she went into hiding to avoid capture."
XXX
In a deep, dark forest, far away from the village... Kikyo sits in the roots of an old willow tree, breathing heavily. Her face was smudged with dirt, her clothes were tattered, and her long hair, usually tied in a low ponytail, was loose and looked rather unkempt. It seems that she had been running for quite some time before she finally decided to rest.
As her Soul Collectors continuously dropped souls into her clay body, Kikyo quietly held up the Sacred Jewel fragment that she stole from Kagome, several days ago. As she held it to the light of the sun... she still saw no splendorous light within. It was dull and held no shine.
'...Why is the jewel not responding to my presence?' she thought. 'I've held it in my grasp for days, now, and yet it still holds no light of purification.'
She sighed as she placed the jewel to her chest.
'And now... I am forced to run and hide like some common dog...!'
She bitterly grit her teeth as she clutched the gem in her fist.
'How long...? How long must I suffer this?!'
Suddenly, she heard a low buzzing noise, causing her to look up... and see two of Naraku's saimyōshō, hovering overhead. She glared at the insects before she grunted and forced herself to her feet. As soon as she was standing, the saimyōshō turned and flew off... and Kikyo soon walked after them.
XXX
"Why are you asking where Kikyo is, all of a sudden, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, causing the girl to look up at him in surprise. "Don't tell me you're worried about her after all she's done to you!"
"N-no, of course not!" Kagome replied. "I was only curious, that's all."
Inuyasha twitched an ear but decided to let it go... for now.
"There's something else," Kaede added, causing everyone to look up at her. "It seems that these posters were distributed by the Hitomi Clan."
"The... Hitomi Clan?" asked Sango. "But that's impossible!"
"Hmm?" Kaede hummed.
"There's only one person who's occupying Hitomi Castle now," Sango began, "and that's..." She gasped silently as her eyes went dark. "Naraku..."
"I see now," Miroku spoke. "I have heard of the prestigious Hitomi Clan and how the former lord of the castle was possessed and killed by a demon. His son, Kagewaki Hitomi, is now the daimyo of the clan... but from what I heard from Sango, it seems that Naraku has taken over his body and form. With this position of power, he is trying to force Kikyo out of hiding... and possibly lure us out, as well."
"It seems so," Kaede replied.
"Keh!" Inuyasha scoffed. "That coward Naraku... always hiding behind a wall when he should come out and face us like a man!"
Though it was subtle, Kagome inwardly shuddered. She still remembered how Naraku touched her face... the way he stared into her eyes. She actually did have nightmares about it, but having Inuyasha with her during that time made it bearable for her.
"There's one more thing," Kaede said. "Lately, there have been rumors that a demon has been going around, stealing the left arms of other demons..." She looked over at Inuyasha, who visibly tense. "Sound familiar, Inuyasha?"
"...Sesshomaru..." Inuyasha muttered, causing Arashi's ears to perk up as he raised his head in alertness.
XXX
In a barren field... the earth was soaked with blood. The corpses of all sorts of demons lay about, all of them missing their left arms. In the midst of it, all... was the lone figure of Sesshomaru, his silvery hair billowing in the wind.
The pureblooded demon threw the rotting arm of an ogre to the ground... before he soon walked away.
"Not this one," he said. "I must find an arm that's strong enough."
XXX
"Who is this Sesshomaru?" Sango asked.
"Sesshomaru's is Inuyasha's older half-brother," Kagome replied. "They have the same father, but Sesshomaru hates Inuyasha because he's a half-demon... not to mention the fact that he wants the Tetsusaiga, even though he can't even touch it."
"The last time we encountered Sesshomaru," Miroku began, "Inuyasha was nearly killed in battle, not to mention Kagome was put in mortal peril, as well."
"Yeah, thanks, Miroku," Inuyasha said, sarcastically. "I think they got the memo."
"I am only telling ye this so that ye may take caution when ye resume your journey," said Kaede. "The road ahead is very dangerous and will test your strength... as well as your bonds." Her good eye softened at the group. "I want ye all to be careful as ye continue your search for the Shikon Jewel shards... and hopefully, put a stop to Naraku, once and for all."
Everyone nodded their heads while Inuyasha snorted.
"You're pretty much telling us something we already know at this point," the half-demon said.
"I think that's just his way of saying 'Thanks for your concern'," said Kagome, causing Kaede to chuckle.
"I know," Kaede replied. "Now, ye best be off. I will pray for your good fortune."
"Thank you, so much, Kaede," Sango said.
"We promise we'll come back safely if the journey begins to be too much," Miroku added.
Soon, the group was at the village border, preparing to head out on the road, once again with Kaede and the entire village seeing them off.
"Goodbye, Kaede!" Kagome waved. "We'll be back soon! Bye, everyone!"
"Safe travels to ye!" Kaede called.
"Bye, Inuyasha!" called a little boy. "Goodbye Shippo!"
"Come back and play with us, again, soon!" called his sister.
"Goodbye, Lady Sango!" Rikichi called. "Farewell!"
"Bye, Kirara! Bye-bye, Arashi!" called a little girl of at least 6.
"Goodbye, Monk Miroku~!" a few young women swooned, causing Miroku to smile cheekily, only for Sango to jab him in the stomach with her elbow, causing him to keel over in pain while Inuyasha burst into laughter.
Soon, the group had headed off down the road, continuing their journey for the Sacred Jewel shards.
Well, I finally got around to finishing this one. Next up: Totosai!
Review, please!
