Chapter 11
The sky was painted a brilliant crimson, the mountains seemingly painted a dark purple in the garish light of the sunset. Ravens swarmed, wings flashing, cawing, the sound echoing off the bodies that lay strewn across the ground, dark red blood soaking into the earth. They feasted, almost covering the corpses completely as they pecked the flesh straight from their bones. The bodies were still warm.
"So…Kyokotsu's dead, is he?" The voice was passive, the deep black eyes of the beholder gazing at the brutal scene with an empty smile twisting at his red-painted lips.
"Yes, master Jakotsu." The boy beside him spoke, monotone and emotionless.
"Well," Jakotsu said with an annoyed sigh, resting his head against his hand, staring at the carnage he'd caused, feeling absolutely nothing. He was perched on a rock on the edge of the battlefield, his legs drawn up casually, exposing the smooth pale skin of the man's thigh. "It serves him right, the stupid fool… I guess it's no real surprise though. He was the weakest one among us."
The boy didn't reply. The boy was on his knees on the ground, his weapon on his back glinting deadly in the low light. His brown eyes were dull and listless, staring off into space with a deadened look. For some inexplicable reason Jakotsu couldn't identify, that annoyed him.
"So, tell me something Kohaku." His dark eyes finally tore away from the men he'd slain, slithering over to the boy with a sick little smile working its way onto his features.
"Yes?"
"This InuYasha I'm supposed to be after, you know him well, yes? Is he… handsome?"
"I wouldn't know." Kohaku's face was deadpan. "I'm sure you can figure that out yourself."
Jakotsu grinned in earnest now, his eyes sparkling dangerously, the crimson sky reflected in their darkness. "I'm looking forward to it." His tongue darted out to wet his lips, lingering when he caught a droplet of the coppery liquid that was splattered there.
"Oh InuYasha… I wonder what your blood will taste like…"
Kagome woke gently to warm sunlight dappling across her skin in a mosaic of golds and greens, reflecting off the leaves around them. She was wrapped in the comforting embrace of the Hanyou, his sharp eyes already searching her face, a small smile twisting at his lips. It was late morning; she could tell by the way the light fell and she knew that they would have to be on their way soon. There was no time to waste.
"'Mornin," InuYasha said, his voice was rough and drowsy, his grip on her small body firm and unwavering. In fact, she was almost certain he hadn't moved an inch all night. Probably hadn't slept either, she surmised just by the look of him.
"Good morning." She could feel a blush coloring her cheeks, but she ignored it, gazing up at him with sleepy eyes through thick black lashes.
"Sleep well?"
"Like a baby." She stretched a little, feeling a bit stiff after staying in one position for so long. "you?"
"Keh." He shrugged. "I slept a bit, wasn't much tired, though."
She rolled her eyes at him, knowing that was probably far from the truth but she wouldn't press him, he knew his limits. As if on their own accord, her hands slowly traveled up his chest, one coming up to trace the skin that peeked out from his under yukata and the other grasping at the beads around his neck, drawing him closer, until there was but a few inches between them. His breath grazed over her flushed skin, sending wicked little shivers down her spine. She licked her lips, eyes flickering between his compelling gaze back down to his mouth, silently asking. She didn't know when she'd become so bold, so wanton but she was finding that she cared less and less as time went on. She couldn't hide from those feelings, couldn't mask them anymore and now the storm that had been brewing inside was unleashed full force, a tsunami racing for the shore.
He finally gave her what she wanted, his full lips capturing her own in a rough kiss that spoke of whispered passion and pure heat. He was merciless, showing her just how much he wanted her without words, his body did all the talking. His tongue intertwined with her own, stroking sweetly, sensuously, her breath catching in her throat as she all but melted in the broad arms that held her so intimately. She could feel the tips of his fangs, grazing against her tongue and for some reason, it had her heart racing and that familiar tingling pooling low in her belly.
He groaned loudly, breaking away from her with laborious panting as he laid his head heavy against the wide trunk of the tree, eyes screwed shut.
She watched him, worried at first that she'd done something wrong, but she remembered his words. He was going through changes; it was hard for him to keep control. She'd never admit it, but, she kinda liked it when he lost control. When his inner Yokai spilled out as it often did, it stroked that fire in her blood for reasons she wasn't sure of. Something about that wild look of him, about the way he looked at her as if he wanted to devour her. It was exciting, thrilling when he treated her a bit rougher than normal. The thought had her face heating up all over again, but she just focused on the half-demon, who was still turned away with eyes closed, breathing even and calm again.
"InuYasha… is there anything I can do to help?" she asked gently, brows furrowed with worry.
"Stop being so goddamned horny all the time…" He mumbled beneath his breath, still not looking at her because he knew he could easily lose the thin veil of discipline that was holding him together right now.
"um… what?"
"You heard me, woman! How do you expect me not to ravage you when you go around smelling so damn delicious all the time?!" He cracked one golden eye open, she could see the amusement sparkling there even as he huffed at her. She could tell he was playing with her, and she couldn't help the giggle that slipped past her lips. She slapped at his chest playfully, rolling her eyes.
"Well excuse me." She said with a snort, "I'll try and keep my horniness under wraps from now on."
"You'd do well too, wench." He seared her lips in another passionate kiss, stealing her breath away in an instant. After a few more minutes of cuddling, they both knew that it was time to leave the privacy of his tree and face the rest of the group, they couldn't afford to lose more time. Despite knowing this, they were both hesitant, sharing a few more kisses before he finally swept her up in his arms, ignoring her little yelp of surprise, and climbing expertly down the massive trunk. He set her down lightly on her feet, hands lingering on her hips for just a moment too long before releasing her completely. They walked back to Kaede's hut in companionable silence, her legs feeling much better now she had stretched them.
They found their little group scattered around the weathered wooden floor of the home, finishing off their breakfast. Her stomach rumbled obnoxiously loud, announcing their entrance and suddenly all eyes were on her and the Hanyou at her back.
She was sure that she was blushing furiously, seeing the knowing glint reflected in all her friends' eyes. Miroku was looking especially smug, a little grin spread across his face.
"Good morning! We were wondering where you had gotten off to Kagome-sama." The monk said a little too cheerfully for her liking, his gaze holding a mischievous glint. She could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment under the collective eyes of the room as she stuttered to formulate a response.
"Well, umm…"
"Obviously she was with me, ya nosey Hoshi!" InuYasha cut her off before she could spit out some half-truth, stepping around her to level his stark golden eyes at Miroku, who for his part, didn't look to be intimidated in the slightest. In fact, the idiot was smiling. He had a death wish, apparently. "now stop yappin' and eat so we can leave already." He said the last part in a low rumble, dropping to sit with his legs crossed so he could fix a bowl of porridge before the little kitsune ate it all.
"As you wish, my friend." Miroku chortled good-naturedly, shaking his head at the half-demon who was now busy scarfing down the hot food, his face hidden in the bowl. But Miroku could see the edges of the blush he was trying to hide, and he couldn't help but chuckle. For all his boldness, InuYasha really was shy when it came to matters of the heart. It was hilarious. The monk was much looking forward to teasing him mercilessly later when the women weren't around, and he could be a bit lewder with it.
Ah, he thought giddily, I can't wait!
Kagome could have kicked that sly little hoshi right where it hurts for embarrassing her like that. In front of Shippo, no less! But instead, she just sat beside the kit, accepting the steaming bowl of food that Sango handed to her with a timid smile of thanks. The taijiya just looked at her reassuringly, encouraging her to eat while she began to clean up. It was bland, but it quelled the ache in her stomach, so she wasn't complaining. Shippo chattered away excitedly beside her, being his usual hyper self that she had undoubtedly missed while she'd been away.
After everyone had eaten, the group began to gather their things and ready themselves for the journey ahead, the air between them had grown somber as the silence had stretched on, and combined with the oppressive aura that still hovered nearby, it had her feeling on edge. InuYasha seemed to be feeling similarly, from what she could tell, he eyes hard and steely with his hands tucked neatly into his sleeves, the heavy Tessaiga sheathed at his hip.
She had grown used to seeing him without it on, having spent those few blissful days alone with him in the future, and he hadn't worn it then. Though it had sat imposingly in the corner of her room the whole time, pulsating with pure Yokai energy. He looked so fierce with it in his grasp, she knew any enemy that had the bad luck to end up on the other side of it was as good as dead.
It was finally time to go. Kaede had come to see them off, her expression seeming somewhat grim even in the bright sunlight. Kagome was the last to leave the small dwelling, having struggled to manage both her backpack and her bow and quiver. The others were already walking the path that led out of the village. She turned to say a final goodbye the elderly woman who had become a friend to her in her time in the feudal era, but Kaede was not smiling, her face drawn into an uncharacteristic frown while her hand came up to grip Kagome's arm tightly, rooting her to the spot with the seriousness that was reflected in the darkness of her one, intense eye.
"Listen well, Kagome." Her voice was hushed, so as not to carry to the others, who were well ahead, not having noticed her absence quite yet. She could feel herself blanch, all the color draining out of her face, a heavy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. "Many bad omens hang over this journey, child. It is ill-fated; I fear for your wellbeing."
Chills erupted, shooting over Kagome's skin at the Miko's words and she knew that every bad feeling she'd had this morning was validated. Something was crackling in the air, brewing maliciously in a fog around them all. She took a deep, shaky breath to steady herself, meeting the eye of the priestess calmly.
"Thank you for your concern, Kaede-sama, I'll be sure to be extra careful." She gently tugged her arm out of her grasp, taking a step away from the Miko who was obviously distressed.
"I can't convince you to go back to your home for this one, can I, child?" Kaede asked with a heavy sigh, though she already knew the answer.
"No, Kaede. They need me. " Kagome was unapologetic, firm in her belief of what she should do, and she would not be swayed so easily.
"Yo, Kagome! What's the holdup?!" InuYasha all but yelled, him and the others pausing farther along down the hill.
"Goodbye, thank you for everything." She said to the Miko, her voice sincere and her words earnest. She really was eternally grateful for the woman's hospitality, but as much as she respected her as a mentor and as a friend, Kagome was a grown woman in her own right, and she could make her own decisions.
"Be careful," Kaede whispered, watching the girl go with a growing sadness in her heart. She could feel it as deeply as she could feel the rain coming, settling heavily into her bones. Dread. Something was coming. The wind whipped her stray hairs about viciously as she watched them disappear, getting closer and closer to their doom, she was almost certain.
"Kami, watch over them."
The six of them had fallen into a comfortable pace, InuYasha lingering close to her, always just one step ahead. They walked for a while like that, a few hours at most, before they came upon a small village. They made to bypass it completely, sticking to the road along the outskirts of the rice paddies. Kagome caught sight of something out the corner of her eye, turning towards the smattering of homes to see at least ten men atop horses, armed to the teeth with banners flying.
"InuYasha!" She exclaimed, stopping in her tracks.
"Hm?" He grunted, looking over at her with his silver brows arched.
"Look." He followed the path her finger was pointing, his eyes landing on the soldiers immediately.
"huh. Warriors off to another battle." He said dismissively.
The others had stopped behind them, looking out at the men with interest. "No, I don't think so," Miroku said thoughtfully, his indigo eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I would have sensed any kind of uprising nearby."
"Well, maybe they're going to subdue some demons or bandits or something." Sango offered.
"Keh, just look at 'em. Idiots. All geared up like that, talk about overkill." The half-demon groused, rolling his eyes with a snort, dismissing the scene and turning back to the path. The rest of them followed suit, Kagome's gaze following the soldiers until they were out of sight, a sick feeling twisting in her gut.
They kept walking, silence stretching between them. There were men toiling in the fields alongside the road, a few of them gathered close by and Kagome couldn't help but overhear a few bits of their conversation.
"I heard that the border patrol was completely annihilated."
"It was terrible, I hear, no way a man could have done it." A second voice chimed in, this one rough and weathered with old age.
"Are the rumors true, then? That the phantoms from the Seven Man Mound have returned to life once more?" a different voice again, this one laced with fear. She could hear the tremble in his words.
Seven Man Mound?
She didn't know why it drew her attention so strongly, and even as her pace slowed to a grinding halt Miroku was already approaching the men, his hand up in a greeting that was typical for a Hoshi.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, can I speak to you for a moment?" his staff jangled as he walked quickly down the hill, the three men looking at him with wide eyes, having taken notice of the Hanyou in the priest's midst.
"Keh, what's he doing?" InuYasha looked vaguely irritated, watching the monk intently.
"They were talking about some sort of phantom, InuYasha. We need to find out what's going on."
Miroku hurriedly gestured for them all to follow, and Kagome scooped the little kit up in her arms, following Sango and the rest to stand in front of the villagers as they began to explain.
"Well, there is a temple around here that was built to quiet the souls of the band of seven."
"And just what is the band of seven?" Miroku prompted, his face schooled in the serious mask of a Hoshi, his eyes being the only part of him that led on to his interest.
The old man sighed heavily, his eyes beginning to glaze over as if he was already trapped in a memory. "Their story started over a decade ago… It is believed they traveled to our territory from somewhere in the East…"
"They were ruthless mercenaries. The whole band of 'em. They served no one lord. Instead, they lived as Ronin, finding temporary employment in any battle they happened to come across. There were only seven of them, but their strength was incredible, that of a hundred men. But their raids were unnecessarily savage. Those who were slain by the band of seven were sliced to pieces and burned alive." The man shuddered deeply before continuing, obviously shaken.
"The only people capable of such atrocities are those with a real penchant for murder." One of the other men chimed in, shaking his head, looking uncomfortable.
"Y-yeah." Kagome held fast to Shippo who was squirming in her arms, her voice coming out a lot weaker than she had intended, almost a squeak.
"The warlords soon had second thoughts about the mercenaries, so they sold them out and ordered them hunted down… it's said the mercenaries put up a hard fight, but it was all in vain."
"I would think so. The band of seven escaped into the mountains, but they were completely outnumbered by the warlord's soldiers, who came after them. They were finally captured, just a little north of here. They were beheaded and their bodies buried. Even still… we feared their curse and decided to quiet the restless souls. We erected a tomb, at the base of the sacred mountain." The eldest of the men finished, his dark eyes seeming dim and hallowed.
"I see," Miroku said thoughtfully, his mouth set in a hard line.
"We overheard you saying something about their spirits being resurrected…?" Kagome couldn't help but interject, trailing off awkwardly as they gave her an exasperated look.
The men grumbled amongst themselves, before seeming to reach some sort of agreement, turning to look her squarely in the eyes.
"It's true. They say that the tombstone split into two. But there was no lightning that day…" The youngest of the village men was the one to speak. He had a mousy look about him. His almond-shaped eyes were a flat dark brown, the skin around them dark and lined with worry. "It is believed that the seven souls… escaped."
Miroku thanked them all for the information, handing each of them a sacred sutra before they were on their way again, thinking deeply on what they'd heard.
"Wandering spirits. For some reason, I don't like the sound of that." Miroku voiced his thoughts to no one in particular, looking of far into the distance with a pensive look on his face.
"Yeah, me neither. Gives me chills." Sango shivered, turning wide brown eyes on the monk. "Do you think it could be true?"
"well…" He sighed, frowning. "It wouldn't surprise me."
"we're walking in that direction, so if they are real, we're bound to come across 'em. I don't care if they're ghosts or demons or whatever, if they cause any trouble, I'll just kill 'em." InuYasha said dismissively, turning his golden eyes to the monk who didn't seem so convinced.
Kagome was listening idly, caught deep in the web of her own tangled thoughts when she suddenly felt a strong pull on her reiki, a sensation that she was all too familiar with. The feeling had her pausing, her steps faltering as her eyes scanned the area. She couldn't see anyone, but that didn't mean they were alone. The forest was thick, it would be a simple task to hide amongst the trees.
"Hey, what's wrong Kagome?" At the sound of InuYasha's voice, laced with concern had her whipping her head around to meet his stark golden eyes.
"I can sense a sacred jewel shard… it's close." She said quietly, skin still prickling with reiki.
Just then, Kirara jumped down from Sango's arms, transforming into her natural state.
"Hey! Kirara what are you doing?" Sango took a step after the cat, faltering when Kirara turned to look at the girl with those bright orange eyes, the slatted pupils dilating slightly. They seemed to speak without words for a long moment. All at once Sango dropped the bag she was carrying, running and launching herself onto the demon's back without even a glance back at her companions, and then Kirara was jumping into the sky, the flames of her feet and tail flickering in the wind.
"What's her problem?" InuYasha grumbled. "She almost trampled me!"
Kagome patted the Hanyou's arm comfortingly, though inwardly she was rolling her eyes at him. "There, there."
"Sango?" Miroku stood, staring after her until they'd flown out of sight, slightly miffed that she'd just up and left them without even a word.
"Let's just wait on her a bit, I'm sure she won't be gone too terribly long. And I have snacks." Kagome offered, settling down onto a particularly large boulder that marked the edge of the path.
With much grumbling from the half-demon, they waited a while, munching absently on the food she had with her, speaking very little. It couldn't have been half an hour when they'd heard it. Thunderous, booming, unmistakable to her ears. Gunshots? It had to be. InuYasha stood on full alert, the ears on top of his head swiveling, lying flat in agitation.
"Whoa! What was that!" Shippo was scooting a little closer to her, green eyes wide and a little frightened.
"I can't be sure but… I think that was gunfire." She said uncertainly, wondering just what in the hell was going on. She had a bad, bad feeling about this.
"Huh?" the Hanyou turned to look at her curiously, "what's that?"
She started to explain but was cut off by the sound of another powerful gunshot. She flinched, patting Shippo's back reassuringly as he clung to her now, trembling. InuYasha was climbing the nearest tree in an instant, hoping that he could see where all the ruckus was coming from at this high vantage point. He could see nothing beyond the trees, but he kept his senses on high alert nonetheless, his eyes sharp, scanning.
He knew the instant the scent hit his nose. His ears were twitching, lips pulled back in a snarl to reveal deadly sharp fangs.
"Human blood."
He jumped down from the tree, flying off into the distance, following the stench without a second thought, driven by pure instinct.
That scent, not only the blood but something else, faint but still present. It hung around like a bad aftertaste, stinking up the air with its foulness. It's so familiar… cool and earthy, with the underlying scent of rot. He knew it. Knew it like the back of his hand because he'd smelled it a hundred times in the past year.
Graveyard soil. Just like Kikyo.
He was running so fast everything around him was a blur, the smell growing in strength until it was near overpowering to his Yokai senses. He stopped suddenly, eyes focusing on the gruesome scene that was laid out before him, frozen in shock.
A ring of corpses, weapons, and banners of war strewn across the ground, there was blood everywhere. It was soaking into the ground, splattered on the rocks and it hung heavy in the air in a sickly perfume. His eyes immediately zeroed in on the man who was sat casually in the very center of the circle of gore. Even with the gruesome scent of blood overpowering everything, he could still pick up on the faint scent of dirt and rot hanging off him. The man hadn't noticed InuYasha yet, he was focused on some kind of device, mumbling to himself.
That must've been what Kagome was talking about. A gun. That little thing made all that noise?
It seemed hard to believe. But that was the least of his worries.
He could hear Miroku and Kagome's footsteps pounding against the earth, which had gone from lush and green to dry and barren, sand flying up with every footfall.
He withdrew from the scene, not wanting to be spotted just yet.
"Hey!" Miroku called, panting with exertion as he approached. "See anything?"
"Stay back," InuYasha demanded, standing in the way of his companions, blocking the path ahead. He didn't want Kagome or Shippo anywhere near such bloodshed, he wouldn't risk them for anything.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked, her teeth worrying at her lip anxiously, the little kit settled in her arms against her hip.
"Kagome… you don't want to see this okay? Just take Shippo and wait for us up the road." He crossed the short distance between them, ignoring the kit in her arms and the monk, only looking deeply into her earthy brown eyes, hoping she would see how serious he was. "I don't want either of you getting hurt." He said the last part softly, almost a whisper.
But she was already shaking her head. "No. I'm not leaving you." Her voice was firm, but her eyes were pleading. He could tell by her body language alone that she wasn't going anywhere, not without a little convincing at least.
He briefly contemplated throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her off someplace safe, where she wouldn't get in his way. But, knowing Kagome, he was sure she'd find some way to get into trouble regardless. And then there was the issue of the kotodama around his neck, hanging heavy and faintly pulsating with magic. Damned cursed beads.
"Please, just listen to me just this once. I have a bad feeling about this."
It was the please that did it. InuYasha never said please, and he damn well knew it.
Her face softened, and she nodded hesitantly. "Just…be careful, okay? I can sense a jewel shard, just up ahead."
"Always." He brushed a stray hair away from her cheek, loving how she blushed so delicately at the gentle graze of his fingers. He would have kissed her right there, Miroku be damned, but Shippo was a bit too close for comfort. He watched her go, knowing that she was safer, but for some reason, the feeling sitting heavy of his chest didn't dissipate as he'd hoped. It only got heavier.
After a long moment, he finally turned back to the battlefield that had become a graveyard. Indigo met sharp gold, the two men sharing a long look before he pulled Tessaiga from its sheath at his waist, reveling in the rush of powerful Yokai that raced through him when he wrapped his hand firmly around the fabric of the hilt.
Whoever this bastard was, he'd kill him.
He motioned for them to stay back as he approached the scene, eyes trained firmly on the strange man who was now on his feet. His lips were painted red, blue markings spliced down both cheeks and his hair pinned up with a delicate-looking ornament. The kimono he wore was a woman's, he could tell by the lavender fabric patterned with broad green leaves. It hung off his thin frame, tied with a magenta obi at his waist, a scarf thrown over his neck.
The man had an odd look about him, besides the fact that he was wearing a woman's kimono his eyes seemed flat, drained. He had a bored look on his face as if he was waiting for something. With everything in his being, InuYasha knew that he was not a living person. He may have been human once, but now he was little more than a shade, old bones inside a magicked body.
He finally faced his opponent, Tessaiga held casually, the blade shining in the afternoon sun.
"Hey asshole, what exactly do you think you're doing?" He called out, and the man's soulless black eyes instantly latched onto him, his gaze suddenly bright and alert, a wicked smile blooming across painted lips.
"Would you happen to be InuYasha?"
The sound of his name coming from that twisted mouth had him wanting to be sick.
"How the hell do you know my name?" The half-demon growled dangerously, lips peeling back in a snarl. His Yokai was surging in the air around them, pulsating with his animosity but it seemed to only excite the specter even more.
"It is you! You're even more handsome then I'd hoped you be." He crooned, clapping with delight.
That only served to make InuYasha even more livid than he already was. "Just shut your fucking mouth!" he gripped his blade tightly drawing it up in a warning. And that's the only one you'll get.
The deadly looking sword over the man's shoulder dripped with blood, but he was staring at InuYasha, obvious appreciation in his darkened, hooded eyes. "I love your ears. I want them." He licked his lips and all InuYasha saw was red.
The gentle pressure of Miroku's hand on his shoulder was the only thing that kept him from lunging at the cross-dressing fool who'd made the mistake of pissing him off, big time. "Who are you, anyway?" He bit out, jaws snapping as he fought to maintain a semblance of his control as rage surged in his veins. "You reek of the grave."
"InuYasha… do you think…?" Miroku's voice was hushed, his indigo eyes steely, his gaze trained firmly on the man.
"Yeah…"
"So, I heard so villagers talking, saying something about a bloodthirsty ghost on a warpath. I'm guessing that's you, isn't it?" The half-demon all but growled, irritated at the dreamy look on his stupid face.
"They told of the Band of Seven, a group of mercenaries that were too evil to be allowed to live… Are you one of them?" Miroku's question fell on deaf ears. The man turned to him with a frightening smile, dark little eyes moving up and down his body appreciatively.
"You know… InuYasha is quite the looker, but you're pretty sexy yourself, monk."
Miroku stepped back unconsciously, his expression twisted with disgust. "Stop avoiding the question. Answer me now."
InuYasha was unused to hearing the commanding tone the Hoshi had taken with the man, and even he had to admit it was a little unnerving.
"Oh boo, you're no fun." The man only laughed, the sound seeming so out of place amongst such carnage.
"I'm sick of your bullshit!" InuYasha had had enough of his teasing. He leaped up into the air, landing about ten feet away from the eerily smiling man, sword gripped tightly in both of his hands.
"Okay, dead man, I hope you're feeling chatty, 'cause I'm gonna make you talk." The control he had over his rage was slipping, his voice rumbling like thunder, his Yokai lashing out like electricity around them.
Even as his power whipped the hairs around his face wildly, the man didn't even flinch. "You're so damn cute, I just can't stay mad at you." He sighed, his words only serving to irritate the half-demon even more. "That's a very nice sword you've got there… but the question is… do you think it could beat mine?" He was smirking now, his delight reflected in the blackness of his eyes as he slowly drew the sword from overhead, the blade still covered in the blood of the slain soldiers.
InuYasha didn't take his eyes off it, but even he was not expecting what came next. The wicked-looking swords struck out like lightning, and he barely managed to jump out of the way in time, the scent of his own blood curling through the air to hit his nostrils. He looked down, astonished to see dark blood staining the sleeve of his haori, the fabric cut from where the sword had grazed him.
He felt a dangerous smile curve at his lips, he could feel his eyes bleeding crimson and the jagged purple marks burning as they appeared on his cheeks. "Oh, you're gonna pay for that one, asshole."
Kagome had walked back to the rocks they'd been sitting on while they were waiting for Sango, Shippo babbling away in her ear about something or other. She wasn't paying much attention. She was, admittedly, a bit put out that InuYasha had sent her away, but she knew she'd probably just end up complicating things, like usual. And Shippo was just a kid, he didn't need to be seeing carnage like that if they could avoid it.
They sat there for a while, playing a few games to pass the time. Kagome taught the kit paddy cake and I spy, laughing at his antics. An hour or so went by, and Kagome excused herself to the woods to relieve the nagging pressure on her bladder, telling the kit firmly to stay just where he was, and she'd be back in a flash.
She walked through the underbrush, just until she was certain the kitsune wouldn't be able to see or hear her and then she crouched behind a bush to take care of her business.
When she had finished, she was dusting herself off, turning to walk back the way she'd come but something had her pausing. It was that familiar tug on her reiki, that pull that she knew to be the presence of a sacred jewel shard. The forest was quiet. But even the sounds of birds flitting about couldn't be heard, the air strangely silent. It was then that she felt it, a tingle shooting straight down her spine that had her whipping around in alarm, her sixth sense screaming that something wasn't right.
There was a man standing there, about a hundred feet away, he had a dark smirk playing at full lips as dark eyes shone with malicious intent. She nearly jumped out of her skin, the feeling of dread settling heavy in her stomach as she scrambled to back up a few steps.
"Hello there, little bird, trying to fly away so soon?"
His voice was smooth, like honey.
"Um... do I… do I know you?" She asked dumbly, cursing her own stupidity. She was sure that if she had seen this man before he would've been impossible to forget. His skin held a deep tan, his hair a pure black, woven into a thick braid that hung down his back, reaching down nearly to his calves in length. He had a purple mark on his forehead, shaped like a four-pointed star. He was dressed in a simple looking white kimono and matching hakama, overlaid with patterned armor and a red obi tied around his waist. He was a beautiful man; she could admit that but… something about him just felt off. He possessed at least three sacred jewels shards, of that she was certain, but there was something else there too, something she couldn't quite put her finger on, and it had her on edge.
"No, not yet, anyway." His eyes never left her own, their intensity shocking her and rooting her to the spot. She didn't know how to reply to that. She was defenseless, completely vulnerable. She had left her bow and quiver with the kit, and if she knew that she couldn't draw attention or else he'd come running and probably get himself killed in the process.
She was on her own.
He was slowly advancing on her, his footsteps light as they crunched over leaves and twigs. She backed up, stumbling over her own feet in her desperate attempt to keep some space between them. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her body shaking with adrenaline that was going hand in hand with her own fear.
"Tell me your name, little bird."
His eyes were dark and compelling, she found herself speaking without even realizing it, her name coming out in a broken whisper. She didn't know why she'd told him; couldn't explain why she'd spoken so carelessly. The only thing she knew for sure was that whoever he was, she needed to get as far away from him as possible. And quick.
That smirk was back, eyes never leaving hers as he took another step, slowly closing the distance between them one step at a time.
"Kagome… yeah, I like that." He said after a moment, looking pleased. "Would you like to know mine?"
She could only nod mutely, the sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears while she desperately thought of a way out of this situation. Even if she screamed, and by some miracle InuYasha heard her, he wouldn't be able to get here in time. She could run, but then what about Shippo? And something was telling her that there was no way she'd be able to outrun this guy. He looked strong, even beneath the layers he wore she could see the hard lines of muscle. And no matter what, she wouldn't risk Shippo's safety, not even if it meant her own life.
"Bankotsu." He offered, taking another step. "It's not every day that I come upon such a lovely young girl… Look's like fate put you directly in my path, little bird. How unlucky for you." His tone was as casual as if they'd been talking of the weather, the only thing that let on to his darkness was the look in his eyes. It had her shivering unpleasantly, her stomach churning sickly as her mind raced.
She stumbled back, panic setting in when her back hit the solid trunk of a tree, stopping her dead in her tracks. He was in front of her in an instant, she could feel his breath ghosting over her cheek as he leaned over her, his arm coming up to pin her there.
"So, now the only question is…what should I do with you, Kagome?"
AN: Hey friends! I'm so excited to hear what you guys think about this one! I just couldn't resist posting a day early lol. It's based off episode 103, in case you were wondering :) as always you're reviews are amazing and thanks for reading!
