Chapter 10
Nauki patted the rice flour in the wooden bowl with her hands. She watched as it made small clouds in the air. Giggling, she closed her eyes, patting the flour harder. Kaede turned her head watching the small girl as she enjoyed herself. She smiled at her. The wind blew outside, rattling the skeletal tree branches covered in snow. "Ye like helping old Kaede cook?" Nauki opened her eyes, cooing at her, then started to pat the floor again, giggling. "I thought as much." "Tieday, cwouds," Nauki said pointing to the flour as it lifted into the air. "I see ye have found out how to turn the flour into dust," she said. "Would ye like to make something for Inu-Yasha?" Nauki thought. "Papa wike dump-wings." Kaede put her finger in the flour, then put a small amount on the child's nose. "I never had any children of my own. Ye papa is glad to have a good girl like ye. Ye haven't cried one bit since he's been gone." Nauki blinked her eyes. She hadn't realized that Inu-Yasha was missing. She had been having too much fun helping and cooking with Kaede. Nauki's bottom lip quivered. "P...pa..pa," she whimpered. The girl started to cry softly, her tears dropping into the flour. Kaede rolled her eyes, sulking a bit. She just had to bring it to the child's attention. She kneaded the dough, letting the girl cry it out. "Oh, my..."
"I still don't understand how an archer, even though he is blind, cannot stop a monster he has been trained to kill. Nor you who protect the village with incantations," Sango said as she stood behind the priestess, watching her sift through a few tailsmans. "The monster that comes at night is a very tricky beast. It has no shape, or form. Only sound," the priestes, Fuyu, told her. "It does not come during the day when the villagers are awake and alert. It waits until nightfall when only a few stand guard. Chanting incantations drains me of strength. Hitori has to rest, also, for standing guard in the forest diplenishes his energy." Sango thought for a moment. *A creature without shape or form that steals children at night? Why only at night?* "Thank you, for making it clearer what we are up against, Fuyu." Sango left the priestess' hut. Something didn't seem right. "Learn anything else besides what Natori told us," Miroku asked watching Sango's puzzled expression. "The creature has no shape, or form," she said. "No shape, or form? If it can't be seen then why is the archer standing guard in the forest," Inu-Yasha blurted out. "I think Miroku's right. Something is amiss." "How does the archer know what he is firing at? The boy told us Hitori has been trained to distinguish sounds of movement. If the beast has no form, then it has no sound. Furthermore, the archer has no purpose," Miroku said. "I think someone is leading this whole village on a wild goosechase for something that isn't real," Inu-Yasha said. "What do you suppose we do," Sango said, holding onto the string of her boomerang. "Get ready for a fight," Inu-Yasha said, lowly growling.
That night, Inu-Yasha had set up a trap for the night monster. "Are you sure this will work," Sango asked, crouching behind him in the snow. They were hidden behind a pile of wood. "From what you told me about the priestess, her temper was short and to the point. If I had been fighting a creature and had been chanting countless hours to ward off the beast to no avail, I would have been relieved if anyone offered me help. She was not relieved, more like annoyed that you asked what the purpose was for her to continue. It makes her look suspicious." Miroku walked up behind them. He caught the end of what Inu-Yasha had said. "I went to the edge of the village where Natori showed me where the priestess had been putting up tailsmans. We decided to go when Fuyu was chanting on the other side of the village." "And," Inu-Yasha asked, waiting for the creature, or hoax as he believed it, to show. "The tailsmans are fake. It took me a while to decipher them. I will give her an order of congragulations, though. They were well-done fakes." Miroku crouched behind them. "If the priestess was using fake tailsmans, then her incantations are also fake. Since the villagers have no way of knowing the proper incantations to use, they are an easy target. No wonder she was short- tempered when I asked her those questions." Sango held onto her boomerang. "Sango, there was no way of knowing that the priestess was a demon. We know now, but the villagers are still unaware," Inu-Yasha said. "Shh, I hear something," Sango silenced him. They turned qucikly to look behind them. The blind archer stood, his bow ready. "I want to help capture Fuyu as much as you do. She took my sight from me and I have a score to settle with her," Hitori told them. "You weren't born blind," Miroku asked, standing. "No, when the children started disappearing at night, the priestess approached me and told me she had heard a creature come into the village. She informed me of seeing the children being carried from their huts by an invisible creature. She further told me the only way to catch the beast was to rely only on sound, for by using sight, one would miss the target," Hitori continued. "I agreed to lose my sight in order to protect the village. That is when Fuyu told me she would put up tailsmans and perform incantations to ward the creature off during the day. What I couldn't figure out at the time, was why she hadn't been doing it all along." "She wanted you searching the forest at night so the village would be unprotected. That is when she chose to swipe the children," Miroku told him. He watched as Hitori lowered his head. "It isn ot your fault for being tricked. She used the love you feel for the children against you, thus making it your only concern." "And who would ever suspect a priestess? One who is sworn to protect and aid the village," Sango said. "Well, her plans are about to come to an end. That's why I asked Natori to be the bait," Inu-Yasha said, unsheathing Tetsuiga. "You asked Natori to be bait?! Inu-Yasha, that's like asking Nauki," Sango said as she hit him upside the head. "Why do you think I gave him a dagger? Natori was willing to do it," he said as he rubbed his head. "I still can't believe you," Miroku said, sighing some. Hitori interrupted them. "She's here." His voice lowered. "I can hear her feet crunching against the snow. Fuyu is not wearing any sandels." "What direction is she in," Inu-Yasha asked lookiing at him. "She's fourty feet from the entrance, walking slowly, with caution," Hitori said. "Alright then," Inu-Yasha rose. "Lets put her in her place!"
"I can't believe he went without me," Kagome said looking down. "Or that he left Nauki so quickly." "Ye know Inu-Yasha, Kagome. He's always prepared to look for shards of the Sacred Jewel. Who knows what trouble he has ran into. It has been almost three days," Kaede said, feeding Nauki. "Three days?" "Aye. Do not worry, my child. Miroku and Sango are with him," she said. "Mah-ma, I make dump-wings," Nauki said, crawling out of Kaede's lap. She went and retrieved the large bowl to show her. Kagome smiled. "You made sweet dumplings all by yourself?" Nauki nodded, handing her a big one. Kagome bit into it. "These are really good. You could sell these at scalper prices." Kagome blinked. "Nauki, you're not going to eat one?" Nauki tilted her head. She had never had them before. "What it wike?" "They're sweet. Full of nuts and berries. I can't believe you've never had them before," Kagome said. "Here." Kagome broke off a piece and put it into the girl's mouth. Nauki chewed it. It tasted soft and she liked the berries a lot. The child opened her mouth again, pointing to it. Kagome gave her some more. "I hope Inu-Yasha is alright," Kagome said. She stared off thinking as she fed Nauki.
Natori lay very still on the pallet, his face under the sheet as he listened. His heart began to race as he heard someone enter the hut. The boy grasped the dagger Inu-Yasha had given him for protection. He wanted to run, his mind racing to the night monster that had claimed the lives of the missing children. Natori closed his eyes tightly. He knew he couldn't foil the plan. If he did, they would have no hope in catching the demon. The thing came closer, its body slow, agile. Natori could hear it sniffing the air. His body tensed. Slowly, he moved his hands to his mouth to muffle the sound of his teeth chattering. The creature dug its talons into the floor, wood cracking. It could sense that he was awake. He had to be brave for his rescurers. They would come if the beast attacked him. At least, he hoped they would. Natori wanted to turn around, to see the creature with his own eyes, but he was too afraid. "Come out, child," the voice called. Natori's ears weren't focusing right. They couldn't be! The voice was soothing, calm, much like the priestess, Fuyu who protected the village. Was it really her? Was she protecting him? He turned around slowly, his eyes focusing in the dark. No, it wasn't her! The thing that stood before him was a dark creature with talons as long as his arms, its teeth glittering in the night. As it craned its neck upwards, the roof cracked against the pressure. "Come out little one," it called soothingly. Its milky eyes hypnotized him, glowing as Natori looked into them. The boy could not control his body. He felt himself getting up, his body obeying the demon that stood in the hut. Natori felt as if he was in a dream. This wasn't happening! The demon was smiling at him as he walked towards her, his mind was alert to what was going on, but his body was under her control. The demon beast lowered her head, walking backwards as her eyes were fixed on his. If she broke the link between them, the boy would alert the village. The beast could not afford to lose her catch under such predicaments. Natori walked with her out of the hut. She was leading him away from the village. "That's far enough," Inu-Yasha said. He held the Tetsuiga at ready, his eyes narrowed. "Let the boy go. Your fight is with me!" The demon held her gaze firmly on Natori. "I do not fight runts," the demon said calmly, soothingly. She did not take her eyes away from the child. Inu-Yasha was no threat to her. "Runt?! Who the hell are you calling a runt you overgrown weasel!" Inu-Yasha started to run at her. He jumped, raising the Tetsuiga over his head. The demon's back began to bubble, gases popped against her skin. When he came within a few feet of her ready to slice her in half, the demon's back erupted. Black tentacles shot out at him, grabbing him. The demon smiled faintly. Inu-Yasha struggled as she held him firmly in place above the ground. "What the..?" One tentacle swiped the Tetsuiga away from him. *Dammit!* He kicked his legs to no avail. "What kind of a creature abducts children to feed on their souls?! You're nothing more than a coward!" "Coward am I? For your information dog demon, I am not the one who desires the youth of children to survive," the demon told him. "I am nothing more than a deliverer." She flung Inu-Yasha, sending him hurling against a tree. The back of his head hit, knocking him unconscious. "Inu-Yasha!" Sango came runnning out of the woods, her boomerang at the ready. "Hirokutsu!" Sango flung the large boomerang at the beast. The demon was struck in the back of the head. The second the beast blinked her eyes in pain, the link between her and Natori was broken. The boy blinked his eyes. "I...I can move!" He looked up, his eyes focusing on the large talons and teeth of the beast. He yelled, then ran away from it. The demon was not happy at losing her catch. She turned around, moving her long arms, talons at the ready. She sliced at Sango, but the young woman avoided it. She deflected the blows with her sword. "You are going to pay for that!" Hitori's arrow shot out from the trees, catching the beast off guard. The demon screamed in pain, her head examining the arrow that was sticking out of her wrist. "When attacking a foe, you should always survey the area around you. For depending only on your reflexes and abilities against one opponent is foolish." Hitori walked out of the forest, his eyes narrowed. He could not see the beast, but he could smell the foulness. He walked in her direction, his mind thinking. He had heard what the beast had said about being a deliverer. If she was not the one who was stealing the youth, then who was it? Inu-Yasha groaned. "Uh,..." He moved his arms slowly, his head lifting from the snow. Grabbing his head, Inu-Yasha opened his eyes to see Hitori walking towards the beast. "Nice shot," he said gruffly, getting up slowly. The beast pulled the arrow out of its wrist. The arrow had shattered the small bones in it. She groaned in pain, backing away from the blind archer. "Who are you working for," Sango yelled, holding Hirokutsu at the ready. She narrowed her eyes. Natori came and stood behind her, his small hands grabbing onto her waist, afraid. Before the demon could explain to them that she had been made a deal to snatch the children, she grabbed her head, groaning. Her ears flattened, mouth turned downwards in a frown. Someone was invading her head. Whoever it was did not want her to answer Sango. Sango raised a brow. She moved back some, her hand grabbing onto Natori's wrist. "Move back. Something is attacking that creature besides us." "Looks like who she is working for doesn't want her to tell us who that is," Inu-Yasha said walking towards Sango slowly, still holding his head. "Are you alright," Sango asked. She could see the large bump forming on the side of his head. "Yeah," Inu-Yasha answered, groaning slightly. The demon began to move away from them, shaking her head. In the midst of her agony, she had dropped Tetsuiga. Hitori retrieved it. He walked over to them, holding the handle out for Inu-Yasha to grab. "Do you propose we follow her," he asked as Inu-Yasha sheathed the sword. "I'm not sure. If the deal has been broken, the beast will not go back to the one who employed her. It would be better for her to retreat to where she came from, until she is called upon again," Sango said watching as the demon ran from them. "I wonder why Fuyu said the beast was invisible and had sent me off into the forest to look for it, when it kept appearing here," Hitori said angrily. "I still believe the priestess is the one behind this," Inu-Yasha said. "Even though she wasn't the one going into the hut to snatch Natori, you did say that you heard her footsteps approaching." Hitori nodded. "I would have to say she was scouting for us, then sent the beast in to grab Natori." "Sounds reasonable," Sango said. "What do we do now?" "I say we go to the priestess' hut. If she is not the one doing this, then she will be asleep. If she is the one doing this, she will not be there. She will be waiting for the beast to retrieve the boy," Hitori said. They both nodded.
Nauki patted the rice flour in the wooden bowl with her hands. She watched as it made small clouds in the air. Giggling, she closed her eyes, patting the flour harder. Kaede turned her head watching the small girl as she enjoyed herself. She smiled at her. The wind blew outside, rattling the skeletal tree branches covered in snow. "Ye like helping old Kaede cook?" Nauki opened her eyes, cooing at her, then started to pat the floor again, giggling. "I thought as much." "Tieday, cwouds," Nauki said pointing to the flour as it lifted into the air. "I see ye have found out how to turn the flour into dust," she said. "Would ye like to make something for Inu-Yasha?" Nauki thought. "Papa wike dump-wings." Kaede put her finger in the flour, then put a small amount on the child's nose. "I never had any children of my own. Ye papa is glad to have a good girl like ye. Ye haven't cried one bit since he's been gone." Nauki blinked her eyes. She hadn't realized that Inu-Yasha was missing. She had been having too much fun helping and cooking with Kaede. Nauki's bottom lip quivered. "P...pa..pa," she whimpered. The girl started to cry softly, her tears dropping into the flour. Kaede rolled her eyes, sulking a bit. She just had to bring it to the child's attention. She kneaded the dough, letting the girl cry it out. "Oh, my..."
"I still don't understand how an archer, even though he is blind, cannot stop a monster he has been trained to kill. Nor you who protect the village with incantations," Sango said as she stood behind the priestess, watching her sift through a few tailsmans. "The monster that comes at night is a very tricky beast. It has no shape, or form. Only sound," the priestes, Fuyu, told her. "It does not come during the day when the villagers are awake and alert. It waits until nightfall when only a few stand guard. Chanting incantations drains me of strength. Hitori has to rest, also, for standing guard in the forest diplenishes his energy." Sango thought for a moment. *A creature without shape or form that steals children at night? Why only at night?* "Thank you, for making it clearer what we are up against, Fuyu." Sango left the priestess' hut. Something didn't seem right. "Learn anything else besides what Natori told us," Miroku asked watching Sango's puzzled expression. "The creature has no shape, or form," she said. "No shape, or form? If it can't be seen then why is the archer standing guard in the forest," Inu-Yasha blurted out. "I think Miroku's right. Something is amiss." "How does the archer know what he is firing at? The boy told us Hitori has been trained to distinguish sounds of movement. If the beast has no form, then it has no sound. Furthermore, the archer has no purpose," Miroku said. "I think someone is leading this whole village on a wild goosechase for something that isn't real," Inu-Yasha said. "What do you suppose we do," Sango said, holding onto the string of her boomerang. "Get ready for a fight," Inu-Yasha said, lowly growling.
That night, Inu-Yasha had set up a trap for the night monster. "Are you sure this will work," Sango asked, crouching behind him in the snow. They were hidden behind a pile of wood. "From what you told me about the priestess, her temper was short and to the point. If I had been fighting a creature and had been chanting countless hours to ward off the beast to no avail, I would have been relieved if anyone offered me help. She was not relieved, more like annoyed that you asked what the purpose was for her to continue. It makes her look suspicious." Miroku walked up behind them. He caught the end of what Inu-Yasha had said. "I went to the edge of the village where Natori showed me where the priestess had been putting up tailsmans. We decided to go when Fuyu was chanting on the other side of the village." "And," Inu-Yasha asked, waiting for the creature, or hoax as he believed it, to show. "The tailsmans are fake. It took me a while to decipher them. I will give her an order of congragulations, though. They were well-done fakes." Miroku crouched behind them. "If the priestess was using fake tailsmans, then her incantations are also fake. Since the villagers have no way of knowing the proper incantations to use, they are an easy target. No wonder she was short- tempered when I asked her those questions." Sango held onto her boomerang. "Sango, there was no way of knowing that the priestess was a demon. We know now, but the villagers are still unaware," Inu-Yasha said. "Shh, I hear something," Sango silenced him. They turned qucikly to look behind them. The blind archer stood, his bow ready. "I want to help capture Fuyu as much as you do. She took my sight from me and I have a score to settle with her," Hitori told them. "You weren't born blind," Miroku asked, standing. "No, when the children started disappearing at night, the priestess approached me and told me she had heard a creature come into the village. She informed me of seeing the children being carried from their huts by an invisible creature. She further told me the only way to catch the beast was to rely only on sound, for by using sight, one would miss the target," Hitori continued. "I agreed to lose my sight in order to protect the village. That is when Fuyu told me she would put up tailsmans and perform incantations to ward the creature off during the day. What I couldn't figure out at the time, was why she hadn't been doing it all along." "She wanted you searching the forest at night so the village would be unprotected. That is when she chose to swipe the children," Miroku told him. He watched as Hitori lowered his head. "It isn ot your fault for being tricked. She used the love you feel for the children against you, thus making it your only concern." "And who would ever suspect a priestess? One who is sworn to protect and aid the village," Sango said. "Well, her plans are about to come to an end. That's why I asked Natori to be the bait," Inu-Yasha said, unsheathing Tetsuiga. "You asked Natori to be bait?! Inu-Yasha, that's like asking Nauki," Sango said as she hit him upside the head. "Why do you think I gave him a dagger? Natori was willing to do it," he said as he rubbed his head. "I still can't believe you," Miroku said, sighing some. Hitori interrupted them. "She's here." His voice lowered. "I can hear her feet crunching against the snow. Fuyu is not wearing any sandels." "What direction is she in," Inu-Yasha asked lookiing at him. "She's fourty feet from the entrance, walking slowly, with caution," Hitori said. "Alright then," Inu-Yasha rose. "Lets put her in her place!"
"I can't believe he went without me," Kagome said looking down. "Or that he left Nauki so quickly." "Ye know Inu-Yasha, Kagome. He's always prepared to look for shards of the Sacred Jewel. Who knows what trouble he has ran into. It has been almost three days," Kaede said, feeding Nauki. "Three days?" "Aye. Do not worry, my child. Miroku and Sango are with him," she said. "Mah-ma, I make dump-wings," Nauki said, crawling out of Kaede's lap. She went and retrieved the large bowl to show her. Kagome smiled. "You made sweet dumplings all by yourself?" Nauki nodded, handing her a big one. Kagome bit into it. "These are really good. You could sell these at scalper prices." Kagome blinked. "Nauki, you're not going to eat one?" Nauki tilted her head. She had never had them before. "What it wike?" "They're sweet. Full of nuts and berries. I can't believe you've never had them before," Kagome said. "Here." Kagome broke off a piece and put it into the girl's mouth. Nauki chewed it. It tasted soft and she liked the berries a lot. The child opened her mouth again, pointing to it. Kagome gave her some more. "I hope Inu-Yasha is alright," Kagome said. She stared off thinking as she fed Nauki.
Natori lay very still on the pallet, his face under the sheet as he listened. His heart began to race as he heard someone enter the hut. The boy grasped the dagger Inu-Yasha had given him for protection. He wanted to run, his mind racing to the night monster that had claimed the lives of the missing children. Natori closed his eyes tightly. He knew he couldn't foil the plan. If he did, they would have no hope in catching the demon. The thing came closer, its body slow, agile. Natori could hear it sniffing the air. His body tensed. Slowly, he moved his hands to his mouth to muffle the sound of his teeth chattering. The creature dug its talons into the floor, wood cracking. It could sense that he was awake. He had to be brave for his rescurers. They would come if the beast attacked him. At least, he hoped they would. Natori wanted to turn around, to see the creature with his own eyes, but he was too afraid. "Come out, child," the voice called. Natori's ears weren't focusing right. They couldn't be! The voice was soothing, calm, much like the priestess, Fuyu who protected the village. Was it really her? Was she protecting him? He turned around slowly, his eyes focusing in the dark. No, it wasn't her! The thing that stood before him was a dark creature with talons as long as his arms, its teeth glittering in the night. As it craned its neck upwards, the roof cracked against the pressure. "Come out little one," it called soothingly. Its milky eyes hypnotized him, glowing as Natori looked into them. The boy could not control his body. He felt himself getting up, his body obeying the demon that stood in the hut. Natori felt as if he was in a dream. This wasn't happening! The demon was smiling at him as he walked towards her, his mind was alert to what was going on, but his body was under her control. The demon beast lowered her head, walking backwards as her eyes were fixed on his. If she broke the link between them, the boy would alert the village. The beast could not afford to lose her catch under such predicaments. Natori walked with her out of the hut. She was leading him away from the village. "That's far enough," Inu-Yasha said. He held the Tetsuiga at ready, his eyes narrowed. "Let the boy go. Your fight is with me!" The demon held her gaze firmly on Natori. "I do not fight runts," the demon said calmly, soothingly. She did not take her eyes away from the child. Inu-Yasha was no threat to her. "Runt?! Who the hell are you calling a runt you overgrown weasel!" Inu-Yasha started to run at her. He jumped, raising the Tetsuiga over his head. The demon's back began to bubble, gases popped against her skin. When he came within a few feet of her ready to slice her in half, the demon's back erupted. Black tentacles shot out at him, grabbing him. The demon smiled faintly. Inu-Yasha struggled as she held him firmly in place above the ground. "What the..?" One tentacle swiped the Tetsuiga away from him. *Dammit!* He kicked his legs to no avail. "What kind of a creature abducts children to feed on their souls?! You're nothing more than a coward!" "Coward am I? For your information dog demon, I am not the one who desires the youth of children to survive," the demon told him. "I am nothing more than a deliverer." She flung Inu-Yasha, sending him hurling against a tree. The back of his head hit, knocking him unconscious. "Inu-Yasha!" Sango came runnning out of the woods, her boomerang at the ready. "Hirokutsu!" Sango flung the large boomerang at the beast. The demon was struck in the back of the head. The second the beast blinked her eyes in pain, the link between her and Natori was broken. The boy blinked his eyes. "I...I can move!" He looked up, his eyes focusing on the large talons and teeth of the beast. He yelled, then ran away from it. The demon was not happy at losing her catch. She turned around, moving her long arms, talons at the ready. She sliced at Sango, but the young woman avoided it. She deflected the blows with her sword. "You are going to pay for that!" Hitori's arrow shot out from the trees, catching the beast off guard. The demon screamed in pain, her head examining the arrow that was sticking out of her wrist. "When attacking a foe, you should always survey the area around you. For depending only on your reflexes and abilities against one opponent is foolish." Hitori walked out of the forest, his eyes narrowed. He could not see the beast, but he could smell the foulness. He walked in her direction, his mind thinking. He had heard what the beast had said about being a deliverer. If she was not the one who was stealing the youth, then who was it? Inu-Yasha groaned. "Uh,..." He moved his arms slowly, his head lifting from the snow. Grabbing his head, Inu-Yasha opened his eyes to see Hitori walking towards the beast. "Nice shot," he said gruffly, getting up slowly. The beast pulled the arrow out of its wrist. The arrow had shattered the small bones in it. She groaned in pain, backing away from the blind archer. "Who are you working for," Sango yelled, holding Hirokutsu at the ready. She narrowed her eyes. Natori came and stood behind her, his small hands grabbing onto her waist, afraid. Before the demon could explain to them that she had been made a deal to snatch the children, she grabbed her head, groaning. Her ears flattened, mouth turned downwards in a frown. Someone was invading her head. Whoever it was did not want her to answer Sango. Sango raised a brow. She moved back some, her hand grabbing onto Natori's wrist. "Move back. Something is attacking that creature besides us." "Looks like who she is working for doesn't want her to tell us who that is," Inu-Yasha said walking towards Sango slowly, still holding his head. "Are you alright," Sango asked. She could see the large bump forming on the side of his head. "Yeah," Inu-Yasha answered, groaning slightly. The demon began to move away from them, shaking her head. In the midst of her agony, she had dropped Tetsuiga. Hitori retrieved it. He walked over to them, holding the handle out for Inu-Yasha to grab. "Do you propose we follow her," he asked as Inu-Yasha sheathed the sword. "I'm not sure. If the deal has been broken, the beast will not go back to the one who employed her. It would be better for her to retreat to where she came from, until she is called upon again," Sango said watching as the demon ran from them. "I wonder why Fuyu said the beast was invisible and had sent me off into the forest to look for it, when it kept appearing here," Hitori said angrily. "I still believe the priestess is the one behind this," Inu-Yasha said. "Even though she wasn't the one going into the hut to snatch Natori, you did say that you heard her footsteps approaching." Hitori nodded. "I would have to say she was scouting for us, then sent the beast in to grab Natori." "Sounds reasonable," Sango said. "What do we do now?" "I say we go to the priestess' hut. If she is not the one doing this, then she will be asleep. If she is the one doing this, she will not be there. She will be waiting for the beast to retrieve the boy," Hitori said. They both nodded.