Kagome awoke with a splitting headache. It didn't help that she was being mercilessly jostled back and forth. She moaned, and opened her eyes, only to be looking at a mat of silver. She blinked once or twice, then turned her head. Now she was looking at a large pair of golden eyes. "InuYasha!" She said, surprised.
Quickly, she looked down around her, ignoring the pain in her head, to see where she was. InuYasha was walking through a dense forest, carrying her gently, with a dense pack on his back "Where are we?" She asked.
InuYasha blinked uncomprehendingly at her, then his eyes suddenly widened, and he shook his head, coming out of whatever thought's he was in. "You're awake." He stated.
Kagome smiled sarcastically, and nodded at him. "What happened?" She asked, putting a hand to her head.
InuYasha drew a breath. "Well, you passed out while we were heading for the island. We got here safely, though." He said, wisely omitting the part about the Kraken. "Once we got here, we decided to split up. You and I are going to head strait into the Dragon country, through Shinjuku, and the others are gonna go around, and look in the other regions of the island."
"How big is the island?" Kagome asked, trying to mask the worry in her voice.
"Big enough." InuYasha said grimly. "We need to hurry."
Kagome looked down, trying not to let what they both knew show: they were probably not going to find Vadise in time… if she could even cure Kagome.
"Listen, I need to tell you what you need to do in Shinjuku." InuYasha said. "You're posing as my newly acquired slave. You're mother was a slave, and she kept you hidden until you were old enough to run away, then she let you go. However, I caught you, and have claimed you as my own."
Kagome nodded, trying to absorb all this through her aching head. "Right."
InuYasha pressed onward. "This should cover you're ineptitude. You won't have to tell anyone you're story, but it's good for you to know it. Also, walk with a bad limp, once we get into the city. That'll give me an excuse to carry things myself, as opposed to give them to you."
Kagome nodded, absorbing all this in stride. "Yes."
"Now, listen carefully." InuYasha said. Kagome was struck by how much one of her school teachers he sounded, as he carefully explained how she was to act, when she was supposed to act rebellious (She was a new slave, after all), and when she was supposed to bow, or grovel. Kagome was starting to love this less and less, but realized that she had to do it.
Then, quite
suddenly, InuYasha dropped her roughly, and kicked her in the side, lightly.
"Wha?" She said, confused, momentarily forgetting the pain in her head from the
pain in her backside. "What's the matter."
"You mean you didn't struggle
when I caught you?" InuYasha asked smoothly.
Suddenly Kagome caught on, and immediately began struggling, trying to get as dirty as possible, under InuYasha's careful supervision. "A little more on you're cheek." He instructed.
Kagome nodded, and rubbed some dirt on her cheek. Once InuYasha was satisfied, she stood up. "Is that good?" She asked, displaying her now filthy clothes.
InuYasha nodded. "Almost." He said, the promptly lashed out several times with his claws. Kagome squeaked as he clothes suddenly acquired several new rips, making her skirt dangerously short, and revealing a bit more that was comfortable. "InuYasha!" She yelled. "SIT!"
InuYasha slumped to the ground. "What was that for?" He demanded, around a mouthful of dirt.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kagome yelled. "Honestly!"
InuYasha growled as he got to his feet. "I'm making things realistic! Nobody's gonna believe you're a slave if you're clothes are intact!"
Kagome scowled at him. "Well, couldn't you at least have made it around the edges?" She asked plaintively.
InuYasha gave her a long, steady look, and she quieted up. "I'm going to go get ready myself, you stay here, and if you hear anything, then start crying instantly. If they come over, then act really scared, and back away."
Kagome looked confused. "Why."
"It'll be obvious you're a slave." InuYasha said. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead, and cursed. "Almost forgot!" He said, and walked over to his pack, then, pulled something out. It looked like a fancy band of gold, with a long chain attached to it. "C'mere." He said, gesturing.
Meekly, Kagome stood and walked over. Carefully, InuYasha put the bar on the back of her neck, and on one swift solid motion, twisted it around.
Kagome let the weight of the gold think settle on her shoulders, and it suddenly donned on her. It was a collar! Kagome's eyes flashed angrily. "Now listen here!" She yelled. "I'll pose as a slave, but I will not will a collar!"
InuYasha expertly put a finger to her lips, silencing her. "Yes, you will." HE said firmly, and with that, he turned, grabbed the bag, and left.
Kagome starred at him, cocked her head, and blinked it him.
~~
"Let me go!" Shippo yelled, wincing as his capture dashed swiftly through the woods. "Letgoletgoletgoletgoletgo!"
Kohaku snorted and increased his pace.
Sango and Miroku were hot on his trail. How did they move so fast. No wonder Sango had been the best Youkai slayer in their village. Kohaku blinked. Where had that come from? Was he from the same village as Sango? Was he a youkai hunter as well?
Kohaku snorted, and dashed ahead, gaining distance steadily.
"SANGO!" The little kitsune called. "MIROKU! HELP!"
Tired of the constant yelling, Kohaku swung the kitsune up, and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. "It's hard to run while listening to your yelling." He said.
Shippo stared at him for a moment. Then, suddenly, his eyes widened. "Kohaku!" He said, pointing.
Kohaku suddenly stopped. "You know who I am?" He asked.
Shippo nodded. "You're Naraku's minion!" He accused. "What does that demon want here?"
A confused look crossed Kohaku's face "What are you talking about?" He asked. "Who's Naraku?"
Now that confused Shippo. Kohaku had tried to kill them a few times, but he had never lied. "Then who are you working for?" He demanded.
Kohaku blinked at him. "At dragon named Atma." He said, as if it was obvious.
The sound of Shippo's jaw dropping echoed through the forest.
~~
Kagome looked up at the crescent moon nervously. InuYasha had been gone for most of the day. What if something had happened to him!
She had been mentally preparing herself for the coming day since that morning, but still suffered with the indignity of it. Imagine, having to walk through a city dressed in shredded clothing. She starred at herself nervously. Her shirt was ripped considerably, having been shortened up so that it showed her belly-button. Luckily, her bust wasn't very badly mangled, so she still had some dignity. Her skirt had simply been shortened considerably. She would definitely have to be careful not to take big steps.
Suddenly, there was a twig snap in the distance. Having prepared for this too, she immediately dropped to her stomach, and started "Crying" softly.
Soon, there was another snap, right behind her. She turned around, hoping for InuYasha. The youkai that stood before her was most certainly not InuYasha.
He had long, silver hair, and amber eyes, but at that, the resemblance stopped. His hair was done up in an elaborate, amazing style. Two large locks of hair came from his bangs, and framed a firm, handsome face. An elaborate in his hair was interwoven an intricate pattern of feathers. His face was expressionless, and smooth. His clothes were baggy, decorated almost like Sesshoumaru's, but with subtle differences. No boa was present, but the metal shoulder guard ran all the way over both shoulders, with silken streamers trailing down his back. Strapped at his side was a beaten old scabbard with the frayed hilt of a Katana sticking out of it.
A slight smile touched his face. "Well, well, what have we here?" The youkai asked in a silken, sonorous tenor.
Kagome, according to instruction, cowered away, praying that InuYasha would return soon. She sort of doubted this youkai would be deterred by the collar.
The youkai took a step towards her. "You look scared." He remarked.
What to do? InuYasha had told her to just cower, and everything would be okay! What was she gonna do?
Slowly, the youkai reached down to the hilt at his side, and drew out a long, beat up, old sword. Kagome blinked. That sword looked familiar! The youkai very suddenly, planted the sword in the ground. It flared up in yellow light, and soon stood a thick, long blade of pure, beautiful steel. Kagome blinked again. Tetsusaiga?
"I guess the disguise is pretty good." Said a loud, arrogant, familiar voice.
Kagome looked up, aghast. "InuYasha?" She asked.
The youkai looked down at her, and flashed InuYasha's trademark grin. "Looks like I do pass for a reasonable youkai…" InuYasha said.
