I SOWWWWWWYYYY!!! *grovels* Seems we got back just in time to have AOL problems and then we switshed to MSN and then . . . GRR!! I couldn't update, it wasn't my fault!!!
*Poof of smoke*
*Sensei appears*
Sensei: Bad Cheeto. No happy for you, one year.
Cheeto: *wails* *grovels some more*
Sensei: Now tell them about vacation time.
*Cheeto cries out in horror and curls into fetal position, sucking thumb and mutters inaudibly to self*
Sensei: I apologize for Cheeto's unstable mental position and collapse into psychotic fit. Maybe later. But I will get rid of essentials:
I no own it
You no sue
Give me one thousand American cheeses
Or no happy for you, one year
Next Chapter Number Something or other:
They were on the road, or through the forest again. *A week of nothing but walking, this is going to be fun.* Yusuke thought as he climbed up a steep wooded field. It was slow going, having five humans and Botan, who wasn't human but walked about as fast as one.
"Hopefully we'll get to the next town without much trouble." Miroku muttered as he reached the top of the hill. "I think I'll be able to get us a wagon."
"I don't know about that." Inuyasha said, cradling Kagome on his back as she was still too weak to walk. "We'll get to the mountains soon, so a wagon would be worthless."
A town came into view, but the group just ignored it and continued on at a grueling pace, headed for the mountain Koenma spoke of.
"Are we there yet?" Yusuke whined, but everyone ignored him. After another hour, they saw small houses in the distance, but it was sunset before they reached it.
They strode into the town, surprised at what they saw. It seemed like was running about, panic thick in the air. Inuyasha grabbed a random woman's arm and pulled her in front of him.
"What's going on?" Inuyasha demanded and she shook her head and tore away from him.
"We must ready the sacrifice!" They looked at each other and shrugged. Hiei noticed a small covered cage and strode over to it, raising the cloth over it with the tip of his katana. A small cat demon, whimpering slightly. Kilala looked at it with pity in her eyes and Kurama sighed. He himself knew what it was like to be in a cage, and it was not very fun.
"This is their sacrifice?" said Hiei, voice dripping with disgust.
"Looks like my cat . ." Kuwabara murmured sadly as he turned away from the poor creature.
"Get away from the sacrifice!" A man screeched, running forward and snatching the cage while casting them the evil eye. He ran over to a group of men, whispering angrily, turning back to glare at them a few times.
"Freak." Inuyasha muttered, "Lets get out of here and find an Inn." They wandered about the small town until they found a suitable place to stay, and let Miroku do his work
When they settled in a maidservant entered, putting new linens into a closet near them.
"Woman," Hiei demanded, "ell us more about this 'sacrifice' everyone is going on about."
She smiled lightly and tucked a strand of raven black hair behind her ear. "To ensure a good harvest, every year we sacrifice a small demon to our harvest god at the new moon. Tomorrow night is the new moon, so we must ready the sacrifice in time."
"This sounds familiar." Miroku muttered and Kagome nodded.
"Trends go around here quickly, don't they?" The woman bowed and gathered the rest of the sheets, then took her leave.
"As long as no baka humans bother us." Hiei muttered and sat on one of the beds. A few moments later a few women arrived with trays toppled with food, then left silently, eyeing them suspiciously.
"I don't know, something about this place doesn't seem right." Yusuke muttered, glancing around. Suddenly, small metal balls burst through the paper covered windows, pumping out pink gas.
"What the hell?!" Yusuke yelled, flinging an arm over his mouth. But it was too late, his eyes rolled back in his head and he crumpled to the ground. The others followed, coughing and choking as they dropped one by one in the gas filled room. Sango tried to reach for her mask, but it dropped from her fingers and to the floor as she collapsed.
Hiei's knees buckled as he reached feebly for the door. *Dammit. How could I fall . . .for something as . ..stupid . . .as . . .this . .*
***
Miroku groaned as his eyes slid open. *Where am I?* He sat up, then regretted it dearly as he felt as if his head where being split open by a ridiculously large hammer. *What happened?* He wracked his brain for what he could remember.
*Well . .there was a sacrifice and a hotel . . .and a good looking maid . . . and gas?!* Everything came rushing back to him.
"Sango?" he yelled, looking around desperately, spotting her unconcious figure a few feet away. Everyone was there except. . . he was shocked at how many of them were missing. Inuyasha, Shippo, Hiei, Kurama, Botan, even Kilala where all gone!
He struggled to his feet, looking around. They were in a grassy plain, no town in sight but the mountain sure as hell was closer! Miroku didn't have time to regoise as he was too concerned about the others.
"Sango, wake up!" he said, shaking her. Her eyes opened and she sat up slowly, wincing at the pain that assaulted her head..
"Hurry, wake the others." They went around quickly, Miroku going to Kagome and Sango shaking Yusuke, soon everyone was more or less conscious.
"Five more minutes Shizuru." Kuwabara muttered and rolled over, drawing snickers from the others. Yusuke leaned close to Kuwabara's ear, whispering.
"Kuwabara, Yukina's here." The red head sprung up, arms wide open.
"Yukina?! Where are you? It's your Kazuma-bear!" He looked around quizzically as Yusuke rolled on the ground in laughter, the others suppressing fits of giggles.
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled and was about to try and pummel the boy when Sango stopped them.
'Now children."
"Hey, were are the others?" Kagome said, wondering why there was no lets-insult-the-baka- Hiei statement that they had grown so accustomed to. Then she remembered what happened and the wheels began to turn. *Wait, everyone that's missing is a demon. Well, Botan's a spirit but . .*
"Guys." she muttered, her voice shaking. "You don't think those villagers took them as sacrifices, do you?"
"I don't know." Miroku said, but truthfully his mind screamed in the affirmative.
"Hey, look!" Kuwabara yelled happily and pointed towards the mountains, jumping in glee at what everyone had already noticed. "They're closer!"
Yusuke rolled his eyes, "Thank you, Captain Obvious."
"What'd you say Urameshi?!"
"Who knows where the others are." Miroku muttered, "They could be miles away from here."
"Don't worry Miroku." Kagome counseled, "The guys are smart, they'll figure out where we are." she pondered on her statement for a moment, "Well, at least Kurama's smart."
"What are we waiting for?!" Kuwabara said, breaking out of his newest pointless argument with Yusuke. "Let's go get Yukina!"
***
Inuyasha opened his eyes groggily and looked around. He was sitting cross-legged in a strange, dark place he didn't recognize. Wherever it was, it was bumping around a lot. They went over a particularly large bump and Inuyasha jumped, banging his head into the ceiling a few inches above him.
"OW!" Well, at least that jolt cleared his head a little. He looked around again, this time his vision clearer. He was in a dark, confining area, somewhat like a box. It was then he realized that he was not the only one there. Shippo, Hiei, Kurama, Botan, and little Kilala all lay or were propped up against one of the walls. He now realized that this box was quite large, probably a covered wagon or cart.
Inuyasha tried to move his hands, but realized they were tied behind his back, sacred wards covering the ropes that bound them. *Dammit, this whole place must be covered with them.*
Kurama began to stir, opening his eyes and looking about, confused. He saw that Inuyasha, too, was awake. "Where are we?"
"Not sure." Hiei awoke and realized that is headband had been removed and a ward had been stuck over his Jagan. His face crinkled in annoyance while he looked at the others.
"Apparently I will be no help in locating our position." Shippo and Botan also returned from their trip to dreamland as Kilala stood, little Shippo letting out a small whimper.
"Where are we? What happened?" Kurama smiled lightly and motioned to the young kit, who scooted over to Kurama and into his lap, his large brown eyes shining with fear.
"Yes, I fear I must ask the same question." Botan said, looking about.
"I can fill you in." a voice said, a small slot opening to what was apparently the front of the wagon. "We were going top sacrifice that measly little cat demon to the harvest god, but then we decided he would be must more please to receive these many, strong demons. Our harvest will surely be more plentiful than previous years."
Rage erupted inside of Hiei as he tried to lash out with his Ki, but instead received an acid like pain tearing through his brain. He gasped harshly and grunted in pain.
"Hiei . ." Botan cried, concerned, but dismissed the worry with a glare.
"Don't even try to use your powers." Another voice hissed. "Those sacred wards lock up all of your energy, so it is very painful if you try to access it, as you have seen." He turned to Botan.
"We frankly don't know what you are, but you aren't human and that's good enough for us.." Botan frowned and stuck out her tongue as the panel slid closed.
"Well, how are we going to get out of here?" Inuyasha muttered, "So far it looks like we're going to be harvest god chow."
"Botan." Kurama looked at the girl. "Can you work your binds free?" She struggled for a moment, then sighed.
"I don't know Kurama, they're awfully tight." he cursed and looked at Kilala.
"Can you tear off Botan's binds?" The little cat whined and stood, stumbling over to Botan and beginning to gnaw at the ropes that bound her wrists.
"Hey, how come Botan? Why don't you have Kilala come over and undo my binds?!" Inuyasha demanded. Kurama sighed and spoke as if he were talking to a child.
"Because, Inuyasha, Botan is the only one here that is not a demon. She is the only one that would be able to undo everyone else's binds."
"Listen here smartass–" He was cutoff when the cart jolted to a stop.
"That can't be good."
"Got 'em!" Botan exclaimed, pulling her wrists apart as limp rope fell from them, but was interrupted when the back of the cart opened and the whole thing tipped back, spilling the demons and ferry girl out.
They fell. A huge crevice was beneath them , going down at least a hundred feet, sharp jagged rocks erupting from the sand colored walls. Botan immediately called upon her oar, jumping on it and diving after the others, desperate for a way to help.
"Botan!" Kurama yelled, "Take off the ward!" she assumed he was speaking of the one around his wrists.
"Kurama, I–"
"Just do it!" She reached towards it and her fingers brushed the paper lightly; it was just out of reach! She dove forward and grabbed the ward, tearing it off.
Kurama whipped his head to the side, a single seed flying from his hair and back behind them. The seed sprung to life, bright green vines shooting out to launch onto the canyon walls and racing for the falling figures.
It grabbed them all, hooking around various limbs to halt the demons in their paths. A vine shot out and grabbed Inuyasha's foot, catching him inches before his face would have met the ground. The dog demon's eyes got wide and he yelped, seeming to want to put distance between him and the rocky canyon floor.
"Let's never do that again." Shippo mumbled as he fell over dizzily, still tied, as were the others. Botan went around, carefully removing the wards. The it came to removing the paper from Hiei's eye. She gently picked off a corner and winced.
"This is going to hurt." *RRIIIPP*
"Ow, god damn it woman!"
"Oh, don't be such a baby, it's no more than an overly large band aid."
"On my EYE?!" Botan sweat-dropped, balling up the paper and tossing it over her shoulder.
"Where are we now?" Inuyasha grumbled as he drew his infamous sword. A loud rumbling was heard and they all spun around.
"I'm guessing that would be the harvest god."
***
"Uh, how long have we been walking?" Yusuke moaned and Sango rolled her eyes.
"Is that all you ever do, complain?"
"Well sorry if I'm not used to the whole Indiana Jones Robinson Crusoe 'Living off the land' theory."
"Who?"
"Will you two stop bickering?!" Miroku yelled, "You're giving me a headache!" They all trudged in silence for a bit until they spotted smoke curling over the next hilltop.
"Civilization!" Kuwabara and Yusuke yelled, high-fiving each other.
"For once, I agree." Sango muttered as they headed over to the town. Kagome's thoughts were elsewhere. *Oh, Inuyasha, I hope you're alright . .*
In the meantime, Cheeto had been dragged off to your local insane asylum.
Cheeto: *Rocking back in forth while talking to imaginary friends and other schizophrenic personalities.*
Sensei: Cheeto had to borrow friends computing device for update. Who knows when next will be.
Cheeto:I want a cookie! *cries between paranoid fits of biting nails*
Sesei: No cookie for Cheeto, one year!
Cheeto:The evil penguin minions of Bob will get you! MWAHAHA!
Sensei: Vivian
*Cheeto screams uncontrollably and returns to fetal position.*
*Sensei shoots Cheeto with elephant tranquilizer.*
Sensei: Cheeto thanks for the patience. Leave reviews, or no happy for you!
*Poof of smoke*
*Sensei appears*
Sensei: Bad Cheeto. No happy for you, one year.
Cheeto: *wails* *grovels some more*
Sensei: Now tell them about vacation time.
*Cheeto cries out in horror and curls into fetal position, sucking thumb and mutters inaudibly to self*
Sensei: I apologize for Cheeto's unstable mental position and collapse into psychotic fit. Maybe later. But I will get rid of essentials:
I no own it
You no sue
Give me one thousand American cheeses
Or no happy for you, one year
Next Chapter Number Something or other:
They were on the road, or through the forest again. *A week of nothing but walking, this is going to be fun.* Yusuke thought as he climbed up a steep wooded field. It was slow going, having five humans and Botan, who wasn't human but walked about as fast as one.
"Hopefully we'll get to the next town without much trouble." Miroku muttered as he reached the top of the hill. "I think I'll be able to get us a wagon."
"I don't know about that." Inuyasha said, cradling Kagome on his back as she was still too weak to walk. "We'll get to the mountains soon, so a wagon would be worthless."
A town came into view, but the group just ignored it and continued on at a grueling pace, headed for the mountain Koenma spoke of.
"Are we there yet?" Yusuke whined, but everyone ignored him. After another hour, they saw small houses in the distance, but it was sunset before they reached it.
They strode into the town, surprised at what they saw. It seemed like was running about, panic thick in the air. Inuyasha grabbed a random woman's arm and pulled her in front of him.
"What's going on?" Inuyasha demanded and she shook her head and tore away from him.
"We must ready the sacrifice!" They looked at each other and shrugged. Hiei noticed a small covered cage and strode over to it, raising the cloth over it with the tip of his katana. A small cat demon, whimpering slightly. Kilala looked at it with pity in her eyes and Kurama sighed. He himself knew what it was like to be in a cage, and it was not very fun.
"This is their sacrifice?" said Hiei, voice dripping with disgust.
"Looks like my cat . ." Kuwabara murmured sadly as he turned away from the poor creature.
"Get away from the sacrifice!" A man screeched, running forward and snatching the cage while casting them the evil eye. He ran over to a group of men, whispering angrily, turning back to glare at them a few times.
"Freak." Inuyasha muttered, "Lets get out of here and find an Inn." They wandered about the small town until they found a suitable place to stay, and let Miroku do his work
When they settled in a maidservant entered, putting new linens into a closet near them.
"Woman," Hiei demanded, "ell us more about this 'sacrifice' everyone is going on about."
She smiled lightly and tucked a strand of raven black hair behind her ear. "To ensure a good harvest, every year we sacrifice a small demon to our harvest god at the new moon. Tomorrow night is the new moon, so we must ready the sacrifice in time."
"This sounds familiar." Miroku muttered and Kagome nodded.
"Trends go around here quickly, don't they?" The woman bowed and gathered the rest of the sheets, then took her leave.
"As long as no baka humans bother us." Hiei muttered and sat on one of the beds. A few moments later a few women arrived with trays toppled with food, then left silently, eyeing them suspiciously.
"I don't know, something about this place doesn't seem right." Yusuke muttered, glancing around. Suddenly, small metal balls burst through the paper covered windows, pumping out pink gas.
"What the hell?!" Yusuke yelled, flinging an arm over his mouth. But it was too late, his eyes rolled back in his head and he crumpled to the ground. The others followed, coughing and choking as they dropped one by one in the gas filled room. Sango tried to reach for her mask, but it dropped from her fingers and to the floor as she collapsed.
Hiei's knees buckled as he reached feebly for the door. *Dammit. How could I fall . . .for something as . ..stupid . . .as . . .this . .*
***
Miroku groaned as his eyes slid open. *Where am I?* He sat up, then regretted it dearly as he felt as if his head where being split open by a ridiculously large hammer. *What happened?* He wracked his brain for what he could remember.
*Well . .there was a sacrifice and a hotel . . .and a good looking maid . . . and gas?!* Everything came rushing back to him.
"Sango?" he yelled, looking around desperately, spotting her unconcious figure a few feet away. Everyone was there except. . . he was shocked at how many of them were missing. Inuyasha, Shippo, Hiei, Kurama, Botan, even Kilala where all gone!
He struggled to his feet, looking around. They were in a grassy plain, no town in sight but the mountain sure as hell was closer! Miroku didn't have time to regoise as he was too concerned about the others.
"Sango, wake up!" he said, shaking her. Her eyes opened and she sat up slowly, wincing at the pain that assaulted her head..
"Hurry, wake the others." They went around quickly, Miroku going to Kagome and Sango shaking Yusuke, soon everyone was more or less conscious.
"Five more minutes Shizuru." Kuwabara muttered and rolled over, drawing snickers from the others. Yusuke leaned close to Kuwabara's ear, whispering.
"Kuwabara, Yukina's here." The red head sprung up, arms wide open.
"Yukina?! Where are you? It's your Kazuma-bear!" He looked around quizzically as Yusuke rolled on the ground in laughter, the others suppressing fits of giggles.
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled and was about to try and pummel the boy when Sango stopped them.
'Now children."
"Hey, were are the others?" Kagome said, wondering why there was no lets-insult-the-baka- Hiei statement that they had grown so accustomed to. Then she remembered what happened and the wheels began to turn. *Wait, everyone that's missing is a demon. Well, Botan's a spirit but . .*
"Guys." she muttered, her voice shaking. "You don't think those villagers took them as sacrifices, do you?"
"I don't know." Miroku said, but truthfully his mind screamed in the affirmative.
"Hey, look!" Kuwabara yelled happily and pointed towards the mountains, jumping in glee at what everyone had already noticed. "They're closer!"
Yusuke rolled his eyes, "Thank you, Captain Obvious."
"What'd you say Urameshi?!"
"Who knows where the others are." Miroku muttered, "They could be miles away from here."
"Don't worry Miroku." Kagome counseled, "The guys are smart, they'll figure out where we are." she pondered on her statement for a moment, "Well, at least Kurama's smart."
"What are we waiting for?!" Kuwabara said, breaking out of his newest pointless argument with Yusuke. "Let's go get Yukina!"
***
Inuyasha opened his eyes groggily and looked around. He was sitting cross-legged in a strange, dark place he didn't recognize. Wherever it was, it was bumping around a lot. They went over a particularly large bump and Inuyasha jumped, banging his head into the ceiling a few inches above him.
"OW!" Well, at least that jolt cleared his head a little. He looked around again, this time his vision clearer. He was in a dark, confining area, somewhat like a box. It was then he realized that he was not the only one there. Shippo, Hiei, Kurama, Botan, and little Kilala all lay or were propped up against one of the walls. He now realized that this box was quite large, probably a covered wagon or cart.
Inuyasha tried to move his hands, but realized they were tied behind his back, sacred wards covering the ropes that bound them. *Dammit, this whole place must be covered with them.*
Kurama began to stir, opening his eyes and looking about, confused. He saw that Inuyasha, too, was awake. "Where are we?"
"Not sure." Hiei awoke and realized that is headband had been removed and a ward had been stuck over his Jagan. His face crinkled in annoyance while he looked at the others.
"Apparently I will be no help in locating our position." Shippo and Botan also returned from their trip to dreamland as Kilala stood, little Shippo letting out a small whimper.
"Where are we? What happened?" Kurama smiled lightly and motioned to the young kit, who scooted over to Kurama and into his lap, his large brown eyes shining with fear.
"Yes, I fear I must ask the same question." Botan said, looking about.
"I can fill you in." a voice said, a small slot opening to what was apparently the front of the wagon. "We were going top sacrifice that measly little cat demon to the harvest god, but then we decided he would be must more please to receive these many, strong demons. Our harvest will surely be more plentiful than previous years."
Rage erupted inside of Hiei as he tried to lash out with his Ki, but instead received an acid like pain tearing through his brain. He gasped harshly and grunted in pain.
"Hiei . ." Botan cried, concerned, but dismissed the worry with a glare.
"Don't even try to use your powers." Another voice hissed. "Those sacred wards lock up all of your energy, so it is very painful if you try to access it, as you have seen." He turned to Botan.
"We frankly don't know what you are, but you aren't human and that's good enough for us.." Botan frowned and stuck out her tongue as the panel slid closed.
"Well, how are we going to get out of here?" Inuyasha muttered, "So far it looks like we're going to be harvest god chow."
"Botan." Kurama looked at the girl. "Can you work your binds free?" She struggled for a moment, then sighed.
"I don't know Kurama, they're awfully tight." he cursed and looked at Kilala.
"Can you tear off Botan's binds?" The little cat whined and stood, stumbling over to Botan and beginning to gnaw at the ropes that bound her wrists.
"Hey, how come Botan? Why don't you have Kilala come over and undo my binds?!" Inuyasha demanded. Kurama sighed and spoke as if he were talking to a child.
"Because, Inuyasha, Botan is the only one here that is not a demon. She is the only one that would be able to undo everyone else's binds."
"Listen here smartass–" He was cutoff when the cart jolted to a stop.
"That can't be good."
"Got 'em!" Botan exclaimed, pulling her wrists apart as limp rope fell from them, but was interrupted when the back of the cart opened and the whole thing tipped back, spilling the demons and ferry girl out.
They fell. A huge crevice was beneath them , going down at least a hundred feet, sharp jagged rocks erupting from the sand colored walls. Botan immediately called upon her oar, jumping on it and diving after the others, desperate for a way to help.
"Botan!" Kurama yelled, "Take off the ward!" she assumed he was speaking of the one around his wrists.
"Kurama, I–"
"Just do it!" She reached towards it and her fingers brushed the paper lightly; it was just out of reach! She dove forward and grabbed the ward, tearing it off.
Kurama whipped his head to the side, a single seed flying from his hair and back behind them. The seed sprung to life, bright green vines shooting out to launch onto the canyon walls and racing for the falling figures.
It grabbed them all, hooking around various limbs to halt the demons in their paths. A vine shot out and grabbed Inuyasha's foot, catching him inches before his face would have met the ground. The dog demon's eyes got wide and he yelped, seeming to want to put distance between him and the rocky canyon floor.
"Let's never do that again." Shippo mumbled as he fell over dizzily, still tied, as were the others. Botan went around, carefully removing the wards. The it came to removing the paper from Hiei's eye. She gently picked off a corner and winced.
"This is going to hurt." *RRIIIPP*
"Ow, god damn it woman!"
"Oh, don't be such a baby, it's no more than an overly large band aid."
"On my EYE?!" Botan sweat-dropped, balling up the paper and tossing it over her shoulder.
"Where are we now?" Inuyasha grumbled as he drew his infamous sword. A loud rumbling was heard and they all spun around.
"I'm guessing that would be the harvest god."
***
"Uh, how long have we been walking?" Yusuke moaned and Sango rolled her eyes.
"Is that all you ever do, complain?"
"Well sorry if I'm not used to the whole Indiana Jones Robinson Crusoe 'Living off the land' theory."
"Who?"
"Will you two stop bickering?!" Miroku yelled, "You're giving me a headache!" They all trudged in silence for a bit until they spotted smoke curling over the next hilltop.
"Civilization!" Kuwabara and Yusuke yelled, high-fiving each other.
"For once, I agree." Sango muttered as they headed over to the town. Kagome's thoughts were elsewhere. *Oh, Inuyasha, I hope you're alright . .*
In the meantime, Cheeto had been dragged off to your local insane asylum.
Cheeto: *Rocking back in forth while talking to imaginary friends and other schizophrenic personalities.*
Sensei: Cheeto had to borrow friends computing device for update. Who knows when next will be.
Cheeto:I want a cookie! *cries between paranoid fits of biting nails*
Sesei: No cookie for Cheeto, one year!
Cheeto:The evil penguin minions of Bob will get you! MWAHAHA!
Sensei: Vivian
*Cheeto screams uncontrollably and returns to fetal position.*
*Sensei shoots Cheeto with elephant tranquilizer.*
Sensei: Cheeto thanks for the patience. Leave reviews, or no happy for you!