CHAPTER SEVEN
*
Kagome pedalled faster as the sounds of wolves came closer. "I can't let them catch up," she mumbled. "I can't let them slow me down! I won't let them!"
She knew the wolves wouldn't hurt her, or even try to scare her, but she didn't want to lose a second. Besides, if Koga was pushy before, he would be outright demanding now. She had had enough experience with insistent, domineering demon guys to know that their tantrums tended to eat up time. And if he nags me now to be his "woman," I know I'll end up slapping him again, she thought.
Her bike rattled and bounced over the rocky road. Kagome spared a look over her back, and saw a few wolves staring at her. They weren't moving.
"I guess they're scared to come any closer to these fang mountains," she murmured. "Good news for me. I guess they know who lives here."
The mist was heavier around the mountains. Kagome slowed her bike, afraid that she might slam into a tree or rock. Eventually she slid off her bike and began walking through the mist. Vines tripped her, and branches scratched at her face.
Finally she found herself at a stark gray cliffside. The rock above her was smooth and stretched up into the clouds. There was no way to climb it -- at least, not without a helicopter. Her heart sank at the sight of it.
"There's gotta be a way," she said, looking up. "Inuyasha said that he spent time here when he wanted to rest." I don't know if he is here now, she thought. But it's worth a try. Anything is worth a try.
She sat down and tried to think.
What would Inuyasha do in this situation? He wasn't known for his subtle way of doing things; in fact, his way of finding someone was generally to run around at top speed, screaming their name. In a calmer mood, he would ask questions around a nearby village. But the only nearby villages were burned out. Besides, she was fairly sure that nobody kept track of demon movements, if the demon didn't want to be detected.
A memory rose up in her mind: Inuyasha's annoyed face seemed to rise up in front of her, calling, "Wouldja stop whining, Kagome? Get off your butt already!"
"You're right," Kagome said abruptly, looking up at the rock face. "I could have him right behind me and I wouldn't hear it. I'll never find him if I can't hear him, or smell him, the way Inuyasha could when he was with me. I'm just a human. There's somebody else I need to find -- someone who can lead me right to him." She smiled a little. "Somebody who is always around him..."
She got up and dusted herself off.
*
Half an hour later, she was still wandering through the woods. The mist was starting to clear, now that the sun was rising above the trees. Kagome wiped sweat from her forehead, and slid over a mossy log.
I thought I was used to the outdoors, she thought, wrapping her arms around herself. After all this time in the feudal era, I've dealt with all kinds of weather... no, that's not true. I always had someone with me. Right from the beginning... Inuyasha always took care of me.
Her melancholy train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a voice. It was high and fussy-sounding, the sort of voice that Kagome associated with elderly relarives who didn't have kids. "... firewood that milord doesn't even use... it seems a little strange to me, since he says that he's perfectly warm. Whyever should he send me on a mission to gather firewood? But then, I suppose I shouldn't complain..."
Kagome gasped and ducked behind a tree. In the mist, she could see a short, stumpy figure with a weird knobby object stuck over its head. The knob swayed back and forth, and Kagome caught the glint of eyes. She smiled slightly.
"... up and searching for fallen sticks at the crack of dawn," the irritating voice continued. "In the damp weather too. Mother always said I had a weak constitution, so I wouldn't be surprised if I fell ill. I don't mean disrespect to milord, but if I don't need it and he doesn't need it, why should-"
"Almost close enough," Kagome whispered.
"He really does need to learn a little patience -- even if that wretched brother of his is finally--" The voice stopped as Kagome grabbed the knob and yanked it away -- it was a top-heavy staff. A clawed hand grabbed at her skirt. "What are you doing?" the voice squawked. "Help! Milord! Someone help!"
Kagome swung the staff like a golf club, and sent the tiny demon sailing through the air and over a fallen tree. For a moment she watched the bird-like feet wobbling over the log. Then the demon leapt up, his pointed hat falling back over his head. "You wretched human! What are you doing here?" he said, waving his arms indignantly. "Inuyasha is dead and gone. There's no reason for you to pester milord with your presence!"
Kagome let the staff fall. "Jaken," she said slowly. "I want to see Sesshoumaru."
TO BE CONTINUED
*
Kagome pedalled faster as the sounds of wolves came closer. "I can't let them catch up," she mumbled. "I can't let them slow me down! I won't let them!"
She knew the wolves wouldn't hurt her, or even try to scare her, but she didn't want to lose a second. Besides, if Koga was pushy before, he would be outright demanding now. She had had enough experience with insistent, domineering demon guys to know that their tantrums tended to eat up time. And if he nags me now to be his "woman," I know I'll end up slapping him again, she thought.
Her bike rattled and bounced over the rocky road. Kagome spared a look over her back, and saw a few wolves staring at her. They weren't moving.
"I guess they're scared to come any closer to these fang mountains," she murmured. "Good news for me. I guess they know who lives here."
The mist was heavier around the mountains. Kagome slowed her bike, afraid that she might slam into a tree or rock. Eventually she slid off her bike and began walking through the mist. Vines tripped her, and branches scratched at her face.
Finally she found herself at a stark gray cliffside. The rock above her was smooth and stretched up into the clouds. There was no way to climb it -- at least, not without a helicopter. Her heart sank at the sight of it.
"There's gotta be a way," she said, looking up. "Inuyasha said that he spent time here when he wanted to rest." I don't know if he is here now, she thought. But it's worth a try. Anything is worth a try.
She sat down and tried to think.
What would Inuyasha do in this situation? He wasn't known for his subtle way of doing things; in fact, his way of finding someone was generally to run around at top speed, screaming their name. In a calmer mood, he would ask questions around a nearby village. But the only nearby villages were burned out. Besides, she was fairly sure that nobody kept track of demon movements, if the demon didn't want to be detected.
A memory rose up in her mind: Inuyasha's annoyed face seemed to rise up in front of her, calling, "Wouldja stop whining, Kagome? Get off your butt already!"
"You're right," Kagome said abruptly, looking up at the rock face. "I could have him right behind me and I wouldn't hear it. I'll never find him if I can't hear him, or smell him, the way Inuyasha could when he was with me. I'm just a human. There's somebody else I need to find -- someone who can lead me right to him." She smiled a little. "Somebody who is always around him..."
She got up and dusted herself off.
*
Half an hour later, she was still wandering through the woods. The mist was starting to clear, now that the sun was rising above the trees. Kagome wiped sweat from her forehead, and slid over a mossy log.
I thought I was used to the outdoors, she thought, wrapping her arms around herself. After all this time in the feudal era, I've dealt with all kinds of weather... no, that's not true. I always had someone with me. Right from the beginning... Inuyasha always took care of me.
Her melancholy train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a voice. It was high and fussy-sounding, the sort of voice that Kagome associated with elderly relarives who didn't have kids. "... firewood that milord doesn't even use... it seems a little strange to me, since he says that he's perfectly warm. Whyever should he send me on a mission to gather firewood? But then, I suppose I shouldn't complain..."
Kagome gasped and ducked behind a tree. In the mist, she could see a short, stumpy figure with a weird knobby object stuck over its head. The knob swayed back and forth, and Kagome caught the glint of eyes. She smiled slightly.
"... up and searching for fallen sticks at the crack of dawn," the irritating voice continued. "In the damp weather too. Mother always said I had a weak constitution, so I wouldn't be surprised if I fell ill. I don't mean disrespect to milord, but if I don't need it and he doesn't need it, why should-"
"Almost close enough," Kagome whispered.
"He really does need to learn a little patience -- even if that wretched brother of his is finally--" The voice stopped as Kagome grabbed the knob and yanked it away -- it was a top-heavy staff. A clawed hand grabbed at her skirt. "What are you doing?" the voice squawked. "Help! Milord! Someone help!"
Kagome swung the staff like a golf club, and sent the tiny demon sailing through the air and over a fallen tree. For a moment she watched the bird-like feet wobbling over the log. Then the demon leapt up, his pointed hat falling back over his head. "You wretched human! What are you doing here?" he said, waving his arms indignantly. "Inuyasha is dead and gone. There's no reason for you to pester milord with your presence!"
Kagome let the staff fall. "Jaken," she said slowly. "I want to see Sesshoumaru."
TO BE CONTINUED