Author's Note: Ok well I have another chapter for you. It's taken me a long time. And I feel a bit bad for it. But there wasn't anything I could do about it. I would like to say I don't own Inuyasha. But the original characters that you see often are mine. So ask me before you use them. And I just wanted to say one more time. Kikyou is not evil. At least not now. And Kagome isn't Kikyou's reincarnation in this story. Ok well I'm done. Onto the next chapter...
Chapter 3
Kagome awoke with a grown. She was sleeping outside. Oh yeah... Now she remembered. She had run all throughout the mountains because of dragons. And the demons working with them. And now she was sleeping next to Sota. There was also two other people. She was lucky that she remembered their names even.
Voices...
"...So why did you let them stay again Inuyasha?" It was that boy Shippo talking.
"They might have some information we could use. And if no information then maybe some money." Before they could continue Kagome sat up.
"Morning." That was all she could think of to say. "So you two wanted to hear what happened?" Both nodded their heads. "Well our town was attacked by demons. Some were on the ground. Some could fly and others were on the backs or great blue dragons." She looked at them both to see if they were going to say anything and seeing as they weren't she started up again. "We had left the town early in the morning. To get into the mountain caves. But we were attacked a day earlier then we expected. I... I don't know what happened to well everyone. We just ran."
Inuyasha looked at her then Shippo. "Where are you two going to go? And better yet, where are you going to stay?"
Kagome stuttered "O Ompatha. To the knight's council. To get help or something."
Inuyasha pressed on "And after that?"
Kagome turned her back to him. "I don't know where we're going! I'll think of something!" Kagome started out in a huff. "I'm going over here to get cleaned up. Then we're going to have a quick breakfast and leave. I don't want to be sitting here when one of those dragons shows up!" Kagome disappeared behind a few trees.
Inuyasha and Shippo exchanged looks. Her plans were lacking a lot of detail.
Sota woke up a few minutes later. "Where's Kagome? And who are you?"
Inuyasha smirked "We seem to be headed in the same direction. So it seems that we'll be traveling companions. At least until Ompatha." Shippo gave Inuyasha a dirty look before moving to sit down next to Sota.
"I'm Shippo. And I'm a fox demon!" Inuyasha ignored the rest of what the two boys talked about. He thought about what the girl had said. Demons and dragons didn't work with each other very often. So what does it mean when they do work together.
Truth be told Inuyasha was only going with this girl and her brother because he and Shippo had nothing better to do. Wandering around in the mountains, no matter how beautiful was boring and it got old real fast.
"Hey kid!"
Sota looked up at Inuyasha. "Yeah?"
"How far is Ompatha from here?"
Sota's eyes lit up. He was no doubt thinking. Or trying to. After a minute of silence he smiled. "About 12 days!"
Inuyasha moaned '2 damn days. What have I gotten myself into?'.
Kagome came back from the river that lay not even 15 feet from where they sat. And after a fast breakfast they started up. Kagome really didn't want to be found out by the dragons. She noted that Inuyasha really didn't want to run into them either.
By mid afternoon Inuyasha could tell they had almost gotten to the top. It hadn't taken them all that long to do so either. But it must have been fear that pushed the two humans forward. Getting out of the woods was all Inuyasha, himself, cared about.
Shippo sat either on the girl, Kagome, or her brother's shoulder. He would ask them questions about their life, family and friends.
It was very dull. Inuyasha had never had a life like that. He had always been on the move.
Shippo was talking about him again. Damn why did that kit have to talk about him as if he wasn't standing right there.
"....Yeah and Inuyasha is a Hanyou. A dog Hanyou really. He's not so bad. Isn't nearly as dumb as I first..." Shippo didn't have time to finish as Inuyasha pulled him off of a startled Kagome's shoulder.
"Not nearly as dumb as you first thought?!" Thump! Fist hit skull. "NOT SO BAD! I'll show you bad!" Inuyasha wasn't given the chance to finish as Kagome put herself back together and took Shippo out of the head lock Inuyasha had him in. It was a lot harder then she first thought it would and only managed to free him when she picked up a rock and dropped it on the hanyou's head.
"Will you stop?" It sounded like more of a demand then a question. "Shippo was only telling... You know never mind! We've got a long trip up to the top still!" Shippo climbed onto her backpack as Kagome started up again.
Inuyasha decided that being the rear guard wouldn't be so bad for the time being. The rest of the trip turned out to be a quiet one.
~*~*~*~*~
The day seemed to go too fast for Kagome. Climbing the mountain was hard. But she had wanted to be farther along then what they were. Sota and Shippo had stopped talking.
Inuyasha hadn't even started talking. He stayed in the back the rest of the day. When Shippo had asked about it Inuyasha simply told him to shut up.
Kagome was getting a little worried about running out of food too. A week's worth of food for her was bigger then Sota's. And they were, so kindly, feeding two other people. They would be lucky if it lasted them another two days.
The night wasn't too cold. Kagome slept next to Sota who was sharing his blanket with Shippo. Inuyasha was camped out in a tree on the other side of the fire pit.
The morning was bright. A lot of the smoke had cleared out of the sky. You could see a lot better. Kagome hoped that they would get to the top today. That would mean another day of walking and they would reach a small town that would no doubt have an inn or two that they could stay in.
It was another silent and steady march up. Kagome was tired and sore but didn't lag behind. Sota and Shippo were having trouble keeping up to the pace that she and Inuyasha had set.
Sota groaned "I'm tired. Hungry. And I can't feel my feet."
Kagome stopped midway up an unusually large rock that wasn't as high as it was long. "What do you want me to do? Carry you?" She managed. "I'm tired, hungry and my feet hurt. So don't even start."
Shippo jumped onto Kagome's shoulder "When do you think we'll get to the top?"
Kagome looked like she was about to give up her desperate attempt to get both legs over the boulder. "I don't know Shippo. Flat ground is 100 times easier to travel on. I can only hope we get there soon." Inuyasha growled as he pushed Kagome's feet over the rock. Grabbing Sota he jumped up.
"Flat ground! There isn't anything flat up there! Well just have to go down another damned mountain like this!" Inuyasha pushed the tree branches back as he continued to yell "And then we have to find a town! Or...What t he hell?"
They were at the top of the mountain. Or just a canyon between two peeks. Kagome smiled "See we took the fork in the Stream that turns west. Now we are between some of the higher peeks and we only have to go down a little. Then we'll come out at a point in the road where 4 roads come together. From there we'll take the one that goes west until we get to Ompatha."
Inuyasha sat down suddenly "Feh, isn't it time for lunch?"
Kagome sat down on a rock a yard away. 'Bitter are we dog boy?' Kagome opened her pack and took out what was left of her bread, meats and cheese. She broke the bread into chunks and put a few slices on cheese and meat on them. Handing them out she turned to Shippo. "So Shippo how come you and Inuyasha are traveling together? Where are you parents?"
Shippo took a bite out of his sandwich, staring at the ground. "They were killed a few years ago." He took a deep breath "Buy these bad demons called the Thunder Brothers."
Kagome looked patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"Oh no Kagome it's alright!"
"' Oh no Kagome it's alright'" Inuyasha made his voice higher and whiner as he mocked Shippo. Inuyasha had been laughing more to himself. But that ended as a rock hit skull. "Ouch bitch what was that for?"
"That's not my name! And you leave Shippo alone!" She huffed before she turned to Sota who was caught between laughing at Inuyasha or telling him off. "Sota do you think we should go to the knight's council as soon as we get there? Or we could find Aunt Kaede first..."
"Hmm I don't know." Sota stopped to think about it. Kagome new that he would like it if she gave him a say in what they did. She knew that they would go to the knights first. They had to know what happened. Then they could go visit their aunt. But maybe the council knew what happened to her sweet little town.
She hoped they had come out ok. If her parents were dead...Kagome didn't know what she would do.
"Alright kiddies lets go." Inuyasha had added a lot of sarcasm to that.
Kagome picked herself up and moved to the front. Inuyasha didn't know where he was going anyway. So Kagome was going to have to be leader again for the time being. She had started walking when she heard Sota give a surprised whoop. Turning her head Kagome saw Sota in Inuyasha's back...And Shippo was sitting next to him.
'That's nice of him, giving Sota and Shippo a piggyback ride.' Kagome turned back around and started walking again. Inuyasha right behind her.
~*~*~*~*~
Rin was bored. She looked out the window of the inn at the rain. It wasn't going to be a busy night. Not very many people were going to leave their nice houses to come to some inn. Even if it did have the best ale in the area.
Kikyou wasn't one of Rin's favorite people. Kikyou was cold with a dry sense of humor that came out once in a blue moon. She was a really stiff alright. It was hard to work with the other girl sometimes.
Rin walked into the back room where Kikyou was sitting. "Hey." Kikyou looked up but didn't say anything. "I umm...just wanted to see what was going on."
Kikyou went back to looking out the window. "There isn't anything going on." She said quietly. Rin's nightly hello to Kikyou out of the way she went back into the common room. The chairs and stools were out, ready to be sat in. And food was being cooked in the kitchen. There was also a blazing fire in the fireplace.
The Inn would be warm to anyone who was cold and wanted out of the rain. Or for the few guests staying there. Rin heard foot steps on the board walk that led up to the inn. She had her back to the door but heard as it opened.
The usual squeak of the door closing and then footsteps. Still Rin didn't turn around. Let them come to her. She didn't feel like moving. It could cost her the job she'd worked so long to get.
A smooth male voice came out right by her ear. "Hello miss. I was wondering if I could get a room for the night and food. Make that 4 nights please."
Rin turned around to see a tall young man with short black hair that was tied back into a ponytail at the nape of hie neck. He wore a monk's cloths and had a staff.
Rin looked at the record keeping book that had been sitting in front he her. "Have you got money?"
"Yes, will 6 iron pieces work?"
Rin smiled '6? What is this guy stupid? Oh well I can always take the change.' "Oh that's fine. Do you want dinner now or later?"
The man smiled "I'll have it later thank you."
"Oh can you sign here please?" The man picked up the pen and wrote his name down. After getting his room number he walked up the stairs.
When he had finally gone up and was safely out of the room Rin pocketed one of the iron pieces. Rin went to grab the book. She had to find out who had unknowingly contributed to her piggy bank. The hand writing was neat. Not sloppy or an X as a lot of people put down. It was just a first name. There was no sur-name there. It read simply Miroku.
~*~*~*~*~
The road loomed ever closer. Kagome could see it in the dying light. There wasn't anyone there see could see. That didn't mean that someone wasn't there.
They had been walking down steadily since lunch. Sota and Shippo were still on Inuyasha's back. Kagome was tired but if they stopped right as they cam out on the road it would be a little suspicious. Inuyasha stopped at the road. Dumping the two boys on the ground it looked like he was going to set up camp.
Sota and Shippo both sat up, wide awake with the nice fall they'd had. Kagome looked down at Inuyasha "Why are you stopping?"
"Aren't you tired?"
"Yes but if we stop now don't you think it would look funny. We should get a few more miles up the road. It wont look like we've just flopped down on the ground after we'd been in the woods."
Inuyasha nodded and stood up again. "Oh and you two can walk now. You've two have been sleeping all afternoon." The boys nodded and started off at a run.
"Catch me if you can Shippo!" Shippo didn't respond as he ran after Sota. Kagome and Inuyasha walked after them. Kagome knew that Sota wouldn't get too far ahead.
They kept walking even after dark. Kagome was tired but the white moon high tonight. She had no problems seeing. The boys stayed closer after the sun had gone down. The road was wide enough that they could all walk down it. But Kagome, Sota and Shippo stayed behind Inuyasha by about 3 steps.
Inuyasha stopped walking suddenly. "Shh. There's people up there." His voice was little more then a breath. "I think we should find out what kind of people they are." Kagome couldn't say anything. Her throat had constricted leaving her without her voice. She only nodded.
Inuyasha pushed them off to the side of the road. "Stay here. I'll be back." At that he walked off down the road. Kagome new he had stopped at the bend in the road and was listening. Either that or he was going to talk to them and then double back into the forest to get them.
But something about them bothered Kagome. She had to find out for herself. Bending down to look at the two boys "I'm going off to see who those people are. If Inuyasha comes back before I do tell him..tell him I went ahead. If you want me to come then whistle, got that?"
Sota grabbed her arm. "Ok. Kagome be careful." Kagome smiled. She dropped her pack next to the boys reminding them no to forget it and slipped into the forest. She could see clear as day. Avoiding sticks, trees and anything else that could cause sound she continued on.
Nearing the camp Kagome could see that there was at least 10 men there. They were all wishing Inuyasha a half-hearted fair well. Not even that. They seemed to be happy to see him off.
As soon as Inuyasha had turned the bend the men picked up where they had been talking before.
"So anyways...I sees it this way. Work well with the demon lord and get money. If you aren't working for him then you're dead."
" Yeah? And how's that?" Said another man.
The first turned to look at all of the men in the eye before he said a little menacingly "'cause he'll do to your home what he did to the one down there. Take it out! Pow!" At this the man slammed his fist into his palm. "That general didn' pay him any heed. Said he was a nothing. And now the towns all flat or there's demons and the likes livin in all the houses and eatin all the food. Killin and rapin all the peoples there."
Noone said anything for a few minutes then the second man looked over to the first. "Ohhh I think I see. But what did that demon lord want with them anyways? I mean they weren't doing anything."
"Not yet you mean" Said a third "That marshal, he would have done something sooner or later. Mark my words. Given time to act he would have got a big army together and then the demons would be gone. So why not take him out first right? Before he could do anything or call for help? See Lametin why you should listen more."
The second man nodded his head "Yes I do see. When are we going to open that ale? It's no good to up sitting in it's jug. Might as well drink it now." There was a chorus of 'yeahs" and a few "hell yeahs"
Kagome couldn't believe what she'd heard. Demons had tried to get her father to work for them? Was that it? Her town had been over run by demons? The same demons who had tried to talk to her father? Kagome was so confused. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before.
Kagome was pulled roughly out of her thoughts as a hand gripped her shoulder. Another slid around her mouth before he could scream. "Quiet! I don't know why you're here but lets go. The boys are up at the fork in the road waiting for us." It was only Inuyasha. His mouth was by her ear. He let her go before walking off into the forest.
Kagome followed after him.
Kagome was happy to see that Sota and Shippo were indeed at a fork in the road. One was going to Ompatha, the other looked to be heading south. Kagome wasn't sure. She was too tired to think.
After another mile or more on the road they stopped for the night. It had been a long few miles for Kagome. They had put at least 4 miles between themselves and the men down the road. Kagome was too tired to tell anyone what she'd heard.
Inuyasha watched as Kagome, Sota And Shippo went to sleep. They were tried. Inuyasha knew that at the rate they were going they would be sleeping in a real bed the next night. Inuyasha was glad too. It wasn't often that he got to sleep in a room with a bed.
Why had that girl, Kagome, gone to see what those men were like? And what had she heard? This girl wasn't moving much when he'd found her. He knew he'd scared her but he hadn't been that quiet as he walked. He wanted her to know he was there.
Well whatever it was could wait till morning. Rolling over Inuyasha let himself sleep.
A few hours had passed when Inuyasha heard something coming. There was a series of loud crashes. And then the steady sound of foot falls. Something Big was coming right at them. Or a lot of somethings were coming right at them.
End Note: That's all for now....
Chapter 3
Kagome awoke with a grown. She was sleeping outside. Oh yeah... Now she remembered. She had run all throughout the mountains because of dragons. And the demons working with them. And now she was sleeping next to Sota. There was also two other people. She was lucky that she remembered their names even.
Voices...
"...So why did you let them stay again Inuyasha?" It was that boy Shippo talking.
"They might have some information we could use. And if no information then maybe some money." Before they could continue Kagome sat up.
"Morning." That was all she could think of to say. "So you two wanted to hear what happened?" Both nodded their heads. "Well our town was attacked by demons. Some were on the ground. Some could fly and others were on the backs or great blue dragons." She looked at them both to see if they were going to say anything and seeing as they weren't she started up again. "We had left the town early in the morning. To get into the mountain caves. But we were attacked a day earlier then we expected. I... I don't know what happened to well everyone. We just ran."
Inuyasha looked at her then Shippo. "Where are you two going to go? And better yet, where are you going to stay?"
Kagome stuttered "O Ompatha. To the knight's council. To get help or something."
Inuyasha pressed on "And after that?"
Kagome turned her back to him. "I don't know where we're going! I'll think of something!" Kagome started out in a huff. "I'm going over here to get cleaned up. Then we're going to have a quick breakfast and leave. I don't want to be sitting here when one of those dragons shows up!" Kagome disappeared behind a few trees.
Inuyasha and Shippo exchanged looks. Her plans were lacking a lot of detail.
Sota woke up a few minutes later. "Where's Kagome? And who are you?"
Inuyasha smirked "We seem to be headed in the same direction. So it seems that we'll be traveling companions. At least until Ompatha." Shippo gave Inuyasha a dirty look before moving to sit down next to Sota.
"I'm Shippo. And I'm a fox demon!" Inuyasha ignored the rest of what the two boys talked about. He thought about what the girl had said. Demons and dragons didn't work with each other very often. So what does it mean when they do work together.
Truth be told Inuyasha was only going with this girl and her brother because he and Shippo had nothing better to do. Wandering around in the mountains, no matter how beautiful was boring and it got old real fast.
"Hey kid!"
Sota looked up at Inuyasha. "Yeah?"
"How far is Ompatha from here?"
Sota's eyes lit up. He was no doubt thinking. Or trying to. After a minute of silence he smiled. "About 12 days!"
Inuyasha moaned '2 damn days. What have I gotten myself into?'.
Kagome came back from the river that lay not even 15 feet from where they sat. And after a fast breakfast they started up. Kagome really didn't want to be found out by the dragons. She noted that Inuyasha really didn't want to run into them either.
By mid afternoon Inuyasha could tell they had almost gotten to the top. It hadn't taken them all that long to do so either. But it must have been fear that pushed the two humans forward. Getting out of the woods was all Inuyasha, himself, cared about.
Shippo sat either on the girl, Kagome, or her brother's shoulder. He would ask them questions about their life, family and friends.
It was very dull. Inuyasha had never had a life like that. He had always been on the move.
Shippo was talking about him again. Damn why did that kit have to talk about him as if he wasn't standing right there.
"....Yeah and Inuyasha is a Hanyou. A dog Hanyou really. He's not so bad. Isn't nearly as dumb as I first..." Shippo didn't have time to finish as Inuyasha pulled him off of a startled Kagome's shoulder.
"Not nearly as dumb as you first thought?!" Thump! Fist hit skull. "NOT SO BAD! I'll show you bad!" Inuyasha wasn't given the chance to finish as Kagome put herself back together and took Shippo out of the head lock Inuyasha had him in. It was a lot harder then she first thought it would and only managed to free him when she picked up a rock and dropped it on the hanyou's head.
"Will you stop?" It sounded like more of a demand then a question. "Shippo was only telling... You know never mind! We've got a long trip up to the top still!" Shippo climbed onto her backpack as Kagome started up again.
Inuyasha decided that being the rear guard wouldn't be so bad for the time being. The rest of the trip turned out to be a quiet one.
~*~*~*~*~
The day seemed to go too fast for Kagome. Climbing the mountain was hard. But she had wanted to be farther along then what they were. Sota and Shippo had stopped talking.
Inuyasha hadn't even started talking. He stayed in the back the rest of the day. When Shippo had asked about it Inuyasha simply told him to shut up.
Kagome was getting a little worried about running out of food too. A week's worth of food for her was bigger then Sota's. And they were, so kindly, feeding two other people. They would be lucky if it lasted them another two days.
The night wasn't too cold. Kagome slept next to Sota who was sharing his blanket with Shippo. Inuyasha was camped out in a tree on the other side of the fire pit.
The morning was bright. A lot of the smoke had cleared out of the sky. You could see a lot better. Kagome hoped that they would get to the top today. That would mean another day of walking and they would reach a small town that would no doubt have an inn or two that they could stay in.
It was another silent and steady march up. Kagome was tired and sore but didn't lag behind. Sota and Shippo were having trouble keeping up to the pace that she and Inuyasha had set.
Sota groaned "I'm tired. Hungry. And I can't feel my feet."
Kagome stopped midway up an unusually large rock that wasn't as high as it was long. "What do you want me to do? Carry you?" She managed. "I'm tired, hungry and my feet hurt. So don't even start."
Shippo jumped onto Kagome's shoulder "When do you think we'll get to the top?"
Kagome looked like she was about to give up her desperate attempt to get both legs over the boulder. "I don't know Shippo. Flat ground is 100 times easier to travel on. I can only hope we get there soon." Inuyasha growled as he pushed Kagome's feet over the rock. Grabbing Sota he jumped up.
"Flat ground! There isn't anything flat up there! Well just have to go down another damned mountain like this!" Inuyasha pushed the tree branches back as he continued to yell "And then we have to find a town! Or...What t he hell?"
They were at the top of the mountain. Or just a canyon between two peeks. Kagome smiled "See we took the fork in the Stream that turns west. Now we are between some of the higher peeks and we only have to go down a little. Then we'll come out at a point in the road where 4 roads come together. From there we'll take the one that goes west until we get to Ompatha."
Inuyasha sat down suddenly "Feh, isn't it time for lunch?"
Kagome sat down on a rock a yard away. 'Bitter are we dog boy?' Kagome opened her pack and took out what was left of her bread, meats and cheese. She broke the bread into chunks and put a few slices on cheese and meat on them. Handing them out she turned to Shippo. "So Shippo how come you and Inuyasha are traveling together? Where are you parents?"
Shippo took a bite out of his sandwich, staring at the ground. "They were killed a few years ago." He took a deep breath "Buy these bad demons called the Thunder Brothers."
Kagome looked patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"Oh no Kagome it's alright!"
"' Oh no Kagome it's alright'" Inuyasha made his voice higher and whiner as he mocked Shippo. Inuyasha had been laughing more to himself. But that ended as a rock hit skull. "Ouch bitch what was that for?"
"That's not my name! And you leave Shippo alone!" She huffed before she turned to Sota who was caught between laughing at Inuyasha or telling him off. "Sota do you think we should go to the knight's council as soon as we get there? Or we could find Aunt Kaede first..."
"Hmm I don't know." Sota stopped to think about it. Kagome new that he would like it if she gave him a say in what they did. She knew that they would go to the knights first. They had to know what happened. Then they could go visit their aunt. But maybe the council knew what happened to her sweet little town.
She hoped they had come out ok. If her parents were dead...Kagome didn't know what she would do.
"Alright kiddies lets go." Inuyasha had added a lot of sarcasm to that.
Kagome picked herself up and moved to the front. Inuyasha didn't know where he was going anyway. So Kagome was going to have to be leader again for the time being. She had started walking when she heard Sota give a surprised whoop. Turning her head Kagome saw Sota in Inuyasha's back...And Shippo was sitting next to him.
'That's nice of him, giving Sota and Shippo a piggyback ride.' Kagome turned back around and started walking again. Inuyasha right behind her.
~*~*~*~*~
Rin was bored. She looked out the window of the inn at the rain. It wasn't going to be a busy night. Not very many people were going to leave their nice houses to come to some inn. Even if it did have the best ale in the area.
Kikyou wasn't one of Rin's favorite people. Kikyou was cold with a dry sense of humor that came out once in a blue moon. She was a really stiff alright. It was hard to work with the other girl sometimes.
Rin walked into the back room where Kikyou was sitting. "Hey." Kikyou looked up but didn't say anything. "I umm...just wanted to see what was going on."
Kikyou went back to looking out the window. "There isn't anything going on." She said quietly. Rin's nightly hello to Kikyou out of the way she went back into the common room. The chairs and stools were out, ready to be sat in. And food was being cooked in the kitchen. There was also a blazing fire in the fireplace.
The Inn would be warm to anyone who was cold and wanted out of the rain. Or for the few guests staying there. Rin heard foot steps on the board walk that led up to the inn. She had her back to the door but heard as it opened.
The usual squeak of the door closing and then footsteps. Still Rin didn't turn around. Let them come to her. She didn't feel like moving. It could cost her the job she'd worked so long to get.
A smooth male voice came out right by her ear. "Hello miss. I was wondering if I could get a room for the night and food. Make that 4 nights please."
Rin turned around to see a tall young man with short black hair that was tied back into a ponytail at the nape of hie neck. He wore a monk's cloths and had a staff.
Rin looked at the record keeping book that had been sitting in front he her. "Have you got money?"
"Yes, will 6 iron pieces work?"
Rin smiled '6? What is this guy stupid? Oh well I can always take the change.' "Oh that's fine. Do you want dinner now or later?"
The man smiled "I'll have it later thank you."
"Oh can you sign here please?" The man picked up the pen and wrote his name down. After getting his room number he walked up the stairs.
When he had finally gone up and was safely out of the room Rin pocketed one of the iron pieces. Rin went to grab the book. She had to find out who had unknowingly contributed to her piggy bank. The hand writing was neat. Not sloppy or an X as a lot of people put down. It was just a first name. There was no sur-name there. It read simply Miroku.
~*~*~*~*~
The road loomed ever closer. Kagome could see it in the dying light. There wasn't anyone there see could see. That didn't mean that someone wasn't there.
They had been walking down steadily since lunch. Sota and Shippo were still on Inuyasha's back. Kagome was tired but if they stopped right as they cam out on the road it would be a little suspicious. Inuyasha stopped at the road. Dumping the two boys on the ground it looked like he was going to set up camp.
Sota and Shippo both sat up, wide awake with the nice fall they'd had. Kagome looked down at Inuyasha "Why are you stopping?"
"Aren't you tired?"
"Yes but if we stop now don't you think it would look funny. We should get a few more miles up the road. It wont look like we've just flopped down on the ground after we'd been in the woods."
Inuyasha nodded and stood up again. "Oh and you two can walk now. You've two have been sleeping all afternoon." The boys nodded and started off at a run.
"Catch me if you can Shippo!" Shippo didn't respond as he ran after Sota. Kagome and Inuyasha walked after them. Kagome knew that Sota wouldn't get too far ahead.
They kept walking even after dark. Kagome was tired but the white moon high tonight. She had no problems seeing. The boys stayed closer after the sun had gone down. The road was wide enough that they could all walk down it. But Kagome, Sota and Shippo stayed behind Inuyasha by about 3 steps.
Inuyasha stopped walking suddenly. "Shh. There's people up there." His voice was little more then a breath. "I think we should find out what kind of people they are." Kagome couldn't say anything. Her throat had constricted leaving her without her voice. She only nodded.
Inuyasha pushed them off to the side of the road. "Stay here. I'll be back." At that he walked off down the road. Kagome new he had stopped at the bend in the road and was listening. Either that or he was going to talk to them and then double back into the forest to get them.
But something about them bothered Kagome. She had to find out for herself. Bending down to look at the two boys "I'm going off to see who those people are. If Inuyasha comes back before I do tell him..tell him I went ahead. If you want me to come then whistle, got that?"
Sota grabbed her arm. "Ok. Kagome be careful." Kagome smiled. She dropped her pack next to the boys reminding them no to forget it and slipped into the forest. She could see clear as day. Avoiding sticks, trees and anything else that could cause sound she continued on.
Nearing the camp Kagome could see that there was at least 10 men there. They were all wishing Inuyasha a half-hearted fair well. Not even that. They seemed to be happy to see him off.
As soon as Inuyasha had turned the bend the men picked up where they had been talking before.
"So anyways...I sees it this way. Work well with the demon lord and get money. If you aren't working for him then you're dead."
" Yeah? And how's that?" Said another man.
The first turned to look at all of the men in the eye before he said a little menacingly "'cause he'll do to your home what he did to the one down there. Take it out! Pow!" At this the man slammed his fist into his palm. "That general didn' pay him any heed. Said he was a nothing. And now the towns all flat or there's demons and the likes livin in all the houses and eatin all the food. Killin and rapin all the peoples there."
Noone said anything for a few minutes then the second man looked over to the first. "Ohhh I think I see. But what did that demon lord want with them anyways? I mean they weren't doing anything."
"Not yet you mean" Said a third "That marshal, he would have done something sooner or later. Mark my words. Given time to act he would have got a big army together and then the demons would be gone. So why not take him out first right? Before he could do anything or call for help? See Lametin why you should listen more."
The second man nodded his head "Yes I do see. When are we going to open that ale? It's no good to up sitting in it's jug. Might as well drink it now." There was a chorus of 'yeahs" and a few "hell yeahs"
Kagome couldn't believe what she'd heard. Demons had tried to get her father to work for them? Was that it? Her town had been over run by demons? The same demons who had tried to talk to her father? Kagome was so confused. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before.
Kagome was pulled roughly out of her thoughts as a hand gripped her shoulder. Another slid around her mouth before he could scream. "Quiet! I don't know why you're here but lets go. The boys are up at the fork in the road waiting for us." It was only Inuyasha. His mouth was by her ear. He let her go before walking off into the forest.
Kagome followed after him.
Kagome was happy to see that Sota and Shippo were indeed at a fork in the road. One was going to Ompatha, the other looked to be heading south. Kagome wasn't sure. She was too tired to think.
After another mile or more on the road they stopped for the night. It had been a long few miles for Kagome. They had put at least 4 miles between themselves and the men down the road. Kagome was too tired to tell anyone what she'd heard.
Inuyasha watched as Kagome, Sota And Shippo went to sleep. They were tried. Inuyasha knew that at the rate they were going they would be sleeping in a real bed the next night. Inuyasha was glad too. It wasn't often that he got to sleep in a room with a bed.
Why had that girl, Kagome, gone to see what those men were like? And what had she heard? This girl wasn't moving much when he'd found her. He knew he'd scared her but he hadn't been that quiet as he walked. He wanted her to know he was there.
Well whatever it was could wait till morning. Rolling over Inuyasha let himself sleep.
A few hours had passed when Inuyasha heard something coming. There was a series of loud crashes. And then the steady sound of foot falls. Something Big was coming right at them. Or a lot of somethings were coming right at them.
End Note: That's all for now....