Chapter 07: Return to the Village
"So how much further? Are we almost there yet?" Kagome asked for perhaps the fiftieth time in the last ten minutes.
Kouga chuckled at her anxiety. He rather enjoyed the way she clung to his chest for dear life. "We are almost there. Calm down Kagome. You can trust that I will not let you fall. I will never let anything hurt you, I promise."
"That's a big promise wolf." Sesshoumaru interrupted.
"So. What you don't think I'm capable?"
"We are here." Sesshoumaru guided his red cloud to the ground with graceful ease and Kouga jumped off with Kagome in his arms as soon as he could safely land on his feet.
"We need to find the miko. We need to find out if what that Naraku said was true." Kagome told the two as Kouga set her on the ground gently. She began to run towards the village at a brisk speed.
Sesshoumaru observed her velocity for a moment almost impressed. "She moves rather fast for a human."
Kouga looked at the demon lord and smirked. "Of course, my woman is the epitome of athleticism."
"Big words for a wolf." Sesshoumaru taunted.
"I am a prince. It only makes sense that I was educated." Kouga responded sharply.
"But then again, she would need to run fast." Sesshoumaru continued ignoring the wolf's comment. "If you were to protect her she would need to learn to run away whenever danger arrived."
As Kouga was about to raise his fist to strike the demon-lord, who stood stoically and bored, a voice caught their attention.
Kagome stood a few hundred yards away. She decided to wait a bit once she realized the two youkai were not following her. "Stop goofing off and hurry up you guys!"
Sesshoumaru turned a confused eye to Kouga. "What is goofing?"
Kouga just looked at him as if he was the most ignorant being alive. "If you don't know what that is I'm not going to tell you." He then ran off after Kagome. He caught up with her a moment later.
"What were you two doing?" Kagome asked curiously.
"We were just discussing the foliage." The two began running again towards the village. Kouga was holding back and keeping pace with Kagome. "Kagome?"
"Hmm?" She replied keeping her eyes focused in front of her.
"What is goofing?"
"Oh, umm...it means playing. Wasting time when you should be doing something important." Kagome explained.
"I see. That makes sense." Kouga agreed.
The two arrived at the village then and noticed it was eerily quiet. Some of the buildings looked damaged. It appeared that a small fire had erupted and destroyed many of the thatched roofs.
Sesshoumaru appeared behind them then and surveyed the damage.
"This does not look like Inuyasha's work." He confided in his two companions.
"Follow me. The miko's house is not far." Kagome led the two towards what was formerly Kikyou's home. She found where all the villagers were. They seemed to ensemble around a funeral pyre. Kagome approached the crowd after motioning for the two demons to remain out of view.
The crowd was beginning to dissipate. Apparently the funeral was over. Kagome approached the old man that seemed to be leading the ordeal.
"Excuse me sir. I am seeking the miko Kikyou."
The man looked at her sadly. "You are too late. This is the funeral of our beloved Kikyou. That disgusting hanyou Inuyasha has slain her."
"Inuyasha? I'm sorry sir, but I have met Inuyasha and he would not have betrayed Kikyou. Are you the new spiritual leader of this village?" The man looked to his side at the little girl with the solemn features.
"This is the miko of the village." The old man nodded his head towards the child.
Kagome looked closer. The girl could not have been more than seven years old. She had a bandage over one of her eyes. Apparently she had recently been involved in a traumatic injury. Kagome kneeled before her.
"I am Kagome. I spoke with the miko Kikyou a few days ago. May I ask of you what has happened here?"
The girl looked up at her. Wisdom beyond her years was reflected in her eyes. "I am Kaede. Come with me into the house. Bring your two youkai friends with you."
Kagome motioned for Sesshoumaru and Kouga to follow her into the miko's home. The three outsiders sat beside one another on the floor across from the child miko.
"Kikyou was my sister. The hanyou Inuyasha betrayed her and killed her for the Shikon no Tama. He was in league with a thief named Onigumo."
"That's not true." Kagome interrupted.
"What do you know? You were not here!" Kaede screamed at the strange woman while rising to her feet.
"I know that Inuyasha would not have betrayed Kikyou. I do not know who this Onigumo is, but we met a Naraku who claimed to have been responsible for your village's damage. Two more travel with us and are currently surveying the damage he wreaked upon the demon-exterminator village." Kagome explained.
"Inuyasha may be lowly, but he would not stoop so low as to deceit." Sesshoumaru told the temperamental child in his ever so smooth, calming voice.
Kaede looked more closely at the two youkai. Then she turned towards Kagome. "Why does one with spiritual energy such as your travel with such filth?"
Kouga remained calm, waiting for the emotional turmoil to cease. It was obvious the child was grieving. Sesshoumaru began to growl. Kagome placed a soothing hand upon his shoulder to calm him and surprisingly it worked. He directed his glare towards the human that dared attempt to calm him and was surprised that he didn't have any desire to murder her.
"Kaede, these are my friends. They are trustworthy and respectable. I am sorry to hear about your loss. We have a problem. What did you do to the Shikon no Tama?"
Sesshoumaru wanted to scoff at the 'trustworthy' bit in Kagome's description of him. Yes he was honorable, but she should not trust him. He could easily slit her throat if he wanted to. He just didn't want to.
"The Shikon no Tama was burned along with my sister's body. It is no longer in this realm." Kaede answered deciding to focus on human girl and ignore the youkais who she wouldn't be able to defeat anyway. She had to trust that this 'Kagome' could control them. Perhaps she could offer her a subduing spell.
"The Shikon no Tama is back. Apparently it was within my body. I am from the future. The Bone Eater's Well is a time portal. I explained this to Kikyou. She was unsure of how it functioned so she sent me to find the monk Miroku. Along the way we encountered Naraku and he ripped the jewel from my body. So then I shattered it. Now I have to collect the shards."
Kaede just stared at her for a good three minutes. No one said a word. Finally Kaede broke the silence.
"You're telling me that the monk, is one of those demons?" She asked confused as she pointed to Kouga and Sesshoumaru.
Kouga and Kagome both burst out laughing. Sesshoumaru rose to his feet annoyed and ready to pull out his sword and rid the world of the annoying seven year old brat.
Suddenly Kaede threw a beaded necklace around his neck as he was about to draw his sword. "Subdue him Kagome! Subdue him before he kills me!" The little girl ran behind Kagome's leg to hide.
"Calm DOWN Sesshoumaru!" A loud thud vibrated throughout the room.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"Kouga, when I get up I will rip your laughing head from your scrawny shoulders." Sesshoumaru complained from his undignified, unlordlike position on the floor.
A moment later Sesshoumaru rose from the ground and tried to reach behind Kagome for the wretched human that cursed him in such a manner. He was not some kind of dog to be trained for obedience. Well, maybe he was some kind of dog, but that was not the point!
"Sesshoumaru, calm down." Kagome tried to calm the demon-lord but only forced him to get to know the floor better. "I'm so sorry Sesshoumaru! I didn't mean to do that!"
"When I get up..."
"Kagome, I placed a subduing spell on the necklace. Whenever you say the word 'down' he will face plant onto the ground. It will only work when you say the word though." Kaede explained.
"I see. I'm sorry Sesshoumaru. I will do my best to remember not to say that word." She helped him to his feet. Kouga's laughter had finally ceased. "The monk is with our other friend. They are in the demon- exterminator village right now. I'm sure you will meet them."
"Where is the hanyou?" Sesshoumaru demanded.
"I will not tell you." Kaede replied still cowering behind Kagome.
"So he is alive?" Sesshoumaru inquired once more.
"In a way." Kaede answered mysteriously.
Sesshoumaru growled annoyed with these word games and the fact that he couldn't kill either of those stupid humans now that he had that bothersome necklace. He tried pulling it but to no avail. He saw a man tending his garden not far away so he raced towards him.
Kaede sat back down on the floor and was mixing some assortment of herbs and completely ignored Kagome and Kouga. She was an odd child. All the sudden the thunderous voice of Sesshoumaru losing his cool echoed in their ears. The three rushed out to the scene.
Sesshoumaru was holding the poor villager by his throat with his claws extended. Poison threatened to leak into the man's flesh as he demanded to know the whereabouts of the hanyou.
"Sesshoumaru! Put the man DOWN!" Kagome screamed, completely forgetting about the spell.
The necklace began to glow and Sesshoumaru released the man's throat before he plummeted towards the earth once again.
No apologies this time were issued. "What were you doing?" Kagome demanded.
"I want to know where my brother is."
"He is sealed to a tree by the Bone Eater's Well. But there is no way to release him." Kaede informed the dog-demon.
"You lie. A powerful miko, such a Kagome can release him." Sesshoumaru answered after he dusted himself off. He then began to walk calmly towards the mentioned tree. The three followed him.
Pinned to the tree was Inuyasha. His hair was blowing in the wind and he appeared to be enjoying a peaceful slumber. Kagome walked near to him and touched his foot that was near her eye level. Golden eyes snapped open.
"What are you doing here wench? I will kill you!" Inuyasha shouted with a voice filled with hatred as he struggled against the arrow that impaled him upon the tree.
Kouga tensed as his protective nature took over. He would not let this dog- turd hurt his woman.
"Inuyasha? I have come to free you. Let me help you." Kagome pleaded.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked confused.
"Yes. Who did you think I was?"
"I thought you were Kikyou. She, she, she betrayed me." Inuyasha hung his head low. The years of rejection hung heavy on his heart.
"You betrayed her you liar!" Kaede screamed.
"I did not!"
"Calm DOWN you two!" Kagome looked to her side expecting to ask Sesshoumaru's advice. Then her words replayed her mind. She released a groan. "I am so sorry Sesshoumaru! I promise I won't do it again."
The demon lord lifted himself from the dirt and glared at her with ice in his golden orbs. Then he turned to Inuyasha. "No need to explain yourself little brother. We know the true culprit of this crime is Naraku. I need something from you. Kagome, release him."
Kagome climbed up the tree to concentrate her powers on the arrow pining her friend. Inuyasha watched her with confusion. 'Why is she helping me?' He asked himself silently.
Suddenly he was free and on the ground. Kouga stepped up beside Kagome to protect her from that dog that threatened her. He seemed to have calmed down, but that could just be an act.
"Where is the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru demanded.
"Where is the what?" Inuyasha asked confused.
Sesshoumaru sighed annoyed. Why did he have to have such a baka brother. "Father's fang! Where is it?"
"I don't even know what you are talking about!" Inuyasha yelled right back. He raised his claws to strike his older brother but then Kaede pulled out her other subduing necklace and tossed it over his head.
"What is this cyclops?" Inuyasha demanded as he began to tug at the beads. Sesshoumaru saw this as his opportunity to rid the world of his useless brother. Too bad Kagome had to speak up.
"SIT DOWN!" Kagome yelled at the two. She did not realize Inuyasha would plummet to the ground this time. "I'm sorry Inuyasha! I only meant to subdue Sesshoumaru."
The two brothers grumbled at her released various strings of colorful verses from their mouths.
"So you know who betrayed Kikyou and me?" Inuyasha asked Kagome once he rose from his hole. He might have tried to hurt her, but Kouga was standing ridiculously close and she had the power of his necklace.
"Yes, his name is Naraku. We have two other companions that are investigating another village that he claimed to have decimated. I must collect the shards of the Shikon no Tama. It was buried within my body and in order to keep it from Naraku I had to shatter it." Kagome explained.
"I understand. I want to help. I have nothing else to do. May I join you?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome was really nice to him last time they met so he felt he wanted to experience friendship. She may just be willing to offer him that since no one else ever had.
"Of course. Let us go, we can figure out my business later. This is more important." Kagome began to lead the others back towards the village. She ignored Sesshoumaru's low growl.
"I'll say it again. Pure adventures with you my Kagome." Kouga muttered under his breath as he went to catch up with his new obsession.
"So how much further? Are we almost there yet?" Kagome asked for perhaps the fiftieth time in the last ten minutes.
Kouga chuckled at her anxiety. He rather enjoyed the way she clung to his chest for dear life. "We are almost there. Calm down Kagome. You can trust that I will not let you fall. I will never let anything hurt you, I promise."
"That's a big promise wolf." Sesshoumaru interrupted.
"So. What you don't think I'm capable?"
"We are here." Sesshoumaru guided his red cloud to the ground with graceful ease and Kouga jumped off with Kagome in his arms as soon as he could safely land on his feet.
"We need to find the miko. We need to find out if what that Naraku said was true." Kagome told the two as Kouga set her on the ground gently. She began to run towards the village at a brisk speed.
Sesshoumaru observed her velocity for a moment almost impressed. "She moves rather fast for a human."
Kouga looked at the demon lord and smirked. "Of course, my woman is the epitome of athleticism."
"Big words for a wolf." Sesshoumaru taunted.
"I am a prince. It only makes sense that I was educated." Kouga responded sharply.
"But then again, she would need to run fast." Sesshoumaru continued ignoring the wolf's comment. "If you were to protect her she would need to learn to run away whenever danger arrived."
As Kouga was about to raise his fist to strike the demon-lord, who stood stoically and bored, a voice caught their attention.
Kagome stood a few hundred yards away. She decided to wait a bit once she realized the two youkai were not following her. "Stop goofing off and hurry up you guys!"
Sesshoumaru turned a confused eye to Kouga. "What is goofing?"
Kouga just looked at him as if he was the most ignorant being alive. "If you don't know what that is I'm not going to tell you." He then ran off after Kagome. He caught up with her a moment later.
"What were you two doing?" Kagome asked curiously.
"We were just discussing the foliage." The two began running again towards the village. Kouga was holding back and keeping pace with Kagome. "Kagome?"
"Hmm?" She replied keeping her eyes focused in front of her.
"What is goofing?"
"Oh, umm...it means playing. Wasting time when you should be doing something important." Kagome explained.
"I see. That makes sense." Kouga agreed.
The two arrived at the village then and noticed it was eerily quiet. Some of the buildings looked damaged. It appeared that a small fire had erupted and destroyed many of the thatched roofs.
Sesshoumaru appeared behind them then and surveyed the damage.
"This does not look like Inuyasha's work." He confided in his two companions.
"Follow me. The miko's house is not far." Kagome led the two towards what was formerly Kikyou's home. She found where all the villagers were. They seemed to ensemble around a funeral pyre. Kagome approached the crowd after motioning for the two demons to remain out of view.
The crowd was beginning to dissipate. Apparently the funeral was over. Kagome approached the old man that seemed to be leading the ordeal.
"Excuse me sir. I am seeking the miko Kikyou."
The man looked at her sadly. "You are too late. This is the funeral of our beloved Kikyou. That disgusting hanyou Inuyasha has slain her."
"Inuyasha? I'm sorry sir, but I have met Inuyasha and he would not have betrayed Kikyou. Are you the new spiritual leader of this village?" The man looked to his side at the little girl with the solemn features.
"This is the miko of the village." The old man nodded his head towards the child.
Kagome looked closer. The girl could not have been more than seven years old. She had a bandage over one of her eyes. Apparently she had recently been involved in a traumatic injury. Kagome kneeled before her.
"I am Kagome. I spoke with the miko Kikyou a few days ago. May I ask of you what has happened here?"
The girl looked up at her. Wisdom beyond her years was reflected in her eyes. "I am Kaede. Come with me into the house. Bring your two youkai friends with you."
Kagome motioned for Sesshoumaru and Kouga to follow her into the miko's home. The three outsiders sat beside one another on the floor across from the child miko.
"Kikyou was my sister. The hanyou Inuyasha betrayed her and killed her for the Shikon no Tama. He was in league with a thief named Onigumo."
"That's not true." Kagome interrupted.
"What do you know? You were not here!" Kaede screamed at the strange woman while rising to her feet.
"I know that Inuyasha would not have betrayed Kikyou. I do not know who this Onigumo is, but we met a Naraku who claimed to have been responsible for your village's damage. Two more travel with us and are currently surveying the damage he wreaked upon the demon-exterminator village." Kagome explained.
"Inuyasha may be lowly, but he would not stoop so low as to deceit." Sesshoumaru told the temperamental child in his ever so smooth, calming voice.
Kaede looked more closely at the two youkai. Then she turned towards Kagome. "Why does one with spiritual energy such as your travel with such filth?"
Kouga remained calm, waiting for the emotional turmoil to cease. It was obvious the child was grieving. Sesshoumaru began to growl. Kagome placed a soothing hand upon his shoulder to calm him and surprisingly it worked. He directed his glare towards the human that dared attempt to calm him and was surprised that he didn't have any desire to murder her.
"Kaede, these are my friends. They are trustworthy and respectable. I am sorry to hear about your loss. We have a problem. What did you do to the Shikon no Tama?"
Sesshoumaru wanted to scoff at the 'trustworthy' bit in Kagome's description of him. Yes he was honorable, but she should not trust him. He could easily slit her throat if he wanted to. He just didn't want to.
"The Shikon no Tama was burned along with my sister's body. It is no longer in this realm." Kaede answered deciding to focus on human girl and ignore the youkais who she wouldn't be able to defeat anyway. She had to trust that this 'Kagome' could control them. Perhaps she could offer her a subduing spell.
"The Shikon no Tama is back. Apparently it was within my body. I am from the future. The Bone Eater's Well is a time portal. I explained this to Kikyou. She was unsure of how it functioned so she sent me to find the monk Miroku. Along the way we encountered Naraku and he ripped the jewel from my body. So then I shattered it. Now I have to collect the shards."
Kaede just stared at her for a good three minutes. No one said a word. Finally Kaede broke the silence.
"You're telling me that the monk, is one of those demons?" She asked confused as she pointed to Kouga and Sesshoumaru.
Kouga and Kagome both burst out laughing. Sesshoumaru rose to his feet annoyed and ready to pull out his sword and rid the world of the annoying seven year old brat.
Suddenly Kaede threw a beaded necklace around his neck as he was about to draw his sword. "Subdue him Kagome! Subdue him before he kills me!" The little girl ran behind Kagome's leg to hide.
"Calm DOWN Sesshoumaru!" A loud thud vibrated throughout the room.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"Kouga, when I get up I will rip your laughing head from your scrawny shoulders." Sesshoumaru complained from his undignified, unlordlike position on the floor.
A moment later Sesshoumaru rose from the ground and tried to reach behind Kagome for the wretched human that cursed him in such a manner. He was not some kind of dog to be trained for obedience. Well, maybe he was some kind of dog, but that was not the point!
"Sesshoumaru, calm down." Kagome tried to calm the demon-lord but only forced him to get to know the floor better. "I'm so sorry Sesshoumaru! I didn't mean to do that!"
"When I get up..."
"Kagome, I placed a subduing spell on the necklace. Whenever you say the word 'down' he will face plant onto the ground. It will only work when you say the word though." Kaede explained.
"I see. I'm sorry Sesshoumaru. I will do my best to remember not to say that word." She helped him to his feet. Kouga's laughter had finally ceased. "The monk is with our other friend. They are in the demon- exterminator village right now. I'm sure you will meet them."
"Where is the hanyou?" Sesshoumaru demanded.
"I will not tell you." Kaede replied still cowering behind Kagome.
"So he is alive?" Sesshoumaru inquired once more.
"In a way." Kaede answered mysteriously.
Sesshoumaru growled annoyed with these word games and the fact that he couldn't kill either of those stupid humans now that he had that bothersome necklace. He tried pulling it but to no avail. He saw a man tending his garden not far away so he raced towards him.
Kaede sat back down on the floor and was mixing some assortment of herbs and completely ignored Kagome and Kouga. She was an odd child. All the sudden the thunderous voice of Sesshoumaru losing his cool echoed in their ears. The three rushed out to the scene.
Sesshoumaru was holding the poor villager by his throat with his claws extended. Poison threatened to leak into the man's flesh as he demanded to know the whereabouts of the hanyou.
"Sesshoumaru! Put the man DOWN!" Kagome screamed, completely forgetting about the spell.
The necklace began to glow and Sesshoumaru released the man's throat before he plummeted towards the earth once again.
No apologies this time were issued. "What were you doing?" Kagome demanded.
"I want to know where my brother is."
"He is sealed to a tree by the Bone Eater's Well. But there is no way to release him." Kaede informed the dog-demon.
"You lie. A powerful miko, such a Kagome can release him." Sesshoumaru answered after he dusted himself off. He then began to walk calmly towards the mentioned tree. The three followed him.
Pinned to the tree was Inuyasha. His hair was blowing in the wind and he appeared to be enjoying a peaceful slumber. Kagome walked near to him and touched his foot that was near her eye level. Golden eyes snapped open.
"What are you doing here wench? I will kill you!" Inuyasha shouted with a voice filled with hatred as he struggled against the arrow that impaled him upon the tree.
Kouga tensed as his protective nature took over. He would not let this dog- turd hurt his woman.
"Inuyasha? I have come to free you. Let me help you." Kagome pleaded.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked confused.
"Yes. Who did you think I was?"
"I thought you were Kikyou. She, she, she betrayed me." Inuyasha hung his head low. The years of rejection hung heavy on his heart.
"You betrayed her you liar!" Kaede screamed.
"I did not!"
"Calm DOWN you two!" Kagome looked to her side expecting to ask Sesshoumaru's advice. Then her words replayed her mind. She released a groan. "I am so sorry Sesshoumaru! I promise I won't do it again."
The demon lord lifted himself from the dirt and glared at her with ice in his golden orbs. Then he turned to Inuyasha. "No need to explain yourself little brother. We know the true culprit of this crime is Naraku. I need something from you. Kagome, release him."
Kagome climbed up the tree to concentrate her powers on the arrow pining her friend. Inuyasha watched her with confusion. 'Why is she helping me?' He asked himself silently.
Suddenly he was free and on the ground. Kouga stepped up beside Kagome to protect her from that dog that threatened her. He seemed to have calmed down, but that could just be an act.
"Where is the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru demanded.
"Where is the what?" Inuyasha asked confused.
Sesshoumaru sighed annoyed. Why did he have to have such a baka brother. "Father's fang! Where is it?"
"I don't even know what you are talking about!" Inuyasha yelled right back. He raised his claws to strike his older brother but then Kaede pulled out her other subduing necklace and tossed it over his head.
"What is this cyclops?" Inuyasha demanded as he began to tug at the beads. Sesshoumaru saw this as his opportunity to rid the world of his useless brother. Too bad Kagome had to speak up.
"SIT DOWN!" Kagome yelled at the two. She did not realize Inuyasha would plummet to the ground this time. "I'm sorry Inuyasha! I only meant to subdue Sesshoumaru."
The two brothers grumbled at her released various strings of colorful verses from their mouths.
"So you know who betrayed Kikyou and me?" Inuyasha asked Kagome once he rose from his hole. He might have tried to hurt her, but Kouga was standing ridiculously close and she had the power of his necklace.
"Yes, his name is Naraku. We have two other companions that are investigating another village that he claimed to have decimated. I must collect the shards of the Shikon no Tama. It was buried within my body and in order to keep it from Naraku I had to shatter it." Kagome explained.
"I understand. I want to help. I have nothing else to do. May I join you?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome was really nice to him last time they met so he felt he wanted to experience friendship. She may just be willing to offer him that since no one else ever had.
"Of course. Let us go, we can figure out my business later. This is more important." Kagome began to lead the others back towards the village. She ignored Sesshoumaru's low growl.
"I'll say it again. Pure adventures with you my Kagome." Kouga muttered under his breath as he went to catch up with his new obsession.