Blood
A small figure, of about 5 feet and 5 inches was walking through the foggy mist surrounding the edges of a haunted forest.
Terror
The figure had a crossbow at hand, and a sword tied around its waist. The figure moved silently, like a ghost, though the mist and didn't make a sound.
FEAR
A crash was audible and the figure stopped dead in its tracks. A troll, probably around thirty feet or so in height, swung its mighty club into air, knocking trees in its path. The troll sniffed the air and gave a dumb look towards the hunter on its left side.
The hunter smirked, as the troll gave a low grunt. It walked slowly towards the hunter's position. The hunter took its crossbow and hit the troll in between his eyes. The troll shrieked in pain, and unsuspectedly dropped his club. The hunter jumped out of the way just in the nick of time. The hunter ran towards the old trees and grabbed a few long vines.
While the troll recovered from its mighty fall, the hunter tied all the ends of the long vines together and ran in circle around the troll's legs. When the troll got up, he tripped over himself and fell. The whole ground shook as the troll hit the dirt. Massive trees fell and the hunter ran as quickly as it could. It jumped trees over and evaded the huge branches. Loud moans were heard, followed by silence. The hunter gave a wary look over its back, only to find that the troll had been flattened to death.
I let out a sigh, as I noticed the trees and the troll were blocking my path to the nearest town. Kirara, my trusted fire cat demon and companion, had fallen ill when a snake demon had injected its poison during our latest adventure.
"We'll have to go to Kaede's, Kirara." I said to the cat demon behind me. "I am familiar with this forest, though I can not recognize it because off all this fog. Let's explore for a while, without running into anything else."
Kirara gave a soft sound in approval of my plan and we both set out into the night.
It was already morning, though it certainly felt like night with all that fog and because of the thick clouds that covered the weak rays of the sun. It was around twenty degrees Fahrenheit and a harsh, cold breeze was blowing. It didn't help much to my already frozen hands. Even through my thick leather gloves, I could feel the harsh wind.
"Hang on for a bit, Kirara. We're almost there." I said encouragingly to my companion. We both walked for a bit, not saying anything, when I signaled Kirara to stop. A squinted my eyes, and gave a sign of satisfaction. Not a smile, mind you. I rarely ever smiled. Of course, after five years of battling vampires, demons, trolls, mummies, werewolves, ghouls, ghosts, zombies, spirits, witches and wizards, and even banshees you wouldn't smile a lot.
"Long time, no see Kaede." I said, hugging the small woman in front of me.
"Yes, it has been too long indeed, dear. I thank you for getting rid of our pesky troll." She said, smiling.
"Damn, do news get around this forest that fast?" I asked amazed, and received a playful slap on the arm.
"Don't ye be such a dirty mouth, child. Not even twenty and you speak father worse than I do." I chuckled as she gave me a playful smile. "Your cat demon is sick. I have some herbs in my hut. Please, follow me."
I gave a quick nod to Kirara and she followed Kaede to the village. I stayed behind, walking a little bit slower. It had been a while since I had visited Kaede's home village.
"Tis were a snake demon, by the look of the scar the bite left." Kaede informed me, inside her warm hut. She patched up the cut. "You won't be able to travel for a few days."
I gave a quick nod. "We need the rest."
"Ye sure do, child. You're looking skinnier than ever." Kaede scolded me.
I grimaced. "I don't get to eat much during my travels." I laughed a bit. "It seems whenever I stop to rest I get chased by something new."
"I don't know what in heaven made you become a . . ." she paused, and whispered "a shard hunter."
I gave her an interested look. "You know very well why I am what I am.What, am I now allowed in your village if I am one?" I asked.
She gave me a serious look. "No one likes beings with your . . . profession around their villages. Tis a bad omen. But, you are a good child and ye wouldn't hurt anyone. Tis best if you stay in the hut and don't attract too much attention to yourself."
I gave a silent nod. "I know my limits, Kaede. Besides," I grinned, "I heard about your demon problem."
Kaede sighed and looked towards the sky as if asking for divine patience. "I knew you wanted something."
I pretended to be hurt. "How could you ever think that? I just wanted to help."
"Sure, and I'm a sixty year old miko with magical powers." She said jokingly.
I accepted a cup of tea from Kaede. 'But, really Kaede: where IS the demon?"
She sighed, as she took a sip of her tea. "I'm afraid it is far too late to be after it. Tis no ordinary demon, but a powerful devil who can create new evil beings from its body." Kaede informed me.
"I see. Then, if I'm going after this 'powerful demon', I'm going to need some help." I met Kaede's gaze and she gasped.
"You're not thinking of . . .?"
"That's exactly what I'm thinking. It's just what I need." I grinned as I stood up.
Kaede sighed. "Then, just be careful this time. Last time, you got hurt remember."
"I'll be fine, Kaede. I'll be back in a few hours." I said, as I left the hut.
"Where is that damned tree?! I don't remember it being this far." I complained, as I brushed aside small branches and bushes. I saw a clearing in the distance and I gave a sigh of relief. Once I got to it, I walked with caution. It was still dangerous.
"Well, well, well," I heard him say, as I approached him. "Look who it is. It's the famous shard hunter." He smirked, as I stood before him. He felt my worry, and his face grew serious. "What's the emergency?"
I studied his face. It was him all right. After three years, it still was the same him. "Naraku." I responded, watching as his face grew with hatred.
"Where is he? What has he done?" he asked me angrily.
"He has my sister." I replied, holding back my tears.
His face grew with uneasiness. "I can't."
"Please?" I begged. "I need your help. Remember, I'm the one who gave life to you. And I sure as hell can take it away." I warned.
He scoffed. "Yeah, and then you trapped me in this stupid tree again!"
I enclosed my hands around the arrow in his chest. "Help me," I whispered, "And once we get my sister back and destroy Naraku, I'll grant you freedom."
He gulped hard. "Freedom?" he whispered back.
"Freedom." I said, as his eyes grew wide with realization.
"I'll do it." he said, and it was my turn to smirk. I pulled the arrow off his chest and felt myself being engulfed with the bright light of the spell being broken. A young hanyou of about 5'11 with long, silver hair, cat-like amber eyes, and dog-shaped ears on top of his head stood in front of me. He was wearing a red haori with matching pants. "Are you ready for this, Inu- Yasha?" I asked, grinning.
"As ready as I'll ever be, Kagome. Freedom, here I come!"
Was it what you were expecting? I hope so, because on the next chapter Kagome and Inu-Yasha go in search of their two friends! And who is Kagome's sister? Find out next time!!! But, you need to review if you want an update!!!