QoH: And the saga continues… Please review!
Chapter 4:Humanity & Demonkind...
Late the next morning, they came upon a small, ravaged village high on the slope of the mountain. Fire still burned in more than half of the small, ruined houses, while people shuffled about, restoring what they could. They didn't even notice the new arrivals until they were right in the middle of them, and even then, they didn't care.
They all got down from Kirara, who went to her kitten form and mewed a plaintive request to be cuddled. Sango picked her little friend up and petted her comfortingly. Miroku put his hand on her shoulder, knowing that she was remembering how her own village had once looked like this. Shippou was in shock; he just stood there, his mouth hanging open. As many times as they'd all seen similar things, it still had the full power of the first time.
Kagome fell to her knees in the ashes and began crying at the hollow, devastated expression on every one of the villagers' faces. It was one that plainly said that the person wearing it wished they were dead. Inu-Yasha scooped her into his arms, holding her protectively against his chest. He didn't think she could stand on her own right now. It was this sort of thing he hated about their quest to retrieve the shards of the Shikon Jewel. Seeing destruction like this always had a harsh effect on her soft, empathetic heart. Another thing to chalk up to that evil scum, he thought angrily, his golden eyes narrowed as he surveyed the ruins.
Kagome, noticing the unconscious tightening of his grip, wiped her eyes and stared up at him. He's furious. He only has that expression when he's facing Naraku. I wonder if this is how his home looked...
Feeling her gaze on him, he smiled down at her, "Don't worry, Kagome. I'll make sure he pays for this."
Kagome blinked, surprised as he returned her to her now-steady feet. I don't get it. Why would he say it like that?
"I knew it." Sango whispered to herself, watching them from a few feet away.
Miroku looked at her curiously, "You knew what?"
"Isn't it obvious?" she asked quietly, her eyes flicking to the monk and back again, whose eyes widened in comprehension.
"What?" asked Shippou, frowning up at the two of them, "What's going on, Sango?"
"You'll understand when you're older, little one." Miroku answered, smiling a little.
"Oh, fine, then, don't tell me." Shippou pouted, crossing his arms.
****
"You can't be serious!" the village leader cried when Kagome had told them of their plan to take on Jashin-Jadoku, "An entire village was easy for that monster to destroy! What hope can you lot have? How can we even trust you? Half of your group are demons, in the first place!"
"What difference does that make?" Kagome retorted, "I assure you, we are quite serious. We've dealt with things like this hundreds of times before. There's a saying where I come from, 'fight fire with fire.' With our combined talents, we have made it through every battle we've ever fought. As for the 'trust' remark, you don't have to. It'd be better if you did, but it's not necessary."
"She's right." Inu-Yasha said, coming up next to her, "I, for one, don't give a care about what you all think of us. We have our own business with this snake," he spat out the last word bitterly.
"It'll be all right, Inu-Yasha." Kagome put her hand on his arm gently, then turned to the villagers, "All we ask is that you send word to the surrounding towns, to get out, just in case things get messy." The men and women looked at each other, nodding at the wisdom at this request.
"All right, then." Sango said resolutely, standing up, "Everything's set. We'd better get going." They all gathered their things and started for the castle they'd spotted just before they'd come to the village.
"Wait," came an ancient, frail voice from a dark corner. They turned to see a bent-over old woman hobbling toward them. "I have a favor to ask of you brave souls. Could you find out if there is any sign of my granddaughter, Midori?" (A/N: midori- green, I think) she pleaded, taking Kagome's hand, "She was taken as a sacrifice not too long ago."
"How old is she?" Kagome asked, kneeling so she wouldn't have to look up so much.
"Only eight summers."
Her eyes softened, "I have a brother her age. His name's Souta."
Inu-Yasha smiled a bit to himself, then slung Kagome's pack over his shoulder again, nodding at the aged matron, "If she's there, we'll bring her back to you."
****
"Get me another drink, slave!" the demon backhanded the young man who had the unlucky job of serving him on this particular day. After recovering himself, he scurried off to do his bidding, long used to the cruelty by now. He'd heard the master had raided villages just recently, and that always meant he was in a foul mood, for one reason or another. Why, if he hates humans so much, is he usually in that form? he wondered to himself yet again. Is it just easier, or is it to deceive?
One thing was for sure; he certainly looked more human like that, except for the eyes. He shuddered as she thought about those eyes, a dirty yellow color, with vertical pupils just a snake's. Tiny little slits that radiate evil.... Other than that, he could've easily fooled anyone he wanted into thinking he was a "puny mortal," as he called it.
He was almost back to the dining room when he heard an irate shout coming from the courtyard outside, "Jashin-Jadoku! Get your scaly butt out here! I gotta bone to pick with you!" Unfamiliar with the voice, he ran to a side window to see he could find the owner. Sure enough, an adolescent white-haired demon was scowling up at the castle. The youth shook his head at the folly of his actions, whoever he was. Does he really think he stands a chance all on his own? At the same time, I admire his bravery. Surely, he's heard of the master's abilities, and yet he comes to face him.
****
The "courageous fool" in question wasn't as alone as the servant thought, however. As part of his plan, Inu-Yasha would draw him out, while the rest went in search of little Midori, and anyone else that might still be there. When he'd told them of his idea, of course, they'd all immediately refused.
Earlier, in the woods surrounding the castle
"You can't face him alone, Inu-Yasha!" Kagome cried, "Who knows what he's capable of!"
He shook his head emphatically, "I'm the only one who knows anything at all about his fighting skills!"
Miroku only frowned, as he leaned thoughtfully on his staff, "That may be true, my friend. There's one more thing to consider here, however. He now has a Shikon shard, which would bring his power up to a whole new level."
"Yeah," put in a worried Shippou, perched on Kagome's shoulder, "and besides, we have no way of knowing what he's learned in all this time. I mean, your dad faced him when you were tiny. You have to admit, that's been a while, enchanted sleep or not. Then you have to figure in the fifty years you were pinned to the God Tree."
"I know that," Inu-Yasha glared at him in annoyance, "I've already worked all that into it. It still comes down to the fact that I'm the best prepared to fight him."
"Why do you insist on doing it by yourself, though?" Sango questioned, her arm around a distressed Kagome.
"Someone has to find those people from the villages." Inu-Yasha answered, his troubled gaze now on the castle, "I can sense them in there. We need to get them out as soon as we can, and it'd have the best chance of working while that snake is distracted. It needs to be done as quickly as possible, and the more of us searching for them, the better."
"Inu-Yasha," whispered Kagome, her head bowed, "are you really sure about this?"
He debated with himself for a second, then stepped forward, "Hey," he said quietly, brushing the hair out of her eyes, "Kagome, look at me." When she did, he smiled reassuringly, "What was it you said earlier, at the village?"
She sniffed, "That it'll be all right." But, back then, I didn't have this horrible feeling...
"You got it." One of his ears twitched in the direction of the castle, and he looked seriously at the others, "You'd better get moving. You won't have a whole lot of time."
"Good luck, Inu-Yasha." Sango nodded at him as she turned away, taking Kagome with her. Miroku and Shippou echoed the sentiment and followed. He watched as they disappeared into the deeper parts of the forest.
For a moment, he simply stood there, where her scent still lingered. Not for the first time, the impulse to discard his plan and run after her swept over him. He fought it down, knowing that this was best for all involved. "Be safe, Kagome." Inu-Yasha murmured, then turned determinedly to face his destiny.
~If I could, then I would,
I'll go wherever you will go.
Way up high or down low,
I'll go wherever you will go.~
To the present again
"Sango, do you think he'll be all right?" an anxious Kagome said under her breath as the demon huntress picked the lock on a small side door of the castle.
She nodded, studying the door closely, "It'll all turn out fine, I'm sure. Inu-Yasha knows what he's doing."
"Yeah," Kagome stood up, hugging herself as though chilled, even thought it was early summer, "that's what worries me."
"What do you mean?" asked a confused Shippou, turning from his lookout position at the corner. Miroku also seemed curious.
"It's just that I have this feeling..." Kagome looked back where they'd come, "It's not really a premonition, at least, I hope it's not," she closed her eyes, "I keep seeing blood, so much blood..." Miroku and Shippou looked at each other, alarmed.
"Done." Sango's voice broke into the fearful silence, as she slowly opened the door.
QoH: I'm sooo sorry! I know I promised the fight would be in this chapter, but this thing ended up being much longer than I expected! I wasn't sure it'd fit in the word limits. Come to think of it, are there word limits? *shrugs* No idea, but the chapter was too long for my liking, anyway.