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Scene Change
' Thoughts '
"Speech "
Telepathy
The Final Battle: Alliances Across Time
----Chapter Eight----
The group entered the village as the sun reached its zenith. Inuyasha, Miroku and Hiei were walking in the front of the group with Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama bringing up the rear. Inuyasha and Hiei had come to an unspoken truce, the upcoming battle was more important than arguing with one another.
As the group came to a halt in the middle of the village, Miroku took a couple of extra steps forward. Looking around for a moment he asked, "Could someone please tell us where we could find the village elder? We have some very important business to discuss."
The villagers looked at each other nervously for a few moments before an older man wearing a faded blue outfit stepped forward. "My name is Ashiro, I am the village elder. What is it that you want with me?"
"Good day to you elder, my name is Miroku." Miroku said bowing. "I am a traveling monk and these" he said, indicating the assorted group of people behind him "are my companions. We have recently heard of misfortune that has be fallen your village. Rumor has is that there is a rather vicious snake demon killing people and we have come to see if this rumor is true and to offer our assistance." This announcement caused a stir among the gathered villagers and a look of hope cross many of their tried and worried faces.
"I am sad to say that the rumor that you hear is true. We have had five villagers disappear in the past month. All the attacks have happened near the river, about a mile south of the village. Mostly in the early morning and late afternoon." Ashiro said sadly.
"Could you tell me when the last attack took place?" Miroku asked.
"Two nights ago."
"Thank you. Would it be possible for me and my companions to have a place to rest for a little while? We need to prepare for the battle and would it also be possible for one of your brave men to show us where the last victim was found?" Miroku asked.
"Yes, of course." Ashiro said as he turned and started walking to the edge of the village. "We have an extra hut that you an your companions can use. I'm afraid that it's a bit small for such a large group but this is the best that we can do for you." Ashiro said as he stopped at a hut about the size of Kaede's.
"This will do fine." Miroku said looking at the hut quickly. "We shall be ready to go in about twenty minutes." He said looking back at Ashiro.
"Good. I will have one of our hunters escort you when you are ready. And of course we will hold a feast in your honor when you return." Ashiro said as he bowed. "Now I must go and start the preparations, good day and good luck to you and your companions." With that he turned and walked back towards that center of the village once again.
With Ashiro gone everyone started to put their packs down and make sure that their weapons were ready. Kurama checked to make sure that he had some seeds on him and his rose. While Hiei took off the cloak that Koenma gave him, reverting to his usual and much preferred black cloak and making sure that his sword was securely fastened on his back. Sango checked that all the straps on Hiraikotsu were secure and got out her mask and exterminator clothes. She had Botan stand guard while she went into the hut to change. Kagome checked her bow and arrows, making sure they were ready to go. Miroku sat underneath a nearby tree and meditated while Yusuke and Kuwabara stretched. Inuyasha jumped to the top of the tree and surveyed the land, seeing the rivers sparkle winding threw the forest.
After a few minutes a young man in his mid twenties approached the group. "Hello, my name is Saseru. Ashiro asked me to guide you to the river." Saseru said as he bowed respectfully.
"Thank you. Your help is much appreciated." Miroku said returning the bow. He then looked around at the group. "Is everyone ready?" He asked. The response he got was an assortment of yeah's, yeses and nods. He turned back to Saseru, "Lead the way." He said. With that Saseru started walking away from the village following a well worn path that lead in the direction on the river that Inuyasha had seen from the top of the tree.
As they walked Kagome turned to Botan who was walking next to her. "Boton, your not a fighter right?" Kagome asked.
"Basically, though I can take care of myself." Boton said in reply.
"Well, could you watch Shippo and the medical supplies during the battle?" Kagome asked as she watched the little kit that was sitting on Kurama's shoulder chatting happily.
"Of course I can." Boton said, she wanted to be of help in the battle but knew that keeping the kit safe was just as important as fighting the demon because he was too little to really protect himself and he would probably just get in the way anyway.
After a few minutes Saseru stopped at the edge of a small clearing. The sound of the river was close by. "Is this the place?" Miroku asked looking around.
"Hai. The body was found right over there." Saseru said pointing to the other side of the clearing.
Inuyasha stepped forward, sniffing the air, and started walking toward the place indicated by Saseru.
"What can you smell Inuyasha?" Kurama asked.
Inuyasha flicked an ear in annoyance before answering. "I smell blood, human blood to be exact. I don't think that they were attacked here though, there isn't enough blood. I also smell snake." Inuyasha said as he examined the place where the body was found, looking at the amount of blood on the grass and sniffing at the tracks that the snake left.
"Then the body was left here to be found." Miroku said after a moment.
"Almost like a warning." Kurama said while thinking. "That means that the snake's territory must be nearby, and it may have a mate and young."
"Great. That means that they are going to be extra nasty." Yusuke said looking around the clearing.
"Kagome, do you sense any jewel shards?" Inuyasha asked as he continued to survey the area, trying to identify in which direction the snakes had come from.
Kagome stood still for a moment as she reached out her developing miko powers to see if there was a jewel shard in the area. Thanks to Kaede's tutelage over the past few months she was able to focus her energy enough to detect jewel shards up to about a mile away and she was also able to put up shields, though it took a lot of her energy to do so. "No, if there are any around here they aren't close enough for me to sense them." She said.
"Hn, well that doesn't tell us a whole lot now does it." Hiei said, looking at Kagome out of the corner of his eye.
Kagome let a small amount of her miko powers out, just enough to be sensed by the others nearby. "Hiei, don't start with me, ok?" She said in a sugary sweet voice with a forced smile on her face as she glared back at him. She knew that he was trying to cow her because she was a human, and apparently he didn't hold humans in very high esteem. She gave a small smirk as she saw his eyes widen a bit as she let a little more power out and began to glow with a pink light.
Yusuke, Kuwabara, Botan and Kurama also started staring at her and the energy she was putting out with wide eyes. None of them expected her to have this much power and the fact that they could all tell that she was holding back made it even more impressive. So much so that Kurama unconsciously took a step back.
Inuyasha watched the scene unfold from the side of the clearing with a small smirk. It was a rare treat to see Kagome's temper unfold without getting the brunt of it himself, or being in the middle of a battle. After a couple of moments he made his way over to her, getting to place peace keeper for once. "I know which way the demon went to, lets get going." He said as he stopped next to Kagome.
Kagome calmed down almost instantly, having her attention returned to the mission. "Alright, lets go." She said as she turned away from Hiei.
Miroku turned to Saseru as everyone started to make their way to the other side of the clearing. "I think it would be best if you returned to the village now. We are all grateful for you help." He said bowing.
"It is I that should be thanking you and your companions monk. It will be nice to have the village live in peace once more. Good luck on your mission." Saseru said and walked back towards the village.
They followed the snakes track down the to river and along its banks. As they rounded a bend in the river they came across a gruesome sight. There, on the bank were the remnants on a small fishing boat, a fishing net, some dead fish and lots of blood. Everyone was quiet for a moment before they started talking at once....
"Inuyasha, is this...."
"Yeah. This is were that guy was killed."
"My god, look at all the blood."
"Let us pray for this poor soul. To have died such a horrible death..."
...and so on. After a quick prayer the continued along the river, closely following the trail that the snake demon left.
As they entered another clearing Kagome stopped short, drawing everyone's attention.
"What is it Kagome? Do you scene a jewel shard?" Asked Inuyasha quietly as he scanned the area for any signs that they were about to be attacked.
"Yeah, it's still faint though." Kagome replied as she used here miko powers to locate where the shard is.
"Can you tell us where it is Lady Kagome?" Miroku asked.
"Yeah, we need to go that way." Kagome said pointing to the left and deeper into the forest.
"Alright then lets go." Yusuke said as he started walking in the direction that Kagome indicated. The others closely followed him with Hiei bringing up the rear.
It was a long walk through the underbrush with no path to follow. The only guidance that they had was the position of the sun and the pull of the shards power. It was as they entered a small clearing that they saw their destination, there was a large hill with a cliff not to far away and it was in that direction that they were headed.
"Well, I guess we know where snakes nest is." Yusuke said.
"Indeed." Kurama replied.
"Wow, I didn't know that snake demons lived under rocks too." Kuwabara said in awe, which caused everyone to shake their heads at him.
"Lets go already." Inuyasha said as he started forward once again.
He didn't get more that a couple of steps before Kagome said "Inuyasha watch out, the shard is on the move. Its headed this way and its moving quickly."
"It's about time." Inuyasha said as he put his hand on the hilt of his sword and started scanning the area for the attack.