Chapter 35
Sesshoumaru told the others of their encounter with the villagers. "We can't count on any real assistance from them. Whatever Naraku did to them while he was in their midst has them too terrified to even speak his name.
Even the thought that we are hunting him is not enough to gain any useful information." He sipped his tea thoughtfully.
"This one is going to be hard to hunt down. His scent was stale and the elder said that he had left before the last full moon. Over a month ago." Two nights ago was a full moon.
"It's getting late. I'll take the watch tonight. Inumouru you're with me." It was Inuyasha's turn to take charge. "The rest of you should get your rest. We have a lot of traveling to do in the morning." He and his Inumouru kept the watch in the night while the others slept. Well at least some of them slept.
Sesshoumaru was in a mood. He had not taken Katame in several days because of being out in the open. He knew Katame would die of embarrassment if she thought anyone could see or hear them. But now however they were in the monastery and had their own room. And Sesshoumaru wanted his wife. Badly.
They enjoyed each other's company very much. Katame was no longer afraid to touch her husband. She ran her fingers through his hair and down his back. He growled softly in her ear and nuzzled her neck. He took her to her climax time and time again. Neither of them got to sleep until it was nearly sunrise.
The next morning Katame woke to the familiar smells of Kagome's cooking. She sat up with a start. "Oh no I over slept! Sesshoumaru?" She looked around the room for her husband but he was gone. Quickly she got dressed and went out to help Kagome with the chores.
"Ahhh.... the sleeping damsel awakes." Inuyasha teased her. He knew what Sesshoumaru was up to last night. Demon hearing can be a curse sometimes. "What makes you join us so soon?"
"Oh you!" She swat him across the back of his head sending his hair flying.
"She hit me, again. Sesshoumaru you really ought to let that girl get more rest. She is getting to be down right grumpy in the morning."
Later that day the group left the monastery and traveled north through the mountains. There were several villages nestled in the mountains they decided to split up to make the searching easier.
Inuyasha, Kagome and Sugumi, went with the monk and Sesshoumaru took the female hunter, Sango, with him as well as his wife and sons.
Each night the group would meet back at the camp to compare notes. And rest for the next day's hunt.
Each village that they went into had a similar story to tell. Naraku was there before. The whole village had been terrorized and everyone was afraid to speak to the strangers and the demons that were with them.
Inuyasha and Miroku went into the next village to see if their quarry was there. Naraku's scent was everywhere and what's more is it was fresh. Only maybe only two weeks old.
The hunters decided that the monk would be the best one to do the talking. Miroku took Sugumi with him to the elders.
"We are demon hunters." He began. "We are chasing a demon of great power. He has been terrorizing the villages all over these hills. We can help you. I know he has been here. Tell us were we can find him and we will destroy him. He will never bother you again."
The village elder just shook his head. "You are brave to be sure young monk. But even if you were to possess some great magic of your own, you couldn't hope to destroy him."
Sugumi decided it was time to reveal himself. "He is not alone old one. I am a demon as are my father and uncle. We are working together to bring an end to the one called Naraku." Sugumi rose into the air in front of the elder.
The old man bowed to the ground. "Forgive us. I will tell you want I know, lord."
The old one went on to explain. Naraku had stayed there for almost a week he had destroyed half the village and killed most of the young women. He was a terrible demon who made sport of hurting and killing anyone he happened to find. Naraku had left the village and was heading north through the mountains to the next village.
He was certain that the demon was there. He had seen the smoke from the destruction, Naraku always caused. That was a week and a half ago, give or take.
Sugumi thanked the old man and they all left the village.
When they reached the next village it wasn't Naraku that they met. The village had been over run by marauders. Their leader was a demon named Shito-kai. This demon was no push over. He was a force of his own. He had in his hand, three of the jewel shards. This meant his swordsmanship was unparalleled.
Shito-kai looked at the bunch of humans and one half demon and laughed. "You think you can do anything to stop me. Half-breed?" He smirked. "These puny humans with you. I take it you are their protector. Hmmffff. Some protection. After I rid myself of your stench I will devour the humans to teach them not to trust a demon especially a half-breed weakling like you."
Inuyasha and Sugumi looked at each other and then at Miroku. "Are you ready to be defended by a weakling like me?" Inuyasha shrugged. "What do you say I show you just how weak this half demon is?" He was looking at his claws. Then he looked at Shito-kai and smiled.
"Iron reverse soul stealer." Inuyasha lept up into the air and slashed the demon across the arm and chest.
The demon fell back and cursed the half-breed. "I will destroy you." He raised his sword and came at Inuyasha. "You will die now!"
"Don't be so sure." Inuyasha drew his sword the Tetsiaga it transformed into its mighty form and he met the demon head on.
"Let us know if you need any help there dad." Sugumi stood watching. He knew his father was well able to handle this demon. But he would be ready if his dad needed him.
Blow for blow Inuyasha was the better sword fighter of the two. They battled on for a while. Inuyasha was not really fighting all that hard. Shito-kai was so full of himself he was making stupid mistakes.
Clang, clang. Ting! The demons sword flew out of his hand and landed across the field.
"Don't worry Shito-kai, I'll get it for you." Sugumi raised himself up and flew to where the sword was. He got the sword and returned to float in front of the demon.
"Hi there, I'm Sugumi. You may not have noticed it, but I'm not a human at all. I have a sword too, want to see it. He drew his sword and aimed it at the head of Shito-kai.
"Not yet son. I haven't finished playing yet."
"Oh dad, how come you get all the fun?" Sugumi had a mischievous smile on his face.
"I'll be done soon, then you can take his head." Inuyasha aimed his sword at the chest of the demon.
"So demon are you ready to fight or not." Inuyasha was running out of patience. He went hard at the demon.
Shito-kai was hard pressed to keep up with Inuyasha. He threw a handful of darts at Inuyasha. He was trying to pin Inuyasha but it wasn't working.
Inuyasha deflected the darts with the Tetsiaga and swung at the hand of the demon. He cut off the demon's sword hand. He brought the Tetsiaga level with the neck of Shito-kai.
"I have had enough of this. Time for me to end this now."
Shito-kai's eyes went wide. Inuyasha plunged his sword into the chest of the demon. "Now, Sugumi."
Sugumi swung his sword cutting off the demon's head.
After the demon was dead Kagome ran forward and picked up the jewel shards that fell from the demon's hand. She put them in a pouch she carried around her neck.
Inuyasha went to the men and holding his sword out in front of them he ordered them to tell him of Naraku's whereabouts.
"Naraku? We have heard of him. The boss always stayed away from him. He is bad news."
"You may not have noticed this but I'm bad news too." He waved his sword over at the headless corpse of Shito-kai. "If you don't want to join your boss. I suggest you tell me what I want to know."
The men fell to the ground and all at once started to beg. "We don't know anything lord honest. Please don't kill us."
"I'm not feeling very generous today. Now, which one of you wants to die first?" He stood with one hand on his hip and the other on his sword. "Well? I haven't got all day."
"Inuyasha. Let them live they are no threat now that their leader is dead." Kagome stepped forward.
"Kagome these men are marauders they will cause trouble for others wherever they go. I will be doing everyone a favor by getting rid of these creeps."
"Inuyasha, no." Kagome was beginning to believe he would actually do it.
"Well... If they want to live they had better work on their memories." He looked meaningfully at them. "I want to know about Naraku and I want to know now!" He stepped toward the men.
"Please lord, we don't know anything."
"I do" One of them spoke up. "Please lord. If I tell you what I know, will you let us live?"
"That depends on what you say. So make it good." Inuyasha picked up the man by the shirtfront and lifted him off the ground.
The man stammered about hearing a rumor about Naraku terrorizing a village nearby. He was using the form of a priest. He would go into the villages offering to drive out demons. And then he would start to terrorize the villagers. He would devour any one who tried to stop him. He would take all the young women to himself and abuse them terribly. When he was done with them. He would eat them if they were lucky.
"We already know his methods, I want to know where he is now." Inuyasha gave the man a little shake.
"I'm not sure lord, please. I think he is nearby but I don't know which village he is in now. I swear that's all I know. Please,... Let me live. I won't trouble you lord, I promise I'll never trouble another soul so long as I live."
Inuyasha dropped him. "Your lucky I'm too busy to bother with you now. Get out of here and don't show your faces again. You hear me?"
The men ran away as fast as possible. "So at least we know what shape the demon is using. There must have been a priest up at the old monastery at one time." Inuyasha said to Miroku.
"We should get back to camp. The others should now about this." Miroku turned to leave.