Age of the White Dawn

Chapter 17: A Typical Angry Mob-filled Day

The city of Udala was sandwiched between extreme terrains such as the scorching Yedlad Desert, the Forest of Whispers and the Deadly Kentashi Swamp. As such, the small city was not only a safe haven from the dangers of the wilderness, but a rich tapestry of cultures brought in by people seeking refuge from harsh conditions or just searching for a new way of life. Quaint, pastel colored cottages lined neatly cemented roads at the heart of the city, while old, gravity-defying architecture grew drunkenly beside the dirt roads on the outskirts.

One such structure was the Snowy Pine Inn, pride and joy to the citizens of Udala. Snow covered trees the inn was named after lined the cobblestone path leading to the building which served as both an inn to strangers and a gathering place for familiars.

Frequent travelers of the well-worn, tree-lined path were usually broad-shouldered men trying to escape their wives, maybe find a gullible broad while they're at it; or they were gangly, clumsy youths all of whom just wanted to escape life in general. No matter their motives, all the regulars congregated in the inn's magnificent common room. With it's high vaulted ceilings, wooden rafters and plenty of overly-stuffed arm chairs, it was the ideal place to sit with your mates and moan about life. A gargantuan fireplace that could've easily held ten people comfortably was the focal point of the whole room. It was of excellent craftsmanship; a pile of smooth boulders and mortar wrought into a fireplace fully equipped with cushioned areas to place feet in need of thawing. Most would assume such an exquisite, intimidating creation would be left well alone, but on the contrary, people flocked to it like children to the ice cream man, eager to bathe their faces in the warmth emanating from it.

A little beyond the fireplace, where its warming glow was reduced to a dim light, lay several tables and stools, their comfort and stability compensating for their crude appearances. A particularly coveted table was situated in a shadowy corner of the large common room; the only table hidden well enough in the shadows and was still warmed by the fire. Its obviously perfect position in regards to the rest of the room made it the table everyone wanted, but could only be had through the most rigorous of negotiations, black mailing and knife fights.

To the Bad Apples, a handful of angry, eternally stoned group of youths, the latter activities were considered an art form. They had claim over the table the day the group was formed, even going as far as to imprint their names into the aged wood. Yet, even despite their "painstaking" efforts, the bad-ass, rather whiny, youths, were disinclined to whip out their knives at the sight of their beloved table being occupied by a group of strangers. Don't get them wrong; the Bad Apples often found strangers at their table and had dealt with them accordingly. No, the fact the intruders were strangers wasn't what was so unnerving, it was the intangible feeling of danger that played about the small group. A sense that merely waving a knife in their face would lead to events so much more intense and draining than a rumble in the alleyway or a brawl in the common room.

The self-appointed leader of the Bad Apples was especially aware of the invisible gales of trouble, the ill-concealed tension and anticipation, and the faint stench of something more than comradeship surrounding the group, and it irked him. He almost went as far as to admit that he and his gang were intimidated, but that would be disloyal to the Bad Apples, and he of all the members made it a point to be ferverently faithful to his "pack." Besides, they weren't a bad crew once one got past the occasional bouts of stupidity and thick-headedness  And at least they were all sane, a far cry from the group of strangers whose most sanest-looking member had a bunch of spell chains clanging ominously about his waist. The young leader had had a few shots with the man the other night, intrigued by the roguish charm brimming in his eyes. After about two shots, the gang leader finally noticed the smooth staff lying at the stranger's feet, the pale scar running along his cheekbone and the pensive quirk in his lips. Before the youth could open his mouth to interrogate him, though, the mysterious man was being hugged, yelled and basically abused, by an even more mysterious woman.  The same woman, the leader was surprised to note, who was currently sitting beside the man at the Bad Apple's tables. She was clad in a rather racy attire, but to the overly aggressive teenagers and his raging hormones, it just made her fiery aura all the more alluring. He licked his lips appreciatively at the way her high ponytail accented the virginal curves of her neck…

His friend nudged him, "Uh, you 'kay boss?"

"What? Yeah, fine, fine," he snapped.

"J-just checkin."

The leader turned back to sullenly watching the strangers at HIS table. Okay fine, the mysterious woman was quite attractive, but she was giving off strong danger vibes, which only grew when he noticed the glint of sharp metal against the curve of her hip. Hm, maybe trying to get to know her better was a bad idea…but not as bad of an idea as eating with a demon!

The boys eyebrows shot up in alarm as soon as they rested on the other male of the group.

The stranger screamed demon, and it didn't even seem to care! Had it no respect? It didn't even bother covering up its tell tale ears. They twitched and swiveled every which way like painfully obvious flags, finally pricking upwards and stopping in the young leader's direction.

The boy froze and had the sudden embarrassing urge to scream like the girl sitting next to the demon, which had just snapped its head around to fix him with a deadly glare. …Fuck. No one should look that intimidating without combusting with the effort. Its glowering features were chiseled, like stone, with a shock of pale hair and deep-set, golden eyes. There was something unexplainably wolfish about it, but the demon boy had turned away before he could continue his study of it, and the leader wasn't about to draw its attention again.

He took a long drag from the cigarette in between his pointer finger and thumb, tightening the knot of his head-cloth at the same time. The assurance that his gang's symbol was tied securely to his head seemed to reassure him, because he eagerly returned to his prior activity of eyeing the strangers, his focus on the most insane member of the group.
In all aspects, she appeared to be nothing more than a mere schoolgirl; beautiful gray eyes wide with innocence and rosy lips meant to be parted slightly in laughter. It this was innocent normalcy that made her all the more frightening. What was a little girl doing hanging around such a strange, and obviously dangerous crew? Why was she breaking fast with a demon instead of whispering and giggling over the secrets of human boys like she was supposed to be going? Why did the demon boy, emphasis on demon, regard her with such care, as if she might break? Why was she sitting so close to it, any way? And why was she chanting the word "oden" like some witch doctor?

The boy took another drag from his cig. Yes, there was a fine line between bad ass and psycho, and he was determined that he and the Bad Apples were going to stay on the right side. It's not like it would hurt to sit at a different table for one day.

Inu Yasha smirked as he heard the group of kids who had been ogling them settle down at a table at the opposite end of the room. Good. That's where they should be.

Relaxing his grip on the hilt of Tetsusaiga, he turned his attention to the nervous kitchen wench sliding a platter of steaming oden in front of the group. She glanced at Kagome apprehensively as the schoolgirl gripped her fork and almost pee-ed in her panties with excitement.

"Oden, oden!" Her chanting got louder as did the sound of her salivating.

"Oden!" With a total disregard of manners, she speared the said food and began munching happily, ignorant in her bliss to the open-mouthed stares her companions were giving her.

"Wow," Miroku voiced after a minute of mute gaping, "I think she already ate half the dish."
"Yeah," Inu Yasha grumbled. He reached over to salvage some before Kagome totaled the dish, only to receive a sharp slap to his wrist. Growling lowly, his ears flattened in annoyance as a narrow-eyed Kagome slide the platter possessively closer to her,

"My oden."

"Well Inu Yasha," Sango laughed, "looks like you'll just have to wait for the rolls and ramen."

"Worph Mpordered Marmen?"

"I recommend swallowing Lady Kagome."

Gulp "We ordered Ramen?"

"Yes. I've found Ramen to be a time-efficient as well as filling morning meal."

"Why don't you just say breakfast houshi?"

"Anything for you love."

SLAP

"Ah, my lady, your show of affection is painful, but I will endure it for you."

Sango blushed and gawked at him, "W-why y-you!" Her hand raised to slap him again, but the pair's small, and painful in Miroku's case, squabble came to an abrupt halt when the nervous kitchen wench reappeared and placed another platter before them, this time piled with breads, fruits, sushi, pocky and a single cup of ramen.

"Will that be all?" the nameless kitchen wench breathed, (as in Marilyn Monroe, oh my goodness my skirt is flying up and exposing my oh so sexy legs, breath) adjusting her cleavage-revealing dress.

Miroku regarded her ponderously, "Actually, no."

Inu Yasha raised an eyebrow at him while Sango slanted him a questioning look, "Really?"

"Yes, really," he answered solemnly. He found the, now terrified-looking, kitchen wench's hands,

"I know we just met, but you have put me under your spell. Would you do me the honor of baring my child?"

Sango gawked speechlessly at him for the second time that day.

"I-I'm sorry s-sir," the kitchen wench stuttered, tugging her hands away, "I-I'm getting m-married next m-month."

"Oh well, I wish you happiness," Miroku congratulated good-naturedly, earning him a smile from the girl as she turned to leave. Releasing a resigned sigh of disappointment, the sorcerer bowed his head and gave the girl's bottom a parting caress…

SLAP

BAM

"Houshi!" Sango exclaimed, an angry flush rising prettily to her cheeks, contrasting greatly with the ugly red-mark her fist and kitchen wench's platter combined had created.

"When do you think he'll become conscience again?" Inu yasha asked, absently poking at the steaming cup of Ramen in front of him.

Sango shrugged after apologizing profusely to the kitchen wench for the houshi's behavior, "Give or take a few minutes…oh my gosh, you ate ALL the oden?"

Kagome leaned against the wall, smiling contentedly, "Yep. I love oden." She daintily patted her mouth a napkin.

"I wouldn't have guessed," Sango added dryly, attacking a green speckled fruit with her fork.

Meanwhile, Inu Yasha was experiencing the most mind-blowing sensation of his life. After nibbling gingerly at the end of one dripping noodle, his eyes slide shut so he could focus solely on the flavor dancing in his mouth. And oh, that flavor! His taste buds sung their praise, and cried out for more. Not one to disappoint, especially himself, he scarfed down the rest of the foam cup's contents in a half a minute flat, noisily slurping down the left over soup to Sango's amusement, Kagome's disgust and Miroku's horror.

"My breakfast!" he exclaimed, looking so forlorn, that even Sango took pity and handed him a box of pocky.

"Why thank you my lady," he instantly brightened, munching happily on a chocolate covered morsel. He slid a hand over to properly "thank" his lady Sango, but upon seeing the cold, suspicious glare she was giving him, he decided to offer her some pocky instead.

"Ehe Sango! I have an idea, how about we go to that table over there and talk," Kagome suggested, hurriedly looping her arm through the twitching bendela's and steering her over to a table a safe distance away from Miroku and his wandering hands. Said lecher watched the two ladies, and their lovely, round behinds, for a few seconds before turning to a glaring Inu Yasha.

"Why am I under the impression that you don't like me?" He sighed, sucking on the end of his pocky.

"Cuz I don't," Inu Yasha growled, lifting an eyebrow at Miroku while spearing a roll with a clawed finger and popping it into his mouth.

"And why not?"

"Feh, I'm not like Kagome you know. I don't go around hugging every damn stranger I meet."

"She didn't hug me," Miroku pointed out, looking longingly over at the schoolgirl a couple of tables away from them, eyes lingering on her smooth legs swinging back and forth over the wooden bench.

"What's your point houshi?"

"Can't you have some trust in me?"

He snorted, "No."

"Not even a little?"

"No."

"What if I tell you a little about myself, would you trust me then?"

"Are you fucking hitting on me?"

Miroku blanched, "No! I'm straight as a board, I swear."

Inu Yasha ignored him and sniffed haughtily, "What kind of sorcerer are you houshi? I didn't think there were any queer sorcerers around."

"For the love of—look, I'm NOT gay! I love women! I love their breasts, I love their butts, I love their—"

"Kami, there's no way in hell you're a sorcerer," a blushing Ina Yasha interrupted before Miroku could continue his ode to the woman body, "no sorcerer could be so corrupted."

"But I am a sorcerer, a wind one in fact."

Inu Yasha almost spat out the ale he had just drank, "That's fucking impossible."

"That's impossible!" Kagome cried, eyes widening in disbelief at the grimly nodding Sango.

"I know."

"Then, how'd he do it? I mean, if you don't trap the hurricane you'll die right?"

"Yeah well, the houshi got roped into a deal with this really shady guy. He met him at the Devil's Nest and in exchange for the houshi's levitation spell chain, the guy would give him an amulet that could hold a whole hurricane. Of course houshi accepted the deal, he's always like giving people the short end of the stick," Sango scowled, eyes involuntarily sliding towards the sorcerer's direction. Catching Kagome's knowing smile, she reddened and hurried on, "So the houshi captured the hurricane a month later, but what he soon found out was that little pieces of his soul are required to bind the hurricane to the amulet."

"That means…"

"He's dying."

Kagome's hand flew to her mouth in surprise, "That's horrible."

"I know."

"Why doesn't he just take off the amulet?"

"If he does, it'll release the hurricane and kill a whole village of people as well as himself," Sango replied dully.

"But there must be a way to stop his death," Kagome insisted.

"Of course there is. He just has to kill the man who gave him the amulet."

"And his name is?"

"Naraku."

Before Kagome could respond a hissing ball of gray fur and fat suddenly streaked pass the pair, flying over their table and exiting through the open window at the end of the vast common room.

Kagome blinked, looking back and forth from the open window to the table, finally looking to Sango,

"Um, was it just me," she began slowly, "or was that Mr. Toodles?"

"I-I think it was," a bewildered-looking Sango replied.

Kagome opened her mouth, perhaps to continue their earlier conversation, but, once again, before she could utter a word, a violet blur shot pass her, grabbing Sango's wrist and pulling the confused girl out of her seat.

"Run you fool! Run, run, run!"

"What on earth?" Kagome turned to look at whatever her friend's were running from, acutely aware of the steady rumbling of many feet, but a hand stopped her, roughly grabbing her own and dragging her along towards the window Mr. Toodles had escaped out of earlier.

"Wait, what's going on?" Kagome shouted at Inu Yasha, trying to pry her hand from his.

"Less talking, more running," He ordered, not even panting despite the speed he was going at.

"At least tell me what's going on," she pleaded breathlessly, trying to look back without stumbling.

"Before I say anything, it's not my fault," he tightened his grip on her hand and swung her easily onto his back, not even slowing down.

Kagome took this opportunity to chance a look over her shoulder and the sight that met her sent her tumbling off Inu Yasha's back and onto floor, a measly five feet away from the open window.

"The girl's with the hell demon! It's a witch! Get her too!" a red-faced man roared, the passion in which he delivered his accusation causing his many chins to wobble. He was backed by your typical angry mob, complete with men and women armed with pitchforks and pans, and, as mentioned earlier, the complimentary over-fed, ruddy-skinned leader.  The wobbling of all his chins must've been some sort of signal to the mob, because in that one instant it evolved from a semi-organized, angry mob to a furious chaotic mass of people, and they were heading straight for the wide-eyed Kagome.

"INU YASHAAA!" He scooped up the wailing schoolgirl into his arms and onto his back just as the first egg was thrown. Smirking cockily at his, in his opinion, awesome rescue, he looked over his shoulder at the pouting schoolgirl, leapfrogging over a man brandishing a pitchfork in the process.

"What?" She snapped.

"Whatever happened to 'thank you from saving my ass from that angry mob Inu Yasha?" The latter was said in a high-pitched voice, as if someone just rammed a pin up his butt.

"I was thinking more along the lines of, what did you do now Inu Yasha?" She cuffed a twitching ear and glared at the back of his head.

"I can always drop you, you know."

"Are you changing the subject?"

"I told you earlier it wasn't my fault!"

"A likely story…watch out!"

He rolled his eyes at her warning, easily evading the attempt at flattening his foot with a frying pan, and leapt gracefully out the window. Unfortunately, the chaotic mass (no longer just an angry mob) seemed to have experienced some simultaneous adrenaline rush and surged through the open window.

"As I was saying, it wasn't my fault this time. It was your damn cat's fault."

"You're pinning the start of a riot on my cat!"

"Shut up and lemme finish wench. At first it was just two or three people chasing after your cat, the innkeeper claimed it was the devil's spawn and then five or six more joined them. Then the cat jumped onto my fucking lap and, you know those brats who were watching us earlier? Yeah, well the leader said I was a hell demon and the cat came to its master, so that brought on more people, including the pack of brats. And then one of the women recognized Miroku, so then all the women in the area came rushing to join the mob, and the women's husbands rushed after their women who rushed to join the mob and, and, and…See! It's not my fault," he craned his neck to look at Kagome.

"Okay, okay, I believe you, just look ahead and run! They're starting to glow red!"

Looking pass Kagome's head and seeing that, indeed, the chaotic mass was giving off a malevolent red aura, he picked up the pace and caught up with Miroku and Sango, the mob hot on their heels.

"You all right 'Gome?" Sango panted, pushing a drooling Miroku out of the way of the tray a top-heavy woman he had been staring at had chucked at him.

"Fuck the wench! I'm the one running here," Inu Yasha growled, receiving a pinch to his neck as a result. Otherwise, he was ignored, and a silence befell the group, each of them concentrating on putting as much distance as humanly possible between them and murderous mob. Inu Yasha looked back over at the angry mob again, noting the sinister smiles everyone in the group seemed to share and shivered.

"Oi houshi, do things like this happen everywhere you go?" He called, jumping over the pitchfork the innkeeper had been trying to spear him with.

Still running, Miroku looked thoughtfully back at the angry mob, "Hm…pretty much."

"Kami help us…"

A/N: Finally! There you go! My whole weekend of freedom was spent slaaaaaving over this. …okay, fine, I admit I actually enjoyed it. But meh. I don't really think I like this chapter. It was a bit too planned for my taste, but if you agree, be gentle with your agreement. Ho hum. I was so surprised when everyone reviewed so much on my last chapter. For minutes on end I would stare at each review in shock; I'm bound to get a heart attack if I keep that up. Any way, don't hesitate to send those reviews. I'll be checking my mail during photography, and since that's a particularly dull class, I'll need something to liven it up slightly. I just saw the Ring with my friend on Friday…oh my goodness. I stared up at the ceiling for two hours that night, trying to convince myself that there was no girl in white climbing out of my mirror to share the shit out of me. Oh and that whole Miroku thing, I just made that up on the spot. Wow, now I have to weave that into my already confusing plot. Meh. Well, it's really hot up here so I think I'll drink something now. Tootles people, review, review!