Chapter Two: First Impressions are Everything

The gang set off down the road towards the next town. Except for the occasional sound of a slap echoing across the open meadow, the walk was rather quiet. The leachorus monk trailing behind as Songo raised her head in discust Kagome was unusually quiet as she wheeled her bike along side of her, still thinking about this morning.

'What was that back there?' Kagome questioned herself.

'I mean stuff like that has happened like that before but he acted so weird. Come to think of it, I was acting weird too.' Oh well. The group continued its walk, advancing into a rather thick forest. Cut off from the sun, the forest floor grew eerily darn.

"Boy.. this is creepy…" Kagome said uneasily.

"Don't tell me you're scared? Inuyasha teased, "How pathetic…"

What did you say to….. She was cut off as Inuyasha stopped abruptly and turned to his side, reaching for Tetsusaiga.

"What is it?" was all Kagome managed to say as a barrage of arrows ripped through the foliage ahead. Inuyasha, realizing that he was the only thing between the arrows and Kagome, he reached out in an attempt to catch the projectiles in mid-flight. He successfully caught two of them in his hands and blocked another 3 with his arms. One arrow slipped by him and pierced through his kimono just below his stomach. Upon reaching down to remove it, a second arrow flew towards him and struck him in the chest. Inuyasha almost fell over in shock.

'What just happened?' Before he could continue, several Snake demons (couldn't think of anything else) emerged from the bushes lining the road ahead, bows and swords at the ready.

"We have come for the jewel shards" One of the snakes declared, "Hand them over peacefully and we shall spare your lives."

"Fat chance!" Inuyasha shouted back, "Why don't you just try and take them!" "A hanyou protecting a band of worthless humans?" Another demon stated coldly, "How pathetic, you are a disgrace to demons you weak little half-breed!"

"Shut up!" Inuyasha spat back, "I'm not going to even let you live to regret ever crossing me!"

"A complete waste of stun and poison arrows but none the less your wish is granted!" The same Snake demon shouted back as the group unleashed another volley of arrows.

"Hey guys give Inuyasha a hand, would ya?" Kagome spoke to Miroku and Songo with out looking. When she heard no response she turned around to find both the demon-slayer and the monk flat on their backs, an arrow in each chest. Kagome gasped in horror and knelt down to assist them, leaving Inuyasha to fight the demons alone. As she attempted to remove the arrows from her friend's chests, Inuyasha slashed away at the waves of arrows with his Tetsusaiga. A single arrow collided with his kimono and simply bounced off its enchanted fur.

'Wait a second, if those poison arrows could not pierce his kimono, then why could the stun arrows?' Inuyasha had little time to contemplate this as another volley of arrows came flying at him. Accompanying this last wave of projectiles was several demons charging at him with swords. Inuyasha swung down Tetsusaiga and yelled "Wind Scar!" obliterating a good half of them, including archers behind. The rest continued to advance which he also quickly cut down. The last advancing demon was able to swing down on Inuyasha somehow slicing through his red kimono and leaving a large open gash as it evaporated. By this time, Kagome was able to remove the arrows from both Miroku and Songo, although their stunning affects lingered. She had heard him let out a cry of pain and spun around with a terrified look on her face. She quickly spotted him clutching his chest and noticed the bloody gash along his body.

"Inuyasha!!!" Kagome screamed in terror. Inuyasha leapt up into the air and swung Tetsusaiga back as he prepared for another Wind Scar. Just as he reached the height of his jump the remaining Snake demons fired another volley of poison arrows. He yelled "Wind Scar!" and the snakes vanished into a blinding flash, which destroyed them on contact. He twisted sideways as the arrows approached in an attempt to avoid them. Kagome spotted an arrow which looked as if it was moving directly towards him. She could only watch in horror as the arrow drew ever closer. The venomous arrow pireced through his skin in the very spot the demon had cut him only moments earlier. Inyasha gasped as the arrow struck his body and whinced in pain has he fell to the ground. He landed on his feet and quickly removed the arrow from his chest again whincing as he did so. Inuyahsa turned around to see Kagome running towards him, still terrifyed.

"Inuyasha are you ok?" Kagome said breathlessly.

"Don't worry, This is just a scratch. I'll be fine. Inuyahsa managed. Right after saying this his eyes suddenly dialated and he fell over onto the dirt road as Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs.

Cliff Hanger!!! Bum bum bummmmm!!!!! Always wanted to do that. Enjoy.