Hikari sniffed the air and smiled. "Blood..." she said quietly. Hakisuma looked up from the clothes she was washing.
"Blood?" Hakisuma asked with her eyebrows furrowed. "Not another fight...I just got done washing Kagome's uniform!" she took the clothes out from the water and wrung it out tightly.
Hikari snorted. "This is no ordinary demon..." she said. Hakisuma looked even more upset. Hikari looked at her blade in which she was polishing. The blood had almost come off...just the dried blood crusted in splotches was left. She wet the rag and rubbed the massive sword gently.
Hakisuma stood up and shook out Kagome's skirt. "What odd clothes her people dress her in," she held the short green skirt up closer. She shook her head and pinned it up on the branch of a tree with Sango's freshly washed suit.
Kagome and Sango walked out from behind trees talking to each other. They both wore new, fresh clean clothes from Kagome's time. They had just taken a bath in a cold spring to wash out the blood and stink. Hakisuma offered to wash their clothes and they gladly gave them up to take a shower, taking Kagome's nice-smelling 'shampoo' and 'conditioner'. (Remember, Hakisuma and Hikari don't know what they are!)
Kagome looked at Hakisuma and said, "thank you!' Hakisuma nodded happily and smiled. "You should've gone with us to wash!" Kagome commented.
Hakisuma looked down and blushed. "I'm not used to washing with other people...bad experience, so don't ask." she muttered.
Kagome nodded with a slightly confused face. "OK." Then she headed towards Inu Yasha and Miroku, who were talking quietly about what Naraku might be doing next. Kii sat next to Inu Yasha in her small form, licking off the blood. Kirara had gone with Sango to clean up. Shippo stayed behind napping in Kagome's backpack.
Hakisuma grabbed her katana and a change of clothes. She headed off towards the spring with some. Kagome spotted Hakisuma and stopped her. "Here. You can use my shampoo, conditioner and soap." Kagome offered.
"Huh?" Hakisuma asked. "I don't know how do use them," she admitted quietly. Kagome chuckled.
"You use this on your hair first," she instructed, waving the bottle of shampoo, "then you rinse out, then use this." Kagome grabbed the conditioner. "You keep that in your hair and wash your body afterwards. OK?" Kagome smiled. "Oh, yeah, don't get any of that stuff in your eyes of mouth...it stings and its bitter."
Hakisuma, nodded, took the soaps, left to the spring. She paused by a tree and hesitated. Everyone looked up. She looked uncertain as she started. "Uh, could you keep a close eye on Miroku for me?"
Sango smiled. "Don't worry. I'll have my boomerang close at hand." Hakisuma flashed a quick smile and disappeared into the trees.
Hikari looked at her Divine Blade more closely. It was polished to perfection. She smiled grimly and reversed it.
(Hakisuma)
Hakisuma set down the clothes onto a rock and rolled up her sleeves. She took off her long stockings and waded into the cool water. She looks around and sighed. 'Finally...time to think!' she thought. The leaves rustled and Hakisuma whipped around. 'Not Miroku!' she pleaded. 'That guy scares me enough!' She strained to peer into the bushes cautiously. 'Probably just an animal...' she thought. Even so, she reached out slowly for her katana. Hakisuma grimaced as a fish swam by her ankle. Whoa, I'm way. too tense...' she sighed and let go of her katana.
Something rough wrapped itself around her ankle and began to drag her downwards. She gasped and made to reach for her katana. Her fingers gripped the edge and it slipped into the water. Hakisuma's nose was barely above the surface as she was being pulled down slowly and steadily. The water closed around her head. She shut her eyes quickly and took a deep breath as she fought to lunge out of the water. The grip tightened and jerked her down. Hakisuma's heart pounded faster and she bared her teeth and transformed. Her black ears popped out of her hair and she shook her head in the water, sending bubbes everywhere. She desperately looked for her katana.
The katana was lying next to a rock in the water. She reached for it but only her fingertips touched the handle. Her air was running out...even as a half demon she only had a limited time before she had to breathe again. She cried out underwater and lunged forward with as much force she had. She managed to grab the katana and she used her good leg to kick herself up to get air. Her head broke the surface and she gasped the cool, fresh air. Her heart was in her head, pounding away loudy and painfully. It wasn't a few moments after when the creature grabbed her back. This time, Hakiuma was ready. She scowled and slashed wildly at the dark hand grabbing her ankle. The hand released her ankle and she kicked away.
She scrambled out of the water and ran to the trees. The arm she had cut off unintentionally washed up to the upsetted surface. It was a stump now, and the flesh was ripped and frayed at the edge. Dark crimson blood mingled that was with water was spreading thinly on the smooth pebbles and rocks. The water around the crevices turned pink. Hakisuma panted as she watched warily for any other signs of anything suspicious. Water streamed off of her sopping wet clothes and hair. Hakisuma's eyes darted around the spring. Nothing looked suspicious...but... the water above the spot she was attacked wasn't bubbling like it should have if there was movement or air.
She closed her eyes and sighed. Inu Yasha ran out of the trees, staring at the detatched arm on the ground. He then glanced up to Hakisuma. Miroku, Sango, Kagome, and Shippo ran out after him. They all looked at Hakisuma for an explanation. Hakisuma took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
"I was going to take a bath...as you all know...." She scowled with a blush on her face. "and when I was checking the water, something grabbed me and pulled me down...so I cut its arm off."
Hikari grinned. "Nice going," she said while looking at the decapitated arm. Shippoe looked away from the disgusting arm. Everyone else but him and Hakisuma crowded around the stump.
Inu Yasha poked at it. "It doesn't look demon or human..." he began. Hikari agreed with him.
"Yeah, and that thing has only three fingers and a thumb" she stated, pointing at the hand. Kagome crouched down lower and squinted. She gasped and hesitantly grabbed the stump. She pried open the flesh and pulled out a Shikon shard. Everybody else gasped too.
"Strange..." Kagome said. "I didn't sense it!"
Inu Yasha looked at Hakisuma. "Did you happen to see the attacker?"
Hakisuma shook her head but stopped because it hurt. "No, I didn't see it. It was kinda blurry underwater..." she commented sarcastically.
Inu Yasha scowled at Hakisuma and turned back to the severed arm. "Hey! It looks like the arm of those creatures who attacked us last night!" he noticed.
Sango and Miroku nodded in unison. Kagome glanced up and Hakisuma.
"About last night..." she started, "how did you do those shields around yourselves?"
"Yeah!" everyone agreed. The spotlight was on Hakisuma. She sweat-dropped and gulped.
"Uh...I......uh....my mom...she taught me a little bit of that kind of stuff..." she said quietly. Kagome had sadness in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she started.
Hakisuma shook her head fiercly. "No! Ever since my parents death, I've been more determined to kill Naraku! I swear, we are going to kill Naraku! He will die, I promise you!"
Inu Yasha looked like he was about to say something but held back. He nodded.
Hiakri picked up the stupm of an arm. She examined it and covered nose. "Poison..." she said.
Everyone looked at her. "Naraku's doings," Miroku stated. Everyone nodded.
Sango piped up. "You have been very quiet lately...are you in a fever?" she felt his forehead. Miroku sweat-dropped and sighed. Sango caught the sigh and frowned. She formed her hands into a fist and punched him on the head. "Get those dirty thoughts out of your head!" she hissed. Everyone took one look at Sango and inched away.
Hakisuma looked at her ankle. It was slightly red, and it hurt a little bit to walk. She limped slighly over to their camp and plopped down onto a log. Inu Yasha, Kagome, Miroku, Shippo, Hikari, and Sango came after her.
"Are you still going to take a bath alone after that?" Inu Yasha smirked.
"INU YASHA!" Kagome yelled. "YOU.....YOU......" her face was bright red. Inu Yasha cowered under her glare, sat down and shut up. Hakisuma sighed, leaned against a tree, and closed her eyes. Soon, she was asleep.
Ima finished with this chappie! Stay in contact for the next chappie, number 21! Yippee! Sighs contently and plopps down on couch. AHA! The cuteness of Ryou! (hugs him to death) O.O"