SUMMARY: Kagome hasn't been herself lately, some weird kid wants her soul, and Inuyasha once again has to come to her rescue. But what happens when her life depends on a very serious choice of action?
RATING: PG-13 to be safe. (Shouldn't putting Inuyasha in a Fanfiction automatically make it PG-13)
CHAPTER TWO : Torn in Two
After what happened last night, it seemed like the morning would never show. Inuyasha had sat up all night, a stern look on his face. He sat near Kagome's vacant body, which still appeared to have some life in it since her body still gave off an inkling of warmth. His amber eyes remained on the figure in the corner of Kaede's hut however. He had been in that position all night with his legs crossed and his arms folded.
The figure, Yahei had a more lenient posture. His upper body hung forward slightly, mostly because he was tied still. His particularly long messy hair hung loosely past his young face as his eyes remained trained on the Hanyou. It was more of a staring contest between the two.
As for Kagome's soul, it remained by Inuyasha's side, accompanying her body. It was hard to tell, but it was told that she was depressed. Even Miroku and Sango sat with glum looks on their faces, as well as Shippou. Silence had befallen the small hut, and it didn't lift itself until Kaede had returned with some things freshly picked from the field of the village. She passed calmly to the other side of the hut and seated herself.
"Thanks Kaede." Miroku said kindly to the elderly woman. He didn't ask she get the food for Kagome, but the woman needed thanks anyhow.
Kaede smiled as warmly as she could before finally attempting to lift the silence which seemed eerie to her. "Now, tell me what happened."
No one spoke for a moment. Then Shippou spoke up, to much surprise. "This weird guy stole Kagome's soul. We got it back, but…"
He trailed off, his eyes on the still Kagome lying beside Inuyasha. Kaede followed his gaze, then looked at Yahei, who was still glaring at Inuyasha spitefully. Even though his attention wasn't on her, she spoke. "I presume you are this thief, then?"
Yahei didn't answer.
"Answer me. Are you the thief, boy?"
No answer.
Fed up with the boy's refusal to answer, not Kaede, but Inuyasha stood up and stomped over to the child and lifting him by the collar of his shirt. Yahei still glared at Inuyasha, even as he was scolded, "Hey, don't you here her talking to you? If you don't cooperate, I'll kill you on the spot, you bastard."
Yahei smirked as Inuyasha dropped him to the ground. He landed rather soundly, and his smirk maintained itself as Inuyasha looked down at him angrily. Why not? "Yes. I am said thief."
"I see." Kaede said. During Inuyasha's spurt of anger, she had moved slightly closer to Yahei. At once, Yahei looked at her a bit reproachfully. Her gnarled hand placed itself under Yahei's chin and lifted it so that Yahei was looking at her as she kneeled down to confront him. "Boy, what is your name? You seem… familiar."
"Get away from me, you hag!" Yahei spat, attempting to get away from the woman, despite what Inuyasha threatened. Kaede didn't comply, and moved closer, sternly. Yahei stared in her eyes defiantly before his eyes lost its vigor. Still, his words came out loathingly, "My name is Yahei."
"Yahei." Kaede repeated, pulling back since she had gotten what she wanted. "Yahei. I seem to recall the name. A long while back I met someone by that name."
Yahei stared at her back, hating the woman, yet curious as to what she was going to say. Everyone else as well watched Kaede.
"A rather young man who at the time was a traveler. A mercenary was what I suspect he was, but called himself merely a traveler. His visits weren't frequent, but he did come every few months I would say. He said he wanted to settle down and have a family and get out of his line of work. I never really knew what kind of work he did, though I had my suspicions. I heard he got his wish and settled down in a village maybe a few miles from here. So tell me…" Kaede turned to Yahei, who was looking a bit embarrassed. "Are you by chance related to him, by any chance?"
Yahei stared at the woman in awe, though his mouth was closed tightly. He hadn't expected her to know that much. Still she went on.
"He too used weaponry, similar to your own, Yahei." Kaede said, catching the look Inuyasha was giving her. "Do you have something to ask, Inuyasha?"
"Yeah," He spat it out like he'd been waiting a whole year to say it. "What the hell does that have to do with getting Kagome's soul back in her body?"
"Yahei is the only one who can put Kagome back in her body." Kaede said flatly. Everyone turned their gaze to the boy who now had a smug look on his face.
"And how are you going to get me to do that?" Yahei questioned. He knew the answer already. Inuyasha was probably going to threaten him again. His threats were losing its validity, since now that it was clear he was the only one who could do what Inuyasha wanted, it was very unlikely that Inuyasha would follow through with his threats to kill him. He got no answer and he laughed outright. "That's what I thought."
"We're going to do nothing."
Yahei stopped laughing. Sango had spoken up, and Inuyasha watched her as she sat, stroking the small cat youkai in her lap. Kirara was watching Yahei as Sango's hand stroked her. Sango kept her eyes trained on Yahei. "Yahei has a reason for separating Kagome's soul from her body. What it is, I'm not sure."
Yahei stared at Sango, as she went on. "The look Yahei has isn't one of a thief. It's of a sibling."
"What are you talking about Sango?" Miroku asked, for once keeping his hands to himself as he sat next to Sango. She was onto something. "Are you saying…"
"Inuyasha, do you remember when I tried to steal the Tetsusaiga from you?" Inuyasha nodded in response to her question.
"Are you saying that this kid's trying to steal Kagome's soul because someone's forcing him to? Like Naraku did to you?" Inuyasha asked grumpily as he watched Yahei.
Sango shook her head. "No, it's different than that. Yahei's doing it, not because he's being blackmailed, but because he has to. I did what I did for Kohaku… my brother. Perhaps there is someone Yahei is doing it for."
Yahei's defiant look vanished as he stared at Sango like she was from another world. How was it that she knew? His look turned to one of slight loathing. He didn't respond verbally, but he did turn away. Inuyasha was on the verge of snarling. He longed to crush the boy for hurting Kagome. He wanted to know WHY this little runt got such a kick of separating Kagome and her body. Before he could even open his mouth, Yahei spoke. "You might want to check on your friend."
What was he talking about? His eyes automatically dashed toward Kagome, the soul once near it gone. Furious, the Hanyou grabbed the boy and placed his talons severely close to Yahei's throat. "What the hell did you do with her!"
Yahei had an incredulous look to his face, as if he were innocent. "What! I didn't do anything! Just because I'm a first-time offender doesn't mean you can accuse me of every little--"
Yahei couldn't finish his protest; Inuyasha was shaking him back and forth violently, determined to get the answer he wanted. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"
"I told you—I didn't do anything!" Yahei argued, his voice wavering because he was still being jarred back and forth by the furious Inuyasha.
"I don't believe you," uttered Inuyasha, preparing to drive his claws through the boy with ease. Luckily, Miroku interrupted. He didn't say anything, but held Inuyasha's wrist. Inuyasha calmed down, but his eyes remained focused on Yahei, "What happened to her then?"
"See for yourself," Yahei said smugly, gesturing out the door. Inuyasha watched him before padding to the door and stepping out of it. A smirk appeared on Yahei's face, and he didn't care that the others noticed it.
Almost instinctively, Shippou cried, "Look out, Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha's head turned slightly, but not fast enough. Something wrapped itself firmly around his neck, and the others watched as he was swifly pulled upward from outside the doorway. They rushed outside to see him dangling in the air, held by several layers of chain similar to what was seen before. It was strangling him, though Inuyasha was still fighting.
Inside the hut, Yahei rose to his feet, letting the chains that had once wrapped him fall loose before he somehow made a large hole in the hut's wall. Everyone was outside, attempting to help Inuyasha, so no one was there to prevent his escape. It was going great. He knew very well that Kagome's soul was on its way, and things were going as planned.
His foot touched the ground outside the hut softly, but in that slow moment….
An arrow pierced his shoulder.
And blood shot forth.
To spill on the ground.
On which he stepped freely.
Chapter Two complete! FF Battle Success Music Plays o.o Yar? REVIEW! REVIEW DARN IT!