Contentment and Purity

Me: I'm back with chapter 5! As if anyone cares….

Sango, Kagome, and Shippo: We care!

Everyone else: We don't!

Me: I only have sniff one review! Does anyone care! My Christmas story got this many reviews for chapter one! Fine. The new Naraku thing doesn't mean anything then? Fine. Here's the chapter. BTW… I made it so he made his way onto Mt. Hakurei… Yay! And I hadn't even seen those episodes yet!

Chapter 5: The Band of Eight

I stood from the floor, mind completely blank. My eyes shifted to a demon and a man who wereboth staring at me half-heartedly. My mind thought to strike them, but an order told me otherwise.

"Sit down." I automatically obeyed. "You are my servant now. You will do what I order you to do. That includes killing those you once loved. Understand?"

"Yes sir." I bowed my head, and a finger touched my forehead. A sudden rush of power swept through my body. "Sir… what is this? This… new power?"

"A jewel shard." He answered. "A small shard of the Sacred Jewel. It holds enough power to destroy a village in a matter of minutes.

"This particular shard holds a tremendous amount of power. Not only is it drawn out by your innate powers, but it is the center piece of the jewel. Every demon would kill to get their hands on this one piece, not to mention the others.

"Bankotsu!" My master's shout echoed throughout the spacious cave. A young man with a distinct smell of graveyard soil walked into the chamber. He carried an extremely heavy-looking Banryu on his shoulder.

"What is it, master?" The man stood where he was. It seemed he refused to bow to power. "Is this another one you've brainwashed? What do you want me to do with her?"

"She will join the Band of Seven. She is strong enough, you know."

"But… but… that would make us the Band of Eight!"

"Take her. Demon girl," Naraku requested my attention. "Your new name is Kirakotsu."

The realization had finally passed for Inuyasha, and Sango had returned after 3 hours of being on her own. The entire group had made it to a nearby village, and Miroku had resisted the urge to confront women. Shippo was attempting to drop hints to Sango about Miroku.

"Hey look! Look over at Miroku! He's ALONE!" The fox demon exclaimed, thinking that he was not being obvious at all. Kilala tilted her head at him and mewed questioningly.

"That's very nice Shippo." Sango replied. "I don't see why it matters whether he is alone or not. Is there something I need to know?"

Shippo's eyes shifted around the room in an attempt to catch someone's attention. Kagome had been listening intently to the whole conversation and called his name to save the conversation from advancing any further. "Look at that! Kagome's calling me!"

Miroku sighed in relief as the fox demon trotted off. Taking this as a hint, Inuyasha claimed to need fresh air as he, too, stepped out of the room. The monk walked over to the demon slayer and sat as close to her as possible.

"Nice try, Miroku." Sango growled as she sensed the monk's closeness. "I'm not in the mood. Don't even try it."

"I was just wondering whether you were alright. The way you stormed off earlier… and that slap actually drew blood. Is there something you want to talk about?"

"It's just nerves. We haven't seen Kohaku in weeks, and he usually would've shown up by now. I need to see him," Here she paused to stop herself from crying. "Even if just for a moment."

"That's understandable." Miroku said, patting her shoulder and resisting the urge to move lower. "It must be hard knowing that the one you tried so hard to protect turned on you like that. It's not his fault. Or yours. Blame it on Naraku. It is technically all because of-"

A noise from the other room cut their conversation short. A yell from Inuyasha sent the two running to join the others. They soon spotted the cause of the half-demon's surprise and fury.

"Inuyasha!" Sesshomaru said in his usual tone. "Where is she? I know you have something to do with her disappearance!"

"Whose disappearance!" Inuyasha yelled back. "I haven't kidnapped anybody! I don't know about Miroku, but-"

Sesshomaru suddenly lost interest in his younger brother and moved on to Miroku. "Where is she? Do you know, monk?" As Miroku shook his head, Inuyasha knocked his brother to the ground.

"Who the heck're you talkin' about?"

"Wow, Inuyasha. You really are slow." Kagome chimed in. Seeing Inuyasha's confused look got her angry. "He's talking about Rekaiu you bird-brain!"

"Someone took her away." Sesshomaru suddenly attracted everyone's attention as he began to tell of what happened. "Rin had caught a few fish, and I forced the rest of them to eat. Rekaiu went for a walk along the riverbank. That must be where they caught her!"

Kagome thought for a moment. "She's such a spitfire though! Who would want to kidnap her?"

"Naraku! His insects attacked her earlier. That human boy, the demon slayer," This caught Sango's attention. "He was there too. In the shadows of course. No one else noticed him. He must have grabbed her after stalking her all day!"

With that, Sesshomaru took off. Kagome ordered Inuyasha to follow him, and he reluctantly listened, knowing that he would be 'sat' otherwise. Sango and Miroku also followed, riding on the back of Kilala. Shippo was transported via Inuyasha as well.

"Bankotsu, sir, I have brought you your friends." A familiar voice spoke the name of my companion. Behind the boy was a group of 4 people who were heavily armed. Bankotsu greeted them happily, and ordered me to go over to him.

"Everyone, this is Kirakotsu. She is the new, eighth member of the Band of Seven. Or, should I say, the Band of Eight. Kirakotsu, this is Suikotsu, Jukotsu is holding the sword, Gukotsu is the machine, and Rinkotsu is the one with the headband."

"Another person?" The one called Jukotsu examined me. "I have one question for you. You'd better answer it, too. What's your special ability? What makes you so unique?"

"I'm extremely skilled in hand-to-hand combat. I'm not afraid to kill. No second thoughts. I have a question for you, Jukotsu. Are you a guy or a girl?" I shot back, knowing that the person had to answer it.

"Be careful," Bankotsu whispered fiercely into my ear. "The master may not like what you're saying… Watch it, Jukotsu. Don't anger her further. If she becomes too out of control, you sword may not save you."

"Yes, Bankotsu." Jukotsu backed away from preparing to hammer me with another comment. "What about Inuyasha? When will we see him?"

"In a little while, Jukotsu. First, we must entertain ourselves. Hey, kid!" Bankotsu managed to catch Kohaku's attention. "Take this down to that castle."

"What?"

"You're a ninja, aren't you? If not, then what are you?"

"I…uh… I'll take it." With those words, Kohaku ran off towards a distant castle. We waited for a while before closing in on the guards that executed the original Band of Seven.

Soon after, I made my first kill under Naraku's control.