On the last chapter the gang has gotten themselves into quite a real quandary. A good number of people, natives and foreigners alike, has mysteriously lost their souls. Miroku just so happens to be one of the victims whom was last seen going out for a time of leisure at a local lounge. The following day, Sangou recovers his unconscious body and took him into the infirmary. Kikyou makes an attempt to recover the missing souls but to no avail. Because of this, she became severely irritated and nearly lost her temper due to her shortcomings in hopes of finding a cure. Meanwhile, Rani introduces a priestess/doctor by the name of Ito and she claims that she knows a possible cure. The gang was skeptical and sets out to acquire it and that too, proved ineffective.
However, a geisha named Jun has a lead and she was the last person who had seen Miroku on the night he lost his soul. She tells the gang that a mysterious girl (whom resembles Chizaki greatly) who was selling drugs was responsible for this. In addition to that speculation, the woman was last seen heading inside an old and abandoned temple on the outskirts of town. The gang follow the lead and soon realizes that she is not alone...
There's another...
The real culprit...
Inuyasha
Fate's Course And Forbidden Love
Chapter 10
Domestic Adventure
Yoriko was making her way towards one of the many shelters that were a plenty in the valley. She has been searching for the person that she is seeking for a while now. Kaede, the current messenger of the village was very busy at the moment, so she was unable to summon someone for a meeting. Yet, it wasn't too long before she found her
"Kikyou." Yoriko regarded the girl who was training in Kyudo on the archery grounds. "May I have a word with you for a moment?"
Kikyou paused on her accuracy examination. "Yes? What is it that you would like to talk to me about?"
"It is of certain importance." Yoriko told her. " Come along now, child. It's urgent." The much younger miko watched Yoriko's retreating form uncertainly. It's all too sudden and urgent, she thought. After a moment of apprehensive rumination, Kikyou proceeded to follow.
Moments later in Yoriko's castle...
"Kikyou how long has it been?" Yoriko queried the miko with an arcane tone.
Kikyou tilted her head to the left in ambiguity. "Huh?"
"How long has it been since you've became a resident here in the valley?" She repeated, this time, according to Kikyou, was now clearer.
Kikyou deliberated on that question. It has been a long time. "Every since I was nine, fourteen years. Why did you asked?"
Yoriko lips went into a half hearted smile. "It has been a while, hasn't it? In fact, you're one of the very few people that remembers their parents." A flash of sadness crept on Kikyou's face. "I'm sorry if I made you think about her." Yoriko apologized.
"It's alright." Kikyou's eyes were downcast. "I think about my mother all the time... even to this very day."
She admired the girl's resilience. "You were training as a miko way back then, correct?" Kikyou shot her a look and was mildly surprised to see Yoriko smiling reassuringly.
"Every since I was a toddler." Kikyou answered. "Mother was a loving woman, but she was an extremely strict teacher."
"I see." Yoriko nodded. "I should of let you accompany those girls in the first place."
"What do you mean Yoriko-san?"
"Your friends on the road--Kagome and Chizaki. I should of let you joined them yesterday."
"Convoy them on their journey to Edo?" Kikyou suddenly beamed. "Are you sure that they're alright without me?"
A look of concern crossed Yoriko's face. "That's what I'm worried about." Kikyou gasped in surprise. "I have a terrible felling about the whole thing." She continued. "As if I made a foolish mistake."
"You sense bale in the atmosphere? What was it that you gave to them before they departed?"
"Kagome is an experienced archer, however she's an intermediate miko. And Chi is aspiring to be a doctor and as of late she too has become interested in becoming a miko." Yoriko explained. "Before they left this valley I strengthened their ki. However I fear that will not be enough."
"This sounds bad." Kikyou considered.
"Kagome hasn't been a miko as long as you have and Chizaki is relatively new to this." Said Yoriko. "Perhaps you are just the guidance that they need. It's not too late."
"Where are they?" Kikyou wondered. "I mean are they fairly far away from the valley by now?"
Yoriko scoffed. "Nah. They're in the nearest village. Courting with men if I may add."
Kikyou giggled. "I guess those two want to have fun on the way there."
Yoriko wasn't laughing though. "I'll say, they're having a little too much fun. They've already been attacked by pirates but they managed to thwart them off."
"It's obvious that those guys has underestimated them." Said Kikyou.
"True. True. However, things will only get worse for them." Yoriko stated seriously. "That's why I needed to see you."
"So? I'm going to have to head out later on?"
"Precisely."
Kikyou stood up and bowed. "I have a feeling it's going to be tough but I shall guide my friends well."
"Wait..."
Kikyou stopped in her tracks. "Yoriko-san?"
"I'm sorry for asking this but: Do you remember the night of your village's massacre and the demise of your mother?"
Tears well in Kikyou's eyes. "Yoriko..." Yoriko was attaining to a disturbing issue about her past. She was pretty much like a mother to Kikyou, now. Hell, she is her mother. Yet she think Yoriko really shouldn't unearth past pains.
"Do you remember?" She pressed.
"I-I remember..." Her voice cracking as she began to cry. "It all happened on the same night."
"I'm sorry Kikyou..."
Kikyou wiped away a tear. "I'm okay. At times it is good to cry. In helps me think clearer at times."
"I'm sorry... you're home village was destroyed and you lost your mother all on the same night." She atoned. " You've been living here in the valley every since--having no idea of who was responsible for the sin. Needless to say, you never sought after the perpetrator who did this, due to me. For that I'm sorry."
Kikyou's eyes widened in revelation. All traces of tears gone. "What are you saying?"
"I sense someone." Yoriko stated. "A possibly very important figure in your earlier years. This person may be another survivor from your home. Maybe an old friend, or an family member."
"Are you certain?" Kikyou demanded dubiously. "I was totally sure that Kaede and I were the only survivors."
"Perhaps. I cannot see this person but the person is there. Waiting to disclose answers to you." Yoriko elucidated. "This one may even know your mother's killer."
"Miss Yoriko... are you serious?"
"Unconditionally..." Yoriko replied sincerely.
Kikyou nodded her head in disbelief at the revelation. "This cannot be."
"I know that this is highly unusual of me to do this but, Kikyou, I bid you to join the others, unravel the missing links of your past and guide Kagome and Chi to prevail over this ordeal at hand." She demanded fiercely, clenching a fist to emphasis the point.
"Yoriko... I shall not let any of you down." Kikyou vowed.
"If you succeed in solving the mysteries of your past please do not forget the main objective of your journey."
"You mean what lies in Edo?"
"Yes." Yoriko nodded. "The Shikon."
* * *
"Yoriko-sama!" A girl exclaimed as she suddenly rushed inside the room. Interrupting Yoriko from wondering over past events.
"What seems to be the problem, Kaede?" She replied.
"We have a couple of visitors." Explained Kaede. "These guys claimed to be merchants but I have a funny feeling about them.
Yoriko arched her brow. "Okay... Little Kaede what gives you the right to be so suspicious towards these men? They probably have some valuables that they would like to sell.
Kaede scoffed at Yoriko's innocent remark. "That's the point. I could of sworn that I had seen some of our properties on their carts. As a matter of fact I seen a few kimonos these guys had in stock that looks exactly like my big sister's. Heck, they may even have some of her underwear."
Yoriko's face went into a frown. "That's disgusting..." She muttered.
"Huh?"
"Um, nothing Little Kaede." Yoriko rectified, reforming a smile. "Anyway, I think that you are definitely jumping to conclusions here. You may find something of interest among their stocks."
"As if." Kaede snorted. "You should of seen the way how a few of those guys were flirting on my friends just now. We nearly had to put up a fight to dissuade them."
"Uh oh. That cannot be good." Yoriko considered. "We'll just keep an eye on them and if any one of those boys try anything funny then it is our earnest duty throw them out. Simple as that." She snapped her finger.
"We'll be on our guard."
"Don't be surprised if you end up being overly paranoid for nothing." Said Yoriko, a little dubious.
* * *
'This dagger's our only chance.' Kikyou mentally swore. 'I have to deliver the coup de grace at any given opportunity.' The shadows that the demented Shou cast upon Jun still held her in a fierce gridlock. He seems to enjoy torturing the girl because the moment he allowed Jun to catch a breath he immediately commanded the evil spirits to constrict her neck once more. It was such a pitiful.
"Damn it." Kohaku swore. "He sees the girl's torment as a pleasure."
"And there's nothing we can do about this, either." Chi sympathized.
"Don't be... a... fool..." Jun strained between breaths. "You should... *gasp*... con... concentrate on... freeing the others."
"Silence you infernal child!" Shou bellowed. "You put so much faith in your friends although you know good and well that there's noting they can do."
"Damn. Something told me that I should of brought along my arrows." Kagome resented.
"Kagome you have any arrows on you as well!?" Kikyou asked in shock as she cursed herself of the unfortunate coincidence. "I'm sure that any of our spiritual arrows are enough to break that shell."
"So you didn't bring your arrows?" Inuyasha scoffed. "Well then, that means we have to find another way." He suddenly pushed Hikari to the side and lunged towards the old man in the darkness. "Sankontessou!!"
"Amusing..." Said Shou as the hanyou's attack met his mystical shield. Inuyasha's claws proved totally ineffective as he was repelled back to the floor by the shock. "What did I tell you?"
"The bastard's magic is stronger than I thought." Inuyasha grunted. Hikari suddenly grabs him from behind in a Full Nelson. "Would you stop playing you crazy wench!? I'm trying to free you from his control."
"You cannot..." Hikari drawled. "Shou-sama is invincible."
"Like hell he is!!"
"Hiraikotsu!!" Sangou shouted as she tossed her boomerang. It flew towards the force field and it too was repelled by his powers. She caught the weapon with ease as it came back towards her. "Well that didn't work. Damn!"
Now Kikyou had a turn. It was a golden opportunity to dispel the old man's magic. 'Alright. Let just hope that this will do the trick.' She mused hopefully. Without second though she drew her arm back and chunked the dagger with all of her might at the very center of Shou's barrier.
The blade did it! It diminished the magical barrier.
"What's is this!!!?" Shou snapped in outrage. The shadows that held Jun were now gone and Kohaku caught her as she fell. The geisha was now sleeping peacefully, to his relief.
"Success!" Kikyou exclaimed in triumph.
"Master..." Hikari murmured as she realized Shou was now at a disadvantage. She still held Inuyasha in a lock.
"Thanks to him this chick is as strong as shit!" Inuyasha cursed. "You'll have to hurry up and defeat him!"
"How dare you defy me, you fools!" Shou hissed.
"I guess that you've seen better days." Said Kagome.
"It's over." Kikyou advised as she approached him. "Now, relinquish the souls that you've stolen."
"Not likely, my dear." Shou cackled as he suddenly reached out and grabbed Kikyou by the neck and held her over his head. "Did you think that I can be defeated so easily?"
Kikyou struggled against the small old man's restraints. "You despicable fool." She hissed. "You're on your last leg and still you're as stubborn as a cow."
"That's very funny little one." He grinned. "It's sort of ironic that an old decrepit creature as myself is able to handle a strong, healthy young woman as yourself."
"Like I said before, you are no longer a human."
"You're quite right." He metamorph into his true form. No longer an old man, he was now a hideous beast that's a cross between a human and a vampire bat. He had horns sprouting from his temples and had a deathly cold gray colored skin. "Once I'm done with you I shall see to it that your companions she meet you soon enough in the afterlife."
"The box!" Kikyou yelled. "You must get the box out of his grasp!"
Sangou didn't had to be told twice. She quickly took the initiative as she threw her boomerang at the box at his other hand. It smacked the box right out of his hand. "He lost his grip! Now's our chance!"
"Imbeciles!" He bellowed fearfully. He released his grip on Kikyou's neck and made his way to the small box. He failed to retrieve it however when Kagome came from out of nowhere and nearly tackled the daylights out of him. "Why you foolish little--"
"Chi!" Kagome shrieked. "What are you waiting for!!? Get the damned box and rip it open!"
"I'm already on it." Chi reassured as she was already looming over the cigar package. She pries it off the floor and immediately opened it. Shortly, the entire room lit up like a light. Countless lost souls came forth from the package.
Shou looks on in total disbelief. This very source of his power were now slipping away before his very eyes. His body suddenly combust into horrible flames. "I do not believe this..."
Hikari released her hold on Inuyasha and regained her composure. She was completely oblivious to her surroundings. "Huh? Where... where am I? What's going on...?" Her voice was soft and melodic, almost like Kikyou's.
"You've been under a spell." Inuyasha answered to her. "For how long, I do not know."
The brunette was scratching her head uncertainly. "A spell? I was under a spell?"
"Yea, you were." He noticed something about her as he smelled her scent. 'Strange. Not only does this girl looks like Chizaki but she also smells identical to her...'
They switched their view to Shou who was now engulfed in hellfire.
"I refuse!" He cried. "I CANNOT GO TO THE NETHERWORLD!! NOT NOW!!"
Kikyou approached him in a calm manner. "Hey. There is something I need to know..."
"Little bitch!!" He snapped. "You mock me now!!?"
Kikyou remained calm and controlled. "No. I am not." She replied. "However I need you to answer me: Were you around when a village in northern Nagoya was burned down?"
"Ludicrous!! I haven't been there in over thirty years!"
"I see." Kikyou sighed. "Well did you knew a priestess that goes by the name of Yukari?"
Shou pondered for a moment. "I'd only heard of her name but I never met her in person. Although I did heard that she was quite a woman. But what does that matter now?"
Kikyou became angry. "You prune!! She was murdered fourteen years ago!!" Tears began welling slightly in her eyes. "You were probably around seventy back then!" She was disgusted that an old dirty man would fancy her mother at her prime.
"I see that she's important to you." Shou laughed despite his decaying form. "That so-called priestess deserved such a fate and you, one day, shall suffer a much worse one than she did."
"You bastard! That was my mother you spoke ill will of!"
"Is that so? Then I shall see her pretty soon." He snickered.
"Stop talking about mother like that!!" She cried.
"Don't worry dear child." He continues his effort to torment her. "I will take care of her down in hell!" He began laughing sadistically. "If she's there, I suppose going to hell isn't so bad!!"
Kikyou wanted him to die already. "You..."
"Kaze No Kizu!!" Inuyasha executed the Wind Scar and shortly, it inflicts it's target and reduced the man monster to ashes. "I gotten tired of him running his damn mouth." Said Inuyasha. "He know better than that."
Kikyou turned to the hanyou with surprised eyes. "Inuyasha..."
Inuyasha smirked. "Besides, the old coot was dissing your mom like he had lost his damn mind. So I done a little favor for you."
"Inuyasha... thank you..."
"Keh. It was nothing." He realized the dreamy look on Kikyou's face. "Gah! Don't do that again!" He shrieked. "Please don't kiss me!"
Kikyou made a pouting face, while still blushing. "Inuyasha... it's called gratitude."
"I know! I know!" He retorted apprehensively.
"Well it pretty much looks like big sister, Kagome, and Chi-chan saved the day." Said Kohaku. He was very pleased of the recent victory.
"Ouch..." Moaned Kagome. "I think I broke my hip bone when I tackled him." She rubbed her offended hip. "If I keep being reckless like that, I'll end up having a weird figure."
" I doubt that." Inuyasha snickered as he scrutinized her. "It'll take a lot more than that to alter your figure."
Kagome blushed. "Very funny."
"It seems as though Jun is well." Said Sangou as she glances towards her little brother. "But where's the other girl?"
"You mean Hikari?" Kagome wondered. "Come to think of it, she did disappeared."
"Oi." Kikyou called out to the mysterious woman just in time. Hikari was just about to approach the exit. "Were you in league with him?"
The samurai ko turned her gaze unto her. "No. I know nothing of that old man and I didn't appreciate him using me in his schemes like that."
"It seems that you're not from around here." Sangou stated. "I do wonder what brings you here to the village."
Hikari smiled. "If you must know then allow me to tell you. My name is Hikari Nasegawa. I hail from the city of Edo and I came to this village to expand my knowledge of the arts."
"You're from Edo?' Kagome queried in mild surprise. "That's where we are heading to."
"I see." Hikari considered. "I start my training under Rani-san a little over four days ago."
"So it was you that mother was talking about." Sangou realized. "You're good."
"Not only that but she looks too much like Chizaki." Inuyasha commented.
"Are you two related?" Kikyou inquired.
Hikari and Chi took a long look at one another. They both were gazing into nearly identical faces--only Hikari seems to be a bit older with much longer hair. "Never seen her before in my life." They both confirmed.
"Strange. You two can easily pass up as sisters." Said Inuyasha.
"Whatever you say. Anyway I'm just glad that I'm back to normal." Hikari stated.
"Speaking of normal," Kikyou realized. "We have to return to the village to check on the others."
* * *
"Kaede you're acting weirder than usual." Said Yuka as she trailed behind the younger girl. "Give it a rest will you? They're merchants for goodness' sake."
"No way!" Kaede retorted as she peeped around a corner. "I'm usually right about these bad feelings."
"Well your bad feelings are giving me a headache right about now." She sighed. "This is ridiculous."
"Hey, look!" Kaede pointed. "Isn't that Eri coming out." Yuka applied the weight of her arms on Kaede's shoulders to peep around the corner. "You're crushing me you know?"
Yuka looks on with a disbelieving look. "Oh no."
Kaede grew concern. "What's the matter? Did something happened?"
"Could that funny looking guy be Eri's boyfriend?" Yuka grimaced. "Damn she has bad tastes."
Kaede fell face forward as Yuka toppled on top shortly afterward. "Moron..."
Eri browses through the items that the merchants had in stock. These guys had a variety of things. Clothes, appliances, crafts, tools, weapons, jewelry and much more. A purple kimono especially caught her eyes and held it in front of her. "Wow. This is nice."
"Glad you like it, kid." One of the six merchants replied. A rugged and fairly tall fellow with bushy hair.
More women gathered around the shelter to check out the inventory. Ayumi was among them. She joined the others in looking through the supplies.
"You see that Kaede." Yuka pointed out. "There's nothing going on."
"Maybe you spoke to soon." Said Kaede. "Look."
"What are you on about now?"
After a few more minutes of browsing a scowl appeared on Ayumi's features. Obviously it looks like that she is about to complain about something. Another girl made a face as well. What's up? "This dress looks like on of mine."
"She's right about that. These ceramics look just like the ones I designed a few weeks." The girl piped.
"Are these my sandals?"
"Hey! This is my hat!"
"I could have sworn that I was wearing this kimono the other day."
There were more numerous complaints about the merchants' inventory. The women were complaining for a reason. It was almost as though the items were...
"Are these dresses stolen?"
The main merchant, a man named Goshinki replies to the question. "You're right." He snickered. "They're stolen and what are you going to do about it?"
The surround women gasped in shock.
So did Yuka and Kaede...
"I knew it that there were something fishy about those guys." Kaede confirmed.
"I'm sorry for doubting you." Yuka agreed. "Now there's something that must be done about it."
"Alright. On the count of three..."
"Well?" Goshinki beckoned. "Since you found out all of this stuff is stolen what are you going to do about it?"
"THREE!!"
Kaede and Yuka sprinted forth from their hiding spot and tackled two of the merchants (thieves) unconscious. The other women took this as an open opportunity to attack the raiders but unfortunately, they were quick to drew out their guns.
"I wouldn't try anything funny if I were you." Goshinki warned.
"You're the man!"
"Tell em' Goshinki!"
Yuka pondered about the name mentioned. "Goshinki? Such an odd name for a person. What reputation does he has that earned him that name?"
"Now ladies? Any last words?"
At that moment an unseen person streaked through and immediately took out three more of the marauders. The girls looks on in awe as it happened all of a sudden. The one that took them out was Atsuko-- a lead kendo teacher in the entire town. She managed to defeat them effortlessly without them knowing who it was. Goshinki remained standing, a evil smile on his face looking as though he knows secrets that the rest of the world was unaware of.
"Well if it isn't sensei Atsuko." He sneered. "Well done but I saw you coming."
Atsuko preens her black bangs from her eyes and regarded the thief. "Well that means that you're a stronger warrior than I expected."
"Excuse me, but I am not just some warrior." Goshinki laughed.
"Hey you!" Kaede exclaimed. "I wouldn't be laughing if I was you because you're going to face the wrath of Atsuko."
"Then that means I have to be prepared." He stated and begins to transform into his true form. A hideous, gigantic lavender colored monster with blood red eyes. "Much better. Now little girl, what do you have to say now?"
"N-nothing..." Kaede cowered. Most of the women scattered in fear.
"It's a monster." Atsuko realized in apprehension. She steeled her resolve and a determined glare met her face. "Very well. The bigger they are--"
*BAM!!*
"The harder they fall." Goshinki finished for her after he knocked the swordswoman unconscious.
"Um Kaede?" Yuka shrank. "I believe now is a good time to follow the other's example."
"RUN!!"
"Way ahead of you!" He declared and appeared right in front of the cowering girls. "You idiots! Why do you think that they call me Goshinki in the first place?"
"Because you're ugly and your breath stinks?" Kaede answered in fear.
Goshinki scoffed. "Wrong! You are the weakest link... GOODBYE!!!"
"Hey Goshy! Buddy! Can we just talk about this? Huh?" Yuka stammered.
"Nope! Die!"
"FIRE!!"
Suddenly numerous arrows rained down on his back. Unfortunately they proved ineffective. Goshinki smiled as he deciphered the source of it on the rooftops. "Excuse me ladies but I will be right back." He quickly made his way to the rooftops in order to kill off the archers. Until...
"Nah ah. I wouldn't do that if I were you." A voice warned. Goshinki was mysteriously sent slamming into the ground by an mysterious force. He looks around in confusion as he landed.
"What is going on here?" He demanded.
"Come now. You really expect to raise hell in this village without me having something to say about it. The fool is to be pitied, you know." Said Yoriko as she steps into the fray. "Hi there. Nice to meet your acquaintance. I am Yoriko... the sovereign of this entire town. Or you can call me "The White Haired Witch That's About To Do Me In."
"You dare mock me?" Goshinki growled. 'Strange. I cannot pick up anything that crosses her mind.'
"You'll have to forgive me, Goshinki." Yoriko bowed. "And yes, my mind is totally clouded meaning that you cannot read my thoughts."
"That's impossible! Are you telling me that you're--"
Yoriko tapped her forehead with her index finger. "Yep. You've guessed it. Bona fide psychic."
"Why you!!" Goshinki charged at her in absolute rage.
"Yoriko-sama!!" They girls shouted. "Watch out!!"
Yoriko yawned totally bored. "Okay... Five... Four... Three... Two... One..." Just when the monster closed in for a killing blow, Yoriko shot a wave of lavender energy right through the beast. "This is so sad. I actually expected more, you know?"
Goshinki's eyes widened in shock during his final moment. "Go to hell..."
Then he exploded.
Kaede and Yuka beamed in awe. "Wow! Yoriko-sama! I didn't know that you can do that!"
"You vanquished the monster without an effort Miss Yoriko!" Yuka congratulated.
"Thank you very much, children." Yoriko replied before realizing the mess she made. "Uh oh! Cleanup on street five."
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: Writer's block... I hate it with a passion.
NEXT CHAPTER
~KAGOME~
Things are finally back to normal in the village of demon slayers. We're allowed to rest up for another day. It's just the break we needed. However, Rani-san summoned us to follow her to a cave in the village and it turns out to be a shrine. As a matter of fact, it's the shrine to a legendary priestess named Midoriko. And that's not all, it's apparent that Midoriko was the creator of a relic called the Shikon: the very thing that we are searching for on our grueling journey. The very history and secrets of Midoriko's legacy are revealed on the next...
Inuyasha
Fate's Course And Forbidden Love
Chapter 11
The Mystery of Midoriko &Shikon, Unraveled