Disclaimer: Nope, nosiree I don't own anything Inuyasha related. I wish, but nope. Nopeitydoo. Nopers. (I think I need some of that mental help I keep talking about )
Special Thanks to all of my reviewers so far:
Lady-of-tormentdeath ; MTNight ; addicted2reviews ; NomadGirl66 ; lostmoonchild ; SugarWaffle ; Sangonesan ; bad-ass-cali-chic ;
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Part IV: Kagome's First SwordA random person walked up to Kagome and tapped her on the shoulder. "EH! Young lady! You look like you would be interested in this wonderful potion! It will make you very beautiful!"
Kagome turned around and saw him. "Excuse me? Were you talking to me? I know you weren't because I am already beautiful thank you very much!" Kagome turned to Sango. "The nerve of some people! God!"
The two walked down the long strip dedicated to the marketplace and saw all of the different things that were being sold. They truly did have everything there. There was one stand in particular that they both took offense to. The sign said: "Have your wildest dreams come true – Men Only" Kagome had to restrain Sango for fear that she would do something….rash.
The stand that was directly to the right of the…male pleasure…stand had all sorts of beautiful weapons on display. This must have been the place that the two guards bought their weapons from. Each of the designs was intricate and exquisite. Kagome pointed and started to drool.
"Oh! Oh! There! There!" she started yelping as she was jumping up and down.
Sango could tell that Kagome couldn't wait to get her sword. "Alright then…I hope we have enough money" Sango said with a smile and a sweatdrop. "I mean, we should…that last village that we helped out a few weeks ago gave us some pretty good pay. I'm sure the guys won't mind!"
Sango took out a small bag and jingled it around for a minute. "Yeah, we should have enough for a pretty decent sword. You've really earned it though Kagome. With all that you do in our fights against demons, it's about time that you get to spend some of this on a weapon of your own!"
Sango handed the bag of money to Kagome and set her loose. The second that Kagome made it to the stand she saw the perfect sword. It was slender, and not too big, but big enough. The handle was curved and sparkled from crystal dust that had apparently been applied to the entire sword. She picked it up. It was light as well.
"Wow" was all Kagome could say. "I want this sword Sango!" she screamed. "Now!" she screamed again and placed the sword down in from of the seller. "How much!" she again screamed.
The stand's owner was twitching at this point from all the screaming. "How much will you give me?" he asked in a calmer voice then how he looked. Sango quickly pushed Kagome away.
"I'll handle this" she said. "I don't think I trust you with money right now in this state. No offense as usual."
Kagome melted into a puddle. She loved the sword that much.
A few minutes later Sango came back with a bag. "Kagome. I have a surprise for you!" she said with a perky little smile. She opened up the bag. Inside was the sword that Kagome was eyeing as well as an outfit. "It's the same kind of armor that I wear Kagome. Now, whenever we're in battle, we'll truly be fighting together. Side by side."
Kagome had a serious look on her face for the first time since she spotted that sword. "Thank you Sango. And not just for helping me pick out a sword and some armor. For everything. Really. I mean it. Thanks."
Sango looked at her and smiled. "You know that it's no problem. But now we need to get a move on. Kaede and the others are counting on us!"
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A few stands over they saw an older woman who was selling potatoes. They could hear her advertising.
"Potatoes! Potatoes! Get your potatoes here! Hot ones! Cold ones! Sweet ones! Any ones! Buy now!"
The pair walked over to her, but before they could say anything she jumped on them.
"Hey there young ladies!" She said. "Have you come to buy some potatoes?"
Kagome and Sango both gave off a little laugh at how quirky this woman seemed. Kagome regained her composure before Sango did, so she began to ask the woman for directions.
"No, I'm sorry, but we're not here for potatoes ma'am" she said apologetically. "We're really here to ask you for some directions. You seem to be one of the nicest looking people here, so we decided to ask you."
The woman looked a bit sad.
"So…no potatoes?" she said with a little bit of a sob. "I never get any customers…" By this time she was crying. "Please…won't you buy a potato? Please…?"
Sango saw that this was all just a ploy to get them to buy something from her.
"Sure, don't worry" Sango said in her sweetest voice. "We'll buy from you. And then of course you will tell us what we want to know. Right?"
The woman cheered up immediately. "Course dear! Now, just hand over the cash, and you get your potato!"
Sango went into her robe and pulled out some money to give to the woman. "Here. It's all we have I'm afraid…we don't usually have much of a use for money…"
The woman had a huge smile on her face by now. "Very good!" she exclaimed. "Now. Where is it that you need directions too?"
Kagome spoke now. "We need to find someone who can tell us about poisons…perhaps caused by a yokai."
The woman thought for a moment. "You must want to see Akazawa and his sister Akahoshi! They are both half demons that live here. Although most people don't respect half demons…these two have earned quite a name for themselves. They specialize in all sorts of poisons. Whether they be physical, or magical related., You can find them just one street over. They have a residence there. Don't worry, there is a sign on their door."
Kagome and Sango both bowed. "Thank you ma'am. And thank you for the potatoes!"
The woman smiled. "Why thank you! You two run along now. If you're asking for the poison specialists you must have some pressing business!"
The house was just as easy to find as the woman told them. As they were approaching the door Kagome stopped dead in her tracks.
"Sango wait." She said. "I'm sensing jewel shards…two of them. Right through that door."
Sango went extremely close to her and whispered to Kagome in her ear. "Are you sure? No word of a lie?"
"I'm sure. They aren't together though." Kagome said. "There is one shard in one body, and another shard in another body…"
Sango started to look worried. "Do you think that the two half demons perhaps got their hands on some jewel shards?"
"Maybe they did" said Kagome with a similar look on her face. "I think we just have to be careful."
Sango nodded in agreement. They knocked on the wooden door and waited for a moment. When the door opened, they saw a young woman. She was wearing a kimono and looked very friendly. She had long red hair. Kagome and Sango both realized that she must be the half demon sister, because she had markings on her face and hands, similar to the facial marks of Sesshomaru.
"Greetings" said the woman. "How may I help you today?"
Sango cleared her throat and began to speak. "We are looking for the poison specialists Akazawa and Akahoshi. Would you know them?"
The woman smiled at Sango and began to burst out into laughter. "I would I hope that I know them, after all, I am Akahoshi."