Final Journey
2) First Trial on a Dangerous Road.
Later that day, the group had set off from Kaede's hut, after enjoying the delicious breakfast. The old miko told the group of a strange looking youkai headed up the mountain pass to the north, so Inuyasha decided to head north anyway. Kagome, supplied with a fresh quiver of arrows, and a re-strung bow, trudged a few paces behind the hanyou, who marched along the path in his prideful stride. Behind her, Sango walked along in her black skin-tight TaijiYa outfit, the 'Hiraikotsu' slung across her right shoulder. Kirara also perched on her shoulder, and was batting at a passing butterfly.
And a step behind her trudged the houshi, guiding his staff along the ground as he walked. Shippou had set himself on Miroku's shoulder, somewhat mimicking the neko youkai.
'So, we're headed up the mountains?' Kagome thought in the back of her mind. She didn't much like the thought of traveling through the mountains. Anything could happen, really. Still, she knew that once Inuyasha made up his mind, he would rarely be swayed.
Inuyasha in the meanwhile, trudged along the path, somewhat annoyed. Why the hell did he have to move so slowly because the others could not keep up with him? They had discussed it before they had left Kaede's hut. Inuyasha replayed it over in his mind.
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"Would you guys hurry the hell up? I'd like to make it up the mountains before the damn sun goes down." Inuyasha complained, standing at the edge of the village.
The others were just now coming out of the hut, each one prepped and ready to go. However, they were not ready to go dashing off right at the start. They had just eaten, after all. Inuyasha would probably call then lazy. But in fact, they were only human.
Kagome shouted after the hanyou, "We're coming, Inuyasha! Wait up, would you?"
The hanyou turned his nose up, and huffed, "I have to wait because you humans are so slow? It's no wonder we can never find Naraku!"
"Inuyasha, you must be patient. Becoming angered won't get us any closer to Naraku." The houshi instructed toward Inuyasha, as the others neared him.
Shippou popped up from underneath Kagome, hopping up into her arms, "He's right, Inuyasha!" The kitsune child pepped, "You got to learn to slow down, you big oaf!"
Inuyasha felt a vein pulse in his temple, as he clenched a fist and whacked the child in the skull, leaving a fair sized lump.
Sango stepped in, raising a palm to lightly stroke Kirara's neck, "They both are, Inuyasha."
'Oh great,' the hanyou thought, 'they're all going to start lecturing me, now.' His thoughts were cut off as Sango went on.
"We can't travel very fast, yet. It's still so early. If we do travel very fast, we will get much farther, but if we should be attacked up on the mountains, we won't have the strength to fight."
Inuyasha retorted with his usual smart-ass attitude, "Keh, spare me. What are you all worried about, anyway? You think I can't take care of myself? I--…" He was cut off once again, this time by Kagome. "That's not what we're saying, Inuyasha. What Sango meant was that WE would not be able to defend ourselves. Who knows what might happen up there? If multiple foes attack us, you won't be able to fend them all off, no matter how strong the Tetsusaiga is!"
To Inuyasha, it sounded like she doubted his power! What was she thinking? After everything the entire bunch had been through? "Listen here, Kagome, --…" Again, cut off. Kagome had had enough of this pointless arguing, "Osuwari!"
)(end flashback)(
"Inuyasha, do you sense anything yet? Kaede said a strange looking youkai was seen walking these paths." Sango asked from the near-rear end of the group. Inuyasha turned up his nose, breathing in the crisp mountain air. The sheer smell of the place nearly scent him into a dizzyfying trance, as the air was so pure.
"Nothing yet," Inuyasha answered, keeping his eyes locked forward, "but we should be getting pretty close."
"So…" Miroku began, "you intend to just keep walking until we find something?"
"That's the plan." Inuyasha answered again.
"So, Inuyasha. Exactly what kind of youkai is it?" Kagome puzzled, holding her bow to one side.
The hanyou huffed, crossing his arms within the flowing crimson sleeves of his haori, "How the hell am I supposed to know? I don't even smell anything."
"Kaede and the other villagers said they didn't get a good look at the youkai. Only that it was covered in white, and had long platinum hair," Sango pointed out.
'Long platinum hair?' Inuyasha thought, 'It couldn't be…'
Kagome took note of his seemingly worried state. She could not see his face per se, but he had hung his head somewhat low, and that always meant he was thinking. "Inuyasha? Are you okay?"
Jarred, Inuyasha turned his neck to look over his left shoulder to gaze at the girl. "I'm fine, don't worry about it. Let's just keep moving."
Undaunted by his arrogance, Kagome simply sighed, and kept walking.
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A large-sized two-headed dragon marched down the brushy forest path, each footstep it took was a loud thud, and upon its back rode a small girl in a single white and orange plaid kimono. Leading the great youkai was a small green imp-like creature, in one of its small hands it held the reins, and in the other, a wooden staff that twisted upwards, with two heads upon the top. And leading the 'group' was a tall, silver figure.
"My lord," the young girl called, "Where are we going?"
"Silence, girl! Where we go is neither of our concern! Sesshoumaru-sama will decide where we go, and--!" The green imp ranted on in annoyance at the girl, who seemed to not even be paying attention. He was cut off, however.
"Jaken, that is quite enough." Sesshoumaru spoke, stopping in his stride, and turning to face them. "Inuyasha is nearby. It seems they are going after Naraku again." His voice was calm, collected.
Jaken looked excited for a moment, "Sesshoumaru-sama, are you going after Inuyasha again? May I come along this time?" The little imp seemed very excited, which was odd because he normally wished to avoid battle altogether.
The taikyoukai shook his head, "Not this time, Jaken. You will stay here and watch over Rin, and Ah-Uh." His golden hues looked toward the girl, who looked at him with disbelief. "But Sesshoumaru-sama, why must you fight with Inuyasha-sama again? I thought you cared not what becomes of him?"
"I do not. What becomes of my brother, I care not for. I simply wish to see if he has fully mastered the Tetsusaiga, yet." He answered. Then continued, "I will be back before noon. The two of you stay in this vicinity, and I'll return." Then, before either of them could reply, the taiyoukai was gone, not even a blur.
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They had been walking for a while, so finally the group decided it was time to pick up the pace a little bit. Inuyasha was bounding down the path, Kagome clutching tightly to his shoulders, her legs digging into his sides to keep from flying off. Sango, Miroku, and Shippou were riding upon the transformed Kirara, and managed to keep up with Inuyasha.
This is what the hanyou was waiting for, a chance to finally pick up the pace, and run. Then again, it would have been better if he did not have to carry Kagome on his back. It was like a burden to him, not being able to run freely about as he pleased. Even so, if it meant moving a lot faster than they had thus far, he wouldn't complain… much.
"Shouldn't be too far off now," Inuyasha called to the others, "I'm sensing some thick youkai 'jyaki' (demonic energy) nearby!"
This caught the others attention, and immediately readied for battle. Six pairs of eyes aimlessly darted to and fro, trying to spot the foe, which was obviously nearby.
"Inuyasha," Miroku called from above, "from which direction is the jyaki coming from?"
Inuyasha called for a quick halt, and skidded to a stop, Kagome sliding off his back, and looking about. Kirara landed nearby, and her passengers hopped off, though the neko stayed in her large form. The hanyou turned his neck upwards, and took in another deep scent of the area, then paused. "Wait a minute… I know that scent." Instinctively, his hand flew to the hilt of the Tetsusaiga, ready to wield it should the situation call for it.
Confused, Kagome stepped up and placed a palm to Inuyasha's shoulder. "Inuyasha, what is it? What do you smell?"
The group had found themselves in a rather predicable area to stop. It was nothing but a straight flat piece, some five miles in the distance, the actual mountain itself stood. To their right was a clump of forest, but it soon ended as the rocky outcroppings of stone pillars rose up from the earth. To their left, a small spring of crisp mountain water, pure and delicious. Several small crevices and cracks were scattered loosely throughout the area, so one had to watch their step, or break a bone or two.
"Get back, all of you. That smell… there is no mistaking it… It's Sesshoumaru!"
"Sesshoumaru?" Sango question, lowering her weapon. "Can you be certain, Inuyasha?"
"Yeah, no mistaking it. It's him all right." Inuyasha answered. "I'll take care of this!"
'Always so cocky…' Shippou thought, and took a seat upon the houshi's head, clinging to the sides of his skull for balance.
"You know… as many times as the two have fought, there is never a clear-cut winner," Sango said to the houshi.
He turned to the TaijiYa, and nodded. "You're right. The outcome is usually the same: Sesshoumaru leaves Inuyasha in a near-dead state, but never finishes him off. Instead, he always leaves."
Shippou looked down at the houshi, "Do you think it's because Sesshoumaru is starting to care for Inuyasha like a brother, and might join our side?"
"Hardly, Shippou-chan," Sango replied, "More or less, Sesshoumaru simply does not care what becomes of Inuyasha."
Inuyasha on the other hand had taken several paces ahead of everyone else. When Sesshoumaru did come looking for him, it was always a strict one on one fight, none other interfered. "I know you're out there, Sesshoumaru! Stop hiding and come out and fight!" Due to the nearby and distance mountain springs, and the slightly cool temperature, the geysers began producing a mass amount of fog and steam, which soon covered the entire area.
"A fog's beginning to role in… Be careful, Inuyasha!" Kagome called through the fog, but got no reply. So, she continued taking backward steps until she was standing beside the TaijiYa and houshi.
All was silent for a moment, until, suddenly, a single yellow line sliced through the mist, cracking across the hanyou's chest cavity, sending him backward. From the mist, there appeared the 'silver assassin', as often called by mortals, Sesshoumaru.
It did not take long for him to recover from the surprise attack, and Inuyasha was once again back on his feet, ripping the Tetsusaiga from its scabbard, and holding it out in front of him. Sesshoumaru, however, only stared on with an emotionless stare. He had not even drawn his own weapon yet.
"Inuyasha, you have nowhere to run. This time, your life belongs to me."
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