Chapter 6: Spirit Shield
"Who are you?" Miroku cried.
"Kitsune, owner of the Spirit Shield and enemy of demons," she said glancing at Inuyasha. "That would include you dog-boy."
"Hey!" Inuyasha bellowed slowly standing despite the burning in his legs. "I may be demon but I'm nothing like them!"
"You're right," she said walking to him slowly tweaking his ears. "You're much better I'd say. You're the first demon that didn't try killing me on the first meeting."
Inuyasha slowly fell back onto his butt wincing. The burning in his legs was becoming too much and if she stayed that would be another person that would know his secret. She seemed friendly enough but appearances could be deceiving.
Shorin walked over to Inuyasha and knelt down looking at his legs. White light surrounded his hands as he slowly placed his hand on Inuyasha's legs. Slowly his leg began returning to normal the marks began disappearing as Shorin smiled. Then he walked over to Kagome and began the process. Falling to the ground sighing Shorin ran a hand through his hair.
"2 healings after a fight isn't as easy as it looks…," he said softly.
"Are any of you human…?" Kitsune asked staring after seeing the healing.
"Everyone but Inuyasha," Sango said. "And Kilala of course."
"Erm…who's Inuyasha and Kilala…?" Kitsune asked blinking slightly.
"I'll tell her," Kagome said. "I'm Kagome, the guy with the dog ears is Inuyasha, Sango is the one that told you their names, Miroku is the one with the staff, Shorin is the one who healed us, Kilala is the cat that's on Sango's shoulders."
Kitsune nodded looking at everyone. One minute she's in battle mode the next she's confused over everyone's names.
"Thank you for getting the Spirit Orb," a gravely voice said from behind.
Everyone turned seeing Lupin pick up the Spirit Orb the blood washed away clean. "It's a pity though that you have the shield, I guess all I have left to do is gather the Spirit Staff. Of course unless you can fight well you'll never get to it in time. I bid you farewell until we meet again which you may not have enough time to live to see me," he said disappearing once more.
"Lupin…," Kit (who is Kitsune) growled her shield glowing. "This can't be good…he didn't get the items that make the two powerful together but he's still getting the most powerful ones. If we don't get this next item…I don't know what we're going to do. Kagome you have the Spirit Sword and I have the Spirit Shield. I don't know how you got yours but that doesn't matter right now."
"Wait…how did you suddenly become ruler?" Inuyasha asked his eyebrow raised.
Kit blushed slightly. "I-I'm not I'm just saying what would be the best plan for us to use…," she said meekly.
"Right…well we're still trying to rest we're staying in our cabin for the night and then we can go out," Inuaysha said standing and walking back inside.
Tonight! Kagome thought her eyes wide. Now she was finally remembering about Inuyasha losing his powers once a month, the night he becomes mortal. Now that she remembered she was worried…
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried catching up to him everyone sitting outside talking even in the cold snow. "You turn mortal tonight don't you?" she whispered looking at him.
"Yeah…," he said sighing softly. "When the Shikon Jewel was put back together instead of letting it get sealed away I should have wished for myself to stay half-demon all the time…"
"Well…if it means anything I'm glad you do…it just means that no matter how strong someone is they have at least one weakness," Kagome said hopefully wondering what his reaction would be.
"I don't want any weaknesses though," he said softly sitting down on the wooden floor. "I want to just be half-demon all the time…and not be full demon. At one time I wanted to be full demon but then I met you Miroku and Sango and my opinion changed slowly. Now I just want to remain half-demon but without turning mortal."
"Lord Inuyasha!" a voice cried.
"Well well if it isn't Myoga coming to us after the battle."
"Battle?" Myoga asked for once not running but actually coming in late.
"Never mind, what is it that you want?"
"Well Lord Inuyasha there was a demon that came into the place I was…um…guarding. A demon broke in and is now fighting the four Lords of Spirit so he can get the Spirit Staff to use. If he gets all four he'll be unstoppable."
"He won't get all four," Kagome said with confidence.
"How do you know?" Myoga asked blinking.
"Because I have the Spirit Sword and Kitsune has the Spirit Shield…," Kagome finished softly.
"What!" Myoga bellowed loud even though he was so small. "That's great now you stand a fighting chance even if he does have the most powerful items! You have the Spirit Orb and Sword…that's great…"
"No…we have the Spirit Sword and Shield," Kagome said.
"Oh! Well...um…best of luck then! The Temple is at the other side of the mountains…goodbye!" he said quickly leaving.
"Hey!" Inuyasha cried then sighed.
Miroku, Shorin and Kit walked in with sticks and twigs they found around the place. Feeding the fire they sat around it warming them up.
Inuyasha ate ramen silently then threw the container in the fire to burn before sitting in the corner. Shadows shrouded him his kimono the only thing that was showing.
Miroku, Sango and Kagome remained silent about this. They all knew what was happening and nobody wanted to tell Shorin or Kit. They were on their team but it was Inuyasha's choice to tell them when he was ready…which wouldn't exactly be this time…or knowing Inuyasha next time.
Inuyasha sighed softly as he felt the dog ears and claws disappear. His fangs slowly turned into normal teeth and his hair slowly turned black. He was mortal now and hopefully nobody would notice him…until sunrise.
"Inuyasha?" Shorin asked.
"What?" Inuyasha snapped back already cranky.
"Why are you sitting over there in the corner?"
"Come on out here…," Kit said. "I'm sorry if what I said earlier about being enemies to demons offended you."
"Offended me?" Inuyasha snorted. "Don't flatter yourself something like that wouldn't offend me."
"Well then come out!" Shorin insisted.
"Fine…," Inuyasha agreed reluctantly slowly walking out of the shadows as Kit and Shorin gasped.
"Y-You're…," Shorin began.
"Mortal…," Kit finished.
"If you were expecting protection tonight I won't be much use. I can't use my Tetsusaiga like this."
"Inuyasha…why didn't you tell us?" Shorin asked. "I mean sure we're new here but we're still friends…"
"I didn't know how you would react to me being this weak. After all nobody else knew until I transformed in front of them."
Sitting down Inuyasha sighed softly.
"Well…I say after tonight we set out tomorrow morning," Kit said breaking the tension.
"Yeah that'd be a good idea to get an early start on things," Shorin said.
Tomorrow they would go after the Spirit Staff.