Chapter Eleven: Evil Intentions

This one is gonna be longer! (Please do try to remember that the feudal ages were filled with demons…there was bound to be some violence in the story.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha.

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"Where will you be going, young Lord Sesshomaru," Takumi inquired as they prepared to leave the safety of the castle.

Sesshomaru opened his mouth to answer, but then found that he didn't need to.

"We'll be going over the mountains," Kagome supplied.

Takumi looked at her with some misgivings. The human was calling the shots now? That could not be good.

Sesshomaru tended to agree, but her statement intrigued him, so he simply nodded.

Kagome smiled in relief. She had been afraid that Sesshomaru would object. She expected to be questioned later, but at least he wasn't arguing with her in front of his training master. The repercussions of that would probably not have been good for her health.

"Well, goodbye! Have a nice day," Kagome called cheerily as they walked away from the baffled training master.

Have a nice day, Sesshomaru thought, somewhat dazed. I never thought that I would hear that.

……………

"Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kirara," Inu-Yasha yelled as he saw them speeding away. They were all heading for the village, but something was holding him back. He couldn't quite explain why he didn't think that they should leave; it was just his gut feeling.

What is out there, he wondered. Then he smelled it: Naraku's scent. A low growl emanated from his throat, and he turned in the direction the smell was coming from. It was shifting slightly…meaning that it was moving.

The demon is leaving because everyone is already dead. You were too late, whispered a treacherous part of his mind. I am not, he told it angrily. If they were dead then I would smell their blood. I can kill Naraku, or his spawn, before he can do any more damage!

Inu-Yasha was standing still for a moment, contemplating which direction he should go in, when he saw one of Naraku's spies. That decided it. He didn't have time to get Miroku and Sango; he was just going to go after it himself.

He dashed after the insect, making sure to stay within the cover of the forest. With any luck, the creature wouldn't notice his presence. On light feet Inu-Yasha sped through the trees, grimacing as the smell of old blood reached his sensitive nose. After a couple of minutes, he slowed to match the speed of his quarry. The insect buzzed out into a small clearing, joining its comrades. There must be at least twenty of them, Inu-Yasha approximated.

Squaring his shoulders, Inu-Yasha jumped out into the open area the smell was coming from, shivering as an odd sensation swept over him. Looking about, his eyes filled with astonishment and hatred. So much for the 'open clearing,' Inu-Yasha thought bitterly, wrinkling his nose at the sudden strong smell of death. What the fuck happened to this town…and how did I get here?

Before him were the bodies of several villagers, spread out in pools of their own blood. Inu-Yasha narrowed his eyes, concentrating on Naraku's scent. His head snapped up as he located it, and he began to make his way over to the dead villagers. Why is it…it's coming from one of them, he realized. But aren't they all…?

His thoughts were interrupted as one of the fallen villagers slowly got to his feet with his back to Inu-Yasha.

"So you came here…it has taken you long enough," the villager croaked, his voice hoarse.

"You were expecting me?" Inu-Yasha was taken aback.

The man chuckled, and Inu-Yasha could see the back of his head moving in a nod. "Of course, Inu-Yasha. My orders were to await you here…"

That was when Inu-Yasha understood. "You're Naraku's spawn," he said, his voice dripping venom.

"Oh, but I can't have you calling me that," the man said, and then he turned around.

What happened to his face, Inu-Yasha thought, sickened at the sight before him. What the man had could barely be labeled as a face at all it was so twisted. All of his features seemed distorted…somehow unreal. It was indescribably repulsive.

The man's smile was full of malice. "You may call me Masanaga."

"And you can call me your doom," Inu-Yasha snarled, unsheathing the Tetsusaiga.

"I don't think so," the man replied, walking forward.

Inu-Yasha gripped the hilt of his now transformed sword tightly. "Wind scar," he yelled, swinging down hard. He smirked when, raising his sword, he did not see the man. That was easy, he thought.

"Did you think that I was dead," asked a girl that was standing behind him.

Inu-Yasha's eyes widened in shock. "What in Hell are you?"

"Let's see if you can figure it out for yourself," someone said from his other side. He spun to face the voice as the girl stepped forward, pulled out a dagger, and slid it into Inu-Yasha's back.

"Feh," he said, grimacing. "Is that the best you can do?"

"Not nearly," the girl replied. Suddenly, Inu-Yasha was surrounded by villagers. They were attacking him from all sides, and he could see their weapons biting into his flesh. He might have cried out, but then he realized…Why are they not actually hurting me? I can see them wounding me…but I feel no pain, and there is no blood except for on my back. Does that mean…that this is…?

"It's an illusion," he gasped.

"Heh, heh…clever lad." The girl was near him now so he reached out for her, but his had passed right through her slight body.

"Wrong one, your opponent is me," said several of the townspeople.

"Damn," Inu-Yasha breathed. "Which one are you? Are you even here?"

………………

"Inu-Yasha," Miroku called, while Sango dismounted Kirara.

"Where do you think he could be," Sango asked quietly when no one responded.

"Oh, you know Inu-Yasha," Shippo said. "He's probably already at the village by now."

Sango frowned but said nothing. "It is possible, Sango," Miroku said gently. "He may be there." Sango looked at him with worry in her eyes. It's Naraku, her eyes seemed to say. I know, his replied, but we have no other clues as to where we should look. Finally, she nodded, and they set off astride Kirara for the village.

All was still when they landed in the small village. They looked about warily, sensing a demonic presence nearby. That was when they heard the scream.

"HELP ME! PLEASE, NO, DON'T LET IT—" The cry broke off abruptly. Just as Miroku and Sango launched themselves towards the voice to lend aid, the hut it had been coming from exploded. They flung themselves to the sides to avoid the blast, but were on their feet again in an instant, ready for battle.

As the dust settled, they heard a voice that they recognized all too well. "Well, if it isn't the monk and the slayer. You've come to save the village, I'll bet. How noble."

"Kagura," Sango said, eyes narrowed in hatred. "What are you doing? How can this possibly benefit Naraku? What is the purpose of killing these people?"

"He doesn't tell me anything," Kagura sniffed. "Although I have a good idea."

"And what is that," Miroku asked, his voice cold.

"To obtain the sacred jewel shards," Kagura replied. "Our orders were to capture the girl that carries them."

Sango smirked, contempt clearly written on her face. "Well, you won't succeed. She isn't here!"

A faint smile appeared on Kagura's lips. "Naraku won't like that," she murmured.

"Wait a moment, Kagura," Miroku said. "What did you mean by 'our orders'?"

Kagura looked around. "Heh," she replied. "I might as well answer since those insects aren't here right now. They're probably all off watching Naraku's latest creation for him."

"He's made another demon," Miroku stated. "Where is it? Is that what stopped Inu-Yasha?"

"Oh, yes," Kagura said lazily. "But there's no use in my staying around when the girl is elsewhere." With these words, Kagura took to the skies atop her feather.

"Wait! Kagura—"

"I'd try over there," she said, casually pointing a finger in the direction they had come in. Then she was gone.

"Can we trust her," Sango asked.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"No," Sango said grimly. "Let's go, Miroku."

………………..

"Damn you," Inu-Yasha panted. He had been trying his best to cut down the villager illusions, in the hopes that he would eventually hit his target. So far, his efforts had been in vain. "Where are you? Why don't you fight me face to face you coward," Inu-Yasha challenged.

Without warning, the town disappeared, and Inu-Yasha immediately braced himself for an attack. Cold laughter filled the air around him, chilling him to the bone.

"Come out! I know you're here, Masanaga," Inu-Yasha yelled.

"Very well Inu-Yasha," replied Masanaga. "Here I am."

Inu-Yasha whirled around, and for the first time, he saw Masanaga undisguised. The demon had black hair with red streaks running through it, and pale skin. His eyes were of the same red as blood, and Inu-Yasha was willing to bet that he had a large spider shaped burn mark on his back.

"Naraku's filth," Inu-Yasha spat out the insult.

"Manners, manners, half-breed."

"I'm good enough to fight you!"

"You think so," Masanaga questioned. "We'll soon see. Come at me, Inu-Yasha!"

"I don't need your fucking invitation, bastard!" Inu-Yasha threw himself at Masanaga, swinging the Tetsusaiga as he went. Masanaga had been prepared for this, and so he dodged to one side as Inu-Yasha stuck. While Inu-Yasha's side was exposed to him, Masanaga quickly slid his dagger through the unguarded flesh.

Inu-Yasha clutched at his side as blood began to soak through the fabric of his clothes. Damn, he thought, Masanaga may be Naraku's foul offspring, but he is still fast! I'm going to have to figure out some way to defeat him quickly if I want to live…

A shadow passed overhead. Masanaga was momentarily distracted, and Inu-Yasha did not waste this precious instant. He lunged forward and sliced right through the wind scar. Masanaga was unprepared for such a large-scale attack, and he did not have time to evade the move. Within a matter of seconds, Masanaga was no more.

"Inu-Yasha," Sango cried from above him. "Are you alright?"

"Fine." Inu-Yasha sheathed his sword, and gingerly walked over to Kirara, who had just landed.

"Did you find the village," he asked them.

Sango hesitated, and Miroku spoke for her. "We did, Inu-Yasha…Kagura was there. She told us that they had been sent to take Kagome from us."

Inu-Yasha looked at both Miroku and Sango. He felt like he was too full of emotion to do anything, strange as it was. "Let's get back to the well," he suggested, and they nodded in silent agreement.

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Please Review!

(All you people that read but don't review, I am talking to you. C'mon, go for it! Push the button, and send me a few words on the story – It will make me ever so happy!)

Well, that's all for chapter eleven! Hope that you all enjoyed it…I had fun with the Inu-Yasha battle scene. I've always thought that his taunts are hilarious…they are so amazingly cliché – the unoriginality is just great. (Nothing against Rumiko here! I think that it kinda fits his personality. Err…sorry Inu-Yasha.)

Now, on to reviews!

NekoYasha101- XD Lol, that's ok, I'm out of Star Wars lines too. Thanks for the great reviews…made me laugh.

lildevil0644- Mwa ha ha! ;)

Cochrann- Thanks! I did my best to make this one longer…hope you liked it!

kiannacat- Lol, I'm glad that you like the story so far! Thank you for reviewing!

Kagura134- Ugh, grounded, huh? That's no fun. :P Anyway, I'm glad that you like the latest chapters!

SnowAngelYuki- Aaaahhhh! Yes, right away! (Runs to hide behind Sess) Lol, hope that you like the chapter – made longer especially for your enjoyment… ;)

golden-kitsunebi- Oh, good – I'm glad that my review was okay! Later I figured that you would think I was crazy or something…but I really liked it, so there ya go. You mean why had they not reached the village yet? Guess it was just farther than they had originally thought…or it was hidden.

Golden-Eyed-Girl- Lol, I'll update again as soon as I can!

shadow miko- Thanks! I tried to make this one a little longer. I'm not entirely sure how old Sess is…he looks thirteen or fourteen. I'm still trying to decide how quickly demons age, and that will affect how old he is in the past.

aninaig- Thank you – I tried to make this chapter longer…

sesshhomaru's babe- Lol, glad you like it!

Mickiy- I end a lot of sentences that way, lol.

EverD- Thanks! Hope you liked chapter 11.

A big "thank you" to everyone that reviewed!