Author's Notes: Okay, so I owe everyone a huge apology for taking so long with this update. I've never had such a bad case of writer's block in my entire life. And the frustrating thing is that it wasn't exactly writer's block, either, because I knew exactly how I wanted the chapter to go…I guess I just wasn't sure how to put my ideas to paper. Maybe that is writer's block…eh, who cares. Either way, the reality is I never thought I'd go nearly a month without updating, and I am extremely sorry, and also extremely thankful for your patience. I promise to do a much better job from now on, since I think the cobwebs are clear.
If it helps, I have been extremely busy with school and singing and college stuff…like always. So it wasn't like I was just sitting around doing nothing. And now, I also have to go in for an MRI for my shoulder to make sure one of the ligaments isn't all screwed up. If it is, I have to have more surgery, so hope and pray with me that it's not the case, because I really don't want to start this whole process over again. Please, oh please…
Anyway, this chapter is still one that I'm not exactly sure I'm thrilled with, but it's good enough to get the point across, and sometimes, well, that's just how it goes, right? The action's coming, this is setting the stage, and I also hint at a few relationship issues…we'll just have to see if you all pick up on them or not (that's a hint, incase you all aren't sure).
So that's all I've got for now. I know, I'm gone for nearly a month, and now I don't have much to say. Oh well. All I can say is thanks again for your patience, I'm so sorry, and I promise to have the next chapter out as soon as possible. Enjoy!
Tevrah: So true, so true…(sighs)…
Crunchy Lettuce: A new reviewer! Hello there! Thanks so much for taking the time to give me a review, I really appreciate it. And just so you know, if ever I do something that you don't like, grammatically or plot wise, just let me know! Thanks again!
Rainingfruit: Don't concern yourself at all, I appreciate the fact that you're taking the time to be honest! After reading your review I went back and looked over some of the chapters, and you're right, her water works have been going a little too much, so I'll try and work on that, but at the same time I am trying to point out the fact that her life isn't exactly all champagne and roses right now, you know? Anyway, thanks so much for the review, and never hesitate to give constructive criticism, that's what helps an author grow!
Inu-fanforever: I would love to give you some pointers, if you're still wanting my advice now that I've taken so flippin long to update this story. Sorry…anyway, just send me your ideas, and I'll let you know what I think and give you some advice if you want. My email address is on my profile!
Jav-chan: Honestly, I don't really balance my life very well. I'm frequently up until 2:00 am doing homework or writing stories, and then getting up at 6:00 am for zero period select ensemble. But honestly, I don't mind, because I love to write, so I'll stay up late if it means I get to work on my stories. Of course, sometimes I do draw the line, but for the most part writing the stories provides me with a nice break, so I always try to make time.
Title: Impossible Dreams
Author: dolphingirl0113
Chapter: Nineteen
Rating: PG-13 (rated for language, violence, and implied sexual situations)
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
DEDICATION: For Ted Dorsey, the greatest coach I will ever have, the most wonderful and patient mentor I will ever know, and the best friend I could have asked for. Thank you for everything you did for me in my life.
It was quiet…so quiet. The smell of cold stone titillated the senses, and as the young captive woman struggled to regain consciousness, her ebony hair falling over her face where it had come loose from her braid, she started at the unfamiliar environment.
"Uh…" With a groan, Kagome struggled to lift her head, but found that her entire body felt heavy and unwilling to obey her mental commands, which meant she, in the end, had to settle for rolling over onto her back like a lazy slug.
Where was she, anyway?
Wherever she was, it was pitch black, making it impossible to see anything, even her hand when she lifted it directly in front of her face. It was also cold, and she shivered, causing her to realize she was laying on something soft…it felt like a mattress of some kind.
Bunching her fingers together, she found fabric in her hands, and could only assume that, if she was indeed on a mattress, then she was clutching bed sheets. The thought brought her some small semblance of comfort and so, without thinking, she curled up under the thin blanket, discouraged when she could find no pillow.
Oh well…she was lucky to have anything at all besides the cold floor…
But her neck hurt, a pinprick of pain stabbing her viciously at the base of her skull every time she tried to get comfortable, and all the muscles in the area felt like they were clenching tightly together. Yes, she thought silently as she pulled the sheets up under her chin and curled into a tight ball on her left side, a pillow would have been very nice at that moment.
Her memory was hazy, though the fuzz of the images in her mind was slowly starting to fade as she slowly returned to consciousness, her eyes adjusting, somewhat, to the dark, so that she could at the very least see the outline of four dark walls, and the shadows cast by a small window up in one of the left corners…far out of her reach. Clearly, escape that way would be impossible.
But the thought of escape brought her back around to her first question, which was where would she be escaping from? She honestly had no idea where she was. She could have been in a different country, or merely a few yards away from the exterminator's cave, for all that the room told her. The thought caused her to feel restless and uneasy…she hated being kept in the dark, both literally and figuratively.
"Inu…yasha…" The name fell from her dry lips and echoed in the silence around her, but he did not come to her side…not that she had expected him to. No doubt Kagura had taken her far away from the people she cared for.
Kagura.
At the thought of the treacherous, murderous wind sorceress, Kagome felt something akin to a growl rumble in her throat, though it wasn't nearly as intimidating as when Inuyasha did it, and she clenched her fists in fury as she recalled the way the older, dark woman had taunted her, and Inuyasha, before kidnapping her.
For the millionth time since it happened, Kagome recalled the day her mother had died, and how, even then, Kagura had looked just the same, and acted as cruel and calculating as she did now. She had taunted Inuyasha, dangled Kagome before him like some sort of valuable object, and she recalled the way the hanyou had responded by…
Kagome shot up. "Inuyasha!"
Images of the hanyou pulsating with dark energy, his entire body seeming to glow red as his eyes turned evil and his nails grew into sharp, deadly knives, caused her to shiver. She recalled how his fangs had grown to hang over his lower lip like that of a vampire, and how his beautiful face had been marred by markings that gave him a sinister aura. And the look he'd given everyone around him at that moment, when the transformation had been complete…
She didn't want to think about it. It was too horrific to recall how it was as though Inuyasha's very soul disappeared when he became that monster who she didn't know at all.
But…what had happened to him? Was he alright?
Kagome felt her body start to shake with apprehension, not knowing whether or not the man she loved was safe, or if he had flown into a rage and attacked everyone around him.
"Inuyasha…" This time her voice was a mere whimper, and she felt tears of frustration in her eyes. God, she hated feeling helpless all the time! And she didn't even have her bow and arrows!
Instinctively, she reached down to touch the shards at her wrist, and was shocked when her fingertips merely touched skin. What…? She blinked, and tried to see the white skin of her arm, wondering what had happened to the shards. She didn't recall having taken them off…so could they have fallen off at some point in the battle? No, she would have known if they did.
"Kagura!" She snapped in sudden recognition, and felt the hate within her chest swell to a breaking point. The wind sorceress had taken her shards, she was sure of that now…but to what end? According to Kaede, the jewel shards were no use unless they were in the hands of someone pure of heart, and even then, it needed to be complete to have the sort of power Kagura would desire for herself, unless…
Could it be?
Kagome blinked as a new thought occurred, one she hadn't thought of before. She had never met the demon Inuyasha called Naraku, though she had learned to hate him enough thanks to the horrific tales she'd heard from the man's many victims, and simply for the fact that he was the one who had ordered the deaths of all those who didn't swear loyalty to him…which included her mother. But now, as she thought about it, she recalled that Kagura actually worked for him, so…was all this his doing?
Panic swelled within her breast, along with a strange sense of sudden fear as she recalled all the horrible stories about his cruelty, and with that in mind she leapt to her feet and ran to one of the walls near the small window high above her head.
"Help!" She screamed, banging her hands against the stone walls, the cold seeping into her fists and stinging like the worst kind of slap. But she didn't care. Surely someone would be able to hear her…she couldn't be that far in the middle of nowhere, right? "Someone, help me!"
Deep in her heart, Kagome knew she had one savior in particular on her mind, and was hoping Inuyasha would come bursting through the door, wherever that was, at any moment to sweep her up into his arms and carry her to safety, just like he'd done that day in the searing fires of her old home. And so, with his face on her mind, she continued to wail with all her might, pounding against the walls and jumping up and down, trying to get her voice closer to the window.
And as though fate had read her mind, there was a sudden light that flooded into the room from several candles, and Kagome whirled around to find herself looking at the silhouette of a man with long flowing hair. Her first instinct was to believe that her prayers had been answered, because she actually took a few steps forward in excitement and relief. "Inuyasha?"
But then she stopped still when she suddenly realized that this man had no ears atop his head…the hanyou ears she'd come to love…and knew in that moment, even before his dark voice filled the void between them, that her hopes were all for naught. Inuyasha was not there to save her this time.
"Now really, Kagome, is that any way for a lady to act?" The stranger cocked his head and leaned slightly against the doorframe. "I would have thought your mother would have taught you better manners then that."
She bristled at the statement, and Kagome found that her voice was surprisingly confident, despite her current situation. "I don't care who you are…no one speaks of my mother that way."
The faceless man chuckled and took a step toward her, causing Kagome to realize the fact that the light she was seeing was because he was holding a candelabra in his hands. She instinctively took a step back, for some strange reason not wanting him to step into the light so that she could see his features…she could tell already that he was evil.
"You are in no position to be lecturing me, Kagome," He chuckled again, and she shuddered. "I am your captor, after all. Your very life depends on whether or not you please me."
Kagome misinterpreted what he meant, and instantly backed against a wall, crossing her arms protectively over her body as she recalled the fact that she'd been laying on a bed when she woke up. "Don't even think about touching me," she hissed, "I'd die before I allowed it."
"Oh woman, don't flatter yourself," This time the voice was stern, sounding somewhat irritated, all playfulness gone. "You think I would soil my hands with a human wench such as yourself?"
Even though she was facing possible death by angering, Kagome felt her temper spark at that. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
This time the man did laugh. "You do have spirit…I'll concede to that much. Perhaps I can understand why you managed to foil Kagura so many times."
"Kagura…?" At the mention of the wind sorceress, Kagome suddenly felt understanding glimmer in the back of her mind, but she pushed the thought away, denying the truth for just a few more moments. "Just who are you?"
She was answered by silence for a few seconds before the sound of shuffling feet greeted her ears, and then Kagome felt breath on her nose, telling her the man was very close as he brought the candles up to reveal his face, and Kagome gasped as she found herself staring at possibly one of the most handsome men she'd ever seen…in a deadly way. His eyes were cold and had a reddish tint, much like Kagura's, and his expression was as hard as flint. His hair was brown with red highlights, and as he smirked the candles cast deadly shadows over his face.
"Are you afraid, Kagome?"
Without meaning to, she gulped, knowing that this must be Naraku, the cruel demon she had heard so much about, for surely no one other than him could carry such cruelty in his face.
Her silence must have been the right answer, because he chuckled and pulled away slightly, giving Kagome the chance to breath freely again. "Something tells me you know who I am," he stated lazily, giving her a predatory glance.
"Y…yes," she stammered, cursing herself for her weakness and suddenly wobbly knees. But she couldn't help it…she'd never seen a man with such an empty look in his eyes, as though he had no soul of his own. It was positively terrifying.
"Now then," he remained standing where he was, "I have something I want you to do for me, and you will obey without question, is that understood?" To that, Kagome remained silent, refusing to acknowledge his request, which sounded more like a demand, but also not trusting herself to speak.
Seeing her resistance, he suddenly lashed out, and Kagome felt herself pinned against the wall, his fingers around her throat, squeezing meaningfully, clearly trying to make her understand that she had no say in the matter. "Do as I say, woman," Naraku hissed, "Or I will not hesitate to have you killed."
Somehow, Kagome found the courage to turn her head and glare right back into his eyes, and when she spoke her voice was surprisingly strong. "I would rather die then aid the man who is responsible for the death of my parents." And even as she said the words, Kagome knew she spoke the truth…that even though she was afraid of dying, she would never dishonor her mother's memory, or her father's for that matter, by helping the enemy.
But Naraku seemed unfazed as he merely squeezed her neck tighter, cutting off some of the air to her windpipe. The sensation caused Kagome's survival instincts to kick in, and she started to panic even though she was still getting enough oxygen to remain conscious…barely…
"I figured you'd decide to be noble," he hissed in her ear, the feel of his breath on her skin causing her to shiver involuntarily.
"And what…" She gasped for air as she sent him another glare, "Would you know about honor and nobility?"
He shrugged. "Nothing, but then I'm the one in control, so clearly that hasn't been a bad thing for me in the end, has it?" His voice was sarcastic, but the ever-present pressure on her throat and the flint in his eyes told her he saw nothing amusing in this little exchange of theirs. "You will help me, Kagome."
She looked away. "Go to hell."
At that he laughed outright. "I'm already going there for the things I've done, and it doesn't faze me in the least." The statement caused her to shudder, and as she did so he put his face right in front of hers, completely cutting off the air with one final squeeze of his fingers. She started squirming as he spoke. "You may be willing to die for the right thing, Kagome, but are you willing to kill others too?"
Her eyes went wide, and Kagome started kicking and scratching at her attacker, feeling her vision going black as her lungs screamed for oxygen. He let up on her windpipe slightly, enough for some blessed air to return, before cutting her off entirely again with a smirk.
"I can't have you passing out just when I'm making my point clear, now, can I?" He smirked as she continued to claw at his hands and kick his legs. "Now then, Kagome…if you want to die, that's your problem, but how would you feel if, oh, say, your little friend Shippou were to die instead?"
Kagome froze as she realized what he was saying, and he let up on the pressure somewhat as he recognized that he now had her complete attention. "You…wouldn't…" she rasped out between his hands, her voice cracking.
"I've killed before, it's of no consequence," He smirked, "As you know, I have the perfect assassin under my command." He brought his nose up so that it was touching hers, though she tried to turn away. "So you don't like that thought? Well, what about if I ordered Kagura to kill someone even more dear to you? Such as, perhaps, our wandering prince Inuyasha?"
At that Kagome felt herself gasp, the thought of the man she loved dying causing a lump of coal to drop into her stomach. "Kagura could never kill him," she threatened, her voice stronger then she felt at the moment.
"She could if I entrapped him again within the power of the dark jewel shard."
She started to feel desperate. "Don't…you…dare…touch him…"
"As I said before, woman, you're not in a position to give orders, I am." He squeezed her throat tightly again. "And you will do as I say, or I swear to you, Kagome Higurashi, I won't hesitate to kill your pathetic little hanyou."
With that, he dropped her to the ground at last, and Kagome instantly clutched her throat, reassuring herself that she was alive before looking at the retreating form of her captor. "What makes you think I love him? Why do you think I'd care at all whether or not he dies?" It was a futile lie, but she had to try anyway.
Naraku just laughed outright and glanced at her over his shoulder. "Please, woman, I'm not stupid. I've been watching you ever since I learned of your ability to purify the shards, and I've seen the way you look at him." His eyes turned into a mocking stare. "I've also seen the way he looks at you…so don't give me such a lie."
Kagome felt herself sadden slightly as she recalled Inuyasha's last words to her. "I sure as hell don't understand, and I'm not interested in understanding, either!"
"You're wrong," She whispered. "He doesn't care for me."
At that Naraku stopped and looked at her sharply, as though trying to see through to her very soul, and she felt like he was succeeding. Finally, he just shrugged. "If you truly believe that, I sure as hell don't feel like convincing you otherwise, though I will say that you're a blind fool." He chuckled as he saw her face redden in anger at the insult. "Be that as it may, at the very least you must know that he'll come after me, so, in a way he will be coming after you too. You can count on it."
He turned back around and reached the door before Kagome found herself calling out after him, wondering why even as she did so. "Wait! You never told me what it is that you asked of me?" She feared his answer.
But Naraku merely smirked again. "You'll know soon enough, woman, but for now I suggest that you enjoy some time alone." And with that, the door shut and Kagome was left once more in darkness.
The cave of the demon exterminators was not a happy place, by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it had become an all out war zone between Kouga, Inuyasha, and the latest member of their group, the very intimidating Sesshoumaru.
Ever since the hanyou had woken up after being knocked unconscious, he had raged against anyone who was unlucky enough to cross his path, and had wasted no time in pummeling his brother with insults for not going after Kagura when he had the chance. Somewhere along the way Kouga had joined the argument as well, and now the two younger men's shouts could be heard echoing throughout the otherwise silent cave while Sesshoumaru simply stood by passively, as though he weren't even listening.
"How could you let her get away, bastard?" Inuyasha all but shrieked at his brother, who eyed him haughtily, his arms crossed as he leaned against a far wall.
"I told you, Inuyasha," the demon lord replied simply, "If Naraku had Kagome, we shall have a better chance of getting to him."
The hanyou kicked one of the shelves holding numerous shields, causing a resounding crash followed by a cloud of disturbed dust. "We already knew where Naraku was, idiot! He's been living in our old home from the beginning of this hell! We didn't need to have Kagome kidnapped to learn that!" Inuyasha had fire in his eyes, and looked like a man possessed, and everyone was curious as to how he was managing to prevent himself from transforming, including Sesshoumaru, who had seen his brother transform over lesser arguments and conflicts then this.
"It's simple, brother," he snapped, allowing his eyes to glow red for an instant, causing a hush to fall over the already eerily silent crowd. "Kagome is now a bargaining chip. She's something you want back, and no doubt you have something that Naraku wants. We can use this to our advantage."
"Keh, what could I possibly have that Naraku would want?"
"Hn," Sesshoumaru rolled her eyes, "The very fact that you're alive is something that irks him to no end."
"Are you suggesting that I be willing to trade my life for Kagome's release?" Inuyasha was near to hysterical.
"Well…wouldn't you?"
"I…" Inuyasha paused, his jaw slack, his mouth wide open, prepared to make another comment, but nothing came forth. How did he respond to that, anyway? Yes, he would give his life for her…in an instant…but that didn't mean Sesshoumaru needed to know that. "How would I take my revenge if I was dead?"
The older demon lord clearly didn't buy the lie, but merely responded by rolling his eyes again and looking away altogether. "I see you haven't changed."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're an idiotic fool!" A third voice replied, and Inuyasha turned to see Kouga stomping forward, rubbing a bruise on his cheek from where Inuyasha had punched him a few moments earlier.
"I didn't ask you, wolf," the hanyou growled, feeling even more irritated. But how else was he supposed to feel? Kagome was gone…and it was all because the two morons before him couldn't be bothered to help her! Instead, Sesshoumaru had merely knocked him unconscious against a tree, and Kouga…well, whoever knew exactly what was running through Kouga's mind? "Besides, you didn't help her!"
"I couldn't!" The wolf man replied desperately, his eyes pained. "I didn't get there soon enough. By the time I arrived, Kagome and Kagura were gone."
"Why didn't you follow her scent?"
"Why didn't you?"
"I was unconscious!"
"And whose fault is that?"
"His!" Inuyasha jabbed a finger over at Sesshoumaru, who merely looked away again, clearly annoyed with the entire conversation…if one could even call it that.
"Alright, that's enough!" A female voice pierced the silence around them, and all three men turned as one to see Sango, looking furious, stomping in their direction. She walked straight up to Inuyasha and, without introduction, kicked him in the shin.
"Ow! Damn it, what the hell was that for woman?"
The demon exterminator's brown eyes sparkled with fury as she turned and indicated the pile of rubble that had once been a neatly organized shelf full of shields. "You're ruining my home! How else do you expect me to react?"
"What are you getting mad at me for?" The hanyou whined. "I'm not the one who failed to protect Kagome."
"You're not?" Kouga joined the fray once more, jabbing a finger into Inuyasha's chest. "And just where would she be now if you hadn't allowed her to wander off alone?"
The hanyou sputtered. "She…she's the stupid one for leaving! I never said she had to go anywhere!"
"No," Sango rolled her eyes, "But you did insult her and break her heart, you unfeeling, insensitive baka!"
"Hey!"
"Well it's true!"
"You know, she's right…."
"Shut the hell up, Kouga! No one asked your opinion!" Inuyasha whirled around so that no one could see the hurt in his eyes at Sango's words, but he couldn't deny the sudden pain that pierced his heart as he thought about the final words he'd said to Kagome that had caused her to run away from him. He could still smell the salt of her tears, and the look of absolute desolation on her face as she had backed away from him, commanding him to stay away from her.
It had cut him deeply when she'd done that, he acknowledged silently. In fact, it had cut him more then he was willing to recognize, though he sensed that the reason it hurt so damn much was because of something that ran much deeper, something close to love…
"No!" He snapped at himself…aloud. Everyone stared at him in surprise, and Kouga dumbly walked over and looked into his eyes.
"Hey dog breath, are you okay? I mean, you've always been weird, but since when did you ever start talking to yourself?"
"Keh, I wasn't talking to myself," Inuyasha said in an overly stupid sounding voice, as though that were obvious. "I was merely pointing out the fact that I am not in love with Kagome!"
If the silence had been bad before, it was ten times worse now that he'd said that, and Inuyasha found everyone gaping at him stupidly, much like the time when Kagome had announced that she loved him aloud in front of Miroku, Sango, Kaede, Sesshoumaru, and himself.
"What…?" The hanyou felt his cheeks starting to turn beet red. He hated it when people stared at him like that…like he'd announced the biggest shock of the year.
Surprisingly, it was Sesshoumaru who spoke first. "Perhaps you and that human whelp are meant for each other after all." He raised an eyebrow haughtily. "You both have an annoying habit of blurting out what's on your mind without thinking."
"I do not!" Inuyasha retorted hotly. "And…Kagome's not a wench, baka!"
"Hn," the demon lord just seemed to say with his eyes that his point had been proven, before turning away to stare at a young brunette he'd been eyeing since he first entered the cave. Inuyasha had no idea who she was, but he intended to find out…unfortunately, that was on the bottom of his priority list at the moment.
"So," he finally commented casually, trying to sound much more confident then he was, when in truth he was roiling with embarrassment and discomfort. Damn it all, Kagome always made him feel so at ease, and without her nearby...without her scent…he just felt lost.
Maybe he did love her after all…
No, no, no! He screamed mentally.
"So," he tried again, "Who will come with me to bring Kagome back?"
There was a long pause, in which time Inuyasha actually thought that no one would volunteer, and he had to fight the urge to growl. Why couldn't these damn people just forgive and forget the fact that she had been the daughter of a slave master, anyway? She had helped them several times! They owed her something!
But thankfully, he was saved from having to lecture anyone when Miroku stepped forward and smiled kindly. "I will go with you, Inuyasha, as always. Kagome is as much my friend as she is yours, and I care deeply about her welfare."
"And I will go too," Sango announced, reappearing in the crowd dressed in her exterminator garb. Inuyasha hadn't even noticed that she had disappeared…
"And I'm coming too," Kouga announced, to which Inuyasha growled.
"Oh no you don't wolf, you've caused enough trouble as it is."
That threw the wolf man into a rage. "How dare you suggest that I am responsible for Kagome being kidnapped, dog breath!" He huffed. "And if you think I'm just going to let you waltz in and take all the credit, you've got another thing coming. Besides," he smirked meaningfully, "It should be the man Kagome loves who comes to her rescue."
"She doesn't love you!" Inuyasha shouted desperately, suddenly hoping that was true. He had a feeling it was, considering how strangely she'd been acting around himself lately, but still, a small part of his heart, the part that was insecure, quivered at the thought that he was wrong, and that she wasn't his after all.
Wait…his?
Ugh.
This was getting way too complicated for him.
"I'll come with you too!" A little voice announced, and everyone turned to see Shippou bound forward and onto Miroku's shoulder, puffing out his chest in pride. "I can help fight off the bad guys and save Kagome."
"I think it will be too dangerous, runt," Inuyasha commented, but before he could say any more Kouga was walking over and clapping the kitsune gently on the back.
"Of course you can come, kid, we could use a strong warrior like you." Shippou beamed under the praise, to which Inuyasha merely rolled his eyes in response.
"But Inuyasha," one of the former slaves stepped forward, an older woman with graying hair and wrinkled skin. "If all of you leave, who will guard the cave?"
The hanyou paused and looked around for a moment before coming to rest on Sesshoumaru, who glared as though to say don't even think about it. That was enough to convince him, and Inuyasha smirked and pointed at the grumbling demon lord with his thumb. "He'll protect you."
"Him?" All the slaves took a step back in fear, and who could blame them? Sesshoumaru, the firstborn son of Inutaisho and heir to the throne, looked about as appealing as an approaching ice storm.
"I trust Lord Sesshoumaru," A lone voice called out, and Inuyasha turned to see that it was the brown-haired woman who had spoken, her eyes glued to the demon lord as she spoke. Since when did any woman refer to the stoic man so familiarly? Who was this girl?
But his thoughts quickly turned back towards rescuing Kagome, and without a further comment, he turned to face the entrance to the cave. "Let's go then," he said to his companions, and started walking. "Every moment we waste puts Kagome in more danger."
And so the companions set out on yet another long journey, and if anyone would have seen them walking down the road, they would have shook their heads in amazement since it wasn't exactly common to see a hanyou, a wolf demon, a monk, a demon exterminator, and a little kitsune traveling together.
