When the Darkness Takes Over ForestSprite Chapter 23
Hiei looked up above him and saw nothing, no ceiling, nothing but open skies and a
blindly bright sun. Hearing a soft groan he looked at the human female that lay next to
him. Kagome rolled a bit to the side her eyes shut tightly in pain, a huge cut on her
forehead with blood pouring down. "You guys ok down there?" Souta yelled from above.
"Your sister got hurt." he replied.
"Get her up here will ya, and don't make any sudden movements. I don't want my head
taken off or anything." he shouted.
Wondering what was going on he stood up bringing Kagome with him and jumped out
carefully holding her tightly against him as his eyes adjusted to the bright light to see
what Souta was talking about. They were surrounded by a number of villagers all
carrying weapons pointed at them. "I really don't know what we did to warrant such a
greeting." Souta said looking at the villagers.
"This well is special to the village and it is protected as such." a man growled, he swung
his right arm around to indicate a large pile of wood and tools, with a bunch of people
working. "As such the well is to be protected with a building."
"So that's how that building got there." Souta murmured. "Well I still fail to see what we
did wrong."
"How did you come out of it?" the man asked.
"I don't see what it is to you. Do you mind? My sister was just fighting a number of
demons, and fell hurting her head and you're holding us here? She could die by her blood
loss."
"Just who are you?" the man asked annoyed. It would seem that he was evidently the
leader. A soft moan brought everyones attention to the pained girl as she stirred a bit in
Hiei's arms. Her eyes slid open slowly as she took in everything around her only to be
closed again quickly. "I can't believe I'm back here again." she was heard to murmur.
"Lady Kagome." the man said as he knelt. All the other men dropped their weapons and
followed suit.
"What's going on here?" she asked motioning for Hiei to set her down which he did, but
just wrapped his arm around her waist.
"I came out of the well only to find a number of sharp and pointy objects pointed at me
and now it looks like they are kneeling for you sis." Souta replied looking confused.
"There is no need for any of this." Kagome said in a gentle voice looking at the bent
heads. "Please get up and speak with me. I am no better then you are."
One of the men actually a young boy looked up, eyes filled in admiration. "My father told
me of what kind of person you were and he didn't lie. You truly are remarkable." he said.
"We weren't sure if you'd ever return Kagome." the first one that had been talking to
them earlier said as he too looked up.
"Ryu?" Kagome asked looking at him. He nodded his head and with a happy shout she
freed herself from Hiei's hold and jumped on him as he locked her into a huge hug.
"I've heard of him." Souta murmured quietly to a pissed Hiei. "He was one of the men of
the village that she usually stayed in. He had a crush on her and from recognition from
both Sango and Miroku he was aloud to court her, she wouldn't go any further then that
though because of her quest. That and when she began to get along with Sesshomaru he
refused to recognize their relationship. I wonder what he is to her now though after all
this time?"
'What the hell is that fool thinking hugging her?' Hiei growled mentally to himself.
'She's mine.'
"So how has the village doing? What about Kaede?" Kagome asked breaking him from
his thoughts. He looked up to see her still in his arms hugging him as she spoke.
"The village has been doing fine and Kaede is doing as well as an old lady can. She
misses all of you."
"As well as I have missed her. Tell me how much time has passed since I was last here."
"It's been close to two and a half years. Why?"
She frowned thoughtfully. "Why did time pass so much quicker here then it did in my
era?" she wondered out loud. "It's only been about seven months now."
"Well you're back and that's all we care about."
"What about the hunt on the guardians?" she asked him.
"No worries Lady Kagome." one of the men said cheerfully. "We think it is nothing more
then foolishness. Actually we are a safe place for many of them right now."
"Really now? Hmm." she released herself from Ryu's hold and began to walk absently
toward the village. "I'd like to meet with Kaede and some of these refugees. I'd like to
see if I can get any information out of them." she said as the men began to follow behind
her listening attentively.
"Man she forgot about me again. She always does that when she goes to play general or
whatever." Souta grumbled as he began to walk behind them dragging Hiei along with
him. Despite all his grumbling though Souta was too listening attentively to what
Kagome had to say, listening to her orders, questions and debates on many things as their
party made there way to the village. It would seem Kagome was the center of attention to
these men. It almost made him laugh but he didn't want to piss of the fire demon
anymore then he already was so he didn't laugh at all. His eyes wandered around him to
spot a young man about his age if a year older then him not far. "Hey you." he said
eyeing him as he jumped in surprise at being addressed so.
"Y-yes?" the boy asked.
"That man with Kagome up there Ryu? What is he to Kagome?"
The boy looked at him curiously. "What's it to you? You have a thing for her?"
"As if." Souta said boredly. "She is my sister and I have a right to know."
The boy nodded his head slowly. "He's nothing to her."
"What? Were they not to be married?" Souta asked in surprise.
"They were but she ended up turning him down and told him to find himself a wife who
could stay by his side like he needs. The thing is he hasn't gone out to find anybody at all
because he still cares about her and doesn't want to give up." he snorted. "Actually very
few of the men wanted to give up hope that she'd ever return again. They all think she'd
come to them or something."
"And you?"
"Lady Kagome risked her life to save me from a fire, I have nothing more then brotherly
affection for her and I'd hurt anyone that would hurt her." his eyes rested on Hiei
knowingly.
"You have nothing to fear. He would never raise a hand against her." Souta said catching
what he was saying. He raised his hand out in front of him to shake the boys. "The name
is Souta, younger brother of Kagome and the one who will make the final choice when it
comes to her getting married." he winked.
He smiled as he gripped his hand in turn. "Koji and I believe that you will do nothing but
choose the best for her for she deserves nothing less."
"I believe we are on an agreement." Souta grinned as he and the boy fell into discussion
themselves about their childhoods and things they have done as well as training they had
gone under.
"Wow she really trained you then?"
"Yea and let me tell you that I think she gives hell a new meaning." Souta laughed.
"I'd bet. After all she was trained under Sesshomaru, Miroku and Sango as well as
others." the boy said in awe.
"It would have been exciting to be trained under them all." he sighed. "Sango especially
since her art will die out as there is none left."
"None left you say? Are you daft? A new village was created in the time that your sister
was gone on the old sight of the demon slayers and there are a number of them who are
very skilled already. If I remember correctly a young white albino girl and a boy with a
sickle restarted it."
"Really? I think Kagome would like to hear that." he mused. "KAGOME!!"
"Whatcha want?" she asked pausing as she turned to face him.
"There is something you might want to hear." he replied.
Looking at the men next to her she shrugged motioning for them to stay as she made her
way to the back by the two boys and silent fire demon. "Well?" she asked tilting her head
to the side.
"Lady Kagome." Koji said bowing before he was stopped by the sound of laughter. He
looked up bewildered to see Kagome laughing at him. Seeing his confusion she spoke.
"I'm not your superior and I'm not better then you. Speak to me as a regular person
Koji."
"You remembered?" he said awed.
"Well it's not easy to forget the face of someone you saved from a fire." she replied with
a smile. "So what do you have to share with me?"
Quickly he explained while she gave him her strict attention nodding her head
thoughtfully. After he finished he watched as she closed her eyes in thought. When they
opened they were lit with a happy light. "So they were able to get away again. You say
they are on the old sight?" Koji nodded. "Good, Souta after I finish here with Kaede
we're going to go to the old sight. Koji do you think you can get some horses ready for
us?" he nodded his head eagerly. "Thank you. Souta please stay with him while I discuss
some important things with Kaede-baba." she said ruffling his hair and walked back to
the front and they were off again.
"Well then. Maybe you can teach me some about horses." Souta said with an impish
smile. "I've never ridden one before."
"Well now is a good of time as any." Koji said as he led the boy in the opposite direction
of the men as they reached the village.
"Hiei are you going to come with us?" Souta asked stopping behind Koji. The demon just
shook his head negatively and disappeared, shrugging Souta hurried to catch up with
Koji.
Hiei went towards the hut that he could detect Kagome in when he heard voices from
inside.
".....away from me."
"Has it happened before?"
"Not until recently Kaede. I just don't know what to do. I'd hate to accidentally kill
someone that's on my side. Sorry won't bring them back from the dead."
The old woman chuckled softly. "No child it won't. I believe we have a visitor outside."
The sound of rustling and the fall of soft footsteps reached him. Before he could leave
Kagome pulled back the flap and looked down at him. "Hiei." she said slightly surprised.
"Would you care to join us? You might find some of this interesting since you've
somehow fallen into all of this." Nodding slowly he stepped past her to see an old lady
with gray hair, dressed in the tradition miko clothes with an eyepatch over her one eye,
her one good liquidy black eye looked at him.
"An ally of yours child?" she asked turning her eye back to Kagome as she sat down next
to her again.
"Kaede this is Hiei, the demon I told you about just a bit ago." the old woman nodded her
head slowly as she sipped on her tea. "He is a forbidden child." she remarked ignoring
the flare in his crimson eyes as she spoke.
"As am I Kaede. We can not help how we are. It is not our fault that our parents fell into
relationships that were considered wrong." Kagome said calmly though her hands
clenching tightly said something else. "It is also not our fault that our parents are such
cowards that they get rid of us instead of taking care of what it was that they created in a
forbidden love." she stood up abruptly. "Excuse me. I must go for a walk." she quickly
left the hut the flap swung back and forth.
Kaede sighed as she sipped her tea again ignoring the piercing crimson eyes still on her.
"There is one difference between you and her. At least you know who your parents are
and you have a sister that you know of even if she doesn't know of you. She knows
nothing except that she was thrown into a different time because she was considered a
disgrace to them a monster born from a love that shouldn't have existed."
The door flap swung open and Souta appeared. Spotting Kaede he bowed respectfully.
"Lady Kaede." he said standing up straight again.
"You must be the younger brother. Yes I see the similarities. If you're looking for your
sister she just left for a walk."
"That's alright. I was just going to tell her the horses were ready for whenever we wanted
to leave."
"Leaving so soon after just getting here?" she asked inquiringly.
"She wants to go visit the newly rebuilt slayer village." Souta replied placing his arms
behind his head leaning back on them. "How come none of the others knew about it? I
mean they don't know what happened to either of them."
"The demon guardians right now are in the most danger. Focus has been turned from the
humans to them for what reason we know not. The demon slayers are also known as
guardians they have reason for not wanting too many to know of their coming back."
Kaede explained.
He nodded his head slowly in understanding. "I guess that makes sense. So how do
people around here know about it?"
"Not many do. Koji and the village leader Ryu know of it but beyond them no one should
know."
"Why Koji?" he asked curiously.
"Because Koji is close friends with some of the children there." Kagome said from the
doorway. Her face was strained, eyes holding a dull gleam in them. "Are you ready to go?
I would like to see them. Kaede we will be back sometime soon, maybe."
"I will be joining you on your trip, as will Koji." someone said behind her. Stepping in
from behind her was Ryu.
"Ryu I really don't think you should. I mean I'm not just going to visit them. I am here
for a reason." Kagome began.
"Look here bud we don't need you, we're fine with just the three of us." Souta said
glaring at the man. Getting a laugh from him.
"I don't bite you know boy. I have to head out there anyway to discuss with the village
leader some things that they need in exchange for service they have given us." he replied.
"Koji here wants to see some of the boys and talk to the leader as well because he'd like
to partake in training as he'd like to join them."
Kagome sighed deeply. "Fine, can we go now? I'd like to get there before dark." she
walked past them all.
"What's wrong with her?" Koji asked Souta.
"I'm not entirely sure but it might be that this place just holds too many memories for
her." he explained with a shrug. "Though that may not be it either but it's the best I can
come up with at the moment."
Kagome walked ahead of them all grumbling to herself. "It's not healthy to talk to
yourself." a voice becoming fastly familiar to her said by her side.
"Yes well whoever said I'm sane?" she asked sighing again.
"I'd think your brother would say you are. Though he does seem to question his own
opinion sometimes."
"Are you teasing me?" she asked as she finally turned to face him arching an eyebrow.
"Just stating the obvious."
She rolled her eyes and continued walking until she reached the grounds where the horses
were saddled and ready for riding. "I wonder why I'm even riding these things. I don't
really need them. It was a wary mind that spoke when I asked for this." she said glaring at
the nearest horse that looked at her like he'd rather eat her then have her ride him.
"Who says you can't change your mind?" he asked suddenly very close to her.
"They did go to a lot of trouble getting them ready." she said uneasily as she stepped a bit
further away from him only to have his arms encircle around her waist.
"I'm sure it won't hurt their feelings." he stated.
"I don't know. I mean really I don't like them but then it gives us a steady pace. Yet me
and my brother should be able to keep up with you as long as you don't go full speed if
we are on foot." she said relaxing into his arms, his chin resting on her shoulder. "How
come you can make me relax so easily?" she asked tiredly with a yawn.
He didn't reply and she just shrugged. "But anyway we already have them so might as
well keep them." she said as the others finally caught up with them and freed herself
from his hold. Still glaring at the one nearest to her she chose a gentler looking horse and
easily pulled herself up onto it watching as the others got onto theirs with gathering the
reins of the two pack horses she looked questioningly at the fire demon. "Running or
riding."
"That depends," he said smirking. "Am I riding one of them?" he asked looking at the
pack horses. "Or am I riding with you?"
"Have you ever ridden before?"
"Have I ever had a reason too?"
"You're not supposed to answer a question with a question."
"You should follow your own rule." Souta said entering the conversation.
"Who asked you ya little weasel?"
"I felt like sharing my infinite knowledge oh great and powerful sister."
"You're annoying, you know that?"
"You tell me that maybe a hundred times a day if not more. I think I know that by now."
"Good, then start riding already." she said as she hit the rear end of his horse sending it
galloping ahead of them. She turned to talk to Hiei only to find him gone. Shrugging she
rode to catch up with Souta and lead the way catching black blurs in the trees alongside
her every now and then.
End chapter
Hope you enjoyed and remember to r&r if you want another update.
ForestSprite