Chapter Three: The Ballad of Fire
Kagome looks around the hut to see no one there. She crawls out of bed and walks outside. Inuyasha suddenly jumps down in front of her causing her to stumble back and fall. Inuyasha laughs at her then helps her to her feet. "You have to be more careful. I'm not always going to be there to save you." he shivers at the words then turns to her. "Well, lets go."
"Go where?" he takes her hand and pulls her onto his back. He speeds down the dirt road making a cloud of dust fly behind them. "Inuyasha what about the others?"
"They already left. I stayed behind to wait for you to get up."
"Oh, but... where are we going?"
"To the others."
"Inuyasha." she starts to get mad and burns holes in the back of his head.
"Okay, we are going to Koga's den"
"And the others?"
"Are actually going the other direction." his ears lay flat on his head feeling guilty that he had lied to Kagome.
"Why are we going alone?" she asks calmly, then suddenly becomes filled with rage. "And why did you lie to me!"
"We are going alone because this doesn't concern them, and I... uh..." he pauses, ".. I knew you wouldn't come with me if I asked."
"I would too come. But, why are we going there? And why do you need me?"
"So many questions... just wait til we get there, you'll see." he dashed through the fields and smiled slightly.
Meanwhile, Miroku and Shippo stood next to Koga waiting for Inuyasha. Miroku looked to the sky. "Well, its about noon now. I don't think Inuyasha is coming." They look to each other. "Inuyasha would have been here by now, he would have gotten Kagome up long ago." Miroku shakes his head and chuckles. "For some reason, I get the feeling Inuyasha isn't coming." Koga turns to Miroku and grabs him lifting him off his feet.
"That mutt better get and he better have Kagome with him! If he doesn't, we'll go out together and get him!" Miroku sighs and looks to a nervous Sango.
"Sango? What is it?" Sango turns slowly smiling trying to hide her fear. Miroku smiles, "Now Sango if there is something bothering you then you should tell me. I'm listening."
"Well..." she whispers, Koga drops Miroku and walks to Sango.
"What do you know?"
"Inuyasha and Kagome aren't coming."
"What!" Koga turns to Miroku again then to Sango. "What do you mean they're not coming!"
"Well... you see, Inuyasha wanted to do something special with Kagome, because it is her birthday. He wanted us to come here and see what it was you needed." Miroku stands up and looks to her.
"He told you but not the rest of us."
"Inuyasha knew you would try to spy on them-" Miroku turns his back to her and mumbles to himself. Koga snarls and turns back to Sango.
"Thats it! I am not letting that mutt have my Kagome! How dare he take her!" he calls for Hakkaku and Ginta then yells back, "Protect the den for me! I'm going to get that mutt!" they rush out together leaving Miroku, Shippo, Sango, and Kirara coughing from their cloud of dirt.
Later that afternoon, Inuyasha and Kagome sat under a cherry blossom tree eating ramen. Kagome smiles brightly at Inuyasha then sets her ramen down. "Inuyasha, thank you." she hugs him causing him to blush. "Inuyasha, why did you trick the others, including me, that we were going to see Koga?"
"Well, they are with Koga. I wasn't lying to you when I told you the others were in the other direction. Because that where they really were, but they were with Koga. I didn't want them ruining it in anyway... and I wanted to surprise you." his blush grows darker and he tries to hide his face.
"Inuyasha..." she smiles and hugs him tightly, then leans her head on his shoulder. "Okay I won't say the 's' word only because you lied for a good cause."
"Yeah, well, don't get use to it... I am only being nice because its your birthday." he makes his usual sulking face and glances at her. She shakes her head then continues to lean her head on his shoulder.
"Whatever Inuyasha.." she closes her eyes and smiles. "Thank you..." Inuyasha sighs and puts his arm around her to keep her warm. He turns his head to the sky and gives a heavy sigh. Kagome's head slips off his shoulder and onto his lap, he taps her shoulder.
"Kagome..?" he smiles at her, "You stupid girl... why didn't you tell me you were tired.." he picks her up and lays her in his lap and rests his head on hers. He breathes in her scent and closes his eyes. Suddenly he sneezes and sniffs the air; he smells fire. He looks down to Kagome and shakes her gently. She slowly opens her eyes and looks at him with concern. Inuyasha helps her to her feet. "Listen, I smell fire, I think we-"
"Okay, lets go check it out." she picks up her stuff and places it back in her bag. She turns and smiles, "Well, lets go." Inuyasha is about to protest but closes his mouth and pulls off his robe.
"Here, I don't want you to get burnt." Kagome takes it from his hands and slips it on then climbs onto his back. "Kagome... leave your bag here." she sighs and drops her bag on the ground. "If it gets stolen I'll make it up to you." her eyes widen and she glares at him. Inuyasha laughs to himself then runs into the forest quickly.
A few minutes later Inuyasha and Kagome arrive at a village. Everything is in flames, dead bodies have limbs torn from them. Most of the children are hiding or were trapped in the huts, most likely they are dead. Inuyasha stands in front of Kagome and looks for any survivors. A small child runs out from behind the trees. She pulls on Kagome's skirt, "A-are you going to help us?" Inuyasha kneels down to the child and hugs her.
"What happened?"
"A demon made of fire attacked us... he looked like a normal man... but but... he was really a demon." she starts to cry softly. "He killed everyone... I was able to get away..."
"Is the demon still here?" the girl looks to the ground and shakes her head. "Okay, go with her. She will protect you." he points to Kagome and the girl walks over to her. Kagome takes her hand and looks to Inuyasha. "Its still here Kagome... I can smell it. Stay close... I don't want anything happening to you." The fire continues to rage to the sky, dancing in the cool breeze. Inuyasha holds tight to his sword, ready to pull it out the minute danger hits. Kagome quickly whips her head around to see a shadow standing in the flames. She pulls Inuyasha's hair softly, making sure it didn't hurt him. He turns to her and she points to the flames. He sees the shadow and growls. A fox made of flames walks out gnawing on an arm. It drops its meal and charges toward them. Inuyasha pulls out his sword and blocks the attack. The fox jumps back and turns into his human-like form. He bows and pulls out his sythe.
"Hello, half-breed. Are you Inuyasha?"
"Yeah, whats it to ya?" Inuyasha steps forward, and the demon smirks.
"Hmm, is that your mate? Kagome isn't it?" Inuyasha and Kagome blush then look to the ground.
"She is not my mate." the fox grins and looks to Kagome.
"Well, then, can I have her? She isn't that bad looking." Inuyasha growls and holds out his sword.
"You stay away from Kagome! I'll never let you hurt her!" he charges and jumps up slicing at the demons head.
"Hey, thats not fair. I haven't told you my name yet. I want Kagome to know my name. So when we are together she will call out my name and not yours." he chuckles and Kagome jaw drops. Inuyasha twitches and slices at him again.
"How dare you say that!" Inuyasha jumps down and misses the demon once again. The demon throws his sythe and nips Inuyasha's arm.
"Hold still dog, I can't hit you when you are moving." he appears by his sythe and picks it up and blocks Inuyasha's sword. He then sends Inuyasha flying into a tree, breaking it in half. Inuyasha jumps up and growls at him.
"Who the hell are you!"
"Well, now you wish to know my name. Its Julian, Julian Seirei. I was sent to capture your one and only." Kagome takes the girl and slowly tries to sneak away. Suddenly Julian's sythe drops down in front of them. "Where do you think you are going?" Inuyasha runs over and grabs Kagome and the girl. He then holds his sword above his head, "I won't let you hurt them!" his sword hits the ground and the ground shakes. The wind scar speeds toward Julian, but he continues to stand not even glancing at it. A woman jumps down and disappears with Julian. They then reappear on top of a burning hut. The fire completely disappears, leaving only smoke. The woman grins at Inuyasha and Kagome then crosses her arms. The moonlight shines down on her, she has red hair and green eyes like a cat. Her body is covered only by a few large black and purple ribbons and black boots to match. She holds a whip in her crossed arms, and a scepter on her side.
"Hello, I'm Sofia." she waves her hand then turns to a shadow leaning against a tree. A man wearing all black modern clothes steps out. His hair is short and black and his eyes are blood red. One eye has three claw marks on it, that eye is also a fake. He has no weapon from what Inuyasha can see. Sofia glares at the man in black, "Thats Makai." Inuyasha pulls Kagome and the girl into his left arm, while his other held his sword.
"What do you want!"
"We want Kagome. She is very important to us." Sofia remarks and flips her hair out of her face. "Just give her to us and we shall be on our way." Kagome looks to the ground.
"Why do you want me?" Makai walks into the moonlight and stares into her eyes.
"You know why, remember your dream..." Kagome gasps and images flash through her mind. Images of her past, her childhood, her father, all appear and make Kagome's eyes water.