Resist and Conquer:
Let's Save The World!
Chapter 02
He sat there staring off into the distance. The sun was setting and they hadn't yet left Kaede's village. It was a day wasted but Inuyasha really didn't care. 'It's all wrong.' He whispered in his mind, he messed up big time and this time there was no way to reverse it.
Sango and Miroku could say it wasn't his fault but he knew, it was his claws, his body that moved and did the damage. He knew the truth. He fell into Naraku's trap and now, now he had paid the price, as did the others.
She stared up at him hesitantly; he'd been avoiding her all day. But why? Her eyes were filled with sadness as she stared up at his form. "Inuyasha," She called out but he didn't answer her. "Inuyasha." She spoke a bit more firmly.
He moved a little and turned to look down at her, she couldn't see his expression too well as he was sitting up in a tree. "What is it? Is something wrong?" He asked, distantly.
She frowned, "Can we talk?" She asked hugging herself a little as the wind picked up a little. It was mid-fall and leaves were falling and it was getting colder. She'd have to pack a jacket next time. "I really want to talk with you." She pleaded.
He didn't look at her but instead remained silent, staring off into the fading sun. "Didn't Kaede want you for something?" He asked still not moving.
"Inuyasha…" His attitude was very uncomforting, very quiet and withdrawn. "I want to talk with you now." She said a little more sternly.
More silence ensued. She stood there watching him, watching as he ignored her. This wasn't like him at all, he was rude but never like this. A minute passed by and nothing changed, 'What's with him?' With a sigh she threw her backpack on the ground and approached the tree. "Fine, you want to stay up there," She furrowed her brows and placed her hands on the tree. "I'll just come up to you." And so she began climbing up.
His ears perked up, a noise catching his attention, Turning around his eyes widened as Kagome began climbing up the tree. "Hey, what are you doing?" He asked heatedly.
"Well, Inuyasha" She groaned and scaled up a little more, "Since you don't want to move from that spot," She winced as a piece of wood caught in her hand, "I thought I'd just come and talk to you up here." She said continuing her climb.
"Yeah well, climb on back down because I really am not in the mood to 'talk'." He exclaimed. But she persists. "Why don't you go back to the village and hang out with Kaede and the others?" She didn't answer him. He became even angrier, "Kagome I'm serious. I don't want to talk to you." He stated.
She kept on, "Well then," He stepped back a little to give her room to get on the limb he was on, "I guess I'll do the talking and you can do the listening." She replied with a small smile. He didn't say anything, just sat there and stared off at nothing.
Kagome sighed, for a while none of them said anything. Kagome pulled out the piece of wood that was stuck in her hand, "Mnn, that hurt." She muttered, wiping the small trail of blood that began to run.
Inuyasha sighed and jumped down from the tree, she was about to call him to come back when he grabbed her backpack and jumped back beside her. "Here, you have small bandages inside don't you?" He asked, rummaging through her things. She nodded a bit stunned with his behavior as he handed her a Band-aid.
"Thanks Inuyasha." He grunted in response and finally the sun had disappeared over the horizon. It was dark now, "Inuyasha, I know something happened while I was gone. Miroku and the others are all quiet about it and won't tell me a single thing but please, tell me what happened."
There was no reply for a long time. "It's nothing for you to worry about, alright. It's not like it makes any difference anyway." He said before trailing off into a daze.
She looked away, staring off into the forest where she first met Inuyasha. Where she released him from the spell, which was placed upon him by the priestess Kikyo fifty years ago. Kikyo… "Inuyasha, does it have something to do with Kikyo?" She asked, he always acted differently after an encounter with her. No answer. "Inuyasha,"
"No, this has nothing to do with Kikyo." He replied.
She looked over to him, "Then, what's this all about?"
He stood up, obviously upset, somehow she hit a nerve, and "It's about butting in and doing more harm than good. About getting into someone else's business instead of leaving them alone, you understand?! So now leave me alone, I don't want to talk about this anymore!" He shouted.
"Inuyasha-"
"Stop it. This conversation is over." He stated and picking her up with one hand and grabbing her backpack with the other, he jumped back down and let her go gently. "Now get back to the village, it's already dark and you really should be somewhere safe." He suggested before hopping back to the tree.
"Aren't you coming?"
"I'll head back in a little while…"
She stared up forlornly, "…Inuyasha…"
-
The sight was horrifying and sickening. "Who slaughtered all of these people?" He whispered shocked and dazed.
"I-It's the demon!" A young girl shouted, screaming and running away. He turned and saw her dashing off, terrified of him. But he was confused, why was she running from him. Unless…
"Does she think I murdered these people?" He asked himself disbelievingly. He surveyed the damage and walked along the burnt ground in the village. It reeked of death and yes, demon. A dog demon if he was correct.
"Y-You there! We're not afraid of you; we are going to avenge our fallen family and friends! Prepare to die you demon!" Suddenly a few men who apparently lived in this village were attacking the demon, they wore armor and wielded swords- some too big and others too small. It was obvious they weren't true swordsmen.
The black-haired demon jumped out of the way and landed on a fencepost. "Settle down please. I come in peace, I'm not the one who attacked this village!" He explained.
"Why should we believe you?" One of them asked, readying his weapon.
The young demon smiled faintly, "My name is Brandichi, I'm a kitsune who travels alone. I was over by those hills over there when I caught scent of fire and blood. I heard screams so I headed here as fast as I could. I swear to you I'm here to help." He clarified.
The men stood there and looked at one another. The gripped their weapons tightly and started to move towards the demon. "That's enough everyone." A voice called out and they all stopped in their tracks. The man stared curiously at the one before them, and after whispering back and forth the one who seemed to be the leader nodded, "Alright then, why would a demon want to help us humans out?" He asked suspiciously.
Brandichi sighed, "Because I want to and I'm not some murderer. Listen whoever did this obviously had immense strength, the only thing I have are my special wooden tools." The men in armor and helmets hesitated.
"I think we can trust him. Besides now that I see him, he doesn't look anything like the demon that was here." One of them said stepping up by the leader's side.
The leader nodded, he removed his helmet and stepped forward, "My name is Oen, and this is my brother Hoden. We are the only ones remaining in this village besides my little sister and most of the women." He said extending his hand out to him.
The demon blinked surprised the man looked only to be about sixteen or seventeen. "I'm Brandichi and I'll help in any way I can." He repeated.
"Thank you, if you could help my friends rebuild a small shelter for tonight that'd be great. With a little time we can rebuild the village, I just pray that demon doesn't return. We lost many people, but were able to save at least a few."
The kitsune's eyes saddened, "What happened? Why did this demon attack?" He asked, he knew demons hated mortals but to go and attack for no reason was a little strange. Especially since the bodies seemed to only be slashed and killed, none were eaten or taken from the scene. 'So if they didn't come here to feed, then why else would they bother slaughtering a whole village?'
Oen sighed, "There were two of them at first but then one of them ran away. The second one just went crazy after that. His eyes became a dark red and he started killing everyone in his sight, he spared no one. He killed children, women and most of the men. We weren't prepared or ready, everyone died before we could get even a sword in our hands. My brother and I along with a few others snuck as many women and children as we could, but that vicious demon was relentless. It was like he didn't care about anything, or anyone." He spoke, the fear and severity in his tone, as if recalling a nightmare.
Brandichi glared, "As soon as we build a place for you all to stay I'm going to hunt down this demon and kill him. I vow on my life I will slay this evil demon." He stated angrily.
The man smiled weakly, "You're the nicest demon I have ever met, my friend. I am thankful for your presence at this time. It's reassuring to know not all demons are out to kill." The demon smiled, as did the young man, "Now let us put together a place for the children and women to sleep." The fox demon nodded and the two began constructing.
Inuyasha stared off into the distance blankly. Staring down at his claws he mentally cursed himself. The smell of human blood was all over him; he could still smell the fires all around him, the sounds of little kids crying out their parents' names. It was unbearable, it was all his fault.
He stayed up in that tree all night, seeing not the view but the image of a murderer killing innocent people.