Resist And Conquer:

Let's Save The World!

Brandichi left the village in haste back to the ruined one in the forest. "I'll deliver this medicine to them and then deal with Inuyasha. If what that man said was true, then I can find him at that holy village east of here."

"Inuyasha is a mad man that travels under the guise as a good-hearted half-demon."

Brandichi narrowed his eyes. "Half-demon?"

"Yes. But half-demons have the ability of transforming with their demonic powers when they reach the brink of death and becoming full demons until they recover or in some cases die. From time to time, Inuyasha allows this to happen and wrecks havoc among those he deems undeserving."

"I don't understand. Why would he care to do something like that?"

"Because his truest desire is to become completely demon. He hates humans and everything they entail especially young innocent children."

"But the priestess here swears he's not evil."

"Aye, but that's only his human self she senses. With due respect, Kaede is a wonderful and masterful priestess but I've seen this Inuyasha in action. Have you heard of the priestess Kikyo – the older sister of Priestess Kaede?"

"The woman with massive powers that was governed to guard the Sacred Jewel."

"Exactly. Inuyasha loves to grow close to his victims and then viciously destroy them. The poor young priestess fell quite in love with him and thus, she died because of his cruelty and tricks."

Brandichi tightened his grip on his sack. "Do you know where I can find this beast?"

"Aye. But be wary. He has fooled a monk, a demon slayer, and a young priestess into believing of his innocence and sincerity. I will tell you his location in the hopes that you will save them from his illusion. The village of Okache."

"You will not get away Inuyasha."

Inuyasha and his friends stood waiting in the massive castle throne room, until finally two soldiers stepped beyond the sliding doors before them. They knelt on either side of their master's chair. To everyone's shock, a young beautifully dressed woman stepped into their sights. She bowed lightly before sitting on her rose-covered throne.

Kagome gasped and bowed, as did Miroku and Sango. "She's quite breathtaking."

Sango frowned. "Yes indeed." Miroku replied enthusiastically. The demon slayer shook her head irritated.

Inuyasha remained silent and sternly stared straight at the woman before them. He sensed no unusual scents about her, in all ways she was a human; nothing demonic about her.

"I am the Lady Shaito. This is my village. I hear that you are in need of answers to some questions. I trust that my stewards and the head Priest Moshun, have told you of our troubling predicament. Please understand that we are quite suspicious of everyone that is passing through, and we do not want any trouble. Before you state your business here, please formerly introduce yourselves."

"Certainly, My Fair Lady. I am the Monk Miroku and might I say this demon you speak of has indeed caused a great heartache among your people. If there is anything you need from us we will do, if you need someone to comfort you I am more than happy to-"

"Get down you pervert." Sango hissed, pulling him down off the first step to her throne. "Forgive our over-zealous friend. My name is Sango I am a demon slayer. Indeed, if there is a demon troubling you we can eradicate it for you."

Kagome smiled, "I am Kagome and this is Inuyasha. We've been traveling in search of a very powerful demon in hopes of destroying him. We only have good intentions in mind and we promise not to cause any problems for your village."

Lady Shaito stood to her feet and smiled. "From listening to the tones in your voices I know that evil is not within your souls. However, you demon Inuyasha, do cause worry within me. If it pleases you, I would rather speak with you with your friends waiting outside my castle grounds."

Kagome frowned. "My Lady Shaito, please understand that we can't really leave him either." Miroku interjected. "Please understand our side of this as well."

"Yeah, if you remember, this place is filled with stuff that can kill me. Obviously I've taken a big chance in just bein' here in the first place. So can we just get on with the formalities?" Inuyasha spat out.

The two guards stood and reached for their swords. "How dare you speak to Lady Shaito that way!"

"Silence!" She commanded. Shaito eyed Inuyasha up and down before smiling and nodding. "I understand your haste. There is no doubt the barrier here, even lifted as much as it is, still has feel uneasy. You're right, you are taking a risk and I applaud your cooperation. Please, stay the night and enjoy yourselves within the safety of our castle. You may stay here in the castle."

Kagome put her hands together, "That's a really generous offer. We don't want to be a bother."

The young woman placed her hand on her chest. "It is not one at all."

"Thanks for the offer but I think we'll just be leaving." Inuyasha replied in a grim tone.

"Don't listen to him he doesn't know what he is saying. We are honored to be staying in your humble abode." Miroku exclaimed. "Inuyasha is just a downer sometimes." He said.

Shaito turned and headed back towards the sliding door behind her throne chair, "Oh I disagree. I find him to be quite intriguing." She retorted with a shy smile.

Inuyasha frowned. Kagome sighed. "I suppose we speak with one of the servants to get our rooms here in this castle." Sango suggested.

"Yeah."

"What do you guys think of this place?" The hanyou asked as they started to leave the room. There was still that evident ungodliness he was feeling about the place.

Lady Shaito twirled in the safety of her bedchamber. "I think I've found the one I've been searching for."

"But what is the problem? Every time you find the right one, something is always wrong that prevents you from keeping him." A voice spoke out from the darkness.

Shaito shook her head. "But he can't get away from me this time. Saiko, he's a hanyou and a good-hearted one at that. He's absolutely beautiful; long silver-white hair, a pouty smile and piercing gold eyes."

"I see. So he's here with no bad qualities as of yet?"

"Well, there is a small nagging thing about him. It's his friends that travel with him. The monk and slayer are fine but the girl that travels with him. I can see it within her, a passion and love so deep and true. There is a similar but clouded one in him as well. I can deal with that but she's also a priestess."

"I see. Are you requesting my assistance, Shaito?"

"Anything for my future lover."

Sango and Kagome settled into the nice hot bathing pool drawn for them by the housemaids of the castle. "Have you noticed Inuyasha's disposition?" Sango asked concerned.

"Yeah. He believes there's something absolutely wrong with this place. What do you think? Do you feel any evil presence or energies?" The young priestess asked.

Sango shook her head. "Well no. I haven't as of yet. In fact good spirits and warmth surround this place. If anything is suspicious I suppose it would be the holiness of this place."

Kagome blinked and sighed. "Does that make it bad? If its completely pure?" Sango shrugged in uncertainty.

"Maybe Inuyasha is just paranoid."

"Would you give it a rest?" Miroku exhaled, enjoying the food the maids brought to them. "Just calm down Inuyasha. This place is fine."

"I'm gonna go walk around the hallways." The half-demon stated.

"Try not to cause too much of a ruckus." Miroku scolded.

The hanyou closed the sliding door and surveyed the area. From somewhere up the next floor there was a clattering sound that caught Inuyasha's ears. There was the faint smell of blood and he headed in the direction in a quick sprint.

As he went up the stairs and around the halls, he came to a double sliding door. He opened it up and gasped softly. "Hey, are you okay?"

The girl lifted her head and turned to face him. "Oh, Sir Inuyasha. I apologize for troubling you." Inuyasha was surprised to see it was Lady Shaito on the floor holding her right arm. He approached her and took her arm from her hand and glared deeply. There was a cut stretching from her wrist to her elbow. She winced.

"What happened to you?" He asked lecturing. She blushed and looked away. He sighed deeply. "Where do you keep your bandages?"

"There are some over in that drawer over there." Without more said Inuyasha stood and grabbed some from the appointed location. He began cleaning and wrapping her arm up. "Perhaps you should call for one of your servants to take a better look at it. I'll get Miroku and Sango to-"

"No. Please, I cannot have anyone know of this. You see, I'm not really supposed to be up here in this room. Please, I beg you not to say anything to anyone. Sir Inuyasha, this is a sacred place, where we pray for my father and brother to return to the castle. My people believe it is bad luck to step within these walls when they are away, for this is my father's bedchamber. What they don't understand is I know they will never come back. I know that they are no longer living. However to tell my people this would surely shred all ounces of hope from their bodies."

Inuyasha was more than simply confused. "I'll explain to you I promise, just do not say anything to anyone." She pleaded, staring with her hazel eyes into his golden browns.

Inuyasha blushed lightly and rolled his eyes. "Yeah fine." She smiled happily and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you Sir Inuyasha. You are indeed a noble Half-demon." She exclaimed.

'Nice work, Shaito. You really know how to play a guy's heart. Maybe this time he will stay after all. Very well, I will help you as any older brother should for his young sister.'