Hey everyone! well, here's the LATE update of the third chapter of this story. I apologize for the small size of this chapter! (bows down repeatedly)
NOTE: in my story, Haikudoushi was never split into two pieces.
Chapter Three
A small boy gazed down upon the destroyed village. Smoke rose between debris that used to be huts. A small smirk adorned his usually solemn pale face. 'Excellent,' he thought in approval. His newest way of transportation growled underneath him. The metallic stench of warm blood lingered strongly, making him smirk wider.
"What was the purpose of this?" he heard behind him. He wasn't startled. He had felt her weak presence approach him. Without turning, he signaled his eerie white tiger-like 'pet' to go forward. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her scowl, look back at the village then follow his lead. 'Despicable child,' the woman scowled, 'Why dispatch of the village? To what purpose?'
"Silence Kagura." She froze and growled in her throat. 'Damn, he can still pry into my thoughts,' she thought venomously.
"Why kill all these people, Haikudoushi? Why go through all the trouble?" she stopped abruptly when the beast that held the boy turned and faced her. She stared into his pupil-less violet eyes, sending a shiver down her spine. He chuckled softly, leaning his weapon on his shoulder.
"Do I need a reason to entertain myself?"
"Are we there yet?" wailed Shippo. Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
"Does it look like we're there, stupid!" he growled.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome scolded.
"You're so rude, Baka!" Shippo shot back. Kagome placed a hand on his head. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over Kagome. She looked up into a fuming Inuyasha.
"Why you-"
"SIT BOY!" Inuyasha slammed into the ground. Miroku groaned in sympathy as he held his sore head. He glanced back at a pensive Sango, who glared when she caught his gaze. Suddenly, Kilala perked up from her cat-nap in the taijiya's arms.
"Kilala?" Sango asked. Shippo paused at taunting Inuyasha and began to sniff the air.
"Shippo, what's wrong?" Kagome asked. The breeze was blowing, making the coldness from the ground rise. Though the sun was now out, the sky remained gray and a few patches of ice adorned the land.
"I think I smell…I smell…-"
"Blood," Inuyasha growled standing up.
"Blood?" Miroku echoed, his pain forgotten. Inuyasha's growl grew louder and his ears flattened against his head.
"Yeah, and lots of it. Come on Kagome." Kagome nodded and climbed onto is back. Kilala mewed and jumped from Sango's arms, engulfed in fire and landed transformed into its giant saber-toothed cat form.
"Let's go," Sango yelled and jumped onto Kilala, Miroku following suit. The Inu-ikkou shortly arrived at what used to be a village. A now rotting stench greeted them.
"Ugh," Inuyasha covered his sensitive nose and glared at the sight. Miroku scowled slightly and sighed.
"Any idea who could have done such a wicked monstrosity, Inuyasha?" Inuyasha uncovered his nose and tried to pick up a scent among the strong scent of human blood. He froze and sniffed again. 'Damn,' he cursed.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome came to his side. She glanced at his slightly frowning face but stared at his golden amber eyes that seemed alight with anger. "It's Naraku…isn't it?" Every face turned to Kagome. She stared back at Inuyasha. He breathed out loudly and nodded. 'Something is definitely going on here,' Sango looked between the tall hanyou and miko in training. They hadn't argued as much since Kagome got upset and ran from camp last night. 'I wonder what happened,' she was snapped from her thoughts when Miroku neared her.
"Miroku?"
"We must place these poor people to rest in a proper burial," he whispered. She nodded and placed her Hiraikotsu into the ground. Kilala transformed to her small cat form and was joined by Shippo.
"Do you comprehend your task? What I expect from you?"
"Yes, master." The man smiled malignantly and watched eagerly as the boy moved towards his newest prey.
The cloudy day grew rapidly dark as the inu-ikkou uncovered mangled bodies from underneath the rubble. "I believe that's the last of them," Miroku raised his head from his praying position. The graves took up most of the farming field. Inuyasha tossed the worn shovel away and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Finally," he mumbled. Kagome stood up and dusted her skirt.
"Inuyasha," she began, "We'll need to clean up." Sango walked to Kagome, Miroku in tow. "Are there any hot springs near by?"
"Just up ahead. We'll settle down for the day over there." They gathered their belongings and began walking once more. 'I wonder Naraku killed all these people,' Kagome wondered, 'I doubt there were any jewel shards nearby.' Soon, they came upon a still green clearing past the village and soon a fire illuminated the gloomy darkness.
"We'll be right back," Sango shot back over her shoulder as she and Kagome walked to a nearby hot spring. Inuyasha glanced the way the women had gone before giving his famous 'Feh' and sitting criss-cross against a tree. Miroku sat a distance away from him and stared into the fire. Inuyasha glanced sideways towards the monk to surprisingly find him still sitting there. His usual tactics seemed far from his mind.
"What's botherin' you?" Inuyasha asked in annoyance. Miroku's head shot up.
"Hmm?"
"It usually doesn't take ya this long to go and visit them at the spring."
"Oh, really Inuyasha! You offend me to believe me that lecherous."
"Oh so ya finally admit you're a pervert?" Inuyasha smirked as a scowl appeared on the monk's face. Silence again settled in the camp site. Miroku's head shot towards Inuyasha's direction when he heard a sharp gasp. The hanyou's silver tresses darkened to a dark grey, to finally pitch black. His high cheekbones and elongated face rounded, making his human features and age apparent. His claws retracted and short fingernails and calloused hands appeared. His canine ears disappeared and human ones appeared at his face.
"Inuyasha?"
"Damn, I forgot," Inuyasha growled. Miroku stared in silence, actually never witnessing his friend's transformation take place. Inuyasha shook his head sideways and opened his eyes. His golden amber eyes were gone and in their place remained profound violet eyes. "What?" Inuyasha snapped, his mood gone sour. Miroku blinked then looked away.
Kagome sighed as she sat in the hot springs with Sango. The taijiya studied Kagome's lighter movements.
"Kagome?"
"Hmm? What is it Sango?" Sango paused but neared the miko.
"Kagome did something happen to you guys the other night?" Involuntarily, Kagome blushed as she remembered Inuyasha's embrace and plea to never leave his side.
"I-I…ehem, nothing much really but uhm," she swallowed, "I'm guessing I'll be here in the feudal era much longer than I had thought I would." 'Because Inuyasha needs me.' Sango smiled and saw Kagome's eyes sparkle with happiness. 'Has Inuyasha finally told Kagome his feelings towards her?' Sango wondered. She saw Kagome step out and wrap herself in a towel. Sango quickly followed suit and reached for a towel. Suddenly, the sound of metal coming out of its sheath echoed loudly in the springs.
"Kago-"Sango was cut off at the feeling of a blade at her throat. She tried to glance back at her capturer, her kneeling down at the moment, but the blade prevented much movement. Her hazel eyes shifted to the other side. 'Kagome!' Kagome lay sprawled on the ground, apparently knocked out.
"Move girl and the other dies," Sango froze. Not because of the threat but… because she recognized that now deeper voice.
Kagura sighed as she saw Naraku's momentarily camp in the large indention of the mountain side. The cool breeze ruffled the edges of her large feather and brought with it the stench she had grown to detest. 'Naraku,' she scowled. Haikudoushi smirked at the woman's expression. He nudged the beast carrying him to fasten his pace and together, they did a heart stopping dip in the air to finally rest at the hut's front yard. Kagura landed far behind him, yet not so far as to keep him in her gaze.
"Come Kagura," the boy ordered. Clipping her fan shut, she angrily marched after the boy. 'To think I need to take ordered from this infant,' too consumed in her thoughts, she didn't realize where she was going and bumped harshly into the white clad boy.
"Uhmph," she groaned as she landed ungracefully on her bottom. She looked up, expecting a hard command or reply but found none. She saw his tense stature in front of her vision, nothing else. 'What is the matter?' her eyes widened as she picked up a strong scent. 'Is that …fear I smell?' Now curious, she looked beyond Haikudoushi and her eyes widened. There, in the hut's entrance, was Kikyo.