Chapter 7 – Of Wolves and Wind Demons
I realized as I was writing that I had raised a very important question – if this was what happened to the main characters after fifteen years, what had happened to the villains? So this chapter is an encounter with Kouga and Kagura. I'm also expecting appearances from Sesshoumaru, Kanna and Kohaku later in the story. But for now – enjoy!
After about four days we settled into a comfortable groove. We'd walk at a pretty good pace for most of the day, and usually sleep outside, or when there was a village, we'd barter ourselves a room for the night, which was heavenly. Shippou had gained a new ability – he could actually transform into a little fox, no bigger than Kirara, when he wanted to. So he would usually take that form and sit on Kagome's shoulder, and Kirara would sit on mine, and Inuyasha would be at the head, egging us on. I kind of liked it – the easiness, how there wasn't a real rush, and we had such a tight-knit group. Everyone understood each other, and I realized why my mother hadn't wanted to leave. These were probably the best friends a girl could have.
About a week after we set out, I heard a disturbance in the trees. It sounded like wolves running to me, and my hand immediately went to the katana on my hip. We'd met plenty of minor demons along the way so far, and Inuyasha and Kagome had been teaching me how to fight without having to use my Kazaana. But it became clear that this was not a minor demon, because only a minute after we first heard it moving, a deep, husky voice shot across the clearing – "Inuyasha?"
"Oh, shit!" Inuyasha swore, his eyes widening. He drew Tetsusaiga in one sweep and yelled, "Show yourself, you wimpy bastard of a wolf!"
"I thought you'd died, dogface," said the voice. A wolf demon stepped out from the trees, with a thick, long ponytail of black hair and a vest and miniskirt made from wolf hide. He looked alone, but I could still hear more wolves running free. He grinned at Inuyasha.
"Kouga-kun!" Kagome gasped. Shippou narrowed his eyes and Kirara growled. And me? I had no clue who this dude was, but it was obvious he and Inuyasha hated each other, so I figured I should just shut up and watch the fireworks.
"Kagome!" He gasped, running forward to grab her hands. "You're dressed as a priestess! It looks beautiful on you. I haven't seen you for so long, has the mutt been treating you right?"
"You keep your filthy paws off her, you damn wolf!" Inuyasha roared, stepping between them and shoving Kouga off with Tetsusaiga. I was grinning by now. This was the first time I'd ever seen Inuyasha show some real feeling for Kagome – man, this was getting good!
"Where've you been for fifteen years, Kouga?" He asked. "I haven't smelt the scent of wolf for years. Did you run and hide?"
"I should be asking you the same question." Kouga scoffed. "I was told you'd died, and Kagome had gone back to her old country. But now that I see – " He looked around the group. "Yes, there's the fox, and the cat, too – but where's the houshi? And the Taijiya? You're missing a couple members of your group, mutt – I just see a girl. Huh, but she does look familiar…"
Now this dude had crossed the line. I drew my katana and placed it under his chin, snarling, "I should look familiar. I'm their daughter."
"Kaza, you idiot!" Inuyasha growled. "He's a lot stronger than you, so don't try anything stupid, okay!"
"Inuyasha the babysitter." He said with a smile. He wasn't moving from my sword, though I was nervous – he could have knocked it away by now if he'd wanted to. "Well, we always knew that lech of a monk would get a kid one of these days. But where is he?"
"And we should tell you this why?" Inuyasha barked.
"No, no, let me guess." Kouga said, putting on a thoughtful expression. "Something happened, and the monk and his lovely lady were captured. They'd forgotten how to fight after fifteen years, and in a last-ditch effort to save themselves, they sent their teenage daughter to find you, Inuyasha, and find them and save them. Am I right?"
"No, you're just as stupid as ever." Inuyasha snapped. "If you really want to know, we're after Naraku."
Now the whole mood shifted. The wolf's eyes hardened, and he said softly, "Put away your sword, girl, I'm not going to fight you."
I didn't trust him, but Kagome was nodding at me, so I sheathed my sword and stepped away. He walked over to Inuyasha, and I was amazed, as Inuyasha didn't attack him. Kagome, Shippou, Kirara and I leaned in close to hear.
"Naraku." Kouga said softly. "I heard he'd died fifteen years ago, too, and I haven't seen or smelt him in years. I always assumed he was gone for good."
"He did vanish fifteen years ago." Inuyasha explained. "He and Miroku vanished into the sky in the middle of a fight. Nobody's seen either of them in years. But we know Naraku at least is still alive."
"How?"
"I have this." I said, and shoved my right hand in front of him. It took him a moment to register the Kazaana, and then he frowned and said, "The monk's wind tunnel? It's hereditary?"
"It's a long story." Kagome said quickly. "But the point is that the Kazaana only exists if Naraku exists. So we're going to find him and Miroku."
"You think you can do that?" He said doubtfully. "You couldn't defeat him even when there were six of you. Two of your group is missing, and you haven't fought in years, Inuyasha. This is a fool's errand."
"Well, it's none of your business." Inuyasha said, the rivalry returning in full force. "I told you because I knew you had a bone to pick with Naraku, that's all. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to find him."
"Hold up, dogface." He said. "I should warn you, though again, it's none of my business. Naraku may be gone, but his detachments are still around."
"Say what!" Inuyasha spluttered.
"That's all I can say." Kouga's eyes were darkened. "Just don't die, mutt, I still have a score to settle with you, as well."
Before either of them could say anything else, he vanished in a whirlwind.
"Hold on, what just hap-" Kagome placed a hand over my mouth, and then looked at Inuyasha. "Do you sense it? Her?" She whispered.
"I do." He said, Tetsusaiga still drawn. "Keep quiet, all of you, and be ready for battle."
By now, I was just about completely lost. Kouga had liked Kagome? And then he hated Inuyasha, and then had a perfectly civil conversation with him, even warned him? And what were Naraku's 'detachments' anyway? All the same, the whole group was ready for battle. Kirara and Shippou both transformed and were ready to fight, and Kagome had an arrow on the string as we silently moved through the trees.
Only about five minutes later a new voice came, a woman's – "Oh, my, this is unexpected. Inuyasha, what a surprise."
"Kagura – " He yelled. "Show yourself!"
"I came here chasing after that wolf," she said, "but instead, I find a dog. This just about made my day." A woman appeared in the trees above us, and I knew from the start she was a demon by her pointed ears and crimson eyes. She was carrying a closed fan in her hand and had a vicious smile on her lips.
"So what brings you here, Inuyasha?" She asked nonchalantly. "That wolf told me you'd died years ago, and taken that girl down with you. But no, you're back, though I think you're missing a couple members of your group. What are you doing in these forests?"
"You tell us your business, Kagura, and we'll tell you ours." Inuyasha shouted up. "Where's your sister, Kanna, and Kohaku?"
"Away on business." She said easily. "That boy Kohaku's all grown up since you last saw him, the Taijiya would be very pleasantly surprised. Where is she, anyway? And the monk?"
Suddenly Inuyasha smiled. "Well, that's a matter you should be very interested in, Kagura." He said dangerously. "The monk vanished with Naraku fifteen years ago, and we're going to find them. Both of them."
Her already pale face turned a color like old oatmeal. "Naraku…? You're going to…to find him?" She stammered. "No, he died!"
"Does Kohaku have his memory back?" Kagome asked, catching on. "Do you feel your heart beat in your chest? No, Naraku isn't dead."
Her eyes flashed. "Where is he?" She snarled. "Where is Naraku?"
"Oh, you know you can't kill him, Kagura," Inuyasha teased, "he's your master, he holds your heart. You should just let us do the dirty work and promise not to interfere."
"I will let you kill him," she said softly, "and keep my sister and Kohaku out of the way. But tell me this – the girl, she is his daughter, isn't she? The monk's daughter. I can see her eyes. Does she have the Kazaana?"
"Yes, and would you like me to test it out on you?" I shouted up. There was a synchronized hiss of "Kazaaa!" From Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippou, but I ignored them as the wind demon smiled.
"Very good, girl. Very good. Be on your way, Inuyasha, but if you fail to kill Naraku, I will have to dispose of you myself." She shouted, and then vanished. I looked to Inuyasha and Kagome and said,
"Okay, talk. What just happened?"
"That was…you could call her Naraku's daughter. Kagura. And I think," Inuyasha said, his amber eyes dark, "that she has just become a very important playing piece in this little game we're in."
Oooh, this was fun. I hope you liked it – I know Kagura and Kouga seem a little, u know, unchanged, but they're demons – I figured 15 years wouldn't be so long if u lived for hundreds of years. Next chapter will be good, I promise – a certain Taijiya has been away from this fanfic for waaaay too long…please review, they really help my writing! Thanks for everything!
