Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha …blah.blah.blah and I don't own Jano, Barou or Naota. Those are Wheezambu's wonderful creations.
"Who is she?" asked Kagome and Shippo.
"What is she?" asked Miroku and Sango.
The Inu-gumi sat in circle around the youkai female exchanging questions and observations. Minus one member. Inuyasha sat far away from the group with his back to them. Kagome "sat" him, and then he was buried under the youkai girl and the branches she brought down with her. He was the one who has forced into the ground and buried but they were all fawning under that girl.
"Look! She has ears just like Inuyasha's!" Inuyasha's ears perched at the mention of him.
"Is she a youkai or hanyou?' asked Shippo tweaking her ears.
"I've never seen a youkai like her…she has dark skin…" commented Sango.
"Look at her clothes, obviously she belongs to royally." Pointed Miroku. He ran his fingers over the over the soft silk of her white shirt that was very large on her, yet if only came to the middle of her stomach. She wore flowing black pants that cut off at the upper thigh. Sango saw the mischievous glint in his eye as he stared at the girl's stomach and worked his way up. She smacked him in the back of his head. "Pervert." She muttered.
"Look at this necklace, it looks like a collar." Said Kagome, turning it a crescent-moon shaped pendent in her palm. "Her name's Eriko. That's pretty."
"She has two tails like Kirara!" exclaimed Shippo. –This I gotta see. - Thought Inuyasha, looking over his shoulder.
"They aren't tails, Shippo, it's a pelt tied around her waist to look like tails." Replied Sango running her fingers through the soft fur. –Hey that pelt looks just like the one…wait a minute…oh hell no! - Thought Inuyasha.
"Look at her, she's so adorable!" squealed Kagome. As soon as the word "adorable" left Kagome's lips, Eriko's eyes popped open and she jumped up, towering above the girl. "WHO ARE U CALLIN' 'ADORABLE'! " she yelled. Her braids billowed around her like leaves caught in an angry wind. Kagome, Shippo, Sango, Kirara and Miroku stared at the clearly upset youkai. Even Miroku had enough sense not to say: her anger made her even more adorable. That didn't go for a certain hanyou who ran up and grabbed Eriko by the front of her shirt and lifted her into the air, letting her feet dangle a few inches above the ground.
"Alright, bitch, who are you workin' for? Is it Sesshomaru?" yelled Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, what are you doing!" yelled Kagome.
"Shadap!" he said to Kagome. He turned his attention back on Eriko and said; " Are you one of Naraku's incarnations? What the hell are you doin' here? Answer me, bitch!" Inuyasha stared at the youkai and almost recoiled in surprise at the look on her face. –I'm not gonna' let some girl intimidate me! - He thought to himself. But then again…that face was pretty scary.
Eriko crossed her arms in front of her breast and glared. "Listen up, pup, " she said in a soft threatening tone, "Don't call me a 'bitch'. The name's Eriko, use it. I'm not working for anyone and I don't know what you're blabbering about. I also don't appreciate you putting your hands on my person. HANDS OFF!" she said as-a-matter-of-factly. She uncrossed her arms and smacked away his fist from her shirt. She then landed lightly and straightened her shirt, brushing off the spot where his claws had been, as if it were dirty. Inuyasha stared down at her, one eyebrow arched, thinking –What the…-
She looked back up at him; her golden-brown eyes bore into his pure gold. Eriko placed her hands on her hips and asked; "You got a problem?" When he remained silent, she said, "That's what I thought." Smiling triumphantly at him. Eriko turned on her heel and marched off into the forest.
None of the Inu-gumi had muttered a single word the whole time, until they watched Eriko strut into the forest.
"What just happened?" whispered Sango.
"I think Inuyasha was told off." Whispered Miroku. Inuyasha was snapped back to reality by their low talking. Slowly, his expression changed from astonishment, to realization to pure anger. Everyone's eyes snapped onto him as he squared his shoulders and began to storm after the retreating female.
"Inuaysha! Now what are you doing?" asked Miroku running to catch up with him.
"I goin' ta' give that damn girl a piece of my mind, I'll tell ya' that much." He replied through gritted fangs. He cracked his knuckles, indicating his true intentions. –Nobody curses me out and gets away with it! - He thought to himself, quickening his pace. Miroku placed a hand on Inuyaha's shouldder, causing him to stop and glare at the monk. Mirokuu grinned at him.
"Just leave it to me my canine friend. I'm an expertin this type of field work." With that, he ran into the forest, pursuing his quarry. Sango, Shippo, Kagome and Kirara ran up to Inuyasha.
"Where's Miroku?" asked Shippo jumping onto his shoulder.
"You'll see." was his only response as he followed Miroku's scent deeperinto the forest.-This is gonna be good.- he thought with a smirk.
"Sessh was right on target. This is one powerful jewel." mumbled Barou as he examined the mouth of a tomb. Actually, it was a body-shape engraved in the side of a mountain. It was covered by a giant stone tailisman on the front. Or at least, that's how he remmembered it. Now there was a giant hole where the tomb was and a huge crack split the mountian in two. Using hiss expert nose, he inhaled deeply, then exhaled. -Hm...someone has definently been here. Even though it has been a while since their presents was actually here, their putrid scent still lingers. None of the woodland creatures have dared to set foot within twenty feet of this area.- he shuttered slightly as a cold wind blew past him. The trees groaned in protest as they bent, blockinig the sun and causing the area to darken. Barou stood stock still. -Yes...this is definently disturbing.- He had only felt like this once in his life and it happened in this area.
The memories that haunted him for years prior to the event were now coming back, as real and as vivd as the day they happened...because it happened here. -No...I must leave this place!- He stumbled slightly as he attempted to remove the images from his head. He forced them back into the confinds of his mind once again, but not before a truly terrifying image seared itself into his mind.-I hope you are not injured.This time I will protect you, I will help you and I will save your soul before it's too late.- he vowed silently as he caught her scent on the passing wind. Using his demonic speed, he moved swiftly over the landscape like a black blur. -Eriko...-
