++++++Chapter 4+++++++

"Curse you Monsters!"

My face contorts in pain as I watch the farmer swing his blade haphazardly at me. His wife and child tremble behind him.

"I'm not like them." I say gently taking a step forward. The farmer lunges at me, but I move quickly to the side, "Please, listen to me."

"Curse you!" He swings again, but he has no formal training with the sword. I dodge it with ease.

"Let me help you!" More screams from the other villagers sound in the distance, and I lower my bow and quiver to the ground, "See. Look. I am here to help you. Please…..let me help you."

The farmer eyes me suspiciously before inching closer and grabbing my things. He tosses it back to his wife who shakily tries to load the bow, but ends up holding the arrow out like a sword after a few failed attempts.

"Please trust me. I won't hurt you. I'm not like them."

"How do we know that? You came with them didn't you?"

"Aye, I did, but…..please…..let me do this…..let me save you."

Jakotsu's dark laughter grows as more screams sound. He was getting closer to them. I give the trembling farmer a stern look, "The more you question me, the less time we have to escape. Please, come with me."

He grips his sword harder his mind racing as he glances back to his family.

Begrudgingly, he nods.

I push the family forward through the small alleyways of the village. The farmer guiding me down the best paths till we reach the forest edge.

"Keep going, find the path, and don't stop until you hit the next village." The farmer nods and quickly the wife embraces my neck.

"Thank you." She whispers.

I watch as the family disappears in to the forest before running back to find more survivors.

"Go!" I harshly whisper as I push the toddler in to the arms of one of the two teenage girls in to the forest. "Keep going until you hit the next village. There should be others not too far ahead. Catch up with them." The eldest of the teens nods, and the sobbing toddler buries her face in to the neck of other girl.

I sigh as I watch them disappear.

10 villagers total. I shake my head at the low number kicking myself for not moving faster. I start to make my way back to the now silent and smoldering village, when a scream rings out behind me.

My blood runs cold as I turn and stare back at the tree line. Another scream and a large rock settles in the pit of my stomach as I race in to the forest.

No….

I duck and weave through trees and limbs, silently praying.

No….

My mind racing through each rescue. Each attempt. I avoided Jakotsu as best I could. We froze when we heard him, and moved when he moved in a different direction.

Tears began stinging my eyes….

I always heard Jakotsu in village.

NO…

I heard only Jakotsu in the village….

I burst through in to the clearing gasping for air, and I freeze.

There they were…..there they all were.

My eyes bounce from one lifeless form to the next as tears stream down my cheeks. A guttural cry escapes me.

"I tried….I tried…."

I fall to my knees as sobs rip through my body.

"damn it….damn it…DAMN IT!" I slam my fists on the ground. "They trusted me….they trusted me….."

"And that was their mistake."

My body trembles as I will myself to look up at him through teary eyes. Sitting cross-legged on a stone like a god-damn king, he smiles at me. His halberd deep in to the ground at his side.

I could see traces of their blood splattered against the cold metal.

This motherfucker….

"I gotta hand it to you, Yaruki," he begins as he slowly claps, "You really are cold-blooded. I would have never thought of sending them in to the woods one at a time to kill them."

This goddamn MOTHERFUCKER!

"Like sheep to the slaughter. Brilliant!" he says with a hearty laugh, "I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

My body trembles as the blood gushes in to each and every muscle. Rage floods my brain and eyes as I let out a terrible shriek before charging at him.

The force behind my body slam catches him off guard, and he falls backwards taking me with him. He growls recovering from his shock faster than I expected before throwing me over him and in to a tree.

He lands on his back then rolls to his getting to his feet before me. I charge at him again wanting nothing more but to rip his throat out with my bare hands.

With the same sickening smirk plastered on his face, he grabs my out stretched arm with one hand and my waist with the other. With great ease he lifts me up and over his head slamming me to the ground. The force behind that blow knocks all the rage clean from my body.

I struggle to breathe for a minute clutching my eyes closed from the pain. After a moment, my stunned lungs recover, and I open my eyes to the swirling trees and blackened sky above me.

Bankotsu leans over me, that same smirk still on his face, "A valiant attempt, but you're gonna need more practice before you can take me on in hand-to-hand. I very please though, you've got some potential."

I shut my eyes for a moment as the nausea replaces the dizziness.

"You should really get some rest, though. You don't look too good."

My lips tremble as I stare up at him once more, "F-f-fuck…y-y…."

He brings his fist down, and everything goes dark.

I wake to a sharp bright light. My back and arm protest as I carefully sit myself up.

Hard throbs ripple through my skull as last night's events bring themselves to the forefront of my mind.

Mainly the faces. The cold, scared, and betrayed faces of the villagers I tried to save.

You really are cold-blooded

"No…." I whimper as I clutch my head.

…sending them in to the woods one at a time to kill them…

I was saving them…I was…

…Like sheep to the slaughter…

I tuck my head between my knees and sob, "I was saving them, daddy…I swear I was…."

I rock my body allowing myself to grieve for each one. Burning their faces in to my memory.

It was my fault….

I should have been more careful…..

I should have checked…

My sobs begin spilling out more and more rapidly as I press my legs closer to my chest.

They trusted me.…

…and I was careless….

An eternity passes before my sobs began to ebb away eventually leaving me hot and exhausted. I take in a shaky breath as I wipe the tears and snot on the sleeve of my stained kimono. Resting my cheek on the top of my knees, I staring blankly at the hut's tiny wall. My quiet sniffles being the only noise inside or out.

"I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

My blank stare forms in to a glare, "I underestimated how clever he really was….."

My mind flashes through last night's events. How did I miss his complete absence?

I had no clue where he was, but he knew what I was doing the entire time…..

"Of course he did" I chastise softly, "He was checking up on me…..Making sure I was being useful."

He left Jakotsu to destroy the village on his own…

"….because he trusts Jakotsu…." Closing my eyes, I sigh.

He doesn't trust me…therefore, he'll always keep an eye on me….

A sickness settles in the pit of my stomach as I lie on my back. They are monsters. Walking personifications of death and destruction. If I am to succeed in killing them, I have to get serious. Mistakes like last nights can only happen so many times, before their patience with me runs out.

I shift to my side. The Lord was easy. He wanted me, so he came to me. He opened himself up, and I took advantage of that.

My lips tremble in excitement at the memory. The rush I felt holding him up with a strength I didn't even know I possessed. The feeling of my blade ripping through flesh and tissue. The warmth of his blood over my chilled hands.

Clinching my eyes shut, I pull the covers to my mouth. Is it wrong for me to have enjoyed killing him? No….. no…..It felt good because I had purged this world of a festering disease and in the process, I felt a power I had never known before. I did a good deed, and although the means to which I achieved it is questionable, the result was well worth it. The world is a far better place now because of my actions.

I let out a breath I did not realize I was holding, and stare up at the ceiling as I roll to my back.

Neither Bankotsu nor Jakotsu will be so foolish as to put themselves in such a predicament. I run my hands over my face. A whimper-whine escapes me.

I need to gain their trust but how?

…Like sheep to the slaughter. Brilliant!..

I sit up shaking my head vigorously at Bankotsu's echoed praise. No…..not like that…..not at the cost of innocent lives.

There has to be another way.

Footsteps sound from outside breaking me of my thoughts, and I quickly wipe my face for any lingering signs of sadness.

"It's about time!" Jakotsu barks storming in to the little hut, "Do you have any idea how boring it is waiting for you to wake up!?"

Ignoring him completely, I scan the little room resting my eyes on a chest adjacent to me. Crawling over to it, I begin to rummage through for more suitable clothing. Running around in a blood stained kimono would not be the smartest decision I ever made.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Not really, no." I finally find an outfit that looks like it would fit me before turning, "You mind? I need to change."

Jakotsu turns in a huff, "Hurry up!" He storms out slamming the door behind him.

I quickly dress slipping on the dark blue kimono and place the large dark blue hakama over it. I test out my mobility and nod in approval before leaving the hut.

Squinting as the bright sun assaults my eyes I approach Jakotsu who taps his foot impatiently at me. He too had managed to find an outfit to replace the one I purposely blooded.

I must admit, yellow fit him quite nicely.

"Took you long enough."

"Oh, go suck a snake."

Jakotsu sneers at me, but I choose to ignore it as my eyes quickly dance around, searching for that halberd carrying bastard. "Where is Bankotsu?"

"He went on ahead to collect our payment earlier this morning. We are supposed to meet him in the next village over." Jakotsu steps closer to me, a wicked smile spreading over his face, "And he put me in charge, so you have to do whatever I say."

The pride in his voice reminds me of a child finally old enough to babysit their younger siblings.

"He also told me to give you these, and to warn you not to lose them again." He holds out my bow and quiver but snatches it away just a I go to reach for them. He snickers, "Honestly, how could you let a couple of weak villagers disarm you like that anyway?"

I growl as I try again to grab my things, but he lifts it over his head and out of my reach, "You're so short, it's pathetic."

"I am not in the mood, Jakotsu" I hiss, but he just laughs.

"Oooooh, scary. How about you-"

I flinch slightly as my sandaled foot rams in to his exposed shin with as much force as I could muster.

He drops my things immediately and begins hopping on one foot cursing my entire lineage while rubbing his now bruised shin. I snatch up my things trying hard to ignore the throbbing in my toes as I limp towards the forest line.

"Serves you right."

A noise that is a cross between a scream, a groan, and a roar escapes my lips as I stare up at the early afternoon sky, "Just admit we're lost already!"

Jakotsu growls at me, "Will you be quiet! I'm thinking!" He folds his arms as he glares at the two roads before him as if looking intimidating would reveal the true path.

"Don't strain to hard." I mutter before setting my bow down and leaning against a tree.

I gently rub my bruised cheek-punishment for my shin kick earlier- as I give him a strong two minutes of silence, "Come ooooooooonnnnnnn!"

"Will you shut-up?!" he barks glaring at me.

"Do you even know the name of the village we're going to?"

"Yes!" he shouts defiantly before turning back to the roads.

I could hear him gently muttering to himself as he chews his nail.

"…..Engata…no…..Kumakotan…no….Shima….."

"YOU DON'T REMEMBER?!"

"I do too!"

I run both hands through my hair as I press my forehead against a tree, "I'm gonna die in the forest with this idiot." I turn and watch him as he racks his brain for the name of the village. "OH, just come on!" Snatching up my bow in one hand and the collar of his yukata in the other, we travel down the path to the left.

We continue traveling well in to the late afternoon, but the scenery didn't change much.

"They built this path, so it's got to end at some point." I mutter softly to myself. I hear a loud gurgle behind me and Jakotsu whimpers.

"I'm so hungry."

As if happy to hear a fellow organ in distress, my stomach rumbles louder than Jakotsu's.

"Hey! You can't be hungrier than me." He runs up so we are side by side, and his stomach gurgles at a higher volume than mine.

"I have every right to be just as hungry as you are." I say flatly keeping my eyes forward. As if to support my claim, my belly gives off an obnoxiously loud grumble. I see Jakotsu strain next me in an attempt to make his stomach gurgle again, but nothing happens. I lift my head up a little higher as a smirk spreads on my lips.

"Oh, shut-up."

We travel for anther twenty minutes in silence before he begins huffing impatiently. "Are we there yet?"

"How should I know!?"

"You chose this path!"

"That doesn't mean I know where I'm going!"

"How do you not know where you're going, you stupid woman!"

"Says the moron who forgot the name of the village we're supposed to be at by now."

Our argument grows in volume as we continue to tromp through the forest. Names were being thrown around, mothers were being insulted, poor little animals were forced to do impure things.

I let out another roar, groan, scream hybrid noise as we step out in to a sudden clearing, but then freeze at the sight before me.

"OH YEAH! WELL YOUR MOTHER CAN TAKE A FROG AND SHOVE IT SO F-f-far…up…..her….."

Jakotsu stops next to me. His hands fall to his side forgetting the very lude demonstration he was about to perform as his eyes land on the large Buddhist shrine at the top of a very steep hill.

Being the first to recover, I give him a smug 'told you so' look before walking up the stairs.

He huffs crossing his arms, "Tch…..it's still not a village."

We huff our way up the stairs taking a minute to catch our breath once we reach the top.

"May I help you?"

I raise a finger still doubled over and winded. Jakotsu laughs at me as he steps forward although he hasn't caught his breath either.

"You…you got any food?"

"Jakotsu."

"What?!"

I snatch him back after catching my breath and bow before speaking, "Sorry about my partner here." I force him in to a quick bow as well, and he glares at me. "We seem to have gotten lost and were wondering if you could spare some water and food."

I take in the head monk before me. He is tall with cleanly shaven head. Two purple tattoos ran vertically down his face; one over each eye and another tattoo at the center of his head. A creepy feeling settles on my shoulders as I glance around aware at how eerily quiet the temple is.

The monk smiles, "Of course. Come this way."

Jakotsu immediately follows, but I hang back trying to catch a glimpse of any others around.

"Come on, you cow!"

I glare at the back of Jakotsu's head as I run to catch up with them.

"That's quite a way to speak to your traveling partner." The monk notes turning his head slightly to look at us.

"Yeah well, I'm technically not traveling with him by choice." I say struggling to keep up with the men's long strides

Why the hell is everyone so freaking tall?!

"Him?"

I blink for a moment at the monk's odd expression before remembering that Jakotsu's attire doesn't match his gender at all, "Yeah, it's a boy. He's an odd one though, so don't pay him much mind."

I feel Jakotsu chilling glares beside me as the monk slides open a small room and ushers us in.

"Wait in here please."

We nod, and Jakotsu flops down on the mat.

He stretches out and yawns tired from all the walking we've done today. I peek out the small window that faces the center square. "Odd." I mutter, and Jakotsu cracks open one eye.

"What now?"

"Well, you'd think there would be more monks around, ya know?"

"It's a small temple, maybe he manages it all himself."

"Then how come he's head monk. Don't you need to have at least two monks for there to be a head monk?"

Jakotsu shrugs, "I don't know"

I look back to the window, "I mean, it seems pretty conceded of him to give himself the title of head monk if he is by himself. A bit redundant too."

"Why do you even care?" Jakotsu grumbles rolling to his side.

"Why don't you care?"

Jakotsu makes exaggerated snoring noises to get me to shut up, and I roll my eyes at him.

Quite a few minutes pass before our host returns with some water, hot rice and bread, and a few blankets. I nudge Jakotsu with my foot once, but he was far too deep in his sleep to be bothered.

"Well I tried." I say simply before digging in to the meal before me. I raise a cup to the monk before drinking.

"May I ask where you two are headed?"

"I would love to tell you, if this idiot over here didn't forget the name of the village."

"From the direction in which you came, you two must be refugees from the Shikami village back to the east."

I choke on the bread, "Wh-what makes you think that?" I feel my heart quicken, and I gulp down more water.

"Well, it's impossible for such destruction to go unnoticed for long. I could see the smoke still rising this morning."

"Ah…." I take another drink of water as the monk continues to study me. Now, I wish I had woken up Jakotsu.

"Well…..we….um….I'd….I'd rather not talk about it."

The monk nods, "Forgive me. I didn't mean to pry. I was simply curious. The closest village from here is Yabiro. You could reach it by nightfall, if you and your companion leave now, but I would feel better if the two of you set out in the morning. Especially after the long distance you have already covered."

I nod seeing as I didn't have much of a choice with Jakotsu snoring away behind me, "Much obliged."

The monk hands me the covers he brought with him before rising to leave, "If you need anything else, do not hesitate to let me know."

"Um."

He pauses at the door.

"I….may I ask your name? So that I can thank you properly."

He turns to me and smiles, "Renkotsu."

I return his smile before bowing, "Thank you, Monk Renkotsu."

Screams, nothing but screams fill the night air as I struggle to find my way through the darkness. The faces of those villagers. Their snarling bloodied faces twist as they scream in rage, pain, sorrow.

I turn down one ally way only to see a dead end.

Their screams grow louder as my fingers grope the wall before me in a feeble attempt to escape. I could feel their hot breath on my neck. Their cold dead eyes searing in to my back and flesh.

I was burning.

Burning under the screams. Their stares.

Burning…burning…..

I clawed at my belly that was searing with pain. They were inside me. Screaming…..burning me…..

I open my mouth to scream, and it fills with smoke.

I wake with a deep gasp and immediately regret it as I choke and sputter the smoke back out. A screams escapes me as I throw the burning cover off me and pat myself down.

I rush over and do the same to Jakotsu before shaking him, "WAKE UP!" I continue to shake him vigorously, but he doesn't move.

Standing, I race to the door only to find it jammed. I begin to beat furiously on it, "MONK RENKOTSU! MONK RENKOTSU!"

The roar of the flames drown out my voice, and I begin to cough. I turn back and try to wake Jakotsu once more. I shake him furiously before bring the back of my hand across his face as hard as I could.

He gasps awake and begins to cough.

"HELP ME WITH THE DOOR!"

It takes him a minute or two to recover from his daze before realizing our predicament. He pushes me out the way before reaching for the hilt of his sword. I hear him gasp as he begins to carefully but quickly search the burning mat.

"What are you doing!?"

"My sword!" he cries out to me between coughs, "It's gone!"

I look around suddenly aware that my bow and quiver were gone as well. A coughing spell hits me as it becomes harder and harder to breathe.

I rush over to the window only to discover that it too was jammed shut!

"The door!" I manage to choke out as I rush back to it, "Help…me…"

We slam against the infuriating sturdy door for what feels like hours before it finally gives way, and we tumble in to the swirling inferno that is the hallway.

"Come ON!" Jakotsu yells grabbing me by my collar. Using his sleeve as a shield as best he could, Jakotsu pushes forwards as I follow close behind. The ceiling above us cracks and pops as the fire eats away at the beams above.

We shoulder our way through the exit just as the roof caves in with a thunderous crash.

Jakotsu and I collapse to our knees side by side sucking in the cool fresh air and coughing out what smoke still lingered within us.

Jakotsu looks over to me still panting, "…YOU…"

"Oh don't you dare fucking blame this on me! If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have trapped myself in there with you!"

He continues to glare at me as I roll to my bottom. Another coughing spell hits me as he mirrors my sitting position.

I turn at the sound of Jakotsu gasping to see his own sword pressed firmly to his throat.

Renkotsu has stripped himself of his priestly garb in favor of a blue kimono top, white hakamas, orange armor, and a blue bandana.

Slowly, he raises Jakotsu to his feet as Renkotsu keeps his eyes on me, "How fortunate that you two made it out alive."

I stand as well glaring at him, "Yes, and I see you are unharmed. Can't say the same for your temple."

A dark chuckle passes his lips as he presses Jakotsu's blade tighter to his neck, "Tell me who you two are and why you're here before I slit his throat."

I stare blankly at him for a moment my breath still not back to its normal pace before crossing my arms, "First of all, what you do to him is of little consequence to me."

Jakotsu lets out a string of harsh profanities as Renkotsu's face falters a little.

"Secondly, you are the only one here who needs to do some explaining, MONK Renkotsu, if you even are one to begin with. You can either start by telling me what you did to the actual monks here or why you felt the need to burn us alive for our things."

Renkotsu tightens his grip on Jakotsu's blade as he snarls at me, "Do not take my words as an idle threat, woman. Answer my questions."

I begin to brush the dust and ash off my clothes, "Go ahead, I don't care." I say waving a dismissive hand to him, "Saves me some trouble later down the road. Hell, if you give me back my bow, it could be a team effort in silencing him up once and for all."

More profanities spew from Jakotsu.

"And anyway, I've told you before how we got here and where we're going. I just left out some parts."

"Such as?"

I sigh suddenly feeling very tired, "Such as….we…..he is a part of the mercenary group responsible for the village's destruction. We were on our way to meet up with his companion when we got lost and ended up here."

Renkotsu eyes me for a moment, "So then what is your role in all this?"

"To be a fucking traitor!"

I roll my eyes at Jakotsu," My role…is….a bit complicated."

Renkotsu is silent for a moment, "So you're a yujo."

Despite the danger, Jakotsu begins to laugh hysterically.

"NO! I AM NOT!" I bark taking a threatening step forwards, "I am just as much…..almost….sort of…..maybe…apart of this group as he is, and if you kill him, you're going to have to answer to our…..his….leader."

Renkotsu shoves the still laughing Jakotsu to the ground and steps towards me.

Despite the warmth spreading across my face from the indignation of how he viewed my role in the group, I keep my glare trained on him.

He places the tip of Jakotsu's sword to the center of my throat, "Take me to him."

"What?"

"Take me to this leader of yours."

"Give us back our things."

Renkotsu's eyes narrow and he growls, "You're in no position to give orders or make requests, woman."

I stand my ground, "You want to be a part of this group don't you?"

"Excuse me?"

"You wanna join us right? That's why you want to see Bankotsu. Well, I'm taking you to fuck all if I don't get my bow and quiver, and he," I flash my eyes over towards the still laughing Jakotsu, "is fucking useless without his sword. So it's either give us our things or-"

Renkotsu suddenly grabs a handful of my hair pulling me closer to him and angles the blade so that the edge now rests against my throat. I press both hands against his chest trying to pull myself free.

"OR I cut you both in half for wearing my patience thin."

My mind races as I struggle to find some way out of this that ends with me keeping my head.

"R-right…b…bu-…but you could give us our things, we take you to our….his…leader and you become second in command."

Renkotsu is deathly still, "What?"

"Yeah…..I mean, literally it's just us three. We have a leader. So that leaves just me and him. I'm a girl so clearly I can't handle such a role as second in command, and then there is…that." I flick my eyes back to Jakotsu who has devolved to shrieks and screams as he kicks his feet, "So….I mean really the position is open if you're interested."

I see Renkotsu's mind racing as he considers my proposal, "Fine." He lowers Jakotsu's blade and releases me. I take a few steps back before exhaling my breath.

"Welcome aboard."

Yujo is a term meaning 'woman of pleasure';(prostitute) based off of my research; however, I am not sure if the term would have been used for the time period that Inuyasha takes place in, so forgive me if it is off.

I struggled a bit with this chapter so if you have any suggestions to help my writing improve, feel free to comment!

Happy Holidays to all!