As the group made it to the swamp Inuyasha was no where in sight.
"He's not here!" Shippo gasped.
"Hopefully we just missed him." Miroku said.
The group would then start to enter the swamp but not before the sound of a dozen crows echo'd through the air.
"Looks like they weren't just waiting for Inuyasha…" Sango said as Kiara growled.
The group ignored the annoying sounds of the demon crows as they searched for they're missing friend.
'Why would you do this alone Inuyasha…?' Kagome thought to herself.
The crows would follow them slightly. Clearly the demon monk was now aware that the group was in search for they're one comrade gone rouge.
As Inuyasha was walking he could hear the crows in the distance. "What the hell is going on?" he questioned as he looked behind him grabbing his sword.
One crow saw him grab the hilt and imminently flew down to attack him, this would cause a chain reaction as other crows watching Inuyasha would assist the other, cawing loudly and flying down to prevent the other from drawing his Tessagia.
Soon the crows bother the others would hear the commotion and quickly fly in the direction of the fight.
"I bet you that is Inuyasha's doing." Miroku said as the group suddenly ran after the birds following them.
'Oh please be alright Inuyasha!' Kagome pleaded in her mind as they finally reached the area were the noise was so loud the group had to cover they're ears.
In the middle they could see Inuyasha fighting with the crows as every time he would reach to grab the Tessagia.
"They are preventing him from using his sword!" Shippo shouted. Soon Kiara would transform and Sango would take out her Hiraikotsu and throw it to disperse the birds but that would only bring more trouble as some would bring they're attention to the others.
"Uh boy…get ready…" Miroku warned as everyone got ready to fight off the birds.
Meanwhile on the outside the mysterious monk was watching in the shadows. The crow with the shard was perched on his shoulder as they watched the scene before them, the robed figure was watching Kagome and saw that she had bow n arrows. "That must be the young priestess. She looks lovely…"
"I hope you are not fantasizing right now father…" said Shika as he comes up from behind.
"Ah well…I was. She's a beauty right there my boy…like a diamond in the ruff." he chuckled as his hand was outstretched towards Kagome.
"Pretty she is but we need to test out they're strengths…so are we ready for that or no?"
"Yes of course don't take me for a fool Shika." the monk said as he gently took the shard out of the crows mouth and placed it in its back. "Lets test them out." he said as the crow flew up and started to transform.
Soon a loud caw would echo through the swamp stopping all the fighting, the crows would disperse leaving the group visible from what was lurking in the trees.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted.
"Are you alright?!" Shippo shouted as well.
"Huh…? What are you guys doing here?!" Inuyasha snapped as he jumped over towards them. "You shouldn't have followed me!"
Kagome huffed. "You were the one who said you weren't gonna go in there!"
Inuyasha was caught there. He did lie to they're faces especially Kagome of all people, all for a simple desire of his.
"Well I-I….." his ears went down.
"Is wanting to become a full demon worth lying to all of us?!"
The robed monk smiled, his yellow and red eyes started to glow as he heard what Kagome had said out loud. "So the half demon came here to see you Shika."
"He is that tempted to be a full demon that he would ruin the trust with his friends. How selfish…" Shika said. "He clearly has angered them. But I think they should focus on whats above them." As he said that he pointed up at the sky queuing the crow to commence battle.
As the demon monk pointed up the crow above let out a loud caw to snap the group out of they're argument and made them all look up as the bird had turned giant. The power of its wings almost took Shippo off his feet if he didn't cling to Miroku's clothes. "W-What is that thing?" Shippo asked as he hid behind the monk for protection.
"A demon crow…" Miroku answers. "A giant demon crow…"
"Key that must be the crow that had the jewel shard." Inuyasha huffed. "Do you know where its at Kagome?"
Kagome observed the demon as it let out a loud caw as it stared down at the group as if it was offering them a challenge.
"Its attached on its back." she said.
"Alright." Inuyasha said as took out Tessagia.
The crow opened its wings as it was ready for its opponent to attack.
"Wind scar!" Inuyasha shouted as he launched his attack at the bird.
The demon shot up in the air to dodge the attack, circling around the group as Inuyasha tried to use the wind scar again against it trying to get it to counter to use the back wave.
The bird was somewhat smart as it kept itself high from the half demon as it would try and dive bomb the group in hopes of separating them all.
But the bird was only able to separate Inuyasha with the rest since they knew not to get in the way at least for now.
"What should we do!?" Shippo asked. "Inuyasha can't fight that thing if it keeps flying up!"
"We have to find a way to get the demon close enough to Inuyasha so he could use the wind scar." Miroku said.
"If that demon keeps flying up while he lashes out then…he's stalling." Sango said.
"Stalling? For the demon monk?" Kagome asked.
"Thats probably what is happening. So we need to bring that thing down before he can do anything." Miroku answered before looking at the two women behind him. "Sango use your Hiraikotsu to distract the bird while Kagome shoots an arrow on the crow, aim for either the wings or just somewhere to lower that thing."
"Right." both girls said as they go themselves ready.
Sango grabbed her Hiraikotsu and waited till the bird was too busy focused on Inuyasha before throwing it. "Hiraikotsu!"
Kagome watched as the demon crow dodged Sango's attack before shooting her arrow at one of its wings. The crow never saw the arrow coming as it felt a pain in its wing, seeing the arrow stuck in its flesh as it cawed in pain. Kagome decided to fire another arrow at the crow, striking it in its side before it started going down. Its wings were flapping rather hard against Inuyasha who took that to his advantage and used a back wave attack on the demon crow.
The crow laid on the swamp grounds in defeat. The shard on its back glowed as Inuyasha jumped on its back and was ready to take the jewel at when a black cloak came out from the mist and grabbed him by the throat.
It was Shika.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted as she jumped out from her hiding spot.
Shake then threw his monk staff in front of Kagome and the others which stopped them from getting close.
The group got to see the most terrifying monk in existence as it stood before Inuyasha holding him by his throat, picking him up from the crows body and holding him high in the air. "Greetings." Shika greeted them.
Inuyasha struggled to fight against the others grip.
"I wouldn't be doing this if you do this to my friend below us right now." Shika growled. "We just wanted to test your strengths to see how you all can put up with a demon like this."
"Testing…our strength…?" Inuyasha said.
"Of course….what part of that didn't you understand?"
"You better…watch your damn…mouth!" Inuyasha growled.
"You better focus on yourself instead." Shika growled back as he cracked his fingers. "I know why you are here."
"R-Really now?" Inuyasha asked.
"Oh of course, no demon looks out to me unless they want something from me." he gets his claw ready as his nails start to turn red. "You want to become full demon…eh half breed?"
Inuyasha grunted but stayed quiet.
"Heh I was right…"
Before Shika could say anything else an arrow made contact with his arm. "ARRG!" He yelled in pain as he dropped Inuyasha and held his injured arm with an arrow sticking out of it. "WHO?!" he looked down at Kagome who stood there with her bow.
"YOU!" Shika pointed at.
When he pointed at Kagome suddenly black vines came out of the water underneath her and wrapped around her to hold her still as the vines then pull her towards the demon monk as he pulls the arrow out of his arm and tosses it aside. "You have some nerve to do that you know?" he asked Kagome as he scans her. "You have the aura of a priestess…I'll make you pay for what you did."
As he spoke the blood dripping down his arm lands on the jewel shard turning it dark. Suddenly the bird opens its eyes and starts moving knocking both Inuyasha and Shika off and into the water.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted.
"I'm coming Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted back at her as he quickly got up from where he had fallen and made an attempt to run towards her.
Meanwhile Shika had fallen behind Kagome and groaned painfully. "Dammit….my blood must have spilled on the jewel shard…its going on a rampage now."
He got up and noticed the girl in front of him. "Oh…thats right…" He said as he crept up behind her while Inuyasha was in front of her.
Shika's eyes glow as the thorns come out of his robe to wrap around Inuyasha. "Ladies first half breed!" he said as he grabbed Kagome and brought her closer.
"Oh no Inuyasha!" Shippo shouted.
"Come on Sango!" Miroku said.
"Right!"
As the rest tried to come over to hopefully gang up on the demon monk. Sango threw her Hiraikotsu at the thorns to release both Inuyasha and Kagome but soon as Kagome was free the demon monk grabbed her by the thorns and dragged her away before Inuyasha could grab her hand.
Kagome tried to fight free of the demon monks grasp.
"You are going to pay for shooting that arrow through my arm…" Shika growled as she continued to struggle.
Kagome managed to use her left hand to shove Shika's face away from her own while her other hand grabs the wound.
Shika screams in pain. "You son of a-!" He said as he shakes her hand off of his face and opens his mouth wide to bite down on her hand.
It was Kagome's turn to scream in pain as the deer skulls teeth dug into her hand.
Inuyasha was seeing red when they witnessed what the demon monk did to her.
"You bastard!" he shouted. "I'm gonna tear you apart!"
"I guess we are even." Shika growled as he noticed Inuyasha lunging over with his Tessaiga ready to stab right through him.
Before he could even get closer to the two the corrupted demon crow got in the middle and lashed out at them. Shika let go of Kagome and summoned thorns to wrap around the legs of the demon crow and a wall to separate Inuyasha from coming any closer.
The crow fought back and even tried to stab them with its beak, Shika grabbed Kagome and pulled her back as he wrapped thorns around the demons giant beak.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted along with the others.
Kagome looked and saw that the demon monk had his hands full with his own ally turning rogue and attacking him, more sharp vines had wrapped around the giant bird as she decided to make a run for it and ran around the thorn wall and towards her group. She could feel Shika's eyes on her as she ran off and she could hear him growl in frustration as she ran right into Inuyasha's arms.
"Lets get out of here!" Shippo said.
"But what about the jewel shard?" Inuyasha asked.
The crow flapped its wings as it made an attempt to fly while Shika jumped on its back, vines wrapped around it as he tugged. It looked like he had it under control for the moment as he made the crow turn its head at the group and forced it to lunge its beak at them.
"Run!" Sango said as the group turned around and ran, missing the beak as it crashed into the water.
Shika quietly watched as he tried to make the bird fly in the air but it was still being difficult so the vines keeping its talons down were released as the vines started heading towards the group as they made they're attempt to run from the demon monk.
He had reached down and tried to pry the jewel but it caused a reaction to the demon crow he was currently controlling, Shika growled as he let the crow take to the skies and maneuver through the trees to chase after the others.
"YOU WON'T ESCAPE ME!" Shika yelled as he followed them.
Kiara made Sango hopped on her back as she took the lead and turned to charge towards the two demons.
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango shouted as she lunged the boomerang like weapon towards the two demons.
This threw the two off course for a bit as they had to dodge the Demon Slayers attacks. "Why you…" Shika growled as he watched the two flee.
"Wind scar!" Inuyasha shouted as the powerful attack was sent towards the two, with the demon crow taking most of the blow.
The two fell on the swamp grounds as Inuyasha hurried back to the others, looking back as he saw Shika get up.
With a roar Shika had sent vines to chase the group to make an attempt to drag them back to him. But something got in the way of that as what looked like another Monk staff with spell scrolls on them had shot down behind the group and made a barrier to prevent the vines from getting any further.
"What…..?" Shika growled before letting out a roar in frustration.
The roar was so powerful that it could be heard around the entire swamp, shaking the trees around Kagome and the others.
"Are we close to the exit?" Shippo asked as the group continued to run like hell.
"Almost!" Miroku shouted.
Soon enough the group would make it out without any vines or demons on they're tail. Kagome and Miroku fall on a knee or two as everyone who was running tried to catch they're breath.
"I'm never going in that swamp ever again!" Shippo comment as he jumped off the monks shoulder.
"That was…scary." Sango said as she hopped off Kiara who roared in agreement.
"I'm curious as to why would the demon monk was so curious to test our strengths." Miroku said.
"Keh its obvious he's working with Naraku." Inuyasha growled. "He made a deal with the monk to do his dirty work but the monk will sure enough get tricked and Naraku will absorb him."
"If thats the case then we're in big trouble." Sango said.
"Uhh…does that mean…." Shippo said but couldn't finish the question as he looked at the swamp shivering.
Miroku nodded. "This isn't the last time we'll see the demon monk."
Inuyasha huffed before focusing on Kagome who was holding her wounded hand. He could still smell the fresh blood as it dripped onto the grass.
"Kagome your hand…." he said as he reached to touch her bloody hand.
"Not now…" Kagome said. "We need to head back to the village and away from this swamp…if we stay close he will come back…and…" she then looks at Inuyasha.
"We need to talk." she glared.
The look made Inuyasha's ears pin down. "…Right…" He knew she was going to give him an earful over his stupid stunt.
Looking back at it now, if he wasn't so damn greedy about becoming a full demon then Kagome's hand wouldn't be bleeding.
Shippo would go into her backpack and dig for any of the stuff he remembered Kagome using on they're wounds. "Here I got some bandages to cover the wound till we get to the village!" Shippo spoke up as he handed the bandages to Sango.
"Lets get this wrapped up really quick okay?" She asked Kagome who just nodded in agreement.
Kagome hissed when Sango touched her hand and began wrapping it. Once she was done she put the bandages back into her bag and helped her up. "Lets go." Sango said as they all quickly walked back to the village. Hoping that the demon monk was not nearby.