"What the hell was that," I said watching as the man's figure began to disappear into the distance.
"I don't know but whoever he was, he doesn't look too friendly," Miroku replied putting a hand on my shoulder as if to comfort my uneasiness. But this doesn't make sense, why would a man publically carry such a thing around? What is he?
"Enough, we better head out it's almost getting dark, didn't you guys say you wanted to find some shelter," Inuyasha announced as he started to walk ahead of us.
"Hold on Inuyasha, we're coming," Kagome said carrying her bike along the trail. Miroku and Sango shrugged walking along to follow Inuyasha and Kagome, but I stayed put, deep in thought. I didn't like the look of that man for it didn't seem like he was warning us for the heck of it. What the hell was his point in warning us? Does he know who we are? Was he warned somehow? I kept pondering on this before I heard Kagome yell my name. Back to reality my head snapped up to see that the others were staring at me in the distance, wondering what was talking me so long. I shook my head a little before I jogged up to keep up with them. Inuaysha stared at my face, as if trying to figure something out from my face alone.
"Hey Kaname what is it, you look like your deep in thought about something,' he said, his eyebrows furrowed in worry. Surprised at his sudden comment I didn't reply, instead I kept my head down and walked on ahead, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling I was having.
The Japanese country-side had been mostly peaceful, as we continued to pass by more farm fields and local villagers finishing up a day's work, the only exception was whenever Inuyasha and Kagome started bickering which was often. Kagome had to once again make him sit for it all to end.
"Is she still trying to get him to promise," Sango whispered to Miroku, unaware that I was in range of hearing her.
"Yes, it is the inly way Kagome feels will get to him," Miroku replied sighing slightly. "It would do good if Inuaysha would listen so she wouldn't have to worry about him turning demon anymore." Ahh so that's what this is all about, I thought o myself, noting on how sour Kagome's face looked. I don't blame her for getting worried I mean after what happened last time.
The sky was getting darker as time past and we soon had reached a small village, filled with men and women all returning from a day's work at the farm.
"Ah I believe it would be best if we could find the house of the village head, perhaps if I could work my charms we will have a place to stay for the night," Miroku said, pulling out a set of exorcist sheets.
"Agh he has no shame," I muttered, noticing Miroku eye a couple of village girls who were giggling at him.
"No kidding," Inuyasha replied an annoyed look crossing his face.
"Seriously, Sango is gonna have a fit if he keeps this up," Kagome noted motioning her head at Sango, who had a murderous look directed at Miroku. Kagome went over grasping Sango's arm, whispering softly to her, trying to soothe her of her already simmering anger. It didn't help that along the way Miroku kept laughing loudly as some girls had approached him asking what he was doing at the village.
"Oh hahaha ladies we are merely humble travelers out to seek the village head, where may we find him," Miroku replied giving them a flirtatious grin. Agh will he stop it, or he's seriously end up beaten to a pulp.
"Oh my what would a handsome man like you want with our head, perhaps you are a priest," a girl replied giggling as she flipped her hair.
"This is getting annoying, Miroku will you please get to the point already, we don't have time to deal with your womanizing," Inuyasha shouted grasping Miroku by the back of his robes and started to drag him away.
"Oh no Inuyasha, I just, please ladies forgive me, we shall meet again soon," Miroku called out struggling against Inuyasha's hold. I smacked him on the head, making him let out a huge yelp in pain. "Kaname what was that for!"?
"Oh, you are so clueless," I replied shaking my head at him.
"A moment strangers," called a voice from behind, making me stop on my tracks. I looked back to see a small old man waving at us from behind, his frail body sagging against the wall of a small hut. Confused at glanced at Kagome and Miroku who seemed to have both looked startled by the old man's appearance. I shrugged walking towards the man lowering myself to reach his eye level.
"Is their something wrong sir," I asked him, noting on how exhausted this man looked. He looks like he's about ninety, isn't there anyone with him? The old man's face was half-covered by his long white hair, masking his eyes. He had on a blue kimono and carried a long wooden staff, as if for walking. The man chuckled and reached out for my hand, patting is lightly.
"My dear,' he wheezed, as if the act of talking took the breathe out of him. "I was wondering if you and your companions could assist me. You see my nephew is the village head and I am too old and tired to get back to the castle all on my own, could you perhaps take me there, I will show you the way of course." Warmth started to spread throughout my chest at this request, which had nothing to do with the sunlight, my worries suddenly started to melt. I smiled at him, touched at his request and his sudden trust in us.
"Of course we could, it would be our pleasure to take you to your home," I replied, turning away slightly to call on Inuyasha. "Inuyasha come here, this old man needs our assistance." Inuyasha started to walk up to me, dropping Miroku on the ground roughly.
"Why do I have to get stuck to do it," he yelled looking annoyed.
"Come on Inuyasha, the old man just needs our assistance, we can't turn him away," Kagome said softly giving Inuyasha a scolding expression. Inuyasha growled looking away from all of us before coming down to pick the old man up from the ground.
"Oh thank you very much for your help, I will see to it that you are awarded I promise you," the old man said patting on Inuyasha's shoulder as Inuaysha carried down the road. We all walked just behind Inuaysha as the old man gave him more directions to the castle.
"It was no trouble at all, dear sir we were happy to have helped," Miroku said smiling broadly, making me want to punch him again. Really, this guy has no shame?
"Let it go Kaname he is always like this, much to Inuyasha's annoyance," Shippou whispered in my ear, as he was sitting on my shoulder. I nodded noting silently to myself on the villagers near us, who began to stare at us. No one else seemed to notice, since we were nearing the castle, but the feeling made me uneasy.
"There it is, my nephew's castle," the old man wheezed pointing his finger at the house ahead of us. The two samurai looking guards glanced at us when hearing this and flinched when they saw the old man.
"Look it's the master's uncle, sir what happened to you the master has been acquiring after you for some time today," one of the guards said hastily, running to talk to the old man. The old man waved his hand at the guard as if what he said didn't matter.
"No matter, no matter I am here now, these strangers kindly helped me return, if you could open the gates that would be most pleasant," the old man said waving his hand as if to dismiss the guard.
"Yes sir right away," the second guard replied, running back to the gate to open it.
"Sir you should know that the mercenary is here," the first guard said in a low voice, glancing at the others, with a suspicious glare and me. The old man said nothing before he nodded and patted at Inuyasha to go on ahead. Inuyasha muttered something under is breath that I couldn't hear, but the old man laughed.
Soon we were inside the castle, and it was quite small than what I had seen before. The front area wasn't very vast, but the castle looked modest enough to house at least a hundred or so people. There at the entrance stood a tall man with long black hair kept up in a ponytail wearing a fancy kimono from the looks of it. He must be the village head, I thought to myself. He had a bushy mustache to accompany his already frowning face, which sort of reminded me of my father's. Ah father, I wonder what he's doing right now? Probably wondering where the hell I am.
It was right then that I noticed a god awful scent from before on the trail: the scent of decay and blood.
"Agh, it's him," I said revolted as I peered at the man standing next to the village head, the same who we saw on the road side, except this time he wasn't carrying the heads with him.
"What the hell is he doing here," Inuyasha growled, as he seemed to notice the very same scent as I did.