"Inuyasha why in such the big rush," Kagome shouted from ahead. My attention zips back up watching as my friend's head onto the road. I blink once. Twice. Thrice. How long was I out of it? I sigh smacking my head softly. This was so annoying. Not only had that masked man irritated me, but also now he was all that covered my thoughts. Him and Naraku.
No one tried to call after me. No one cam to check on me. Ever since that night three days ago, I made it clear that I didn't want to talk about what happened. I was careful enough to avoid the snoops, mostly Kagome and Miroku. Inuyasha and SSango seemed to understand though as they helped whenever I didn't have the courage to muster an excuse.
But I heard their whispers. I would always catch a couple of them whispering to one another, catching my name in the mix, but I never got the chance to observe.
My mind trailed back to the masked man who saved me. Agh just thinking about him made me want to smack the dirt. He hadn't harmed me, or even touched me oddly, but it was his manner that annoyed me. My lip curled. Like him he said I was. Hah. I was nothing like that bastard, I didn't kill for profit. Nor did I hide my face like a coward. Yes that's what he was a coward, killing for money . . . . But then why had he been fighting Naraku's puppet in the first place? Why didn't he just let me get taken? I pondered on this for a minute, my eyes squinting at the floor. He couldn't have known Naraku now could he? He wouldn't have intervened otherwise, there was no demonic energy sensed. It was how I got caught.
Never again, I thought to myself, spitting at the ground. I kept on walking down, careful not to fall too behind the gang.
"I can smell him, I know its him," Inuyasha responded his face stuck to the ground as he sniffed hurriedly. As I approached I could see that Sango, Miroku, and Kagome were all huddled behind him, staring wide-eyed.
"Yes it seems Naraku's presence is getting stronger . . . how odd," Miroku said to himself, his eyes focused somewhere else. As I was about to shout out at them, a huge gush of wind blew through the air and something hard smacked me to the ground. Dust filled my nostrils making me cough hard as my eyes searched for my attacker.
"Agh, dammit who the hell—" said a rough voice in front of me. It was a man. He looked about Inuyasha's age, but there was something odd about him . . . The man's ears were tilted, his body covered in brown furs, as if he were some animal. Ah he's a demon, I thought wiping dust off my face. The man's eyes narrowed at me, appraising my form up to down as if he was looking at something distasteful.
Irritated I rose to my feet and went to grab the front collar of the man's furs.
"Well? What the hell are you doing running like a maniac huh! Do you want to die—" Anger raged in the man's eyes and he pushed my hand away backing away slightly.
"How dare you approach me? I am Kouga, head of the Demon Wolf Tribe, and you dare mess with me." I raised my eyebrows in a challenge.
"And that's supposed to be impressive! Oh you're going to get it,' I spat rolling my sleeves up my arms. I really needed to into a fight, and this guy was asking for it. Kouga scoffed not changing his stance in any way.
"Me fight a half- thing woman! Hah as if!" He said crossing his arms indignantly. Temper rising I sprang onto him tackling Kouga to the ground right before I landed a punch into his stomach. Surprised at this Kouga coughed out in pain. Satisfied I went in or another punches, but before I could so much as lay a scratch on him, Kouga was gone.
"Dammit," I hissed. I hurriedly rose to my feet, wincing slightly at how sore my legs felt, and rushed ahead.
"Ack," cried Inuyasha. Gasping I backed up and realized, to my amusement, I had stepped on a trampled Inuyasha. He didn't notice me though, as his annoyed eyes were focused all on Kouga, who was clutching Kagome's hand.
"Kagome how are you? Are you being treated well?" Kouga pleaded his eyes pleading to Kagome as he stroked her hand. From the looks of it Kagome was uncomfortable, but she didn't shrug him off. Instead, she merely nodded giving him a friendly smile. Emphasis on the friendly.
"Oh Kouga that's so nice of you to ask—"
"Kouga!" I glanced at Inuyasha nervously as he growled Kouga's name in irritation. Kouga blinked down and finally took notice of the trampled form of Inuyasha giving him the devil eyes. He looked sincerely bewildered at find Inuyasha on the ground and cocked his head slightly.
"Oh so you're here Inuyasha."
"Uh oh," I muttered. I knew very well that Inuyasha would give anything to rip his head off for a comment like that. And, as the thought just trailed my mind, I felt the breeze of Inuyasha whizzing by, his claws out for the kill.
"I'll kill you," he growled swishing his claws at Kouga, aiming for his throat. Kouga disappeared, suddenly, appearing ten feet away to where I stood. Inuyasha righted himself before he could land on his face.
Surprisingly, instead of continuing on the fight, Inuyasha planted himself in front of Kagome, guarding her from view. He gave the impression of a guard dog the way his ears flexed out in alert. The whole ordeal would have been laughable, if not for the big question sparking in my mind. I stared back at Kouga, irritation returning to me as I noticed he was giving me a look that resembled disgust.
Eyebrows raised, I crossed my arms regarding the man further,
"You got a problem," I hissed daring him to piss me off. I was on the brink of an emotional breakdown, with Naraku and everything that happened. I didn't need a self-possessed demon like him to continue to piss me off. Kouga didn't respond immediately, assessing me carefully. But before he could spout a response, Miroku came forward, Shippou nuzzled at his shoulder.
"Ah, Kouga, you sensed Naraku's presence also didn't you?" He was giving me a knowing look at he said this. The please-stop-fighting-isn't-going-to-solve-anything face. I hated it. Kouga glanced back at Miroku his attention suddenly caught at the mention of Naraku's filthy name.
"Yeah, I've been following the trail for about 2 days now without rest. The Jewel Shards here are giving me a great first start, but the others are having a hard time keeping up—"
"You listen Kouga! You stay out of it! I'm going to be the one to take out Naraku, it isn't your place to do anything!" Inuyasha shouted, his fisted rose up threateningly.
"Yeah that'll show him. You go boy," I said snidely. Inuyasha gave me a dirty look. Shrugging I shut up letting the idiots continue with their spat. Kouga let out a barking laugh crossing his bulky arms impressively.
"As if. Naraku's head is mine! Like a grown mutt like you could even lay a scratch on him."
"WHAT'S YOU SAY! I'm gonna—" Inuyasha stopped, his face suddenly smoothing over like paper. He started to sniff the air, his attention now miles away from Kouga, who was also sniffing the air slowly. Curious, I closed my eyes, inhaling the fresh air in a huge gulp. I flinched at the odor filling the air.
"Naraku," I spat, my eyes narrowing at the Northern direction where the smell was stanching up the countryside. As soon as the name past my lips the wind began to swirl again and Kouga's tail was fleeing from sight.
"Hey you come back here!" Inuyasha yelled, anger stretched at every angle of his face. The air was becoming tense now, Sango and Miroku were stiffening, Shippou was whimpering.
I remained quiet, a big smirk crossing my face. I don't know what went over me. I was pleased. Very pleased. I knew it was beyond reason, that I should be terrified and running away. But my legs wouldn't move. Come on Kaname, I thought, my hands clenching into a tight fist. Come on; run now before it's too late. Run. Run. Run.
Nothing happened. My legs remained where they were, planted right into the earth, ignoring the commands of my fear. My fear. It festered and roamed within me the moment Naraku first attacked me. The idea that he wanted to kill her, to devour her haunted her nightmares. He was the reason that she was so useless. He was the reason that she couldn't fight anymore without imcompacitated.
Silence had filled the air and I stared around at the others. Kagome was calming Inuyasha down, Miroku and Sango watching. They all probably thought I was in on the conversation. Listening in so that I may forget my troubles . . . That I had a price on my head . . .
I then never felt more alone than ever. I couldn't run away and do nothing. I couldn't let my friends do all the protecting. I needed to fight Naraku. I needed to show him that I wasn't some weak girl. No. He would pay.
Then without another word to the others, my legs moved. Not backwards. Not south bound. But North. No time to stand here and do nothing, I thought to myself. I zoomed after Kouga, ignoring the yells of the others coming from behind me.