"Wait isn't this Kasasagi town?" Kagome said. She squinted her eyes to look into the distance and I followed her train of vision. Sure enough past the bridge that hung over the stream was a bustling town with a view of the mansion far ahead. I narrowed my eyes at the thing. What was it about this era a big castles. It was alike a big target couldn't people see that?
"I definitely smell something here," Inuyasha said wrinkling his nose. His hand trailed for his sword but Kagome grabbed his wrist.
"No Inuyasha remember where we are. This is still a town we don't want to cause any alarm," she gushed.
"I agree with Kagome, we cannot be sure Naraku hadn't just past by here," Miroku remarked watching the two with a leveled expression.
"Fat chance that is," I remarked. That guy liked to make an entrance that was for certain.
"Should we investigate?" Sango asked. Worry covered her expression and Miroku's expression softened at the sight of her. Woah was there something going on there that I didn't know?
"That would probably be the safest option especially if the warlord or master of this town is involved in a war of some sort. Can't look too suspicious."
Inuyasha scoffed letting go of his sword. "Yeah real easy to look inspicuous with three demons traveling with us." Kagome smiled and I think I caught her stealing a glance at his dog ears. I held back a smile and moved to walk ahead.
"Do you know this town Kagiome?" I asked remembering that she had called it by name.
"Are you daft?" an annoying voice from behind called. My teeth gritted and I had to hold back the inpulse to throw a punch. Can't be showing Shippou a bad example now can I?
"What now?" I snapped not bothering to look at Ryu who had started walking with Miroku.
"Ah yes Kaname, Ryu is unaware of your situation," Sango mused.
"Like I care," I remarked. I turned sharply crossing yje bridge to walk ahead of them all.
"I don't think you made a very good impression on Kaname," Miroku whispered at the mercenary.
The mercenary's gaze was locked on Kaname. He couldn't understand her. Her presence was very clear and distinctive, the power that radiated from her was strong. He'd even seen it in action, though unpracticed. But this girl. . . . He pondered for a moment. This Kaname didn't get wrapped up in her abilities not did she seem to use them very often. In fact, every time someone brought the subject up her face would drench of all color and she'd start shouted.
Granted that had happened once and he'd only been traveling with these people for a few days. But still Ryu could sense the girl was hiding something. Why else would she blantently refuse his help? Why shout at him and tell him to go off? Wasn't she curious at least what her powers had in store?
"Kaname wait up," Kagome called pushing her bike farther to catch up with Kaname. As if connected, Inuyasha followed her.
I turned and found Kagome's sweet smile shine at me.
"Err," I mumbled, suddenly, caught off guard at the abrupt approach. Man I got startled easily. I really needed to work on that.
"You asked me about the town," Kagome probed.
"Um yeah," I started reaching to scratch my face. Anything to avoid those giant brown eyes. I didn't like eyes contact much. "How do you know about this town?"
"Well it looks like a town from our point of view, but in this time period Kasasagi Town is more like a city." I gawked at her and then turned to stare at the rush of people just ahead of the bridge.
"Really?" I gasped.
"Yep," she said cheerfully. "It's well known because a lot of the merchants in the area come here to get their earnings. It is also a great place for trade. I think Miroku mentioned being here once."
"Yeah but all he said was that the women were bountiful," Shippous added. Me and Kagome sighed. That guy needed to keep his mouth shut around Shippou.
"I think you need to learn to shield your hearing when that guy is around Shippou," I advised.
"We should have ditched him long ago," Inuyasha added.
"Enough of that," Kagome said. She signaled her chin ahead. "We're here."
We all paused at the entrance into the 'city' (should I be calling it that? It's so small).
It was along street set with a series of small buildings surrounding the land like a maze. Scores of men, women, and children were gathered around, some merchants chanting for their rice or potions, some women carrying their portions of food or young children. My eyes wandered and found the city guards both dressed in normal Japanese attire but for the white headbands that stood them out. Oh and they were big men. They surveyed the crowd but otherwise did nothing.
"What is taht doing here?"
My mind went to alert. It was Shippou who had spoken and he was staring at the wall to his and my right.
"What is it Shippou?" I asked looking to see what he was staring. At the wall was a big poster with the words 'Wanted' plastered in old fashioned Japanese. I looked at the face. It was a woman with shoulder length hair, small nose, and familiar shaped eyesbrows. . . Holy crap that was me!
"What is this?" I nearly shrieked, gabbing the poster off the wall. Everyone heard my outburst and all moved to look over my shoulder.
"Wanted for theft and murder," Sango read.
"This looks remarkably like you Kaname," Miroku commented with a hand on his chin. "So beautiful." Sango hit his head.
"This isn't a time for jokes you moron!" I whispered. I glanced around and was happy that no one had paid attention to us yet. The key word was yet. Someone would eventually see Kagome's clothes or Inuyasha's ears.
"Did you do something wrong while we weren't looking?" Ryu asked.
"I'm not going to even dignify that with answer."
"I knew there was something weird going on here," inuyasha rasped. "We gotta beat the answers out at that castle."
"Hold on Inuayasha we cant just barge in," Kagome reasoned.
"Oh really what sort of genius plan do you have," Inuyasaha said.
"I'm so sick of this," I groaned covering my eyes.
"Maybe we could ask around see what the situation is before we do anything rash," Kagome suggested.
"How odd that you aren't suggesting anything Kaname," Ryu commented. I removed my hand to send him a glower, but no words formed. What was I going to do? Theft? Murder? Ha! I was too much of a chicken to even think of something like that. . . Well if they don't count the time I stole the bag of Oreo cookies Kagome had stored in her backpack. . . Or the bag of vinegar salted chips. . . .
I bit my thumbnail. Could I disguise myself? No they all had a picture of my face. I glared back down at the poster. A really good picture of me. Could people draw this good in this era?
"This has to be him," I whispered to myself.
"Naraku," Ryu inquired.
"Hmm," I remarked forgetting for a moment that I wasn't supposed to be talking to him.
"He must be hiding in the castle then if it's Naraku," Miroku added a deep frown creasing his face. Sango's face followed his example.
"Yes, a coward like him could do no more," Sango said. Inuyasha let out a tsk sound.
"Let's go," he demanded. He hoisted Kagome onto his back and sprinted ahead. I followed suit dumping the poster to the ground. Better than sitting around and doing nothing.
People complained as we all ran past and pushed at the series of men and women scouwering through the streets. Or rather dirt roads. I really needed to get used to this era.
"Inuyasha you shouldn't run too fast, let me ask someone what's going on?" Kagome urged.
"Why waste our time doing that we already know Naraku is here. It's better to go on ahead," Inuyasha barked. Kagome let out a hmph sound.
"You cant keep acting so rash stop right now!" Kagome demanded.
"Forget it. Just shut up idiot," Inuyasha dismissed her. Uh oh, bad move dude, I thought, knowing right away the next words that would trail from her mouth.
"SIT!"
So we stopped at the nearest shop all of us walking over Inuaysha's crumbled body.
"Ah how cruel," Miroku sighed.
"If only we had something like that for you," I said.
"That was uncalled for. I'll have you know I am a perfect gentleman," Miroku said. Sango threw a dark in his direction and I think he could feel it for he flinched suddenly.
"I believe I might be missing something," Ryu muttered watching the two of them.
"Excuse me sir," Kagome called reaching for the counter where a middle aged man with a kind face watched over the counter. I peered at Kagome and his eyes brightened at her face. Yep, Kagome was quite an attractive girl. Whenever we passed some guy she'd always get stares.
"Yes dear lady can I interest you in any of our homey remedies," he said smiling broadly. Kagome returned the smile and Inuyasha came up by her looking particularily irritated. He was about to start shouting at her but I pulled his arm and dragged him away.
"Bad move. Very bad move," I said over Kgaome talking. Howver, I hadn't thought about the store owner once I pulled Inuyasha over his friendly smile disappeared and fear covered his face.
"You!" he cried, "You're the girl from the poster!"
"What poster?" I lied. Ryu gave me a pitiful look that translated to That was pathetic. Yeah, it was (not that I'd ever admit it to the jerk).
Kagome gave a nervous laugh and signaled me with her eyes towards the door. Inuyasha caught the tension and motioned me out and I didn't argue.
"You've been mistaken sir. . . . " I heard and then I was outside.
"There are probably more posters around the city," Sango commented.
"Then the whole city must know your face," Ryu commented looking around the area. I copied him and found another across the street.
"I gotta get all these posters," I said.
"I thinking hiding is probably smarter Kaname," Shippou said.
"He's right," Sango said. I scoffed at her.
"You're kidding? I'm not going to run. We came to see where Naraku is."
"It won't help if you're captured," Miroku said.
"Give me some credit," I snapped.
"She's right," Inuyasha said.
"Yes because she's always seen through Naraku's plots," Ryu remarked sarcastically.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I screeched approaching him. Miroku sprinted and came in between us.
"Tut tut, no fighting we have a purpose here," he urged. Ryu's lips lifted to a sardonic smile.
"I would keep your voice down girl, we don't want the whole neighborhood hearing your irritating shrieks."
Oh. No. He. Didn't. I was going to throttle him.
"Out of my way Miroku," I rasped trying to get around Miroku. Inuyasha interjected grabbing my waist and pulling me away.
"Stop it you idiot—" Inuyasha started.
"Hey look it's the girl in the wanted poster!"
We all turned and saw a young woman pointing straight at me. Crap.
"Oh my goodness!"
"Call the guards!"
"Get her!"
"Run Kaname we'll hold them back," Sango urged raising her weapon. Inuyasha nodded and Miroku followed suit.
"Wait! No I'll help—"
"Just go Kaname," Shippou pleaded. He jumped from my shoulder and went to join the others.
"We'll catch up with you, go!" Inuyasha demanded.
I gritted my teeth, indecision freezing my feet in place.
"GO!"
"Okay, okay," I shouted back. "I'm going jeez." Sparing my friends another glance I turned and sprinted to the nearest corner.
"Hope they get back soon," I muttered to myself.