CHAPTER 4: Lone Challenger
When Amar woke up and recovered, Kuraki was the one who he saw first. She told him what happened before the boy passed out and she also introduced him to Inuyasha in the others.
True to Monk Sen's words, he met up with Amar Ma'aruf, his best friend. The inu hanyou however was slightly taller and older than the one he met in his time.
Since Amar Ma'aruf was years ahead of Amar, he told Inuyasha and the others what he could really do. For the most parts, he was right, but some things are new to him.
Three days later…
"Okaa-chan don't worry, I'll be always visiting you."
As Kuraki waved goodbye and said her parting words to her adopted mother, the group moved on.
---
"Kuraki, since when you been living with Shika (Kuraki's adopted mother)?"
"I don't remember. What I know is that I've been living with her since I was little. I don't know who's my real okaa-chan or otou-san."
"So you don't know?"
Kuraki nodded slightly.
"…"
"I've never seen a snake youkai before." Inuyasha started.
"Me too."
"Not me." Shippo said. "I've seen one before, but they're pretty elusive."
"Do you think that they might be Kuraki's parents?"
"I don't think so."
Meanwhile…
"It's him over there."
"What?"
Above the travelling group, there were three black figures stalking. The two of them were dressed like a ninja, while the other one in white. The person in white was a young girl.
"That's him. You know what to do, Mika." The ninjas then disappeared.
"Wait!" The girl cried.
Inuyasha, Amar Ma'aruf and Amar heard the shriek and stopped to see if anyone was around.
"What's wrong?"
"I can hear someone screaming, right above us."
Before Amar could ask what it was, a set of three arrows shot past him. The last one nearly hit his left arm. He quickly rolled to his right, hauling Kuraki into his arms and then hid her behind a large tree.
"Now, this is where things get really ugly. Stay here and don't move, I don't want you to get hurt."
"…"
When Amar got up, he saw Inuyasha and the others in one corner, looking around for the archer while Inuyasha was sniffing around.
"Whoa!"
Another set of arrows was shot; this time it missed an inch from Amar's neck. Amar Ma'aruf ran over to his friend's side.
"Not good. Inuyasha can't even find the location of the attacker. I can't even sense anything."
"Okay then. We will do something to slow it down." Amar then took off his school uniform's shirt.
Suddenly, Kagome saw something coming to the boys' direction.
"Look out!" Kagome yelled. "Amar-kun! Amar-chan!"
"Out of the way!" Amar quickly pushed Amar Ma'aruf out of the way, and then he threw his shirt to the direction of the arrow. The wolf boy stumbled forwards while passing underneath the fast arrows.
He lashed his hand in front of him while running. "Heat Seeker!"
The heat-seeking fireball's appearance surprised the attacker, and not too long later an explosion could be heard.
"Hold this position!" He yelled to Inuyasha.
"What is he talking about?"
Grabbing a stick from the ground, Amar dashed towards the area where the heat seeker had exploded. Among the bushes, he found the archer – a girl skimpily dressed in white.
"Got the sniper." He exclaimed.
He then took the girl on his back, and then he brought her to Inuyasha and the others.
"I think we had them." Amar then turned to the tree "Kuraki, you can come out now."
The little girl peeked out before she ran towards Amar. Along the way, she brought Amar's pierced shirt.
"Looks like mom will not be happy about this." He exclaimed, mentioning his holed shirt.
"She looks pretty." Miroku said, as he secretly held his hand towards the girl's back.
"Miroku, hands off." Sango warned.
---
When the night falls, Inuyasha and the others had to camp because they didn't reach a nearby village yet. While the others went to sleep, Amar had to stay and watch the archer girl. Just in case if she wakes up and plant an arrow in their heart, Amar chose to hold on the bow and quiver of arrows.
When the others were deep in their sleep, Amar was still awake, keeping his eyes on the captured attacker. He had grown tired of watching her, but Amar had to admit he was really pretty.
---
"You have failed me not once, but twice, Mika!"
"I'm sorry, master… but…"
"There's no excuses!"
"Master, please give me a chance!"
---
Mika knew, if it weren't for that boy dressed in white and olive green, she would have been tortured and raped. But, he fled after finishing his job. Other thing that she could remember about him is that he's using a wavy dagger. He had only pricked the soldiers and then they're dead.
His clothes bear the same resemblance as Amar's uniform.
After the incident, her third and final chance came.
"You're awake?"
"Ah!"
"Don't act too surprised there. I can feel that you're sad."
"…"
"What's up? Care to tell me everything?"
"…"
Finally, Mika ended up spilling the beans. From the conversation, her name was Mika Majikina. She was the daughter of a famous archer, but she ended up being kidnapped and being held like a servant.
Mika also told Amar about her actual mission, and she also mentioned the one who saved her from being humiliated.
What struck Amar the most was the description fit one of his friends.
It was none other than Qahhar.
---
A lone figure stood at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the group who were fast asleep. From there he could see Amar comforting Mika. He could even see Amar blushing when Mika suddenly hugged him.
"Well, I can tell that he's happy."
"Should we regroup now?"
"We'll wait for that. I think we need more info before we tell him everything."
He then walked away from the edge of the cliff.
A/N: That's chapter 4, everyone. I won't talk much, so read on and review. TQ!
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