(A/N: Sigh. Classes have started again. I swear that the summer gets shorter and shorter every year. T may interfere with my writing a bit, but I'll still try to update regularly.

Disclaimer: Nothing's changed here.

Chapter 8: Old Friends and New Faces

Inuyasha had wanted to go after Kagome immediately, but his friends had insisted on stopping by Jineji's farm for some healing herbs.

"We don't have time for this!" Inuyasha declared. "Kagome needs us, now! Who knows what that bastard is doing to her!"

Inuyasha was doing his best to suppress his rage, quite unsuccessfully. The thought of that thing having his filthy hands on his mate filled him with a blinding rage. He had not liked the hungry lustful look in Onigumo's borrowed eyes. What was that monster planning on doing to her? He had an idea, and he prayed it wasn't that.

Kouga sneered at him. "Still as stubborn as ever. Even after all these years you haven't changed."

"Don't try my patience." Inuyasha growled warningly. "I'm ready to kill the first thing that bugs me."

"Save it for Onigumo." Miroku muttered. "In a way, he was the cause for everything that happened with Naraku. He was responsible for his birth."

"That will make killing him all the more sweeter." Kohaku replied.

"I'll be looking forward to it." Inuyasha growled.

"You won't be killing anyone with those injuries." Shippo pointed out. He received a hard blow to the head from his remark. "I can't believe you still hit me like that! I'm not a child anymore that you can just smack around!"

"Shut up!"

"Both of you be quiet!" Sango snapped impatiently. "Inuyasha, we are just as worried about Kagome as you are, but it won't do any good for you to go charging into battle with wounds like that. Onigumo is almost as strong as Naraku, and then he has that annoying ability to regenerate."

Inuyasha growled. "Damn it. I forgot about that."

"We'll worry about that later." Said Miroku. "First we need to get you fit for battle before we actually worry about it."

They came upon Jineji's farm. Sadly, the half-demon's mother had long since passed on, leaving him alone to handle the farm. Jineji had made a shrine to honor her, and he continued to grow medicines of all different kinds for those that needed them. Though he was no longer tormented by anyone, he was still alone.

"Hey Jineji!" Shippo called. "It's us! We need to speak to you; it's important!"

A few seconds passed before a large mole like half-demon with large blue eyes waddled out of the hut. He didn't heal properly like most demons and half-demons, resulting in him baring many scars from attempts to his life in the past.

"Ah, my friends," he said in a voice mixed with joy but still sorrow, "I am so happy to see you again." He looked among the group for his closet friend and frowned when he noticed she wasn't there. "Where is Kagome?"

Inuyasha growled. "Hello! Haven't you noticed that some of us are a little beat up?"

"Kagome was kidnapped." Shippo replied, ignoring Inuyasha. "Inuyasha and Kouga got hurt trying to help her."

"I'm fine." Kouga muttered, pointing out how small his injuries were compared to Inuyasha's.

"We need some healing herbs so we can go save her." the fox-demon continued.

Jineji looked worried. "Kagome is in trouble? No please, not her."

"Jineji, the healing herbs, please!" Inuyasha cried.

The larger half-demon shook his head. "Yes, of course!" He quickly went and retrieved the necessary ingredients and hurried back. "Here, this should heal the two of you. And I would also like to go with you. I too wish to save Kagome."

Inuyasha shook his head. "No, Jineji. We'll take care of this. No offense, but you're too soft, you're not used to fighting. But rest assure, I will save her."

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Kikyou and Shin sniffed the ground, trying to pick up Onigumo's scent. It was very difficult since Onigumo's feet rarely touched the ground as he leapt through the air carrying Kagome.

"Picking up anything?" Kaori asked.

"Nothing yet." Kikyou replied. "How about you, wolf-boy?"

Shin snorted. "Well, I did pick up something, but it's not Onigumo or your mother."

"What is it?"

Shin smirked. As quick as lightning, he reached into a bush and pulled out a small demon by the tail.

"Toriyasu, you're just itching for trouble." He said.

The little demon continued to struggle. "Why is everyone always picking me up by my tail? Let me go!"

Kikyou took the demon child from Shin. "Toriyasu, your mother is going to throw a fit when she finds out you snuck along."

"So what? I want to go too. And if you leave me behind, I'll just follow you."

Kikyou dropped him. "We don't have time for stowaways. If you're going to come, you're going to do your part."

"Is it wise to bring him?" Ico asked, worried for the young demon's safety.

Kikyou shrugged. "You heard him, he'll follow us if we don't." An evil smile crept up over her face. "But he's going to pull his own weight."

"Yeah, I'm going to pull my own weight!" Toriyasu cried. "…Hey wait. What do you mean, pull my own weight?"

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"No, no! This one won't do either!" Onigumo tore off the face of yet another villager. He grabbed another dead body and savagely ripped the face off. "I won't settle for less than the best."

He put the face on like a mask. The skin around the area that his face should have been stuck to the skin mask, seemingly making the mask his actual face. He looked at his reflection in the water, observing his new appearance.

"No, this one is terrible!"

He ripped the face off, crushing it in his hand as he reached for another body. Most people would find it strange that he would be able to move and act as if he did have eyes, a nose and a mouth. Truth be told, Onigumo had an extra sense that made up for his inability to see, smell, or taste. He had a sense of awareness that gave him the ability to know what was going on around him in a way that was even greater than what a face provided. The whole reason he craved a face was that it gave him a feeling of identity. He was no longer the bandit Onigumo, and for this reason he was reborn without a face, but he was still Onigumo. And having a face made him feel like he was still someone; he felt lost otherwise.

Not to mention that he wanted all five sense when he made Kagome his.

"Kagome." He whispered. "You were once the priestess I so desperately desired. You are no longer Kikyou, but I will make you mine either way. And if that half-breed interferes, I'll kill him." If he had lips, then would be in the form of a smile. "Maybe I'll give his face a try."

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"TORIYASU!"

Souten's voice echoed through the whole village, disturbing all those within it. The thunder-demon stormed angrily out of yet another hut, sniffing the air in an attempt to pick up her son's scent.

"Souten, what's wrong?" Ayame asked.

Souten turned to the wolf-demon. "That stubborn son of mine has run off. And I'm pretty sure I know where. He's gone with your son and the others." She stamped her foot, causing lightning to shoot outwards in different directions beneath her foot. "That boy, he is in so much trouble. I told him to stay here!"

Ayame rested a comforting hand on the thunder-demon's shoulder. "Don't worry, Souten. I'm sure he's alright. Even if he did go with them. Remember, he's with my son, Kikyou, Ico, and Koari. They'll take care of them."

Souten growled. "I can't believe that boy!"

Rin went to join in on the conversation. "Don't be too mad at him. He is yours and Shippo's son. Remember how you told us about how you went out all on your own to fight everyone before you became friends."

"This time is different!" Souten yelled. "I am an excellent strategist; I always was. I planned out my whole battle tactic back then. I knew what I was doing and was prepared. Toriyasu is just charging blindly into battle. And Onigumo isn't anything like Shippo or Inuyasha. He won't spare him because he's a child. He'll kill him! I have to go after him."

"Why not just use Koryu?" Ayame suggested.

Souten glared at her. "Do you see Koryu anywhere? He's not around. I have to go."

Ayame sighed. "If you must."

Souten went and retrieved her thunder staff. It was a very powerful weapon, very much like her brother's, and she knew how to use it.

"When I get through with that boy…" she muttered as she stormed out of the village.

Ayame and Rin shared a look. "I almost feel sorry for him." Rin muttered.

"Yeah." Ayame agreed. "Almost."

(A/N: And now Souten has joined the search. Thanks to Jineji, Inuyasha and Kouga will be all healed up. But can they get to Kagome before Onigumo finds a suitable face, or will she have to defend herself against him on her own? So many questions, so little time.)