Ch. 17 – Awe I Didn't Name it…Damnit! (The Servile Saint)

…Nothing. The hallway looks perfectly clear yet everyone can sense the energy right in front of them. Hiei and Youko notice it before the humans do, but Shita and Daihoushi keep them from moving or making any sounds.

"Well?! Where is he?!" Kuwabara becomes impatient.

"Shut it Kuwabara. He's probably hiding; he'll hear you and attack." Yusuke orders.

"He is not1 I can sense him right in front of us! But there's nothing there!"

"Maybe he's invisible then! I don't know!"

"Squeak." Both humans finally turn their attention to a perspective closer to the ground. Searching for the noise.

"Where is it coming from?!" Kuwabara exclaims.

"There! On the floor!" Yusuke points at a small, brown-furred creature.

"Squeeeak."

"A rodent!" Kuwabara yells. "Spirit sword!" He attacks the creature near their feet. It dodges his attack and bites his leg. "OW! You stupid weasel!" He tries to step on the animal but it bites his foot right through his shoe and doesn't let go. "AAA! Get it off!"

"Hold still Kuwabara!" Yusuke tries to help him but the weasel has a very good grip.

"Get it off! Yusuke get it off! Help!" The weasel runs over to Daihoushi and crawls up his pants, appearing on his shoulder a minute later. "I'll kill him!" Kuwabara runs at Daihoushi, aiming his spirit sword at the creature sitting on the demon's shoulder. Daihoushi grabs Kuwabara's head with one hand and absorbs his spirit sword with the other.

"You will cease your attack on my brother at once." He states coldly.

Kuwabara's eyes widen slightly as Daihoushi glares at him. Kuwabara throws a punch at Daihoushi trying to get the demon to let go of his head.

-That idiot- Youko thinks.

Daihoushi catches his fist, spins and throws Kuwabara into a wall. BAM

"If you DARE to attack my brother again I will remove your head, put it on a spear and use it as a lawn ornament." Daihoushi growls. "Is that clear?"

"Yes." Kuwabara's voice comes out as a squeak as he slowly gets up.

"I think it's time we get going." Shita speaks up for the rest of the group. "Before those demons decide to turn around and come back."

"Where are those demons headed Rai?" Dai asks the weasel on his shoulder.

-"Most likely to their boss. I scared them enough to cause them to run. Since Kagome was unconscious I figured she'd be taken to the leader. That and she could purify him to dust if given the chance. I thought the leader would want to see who his potential threat is."-

"They're headed towards their leader. Let's follow them quickly before they realize that Raihoushi is no longer chasing them." Daihoushi suggests. "Are you going to shift and walk or stay on my shoulder until we get there?" He asks Rai.

-"Ride Please."- Everyone starts walking down the hall.

(w/Kagome)

Kagome starts to hear voices around her as she slowly regains consciousness. She hears footsteps leave the room and slowly opens her eyes. "Where am I?"

"I see you're awake miko." Kagome searches the room for the owner of the voice. Her eyes land on a demon sitting in a chair across the room watching several TV screens, some of which are nothing but static.

"Who are you?"

There is no answer.

"Who are you?" Kagome asks again as the demon ignores her.

"I am a very powerful demon whom you should fear."

"That doesn't answer my question." Kagome moves to get off the couch she's laying o and finds herself in chains.

"You are not here to ask questions. You are here to answer mine. Who are your friends?"

"Well there is Sango… Miroku… Kaede… Ayame…"

"Who is in the group attacking this castle!?!"

"There are demons… half-demons… and humans."

"You stupid woman!" The demon is instantly out of his chair, across the room and holding her by the throat. "I want names. NAMES!"

"Well you should have just said so. I don't know who they are. Don't you have a minion who's supposed to do a background check on everyone?"

"You lie." He glares at her.

"I think if you changed your outfit you might be able to pass as a girl."

"Insolent wench!" He throws her across the room and into a wall. She hits the wall with a loud crack and slumps to the floor, blood trickling out of her mouth. "You infuriate me. I should kill you. But the one who released me from my castle prison wants you alive."

"I guess… that sucks for you then… doesn't it? To answer to someone who is just using you. Why do you think he let you out? Because he needs you. Whatever he's after he can't get by himself, so he wants you to get it for him. And better yet, you're doing his job for free."

"What? The demon sits down on the couch, listening to Kagome. "And you know this how?"

"I've fought your 'boss' before."

"He's not my 'boss'! No one orders me around."

"But that's exactly what he's doing, isn't it?"

"… You say you've fought him before. If that is true, then how come you are still alive? He seems too powerful for a frail human to take on and survive."

"Because I killed him."

"No you didn't. He is clearly alive."

"I didn't anticipate that he'd regenerate after our last battle. Even ask him, Naraku fears me."

"Is that why he wants you? He says that even though you are a threat to us, that keeping you close will benefit us in the long run."

"He wants to taint me... doesn't he?"

"Yes. He says you will make a lovely pet." The demon smirks. "I do have to wonder, how good of a pet you will make."

(Back w/ the Rekai Tentei)

"How far did they run?" Yusuke asks.

"We're headed towards the center of the castle." Daihoushi states. "We should reach the center point within a few minutes."

Without warning Shita falls over holding the back of her neck. "Ow!"

"What's wrong?" Hiei saks in a monotone.

"... Kagome's awake." Shita's eyes hold a tint of red. "They're hurting her! I'll kill those bastards!" She fades into the air.