Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of its characters. They are property of Rumiko Takahashi. However, this story and created charater is mine.
Chapter 2: A New Threat?
The six travelers continued into the rocky woods, searching for a demon. InuYasha, with Tetsusaiga sheathed once again, led the others. Miroku and Sango followed right behind, with Kirara, Shippo and Kagome bringing up the rear.
"We aren't getting anywhere. Kagome can't even sense any jewel shards," InuYasha barked with his arms crossed.
"You're just covering up because you can't smell anything," Shippo commented, before dodging the half-demon's angry fist, "Kagome, InuYasha's being mean!" the young fox pup whined while clinging to her leg. Kagome looked at the sky and sighed. It was hard enough watch one kid, let alone two.
"Both of you need to stop terrorizing each other. We're a team." The two bowed their heads in apology. Not to each other, but to Kagome.
They came upon a clearing, a flat meadow covered by yellow green grass. A ring of luscious green coniferous trees encircled the secluded lea. The setting sun seeped through the trees, lighting the area intensely. All one could see was a lone dirt path stretched across the ground, leading towards Mount Shen.
"It's getting dark. Do you think we should make camp here?" Kagome asked, referring to the low sun.
"It might be for the best," Sango replied, "we're not sure what is on the mountain and fighting in the dark would leave us at a disadvantage."
Although the girls were ready to settle, Miroku felt a bit insecure.
"It feels like someone is watching us," he stated while scanning the area with his dark eyes. InuYasha picked up his ears for any sound. The others followed their friends in a thorough search of the meadow, but found nothing.
"Where Miroku?" InuYasha questioned his monk friend, hand hovering over Tetsusaiga's hilt.
"There." A slender finger pointed to the southwest corner of the sleepy meadow. InuYasha glided his fang blade out of its sheath. The blade glowed with a deep red light, ready to break the unseen barrier. Using Miroku's finger as a guide, InuYasha raised his sword, ready to attack. Pulsing energy emitted from the red fang as InuYasha swung hard at the seemingly empty space. Swirls of red and yellow energy slammed into a barrier, revealing a small hut in the dust. When the hut became completely visible, a young cream colored cat demon with flaming tails stepped carefully from the door. Seeing the intruders, the animal growled, glaring its teeth in response to their presence. InuYasha responded to the cat's threat by barring his own fang. Demonic auras swirled around the demon blade while the owner prepared to strike. It seemed to be a never-ending standoff until a voice came from inside the hut.
"Isamu, settle down. Let's wait to see what our guests want." The cat demon relaxed upon hearing the command. A young female, about the age of fourteen, emerged from the oversized tent. She wore a short green kimono, her auburn hair tied in a half braid that reached her mid-back. Her jade green eyes stared at the man in red who held a demonic sword at her pet.
"Why do you insist on breaking my barriers?" The female asked in a controlled but annoyed tone, looking straight into a pair of amber eyes.
"Don't toy with me demon!" InuYasha twisted his powerful wrists, waiting to attack at the right moment.
"Demon?" Surprise was found in her voice, "Are you suggesting that I am a demon? What would give you an idea like that?" She asked, pondering at her own questions. Her thinking only annoyed InuYasha more.
"Shut up and reveal your true self! I know that humans can't put up barriers." InuYasha snarled, ceasing her pondering.
"InuYasha…"
"What Miroku?"
"I can put up barriers."
InuYasha blinked at the monk, then returned to the girl blocking their path. He sniffed the air. Brushing off the faint human scent that emitted from the young girl, he placed Tetsusaiga back in its sheath.
"Sorry about this," Kagome said while thumbing the half demon. She walked casually to InuYasha's side as she continued, "The villager at the foot of the mountain talked about demons that ascend to the mountain at night. They think a demon is gathering weaker demons to form an army. InuYasha must have thought you were that demon."
"I see," the teenager replied, now looking at Kagome, "He must not be all that bright." The girl smiled as she watched fire in the amber eyes. Ending her silent laugh, she returned her focus back to the girl with strange clothes.
"Well I don't know about a demon on the mountain top, but you can go look." Her right hand left her body to point to the only path in the meadow, "This path leads to the top of the mountain." Kagome's gaze followed her slender hand. Her attention went to the bandage that wound around her entire hand and traveled up her arm. The aiding girl noticed the raven beauty staring at the tight bandage wound about her hand.
"Is something wrong?" the young maiden said, cocking an eyebrow towards Kagome. Hearing her voice, Kagome snapped out of the daze and looked at the girl in green.
"No," she shook her head, blushing due to embarrassment.
"Can you tell us anything about the demons that pass by?" Sango asked, now at Kagome's side. The stranger shifted her eyes to glance at the black-haired demon slayer, dressed in full armor.
"I can tell you that they never reach the mountain." She answered in a slightly cocky tone.
"Why?" Kagome asked, now over her embarrassment.
"Because I kill them."
"Are you a demon slayer?" Sango asked hopefully. She had wished that she was not the last of her kind.
"No, at least not officially," the female replied, wishing they would leave. Her eyes shifted to the sky, then back at the two questioning women.
"You should go. Once the sun sets you will be stuck in this meadow until morning." The teenager turned and began to walk to her home. Isamu, upon seeing his master retreat, followed close behind.
"Wait, I have one question for you."
The female stopped suddenly at the sound of the voice. She turned slowly, closing her soft jade eyes. When she opened them a monk in deep blue stood in front of you. He smiled at her youthful face, while she stared at his dark eyes. She was trying to read his thoughts, what he was feeling. At that moment, he gently took her hands. She listened intensely as he spoke sweetly to her.
"Will you bear my child?"
The next thing anyone saw was a monk lying in the ground due to a forceful punch. This time, however, Sango was not quick enough to execute it. The teenager held her ground, fist forward where it had stopped upon impacting his face. She tried to prevent fiery tears to fall from her green eyes as she stared at the fallen monk. Isamu, knowing his master was upset, growled at the fallen man. Hearing the sound, the young girl relaxed her body. Slowly she turned to the others, still pushing back tears.
"You should all leave now. The sun is setting." She commanded, failing to look at anyone. The two women stared in question at her, while InuYasha refused to take any orders from anyone.
"Who are you giving me orders?" The half demon growled under his teeth. It was an honest question, but he feared Kagome would "sit" him if he was too mean to this stranger.
"LEAVE NOW!" She shouted forcefully and began to run to her makeshift home. Darkness, however, caused her to end the pursuit. She looked at the sky, breathing heavily in an effort to calm her nerves. She knew that it would be a long night. Feeling multiple eyes on her, she turned, facing the visitors who stared at her.
"It's dark now," she said, slowly and calmly in order to keep her composure, "You can't leave."
"You can't tell me what I can and can't do!" InuYasha lightly shouted as he grabbed Kagome's hand, "Come on Kagome, we're leaving."
Sighing, the girl picked up a medium-sized rock. After tossing the harden earth into the air, she hurled it towards to the edge of the meadow. It whizzed past the walking couple, heading towards the outer ring of trees. The two stopped in their tracks as they watched the rock disintegrate in midair. Simultaneously InuYasha and Kagome twisted their heads, waiting for an explanation.
"This meadow is a sacred place. The trees put up a destructive barrier at night so none may pass and none can leave." The native girl's voice was calm despite how she felt. She was hot, due to the earlier encounter with the monk. Inhaling deeply, the girl began walking, for the third time, to her home.
"Feh, I can destroy this barrier no problem," InuYasha claimed as he seized Tetsusaiga into his hands.
"I told you," the girl began, failing to look at the half-demon, "this meadow is sacred. I can understand you breaking my simple barriers, but you will be messing with heaven's nature by attempting to leave."
"InuYasha," Kagome placed her hand on the hilt of Tetsusaiga. Her gentle voice caused him to place the blade back in its scabbard, growling all the while. Knowing InuYasha had come to reason, she sprinted towards the girl.
"Hey, what is your name?" Kagome asked, now standing next to the girl. She looked up in response to Kagome's question. Slightly, she shifted her eyes to the ground, focusing on the monk who was being helped by a small fox demon pup. Her burning eyes squinted while they were on the perverted monk, but quickly focused back on Kagome.
"It's Tomi."
"Thank you Tomi, for stopping InuYasha and me from running into that barrier," Kagome's smile forced Tomi to copy her expression. She sensed no evil in the travelers, although she could tell InuYasha was a bit hostile in his ways.
"You can stay in my hut, if you want."
"Thank you for your kindness," Sango replied. Tomi nodded with a smile, feeling for once in her life, appreciated for her help.
Anthor's note: I apologize for making InuYasha seem dumb in this chapter. I really do like him. So please don't yell at me for doing so, since I apologized.