Hello again! The next chapter is finally here! I thought of answering some questions before we proceed over to the continuation of this chapter.
Inubattousai, you'll just need to see how things will unravel. **Insert wink face here**
Zanza, I apologize for making Kenshin seem a little weak in your eyes, in that last chapter. However, I thought of making it seem like he made a bit of a miscalculation with his fight against Mistress Centipede, resulting in the natural flow of the original storyline of InuYasha.
Also, on a side note, I'd like to state(if I haven't already) that I'm unsure as of yet if I'll be adding in other characters from Rorouni Kenshin or not. We'll have to see. AND. And I'll post a picture of the new story I plan to write sometime soon. After I work it throughly(at least the beginning and go from there), that is. And I'd like a vote in the reviews, to see who'd like to see that story written.
The picture that I mentioned in the sentence above was edited by yours truly. If I could draw that good though, know that I would have done it.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape or form own either InuYasha and it's characters nor Himura Kenshin.
The Ribbon That Binds Us (Chapter Thirteen: Shattered)
The pair continued on with their staring. Molten gold colored eyes staring into blue one and vice versa. Either male stayed still, complete oblivous to their surroundings, even for just a moment. Both awaiting for the other to make even the slightest of movements. InuYasha snapped his eyes from the other male the moment Kagome made a move to hide behind the redhead. That was all Kenshin needed, he lunged at the red clad male, ready to slice at his chest. InuYasha however leapt back to avoid the strike, his thick and untamed silver hair moving with his bodies movements. A low growl surfaced from his throat, when Kenshin moved in for another attempt at an attack.
InuYasha had it. The moment the male moved closer, he took hold of the blade and extended his claws. Each one taking on a yellow glow, however Kenshin regarded his hand in which the beast wished to shred through his person and repositioned his footing. InuYasha halted his attack, but not quickly enough as the blade was twisted out of his grasp. The blunt blade met with InuYasha's chest, sending him back a few feet or so. The red clad male took a few long breaths, cursing at the red head, as he crouched to even out his breathing.
Kenshin lifted his sword, positioning his feet into the style in which was forgotten or perhaps erased. His eyes veiling over with shadow, InuYasha as slow as he could be sometimes, noticed the change. Kaede had in that time also noticed the change in him, she had never seen him so... Hostile. The Kenshin she'd come to know in her years with him, was much more gentle. The sense she got from him now, was nothing more than... Violence.
Kaede dropped her bow then catching the attention of Kagome, but Kenshin's eyes remained on his target. InuYasha. The swordsman leapt for InuYasha, which caused a chain reaction of the following, InuYasha dodged but as soon as he had, Kenshin leapt at him just as quickly to strike a his left side. The silver haired man barely leapt in the air to avoid the attack. Time slowed as blue eyes veiled with shadows rose up to glance up at InuYasha. His eyes grew wider at the sight he saw. Yellow specks was slowly taking shape into the swordsman's eyes.
/ Is this guy a demon? / InuYasha thought.
It couldn't have been true. He smelt entirely human but... He was quick despite knowing that he was injured, he seemed to show not an ounce of pain. How could that be? InuYasha let out another growl come forth as he flexed his claws. His right hand rising next to his head, ready to take a slashing motion towards Kenshin as time picked up once more. His claws clashed with the earth where the redhead stood before, leaving a long trail marks going for some feet ahead before thinning into nothing. Turning his head, InuYasha was nearly met with the blade to his neck if it wasn't for his leaping back once more.
Kagome had in all that time had approached Kaede to see if she was alright, however her voice was halted when the priestess regarded her seriously. While the two continued on fighting Kaede instructed to try and catch the attention of InuYasha and run towards the bridge nearby. Despite Kagome's reluctance, she heard the urgency in the girl's voice. The schoolgirl gripped at the Jewel and took a breath, watching as the priestes nodded to her. She too, nodded before running in the direction of the bridge.
InuYasha had to dodge another attack from the samurai but from the corner of his eye, he caught the sight of the girl. Turning his head, he noticed her running off without any kind of protection on her person, or around her. He could almost smirk, if it wasn't for the fact that the redhead after him would prove to be an obstacle. Speaking of... He turned his head to the male just in time to see him rush forth at almost lightning speeds, much to the halfling's surprise. Kenshin attempted another movement from his sword, from the left to the right. His chest. He kept aiming for his chest! Did this man aim to kill him?! InuYasha let loose another growl from his throat, before moving to the right to barely avoid the strike.
"InuYasha!" he heard the girl call out through a shaking voice, as she ran.
Kenshin's eyes grew wide at the name... The name echoed in his mind, no one else but Kaede knew the reason. InuYasha noticed his freeze in movements, causing a short lived confusion before his name came again, but more loudly and a slight more stern. He turned to look in the direction in which she stood on a hill looking over her shoulder, panting. The demon halfling could not help be smirk, victory was so close, he could taste it. InuYasha dashed right for her, while Kenshin merely stood there his hands gripping at the hilt of the sword. His memories of that day, resurfacing.
Kaede on the other hand, despite her want to help him decided instead on aiding Kagome first. She reached into her pure white haori, a moment later she pulled out a dark beaded necklace with a few fangs attached. The villagers only watched the entire ordeal from a distance, some were scared, others surprised.
"I never thought there would come a day where I would need to use this..."
Kagome squealed in surprise at the speed in which InuYasha was getting closer and closer, she tripped from the hill and slid down. Her grasp on the jewel lost, she reached for it in a vain attempt as it rolled over to the bridge. The moment InuYasha laughed and leapt for the bridge is when various bursts of lights rushed towards his person. His eyes grew wide as the light burst took shape around his neck, bursting outwards to reveal a strange necklace. Blackened beads and white looking fangs after a few of the beads.
InuYasha landed on the other side of the bridge just as Kagome had gotten up from the dirt path. He was currently eyeing the necklace in confusion, it seemed. Kaede stepped to the edge of the hill in which Kagome slipped and fell.
"Kagome, your words have power over him"
"W-what?" she said looking over her shoulder for a moment.
"Use the words of subjugation"
"W-wha..." she started but turned her sights on InuYasha again, whom by that time was reaching for the jewel already.
"It does not matter, your word has power to hold his spirit" she said, more sternly.
Time slowed then, InuYasha still reaching for the jewel mere inches from his grasp, Kaede watching with a horrified look and Kagome... Well, she paniced and eyed the triangular shapes atop his head. Either of his ears twitched slightly, and the moment he was about to grasp the jewel, she shouted the first word that surfaced within her mind.
"Sit boy!"
Time picked up then, the glow of the necklace grew rapidly and InuYasha found his face flat against the wooden bridge he had landed on some few moments ago. The echo of her 'sit boy' command and the surprised yelp from InuYasha traversed within the area. Within moments, he shot up and grasped at the necklace with his long pointy fangs clenched. A low growls escaped him as he attempted a few times to pull it over his head, to no avail.
"I'm sorry InuYasha, but even you lack the power to remove it" Kaede called from the top of the hill.
InuYasha glared up at the girl that had done this, he rose a clawed finger at her with a low growl.
"We'll see about that, you wench!"
"Kagome... The word, if ye please?"
"Sit boy" she said sternly, sending him a glare of her own with a finger pointed at the sky yet remained by her head while the other lay on her hip.
With that having been repeated, the glow from the necklace came once again and he felt the bridge crack under the pressure. Moments later, he found himself falling into the rapids of the river. A large splash was heard reaching their ears and Kagome carefully stepped onto the bridge to retrieve the jewel which lay forgotten by the half-demon.
"That was easy... Wish I'd said it earlier"
In the morning, after some well needed rest, many of the village men were currently repairing the huts that were destroyed the previous night. Some carried logs to their destionation, and others moving piles of dirt that previously lay in the way of their progress.
Kaede currently sat next to Kagome, neatly tying a bandage over the wound that had been left by the gnaw of Mistress Centipede. On the other hand, Kenshin lay upon Kaede's futon due to his own injures of the night before. He could not stop himself from glaring that beastly half-breed, and he would have fought him if it were not for Kaede's insistance of his being bed ridden. InuYasha too, found himself glaring at the redhead, but did naught else in fear of having that stupid girl say that cursed word.
"How's this Kagome? Perhaps I'll put some more oinment on your belly" she said.
Kagome winced in the slightest at the pain shooting through her from the side where she was bitten and and torn through. Soon enough though, she and Kaede turned their attention to the two males. Either one STILL glaring at each other but not doing nor saying a word. Merely glaring at each other, silently cursing the other out that way. One more then the other, one could guess who.
"Kenshin" Kaede spoke sternly.
Kenshin regrettable turned his sights over to the young priestess, she gave him a small smile. Kaede turned her attention to InuYasha then, her singular brown eye staring directly at him. He, in turn stared at her with a deep frown and a furrowed brow. As she was about to speak, Kagome intervined.
"I noticed you're rebuilding the houses wrecked by Mistress Centipede, what a pain..."
Kaede returned her attention to the girl with strange clothing. For a moment she thought of the correct words to phrase this. She dipped her hands in clean water, washing away traces of blood, and the oinment.
"Aye, a pain yes... I'm afraid it's just beginning, now that the Shikon Jewel is agmonst us once again, far worse then Mistress Centipede will come to claim it"
"Worse than yesterday?"
"And not just demons, Kagome... There are humans who also seek the power of the jewel as well, the jewel's power is the only thing that can grant them their petty ambitions"
Kagome's thoughts reeled and pull at more questions than answers. Her dark chocolate colored eyes fell on the dog boy with the ears, her brows immediatel furrowed.
"Speaking of petty, what are you still doing here?"
InuYasha had been sitting in one of the further corners and away from the bedridden male, his arms crossed over his chest while he impatiently awaited his prize. The Scared Jewel. A clawed finger tapped at his arm, eagerly awaiting his earned reward.
"I'm waiting for the Jewel" he finally spoke after a brief silence, either of his amber hues turning to offer her a short lived glance. Kenshin found himself glaring at the dog boy again, and as he was about to retort, Kaede jumped in first.
"With the beads around his neck, his threat has dimished, it is perhaps the only way we could allow him so close to the Jewel"
"Why do you want the Jewel anyway? It seems to me you're strong enough as it is" Kagome couldn't tear her eyes from the dog earred boy, at least for a short time.
"What power can the Jewel give you, you don't already have?" she continued, rising her hand to glance at the small pink, glimmering jewel in the palm of her hand.
"Ah... But he's just half-demon" Kaede stood, gathering the water bucket from the floor.
The three suddenly heard a large creak and crash, only to realize that InuYasha punched his fist through the floor. His eyes looking directly at Kaede with his brow furrowed.
"You know what... I'm sick of hearing some stupid girl like you, talk like she knows me!"
"Ah... Then ye don't remember?" Kaede said, unafraid.
The young priestess turned on her hell to head to the fire place just by the door. She threw a cut piece of wood within the flames, and she know Kenshin wanted to do nothing more then to slice him through at his words. She also knew though, that he wouldn't do anything unless she were in danger. And judging by his lack of movement, she didn't seem to be.
"I am younger sister to Kikyou, she who bound ye to the tree... Kaede"
"You're Kaede?" he recalled the memory of the younger sister, next to Kikyou.
"So you're the brat huh?" he continued, despite feeling a certain male glaring at the back of his head.
"Merely twelve years have passed since then, InuYasha and I've grown older since then"
InuYasha merely stared at her for a time, rising a hand to scratch at his scalp with a clawed finger. His thoughts running in his mind.
"If you're this old, then Kikyou must be in her earlier fourties or so"
Kagome stared at him with some annoyance, math clearly was not his strong suit.
"Sure glad I don't gotta worry about being old, least not for a while" he said leaning back in a sitting position, closing his eyes.
"Kikyou didn't worry either, Kikyou died"
InuYasha's eyes peeked open the moment his ears picked up on her words, his face had grown solemn, even if just for a short lived time.
"It was on the same day she shot ye with the arrow"
"Gee... Sorry to hear it, not that I really care or nothin'"
"You really are incredibly heartless, that you are"
InuYasha had forgotten about him. He turned his head to the male, his eyes revealing annoyance with him. Kenshin merely lay there, unafraid and glaring, still despite his current... predicament. Both of them glared at each other for a little while, at least before one of the two women interupted their thoughts.
"Kenshin, stop"
"Sit boy!"
Kenshin sighed out and turned his head away, while InuYasha found his face flat against the creaking floor boards. The red head knew that Kaede would not withstand fighting between them, espicially not in his current condition. He decided to try and rest instead. InuYasha on the other hand shot up with a growl, to glare in Kagome's direction. She in turn did the same with an annoyed mumble escaping her past her lips.
"You're being rude"
"What the hell do you call sitting me?!"
"InuYasha" came the voice of Kaede again.
InuYasha, regrettably or in this case, unregrettably tore his eyes from Kagome to glare in her direction.
"What do you want now?"
"I would not let my guard down if I were you, for I know now that Kagome happens to be the reincarnation of my sister"
Kagome turned her eyes over to the young priestess, confusion clear on her features as her small hands found themselves clasped over one another.
"And it is not only because ye resemble her" Kaede continued, her singular eye falling onto the young girl in odd clothes.
Kagome only found herself blinking quite a few times, while InuYasha furrowed his brow with the infamous "Keh" before laying on his side. The occasional twitch of his ears was indication though, that he happened to be listening in.
"The scared jewel was in your body, that alone is proof enough... It's up to ye now Kagome, to take over it's protection" she finished with a smile.
Soon enough, Kagome found herself along a path surrounded with farms and fairly large patterns of water. Her outfit had not changed but she now wore the Scared Jewel around her neck. A small hand of hers held onto it, big rounded brown eyes staring at the delicate looking object held within.
/ Me? Protecting this? / she thought.
"Who am I kidding?" she said to herself, looking up from the jewel and ahead of her.
She heard several of the village men some ways away from her current positon on the path. Turning towards them as they discussed her appearance in their home.
"She's the reincarnation of who?" two men repeated in unison.
"You gotta admit, there's something otherworldly about her" a mid-aged man said as they all turned to glance her way.
"About who?" an older lady approached, asking.
"They're sayin' that girl there is really Kikyou"
"That's Lady Kikyou, for those who respect her" said an elderly man.
"Me? I knew it was lady Kikyou all along"
"Lady Kikyo's come back just as she left"
Kagome's cheeks turned pink in embarrassment in seeing them bow their heads and placnig their palms in the other in prayer, it seemed. She turned her head away, with eyed surprise and confusion. Sure she could very well be the reincarnation of this Kikyou person, but was Kikyou really that great? Kagome pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind. Why wouldn't that priestess be...? I mean, they kept her in such high regards even after her death.
While all of that was happening to Kagome, InuYasha had perched himself on a high branch overlooking the village. He seemed to be staring into space, his arms crossed over his chest.
"She died... And I never knew" he spoke solemnly, to himself.
For some few short moments, he thought of his possible actions now. What would the future hold for him now? Espicially now that the stupid girl was... His thoughts were cut short then. Either of his ears twitched rapidly at the sound coming from behind him. Effortlessly, he reached back and caught something in his palm. He turned his head to look at the type of fruit then immediately at the girl underneath the tree.
"Hey, don't you want to eat?" she approached with several things on her person, most of which were all kinds of fruits in bags and some vegetables.
"Where'd you get all that stuff from?" he asked, curiousity getting the best of him.
"The villagers gave it to me. Why not come down from there and help me eat it?"
He regarded her with a bit of an annoyed glare but sooner rather than later, he found himself sitting next to her. In his hands he held a type of vegetable, so far he'd only taken a single bite out of it. She on the other hand, she was enjoying a small fruit. Occasionally chewing another small piece off when the last was swallowed after chewing. InuYasha turned his head and stared at her, with furrowed brows.
"Whatever you're up to, I ain't buying it"
"Buying what? Listen, It's fair to say you don't like me right?"
"Waaay more than fair"
"Whatever! It's not even me you dislike, it's this Kikyou person" she said with furrowed brows in hearing him say it like that.
InuYasha remained silent then, lowering his eyes over to the vegetable in either of his palms. Almost immediately after though, he leapt into the tree, dropping his meal in the process. Kagome just watched him do so before speaking again.
"I'm not Kikyou, okay? I'm Kagome, can't we just call a truce?"
InuYasha shot up from his laying position on the branch nearly seconds later, turning his head to look at her and jump to his feet, remaining on the branch. A victorious smirk over his lips, he pointed at her.
"Ha! I knew it! What you don't get is I'm only after the Jewel, you're just trying to lure me into a false sense of security!" long since then, had his smirk vanished though.
"Oh really?" Kagome said, glancing at the half eaten fruit in her hand.
InuYasha looked at her with both confusion and worry, then he remembered the...
"That's funny, considering all I have to do to make you obey is say the sit..."
InuYasha innerwardly groaned as he fell of the branch and his face slammed into his new friend... The dirt. As he hit the ground, Kagome shut her eyes and turned to look his way as the light from the necklace faded. She smiled and waved her hand in his direction.
"Whoops sorry about that"
InuYasha set his hands over the dirt and pushed his dirtied face off the ground with an annoyed stare. He groaned innerwardly again, at his luck and current predicament.
Later that night, Kagome and InuYasha had returned. Kagome currently lay in the extra futon provided by the one of the many kindly villagers, along with a kimono to act as a makeshift blanket. Kaede had left her in the capable care of Kenshin, who despite his injuries could look after her in the very least.
"It's been two days that I've been over here..." she mumbled to herself.
Kenshin who had painfully seated himself near the fire, rose to look at her form... Merely listening.
"Grandpa, Souta... Mom, they must be so worried, I gotta get back... No matter what"
The red head by the fire stared at her with a neutral expression but his heart could almost reach out to her. He knew the feeling of being torn away from everything so familiar, and be thrown somewhere unfamiliar. He lowered his eyes to the fire, thinking of what else the future held for that girl... And for him, too.
Little known to them, a pack of crows lay in wait. One in particular happened to be a demon crow. It looked exaclty like a crow save for the three red slitted eyes that adorned it's face and a rat like tail. InuYasha leapt from his resting place just behind them and sliced at each one with his claws, sending the crows flying off in fright.
"They've all come just cause them smell the Jewel, keh... stinkin' vultures" he said, in annoyance.
The night had come and went quite quickly, the sun was just rising over the horizon, casting a soft light within the sky and across the lands. Birds chirped here and there, while the rooster was heard singing out to wake everyone for their daily tasks.
Kagome however, had woken up earlier then everyone else it seemed. She was not used to being in this time, hardly had a wink of sleep in thinking of her family. Now she stood atop a hill, over looking the village. It really was beautiful, Kagome had to admit that but... It wasn't her home. She turned on her heel and headed into the forest.
Back at the village, Kaede walk about quickly, her thoughts raced as her face and voice held naught but concern.
"Kagome? Kagome? Where have ye gone?"
Two village men ran over to her, one of them spoke.
"We looked everywhere, but we've found no trace of her"
"Could be she went off on her own? We spoke of the seekers of the Jewel, but not nearly enough it seems.." she was disheartened, her single eye looking into the ripples of the water nearby.
InuYasha stood on a home close by, his eyes on the young priestess and his ears moving about atop his head. So... That stupid girl went off alone. Trust her to watch the jewel. InuYasha inwardly groaned for the hundredth time that morning.
While they weer about looking for her, Kagome travelled on. Her eyes observing her surroundings, one couldn't really help but admire the greenery, if it was just a quick glance. As she walked, she hadn't heard the light thudding of sandals hitting the grassy hill to her right. Before she could even think to run towards the well, several hands clasped over her arms and even her mouth to avoid her sceams from reaching the ears of travelling people. Soon she found her chin pressed against the hard wooden floors of a cabin in the forest, that rough push had caused her to shut her eyes.
"Ow..." she said, in struggling but that man was too strong.
"Hey Boss! We caught the girl just like you said we should"
Thankfully that man that had pressed her down, lifted the pressure from her. Kagome opened her eyes then, all she wanted to do was sit up and rub at her chin but she lay there, hoping that they'd even forget she was there but... Fate seemed cruel at the moment. A male from her right, dressed in a shirt blue kimono knelt by her.
"ehehe, her kimono's shorter then mine. You're gonna catch cold if you go around half dressed" he said, reaching over to tug at the green skirt a bit.
Kagome's eyes grew wide and her cheeks turned pink. She shot up, causing surprised glances from the men. Her hands covering the skirt where he had tugged.
"Don't do that! It'll rip!"
Each male grinned and laughed, two in particular spoke their thoughts.
"What's the matter princess? Our hands too dirty for ya?"
"Marry me and I'll buy you a new one" another said with a laugh.
"Hand over the Jewel. Right now" A voice finally came from the shadows.
The man was tall when he stood, his skin was deathly pale and his movement was not ordinary. He wore flimsy armor and clothes, with a sword as his left hand. Slowly he reached and pulled the sword from it's sheath, the blade shone in the little light that pushed in through the worn windows. The other males grabbed her arms, stretching them outward which caused shock and surprise from her.
"Hey Boss, try taking it off in one swing. Like a dandylion." one of them said, pushing her foward with the other.
The tall male titled as "boss" rose his sword above his head, Kagome shut her eyes tightly in fear for her life. She heard a loud tear followed with splattering of... Blood, and the voice asking why. She opened her eyes and saw one of the bandits slowly falling to the floor, covering in blood.
"Whoopsie" he said in a raspy voice, followed with a light laugh.
Kagome and the others moved away when the "boss" tried to strike at her again. She was quite afraid now, why was this man after her? Wait... The Jewel. His target was the Jewel! But... Before she think futher on the topic, some hands grabbed her wrists and others on her shoulders.
"Boss! Boss! Where you aimin'? She's the one you want!"
Kagome was pushed in the direction of the one seeking her life, but she had it. Turning on her heel, she slapped their hands off her form.
"Wait! Can't you tell there's something wrong with your "boss"?! Now get your butts in gear or next it'll be you two! Do I have to tell you everything?" she continued on, with her pointing of the finger right at their faces.
She knew it was rude to point, but they had her so angry right now that she couldn't help but do it. They ducked moments after her outburst and Kagome realized that she wasn't out of the woods yet. She ducked just in time, as the blade passed just where her head had been. The school girl made mental note to thank her lucky star. The males ran to the left and right, she was left on her own. Kagome shut her eyes and ran between the legs of the tall male, she bolted across the room.
/ Here I am, in feudal Japan, playing duck duck goose with an eight foot troll! /
InuYasha dashed through the grass at high speeds, leaping across the river and then returning to his course. His sensitive nose had easily picked up on her scent, now he just had to pin point it. A long high speed leap brought him to a secured branch. The ears atop his ears moved at every little sound around him, his nose twitched and his eyes darted the surrounding area.
"Stupid girl! I don't care where she goes, but she took the Jewel with her!" he yelled to himself, before leaping off again.
Kagome and the group of men was still running from the Boss, while he'd sliced down about three statues of Buddhists, several mats and pillars, if not more. It was a wonder that the worn cabin of sorts hadn't entirely collapsed yet, but it was beginning to. Pieces of the roof had falling in the way of the door, halting their exit. One in particular had been caught in the mass of rumble, thankfully enough though, it was just a portion of his legs. Kagome aidded him out with some trouble, she had the taller male lean against her to walk further form the boss with the group. The more she walked, the closer the boss got, and the group were no help.
"The Jewel... Give it to me"
/ It's after the Jewel... I wish I didn't have it... /
The boss rushed to them but luckily they were well of the path of destruction by then, but the wall wasn't so lucky. it cracked under the pressure. Kagome turned and saw that the boss was not struggling to his feet. That gave her a few precious but short moments to think... The Jewel, it sought the Jewel.
"Take him" she said to the other bandits, letting two of them grab their friend.
Kagome gave a last glance at the tall pale man, before tearing the Jewel from it's place around her neck. She then proceeded to throw it past the rubble that was left at their exit, that got the brute's attention and she turned to the group, telling them to bash through the the crack in the wall. Much to her and their dismay, that didn't work. They apologized and called her boss when they'd failed.
"What did you just- I'm not your boss" she yelled, and she would have probably continued if if weren't for the heavy, approaching steps behind her.
She turned just in time to see the giant "troll" raise his sword and swing. Tightly she shut her eyes and clasped her hands together. Hoping against hope that she would not be sliced in half. Time passed by so quickly. She heard a crash and pieces of heavy mateial hitting the wooden floors, followed with a loud grunt and a loud clang of metal. Kagome peeked her eyes opened slowly and smiled at the sight, InuYasha had come. InuYasha punched the tall male several times, causing him to fall back against the creaking floors. As soon at the red clad boy had landed on his feet, the bandits rushed by them.
"We're out of here boss!"
"Thanks again"
They all exited where InuYasha had torn a hole through, Kagome just ignored then.
"I can't believe you actually came" she said, sounding happy.
"Is it safe? Where's the Jewel?"
"Jewel?" she responded, with her eyes growing wide with surrpise.
"Oh no! Tell me you did not just say that!" he replied, his own eyes growing wide but for an entirely different reason.
Kagome let out a nervous laugh then, with her mouth twitching in the slightest. A thud coming from behind them caught both their attention. InuYasha's attention was brought to the smell of decomposing flesh, which had him use his sleeve to try and block it out. The former boss stood and in doing so, the flimsy armor fell apart, revealing a hole where the man's heart should have been. A crow's head peered out with a screech.
"Uhh... What's that?" she said with a disgusted voice.
"How much you wanna bet that bird ripped his living heart out and made itself a bloody nest" InuYasha responded with a bit of a knowing smirk, lowering his sleeve.
"I knew there was something wrong, the bird made him a puppet"
"Carrying Crows don't fight on their own when there's dead bodies handy, they ain't so tough but they're hella nasty!" InuYasha had begun to rub his feet against the wooden floors, much like a bull before charging in.
He leapt towards the taller male moments later, piercing with his right hand through the hole in which the crow had been. It however, escaped through another hole in the back around the same area as the other. The crow flew out about the rubble that wasleft in the earlier escapades and made it's way to the Jewel, it's prize.
"It's getting away! Aren't you going after it?"
"Maybe you haven't noticed but the world is full of monsters, you want I should go after 'em all?"
"Yeah, but..."
"No but, you wanna start doin' the fighting, be my guest"
The crow, in the time they'd been arguing. had found it's prize and took it between it's beak. Victorious, it took flight just in time for the two to look on as it escaped with said Jewel. InuYasha was less then pleased, as he found himself yelling at the idiot of a girl. She yelled back but he had made his decision. The halfing took her wrist rather forcefully in his anger and crashed forth with her in tow behind him.
"Come on!" he shouted out with gruffness but halted upon seeing something to his left.
Looking over, amber eyes fell onto two horses that had remained behind. Both of which held a bow and a quiver of arrows at their side. Kagome looked over as well, confusion was clear on her features. Soon though, she found herself on InuYasha's back with the quiver at her back and a bow in hand. He rushed with high speeds after the demon crow which had made off with the Jewel. He leapt into some trees to gain momentum before soaring into the air.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and shoot it!"
"Shoot? You're kiddin right? I've never used a bow in my life"
"The crow lives by eating human flesh, if you think that's bad, let it swallow the Jewel" he landed by then and proceed to rush forth after the crow again.
In saying that, the crow finally swallows the Jewel with a screech.
"Ah! It swallow it! Fine, I'll try"
"Thank you"
/ And after she takes it out, it's her turn / He thought.
Kagome pulled an arrow from the quiver, and hesitantly secured it to the bow with a bit of trouble but she managed.
"Kikyou was a master archer, take it in one shot" he said, leaping in the eye and soaring.
"I told you, my name's Kagome!"
/ Still... Kikyou, lend me your strength /
With that thought, she let the arrow fly and her eyes seemed hopeful at least until the projectile fell from it's path and with it, InuYasha fell to a sliding halt in the dirt. Kagome glanced down at the back of his head with furrowed brows, her hands cluthed tightly.
"What the- I thought you said she was a master archer!"
"She was! It's you that's the klutz" he lifted his head to look back at her, glaring.
The crow demon in that time had chosen then to grow double it's size and InuYasha shot up to his feet, taking chase again.
"See how big it is, do it!"
Kagome, despite the protests she wanted to yell out at him, held her tongue and readied another arrow. She let it fly moments later, however the arrow fell just as the last had done. InuYasha had enough. He slid to a stop and pushed her off his back, whipping around while ignoring her pained yelp.
"I don't care what that girl says, you are not Kikyou! I am so out of here!" he said, pointing her in the process before bolting off on his own.
"InuYasha, wait!"
The crow was on it's way to a village that lay nearby, it's target was clearly a small child. It grabbed a young boy that seemed no older then four, before flying over the river. The cries of the mother could be heard, but InuYasha, who was rushing over the trees in a hurry to kill the stupid bird, was ignoring her pleas. His ears picked up on Kagome's voice however..
"InuYasha, don't! You'll hurt the boy!"
"Back off!" he said in taking a powerful leap from the row of trees, his claws taking on a yellow glow that sliced through the bird like butter.
The pieces of the bird fell from the air and into the river, where the boy also joined in. InuYasha landed by the river, frantically looking for the Jewel. The group of people followed after the young boy that was by pulled by the current. Kagome followed the group but halted in seeing no one jumping in to help. It seems she had to do it. She pulled off her socks and shoes rapidly before running in and jumping into the rough waters. She swam expertly enough, so much so that a male in the crowd of people watching became her personal cheerleader of sorts.
Kagome took hold of the boy and he clung to her shirt, afraid. She would have smiled if it wasn't for the situation at hand. With some effort on her part, she and the boy made it to shore where the mother waited. The older woman pulled the young boy to her form, thanking her several times.
"Save the Jewel, stupid! The Jewel"
Kagome looked back at InuYasha who stood across the river and sent him a glare, she turned her head with her eyes closing. InuYasha was apparently taken aback by her reaction.
"Thank you for saving me"
"It's okay" she said with a smile, opening her eyes.
While they were preoccupied with everything else, the crow's piece reconstructed in the water and eventually it flew off again.
"Hey! It's getting away!"
"Huh? I guess you're off the hook for now pal"
A few frightened cries from the boy caught most, if not all of their attention. They took noticed that the foot of the crow still seemed to be attached to the boy's clothes, and it was moving. Kagome regarded it for a short time then an idea came to mind. Looking around at the group, she spotted just what she was looking for.
"Hey, could I borrow your bow?" she said, approaching the tall male.
He seemed confused, but handed it to her anyway. She took the foot of the crow and tied it to an arrow with a rope. Kagome secured the arrow and aimed for the crow that was a great distance away by now.
"My butt she's gonna hit it" she heard dog boy say.
"I can do this, I know it"
Sooner rather than later, she let the arrow fly. InuYasha noticed then what she had planned, the foot! In moments the projectile hit and pushed through the demon crow. A loud screech was over welled with the pain and the light that shone. The next few minutes rushed by. First the bright lights overtook the skies, next tiny specks of lights shot in many differnt directions, much like hundreds, if not thousands of shooting stars.
I apologize for the long wait of this chapter. Really, I am. But I hope the length of it makes up for the wait. Anyway, I think I'll take a short break of about a week or so from writing. I know, I'm sure you all want to know what happens with Kenshin in the next chapter, but that will come soon enough.
With that being said, I hope you have a grand morning, afternoon or evening. Much Love!
