Last time:
As either looked above, there stood a woman on a few strands of hair, though unlike Kagome, he could not see them. To him, that woman seemed to be standing on nothing but air. The woman had what appeared to be a dress of some kind that left very little to the imagination. She were similar colored gloves on her hands. She had somewhat of a bob cut in a deep sea green color, her skin pale and she wore some type of paint on her eye lids and red colored lips. There also appeared to be a short katana at her hip. The demon female regarded the pair with magenta eyes as she moved her fingers here and there.
"Who are you?" Kagome asked sternly.
Kenshin slowly reached for his blade at his hip and stepped before Kagome, sensing danger from the other female. He'd never forgive himself if something were to happen to her.
The Ribbon That Binds Us (Returned Home)
The woman in the air stared at Kenshin with amusement dancing in her eyes, on occasion, she moved her fingers and that did not go unnoticed by Kagome. She furrowed her brow to the female standing on several strands of hair. Kenshin on the other hand repositioned himself carefully in such a way that if she were to attack, he would be able to quick draw his own blade.
Meanwhile, InuYasha bounded off the ground and soared into the sky, his hair and clothes flared about as the wind blew passed his frame. His brow immediately furrowed in an annoyed scowl at the voice of the woman who started all of this, saying that that she "was going home". After a brief time he said to himself that he'd let her. In his mind, he didn't need her help and he wasn't going to let some priestess's sister tell him otherwise.
As he soared over trees and such, the village in which Kaede resided with a few dozen families came into view. He skillfully landed onto one of the many wooden huts with only a slight creak from the wood beneath his feet. Repeating that with another, when he bounded off the last until finally, either of his feet once again touched solid ground at that moment he noticed some of the village women and girls floating through the air. InuYasha regarded them with either of his golden ambers, taking note of some carrying some type tool, such as knives or cleavers.
"Well, I guess I shouldn't ask what you're up to"
With his saying that, the one's with some variety of weapon in hand lifted them with the arm in which the hand had held onto the object. He apparently failed to notice though that they were not concious, only their other limbs seemed to move with an unseen force.
"Alright! Now this it what I'm talkin' about!" he smirked suddenly, lifting his arms in front of him and somewhat seperating one foot from the other.
The unconcious floating woman slowly approached as if a wild wolf getting close to it's prey. Meanwhile, Kenshin stood there still as a rock but his eyes remained on the short haired woman some few feet above them. He noticed her fingers moving but as much as he tried to see, nothing was attached.
"How do you do? I'm Yura of the hair. Though you needn't bother to remember" she said smoothly with red painted lips.
Kenshin suddenly went on guard, about to draw his sword as if sensing something dangerous. Kagome glanced at him, somewhat curious but her eyes quickly rose up again to look at the woman standing on hair strands.
"... Because you'll be dead soon!" she yelled out, her voice sounded somewhat excited as she sent several strands of hair down at the pair.
Time slowed somewhat as Kenshin's eyes grew wide, yet he could still see nothing however, he did a series of actions next, instead of just standing there. He lifted his hand from his sword and sheath, then turned to embrace Kagome, shielding her from most of the stings. Kagome had her eyes closed during most of that, but either of her brown eyes open in feeling something being pulled from her jacket, followed by the voice of that woman.
"I'll be having the Jewel if you don't mind!"
Kagome gasped as she watched the small red make shift bottle quickly made it's way to Yura, which she caught. The hair demoness took the piece that was contained within the object and with wide magenta eyes, and a surprised expression, she stared at it.
"You naughty, naughty girl. You shattered the Jewel. Where's the rest, or I shall be cross"
"You give that back" the young girl said aloud, though inside, she was incrediably nervous.
"It is not right to steal from others, that it is not. Return what you took, and I will cut you down" Kenshin said, turning his head to look over his shoulder at the woman.
Kenshin was never one to fight women before, but in this world he learned a great deal. Human women were for the most part, passive. Demon women were a great deal different however. Yura momentarily glared down at the red head before returning her attention on Kagome.
"Answer the question, where is the rest of it?"
"I'm... I'm not really sure"
Kenshin glared up at the woman, noticing the sword at her hip being drawn by an unseen force, at least it looked so to him. The demon lady took hold of the hilt and prepared an attack.
"In that case... I may as well finish you right now" Yura said as she leapt down from some strands of hair, her arm ready for a quick horizontal stroke.
Kenshin turned his head and pulled Kagomed closer, at the last minute however, Kagome's footing slipped. Either of them fell into the well but not without Yura having cut some red-orange strands from his loose ponytail. Time picked up again, as Kagome screamed and Kenshin held onto her in a protective manner.
"No fair!" he heard the woman above before throwing her sword now.
But in moments the pair was engulfed with a bright while and blue light, and Kenshin had to shut his eyes, his hold on Kagome remained strong. Yura remained above when no vibes or anything else was felt, either of her feet landed on the edges of the well. With a light tug, her sword returned to her hand. Magenta eyes focused on the darkness below.
"That's strange... Come to think of it, so was that girl"
Meanwhile InuYasha predicatment hadn't changed, the group of women still floated around even after he dodged each of their attacks. But something was off...
"I knew something was off, I reconize these girls from the village. Look is somebody gonna tell me what's going on, or do you want another fight? 'Cause it's fine if you do. Just don't expect I'll go easy on ya" he said, and by the end he cracked his knuckles with ease.
"InuYasha! Wait" same the voice to his right, where Kaede stepped from a hut, only to collaspe on her knees.
Kaede seemed to be in a great deal of pain, considering her left shoulder had been cut through with some form of sharp object. The smell of her blood rushed to his nose in a matter of moments, while she tried to push herself up on her feet again. A hand reaching for her bloodied shoulder, while tears seemed to sting her eyes. A few sweat beads rolled down her face as her body seemed to be trying to fight back the pain.
"Do not hurt them, It is not their doing"
"Kaede?" he said, and for a time he stood there.
After a prolonged moment, InuYasha took a big leap over the floating girls and landed before Kaede, she was not in the least bit surprised by that feat. He was a demon... Or at least, half of one after all.
"What happened? You look awful!"
"Must you always treat me as you do, InuYasha?"
"About the girls, it's them or us, and I choose us!" he said standing upright from his previous crouching position.
In that time, the girls had surrounded them. Either triangular shape moved at every little sound, if only for a short time.
"But someone else is controlling them" she responded quickly.
InuYasha kept his eyes on the girls while she spoke, nearly immediately after she had, he heard a gasp coming from her which had in turn caught his attention.
"Where is Kagome? Tell me ye know where she is" she seemed to be glancing around their surroundings.
"All I know is that she said she was going home. What's the big deal anyway? I can handle this without her" he reponse was, as his eyes regarded their surroundings the same way.
"Nay, you must not hurt them, InuYasha"
"Your heart bleeds in more ways than one, priestess but you're planning on seeing tomorrow, we gotta do something"
Kaede repositioned herself as comfortably as as she could, being on the ground. Her dark brown eyes glanced around them before speaking aloud, as the girls were seen changing places and such. Her right hand lay just over the wound, causing a pained gasp to escape her.
"Control the strings and ye control the puppets"
The floating ladies took that moment to set their individual attacks in motion. Two attempted to have a hack at the red clad male, but he dodged with ease.
"I don't see you helping none, wench"
"The hair, InuYasha. Find the hair and she will wake!"
"Hair? I don't see any hair!" he said, while turning to face yet another assault.
On the other end, sat Yura. She had seated herself on a mid-high branch, and her fingers were wrapped in hair which she controlled. Her lips turned into an o shape as if surprisingly pleased by this new discovery of hers.
"Oh me, Oh my... I'll definately be wanting this one for my collection"
While she was occupied in planning ways to get what she sought, InuYasha was there fighting. He leapt at one woman, with then attention to grab her in some way however she seemed to dissappear before his very eyes. Though his ears told him differently. Quickly he rose his head to look above him and there she was, that woman aimed right for his torso. Or so he assumed. The group followed suit after her. Kaede had in all that time watched carefully despite her injury. When she took noticed of what they were doing, her single eye grew wide.
"InuYasha, it's a trap! Flee the hair!"
Her realization had come too late, and several dozen black hair had seemed to entrap InuYasha to the point where he could hardly moved a limb. He couldn't see them, but he sure as hell could feel them! InuYasha grunted as he tried to break free, to no avail. Though luckilly he could still at the very least dodge. Because it was at that moment a woman flew at him with a short axe with the intent to kill. InuYasha leapt backyards with power to the point where the hair that seemed attached to him and the woman, slackened and she fell along with another.
"Whoever's doing this ain't too smart, 'cause even all tangled up I don't need to see to drag out whoever's on the other end" he said, with a smirk and leapt back again with a bit more power.
After a short moment the hair slackened on him again due to Yura's choice in doing so, which in turn caused him to slid on his back along the dirt.
"Perhaps it's time to tie things up" Yura said from her end, while red strands appeared over along her fingers and she seperated either of them.
On InuYasha's end though, he was slammed into a tree without mercy as the strands around his frame seemed to tighten. As he was stuck there, he felt more strands restraining his movement. Panic inwardly gripped at him as he felt two on his neck slowly tightening against his windpipe. He bared his fangs with a grunt or two, as he fough agains the restraints. And despite Kaede's voice reaching his ears, she clearly could do nothing to help him. Suddenly he felt more pressure along his entire frame, including his neck. If this continued, he really would die!
The decision was made, he wouldn't die here! Not today! He leaned forward with continous grunts, despite the now enormous pressure on his throat and with a final scream, he tore through both the tree at his back and the strings that had bound him. Opposite to him, the tree's days was at an end as pieces fell. That included the larger part, too. InuYasha landed on his feet as they did, taking deep breaths of air.
Meanwhile, on Yura's end. All the hairs wrapped along her fingers went slack, much to her dissappointment.
"Hm? The hair is slack. The cut was not clean" she said as her pout deepened into a frown.
Once again, returning to the halfing and the priestess. Kaede had managed to stand and approach InuYasha, while he was busy breathing in the hair in a bit of a panic. His clawed hand held onto his own neck loosely.
"Ah man! I thought I was a goner!"
"And so would ye have been, were ye normal, InuYasha"
InuYasha and Kaede were too caught up in taking, that they had not noticed the seemed to be unconcious men surrounded them, at least if it were not for the sounds or something being picked up. Much like the women, the ment held some form of weapon or farming equipment. They both glanced at the unconcious men.
"Men... From the village"
"Know somethin'? I'm getting real sick of this"
As they surrounded the duo, Kaede thought for a moment. As priestess, it was her duty to protect others wasn't it? Even if happened to be InuYasha. That or she could not stand the thought of InuYasha spilling their blood, either way...
"InuYasha, save yourself. Forget about me, I am useless as I am"
"Oh spare me the noble act, will ya?" he said turning his head to look at her as she collapsed.
Kaede reached for her wounded shoulder, with a pained expression.
"Hey! Are you okay!?"
InuYasha gazed at her for a moment or so, and he felt like he could ALMOST see... He pushed that thought aside before his eye brows furrowed and he bared his fangs, if only for a moment.
"Tch... Thanks a lot"
While InuYasha was busy watching his own back and making sure Kaede didn't faint or anything. Yura, in her seated spot on the tree was at this moment, was gently and expertly looking at each and every strand, one by one. One in particular caught her eye. A single strand of silver was tangled with a black one. Surprise gripped at her, as her eyes fell onto it.
"Ooh.. What pretty silver hair"
InuYasha and Kaede had in that time, managed to escape their predicament with the men. Currently Kaede was on InuYasha's back as he held onto her thighs to keep her from falling. He was landing and soaring through the air, only to repeat.
"Beware, InuYasha... Lest you touch, the hair will..."
Before she could finish speaking, InuYasha passed through the strands of hair that was left, causing several of them to snap apart. Kaede hadn't expected that and so braced herself for what she thought was to come. In noticing that the hair coming into contact with him snapped and fell apart, she relaxed somewhat.
"Hey, did you say something?"
"Not at all..."
Yura of the hair, the demon swung from approximately three or four strands of hair, chasing after them with a smile. She rose her left hand which held onto the silver strand that had previously fallen from InuYasha and entangled on one of the ones she controlled.
"He's stubborn, but also fun. And I positively must have this pretty silver hair of his"
During the early evening where the sun seemed to be setting at it's own pace, InuYasha made it to the forest, having gotten away from the danger for now. He had placed Kaede on a bed of leaves that he'd previously hastily made.
"Did I hear you say you can see the hair?"
Kaede had her eye shut due the pain that had continuously shot through her being due to the wound at her shoulder. Some sweat had begun to form at her forehead and cheeks, but even so, she managed a nod at his question. InuYasha kept his eyes on her, but knew that the danger was still out there and so he pressed on.
"Can you tell me where the hair is being pulled from?"
"That's absurd, InuYasha. With me in this condition, and assuming I knew from whence the strands of hair came. Ye must find Kagome" she responded with quite a bit of difficulty.
InuYasha having been kneeling next to the young priestess, in a bit of a crude fashion but a kneel nonetheless, furrowed his brow at her at the mention of the girl. She was annoying, and it seemed that Kaede was pushing her onto him.
"You mean, she can see it too?"
"Aye, and in order to defeat this foe, ye will need that power. Without it, ye have no hope. None." with that, she shut her singular eye.
InuYasha stared down at her with his brows lifted slightly, just as the dying light of the sun faded behind him.
Meanwhile, in the time where Kagome resided, the sun too was fading beyond the horizon. The fading light casting a bit of a shadow here and there on the buildings. Big and small. One particular building being casted in shadow, from within a well, a young girl dressed in priestess garb and long raven hair that had managed to stay bound back with a white ribbon, yet some stray strands had broken free. A red head atop her, with his arms around her frame as a means of protection.
Suddenly Kagome groaned awake as her eyes slowly opened, she felt a bit more weight over her. Glancing up grogily, her cheeks immdiately took a red hue. The raven haired girl stayed still for just a moment before pushing him off hasitly. She held her hand over her chest, back turned to him as he stirred awake. Kenshin opened his eyes and pushed himself up into a sitting positon. Either of his blue hues took a little time to adjust to the dark, but then suddenly voices from above.
"But we've already been in here a dozen times"
He overheard the gasp to his right, and noticed Kagome was glancing up as some shred of light pushed through the darkness in the well. Kenshin too, glanced up to the mouth of the well, the voices got closer and closer.
"But Grandpa, I keep telling you... This is where she fell"
Judging from the two voices, he deducted that one was elderly and the other was a young boy, perhaps. Kenshin winced away at the sudden light casted down on their frames, but adjusted quickly enough.
"But are you sure that you weren't dreaming?"
"But I wasn't!" the younger voice cried out, in quick response.
"G-Grandpa? Souta?!" Kagome shouted up at them, with clear surprise.
After a short few minutes, the two were brought from the well with a wooden ladder. Kagome was now standing in front of her grandfather and little brother, either of them too concerned for her. Either of her dark brown eyes stared out at the shrine, and the city that lay beyond and even further to the horizon.
"You were missing for three full days! The least you could have done was call" she overheard her grandfather say, knowing he was only concerned for her safety.
"And why are you wearing those weird old clothes?"
Kenshin watched from behind them, as they asked her questions. But something told him that she was merely happy to be back. So this was her time, was it? Blue eyes wandered the area. Her home. Kenshin sighed out. He was really beginning to miss his own home, once again.
/ It's not a dream. I'm really back. I've come back. /
Kagome continued to stare ahead of her, but the familiar sting came back too as tears slowly welled up within her eyes. Without too much thought, she turned her heel and found herself in her grandfather's arms, crying. That had caught the attention of the redhead, and he couldn't help but smile a little. She seemed to be happy and relieved to have returned after what could have seemed like an eternity for her.
"Oh! Grandpa! I was so scared!" she said through her shaky voice and tearful eyes, that had shut.
"Oh, Kagome... What on Earth"
I'm sorry if this chapter seems so short to you, but I tried. I really did. But with all the crap going on within my life right now, it's been difficult. I recently gotten rid of a cold but now I'm dealing with an ear infection and chest pains. So yes, I'm a bit of a walking disaster at the moment. I do hope however, that this chapter is good enough for the time being. I wanted to get this one done on the promised date, and with that being said, I'll try and get the next one written as soon as possible.
On a side note, it would be kind of cool to have fanart of Kenshin in the InuYasha universe. Don't you think so too? :o
Much love to all of you. 3 See you on the next one.
