Kikyo watched as Suikotsu fixed up a cut on one of the children's legs before coming outside to talk with her.
"So priestess, what brings you in this area? I have to say that there isn't another village around for miles."
"Well, I have been following a series of rumors about some group called the band of seven. Have you heard of them?" Suikotsu frowned thoughtfully before shaking his head.
"No, I'm sorry priestess. I wish I could be of more help to you." Kikyo smiled and shook her head.
"No, it's quite alright. Um…if you don't mind me asking, why are you taking care of so many young children all on your own?"
"Well," he sighed and looked back towards the cabin as they walked towards a nearby well. "I just…couldn't leave them all alone. A few days ago I was traveling in this area. I have no idea where I had been but I was looking around for a place to stay when I saw these children sitting on the steps of a cabin that had been burned to the ground in some village not too far from here. They said something about playing in a field and when they returned, their village had been burned to the ground. There was no way to know whether or not their parents had fled or been killed so I brought them along with me. I found this deserted cabin and we've been staying here for while now. Just us. Every now and then, a villager will venture out here for my help. I'm pretty sure you've noticed that I'm a doctor."
"Mmhm and a pretty good one too." Kikyo smiled as they continued to walk down the grassy path. So it seems he has no idea about the shard. "Dr. Suikotsu, I'm sorry for all the questions but you said that you didn't know where you'd been?"
"Yeah…I guess I may be suffering from a bit of amnesia."
"Can you remember anything at all?"
"No…well…just fire…fire and I remember burning buildings but I guess I blanked out at some point." Dr. Suikotsu and Kikyo stopped at the well. So he has no idea that he's already dead…how sad.
"Dr…hey doctor? What is the matter?" While Kikyo was lost in thought, she did not notice Suikotsu when he dropped to the ground.
"My hands…blood…all over them…OH NO! I HAVE TO WASH MY HANDS!" He ran over to the well and started drawing water quickly. Some of the children heard him screaming and came to see what all the fuss was about.
"Oh no! Priestess, you have to help him!" Kikyo stood there and watched as the frail man frantically began washing his hands.
"But children, there's not any blood on his hands. Why is he acting this way?"
"Sometimes he gets like this priestess…he'll wash his hands for hours!" Kikyo leaned over and tapped Suikotsu on the shoulder but he violently pushed her away.
"STAND BACK OR ELSE YOU'LL GET BLOOD ALL OVER YOU!" Kikyo stared at him curiously. Could it be the effects of the shard?
"PRIESTESS! PRIESTESS! COME QUICK!" Kikyo turned to see some of the other children heading her way.
"What is it?"
"There's some thing shooting at us!"
"Go and hide somewhere children! I'll take care of this." She looked down at Suikotsu but he was still in a state of shock. Guess I'll have to leave him here. There was a loud crash immediately diverting Kikyo's attention back to the matter at hand. She took out her bow and headed in the direction of the crash. I hope it's something I can easily take care of.
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"INUYASHA, DID YOU HEAR THAT?" Myoga shouted. Inuyasha and Jakotsu both stopped to see what was up.
"That crash…Oh goody! That must be Renkotsu and the others!" Jakotsu shouted. "Hate to tease and run but duty calls." He swung the trick blade one last time before disappearing into a wave of miasma up the mountainous terrain.
"Damn it! He got away. Hey Myoga, any idea what that crash could have been?" Myoga hopped onto Inuyasha's shoulders and frowned.
"I don't know master Inuyasha, but I think we should follow them."
"How do we know which way to go?" Sango asked.
"Easy. Just follow the…what the hell?" Inuyasha looked on the rocky ground and noticed their were tracks going in every direction. "I can't pick up his scent either…damn miasma." Inuyasha sighed and put his tetsaiga away.
"I say we keep going south Inuyasha. We're bound to run into them sometime soon."
"Yeah, I agree with Miroku," Kagome added.
"Yeah let's just get going…" There was another loud crash and a piercing scream that made the hairs on Inuyasha's head stand.
"Master Inuyasha!"
"Let's go! Kagome, on my back!" Kagome quickly climbed onto Inuyasha's back; the others followed suit and headed off after Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha? What is it? Do you smell something?" Sango asked.
"Yeah, I just picked up a scent…a bunch actually. They all smell like graveyard soil."
"That must be the band since they are all supposedly traveling together now." Once more a scream pierced the air like a knife and it made the group uncomfortable.
"Inuyasha, sounds like someone is in big trouble."
"Yeah I know, but…I can't sense anyone else!"
"Inuyasha, I'm starting to pick up sacred jewel shards…there are several in the area!" Kagome shouted.
"Oh yeah! Looks like we've hit the jackpot!"
"No, but Inuyasha…something's not right. I have a bad feeling…"
"We're almost up the mountain…Myoga, why do I feel funny about this place? It's like…"
"Inuyasha, I think we're near the mountain Kikyo warned you about. Mt.Hakurei maybe?" Myoga commented.
"Hmmm…that would explain the weird spiritual pressures I'm picking up," Miroku said. They had reached the top of the mountain and as soon as Inuyasha headed down the rocky side, he had to quickly dodge a small cannon that had been fired.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Inuyasha and the others landed, only to find Jakotsu sitting on top of a huge tank with his other siblings.
"Oh goody! Look Renkotsu, it's Inuyasha! Isn't he quite the looker?"
"Oh give me a break. He's alright. Anyway, they aren't important right now."
"That's right. We have more urgent matters to deal with."
"HEY YOU! DON'T YOU ACT LIKE WE AREN'T STANDING HERE!" Inuyasha took out his tetsaiga, readying himself for battle. "Hey…wait a sec, don't I know you?"
"Who me?" Bankotsu said smiling. "Oh no, I do believe you are sadly mistaken. I may look like someone that you used to know…"
"Cut the act! I know I've seen you somewhere before but that doesn't matter. From the looks of it, you're also part of the band of seven. Tell me, why is it that I only see four of you? Who's missing?"
"If you must know Inuyasha, we are not here to fight you…at least not right now. Two of our party are no longer alive. Your dear old brother killed Mukotsu and Kyokotsu met a pack of angry wolves but that's neither here nor there," Bankotsu replied.
"Suikotsu, come on! We haven't the time for this! If you keep this up, your little friend will meet her end. Just look at her." Suikotsu looked down at Kikyo, who was now passed out on the ground. Her hair had come undone and her clothes were slightly torn. There was also a huge cut on her right arm and white orbs were leaking out of her.
"Inuyasha…is that…" He looked over to where Suikotsu was standing and saw that he was standing over a woman…a woman that looked just like…
"Master Inuyasha! I think that's Kikyo!" Inuyasha dropped Kagome and started quickly towards Kikyo, but Jakotsu stopped him with his trick blade.
"Tsk tsk Inuyasha. This does not concern you," Bankotsu replied.
"LIKE HELL IT DOESN'T!" He started towards her once more but Renkotsu began firing rounds at them.
"Dammit!"
"Inuyasha, I wonder what they want with Suikotsu?" Sango asked.
"HEY YOU! WHY ARE YOU MESSING WITH THAT GUY? JUDGING FROM THE LOOK ON HIS FACE, I'D SAY HE WANTS YOU ALL TO FUCK OFF!"
"For your information Inuyasha, the good doctor here is our little brother. Isn't that right Suikotsu?" Suikotsu stared wildly between Kikyo, who had now started to sit up and his fellow bretherin.
"No…no I won't go! You can't make me! I can't…NO MORE BLOOD!"
"Suikotsu, don't tell you've done gone and went soft on me. Come come now. We haven't all day. We have jewels to gather so that we can become strong again."
"Ban…kotsu…leave him…alone." Kikyo stood up and aimed an arrow at right at Bankotsu's neck. Her hair was whipping gracefully in the wind as she stood there staring down her adversaries.
"Inuyasha look! She's standing now!" Myoga shouted. Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat when he saw her standing there. He was happy and yet there was a sadness about him. He could tell that it was taking a lot of energy for her to stand there. Her face was dirty from the battle and seeing her out there all alone…
"Inuyasha? We have to do something," Miroku whispered. "I fear for her life…and if we just stand here and…" Without hearing another word, Inuyasha took off after Kikyo.
"No you don't you pathetic half-demon!" Bankotsu shouted, as Jakotsu aimed for Inuyasha once more. He missed as Sango's hiraikotsu stopped the attack.
"Damn you woman!" Jakotsu shouted, making ready to run at Sango but Genkotsu fired a round trapping them all inside a ring of blazing fire.
"Dammit all!" Bankotsu laughed now turning his attention back to Kikyo and the good doctor.
"Well, well priestess," said Bankotsu teasingly, "looks like you're on your own. What will you do now?"
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What will you do priestess? Naraku laughed as he continued to observe from afar.
AN: Sorry for the late updates. School, Naruto, Harry Potter. All of the above are reasons why this update has been delayed. I'll update again this week. Possibly before friday. I am so not giving up on this one. I have plans for my dearly beloved Kikyo. Anyway, R&R. Lots of love guys: