Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha only my oc
"Please wait, Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin pleaded.
She, Jaken, and Ah-Un were trailing behind. Sesshomaru was steadily walking ahead them. He said very little since their journey towards Mount Hakurei.
"I can smell it," thought Sesshomaru. "That boy….Naraku's subordinate."
Sesshomaru somehow picked up on Kohaku's scent. Naraku was definitely close by. They could already see Mount Hakurei in the distance.
"Is he still searching for Naraku?" asked Rin.
"Well of course he is," answered Jaken. "Rin, that incident that got you kidnapped raised Sesshomaru's wrath.
"For my sake?" asked a starry eyed Rin.
"Don't be such a fool," Jaken shot back. "It's not because of you! His honor has been insulted."
"Eh?" she said confused.
"He may appear to be calm all the time but underneath he's a boiling, angry, furious…"
Jaken rammed into the back of Sesshomaru who had long since stopped walking. Sesshomaru calmly stared down at him and clunked him over the head. The demon lord slowly began walking again.
"I gotta learn to keep my big mouth shut," said Jaken nursing his wounds.
Rin checked his head before she realized Sesshomaru was leaving.
"Wait my lord!" she called while running after him. "Oh, I wish Lady Shiori hadn't gone ahead of us. It wouldn't be as scary to left behind then. I hope she's okay."
…
"The air here….it's sickening," thought Shiori as she stood on a path.
She was much closer than Sesshomaru and the others. In fact, she was already walking up the mountain. She'd been flying towards Mount Hakurei, but had to land. The air became purer and purer as she went along. There would be a point when Shiori wouldn't be able to go any further.
"I don't understand. I know this is a holy place, but the surrounding area shouldn't be this pure. It reminds me of…..the air of the sacred lands. If that's the case then….."
She took a step back away from the barrier and began to run away.
"I have to leave, this place! I can't stay here! I have to leave!"
As she ran, she began to sense something—death. A huge group of people had been slaughtered somewhere nearby. She could smell death all in the air. Shiori followed the direction it was coming from. She also picked up on a few others.
"Inuyasha," she said blandly. "Figures….."
She jumped up on a tree branch to survey the area. It was then that she saw the countless bloody bodies. Shiori gasped at the sight. What on Earth could have been responsible for such a thing? She jumped down from the branch and raced toward the grisly seen. Everywhere she looked, she saw nothing but mutilated human soldiers. She closed her eyes and prayed.
"This wasn't done by a demon. There's no lingering demonic aura on the bodies. What could have done this then? It couldn't have been a human….impossible."
Inuyasha came running up behind her.
"Oh, come on!" shouted Inuyasha. "Why is it always you?"
"Inuyasha, you don't sound happy to see me," she jeered.
"Because I'm not!" he screeched. "I'm sick of seeing you! Why do we keep running into you?"
"We're after the same foe Inuyasha," she said "Of course we're going to run into each other. I told you that."
She watched as Kagome, Miroku, and Shippo finally caught up to them. She made a mental note to herself that Sango was missing.
"Where's Naraku?" he demanded.
"If I knew that, do you think I'd be here conversing with you?"
"It's just that every time you show up, Naraku is always around….somewhere! You're like a bad omen!" he snapped.
"If that's the case, wouldn't I be a good omen? Finding Naraku is what you want, right?" she questioned.
"She's got a point," said Shippo from Miroku's shoulder.
Inuyasha spun around, "Will you shut-up!"
"Hey, why'd you leave us back there?" Kagome asked. "You mentioned something about the smell of blood, then said Shiori's name. I was worried; I thought something terrible happened to her."
"Hmph," said Inuyasha as he sulked.
"I'm fine," Shiori explained. "Inuyasha must have caught my scent along with these slaughtered humans. He was just trying to beat me here," she paused. "But as usual, Inuyasha is late…..to the scene."
"Will you stop saying that already!" he growled. "Shouldn't you be with your lover anyway?"
Her gazed slowly hardened, "What did you say?"
"Uh…Shiori" said Miroku trying to distract her. "What happened here?"
"I don't know," she answered. "I was hoping you all would have some answers. All I know is that this wasn't done by demonic hands."
"Yeah," agreed Inuyasha. "I'm not smelling any demonic aura in the air. Only the scent of blood and grave yard soil."
"You say it smells like grave yard soil?" asked Shiori. "Then that would explain the scent of death," she said. "I thought the source was this slain lot of soldiers. But I'm picking up a completely separate source for it."
"The scent of death?" inquired Inuyasha.
"Then it's true then, the Band of Seven has been resurrected," Miroku stated.
"The Band of Seven?" Shiroi asked. "Are you referring to that human mercenary group who were executed 15 years ago?"
"You've heard of them?"
She nodded before coming to a realization, "They've been resurrected?"
"We believe so," answered Miroku. "They were buried in a tomb not far from here. Some villagers say that the tomb is now completely empty."
"Then they are the ones Kagura was referring to. Naraku had something to do with their resurrections," Shiori thought. "But why?"
All of the sudden, every sensed an evil in the air. The one responsible for the murders was still around. Inuyasha and Shiori took one look at each other before racing on. For a second, they were running at the same speed. But Inuyasha pushed out in front, leaving Shiori behind.
"Ha!" he teased. "You're not faster me! There's no way you're getting there first this time!"
Suddenly, Shiori flew past Inuyasha and smirked.
"What?" he scoffed. "That's not fair!"
"There were never any rules established!" she called over her shoulder as she zipped foreword.
She finally stopped and landed on the ground. Inuyasha, once again, came running up behind her. Miroku and Kagome shortly joined them. All of them were staring at a man standing in the middle of a sea of bodies. He was dressed in a long yellow and blue kimono that hung slightly off his body. One of his legs wasn't even covered. He had blue markings under his eyes, and his brown hair was pinned on top of his head. His curved edge sword was drenched in blood.
"He's got a jewel shard in his neck," said Kagome.
"A jewel shard? Of course, that's how he's able to live. Without the jewel's power, it would die again. Just what are you up to, Naraku?" wondered Shiori.
"Who is he?" asked Shippo.
"He must be one of the Band of Seven," said Miroku.
"Just take a look at that sword of his," said Inuyasha.
Shiori stared at the man in confusion, "how you are all able to determine that person's a man and not a woman so easily?"
"Could it be," said the man staring dreamily, "That you are Inuyasha!"
"How do you know me?" Inuyasha demanded to know.
He continued to stare at him with a dazed expression. Inuyasha felt slightly uncomfortable by his wandering eyes. A huge grin spread across the man's face.
"You're so cute!" he beamed.
"What the…hell?"
"Those ears are so cute, I just wanna cut them off," said the man with glee. "In fact, I think I will."
"What's with this guy?" Inuyasha thought. "Bastard, who the hell are you?"
The man said nothing at all.
"He's no doubt a member of the resurrected Band of Seven," said Shiori. "He smells of death."
Miroku stepped in front, "That filthy group of seven soldiers out for hire….who were cornered by an army sent to subjugate them and had their heads cut off…are you one of them? Are you one of the Band of Seven?"
The man stared on with a dopey grin. Miroku became more and more frustrated.
"Answer me!" he demanded.
"Not only is Inuyasha cute, but that monk is sexy!" the man exclaimed.
Everyone awkwardly stared at the strange man before them. A sweat ball dropped down Miroku's head.
"No one minds if I suck him up, right?" he said preparing to unleash the windtunnel.
"Go ahead," said Inuyasha with compliance.
Kagome shook her head, "No! He's got a jewel shard in his neck, remember?"
"Oh yeah, you did mention that." said Inuyasha. He turned back to the man. "Hey! Who gave you that jewel fragment, bastard!"
He giggled, "you're so cute when you're angry!"
"Enough of this," said Shiori sighing. "If you won't talk, we'll beat the information out of you. Inuyasha, sick em!"
"What? Why do I have to do it?" Inuyasha complained. He didn't want to get anywhere near this creepy individual. "Why can't you do it?"
"Because, he only has eyes for you," she laughed.
"Psh, whatever," he said unsheathing tessaiga. He then stopped and turned around. "Wait, did you just tell me to sick em?"
"I will have those adorable ears of yours, Inuyasha!" shouted the man.
He swung his sword forward and out came what appeared to be a stream of light. It was aiming straight for Inuyasha. He quickly leapt out of the way and searched around for where it would hit.
"It's a concealed sword!" shouted Miroku. "Get back!"
"Is it an illusion?" asked Kagome.
"No, it's not. That sword moves like a snake," said Shiori. "This is how he killed all those soldiers so quickly. They never even got the chance to strike him."
"His sword….it's almost like lightning," thought Inuyasha while trying to block. "I don't know where it's gonna strike next..."
Kagome gasped as Inuyasha was struck in the sword by the lightning sword. Even though he was blocking with Tessaiga, somehow, the sword curved around and cut him.
"Inuyasha!" she called.
"A bending sword?" said Miroku.
How do you like it? This is the band of seven's attack captain," proclaimed the man. "Jakotsu's jakotsutou!"
"Eck, you bastard!" Inuyasha hollered. "Damn it, where's it going to strike next!"
Just as Jakotsu's crazy blade was about to strike again, the hirakotsu came shot down from the sky. Sango was back! The lighting blade wrapped around the giant boomerang as it crashed down on it. The jakotsutou was revealed to be nothing more than an extension of several different blades.
"Inuyasha, are you alright?" said Sango jumping down from Kirara's back.
"I'm fine," he said staring at Jakotsu.
"How dare you, wench!" hollered Jakotsu as he sliced Sango's arm with his sword.
"Sango!" said Kagome rushing to her.
Sango looked down at her bleeding arm, "its okay. It's just a scratch."
"You must never interfere with me and my Inuyasha!" Jakotsu screamed. "Never!"
Inuyasha rushed up and punched him in the face while he was distracted.
"Shut-up!" he snapped.
Jakotsu fell back and hit the ground. He looked up at Inuyasha and rubbed his cheek.
"Geez, you're cruel."
"Who did you get that jewel shard from?" demanded Inuyasha. "Confess now!"
Shiori looked around, "There's someone else here….another zombie."
"Was it Naraku?" questioned Inuyasha menacingly.
"I don't know," said Jakotsu. "At any rate, we've never met."
"You better not be making stuff up or I'll,"
Inuyasha stopped when he smelled smoke coming from the hills.
"That smoke…..it's dissolving the dead bodies," he noted.
Jakotsu turned, "Inuyasha, you should run off as well."
"What? Where do you think you're going?" he shouted.
But started to chase him, but was attacked by a wave of poison instead.
"We'll meet again, Inuyasha!" called Jakotsu lovingly.
"That bastard has escaped," he said.
….
"Sango, does it hurt?" asked Kagome.
They were recovering in a hut in a nearby village. Kagome had just finished bandaging up Sango's damaged arm. She examined Kagome's medical work.
"Yes, I'm okay," she answered.
"You're tough for a human," said Shiori lightly.
"That Jakotsu couldn't have gotten too far," said Inuyasha heading for the door.
"You're going after him?" Miroku asked. "Alone?"
"Yeah, you guys stay here. I'll be back," he said. "The one who attacked us with the poison was another member of the band of seven. I'm sure of it."
Inuyasha quickly left the hut to pursue Jakotsu. Shiori stood up and also turned to leave.
"Wait Shiori," said Kagome. "Where are you going?"
"To find Lord Sesshomaru," she said. "He'll definitely want to know about the resurrected Band of Seven."
"Sesshomaru?" she asked. "But why would he care about that?"
"Because they're involved with Naraku. And right now, we're heavily on his trail."
"Sesshomaru is also after Naraku? I thought she was tracking him alone…." Kagome thought.
"I'll see you all soon," said Shiori before departing.
Shiori stood outside and searched for Sesshomaru's life force. It felt like he was coming in her direction. He was coming for her.
"I'll meet him halfway," she thought as she went in that direction.
"Why has Naraku brought back the band of seven? What's he got to gain from all this? And I almost forgot about the strange air surrounding Mount Hakurei…What on Earth is going here."
She calmly walked toward Sesshomaru's energy signal…..but stopped dead in her tracks. There was another zombie coming. It was also coming in her direction. Finally, she saw her latest pursuer. He was a man dressed in reddish-orange armor. He wore a blue bandanna over his bald head. Like Jakotsu, he also had face markings.
"You must be the half tennin, half shinigami girl," he said slyly. "Shiori, I believe."
"Hmm, now what gave me away?" she asked sourly.
"I see you have some fire to you," he said with a dark laugh. "That's good. I happen to have an attraction to fire…..and explosions."
"I hope that's not your way of professing an attraction to me," she said with a smirk. "Because necrophilia just isn't something I'm into."
He once again laughed darkly, "I am Renkotsu, of the Band of Seven."
"And what do you want with me?" she asked.
"I was ordered to observe you and wait for further instructions," he said holding out a large jug.
"Sent by who?" she inquired.
"Well that's for you to find out!"
He drank from the jug and spit out huge flames from his mouth. Shiori moved out of his way and jumped over his head. He barely missed her fist as she swung at him. She shot a purification beam at the jug and destroyed it.
"You have exceptional aim," he said putting his hands behind his back.
"I thought you were only sent her to observe me," she said. "Not kill me."
He smugged, "I'm afraid I'm not good at following orders. Besides, I'd much rather take care of you now!"
Renkotsu quickly took his hands from behind his back. He threw fiery strings from his fingers at Shiori. Though she was surprised, she still managed to avoid them all. Renkotsu retracted the strings back to his fingers.
"Iron strings," she commented.
"Do you like them?" he jeered. "They are a specialty of mine."
"I can imagine," she said avoiding his pursuits.
Renkostu kept firing at Shiori, who escaped him every time.
"He was quite serious about the attraction to fire and explosives," she thought as she knocked them away with her sword. "He likes to play dirty."
He again shot more strings at her, but this time she sliced right through them.
"It seems I've underestimated you," he said stopping his pursuit and looking over his shoulder.
"That's it?" said Shiori a little disappointed.
"I was only here to observe you, not kill you," he said. "At least not yet. That was only a small taste of my power."
"Then at least give me answers," she said. "Why have you been brought back to life by Naraku?"
"I'm not entirely sure of the whole plan," said Renkotsu. "All I know is that I was charged with watching you. I haven't even met up with the rest of my siblings yet. We may all have different missions when it comes to exterminating you all."
"Us all?"
He nodded, "Yes, Naraku's enemies. And now it would seem I'm being called somewhere else."
Shiori turned to find a swarm of Naraku's poisonous insects flying toward them. Then quickly surrounded Renkotsu. They were somehow communicating with him.
"I must be off now," he said turning to run.
She didn't even try to stop him as he left.
"What was that about?" asked Sesshomaru walking up behind her.
Jaken, Rin, and Ah-Un were also with him. Rin jumped of Ah-Un and ran to Shiori.
"Lady Shiori!" she sang as she wrapped her arms around Shiori's waist.
Shiori placed her hand on Rin's back, "that was one of the Band of Seven."
"The Band of Seven?" he questioned.
"Yes, they were a mercenary group hired by armies and villages over 15 years ago. When they became too much of a threat, they were executed," she said.
"And now Naraku's summoned them back to life," he finished.
"Yes," she said. "It seems Naraku resurrected them to kill his enemies."
"It seems more like he's using them as a distraction," said Sesshomaru calmly.
He looked over Shiori's head.
"Poison," he said. "And those humans who travel with Inuyasha. They're alone."
"Poison? Oh no, it's that other member of the Band of Seven. The one who attacked us with the poisonous mist,"
He turned to Shiori, "let's go."
Sesshomaru started to leave her behind. Shiori looked down at Rin.
"It's okay Lady Shiori," she said smiling. "Master Jaken will protect me."
"Yes, because that worked so well the first time," she thought.
"Shiori," called Sesshomaru.
"I'm coming," she shouted running after him. She called to Rin over her shoulder, "Stay….out….of trouble!"
…..
Kagome lay motionlessly on the floor of a hut. A round man dressed in white hovered over her. He delicately stroked her chin.
"I sure am lucky," he said. "I can do as I please with such a pretty girl. I, Mukotsu, don't seem to be very popular with women with this face."
He revealed his hideous face to Kagome. She weakly stared at his neck.
"A jewel shard? Then he's a member of the band of seven. If I can just get it out of his body."
"Kagome!" echoed Sango's voice from outside the hut.
She and Miroku were outside. They kept their mouths covered to keep from breathing in the poison. While Shiori was gone, the group was attacked by the poison master Mukostu. Shippo ran off to find Inuyasha. While they plotted a way to save Kagome, Mukostu turned his attention back to Kagome. He mounted Kagome's body.
"Let's make a good memory before you die, girl," he said.
He suddenly felt a stab in his neck. Kagome made a weak attempt to stab him in neck. But it was no use. He stared at her and struck her across the face.
"You wretch! You too are disgusted by my face?" he screeched with tears in his eyes.
Suddenly, Sango, Miroku, and Kirara busted through the roof. They attempted to fight off Mukostu. Kagome informed them off the shard in his neck.
"Leave him to me," said Sango pulling out her sword and going for his neck.
"Hehe, a gas mask is no use against this poison," he said unleashing a new canister of poison. "It enters through the eyes and skin!"
Sango quickly fell to the ground. Miroku also fell down to his knees. All 3 of them were in grave dangers. Even Kirara reverted to her original form.
"I can't move…" Kagome thought.
Mukostu lifted her up by the neck, "I won't forgive you for this girl! You hurt my feelings! I'll kill you for that!"
Suddenly, she heard a large slash from behind him. Mukostu's bloody body fell over to the side. Sesshomaru stood over the dying Kagome, his claw was still flexed. Shiori was stood by his side. She stared at him with an annoyed expression on her face.
"Why did you do that?" she complained. "I wanted to speak to him before you killed him."
"Sesshomaru and Shiori?" Kagome thought.
Sesshomaru ignored Shiori and looked to Kagome, "where's Inuyasha?"
"I imagine she can't speak," said Shiori. "They've all been badly poisoned."
Mukostu looked up at Sesshomaru, "Who..are you?"
"Oh good, he's still alive," said Shiori. "Are you with the band of seven?"
"Yes," he answered. "I'm Mukostu of the band of seven….I know of you, woman. But who is that?"
Sesshomaru didn't speak at all to the beast. He only glared at him.
"I thought our opponents were only Inuyasha's group, Koga of the demon wolf tribe, and the half tennin warrior Shiori. But who is this?" thought Mukostu.
He stood to his feet and sprayed them with more poison, "Bastard! How dare you take me so lightly!"
Sesshomaru and Shiori didn't even budge as the oncoming poison shattered them. Both of them icily stared back at him. They were completely unaffected.
"What, they're not dissolving in the poison?" he thought out loud.
"I thought you had files on us," said Shiori. "Your poison can't kill someone with tennin blood, or a powerful demon lord. It looks like you lose."
"Uh, no please….don't hurt me," said Mukostu bowing as he backed out the door. Sesshomaru followed him out. Shiori stood in the doorway, watching.
He suddenly grabbed another canister and opened it towards Sesshomaru.
"Ha! This poison is powerful enough to destroy even a demon like you!" he hollered as he showered Sesshomaru with poison.
He proudly stared at the cloud of poison. But Sesshomaru calmly walked out of the cloud. Before Mukostu could say another word, Sesshomaru slashed him in half with his sword. His body reverted to nothing more than a shattered skeleton. Shiori said a quick prayer and went to check on the others. At that moment Inuyasha came running up to the hut. He observed the scene.
"Sesshomaru!" he snapped. "What did you do to them?"
"No Inuyasha," said a weak Kagome. "It's not what it looks like. Sesshomaru saved us."
"That was not my intention," said Sesshomaru. "I just put an end to him interrupting our conversation, that's all."
"Conversation?" said Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, since you're in the area then it means Naraku is also close by, right?" he asked.
"Well….yeah I guess so. We've tracked him to this area."
"That's all I need to know," said Sesshomaru walking away.
Shiori turned to follow him but Inuyasha grabbed onto her wrist.
"When Miroku was poisoned by Naraku's miasma, you're sister did something to purify him," he said softly. "Can you do it? Can you help them?"
Shiori didn't even turn to face him, "Inuyasha…but I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because," she said gently pulling her arm away, "I'm not strong enough to do it. I lack the power….."
"Shiori," he pleaded, "can you at least try?"
"I already told you," she said walking away. "I can't. There's nothing I can do for them. I'm sorry."
Shiori tried not to look over her shoulder at Inuyasha. She could feel his emotional pain in the pit of her heart. Shiori quickly flew off after Sesshomaru…