Chapter Six: The Bird Clan Festival
Myoga asked Kagome to meet him in his office the next afternoon. She was nervous as she sat in a leather chair by one of his bookcases and waited. He was out, speaking with Lord Sesshomaru and several lower council assistants. Kagome thought about the splintery hole in his gym floor and felt bad. Hopefully he hadn't called her up to scold her for it. It was Inuyasha's fault, she thought defiantly to herself, he has no self control.
When Myoga entered the office, however, he did not seem annoyed in the least. Rather, he seemed a little anxious. His hands clasped over each other of their own accord, and his eyebrows were raised in an enduring expression of surprise.
"Ah, Lady Kagome!" He said as he entered. Kagome expected him to shut the door behind him, but Rokuro and Sango walked in instead.
Myoga made his way to his desk and seated himself behind it. He shuffled a few papers on the desk, then looked up to Kagome, who had stood.
"Please, come sit here," he said, motioning to the chair in front of his desk. Kagome nodded and did as she was told. Sango and Rokuro stayed by the door. Kagome felt strange about them standing there silently. They were her friends, not her servants. She found Myoga treated them that way though, perhaps because he was the servant to Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father. Like always, Myoga spoke only to Kagome, letting the others hover and listen.
"You seem to be adjusting well," he said. Kagome nodded.
"I think so. I've only been here for a few days, though. I don't feel as if I've done much of anything."
"There's time for that," Myoga said. He opened a drawer on his desk and retrieved a letter, handing it over to Kagome. It was addressed to her, but she found it had already been opened. When she looked up to Myoga suspiciously he simply said:
"A precaution."
Kagome didn't like that he had opened her mail, but flipped the envelope open and pulled out the letter anyway. When she unfolded the letter, her eyes widened.
"This is from the Prime Minister," she said.
"Yes. He extends his gratitude for your taking on the role of the Shikon Priestess," Myoga replied. Kagome frowned.
"But?" she asked. Myoga nodded.
"He wonders about the responsibility of the Shikon Priestess to defend humans against demons that wish to harm them."
Kagome put the letter down, disappointed.
"So he doesn't want the sector to be open to humans." After a slight hesitation, Myoga nodded.
"He does not want things to change, I believe. In politics, stagnation is usually beneficial to those who hold high positions," he said.
Myoga picked the letter back up and put it in his desk again.
"That is not, actually, the reason I wanted to talk to you today. Though it is related." Kagome leaned in, waiting for him to continue.
"As you've experienced, the clan leaders that make up the council are hesitant to consider integration. Especially after last year, they're convinced only conflict can arise from humans and demons interacting. That's how it was in the old days, too."
"But they're wrong," Kagome interjected.
"Right," Myoga said, "And we have to show them, not tell them." Kagome nodded. Trying to argue would do no good, the council had to change their minds by seeing what demons and humans could do together.
"Princess Abi's Bird Clan is holding a festival in the upper neighborhoods in two days. It celebrates Abi's rise to power. I'd like you to make an appearance there," Myoga said. Kagome thought back to the last festival appearance she made. It had ended with some jerk calling her a bitch. She wasn't entirely sure this would end any differently.
"Rokuro and Sango will be with you, of course," Myoga coaxed. He seemed to think she was worried for her safety. She wouldn't have come to the Sector in the first place if she felt unsafe.
"What do you want me to do there?" she asked. Myoga frowned a little.
"Nothing in particular. Just enjoy the festivities. Be your charming self," he replied. When he saw Kagome wasn't convinced, he leaned in.
"Lady Kagome, if we want to convince the leaders of the clans, the only way to do it is through their people. If Princess Abi's people accept you, so will she. Other clans will see that. The education program swayed some demons towards integration, but only those demons who came forward to learn. With you here, we can reach demons that would never dream of understanding humans."
What Myoga was saying made sense. And despite her nerves, the thought of seeing a demon festival first had was tempting. Kagome nodded.
"I'll go," she said. Myoga smiled, which turned a little sour when she added: "But I want Inuyasha to be there with me too."
"Of course, but...well, Inuyasha can be a little divisive," Myoga said. Kagome shook her head.
"No, he's my friend. If he doesn't want to go he doesn't have to, but I want to ask him at least." Myoga obviously didn't like it, but after a minute he acquiesced.
"He'll be good protection," he said. Kagome was about to say something rude in return, then stopped and realized how annoyed she was with Myoga. She didn't like that he opened her mail, she didn't like how he was treating her friends, and she didn't like that he was pushing her into this festival. It felt like he was using her. In fact, it felt exactly how the mayor had been using her.
Frustration buzzing loudly around her head, she said a quick goodbye and left Myoga's office. Sango and Rokuro followed, and found they had to jog to catch up with Kagome's angry powerwalk.
"Kagome, are you okay?" Sango asked. Kagome whirled on her, then clenched her fists to keep from shouting. Sango didn't mean any harm, it would be childish to take eh anger out on her.
"I'm just-!" she stopped suddenly. It felt pathetic to say she just wanted to be left alone. She shouldn't have come to the Sector if she felt like being left alone. She knew that wasn't what Myoga asked her here for.
"I'm just tired," she said, "I think I need some time to rest." Rokuro and Sango stared at her in silence, and she knew they didn't believe her. She felt hot under their scrutiny, and uncomfortable. But then Sango nodded.
"Okay," she said, her voice slightly higher pitched than usual. She was pretending everything was fine. Rokuro followed her lead.
"We'll go practice staffwork, right Sango?" he suggested. And so they went.
Sighing, Kagome closed her bedroom door softly behind her. Her anger had faded quickly when her friends left, and turned into a heavy sulk. She felt sorry for herself, and sorry for her behavior, and guilty for her own self-pity. She had assumed things would be easier in the Sector, that she would know her place. Instead she was just as lost as she was before, and it was a bitter disappointment. At least her family was safe now, she thought to herself. Some small comfort in that.
Kagome retrieved her notebook from the floor and sat down in her bed. It had fallen spine-up, and now had a few bent pages. Kagome smoothed the pages out, then flipped to the beginning of the journal. Her title mocked her, alone on the first page. She began to sigh again, then caught herself.
"Geez Kagome, why so glum? You used to be a happy girl," she wondered aloud. A memory came back to her in the sudden way memories often do. Her grandfather had told her once that the Shikon Jewel brought great power, but at a cost. Anyone who came in contact with it suffered enduring tragedy. Kikyo certainly had suffered tragedies-was still suffering. She endured in the Jewel itself, sealed away with Naraku. Would Kagome meet a similar fate if she kept the Jewel? What if she had given it to Inuyasha? He would then be the unhappy one.
Kagome looked down to her journal, and picked up a pen. For the first time in awhile, she was feeling inspired. Trying not to get too excited, she put pen to paper and started to write.
I don't know much about Kikyo. She was the me before me, my 'pre'-incarnation. I know that she loved Inuyasha. I know that she hated him in her dying moments. I felt that hatred so strongly when her fractured soul joined mine, but now I can't seem to recall the exact sensation. I'm not sure I could ever hate Inuyasha.
But I was talking about Kikyo. Sometimes I like to imagine her life, who she was before she guarded the Jewel. I imagine she was kind, and quiet in a strong way. I imagine she was smarter than she thought she ever could be. I imagine the Jewel made her feel trapped. It's made me feel trapped. It's not good to say so, I know it is my responsibility, but it's the truth. I could never give it away though, because I don't want anyone else to feel how I do now. That thought makes me feel better. Makes me feel worthy of being the Shikon Priestess.
I don't think Kikyo felt worthy. I understand that. She was only eighteen when she died, a year older than me. People didn't live very long back then, but her death was so violent and sudden it was still a tragedy. I don't want to die like that. Is that a selfish thing to say? I can't decide.
There are many things I can't decide. I wanted to write an account of how I found the jewel and how we fought Naraku, but most people know about that already. It's not a hard story to understand. And lately it seems less important, because important things should be hard to understand. Like how Kikyo could both love and hate Inuyasha in the hundreds of years her soul resided in a clay vessel. Like how a human and a demon could ever love each other-enough to bring a half demon into the world-when they're supposed to hate each other.
Love and hate. They're opposites, but always seem to appear together. I hope that one day, love can exist without hate. I think that would be a nice world to live in.
Kagome put her pen down. It was only a page of musings, but it felt good to write again. She closed the journal and placed it in a drawer of her nightstand.
Inuyasha begrudgingly agreed to go to the festival with them. He had protested at first, but Kagome glared at him when he tried to refuse her offer and he shut up about the crowds and the smell.
"Fine, fine. I'll go! Geez woman, didn't think you were that scared of being out around demons," he said. Kagome rolled her eyes.
"I'm not scared! I can take care of myself. I want you to come because you're my friend, Inuyasha. You know what friends are, right?" she said. Inuyasha scoffed and crossed his arms.
"Of course I do, wench," he grumbled. He seemed to grumble through the next day and a half, and was still grumbling when they walked up the street towards the upper neighborhoods where the flying demons lived.
Kagome had dressed in her miko outfit for the occasion, and Inuyasha was wearing his robe of the fire rat. Rokuro was in purple monk robes and Sango had donned a pretty kimono. It was slightly modified, with slits up either side and leggings beneath for ease of movement. A staff was strapped across her back and a sword at her waist. Kagome suspected she had a dagger or two stowed in her skirt and boots.
Kagome felt lighter than she had as they scaled the gradual hill before them. She'd written a page and a half of thoughtful drabbles that morning, and it had freed her up to enjoy herself. When they turned a corner and saw the festival decorations, she gasped. Colorful cloths were hung on string between the buildings and across the street. Below the hanging cloths, wooden stalls hosted vendors and attractions like any traditional festival would have. Games, food, souvenirs, and crafts, all sold by feathered demons of the Bird Tribe. The street was already bustling with other demons, from the Bird Tribe and beyond. Kagome noticed clan symbols on many demons' kimonos, worked into colorful designs. Lanterns with cut-out scenes of birds and battles dotted her vision, lighting the street with an orange glow. Evening was starting to fall, the sun setting behind the buildings and enhancing the magic of the place.
Kagome glanced to her friends, who had similar awe-struck expressions. Even Inuyasha looked impressed, a little smile tugging the corner of his mouth upwards. Then he caught her looking and affixed a firm scowl on his face. Kagome smiled.
"Let's go have fun," she said.
As they approached the edge of the festivities, demons stopped what they were doing to examine the Shikon Priestess and her friends. Kagome was struck with the thought that a miko's robes were once a threat to many of these people. She started to feel less sure of herself, and it must have showed, because Sango stepped forward and brushed their arms together.
"You can do this," she said softly. Kagome gave her a grateful smile.
"Thank you," she replied. When she turned her attention back to the crowd of demons, their heads turning her way as she walked past, she saw only curiosity among them.
The scent and sound of cooking meat wafted past, and Kagome spied a food cart ahead.
"I'm hungry," she declared, and walked towards the cart. Inuyasha, dog-like in the face of food, was right on her heels.
It didn't take long for Kagome to start enjoying herself. The streets were crowded now, and she was glad for the anonymity of a crowd. The demons' gazes would linger on her for a moment, of course, and then her pink cheeks and wide smile would disarm any suspicions they held. They might stare for a second longer, then involuntarily smile and move on from the sight. Just her presence, in its youthful joy, left any observer better than they came to it.
Even Inuyasha was incapable of resisting Kagome's innate charm. He felt drunk on it, happier than he'd been...ever. And they hadn't even stopped by any of the sake stands.
When Kagome put a hand on his elbow, pulling him towards a ring toss game, he felt her warmth spreading through him. It started in his arm and flooded outward, making his heart clench with the unexpected joy. He found himself smiling without cause or control as he trailed behind his...friend? Friend. She'd called him that before, and he'd shrugged it off at the time. He'd never had a friend before, wasn't even sure what it entailed. And he would gladly be friends with Kagome. A twinge of denial in response to that thought surprised him. If not friends, what did he want to be to her?
Kagome tried the ring game, but her tosses were too soft to win any major points. She took the loss in stride, and paid for another round of rings to try again. But instead of tossing a second round, she turned to Inuyasha and pressed the rings into his hands.
"You try!" she said, her voice louder than normal to be heard above the crowd and music. Inuyasha's ears flicked towards her, a sign of surprise as much as a way to hear her better.
"What, me?" he said. Kagome rolled her eyes and turned him towards the game.
"Yes, you!" she replied.
Inuyasha very seriously lined up a throw, and then tossed a ring onto the peg with the highest point value. Kagome did an excited little dance beside him.
"You're good at this!" she exclaimed.
"Of course I am," Inuyasha replied, ego inflated with her praise. She playfully hit his arm and gestured back to the pegs.
"Go on then," she challenged. And Inuyasha liked a challenge. He sunk ring after ring onto the same peg, causing the vendor running the stand to cross his arms and scowl.
"Yes!" Kagome shouted when his last ring stacked itself atop the rest.
"Pick your prize," the vendor grumbled. He gestured to a rack of wooden masks above the stand.
"Do you want one?" Inuyasha asked Kagome. It's not like he was going to wear one. She examined the row of masks carefully, and then nodded. Reaching up, she selected a white cat mask with red ears and whiskers. Slipping it on, she turned to Inuyasha.
"Meow!" she joked, then raised the mask to rest on her hair instead of covering her face.
"A cat and a dog," Rokuro said, approaching from behind them. He and Sango had stopped to play a shooting game. Judging by the grin on Sango's face and the candy she was munching on, she had won.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes at Rokuro's comment, but Kagome grinned.
"We should keep going up," she said, pointing up the hill, "That's where Princess Abi is. I'd like to say hi."
The neighborhoods where the bird clan lived were the highest in the city. It made sense, considering they were fliers. The highest point was Princess Abi's nest, a relatively simple home at the top of the road. Her house was on a ring of houses which surrounded a square. At the center of the square was a fountain, and tonight that fountain was surrounded by dancing couples. To the side, a band played traditional bird clan music. A raised stage had been set in front of Abi's house, and she sat on a cushion there with a group of her most trusted clan members. Servants brought her drinks and food, and she reveled in the celebration of her reign.
Kagome and friends skirted the edge of the dancers, and approached Abi's platform. As soon as Abi caught sight of Kagome's miko robes, she stood.
"Lady Kagome, welcome," she called. Kagome bowed low, and her friends followed suit. Even Inuyasha, who was feeling amiable, bowed in respect to the clan leader.
"Thank you," Kagome said, "I'm happy to be here."
"Come, sit with me," Abi said. She shooed away a couple of lesser demons next to her and settled back down on her cushion. Kagome glanced at her friends.
"We'll be here," Sango assured her. Still nervous at the invitation to sit with an unknown daiyoukai, Kagome walked up the steps of the platform and took a seat next to Princess Abi.
"Thank you, Princess," she said. Abi gestured to a servant, who brought over two drinks. Not wanting to be rude, Kagome accepted the cup. On the ground, Inuyasha tensed a little. It would be so easy to poison a drink.
Abi downed her drink in one long chug, then looked at Kagome expectantly. Kagome raised the glass to her lips and took a sip. Then she grimaced. The drink had no particular taste, but it burned her throat when she swallowed.
"Is this alcoholic?" she asked, feeling rather childish. Princess Abi laughed, which Kagome took as a yes. She took another sip and grimaced again. Perhaps if she just held the cup and didn't drink Abi wouldn't notice.
"What do you think of my people?" Princess Abi asked, suddenly changing the subject. She gestured out over the square and the dancers. They were mostly bird clan, with matching symbols on their clothing. Many were bird-like with feathers and beaks and claws, but just as many were more human-looking. Kagome was glad for the distraction and smiled as she watched a pair of young feather-headed children mimic the adults' dance. They were the first children she'd seen in the Sector. She remembered Myoga saying that few demons had been born since the Sector was created.
"I think they love you very much," she answered after a moment of observation. Princess Abi laughed loud and clear, throwing her head back and tossing her dark hair. When she looked back at Kagome, her red eyes fixed on Kagome's cup.
"Are you going to drink that?" she asked. She took Kagome's stunned silence as a no and took the cup from her, downing it quickly.
"Don't worry, I'm not offended," she assured the shocked Kagome, "That Lord Sesshomaru might be obsessed with decorum and rank, but I'm not. Especially when I've been drinking such good sake."
"Princess Abi-"
"Please! Just Abi."
"-Abi, I've really been enjoying the festival."
"Good. It's nights like these that make the tedium of this place bearable," Abi said. Kagome wasn't sure how to respond. She supposed that after hundreds of years one would find themselves in a routine. Beside her, Abi sighed and looked up to the sky.
"Is it true that humans have invented giant machines that allow them to fly?" she asked.
"You mean planes?" Kagome asked.
"Yes, planes. Like giant metal birds, people say. Even if our wings weren't clipped we'd have to share the sky with them. It used to be we didn't have to share the sky with anyone. It was our domain."
"Clipped wings?" Kagome asked.
"Metaphorically. We're not allowed to leave the sky above the city."
"I'm sorry," Kagome replied. Abi looked back down to her and narrowed her eyes, trying to decide if Kagome was lying. But she didn't see any dishonesty, just uncertainty, in the priestess's eyes.
"Why? It's not your fault," Abi said.
"But it is the fault of humans, right?" Kagome said, "And I am human." Abi laughed, though this time it was a bitter sound.
"Humans didn't force us to lock ourselves up here. That was our decision. I assumed it would be a temporary measure, but instead...well, here we are," she said. Kagome frowned a little, thinking deeply. She had always been told that youkai created the city because of humans, but Abi wasn't wrong.
"If…" Kagome said hesitantly, "If demons decided to join the city, can't they decide to leave it too?"
"Sure," Abi replied, "If they wanted to be attacked by every human military. When we sealed ourselves in here, an army was no match for me. Now, they have planes."
Kagome didn't reply and they sat in contemplative silence for a few minutes.
"I know Myoga wants us to leave the Sector," Abi said, "But I cannot risk the safety of my people by leading them out into a world where the skies are no longer our sanctuary."
"What did you say?" Kagome asked. Her chest had tightened. Leaving the Sector? That was what Myoga wanted? He hadn't said anything about it, only about opening the city to humans.
"I cannot support Myoga's plan to dissolve the Sector," Abi said mournfully, "Even if I hate how my people are trapped here."
Dazed, Kagome nodded.
"I..we understand," she said. Then she looked to her friends. They were watching her, concerned. Inuyasha's ears were trained on their conversation, and when she saw his face she could see he'd heard everything. She opened her mouth to excuse herself from Abi's platform, but was rudely interrupted by a loud bang.
Immediately the music stopped, and the dancers stumbled to stillness as the earth shook. Kagome scanned the surroundings for the source of the sound. For a moment all was still, and then a trail of smoke rose up over the buildings from somewhere down the hill. Another bang sounded, and a flash of fire could be seen from another spot down the hill. Again the ground shook, knocking some demons to their knees. Abi stood up, suddenly sober.
"Warriors!" she shouted, her voice ringing out over the crowd. That was all it took for the bubble of tension to burst. Demons started to scream and run, calling to family and friends. Some took to the air-the warriors-pulling their weapons and speeding towards the explosions. Inuyasha, ignoring all decorum, jumped onto the platform by Kagome's side.
"We have to get out of here," he said. Kagome nodded, but then stumbled and fell as a third explosion rocked the square. One of the houses near Abi's exploded in a fury of flames. Hot air washed over Kagome, and she heard screams as demons were thrown back from the building. When she looked towards the explosion, her gaze caught the two child demons that had been dancing moments ago. They were frozen in fear, cowering by a large beam that had fallen away from the exploded house. Beneath the beam, Kagome could make out a larger feathered form. Her heart leapt into her throat, and she let out a strangled cry. She scooted to the edge of the platform and jumped down, ignoring Inuyasha as he shouted and grabbed for her. She landed on her feet shakily, but started to run towards the children anyway. They were crying now, past the shock of the explosion but not the sight of a parent dead before them. Kagome reached them in seconds, skirting around the burning beam and feeling the heat through her clothes. She crouched down, reaching for the children.
"Come with me," she said. They stared at her dumbly, unable to move or think.
Kagome heard a loud crack, and looked up to the house nearest them. It was partially destroyed, and still burning from the nearby explosion. She watched as one of the beams in the roof shifted.
"Shit," she whispered, and reached out to grab the kids. They were light-they were bird demons, after all-but it was hard to fit both of them in her grasp. A louder crack sounded above her head, and she hauled them up into her arms and towards safety. They weren't going fast enough, she knew. Looking up, she saw the beam start to fall. She stopped, and hugged the children to her.
With a shout, Inuyasha grabbed all three of them, knocking them out of the way of the falling beam.
"You idiot!" he shouted at her.
"I couldn't leave them!" she shouted back. Growling, Inuyasha took the larger of the kids and hoisted her onto his back.
"We have to get down the hill," he said. Kagome held the smaller child-a boy with blue and green feathers instead of hair-close to her.
"Let's go," she said.
They ran for the street, hugging close to the houses to avoid the panicked mass at the center of the square. Kagome was glad the boy was light, and he hugged her tightly, making it easier to run with his added weight. Still, her lungs and her legs started to burn with the strain.
They made it to the street, turning the corner and nearling running into a large, imposing demon. Kagome started to apologize, and then saw the wicked looking crystal blade in the demon's hand, and the grey wings extending from his back. Pale skin and green hair shone in the orange light from the fires.
"Well, hello," Menomaru said. It was not a friendly greeting. Then Kagome noticed the blood on his blade's edge, and the fallen bird clan demon in front of him.
"You!" she shouted, accusingly. Menomaru laughed and raised his blade. A knife buried itself in his arm and he yelled in pain and anger. Sango ran up behind Kagome.
"Go!" she shouted, pushing Kagome forward. Kagome went.
Sango right behind her, Kagome dodged around Menomaru and started running down the hill. Her feet flew over the street, nearly out of her control as she practically flew down the slope. Inuyasha was far ahead of her now. He hadn't stopped at Menomaru like she had.
Kagome rounded a bend in the road and saw a gruesome scene ahead. Bird clan warriors clashed with grey-clad Hyoga clan soldiers. The warriors were barely holding their own against their highly trained adversaries.
One Hyoga clan soldier spotted Kagome and grinned, diving towards her. Sango's sword stopped him, clashing with a crystal blade. She kneed him in the groin, and his form faltered. His reaction gave her just enough time to slip her sword between the plates of his grey armor and into his chest. Blood spurted from the wound and he gave a cry. Then he fell and didn't get back up.
"They never expect that," Sango commented, yanking her sword from the body. Kagome was glad to see the bird boy's face was buried in her shoulder, not looking at the death.
"Let's go," Kagome said to Sango, a grim parody of her same words from earlier that night.
They had made it halfway down the hill before they stopped again.
"What is that?" Sango gasped. A net stretched between the buildings to either side of them, and it was burning. In front of them, a barrier of rubble and burning stands blocked the way. Kagome turned to go back and find another way out, but an explosion behind her nearly knocked her down again. Screams sounded, and when she turned she saw the way behind was blocked just like the way ahead. The Hyoga clan had herded the festival-goers into a trap. Not even the bird clan could fly out. The boy in Kagome's arms looked around now, terrified.
"It's gonna be okay," she said, trying to soothe him.
"Where's my sister?" he asked tearfully.
"She's safe," Kagome promised.
The barrier in front of them shook, then exploded inward. Kagome crouched down, again wrapping herself around the child in her arms. How many bombs had the Hyoga clan set?
"Kagome!" someone shouted. Looking up, she realized that explosion wasn't a bomb, it was Inuyasha. He had broken through the burning barrier, protected from the flames by his fire rat robe.
"Here!" she shouted hoarsely. He leapt to her and Sango.
"The girl?" Kagome asked.
"She's fine," Inuyasha snapped, "What about you?" Kagome held up the boy.
"Take him too. You're faster than me," she said. Inuyasha opened his mouth to argue, but Kagome cut him off.
"Go! Sango's here, and I'm not helpless," she said. Inuyasha debated for a moment too long, and she shoved the boy into his arms.
"Go!" she shouted again. Then Inuyasha nodded and took off for the new opening in the front barricade. He pushed through the crowd of demons clamoring at the exit and Kagome saw him leap through.
"Kagome," Sango said gravely. Kagome turned to see a group of grey soldiers standing still in the crowd of rushing demons. They grabbed at whoever passed them like bears fishing in a stream.
"I don't have a bow," Kagome said. Sango handed her a sword.
"If you charge it with your spiritual energy, it will hurt them wherever you hit," she said. Mouth dry, Kagome nodded. She'd never used a sword before. Suddenly she wished she'd joined in on some of Sango's training. Concentrating on the blade, she pushed her spiritual powers into the steel. It started to glow pink, and the Hyoga soldiers looked up as her energy swelled. One of them pointed and shouted, dropping the bird clan demon he'd grabbed seconds before.
"Come and get me," Kagome muttered. The running demons dodged around her now, instinctively avoiding her energy. It would purify them if they got too close or touched her blade. She looked to Sango, who was watching with a grim expression on her face.
"Go right," she said to Kagome.
"Okay," Kagome replied.
The Hyoga warriors started to run towards them, and Kagome darted to the right. She ducked through openings in the stream of people, coming out of the crowd near one of the buildings. There was a small pocket of space on the edges of the street, which was slowly growing as demons escaped through the front barricade. They had widened the hole Inuyasha created, and were now climbing through steadily.
The first Hyoga soldier reached Kagome in seconds, swinging his sword down at her. She dove towards him, ducking under the blade. It whooshed by her head, singing in her ear. She fumbled with her own sword, striking down at one of his legs. When the pink blade hit his armor, it bit through easily and sunk into his skin with a sizzle and the smell of burning flesh. He shouted and stumbled, and Kagome was barely able to pull her sword from his thigh before he grabbed her arm. She swung wildly and it sunk into his arm this time. Still, he did not let go. He raised his blade to swing at her, and in a panic she let go of the sword and put her hand on his forearm.
Reaching within, she found the knot of power at her center and grabbed at it, pushing it outward. Her eyes closed, and her hand became painfully hot. Then she heard a scream and the grip on her arm was released.
Opening her eyes, she saw a pile of ash where the demon had stood.
"Woah," she said. Then the exertion caught up to her and her head spun. But she didn't have time to be tired, because another soldier had found her. Picking up her sword, she brandished it.
"Come any closer and you'll meet the same fate," she warned. The soldier faltered, but then steeled himself and came forward. He swung his sword at Kagome and she met it with her own, her blade slicing neatly through the demon-crafted crystal. Surprised, the demon stumbled forward, and Kagome put her hand on his armored chest. She pushed her energy out at him, and with a pink flash he fell to the ground, unconscious. Not quite ashes, but close enough.
"Kagome!" Sango shouted. Kagome looked over to Sango, who was surrounded with the bodies of Hyoga soldiers. She was pointing towards the front barricade. Nearly all of the demons had made it out, and so Kagome turned and started running as well. By this time, the fire had eaten through the net above them, and burning pieces of rope were falling heavily to the ground. One crashed down in front of Kagome and she barely had time to leap over it before she stumbled.
She reached the barricade and nearly dove through, crashing right into Inuyasha. He grabbed her by the arms, pulling her up to examine for injury.
"Idiot!" he chastised.
"Later!" Kagome replied, frustrated. Since that seemed like a good idea, he didn't argue. Instead he swung her onto his back and started to run as fast as he could down the hill towards safety.
He didn't stop running until they were a few blocks away from the bird clan neighborhood. House of the West warriors had set up a safety perimeter, and Poison Clan healers were tending to burns, cuts, and bruises. Rokuro was there too, helping with bandages and ointments. Kagome saw Sesshomaru and Shishinki standing with a group of bird warriors. The bird clan men were giving a shaky account of the attack, and the two clan leaders listened solemnly. Inuyasha let Kagome down, and she almost went to talk to the small group, but the two demon children from before caught her eye. They were sitting with a healer, who was tending to some small injuries. She rushed over and crouched next to him.
"Will they be okay?" she asked. The healer looked at her, seemingly surprised by her presence. She put a hand on his arm.
"Will they be okay?" she repeated.
"Uh, yes. Their injuries are negligible," he said. Kagome squeezed his arm.
"Thank you," she said. She then looked to the children.
"I'm going to go help the soldiers now," she said, "Will you be okay here?" The girl nodded, a fierce look in her eye. She kneeled on the ground, then bowed low, her forehead touching the stones beneath her.
"Thank you Priestess," she said, her voice muffled. Kagome reached out and pulled her up.
"Be safe," she said. Then she stood and walked over to Sesshomaru and Shishinki, Inuyasha trailing behind her.
"It was Menomaru," she said as she approached, "He was there too." Sesshomaru nodded.
"We know. The Hyoga clan does not attack unless he commands them to," he said.
"Well, what are we going to do?" Kagome asked, "He can't just attack innocent demons and get away with it!"
"You can butt out," Shishinki said, crossing his arms, "This is between demon clans." Kagome crossed her arms to match him.
"I will not! Why do you think he attacked the festival?" she demanded. Shishinki opened his mouth, and then closed it. He did not have an answer. Sesshomaru cut in then.
"It's true that there has been a tenuous peace between clans since we came to the Sector. This is an unprecedented and unprovoked attack at a festival that has been held many times. The only difference in this instance is the Shikon Priestess's attendance."
"This is not Kagome's fault!" Inuyasha snapped. Sesshomaru sighed, more exhausted than annoyed.
"I did not say it was, brother. Obviously if there is fault to be had it is with Menomaru. However, it seems Kagome was central to this event, and should therefore be involved in the reaction to it."
"Exactly!" Kagome agreed.
"We will finish treating survivors, and then we will have an emergency council meeting," Sesshomaru said. He motioned to a demon nearby, which seemed to be enough instruction to jump into action.
"What about Menomaru?" Kagome asked.
"He and his soldiers have returned to his fortress," Shishinki said.
"We'll have to decide what to do with them," Sesshomaru added. Kagome nodded. She would make sure Menomaru got what was coming to him.