Chapter 30- The Abandoned Village…
The group walked through the village with relative silence. Captain Kasiyama walked at the front of the group, Kagome behind him to his left and Marina to his right, two soldiers behind them. The large group had separated into three small groups of five, Captain Kasiyama leading their group, Lieutenant Bamako and Ensign Hashibo leading the other two. The lieutenant led Kakashi, Shizune, and Sasaku with another soldier. Ensign Hashibo led Sasuke, Naruto, Shadow and another soldier. The remaining soldiers, 19 soldiers, stayed behind and were to create a temporary camp and take care of the oxen and horses. Kagome had changed into her ANBU uniform and left her giant snake scale armor with the wagons.
The village gave an eerie feeling to the group, everyone looking up and down the street for anything that could bring light to what happened here. Their current mission was to find the small village's bank. The lieutenant's mission was to look for the law enforcement building in the north of town for any information about the current events. The ensign was given the mission to look for any villagers in the west of the town, if any. Kagome looked to her left and then her right. Most of what she saw was empty buildings with windows and doors torn apart or taken out of their hinges. Kagome heard only their footsteps and the slight biting wind. Kagome shivered slightly and lifted the hood over her head and lifted a scarf over her nose, trying to keep warm. She looked at Captain Kasiyama's back with slight amazement. It's only been two days since his injury and he was moving about. It wasn't the same with Shadow. Shadow was a 300 pound wolf that could heal in a matter of hours, no matter what injury he received. But Taiko Kasiyama was 100% human. "Must be sheer will…" Kagome thought as she turned to her other companion, Marina. Marina Osaka was a shy young woman that came from a small family, her brother and father being the only ones alive today. Her mother was a Junin that had died when she was very young in a mission. She followed the rules most of the time and reminded Kagome of Sakura a bit. She turned around to see the two soldiers walking behind them. They saw her looking at them and waved at her. She smiled underneath her scarf and waved back. The soldiers had also raised their scarves over their faces to keep warm. Their steps made heavy noises every time they took a step, echoing throughout the street they were walking on. Their armor made slight noise but other than that the area was quite. Kagome exhaled and inhaled a rush of cold air that made her throat sting slightly. She looked up when her group stopped. She looked around the area and saw a large structure in front of them. The structure had four towers built of wood around the building. The building and the crudely built towers looked as deserted as the village around them. Before they walked towards the building a spotlight turned on and pointed at them, illuminating their position and blinding them. "Who are you and what are you doing here?!" a voice asked. Captain Kasiyama shielded his eyes and looked into the light where the voice had come from. "Captain Taiko Kasiyama, Fire Nation Border Special Forces. We're here as a rescue party for 3rd Regiment Sergeant Hashiyama and his regiment." Captain Kasiyama answered. The group stood in silence as the voice didn't answer right away. Kagome heard the objects fly through the air before she saw them. Something told her to go in front of the group and that's what she did. She subconsciously raised her arm and the Sun Gauntlet on her arm started to glow a light blue hue. "Ma'am?" Marina questioned Kagome's movement. Moments later the objects in the air were seen. A hail of arrows rained down on the group. Before any of them could move Kagome enveloped her group in a glowing blue orb. As the arrows hit the blue orb the occupants stared in awe as the projectiles started to disintegrate and burst into flames. "It's a force field…" Kagome thought as she moved her hand over the protective bubble they were in, the field moving as if she was running her hand through water. Seconds after the arrows had stopped, the field dissipated. Kagome sighed and placed her hands on her knees, feeling a rush of exhaustion after the field dissipated. "You ok?" Kagome looked to see Marina's mask staring at her. Kagome nodded and stood up.
"Hold your fire damnit! We're friendly!" The captain yelled beside Kagome. The group heard a conversation taking place and then the building lit up, including the towers. Kagome saw about five archers in each tower and a few more on the building. The building's door opened slightly and whispers and yells were heard. Kagome used her keen hearing and listened to the voices. "How do you know it's not those things?!" said a man. "They've done this before you know!" said another. "What happens to us if it is them?" a woman this time. "We'll be turned into cocoons like the others that is what is going to happen!" said the first voice. Angry shouts and yells continued and Kagome turned her focus to the figures heading towards them, three of them. Kagome saw two of the people wore similar armor to Captain Kasiyama's soldiers in a different color. Their faces were hidden with green scarves, the same color as their armor. The remaining person was a short man, whose face Kagome could see. He looked to be in his early thirties, black eyes with large black eyebrows, a large nose, and a recent scar on his left side of his face. He had almost no hair on top of his head, the same color as his eyebrows and eyes. His armor was similar to the two flanking his sides except for the missing left arm armor, showing his muscled arm. "What is this? The sergeant asked for reinforcements not…" The man looked at Kagome and then at Marina. "…Women and a small group of idiots." Kagome could hear a couple things as she made a fist with her hand, trying to calm down. She heard Marina clench her hands as well; the soldiers behind her held their breath, the soldiers next to the disrespectful man laugh under their breath and Captain Kasiyama grinded his teeth. Kagome tried to keep her anger in check at the ungrateful man and noticed something strange on all of their armor. Deep slashes and cuts in the armor were noticeable, including some gashes and green substance. "Green substance?!" Kagome thought as she rushed towards one of the soldiers. The soldier flinched slightly as Kagome ran her hand over the armor where the green substance was located. "Oh I'm sorry; I guess they're geishas, not women!" The man laughed. That's when Kagome heard a loud crack. Kagome looked up at the soldier whose armor she was inspecting and noticed that he was looking at her left. Kagome turned to see Marina with a clenched hand and the knocked out ungrateful man on the ground, the other soldier looking after him. Kagome grinned.
Lieutenant's Group…
"Do we know anything about this building? Its size, room numbers, occupants…?" Kakashi asked Lieutenant Bamako, which shook his head. "We can only guess it is a large building that says Law Enforcement on it. It could be a ramen stand for all we know." Kakashi shook hid head. Shizune giggled and try to help as well, looking around for the building. "What is your captain looking for exactly? She seems entirely focused on the matter." Lieutenant Bamako asked, scratching at the stubble of brown hair on his chin. Kakashi looked at Shizune and Sasaku for a moment. "You should ask her yourself lieutenant. Besides you are higher rank than her are you not? If she doesn't wish to say, pull rank on her and force her to." Kakashi said with a smirk. Lieutenant Bamako chuckled. "I'm brave but not stupid Kakashi. If I pull rank on her she'll flip me on my ass without a second thought. There is no way I'm trying that." Kakashi nodded and chuckled in agreement. "The captain is actually more open with people than that…usually. But we know the mission. It's an info gathering mission that could turn into a search and rescue." Sasaku said behind them. Lieutenant Bamako and Kakashi turned to look at him. "I think he meant who we are looking for." Kakashi said. Sasaku stared at Kakashi blankly. "I don't even know that Kakashi." Sasaku responded. Kakashi was about to respond when Shizune spoke first. "Is that it?" Shizune was jogging towards a building with broken windows, destroyed doors, and some white substance. The lieutenant walked behind her and whistled. "What happened here…?" The lieutenant said out loud what everyone was thinking. The other soldier with them used his spear and lifted a piece of the white substance. "Well it sure is the place…," the soldier pointed at a sign under the white substance that was obscuring the sign. "…Police station. Huh?" The soldier pulled on his weapon and realized he could not pull it out of the white stuff surrounding the area. "Sorry about that kid. I forgot to mention, don't touch the white stuff with something you want to keep." The lieutenant smirked. The soldier shook his head and left the spear on the sign. When he looked up he grabbed the spear that was thrown to him. "Use mine; I'm not one for them anyways." The lieutenant smiled and started to walk into the building and pulled out his sword. He stopped at the frame of what used to be the front door of the building and looked back. "You guys coming?" He grinned and walked into the building, his group following behind him.
Ensign's Group…
Naruto kicked a rock around as he stared at the ground. A soldier beside him smiled at his actions and looked up when she heard the ensign begin a conversation with the other boy in their group. To her and everyone in their brigade, Ensign Hashibo was an innocent kid from the small border town where most of them had come from. He was a little older than the two with them but not by much, and his training may not be enough to be prepared for real battle situations since he had just gotten out of basic training. Her suspicions were proven correct when she heard the conversation that took place a little earlier. Ensign Hashibo had tried to break his nervousness of his first command and first battle situation. But she had sworn to protect the Ensign to the captain. She shook her head and looked to her left, looking for any signs of life in the area. "So how is it being a ninja?" the ensign asked Sasuke, who just shrugged and looked to his right. The ensign sighed and looked behind him. He saw Naruto and the soldier side by side, each doing something different. He stopped when he noticed someone was missing in the group. "Hey, Hey! Where is that wolf?!" The ensign looked left and right nervously. Sasuke tapped him on the shoulder and pointed a ways from them. Shadow was near a building and then disappeared inside. Naruto kicked a rock and hid behind the female soldier in their group when he heard someone curse. "Naruto-baka!" Sasuke yelled. Sasuke stopped before he could get his hands on Naruto when he heard Shadow bark. "It sounds like our friend has found something." The ensign says and starts to jog toward the home Shadow disappeared into. Before the ensign reached the house though, Shadow came back running out and past him like a shot. "What the…" the ensign started as he turned to look at the running wolf. The house behind him exploded.
Captain Kasiyama's group…
The man that Marina had knocked out was brought into the building by the two guards. They led Captain Kasiyama and his group inside the building with a nervous nod. The first thing that the group got from the inside of the building was the smell. It was a putrid smell of sickness and death. It turned out that the building was made to be a makeshift hospital with three floors and a lower floor that had been converted into a morgue. The new group got many stares and fingers pointed at them. Their escort left them for a moment as they left the unconscious man in a room with other people and a doctor. They continued down the corridor and went up to the second floor. Right away Kagome noticed the smell of blood and death was stronger than the first floor. The floor was filled with the moans of the dying and wounded. The second floor of the building gave an eerie feeling that Kagome couldn't shake off. It felt as if things were in the walls, waiting. Kagome looked to her right when she saw a bloody curtain. There were tears that revealed what was on the other side. "Corpses…We can't even bury our dead and the morgue downstairs has already gotten full." One of the soldiers that she met outside said as he shook his head and looked away. Kagome looked away. "Why?" she asked, trying to keep her eyes from wandering to the scene around them. The soldier hesitated for a moment and looked around nervously. "Those things don't let us leave the building without losing someone. Even the elites of our group were almost wiped out in the first days of the siege trying to save people from the bank…Not a lot of civilians made it and we lost a lot of friends and allies." He turned away. Kagome nodded and looked forward to leaving the area soon. Her wish was granted when they reached a metal double door, a more agreeable smell coming from inside. The room was bare except a large round table in the middle of the room and a map with marks on it. A chair in front of them was occupied with a young man in a dark blue uniform, his red armor nearby. He held a steel sword in both his hands, holding the blade and hilt with gloved hands. His attention went from the sword to the group and he stood up and bowed as he expertly put the sword back in the scarab. "Commander Kasiyama's reinforcements I presume? Please, have a seat." The group bowed back and started to take their seats, the man sitting down last. "Captain Kasiyama, I am glad your father sent you for the rescue mission. It shows his men that you're ready for combat. Would your friends or you like something to eat or drink? We are low on rations but we have gathered what we could." Captain Kasiyama looks around the table at each of the people in his group and they all shake their heads. "No thank you. Is everything alright? Do you know where 3rd Regiment Sergeant Hashiyama is? Where is the enemy?" the captain asked. The man raised an eyebrow and reached for a glass of water. He took a sip and then pointed at the map. A red box or building was where he was pointing. Captain Kasiyama stood and looked at the map. "What is all this yellow around the town?" The captain asked. The man smiled sadly. "The enemy, sir." The man said plainly. The captain's jaw dropped slightly and his eyebrows furrowed. "How is this possible?! According to this, they are ten miles in every direction. We didn't see anything when we got here!" The man stood up and placed the glass on the table. "Then you have gotten into their web as well sir, literally. The sergeant is here." He pointed at a red box in the village again, surrounded with others of the same color. "It's what we believe is now a nest for those things, along with these other red marks. He's gone sir, I am Warrant Officer Hojo, at your beck and call. Excuse my failure to act the part of a lower ranked officer but it's been so long that most of us have just given up on chain of command." The man said as he started to walk away, followed by two others. He stopped outside the doors and looked back at the group still stunned at the amount of ground they would have to traverse to get out of enemy territory. "Would you like to see what we are up against sir?" Captain Kasiyama looked from the map to his group and to the warrant officer. He nodded and started to follow the warrant officer, his group behind him.
Police Station…
Kakashi had sneezed for what seemed the tenth time since they entered the building. "Can't you keep it down? We aren't in the best place to defend ourselves you know." The lieutenant hissed. Kakashi stared blankly at the lieutenant, causing him to grumble in annoyance as he tried to get up. They had fallen right through the floor of the building into the basement when they all walked in. It had seemed as if the wood was weaker at the door for some reason. Shizune gave an annoyed groan. "Kakashi?" the man in question looked to Shizune. "Yes?" he asked innocently. "Could you get off me?!" Shizune growled as she got up and made Kakashi fall face first into some murky rain water. The soldier laughed and got up using the spear as support. Once everyone was on their feet, they started to look at their surrounding. They were about thirty feet below from the first floor where they came in from. The basement level was dark and the floor was covered with wet papers and water to knee level. Some sprinklers were still on, spraying small drops or streams of water into the flooding basement. The air was heavy and the area was slightly warm, giving an almost humid feeling. "Where the hell are we?" Kakashi asked as he rubbed his head and used his sleeve to dry part of his face and hair. "The basement level of the station; it would seem that that the wood of the first floor was weaker then we thought. We fell right through…" the soldier said as he looked up at the first floor. "Anybody got a light? I can't see anything three inches from my face." The lieutenant asked as he waved his hands in front of him. Kakashi reached into his pocket and soon felt a pain on his cheek as he flew into the wall, the building shaking slightly. "That's not your pocket, pervert." Shizune said as she held her hand slightly, as if her other hand could keep her from punching Kakashi again. Kakashi stood up and laughed nervously. "Got it ma'am. Lieutenant, I have something." Kakashi pulled out a match from his pocket and tried to turn it on. "Where are you Kakashi?" The lieutenant asked next to him as he bumped into him. "Oh there you are. You got that light on yet?" he asked. A clicking noise was heard after the lieutenant's voice. "What was that?" The soldier asked as he started to get into a defensive position. "What was what?" Kakashi asked as he hit the match again, failing to turn it on. The clicking sound continued and increased in volume. "That! What's that noise?" the soldier said again. Kakashi tried to turn on the match again, failing for the second time. "Uh, Kakashi?" Shizune started. "Yeah?" he said. "Could you hurry up with that match?!" Shizune's voice increased in volume in the middle of her question as a splash was heard nearby. Kakashi struck the match for the third time and laughed nervously again. "I'm trying!" He said. "Try harder!" Shizune yelled. "Let me try!" The soldier said as he grabbed the match from Kakashi's hand, both men fighting to turn on the match. "Would you two stop fighting and turn on that stupid match?!" Shizune and the lieutenant screamed in unison. Kakashi held the match book and the soldier tried to dry the match with his breath. "Hey Kakashi, you feeling ok? You're all boney. Whoa! Hey Kakashi I like you but you don't have to…are you purring?" The lieutenant asked next to Kakashi. "What the hell are you talking about?" Kakashi asked as they finally turned on the match. "Got it!" The soldier grinned in relief. The clicking noise had stopped as soon as the mach was turned on. "Now what are you talking about lieutenant?" Kakashi asked as he turned around face to face with red eyes staring at him. The match went out as they screamed.
Captain Kasiyama's group…
The group stared at the large beast in the basement level of the building, green substance that could only be described as its blood was dried up on the wounds. Kagome walked up to the thing and looked at it in more detail. "There isn't much to look at ma'am. It's clear as day what it is. It's a giant spider." The warrant officer said, pointing at the eight legged beast.
Kakashi and group…
The group ran out of the hole in five seconds flat, dozens of large spiders following close behind. "Shit, shit, shit, SHIT!" Kakashi cursed as he ran away from the biggest spider he has ever seen. He turned around and threw some kunai and shuriken at the closest spider and continued his retreat, not bothering to see if he hit his mark. "Why the hell did it have to be big ass spiders?!" Kakashi yelled as he and the group with him kept running.
Ensign and group…
The female soldier ran with the unconscious ensign on her shoulder, Naruto and Sasuke behind her and Shadow in front of them. "Why the hell is it every time we go somewhere, there has to be something dangerous and big?!" Naruto complained. Sasuke shook his head but then nodded in agreement. "It had to be bugs…Bugs! I hate bugs!" The female soldier thought as she kept running, following the wolf. Shadow turned the corner and disappeared. The small group behind him went around the corner and past Shadow who appeared ready to pounce. "What is he doing?" the female soldier asked as she stopped behind the wolf. Naruto turned around as well and started to run with Sasuke close behind. "I don't know but-" Naruto started but was interrupted as the building they passed a few seconds ago exploded and the large spiders spotted them again. "We got to keep moving!" Sasuke said as he used some hand signs and unleashed his fireball jutsu. When the flames touched one of the spiders it died right away and other spiders started to devour it. "What the hell...?" the female soldier said under her breath as she saw the spiders that had consumed their dead ally seemed to have gotten bigger, their heavy steps being heard when they continued to chase them. "Nice job Sasuke-teme, you made them angrier!" Naruto said as he threw some kunai at a spider, its hide being tough enough to bounce the blunt weapons off it. "Like you did any better Naruto-baka." Sasuke shot back. Shadow growled and then howled, creating a sonic wave that made the spiders retreat, some dieing outright. Shadow didn't wait as he turned around and headed towards Kagome's position, feeling danger was close to her position. He passed the stun Nin and ran past many empty building as he ran at top speeds, the group he was traveling with finally following.
Lieutenant and group…
"You see anything?" Kakashi asked as Shizune stood on his shoulders to look over a high wall. "Tell me again why you don't just jump over and see for yourself?" The soldier asked next to Kakashi, helping relieve some of the stress as he placed Shizune's other leg on his shoulder. The lieutenant stared in amusement as he lit a cigarette. Kakashi stared at him blankly and then looked at the soldier next to him. "Because I'm not for target practice, or bait for that matter. Besides ask Shizune why, she is the one that told me not to use any jutsu." Kakashi answered. Kakashi grunted as he felt Shizune try to get a better look by placing a foot on his head. Shizune looked down at the men. "Because…"
Kagome and group…
"They feed on charka?" The captain asked as he and everyone watched Kagome pull out an organ from the spider's abdomen area. "They seem to have a special kind of gland that allows them to grow in size and strength when they are attacked and or take it from someone." Kagome said as she placed the large organ on a blue sheet on the ground. Her hands, arms, and hair were nearly covered in the green blood of the spider. Some looked like they were about to throw up as she stuck her hands back into the beast. "Where…where exactly did you learn how to dissect a spider and how would you possibly know that it has that type of gland?" one of the soldier's half gagged and asked Kagome. "School. I learned a lot about animals and what they had and didn't have in their bodies. And on the glands…" Kagome reached for the gland on the floor and threw it at the questioning soldier. "Do you feel that pulse and a slight change in how you feel?" Kagome asked as everyone in the room looked at the soldier that held the organ. "I feel something alright, my lunch coming back up!" the man said as he dropped the gland and held a hand to his mouth. Kagome giggled at his comment but had to admit that what she was doing was a not very sanitary. But in order to learn what these things were and what their weakness was Kagome had deduced it had to be searched, outside and inside. Those not freaked out laughed a bit at the comment the man had said as they watched him leave the room. Marina picked up the organ and poked at it, a bored expression on her face. "She's right. I feel a slight headache and a draining feeling. And if you pay attention you can see it's slightly glowing an even darker green." Marina placed the gland on the floor and walked away, standing next to the soldier they came with. "It has everything a normal spider would have except the two extra glands to feed on charka." Kagome continued as she pulled out another gland. Someone left the room and the sound of retching could be heard. "I better check on him." Another man said as he walked out of the room. The captain and warrant officer examined the glands while Marina stood next to Captain Kasiyama's soldier. Marina approached and pointed at a white, almost clear substance in the back of the spider's inside. "What is that?" Marina asked as she held an arm in front of her face, trying to keep the stench away. Kagome looked at were Marina was looking and looked at it questioningly. "I have no idea…Soldier, can I see your weapon for a moment?" Kagome asked as she turned her head to the soldier. He nodded and grabbed his halberd from his back. Kagome grabbed the weapon and used the sharp end to stab the white substance. She felt a tug and almost fell face first in spider guts if it wasn't for Marina catching her. "What the hell? Is this thing still alive?!" The soldier yelled as he pulled out his sword. Kagome could no longer feel the tugging and let go of the halberd. "No it is dead, but the white substance is its spider silk. It's what it uses to create spider webs." Kagome said as the soldier put his weapon away and kicked the spider's head. The captain raised an eyebrow at the soldier's action. "It took my halberd." The soldier pointed at the spider. Marina giggled and helped Kagome to her feet. "You're going to need a bath ma'am…maybe three." Marina joked as she shook a hand in front of where her nose would be behind the mask. Kagome shook her head and smiled. "I agree, you smell like rotten eggs, ma'am." The captain said with a smirk. Kagome grinned and looked at her hands. "I guess I will," Kagome smeared some of the blood on the captain's face and armor. "But it seems you will also." Kagome finished and walked away, Marina close behind. Marina was laughing and Kagome gave her an unwillingly hug, covering the ANBU member in spider guts and blood. As they left the room the captain stared off after them. The warrant officer walked up next to him. "Are they always so calm when danger is around?" the warrant officer asked. Captain Kasiyama looked at the warrant officer. "It keeps them from going crazy I guess." The captain said as he went to pat the man on the back. The man ducked out of the way and watched as the captain fell on the ground. "Sorry sir, but I don't want to smell like that." The warrant officer said as he ran off quickly. "Seriously?" the Captain laughed and got up, following the warrant officer. "What about the shower Warrant Officer Hojo?" Captain Kasiyama asked. The warrant officer pointed to his left and kept on running without looking back. "Thanks." The captain said as he watched the warrant officer wave his hand and disappear behind a corner. Captain Kasiyama walked into the area that Mr. Hojo had pointed out and looked around. He took a whiff of the area and raised a hand to his nose. "Oh wait, that's me." The captain said to himself as he started to take his steel colored armor off.
Ensign and group…
"I think we lost them." Sasuke said as he looked around the corner of a bridge they hid underneath from. The water reached their waists and was starting to get cold. "What the hell were they?" Naruto asked. No one answered. "We should head for where Kakashi is. He might know what to do." Sasuke suggested as he looked at Naruto. A splash was heard nearby and they all turned to see Kakashi, Shizune, Lieutenant Bamako, and the soldier that traveled with them. "Kakashi-sensei? What are you doing here? Weren't you given orders to locate the police station in the other side of the town?" Naruto asked, concern and a hint of relief in his voice as he saw his teacher walk towards them to help most likely he hoped. Kakashi nodded as he and the group with him went under the bridge as well. "Yeah but we hit a snag when we found it." Kakashi answered. "Let me guess? Giant spiders?" The female soldier asked with a knowing smile. "Yeah, how did you know?" The other male soldier asked. "We had the same problem…One was even able to hit me on the head when I wasn't paying attention." Ensign Hashibo answered with slight annoyance as he rubbed his eyes. The female soldier smiled and helped him stand up. "We got more bad news." Shizune said with a sad look, the others in her group also looking equally sad. "The soldiers outside the village are missing…" Shizune finished. "What? What do you mean?! How can 19 highly trained soldiers have just disappeared?" the ensign asked, coughing slightly. "We think they killed a few of the spiders; there was green and red blood in the area. The oxen and horses were left alone, which was strange for things that kill everything. We should check on Captain Higurashi and her group. They may need our help." Shizune suggested. "I agree." Kakashi answered and helped the ensign get up. "Don't use any charka. They seem to be attracted to it." Kakashi added as their group started to head out. "Hey anyone know where that wolf has gone?" the female soldier asked. "Again?" Naruto, Kakashi, and Sasuke said in an annoyed voice.
Inside the makeshift hospital…
Kagome had finished taking a warm shower, Marina waiting outside, her arms across her chest. "Done? I'm starting to smell so bad that the people that walk by are starting to gag at the smell." Marina smiled. "Yeah go ahead. Want me to wait for you too?" Kagome asked with a smile. "Yeah sure, if you don't mind ma'am." Marina said as she walked into the shower. Kagome caught the clothes that Marina had thrown over and placed them in a nearby washing machine. "I'm surprised they still have electricity to heat the water and to turn on appliances." Marina said over the sound of water. Kagome smirked. "Their resourceful when they need it." Kagome stated as took her towel off and started to put on her clean, fresh smelling, undergarments, the under armor being put on after. "What do you think about their situation ma'am?" Kagome contemplated the question as she zipped up the under armor. "It's not as bad now that they have an additional number of people on their side. That and they don't use charka. The real challenge will be getting out and not using any charka." Kagome answered as she put on the white ANBU chest piece on, also cleaned while she took a shower, each individual piece of armor was washed and the white armor flashed brightly as hit it light. Kagome ran a hand over the chest piece. "Ma'am, I…Uhh…never mind." Marina started as steam started to fill the room from the use of hot water. "Marina, it's alright. You can ask me what ever you want. Were on the same side remember?" Kagome said as she placed another piece of armor on. Kagome didn't hear anything for awhile and then heard a sigh. "I was wondering about our mission ma'am. I don't know anything about the mission except the location." Marina asked hesitantly. Kagome paused placing her final piece of armor on. She thought about what to say to her friends. She had told them where they were headed even though they overheard it a couple times and that the mission was a search and retrieve but not who they were looking for. A brief image of Gakuto appeared as she placed the armor piece on and reached for the ebony colored cloak that she took with her instead of leaving it with the rest of the snake armor at the wagons. "We are trying to find Gakuto Minamoto, a close friend of mine." Kagome answered. Only the noise of running water could be heard. The washing machine turned off and Kagome placed Marina's clothes in a drier. "You care about him don't you, ma'am?" Kagome heard Marina ask and the smell of the strawberry shampoo they had been given reach her nose. "What would make you say that?" Kagome asked and heard a giggle. "You're going half way around the world to just find him. If that doesn't say you care for him then I don't know what does." Marina finished her statement with a smile that Kagome could sense. Kagome didn't answer for awhile. "He's-" a loud scream startled Kagome out of her trail of thought and answering Marina. "What the hell was that?!" Marina asked, poking her head out of the shower, her brown hair turning almost to a black color from being wet. "I don't know but I'm going to check it out." Kagome said as she got up and walked silently towards the door to the restroom. She reached the bathroom door and placed her hand on the handle. She jumped slightly when there was a loud bang and the power in the bathroom turned off, the emergency lights turning on a few moments after the women stood in darkness. "Was that the power? I'm getting a little freaked out now ma'am. This is starting to look more and more like a slasher film." Marina said with a slight fear in her voice. The door made no noise as Kagome opened it, somewhat glad the steam from the room covered most of her body, concealing her as she walked out of the bathroom. "I'll be back, I'm locking the door. Don't open it unless it's me." Kagome said behind her as quietly as she could. Kagome heard the click and started to walk down the dark corridor, emergency red lights lighting her path. Steam had started to fill the area quickly, from where, Kagome didn't know. She could hear a dripping sound nearby but she couldn't pinpoint the location exactly, all she knew was that the more she moved forward the louder the noise got. Less than three minutes into her search and Kagome found what was making the noise and where the noise was coming from. Kagome walked into a flight of stairs leading up and downstairs. Steam came from downstairs at an increasing rate. Kagome also looked at the object of the noise with wide eyes. Kagome stared at the bloody severed hand holding onto the railing, blood running down the length of it. Kagome looked around for what ever could have detached the hand from its owner. She couldn't find anything, let alone the hand. Kagome looked up, slightly expecting to see something. She gave a sigh as she saw nothing. She did hear something though. The sound of something scurrying above her did alert her that someone or something was there. "Hello? Is anyone up there?" Kagome asked, the scurrying noise stopping as soon as she asked the question. Kagome started to ascend the stairs, and starting to feel lightheaded, almost nauseous. Kagome placed her hand on the railing for support, its cool metal giving her a comforting feeling. Kagome kept going up the stairs with an increase in her sick feeling. The sick feeling disappeared as soon as she reached the top of the stairs. She looked to her right and saw another flight of stairs leading towards the roof. To her left Kagome saw a door. She tried to grab for a handle in the dark finally finding it but letting go of it moments after she grabbed it. Her gauntleted hand slipped slightly when she tried to grab the handle. Kagome lifted the gauntlet to her face and could smell the substance clearly. The smell of iron, indicating blood, came from her covered hand. Another scream caused Kagome to jump and tried to grab onto the railing behind her. She forgot about the blood on her hand and started to fall down the stairs when she tried to grab the railing and slipped. She felt something bite her left arm, but since her armor was thick enough to withstand most attacks, she only felt a small pressure on her arm. Kagome looked to her left to see Shadow staring at her. "I've got you." Kagome smiled at her friend and tried to get up, with some help of being held by Shadow's teeth. Kagome sighed. "Thanks. I could have broken my neck on that fall." Shadow nodded at her thanks. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Naruto and Sasuke?" Kagome asked as she wiped the blood off her hand. "They're outside. They just got here. I came here before them and got passed security by using their only blind spot, the roof. It was a bad idea…" Shadow stated, Kagome realizing his lack of breath for the first time. Kagome looked up to the roof door when she heard it open. She gasped to see Marina holding onto her neck and started to fall forward. Kagome caught her just in time with her speed and looked at the approaching Shadow. "What happened?" Kagome asked, looking at the unconscious Marina.
Minutes before…
Shadow had used the surrounding buildings to hide from the search lights and sentries. He approached the fifteen foot tall fence and looked around for any sentries. Seeing none he jumped up and over the fence. The noise was loud, causing some sentries to run towards his location. Shadow looked around and then straight up. He judged the height and knew he could not be able to jump it. He also could not be able to go through the wall, that power only available to him when near the castle or village. Finding no other way, Shadow used his claws and started to grab onto the wall, climbing vertically on the wall. He was half way from the roof to the ground when the sentries had reached his location. Shadow stopped moving, hoping to keep the sentries from seeing or hearing him.
He looked down to see the sentries were using flashlights and cursed human technology as the sentries tried to look for him. He smirked when he heard the obnoxious voice of Naruto Uzumaki and the sentries ran towards the front of the building, completely forgetting about Shadow. His ascent to the roof was less eventful. Shadow jumped the rest of the way to the roof, landing with a slight grunt. Shadow looked around the roof. Most of the area was empty, little to talk about. Shadow saw five large air-conditioning units and a larger fenced power unit near the center of the roof. He also saw a door that must have led to the inside, planks of wood and chain keeping the door closed. He started to head towards the door when something sent him flying into the large power unit, causing a large bang and the power unit spark and smoke. Shadow shook his head and looked around for what had hit him. He found three large spiders heading towards him, three more climbing the wall behind the ones already on the roof and two from behind him. Shadow stared at the spiders, their mandibles slobbering and sharp teeth behind the mandibles. Shadow growled at the number of enemies and judged his chances were slim of getting out without any permanent damage. Shadow reached his maximum size, an impressive and menacing seven feet at the shoulder when on all fours. (He was basically the size of a Hummer people, a big furry one). Some of the spiders looked at Shadow with a bit of fear, but their main instinct was to attack. After a stare off with eight large spiders, one spider chose to attack Shadow. Shadow dodged to the right and grabbed onto one of the many legs of the spider with his mouth, ripping it off with a loud pop. The spider screeched as it started to bleed out. Two more spiders attacked Shadow, which he sent flying off the roof with his sonic howl. The wounded spider from the first fight got up and slammed into Shadow, sending both of them almost off the ledge of the roof. Shadow grunted as he tried to stand, the other spiders approaching quickly. Shadow looked at the spider next to him, hissing at him as it clenched its mandibles in a menacing way. Shadow grinned and grabbed onto the spider's neck, breaking it, and swung the body towards the group of arachnids. Shadow ran toward the disoriented spiders and jumped on top of a spider, his claws going into the spider hide. The spider screeched as it tried to get Shadow off its back, causing Shadow to drag his claws along the spider's body. The spider dropped dead as the cuts turned into large gashes that made the spider's intestines and vital organs fall out. A spider lunged at Shadow when he was occupied with the spider just before it dropped dead. Shadow felt the weight of the spider and yelped as he fell with the spider on him. But as soon as it was on him, the weight disappeared. Shadow got up and looked at the spider, dozens of kunai in its head. "You need help boy?" a voice alerted Shadow. Shadow turned to see Marina holding more kunai in one hand and holding onto the hilt of her sword with the other. "I saw you climbing the side of the wall and decided to follow you." She said as she threw the kunai in her hand and a spider screeched next to Shadow. Her wet hair stuck to her head and Shadow could only guess that she came out of a shower. He turned around to see three spiders left. Marina started to fight one of the spiders while Shadow started to distract the other two. A spider jumped up while another ran toward Shadow. Shadow dodged to his right and was tackled by the spider that had charged him. The spider bit at his neck and body and he yelped in pain and anger as he turned to the spider and sonic howled into its face, destroying its brain instantly. The other spider approached and tried to finish the already wounded Shadow when Marina's sword pierced its head and fell to the ground. Shadow turned to see Marina in the position when she threw the sword. She yelped in surprise when a white substance wrapped around her waist and pulled her towards the spider she had been occupied with. Shadow growled as he tried to push the dead spider off of him. Marina screamed in pain when the spider bit her arm and then proceeded to bite her in the neck, drawing large amounts of blood. Shadow's anger grew as he heard Marina scream in pain again and pushed the spider so hard that his fur turned into spike like material and exploded the spider on contact. Red aura surrounded Shadow as he appeared next to the spider and started to rip it to shreds. The spider screeched and dropped Marina, which fell to her knees and then to the ground with a slight thud. When Shadow was done, there was nothing left of the spider except green blood and pieces of legs here and there. The red aura around him disappeared and he approached the unconscious Marina. He looked at her wounds and started to lick them. He looked at his work and watched as the wounds started to heal. He nodded at his accomplishment and went to the door, ripping off the wood and chains in one go. The door opened slowly, too slow for Shadow as he pushed the door open with his head and looked inside. A flight of stairs led down and to the left. Shadow looked back at Marina and his ears shot up and towards her, hearing her steady breathing. "Breathing. That's good." Shadow thought as his ears then turn toward the flight of stairs, hearing a scream and the sound of a surprised gasp.
Present time…
Kagome looked down at the sleeping Marina, looking at her arm and neck. Shadow had healed Marina's wound and only a small scar that will disappear over time could be seen in the areas that were pierced. "What was that red aura you mentioned?" Kagome asked as she ran a finger on her friend's neck, testing the sensitivity. Marina moaned in pain and tried to go back to sleep. Shadow laughed and Kagome looked at him angrily. "My healing ability only heals; it doesn't numb the affected area. I'm not a miracle worker. The red aura? That's what we Guardians call Berserker's Strength. It's dangerous to be around us at that moment as our hides turn into a combustible material. Anything that touches it will, well, blow up I guess. We also gain a power and speed boost and an increase in pain tolerance. It's when we are at our strongest. It gets addicting after long use though and could be bad for us. That's why I don't use it all the time." Shadow explained and licked his paw and his body, ridding himself of wounds and blood. "You need a bath." Kagome stated as Shadow raised his head and looked at her with a blank face that turned into a slight annoyed one. "Never…Again. Last time you washed me includes a painful and embarrassing moment for me." Shadow said. Kagome laughed and picked Marina up into her arms. "We should get to an infirmary just incase. We can't let any unknown poisons in your bodies." Kagome stated as she walked down the stairs. Kagome noticed the door she was going to go through earlier was open and off its hinges. Steam from the lower levels had reached the stairs she was starting to descend, making it hard to see the stairs. Whenever Kagome slipped, Shadow pushed her right back up with his head on her back before she hit the ground. Kagome tensed up when she remembered the severed hand and the emergency lights. "The power is still out?" Kagome said as she started to walk towards the bathroom Marina and she were in earlier. "That's my fault, sorry." Shadow whined as he looked down the flight of stairs behind them. "Hey what's down there and why is there so much steam coming from there?" Shadow asked as he continued to walk next to Kagome. Kagome turned her head and looked at the flight of stairs behind them. "I'm not sure. But this steam is messing with my sight. I can't see far from me because of it." Kagome said as she passed the bathroom door and proceeded to the door down the hallway, which led to a room and then she would take a suspended walkway to reach her friends on the main floor. A clicking noise caught her attention and Kagome looked behind her. "Shadow where are you?!" Kagome hissed into the white mist that surrounded her and Marina. "Keep going Kagome. I'll try and keep them back for as long as possible." Shadow told her telepathically. "You need help!" Kagome yelled into the mist and screamed and crouched down when a large object flew past her. She looked at Shadow as he tried to get up and looked at her angrily. "Go. Now." Shadow growled and ran into the steam again, screeches of pain and anger coming from within. Kagome ran to the door and closed it behind her. She looked around and found an office type area. "Damn! I must have taken a wrong turn." Kagome cursed as she looked around again for another door. Kagome felt her hopes dash as she found none. A thud behind her caused her to jump from the door slightly. The slams into the door continued and Kagome started to get nervous as she placed Marina on a lounge chair and started to grab materials and place them on the door. The slamming continued, and some of the material that Kagome used as a barricade started to come off. Kagome looked behind her and saw a curtain. She walked towards it and pulled it open to see the outside. To her left was the suspended walkway and the other building in front of her. To her right was the small town. Kagome looked back at the door when she heard another slam into the door and made up her mind and broke the window. Air tried to suck her outside because of her altitude. Kagome started to head towards Marina and helped her on her shoulder. They headed towards the window and Kagome started to head towards the walkway, the door burst open as soon as she had reached the ledge. A group of spiders headed towards her and Kagome increased her speed, almost falling when a strong gust of air rushed in from the east. Kagome looked to her right and saw a spider fall down the building from where she came from, another following it. Kagome sighed as she stared at the sight of the remaining spiders screech at her from the broken window, thinking that the spiders could not follow. Half way from the walkway Kagome heard heavy footfalls to her right. She turned to see the spiders use their ability to climb walls and steep areas. She increased her speed again, trying to get away from her pursuers. She almost fell off when a spider lunged at her. She ducked, dragging the unconscious Marina down with her, almost dropping her and herself when Kagome almost dropped Marina before she caught her by the arm and almost falling forward when the weight caught her by surprise. The spider that had lunged at her screeched as it fell to earth with a thud. Kagome continued her way towards the walkway once she was able to get up and hold Marina in her arms. The walkway was meters away now as Kagome continued her sprint to the walkway. Kagome mentally slapped herself when she remembered the training with Kakashi and used charka to run on the wall like the spiders, even though it would cause the spiders to increase in strength and hunger. Kagome turned to see two more spiders try and grab her as she kicked one and killed the other instantly with the saber, which she had just remembered was on her wrist and gleamed in the light of the moon. Some of the spiders hissed at her, away from arms reach and the bright blue light of the saber. She smirked and reached the walkway with little less trouble after that. As she helped the semi-conscious Marina up onto the roof of the walkway, Marina waking up slightly when Kagome was near the walkway, Kagome felt a sharp pain shoot up her back. Kagome screamed in pain and looked behind her. She almost screamed again as the spider pierced her back again with its pincers, trying to hold onto her. Kagome's eyes widen at the amount of dangers at that moment. She tried to calm herself and looked at each and every danger at the moment. The spider on her back was about the same size of a full grown human and its hungry eyes looked at her, its pincers in her back glowed light blue as Kagome could feel a draining feeling, groaning in discomfort at the feeling. Two spiders approached Marina from above them and three were approaching behind the spider that Kagome was occupied with. All in all there was around eight to ten dangers and no way out without a sacrifice of some way. Kagome yelped when felt the spider dig its pincers into her again. She started to feel light headed and felt herself falling. Kagome screamed in pain again when she felt a tug on her forearm and the spider dragging its pincers down her back until she felt it get off. Kagome opened her eyes and looked down. The spiders that were heading towards her were now falling down to the earth, exploding into pieces when they hit the ground. Kagome then looked up to see Marina holding her arm. "I'm out for five minuets and I'm already saving your ass captain." Marina joked. Kagome laughed lightly at Marina's chance to lighten the mood. "Shut up and help me up will you?" Kagome said, smiling with her eyes closed. Kagome felt Marina pull her up and onto the roof of the walkway.
Kagome looked up at the night sky, Marina next to her as both women held onto their abdomens, trying to bring their breathing in some way without using charka to get more spiders to their position. Kagome looked to her right to see Marina's face, her mask falling off during the fight. Her eyes were closed and her face was covered in grime, sweat, and dirt. Next to Marina were two dead spiders, kunai and shuriken in their heads. "Thanks." Both women said simultaneously and giggled slightly at the same time. Both of them held onto body parts that ached and groaned in discomfort. "We need a vacation ma'am. What I would do for a hot spring right now." Marina said, Kagome smiled at the thought and nodded. "You alright?" Kagome heard Marina's concerned voice ask after awhile of silence except their labored breathing. Kagome didn't answer, many thing were bothering her, some greater than others. "Too many damn problems." Kagome simply said. Kagome felt Marina grab her gloved hand with her own and squeezing it slightly. Kagome smiled and turned to see Marina smiling at her, some concern leaving her face when Kagome looked at her. "That's why you have friends and family. Not everyone could beat every problem by themselves. What's your biggest worry right now?" Marina asked. Kagome thought about the question, thinking it through. "Everyone. You all helped me up to this point, with little knowledge of what we were going to do or where we were going. You guys are true friends." Kagome said truthfully. Kagome felt a tug at her hand and felt Marina embrace her. Kagome returned the embrace. "Sorry, ma'am. Kind of just needed a hug." Marina said as she released Kagome but both of them stayed close. Kagome laughed. "It's alright. It's the small acts that are just as important right? Besides, I needed it as well." Kagome smiled at her friend. Marina nodded and started to get up, offering Kagome a hand. Kagome took it and was pulled up. Kagome and Marina grinned at each other and both started to head to the other building, both holding each other for support.
Captain Kasiyama…
Captain Kasiyama walked towards the doors that would lead him to the walkway to the other building. His fellow soldier followed closed behind, their armor making slight noise as they walked towards the now visible doors. Both men gasped and widen their eyes when they saw Kagome and Marina walk through the door, bruised and bloodied. "What the hell happened?!" the captain asked as he helped Kagome onto his shoulder, his fellow soldier helping Marina. "Spiders. They took the other building. I wouldn't worry about it though, at least for now. They don't seem to be heading to the occupied building yet." The four went to a nearby room and both women slept on the same makeshift bed, each showing a sisterly bond. Captain Kasiyama stood outside their door, weapon drawn and guarding the entire floor until both Kagome and Marina recovered or his soldier returned with reinforcements. Not much happened for half an hour but Captain Kasiyama's sentry position never wavered, he almost looked like a statue. Finally the sound of double doors opening alerted him that someone or something was on the same floor. The door made a slow opening sound and Captain Kasiyama was slightly startled when the door slammed close. "Hello? Is anyone there?" the captain asked as he raised the katana like weapon up and held something behind him. Captain Kasiyama heard the sound of footsteps approach, in a somewhat hurried state. He knew whatever the footsteps belonged to was not human. A dripping noise followed the footsteps once in awhile. Captain Kasiyama almost fell on the ground in surprise when a large black wolf rounded the corner. Captain Kasiyama lowered his weapon and let go of the fire bomb he held on his belt. "What the hell?" the captain finally stated as the wolf passed him and trotted towards the door he was standing next to awhile ago. The wolf laid its head in its paws and stared at the door, waiting or guarding the captain couldn't tell. Captain Kasiyama walked towards the door and both the wolf and the man stared at each other, the man looking away slightly at the unnerving red eyes. After awhile Captain Kasiyama slid down the wall and looked up at the lights. After an hour Captain Kasiyama frowned. "Where the hell is that soldier with the reinforcements?" The door next to him opened slightly while he asked the question out loud. Captain Kasiyama jumped to his right when he saw Shadow run straight for the door. "Shadow! How? When? What happened to you?!" Captain Kasiyama heard Marina's voice from within the room. "I was worried!" He heard Kagome's voice this time as he got up. "Well you could have said something. Just don't do that again ok?" A bark followed Kagome's request as he looked into the room. Kagome and Marina were both underneath the large wolf known as Shadow who was licking both women in the face. "Captain!" Captain Kasiyama turned to the sound of the voice in the hall and saw his soldier and a group of people behind him. "I said a doctor or two private! Not the whole damn hospital staff!" Captain Kasiyama joked as the large group headed towards him.