Chapter 26: Accusation
"Ugh… What's that horrible smell?" Inuyasha growled while holding his nose and sticking out his pink tongue in disgust.
"Hmm? What are you talking about Inuyasha?" Alice asked, looking back at the hanyou.
"What do you mean what am I talking about? Can't you smell it? It's disgusting," Inuyasha replied while making a sick face towards the direction of the Village of Ayame's entrance.
"Well sorry my sense of smell isn't as strong as yours," Alice said before muttering, "I'm not a dog like you."
"What did you say?" Inuyasha growled, forgetting about the scent that flowed from the village for a moment to glare at Alice, who in turn glared back at him.
"Well Inuyasha's smell is far greater than a human's so it's no wonder he can smell something that we can't," Miroku said while Sango and Kagome sighed as the other two stood where they were, still glaring at each other.
"Hmph, whatever. Let's get going already," Alice muttered, breaking the glare between her and Inuyasha to walk towards Ayame Village.
"Keh," Inuyasha muttered while the rest followed Alice into the village, which consisted of a few tiny wooden houses and farms like most villages in the area.
Just as the group got towards the middle of the small village, Alice cringed and held her nose while her eyes watered up at a strong scent.
"Ugh! That's awful!" Alice complained, suddenly realizing that Inuyasha wasn't kidding about the smell.
"I think I'm going to be sick…" Shippo trailed off as he hung his head over Miroku's shoulder while the monk looked down at the tiny kitsune with a worried expression.
A man selling garlic, who was near the group, laughed at the disgusted faces that Alice, Inuyasha and Shippo made. "Of course it smells bad," he chuckled.
"Is that garlic?" Kagome asked the man politely.
"Yes, and though their smell isn't to pleasing they're very health to eat," the man explained before offering, "Do you want to take one with you? I'll give it to you for free."
At this Inuyasha, Alice and Shippo immediately shook their heads in refusal to take the clove of garlic with them.
Ugh please no! The smell is killing me! Alice thought as she fought to hold her breath so she wouldn't breathe in anymore of the nauseating scent.
"Uh, no thank you," Kagome answered after a look at Inuyasha's disgusted face.
"Okay then. Come back whenever you feel like buying one!" the man laughed as the group quickly headed away from the stand.
Once a ways away, Inuyasha and Alice gasped taking in lung fills of fresh, garlic free, air.
"Never… again…" Alice trailed off as she shook her head to get rid of the after smell while Inuyasha had a relieved look on his face to get away from the wretched smell.
"I don't know what you guy's problem is. I think garlic smells nice," Sango stated as Miroku nodded in agreement.
"What? You've got to be crazy to like that smell!" Inuyasha argued.
Alice was about to back up Inuyasha when an item on the shelf of a nearby store caught her eye. Walking over to the store Alice could make out the item.
"Snowshoes? It can't be why would you sell these when winter doesn't even come around for a couple of more months?" Alice asked the shopkeepers, who were an elderly husband and wife.
"Hey traveler, you must have a good eye if you saw these out of everything else we sell," the man said with a smile.
"A good eye?" Shippo repeated while tilting his head in confusion, "What does that mean?"
"Is this guy trying to pick a fight with us or something," Inuyasha growled, hands reaching towards his sword.
"No, he's just saying that we chose well," Kagome explained to the two.
"Oh, you mean those big shoes?" Shippo asked.
"They're called snowshoes," the man explained while Alice narrowed her eyes in annoyance due to the man ignoring her question, "With these shoes you can walk over snow without sinking into it."
"Yeah, yeah. We know, but why are you selling them now?" Alice repeated, annoyance sparkling in her eyes.
"Well you never know when you'll need them," the man answered, "So do you want them? They're at a good price now."
"We have no need for them, oji-san," Inuyasha stated, "Snow isn't gonna come around for months anyway."
"See, what did I tell you? I knew we shouldn't have bought those things, but no, you wouldn't listen to me and now they're just a waste of space," the woman snapped at her husband.
The man sighed, "I guess I'm no good at this after all."
"Oh come on, everyone makes mistakes. Don't give up now," Kagome stated reassuringly to the old man, who in turn smiled gratefully at the young priestess.
"Hey, do you guys have any place to stay for the night?" the woman asked, abruptly changing the subject.
Everyone looked at each other before Miroku spoke up, "No but…"
The woman cut him off saying, "There aren't any more houses or inns around here for at least a day's trip away. Why don't you come and stay at our inn? It's not much but you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like."
"Thanks for the offer but I think we'll be fine," Sango replied.
"Oh well, that's too bad. But if you change your minds you guys know where to find us," the woman said.
Saying their goodbyes to the couple, the group started off into the woods that surrounded the small village. The walk was relatively silent as the group took in the scenery of the woods.
This is such a nice place, aside from the swamp Alice thought with a sigh at the swamp that stretched on endlessly next to the path they walked on.
While turning a corner, Inuyasha growled and walked ahead of Alice, sniffing the air with a look of disgust.
"I smell wolves," he growled as his white ears perked up to hear any sounds while his golden eyes scanned his surroundings.
"Wolves? That means…" Kagome started, her eyes widening a bit in surprise and understanding.
"Yeah, scrawny wolf," Inuyasha spat the name out as if he were saying a hated enemy's name.
What's so bad about a couple of wolves? Alice thought, tilting her head to the side in confusion.
Alice followed Inuyasha and the others, who took the lead down the forest path. Surprisingly there were almost no demons in sight and this made Alice wonder just why they weren't around.
"Say, have any of you noticed the obvious lack of demons in this area?" Alice asked as they came to a dead end.
Before anyone could reply, Alice heard a snap of a twig behind her and spun around to come face to face with what looked like two wolf people.
Huh? What are these things? Alice thought as she grabbed her sword's hilt and asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"They're wolf demons, is this your first time seeing them?" Sango explained.
Alice nodded, still focused on the two wolf demons before her, ready to defend herself if they chose to attack. But before the two even made a step towards the group, Alice's hair was blown back as yet another wolf demon raced up to her, stopping only inches from where she stood.
The wolf demon had jet black hair, tied up in a ponytail, and wore armor adorned by brown fur and a matching brown tail that swung from side to side. Cautious ice blue eyes met enraged deep blue ones as the two tried to make out what the other was thinking.
"What are you talking about? This isn't the first time you've seen a wolf demon. Don't lie!" the wolf demanded, fury glowing in his blue eyes.
"What are you talking about? I'm not lying at all, this is the first time I've seen a wolf demon before. I should know," Alice snapped back.
"Shut up! You can't play dumb on me! What did you think I would forget what you did?" the wolf growled.
"You would know," Alice muttered before speaking up, "How stupid can you be? I know I've never met you before!"
"Lies! I'd never forget the face of a person who attacks my pack every day!" the wolf demon growled.
Alice was desperately holding herself back from slapping the demon, and after a deep breath she replied in forced calmness, "What are you talking about? I have never seen a wolf demon before now so tell me just how could I be the one…"
"Shut up! You know what you did but are too cowardly to take the blame. This ends now, it's payback time," the wolf interrupted Alice as he held up his fist, poised for attack.
"Wait Koga! Alice has been with us for a while now, there's no way she can be the same person you're talking about," Kagome stated as she moved in between the two.
"Move Kagome, there's no way I'll let her go," Koga growled, completely ignoring what Kagome was trying to tell him.
"Kagome come back over here, Koga isn't listening to you and you'll be in danger if you stay there for much longer," Miroku warned as Inuyasha jumped to stand next to Kagome in front of Alice.
"The monk's right Kagome go stand over near Sango," Inuyasha instructed and once Kagome did as she was told to Inuyasha faced Koga and grinned, "Great, now we'll finally get to see who the stronger one is."
Narrowing his eyes Koga muttered, "Just stay outta my way mutt." Before ordering the other two wolf demons, "Let's go! Get the girl!"
Instantly the peaceful clearing broke out in fight. While the two other wolf demons faced Miroku, Kagome, Sango and Shippo, Inuyasha and Alice faced Koga, who swiftly pushed Inuyasha back and bolted towards Alice.
He's fast! Alice thought as she raised her sword to protect herself from the wolf demon's blows. As the blows came faster and faster Alice began to panic. I can't hold them off forever…
Just as the thoughts crossed her mind, Koga swung, knocking Alice to the ground while her sword spiraled away. Hitting the ground hard, Alice looked up to see Koga standing above her, hand raised to give the final blow.
"This is it! You should've thought twice about attacking my pack," the wolf demon growled darkly as he raised his hand higher.
Alice stared at him in horror as he brought his hand down but before his hand reached its target a gust of wind followed by a sword swung inches above Alice's head stopped Koga's attack and sent him back a few feet.
"Keh, so close," Inuyasha growled from behind Alice as she fought to catch her breath from the near death experience.
Once recovered Alice rounded on Inuyasha yelling, "What was that for? You could've killed me!"
"Shut up! I did just save your sorry life didn't I?" Inuyasha snapped back as Alice glared at him before retrieving her sword and facing Koga.
"Damn, you don't know when to give up," Koga growled as Inuyasha lunged at him, Tessaiga raised for attack.
"Keh, I could say the same for you," Inuyasha countered as Koga aimed a kick to the hanyou's head which missed, causing a massive hole to form in the ground where Inuyasha stood moments ago.
"This is pointless!" Alice yelled as she dodged a kick from Koga that sent her hair flying back, "When will you realize that I don't know you!"
"Shut up! As if mere words could make up for what you've done!" Koga snarled while dodging an attack from Inuyasha.
"Koga!" Kagome spoke up as everyone froze to look over at the young priestess, "Stop this at once!"
"Kagome no matter what you say I will get my revenge," Koga growled, trying to control his temper so he wouldn't snap at the girl.
"Just listen to me for once!" Kagome snapped, "Alice isn't the person you are looking for. But until we can prove to you that she isn't the one take me as your hostage."
Alice couldn't believe her ears. Kagome! What… What are you thinking!
"Kagome!" Inuyasha voiced Alice's surprise as everyone in the clearing looked over at Kagome in shock.
"Really? And if they fail to prove that Alice," Koga spat the name in disgust, "isn't the one, then what?"
"We'll figure that out later," Kagome replied.
"Well I have a better idea, if they can't prove that she is innocent then you'll become my girl," Koga stated, brightening up at the thought.
Both Inuyasha and Alice had a look of disbelief on their faces as they heard the wolf demon's words. What! Is this guy serious? Alice thought as she looked between Kagome and Koga.
"Like I'm going to let that happen. Who does this guy think he is anyway?" Inuyasha growled under his breath as he started towards Koga.
"Inuyasha! Osuwari!" Kagome yelled, halting the hanyou's approach by making him face plant into the ground five feet away from where Koga stood, courtesy of the magical beads that adorned his neck.
"Kagome… Why you…" Inuyasha growled, furious at the girl who stood in front of him.
"See you later mutt," Koga stated with a smirk on his face, "Okay everyone retreat!"
Before Alice could say a word, the wolf demons along with Kagome vanished in a gust of wind.
"Kagome!" Alice yelled after them, knowing it was already too late she bit down on her lower lip in frustration.
"Damn," Inuyasha growled as he stood up from where he laid, dirt covering his face, "We need to go after them!"
"Wait Inuyasha," Miroku cut in as he blocked Inuyasha from going in the direction Kagome and the wolves disappeared in, "If we do that then Kagome becoming a hostage would be pointless."
"I know but…" Inuyasha started before Sango cut him off.
"Let's use the time Kagome has bought us wisely. We should search the forest first. Remember that Koga said these attacks have been reoccurring daily so we may be able to find who is doing this and at the very least some clues."
The group set off into the forest, eyes alert for any signs of movement. But while the others were focused on finding clues, Alice found it hard to focus with the anger that built up inside her.
Who does that Koga think he is? King of the world? He had no right to accuse me of killing his pack. And the way he look when he took Kagome… Ugh! I just want to slap that annoying smirk off his face.
With each passing moment Alice clutched her hand harder as the thoughts rolled through her head and after a few minutes she unconsciously muttered, "I'll show him…"
Looking up, Alice noticed everyone looking back at her with an eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"What?" Alice asked, narrowing her eyes as if to dare someone to say she was guilty.
"Oh nothing," Miroku replied as Alice huffed and walked by them, not bothering to look at their faces as she walked by.
Within moments Alice saw something on the path in front of them and stopped in her tracks. Is that a wolf demon? Alice thought as she looked at the familiar clothing that the man wore.
"Why is he on the ground?" Shippo questioned from atop Miroku's shoulder, as the monk took a step towards the demon.
"Be careful, it could just be a trick," Sango warned as she gripped her Hirakotsu's handle.
After a cautious approach it was clear that the wolf demon was playing no trick. Alice flinched at the sight of his wounds and fresh blood that soaked into the ground around him.
"What happened to him?" Shippo asked while looking down at the unconscious, beaten up wolf demon.
"We can't just leave him here. Let's bring him over to the shade and mend his wounds," Miroku stated with a glance towards Alice, who sighed, knowing the monk was referring to her ability to heal almost any wound.
"Alright, but if he tries anything…" Alice trailed off with a reluctant glance towards the wolf.
"It'll be alright, he won't get the chance," Sango reassured her as Alice knelt down next to the injured wolf and began to heal his wounds.
As Alice healed the wounds of the wolf demon she frowned. These burn marks look familiar, like Shikigami caused them. But who would do this and why?
Shaking her head to clear the thoughts from her mind, Alice focused on healing the wolf demon's wounds. Let's hope that he can give us some answers once he wakes up, after all Kagome's safety and his own pack's could very well rely on what he has to say.
Kagome is captured by Koga! Does this fallen wolf demon hold the answers to the problems that surround the Wolf Demon Tribe?
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