Chapter Eight: The Toad who would be Prince

Kagome swam through the chill pond enjoying every second of it as she pulled herself out. She was now clad in a orange and yellow bathing suit, and her new school uniform lay on the rocks some ways away. Mom hadn't been happy about her old one disappearing, but she hadn't been able to find it. Stretched herself out, Kagome sighed in satisfaction. 'Oh wow, that was so nice! The water is clean, the air is fresh! Its not so bad being in the middle ages!'

Inuyasha in the meantime was lounging on a tree branch, resting his head on his hands. 'We've been away for three days now!' said Inuyasha 'You said if we left the village we'd find more jewel shards out here in Wasashi!'

'Yeah, yeah, sure whatever,' said Myoga.

'Are you listening to me or what?' asked Inuyasha.

'Sorry,' said Myoga 'I was just a bit distracted by our young lady down there.'

'Listen you-' began Inuyasha.

'I'm going to go check on her.' said Myoga, racing off.

'Your just going to get clobbered,' said Inuyasha 'I wouldn't do it if I were-' At that moment a white blur raced past him towards Kagome. Wondering if it was dangerous, Inuyasha raced after it, soon overtaking Myoga.

'Lord Inuyasha, you naughty boy!' cried Myoga as he chased after him. 'You can't resist either, can you?' Inuyasha swatted him away, and made his way to the water, landing on a rock. Kagome cried out in shock as she looked up.

'Its not you!' snapped Inuyasha, balancing on a rock. 'I saw something come down here!'

'Its not that,' said Kagome 'its my clothes!'

Looking up, Inuyasha saw a white monkey running away with her clothes. Suddenly there was a high pitched sound that resounded in his ears. 'I heard a whistle…' he said, before giving chase.

In a forest grove, beneath the shadow of a great tree, a boy of sixteen was whistling through his hands, and waiting for his monkey friend to come back. Soon enough the white monkey came racing back to him, carrying a folded garment of green, white, and red. The boy took it. 'Thats my good boy, what did you bring me this time?'

Removing from the garments a white and lacy thing he stared. 'This isn't something to eat.'

'Hey!' snarled a voice, and the boy looked up.

Before him stood an unmistakeable visage, though he had only seen it on paintings until now. The boy fell back as the white haired and red clad half demon emerged from the bushes. Behind him came a girl clad in very strange clothes.

'Hey!' snapped the girl. 'Give me back my clothes!'

The boy was shaking in terror as his hand went to his sword. 'I-Inuyasha of the Band of Seven!' he cried in horror, drawing out his sword. 'Stay back!'

Inuyasha moved swiftly and set one foot to the boys head, pressing it against the tree. 'Good, my reputation proceeds me. Now who are you?'

'I… I'm no one important.' said the boy. 'I was just in the forest and starving, so I told my pet monkey to go find me some food! I didn't mean to cross you, Inuyasha, I…'

'Well you succeeded,' said Inuyasha. 'now either-'

'Inuyasha, sit boy.' said the girl.

At that moment Inuyasha was suddenly slammed against the ground hard. Rising up, he rubbed his head. 'Whats the big idea, Kagome?'

'Stop terrifying him.' said Kagome. 'He didn't mean to steal my clothes, so its uncalled for.'

The boy began to slowly sneak away.

'You think this is uncalled for?' asked Inuyasha 'With this guys looks Jakotsu would have had him begging for death and calling him mistress by now. He's just lucky that out of all the Band of Seven he was found by me. The worst I'll do is sharpen my claws on him.'

The boy snuck a little faster.

'We're not the Band of Seven!' snapped Kagome 'And you!'

The boy halted, caught in the act.

'Your not going anywhere until I give you something to eat!'

And that was how, with his back to a tree and Inuyasha glaring, the boy found himself stuffing his face with some truly delicious form of crunchy and salty food. Kagome watched him with pity. 'You must have really been hungry.' drawing out a metal cylinder she offered it to him. 'Would you like some tea?'

'Yes, thank you.' Kagome snapped open the top, and offered it to him. She then looked to Inuyasha who was sitting around. 'I have something for you too.'

'No thank you.' said Inuyasha.

'But if you eat it, I won't have to carry it.' said Kagome.

'Its not my fault you carry around so much junk all the time.' snapped Inuyasha.

'Its not junk.' replied Kagome. 'Its homework and clothes and-'

'I give up.' said Inuyasha.

The boy arose, and clasped his hands together. 'I give you thanks, women. The chips potato were delicious.'

'My name is Kagome, and his is Inuyasha, and-'

At that moment there came a sucking sound, and the boy slapped his cheek. Myoga floated down to the ground, flattened.

'He's Myoga the flea.' continued Kagome with a smile.

'Who… who is this girl to speak so calmly in the company of a monster like Inuyasha?' wondered the boy as she drew nearer.

'You said before that you were separated from your allies.' she said 'Tell me, are you a nobleman?'

He turned his back on her. 'I'm not at liberty to reveal my full identity?' Making his way forward, he turned to face her, framed in white light. 'But my names Nobunaga.'

Instantly her posture changed. 'Nobunaga! The Nobunaga!' She rushed forward. 'Let me shake your hand! I'm so glad to meet you! Can I have your autograph!'

'Uh… okay.' he said, unsure as to why she was asking.

She offered him a canvass. 'Right here if you would be so kind, and your full name of course!'

'Whats got you so excited?' asked Inuyasha,

'Thats Oda Nobunaga!' cried Kagome. 'Hello! Didn't you study history?!'

'Well actually my dear,' said Myoga 'thats not what the signature says.'

'Amari Nobunaga,' said the girl, disappointed as she leaned in. 'but I thought you were Oda Nobunaga…'

'Ha!' cried Amari 'I belong to the Takeda Clan in the Land of Kai! Please do not confuse me with him!'

'So you know him?' asked Kagome.

'Yeah, and he's a big idiot!' snapped Amari.

'If you weren't Oda Nobunaga then you should have said so.' she snapped, before turning away sadly. 'And here I thought you were living history.'

'Ahem,' said Amari, turning away. 'I trust you'll excuse me, an important mission demands my immediate attention.'

'In that case why are you hanging around the forest stealing womens underwear?' asked Inuyasha in deadpan.

'Farewell.' said Amari, before making his way onwards.

'Uh… I wouldn't go that way if I were-'

And then Amari fell down a hill to land with a crash.

'I told ya, but you wouldn't listen.' reflected Inuyasha.

'A loser, yes.' said Kagome 'But Oda Nobunaga, probably not.'

They made their way onwards and came to a village. There many young women were being bound by the hands and led away. The villagers watched in horror.

'Haven't they taken enough girls already?' asked one.

'Of all the women summoned to the castle, not a one has yet to return.' reflected another.

'Aha,' said Nobunaga 'I knew it. So the rumors I heard were true after all.'

'So why was it you and I had to follow this guy?'

'Because he needs us, and we can't leave him alone!' snapped Kagome.

'What about us?' asked Inuyasha 'We still have our own mission!'

'I don't want to repeat it,' whispered a villager. 'but they say the Lord's been possessed by some kind of demon.'

'Demon?' asked Inuyasha.

Within a great fortress atop a mighty plateau, the Lord remained in an empty room, his face covered in bandages. Tending to him was a beautiful women dressed in red.

'Like ye well, castle life, my Princess?' asked the Lord.

'Yes milord,' said the Princess 'I lack for nothing.'

'Thats alright then,' said the Lord, sipping from his saki.

'If I may, milord,' said the Princess.

'Yes, Princess?'

'The young women,' said the Princess 'the ones milord has so generously summoned to the castle. Might I ask… where they are?'

The saki bowel fell from his hands to clatter upon the ground. His foot came down to crush it beneath one bandaged limb as he smashed the ground. 'You may not!' Then he stood.

'Forgive me!' cried the Princess as she bowed. 'I had no right to ask!'

The demon turned and made his way out of the room, as the Princess clutched her heart. 'Oh that I might return to Kai.'

That night they came upon the castle and there by the base of the plateau stared up. 'This is the place.' said Inuyasha 'I smell the demons scent from here! There is a piece of the sacred jewel there all right.' He got to one knee. 'We'd better go up there and have a closer look. Jump on Kagome.'

'Kay,' said Kagome, before getting on his back.

Less welcome was Amari getting on as well. 'Hey, whats the big idea?!' snapped Inuyasha. 'Get off!'

'I've got business up there!' cried Amari in determination.

'Then go find your own ride!' snapped Inuyasha.

'Just do it, will ya.' said Kagome.

'I appreciate it.' said Amari.

'Why does it always gotta be me thats the nice guy.' muttered Inuyasha, before leaping over the walls in a single bound. On top the plateau they found the guards sleeping.

'Well so much for castle security.' said Kagome 'It looks like their all asleep.'

Myoga jumped up on Inuyasha's shoulder. 'Don't be fooled, Lord Inuyasha. Their sleep is hypnotic, not natural. Possibly, it may even be castle wide.'

Amari led them through the halls. 'Princess!' he cried 'Princess Tzuyu!' Opening a door he found only unconscious bodies. 'Princess Tzuyu, where are you?! It is I, Nobunaga come to save you!'

'Should we be letting him make so much noise?' asked Kagome.

'I don't see why not,' said Inuyasha 'their asleep aren't they? Besides, the sooner we find the demon the sooner we find the jewel.'

Finally Amari opened two double doors and halted. 'Princess!' he cried 'Princess Tzuyu!' And he rushed to her side. Yet he found that she was terribly old. 'Princess Tzuyu, what has happened.'

Kagome made her way over to the side of the room. 'Hey, Nobunaga, I hate to interrupt, but isn't this the Princess Tzuyu over here?'

Amari looked up and blinked, before letting the old women fall to the ground. Myoga then made himself known. 'Did somebody say Princess? I know a good way to wake her up.' Descending onto her cheek, he began to draw blood from her.

Tzuyu's hand came up and struck him, and he fell to the ground as she opened her eyes. Amari was by her side in an instant. 'Princess!'

'Nobunaga,' said the Princess 'why are you here?'

'Princess Tzuyu, you remember me?' asked Nobunaga.

'Of course I do,' she said 'I'll never forget. You and I were friends as children, and you were always so very kind.'

'I…' Amari blushed. 'I don't know what to say. I just thought you wouldn't remember a lowly vassal like me.'

'I remember everything,' said Tzuyu fondly. 'how you'd slip and fall in the pond. How I'd laugh and laugh when you fell in horse dung.'

From where they were watching, Kagome leaned in. 'Hey Inuyasha, you don't suppose he's in love with the Princess do you?'

'Hmm,' said Inuyasha 'good thing for him that we're going to kill her lord.'

'Inuyasha!' said Kagome chidingly.

'What?' said Inuyasha 'He's clearly possessed by a demon.'

'It could be someone else.' said Kagome.

'If only I could go home…' said Tzuyu, beginning to cry.

'Princess…' said Amari.

'It was shortly after I came here as his bride that my Lord began to act strangely,' said the Princess 'he'd fallen into the garden pond, and run a terrible fever. It was as though he'd become a different person.'

'Told you so.' said Inuyasha.

'Nobunaga, what should I do?' cried he Princess.

'There seems no choice.' said Amari 'You must return to Kai. Even your father, so far from here, has heard of the Lords derangement. Indeed, it was his wish I come that you might be returned to him.'

Tzuyu looked deep into his eyes. 'You… came on my fathers orders?'

'Even if he had not ordered it, still, I would somehow have come.' said Amari.

'Nobunaga…' she began breathlessly.

'Yes Princess? I'm listening.' he said.

'Nobunaga… there is a monkey on your head.' said Tzuyu.

'Yes Princess.' said Nobunaga sadly.

Then Inuyasha heard footsteps. 'Sounds like he's finally here.' He stood up. 'You coming Kagome?'

'Yep.' she said.

Inuyasha stepped into the hall, and saw the shambling figure of the Lord approaching. The Lord looked at him strangely. 'I thought I heard something.'

'Yeah,' said Inuyasha 'and it took you long enough! Lets see your true face!' Surging forward, his claws slashed through the bandages.

The Lord fell back, as Amari and Tzuyu gasped. For beneath the bandages was the face and flippers of a toad.

'My lord…' said Princess Tzuyu, before fainting into Amari's arms. 'Don't worry!'

'He has a piece of the jewel in him.' said Kagome. 'I saw it!'

'Yeah, a lot of good its done him,' said Inuyasha.

'Not so fast, Inuyasha.' said Myoga 'He's the ninety ninth toad of the ninety ninth generation. He's stronger than he looks.'

'Then one good punch ought to make it a hundred!' snapped Inuyasha before surging forward. However the toad spat a wave of violet gas which engulfed him, and he fell to the ground choking.

'Kagome,' said Myoga 'toxic fumes. Very dangerous.'

'Yeah,' wheezed Kagome 'I kind of figured that.'

The toad made its way past Inuyasha towards Amari and Tzuyu. 'Give me back my Princess!'

Amari drew his sword and raised it. 'Stay back monster!'

'Very funny!' cried the toad 'As though you could stop me, human scum!' Then his tongue lashed out and plunged into Amari's shoulder. The samurai fell back, the Princess falling from his arms.

'Nobunaga!' cried Kagome.

At that moment the toad grabbed the Princess, swung her over one shoulder and ran, smashing through the wall and racing across the roofs. Amari rose up, bleeding heavily. 'Princess!'

'Amari!' cried Kagome.

'It doesn't matter what happens to me!' cried Amaru 'Please, you've got to save the Princess!'

'I knew it.' said Kagome 'So you are in love with the Princess then, aren't you Nobunaga.'

'How could you tell?' asked Nobunaga in wonder.

'Eh…' Kagome blinked. 'you mean it was a secret?'

Inuyasha stood up. 'Lousy stinking toad! No way is he getting away! I'm going ahead!'

And he raced after the toad, racing across the rooftops.

The toad carried Tzuyu through the castle, and finally came to a hidden storage room where he threw her down. Around her she could see countless pods containing women who lay dormant, sleeping.

'Princess, my Princess…' said the toad 'I could eat you up!'

Tzuyu gasped and scrambled away as he advanced.

Moments later Inuyasha burst through the door, and found the toad beyond. 'I knew I'd find ya!'

'Too late…' gloated the toad, holding a ball of blue which contained the Princess within it.

'What has he done!' cried Kagome.

'Princess Tzuyu!' cried Amari.

'Sealed her up like toad spawn.' said Myoga 'Just as the rumors said. Young women, kept in egg sacks until their souls ripen. With the power of the jewel shard and the young Lords position, no one could oppose him.'

'You mean that thing is going to eat Princess Tzuyu!' cried Amari. 'Not while I'm alive!'

The toad only laughed as he charged sword in hand, and breathed in. Inuyasha surged forward and knocked Amari aside. Then he drew Tetsaiga and came down upon the toad.

'He knocked him away!' cried Kagome.

'Right,' said Myoga 'and he was able to use Tetsaiga to do it too!'

'Because she's human.'

'I'm going to dissect you with this, and cut the jewel shard out of your body!' roared Inuyasha as he charged forward cut the toads head off with one blow from the tetsaiga. And then he stuck Tetsaiga into the toads gut, and slick it down the middle before reaching in with his claws and pulling the flesh aside.

Then he began to search for the jewel shard amidst the toads internal organs, as Kagome and Amari watched in silent horror, open mouthed.

There was a long silence in the room as Kagome clenched her fists, eyes closed in silent fury, and Inuyasha lounged on the floor, looking exceptionally smug. Kaede stared, open eyed. 'So… ye killed him.'

'Killed is a bit mild.' said Inuyasha. 'It was a bit messy. I remember Kagome had to spend an hour cleaning the guts off her uniform after she tried to pull me off his still warm corpse. The blood looked good on her. Pity she got it is off so quick.'

'Ye dissected a human being?' asked Kaede in dawning horror.

'Well it would have gone a lot faster if Kagome had told me where on his body the jewel shard was.' said Inuyasha. 'I figured that if I waited any longer he might eat one of the girls to restore his strength. So it was either kill him or give Kagome a chance. So I just figured I'd save some souls and take all the credit.'

'But what about the Princess?' asked Kaede 'Ye dissected her husband right in front of her.'

'In my defense she was unconscious.' said Inuyasha 'Although she did kind of faint once she saw his body after it returned to normal.'

'Surely she must not have taken the news well.' reflected Kaede dryly.

'Aw, she cried a lot and went off with Amari.' said Inuyasha, sitting up satisfaction. 'I think Amari made some speech to me about how all life was sacred, and I shouldn't have killed him, but I wasn't really listening. Long story short, we freed all the girls, brought them back to their families, and there is one less Lord in the universe.

Pretty good day all things considered. Though I'd hate to arrange his funeral.'

'Ye are taking far too much satisfaction from the fact that ye didn't even attempt to save the Lord from possession.' reflected Kaede.

'Look whats the big deal?!' asked Inuyasha 'We got the jewel shard didn't we? And now Amari and Tzuyu can live happily ever after without having to cheat on her husband! Honestly, if the man was stupid enough to get possessed by a demon that weak he deserved to have his internal organs removed!'

'Inuyasha…' said Kagome, opening her eyes.

Inuyasha arose in sudden fear. 'Now wait a minute-'

'Sit!'

Authors Note:

Shorter chapter here today, primarily because of the alternate ending, which by the way I have been planning since before Inuyasha of the Band of Seven was complete. Having Inuyasha just shoot the Lord is something I decided on early, because it never sat right with me how his hesitation to kill him led to the deaths of several innocent women.

Meanwhile the Lord doesn't suffer at all. And yes I know he was possessed, but I don't like how everyone just forgets about the village girls he ate.

That said I did not plan the toads death to be quite so gruesome, but after Inuyasha's idle boast in the original story, I just couldn't resist having him actually do it in front of Kagome and Amari.

This might be a good time to mention that I found the toad incredibly lame as far as villains go.

And yeah, Inuyasha had some of the Band of Seven's psychotic nature rub off on him.