The Journey!
Inuyasha, Shushu, Kaya, and Riku travelled through the forests in the north. They were all uncertain about what it is Kyoufu Oni was up to which caused great unease. Colourful screeching birds flew over them landing on nearby branches, their eyes rested eagerly on the creatures passing through their forest. They seemed innocent enough but Inuyasha stayed on guard incase any of them were truly demons in disguise.
"You seem relaxed." Inuyasha scoffed while addressing Kaya.
"Restlessness only causes clumsiness." Kaya replied simply.
"Rhuh, sure." Inuyasha frowned and then his thoughts rested on his daughter and sons. What were they doing right now? He'd give anything to be with them instead of pursuing this ridiculous journey.
Days passed and still they continued travelling toward the north and Inuyasha began to question Kayas direction.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?"
"I am certain." She replied.
"Well we better get there soon!"
"Well Inuyasha, here we are."
He paused and saw a small hut with smoke coming from the centre of the roof.
"This is it?"
Kaya nodded.
"Hey is anyone there?" Inuyasha yelled but no one replied. 'Maybe he's not home yet.' He thought.
The others sat down on a log while Inuyasha investigated; he was the only one who looked human enough not to startle the old man.
An old man came out from the trees with logs in his arms, a long scar caressed down the right side of his face, and his gray hair was tied back into a thin pony tail.
"Hey you!" Inuyasha called out. The old man looked startled and a little frightened.
"Yes?" He replied hesitantly.
Kaya walked up beside Inuyasha and the man yelped and ran into his hut.
"IT'S THAT DEMON AGAIN!" He shrieked.
"Heh." Inuyasha scoffed, "I take it this guy's met Kyoufu Oni?"
Kaya nodded, walked over to the hut and stuck her head in through the door.
"I'm not going to hurt you." She said reassuringly in the gentlest voice she had, but the sound of logs crashing to the ground told Inuyasha and the others that the old man had fainted.
A few hours later the old man awoke and walked out of his hut. It was now dark so there was a fire lit outside his hut where the others gathered. He walked around the hut mumbling while he picked up more logs.
"Strange dream," He mumbled, "What on earth?" Inuyasha and the others ate quietly as they watched the old man mumbling his curses on the horrible 'dream' he had just had. They felt it would be best to not disturb him until after twenty minutes of grumbling he turned and noticed his audience, shrieked while clasping his chest, and fell back passed out again.
Inuyasha frowned at the man and turned to Kaya, "Are you sure he's the guy?" Both Kaya and Riku nodded. Inuyasha slapped his face into his palm, "You're joking right!" He exclaimed. "This old weak bastard?" Everyone continued to chew their food slowly as if Inuyasha hadn't said a thing.
The next morning everything was settled. The old man had finally come to his senses and realised that none of them were a threat to him and he understood the situation completely.
"I never thought this would happen in my life!" He mumbled to himself, "Two parts of Kyoufu Oni, separated and now allied against the very thing they once were! Extraordinary!"
Kaya and Riku looked at eachother, the old man didn't realise that everyone could hear his mumblings, but even so the two of them couldn't disagree with him. It was, as he put it, extraordinary that the two of them should now be against the very being they once had depended on for survival, even the very thing they were once apart of! But still, as Kaya had mentioned, now they were separated from Kyoufu Oni they were allowed to have their own wills. To control their own destinies.
The old man finally stopped mumbling and addressed Inuyasha directly, "You need to find the beast of the west! He must be defeated if you are to gain his power of FireIce!"
"FireIce?" Kaya and Inuyasha exclaimed. The others, who couldn't actually talk, only gave the old man looks of utter surprise and wonder.
"Yes," The old man began, "FireIce. It seems impossible I know, but it is the only power that can separate the heads of Kyoufu Oni and keep them that way. The blue flames scorch the flesh sealing all blood vessels and the ice then freezes over to prevent any healing abilities. Nothing can thaw the ice."
"So Kyoufu Oni will never be able to grow back any of his heads and the heads will never grow their own bodies?" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"That is correct." The man said, sipping his tea casually.
"How did you know of this power in the first place?" Kaya asked.
"I have seen the beast," the man stopped to sip his tea again, "I have seen it slaughter hydras before. It FEEDS on hydras for survival but cannot be tamed enough for you to use it against Kyoufu Oni." He paused to think for a few moments. "Naraku assumed that I WAS the one with the power to destroy his hydra dragon I assume BUT it was never ME who had this power. I simply knew how to defeat his precious Kyoufu Oni."
"So where is this creature exactly and how do I obtain its power?" Inuyasha became restless.
"It lives in the ice mountain to the west. The place is constantly in storm and has horrible winds that are too dangerous if you are not prepared. You will need to dress very warmly, even more warmly than usual to attempt to go into a storm like that! You, Inuyasha, must cut through its heart. In its heart is where the power comes from. Its heart is like a blowing blue crystal. Drive your sword into it and you will kill the beast and obtain its power."
"We have no time to lose! Let's go now!" Inuyasha urged the group.
"Wait Inuyasha!" Said the old man. "You must prepare for the journey. Do you have enough supplies? You must stay here for at least one day and prepare yourselves. Here," He paused and threw Inuyasha a coin. "Buy yourselves some warmer clothes or something. It must have taken you a while to get here so rest for a day and then go on your journey."
"Wait old man!" Inuyasha called after him, "Are you sure you want to give us this money? You don't look very rich."
"I am richer than you think." The old man smiled, "I just simply choose a more humble life. Keep the coin, it's worth quite a bit and will be useful."
The group staid the whole day just like the old man suggested and they all head out in the morning towards the west. They were told that there was a market on the way where they could buy supplies but he warned that the villagers weren't accustomed to seeing demons and they were quite a group of such demons. Inuyasha decided to go into the village alone when they got there since he did look the most human. The others were to walk around in the forest and meet him later after he bought the supplies.
"Here we go again! Another dam demon to kill. I wonder what this FireIce demon is like?" Inuyasha mused out loud.