DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.

Author's note: Sorry this one took so long. I've had a pretty hectic month. I'm hoping I'll have some time to catch up on writing over the Christmas break. Hope you all enjoy yours.

30/01/2022: This is just a quick note to say that I'll (hopefully!) be moving house in February. So unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of time available to write recently. I've decided that it's best to take a hiatus and give myself a bit more time to get up to speed and untangle some plot threads rather than rush to push out a new chapter before I move (the first draft is about 75% done at the moment but it still needs a *lot* of editing).

I apologise for the delay but trying to stay on top of work while moving has been quite challenging and has made my migraines worse. So unfortunately, something has to give. Hopefully, I'll be back to posting once a month by the beginning of March.


Chapter 23

Their journey to the village was far from quiet. She wouldn't exactly call it peaceful either. Shippou and Mayu had set off arguing and hadn't stopped since. If it wasn't for Shippou's illusions, they'd have had most of the locals on their trail before they were halfway there.

At least there were no dark spirits about at this hour. She hadn't had so much of a glimpse of one since last night. Not that that kept her from starting at every shadow. She kept her gourd close to hand, even when they were well clear of the trees.

Her nerves were infectious. Shippou stuck to her like a shadow all the way through the forest. Even Mayu stayed close. It didn't do much for anyone's mood. It was a miracle they made it out without a fight.

The sun was almost at its peak by the time they neared the village. Her stomach was more than ready for lunch. Shame her purse was just as empty. Imposing on Mayu or her family wasn't exactly fair either. Perhaps she could earn a coin or two at the docks? She'd had no shortage of practice at gutting fish. At this point, she'd take the fish guts if she had to.

Mayu caught her eye with a glare. "What?"

"Sorry. I was just wondering."

"About what?"

Her stomach replied with a gurgle.

Mayu sighed. "Okay. We can stop by the market."

Kagome blinked. "You're not going home for lunch?"

"It's not like I need to." Mayu replied. Her scowl turned suspicious. "None of your business, anyway."

"Well, I thought your family might-"

"What?" Her scowl tightened.

"I just thought they might get worried, that's all."

"Worried?" Mayu gave a shrug. It was as tight as her mouth. "Tch, Mum's got Satoru."

"Satoru?"

"My brother." Her mouth twisted at the word. "He's always sick. So she always worries."

"Oh." Kagome frowned. "You think she might be worried about you too?"

"Ugh. More like mad."

"Don't worry. I can explain-"

"Don't bother," Mayu scoffed. "She never listens."

"She might listen to Kagome though," Shippou put in.

Mayu snorted. "Right."

"Hey, it's worth a try."

"Wanna bet?"

"All right then." Shippou thrust out his tiny chin.

"Bet she makes me do the dishes again," Mayu groaned.

Shippou readied another retort. Kagome was about to cut him off when her footsteps froze. Both children's eyes snapped towards her. Shippou's irritation melted into worry.

"Kagome?"

She could only point to the village. A plume of smoke sailed over the rooftops. The reek of charred wood drifted towards them. Her hunger stilled at the stench.

Mayu sucked in a breath. Her body drew into a tight stillness. "Damn it."

Kagome swallowed. Her mouth was dry as kindling. "Wha-"

"They're here." There was no doubt in Mayu's voice.

"They?"

"The Raiju."

"Raiju?"

Mayu didn't answer her. Her fists were tight as rocks. They were already starting to smoulder. Kagome reached for her shoulder. She stopped her with a glare.

"Don't."

"I wasn't-"

Mayu pushed past her and broke into a run. Shippou made a grab for her arm. She shoved him away.

"Mayu!"

She didn't look back. Shippou set after her with a curse. Kagome swallowed her misgivings and hurried after them.


The outskirts were almost silent. Every field was bare of people. Even the livestock had crept out of sight. The only creatures in eyeshot were a flock of turkey ducks huddled under a farmhouse's steps. The tang of danger hung in the air.

Not that there was much time for that. Staying on Mayu's heels was no easy task. She ducked and weaved in and out of alleyways with the ease of a street cat. Her longer legs were clumsy in the tight lanes. She'd never have tracked her without Shippou's help.

She kept a steady pace all the way to the village square. A large crowd brought her footsteps to a halt. The street was packed from wall to wall. The whole village must be here. Or close enough. That fire had certainly got their attention.

A trio of firebenders stood in the centre of the square. Two of them - both men, going by their looks - stood guard over something. The third - a woman - was giving orders to someone. Her fists were still smoking. She strained to catch her voice.

"Try that again and I'll-"

"Make way! Make way!"

A troop of guards cut through the black and crimson armour stood out like embers among kindling. The bystanders gave their spears a wide berth. At least none of them were blooded. She could only pray they'd stay that way.

Mayu's shoulders tightened as the guards approached. Kagome scanned the street for bolt holes. Shippou grabbed them both by the arm and yanked them behind a large water butt. She shot him a startled glance. He shook his head.

"Keep quiet and they won't look," he whispered.

She gave him a nod. No one else even gave them a glance. All eyes were on the soldiers. Thanks to Shippou's illusion, they were all but 'd be safe so long as they didn't make a sound.

That could be quite the challenge. Mayu was already sizing up the patrol. Her jaw twitched as they drew nearer. Kagome pushed her back down and set a finger to her lips.

The firebenders greeted the guards with nods. The two men stepped aside to show them their quarry.A young boy lay cringing on the ground before them. Mayu gave a brief start. Kagome's jaw tightened as he clutched at his burned arm.

One of the guards approached him with a sneer. "Well, what have we here?"

"Caught him sneaking around the docks, Sir," the female firebender answered. "Up to no good, I'll bet."

"What have you got to say for yourself?" The guard gave him a prod with his spear butt.

The boy raised his head. His face was tight with pain. "Please... "

The guard gave him another prod. "Speak up."

The boy winced but didn't back down. He reached out towards the guard. "Please. I didn't-"

"Hands to yourself, brat!" The guard knocked him flat with his spear butt. Kagome stifled a gasp. He watched the boy writhe as if he was a bug he'd just stepped on. "Answer the question. And see you speak up this time."

A mutter rose from the bystanders. A couple of men edged towards the front of the crowd. The woman quelled them with a glare.

The boy gulped down a breath. His body was still twisted with pain. "Please... Just looking... my sister..." he gasped.

"Sister?"

A new voice rose above the crowd. It was higher than the guard's, almost childish by comparison. Kagome strained to catch sight of the newcomer.

The sight almost broke her silence. The man lumbering towards the firebenders was the strangest she'd ever set eyes on. He was more than three times as broad as the bulkiest guard. Yet the thing that really caught her eye was his face. Or rather the lack thereof: it was shrouded in an enormous helmet. Even his eyes were hidden behind its narrow grill.

"What's this?"

The firebenders greeted him with deep bows. The woman was the first to speak up.

"An intruder, my Lord. We'll see he causes no further trouble." She gave the boy a dig with her foot.

"An intruder, eh?" The noble gave a low chuckle. His mirth was edged with malice. "And who might you be?"

"Sa-Satoru. Sir," the boy gasped.

Satoru? Kagome glanced down at Mayu. Her eyes were fixed on the young lord. She didn't spare so much as a glimpse for the boy.

"Sir?" The noble quivered with indignation. He kicked the boy in the ribs. He collapsed with a yelp.

A couple of gasps escaped the crowd. There was another murmur. The two men's expressions had gone from shocked to furious. One of them took a step forwards.

"Silence!" The lord roared. His fists burst into flame.

The man halted. The crowd stilled. No one said another word. The tension was thick as fog.

The noble surveyed them for a few moments. He puffed out his chest with satisfaction. "You have the honour to address the great Manten, second-born son of the Raiju family. See you don't waste any more of my time."

Satoru could only whimper in response.

Manten gave a scoff. "Show some respect, peasant."

"Poor boy can hardly talk," one of the villagers muttered.

"Oh?"

Manten turned his gaze on the bystander. The man stiffened. Manten let out a chuckle.

"Don't worry." Flames licked along his fingers. He gave another chuckle. "He'll talk."

Satoru's eyes widened. "Please. I don't-"

Manten hurled a flaming punch at him. His protests cut off in a yelp. The flames fizzled out inches from his face.

The crowd backed away. Even the boldest of the villagers didn't raise a hand. Satoru could only cringe. Kagome forced down her bile before it choked her.

"I said don't waste my time." Manten's fist was still ablaze. He raised it again. "Did you set that fire?"

Satoru shook like a leaf in a gale. Manten's fist burned brighter. He flinched away.

"N-no... " he whimpered.

"Oh? Sorry, I didn't catch that."

He shot another punch towards Satoru. This one was so close it singed his shirt. He snuffed it out with a yelp.

Manten was practically giggling with glee. Kagome's fists drew tighter. How could he do this to a child? Shippou clutched at her arm before she could take another step.

Satoru lay groaning and exhausted. Manten wasn't finished with him yet. He drew back his arms. The air crackled around his fingertips. The hair on the back of Kagome's neck bristled. He circled his hands. Lightning sizzled into life. Her stomach clenched.

Manten's laughter deepened. He closed the circle and shot out a straight-fingered strike. A bolt of lightning split the ground. The crack ended barely a handspan from Satoru's head. The crowd gasped as one.

Kagome couldn't help but join their horror. Only a true master could command lightning. Yet this giggling manchild wielded it as easily as a toy. She shuddered as he readied another strike. Man or boy, human or spirit, he was too dangerous to ignore.

Manten's laughter rose with her bile. He snapped his fingers. The air sizzled. More lightning gathered around his fingertips. He took aim for another blow.

"Stop!"

A woman burst through the crowd. One of the men made a grab for her arm. She shoved him away and hurtled past the guards. She threw herself between Manten and the boy.

Manten lost his focus with a yell. The lightning shot over the woman's head. The roof behind her burst into flames. The villagers rushed to put it out. Manten turned on her with a snarl.

"You-"

"Please!" The woman clutched at Satoru's shoulder. "He's done nothing-"

Manten hurled a punch towards her. She ducked it by a hair. More villagers hurried to put out the flames.

"Out of my way, bitch!"

Manten bore down on her like thunder. She didn't flinch from Satoru's side. Her eyes fixed Manten with a plea.

"Please!"

She grabbed at his leg. He kicked her hand away.

"Ugh! You dare lay your filthy hands on-"

"Please! Satoru isn't a bender!"

He lashed out with another kick. The impact jarred Kagome's teeth. She dug her nails into her palms. There was no way she could just stand there. Yet what other choice did she have?

The woman still clung to Satoru. She raised her tearful eyes to Manten's face.

"Please. There are no benders in this house."

Mayu tensed with fury. Kagome's breath caught. She grabbed Mayu's arm before she could make another move. Shippou flinched as the air began to fizzle.

"You. Dare." Manten drew back his hand.

Kagome's heart lurched. Her grip tightened on Mayu. The girl gave a hiss. She didn't let go. She had a snowball in a volcano's chance against him. She couldn't risk Mayu's safety too. She should just stay quiet.

Her throat clenched at the thought. Was that what she'd been driven to? Cringing in an alleyway while a mother and child were burned to death before her eyes? What kind of Avatar was she? Her body tightened like a spring. The gutter over Manten's head began to creak.

Shippou tugged at her sleeve. His eyes flashed a warning. Too late. Her heel crashed down. The gutter gave way with a groan. Manten's flames were doused with filthy water.

He shrieked like a hog monkey. "You! Why you-"

Kagome ground her heel into the dirt. Another section gave way. Water sluiced down the back of his neck. He gave another shriek. One of the bystanders stifled a nervous laugh.

"Ugh! Who did this?" Manten's gaze roamed the crowd for any likely culprits. No one dared to meet it. "Who?"

Kagome held her breath. Mayu and Shippou stayed frozen. The crowd made no reply.

Manten stamped his foot down in a burst of fire. Two soldiers scurried to smother the flames.

"Who?" Manten demanded. The flames rose higher. More soldiers hurried to help.

One of the male firebenders gave an apologetic cough. "This is an old house, my lord. The guttering is-"

"Enough!"

Manten hurled a punch at the smouldering house. The soldiers ducked aside. Satoru and his mother could only cower. Manten whirled on them with a snarl.

"No benders, eh?"

He snapped his fingers. There wasn't so much as a spark. Mayu's mother still couldn't help but flinch.

"Take him away."

Kagome started. Shippou clung to her arm. Mayu was silent.

Two guards jerked Satoru to his feet. He hung between them like a wet dishrag. One of them gave him a prod.

"Move it!"

"Satoru!" His mother snatched at his ankle.

"Silence!"

Manten slapped her aside. She hit the dirt with a shriek. Kagome ached to run to her. Her body remained a statue. She'd done nothing for her. Worse than nothing. If her voice hadn't fled she'd have screamed.

"Try that again and you'll join him." Manten turned away in disgust. "I've had enough of this dung heap."

He strode away from her with smouldering fists. The guards fell in behind him. Another section of the house gave way. Manten yelped as he dodged a burning timber.

"My brother will hear of this! Just you wait!"

The villagers did. At least until the guards were clear of the square. The two men rushed to Mayu's mother's side as soon as the coast was clear. A woman hurried after them with a satchel.

"Mrs Ikeda!"

"Himari!"

The woman knelt down beside her and pulled out a flask and a roll of bandages. Mrs Ikeda could only groan.

Kagome stood clutching Mayu's arm. Half of her longed to let her go. The other half was seized with worry. She'd only made things worse. What good could she do now?

"I should go... " she muttered.

Shippou tugged at her sleeve. He shook his head. She swallowed. She couldn't walk away from this.

"Ugh!" Mayu finally found her strength. She pulled away from Kagome with a scowl. "Get off me!"

"Wait!"

"Mayu!"

Her mother's gaze shot towards her. Shippou's face fell. His illusion couldn't hold that gaze. Nor could Kagome. Her eyes dropped to her feet.

Mrs Ikeda only had eyes for her daughter. She tried to stumble to her feet. The men caught her before she toppled back to the ground. She fixed Mayu with an accusing stare.

"Where have you been? You're covered in dirt! Don't you know how-"

"Ugh, not now, Mum." Mayu's shoulders hunched like a cornered animal's. She couldn't meet that stare either. "What about-"

"Where have you been?" She made another attempt to get to her feet. The men held her back. "Mayu!"

Shippou cleared his throat. He stumbled into the light, tugging Kagome after him.

"Uh, hey, Mrs Ikeda."

"Li?" She blinked at Shippou. Her eyes were still a little hazy. "Where have you been?"

"Just playing, " he replied. "Uh, sorry I kept Mayu so long. Promise I-"

"Who's this?"

Shippou followed her stare towards Kagome. She stared a few more moments before her manners caught up with her. She dipped her head in greeting.

"Sorry, dear. I didn't quite catch your name?"

"Aome." It was the first name that popped into her mind. She could have chosen worse. "I'm so sorry, Mrs Ikeda, I-"

"No, no." She shook her head. "No. I should've- Satoru... "

"Please, Himari. You need to rest." The woman lifted a cloth to her brow.

"No." She pushed her hand away. "Satoru's-"

"Satoru," Mayu muttered bitterly. Her lip jutted forwards. It threatened to tremble.

Shippou reached towards her. She shook his hand away. "Ugh."

"Mayu? What happened?" her mother demanded.

"I wasn't even there!"

"You were supposed to-"

"Ugh! You never listen!" Mayu stamped her foot. "Why do you always-"

"Mayu... " Kagome began.

Mayu didn't look at her. She avoided her mother's gaze like a puppy. She wouldn't show her her tears.

"Mayu, I-"

"You don't." Mayu's lip wavered. Her eyes were bright with hurt. "You never have." She stormed off without another word.

"Mayu!"

Kagome reached for her arm. Mayu smacked her hand away and broke into a run. She was left clutching empty air.

"Mayu... " Mrs Ikeda's head drooped. She stared at the ground in silence. Even Manten hadn't left her this crushed.

"Mrs Ikeda!"

Shippou hurried to her side, dragging Kagome along. The men blocked their path with wary eyes. The woman gave them a careful once over before nodding them forwards.

"It's okay, Mrs Ikeda." Shippou knelt down beside her and laid his hand on her back. "I'll find her."

Mrs Ikeda shook her head. She had no more words to give him.

"It's okay. I'll talk to her," Shippou insisted.

Kagome backed him up with a nod. "We'll find them. Both of them."

Mrs Ikeda raised her eyes. They were empty of all but tears. "How?"

Kagome forced herself to meet them. She had to do something. She steadied her nerves with a breath.

"I think I know where to look."


Constructive criticism is very welcome!

I update once a month.