My Inuyasha fanfic...

[Cyberpunk666]

Not quite finished...

[Cyberpunk666]

Inuyasha: The Curse of the Demon King and the Zetsumei no Tasogare.


To serve and to die for one’s lord, that is what the life of an Oni clan ninja is. The half demon named Kamitsu knew this. But, lately...
“You are to enter the village of Shibuma, take whatever jewel shards you find within and kill anyone that stands in your way.”
...he had begun to question his lord’s motives...
“My lord,” Kamitsu began carefully, “is that truly necessary? The people of Shibuma are but simple farmers and are of no...” His lord’s fist striking the table cut him off.
“How dare you question my orders?!” He shouted, clearly outraged by his subordinate’s comments. “Either you complete this mission or I will kill you and everyone you care about! Am I understood?” Kamitsu flinched slightly. Lord Godai was a demon, but he had never been this ruthless before.
“Yes my lord,” he replied, bowing low to show his respect.
…why had his lord chosen now to take an interest in the jewel shards when he had never shown any at all before? He sighed sadly, thinking of all the people that would have to die by his hand that night. Finishing his prayer, Kamitsu took up his taitou; a long sword not usually used by assassins, and left the castle’s small shrine. The night was cold and pitch-black, the perfect night for a ninja to ply his skills. The pine trees stood like stark statues, their branches swaying in the breeze. Kamitsu breathed it all in slowly, savoring this brief moment of peace. For when he reached Shibuma, that peace would be abruptly shattered.

Kagome, sitting on the floor of Kaiede’s small hut, stiffened slightly.
“Are ye alright child?” The much older woman asked. Kagome gave her a weak smile.
“Oh, yeah, I’m just fine,” she replied unconvincingly. Kaiede gave her a shrewd look.
“My sister couldn’t lie very well either child,” she said with an air of wisdom. “What is wrong?” Kagome fidgeted slightly.
“I’m not entirely sure,” she began slowly, “but I think I sense a jewel shard.” Kaiede tensed.
“Is it nearby?” She asked. Kagome only shook her head.
“No, not really, but it’s not far either.” Her face took on a look of concentration. “It should be within a few hours walking distance.” Kaiede’s eyes narrowed.
“What about Naraku’s portion of the jewel?” Kagome concentrated again.
“It’s still a long way off,” she replied confidently. “The question remains, however, whether we’ll make it there before Naraku does.”

Kamitsu hung from the edge of the temple’s roof, which was located in the center of the Shibuma, looking down on the small hamlet as it went to sleep for the night. In a matter of moments, their peace would be shattered. It was a shame, but he had a mission that he must complete on pain of death. He swung up on to the roof, heading for a small window just large enough for him to fit through. Peering inside the darkened chamber, Kamitsu was slightly surprised to find no guards. They probably were not expecting an intruder to enter from the attic. Unfortunately, that was not the case. A dark figure wielding a spear leapt out of the shadows at him. Its disfigured face marked it for what he sensed it was: a demon. Kamitsu drew his sword, parrying the demon’s wild thrust. He then struck its unprotected back with his blade, felling the grotesque beast. Two more came at him from a door on his left, both armed with spears and dressed in samurai armor. Their flesh, where left exposed, was black and scaly.
“Black serpent demons!” Kamitsu spat before they charged him. He dodged left, then right, dexterously avoiding their attacks. He went after the one on the left first, working his taitou past its spear and into its chest. As it died, the other came in hard, shouting a garbled war cry. A thrown dagger in its throat cut its cry short, leaving it to fall to the floor with a wet gurgle. As what sounded like four more came running up the stairs, Kamitsu had the feeling that this was going to be a long night.

“So, where are we going?” The half demon named Inuyasha asked for what seemed to Kagome like the fifth time. She sighed slightly.
“It’s a village to the west of here called Shibuma,” she replied impatiently. “I sense at least two jewel shards in that direction.” Inuyasha folded his arms inside the sleeves of his kimono.
“Okay, there’s no need to get testy,” he said quickly. “I was just wondering why this couldn’t have waited till tomorrow.” Kagome did not reply, feeling more than just a little annoyed at this point. Sango, Kirara sitting on her right shoulder, chose to answer.
“Because, Inuyasha, if we don’t retrieve the jewel shards, Naraku will.” Miroku, standing just to her left, nodded.
“Sango is right, Inuyasha,” he agreed, “We need to keep as many of the shards out of Naraku’s hands as we possibly can.” The half demon scowled slightly.
“Alright already,” he grumbled, “ya don’t need to bite my head off.” Kagome only sighed, remembering when she had first met Inuyasha. He had been stapled to a tree by an arrow, thick roots covering most of his body. How peaceful he had seemed, like he was sleeping. She learned later that he had been bound there by the priestess Kikyo after he tried to steal the Shikon Jewel so he could use it to become a full-fledged demon. The pair had been very close until the demon Naraku tricked them into fighting each other. Kagome had also found out that she was Kikyo’s reincarnation. To top it off, she now had to collect the remaining shards of the Shikon jewel before Naraku does. She gave a heart felt sigh. She had absolutely no luck at all. Fortunately, she was not alone in this quest. The first to have joined them was the young fox demon Shippo, who uses his fox magic to get out of trouble. The second was the overly lecherous monk named Miroku, who has a thing for their next member, the demon slayer named Sango. The last, but not least, was the two tailed cat demon named Kirara.
“Hey, Kagome,” Shippo began warily, “how far is Shibuma?” Kagome kept walking as she spoke.
“Kaiede says it’s at least a two hour walk,” she told him patiently. “And it’s where I sense the jewel shard is.” Miroku spoke up next.
“Then we had best hurry,” he stated soberly, “for the people there may be in grave danger.” Inuyasha’s nose twitched as he sniffed the evening air.
“I don’t smell any smoke,” he told them after a moment, “with the wind blowing our way I’d be able to smell it by now.” He unfolded his arms. “But that, unfortunately, only means that the village isn’t burning, yet.” Inuyasha was always such an optimist. Kagome started to walk faster.
“Then we’d better pick up the pace,” she said with determination. She only hoped they were not too late.

As the last black serpent demon fell to his blade, Kamitsu surveyed his surroundings. He had been battling on the run, using his quick reflexes to stay ahead of his pursuers. His retreat had brought him to a small, dimly lit room. At the room’s center was a small altar with a sacrificial bowl set on it. He moved slowly towards, his eyes continually scanning the room for any possible threat. Finding none, he proceeded to the room’s center. Inside the bowl was what he had been looking for, the jewel shards.
“Convenient,” he murmured. “Too convenient, in fact.” There were five shards in all, not a lot, but he wasn’t told how many there were exactly. He took the pouch from his belt and dumped the shards inside. “Easy money.” Placing the bowl back where it was, he prepared to leave. The next thing Kamitsu knew, something behind him caught on fire. The altar was in flames, and the fire was quickly beginning to spread. “I knew this was too easy!” He said before making his escape. He jumped through a nearby open window, landing in a crouch on the ground fifty feet below. He turned slightly, watching as the flames began to consume the temples main building. The village was beginning to wake up around him. “Time for me to leave!” And with that, he darted off in to the night.

Inuyasha froze, his nose twitching. He walked forward a ways, turning left then right.
“What’s the matter?” Miroku asked, coming to stand beside him. Inyuyasha’s eyes narrowed as he continued down the forest path.
“Shibuma is burning,” he replied after a moment. Miroku shook his head sadly as they continued on.
“Then it appears we are too late,” the monk said soberly. Kagome looked over at Sango, the pair having been outdistanced by the others.
What do you think they’re talking about?” Sango shrugged slightly, using the movement to readjust the position of her hiraikotsu’s strap on her shoulder.
“Maybe they’re talking about what to do if Naraku were to make an appearance.” She theorized. “Though I don’t know why they’re not including us in the conversation.” Kagome shrugged as well.
“They’re just men wanting to make themselves feel important.” Sango couldn’t help but agree with her. Kagome stopped suddenly, eyes scanning the tree line.
“What’s the matter?” Sango asked, her eyes turning to the trees as well. Kagome didn’t rightly know what was wrong herself, having just briefly sensed a strange aura passing by.
“It’s nothing, probably just my imagination.” Kagome seriously doubted it was merely that, but she had little to prove otherwise.
“Come on, Kagome!” Inuyasha called back to her. “We’re wasting time!” She started down the path once more, her eyes lingering on the tree line for a moment more before turning her gaze back to the path in front of her. Maybe it was just her imagination after all.

Continued on next reply...

[Cyberpunk666]

The demon froze where it was, positive the girl had sensed it. But, how could a mere girl be able to do so? She certainly wasn’t a priestess, not with that outfit. But, only someone with strong spiritual powers would be able to sense its presence. This left the demon feeling very troubled as it watched the two women continue on the trail. It would have to be more careful from now on to ensure it wasn’t discovered. Its mission depended on it.

Inuyasha was sure of it now, Shibuma was definitely burning. He slowed his pace, allowing Kagome to catch up with him.
“Did you sense something earlier?” Kagome asked him after a moment. He glanced sideways at her.
“Like what?” He asked in turn. She sighed tiredly.
“Never mind, it’s nothing important,” she replied, sounding weary. He hated it when she decided to be cryptic.
“If something’s wrong,” he began patiently, “why don’t you tell me?” She didn’t reply at first, which made him feel worried about her. He looked at her a little more closely, noticing how pale she was. “Kagome, what’s wrong?” She stopped suddenly, causing him to do the same. Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. He blushed so hard that he thought his face was on fire. Then, she whispered something only he could hear.
“I sense a jewel shard nearby,” she breathed against his chest. He understood now. A demon was nearby and this was the only way she could tell him without letting it know. He decided to play along, returning her embrace.
“Where?” He asked her softly, his lips right by her ear. She nodded her head to the tree line to their left. He nodded slightly, pushing her away gently. Then, he spun, drawing the Tetsusaiga from its sheath in the same movement. “Tetsusaiga!” He cried, sending a wave of energy scything into the trees. Something leapt clear of the blast, landing not ten feet away. It looked more human than most of the demons they had met, save for its pointed ears and blue hair. It turned to them, revealing that it had a black scarf covering half its face and startlingly green eyes. It was dressed in the uniform of a ninja, not the type Naraku usually dealt with. It drew its sword and prepared to fight. “Kagome,” Inuyasha began, “Where are the jewel shards on its body?” There was a pause.
“It’s not using them,” she told him. “They’re in the pouch on its left hip.” The ninja’s eyes widened in shock. Inuyasha smiled.
“Never let your guard down!” He cried, swinging Tetsusaiga in a wide arc. The ninja reacted quickly, leaping over the blade.
“I was about to say the same of you!” It replied, bringing its weapon down hard. Amazingly, Inuyasha was able to bring the Tetsusaiga up to block at the last second. Sparks danced as the blades connected, sending a shiver up Inuyasha’s spine.
It’s strong, he thought, pushing back on his sword. The ninja disengaged, flipping over his head to land behind him. It spun, thinking to strike him from behind.
“No you don’t!” Kagome cried, firing her bow. The ninja leapt back, narrowly avoiding the deadly arrow.
“My turn,” Sango said with a smile, preparing to throw her hiraikotsu. The large weapon arced through the air, just narrowly missing its head.
“You missed,” it began smugly, “and now your weapon’s gone.” She only smiled wider.
“Don’t be so sure of that,” she replied, enjoying its puzzled expression. Like the giant boomerang it resembled, the hiraikotsu came whirling back, heading straight for the ninja’s unprotected back. As if it could sense it, the ninja merely back flipped over it, causing Sango to frown. She caught the weapon, preparing to use it again. But the ninja had used the weapon as a distraction so it could get in close. Its sword passed just a hair’s breadth from her face, forcing her to retreat. Miroku came to her rescue, blocking its next strike with his staff.
“Now you have to deal with me,” the monk stated, his muscles straining. The ninja’s eyes narrowed as it struck out again and again. Miroku could barely keep up with its strikes, let alone launch a counter. Sango couldn’t risk hitting Miroku with the hiraikotsu, so she dropped it and drew her own sword. She crossed blades with the demon, amazed by its strength.
“Nice block,” it said sincerely. “But, what if I do this?” It pushed back and up, causing both their blades to lock together above her head.
“Nice trick, for an assassin!” She said, strain in her voice. She lashed out with her left foot, hoping to trip it up. However, the ninja disengaged and leapt back only to attack her again. Their blades sparked from the intensity of its strikes, causing numbing pain to shoot up her arms with each blow.
“You’re doing quite well, for a human woman,” it told her as it lined up its sword for another attack. It smashed her sword aside with little effort, but instead of killing her, the ninja knocked her aside with a well-placed kick to the ribs. All her breath was gone in a rush, leaving her lying on the ground gasping for air. Inuyasha rushed the demon, Tetsusaiga at the ready.
“Wind Scar!” He cried, unleashing the Tetsusaiga’s second most powerful attack. But, instead of dodging it, the demon retrieved a monk’s sutra from inside its vest.
“*Shi-rudo!” It cried, a strange barrier coming up between it and the Windscar. The blast broke against it like water on rocks, sparks of energy flying in all directions. The demon was completely unscathed by Inuyasha’s attack, leaving Miroku deeply disturbed.
“It would seem our enemy has strong spiritual powers,” he commented darkly. Kagome turned to him, confused.
“But, if he’s a demon, how is that possible?” She asked him. Miroku didn’t have an answer for her, because he didn’t rightly know himself. Inuyasha didn’t let up, attacking the demon yet again.
“You won’t escape!” He cried, swinging the Tetsusaiga around in a blurring arc. The ninja attempted to parry, catching the massive sword with its blade. It rolled with the impact, as to hold on to its weapon, and rolled back to its feet. Kagome notched an arrow on her bow, took aim and fired. The ninja caught the bolt without even glancing at it, and with no adverse affects. Dumbfounded, she prepared to try again. Discarding the arrow, the ninja withdrew three shuriken from inside its vest and hurled them at Kagome. She hit the ground in a panic, a yelp of fear escaping her lips. The shuriken embedded themselves in the tree she had been standing in front of instead of her. There was a strange hissing sound and smoke curled up from the puncture holes in the wood.
“Those darts are poisoned!” Miroku exclaimed, stating the obvious. “This one is mine!” He removed the prayer beads that were wrapped around his right hand. “Wind Tunnel!” He extended his hand, palm out with the fingers spread, revealing the veritable black hole that was embedded within. The ninja staggered, feeling the awesome vacuum that was Miroku’s right hand. It embedded its sword tip first into the ground, keeping it from being sucked in. Several shuriken fell out of its vest, only to be caught in the vacuum as well. Miroku’s eyes widened in fear, for if those poisoned shuriken were sucked inside, he would feel the effects of their poison. Quickly, he sealed the Wind Tunnel once more and ducked, barely avoiding the deadly darts. The ninja fell to the ground with a loud thud, kicking up some dust by doing so. It came back to its feet quickly, fear and shock evident in its eyes. How could mere humans and a half demon have such powers?
“There’s nowhere to run demon, now hand over the jewel shards!” Sango demanded, her hiraikotsu back in her hand. The ninja looked left, right and then made a b-line for the woods. “No you don’t!” Sango cried, launching her hiraikotsu at it. The demon leapt back, straight into an arrow from Kagome. The ninja fell to the ground hard, letting out a cry of pain. The arrow had embedded itself deep into the small of his back, making moving at all difficult. It struggled to rise, then froze as the tip of the Tetsusaiga was placed against its throat.

*means shield/barrier in japanese

[Cyberpunk666]

“Not so fast,” Inuyasha said, a veiled threat in his tone. The ninja did not move a muscle. “Now, be a good kitty and hand over those jewel shards.” The demon coughed out a laugh.
“Not likely, dog face!” It spat, pain evident in its voice. Inuyasha hated it when someone called him that. Somehow, he resisted the urge to lob its head off and be done with it. Man was he getting soft.
“I’ll only ask you one more time,” he said as calmly as he could, “hand over the jewel shards now and I won’t kill you.” The demon chuckled slightly.
You’re pathetic, dog boy,” it said scathingly, “you should have killed me when you had the chance.” Inuyasha let out a growl of anger, what little patience he had gone.
“Die then!” He cried, drawing back the Tetsusaiga for a swing. The demon seemed to vanish in a blast of smoke, blinding Inuyasha’s senses. “damn! Where’d it go?!” There was a scream from his left, answering his question. The smoke cleared, revealing that the demon had wrapped its arm around Kagome’s neck from behind, using her as a human shield.
“Stay back or I’ll snap her neck!” It ordered them, tightening its hold on Kagome’s neck for emphasis.
“Let her go or I swear I’ll kill you!” Inuyasha growled menacingly. The demon only laughed at him.
“You’re in no position to be making demands, dog face,” it said, its tone holding a veiled threat. “The girl is coming with me. My lord will find someone that can sense jewel shards most useful.” It smirked from behind the black scarf covering the lower half of its face. “See you around fido!” There was another blast of smoke, and when it cleared, both the demon and Kagome were gone.
“No! damn it!” Inuyasha cried out in rage. “Kagome!” His voice trailed off to a growl of anger and frustration. Miroku approached him carefully.
“Easy Inuyasha,” he said, hoping to calm him. “You need to stay in control if we are to find them.” Inuyasha whirled around, grabbed the front of his robes, and lifted him a good foot off the ground.
“Oh I’ll find them!” He practically roared in the monk’s face. “And when I do, that damn cat is dead!” With that, he dumped a startled Miroku unceremoniously on his ass and stormed off towards the northeast.
“Sango, remind me to never get on his bad side,” he said while brushing himself off. She came up to stand beside him, out of arms reach.
“Did he say cat?” She asked, not certain she had heard the half demon right. Miroku nodded.
“Yes, he did,” he replied sagely. “The last time we encountered cat demons was when we fought against the Panther Devas.” His expression seemed grim as he spoke. “I just hope this demon’s tribe doesn’t have a vendetta against Inuyasha’s father as well.”

Kamitsu was growing impatient with the human girl. She had been kicking and screaming at him ever since he had taken her hostage.
“Put me down!” She cried, pounding at his back with her fists harder than he thought she could. “I can walk perfectly fine by myself, now put me down!” He smiled slightly from behind his scarf.
“Okay, you’re short, annoying, your aim is terrible and you are the worst example of a priestess I’ve ever seen,” he told her, still smiling. Her eyes narrowed.
“Great,” she began sarcastically, “of all the demons in the world I get stuck with the one that thinks it’s a comedian.” That did it. He dumped her on the ground, his patience now gone. The girl sat up, anger in her eyes. “Hey! You can’t just do that!” He crouched down in front of her, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
“Listen, girl,” he began, his tone suddenly cold, “you had better shut up, unless you want your friends to find you dead.” She bought his bluff. “And stop referring to me as an it, my name, if you must speak at all, is Kamitsu Tsunagare.” She did not reply, her eyes plainly saying that she did not care.
“Inuyasha will come for me,” she told him quietly. He chuckled mirthlessly, not exactly worried about that fact.
“Who, your half demon lover?” He asked, his voice taking on a bored tone. “I am sure that he will indeed. Dogs like him always seem to form extremely strong attachments to humans.” He stood up, extending his hand to help her up. “But, he doesn’t know where we’re going.” She ignored his hand, standing up on her own.
“You don’t know him like I do,” she said to him defiantly. “He will never give up until he’s found me and killed you.” He did not reply, taking her by the arm.
“If he does, then he will be the one to die,” was all he said as they made their way out of the forest.

[Cyberpunk666]

“Not so fast,” Inuyasha said, a veiled threat in his tone. The ninja did not move a muscle. “Now, be a good kitty and hand over those jewel shards.” The demon coughed out a laugh.
“Not likely, dog face!” It spat, pain evident in its voice. Inuyasha hated it when someone called him that. Somehow, he resisted the urge to lob its head off and be done with it. Man was he getting soft.
“I’ll only ask you one more time,” he said as calmly as he could, “hand over the jewel shards now and I won’t kill you.” The demon chuckled slightly.
You’re pathetic, dog boy,” it said scathingly, “you should have killed me when you had the chance.” Inuyasha let out a growl of anger, what little patience he had gone.
“Die then!” He cried, drawing back the Tetsusaiga for a swing. The demon seemed to vanish in a blast of smoke, blinding Inuyasha’s senses. “damn! Where’d it go?!” There was a scream from his left, answering his question. The smoke cleared, revealing that the demon had wrapped its arm around Kagome’s neck from behind, using her as a human shield.
“Stay back or I’ll snap her neck!” It ordered them, tightening its hold on Kagome’s neck for emphasis.
“Let her go or I swear I’ll kill you!” Inuyasha growled menacingly. The demon only laughed at him.
“You’re in no position to be making demands, dog face,” it said, its tone holding a veiled threat. “The girl is coming with me. My lord will find someone that can sense jewel shards most useful.” It smirked from behind the black scarf covering the lower half of its face. “See you around fido!” There was another blast of smoke, and when it cleared, both the demon and Kagome were gone.
“No! damn it!” Inuyasha cried out in rage. “Kagome!” His voice trailed off to a growl of anger and frustration. Miroku approached him carefully.
“Easy Inuyasha,” he said, hoping to calm him. “You need to stay in control if we are to find them.” Inuyasha whirled around, grabbed the front of his robes, and lifted him a good foot off the ground.
“Oh I’ll find them!” He practically roared in the monk’s face. “And when I do, that damn cat is dead!” With that, he dumped a startled Miroku unceremoniously on his ass and stormed off towards the northeast.
“Sango, remind me to never get on his bad side,” he said while brushing himself off. She came up to stand beside him, out of arms reach.
“Did he say cat?” She asked, not certain she had heard the half demon right. Miroku nodded.
“Yes, he did,” he replied sagely. “The last time we encountered cat demons was when we fought against the Panther Devas.” His expression seemed grim as he spoke. “I just hope this demon’s tribe doesn’t have a vendetta against Inuyasha’s father as well.”

Kamitsu was growing impatient with the human girl. She had been kicking and screaming at him ever since he had taken her hostage.
“Put me down!” She cried, pounding at his back with her fists harder than he thought she could. “I can walk perfectly fine by myself, now put me down!” He smiled slightly from behind his scarf.
“Okay, you’re short, annoying, your aim is terrible and you are the worst example of a priestess I’ve ever seen,” he told her, still smiling. Her eyes narrowed.
“Great,” she began sarcastically, “of all the demons in the world I get stuck with the one that thinks it’s a comedian.” That did it. He dumped her on the ground, his patience now gone. The girl sat up, anger in her eyes. “Hey! You can’t just do that!” He crouched down in front of her, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
“Listen, girl,” he began, his tone suddenly cold, “you had better shut up, unless you want your friends to find you dead.” She bought his bluff. “And stop referring to me as an it, my name, if you must speak at all, is Kamitsu Tsunagare.” She did not reply, her eyes plainly saying that she did not care.
“Inuyasha will come for me,” she told him quietly. He chuckled mirthlessly, not exactly worried about that fact.
“Who, your half demon lover?” He asked, his voice taking on a bored tone. “I am sure that he will indeed. Dogs like him always seem to form extremely strong attachments to humans.” He stood up, extending his hand to help her up. “But, he doesn’t know where we’re going.” She ignored his hand, standing up on her own.
“You don’t know him like I do,” she said to him defiantly. “He will never give up until he’s found me and killed you.” He did not reply, taking her by the arm.
“If he does, then he will be the one to die,” was all he said as they made their way out of the forest.

Inuyasha was angry, both at himself for failing and at the cat demon for taking Kagome away from him. He knelt down, his nose twitching as he tried to pick up their scent. There, it was very faint, but he could smell Kagome’s perfume.
“This way,” he said before continuing through the woods. Miroku, Sango and Shippo hastened to follow, the half demon starting to outpace them.
“Wow, I’ve never seen Inuyasha this determined before,” Shippo said in awe. Sango nodded in agreement.
“Yes, I guess he must be really worried about Kagome,” she said quietly. “But if we don’t hurry he’ll get ahead of us. Kirara!” The two tailed cat demon leapt down from her shoulder, fire engulfing her as she transformed. Kirara had two forms, one was small and cute, and the other was far larger and much more deadly. Sango leapt on to her back, Miroku and Shippo quickly following suit. The two-tailed cat gave a roar and leapt skyward, seemingly running though the air in order to keep pace with Inuyasha. Something was bothering the demon slayer, a question that needed answering. “Miroku, how could a demon survive the power of Kagome’s sacred arrow?” The monk thought about that for a moment.
“The demon would have to be very powerful indeed,” he replied soberly. “Unless of course, it was not a demon at all. Then it would just be like any other arrow to it.” Sango glanced back at him.
“What are you saying?” There was a pause.
“I’m just saying that only someone with human blood in their veins could survive a sacred arrow.” And that was all he would say on the subject. She hated it when Miroku became all cryptic on her like that.
“Come on people! Pick up the pace!” They heard Inuyasha call from below them. “We need to keep moving if we’re going to catch them!” Sango shook her head.
“Come on, Kirara!”

[Cyberpunk666]

“You’re not a full blooded demon, are you?” Kagome asked, though it sounded more like a statement than a question. The ninja named Kamitsu paused in his efforts to remove her arrow from his back.
“No, I’m a half demon just like dog face,” he replied before returning to his work. She took a step towards him.
“You know,” she began carefully, “I could help you get that out.” He gave a short, humorless laugh.
“So you can drive it in further?” He asked incredulously. “I think I’ll pass.” Kagome put her hands on her hips.
“Well, you’re not doing a very good job removing it yourself,” she pointed out. He struggled with it for another moment before finally giving up.
“Fine, you try it,” he said to her finally. She came up behind him, inspecting the wound.
“I’m going to need something to cut it out with,” she told him hesitantly. He glanced back at her for a moment before finally retrieving a dagger from his right boot. He grudgingly handed it to her, evidently not trusting her. She couldn’t exactly blame him, it was her arrow in his back after all. She began to work at it, causing him to grunt in obvious discomfort. “Sorry, I’ll have the arrow out in a second.” He shifted slightly on the rock he was sitting on, wanting it over with. After a few more moments, she had it out and was currently trying to dress the wound. “Look, I need you to take the shirt and vest off.” He glanced back at her suspiciously.
“Why?” He asked her bluntly, causing her to sigh slightly.
“So I can dress the wound,” she told him. He hesitated a moment, then took off his vest and the longer sleeved shirt underneath. Kagome gasped. His back was covered in scars of all kinds, telling a tale of a hard life.
“What’s wrong? Are you going to do it or not?” She hesitated for just a moment, then proceeded to clean and dress the arrow wound. Just another scar he could add to his collection. After she was finished, he stood and proceeded to get his things back on. Beyond the vest, shirt, pants and leather boots, Kamitsu wore a set of leather gauntlets and a functional leather belt. After strapping back on his taitou, he started off again. They had only just cleared the forest when he had stopped. Set before them was a rolling field of tall grass, and in the distance was the Kanto mountain range. It was a beautiful sight, but Kagome wasn’t really in the mood to enjoy it. For just a moment, she wished she had driven the arrow deeper in to Kamitsu’s back, but that thought was quickly squashed as she realized what that would mean. There was no way she could do something like that. She had a feeling, however, that her captor would have no such qualms.
“Well, come on let’s go!” Kamitsu called back to her from further up ahead. She considered running, but thought better of it when she recalled how fast the half demon could move. With a resigned sigh, Kagome began to follow him towards where ever he was taking her.

Inuyasha stopped, his sensitive nose twitching as he tried to follow Kagome’s scent. The ninja was good, having doubled back and gone in another direction several times to confuse any pursuers. But, Inuyasha was not one to give up that easily. Miroku, Sango and Shippo followed close behind him, careful not to get in his way. Sango’s expression turned grim as she thought about what might happen to Kagome. Kirara, sensing her distress, nudged Sango’s hand with her massive, furry head and gave a purr of encouragement. Sango smiled down at her, scratching her behind the ear. Kirara was currently in her demon form, bringing her nearly up to Sango’s shoulders in height. The two tail had been with her since before she had met Inuyasha and the others, her constant friend and companion through the years. Inuyasha turned south, evidently having picked up the trail again. Sango could tell that Miroku and Shippo were worried as well, the group having formed a bond of close friendship during their search for the shards of the sacred Shikon jewel and their constant hunt for Naraku. Sango grew angry even thinking about Naraku, an evil demon also searching for the jewel shards. She hitched up her Hiraikotsu and drove the thought of Naraku from her mind. She would need a clear head for the fight that she was sure lay ahead of them.

“We’ll stop there for the night,” Kamitsu stated, indicating a rather large boulder just ahead of them. The sun had almost set and Kagome was feeling tired, so she wasn’t about to argue. Upon reaching it, she leaned against the rock and sat down, drawing her knees up to her chest. She shivered, the night air cold against her skin. She felt something being draped over her shoulders, causing her to look up. Kamitsu had taken off his vest and was currently trying to get her to slip it on. “Here,” he told her, helping her put it on, “I just remembered how frail you humans are when it comes to cold weather.” When it was on, Kagome was surprised at how heavy, and warm, the material was.
“But, what about you?” She asked, causing Kamitsu to chuckle slightly.
“Don’t worry about me,” he told her reassuringly, “my father’s people are able to survive in much colder weather than this, and fortunately it is a trait he passed on to me.” The vest was just big enough for her to wrap herself up in it, the smell of spices, like paprika or cinnamon, filling her senses.
“So, your father is a demon?” She asked as Kamitsu sat down a few feet away. The half demon’s eyes reflected the fading light, just like a cat’s eyes.
“Yes, he was,” he replied after a moment. “He served my lord as both bodyguard and assassin for many years.” He gazed off into the distance. “Until he died doing just that.” Kagome was suddenly sorry she had asked. “Now, get some sleep. We have more traveling to do in the morning.”

The next morning was almost as cold as the night before, so Kamitsu let Kagome keep his vest on for the time being. The mountains were much closer now, leading Kagome to believe that was their destination. They reached them an hour or so later, but there was nothing there. Kagome even said as much, causing Kamitsu to shake his head. “That’s because you’re not meant to see it,” he told her before stepping into the very rock itself. Kagome’s eyes widened in surprise. Kamitsu’s head reemerged from the rock face. “What, never seen a barrier before?” He held out his hand to her. “Come on, let’s keep going.” She took his hand, letting him pull her inside. Beyond the barrier was a large cavern with a castle and a town at its center. An underground river supplied water to it and a herd of cattle was off to the far left. “Welcome to the village of the Oni people,” he told her, glad to be home. “This way and watch your footing.” A trail led down from the cliff they had been standing on to the cavern below. As they drew closer, Kagome realized that something was wrong. The buildings looked dilapidated and smoke was rising form the castle. Kamitsu froze, his eyes wide with fear. “Oh no.” His pace quickened, leaving Kagome behind. He stopped moments after entering the town, taitou in hand. Bodies of Oni demons, some townsfolk and others samurai, lay strewn about along with the bodies of a variety of other demons as well. Kagome came up beside him, gasping in shock.
“What happened here?” Kamitsu didn’t reply as they continued on. They found more of the Oni tribe lying dead as they walked. Samurai, ninjas, the young and old, whoever killed them did not discriminate between their victims. Kagome had to avert her eyes as they passed some of the more grisly scenes of death and destruction. Kamitsu kept walking on in silence, his eyes continuously scanning their surroundings for any possible threat. The castle’s gates lay shattered just ahead, the corpse of a large ogre demon lying before them. Kamitsu rushed inside, not caring about his own safety. Inside the castle’s courtyard were even more corpses, most of them demons the ninja didn’t recognized. He rolled over one of the dead samurai, his face pale.
“Saratsu,” he murmured, evidently recognizing the dead person. “He was my father’s younger brother.” The half demon straightened, scenting the air. “There’s too much blood in the air,” he said to no one in particular, “I can’t smell anything else.” He froze at a human woman’s corpse. “Oh no, it’s Mimi,” he stated, voice hoarse. “She was my mother’s niece.” Kagome looked at the woman’s face in disbelief. She had to be at least over sixty years old. How old was Kamitsu? The half demon continued on, searching for any survivors. Unfortunately, not a single person was left alive. Kamitsu stood alone for some time, quiet and still. Kagome took a step towards him.
“I’m sorry,” she told him, not knowing what else to say. “Who would do something like this?” Suddenly, another corpse fell down from above, its head missing. Kamitsu’s eyes widened, having recognized the armor.
“No, it can’t be.” They both looked up at the same time. A hole the size of a large man was set in one of the castle’s walls two stories up. Through it came a fearsome creature that resembled a mix of a dragon and a serpent. Its upper body was vaguely humanoid in shape, covered in black scales that glistened in the dim light. Its hands ended in long, wicked claws and its long snout was filled with razor-like teeth. Two horns sprouted from the back of its head and its eyes glowed with a baleful light. Instead of legs it had a long, serpent’s tail that ended in a serrated spike. It dropped something round at their feet that made a wet sound when it landed. Kagome cut short a scream. It was a severed head that most likely belonged to the corpse.

[Cyberpunk666]

Kamitsu staggered back, his face pale. “Lord Godai, no,” he took another step back, looking up at the demon. “You killed him!” He drew his taitou, eyes fierce. “damn you to hell!” Kamitsu charged, literally running up the wall at a blindingly fast pace. The demon gave a toothy smile before smacking the ninja back to the ground with its tail. Kamitsu was back on his feet in an instant, rushing forward with an intensity that reminded Kagome of Inuyasha. The demon slithered down the wall to meet him, surprisingly fast for something so large. Kamitsu leapt at it, sword raised for a vertical strike. The monster dodged nimbly to the side, lashing out with its claws. Kamitsu fell to the ground clutching at his right side, blood flowing from between his fingers. He staggered back to his feet, pain evident in his eyes. Kagome looked around for something to use as a weapon when she caught a glimpse of the demon’s back. An ugly, spider shaped burn scar was etched into it, the tell tale sign of one of Naraku’s incarnations. The monster lashed out with the spike on the end of its tail again and again, keeping Kamitsu off balance. Kagome knew she had to do something, or else it would kill her too. Kamitsu cried out in pain as the monster sent him flying into the far castle wall. There was a loud, snapping sound as several of his ribs fractured before he fell to the ground, seemingly unconscious. The monster turned towards her, smiling.
“Where are the jewel shards?” It said in a voice more like a growl than anything else before starting towards her. “If you hand them over now, I may consider sparing your life.” Something told her that it would kill her anyway. It stopped smiling, raising its tail for a strike. “Then die human!” There was movement to Kagome’s left.
“Sprit Lancer!” A bolt of energy the length of a spear struck the demon in the side, sending it flying. Kagome turned to see that Kamitsu was back on his feet, the cloth that had covered his face gone. He ran to her, retrieving his sword from the ground before taking her by the hand. “Run, now!” He cried, dragging her along for the ride. The made a mad dash through the streets of the village, not stopping even to breath. They came to a halt as they rounded the corner, a dozen or so black scaled demons in samurai armor armed with bows waiting for them. Kamitsu pulled her back around the corner just in time to avoid the hail of arrows that followed.
“Now what?” She asked between gasps for air. He crouched down in front of her with his back turned.
“Climb on,” he told her, “that way we can move faster.” She did so, careful not to make his injuries worse. As soon as she was secure Kamitsu took off at a dead run, surprising her with his speed. She ducked as arrows went zipping past, sure that they would be dead in seconds. Soon the barrage of arrows had stopped and Kamitsu was still running. They were going to make it. A blast of energy exploded not ten feet in front of them, causing Kamitsu to skid to a halt. The blast had made a crater the size of a good sized house, cutting of their escape.
“Got any other ideas?” She asked him, feeling a bit more than worried at this point. He shifted her weight on his back so he was more comfortable, a smile coming to his face.
“Just one,” he admitted after a moment. He ran back the way they came, putting a good fifty feet between them and the crater. He went into a flat run, wanting to build up as much speed as he could. He leapt into the air just as they had reached the crater’s edge, causing Kagome to tighten her grip in alarm. He stumbled slightly as they landed on the other side, the impact having sent a jolt of pain through his side.
“Warn me the next time you’re going to do something like that,” she said from over his shoulder, not wanting to do that again. He kept running, ignoring her protest. They had made out of the village and were now heading for the exit when Kamitsu stopped suddenly. “What’s wrong?” Kagome asked as he set her down.
“Keep going,” he told her before drawing his sword, “the barrier should let you leave now.” She didn’t understand. “That thing is still coming for us. I’ll see if I can slow it down while you escape.” She started to protest when he grabbed her by the arm and gave her a not-so-gentle shove towards the exit. “Just go! Mutt face should be waiting for you on the other side by now!” He looked her right in the eyes. “Go.” She needed no more urging than that, running as fast as she could for the exit. Kamitsu turned, not surprised to see the black serpent demons and their monstrous leader there waiting. “Alright ladies, let’s dance!”

Inuyasha and the others had been able to trace their trail all the way to the mountains, where it had just stopped.
“Now what do we do?” Shippo asked, the top of his head barely reaching Sango’s knee. Inuyasha didn’t reply, checking for any other clues that could lead them to Kagome and the ninja.
“Could there be some sort of barrier?” Miroku wondered aloud. Inuyasha drew his Tetsusaiga, the blade turning blood red.
“There’s only one way to find out,” he replied with a humorless smile. Just then, the very rocked seemed to ripple as if made of water, and then Kagome burst through it. She dropped to her knees, gasping for breath. Sango knelt down beside her, concern for her friend evident.
“Are you alright?” She asked, helping a tired Kagome to her feet. She nodded, still trying to catch her breath.
“Where’s that damn ninja?!” Inuyasha asked heatedly, his voice a growl. Kagome, still unable to speak, just pointed at the barrier behind her. Inuyasha’s brow deepened into a scowl as he prepared to take the barrier down. “I’m coming for you, you damn cat!”

Kamitsu stared down his lord’s killer; his body trembling with barely contained rage. The demon chuckled.
“Shaking with fear? Godai did the same before I killed him.” Kamitsu snorted derisively.
“It’s Lord Godai to you, and he was never afraid of anything!” The ninja spat back at it. The monster only shook its scaly head.
“Fine, but you’ll die just the same as he,” it told him with a shrug. It pointed at him with one clawed hand. “Kill the half breed!” The dozen or so black serpent demons, armed with a variety of pole arms and swords, rushed at Kamitsu en’ mass. The half demon dropped into a fighting stance, taitou held at the ready. He dodged to the left as one demon thrust at him wildly with a naginata, severing its grotesque head in the same motion. Two more came at him from either side, one brandishing a pair of kamas, the other a katana. He went after the sword wielder first, slapping its weapon aside before piercing its black heart with his blade. He ripped his sword free just in time to parry the second’s attack. The fact it held two weapons instead of one made no difference to the skilled ninja, it died just the same. Another thought to attack him from behind, but at the last second, Kamitsu spun and parried its wild swing and killed it with his return stroke. The move cost him, the tip of a spear piercing his side. Kamitsu cried out in pain, wrenching the weapon out of the demon’s grasp before severing its carotid artery, spraying the ground with its black blood. With a grunt of effort, the half demon dislodged the spear, his blood oozing from the open wound. The world phased out momentarily, a sign that he had lost too much blood. With a growl of rage and pain, Kamitsu spun, driving the spear in to another demon’s chest with enough force to drive it out the other side. The remaining half dozen paused as they saw the look of pure malice in Kamitsu’s eyes. Their leader let out an ungodly roar, spurring the weaker demons in to action. Kamitsu cursed, spitting blood from a punctured lung. He felt that these were probably his last few moments in this world, and if that were the case, he decided to take as many as he could down with him.
“Come and get me!” He cried, rushing to meet them with his sword held high. He struck left, then right, felling the first two with ease. A third’s sword ripped open his left arm with a well-placed strike. Kamitsu ignored the wound, deftly severing the demon’s head with his next attack.

Will post the rest when finished, request input...

[Cyberpunk666]

The last three circled him warily, well aware of his skills. But, Kamitsu was badly wounded, blood loss making him weak. It was only a matter of time before one of the demons would be able to land the killing blow. His death seemingly close at hand, Kamitsu lost all awareness of whom he was and his demon blood took complete control. The half demon’s eyes flared blood red and his hair whipped around him as if caught in a strong breeze. Kamitsu’s aura had changed from its usual pale green, to a violent shade of dark blue. The monster that led the black serpent demons froze in fear and confusion.
“What’s happening? Why is his demonic aura suddenly getting stronger?” It didn’t understand. No half demon should have an aura this powerful. The demons that had been circling Kamitsu, having sensed this sudden change, fled in absolute terror at the sheer level of power the half demon was now radiating. Kamitsu’s appearance began to change as well. Two black stripes had etched themselves in to either cheek, much like those of a tigers. Sparking bolts of silver energy began to dance up and down his arms and his gloves were shredded as razor sharp claws began to grow from his fingertips. The half demon began to slowly, menacingly, advance upon the confused creature that had killed everything he had ever known and loved in the world. Only one thought was at the forefront of his mind, and that was to end the life of the thing that had caused him so much pain. Kamitsu growled in rage from behind dagger like fangs, then rushed the monster full speed. The strange, silver energy that had been dancing along his arms earlier flowed down into his sword, causing it to glow with an angry light. The black scaled monster let out a defiant roar, lashing out at Kamitsu with its tail. The half demon dodged the attack, still intent on killing the demon. The monster opened its mouth wide, a blast of energy launching itself at Kamitsu. The half demon stopped, bringing its sword up to block and was seemingly consumed in the violent explosion that followed.

“Everyone stand back!” Inuyasha ordered before launching his attack on the barrier before him. The Tetsusaiga flared blood red, a wave of energy lashing outward, destroying the barrier. “Here I come!” He cried, rushing into the opening that it had revealed without a second thought. Kagome staggered to her feet.
“No, Inuyasha, stop!” She shouted before running after him. Sango and Miroku both shared a look.
“Was that that ninja’s vest she was wearing?” Sango asked Miroku after a moment. The monk nodded.
“Yes, it would appear so.” He paused. “Shall we follow?” That made Sango smile slightly.
“You know they’d be hopeless without us.” The demon slayer remarked as if commenting on the weather. Miroku smiled as well.
“That settles it then, let’s go!” The pair, along with Kirara, hastened to follow, leaving Shippo behind.
“Hey! Don’t leave me!” The young fox demon cried, doing his best to catch up with them. Inuyasha and Kagome were on the other side waiting for them, watching something happening down below. What greeted their eyes was an interesting sight. What looked like two demons were fighting each other, one black scaled and serpent like, the other resembling a human armed with a familiar looking sword.
“Is that the ninja?” Sango asked. “Who’s that he’s fighting?” Kagome turned to her, an odd look in her eyes.
“That thing is one of Naraku’s incarnations that came looking for the jewel shards Kamitsu possesses.” Miroku arched an eyebrow.
“Kamitsu?” He asked, a smile tugging at his lips. “So, is it common practice for a captive to be on first name basis with their captors in your time?” Kagome glared daggers at him.
“Just what are you getting at?” She asked, trying to tell him with her eyes that he should be careful with his next words.
“Nothing, it’s just that I noticed that you’re wearing his vest,” he replied casually. Kagome flushed slightly.
“So? I was cold and he didn’t want me freezing to death,” she spat back. Miroku seemed to grow thoughtful.
“So, it’s that he wanted his prize in good health when presented it to his lord.” The monk nodded as if it made perfect sense. “Just curious.”
“He was only returning the favor I did for him by removing the arrow from his back!” Kagome was now red in the face. Miroku’s smile grew wider.
“You seem awfully defensive,” he went on, “considering he was only returning a favor.” If Kagome blushed any harder her head would explode. Inuyasha cut them off by stepping between them.
“We don’t have time to bicker!” He shouted, his gaze taking in them both. “I say we leave now and let them kill each other.” Kagome turned her glare on him next.
“No! Kamitsu saved my life, so I’m not just going to run away!” She shoved past him and started down the winding path down to the cavern below. Inuyasha let out an exasperated groan before following her, the others not far behind.

Kamitsu staggered, already losing his demonic powers from the amount of blood he had lost. The black scaled demon smiled evilly.
“What’s wrong, half breed?” It taunted him. “Losing your strength already?” It let out a mirthless laugh. “That’s too bad, since I’m not even tired yet!” It slapped Kamitsu away with another well placed swipe of its tail, sending him tumbling across the rocky ground in pain. He staggered back upright, back to normal once more. His vision was beginning to black out, which was not a good sign. With a growl of pain and frustration, he ripped off his torn gauntlets and gloves before driving his sword tip first into the ground. A sphere of white energy began to form in his right palm, growing to the size of a grown man’s head. Kamitsu drew back, then launched the sphere straight at the demon’s face. The sphere then arced upward at the last second, heading for the ceiling. The demon let out a disgusted snort. “You missed!” Kamitsu only smiled weakly.
“No,” he began tiredly, “I didn’t.” The monster seemed confused, until a massive explosion from above shook the entire cavern. He hadn’t been aiming for the demon, but the center mass that kept the entire mountain from caving in. “Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll stay for the fireworks!” And with that, Kamitsu vanished, leaving the monster to roar its rage and frustration alone as the cavern’s ceiling came crashing down around it.

Kagome backpedaled suddenly, forcing the others to stop as well. The entire cave was beginning to collapse, and none of them were about to stick around for that. They ran back up the path, through the hall and out the entrance, a cloud of dust, dirt and rubble following close behind. They then stopped, save Miroku, who kept running.
“Don’t stop now, the whole mountain’s coming down!” He called back over his shoulder without stopping to wait for them. With the ground now quaking under their feet, the others didn’t argue the point. They stopped two miles from the mountain’s base, all out of breath save for Inuyasha, who watched the entire thing as it happened. The mountain collapsed from the top down, the peak the first to cave in, the rest following suit not long after. The entire process took at least twenty minutes before it finally stopped, a cloud of dust and dirt encompassing the entire area.
“Where’s Kamitsu?” Kagome gasped out after a moment. Inuyasha’s eyes scanned the entire area, but found no sign of the ninja anywhere.
“Too bad, I wanted to kill him myself.”

[Cyberpunk666]

They heard a very haggard cough from of to their left. Inuyasha turned to see the ninja in question leaning against a nearby rock.
“You still might get that chance, mutt face.” His breathing had a thick, wet sound to it, like one of his lungs was punctured. “Though, I doubt that I’ll last much longer.” Inuyasha smiled.
“Then I’ll just have to put you out of your misery,” he replied coldly. He hefted the Tetsusaiga, starting forward.
“Sit boy!” Kagome cried from behind him. There was a loud thud as Inuyasha hit the ground hard, face first. He struggled to get back up and try again. “I said, SIT!” The ground cracked from the impact this time. She came to stand beside Kamitsu, her expression worried. “Are you alright?” The ninja chuckled and then spat blood.
“Do I look alright?” He asked her like it was a stupid question. Kagome turned to Sango.
“Did you bring my pack?” She asked, making the demon slayer shake her head. “Then we’ll just have to carry him to it.” By this time Inuyasha was back on his feet.
“You might as well kill him,” he told her quietly, “he’ll be dead in a matter of hours anyway.” Kagome shook her head in denial.
“No! I won’t let him die like this after saving my life!” That made Kamitsu chuckle again before cutting it short in pain.
“You shouldn’t worry about me,” he told her, “because you’re injured as well.” Kagome looked down at herself, noticing for the first time a gash on her left shoulder.
“You’re worse off than I am!” She argued with him. He didn’t reply, slumping to the ground unconscious instead. She struggled to hold him up. “Sango, help me!” Inuyasha watched as the two women loaded the unconscious half demon on to Kirara’s back, not liking the situation in the least. Miroku came to stand beside him.
“Jealous?” The monk asked. Inuyasha let out a growl of disgust. Of course he wasn’t jealous, was he?

A castle lay in the mountains to the east, shrouded in darkness. This is where the demon Naraku felt his link to his incarnation end.
“So, Drasune has failed,” he murmured with a sense of slight annoyance. “No matter, where one fails many can succeed.” The shadows on the far wall separated from it, becoming several dark shapes. Naraku turned to them, a smile on his face. “Go now and bring me the jewel shards the half demon Kamitsu possess,” he ordered them. “Do not fail me, or you shall suffer the same fate as that weakling Drasune.” The shadowy figures moved away, seemingly melting into the darkness. Naraku turned to the room’s only doorway and stepped out of it. “Soon, ultimate power shall be mine.”

Kaiede sat in her small hut, enjoying a cup of freshly made tea when she heard noises coming from out side. She set the cup down, got up and opened the flap that served as a door. Kagome was there, Sango and Miroku helping her pull a seriously injured man off of Kirara’s back.
“What happened to ye child?” The old woman asked in alarm. Kagome moved to the side slightly, revealing that the man had blue hair and pointed ears.
“Kaiede, this man is hurt bad!” Kagome exclaimed. “Can we use your hut so we can treat his wounds?” Kaiede was surprised that she felt she had to ask.
“Of course ye can, child,” she replied, “but, tell me, what happened?” Kagome looked at her with tired eyes.
“Naraku happened.”

Sango knelt next to Kamitsu’s battered and bandaged for and let out a yawn. It was her turn to watch over the half demon and alert the others if his condition changed. She and Kagome had spent over an hour treating his wounds. Several of his injuries were pretty bad; others were simply small cuts and bruises. He’d been drifting in and out of consciousness for hours since then, not staying awake long enough to even mumble a few words. She stood up to stretch when she heard the hut’s door flap being pulled aside. She turned, hand reaching for her hiraikotsu. Miroku stepped through it and stopped when he saw that she had her weapon in hand.
“Maybe I should come back later,” he said, preparing to leave. Sango set down the hiraikotsu with a sigh.
“No, Miroku,” she replied tiredly, “you can stay, as long as you don’t get any ideas.” Miroku’s expression turned to one of innocence.
“Now, Sango, what have I done to earn such mistrust?” He asked, making Sango frown slightly.
“Don’t act like all those times you grabbed my ass didn’t happen, you dirty monk!” She spat, her temper flaring. Miroku batted his hands in the air in a placating motion.
“Easy, Sango,” he said in what he hoped was a calming manner, “I never felt anything from you to discourage me from doing so.” The demon slayer’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“How would you like to feel my fist hit your face?!” Miroku’s expression grew worried.
“Now, now there’s no need to get violent!” He pleaded with her. “Besides I have a peace offering.” He reached inside his robe and pulled out two sweet bean buns. Sango eyed them and him suspiciously.
“And?” She took a hesitant step forward, feeling quite hungry. “What’s the catch?” Miroku held out one to her.
“No catch, just thought you might be a little hungry,” he told her innocently. She took another step forward, then quickly snatched the sweet bun from his hand.
“Thank you,” she murmured before taking a bite from it. It was definitely good, making her want to scarf it down, but she ate it slowly, taking up her position at Kamitsu’s side as she did so. Miroku knelt down next to her, taking a bite from his as well.
“How’s he doing?” He asked in hope of striking up a conversation with her. Sango stopped eating for a moment.
“No changes as of yet,” she replied tiredly. “Kamitsu’s been coming in and out of consciousness for the past few hours, but nothing other than that.” She gave a tired yawn before continuing to eat her bun.
“How long has it been since you last slept?” Miroku asked, concerned for her health. Sango shrugged.
“Ten, maybe twelve hours.” She told him, causing the monk to frown slightly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Besides, it won’t be Inuyasha’s turn for another two hours.” He placed a hand on her shoulder suddenly.
“You know,” he began carefully, “there are other ways we could be spending the time.” There was a loud crack as Sango slapped him across the face.
“How dare you?!” She began angrily. “How could you even suggest such a thing?!” Miroku sighed heavily and then stood, heading for the door flap.
“I was about to suggest a game I learned from Kagome that involves the use of cards,” he said before walking out. Sango blushed furiously. That she had been thinking about that and Miroku wasn’t truly shocked her. She quickly stood, heading after him.
“Miroku, wait!” She called before stepping out.

[Cyberpunk666]

Kamitsu’s eyes opened slightly as he scanned the hut. The demon slayer and monk had left, leaving him alone. It was the middle of the night; he could easily slip out without drawing anyone’s attention. He sat up slowly, aware of a sharp twinge of pain in his side as he did so. He frowned, realizing that he wouldn’t get very far in his present state. The act of standing itself took more effort than he liked, leaving him clutching at his side in agony.
“Oh, man,” he groaned aloud. He took a step outside, breathing in the crisp night air. He smelled water nearby, noticing that he was in need of a bath.
“Where’re you off to, ya scrawny cat?” Inuyasha asked from off to his right. Kamitsu turned, suddenly feeling annoyed.
“What do you want, mutt face?” He asked in turn. Inuyasha growled at him, tightening his grip on the Tetsusaiga.
“What was that?!” He asked angrily, taking a step forward. “You want to fight me, ya damn cat?!” Kamitsu would have gladly obliged, had he not been in so much pain.
“Maybe some other time,” he said, turning to where he smelled the water coming from, “but right now, I need a bath.” And he kept walking, ignoring Inuyasha’s attempts to goad him into fight. “See you around, dog boy!”

“Miroku, wait!” Sango called to the monk, following after him. Miroku turned with a sigh, wondering if she was going to slap him again. She stopped a few feet from him, feeling deeply ashamed of herself. “I…I shouldn’t have slapped you like that, Miroku, I’m sorry.” The monk blinked in confusion, not sure he had heard her right. She blushed self-consciously under his curious gaze. Finally, Miroku smiled.
“That’s okay, it’s not like I’ve given you any reason to trust me in that manner.” She didn’t argue with him about that. “Apology accepted.” He looked behind her at something. “Hey, isn’t that Kamitsu?” Sango spun, seeing that indeed it was Kamitsu that was limping into the trees.
“Oh no! I better stop him before Inuyasha does!”

Kamitsu sank into the warm water of the spring with a slight sigh, the pain in his muscles easing to a dull memory. That would change once he stepped out, but he was content to enjoy the feeling while it lasted. He sat there for some time, not realizing how long he’d been in there. Then, he heard a loud snapping sound that had him on his feet in an instant. He dropped into a guarded stance, eyes scanning the trees. He then heard a gasp to his left and turned to the noise. His eyes widened as he saw Sango, the demon slayer from before, standing there, her face beat red.
“What are you…?” He trailed off, finally realizing that he wasn’t wearing any clothing. He dove behind the rocks where he had put his clothing, blushing furiously while Sango turned quickly away, embarrassed that she had been staring.
“How could you just jump out at me like that?!” She asked, trying to sound as outraged as she could.
“How was I supposed to know it was you?” He asked in turn, sounding more than a little angry as he did so. “Besides, you snuck up on me! For all I knew, you could have been some murderous demon or something!” He stood, fully clothed once more. “It’s safe to turn around now.” She did so slowly, no longer blushing.
“It’s not my fault you left without telling anyone!” She spat back angrily. Kamitsu took a step forward, stopping as the sharp twinge in his side came back with a vengeance. He crossed his arms, doing his best not to upset any of his other injuries as he did so.
“So now it’s my fault?!” He couldn’t believe she was trying to pin the blame on him. “Is it a crime for someone to want to take a bath in private in this province now?!” Sango began to tremble, barely able to contain the impulse to hit the half demon. Why was she so pissed off at him?
“You could have at least told someone.” She told him as calmly as she could. Kamitsu gave a slight sigh, letting his arms drop back to his sides.
“Well, I did tell mutt face.” Sango just looked at him, starting to feel more annoyed than angry at the moment. She was about to say something when he held up a hand to silence her. “What’s wrong?” He gave her a short glare.
“Keep quiet!” He hissed at her as he scanned their surroundings, his nose twitching as he did so. He snorted as if smelling something unpleasant. “Black serpent demons. What are they doing out here?” Sango grew tense, realizing that neither of them had brought a weapon. She even voiced her concerns, causing Kamitsu to smile.
“Dog boy isn’t the only one who has natural weapons,” he replied, flexing his fingers so that his fingernails grew into wicked looking claws. Sango frowned.
“Yeah, bully for you,” she grumbled, “but that still leaves me without a weapon.” Kamitsu gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” He told her, still keeping an eye on the forest. Sango’s frown deepened.
“Gee, I feel safer already.”