InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bandit of the Woods ❯ Darkness ( Chapter 5 )

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Kaye: Yes, poor Hojo. Poor, poor Hojo.

Squeakyinuears: I'm glad you like the way I did Hojo. He's such a blah character and so many make him out to have little or no personality what so ever. There are exceptions, This Can't Be Good by Ithilwen K-bane is a good example. I am already a fan of Rosefire's work, but Bottled Genius just hasn't made it into my time slot just yet. I agree that Naraku is unlikable, but he's supposed to he's that way. Though 'meanie' even spelled in all caps isn't the word I'd choose to describe him.

MM.org

*Sigh* For some reason I can't get the reviews from the last chapter to show up so I can't answer any questions that were asked out things like that. Hopefully I'll be able to do so next time.

To all my other wonderful reviewer: Thank you all very much!

Bandit of the Woods

Chapter 5

Darkness

Hojo snapped awake when cold water hit his face. He sputtered and coughed as he opened his eyes and looked around. The room was dark, lit only by torches and a handful of barred window high in the walls. Outside the storm had let up, but it was still dark and lightening flashed in the distance. The low rumble of distant thunder echoed all around, bouncing from the stone walls with an ominous ring. Across the room was a worn throne like chair that stood empty. Hojo felt uncomfortable and tried to shift only to find he couldn't.

Looking up he saw his wrists trapped in shackles that hung from the dingy stone ceiling. They didn't give him enough slack to sit, but rather kneel awkwardly. A stiff breeze rushed through the room causing the torches to flicker and give the youth realization that he had been stripped of most clothing. The simple shirt he had always worn lay on the floor several feet away, but the gray cloak was nowhere to be seen. His wrist ached for relief from the strain of holding his body's weight and he tried to rise, but a heavy hand on his shoulder prevented such movements.

"So…" a dark voice drawled from somewhere above him, "You finally woke." There was a pause as the Sheriff walked around to stand before him. Hojo looked up at the man with an expression few ever saw grace his face, hate, complete and absolute hate. Naraku crouched down so he was face to face with the boy and studied him. Suddenly his hand reached out and grabbed Hojo's chin between his thumb and forefinger. Hojo tried to pull away but Naraku only increased his grip to the point of being painful. "I'm going to ask you a question and you are going to answer it truthfully. If you don't there will be consequences. Do you understand that wretch?"

Hojo spat in his face in response. Naraku drew himself up, a look of disgust on his face. He drew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. The Sheriff gave a nod of his head to someone Hojo couldn't see. Hojo gave a gasp of shock and pain as a cat of nine tails lashed across his back. Naraku smiled in satisfaction, but raised his hand for his lackey to stop.

"Do you understand now?" Naraku asked as if he were talking to a very simple child. "If your answers displease me, you will suffer. Now," He gave a wave of his hand and two guards quickly moved the throne like chair so Naraku could sit a few feet in front of Hojo. "Where do I find Inuyasha?"

"In the forest." Hojo answered simply a cool smile on his lips. Naraku growled and gave another nod of his head. Hojo ground his teeth together as the whip cut into his back four more times. Naraku raised his hand and the blows stopped. Hojo gulped down air as the Sheriff watched.

"You aren't going to save yourself by pretending you don't know, so you might as well tell me what I want to know. Where do I find Inuyasha?" Naraku's voice never wavered. Hojo lifted his head and glared at the man before him.

"You can't find what you can not be seen." Naraku nodded again.

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M iroku sat the young Baker boy down in a small chamber inside the church. The monk served him a cup of water and a bowl of hot mush. It wasn't much, but it was all he had. Miroku's thoughts were elsewhere though. He worried about the young servant boy, Hojo. There was no doubt in his mind that the boy would not betray them. What worried him was the Sheriff's many ways of… persuading those in his possession to talk.

The Baker boy was shaking as he ate at his mush, but whether from fear or cold was hard to tell. Miroku said he was going to fetch the boy a blanket and left the room. As he passed the main worship chamber, the monk looked out one of the many large windows. Outside the storm was moving on. The sky, however, was still black as the grim reaper's cloak. Lightening flashed in the distances, casting eerie shadows in the sanctuary. Miroku sighed. Hojo's horse would eventually make her way back to the main camp, and when she did so with out Hojo, there would be hell to pay.

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" Kagome." Sango called from the entrance to her chambers. Kagome looked up to at her over her teacup. The lady in waiting took her cue and walked in, shutting the door firmly behind her. Sango made short work of crossing the room and taking a seat beside her friend. Kagome smiled at her sweetly and offered her a cup of tea. Sango accepted but did not drink. "Lady Kagome," She began in a soft whisper, concern lacing her voice as she set down her cup of tea.

"What is it Sango?" Kagome asked as she set her tea down as well.

"There is word that one of Inuyasha's men has been captured." Sango kept her voice low so on one could hear, even with the storm in the distance she was cautious.

"What?! Who?" Kagome scooted closer fear creeping across her face.

"I'm not sure, it's all very hush-hush. But with as excited as Kikyo is, it must be someone close to him." Sango replied. Kagome bit her lip and looked towards the balcony.

"You don't think… he'll betray Inuyasha do you?" Kagome looked off into the storm as if trying to see past into the heart of the forest.

"I hope not, for all our sakes." Sango replied. She couldn't help the soft smile as she watched her lady move to the window and look out. Kagome was so in love with the Hanyou rebel it was almost amusing. "Don't worry my lady, Inuyasha is a fighter. He will never submit with out conflict."

"That's what worries me." Kagome replied her voice shaking as she spoke, "He'll fight until he dies. I don't know if I could handle that." Sango rose, walked to her friend, and embraced her. Kagome returned the gesture with a small smile of thanks. No words were said for none were needed.

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Hojo looked up at Naraku with a glare of pure venom. The Sheriff looked back impassively. They had made it to the tenth round of questioning and Hojo had yet to give in. His back was now a criss-cross pattern of long, thin lashes. Blood trickled from the wounds sluggishly as it followed gravity's pull. His once dark brown pants had turn an even darker shade where the blood had soaked in. Beads of sweat rolled over his naked skin and Hojo clenched his teeth each time one meet with a wound on his back.

"I ask you again: Where is Inuyasha?"

"Stop asking me that?" Hojo growled, "I'm not going to tell you."

"Perhaps you would tell me." a cool female voice said from the door way. Both men looked around to see Queen Kikyo standing in the doorway. She was wearing a tight red dress that showed off a lot of bust. The long gown portion of the dress had been cut away high above the knee, showing far more leg then was appropriate for any woman no matter her stature. She smiled seductively as she swaggered across the room. Both men kept their eyes on Kikyo as she slowly knelt before the captured boy. She leaned close so her breasts touched his chest as she breathed. Hojo's head dropped down and a smile crossed Kikyo's lips.

"Like what you see?" Kikyo cooed. "You know even a queen has… desires. Needs that only a man came fulfill. I may be a queen, but I'm also a woman. I could use someone like you to help me." She leaned closer to allow the soft skin of her breasts press against his sweat-covered chest. "You could have me anytime, any place, you need only ask and I would be yours." Kikyo slowly traced her long nails over his stomach, feeling the muscles quiver beneath. She moved her hand down to cup him and gave a slight squeeze. Hojo shivered and gasped, his head still lowered, eyes still hidden behind his bangs. Kikyo licked her lips and put them close to his ear. "All you have to do, is tell me where I can find Inuyasha."

Hojo slowly raised his head, his normally soft brown eyes glazed in an unnatural stare. He looked at the queen, his lips slightly parted, and his breath coming in short pants. Kikyo looked back expectantly as Hojo leaned as close to her as he could, his lips stopping only an inch from hers. His eyes slide to half lids as he gazed at her.

"I would rather sleep alone on a cold stone floor for the rest of my life then spend one night in your bed, slut!" Hojo spat. Kikyo was on her feet in an instant, her mouth open in shock. Behind her Naraku almost looked amused. Blood was rushing into Kikyo's face as her anger rose.

"Call the priest. We are about to have a dead man on our hands." Kikyo growled.

************************************************************* < p>Miroku opened the church door at the sound of someone pounding. Outside stood one of the Queen's guards. The monk raised a questioning eyebrow as the single man had two horses. The monk was already in his sleeping attire, as it was quite late- even the moon had gone to bed.

"Can I help you?" Miroku asked with a yawn.

"Queen Kikyo commands your presence to hear the last confession of a prisoner." Miroku's heart skipped a beat, but it didn't show on his impassive face.

"Allow me to dress…"

"No, you are to come with me immediately." The guard insisted. Miroku sighed and picked up his staff. There was no fighting it; he would have to go. The monk stepped on to the horse offered him and spurred it into step behind the guard's horse. Miroku bit his bottom lip in worry. The road passed quickly, with only the sound of hooves against the soggy road as company. The monk followed the guard onto the castle grounds. Another guard met them just inside the gate. Miroku nodded to the first guard as he took his horse before following a second guard into the castle. The only sound was the soft patter of their feet as the descended into the dungeons.

Miroku cringed as the smell crawled up his nose. Most of the people here hadn't bathed in months, weeks at best, and the cell floors were covered in straw solid in feces, urine, and blood. In some cells the dead lay in corners, waiting to be moved to a mass grave. The flesh had been picked from by some by the living that had gotten truly desperate. Hands reached out to the monk as he passed, desperate to brush against his robes as they asked God to help them. Miroku hated coming here, it made him feel so helpless. He wanted to help these people, but could not. The monk sent up silent prayers from all those trapped in this small corner of hell.

The monk found himself suddenly stopped by his robes suddenly catching. Looking back he saw a small child looking up at him. She had ragged cut blond hair and green eyes that seemed so bright in such a dingy place. She couldn't have been more then three or four. Her clothes were little more then rags. The guard growled at her and raised his hand. The girl whimpered and backed away, releasing Miroku's robes in the process.

"No." Miroku caught the guard's arm before he could strike the girl. The monk gently knelt down and beckoned the child forward. "What is it you need of me my child?" he asked as he came close to the bars.

"They wouldn't get up." She whimpered in a voice that sounded out of use as she gestured behind her. Miroku craned his neck to look past her. On the floor lay two intertwined skeletons, both looked as if they had taken their breath long ago, skin gray and wrinkled from the dry air, lips pulled back to show half rotten teeth, and socket that were void of eyes. Miroku swallowed the bile that rose in his throat.

"What is your name little one?" He asked softly.

"Kirara." She answered timidly.

"Well, I think you should come with me." He said softly.

"You can't do that." The guard snorted, "Lord Naraku will not be pleased."

"He will not object," Miroku stated with his normal calm, "Open the door." The guard grunted, but complied. Miroku was after all a higher rank then himself. The monk beckoned the girl to him and lifted her into his arms. They resumed their walk to the end of the hall. The guard open the door and Miroku brushed past him.

The site succeeded in turning the monk's stomach. Hojo hung limply by the wrists from shackles. His shirt had been discarded, leaving him in only his pants. Long whip marks criss-crossed his back and blood rolled from the wounds in a steady stream. The boy was panting, his head bowed and blood pooling around his knees. Before him the sheriff sat looking only half-interested at the proceedings in his throne like chair. The queen stood off to one side looking severally livid. Miroku choose not to comment on her attire.

"What is that thing?" Naraku barked as he looked at the girl in Miroku's arms. Kirara cringed away.

"She is a child. Her parent died while in your… care. She is too young to be at fault for her parent's crimes. I will be taking her with me." Naraku raised an eyebrow as the monk continued, "Being that it is late and I wish not to bicker over the payment for my services, I shall take her in leu of such."

"Whatever." The sheriff grunted with a wave of his hand. Miroku placed the girl on her feet, gave her head a pat, and told her to stay. He moved over to Hojo and placed his hand on the boy's head. With his thumb he made a symbol just as he had done to Inuyasha at the tournament.

"Are there any sins you wish to confess my son?"

"I didn't finish my chores." Hojo said weakly. With his head bowed Miroku couldn't see if he was joking but it occurred to him that such a thing would be a sin to simple boy.

"Is that all?"

"Only a last request." Hojo panted.

"And what is that?" Hojo lifted his head as if every movement cost him a fortune in pain. The boy's bright brown eyes, which seemed to have lost their luster, locked with Miroku's dark purple. His mouth hung slightly open, lips cracked, raw, and bleeding from the constant back and forth of breath. Hojo normally flyaway dirty blond hair was now matted his sweat and sticking to his skin.

"Bury me in Sherwood… where that monster and his slut fear to tread." Kikyo gasped and Naraku leapt to his feet. Hojo turned to look at them with a sharp glare of sheer abhorrence. Then is voice much louder then any Miroku had ever known him to use, as if he wished all of Nottingham to hear, Hojo yelled, "Long Live Inuyasha! Long Live King Sessho…" The proclamation was cut short, however, when a sword pierced Hojo's chest. Miroku cringed involuntarily as the hot red liquid splashed the front of his robes. The guard who had done the deed placed his foot on Hojo's back and pushed the body from his sword. Hojo hung limp from the shackles for only a moment before they were removed and he crumpled to the stone floor still coated in his own warm blood.

"Take that mess to the graves out back." Naraku ordered.

"No." Miroku replied in his usual cool demeanor, "I will take the body and honor his last request." Naraku sneered at him, but the monk merely smiled back.

"Fine. Take that wretched thing wherever you wish. If I'm lucky, Inuyasha will slit your throat. Then I won't have to listen to your man of the cloth bull shit."

"Perhaps." Miroku said pleasantly. He gave the sheriff a parting smile before motioning for a guard to retrieve the body. The Guard who had accompanied him did so, wrapping Hojo's corpse in a thin cloth as slinging it unceremoniously over his shoulder.

The Monk retrieved the young girl from near the door and left the Queen and Sheriff in the room without so much as a backwards glance. He made his way back up through the dungeons, past all the pleading peopled, and back to the main hall of the castle. Miroku stopped and the guard gave him a look.

"Go on ahead. There is a bit of business I need to see to before I depart." Miroku answered the unasked question. The guard nodded and left for the courtyard while Miroku turned and headed up the stairs.

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"Who goes?" Sango asked with a yawn. The two girls had been woken late at night by the sound of pounding on Kagome's chamber door.

"Miroku the monk." Came the answer. Sango blinked several times and looked at Kagome, who appeared to be just as baffled. Slowly she opened the door to reveal the monk standing in the hallway. The front of his sleep robes were splattered with blood, his normal ponytail had been let down and his dark hair was tossed about, and his normally sparkling purple eyes seemed to hold a great untouchable sadness. Standing next to him was a small girl with shoulder length blond hair and bright green-blue eyes. Her clothes were little more then rags and her feet were bare. She looked up at them and titled her head to one side. "Forgive my bothering you at such a late hour dear ladies."

"Cut to the chase Monk, what do you want?" Sango snapped irritably, she was no stranger to his reputation. Miroku sighed.

"Sleep, for one my dear Sango. But I doubt I will be getting any this night." Miroku looked away for a moment, "I'm sure you heard that one of Inuyasha's men was captured earlier this evening."

"Yes, we did." Kagome replied coming closer to hear the news that had been brought.

"He die only a few minutes ago." Miroku sighed again, that sadness in his eyes becoming more pronounced, "His last request was to be buried in Sherwood Forest. I was wondering if I could convince you two ladies to look after this child for me while I am doing my duties." Miroku placed a hand on the girl's head. "Her name is Kirara and I found her in the dungeons."

"Of course we'll look after her." Kagome answered. She knelt down before the girl and extended a hand to her. "Hi Kirara, my name is Kagome." Kirara looked at her unsure then turned her gaze up to the monk. Miroku nodded. The little girl took Kagome's hand and allowed herself to be led back into the room. Sango smiled after them as Miroku turned to go.

"Oh, and lady Sango." She stopped and looked back at him, "Keep a close watch on Lady Kagome, I do not think you will find Kikyo or Naraku in the best of moods for a time." Sango nodded her understanding before closing the door.

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The sun was just peeking over the trees as Miroku arrived in the base camp of Inuyasha. He had stopped only long enough to dress and take the Baker boy to orphanage. Now was time for the hardest part, dealing with Inuyasha. He knew that the hanyou was very fond of his servant and had come to see him as almost a brother as they grew up together. The news of his death would not go well.

Not surprisingly Inuyasha was the first to meet him as he arrived. The white haired demon bound up to the cart and took hold of the reins, but his eyes were focused on the monk.

"Hojo did not return last night. What happened?" Inuyasha barked. Kouga and Shippou arrived both sleepy eyed but interested the whereabouts of the young servant boy. Miroku took a deep breath and slide from the cart seat at stand before the rebellion leader.

"The Baker boy made it safely to the church last night, but Hojo was… captured." A growl rose in Inuyasha's throat and he turned to catch the other two demons in his gaze without loosing Miroku.

"I want Hojo back here tonight! I expect the three of you up top in five minutes!" Inuyasha's words vibrated around his angry growl. He turned sharply on his heels and stormed back towards the camp.

"There is no need for such things Inuyasha." Miroku said calmly, "I brought Hojo with me. He feels no pain." Inuyasha froze mid-stride and looked back as the monk's words registered in his brain. Shippou's eyes widened and he walked around back of the cart. He moved aside the sheet covering Miroku's cargo.

"Oh dear god…" The fox demon choked out before covering his mouth and looking away. Kouga peeked over his shoulder then covered his own mouth in an attempt to hold back the bile that rose in his throat. Miroku swallowed hard and averted his eyes as well. By the time they all had looked back to Inuyasha, the demon was gone.

Hojo's body was wrapped in a burial shroud and placed aside so that those in the camp could offer their final respects. Inuyasha did not show up for most of the day, and when he did it was already very late. He spoke to no one, but when straight up into his treetop home. Few dared to even speak to him, knowing how close he had been with the boy. Miroku sighed inwardly; someone would have to talk to Inuyasha.

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Inu yasha stared out one of the windows that over looked the base below. He could see Hojo's body and the people who were paying their final respects to him. The hanyou closed his eyes and fought back the lump forming in his throat. Of all the people here, why Hojo? The boy was sweet and kind, and against all odds remained so innocent to the ways of the world.

His mind drifted back to the years before, before the fighting, before 'Queen' Kikyo, before the demon wars that King Sesshoumaru had to go fight. To time when he was young. Hojo's family had always shared Locksley Manner. They stayed in the east wing with all their own furniture, baths, and a room for their children to play during the day. Inuyasha could remember when he first met Hojo. They had been about five and Hojo had been out in the barn helping tend the horses. Hojo always loved being around horses and insisted on helping despite everyone telling him he didn't need too.

Over the years the two had grown up together, and despite their servant/ master relationship, became unlikely friends. When they were still young, Hojo had assisted him in many a prank on Kagome. Miroku joined the fun when the jokes were on the good-natured monk of the time, Mushin. By the time they started school, Sango had arrived and the pranks came to and end in leu of her rather large weapon of choice. As the late teen years set in Inuyasha had taken to courting Kagome, Hojo helping greatly when he tried to see how far he could put his foot into his mouth. When Kikyo had usurped the throne, it had been Hojo who brought Kouga and Shippou to his side.

"Inuyasha?" Miroku's voice gently broke his thoughts. The half demon looked up at the priest.

"What do you want?" He snapped before looking back out the window. Miroku looked unfazed by the roughness and took a seat on the bed.

"I thought perhaps you would need to relieve some of your burden." For a long time the room was silent, Inuyasha merely staring out the window morosely and Miroku waiting patiently. The Monk knew his friend would open up when he was ready. The silence stretched on, with only the wind in the trees to break it, and just as Miroku rose to leave, thinking Inuyasha was not ready, the half-demon spoke.

"It's my fault." The words were so soft Miroku's human ears only just picked them up. He turned to look back at Inuyasha seeing if he would say anything else. When he didn't, Miroku decided to press for more.

"How's that?" Miroku kept his voice calm, even though he could sense the storm rising in the demon.

"What kind of fucking question is that!" Inuyasha roared, "I'm the one who sent him on that mission, I'm the one he took orders from, I'm the one who got him killed!"

"Hojo went because he believed in you." Miroku replied calmly.

"Hojo was a servant he did as I said." Inuyasha countered.

"He did not! And it is a disgrace to his memory to say other wise." Miroku snorted.

"What do you know? You're just as foolish as he was!"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're all a bunch of fucking sheep! You'd follow me off a cliff if I told you too!" Miroku's jaw set and a dangerous gleam flashed in his eyes.

"Is that so?" The monk's voice sound strained as he tried to remain calm, knowing Inuyasha wasn't truly thinking. "For your information, oh great one, none of us, including Hojo, follow you mindlessly. We follow because we believe in you and what you stand for."

"Oh that's much better. Has it ever occurred to you I could be wrong!" Inuyasha roared back, any thought of remaining calm long forgotten.

"As a matter of fact, it hasn't."

"Well guess what, If I was right Hojo would still be alive!"

"This is war Inuyasha," Miroku's voice had grown stern as he regained some of his calm. "Death happens and there is no such thing as a perfect plan." Inuyasha turned away and stared back out the window. Miroku took a deep, calming breath and moved to his friend's side. "Do you see those people down there?" He motioned out the window towards the ground.

"I'm not fucking blind!" Inuyasha spat back.

"I know you look at them, but do you see them?" Inuyasha gave a confused sidelong look. Miroku sighed, "You are not the first to loose some one. Plenty of those below us have lost there loved ones. I know I take their burdens everyday. Many have lost far more then yourself. Homes, children, some have lost all but the will to fight. And they fight, Inuyasha, because it is the right thing to do. They fight so others will not have to feel their pain. They fight because they would rather die then live at the feet of those like Kikyo and Naraku. Every morning they wake and grow crops, make food, and craft wares with the full knowledge that it will be give away and there labor will go without pay, and they do it willingly.

"Early this morning Hojo took his last breath, and with it he proclaim they you and King Sesshoumaru live long. He never gave you up to them. And he did so because he believed in you and what you stood for, not because he was your servant. He lost everything the same day you did. He died with more honor then I would have expected from a seasoned warrior.

"In the end, however, Inuyasha, we are merely a bunch of town folk, unfit to go against the likes of Naraku and his guard. We need a leader. You are that leader. No one is perfect and no one expects that of you. But you have our trust and respect. Some of us will die, and we accept that. But there isn't one person, demon, or otherwise down there or up here that would rather live under the thumb of Kikyo, then fight. If you give up now, Inuyasha, it will make Hojo's sacrifice, and the sacrifices of everyone else, in vain." Miroku took a deep breath and stepped back to look at his friend. Inuyasha's eyes held a myriad of emotions Miroku couldn't begin to place. "Come let us place Hojo's body to rest."

"No." Inuyasha said calmly. Miroku raised an eyebrow, "A pyre, and place his ashes in the barn. He always loved horses." The monk nodded.

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Hojo' s body lay on a pile of wood in a clearing not far from the base. Many of the camp's occupants had come to bare witness, forming a large circle at the tree line. Inuyasha, Shippou, Kouga, and Miroku stood in the middle near the pyre. The monk read prayers and scripture with the others responding at the appropriate moment came.

As the monk finished the final verse Inuyasha stepped forward and took up a torch. Shippou lit the end with blue flames when it was held out to him. Inuyasha walked solemnly over the space between himself and the pyre. Starting at Hojo's feet he lay the torch against the wood. The magical flames leapt to the funeral kindling easily despite the resent rain. Without a word Inuyasha walked along the side of the pyre, lighting it as he went. When he reached Hojo's head he stopped, but did not remove the torch.

Then he did something few had ever witnessed. Inuyasha began to sing. It was an old song, even by demon standards, song for fallen warriors and great heroes. His smooth baritone voice giving life to words only one with demon blood could decipher. The words in human tongue made little sense. Presently Shippou added his cool tenor voice and took up a place next to the hanyou. Kouga's voice took up the harmony as he too took up a place at the head of the pyre. Together the three demons sang the song for the first time in honor of a human.