InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Of Gods and Monsters ❯ Chapter 5: Third Parties ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer in Prologue

A/N: Much thanks to Merith, an awesome beta!

Chapter 5: Third Parties

"What's taking you so long?" Inuyasha stood impatiently at the door to Kagome's room while she stared at the pack on her bed, wondering whether she had forgotten anything.

"Inuyasha, I'm making sure I pack everything we'll need!"

"You've packed and repacked that bag enough times already! We need to go - now!"

Kagome rubbed her chin thoughtfully, assessing the bag's contents. Right - and who's going to be screaming the loudest when we're out of ramen? She fastened the buckles on her pack and sighed, hefting it up onto her shoulder. She squared her shoulders. "Ready, willing, and able. March on, fearless leader." She took a triumphant step forward, not ready for the pack's weight to shift so unexpectedly, sending Kagome stumbling sideways. When she didn't hit the floor, she looked up. Inuyasha had grasped one of the pack's straps, holding it up before she had fallen.

With a grunt, he took the bag from her shoulders. "I don't understand how you get by sometimes. Give that to me."

Kagome relinquished the bag without a word. Not exactly chivalry personified, but I'll take it.

"Miroku got word of some shards in a village to the west. He and the others are waiting for us."

Kagome made a small sound of assent as she led the way down the stairs and into the well house. Things had been progressing about as well as could be expected, but not as well as Kagome had hoped. Whenever she gazed too long into the shards she felt a distinct sensation in her chest - as if, just for a moment, she herself felt like she'd been splintered into thousands of pieces, finally understanding how far the pieces had been scattered. I wonder whether Inuyasha has ever given very much thought to the sheer enormity of this task - we've been searching for so long already.

"Come on Kagome, get a move on!"

Kagome made a wry face. Probably not. She pursed her lips before taking Inuyasha's hand and dropping down into the well with him.

When they had emerged from the well, the sight of Miroku and Sango greeted them. The small kitsune was perched on Miroku's shoulder, his tail twitching happily at Kagome's return.

"Kagome, you're back!"

Once her feet were on solid ground, she found herself the target of a small, furry, auburn projectile. She laughed, mussing the small fox's tail. "I missed you too."

Sango watched as Shippou scampered up to Kagome's shoulder. She regarded the girl warmly. "We are all glad to have you back." Her dark eyes sparked with a glimmer of humor. "The other one, I don't know if I can say the same for."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and dropped the pack on the ground. "Can we please get on with this?" He ignored the sour face Shippou sent him and turned to Miroku. "Any more news on those shards you heard about?"

"Not yet. I believe that our best bet is to head on toward the village - perhaps whatever has the shard will make itself known to us."

Inuyasha's face was bland, but he was resisting the urge to throttle Miroku. "Wow. I never would have thought of that."

The monk only smiled serenely in response and began walking.

***

A day and many miles later, the small group found themselves on the outskirts of a fairly large village. People were bustling about and the air was thick with noise and smells. It appeared to be more prosperous than some of the other villages they had visited, which, in Kagome's mind, certainly bode well for their chances of getting a hot meal and a good night's sleep. As had become customary, Miroku searched out a mansion to "exorcise," and the rest of the group made themselves at home in their quarters.

Miroku stepped outside into the cool evening, the scent of night-blooming flowers perfuming the air around him. He scrutinized the building and lifted his arms in concentration.

Wait a minute... He paused, a frown marring his features before he sighed. Damn it.

***

Sango blinked at the monk in disbelief. "What?"

"Do you mean to tell me that this place actually NEEDS to be exorcised?!" Inuyasha's voice reverberated off of the room's walls.

"Needed. Not needs. It has been done." Miroku shrugged as he sat down.

"You're sure it hasn't been so long since your last exorcism that you actually remember how to do it?" the hanyou muttered snidely.

A knowing grin curled at Miroku's mouth. "There are some things one never forgets how to do, Inuyasha." He shot Sango a wicked look.

The exterminator met his eyes with a bland, neutral expression before leaning over and swatting him over the head.

"Ow!"

Kagome sat by an open window, a snoring Shippou curled up in her lap, only half-listening to the arguing going on behind her. Whatever Miroku had exorcised hadn't dispelled the uneasiness she'd been feeling since they'd eaten. Whatever had the jewel shard couldn't have been that far off. Still too far to tell exactly where it was, but close enough to know that they were going to have their work cut out for them before too long.

***

Teles returned to the mainland as dawn broke, reveling in the sweet early-morning air. As was typical, she didn't have any idea how long she'd been gone, but she didn't think it had been any longer than a week - maybe two. She hadn't been at the castle very long.

She lifted herself into the air, floating gently towards her home.

Home. The word brought another smile to her lips. Back to Greece - to Olympus. The prospect sent thrills racing through her veins. Her father was going to approach Hera and request she be allowed home. Teles allowed herself to embrace the possibility, even if chances were great that Hera would deny Poseidon's request.

The goddess flew slowly and leisurely, feeling the sun warm her skin as it rose higher in the sky. Before long, she lowered herself to the ground and removed the sandals from her feet, walking slowly through the soft grass, letting herself enjoy the countryside.

A foreign noise caught her ear and she tilted her head listening. Curious, she followed the sound. As she grew closer, the noise - a painful, high-pitched whine - grew louder. She stopped, flinching and resisting the urge to cover her ears. She turned away, lifting herself in the air, intent upon returning to the relative silence of her cavern when a violent shudder wracked through her chest. No, it wasn't possible.

Was it?

Teles looked back over her shoulder in the direction of the hideous whining. She felt that familiar shiver again, stronger this time.

No matter what it is, he's more than capable of taking care of himself.

She floated for a moment, deliberating. Good sense dictated that she return to her cavern, but conscience told her to find Sesshoumaru.

He may be insufferable, but I do not wish harm to come to him either. Foolish youkai.

Setting her jaw, she headed off in search of Sesshoumaru.

She hadn't traveled more than a hundred yards before she saw the source of the noise. Whatever it was, the goddess found herself on a high cliff situated above it. She lowered herself to the ground and peered over the edge of the cliff, her eyes scanning the area for the demon. What she saw instead was a young man wielding a blinding sword to battle a scorpion - a scorpion more than fifty times his size.

Shaking her head Teles sat down on the soft grass and watched from her perch, her eyes following the swordsman. He was an agile fighter dressed in red, long silver hair flowing behind him as he moved. She narrowed her eyes - he appeared to have a set of silvery ears atop his head. She sat back, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Sesshoumaru's kin? Is it possible?

She looked again at the silver hair as it caught and reflected the sunlight. This fighter moved with more brute strength, but he appeared at times to be just as agile, just as graceful as Sesshoumaru. She felt the spirit in him - the life force that flowed through his veins and the knowledge vibrated in her like a plucked string.

The fighter leapt, nimbly escaping the scorpion youkai's poisonous tail. "KAGOME! Get out of the way!"

Teles' eyes darted to the young dark-haired girl wielding an arrow at the demon. She reminded the goddess of her cousin, Artemis.

"Inuyasha! Behind you! Look out!"

The girl - Kagome - shot the arrow, watching it hopefully as it flew wide, missing its target completely.

Resting her chin in the palm of her hand, Teles scrutinized the girl. She was a priestess; the goddess could sense the power radiating off of her. The girl pulled another arrow out of her quiver and drew back, aiming for the scorpion's tail, which had started to descend, intent on crushing the priestess.

The fighter - Inuyasha - flew past in a blur, grabbing the priestess and maneuvering her onto his back. He leapt into the air, positioning himself above the scorpion youkai. Teles stared hard at him - he was definitely Sesshoumaru's kin, but there was something else about him. Something distinctly unlike the demon lord.

"Can you hit it?"

Human. He's part human.

Another arrow came out of the quiver. She held her bow tightly and drew the arrow back. "I think so!"

"Not good enough, Kagome, I need to-"

She released the arrow. It hit the youkai at an angle and bounced harmlessly off of its armor.

Teles sighed, shaking her head. Cousin, I am thankful you are not here to see this.

"Dammit Kagome!"

The priestess didn't respond. She looked worriedly at her quiver of arrows. There were only two left. "Inuyasha, get me up higher. I need to shoot down on it."

With a grunt, the demon - part-demon - leapt up high into the air. The priestess pulled another arrow, drawing it back, concentrating on her mark. Teles tilted her head and followed the dark-haired girl's gaze. She was aiming for a small soft spot located between two plates of the scorpion's armor. Priestess, if you can make that shot, perhaps you are a worthy comparison to Artemis.

The arrow flew and hit with a solid 'thunk.' It was a straight shot, hitting the scorpion in the tail and killing the beast. The one named Inuyasha landed gracefully as the priestess slid off of his back.

"Where are the shards?" he asked.

"In the tail," she replied. The two began searching the carcass frantically.

Suddenly, the scorpion disintegrated into dust.

"Got it!" the girl cried, holding something triumphantly. It gave off a faint glow.

Inuyasha appeared to breathe a sigh of relief. "Come on - the others'll be wondering what happened to us." He lifted Kagome on to his back again and took off into the dense woodland.

Teles' brows knotted together as she watched the pair leave. She stood and contemplated following the demon and his companion.

'A youkai lord came to me a short while ago inquiring about your presence in these lands.'

Her mind made up, she trailed thoughtfully after them.