InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The 2 Great Swords ❯ Methods of Control ( Chapter 17 )

After Miroku and Sango had been filled in on the new developments, the group had retired for the night. The next morning they were discussing they're next move.

 

“With war between the south and the east, the road has become too dangerous.” Miroku concluded. “We will have to find another way.”

 

“Why can't we just go right through em? They can't be that tough.” Sango shook her head at the half-demon's determination.

 

“What if Kouga were to show up? We can't fight him now, it would be best to avoid him.” Inuyasha growled his dissatisfaction.

 

“Well then where will we go?” Miroku said quickly interrupting Inuyasha's approaching tirade.

 

“We should probably go around but…” Sango began but Miroku shook his head.

 

“The priestess's village is surrounded by mountains. The only route in was on the road but now that's become impossible.” Kagome spoke up.

 

“My grandmother told me once `If you can't climb a mountain, simply go under.' Maybe we could just find a way through the mountain?” Miroku shook his head.

 

“There isn't a path that we know of. What makes you so sure?” Inuyasha broke in.

 

“Well if the only way into the village is the road so what would happen if they were overwhelmed? I'm sure they wouldn't be stupid enough to leave themselves in a situation where they could be trapped.” They all looked at Inuyasha with astonishment.

 

“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked in awe at the uncharacteristic show of brain power.

 

“Secondly, they would have to make sure that the same path couldn't be used the other way around so that the enemy could infiltrate from behind. So there would have to be guards or some other foundation to stop people from getting in.”

 

At this point all four of his companions had open mouths.

 

“However, such a foundation to guard the tunnel can't be hidden very well. So wouldn't it make sense that there's some other way in that is probably guarded to the point where it could be seen?”

 

“Wow. How did you come up with that?” Miroku asked in complete awe.

 

“I guess that head isn't just for breathing eh?” Sango asked the rest of the group earning her some laughs.

 

“I dunno, he hasn't said anything smart till now so maybe it's a fluke?” Shippo asked joining in on the fun. HE was rewarded with a smack to the head. “OW! He hit me!”

 

“Keh!” He spun around. `I don't care even if the kit's brain is damaged I swear, treating me like an idiot…'

 

“Come on Inuyasha you didn't have to be that hard.” Kagome said in between her giggles. “You being smart is just new to us.”

 

“Where did you ever pick up that reasoning?” Miroku asked still amazed. “In all the time I've known you you've never shown that before.”

 

“Keh, none of you bastards' business!” He roared and stomped out of the inn. “Come on! We don't have all day!”

 

 

“Naraku sire, we have a problem…” Naraku looked up from his work to give his attention to the servant who had just interrupted his work. He had the sudden urge to use the servant for his drugs if the news wasn't important.

 

“What is it?” He asked in a clipped tone.

 

“Well, the east is not cooperating as well as you had hoped. They are constantly asking for justification as to why they should attack the south.”

 

“Who within the east has been asking this? If it's someone unimportant then you should already know what to do.” He said with a jerk across his neck.

 

“No, the opposition is coming from King Kouga.” Naraku looked at him with a strange look.

 

“How? The sword he possesses should give him a thirst for power. He shouldn't have any problems.”

 

“It's the girl. He doesn't want to do anything like this. He'd rather use his armies to search for the princess.” Naraku's lips curved into a snarl and the servant thought he was about to lose his head.

 

Then, all of a sudden, Naraku grinned. “So then what's the problem? The princess is in the south.” He said grinning maniacally. “Tell him that.” The servant nodded understanding the order and left.

 

`So what if I can't control him perfectly. His weakness can be exploited.' He went back to his work, mixing chemicals and his own stored ingredients. `As long as he wants her… I simply have to say her name to get his obedience.'

 

 

The group had traveled the entire day towards the mountain range with no problems. They had set up camp a little ways from the mountains and would begin to circumnavigate them tomorrow.

 

Inuyasha had gone off hunting while Kagome and Sango, having gotten sick of meat every meal, had decided to try cooking. Shippo and Miroku had been giving the task of creating a fire.

 

“Ok! Good!” Miroku said as he set up some logs in a formation that would help a fire spread between the wood. “Go for it, Shippo” Shippo nodded and hurled some of his fox magic at the pit, igniting it immediately.

 

“Yes! I'm getting better!” Shippo started leaping for joy. Miroku chuckled.

 

“Yes you are indeed.” Usually it would take Shippo several tries before he could ignite something. Tonight he showed an improvement. Shippo grinned widely at the praise.

 

“Hey! I see you got a fire started.” Inuyasha dropped from the trees beside them.

 

“I did it Inuyasha!” Shippo proclaimed proudly.

 

“What are Kagome and Sango doing?” He asked ignoring Shippo's vying for attention.

 

“They are cooking for dinner.”

 

“Why do that? I've got dinner right here.” He said dropping a few rabbits by the fire. Miroku shook his head.

 

“They wish to eat something different I guess…” Miroku said stoking the fire.

 

“Keh! Waste of time, by the smell of things they aren't doing too great.” He said sniffing the air. He looked towards the trees with a growl catching an odd scent. A second later a pair of exhausted looking men burst from the trees tripping over themselves.

 

One of them looked up to see the group. His face was filled with horror. “Are you travelers? If you are you should turn around and leave!” He said getting up from the ground.

 

“Excuse me, but why should we do that?” Miroku questioned.

 

The man gestured from where he came. “There's a crazy village there filled with these people with strange powers!” He screamed.

 

“Yeah! We just stopped there for the night with our traveling party of ten!” The second man piped up. “The villagers came in the night and killed everyone else! We couldn't defend ourselves!”

 

“What do you mean strange powers?” Shippo asked shaking slightly

 

“Light came out of their hands! They could lift people up and toss them with just their minds!” The first one said.

 

“Some of them just ripped people apart! It was horrible the way they screamed as they were killed!” The second one added.

 

“Inuyasha, do you think we may have found what it is we are looking for?” Miroku asked looking at the half-demon.

 

“I dunno… Priestesses don't usually kill humans, but I suppose we could check it out.”

He said looking confused. “You two, was this village on the mountains?”

 

The men looked confused by the question. “Yes I suppose it was they even had a temple on the mountain's edge but why do you wish to know?”

 

“That settles it, we're heading there tomorrow!” He picked up a rabbit and tossed it to the men. “About a day that way is a village.” He said gesturing behind him. “That rabbit's yours for tonight, it should be enough.”

 

The men nodded their thanks and resumed running still scared out of their wits. Seeing the fleeing men Kagome looked up from her work. “What's gotten into them?” She asked Sango beside her. Sango looked up and shrugged.

 

“Looks like we found what we're looking for!” Inuyasha said coming up behind them. “Apparently they came from a village filled with people with strange powers. They're running because whoever's in that village was killing them off.”

 

“Priestesses don't kill humans like that though do they?” Sango asked. Inuyasha shook his head.

 

“Still, we should look anyways. If Inuyasha was right and there is a secret way then maybe those guys got too close to the secret?” Kagome asked. Inuyasha shrugged.

 

“Anyways we'll head there tomorrow, with any luck we'll find a way in and survive to use it.” He said as if it was nothing new.

 

“You don't think they'd try to kill us if we're careful do you?” Kagome asked now getting a little nervous.

 

“Never know.” Inuyasha said now starting to enjoy making Kagome anxious. “I think the best thing to do would be for me and Shippo to keep out of sight though. But for now let's eat!”