InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The 2 Great Swords ❯ Priestess' Village ( Chapter 20 )

The group had gone straight to the passageway through the mountains in order to avoid any trouble with the now awake locals. The passageway was dark and long. About partway through the tunnel, it was pitch black. They had to rely on Inuyasha's eyesight to keep on course.

 

“Left!” Inuyasha called out from behind them as the humans stopped in front of a wall and blindly fingered around in the dark until they found the turn. `Useless humans' He thought grudgingly.

 

“We've been in this cave for an hour!” Shippo complained. “How much longer do we have to go?”

 

“I don't know brat—Right—just be quiet.” The group maneuvered around another corner blindly before continuing.

 

“Do you smell anything yet Inuyasha?” Miroku asked facing in the direction he figured Inuyasha was in.

 

“Nope.”

 

“Even I'm starting to get irritated.” Kagome grumbled.

 

“It can't be that much longer right?” Sango said pleadingly to herself.

 

“Stop whining and…” He was interrupted by a cry from Kagome. She had stepped into what had to be the only hole in the stretch of the cave. “What's wrong with you?” he asked stepping over to her where she fell.

 

“I think I sprained it…” Kagome whimpered. Inuyasha growled in irritation and bent down to see the injury.

 

“Bah! I guess you can't walk right?” He got up and without a word grabbed her and threw her on her back paying no attention to Kagome's surprised gasp at being throw around in the dark. “Come on already, enough stalling!” He called and continued walking.

 

Kagome breathed a few times to calm herself down before saying a small, “Thank-you, Inuyasha.” He grunted to answer her and continued trudging along careful of her ankle and the wall.

 

After another couple hours or so, Inuyasha caught something in the air. “We're almost there!” He called to the others and was met with several cheers. Kagome had drifted off to sleep after about ten minutes on his warm back. Light came into view.

 

 

All at once Miroku and Sango blew by him and sprinted for the end of the tunnel, anticipating the fresh air with Shippo close behind them. Inuyasha snorted and moved Kagome around on his back.

 

“Hey, wake up. We're at the other end.” He said back at her. She stirred slightly and raised her head yawning.

 

“Oh, good.” She said sleepily before snuggling back into his back.

 

`Back to sleep! Keh!' He thought but then another thing came to him. `Then again we probably spent a good part of the night in here…' He shook his head. `Bah! I'm going soft!'

 

As he emerged from the cave he saw the rest of their group staring at the sight before them. There was an assortment of buildings a little ways away like every other village. However, unlike every other village there was also a bright pink barrier surrounding the area.

 

“What the hell?” Inuyasha growled. “What's going on?”

 

“They have a barrier up, but why? Are they expecting an attack?” Sango asked.

 

“I don't know, but perhaps we should think about our approach so as to not arouse problems.” Miroku advised the group. Inuyasha ignored this

 

“Keh!” Inuyasha said before setting off at a run towards the barrier. Kagome was roused forcefully from her nap.

 

“Hey, what's going on?” She asked now completely awake.

 

“Stop Inuyasha! You'll be attacked!” Sango screamed from behind them.

 

Kagome stiffened at the warning before looking at where he's going. She noticed a group of archers on a ledge above the village aiming at them. “Watch out!” She screamed as A volley of arrows was loosed, tearing through the barrier with pink light surrounding them.

 

Inuyasha stopped and leapt to the side dodging the arrows by a hair. “Hey! Stop you idiots!” He roared at their attackers. His answer was another volley.

 

He leapt backwards dodging them before speaking again. “Enough of this crap! Bring out your leader!” He roared. Once again arrows rained down on them. He jumped right, getting tired of the welcome.

 

“Stop! Turn around! You'll be hit!” Kagome screamed in his air panicking. Inuyasha shook his head. Kagome looked at him to see something she'd never expect to see on his face. He looked worried about something. His eyes kept darting back to her. `Is he worried about me?'

 

He shook his head as he dodged another volley. `I don't have a choice!' He thought. “Stop you idiots! Bring out Kaede!” He roared as loud as he could. This stopped the attacks.

 

“How do ye know of that name?” A voice rang out from behind the barrier. Inuyasha grinned at the familiar voice.

 

“I see you don't recognize me old hag!” He called out with a bit of mirth in his voice. Kagome gasped at the language. All they needed now was to piss off the leader of who was attacking them.

 

“Inuyasha?” Came the surprised voice. “Sorry, I didn't know it was ye. It's been so long since I last saw thou!” The voice called. The barrier dropped and Inuyasha entered inside. As soon as he was in, it rose again.

 

Kagome looked around confused at their sudden acceptance. She then saw an elderly woman descending stairs with an eye patch over one eye and supporting herself on a cane. She wore priestess' robes.

 

“Still alive, eh?” Inuyasha said gruffly to the newcomer.

 

“Aye, I'm still holding in there.” She said frowning a bit before smiling kindly. “It's good to see you again old friend.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He said. “Listen, we have things we need to ask you. Could you let my friends in?” He said gesturing towards the rest of their group who had ran over as soon as he had entered.

 

She waved over to someone on top of a ledge near to the barrier's edge and the barrier dropped allowing the rest of them to enter. “It is done. Now maybe you should introduce your friends?” She asked looking at them curiously.

 

“The monk's Miroku, the slayer's Sango, the brat's Shippo and this girl here is Kagome.” He said.

 

She nodded smiling. “Ye travel with a strange pack.” She observed. “My name is Kaede. I am the High Priestess of this village.” She said bowing her head slightly.

 

“High Priestess.” One of her guards beside her whispered to her. “Are you sure we can trust these people? They travel with a half.” He said staring pointedly at Inuyasha who glared back.

 

“Aye, they are trustworthy. He is indeed half-demon but not evil.” She assured the man. He nodded and stepped back. “Now then, we apparently have much to discuss. Please, follow me.” She turned around and hobbled away waving to them and they followed.