InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The 2 Great Swords ❯ Omen ( Chapter 33 )

The group had set out at dawn the next day. Despite numerous complaints at the cruel pace Inuyasha had set for them, they managed to arrive at the village guarding the way through the mountains at nightfall. However, what they found was not what they had expected.

 

“Wh-What happened here?” Shippo murmured fearfully looking over the flaming wreckage that was once a prosperous village.

 

Sango bent down to inspect some marks in the ground. “By the looks of it, demons happened here.”

 

“Yeah, no doubt it was demons.” Inuyasha growled. “The stench is suffocating. There must have been a lot of them.”

 

“So what do we do?” Kagome asked unconsciously moving closer to Inuyasha. “Could the demons still be here?”

 

“I doubt that.” Miroku said. “From what I learned in the priestess' village, this place was a holy one full of temples and powerful monks to guard the path to the sword. A simple band of demons couldn't have done this. Which means…”

 

“Naraku.” Inuyasha snarled. “Somehow he knew we were coming here and sent ahead to kill anyone who may have helped us.”

 

“Ex-Excuse me!” A voice called from their right. “Are you… friendly?” A man staggered towards them favouring his right leg with his left arm hanging limply at his side.

 

Miroku stepped toward the man first. “Rest assured my good man, my companions and I mean you no harm. We came to this village to get passage through the mountains in order to retrieve the sword of light. Do you know anything about it?”

 

The man smiled and chuckled a bit despite his condition. “I see. Well even if you are a monk, you cannot use the sword. No one ever has.”

 

Inuyasha took a step towards the man, decidedly more threatening than Miroku's. “Listen jackass, we didn't ask you for your opinion. We asked if you knew anything about it.”

 

“Of course I know about it.” He said. “Everyone in this village was taught the legends at an early age. I know all about it. Perhaps I could tell you if I wasn't in such rough shape…” He said looking at them pointedly.

 

Miroku chuckled. “Very well, in exchange for your knowledge, how about we treat your wounds and provide some food and water?”

 

The man nodded grinning. “That would be nice.”

 

The man ate and drank greedily as soon as Kagome finished patching his body up. He had a broken arm and a fractured leg, but at least he was alive.

 

Wiping his mouth, he proclaimed himself full and began to repay the group. “I'm sure that seeing that you've come this far looking for the sword, you know of how the two swords became what they are?”

 

“You speak of the two brothers of Isceria. One of the two slew the other one for power created the evil sword. The light was created from the slain brother's unwillingness to fight his older sibling.” Miroku stated.

 

The man nodded. “However, there is more to this story. You see, as well as the two brothers, the village's legend also has a woman. The woman was the fairest and most beautiful woman of her time, and sought after by many men.

 

“This included the two siblings of Isceria. Both vied for her heart, but the younger brother ultimately was the one she favoured and the two were married. However, the elder brother was envious of his youngest sibling.

 

“However the younger could not bring himself to fight his brother and refused to draw his blade. The elder brother charged sword held to run his brother through. At the last second, the woman leapt in between the two in an effort to save her husband.”

 

The man grimaced slightly. “The sword pierced them both and they died together. The elder brother fell to the ground and wept for the loss of the one he loved. Unfortunately, from the second the sword pierced the two lovers, it was created Muramasa.

 

“He became the first victim of the sword and it forced him to take the sword he had won from his dead brother's side. Muramasa could not have known that the other sword had become light through the love of the two and it was repelled, killing its vessel and sending it to the ground.

 

“From there, it was wrapped in holy robes and taken to the priestess' village. However, the other sword was entrusted to our village, which at that time was the most renowned order of monks in existence. It has remained that way and shall remain that way until someone can use the sword.”

 

As the man's story came to a close, a silence fell over the group. “So… In the end it was a woman that brought about that tragedy.” Miroku said leaning back and sighing. “What a beauty she must have been…” He muttered to himself.

 

Sango's right eyebrow twitched at the comment, but she did nothing else. “Though that's all well and good, that's not the kind of information we were looking for. We want to know where it can be found.”

 

The man chuckled again. “Why? Even if you can find it, you cannot use it. You who travel with demons and half-breeds have no right to the purity of that blade.”

 

Miroku closed his eyes and sighed expecting a sharp retort from their resident half demon, but nothing came. He opened his eyes and scanned the area to see both Kagome and Inuyasha gone.

 

 

Kagome looked off into the distance past the plains from where they had come from earlier that day. `Something's not right.' She thought.

 

“What's wrong?” A gruff voice came from behind her and she turned to see Inuyasha.

 

“Nothing… at least… I think nothing.” She said looking back over the plains. “I just thought I felt something evil coming. Pretty silly right?” She asked smiling back at him to see his expression anything but amused.

 

“Damn wolf's not supposed to be that close. I am going to murder that annoying little…” He trailed off when he noticed Kagome looking at him.

 

“What?” She asked. “You don't think Kouga's what I felt are you? And who are you going to kill?”

 

Inuyasha's mouth moved but nothing came out. `Damn it, humans aren't supposed to have that kind of hearing!' “Nothing, anyways let's get back to the others.” He said lowering his head and turning around.

 

On a sudden impulse, Kagome reached out and grabbed his shoulder. “Wait.” To her surprise he stopped. “What's bothering you?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“No, it's not `nothing'. We're friends aren't we? Can't you trust me?” She asked sounding just a little hurt.

 

“Forget I said anything. It's not something you need to get involved in. Just stay out of it for your own good.” He shook her hand off and stalked away.

 

She looked down at her hand for a second. `Stupid Inuyasha.' She thought. `Why does he have to keep everything to himself? All I want to do is help.'

 

Her thoughts stopped when she felt a strong force coming from the direction of the plains again. `If that really is Kouga… then we could be in trouble.' And with that she followed Inuyasha back to the others.

 

“Lord Naraku, sir.” Naraku looked up from his work to see his secretary approach him. “Kouga has escaped from the East Kingdom, sir. His whereabouts are unknown.”

 

Naraku sighed. “You may leave.” The demon nodded and left. `So… Kouga is back out in the world… No doubt after his woman.”

 

He looked back at his work. “Those pests should be at the Village of Light by now, or what's left of it. No matter. I erased anyone who could've told them anything anyways.' He grinned maliciously. `At this point… all I can do is sit and watch Kouga tear those insects to pieces.'