The Fox's Son

Chapter 55 - Demons Who Lurk

The Inu-Gun sat in a small camp almost a half-days journey from Kaede village. Currently, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Kirara, and young Shippo sat in the group. Kagome was cooking some fish Miroku and Kippou caught while Sango rested her eyes as she leaned against a tree. The demon slayer had felt at peace every since she got her brother back. She felt light and had an air of calmness around her that she hadn't had since her father died.

Miroku was sitting down on the ground with his legs crossed, pouring himself over some maps and scrolls he had brought with him, in hopes of finding some clue as to where they companion might be. Suddenly, Inuyasha plopped down to the group's right. The miko looked up at him with slightly tired eyes. They had been traveling for twelve hours straight. Her body was a little sore and she felt a little light-headed with all the thinking she had been doing lately.

"Found anything yet?" Kagome asked the hanyou.

Inuyasha shook his head. "Nothing." he answered. "Not even a whiff of his scent."

Kagura suddenly dropped down from the skies. "I haven't found anything either." she said walking up to them. "The winds are strangely silent, but some whisper some strange word, ancient or antique. I can't figure out what it means." she said thoughtfully.

Kagome sighed as she buried her face in her hands in frustration. Seriously, how hard could it be to find one guy?! "This is hopeless." she groaned tiredly. "We are seven people looking for one guy that could be anywhere in Japan. How in the hell are we are going to find him and Naraku's heart before he has the chance to hide from again?" she said, voicing her frustrations.

A heavy silence descended upon the group jump as none of them really knew how to respond to her question. Not seeing his mother figure like this, Shippo jumped onto her lap.

"Don't worry, Kagome. I'm sure we'll find him soon." Shippo said reassuringly. Kagome smiled at the kitling.

"You should listen to the young kittling, little girl." a masculine voice from trees said, making the entire group jump and raise their weapons. "I thought a priestess would have more faith than that." it said with a chuckle as a figure appeared from the shadows.

The entire group turned to see that it was a man. He was tall, standing at 6'0" even and wore a light brown kimono with a black collar. He had spiky long, sandy brown hair that was tied into a low ponytail. He had pointed ears with a line of small loop earrings going down his left on. He had odd blue markings around his eyes. His eyes held black sclera and gold pupils. He had a slight grin on his face, revealing his canines.

"My, my, my. What an odd group." he said, chuckling to himself. "A miko, a hanyou, a monk, a demon slayer, a demoness born from a parasite, a neko, and a little kitsune."

The group tensed and Miroku spoke up, his brow dabbed with beads of sweat. "Inuyasha?" the monk called out. "Be careful. This man....his aura is stronger than that of your brother. Possibly stronger than your father." he said, feeling that the yokai before them was holding back.