Kaya's Story (An InuYasha Fanfic)

Chapter 61: The Band of Seven Return

Lady Kikyo and I ran to the village and found the villagers running away from the village. Smart move, in my opinion. As we walked past the wreckage of many huts, I caught the scent of death but it was strong as if more than one person was approaching. We had our bows drawn looking for any signs of danger. I was going to put my bow away until I heard a familiar clanking. "Oh no." I didn't mean for the thought to come out. Lady Kikyo kept her composure even after the doctor showed up. The Band of Seven had appeared once more, at least this time Ko hadn't accompanied them. A moment later the doctor from before showed up and apparently, InuYasha was right about him. The group of mercenaries in front of us called the man Suikotsu and claimed he was one of them. I moved to stand between Lady Kikyo and Suikotsu, just before InuYasha and his friends showed. When InuYasha noticed Lady Kikyo he got distracted. Now is not the time for his stupid flirting. A moment later, the battle commenced. I was still standing next to Lady Kikyo and Suikotsu, unsure of where or who to fight first. InuYasha was in the middle of battling Renkotsu, and Jakotsu was approaching Suikotsu, Lady Kikyo and I. When Jakotsu attacked, Lady Kikyo ran out in front of Suikotsu and fired a sacred arrow at the specter in front of us. I ran to attack but was blasted backward along with Lady Kikyo and Suikotsu. When I was getting up I heard the voices of children coming towards us, causing me to run at Jakotsu in hopes of protecting the children. Unfortunately, Jakotsu's blade slithered around me, striking Suikotsu in the shoulder as he protected the children. I ran to him and the children just in time to feel the aura around his Shard turn dark. I ran faster, but not fast enough. Suikotsu had picked up one of the children and was holding him up by his throat. I attacked with my claws about the time InuYasha did, he was more successful in getting the boy. I picked up the children and took them away from the fight, before instructing them to stay put and ran back into the fight myself. Lady Kikyo was in danger and I had to get to her in time. That's what I was going to do, anyway, until I realized Jakotsu was unaccounted for on the battlefield. When I turned back around, I saw him standing just behind the children. I ran back to the children with my blade drawn, I jumped into the air and landed in front of them. This left me as the only barrier between the children and the specter. Jakotsu didn't swing his sword, he just frowned at me before walking around me back towards Suikotsu. Jakotsu picked him up before joining his comrades on the back of Ginkotsu. They left quickly, causing me and the children to run to Lady Kikyo's side. I kneeled next to Miroku, who apparently had been the one to save her life. InuYasha joined us a moment later, kneeling next to the priestess in front of us.

Everything became tense all of a sudden and I wasn't sure why. That is until I glanced back at Kagome, who was looking rather upset. Kagome's voice got my attention, she was talking about soul collectors. That's when I turned my attention to where everyone was looking and saw long snake-like demons disintegrating on a spiritual barrier. After several moments of silence, Kagome suggested we move Lady Kikyo away from the village for her to wake up. She then added that InuYasha should be the one to move Lady Kikyo after Miroku had offered to. The atmosphere of the village became even more tense after InuYasha had picked up Lady Kikyo and started walking away from everyone. I kept glancing at Kagome who was very upset at this point and when she asked Miroku, Sango, and Shippo to change the topic of their conversation, I flinched. I felt bad for her because even though I hadn't traveled with them much, I could tell she was in love with InuYasha. After InuYasha was out of sight, we began following him and found him and Lady Kikyo under a tree far away from the spiritual barrier. The soul collectors were bringing souls to Lady Kikyo, but I didn't understand why, at first. Pieces began falling into place the more I watched. These soul collectors were bringing Lady Kikyo the souls of the dead because Kagome is her reincarnation and has Lady Kikyo's soul within her. I watched Lady Kikyo and InuYasha interact, he still had feelings for Lady Kikyo and I could tell. I understood why. She was the first woman he had ever loved and he had lost her. I had been watching Kagome out of the corner of my eye. Every once in a while, she would turn away; not wanting to watch the scene in front of her. I moved to go stand by her, still watching the other two. She was hurting and there was nothing that I could say or do that would help her.

We stopped the next day to rest for a little while. It was a nice sunny day. I was sitting with Sango, Miroku, and Shippo, who were watching Kagome and InuYasha. Kagome was still upset and InuYasha kept picking at her. After several minutes, Kagome started yelling at him because he had kept at her all day. I cringed when she used the sit command on him at least a half dozen times. Man was I happy I wasn't in his position right now.