Chapter 6
"Kagome!" exclaimed Shippo. He ran over and hugged her. "I'm glad you're back. I missed you." Myoga swiftly hopped on her cheek and tried to suck her blood. Kagome squashed him.
"I missed you, too," she said, hugging him back. "Myoga, where's Inu-Yasha? Is he off sulking again?" Myoga and Shipoo exchanged glances.
"Well, he is off," said Shippo hesitantly.
"He was gone a while before you came back," added Myoga. "We don't know when he'll return." Kagome shook her head.
Well, what can we expect from him? Anyway, he can take care of himself, and he should be back before nighttime."
"Kagome-chan," said Myoga. "He may not be. Tonight is the new moon, and I don't think he wants to be here when it happens. I mean -"
"I understand," said Kagome. "It doesn't matter, as long as he'll be back tomorrow."
"He should be," said Myoga.
"How are things in your time?" Shippo asked, trying to change the subject. Kagome's eyes lit up.
"Oh, we have a great new priestess. Let's head to the village, and I'll tell you all about her."
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Saia glanced at the clock. In a few minutes, she would have to go pick up Sota from his friend's house. His mother and grandpa were off to meet an old friend, or something like that, and Saia would watch Sota that night. She reached for her wooden brush. It wasn't on her dresser. Where did I put it? she wondered. Oh, yes, she had used it on Kagome that morning. She headed for Kagome's room. Her brush was still on the bed. As she reached for it, Saia felt a chill up her spine. What? she thought. Did I just feel something evil? She waited a few more seconds, but felt nothing. She shrugged. Taking her brush, she went back to her room.
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Inu-Yasha scowled as he pushed his way through the underbrush. His arms and legs were bleeding, but he felt no pain. All he could think about was finding Kagome and killing that murderous brother of his. Curse it, he had been sure that Sessho-Maru was dead. Suddenly he began to feel different. Damn it, he thought, not now. I have to save Kagome first. But the moon shone high above, and Inu-Yasha's hair turned completely black. His fangs and claws were gone. No, curse it, he thought. Why -
He felt a chill and cursed. Even if he was human, he'd have to fight Sessho-Maru. Kagome, he thought, please stay safe.
"Sessho-Maru, show yourself!" he shouted. His brother laughed.
"All in good time, little brother," Sessho-Maru replied. "But first...Jaken."
"Aye, Master!"
"Put Inu-Yasha in those chains."
Inu-Yasha scowled as he felt the cold metal lock around his wrists and ankles. He tried to fight Jaken, but he was weak from loss of blood. And, Inu-Yasha thought, now I'm just a frail human.
"What have you done to Kagome?" he asked Sessho-Maru, who sat upon a demon three times larger than the last one he had made an entrance on. Sessho-Maru laughed again.
"The human wench? I've done nothing to her." He smirked. Rage kindled deep in Inu-Yasha.
"If you lie, I will - "
"You can't do anything," Sessho-Maru said mildly. "In your human form, you're no better than that stupid girl."
"If you hurt - "
"I told you," said Sessho-Maru in an exasperated tone. "I've done nothing to your precious human. I haven't even seen her."
"You mean - "
"It was quite easy to lure you here," said Sessho-Maru. "But I get tired of this small talk. Where is the Tetsusaiga?" He walked over to Inu-Yasha. "You don't have it with you, so you must have left it in that despicable little village. Jaken."
"Master?"
"The two of you" - he motioned to the demon he sat on - "take him to the castle. I'll go get the Tetsusaiga and kill the girl."
"NO!"
"Aye, Master!" Jaken said happily. He pulled Inu-Yasha away. Sessho-Maru headed for the village.