Chapter 11
"There's a lake by those trees," said Shippo as the group walked west. "Do you want to look over there?"
"For what?" asked Kagome.
"Anything," Saia answered. "Or at least, some demons or people who may have seen Shssho-Maru. It can't hurt."
"It may not help, either," said Kagome, biting her lip. She hoped Inu-Yasha would be okay. If anything happens to him, she thought, I don't know what I'll -
"Ow!"
"Kagome! Are you alright?" Shippo asked anxiously. He helped her up.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, wincing slightly as she rose. "But I tripped over something. Saia felt the ground where Kagome had fallen.
"Here's a stick," she said finally, holding it up.
"I tripped over a stick?" Kagome asked incredulously. Saia shrugged.
"Worse things could happen. Also, it's pretty dark. The moon may be out, but we don't seem to be getting much light." She rummaged around in her pack, then triumphantly emerged holding a lantern.
"This might help." She lit the light, and Myoga gasped.
"The stick," he answered. "Is the Tetsusaiga." Saia picked up the Tetsusaiga from where she had placed it on the ground. She examined it, running her fingers up the length of the blade. Finally, she nodded.
"It is magical," she said. "An obvious demonic blade. Are you sure, though?" Myoga nodded vigorously.
"I'd know it anywhere. It is my lord Inu-Yasha's blade. I'm surprised Sessho-Maru missed it."
"I'm not," said Saia. "I can't believe I missed it, though. Unless...."
"What?" asked Shippo.
"The Tetsusaiga kept Sessho-Maru from finding it," she said. "As a demonic blade, it can do that. Also, it could have gone to Inu-Yasha, if he'd called it."
"Wait a minute," said Kagome. "Why didn't the Tetsusaiga keep Sessho-Maru from finding it the first time?"
"I guess because it hadn't really chosen Inu-Yasha as its master," said Saia, shrugging. "When it was still inside Inu-Yasha's father's grave, the Tetsusaiga hadn't been claimed."
"My lord's father put up a spell to keep the blade safe," said Myoga, nodding. "You theory makes sense."
"Then what did you mean when you said that the Tetsusaiga would go to Inu-Yasha if he called it?" asked Shippo.
"As the Tetsusaiga's master," said Saia. "Inu-Yasha could have asked the blade to come to him. I suppose he didn't know that."
"I didn't know that," Myoga said thoughtfully. "So there's no reason for him to."
"Now what?" Kagome asked.
"I can use the Tetsusaiga to trace Inu-Yasha," said Saia. "It's easy.
"How?" asked Myoga.
"I'll tell you later. Right now, time is of the essence." They nodded.
"Well, let's get going," said Kagome. "We have to find Inu-Yasha as soon as possible."
"Alright," said Saia. "Where's Shippo?"
"I'm over here," he answered. The group turned and saw him holding Inu-Yasha's cloak. He gave it to Kagome.
"I found it on that tree over there," he said. "Inu-Yasha must have been here earlier."
"If he was," said Saia. "Then we're on the right track. Let's keep going." The group continued westward, the lantern's light guiding them.
As she walked, Kagome wondered about Saia. She's so different now than she was before, she thought. Back in my time, she was always so serene and sweet. She even had a sense of humor. But now....she's like a ......warrior. She beat Sessho-Maru so easily. Her powers must be stronger than I imagined. But why did her personality change? Is it because she fought Sessho-Maru?
"I think we're getting close," Saia said suddenly. "I can sense an evil presence. Be careful." She moved swiftly among the trees, and it was only by running her fastest could Kagome keep pace with her. All of a sudden, Saia stopped and dropped to the ground.
Following her example, Kagome asked, "What's wrong?"
Putting a finger to her lips, Saia motioned for Kagome to stay where she was. So of course, Kagome followed Saia into the trees, with Myoga and Shippo on her shoulder.