New Enemies and New Friends: Chapter 2

I don't own Inuyasha and all the other disclaimer stuff

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"What!?" Kagome and Sango gasped in surprise.

 

"Are you sure? I’ve never seen a human who looks like that, anywhere before."

 

Shippo commented with a disbelieving look as they watched the woman charge at the demon. It swung a massive paw, trying to knock her back, but she flipped into the air avoiding the strike and leaving a nasty slash of her own on its backside. Thoroughly enraged it lowered its massive jaws and attempted to bite her. The flaming woman dodged the jaws and running forward plunged the purple dagger into its neck.

 

"Die you fuckin’ bastard!!!"

 

They heard her shout to the demon right before it ripped her from its neck and flung her in there direction.

 

"It would take more than this tiny scratch to defeat me, Bitch. You dared to interfere in my sport so now you shall die."

She crashed into a tree to the side of Kagome and dropped her blades as she slid down unconscious. Kagome grabbed her bag and rushed to the woman who was bleeding from a sever gash in her side. After looking closely at the woman Kagome called to Inuyasha,

 

"The shard is…"

 

"Yeah, I know that bastard must have it, I’ll get it."

 

He stepped into the clearing facing the demon and pulled out Tetsusaiga, transformed.

 

"I’m your opponent now, demon. Not that you are much of a threat since you could barely handle a weak human."

 

"Step aside, boy and I might let you live. That bitch allowed my prey to escape and sealed her own fate. If you wish to join her in death, stay and I shall accommodate you."

 

"You’re fucking boring me already. If you think you can take me, shut up and prove it, bastard."

 

Inuyasha blocked a powerful blast of fire, but as he advanced to make his own attack, the demon fell to the ground. Inuyasha approached the body slowly. When it didn’t move even with him standing at its head, Inuyasha kicked it hard enough to cause the head to flop over sideways. Smelling something odd, he looked at the demons neck, where the woman had buried her dagger. Smoke that contained a rancid, poisonous scent was beginning to pour out of the cut.

 

"Shit."

 

Inuyasha held Tetsusaiga up, just as the entire body burst into flames that turned it to ash in a matter of seconds. What the fuck was that? He thought as he shifted through the remains with his sword. He turned to get Kagome, not being able to find the shard himself, and almost ran into Miroku.

 

"Have you discovered a new attack, Inuyasha? I have never seen anything like this."

 

"Wasn’t me, the fucker just fell over then burnt to this stinking pile of ash. That wench’s blade must be poisoned but I didn’t smell it until the body started to burn."

 

The pair reached the tree where Sango was gently holding the woman upright while Kagome wrapped her wound. Kagome was in the middle of explaining to Sango,

 

"….for women in my time to wear shirts this short and bare their midriff, I have a couple myself. They aren’t considered immodest in modern times. Okay, we can lay her down I’ve finished. Any way if she had been near the well last time I came through, I don’t think it would have been possible to miss her. She has extremely vivid hair."

 

"What the hell, you two are talking about fashions NOW!? I don’t believe this. Kagome, I need you to come with me to find the jewel shard."

 

"Actually, Kagome, I am quite interested in learning about these fashions, would you mind bringing them back the next time you go home?"

 

"YOU FUCKING PERVERT! Like I’d allow her to do that you and that damn wolf would never leave her alone."

 

"Please do bring one for Sango also; from Inuyasha’s reaction I am most anxious to witness such divineness."

 

"Shut up, Miroku. Kagome let’s go find that shard."

 

"Inuyasha I tried to tell you earlier this woman has the Shikon fragment, not the demon. Before you even say it, we are not going to just take it from her while she is unconscious."

 

"I wasn’t gonna say to any way, bitch."

 

He walked over and picked up the discarded weapons. I don’t smell poison on either of these blades, but this purple one looks odd. He thought as he held them. As he raised a finger to test the sharpness of the blades the woman opened her eyes and moaned in pain. Kagome took one of her hands and said,

 

"Your safe now, but you don’t want to move to suddenly or you’ll start bleeding again." 

"Where are my blades?"

 

The woman sat up and glanced at each of them in turn. When her gaze settled on Inuyasha who was just about to run his finger down the purple blade, she almost shouted,

 

"DON’T! That blade is poisoned. Give them back to me, right now."

 

"I don’t smell any poison."

 

He handed her both blades with a low growl to show his displeasure at being ordered to do anything. She pulled a cloth from a pocket under her thigh strap and wiped the smaller dagger free of blood. She reached behind her and slid it into a sheath that was on her back hidden by her fiery mane. She then picked up the dagger in question and after wiping it clean also, she held it out slightly and said,

 

"It would be rather useless, wouldn’t it, if demons could scent the poison. I would never get the chance to stab them. The poison reacts to blood, in order to get the fastest result the blade must be completely embedded into a body, but even the tiniest cut with one drop of blood will kill in a matter of hours. I can’t wait that long in most cases or I’d be dead. Please leave my blades alone, I’d feel really awful if any of you were poisoned after helping me."

 

She held her side for a minute in pain then asked, "Did any of you happen to see a little girl hiding nearby or run past you? I dropped her when these creeps tried ambushing me, then that fuckin’ demon caught up and I had to dance with him"

 

"We saw those men, they claimed you were a demon and had lured them to you so you and your mate could eat them. We haven’t seen a child though, I’m sorry. Is she your daughter, Inuyasha could probably track her down for you?"

 

"I’m not some fucking blood-hound, Kagome"

 

"It’s okay, I didn’t know her. That demon was toying with her when I came along and I got her away from it then ran. I thought we had lost it when those creeps showed up and got in my way. I hope she’s alright, I didn’t see any bones lying around so I think she was alone."

 

"There is a village just outside of this forest, she most likely came from there and returned once she left you. I am Miroku, and I would be most honored if you would consider… OUCH!!"

 

Sango had thrown a nearby rock, hitting him on the temple then looking at the woman said, "Ignore him, he’s a hopeless pervert. I’m Sango, this is Kagome, Inuyasha [she pointed to each one as she said their names] and over there is Shippo holding Kirara. You are….?"

 

"Oh shit, sorry my manners aren’t too hot. I’m Karma. Thank you for the patch job on my side, I don’t think I could have wrapped it myself before bleeding to death."

 

"You’re welcome. We have a lot of experience with those kinds of wounds. Inuyasha is always getting impaled by some demon or another. You’re from my time, aren’t you?" Kagome asked, although she was positive she assumed correctly.

 

"Your time?" Karma asked before answering herself, "That explains the uniform, you got stuck here as well. I was hunting a feral demon that killed a few people in New Orleans, when I saw a weird light coming from an alley. I walked into it thinking it was some kinda spell the demon used and ended up standing between two demons fighting over some little rock. I took care of the victor and I’ve been wandering around here ever since. You’re the first people I’ve actually talked to in three months, everyone else I’ve seen has either run away screaming about a fire-demon or tried to attack me like those creeps in the forest earlier."

 

"What do you mean you were hunting a demon? There aren’t any demons in my time." Kagome insisted.

 

"Shit, you didn’t know about them." Karma smacked her hand to her forehead, "Fuck me and my big mouth. The damage is done already, I guess. I’ll tell you about it, if you give me your word not to tell anyone about this if we can find a way home to our time."

 

Too curious to take the time and explain she was not ‘stuck’ in this time, Kagome agreed.

 

"I won’t tell a soul, you have my word"

 

Karma took Kagome’s left hand in her own and placed her right hand on Kagome’s forehead, her emerald green eyes suddenly became entirely black from edge to edge as the group felt a stir of power rippling the air around the two women. I’ve never seen such a pure soul, what is that at the core? Karma thought as Inuyasha tore Kagome from her grasp.

 

"What the fuck do you think you’re doing Bitch?!"

 

Her eyes had returned to normal and she had a slight smile on her face when she answered, "Its more like witch, but I’m sorry for alarming you all. The balance between humans and demons is very fragile in my time. I have a duty to protect it no matter what the cost may be. Reading people’s souls is a little trick of mine I use to make certain they can be trusted. Believe me after seeing your girlfriend’s soul I would never harm her, and I would gladly give my life to save her if needed. Kagome, I wish with all my heart that more people were as good as you, the world would be a wonderful place to live in."

 

"I’m not that good," Kagome said with a blush.

 

"If you say so," Karma shrugged, "anyway in our time demons use cosmetic surgery to blend in with humans. They learn to shield their auras and scents before they can even talk properly. I don’t know how other countries handle their treaties but in the U.S each species has certain area’s the other can’t enter without special permits so the demons can live unaltered if they choose. All demons are taught where they can’t go when they are children. As long as they don’t hurt anyone after accidentally crossing into the forbidden areas trespassers are given over to their leaders, who decide if it was intentional or not then handle them accordingly. If someone is hurt or killed in the area they are exterminated. I work for an unofficial government department that takes care of cases like that and the occasional demon that has gone feral wanting the taste of human blood. My team works the central time zone; we have trained humans with strong natural magic, half-breeds, and a few lower level demons. In exchange for permission to hunt the feral demons, we turn any human who attempts to murder anyone with a drop of demon blood flowing in their veins over to the demons. Even if the person didn’t know about demon existence, they most likely end up dead but I all I really know is they aren’t heard from again. I was at home when a call went out that a demon was killing people in New Orleans, so I suited up and went hunting cause no one fucks with my town. I should have waited for the team to assemble, I guess, but I’m a bit impulsive. Lucky for me in a way cause I’d be dead without my blades here."

 

"I don’t understand. Wouldn’t your president have to inform people about this or someone else would have found out and told the world, wouldn’t they? Who leads the demons that are powerful enough to force them to comply with these treaties? Why haven’t I seen any other than that creepy mask?" Kagome fired off the questions as they popped into her head.

 

"I don’t really know what mask you mean and as for people finding out, most don’t believe in demons so even if they do hear about it they think the person that told them is nuts. You most likely have seen demons and just not realized it. Their presence just gives a cold chill to people sensitive enough to feel it but nothing more. I have no idea who runs the show on the human side or the demon’s. Information like that is on a need to know basis and being part of the clean up crew doesn’t make me need to know any of it. From what I’ve seen, most demons just want to be left alone the same as people so it works out fine." Karma said trying to answer all Kagome's questions.

 

"Can we leave now; the smell from that corpse is gross." Shippo whined.

 

"Sorry Shippo." Sango said before asking, "Karma would you like to come with us? If you can’t walk Kirara can carry you."

 

"I’d crush that little thing, Sango. [Kirara transforms with Shippo ending up on her back] That is amazing, Kirara! I think I can walk though. Are you all sure you can stand me?" Karma asked uncertainly, "I talk constantly even if I have to talk to myself, and I have a bit of a temper."

 

"Ha, that’s not much of a problem. Kagome never shuts up either so you can keep her from bothering me all the time." Inuyasha blurted.

 

"Inuyasha, SIT!" Kagome ordered and then said, "Karma we would love to have you join us, we might even be able to get you home."

 

"Damn it! Don't do that, bitch." Inuyasha growled into the ground.

 

As they walked along Kagome and Sango filled Karma in on their quest, how they all met, and the bone-eaters well. The girls also warned Karma about Miroku’s perverted tendencies and Inuyasha’s temper. Kagome looked back to where Inuyasha and Miroku were walking, worried about Shippo who was riding on Miroku’s shoulder.

 

"Shippo is normally really adorable and hyper. I don’t know what’s wrong with him right now."

 

"He’s probably just hungry, Kagome. That bag of chips I gave him wasn’t much."

 

Behind them Miroku was telling Inuyasha,

 

"Can you believe our good fortune? To travel with three such beauties is a true gift. I would die a happy man right now with this view."

 

"Shut up, Miroku. I can’t hear them with you babbling all the time."

 

"You can hear them, are they saying anything about me?"

 

"Yeah, that you’re a pervert now shut up."

 

After a little while longer Kagome called back,

 

"We found a good place to camp. Shippo the sooner we have firewood the sooner you get to eat."

 

In a flash the kitsune jumped from Miroku’s shoulder and began to collect logs for a fire. Upon arriving at the site, Inuyasha went to the nearby stream and began to catch some fish. Sango followed him there carrying an empty water flask. Miroku began digging a small pit to place Shippo’s logs in. Kagome was searching through her bag then called to everyone in general,

 

"Who took the matches? I can’t find them any where."

 

"Here take these, Kagome."

 

"Your shard, you don’t mind?"

 

"What do I need it for? You’re its protector, aren’t you? Keep the lighter as well, I have another one."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

On the far side of the forest a small girl covered in scratches, dried blood, and dirt was sobbing hysterically and running as if her very life depended on it. She collided with an immovable object almost falling down, when a strong hand caught her by the shoulder. Looking up through her tears, she recognized the person in front of her and grinned widely.

 

"Lord Sesshoumaru! Rin found you at last!! I was so scared-ed I wouldn’t!"

 

"Jaken."

 

"Ye-yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?"

 

Sesshoumaru knocked Jaken hard in the head, then with his face as expressionless as ever stated,

 

"Your life shall be spared, provided this never happens again. Rin tell me what happened to you."

 

"Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru. Rin was bored watching Jaken sleep, so I went for a walk. Fire-balls falled everywhere and a monster clawed Rin. The monster said it was gonna eat me. Rin told it Lord Sesshoumaru would come and he said that an athetic mongirl couldn’t stop him from killing Rin. Then there was a fire that had a lady stuck to it. The fire-lady made the monster let go of me, then she picked Rin up and ran really fast, but not as fast as Lord Sesshoumaru can go. The fire on the fire-lady’s head didn’t burn Rin at all. The fire-lady said she would protect Rin and I was going to tell her Lord Sesshoumaru dose that not a fire-lady, but then three smelly men said they wanted to play with the fire-lady. She didn’t want to play with them because they were mean and pushed her. The fire-lady put Rin down and told me to run. I did just a little bit till Rin heared the monster yelling, then Rin tried to run fast but falled a lot. Rin finally found Lord Sesshoumaru and Jaken." Finally stopping for air the little girl added, "Please find the fire-lady, Lord Sesshoumaru. She stopped the monster from eating me and now it will be Rin’s fault she gets dead."

 

Without a word Sesshoumaru headed in the direction Rin had just ran from. As they walked along, followed by a two headed lizard, Jaken scolded Rin until she finally said heatedly,

 

"Lord Sesshoumaru didn’t say Rin had to stay with Jaken when he was sleepin’. It’s not my fault Jaken in boring."

 

As Jaken opened his mouth to again scold the girl, Sesshoumaru stopped and told him,

 

"Take Rin to the stream and have her make herself presentable, do not allow her to enter the clearing."

 

"Yes, my Lord Sesshoumaru. You heard him, girl, go to the stream and clean up."

 

They both bowed to Sesshoumaru, who wasn’t even looking in their direction and followed the sound of running water to the stream in the distance. Sesshoumaru stepped into the clearing and walked over to the remaining pile of ash. He stared at a footprint left in the ground and thought, Inuyasha. What has that asshole have to do with this weak demon that dared insult I, Sesshoumaru? This is not that half-breed’s doing, was it the result of Rin’s fire-woman? He walked across the clearing to a spot where he caught the sent of blood. Seeing it rather high on the tree he thought The woman is just a weak human, I shall have to know how Inuyasha accomplished burning an opponent to ash, being such a pathetically skill-less fighter himself.