Confrontation

A/N: I am so sorry it took me so long to update!! I truly appreciate each and every one of you…Thanks

Disclaimer: I do not own any of them except Jouyoku (Sexual desire, Lust, Crave) and Miebi (beautiful) Kokushi (History)


Chapter 7:Out of the Darkness

The sun was shining brightly as she walked outside leaving the others still asleep inside, she couldn’t remember much of what happened the night before, but she did remember the sound of the voice that called to her. As she thought back, she remembered the regal demanding tone with a whisper of huskiness it seemed to speak to her inner soul, even though her mind knew she should have probably been afraid, she really wasn’t she was more afraid of the fact that her legs moved of their own accord.

As she stood there in the pasture in front of her home curiosity started to get the better of her, she wanted to know who was calling her, and why. Her mind spoke realistically to her, ‘you know nothing good will come of this…if it was someone that wanted to help you, wouldn’t they have made themselves known?’ Not really wanting to hear the truth she shook her head and inhaled deeply. Smiling to herself as her thoughts traveled to the man well Hanyou that she woke up next to and the fact that she could wake up wrapped up in his arms everyday for the rest of her life if he asked her to.

“Oi, what are you doing out here by yourself?” Inuyasha said as he walked up behind her.

“Good Morning.” She said with out turning around to face him. She wasn’t shocked that he came looking for her, he never slept very long after she had gotten out of bed and if he had she would’ve really been worried.

“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself; we don’t know what’s after you.” Inuyasha said as he came up behind her placing his arms around her hips and pulling her flush against him.

“I knew you were going to say that…” she responded as she laid her head back to rest on his shoulder, “but I don’t know Inuyasha….the voice didn’t really scare me…I was more afraid that my legs moved on their own…”

Interrupting her Inuyasha said, “I don’t care whether it scared you or not, ‘you’ stay away from him…do you understand me!”

“Why you almost sound worried.” Kagome whispered jokingly as she spun around to face him.

“Feh…just promise me that if he calls to you again, you’ll fight it, okay.” Inuyasha asked pleadingly.

Looking up at him and seeing the concern in his face she blushed a little as she responded, “I promise.”

“Come on Sango and Miroku are probably getting up by now.” Inuyasha said as he let go of her and turned to walk back towards the hut.

Following behind him Kagome said smugly, “So what’s the plan, I’m sure last night you and Miroku concocted something.”

“Keh, the Monk thinks that we should talk to the old hag, so after we eat I think we should head over there.” He responed over his shoulder as he stepped in the hut.

“Good morning!” Kagome yelled from behind the Hanyou as they came into the sitting room, seeing Sango and Miroku wide awake and involved in their own conversation.

“Good Morning Lady Kagome I trust you slept well?” Miroku said looking accusingly from Inuyasha to Kagome.

“Feh” was Inuyasha’s response as he walked pass the others and into the kitchen rubbing his stomach, as it growled loudly.

Hearing this Kagome smiled and said, “let’s eat then we’ll head over to Keade’s…okay?”

Both Miroku and Sango agreed in unison as they both got up and went into the kitchen to help prepare breakfast.


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After eating the group made their to Keade’s hut the walk was a short quiet one since Sango still really wasn’t talking to Miroku, therefore Kagome kept her company in the front with Inuyasha staying in the back listening to Miroku’s endless chatter.

As they arrived into the heart of the village they could tell something was happening. The old woman was in the midst of a group of angry men that weren’t from this village. They all seemed to be speaking of rather yelling at the same time. Seeing this, the group ran over to her to try to intervene.

Stepping between Keade and the shouting men Miroku said, “What’s the problem here!” As he positioned his staff between himself and the men.

“Their saying that the women of their village have been wondering off in the middle of the night, when they return a few hours later their different some how.” Keade said from behind Miroku’s back.

“What do you mean different?” Inuyasha said, now standing next to the Monk, but in front of Kagome, trying to keep her out of the sight of the men in front of him. Even at a time like this his jealousy was a formidable foe.

One of the men spoke up, “Last night was my wedding night, and at the end of the festivities I looked for my wife but could not find her. Me and the other village men got together and searched for her” lowering his head as tears came to his eyes he continued, “when we found her I asked her where she was…but she wouldn’t respond to me, when I try to touch her or hold her all she does is scream as if I’m trying to kill her…the only time that she is quiet is when she’s a sleep or in the company of other women…I don’t know what wrong with her, but Lady Keade please help me help her.” He finished as a single tear ran down his cheek.

The other men all told basically the same stories, the women disappeared into the forest then reappeared an hour or so later, when their touched in any kind of way by a man no matter who he is, they scream and fight as if their being hurt but there’s no sign of any bodily injury to any of the women, they all seem to be in some kind of trance or experiencing the feeling of euphoria when their first found.

“How long as this been going on?” Keade asked as she stepped up between the Monk and the Hanyou.

“One night, but every woman in the village that has not been married has been placed under this spell.” One of the men replied

“Didn’t you say that your wife is experiencing the same thing?” Miroku asked as he pointed to the man whom was just married.

“Yes, my wife was taken but we only married yesterday….she disappeared from our reception.” Lowering his gaze again as a slight bluch crept up his cheeks he contiued, "we were not able to consummate our marriage."

“I see…all ye go back to your village gather your women into one hut and watch over them…I need to research something then I will join ye, hopefully by then I will have the answers you need” Keade said as she turned and walked back into her hut.

Kagome and Sango stood silent in the back of the group with out saying a word, with the exception of some looks that they gave one another. As the men all turned to walk back towards the direction of their village Kagome said to Sango, “do you think it’s him?”

With out looking at her she responded, “I hope it is not, but I think that it is.”

“Sango did you feel anything weird last night, besides the voice on the wind?” Kagome asked.

Answering just above a whisper, Sango responded, “Yeah, I wanted to go to him, but I knew that I shouldn’t… and besides he didn’t call me, he called you….but that’s what doesn’t make much sense, it felt like he was beckoning to me as well.”

Grabbing Sango’s hand Kagome looked at her friend who was now looking down at the ground and said, “We’re going to fight this together…okay?”

Before Sango could respond Inuyasha stuck his head out the doorinterrupting them shouting, “Oi, get in here!”

Kagome looked up at him cutting her eye but she did walk towards him pulling Sango behind her, as she got closer she hissed at him while brushing up against him, “do you always have to be so rude.”

“Feh, I’ve been this way since you met me, do you really think that I’m going to change anytime soon?” Inuyasha replied with a smirk as he turned just in time to watch her take a seat next to Sango and across from Keade.

As Inuyasha took his seat he asked, “so what in the hell is going on here? Last night some ass was calling to Kagome.” He finished looking at Keade for some kind of answer.

“Child is this true?” Keade asked as she looked at Kagome for a reply.

“Yes, but…I wasn’t afraid, the only thing that happened was my legs started moving by themselves and I couldn’t do anything about it…I didn’t think I was under a spell because when I checked my aura I didn’t find anything evil” Kagome said as she finally looked up at the woman in front of her.

Closing her one good eye while running her hand down her chin, Keade replied, “I see…and Sango did you feel anything when this happened?”

Miroku and Inuyasha both looked at Sango they knew she was acting strange last night but they didn’t think that it was because of the voice, they both assumed that it had something to do with what Kagome had gone through.

Still waiting on a reply Miroku started to get impatient which was something that he rarely did, but this was different, ‘could this thing really be after Sango too’ he thought to himself as his patience ran out, “Sango did something happen last night!” Miroku snapped not meaning to, but he needed to know.

Not meeting their gaze she replied, “I’m not sure, he didn’t call to me directly, but I felt a pull on my soul that told me to go to him to…but when Inuyasha came the feeling was gone somewhat.”

“What do you mean somewhat?” Miroku asked.

“I mean I still felt it, but not as strong…it was strange, I wasn’t afraid like Kagome said”

Now staring at Sango, Miroku wanted to grab her and run as far as he could away from this village at least for the next few months, he had heard the stories from Mushin and the older priest at the monastery but he never believed them, he would always make jokes about wanting it to be him that slept for a century and woke to take women at his discretion, ‘this can’t be, that’s just a fairy tale, something made up by a bunch of drunken horny priest…this is not possible’ he thought as his thoughts were interrupted by Kagome speaking to the older priestess.

“Keade do you know what’s going on?”

“I am not older enough to know all that is going on but in my travels many years ago I heard of a demon called Jouyoku. The tales say that he sleeps for a 100 years then wakes for one reason…”

“Jouyoku!” the group yelled in unison all except Miroku since he already had his suspicions.

“Th..that means Lust!” Kagome blurted out as her eyes grew to the size of large silver dollars.

“Se..sexual Desire…” Sango whispered.

“What the fuck!” Inuyasha snapped as he dragged Kagome over to him as if he could hide her with in his embrace from the world.

“Yes child, it does.” Keade said as she looked at the group that sat in front of her with varying degrees of shock on their faces.

Miroku seemingly was the only one not shocked by this, although he had heard of this demon he didn’t know very much about him, and he was sure what he did know was probably twisted and made up as the years went by, “what else do you know Lady Keade?” the Monk asked as he moved a little closer the Sango.

“What I tell you I have not experienced for myself, but from what the other village is experiencing and what Kagome and Sango has experienced it seems to be true…this demon lives off the essence of women…from what I’ve been told he will walk the earth for 90 moons with out sleep, he only has a need and desire to bed pure woman. Why? I do not know, but I do know that when he beds a woman she is sent into pure misery at the sight or thought of another man touching her, it’s as if he takes a piece of her with him when he leaves.” She finished as she looked at the two now shaking women in front of her.

“Are you sure it’s him?” Miroku asked, still hoping against hope that it wasn’t Jouyoku.

“With everything that I’ve heard thus far it seems to be so.” She replied solemnly.

“What can we do?” Miroku questioned as he placed his arms around Sango to try and console her since she was openly trembling now.

“That I cannot answer for I do not know…but there is a very old priestess that lives about 3 days travel to the north that maybe able to give you more information about Jouyoku. Her name is Meibi Kokushi, she is named for her beauty that she held at a young age and the path laid upon her by her family to carry the history of this land and to share it with whom ever should seek it.” Keade said as she stood up to gather some herbs that she would be taking to the village to help sooth the women as much as possible.

“Feh, it doesn’t matter what the hag has to say, Joeyoyo, or Jokuku what ever his name is will just have to meet the blade of my Tetesuiga, if he even thinks about coming near Kagome again!” Inuyasha blurted out as he pulled Kagome closer to him.

Pulling her now packed bag over her shoulder Keade said, “Inuyasha it may not be as easy as you may think, but I will trust you and Miroku to watch over and protect Kagome and Sango, for once they are lost to him there may not be any way to get them back.”

“Feh, before I let that happen I’ll shove Kagome down that damn well and wind scar it to make sure she can’t get back through.” Inuyasha said as he looked down at Kagome who was looking up at him with a blank look on her face.

“You would send me back?” she whispered almost shocked that he would even suggest such a thing but a little part of her knew he meant what he said and knew why he said what he said.

“Feh, if it meant keeping you away from that walking pus filled lust bag, hell yeah!” he snapped as he removed his arms from her and folded them in front of him. ‘Sure that would kill me, but I could never loose Kagome to someone like him.’ He thought to himself.

Kagome didn’t respond to what he said but instead laid her head on his shoulder and smiled, she would have to fight this thing if she wanted to remain at Inuyasha side, after all she couldn’t even think about what type of man or demon could do something like this to women with no remorse, and she didn’t want to find out.

Smiling to herself at his remark Keade said, “So you will be leaving soon then?”

“Yes, then we should stop by the Monastery perhaps Mushin and the other Monks will be able to shed some light on this demon as well.” Miroku said as he stood to his feet pulling Sango up behind him.

Sango looked at him like he was crazy for a minute then pulled her hand away from him.

Turning to look at her Miroku said, “I may have already lost you, but I’m damn sure not going to give him a chance to get you, so you better get use to me being where ever you are.”

Sango didn’t respond, but she didn’t move from by him either.

As the group turned to walk out the hut behind the old Priestess Kagome said, “Since we’re going to be on the road again, I should go back to my time to get some more supplies.”

Not wanting to start an argument Inuyasha said, “Fine, lets just make this quick, I want to get on the road as soon as possible!” Then turned and walked away headed for the well that connected the two worlds.

As Kagome turned to follow behind the Hanyou she yelled back at Sango, “Hey, find Shippo and let him know that we’ll be leaving for a few days!” Then she jogged a little to catch up with Inuyasha. Interlacing her arm with his she said, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Nothing” she said as she smiled up at him then looked back at the road in front of them, wanting nothing more than to thnk him for protecting, feeding, and even thought he hadn't admitted it loving her, but of course she knew she would probably never have the nerves to tell him that, so she stored that away with the rest of the things she did not dare to tell him at least not until she was sure that she was not something he was using to past the time until Kikyo came back for him.

As they approached the well he scooped her up in his arms cradle style and took off in a light jog, with out slowing down he leapt over the side of the well and into the time slip.

Until next time and please review!