Running To Stand Still: The hidden ones
Episode 7
Inuyasha slowly regains consciousness. He sits up and rubs his eyes. �Easy,� Miroku says, �no need to rush.� Inuyasha looks around. His vision is still blurry, but he can tell he�s in a cage. �Kagome?� he asks. The monk says, �She�s safe; for the moment.� Shaking his head, Inuyasha says, �Then let�s get out�a here.� Kohaku says, �We shouldn�t.� He points: Inuyasha looks and is instantly awake. �Kagome!� he shouts, getting to his feet. �Inuyasha!� she says. She is sitting outside the cage being guarded by two female ninja; their masks are off. Miroku says, �We have their assurances, for whatever they�re worth, that she won�t be harmed if we cooperate. However, I doubt their good intentions.� �Why?� Shippo asks. Miroku says, �I have had a small number of encounters with ninja in the past. They guard their identity with great care; however, these ones have removed their masks. Further more, I suspect we are in their village. To maintain their pretext of being a mere peasant village; our deaths may be considered necessary.� After a heavy silence, two people enter the room surrounding the cage. One is the female ninja who had led the group which captured them; she is now dressed as a peasant woman. Her companion is a much older woman. They approach the cage and the younger one holds up Kohaku�s armor. �Whose is this?� she demands. The older woman says, �I shall handle this; Yamaneko.� Looking at the suit and then at the prisoners, she turns to Kohaku, �This can only be thine. Ye child; are ye a survivor of the Demon Slayer tribe?� Kohaku says, �What of it?� The one addressed as Yamaneko says, �Perhaps�� Her companion says, �Nay, he is too young. Lad; have ye any kin? Men of thine village who also yet live?� Kohaku shakes his head, �I�m the only survivor.� This draws a puzzled stare from Shippo, but even he has the sense to not shout out Sango�s existence. The older woman sighs, �Ye have trespassed and seen that which must not be seen. Know ye what must we do?� Miroku nods, �I understand; but I have a request. My bloodline carries great spiritual strength and I cannot allow it to end here.� He addresses Yamaneko, �Before I die, will you bear my child?�