Song of the Sirens

Chapter 1: How everything begins

It was a usual, resting noon, under a sakura tree. Kirara was sleeping on Sango's lap. Miroku was full-filled with thoughts, Inuyasha was sitting down quietly, holding his Tessaiga and Kagome was playing with Shippo in the grass.

Suddenly, a loud cry made them jump. It came from a village nearby.

"W... What was that?" Shippo stutterd, trembling from the "jumpscare".

"It was a woman cry!" said Miroku. "Come on, let's go!" he rushed first.

"Better go and see," said Inuyasha. "I don't trust this pervert alone with women."

"You said it." Sango said, while taking her Hiraikotsu, trying not to show how much she wanted to punch Miroku.

"Let's go Shippo!" said Kagome.

The friends caught up with Miroku and headed for the nearby village.

They reached the village to see a young woman crying. She was surrounded by many other women.

"My husband, my dear husband..!"

"What's going on here?" asked Inuyasha.

"Her husband disappeared yesterday, so he never came back home since then. Poor Hisa, she has been upset like that all morning." another woman said, trying to calm Hisa down.

"It's not only her. All men have disappeared. Some even have been missing a whole week!" another young woman said.

"Uh, that's so depressing, and indeed very strange." said Kagome.

"Clear the way, Lady Rika is here!"

A beautiful, young lady with long, black hair, wearing a light blue kimono arrived near the women.

"Welcome, travellers. I am so sorry that you find us in such situation, but our men have all disappeared. That's why there's a depressing atmosphere. My husband, the Great Lord, has disappeared too." she said.

"Don't you worry, beautiful Lady." said Miroku, taking her hand. "I promise you we will find your dear husband, and all the other men. In exchange, would you please consider bearing my chil-"

BANG!!

Sango's heavy Hiraikotsu landed on Miroku's head.

Inuyasha and Kagome sighed.

"He will never learn." Shippo said to Kirara, who meowed, annoyed of Miroku's usual actions.

"Oh, thank you very much, kind travellers." Lady Rika said, with a relieved look in her eyes." We appreciate it very much. But you must be tired. Please stay for the night, before you begin your Investigations."

"We can't deny such a kind offer, right Inuyasha?" said Kagome, looking at him with a look that said " It's not time to argue now, is it?"

"Whatever" Inuyasha said.

As the friends went to find the hut that Lady Rika showed them to spend the night in, they saw a little girl, staring at them gravely. She was wearing a short, purple yukata and had short, brown hair, tied in a ponytail.

"Oh, hello there!" Kagome saidto the girl, smiling. "What's your name?"

"I'm Sadoko." said the girl. "I heard you saying earlier that you will help us find the missing men. Is that true?"

"Of course it is." Sango said. "You've lost someone too, right?"

"My big brother, Satoshi, has been missing three days. We live together, so I've been alone those three days in our hut." said Sadoko.

"Ohh, how sad.." Kagome said.

"Hey, I've got an idea! We're going to investigate this mystery tomorrow, anyways. So why don't you spend the night in our hut?" asked Shippo.

"You won't be alone." Sango added.

Sadoko began to think.

"I'll think about it. If I am to come, I will pass by the afternoon." she said and went away.

Early afternoon came. The friends had already gone in their hut.

"What do you guys think is going on here?" asked Kagome, as she was pulling the food out of her backpack.

"It must be a demon's or something else's dirty work. I just hope it has some Jewel shards." Inuyasha said.

As Sango was about to call Shippo and Kirara inside for dinner, she was a bit astonished when she saw Sadoko standing on the door.

"A! So you came!" Sango said, smiling.

"Oh, hello Sadoko!" said Miroku. " Please, come join us."

After a while, they had all eaten their ramen and some rice.

"Please, you must find our men." Sadoko said. "Even Lady Rika's attitude has changed since the lord disappeared."

She yawned.

"Don't worry Sadoko. I promise we will find them all, and save your brother." Kagome said.

She no longer continued, as she noticed that Sadoko was asleep, with her head softly leaning on Sango's lap.

"Sweet, poor, little girl. She was so tired after all." Sango said softly.

"And she must be so worried about her brother." Miroku added. "Just imagine the disaster, even Lady Rika is affected. But she's indeed a very beautiful woman, like a maiden who came from the heavens..."

He stopped to see Kagome making a scared, warning face at him. Sango was literally boiling, with a killer-look in her eyes. She glared at Miroku, silently.

Miroku shut his mouth and gulped.

"Inuyasha" he stood up. "Shall we go for a walk?"

"Pervert." said Inuyasha. "Fine."