AN: I know I shouldn't, but I'm starting another story. Once the Dust Settles will still be my top priority, and I hope to get Ningen no Kokoro back on track soon as well, but you know how it is when an idea hits you. I swear, the plot bunnies are going to take over the world one of these days...
Anyways, I decided to try something a little different. This will begin right after the ending of episode 24. I'll stick to the storyline somewhat, meaning Kohaku will still be revived, Kouga and Kagura will eventually be introduced, Inuyasha's Tessaiga will break, etc... I'm not sure how far this will go, though. But, of course, this will be an InuSan story, with the possibility of some MirokuKagome.So, without further ado... here we go!
Disclaimer which applies to all chapters: I do not, in any way, own Inuyasha or any other characters associated with that anime/manga.
"My weapons... give me my hiraikotsu. That hanyou bastard, Inuyasha... I'll kill him!"
A satisfied, yet equally conniving smile appeared on Naraku's face as he heard the angry words of the demon exterminator. Though, he was sure to keep that smile hidden from her view.
"Are you sure, Sango?" Kagewaki asked, turning to look at Sango once more, "You haven't given your injuries proper time to heal yet."
"I'm fine." Sango replied through clenched teeth as she continued to hold onto the doorframe to support herself, "It's my duty to avenge my friends and family." She added, as her eyes narrowed, 'Even if I die in doing so.'
The young castle lord looked at her closely for a moment, before giving a short sigh and nodding, "If you insist. I'll have Naraku accompany you."
"No." She stated firmly, "I have to do this on my own."
"But, Sango--"
"I'm sorry, but I'm doing this on my own." The taijiya interrupted, turning back into the room she had been resting in moments earlier, "With or without your approval, sir."
"I see." Kagewaki replied after a moment, as he closed his eyes solemnly, "Very well then. Naraku." He called, looking back to the man in the baboon pelt, "Take Sango her weapons and armor."
Naraku nodded, "Of course." He said, before disappearing to retrieve the demon exterminators' weapons and armor from another room.
.:-:.
'Come back one you've finished.' Sango thought bitterly, gritting her teeth together as she walked. It was the last thing Kagewaki had told her, before she left the castle.
Naraku... that odd man who seemed fond of wearing baboon skin... he had walked with her for a short time; telling her what Inuyasha looked like, telling her Inuyasha's fighting style, things a taijiya needed to know before heading out for a kill. Once he had finished, she had thanked him, then rather bluntly, told him to leave her alone. After all, it was her village she was needing to avenge. No one else should interfere.
The taijiya stopped when she came to a river. "Just what I need..." She whispered, her breathing becoming more and more labored after every passing moment.
'This is the only way across... it'll have to do.' She thought to herself, once she had found a place where the water didn't look too deep
With hiraikotsu under one arm, the strap secured around her wrist in case she should loose her grip on it in the water, she stepped into the river. The sudden cold shocked her at first, causing her to stand still for a moment, before slowly trudging forward. 'Keep moving... don't stop... Keep moving...' The same phrase echoed in her mind, as she tried to urge herself to continue.
Even though the water only reached a few inches above her waist, the current was stronger than she had anticipated; especially considering that her body was already weakened. By the time she about half-way across her head was spinning, her body was swaying, and before she knew what happened, she lost her footing on the loose gravel of the rivers bottom. Trees and clouds passed by above her as the current of the water carried her farther downstream.
'Kohaku... father... everyone... Forgive me.'
That was the last thought that entered her mind, before her world went black.
.:-:.
"Oi, Myouga-jiji, we're going the right way, aren't we?" Inuyasha asked, glancing to the flea on his shoulder.
"Inuyasha-sama, you mean you don't know where the castle is?" Myouga responded, sighing, "I thought you knew where it was."
"Well, you didn't say anything, so I thought this was the right way!" The hanyou shouted, glaring at Myouga.
Kagome sighed, cuddling the fire-cat in her arms closer, "So we walked all this way for nothing?"
"It would appear that way, Kagome-sama." Miroku replied, glancing to the futuristic miko.
As Inuyasha continued arguing with Myouga, and Kagome continued talking with Miroku, Kirara looked up suddenly, her nose twitching a bit. She looked around for a moment, her ruby eyes blinking. Then, giving a small cry, she wriggled out of Kagome's grasp and jumped to the ground, before bounding off down the trail.
"Kirara? Kirara, where are you going? Wait!" Kagome called, running after the neko. Miroku followed close behind.
"Inuyasha-sama!" Myouga began, jumping up and down on the hanyou's shoulder, "Kirara could be our only way of finding any of the remaining demon exterminators. You should go after her as well!"
The hanyou rolled his eyes slightly, though began running after Kirara as well, "I know, Myouga-jiji!" He would've gone regardless of what Myouga said. It appeared as though Kirara had caught the same scent he had; the scent of blood.
The smell of blood grew stronger, and before long, the small group arrived at a river. Kirara was sitting next to something that had washed up on the shore, mewing and nuzzling the figure.
Kagome was first to realize it was a person, and she gasped, immediately covering her mouth with a hand, "I... is she..?" She took a step forward, intending to check on the person, but she was stopped when she felt Miroku take hold of her arm.
The monk looked at her, then shook his head slowly; silently telling her to let Inuyasha handle that task.
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed slightly, as he walked closer to the fire-cat and human, "Miroku, Kagome, stay back there." He warned lowly, before kneeling down and placing two finger's against the young woman's neck, feeling for a pulse.
"She's alive, but barely." He said after a moment. Then, fixing his gaze on Kirara, he asked, "So, I'm guessing this is your mistress?"
The neko looked up at him, crimson eyes blinking once, "Mew."
"Sango!" Myouga exclaimed loudly, and suddenly. He had moved from Inuyasha's shoulder, to Kagome's the moment Inuyasha approached the person lying near the water. As soon as he recognized the figure, however, he was unable to contain himself, "It's Sango! One of the demon exterminators!"
"Sango?" Miroku glanced to the flea, then looked over to the taijiya, "If she's a demon exterminator, how'd she end up all the way out here?"
Inuyasha shook his head slowly, looking at Sango again, "In her condition, I have no idea." The hanyou stood up, and turned to the others, "So... what do we do?"
Kagome frowned slightly, putting her hands on her hips, "What do you mean 'what do we do'? We help her, of course!"
Miroku nodded, agreeing with the futuristic miko, "I believe we passed by a hut used by weary travelers not too long ago. It's sure to have something to rest on. Perhaps we could take her there."
"That sounds like a great idea, Miroku-sama." The miko stated, her frown fading, "If we can get Sango-san there, then I should be able to treat some of her wounds with the medicine I brought from home." Turning back to Inuyasha, she added, "Well, come on Inuyasha. Let's go."
Inuyasha blinked, then glanced at Sango, before turning back to Kagome and pointing to himself, "What? You want me to carry her, or something?"
Kagome sighed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, "Mou, Inuyasha! Of course! We don't want to risk hurting her more, so you're the only one who can."
"Mew..." Kirara looked up at Inuyasha, her eyes wide and hopeful.
The hanyou pursed his lips for a moment, then growled and shook his head, "Damn it, you guys don't have to gang up on me like that!" He huffed, but, regardless, he bent down and picked up the taijiya.
"Hhnn..." Sango winched sharply and drew in a quick breath the moment she was moved.
Startled, Inuyasha's eyes snapped back to her face.
"Inuyasha! You don't have to be so rough with her!" Kagome shouted, as she bent down to retrieve Kirara. Once the fire-cat was in her arms, she looked back at Inuyasha, her tone softening once again, "Please try to be a little more gentle. She's already been injured..."
"Well, it's not like I was trying to hurt her!" The hanyou retorted, though his eyes remained on Sango a moment longer. Finally, looking up to the others, he began walking back in the direction they had come, "Let's go already. The more time we spend here, the less chance she'll have of recovering."
AN: Sorry it's short, but it's only the beginning. Enjoy, and please review!