Breaking out of the brush, they came to a small clearing.
Izumi, Miroku, and Sango stood there, staring at the portal.
When InuYasha heard "portal" he had assumed to find something similar to a doorway. Instead, this was something more like a rip, a tear in the air. A long, jagged rip seemed to hang in the air, what looked like a dark purple space behind it. It was about three feet wide and seven feet tall. There was a hot wind coming out of it, and it had an unpleasant smell.
This close to it, the vibration, the buzzing, was louder, stronger, and set the hanyou's teeth on edge.
He walked to stand beside Izumi, "That's it, huh?"
"Yes, and it has to be destroyed before something comes through. Something may have already escaped, and I have no idea where this portal leads to. I shudder to think of some of the creatures Keimetsu has at his disposal."
"Alright then," InuYasha took up a stance, holding out his Tetsusaiga.
He blinked as Izumi gently laid a hand on the blade of Tetsusaiga, and pushed it down. She smiled at him, "Some day you will have the power to defeat these portals, InuYasha. But not today, dear one. Let me handle this."
Flushing at her loving tone, he sheathed his blade, unease hiding in irritation, "Then why did we have to come out here, if we can't do anything about it?"
"Because you need to learn what they look like, InuYasha," she softly laughed, "You all do."
InuYasha crossed his arms, trying not to scowl as his friends grinned at him.
Izumi approached the portal, narrowing her eyes.
"I fear something has already escaped."
"What? Where?"
"I don't know...but from what I can sense about the plane of origin, whatever came through shouldn't be difficult to destroy. Keep an eye out for it, please, and kill it if you see it."
Izumi raised her sword, holding it crosswise in front of her, almost sighting across the blade at it.
The blade started to glow brightly, emitting a white light. InuYasha could feel the heat coming from the blade, but Izumi seemed to show no sign of pain or discomfort.
Taking one step forward, Izumi brought the blade flashing out, and down, a perfect shoulder to hip execution.
"Kiss of the Sun!"
A white crescent went bursting out of the blade, shotting towards the portal. It struck, and sliced the portal neatly in half. There was a rippling sound, and an almost soft sigh, as if of air escaping, and the portal dissolved, collapsing in on itself.
A second later, and there was nothing left, save a slightly burned smell hanging in the air.
InuYasha nodded in relief; the strange buzzing was gone.
"That seemed easy enough," he said to her, "I think I could have done it."
Izumi looked at him, and there was no smile on her face. Her eyes were dark, and serious, "No InuYasha. Don't equate the ease with which I destroyed that portal to ease of destruction. I am much more powerful than you, and I have had a very long time doing this. As well, I have weapons at my disposal that far outweigh any other weapon."
InuYasha flicked his ears, not used to being chastised, "If you say so."
Izumi watched him in silence for a minute, about to speak again, but fell silent, and shook her head. Looking back to the others, she spoke.
"As I have said, keep an eye out for whatever will have crossed over."
"Of course, Izumi," Miroku bowed his head to her.
InuYasha watched her out of the corner of his eye, and blinked when she turned to leave, "You're going already?"
Izumi looked back, and smiled. InuYasha flushed again, mentally cursing at himself.
"I have to, I'm sorry. There is a great deal of work to be done now. Time is starting to run out. Things are happening so quickly, and I have so much to do."
"It's too bad you can't stay," Kagome said gently, "It's nice when you can stay for a while. I'm sure InuYasha enjoys it too." Izumi smiled, "Well...I can probably stay for a few minutes more."
"Wonderful!" Kagome beamed, "I'll put on the kettle and you can have some tea!"
"Thank you, dear, I am a little hungry."
Kagome lead the way, and InuYasha glanced back to see Miroku and Sango talking, lowly, "You guys coming?"
"Actually," Miroku smiled, "Sango and I are going to look around a little, see if we can see what, if anything, came through, and where it went."
InuYasha paused, "Maybe I should stay, then..."
"No, it's fine," Sango smiled, and made a slight shoo-ing motion, "Go talk to Izumi. We'll just look around. Izumi said it wouldn't be powerful."
"Yeah..." he studied them, then spoke, "Still. If you find anything, you come get me, alright?"
Miroku chuckled, "As you wish, InuYasha."
InuYasha nodded, and jogged on, catching up with Kagome and Izumi.
The monk and demon-slayer walked on, heading back to where the portal had been. Miroku knelt down, running his hand over the grass beneath.
"I can feel something here...a strange sort of demonic presence, but nothing like anything I've ever felt before. It's very strange."
"I guess it's where it wasn't from this world. I can't imagine a being so powerful they can just tear a hole between worlds and pop things in and out."
The monk stood up, "Yes, it's disturbing. However, Izumi told us when she finally explained it all to us, that we wouldn't be fighting Keimetsu directly. Only his soldiers."
"Thank goodness. The Shadelings are powerful enough."
Miroku nodded. They walked in silence for a little while, then he spoke, "I must say, it was good to see your village completed, Sango."
She smiled happily at him, "Yes, I'm so glad. While things can never go back the way they were, we're back on our feet. And even working again."
He smiled at her, sharing in her happiness. The fence that Sango had been thrown through, during the battle for ownership of her village, was repaired, and even the pond had looked pristine again. One would never know of the struggle that had existed there.
"So Sango...tell me. When all this is over...when it's all said and done...are you thinking about going back there to stay?"
Sango blinked at him, startled for a second. She looked up to the sky, a smile on her face, "I don't know. Certainly it would be nice to go back for a while, but the villagers want me to take over for my father, and to be honest, I think Kohaku is a better choice for that. Besides, I really want to start up my place of learning."
Miroku smiled, "Still a goal, then?"
"Of course! I'll probably have to go back to slaying demons for money, of course, to get the money to build it. I need to hire people who will teach the women...as well as build a place for them to live...put in a garden..."
"Well, if we all save up, I'm certain we can put together enough to get it started."
Sango blinked at him, eyes wide.
Miroku looked at her, and smiled, "Sango...surely you didn't think your friends would leave you to bring all this to pass alone? It's definately a worthy cause, and we want to help you bring your dream to pass. Besides..."
He gazed at the path as they walked, "I would like to think your place of learning might need the services of a monk at least once in a while?"
Sango stared at him, not sure what to say. She stumbled over her words for a second, then spoke, her voice a little nervous.
"Well...I'm sure it would. And...besides..." she looked at the path as well, too nervous to meet his eyes, "You wouldn't need a reason to visit, Miroku. You are a friend, after all."
A bird called overhead as they passed, and then fell silent.
"Thank you, Sango," he said warmly. There was a pause, and then he said, "But...to be honest...and forgive me for being pushy...your place of learning sounds more like a place I would...prefer to...stay at. If I was welcome, of course."
Sango tightened her grip on her Hiraikotsu, blushing, "Well...if you wanted to...I mean...you're...always welcome, Miroku."
The monk nodded, then stopped walking. He turned to regard her. Sango walked on a few paces, then stopped, looking back at him, "Miroku."
He smiled warmly at her, and there was something in his face that made her heart pound.
"Sango...I..need to tell you something I feel is very important."
"M-Miroku."
"I've been trying my best to let you know, Sango. And I think, perhaps, you've been afraid to hear it...because of my past behavior. But, Sango.." his voice warmed, "You aren't blind. You know what you see when I look at you."
Sango stared at the monk, unable to breathe.
"Sang-"
A loud screech went out, and nearby, a tree splintered with a shattering crash. They both turned in time to see a huge black mass come charging out of the forest towards them. It looked like nothing more than a huge person, all in silhouette, no features. No eyes, mouth, nose, nothing. In it's hand it carried a massive spear, easily 6 feet long, a long metal head that tapered to a needle point.
Miroku cast Sango a bemused grin, "Saved for now, Sango, but this time I won't be put off."
Sango and Miroku lunged towards the thing, weapons raised.
"Miroku! Are you sensing any demonic aura?"
"Some, but nothing worth worrying about. I think this thing relies on it's size, not demonic energy."
"In that case..." Sango let loose with her Hiraikotsu, letting the weapon go spinning outwards.
It struck the demon in the middle, knocking it back in among the trees. The creature went crashing down, but never let go of it's weapon.
"We don't have time to go for InuYasha," Sango said, catching her weapon as it flew back to her, "But he'll probably hear this and come soon anyway."
Miroku nodded, undoing the prayer beads around his wrist, "It will mostly likely be gone by then anyway."
Removing the beads, Miroku raised his hand, letting the Wind Tunnel come bursting forth.
The creature had gotten back on it's feet by this point, and raised it's featureless head as the air around it started dissapearing into the void in the monk's hand. It seemed to stare, confused.
A nearby tree that had died and fallen over shuddered, and then left the ground, flying towards the monk, vanishing into the void.
As the pull became stronger, the creature suddenly lunged into the air, flying over the monk, to land heavily behind him.
Miroku darted forward, keeping clear, as he slipped the prayer beads back around his wrist, "Well, unfortunately it's too smart to fall easily for that."
Sango darted forward again, once more letting loose with her Hiraikotsu.
The creature saw it coming, and raising his spear, struck the weapon, hard.
The Hiraikotsu went tumbling backwards, striking Sango, knocking her back into the trunk of a tree.
"Sango!"
Cursing, the demon slayer pushed the weapon off of her, getting to her feet, "I'm ok..."
Miroku ran ahead, darting between Sango and the creature, holding up his staff.
The creature roared, and casting back it's arm, threw the spear with everything it had.
Miroku lunged to the side, feeling the spear flash past him, literally kicking up a small breeze. He heard Sango gasp beside him, hear it impact the tree with a heavy thud.
Miroku took three running steps forward, raising his staff over his head, and bringing it down in a sweeping arc. The metal head of the staff struck the creature, and slid into it, like a hot knife into butter. It made a groaning, gasping sound as the metal head of the staff sliced deeply down through it, almost to stomach level, before the monk yanked it out.
"Now I have you!" Tearing off his beads again, Miroky raised his hand, unleashing the Wind Tunnel.
Powerful winds roared into life, pulling at the creature. But it was in no condition to fight back any longer, and alreaady dead, toppled forward, vanishing into the void.
Miroku grinned as he rebound the Wind Tunnel.
"Izumi was correct, it certainly wasn't anything we needed to worry about, Sango."
"Mir.."
The monk turned, looking back towards Sango, and froze, eyes wide in shock.
Sango stood, her back against the tree, long ponytail flipped over to fall down one shoulder. She looked at him, eyes dark and seemingly bottomless, both her hands resting on the shaft of the spear that pinned her to the tree.
"SANGO!"
Miroku dropped his staff, running towards her. His mind was threatening to shut down, he couldn't make sense of what he was seeing. The body of the staff seemed to grow straight out of her body, from directly beneath her breasts, jutting 5 or more feet out. A large red spot was forming on her armor, and growing with each second.
"Oh Gods Sango, what...how...what do I..."
He stood before her, hands moving uselessly before him, like lost birds. Her face was pale, and turning a horrible grey as he watched. He turned, facing back towards where he had last seen his friends, voice cracking as he called out.
"INUYASHA! Help us!"
Her voice was weak, almost a whisper, "Can you...take it out? Please?"
"Sango, I...I don't think we should...I..." he couldn't seem to think properly. All he could remember was that if one was stabbed with something, you couldn't remove it until medical help was nearby. But this was a spear, what were they going to do with a spear? It was probably the only thing holding her together...and then his mind would circle back again, trapped.
"Please...Miroku...it hurts so much...I can't breathe..."
Miroku grasped the body of the spear, pulling on it as hard as he could. It didn't want to move, was in very deep.
Grinding his teeth, he pulled with everything he had, his sandals slipping, digging into the ground. Crying out as he pulled, Miroku threw his entire weight against it.
He felt it start to move.
Miroku grabbed it again, this time more careful not to go falling when it came loose. For a long second, he thought it still wasn't going to move, when it suddenly slid free from her body.
The monk stumbled, dropping the spear as Sango fell forward, limply. He reached out, catching her, staggering, off balance, and fell backwards, onto his behind, Sango laying against him.
"Sango? Sango!"
The demon slayer weakly raised her arms, wrapping them around him, resting her head against his shoulder. Miroku could feel the front of his robe soaking through with her blood, hot and wet against him.
She sighed softly, "I'm sorry, Miroku."
"Sango!"
"I think...our children...would have been so beautiful."
"S-Sango...please..."
The demon slayer lifted her eyes up to the sky, a soft smile on her face as a single spot of overcast sky cleared, and blue sky shone through.
She sighed, softly.
The breeze rippled the soft grass, and the light in her eyes slowly faded.
And Sango died.
END