Chapter 3: Enter Medosa-Sunake
Kagome had gone back to current-day Japan to visit Hojo. She hadn't seen him for a while and still had think up a good excuse for all her bruises. But she was spending the next day with Hojo, so that was important.
Miroku and Sango were taking a walk, so that left Inuyasha to baby-sit Shippo. Fan-fucking-tastic.
Shippo would drive him nuts. But Inuyasha really didn't want to try to explain why things were so tense between him and Kagome. "Hey Inuyasha. Why was Kagome all quiet today? She was acting awfully weird."
Inuyasha just gave him the aggravated glare. It's a new problem with Naraku. And Kagome's business is none of yours, squirt."
The kitsune just gave Inuyasha a look as though he were superior. "Well, I'm sure Kagome would tell me."
Inuyasha said dubiously, "Don't count on it, Short Stack."
Sango and Miroku by now were deep in the forest, just talking. Sango had a furrowed brow and a worried tone, "Miroku-san, I know it was an accident, but WHY was Inuyasha... doing that? Wasn't he in his demon form?"
Miroku gave her his look of worldly wisdom. "Remember when I once described to Inuyasha my speculations of a new demon Naraku had grown off of himself? I heard that this demon would not seem as dangerous as Naraku's other detachment's, but truly would be. This demon of Naraku's is giant and moth-like, but like a chameleon, camouflages to fit it's surroundings. It produces a gas of the hypnotic type that Naraku controls. This was all I knew, but since it hadn't come up, Inuyasha and I decided to deal with it later. It's now become a large priority to take care of."
"First of all, you both are idiots for not telling Kagome and I. But so soon. That could've happened to any of us."
"It could have. But I believe Naraku knows Inuyasha has feelings for Kagome; it is obvious. It appears Naraku used this information to control Inuyasha to eliminate one of the most valuable objects- Kagome. Without her, we wouldn't be able to find the shards. Naraku knew he could control Inuyasha to do... that to Kagome." Miroku stated, picking up a stone.
Sango just stared ahead in a preoccupied disposition, but solemnly swore, "This is the most motivation the kill Naraku yet."
Kagome was relaxing with Hojo as they spoke while watching television. Hojo kept looking at her with pure adoration. "Only three more weeks. I can barely wait for the next twenty days to go by. Kagome?"
"Huh? Oh, right. Me neither."
Hojo pushed her hair behind her ear sweetly when he noticed her stitches. "Kagome-san! What happened?"
She was quick to rearrange her hair to cover the wound again. "Oh, nothing. While I was sick with the blue flu," Kagome took her time, speaking slowly so she could actually think up something plausible, continuing, "I had to go to the supermarket and get some painkillers, and on the way out of the store, I tripped and fell over a bunch of... um, shopping carts! So, I went to the E.R. and they got me fixed up." Kagome pushed out a nervous smile.
Hojo looked a bit relieved. "Oh, that's a lot better than what I was thinking. Next time you're sick you should stay at our apartment. You don't have to stay with your family every time you're ill. Which is often. Hmm. I was thinking maybe someone DID this to you," he said running his hand tenderly on her bruised arm. Hojo kissed her on the head and popped up. "I'll be right back."
Kagome's husband-to-be brought back a little pouch. "This is Haleness Sleep Powder. It may make you a little drowsy, but anytime you're sick, or hurt, just take a pinch into your drink, and who knows, you could feel a whole world better."
That night, Kagome felt peaceful as she slept in their featherbed, filling Hojo's arms. The next morning, she woke to see Hojo was at work, and new where she had to go. Quickly scribbling a note to Hojo, (My love, the blue flu returned, and it's in the contagious stage. I will be visiting with my mother so she can take care of me. Please, do not come see me, you may catch it. -Love, Kagome) Kagome packed some things and went to her house.
On the other side of the well, everyone was anticipating Kagome's return. When she came back, she sat them all down for her news. "Okay, Everyone. Hojo and I have set the date! The wedding is in nineteen days." She hesitated. "I want all of you to come."
Shippo and Inuyasha shared a moment, rolling their eyes at Kagome. Shippo spoke up, "So what are Inuyasha and I supposed to do? Even if that is a full moon, which means Inuyasha could go, what about me?"
Kagome smiled and blinked. "I can't believe you thought I forgot about you. Don't worry, when the time comes, I'll make sure you guys are perfect and believable as humans."
Miroku smiled, "Well, Kagome. I'm so glad to see you're in a better mood. As well as happy to hear we'll be with you on your big day."
"Seeing Hojo was just what I needed."
"Well, well." Everyone turned to face that sickening voice.
"Naraku!" Inuyasha yelped.
"Yes," Naraku said rather leisurely, "So the wench is getting married off. That's too bad... I was hoping she'd be dead after you met my latest child, so to speak, Seishi Ga. Oh, well. There's always tomorrow." Naraku smiled sickeningly. "It would appear you have come rather close to obtaining all the shards. Congratulations. I've just come to see if you would like to give me your newly received shard before I have to take it from you."
Inuyasha gave him a look of pure poison. "Then I guess you'll have to pry it from my dead fingers."
"So be it," Naraku said. Kagura lingered behind Naraku, her eyes tracing those of Kagome's. With a haze of black smoke, they were gone.
Miroku turned and looked at everyone. "I suppose we should be expecting a visit from Kagura in a day or so." Under his breath, Miroku added, "Or worse... the moth of control."
"I guess so," Sango agreed.
During the next day, everybody was on high alert. Even the smallest breeze sent the group flailing into attack mode. Naraku had given them a warning, so maybe he was really expecting to do something really awful. Or wouldn't he rather have caught them off guard? The troupe's thoughts were unfathomable as to what could so easily defeat them, that Naraku gave everyone three days notice. Three days later though, their wait was over.
The six of them had decided to continue looking for the shards, if Naraku wanted them, he could follow them to their next stop, the bastard. So after traveling for two days, following what Kagome's miko senses had picked up as a Shikon shard, they stopped for a rest at a valley. It was just about noon when abruptly, a young girl, no older than eleven years old looking, walked into their camp. Sango was sitting cross-legged, meditating, felt the demonic auro behind her.
Widening her eyes, Sango barely rolled out of the way. Regaining her ground, the others rushed to help. The little girl's hair was nothing but snakes. Live, moving, slithering, writhing, awful snakes. The little girl's eyes were closed. Kagome was the first to announce her repulsion, "What is that!"
The little girl responded, "I am Medosa-Sunake. But please, call me Sunake." Her voice didn't sound of any small child either, it was a voice sounding like a cold woman, only multiplied. (a/n Seen the movie "Silent Hill?" Sounds like the Reaper)
Sunake's eyes shot open, looking right at Kagome. "KAGOME!" Inuyasha pushed her out of the way, then crouched down next to her, "Stay low, okay?" he told her gently. Kagome nodded. Shippo cowered behind her.
Sunake's eyes shot beams of light. When she closed her eyes again, you could see the damage done by the rays. Whatever she looked upon turned to stone. "Surrender the Shikon Jewel as well as the shard, and I will not harm you."
Sango rushed at the little girl from behind, but even with her eyes closed, Sunake didn't even turn around, using the eyes of her snakes as her own. A serpent extended from Sunake's head, slapping Sango's boomerang down, throwing Sango down to the ground as well. It was hissing as it slithered back into the girl's head.
Miroku took a shot at the little girl, "My turn!" The monk held his stance, about to pull off the sleeve over his hand. Just as he was about to suck her into oblivion, Sunake's "hair" snatched out and wrapped itself tightly around Miroku's wrist. As soon as a faint crunch was heard and Miroku called out in pain, Sunake let go.
Inuyasha decided to bring this bitch down. "No more bullshit, you're going back to Hell!" The half-demon ran at the little girl, unsheathing his sword. Just as he swung it over his head, about to obliterate her, in a flash of quick light, Sunake was gone.
Inuyasha skidded to halt and looked around. "Well. I think Naraku has another new minion."
Later on that night, Kagome was bandaging Miroku's wrist, as Sango was rebuffing her weapon. All of them sat around their fire and discussed what was going on.
"Okay, so Naraku has two new detachment incarnations. The Seishi Ga and this Sunake," Kagome observed.
Sango nodded, "I wonder how new this Medosa-Sunake is. Seishi Ga we know is about 2 months old. He's normally dispatched Kagura against us. These 2 must be something of a breakthrough."
"They're each quite powerful. Gods forbid, but I could see why maybe Naraku thinks he can defeat us," Miroku agreed.
Inuyasha shrugged, "Eh, Sunake wasn't that great. I could take her any day. I'm just wondering if there's more to her that we should know than that she's just another new enemy we'll be fighting. We do need to get rid of Seishi Ga, that's for damn sure."
Kagome nodded. Soon, she was out like a light, and leaning against Inuyasha, although neither noticed. Miroku and Sango shared the night shift for guarding. Their miko and half-demon had been through a lot, lately.
Again, thanks you guys for reading and reviewing. Getting reviews and knowing people read this is like a drug... it just pushes me to do more faster. This is going to be my last update for at least 11 days- I'm going out of town and away from my computer. So keep reading, maybe give me ideas. Love you guys
