A/N: aaaAAAA i have so much schoolwork and cross country and all this crap that I only get to start writing really late at night... sorry if I'm making tons of mistakes, guys :'(
Bloodied Promises
Chapter 7
"You! Move out of the way! We are looking for a very dangerous mercenary on the loose!"
The man with strange blue makeup swung his sword over one shoulder, laughing at the arrogance of this army, "Ha! That's me, idiots!"
—
Walking for hours made Kagome's legs feel like pudding, and she decided to rest up on A-Un's back for a while. Still, it was a super bumpy trip and did practically nothing for her.
"Ah, my legs feel terrible! Can't we rest for a minute?"
"Rude girl! How dare you complain in Lord Sesshomaru's presence?! A mere human cannot—"
"The cloud of Naraku's jaki, as well as the Saimyosho, went in this direction. There is no reason to stop." Sesshomaru kept walking. Kagome secretly wished she never offered to be his friend, he wasn't caring or empathetic at all, at least not to her. "…this direction also smells of the specter that the wolf fought recently."
"I can faintly sense a sacred jewel shard…" This one was on the move, the pink glow flittering around like a fairy. "If they're part of the same group as the other one, how many do you think Naraku created?"
"Not created. This smell is completely different from Naraku's."
If they weren't created… what could they have been? These specters were human in their past life… but just what made the last one so strong?
"S-Sesshomaru, I think the specter—" The sacred jewel shard got extremely close, and as she saw the taller pause suddenly, Kagome turned to face just the one she was speaking of. He wore woman's garb and strange makeup, a large sword at his side.
"Wait, wait, wait! Your name's Sesshomaru? But the Kohaku kid said Inuyasha would be with his girlfriend, a black-haired priestess… unless this priestess just goes seducing demons in her free time!" The man gave a hearty laugh. Suppressing her anger from the comment made towards her, Kagome took the chance to grab her bow and stand at Sesshomaru's side. "Oh? The priestess is trying to protect her other boyfriend. That's alright, he's not in danger. You are!"
The specter stayed right where he was while his blade danced towards Kagome's head; she could feel her hands freezing around her bow. It rendered useless and all she could do is watch as the snake-like sword moved closer…
The sound of metal clashing almost brought tears to the teen's eyes. She had almost died in that moment, but standing before her was this white knight Sesshomaru—
Wait, did she just call him a "white knight"?
"Fool. Using a blade without approaching your enemy first is cowardly. I don't fight cowards."
He seemed so cool and intimidating when getting ready to fight. Kagome took a quick look behind her. Rin was asleep, Jaken staring wide eyed and sitting upon A-Un in front of the sleepy child.
"Coward? The true coward is you. For a demon to rely on a human for their abilities!"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.
"That's right, I know about this girl's powers. Kohaku told me to be on the lookout, she sees our shards."
"Kagome! Kagome!"
From behind the specter was a familiar voice. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippo met up with the others, surrounding the man, who know turned to face the half-demon.
"You must be Inuyasha! Wow, you're just as cute as I'd thought you be!"
"Whatever, weirdo!" Inuyasha pushed the other out of his way, running straight to Kagome who came out from hiding behind Sesshomaru. "Kagome… you're safe."
" !" Miroku seemed glad to see her safe.
"Kagome! I missed you so much!" Shippo was already crying on Miroku's shoulder.
"It's okay, guys… Sesshomaru's protecting me from harm," She nodded. It was such a relief to see them all again after so long! She almost wanted to hug Inuyasha, but it really wasn't the best time. "Where's San—"
"Ah, Inuyasha! You're so rough with me!" The specter smiled, unleashing the accordion sword again. "You didn't even ask my name! It's Jakotsu, remember it well!"
Instead of Inuyasha keeping Kagome safe from harm, his older brother scooped her up and moved her out of the way. What a strange thing to see— Sesshomaru holding her protectively. Much too distracting, obviously, because the blade just cut straight through his robes and grazed his arm.
"Before I kill you too, Sesshomaru, take Kagome outta here!" He pulled Tessaiga from its sheath and the girl suddenly felt the presence of another jewel shard close by. She held her hand against the demon's chest to get his attention.
"Sesshomaru, wait! There's another one here too… right there…" The pink glow was coming from the trees. She could now easily make it out to be a figure of a very short, plump person…
Purple gas began to flood the area. The clashing of sword halted suddenly.
"Another one?" Miroku began. "Kagome, Sesshomaru! If you did not know yet, these specters are members of the Band of Seven, a group of mercenaries who died years ago but were revived once more! Hurry, leave the area or you will be poisoned!"
"Aw, crap, Mukotsu! Just when I was gonna fight Inuyasha for real!" Jakotsu fled the area as quickly as possible.
"Agh! This shit burns! Don't leave yet, weirdo!" Inuyasha went after Jakotsu in a fit of rage.
Rin awoke, hacking and coughing uncontrollably. The poison had begun to spread to her. Sesshomaru noticed even before Jaken did, and acting quick, passed Kagome off to where the monk was standing and back to the child in a flash. He held Rin with the arm he had left and made it safely to the high cliff where the gas hadn't reached yet.
"Priest!" Sesshomaru bellowed to the human. "Take care of Kagome."
Miroku gave a quick nod and the group of three were off again. Kagome couldn't help but think about what Sesshomaru did today, and what he said to her just now…
"Kagome? Hello?"
"H-huh?"
"I asked if you were alright. We hadn't seen you in so long, but the chance to speak to you was cut short when the specters arrived."
"A-ah… I'm fine!" She gave him a small smile. "But I'm running out of breath… could we talk about this at Kaede's village?"
Thank god the village was near this place. Maybe what she needed was her old clothes, and she'd be back to feeling herself again.
—
"Jakotsu! Our brothers are off creating plans by themselves!" Mukotsu began in a hushed voice, looking around the area nervously. "Renkotsu slaughtered a bunch of monks in this one temple and is pretending to be one right now."
"Haah? Is that right? Well, good for them! All I want—"
A saimyosho buzzed around the heads of the two mercenaries. It came with a message from their indirect loyalty, Naraku.
"Inuyasha's comin' for me alone? Me and him will get our special moment together! Sweet!" Jakotsu brought his sword onto his shoulder with a childish grin.
"W-what about that cute girl? The one the tall demon was holding?"
"That's Kagome. I think she's got a couple shards on her, if I'm not mistaken. You can grab those while I distract Inuyasha."
"K-Kagome…" He smiles, it's both super creepy and uncomfortable to see. "Could I… have her?"
"I don't want her. She's all yours!" Jakotsu started to walk back in the direction he came from, hoping to bump into Inuyasha. "Enjoy!"
"I-I will…" All he had to do now is whip up a special gas, just for her. Pretty Kagome… he couldn't wait to marry her.
—
Kagome tugged on the sleeves of her sailor uniform. It almost felt uncomfortable and new now, like the first day she got it.
Sango had returned only about a half hour before. She discussed seeing her little brother, how she thought the one who resurrected the group was Naraku, and how much she misses Kagome during her absence. The other girl was able to confirm that the specters appeared because of Naraku as Jakotsu revealed just that earlier today when she was with Sesshomaru. She, too, talked more about missing the others in her travels.
"Kagome, why did you leave such a scary note?" Shippo inquired. The young fox seemed genuinely shook up about it, even now.
"I-I didn't have time to write any more… Sesshomaru's really impatient…" What a bad excuse. She knew it sounded terrible, but what else could she say on the matter. "Shippo, whaddya say we go get some water together? Like old times?"
"Okay! Sounds fun!"
The two head outside and travel northward until they reach a well. On this well, however, a dead body lie next to it. The worst part of it was that the two were so used to seeing such sights it really had no effect on either of them anymore.
"W-wait, Kagome, look!" A thick purple smog hugged Kagome's ankles. She pulled Shippo up on her shoulder for fear of his safety, but was soon interrupted by an unfamiliar voice.
"Oh no, … your demon friend won't be affected by such a gas. You will, however."
She turned quickly to see none other than the ugly, hunched over figure that spread the other gas during Inuyasha's fight with Jakotsu. He grabbed her arm suddenly, but she fought back with all her might.
"Get off of me!" As she struggled, Shippo attempted to intervene, but Mukotsu sprayed him with a different gas and kicked him away. She called for him, but the demon's belly was in too much pain for him to react.
Sango and Miroku made it just in time to catch Mukotsu attempting to hurt Kagome. Shippo managed to get up and flee the scene, in search of Inuyasha for help.
"Was Naraku the one who revived you?!"
Sango yelled harshly.
"That is something you don't need to know!"
They too were sprayed with gas and left unconscious before being able to come to Kagome's aid. She was taken away by the poison master, away from all of her friends and unable to call for help.
Shippo searched fiercely for Inuyasha, but had trouble finding him. His throat still burned a bit from the poison and made him want to cry a bit. Still, he wouldn't dare do so now, when Kagome was in so much trouble.
Meanwhile, Mukotsu stood over the recently paralyzed girl with a glimmer in his eye.
"I'm going to marry you, Kagome… I'm captivated by such a rare beauty…"
'Ugh! He makes me absolutely sick!'
Kagome wished so badly to able to fight back. All she could hope for now was for someone else to come… this gas that caused her limbs to freeze also made it hard to breathe… but she doubted that he would kill her just yet.
Shippo finally came across Inuyasha. There, engaged in an intense battle with Jakotsu, he stood with incredible anger and ignorance to the world around him. The fox quickly snuck into the war zone and brought himself on the half-demon's shoulder, "Kagome was poisoned by the other specter! She's in a lot of trouble!"
"Alright! Use your fox magic and distract him for me!"
"Got it!"
Shippo managed to buy Inuyasha some time to go after Kagome. Hopefully he'd make it in time!
Back in Mukotsu's dirty shack, a "wedding ceremony" of sorts is taking place. Just touching the floors and walls of this place is enough to make Kagome want to throw up, unless that's just the gas effecting her insides.
Sango and Miroku arrive on the scene once more. However, Kagome's chance for hope is shattered once more when they are sprayed with a gas that entered through the eyes and skin, rendering the two humans useless and unable to help Kagome.
"I-I'm sorry…" Miroku offered, coughing and sputtering about before falling unconscious.
He's hurt her friends… he's hurt her friends now and she can't do anything to help. The shard in his neck glows and she knows that with a tiny bit of effort, she can…
"Now, proceeding with the ceremony, my dear…" Mukotsu grabbed something on his desk. With all the effort in the world, Kagome salvaged enough willpower to grab the nearest sharp object, and as soon as he turned around, she stabbed him straight in his neck.
The jewel shard remained where it was. It was no good.
Mukotsu slapped her, becoming teary-eyed as he ripped her weapon from his neck. "Am I no good for you either? Am I too ugly?! I guess you, too, are not fit to be my wife!"
He brought his hands to her throat, squeezing furiously. She had no strength left to fight back. Is this how she would die? Is this her last moment?
The hands went loose on her neck after Kagome squeezed her eyes tight. The smell of iron and dirt filled the air and she saw none other than Sesshomaru standing above her, knuckles cracking as he set his sight for Mukotsu.
"W-who…?" Mukotsu's voice was shaky.
"I may ask you the same thing."
"Y-you don't know me, yet you would kill me in an instant…" Mukotsu coughed. "I remember now… you are the one Kagome loves… still, I won't give up on her!" The weakened specter began to attack Sesshomaru with every gas meant to harm demons in his disposal. It takes only a quick second for the white-haired demon to overpower Mukotsu and kill him, digging the shard from his neck and tossing it to Kagome. The poison seemed to wear off. She caught it and held it tight in her hand, standing back up on shaky legs and falling forward, just barely being saved by Sesshomaru's tall form.
"Thank you," She offers meekly, pulling herself off of him with red cheeks. "…for saving me."
"Heeeey! Sesshomaru, what did you do to my friends?!" Inuyasha growls at his brother as he sees them all, two unconscious and the other weak and barely able to stand.
"N-no, Inuyasha… he saved us."
"He saved you? He needs to watch who he's gettin' close to!" Inuyasha rolls up a sleeve threateningly.
"I've caught Kohaku's scent. Where is Naraku?"
Sesshomaru ignored both the threat from Inuyasha and praise from Kagome.
"If I knew, you'd think I'd tell you?!"
"…then we're done here." Sesshomaru began to walk away. Kagome held on to his loose sleeve for support, but found herself tripping over nothing. Walking was becoming more and more difficult… the sky was getting super dark…
The demon managed to catch her and pull her to his chest as they walked. She fell unconscious, or maybe had even died. Though, in that case, his Tenseiga could take care of that for him. Still, her body felt much too warm to be dead. She still smelled of flowers and maple… he wondered how long that scent would last, had she fell victim to the poisons.
Inuyasha decided that maybe the safest place for Kagome now was with Sesshomaru. Even though it left an awful taste in his mouth to leave her there, two of his friends hadn't woken up yet… he could take care of them first and then see how she was doing. Besides, if he already saved her life more than once, he wouldn't actually hurt her, would he?
—
"Nice temple," Jakotsu laughed at his brother's choice in dressing as a monk.
"Shut up, Jakotsu. This is serious. Did you confirm that the Kagome girl has shards?"
"I didn't confirm it, but that's what Kohaku said. We should kill 'em because they've got shards. Thought, it coulda been Inuyasha's group that had them, too."
"…Inuyasha's group… Sesshomaru's group… we limit them down to one, that's our key to victory."
"Well, the demon slayer, the monk, and Kagome were exposed to Mukotsu's poison."
"So they should be dead by nightfall."
The sunset began to grow darker, thin sheets of purples and dark blues spilling across the sky. Renkotsu gave a small smile.
"I'm sure the moon will be just beautiful tonight."
