The Swarm

Inuyasha returned to the tree in front of the temple while Sesshomaru guarded the back. The night was peaceful and passed without incident. The morning was quiet too and around lunch time everyone was a little tired of being indoors and decided to head outside for a short time. Conscious that the enemy would be watching they stayed in the tall grasses and under the trees out of sight.

Rin was happy to see the sun and perked right up. Ah-Un was as happy as she to be outdoors, he hadn't been eating much since Rin had been all but bedridden and he wasn't going to leave her side. The dragon was determined that this time he would protect Rin better.

All seemed normal, Sango and Miroku sat close together whispering, Shippo and Kirara were playing, Jaken and Rin sat on either side of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had taken Kagome up to his perch.

Kagome was sitting between his legs when suddenly Inuyasha stiffened. Suddenly he was pulling her up and the next thing she knew, Inuyasha grabbed her about the waist and jumped to the ground. "Inuyasha what…?"

"Get your bow and arrows! Hurry!" He gave her a little push towards the temple then headed for the gardens. Once there he saw Sesshomaru standing and scanning the sky, Miroku too was on his feet. Sango was missing; Inuyasha guessed she too had gone for her weapon.

"What do you think it is?" Myoga jumped to Inuyasha's shoulder shivering.

"Don't know but it's big, more than what I sensed from Danzaemon." Inuyasha glanced at his brother. "He couldn't have increased his power this much in a few days could he?"

Sesshomaru pulled out the Tokjin, "It does not matter, I'll still kill him. Protect Rin." Sesshomaru spared his brother a look and was reassured when Inuyasha nodded.

The sky began to darken and the sound of wings and buzzing filled the air. Locusts. Many, many demon locusts filled the sky and on spotting their prey swooped down. They were red, large, the size of Shippo and they were spitting something from their mouths.

The gunk was spit out and everyone scrambled to avoid it but when some got on Shippo he screamed even though it did not hurt him. It was impossible to avoid it and soon they all just concentrated on attacking the swarm.

An arrow shot through the sky and decreased the swarm but it closed ranks and kept coming. The Hirakotsu also killed many of the swarm but there were still hundreds more coming.

Miroku, Ah-Un and Jaken surrounded Rin who huddled on the ground covering her ears. Jaken used his staff to burn those that dared to come close. Ah-Un too sent lightning from his mouth.

"Inuyasha, should I use my Wind Tunnel?" Miroku would but he suspected the damn insects would probably poison him.

"No! Not yet!" Inuyasha ran to Kagome's side. "Let's do this together!"

"Right!"

Sesshomaru watched as Inuyasha joined his woman then using his own sword let loose a blue lightning storm.

Kagome released one then two arrows, preparing the way for, "Wind Scar!" The swirl of energy followed the two arrows, joining with the purifying light and grew larger. The shadow of demon locusts drastically ceased to be. Sesshomaru's blue lightning got rid of the remaining bugs.

All were still and silent as they searched the sky but no more insects appeared. Kagome went to Rin and held the crying child. "Shh, they're gone now." Kagome stood with her. "Let's go wash this stuff off. You coming Sango?"

"Yes, definitely." Sango was trying to remove some of it from her hair.

"Wait." Inuyasha put away Tetsusagia. "Do you want to leave now, get the girl somewhere safe?" He walked to stand before his brother.

Sesshomaru looked from Inuyasha to Rin whose wet eyes begged to stay by his side. "No we'll make our stand here. Danzaemon will soon grow tired of these games and show himself."

Miroku nodded along with Inuyasha then spoke to the girls. "Don't take to long; we'd like to get this stuff off too." He used a leaf to wipe some of the gunk off his staff.

"Sure." Sango yelled as she hurried inside. The wet stuff was really uncomfortable, heavy and warm. She was more than ready to wash it off.

One locust survived and returned to its master and informed him that all his enemies were infected. Danzaemon smiled then began laughing. He pulled up one of the captured women and kissed her. In moments she was a dried husk, he had sucked the life out of her. Danzaemon's strength was returning and by the time he was well again, Sesshomaru and his friends would be the ones weak, wounded and easy to kill.

"My lord, is everything going according to your plans?" Gituku had only entered the room after Danzaemon had disposed of the last locust. He wasn't sure exactly what the things did but he knew that whenever Danzaemon took out that box – bad things happened to Danzaemon's enemies.

"Why yes indeed they are Gituku. In a day or two, I shall seek out Sesshomaru and put him out of his misery. By the time I arrive, he may just beg me to kill him." Danzaemon laughed at the image of noble Sesshomaru on his knees begging. "Bring me another woman! I have yet to quench my thirst."

Gituku hurried out to do his bidding wondering all the while exactly what Danzaemon had done to those unfortunate people but then as long as he was safe, it did not matter how much they suffered.