Sorry for the delay, PLEASE review so I know you guys are still reading and enjoying, and haven't given up on me and this story completely! I need a little boost right now ^_^
As I said, I went on a spree, so this one is extra long. Enjoy you wonderful people!
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Ensnared
~Chapter Eleven~
Inuyasha had his eyes closed tight against the rest of the world, his head resting against the tree he was perched on. Where did everything go so wrong? He thought trying to pretend that his half-demon enhanced hearing couldn't catch Kagome's sobs, and Kaede's diagnosis, and even, Miroku's silence. Shuri was unconscious still, hadn't woken up since they'd arrived, which was plaguing his mind. Kaede had hurriedly brushed a anxious Inuyasha off and stated that Shuri had taken a nasty blow to the head when the demon had attacked, meaning maybe he had a concussion, maybe worse, and adding to that he had lost a lot of blood, but she could do no more for him. Inuyasha mentally growled on the recollection of her calmness. But his anger hadn't surfaced, when he realised just how bad of a state Sango was in.
Miroku's silence plagued the half-demon, for he knew exactly what he wasn't saying. Even if Sango could make it out of it, there was no sure guarantee that the baby inside of her would, or if it was even still alive after everything that had happened. And the chances for Sango are bad enough as it is, he thought, without knowing she's lost her kid, and probably all possibility to have another one… the half-demon wasn't sure of human's outlook on things, but he knew being an infertile demon meant you weren't worth anything, much less the air they breathed. Though he was sure Miroku wouldn't hold it against her, (despite his lecherous ways and constant teasing about 'carrying on the family name') he was sure Sango would. Inuyasha, in his tragic youth of never being accepted, always being outcast, had constantly run into demons with that very problem. The half-demon knew enough from watching at the sidelines, from observing how cruel life was to others, not just himself, that others like Sango had not been so lucky, in the way that they didn't have a partner in their life that would love them regardless. But he also knew from observing his once friend's lives and love-lives at work for the last five years, from the concealment of his forest, that Sango wouldn't forgive herself, even if Miroku did. Women are so damn confusing, it makes me glad I ain't one, he proposed to himself, trying to lighten his mood, though it failed miserably.
A small ping of realisation hit his heart at the thought of the demon slayer and the monk. Any demon or human alike would kill for what those two have, for what I used to have… His mind, not for the first, nor the last time, jested about what it might've been like to see Shuri when he was small, well, smaller, he added mentally. What might it have been like to hold him when he was a baby, to watch him grow up, learn to talk, and walk…even to see what Kagome would've looked like with her pregnant stomach.
I've missed so much, he thought miserably, ears drooping slightly. I was so wrapped up in my own stupidity and self-pity, I threw away all those precious moments that we fought to have together… Wasn't that the very reason they'd all fought Naraku so hard? Faced with the promise of a peaceful Happy ever after, together? Miroku, with Sango and their child, a rejuvenated Kohaku playing with Shippo in the background while Kagome and Inuyasha had their long-awaited lover's conciliation…that was the promise that had awaited them in the distance back in those days, way back before they'd even acknowledged it aloud. Inuyasha watching his little pack from the darkness of the trees as they lay by the fireside, talking of whatever challenges were ahead of them.
They'd taken down every evil they'd ever faced and they'd done it together, all in hopes of finally being together, happy in the end. I guess there's no place left for 'happy ever after' in the world any more… Tales that he remembered his human mother reading him all those ages ago; stories of worlds and eras where love transcended everything and heroes always got their happy ending. Inuyasha, in his naïve youth and believed that one day, maybe he'd earn such an ending, even in his travels hunting for jewel shards, he'd mused to himself that after all the fighting they'd done to save the world form Naraku and god knows what else, they deserved their slice of happiness and peace at the end. Sitting as he was now, he finally realised what a fool he'd been. This world's too cruel a place to have such things…it's not worth fighting for, it's only for the few people who I owe it to, for saving me in every possible way, that I fight…For Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kilala…Kagome…Shuri…No one else…
He was torn from his thought as he heard a low cough from somewhere below him. Inclining his head slightly, he saw Sesshomaru standing below, leaning slightly against the tree. "A pitiable mate you would have been if she'd ever had the chance to accept…" A velvety dog-ear twitched at the all-but-silent statement.
"And what's that supposed to mean, Brother?" Inuyasha growled, not in the mood for Sesshomaru's riddles that he called 'advice'. He sensed a small smirk twitch at Sesshomaru's pale lips.
"It means that your human is in there despairing, and your whelp in their dying, and you are helpless as always. You're not much use to them after all, are you?" The claws on Inuyasha's toes dug into the tree bark in anger, trying to refrain from ripping out Sesshomaru's offensive tongue.
"What can I do? I can't heal the sick or…or…anything that could help Shuri now…"
"You realise the demons are regrouping, do you not, Little brother?" Inuyasha frowned slightly, his nose twitching slightly as he tried to inhale any demonic scents.
"What do you-?"
"-I simply scared them off from finishing the demon slayer and the monk, they're approaching from the northern side of your forest… There isn't much time…"
"I know that, but what can we do? We can't fight, this small village doesn't exactly bear strong warriors – it's a poor farming village, and besides, with Sango and her baby…Kagome's wounds and Shuri's 'head trauma' – Whatever that is, we can't go fleeing across all of feudal Japan now can we?" He didn't have to be able to see Sesshomaru to know that usual sneer would be on his face.
"This Sesshomaru has never fled from anything in his life, and he will not start now." Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"You soon ran away from father when he asked you to come with him to protect me and my mother the night I was born…" Inuyasha growled, knowing he'd struck a nerve at the anger held in Sesshomaru's usually calm demeanour.
"I repeat myself, half-breed, I have never run from anything – ever."
"Good for you My Lord but guess what?" Inuyasha leapt down, landing square on his feet in front of Sesshomaru, "I couldn't care less about you right now! All I care about are my friends and my family, got that? 'Cause they're gonna live, if I have to kill every fucking demon in this twisted time so be it, but they're gonna get through this!" Again, a smirk crossed Sesshomaru's features. "What the hell are you smiling at?" The half-demon snarled.
"As usual, Little brother, you're totally oblivious as to what matters you should be turning your small half-breed mind to." It was Inuyasha's turn to sneer this time.
"Yeah, and what's that?"
"The fact that the completed power of the Shikon no Tama is in the grasp of a very powerful being, who, in the midst of all this despair, may unconsciously make a selfish, tainted wish…" Inuyasha's eyes widened.
"Ka-Kagome has the Sacred Jewel?"
"Inuyasha." The half-demon inclined his head a little more at Sesshomaru's tone, so laden with emotion as opposed to devoid of it.
"Sesshomaru? What is it?" He couldn't help the worry leak into his voice.
"Whether we cannot or will not flee, remaining here results in us undoubtedly perishing under this attack." Inuyasha watched his older brother carefully, waiting for his continuation. "They've regrouped, and their combined power is as great as their numbers…all of them heading to this village…I will fight alongside you in this battle, Little brother, even though it may be our last." Golden eyes widened at the full-demon.
"But I – why?"
"I never meant to… I will not exaggerate this by screening excess emotion…and I have never said this before, however I…I was wrong." Inuyasha's ears perked slightly at the broken words.
"Huh?"
"That night, when father asked me to help him rescue yourself and Izayoi from that foolish human Takemaru of Setsuna, I was an imprudent, jealous adolescent, only worried for my Father's love so unwaveringly focused on you and your mother, instead of myself and the memory of my own, deceased mother… I had hoped to right my wrong, in saying I had nothing to protect… Father showered you with more affection before you were even born than I ever had in my prior 500 years of life. This was wrong of him, but that night he tried to right that, and I refused him, and you, and I never had a chance afterwards to apologise to him, or try to fix what I'd done… Every ounce of self-hatred and loathing I threw into my resentment of you, trying to make myself believe it was all your fault but… In truth, it was all mine…"
A long silence fell between the brothers, until the suddenly humbled demon lord found his voice. "And here we are, 200 years later, and I've only just managed to say it, and I know it means nothing after how I additionally disobeyed my duty to you as your blood brother, and let you roam free, endangered and vulnerable after Izayoi died, instead of taking you into our father's house… But I…" the demon bit his lower lip in the first sign of nervousness or difficulty he'd shown in the last 200 odd years. "I apologise…Inuyasha," the said half-demon watched in shock as his brother lowered himself to his knees, deliberately avoiding his little brother's eyes. "I ask for your forgiveness."
It was, surreal. The high and mighty Demon lord Sesshomaru, son of the Great demon Inu no Taishou, on his knees, asking for forgiveness for a sin like some child awaiting punishment from his parent. It gnawed at Inuyasha's heart, to see his prideful sibling on his knees. In the lack of a father, Sesshomaru had been the one he'd secretly strived to surpass and now he looked at the state he was in, he hated it.
"Get up, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha stated as blankly as his voice allowed, trying to hide his childish joy at having his brother's acceptance. The demon got to his feet, meeting his brother's eyes at last. "You never needed my forgiveness, because I never hated you, not the way you hated me for all these years…" Inuyasha paused, how could he say what he wanted to say? I envied your power, and your position, and how you were so readily accepted and feared by the people who just pushed me aside… I envied you having 500 years with father, whereas I had nothing…and even though everyone says I'm more like him than you…and he favoured me above you, it doesn't make up for the fact I never got to have what you had with him… It sounded childish and simpering even in his head, though, by the look in Sesshomaru's eyes, he guessed that, somehow, he knew what he wanted to say. There was no need for words.
"There are so many things I wish I could ask you, so many things I wanna say, but…it looks as if I'll never get to…" Inuyasha broke off. Right when things were going to end, why? They'd wasted 200 years for nothing and now they'd never have the chance to try and right things as they should.
"I am sorry for that, Little brother, but I couldn't have it…have us go down in battle without righting a wrong that plagued me…both of us for so long…besides…" Inuyasha looked up to Sesshomaru in utmost astonishment as he felt a clawed hand squeeze his shoulder firmly. "If this were left unsolved, I believe father would, as you might say, 'have our asses' when we get to the other side." Inuyasha smirked at the uncharacteristic statement from his brother.
"Inuyasha?" His silver haired head turned towards the voice, meeting the sight of Kagome walking towards him from Kaede's hut. Sesshomaru released his hold on Inuyasha.
"I will be nearby, prepare yourself, Little brother." Inuyasha nodded, watching Sesshomaru disappear into the seclusion of the trees; more than likely going to fetch Rin and send her somewhere safe, Inuyasha thought.
Kagome stopped beside Inuyasha, skittishly touching his fire-rat kimono sleeve gently, wrapping trembling fingers around the fabric. The half-demon met her eyes, his heart falling as he noted her ailing appearance. She was Kagome, so no matter how worn or bloodied she was, to him, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, but the gaunt look to her once so lively face made him…well worried would be a underestimation. She hasn't got long left, he acknowledged, biting his lip at the salty liquid pricking at his eyes.
"Kagome?" he asked huskily, nervously touching her hand which clung to his kimono. "What…I…Are you…?" He couldn't find words, 'are you okay' would undermine the fact that they both knew…she wasn't okay.
"Inuyasha," she said quietly, her voice seeming as if it'd fail any moment. "It's okay, you don't have to…I know I don't have much time left." Inuyasha watched her with sad eyes, his ears leaning flat against his head. As the half-demon squeezed the hand he was holding, her free hand enclosed over his. "Will you come for a walk with me, Inuyasha?" she asked, and he nodded absently, allowing her to lead him into his own forest.
It was like that much happier time so long ago, when Kagome had promised to stay with him, taking his calloused hand in her soft, delicate one, him squeezing it reassuringly. Kagome had offered him an unvoiced promise that she'd make him smile, make him laugh, make him happy whether he chose her in the end or not.
That endearing promise, that precious moment was the one thing he'd clung to for five long years, keeping the memory almost as vivid as their first kiss back in Kaguya's castle. He could remember her scent, how he knew she'd been crying, could see her face, her hair blowing softly in the breeze as she stood from her seat on the edge of the well. "We're both alike in our desire to be with you again…" Kagome had said that to him, had said that she wanted to be with him. How sweet and naïve they were back then, they'd thought they could overcome anything together…
Finally, the girl stopped, taking a seat in the brightly coloured flowers that covered the grassy clearing of the well, motioning for Inuyasha to sit beside her. Nervously, the half-demon did so, watching her lean back into the grass, trying to make it look as if she were relaxing in the sun's rays. However, Inuyasha could sense how much that walk had taken out of her.
"Inuyasha?" Her soft voice drifted over his ears again, rousing him from his thoughts. "Won't you lie down with me?" Sighing softly, Inuyasha spread himself out on his back by her side. He closed his eyes slowly, breathing the combined scent of Kagome and flowers in deeply, allowing the smells to take him back to a brighter place, where he and Kagome had lied like this before – gazing up at the clouds in a field of flowers.
"I missed you, Inuyasha," Kagome said, her sentences seeming so simple, compared to her once complex, often even metaphorical words, once so secretive of her fragile human feelings, the priestess now seemed to value their limited time together, she knew they didn't have long, whichever way fate allowed the victory of the battle to fall. "I used to tell Shuri about times like this, when you and I would be alone together, back then, and just talk. I miss those times…" Inuyasha said nothing. "With so long without you, I've come to appreciate just how short and fragile a human's life is. I never stopped to appreciate my life before, but now I… That's always the way, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," she offered a weak smile. "I hate change…I miss the old days… I miss silly things like you and Shippo squabbling, Sango smacking Miroku for fondling her butt… I miss you coming through the well and getting annoyed at me doing my homework… I miss everything I know I'm never gonna have again." Inuyasha turned on his side, supporting his head with his hand as he reached forward with the other, stroking the side of her face.
As she turned to face him, he instantly regretted his actions, yanking his hand away from her.
"I'm so sorry…I don't have the right to touch you after I-" Kagome cut the half-demon off, taking the recoiling hand and stroking the back of it with her thumbs.
"Don't I…you don't know how long I've wanted to see you, to speak to you… How long I screamed and cried for you to come get me, but you…you never did… Please don't waste what little time we have left together believing that I ever didn't want you to touch me…to hold me…to love me…" Inuyasha exhaled shakily, leaping towards her, snagging a fistful of her hair at the base of her neck and holding her against his lips. Tumbling back with her in the grass, her scent invading his senses as he took it all in desperately, engraining everything to his memory.
Kagome wrapped her arms round his neck as he pulled back for a mere instant. "I love you," he whispered, before pressing back in for an urgent kiss. "I love you." The sweet platitudes repeated every time he broke away from her lips, leaving no room for her to think he loved anyone but her. Not even Kikyo, he suddenly realised, not any woman had he ever loved like this. Both ignoring the salty tears escaping from both their eyes, the gentle, feathery kisses appreciating her curved human ears, as her weak fingers did the same for his half-demon ones, tracing the soft pink of his inner ear, before caressing the fine outer, silvery hairs. Running down to gently nip at her neck, Inuyasha allowed his tears to freely fall, he didn't care anymore. This was his Kagome, and if this was to be one of their last moments together, he wasn't going to hide anything, not even his sadness.
Passes of his tongue healed the minor scratches and cuts that adorned her collarbone and neck, his claws kept in check as his hands lay either side of her, keeping his weight off of her. She was so weak from the blood-loss beforehand, as well as whatever had taken its toll on her back in her era. He wasn't going to hurt her again. This girl, this woman, this precious gift that the gods in all their mercy on his otherwise worthless life, had blessed him with, he was going to love and worship her a life time's worth. "I love you," he repeated, his voice wavering with tears as the sadness reached it, "no one, nothing even begins to compare…"
Kagome swallowed hard, and Inuyasha looked up to her pressing a chaste kiss, a total opposite to the passionate ones before, on her lips, noting her ethereal paleness.
"Kagome?" he asked, "are you-"
"Please Inuyasha," she interrupted, "even if you have to lie to me…give me this…one – this one last time…" Inuyasha swallowed this time, trying to regain his posture, feeling himself losing to despair at her words. Leaning forward, he kissed her once more. "You're gonna live Kagome," he lied in a coarse whisper, his tears still falling, golden eyes turning red and swollen with his silent crying. "You're gonna stay with me, you're…you're gonna watch Shuri grow up and…" he broke off, silencing his brewing scream of inner agony and despair by pressing his lips against hers. "…and we're gonna have the time we never got to have before…" Kagome smiled warmly at him, for that moment, truly believing his words. Inuyasha's heart nearly completely broke, knowing deep down, she was merely allowing herself that fanciful belief, because she knew what was to come.
Deft but frail fingertips untied his kimono and slowly pushed away the white kosode, leaving his chest bare. Dark, hazel eyes glimmered up at him with the sunlight, as fearless and happy as they'd once been all that time ago. This time was to be different, he assured himself, returning the favour of undress to her, he wasn't going to lose control and hurt her this time; this time, he was going to give her an experience that would bring that happiness she didn't get before. This time, he'd make sure that she'd recall a time where he'd given her unconditional adoration and tenderness, when she closed her eyes for the last time…
***
Miroku watched the sun set along the horizon, torn between his fear for Sango and their unborn child, and fear for what was taking Inuyasha and Kagome so long to return, especially as the monk sensed the imminent attack of demons. Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the silence of the village. The monk turned and darted into the hut, seeing Kaede pressing Sango's shoulders back down onto the futon.
"Hush, child, it will be okay…" The demon slayer ignored Kaede's soothing voice, another screamed retching from her throat. Miroku's eyes shot to the dark corner as he saw movement, instantly relaxing as he saw Shuri sitting there, watching Sango with worried amethyst eyes. Miroku silently motioned for the boy to follow him, finding that at least he could remove Shuri from the hut, whatever way the events turned for Sango and the baby, they wouldn't be pleasant.
"Where's my Daddy?" asked Shuri warily, fumbling with the corner of his blanket nervously.
"He's talking with your Mother," Miroku replied as happily as he could, not wanting Shuri to worry, and hoping that his reply to the boy was true. Opening the door to his and Sango's own hut, Miroku showed Shuri the bed that belonged to Kohaku. "Here, I'm sure Kohaku wouldn't mind, he won't be getting much sleep anyways, he's far too desperate to help Sango, so you can sleep here. Shuri nodded, climbing onto the bed. "Will you be okay here?" Miroku asked softly, and Shuri nodded with a wide yawn. The monk smiled weakly, turning to leave.
"Mister?" Miroku paused at the small voice, turning back to face the little half-demon. "Will that lady be okay?"
"I…I hope so, Shuri," he said softly, before departing the hut, letting the reed matting of the door fall slowly back into place behind him.
As soon as the monk walked a mere three steps from his hut, he collided hard with someone. "Kohaku," Miroku said, looking down to the boy he'd nearly knocked clean off his feet, "I apologise, my head was in the clouds, I-"
"-Miroku! It's Sister, she's – she's – and the baby is – come quickly!" Miroku nodded, the two of them rushing over to Kaede's hut.
Another scream from the woman he loved tore at his heart as he and Kohaku rushed into the dimly lit hut. "MIROKU!!!"
"I'm here Sango," he answered her, panicking. Grasping her hand, the monk looked up to the elderly woman who was watching Sango carefully. "What is it?" Miroku asked desperately, "What's happening?"
"Whether the baby is alive from your earlier battle or not, ye shall soon know," she replied her voice sounding apprehensive, "Sango's water has broken."
"Meaning it's-"
"Meaning whether your child has survived or not, it is on its way." Miroku worried his bottom lip between his teeth.
"And…how long?" Kaede watched him carefully for a moment before replying.
"She is ready to push, but…"
"But?!" he repeated, his wife's younger brother looking terrified at his side, eyes darting to and from each person in the room.
"Have ye forgotten, Miroku? Can ye not sense it?" There was another silence. "The demons are here."
***
Shuri sighed softly as his mind wandered from sleep to reality, fondling the blanket that smelled soothingly like both of his parents. His brow furrowed slightly as his small, clawed fingertips found something small and hard in his blanket, sitting up groggily, he unfolded it, seeing the sparkling jewel that his mother had shown him once before. He found himself awake completely as he gazed at its iridescent, lavender glow, which made him shiver. The thing was eerie when it wasn't that nice white colour it was when he'd seen it before.
It suddenly came back to him, how he had the jewel. When Kagome had sent him through the well to find Inuyasha, she had entrusted it to him, to keep it pure, sure he'd be safe once he found Inuyasha, who, upon sensing a mix of Kagome and himself in Shuri, would immediately find him, if Shuri didn't find him first. And when his mother and he had hidden underneath that floor in that hut, Kagome had dropped it, and Shuri had scooped it up, wrapping it securely in his blanket, remembering how important Kagome had told him it was. Maybe Mama forgot to take it back, he thought as he rested his head back down on the bedding. I hope I didn't worry them too much. He remembered awaking in Kaede's hut, and seeing how relieved his mother was, before she'd said she had to go speak with Inuyasha, darting off only after giving Miroku strict instructions to look after him.
The little half-demon sighed, lying patiently in the hut. He knew his parents would come get him when they had finished talking. Besides, he thought, Mummy said to be a good boy and do as Miroku said, and he said to stay here. So I will.
Suddenly, Shuri's nose twitched. He'd sensed something, just like his mother had said his father could do. But what is it? All of a sudden, screams, full of pain and terror, hundreds of them, from everywhere. He snatched up his blanket and the jewel, tucking them into his kimono, and darted under the bed, covering the puppy ears atop his head. Make it stop, make I stop, make it stop! He begged, not really knowing who he was asking.
Then, upon opening his watery eyes, and seeing the source of that odd scent, he recoiled as far back against the wall as he could, fear rushing through him, making his blood run cold. Fire. Burning, growing flames licked up the opposite wall, causing the ceiling to creak threateningly, about to fall. "Mummy, Daddy, Please…help me!" he screamed, inhaling smoke as he did so. He looked towards the mat door, which slowly crumbled as it burnt away. People dashed past the hut in different directions, unaware of his plight, too busy with their own. Purple-hued eyes widened as he choked on more smoke, watching scaly, horrific creatures that his grandmother once tried to tell him only existed in nightmares, tore into the frenzied people rushing though the village, their blood staining both them and the ground, spilling into the flames that were slowly consuming the hut Shuri was hiding in. He screamed again, clamping his hands even tighter over his ears in an attempt to close of their horrific screams of agony, shutting his eyes tight. Still, nobody heard his screams. At least he thought nobody had.
A familiar growl reached Shuri's ears, and he forced himself to open his tear-stained eyes, seeing beyond the flames, outside the hut, a figure trying to force its way through the flames, though failing as demons attacked her from every angle. A cry of pain filled the air as a demon's fangs ripped into her neck. Throwing all she had into the attack, she threw the demon from her body and into the doorway of the hut, momentarily dousing the flames.
Shuri found himself smiling despite himself, leaping up and running towards her, he thought he was saved. Kilala let out a reassuring purring noise as she moved towards him, the flames roaring up the doorway behind her. Suddenly, just as Shuri reached for her, the ceiling gave an even fiercer creak than before, and tumbled down upon them. The boy screamed as Kilala threw herself against his little body, crushing him against the back wall of the hut, surrounding him completely with her fur. The ceiling beams lay over the door. They were trapped.
Kilala was immune to the fire, and if she covered Shuri with her fur, so would he, but neither were immune to the toxic smoke which was beginning to eat away what little oxygen remained. Shuri's fingers wrapped themselves in her fur, seeking comfort or some form of reassurance. The fire-cat demon offered her best purr, resting her head over his protectively. They were trapped. There was no way out of this. The cat demon could hear her mistress calling for her distraughtly through the screams and desperation, thanks to her demon-heightened hearing (which had allowed her to hear Shuri), but she couldn't answer the calls. No one could even knew they were there, trapped in the building flames and smoke. Shuri choked, Kilala's desperate howls his distorted lullaby as his eyes closed against the burning hut, his world turning black.
***
"KILALA!!!!!" Sango screamed as her husband and Kohaku assisted in carrying her to the safety of Inuyasha's forest. "KILALA WHERE ARE YOU?!!!"
"She's gone Sango, we have to get going," Miroku told her, trying to stop her struggling, it being difficult to hold her as it was, due to her body suffering heavy contractions at the same time.
"I'M NOT LEAVING HERE WITHOUT HER! SHE BROUGHT ME ALL THIS WAY! SHE'S BEEN WITH ME LONGER THAN ALMOST ANYONE! I WON'T LEAVE HER BEHIND! KILALA!!!!"
"Miroku!" The monk turned and saw Shippo charging towards him, leading a large bunch of screaming women and children.
"Shippo! Am I glad to see you," he regarded those following him, "did you not find him?" Shippo shook his head with a grimace, his eyes watering up.
"Inuyasha and Kagome are nowhere to be found, and I went to your hut, but…"
"But?" Kohaku asked impatiently, this was no time for messing around. They had to get Sango ad the rest to safety.
"The hut was up in flames, if – if Shuri was there, there was no way he-"
"-And Kilala?" Sango asked weakly, still holding hope.
"I couldn't see her, maybe she took him to safety, or maybe…"
"Enough," Miroku said hurriedly, "we have to get away from here, these women and children need help, and Sango is going to have this baby any minute, we have to get going-"
"-But what about Inuyasha and Kagome and-"
"-There's no time!" Shippo and the others nodded resolutely, they could grieve later, right now, they had to get away.
"Quick!" yelled Kohaku, pointing to the demons darting towards them. "They've seen us! RUN!!!"
As they turned and ran into the trees, Kohaku turned, standing his ground.
"KOHAKU! NO!" The boy ignored Miroku's calls, and Miroku couldn't stay, instead carrying his pained wife along with the others. The monk lingered long enough to see Kohaku slice through the demons like paper with his scythe, before turning to dart after them. Miroku knew he was okay, he was following after them. Under the protection of the trees, the group continued running, fleeing as far from the battle as possible. Only trouble was, under the thick trees' canopy, with the sun far below the horizon, it was pitch black within the confines of the forest.
"FOX FIRE!" The monk heard, and saw a glimmering, emerald glow ahead of him, where the kitsune's voice had sounded. He smiled; the once cowardly Shippo would have made Kagome and Inuyasha proud; he was leading the women and children to safety. "Come on, Miroku!" The kitsune called back.
"You go on ahead, Kohaku is only just behind, and I can't carry Sango well on my own like this for much longer!" Sango grumbled something about it being his fault that she was so fat, and he ignored it, turning to se Kohaku stumbling towards them.
"RUN!! THEY'RE STILL FOLLOWING!" Miroku's eyes widened at the luminous red eyes darting after him, not able to see the rest of the creature in the darkness.
"Don't be so foolish! Stop fleeing boy!" The monk and the two demon slayers recognized that voice!
Suddenly Kohaku stumbled, falling flat into the dirt. A swipe through the air was heard, and Kohaku cringed, feeling the pursuing demon's corpse fall either side of him. Kohaku looked dazed as he just made out the two separate halves of the revolting being, tilting his head to look up at its killer. "Ironic, isn't it? That once I strove to kill you, only to now save you?" Miroku never thought he'd be glad, or smile, at hearing Lord Sesshomaru's voice.
"I suppose my Little brother is nowhere to be found?" Sesshomaru asked. Miroku and the others were still in awe, and Shippo, the women and children (who had all come back to save the others), stood in wonder of the demon lord.
"You were fighting along side us? In that village?" Sesshomaru smirked.
"Indeed. I was fighting along side you, value that tiny village and its inhabitants as Inuyasha does." Miroku and the others couldn't process that information right now; the fact that Sesshomaru was fighting for a human village, to save human lives, all for his half-demon brother. It was preposterous! But they didn't care! Just the notion that Lord Sesshomaru was fighting on their side increased their chance of survival.
Suddenly, a huffing and spluttering noise was heard, and Jaken appeared, followed closely by Rin, and some other survivors from the village. Had the situation not been so serious, Miroku might've laughed. Jaken, Lord Sesshomaru's servant, carrying a wounded human woman on his back, (and looking very peeved about it too, Miroku noted). Rin smiled warmly at Miroku, Sango and especially Kohaku. The little human girl smiled up at her lord, jostling the fussing human baby in her arms, which she was holding for the wounded woman on Jaken's back.
"Lord Sesshomaru, there are a few more survivors with us. Did Rin do well?" Sesshomaru almost smiled at her, and gave her a short nod, which made her smile with glee. "And Master Jaken helped too Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken grumbled, though quickly silenced at the smile on Sesshomaru's face. God he hated it when his lord smiled. It always resulted in someone getting hut, namely him!
"Where is Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked, letting the little toad stew for a while, it would be more fun if he got him when he wasn't expecting it.
"He went for a talk with Kagome, that was just after you left today, and they never came back." Sesshomaru, to Miroku's surprise, looked distressed at his words?
"And Shuri?" Miroku shook his head.
"W-We never found him, nor Kilala, even Kaede, who was with us just before we fled, she disappeared also. We hoped that-" Suddenly all fell silent, they heard a distinct growl ahead of them. They all met Sesshomaru's eyes. They knew who that growl belonged to. "Inuyasha!" Miroku gasped. "What if he – what if Kagome-"
"Quickly," Sesshomaru urged, the group darting towards the noise as fast as they could.
***
Inuyasha smiled down at Kagome's still, peaceful face, not touched by agony any longer as he walked back towards the village with her in his arms. She's not in pain any more, he thought, holding her small frame tight against his chest. He blinked, his eyes devoid of tears, he couldn't cry anymore, he wouldn't. Suddenly, his ears pricked, he could hear footsteps, dozens of thundering footsteps, and they were heading straight towards him!
He let out a loud growl or warning, only to see Miroku and Kohaku, struggling with Sango, all lit by a strange green light that the kitsune was holding. He felt his heart leap into his throat at the sight of the odd two dozen wounded villagers following close behind, along with Sesshomaru, Rin and Jaken. What the hell happened? He mentally panicked. And then his heart stopped, missing a beat. Where was Shuri?
"Inuyasha, thank god you're-"
"-Miroku, what the hell-"
"-The demons attacked the village, the caught us off guard, it's being demolished as we speak. We saved what survivors we could and fled."
"What about Shuri?" Inuyasha asked, not a blip of a second after Miroku had finished speaking. Miroku's voice failed him. And Inuyasha's eyes widened. "You heard me monk," Inuyasha practically spat, his voice full of anger, "where is Shuri?!"
"He didn't…Inuyasha, he didn't make it out alive-"
"-Bullshit! That's bullshit!"
"Inuyasha you-"
"-NO!" Inuyasha looked down at Kagome's still form once more, before holding her limp form out to his older brother. "S-Sesshomaru, will you take her for me…?" Sesshomaru frowned, but took her never the less. Inuyasha watched her, reluctant to let her go; it felt wrong to let her go like this, it felt like…goodbye.
Suddenly, as Sango, (not suffering from contractions at that moment), tilted her head to gaze at her friend. Upon seeing her, the demon slayer screamed.
"INUYASHA YOU BASTARD! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" Inuyasha flinched at her words.
"Wench! What do you-"
"HER NECK! HER NECK IS BLEEDING!" Everyone's eyes cast to the puncture wound on the girl's neck. Several deep gashes characterised a wound that could only have been made by a demon – a demon's fangs to be precise. "YOU'VE KILLED HER!"
"Sango, I-"
"THAT'S UTTER CRAP! EVERYTHING THAT FALLS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH ARE LIES! EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT YOU DID TO HER BEFORE, WHEN SHURI WAS CONCEIVED, NOW YOU LET YOUR DEMON SIDE FINISH THE JOB?!!"
"Sango, I didn't! She was dying! And I tried to save her but-" Inuyasha bit his lower lip in anger, drawing blood. "Heck I'm not explaining myself to you…" he growled, golden eyes flashing crimson for a short moment in the glow of the light Shippo was holding up. "Keep going. Head somewhere safe. I'm going to find Shuri," he muttered, giving all their accusatory looks an infuriated glare, darting off into the darkness. The group stood in silence for a long time, with demons at them from all sides; they didn't know where to turn. Was anywhere safe anymore?
Miroku sighed in defeat. Up until this point, he'd been strong, but here he was, holding his wife who was in labour with a child that he didn't know was alive or dead, and Sesshomaru holding Kagome's body, just as clueless, hordes of demons surrounding them. They were trapped. Sesshomaru eyed him carefully, as if reading his thoughts. Just as the monk started to get a little worried that the demon could do such a thing, Sesshomaru spoke.
"If you would all lay your trust in me, I know of a place we can be safe." Miroku raised an eyebrow. Trust Sesshomaru? Was that even possible?
"Really?" Kohaku asked boldly, sounding slightly sarcastic in his tone. "And exactly how far? If you haven't noticed, we're short on time, in the sense of my sister about to drop her child here in Inuyasha's forest, and in the sense of the wounded villagers being enclosed by demons. Where exactly did you have in mind?" Sesshomaru smirked, a gesture that made Jaken shiver.
"I will show you…and as for 'how far', you have no need for such a trifling thing as long-distance travel in my company – well, if we have a specific location that is – which this Sesshomaru does…"
Everyone looked a bit apprehensive, besides Rin, who merely looked pleased with her lord, and Jaken, who simply looked fearful. "Gather round, and I'll take you all there," Sesshomaru practically purred. Should we trust him or not? Miroku pondered, each and every one of them, all seeming to have the same difficult question in mind, whilst the demon lord patiently awaited their decision, even as they heard a stampede of thundering, enraged footsteps drawing closer and closer.
***
Inuyasha winced as his bare feet hit the earth. The dirt underfoot burning hot like cinders, as painful as it was, didn't even register after he took in the foul stench of human blood, screams of tortured agony filling the air. His nose twitched as if trying to recoil at the heavy smoke weighing in the air. Leaping forwards Inuyasha's claws sliced through an attacking demon, freeing the screaming villager from its grasp.
"T-Thank you," was all that fell from the stuttering man's lips before he scrambled to his feet, darting into the forest.
"Is that all he could offer you? Even after you saved his mangy ass? Not very polite now is it?" came the calm, grainy voice Inuyasha recognized without even turning round.
"He doesn't need to thank me, I didn't save him for thanks," Inuyasha grumbled in reply. "What're you doing here Kouga?"
"Helping, Mutt-face, what does it look like I'm doin'?" Inuyasha sneered. He didn't have time for this.
"Feh, whatever. Sesshomaru, Miroku and the others are in the forest, hurry and get the other survivors to them." Kouga stood silently behind him, watching the embers fly slowly in the heated breeze, the village that was once so full of life now gone up in flames.
"Alright, I'll play the dutiful beta of your pack, but only 'cause lives are at stake, ya got that mutt?" Inuyasha snorted, shooting further into the flaming village, wincing every time his feet touched the smouldering ground.
"Shuri?!" Inuyasha dodged an oncoming blow, leaping forwards onto his hands and swiping at the demon with his legs, sending it crashing to the ground. "Dammit," the half-demon growled, "SHURI WHERE ARE YOU?!!!" Suddenly, his ears pricked. That noise, a strangled whimper of pain that Inuyasha could recognise instantly.
Eyes darted wildly around, his head swivelling in every direction, trying to pick up the direction of the sound. Dammit, the heavy scent of burning has masked every other smell, my nose is useless! And then he heard it again, louder this time – to his right. Golden eyes reflected with the fiery light, as he glanced in what had been Miroku. Sango and Kohaku's home, the matted door burnt clean off, the ceiling collapsed in, covering the door, quickly setting the remainder of the hut ablaze. Not seeing anything inside, he turned away from the hut quickly, letting out a frustrated growl. Where the hell is he?
Desperation clawed at his heart as he glanced over into the hut opposite. Nothing there either. Moving forwards to try and find the source of the noise, Inuyasha winced at the shrill, panicked cry that reached his ears. Spinning on his heel, the half-demon darted over to the source of the noise. "Kilala?!" he called in the blazing hut, kicking aside the beams covering the door, a scream tearing from his throat at the searing agony of the fire meeting his flesh. But he didn't care. He swatted his pain aside as he leapt over the building flames that surrounded his cat-demon companion. Pain was negligible, pain he could harbour, but he wouldn't lose anybody else.
Stooping to the demon curled up on the floor in her larger, battle form, Inuyasha touched her ears softly.
"It's okay Kilala. Let's get you outta here," he growled reassuringly, fearing how vulnerable and strained she looked, as if she were forcing her transformation even through her exhaustion. "Change back and I'll carry you outta here, okay?" The cat-demon looked up at him weakly, letting out a shrill noise that hurt his ears, making them clamp tight against his head. The half-demon coughed hard suddenly, inhaling some of the smoke. Pulling his kimono sleeve over his mouth and nose, he motioned to the demon. "Come on! We gotta go!" With a fiery blaze the demon's form was swallowed up, re-emerging in her smaller form, and collapsing against Inuyasha's knee. The half-demon's eyes widened. "Shuri!" Seizing hold of the ash-covered boy, Inuyasha pulled him hard against his chest, resting against the unmoving form in his arms. "Please wake up…I can't lose you, I just can't…" His head jolted up as the walls of the hut started to creak without their supports. It was going to collapse on their heads if he didn't move it. Pulling off his kimono, Inuyasha secured Kilala in Shuri's lap, wrapping them both up in the fire-rat material.
Getting to his knees, Inuyasha's keen eyes glanced hurriedly over the entrance. The walls gave an even more threatening lurch and Inuyasha swallowed hard. This is gonna hurt like hell…
Leaping forwards, the half-demon took off on one foot, sending himself and his precious cargo flying through the flaming doorway. Crying out in pain as fire tore at his flesh; Inuyasha sank his fangs into his lower lip, blood dripping from the wound it caused. Landing easily on his now blistered feet, the half-demon shot into the forest, clutching the bundle wrapped in the protective cloth of the fire rat to his chest, smearing it with his blood as it oozed from the wounds on his face. A sharp gasp tore through the air, and Inuyasha winced, the sound coming from him. He was losing too much blood, his vision blurring, and sense of reality fading as he started to sway in his quick leaps through the forest. "N-No I…It can't, I…Shuri and…" his voice ripped at his throat like sharp knives grating it. Then he felt it. Something horrifyingly familiar pulsed inside his chest. "N-No…No!" he managed out, his voice echoing around the forest. A nasty sliding motion fell across his marred skin on his cheeks, and his connection to the unbearable agony in his wounded body suddenly severed. Just as suddenly as he'd no longer felt the pain, his once golden eyes bled red. I'm going to die, was Inuyasha's last conscious thought, before he blacked out, his suddenly full demon eyes gazed down at the bundle in his arms.
TBC
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A/N: I honestly can't thank you guys enough for still being with me, *sighs* I can do no more than give you all virtual hugs *gives virtual hugs* You might say I'm overreacting but I really appreciate it, since I believe writing is the only thing I'm damn well good at. Neways, I've got half of the next chapter written but any ideas you've got will be welcome to make sure I don't disapear again XD No, i will try not to. BTW, I was trying to make the InuxKag moment touching, did it work? Any-who, see ya! And remember to Review!
Shigure
x chuu x