Kagome stood on the edge of the clearing with her arms wrapped around her frame. She wanted to sleep but every time she closed her eyes she saw visions of blood. Tears leaked from her eyes and she hastily swiped them away. She had to be strong, Sango couldn't be strong right now and Miroku was broken with grief over Sango's suffering.
Kikyo glided ahead of Kagome and she jumped. Kikyo motioned for Kagome to follow her and Kagome looked back at the camp before stepping forward and following behind the dead priestess. What does she want? Kagome thought silently trailing the woman who was her predecessor in so many ways.
Bound at every limb by my shackles of fear
Sealed with lies through so many tears
Lost from within, pursuing the end
I fight for the chance to be lied to again
Kagome clenched her fists; Is Kikyo going to try to convince me to leave again? I will not! My place is with Inuyasha!
Kikyo turned to face Kagome before they had gotten too far. She studied her incarnations face and noticed the steely edge to her eyes. The little girl thinks she can stand up to me huh? Pathetic. She is no where near my power.
You will never be strong enough
You will never be good enough
You were never conceived in love
You will not rise above
"There is an evil hunting you." Kikyo started.
"We know that Kikyo. His name is Aka." Kagome said quietly. Maybe she just wants to help us…
"He is too powerful for you to defeat. You are too weak Kagome." Kikyo said her voice a nagging in Kagome's mind.
They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me
The world went misty as Kikyo's voice droned on and on, "You're too weak. You have no power. You will fail."
Kagome sank to her knees in despair, I'll fail? I…I can't fail. I need to be strong for Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha doesn't need you. He doesn't care for you. You'll put the Jewel together and then he will come back to me." Kikyo's voice said laughing derisively.
Inuyasha would never abandon me! He always comes for me! Always!
"Where is he now then? Where is he now when your life is in danger?" Kikyo's voice changed and it became deeper, a mans voice, but Kagome couldn't wrap her mind around whose voice it was. She knew it and as it laughed it began to dawn on her. She tried to move but despair had let him into her mind and she was unable to get away. Aka! She closed her eyes and tears began to run faster down her cheeks. Inuyasha would come for me. He will always come for me!
"Why should he come for you? He doesn't need you." Aka said unsheathing his blade. "You are worthless, useless."
"No I'm not!" Kagome screamed the mist around her beginning to purify.
But through my tears breaks a blinding light
Birthing a dawn to this endless night
Arms outstretched, awaiting me
An open embrace upon a bleeding tree
Many memories flitted through her mind as she held on to the thought that Inuyasha would be there for her. Inuyasha coming to save her even when he hated her when the Thunder Brothers kidnapped her; Inuyasha staying with her when Tsubaki had tried to get her to kill him; Inuyasha holding her hand as they walked. "I love Inuyasha, that gives me worth, gives me a use. You hear me? I LOVE INUYASHA!" She screamed and slammed her fist into the ground sending a spray of purifying power up to surround her. She looked up to see Aka studying her closely before turning and walking away.
A second later Inuyasha dropped into the clearing his eyes wide with fright. The barrier fell as Kagome struggled to her feet and threw herself at Inuyasha. Tears were pouring from her eyes as she buried her head in his shoulder. "I knew you'd come." She said softly.
"What happened Kagome? One moment you were there and the next you weren't." Inuyasha said holding her to him tightly. His heart was racing inside his chest. When he had heard her screaming he had desperately searched for her but Aka had kept her well hidden. He heard her yelling though the words were undistinguishable and felt the surge in her power and he knew where to find her. His hands flexed on her back pulling her closer as he breathed in her scent. After what had happened with Sango he had been terrified he would take her too.
Rest in me and I'll comfort you
I have lived and I died for you
Abide in me and I vow to you
I will never forsake you
Kagome sighed and laid her cheek against the cool cloth of Inuyasha's shirt for a moment before stepping back. "Is everyone else alright?"
Inuyasha nodded and picked Kagome up into his arms. "Let's get you back." He said quietly carrying her as she began to drift off. "You are tired."
"I'm fine with you." Kagome said softly, grabbing on to the front locks of his hair as she slept like a child with a toy.
Inuyasha felt his chest squeeze with anger. Aka had angered him by taking his friend. But now he was beyond raged. Aka had taken Kagome and done something to her enough to make her priestess blood surge in protection. Inuyasha pulled Kagome up tighter and growled softly as she shifted restlessly and she calmed. He may not know exactly what this odd girl meant to him but he was sure that he didn't want to lose her. Aka would pay. He and Miroku had scores to settle.
When he entered the clearing and laid the sleeping Kagome beside Sango he and Miroku walked a few steps away to talk. "He did something, I don't know what. I think he just messed with her head. This guy needs to go down Miroku." Inuyasha snarled and Miroku was tempted to step back with the ferocity that shone from Inuyasha's eyes.
But Miroku's eyes matched the anger in Inuyasha's, he thought of the suffering that Sango seemed to be going through and he clenched his fists around his staff hard enough that the staff creaked. "What's the plan?"
They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me
They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me
Aka stood on a clearing not far from the group and thought about the resistance that the woman had given him. Something about that made him remember…made him think of things he no longer wanted to haunt him. He closed his eyes and pushed the memories away as he swung his still-drawn sword and a snake of blood reared up from the ground in front of him. It lowered its head close to Aka and ran its cheek along Akas. When it moved away it began to grow until it was over 20 feet long. "Get them. Make them pay."
The snake lay down and began to move towards the camp silent in the soft grass. Aka viewed the world through his eyes and their eyes lit upon the campfire and the snake slithered up to the trees surrounding them watching. The men were whispering to each other and the women were laying unconscious a few feet closer to him. The two wolves were sitting close to the fire listening in on the others conversation. The snake smirked and began to slither closer to the women; he could kill them without the men even knowing he had been there. He was a foot away from them when the one Aka wanted, sat up a blade in her hand and drove the tip into its head. Aka screamed from the hilltop as the blade pierced through the snake and its power ripped into his head plunging his mind into the past. Moments after his body hit the ground, his mind locked in memories, a woman on a feather picked up his body and flew off.
Miroku and Inuyasha spun around when they heard the dying shriek of the snake and watched its body of blood explode. Inuyasha wiped the blood from his eyes and watched as Sango struggled to her feet using the sword as a cane. Kagome opened her eyes and smiled when Sango stood up then frowned at the blood covering her. Miroku took a step towards Sango then stopped uncertain. She looked up and met his eyes smiling faintly. "Sorry for the mess."
In two steps Miroku was at Sangos side and pulling her into his arms. "Sango…oh Sango." He whispered running anxious hands over her.
Out of reflex Sango's hand smacked across his face when he touched her bottom and Kagome let out a chuckle. Inuyasha was instantly at her side when she tried to sit up and she started to reach out to touch him then frowned at the blood on her hand. Inuyasha leaned into her hand anyway ignoring the coppery smell as it neared his nose. "I think Sango is back." He said grinning at the blushing slayer.
"Damn right." Sango said raising the tip of the sword. "And I am ready to kick some River God's ass."
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