The Family Secret
By. Tate Icasa
Chapter Fourteen
Following
"One of us should probably stay, in case somthing goes wrong." Miroku says.
Sango nods.
"I'll stay." Shoko says steadily, aging two months in the process.
Miroku hesitates a second, then nods.
I sense It suddenly.
"It's coming." I whisper to Seiko.
She nods and we begin to run.
Miroku is seated behind Seiko. Sango behind him, then Kagome, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Amiya.
"Ready?" he asks.
The others place thier hands upon the temple of the person in front of them.
Miroku nods and does the same.
The blink and look around.
"It's a forest." Aamiya says finally.
"Inuyasha, can you find Taori?" Miroku asks.
"That way." Inuyasha says after a minute, pointing.
"Lets go then." Shippo says, running ahead.
I stumble, and grab a tree to stop from falling.
My hand misses the tree though.
I hit the ground and roll, hard.
I'm paraliyzed again, I realize, and blind.
I can feel the Coldness wrap around my other wrist. It doesn't surprise me to feel it change this time.
Soon enough, it disappears, and I get up.
"Neechan?" I ask, helping her up.
"I didn't see it."
I nod. "Let's go."
Inuyasha stops, a confused look on his face.
"What is it?" Kagome asks.
"This makes no sense. She went. . .both ways?"
"Huh?"
"Her scent. It goes in two directions." He points.
"Then we should split up." Miroku suggests.
Kagome nods. "Sanga, Miroku, take Shippo with you. Amiya can come with Inuyasha and I."
"Why?" Amiya asks.
"Because Shippo is a Kitsune, so he can follow Taori's scent like Inuyasha can."
"Oh."
"Ok, guys, come on!" Shippos says. He leads Sango and Miroko away.
After they've gone, Kagome climbs onto Inuyasha's back.
"We can travel faster this way." he says, looking at Amiya. She shrugs and climbs up next to Kagome.
Inuyasha begins to run.
I sit down with my back against a tree.
"Taori-chan?" Neechan asks.
I shake my head. "It's nothing. I'm must tired."
"How long until the creature returns?"
I close my eyes and stretch my snese.
"Something's coming, but. . . it isn't the creature." I concentrate, and so I don't notice It's approach until the Coldness enwraps my head.
Shoko nearly jumps out of his skin when Taori moves.
He glances at her sharply, before blinking in confusion. Her normal ears had disappeared, and dog ears not unlike Inuyasha's (but black) were growing from the top of her head.
He takes a cautious step towards her.
The Coldness leaves, but It's presense doesn't. I look around warily. Neechan lies on the ground a few feet away.
"Neechan?"
She doesn't move. I start to worry.
My pretty new ears twitch at a sound behind me. Suddenly clawed hands dig into them.
I scream, both in pain and surprsie. My head is jerked back. I can see my vision swimming, before I pass out, due to both my ears being yeanked, and my head hitting the tree.
Shoko jumps back as Taori screams. Her eyes shoot open, flashing. Shoko watches her warily and tips his head.
Taor jumps to her feet, leaving the others behind her.
Without even acknowleding his presense, she rushes past Shoko and out of the castle.
He turns, thinking to follow her, but something pulls him back. While the others stir and wake, Seiko merely sits, her hands limp hin her lap, eyes closed.
He knees and pokes her, but she simply tips over.
"Seiko!"
He picks her up a bit, but she doesn't respond at all. Hurriedly, he checks her for a pluse. It's weak, but steady.
He naps twice, getting his father's attention.
Miroku takes one look at her and frows. "It is as if she didn't come out of meditation wit the rest of us."
"But the link was broken!" Amiya protests.
"Ture, however, I've never seen athink like this before." Miroku says. "It's possible that she's still inside Taori."
"Where is Taori, anyway?" Shippo asks.
Shoko points wordlessly. Then he begins signing.
"Shoko's right." Sango says. "If Seiko is with child then this could injure both."
"I'm going after Taori." Inuyasha says. "Are you coming, Kagome?"
Kagome nods and climbs onto his back.
"Miroku and I are coming with you as well." Sango says.
"We are?" Miroku asks, startled.
"Yes, we are." Sango says firmly. "Kirara!"
A confirming roar sounds throug hthe room, and a large Kirara is seen in the gard out the window.
Inuyasha nods and he and Kagome disappear. Miroku and Sango go out into the garden.
"He! Sango! I wanna come with you too!" Shippo calls, jumping onto the window fram.
"Why don't you and Amiya follow us on foot?" Miroku suggests.
"Ok!" He turns. "Shokoj, you stay here in cas she wakes up." Without waiting for an answer, he practically drags Amiya from the room.
Shoko nods.
Seiko lies still, limp and plae, on her side on the wooden floor. Her eyes are still closed, her legs still folded, and her hair partially covers her face, nearly masking the stange motions of her face.