Chapter 21

Burasage: Part 3

"Kagome!"

Sango's horrified yell was muffled by the nearly wall-like structure of the roots twisted about them but Kagome couldn't see anything in the darkness. Nothing except for Ginta.

The male's shallow breathing was concerning but she refused to leave him. If the evil aura surrounding them was any indication, her power was the only thing keeping them alive. The fact they were even still alive was staggering to her.

"Kagome!"

The desperation in Sango's voice snapped Kagome from her thoughts, causing the young priestess to jerk upward.

"I'm here, Sango," she called quickly. "I'm alright. We….we both are."

Kagome really hoped she wasn't lying but at the moment, she didn't have time to explain everything about their situation. The relieved sigh from outside told her, Sango apparently believed her.

"The roots are too thick," the taijiya returned after a few moments. "I can't break through."

That was worrisome. If Sango couldn't get through the wood, then that left her out in the open, and Ginta and herself at this monster's mercy. The pained groan form Ginta told Kagome they only had so long.

"I'm going to get help!"

Wait, what?

"Sango?" Kagome called, old fears starting to creep up.

"I'll be right back," Sango shouted in return, her voice fainter than it was before. "Don't worry. We'll get you out."

Despite how much she wanted to call after her friend, Kagome forced herself to take deep breaths, clawing for calm within herself as she heard the creak and groan of the surrounding roots tighten about them. Or, at least, they tried to.

The answering crackle of conflicting energies sparked above Kagome's head, causing the darkness to recede slightly. At least her reiki was keeping Burasage at bay. That was in their favor.

Another groan from Ginta had Kagome releasing a slow breath. She needed to focus. Ginta's life depended on it. But, first, she had to make sure the barrier was strong enough.

'Hang on, Ginta. Just hang on.'

SSS

"I swear it, hoshi! This was dead. It was!"

Miroku sighed forlornly to himself as he gave the stupefied tracker an understanding smile. The poor man was staring at the now clear river with such wide-eyed shock, the hoshi wondered if he'd just topple over into the freezing cold water.

"It's not that I don't believe you, my good man," Miroku soothed. "It's that, as you can see, the river is now cured."

The pronouncement was true. Even now, Miroku could sense the bare trace of an ancient evil in the surrounding area but, other than a faint whiff in the air, it was gone. The water was clean, clear. Pure.

Already, the beginning signs of returning life drifted and dove under the cool surface. Even the on-coming clouds in the sky were less ominous to the spirit. It was almost winter, afterall.

"But, but but…." the man stammered as he continued to rub the side of his head in disbelief.

"Now, now," Miroku prompted as he quickly pulled the tracker to his fur-clad feet. "Let's not harm ourselves. This is obviously an act of providence. The Kami has deemed the river be saved and therefore, have worked a miracle to ensure life continues."

All the while, Miroku was doing his best to move the stunned man away from the water and back towards the way they came. If there was no need to heal the river, there was no reason to remain in the area. With any luck, the offer Miroku had gotten earlier wasn't entirely lost to him and—

The sudden rustling of the surrounding brush had the hoshi immediately on his guard, bringing his shakujo across his front and prepared to swing. The tracker's horrified scream rang through the air moments before he took off, obviously thinking the growing noise the threat returning to the source. Miroku widened his stance in preparation.

"Whoever you are, come out!" he shouted to the thrashing brush. "I mean no harm to you if you mean no harm to me."

However, while the tense hoshi was prepared for a myriad of possibilities to rush out of the forest, the lovely taijiya he was waiting on wasn't one of them.

Breath huffing in excursion and dirt smudging the smooth skin of her cheek, she looked more disheveled than Miroku had ever seen her. Her previously pristine hair was mussed and sticking out, with leaves sticking out and a raised color darkening her cheeks.

She looked like she'd just come from a battle,…. or a more enjoyable pastime in the woods.

Miroku quickly tamped down the spike of irritation the possibility brought to him. The young woman was a beauty but who she spent her time with was certainly none of his concern. Besides, he was many things: a hypocrite wasn't one of them.

Wide brown eyes zipping one way then the other, they suddenly brightened when they landed on Miroku.

"Hoshi!" she cried out in joy before rushing towards him. "Thank the Kami I found you."

Masculine pride swelled in Miroku's chest as he opened his arms to the woman.

"I am here for whatever you wish," he replied with a bright smile.

But, instead of falling into his waiting arms, the comment caused the taijiya to stumble mid-step, brow furrowing in confused suspicion.

"What are you talking about?" she asked tightly, her eye narrowing in suspicion.

Miroku swallowed in the back of his throat as he realized the spell over the woman was quite possibly slipping away. However, it never hurt to try, just in case.

"You were looking for me," he quickly informed in defense. "So, here I am; ready to serve in any way you desire."

It barely took Miroku two seconds to spy the displeasure on the woman's face before she scowled at him like he was a disobedient child. Miroku sighed in disappointment. It was worth a shot.

"Is that what you've been doing all this time?" she demanded, shoulders hunching like a wild-cat ready to pounce. "Offering to serve any and every young woman who comes by?! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Oddly enough, the vehemence in the pretty hunter's voice had Miroku perking up in interest. Perhaps this was salvageable, after all.

"Are you jealous?" he asked lightly, a pleased smirk on his face. "I'm touched."

"In the head," Sango snapped back, lips compressed in irritation. "I'm not jealous. I'm put-out! You've been lazing about, doing….as you please, while I've been trying to survive up in the mountains."

All teasing immediately slipped from Miroku's face and the young hoshi nodded in agreement to the reproach.

"And, were you successful?" he asked, steady eyes shifting from side to side, looking for the priestess.

"Does it look like I was?" the taijiya snarled, huffing in frustration and her face turning an attractive shade of pink. "That's why I need you, hoshi."

Miroku nodded again as his eyes narrowed in concentration.

"How can I help?"

SSS

Naraku cursed between gritted teeth as he studied the new thorn in his side. What was the nekomata doing here?

Although, the more pressing issue wasn't the large feline but the female yokai hunter that was stuck like glue to her side. Was she here as well?

This was unexpected. And, Naraku didn't like anything unexpected. It changed things and forced Naraku's plans to shift. If that woman was here…..then, Kagome wasn't alone.

Even from his well-placed hiding spot, Naraku could spy the change in the stupid Alpha's stance. He wasn't going to fight anymore. If anything, confusion and realization was warring with each-other and it was only a matter of time before enlightenment won out….. even to a mind as thick-skulled as an ookami.

Too bad. He so wanted to watch the fools destroy themselves in this farce of a show before him. Luckily, his plans weren't entirely shot to hell just yet. The priestess undoubtedly was nicely tucked away and the wolf pack's true punishment was so close, he could taste it. But, he needed the Alpha to stay away.

Naraku was counting on the ookami's stubborn need to fight to do the work for him. Now, it didn't look like he could stick to the shadows that much longer.

Taking a deep, frustrated breath, he slowly gathered his shoki about himself. There was no point in coming out in the open unless he was going to make a point. And, sudden death, was a big point to make.