Chapter 21 Consuming Darkness

"So…that Ice Demon was not enough to capture this human you are after?" A soft wispy voice spoke as Setsuko walked along.

Giving a growl of annoyance she kept her mind on her next plan. Leaving the work solely to the Ice Beast was a mistake. Clearly Brent had been criminally underestimated; just how powerful was he? He was only a human and yet he was able to decimate a fearsome Demon from the face of the Earth. This time would be different however. Naraku had been generous enough to lend Setsuko another Demon to aid her after being told what happened to the Ice Beast.

"I won't be so foolhardy as that brute. This…Inuyasha and his friends won't even see us coming." The voice spoke again…yet nothing seemed to be following the Lizard Demon.

"That would be the point. Seeing as your abilities will offer a new strategy I've decided I'm going to go after Brent myself. I just need you to occupy that damned Half-Demon and his allies!" Setuko hissed as her eyes remained forward.

"It will be childishly easy…" A black wisp that looked like a moving cloud popped up from Setsuko's shadow and flew in front of her. "You will have total vision during our attack. So don't fret my dear." Red eyes suddenly opened in a non-descript place on the wispy black fog looking rather pleased.

"Once I have done away with this putrid human you may do as you please with Inuyasha and the others. I have no interest in taking their lives."

"Oh lovely…" The dark cloud hummed with an unnerving chuckle.

After having to retreat from sight and regroup Setsuko would have to find her way back to where the band of friends was. It was fortuitous that the Saimyosho could fly ahead remaining undetected in the sky to help spot them. The sun would be setting soon; which would only help with her next scheme.

"Has nobody ever heard of Hisao?" Shippo was tired of the quiet as they walked along. It had been hours since anyone last spoke. Only the sounds of footsteps and chirping birds had been the highlight of the day's conversations.

"I've been around far longer than any of you and I've never even heard of him!" Inuyasha huffed.

"Then how come Lady Kaede has heard of him?"

"She's a hag. Who knows how?"

"Inuyasha that's not nice!" Kagome shot him a nasty look.

"We've been walking all day in a random direction with no leads. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but this is not looking great at all." Brent said looking into the distance rather glumly.

The view he had was rather spectacular, but lost on him. Only a couple hours ago they had started to ascend into a nearby mountain range; the dirt beneath their feet replaced with stone and gravel. The sun was slowly dipping below the horizon just as it had during Hiwatari-Sai; which seemed to be so long ago. All day, Brent held the record for being the least talkative. He had seemed rather distant, more so than usual, and this was not missed by anyone.

"Don't worry. We'll find Hisao and get the answers we need." Sango gave a reassuring smile as she put a hand on his shoulder.

But Brent didn't seem to acknowledge her. He only seemed to be staring into nothingness as his legs did all the work in his absentmindedness.

"I don't know if it's the Jewel Shard…or just me…but do you ever get that feeling in your chest that something is wrong? That's how I feel right now…and it won't go away…" Brent said as he finally looked back along the path.

"You're just paranoid. Calm down. Nothing is going to happen. The day is almost over and we'll be finding a place to camp soon." There was a hint of impatience in Inuyasha's voice.

"In a less tactful way, he is right. Everything is fine." Miroku walked up on Brent's other side and smiled at him.

"Naraku can't handle us! And neither can his Demons!" Shippo said proudly.

"We've all got each other's backs. You're one us and we won't let anything happen to you." Kagome said looking back at her American friend.

Brent never gave a response; his mind was elsewhere already and had been most of the day. It was why he was so quiet. The only thing that occupied his mind, ever since he learned of it, was the fact that his would-be killer now had help from the one person that was part of the worst-case scenario. Every time he looked at his friends earlier in the day he could only think of how their lives had been dramatically altered thanks to Naraku, and how it was going to affect him now that he was part of the equation. Brent was overwhelmed at this point with a flurry of thoughts, and a flood of various emotions. What if he never made it home? What if one of the others was hurt or killed because of him? He couldn't live with himself if that happened…especially if it was Kagome! Even if he survived he would ripped him limb from limb by Koga; and with his speed Brent was sure even Inuyasha wouldn't be able to protect him. This wasn't where he belonged; in this pitiless and harsh world. A simple trip to learn about the culture of a foreign country has turned into an utter nightmare and only seems to be moving in a downward spiral. Home…he wanted to go back home…back to a comfy bed, safely tucked away in his apartment, and surrounded by air conditioning…

"Up there! We'll make camp on that plateau. Night is almost here." Inuyasha called from up front.

"Isn't there a cave nearby?" Sango looked around.

"No. We'll have to make do. We're too far up now."

Brent popped out of his reverie and finally took notice of the world around him. The sun had indeed nearly disappeared below the horizon. Only a quarter remained that cast its glow. The clouds in the sky were becoming a deeper shade of red as the sun slowly his away behind the hills.

Upon reaching the plateau everyone sat their gear down and began to rest. Though, one member was still uneasy about their camping situation. It was far too open and left no sense of security. Sure there was nowhere for any enemy to hide, but the same went for them. Inuyasha stretched his arms wide and yawned while scratching the back of his head. He caught Brent's attention when his weary gaze quickly changed to alert. Miroku and Sango were on their feet already and had their weapons in hand.

"Do you sense that?" Miroku scanned behind them all.

"A Demonic aura…" Sango tightened her grip on the Hiraikotsu.

"I can smell it…similar to Naraku!" Inuyasha withdrew his Tetsaiga which quickly changed to its large and curved fang-like state.

"Oh no…I knew it…" Brent removed Tanny from his back and held it tightly.

Kagome and Shippo saw the look on his face. For the first time since Brent had arrived; they saw a bit of fear spark in his eyes as they darted around. Kirara leaped over to him with a roar after transforming and stood behind him; snarling and baring her teeth. Kagome and Shippo ran over and took place in front of their friend; Kagome nocked an arrow and readied herself.

"Kagome and the others got the right idea! Circle around Brent!" Ordered Inuyasha.

The Monk, Half-Demon, and Demon slayer moved just in time, because at the moment a thick black fog began to seep up over the edges of their highland.

"What the hell is that?!" Brent shouted.

"I don't know!" Kagome's response spoke for everyone.

As the deathly looking smog crept closer they all heard a soft cackle. Inuyasha took a swing at the dark fog, but it did nothing; it didn't even wave any away! Everyone expected something different as it circled their ankles, but nothing happened. There was no pain, no ill effects, only a deep sense of foreboding. Rising higher and higher as if it were baking, the nightmarish cloud began to consume them all; bringing them closer to its shadowy depths. A soft cackle echoes around them and grows louder as the black veil covers them totally.

"I can't see a thing!" Inuyasha shouted.

"I can't even see Kagome and she's standing right in front of me! What is this?!" Brent yelled.

"This fog is so dense it's as if light never existed!" Miroku exclaimed.

"You're all in my world now…" A soft wispy voice sounded around them suddenly. "Darkness will consume you all…heeheeheeheehee!"

"Show yourself you coward!" Yelled Inuyasha.

"We know what you are here for and we won't let you take him!" Sango felt lost even with the knowledge her allies were near her.

"Oh him? That strangely dressed human? I don't want him…but I know someone who does…" The disembodied voice said.

Setsuko had been watching this entire time from the edge over the pathway. What unfolded before her left her stunned. There they all were looking around frantically as if they were blind; completely oblivious to where she stood. Some of them had even looked directly at her! This Demon of the Dark spoke the truth; she was able to see through his fog. And there…there was her prey…right…there…

Brent had tried putting his hand up to his face so that his palm touched his nose, and he still couldn't see his own hand! Not even the glow from the metal on his Tanegashima could pierce this infernal dark. His finger was ready to pull the trigger and blast the first thing he saw…if he could see it! Firing blindly was out of the question; he could hit one of the group and possibly kill them.

"Oh Brent…"

Spinning around upon hearing the wispy voice behind him, Brent was face to face with a set of terrifying blood red eyes. He shouted in fear and fell back knocking over Kagome and Shippo.

NOW! This was Setsuko's chance!

Brent felt something wet and sticky wrap around his ankles and knew exactly what was happening. He had felt this disgusting feeling before when Setsuko wrapped her tongue around his neck, and that was what she was doing now. Not only did he feel the tug from her, but he felt himself being pushed along as well. That Dark Demon was shoving him toward her!

"HEEELLLP!" Brent yelled as he tried to blindly grab onto any of his nearby friends.

"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Kagome shouted. She looked around desperately to spot the shard within his chest; hoping to find the glow, but it was all for naught. The concealing power of the fog was too great.

Amidst the panic Inuyasha's ears picked up the scraping of Brent being dragged along the stony ground. Hand outstretched, he took a dive toward the sound blindly and grasped hold of something. Pulling as hard as he could only yanked something toward him, and then he realized what he was holding. Inuyasha had just yanked Brent's only true defensive weapon from his hands.

"BRENT HOLD ON!" Inuyasha chased after the sound sightlessly for only a moment before something knocked him off his feet, and back toward the group.

"GUUUYYYS!" The sound of Brent being dragged stopped as he was pulled over the side.

"DAMN IT! WE NEED TO CLEAR THIS-UNG!" Miroku yelled as he was knocked off his feet.

"You won't be going anywhere. You all belong to me now!" The Demon cackled as the group tried to spot it.

Once Brent had been pulled close enough Setsuko jumped down to the path far below. She watched as his feet came into view with glee; her wicked smile forming as her grotesquely extended tongue pulled. With nothing to take hold of, Brent fell over the side and tumbled down the steep rock face. Landing on his back with a thud and grunt of pain, Setsuko retracted her tongue entirely and flashed a malicious toothy grin. The wind had been knocked out of him as he lay there trying to get his breath back. He might have been seriously injured had it not been for the Jewel Shard.

"Hello…murderer…"

Brent could finally see again; only the night was very nearly upon them. The sky was slowly turning blacker with every moment; and the current moment was looking terribly bleak. He lifted his head to see Setsuko standing just mere feet away from him. Panic set it. Without his Tanegashima he was utterly powerless to her. That smile on her face…All the ill intent and hatred was written upon it that she held toward him. Brent scrambled away as she walked towards him with that treacherous smirk. Just as he'd gotten to his feet and turned to run, the tongue of the Lizard Demon shot out again to trip him. The human fell flat on his face, and Setsuko leaped onto his back pinning him to the ground.

Slowly she leaned in next to his right ear and whispered. "I've done nothing but contemplate how I want to kill you. Have you ever occupied a woman's mind so much before?"

The intimidating taunt was met with the crack of elbow against her jaw. Setsuko made the mistake of not holding his arms down. The blow sent her off of him to the left and against the rocky wall. How could a human hold enough strength to strike her that hard? Left dazed for only a second, the Lizard Demon quickly grabbed her prey's ankle as he tried to flee.

Up on the plateau the Dark Demon was having a fantastic time smacking around Inuyasha and the others. One second they swore they saw a set of red eyes; the next they struck by the unseen foe. He was only toying with them…for the moment.

"Naraku is weak to be so bothered by the likes of you! Capturing you was far too easy! And it will be even easier to end your worthless lives…heeheeheeheehee!"

"We have to do something! Brent's in serious trouble!" Shippo was anxiously turning and looking in all directions.

"What can we do?! Any move we try to make we get pushed back!" Sango shouted as got a lucky block with her weapon on a hit meant for her.

Inuysasha's sword couldn't cut the fog. Kagome fired several arrows, and even her power couldn't perforate the shroud.

"We have to do something! Anything!" The schoolgirl pleaded.

"My Wind Tunnel might be the only way!" The Monk grabbed his beads and readied to unleash his power. "Is everyone behind me?!"

"Miroku don't! I can smell those Saimyosho nearby! They're lying in wait! Gah!" There was a loud clang as the Demon struck Inuyasha's sword.

Was this truly a checkmate? No…things could not end like this. Miroku wouldn't allow it. His new ally…his new friend…had saved Sango's life. He had gone all on his own and risked his own neck to bring her back. Miroku felt indebted to that. A decision was made. Raising his hand and removing the beads around the concealing glove he once again called forth the power of the terrible curse bestowed upon him.

Below the struggle with the demonic shroud another was in progress. Brent and Setsuko were vying to overthrow the other and land a killing blow. Flailing about on the ground as he tried to punch her, and she tried to tear his flesh with her claws, both of them dodge or blocked the other's aggression. Brent was on the ground with Setsuko atop him again; currently holding her arms to prevent her from ripping him apart.

Then sound of a sudden immense gust of wind caught their attention. Both looked up to the plateau to see the fog disappearing. They both knew what was going on.

"NO!"

Seeing his new window of opportunity Brent let go of one of his attacker's hands and threw a punch. Setsuko groaned in pain as her prey reached for something. The sound of a weapon being unsheathed filled the air. Brent brought his Tanto up to stab the Lizard Demon in the head…but wasn't quick enough. Her hand wrapped around his wrist; stopping his fatal blow.

"You wretched little…"

A lump caught in Setsuko's throat when she was the weapon. That Tanto…

"You…You took my brother's weapon?" She spoke with a swelling rage.

"No! It was given to me and for the last GODDAMN time I DIDN'T KILL HIM!"

Setsuko's breathing was becoming more rapid…haggard…fierce. Teeth grit tightly and fangs bared, she released her anger that had built within her.

"LIAR!"

With deft movements, Setsuko punched Brent in the nose dazing him instantly and caused him to shout. As his nose bled she took the Tanto from his weakened grip, raised it, and stabbed him in the stomach. It pierced his flesh with ease with a sickening noise. Brent's scream would have reached his friends had Setsuko not covered his mouth. He pitifully tried to shove her off, but if he made any movement she would just twist the Tanto causing more excruciating pain. The pain in his eyes…ever so slowly building…oh it was wonderful to see. The smell of blood…seeping from between the blade and his flesh…to just taste it for a moment would be divine.

As Setsuko was inflicting pain upon Brent, Miroku was experiencing his own for his bold decision. When the last of the black vapor was sucked into his Wind Tunnel two Saimyosho appeared and selflessly put them in its deadly path. That familiar stinging twinge coursed through his entire body. With his objective completed he sealed his hand, and fell to his knees shaking.

"Miroku!" Sango and Kirara were instantly at his side.

With nothing to hide his form the Dark Demon was left floating in midair for everyone to see. Just a dark as the smoke it had created and staring in shock with its blood red eyes.

"No! How…how did you…"

"Play time is over pal! WIND SCAR!" Inuyasha wasted no time and swung his grand sword; slicing the point in which their Demonic energies met.

Great waves of energy surged forward toward the hapless Demon and engulfed him entirely. Screaming in agony, the Dark Demon was obliterated entirely. Another of Naraku's minions gone. The moment the Demon was gone Inuyasha caught it faintly…the smell of blood. He knew it was Brent's immediately, but how was it he was able to pick it up?

"INUYASHA! HE'S DOWN THERE!" Kagome yelled at the top of her lungs and pointed to where she could see the Jewel finally.

Sango was closest however, and immediately hopped onto Kirara.

The commotion from above told Setsuko what had happened, and caused her to realize she had no time to play anymore. Brent deserved to suffer, and so she changed her plan to one that even he had no chance of surviving.

Once more she leaned down close to him and stared into his terrified eyes as she spoke with malice. "Your death will be slow…I'll be thrilled knowing that you will suffer horribly…"

Brent could only watch as she opened her mouth; noticing her fangs were dripping. Right when she went to bite into his neck, he held up his arm to try and shield himself. This only caused her fangs to sink into his left forearm; another muffled scream into the palm of his assailant's hand. Setsuko held her fangs in place for a moment before withdrawing; blood coating her fangs and lips. The cold and spiteful look in her eyes disappeared when a bright white glow appeared in Brent's chest. Though she had no idea, but it was the Jewel Shard trying to ease Brent's pain.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!"

Kirara roared as her rider threw her weapon. The attack missed as Setsuko jumped off of Brent and over the side; disappearing into the darkness as the oversized boomerang struck into the mountainside. Sango and Kirara rushed to the wounded young man as he whimpered in pain.

"H-help…me…please…"

Brent feebly clutched at the gaping wound in his stomach as it bled; making his shirt an even deeper shade of red.

"We have to get to a more secure place! Let me help you onto Kirara!"

The large Feline was already lying down to make it easier. Moaning in pain as he was helped to his feet, Brent was only barely able to lift his leg to sit on Kirara's back. Inuyasha, carrying Miroku in his arms, Kagome on his back, and Shippo on hers, had just jumped down as Sango took her place after grabbing the Hiraikotsu and held onto Brent.

"What happened to him?!" Kagome and Shippo asked at the same time.

"She's stabbed him in the stomach! We need to get him somewhere safer! That forest over there will provide a better hiding place! Just follow me!" Sango took charge of the situation immediately and soared down the mountainside holding onto Brent.

Inuyasha, with even the great weight from everyone he was carrying, jumped down the cliff's side swiftly. Despite the intensely steep face, every step met stone perfectly during the descent. He needed to be quick, but careful. Miroku was in bad shape as well, but had experience fighting through the pain he dealt. Brent was another story.

"Inuyasha. Setsuko could have killed Brent right there! She had him in her grasp! Why didn't she?" Kagome held onto his shoulders and hugged her body close and she rested on his back.

"My guess is she wants him to die slowly and painfully. But if that's the case why just stab him? He can recover from that quickly. Unless…" There was another scent the Half-Demon was picking up. It was mixed with the faint scent of the blood and far more prominent…

The forest was so close now. Once they were hidden beneath the expansive green canopy Sango could help tend to Brent's wounds until the others caught up.

"Kirara go as fast as you can! Brent, how are you holding up?...Brent?"

His head was hanging down, and his shoulders had slumped. Sango gasped in alarm when she peered around him. Brent's eyes had rolled into the back of his head…and he was foaming at the mouth.

"Brent! BRENT! Oh no…KIRARA HURRY!" Sango looked at his arm and had noticed the bite marks. It had stopped bleeding and taken on a purplish color around the punctures.

No matter how fast the large Feline flew it just didn't seem fast enough. It was as if reality had been put into slow motion. Every second seemed like a minute as they descended. Leaves and branches parted as they breached canopy finally. Kirara laid down the moment they touched ground. Brent was practically dead weight and Sango almost fell over with him as she tried to get him down.

"No…no no no! Stay with me!"

The bright glow from Brent's chest finally went noticed by the Demon Hunter. With how dark it was in the forest it was a blessing. Sango's focus immediately went to the bite marks on his arm; lifting it toward the light. Assessing the bite and Brent's current state only brought her to a horrific realization. Quick footsteps approached from behind; prompting her to withdraw her Katana. It proved to be a false alarm as she saw Inuyasha running toward them.

"Come back this way! We found an abandoned hut! I'll carry him!"

"We have to hurry!"

"What the?! What happened to him?!" Inuyasha looked appalled as he lifted the motionless young man, yet entranced by the glow coming from his body.

"He's been terribly poisoned!" Sango and Kirara followed her Half-Demon ally back through the woods which was made easy thanks to the light from Brent.

Located in a very small clearing there was a worn down hut; a long-forgotten home that had fallen into a state of decay. Holes in the walls and ceiling all about were creating a small draft that would flow through. Kagome and Shippo waited anxiously as Miroku lay down between them; wincing in pain as his body fought the Saimyosho's poison. Candles had been lit; casting their warm orange glow through the holes as if to say the home was once again under ownership. All was silent until Inuysha and Sango burst in looking distraught. Brent was set down next to Miroku, and when Kagome and Shippo saw him, they both gasped.

"Brent! What's wrong with him and why is his chest glowing?!" Kagome shrieked and instantly went to her backpack for medical supplies.

"No no no! This isn't fair! Please save him!" Shippo hopped over to Kagome as Sango kneeled down next to Brent. The little Fox helped Kagome with the stab wound; the bandages quickly turning red.

"Brent has been poisoned badly. Worse than Miroku…" All the young woman's focus was on searching through her armor for something.

"What?!" The schoolgirl and little Fox shouted.

"Damn it!" Sango had retrieved a small trinket that once she opened it, revealed a very small amount antidote. The very same used to treat Miroku. "I don't have enough antidote for it!"

"Wait! That's what Miroku needs!" Inuysasha stepped closer.

"Yes! But it can be used to slow down the poison in Brent's body. I'll have to go out and find the proper herbs to make the true antidote for Brent…" Sango took what was left and split it in half.

"Give…give it…to Brent…" The weakened Monk spoke as he looked over toward his injured ally.

"No! I won't let you be forced to suffer!" Sango snapped.

"This isn't…my first time…eh he he…" Miroku smiled weakly.

"Sango just how bad is Brent poisoned?" Inuyasha kneeled down next to Brent.

"This poison is not like others. It's horrendous…It ravages the body, paralyzing it and causing insufferable pain. If left untreated his insides will turn to nothing but liquid…"

Kagome gasped, and Shippo screamed in fear.

"Sango, I know you care for Miroku. We all do. But Brent is in desperate need. If we don't move fast enough Setsuko AND Naraku will have won." Inuyasha said with utter solemnity.

Sango took a moment to come to terms with the situation and handed the small amount of antidote to Kagome; then rose to her feet.

"Inuyasha I need you to come with me." Sango withdrew a small dried plant from her armor and handed it to him. "This is what we need. You'll need to track its scent. I've only ever been told of this poison, and have never seen it in person. So I never thought to carry antidote for it…"

"Don't worry. We'll find it!" Inuyasha said confidently.

It was that moment that things decided to take a turn for the worse. Everyone's eyes filled with dread as Inuyasha's hair suddenly turned black, his dog ears disappeared, and his claws became ordinary nails.

"No! No it can't be!" Kagome rushed outside.

"What?! No not now!" Inuyasha looked at his hands and long hair.

"It's a New Moon!" Kagome shouted as she rushed back in.

"I'm useless like this! I can't sniff out the plant!"

"WAAAAAAAH! We have to do something! Brent's dying!" Shippo squealed as Kirara whined between the two poisoned men.

"KOGA!" Kagome suddenly shouted. "Sango find Koga! He said he would be in the area! It's our only chance at helping Brent! We'll stay here and watch after them!"

"That stupid wolf won't help Brent! Not after what you told me happened between them!" Inuyasha contradicted.

"We have to try! There's no other option! Kirara!" Sango almost didn't have to call to her Feline companion as she was already up and running out of the hut. "Kagome, split up the doses and try to make that medicine last. The Jewel Shard inside him is trying to help it seems. I'll be back as soon as possible!"

Now, with Brent's life in her hands, Sango took to the air with Kirara. Not one second could be afforded to be lost. Miroku was strong, and could handle the poison inside him. There didn't seem to be as many of those vile insects like in previous encounters. As she soared in the dark sky, Sango tried to keep an eye out for the Wolf Demon. Surely he would have picked up the scent of Naraku's Demon; which she hoped would make finding him easier.

The others were left there in the hut only to wait patiently, and fearfully. Kagome wiped foam from Brent's mouth and helped to give him some medicine. His eyes were still rolled back; showing only white with little bloodshot streaks. The blood was wiped from his nose and the bite on his arm. After bandaging the bite Kagome stared at him with sheer sorrow.

"Brent…I'm so sorry…You don't deserve this…"

"He'll be fine. Sango will be back with the proper medicine to help him, and with any luck, some for Miroku too. Brent is strong. Don't worry." Inuyasha said reassuringly.

"…I just can't help it. I want to do more…"

And so they sat there waiting as time crawled by. Kagome and Shippo remained hopeful even if they looked the opposite. Inuyasha, being as stubborn as he was, refused to believe there was any chance of failure. They all knew Sango was moving as fast as she could. The only problem now was…was it fast enough to catch Koga?