Chapter Twenty-Four

Tension grew as time passed on. Message had yet to arrive of the battle and many worried no one would know the outcome until Naraku's army broke over the horizon and rained down upon them in a fiery storm of arrows and deafening war cries.

Morinoko made herself scarce as servants moved around, trying to collect necessary items for their imminent escape. Several servants had already left; to escape or to their families, Morinoko did not know. All she knew was that Sango had been doing the laundry and her bed had not been made for the last few days. So many were scared and the city was nearly empty. Only some families stayed, hoping their loved ones would come home. But Morinoko knew it was nothing but false hope; Naraku did not leave survivors.

It was on the fifth day of waiting on the horizon did an army appear. Morinoko, as usual, took refuge on the roof that day, watching the sky. She had glanced down and noticed movement. She squinted, trying to get a better look. Her heart froze when she realized it was an army.

"Army! On the horizon!" Morinoko shouted, standing up. From out of the house came a woman with cat eyes and black stripes decorating her arms.

"What?" the woman called out, looking up at Morinoko.

"Look! On the horizon! There is an approaching army!" Morinoko repeated. The woman, with her reflexes, jumped onto the roof and stood beside Morinoko. She looked out into the distance and her eyes widened. She let out a yowl, which Morinoko guessed was a warning signal.

From out of the palace streamed a multitude people, all shouting at one another and rushing around. In the center stood Miroku trying to direct everyone. At his side stood Sango along with a man Morinoko guessed was one of their sons. She did not realize he had arrived, seeing as she had stayed out of everyone's way the last few days.

The cat yokai dropped from the roof into the mass of people, disappearing as the people below all slipped into one, large body of panicked souls. Ayame rushed over to the wall, calling out to Morinoko, "Come on! We must go! Hurry!"

Morinoko nodded, ready to jump down and join Ayame. She had everything she needed and she was ready to move. She glanced back at the approaching army, her heart seizing as they came closer. Waving in the air was a banner and Morinoko stopped. In front of the army stood a man with bright white hair.

"No!" Morinoko shouted, trying to be heard over the loud, rushing people. "No! It is Inuyasha! They have returned home! Inuyasha is leading them!"

"Are you sure?" Ayame called up to her.

Morinoko smiled as the sight of the Inunotaisho banner became clearer in her vision. "I am most positive!" she cried with happiness.

Ayame turned to signal Miroku, who caught sight of it and frowned. He called something out and the people running about slowed down.

"Our army has returned home!" Morinoko cheered.

Sango picked up the edge of her kimono, dashing for the gates, several following at her heels. Morinoko scurried down from her position on the roof, sprinting into the city. The army entered the city limits and Morinoko's heart fell. They were bloody and beaten and few in number.

"No," she whispered, looking at all of their faces. "No."

They filed past her silently and Morinoko felt like crying. They had not been victorious, only driven back.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku called, reaching the front of the army. "What happened?"

Inuyasha, in better shape than most, sighed heavily. "It was brutal, Miroku. We left the ground torn and bloody."

"Why did you come back?" Sango asked quietly, looking concerned.

"Sesshomaru wanted to die on his own lands," Inuyasha told them. "He was hurt pretty badly."

"Is Father okay?" Morinoko asked frantically. "How bad is he hurt?"

Inuyasha looked at her and Morinoko tried not to cry, seeing the look in his eye. "He will be fine, but only for now. Naraku is regrouping and approaching. I imagine we will see him here in only a few days. Evacuate the city and make your escape, Miroku. You do not have much time."

Morinoko shook her head. "I am not leaving, not now."

Inuyasha did not snap at her, only looked at her with sad eyes. "Do it; do it for your father Morinoko. You're all he has left."

Morinoko felt tears well up in her eyes and she ran for her room, feeling lost.

Sango watched as she fled. "Bring the wounded into the shrine. Kikyo and Rin should have their supplies set up," Sango commanded.

Inuyasha chuckled humorlessly. "So, all of us then? There are few, if any, who have not sustained injuries."

Sango nodded. "It is the largest open space we have to fit all of you. Now hurry, before any fall over from their injuries now."

Sango watched as the army strode past her, their eyes dead. Many of their comrades had fallen and victory was far from them. In fact, it was out of their reach. Sango knew that many, once healed, would probably flee, knowing that all that awaited them if they stayed was a massacre.

Several were on being carried on make-shift stretchers with terrible, glaring wounds. Sango caught sight of Sesshomaru and she gasped.

His entire right arm was in ribbons and his kimono was soaked in blood. She had never before, in all of her years here, seen him in such a state. Sesshomaru was one to never have stepped off a battlefield in a less than pristine condition. Sango could only imagine what had happened. Miroku gripped her shoulder tightly, trying to comfort her. There was little comfort in the world for Sango now. Everything seemed so hopeless now.

In the shrine, Kikyo and Rin hurried around, trying to help as many as they could in as little time as they could. Rin began to cry when she saw Sesshomaru in his unconscious state.

Ayame stood at the bottom of the steps, next to Miroku and Sango. "We will be leaving soon, I imagine?" she asked.

Miroku nodded. "Tomorrow night I want to leave. It will give us some time to convince Morinoko that she must leave."

"Sesshomaru-sama will be better by then and he will no doubt force her to go. I do not think she will disobey his last order," Sango decided.

Ayame snorted. "This is Morinoko we speak of. She will do what she thinks is right."

"She will try to be a hero," Sango mused.

Miroku nodded, watching all the soldiers. "I do not doubt that."

"I will talk to her then," Ayame decided. "Maybe she will listen to me."

"If not, I am sure Kikyo will more than willing to force her to leave," Sango suggested.

Despite the situation, Ayame gave a small smile, imagining Morinoko trying to disobey Kikyo in what would only be described as a losing fight.

From down the steps ran Shipp, a bandage wrapped around his arm and a bandage on his forehead. "Where is Morinoko?" he asked breathlessly.

Sango frowned. "You should be resting, Shippo-"

Shippo shook his head. "I know you will all be leaving soon and I want to see her one last time before you do."

Ayame bit her lip before blurting out, "Her room."

Miroku shot her a look as Shippo bowed and ran off. "What? Did you not see the look in his eyes? I could not turn him down," Ayame defended.

Miroku sighed. "It is quite sad, is it not? I guess they should have these last moments before Naraku comes."

Sango nodded. "I always knew they were more than friends."

Miroku chuckled quietly. "I doubt Morinoko ever realized that," he muttered, mainly to himself. Sango heard him though, and she smiled.