Sweat traveled down Sango's brow as she raced toward's where Inuyasha and the mysterious oni were battling. 'I never should've left, no matter what he said! We're in this together.' Shippo was clutching tightly to her shoulder. Night had already arrived, and none of them figured Inuyasha had had enough luck to dispatch of their dangerous new foe before them. Kirara picked up her gait, soaring quickly through the night to her friend.
Meanwhile, Inuyasha struggled to his feet in front of Sazura, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. He was in bad shape now that Tessaiga had transformed, and Sazura wasn't letting up her assault. She chuckled, licking blood from her whip. "Naraku promised me the fight of a lifetime... But this is all I get." She frowned at the now human Inuyasha as she raised her whip. "Oh well, I'm bored now. I'm ready to finish this. Say goodnight-"
Before she could ready her whip a large demon cat swoop in, grabbing the injured human and sweeping him away. She watched with piercing eyes as Sango pulled him onto the neko youkai. "Inuyasha! Are you alright?!" He stared at Sango in disbelief. "Y-You?! What are you doing, I told you to get out of here!" He barked, clutching his badly injured chest. Sango situated him on Kirara before sliding down herself, eyes focused on Sazura. "M-Matte! Sango, wait damn it!"
Sango didn't listen as she edged forward, Hiraikotsu in hand. "Your opponent can be me." She said dangerously, brown eyes honing in on Sazura's already bloodied form. She chuckled, watching Sango's movements carefully.
"I had hoped I would battle you, tajiya. Let the fun begin!" With lightning reflexed Sango hurled her bone weapon, narrowly missing the cocky oni. It returned promptly to her hand as she began closing in. Shippo and Inuyasha watched from afar, perched on Kirara. "Whoa! Do you think Sango can beat her!?" Shippo inquired nervously. Inuyasha growled in response. "Don't let looks be decieving. This bitch is demented and Naraku sent her for a reason." 'That's why I wanted you guys to stay away...'
With a yell Sango hurled her bone weapon again, prompting Sazura to leap out of the way. Sango closed the distance between them and revealed her katana which she slashed viciously as Sazura with. She grinned, snapping her whip at Sango which she easily deflected. Her eyes narrowing, Sazura changed the path of her whip which Sango narrowly dodged. She was surprised when Itami knocked her katana from her grasp. "Oh no!" Shippo cried out, hiding behind Kirara's head. Sazura lunged but was caught on the cheek and her shoulder by Sango's wrist blade. She broke away, forming a gap between them.
Sazura licked her lips, staring off at Sango. "My, my. You seem well prepared for this battle. But are you prepared for this?"
Inuyasha gasped, realizing Sazura was likely about to shoot a stream of flames at her. Cursing to himself he flew off of Kirara while simultaneously slinking out of his fire rat robe. Sango frowned, backing up slightly. "HONOO!" Sango leapt back in surprise as the flames easily overcame her. 'She manipulates fire!'
She was shocked to find herself not burned or overwhelmed by the flames. Inuyasha was behind her, holding them both under his durable haori. Up close Sango could finally see how seriously Inuyasha was injured. His white undershirt was stained red. He was panting for air and falling to his knees. "You aren't satisfied until you're almost killed, are you? Rushing out here you reminded me of myself. I hope you won't be disgusted by my blood, my haori is covered in it." Inuyasha snorted, trying to stand. Sango dropped to her knees, examining his wounds frantically.
"Disgusted? Never. I never should have left you here with you so close to changing, Inuyasha forgive me..." Inuyasha stared up into Sango's tense face. 'She's so worried about me...'
"As sweet as this whole affair is, I have a sword to claim." Sazura's voice snapped the two back to the situation at hand. 'Inuyasha can't remain here in danger, we have to run until the morning.' Sango locked eyes with the oni, rising ominously to her feet. She glanced quickly to her hellcat who read her body language perfectly. She dove and retrieved Hiraikotsu and swerve beside them. Sango tugged on Inuyasha and helped him atop the cat demon. She dug into Kirara's side with her heels and she took off fast.
Sazura watched with a glare as the duo retreated, placing her whip back on her hip. "I'll find you yet, but not before I make you sweat first." She didn't flinch when Naraku appeared, chuckling deeply. She did eye the iridescent jewels glittering in his hand. Their eyes locked and she sneered, edging closer.
Kirara broke into a sprint on the ground as she galloped through the night into a well concealed cave. She leaned down slowly as Sango tried to help Inuyasha to his feet. He fell into a heap quickly, grimacing from his wounds and blood loss. "D-Damn it..." Sango peered worriedly into his face, wiping dark bangs out of his eyes. "Baka. You never should've tried to face off with her on the night of the new moon." Sango said quietly. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Feh." Worry overtook his features as he peered up into Sango's flushed face. "Sango, listen to me... If she finds us... You have to go." Sango had started shaking her head before Inuyasha had finished. "If we go I'm taking you with us." Shippo nodded furiously as well. "Yeah!" He glowered at them both. He opened his mouth to retort but another voice was heard.
"That won't do, master Inuyasha is too injured to move around much more." Eyes pried the damp cave for the source of the voice. "Myouga-ji?" Shippo questioned. He hopped up and down from Inuyasha's sleeve. He snorted, wincing in pain. "Myouga? I'm really surprised you're here seeing as we narrowly escaped danger."
Myouga sniffed haughtily. "Had I known you were in the middle of a battle on the night of the new moon I would've made other arrangements..."
Sango sat back on her feet in defeat. Myouga was right, Inuyasha was far too injured to flee from Sazura. In fact, his wounds needed tending. Wordlessly, Sango rummaged through her various supplies held tightly in her blue bandana. She leaned over carefully and peeled back Inuyasha's undershirt, much to his surprise. He eyed her as she gingerly began bandage his wound.
Diligently, she wrapped the sterile fabric as gently as she could without irritating his wounds further. Inuyasha had learned to trust Sango and rarely did her medical attention result in more pain. After a few moments she sat back with a sigh. "There, this will hold you till the morning, granted you make it there." She quipped with a look.
Despite the tenseness and the seriousness of the situation Inuyasha had to admit he liked the close proximity between he and the demon slayer. Her touch was gentle and warm, a good remedy for the searing pain he'd been in (Especially since he'd transformed).
Inuyasha growled to himself, avoiding her gaze. "You really doubt me, bitch?" Sango sighed, undoing her kesa. "You're not in any position to fight her, why won't you get that through you're thick head?! You say I'm the one with the death wish, but..." He watched as she revealed the skin tight black fabric beneath her kimono. He shifted uneasily. She was unstable and quite the opponent, he didn't want Sango to fight alone.
"If something happened to you on account of me not being able to protect you... I'd never forgive myself." He admitted sullenly. He hated the face he was human and injured. He was basically a sitting duck and there wasn't anything he could do about it. He was burdening Sango with the charge of caring for him and protecting him. He was surprised when anger flashed on the tajiya's features. "Inuyasha, I don't need protection! I'm a demon slayer and a miko, I can handle a fight you know!"
Inuyasha sat up, immediately regretting the rash decision. "Idiot." He hissed in pain as he eased back down. "I know that! I never said you were weak! I want to protect you because I care about you! Stupid!" Sango sat back with a blush, shocked by Inuyasha's surprising bluntness. Shippo approached him quizzically. "Whoa... Is he more honest when he's like this?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes, not giving Shippo the pleasure of a response.
"Yeah, well..." Sango failed to find an appropriate rebuttal before Inuyasha cried out in pain. She was beside him in an instant, cradling his head delicately in her lap. "You seem to be in a lot of pain..." She said regrettably. Shippo bit his lip apprehensively. "Do your wounds hurt worse when you're human, Inuyasha?" He chuckled bitterly, his eyes shut tight in pain.
"Of course. The absolute worst part is that Tessaiga won't transform so I'm literally pretty helpless right. Damn Naraku, damn that bitch..."
Myouga frowned, thinking of all he knew about Sazura. "I am surprised Sazura would work with someone. What I know about that demon woman is very dark... She was part of a daiyoukai family. She's technically supposed to control some lands in the North. However, she's not nearly stable enough to do so... Rumor is her entire family was viciously murdered in front of her. She grew up hunting down each and every person responsible. By the time she finished she was desensitized to pain. It was a way of life, she craved it... Her blood lust and complete disregard for herself make her an extremely dangerous adversary. Master Inuyasha certainly couldn't stand a chance against her now. Sango, I fear for you too! She's unlike anyone you've ever faced..." Myouga explained worriedly.
Sango rubbed her arm. "Maybe I can reason with her. After all, my whole family was murdered as well. I understand atleast that much." Shippo sent Sango a skeptical look before leaping to her shoulder. "She doesn't seem like the kind of person to listen to reason..." He worried. Inuyasha snorted.
"You can't reason with someone like her." He forced himself to sit up, amber eyes searching worriedly for Sango's. "Please, just flee. If only until morning so I'll know you'll be safe." Sango shook her head no, staring into the opening of the cave. "Fat chance, Inuyasha. You really doubt me?" Inuyasha's lips briefly twitched into a smile. He forced himself to sit up right despite the pain.
Myouga tugged helplessly on his sleeve. "Master Inuyasha, you should try not to move..." He worried. Inuyasha wasn't listening, he was glaring seriously into Sango's brown eyes.
"If something happens to you... I don't know what I'll do with myself." She was surprised when she felt his surprisingly soft hands caress her neck and hair. 'This is so unlike him... Is he acting like this because he's human? All I know is my heart is beating so fast...' Sango dropped her gaze to the floor of the cave, her heart beating in her throat. "I can't stop you or tell you what to do... Just please, stay safe..."
Shippo turned away with a blush on his cheeks, pulling the small flea demon with him. Somehow, it didn't seem like something he needed to witness. 'Those two are sure choosing the wrong time to be honest with each other...'
Sango couldn't keep herself from touching Inuyasha's face. It was so different staring into his human face though she didn't prefer it. She grabbed tightly onto his hand as she made a motion to stand. He tugged on he wrist, keeping her grounded in front of her. "I sense a jewel shard approaching, fast... It's-" Sango's words trailed off. They both knew who it had to be. She inhaled sharply as she saw Inuyasha's face approaching hers, his eyes shut and lips parted.
'This is it, he means to kiss me! But...' She leaned her face down, her forehead bumping against his. "Baka. I want to wait until you're you. After this fight, then..." Her words tied up with her blush as she rose awkwardly. 'When... I'm me?'
"Shippo! Kirara! Protect Inuyasha at all costs, don't leave this cave." Were Sango's direct words. She tossed a soft small at the now human hanyou. "I'll see you in a little while." He reached after her as she turned, dashing out of the opening of the cave.
"Sango..." He glanced at his hands, remembering her touch. 'She prefers me when I'm hanyou...'