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Chapter Twenty-Eight: Deranged
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Kagome rose to her feet and began chasing after Kagura's giant feather. She was the only hope at the moment. Inuyasha, who was the only conscious being aside from her, was barely able to lift his head up to watch the retreating figure of the wind sorceress and her captive. Her soles were pounding the soft ground of the forest and her lungs were still burning from the miasma but she continued.
"I have to get her back. I just have to!" Kagome told herself.
The clouds were obstructing her target. Pushing her body to move faster, she tried to catch up to the unnaturally large feather. Her efforts were futile. In a matter of short minutes she began to slow, her breaths coming in short pants. She couldn't even see Kagura anymore—they had flown away too quickly.
The miko bent over, placing her hands on her knees to steady herself as her body starved for air. It was over then. There was no chance of her rescuing the hostage alone. After a few moments to regain her strength, Kagome began the long walk back to where the others were.
"Oh, Sesshomaru will not be happy about this," she said dejectedly.
Her heart went out to the girl. The Kamis only know what evils are in store for her. Kagome shuddered at the thought.
She planted her feet as a sign of determination as she announced, "We have to rescue her, poor girl. She doesn't deserve what's coming to her."
"Damn right we're going to get her back!" The hanyou gasped. He had rolled over on his back and with his eyes shut, he looked terrifyingly calm. She hadn't even noticed that she had returned back to the clearing, made all the larger from the recent battle, and was shocked to have someone respond. He continued, "I never liked that bitch Kagura. I can't wait to sink my claws into her dirty flesh." Even in this state of terrifying calm, he still has his brash attitude. Kagome couldn't help but smile softly at him, despite the situation. It was just like him to be like that. Her heart, which just seized its frantic rhythm from the brisk jog, skipped a beat then began pattering again from the sight of him. She traced his adorable baby face that he always tries to contort into a "ferocious" scowl.
'He's so cute!' Kagome couldn't help the thought from seeping into her mind.
Lost in her observing, it was a second too late when she noticed that he had cracked one honey coloured eye open.
When her gaze caught his, she felt her expression change into shock and her face heat up. He was staring at her. Oh no, what is she going to do. She averted her gaze to the floor. What else could she do?
Finally he spoke in his usual gruff tone, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." Kagome responded too quickly. She waved her hands in front of her face, "Forget about me, I'm just a little tired from running after Kagura."
He continued to eye her suspiciously with one eye shut. Trying to figure out this confusing female is making his head hurt—or maybe it was just the miasma. Apparently giving up, he closed his other eye and turned his head so that he was facing the bright, blue heavens.
Kagome gave a silent dramatic sigh as she saw him ignore her creepy actions. As she returned her gaze back to him, she caught sight of the others lying in the floor as she had left them. There was a particular empty spot beside the monk that drew her attention. This time she sighed loudly. Walking over to Inuyasha, she plopped down a few feet away and hugged her knees. She rested her chin on them, never breaking her stare at the place where a body should be, safe with everyone else.
"You think they're going to wake up soon?" She asked Inuyasha.
"Hmm," he replied, "I'm not really sure, you never know with miasma."
She nodded she really hoped that there was no negative effect on the others when they did wake up. Then she felt the unmistakable tingle of demonic aura.
As if reading her mind, the hanyou reassured her, "Don't worry about him, Kagome. He'll be fine."
There was a peculiar tone in the way that he said that that Kagome couldn't quite place her finger on. Was it concern? No, it couldn't have been—there was no way that Inuyasha would show concern for Sesshomaru. Maybe she was imagining the tenderness in his voice when she told him that he would be fine. That miasma is some powerful stuff.
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She awoke, stubbornly refusing to open her eye lids, with an annoying throbbing pain in her stomach and very loud yelling. Inuyasha was it? Yes, she couldn't mistake that voice. Then a feminine tone—definitely Kagome. Of course they're arguing, they're always arguing, there's nothing new about that. But there is something off about the sound—someone else was speaking. It was an authoritative deep timber unmistakeably belonging to Sesshomaru.
Sango's eyes flew open to take in the sight of the monk and the toad beside her, both were unimportant compared to the scene before her. The hanyou and the miko were indeed arguing but not with eachother but with the Demon Lord. She never heard his voice rise above a polite conversational tone. Now, though, he was practically yelling. This was all too confusing.
It seems that she had missed a lot when she was passed out. She listened hoping to pick up the gist of their conversation.
Sesshomaru demanded, "Where did she head off to?"
"That way," Kagome pointed, swinging her pointed finger to no one specific direction, "But, Sesshomaru, that was awhile ago. She could be anywhere by now."
'Who could be anywhere?' she wondered. 'And where is Kagome pointing to?'
"Are you still dizzy from the miasma or something?" It was Inuyasha who spoke this time, "It would be hard to catch her even with your senses. She took to the skies, idiot!"
'She flew?' Sango was beyond confusion now, 'Who is this she?'
She saw Sesshomaru glare at his half-brother, "It does not matter," he almost yelled, "And who are you to judge my abilities. Do not forget your place, half breed." Then he addressed Kagome, "Where exactly did you say she went off to?"
Kagome's face contorted into shock, no doubt from the tone in which he spoke to her with. Hell, Sango was be startled speechless, too.
His eyes narrowed.
"There." She directed him over the trees.
In a blink, he took off. It took a moment for Sango to realize what just happened. It was if he disappeared into thin air. When she finally did, she was on her feet so fast her head literally spun.
She heard Inuyasha exclaim, "If you're going to go just like that, you bastard, don't expect any of us to follow you!"
A useless threat, obviously, what does it matter if none of them followed Sesshomaru. He could manage on his own. Besides, Inuyasha clearly did not notice Sango hopping onto Au-Un—the beast appearing out of nowhere—and making quick time to keep up with the crazed pace of the taiyoukai.
"What the fuck!" the hanyou was shocked as she saw the girl take off as well. This was unexpected.
The yell was already too far for Sango to truly hear what he said. This was insane. She was on this scaly beast travelling gods know how fast trying to catch up with a demon who was clearly not about to wait for them. And all for what? She doesn't even know what they're chasing or who.
There was a great distance between her and the taiyoukai. This was the perfect time to use the sharing of the minds that they were cursed with by the spell.
She invaded his thoughts for the first time in a while, 'Sesshomaru, can you explain to me the reason for the rush?'
'Kagura took Rin,' he responded much quicker than she anticipated.
The idea stunned her. Why would the wind witch want the girl? This was quite obviously a trap. The taiyoukai should be able to see through this easily. So why are they heading straight for it?
'Do you realize that this might not be the most intelligent course of action?'
'I do not need you in my head, human,' he snapped back with the same tone that he used with the others. 'I am well aware of what course of action I am planning to take.'
She need not push the stead to quicken its pace, it was doing that on its own. In fact it was closing the gap between them rather swiftly. It only took a few seconds for her to be riding along side the demon. Perhaps he too was affected by the miasma for he is slower than he usually is.
'Perhaps you should take a moment to think this through before going blindly into what ever the sorceress has in store for you." She tried to reason with him.
It didn't work. He continued his feverish leaps as if she were not attempting to talk sense into him.
'I understand that you care for Rin,' these thoughts, Sango could not prevent from reaching him. Neither could she halt the chiding tone that laced it. 'But she would not want you to go running to your death on account of her. Besides you're the ice lord of the West, however much care you feel for this child, it could not possibly be sufficient for you to do something so foolish!'
She regretted it as soon as she realized what she had told him. She saw how tenderly he held her and how protective he was of her. Of course he cared enough to lose focus at such a situation. How could she say such a hurtful thing?
Sango meant to apologize but right when she was formulating her thoughts, he stopped suddenly and turned to face her. He seemed truly vexed.
"I-I know that…" She knows that what? The taijiya didn't know why she would even try to start a sentence like that.
He immediately cut her off, "No, you know nothing about me and you know nothing about caring for someone!"
Again, she opened her mouth to say something. No words successfully came out. He looked very angry. Perhaps it was better that she did not say anything. He turned back as soon as he was certain that she had nothing intelligent to say and began to run again.
Au-Un, who faithfully stopped his stride when the demon lord did, was now on the move again. And then there was silence. The chance for apologies had passed. Sango settled for sitting back and following where the demon was heading.
Nearly an hour, she estimated, had passed and there remained nothing but the rush of the wind thundering in her ear. She spared a glance in his direction—one of the couple that she stole every now and again. He wore a determined expression, much as he had the entire trip. His pristine kimono, slightly soiled from the recent battle, and his snow locks were pulled behind him in the same matter as before. But there was something off about him. There were beads of sweat forming on his neck and forehead—never did she fathom a demon sweating especially not the taiyoukai of the West. His breaths were too short, coming in pants. It was as if he was tiring. Though this was not, by any means, a strenuous run for a demon of his calliper Sesshomaru looked strained.
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