The Color of Hope: Chapter 37: Plummet
Miroku couldn't pinpoint exactly where the screams had come from. Desperate to locate Sango and the children, he refocused his attention to the flames on Kirara's paws. Spotting their glow in the darkness, Miroku held his breath, carefully following the neko-youkai's downward descent. Bit by bit his hold on Kagome loosened, his focus shifting from restraining the Miko, to finding any sign of his beloved.
Finally he found Sango's silhouette, hunched precariously over Kirara's side, arm extended, desperately reaching for something below her. Miroku froze when the demon exterminator slipped. Disappearing off the demon-cat's side, she fell into the darkness below.
"Shippo, Kibou! NO!" Sango screamed, the sound ripping through the night air, and tearing into his heart.
Kagome hesitated only a moment, fingers covering her mouth. Her body burned, heat flashing over her skin. Her vision sharpened on what appeared to be two falling bodies… very small bodies with a larger one plunging not far behind them.
Kibou! Shippo! Sango!
Tearing out of Miroku's embrace, Kagome crashed through his protective barrier. She was running before she realized she was moving, eyes focused on the family that meant so much to her.
"Sango!"
Kagome heard the demon slayer's name, the harshness in Miroku's voice betraying his fear. Desperation raged through her soul, adrenalin surging through her limbs as she raced through the clearing.
Glancing quickly over her shoulder as she ran, Kagome saw the sheer panic and fear writ over Miroku's face. He was running after her, struggling to keep up, but Kagome couldn't slow down, couldn't wait for him. She had to find her sons and her sister… had to save her pack.
Miroku nearly tripped over his own two feet. Since when did Kagome have glowing silver eyes? Regaining his footing, he kept running, despite the shock of seeing the Miko's changing visage. He struggled to catch up to her, but even with his best effort, she was getting further and further ahead of him, her impossibly long blue-green hair flying like a silken banner behind her.
"Faster. I need to run faster! I need to get there before… before-"
Refusing to finish the thought, Kagome pushed herself harder. She darted through the meadow and raced toward the treeline, ignoring the stinging whip of prairie grass on her bare legs and disregarding the blur of darkened scenery. A flash of blue sparkled in her peripheral vision, warming her arm and shoulder, then moving down her side.
"You can run faster, just focus on your speed," a disembodied voice urged, the instruction echoing repeatedly through her mind until she finally found her focus.
"Ryutakashi?" she muttered breathlessly.
"Let me help, Kagome. Trust me."
And without question, she agreed.
A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews and well-wishes. I dearly loved reading them, and enjoyed hearing from you all.
Starting the next chapter soon- hope to post more regularly soon.
Hugs.
Neisha