Chapter 29

A Hero Rises

This was a nightmare! It had to be.

Unfortunately, the burning pain down Kagome's front as she skidded foot by foot towards the insane witch hurt too much to be any dream she could think up.

Even now, the heels of her feet slid and scraped against the rocky soil, useless against the ogress' efforts.

Kagome knew she could fight back, could possibly purify the ogress without much effort. But, that would only be if she was alone.

Koga and Ginta were yokai. Even if Kagome didn't like the idea of causing them pain, they could withstand the torture of the chains binding them better than even she could. But, not Kaede.

Kagome could tell the old miko was already suffering but the horrified gasps told the younger priestess her mentor was at least breathing. If Urasue sent another jolt of her power through the chains, who knew if Kaede could survive it.

If Kagome could touch the witch….there may be a chance she could save them. But, that would require use of her hands; hands that were chained immobile at her sides while dirt was ground between her teeth. Once she was right in the ogress' face, then maybe she'd be in reach. Or, Koga would be able to see an opening she couldn't.

Unfortunately, none of this made any difference if the witch got her hands on the Jewel. And, with every inch she's scooted forward, Kagome felt her confidence in keeping the gem from the ogress' grasping hands growing dimmer and dimmer.

She needed help. Now!

"So close," the witch rasped with blazing eyes. "So close. Just a little bit more and…."

"Drop those chains!" a thin voice echoed through the air, causing the ogress to stop pulling one of the tethers.

Kagome released a relieved breath when she finally laid still. However, the voice had her tensing alert. Surely, that wasn't…..

"You're going to pay for your evil, witch!" the voice shouted again, the sound bouncing all about them.

The sound was so loud, it would be thunderous if the voice wasn't so….squeaky. But, it was near impossible for Kagome to pin-point where it was coming from. Apparently, she wasn't the only one.

"Who are you?" Urasue snarled, bulging eyes darting about in a mad frenzy. "Where are you hiding?"

"I'm the one that's going to end your evil," the voice announced moments before a bright blue fire flared in the air above their heads. "Release your prisoners. Now!"

"If you want them," the ogress sneered in challenge. "Come and get them yourself."

"Fine," the voice huffed, all ceremony gone from its tone.

Immediately, the glowing blue fire started to swirl in the sky, like angry clouds gathering before the storm. It was mesmerizing and terrifying and unlike anything Kagome had ever seen before.

Right when the light was growing to nearly blinding, a light popping sound filled the air and through a tiny puff of smoke, down dropped the tiny familiar form that had Kagome's breath sticking in her lungs as fear gripped her.

Despite his diminutive stature, Shipo stood proud, shoulders back and head lifted in a cocky sort of way that had to have come from Koga. He was the perfect picture of a confident warrior.

It was too bad he was also still completely tiny. And, standing in Urasue's way.

"You!" the witch chuffed as she pointed a clawed finger. "How did you get out of your cage?"

Kagome blinked in startled shock. His what?

Shipo, however, just huffed as he hopped slightly on the balls of his feet. "You gotta do better than that to keep me prisoner. Now, let my friends go!"

"You're hardly worth the ingredients you provide," Urasue sneered before hefting the chains in her hand higher. "When I'm done, I'll make a soft cushion out of you. I'll sit on it each time I need to fart."

Fists shaking, Shipo looked furious as he glared with unbridle hatred to the cruel witch. The look had Kagome's heart leaping into her throat.

Fury like that made full grown warrior's making costly mistakes. An emotional little boy, trying to be taken seriously as a warrior…. it was a death-sentence.

However, before Kagome to open her mouth to warn him, the tiny kitsune raised an angry fist, fur bristling all down his back.

"Fart on this, you decrepit old crone!" he cried before smacking something against his forehead.

Another pop and a cloud of smoke was the only warning. Kagome was hoping the little kitsune had decided to escape and hide. Instead, the young miko blinked in stunned surprise as not one, not two, not even five, but nearly a good dozen or so of Shipo's suddenly appeared all around the clearing, each with the same angry glare focused on their adversary.

"Snatch me if you can," they all taunted before they suddenly scattered.

SSS

Koga was speechless. Not an unheard of thing but this wasn't simple stunned silence. This was….

Actually, Koga had no idea what the hell this was. One moment he was staring helpless as his woman was at this witch's mercy and the next, Shipo of all people suddenly popped up to have his say. Now, there were more Shipos than the Alpha ever wanted to imagine that were swarming and scrambling all about like a hive of angry bees.

Stunned….?

Stunned didn't even begin to describe the splintering of his mind as he tried to piece the scenario before him together. Whatever was going on was…..weird.

However, odd or not, the kitsune's attacks had provided a rare opportunity.

Too preoccupied with the kit's taunting, the witch started to loosen her grip on the chains in her hand. When one of the copies swooped closer towards the ogress, she swiped angry at him like trying to swat a fly, dropping the chains to the ground.

Instantly, Koga dropped to his knees, shifting his hands to where he could grip the long links laid out before him. He then started to tug it towards him. It started out stiff, the links biting painfully into his shifting arms. But, the more he gathered in a pile, the looser the tight rings around him got.

Soon, he'd be able to snap himself free!

Snapping his eyes towards Ginta, Koga was pleased to see his beta was already following his lead, and gathering a large pile of the chain at his own feet. That was two.

Unfortunately, the elderly priestess was too out of it to move and Kagome was still too close to the witch for Koga's comfort. Even if she could drag her own chain towards her, it wouldn't take much for Urasue to snatch it up again.

That meant, they had to hurry!

Doubling his efforts, Koga continued to tug on his damned chain till the rings suddenly drooped about his waist. Perfect.

Koga wanted so badly to sink his claws into the witch, to rip her limb by limb with his bare hands. But, he couldn't give into his blood's lusts so long as his woman was vulnerable.

Without hesitation, Koga leapt towards Kagome once he managed to shove the twisted links down him. Quickly but quietly, he wrapped his arms about his woman's slight frame, cringing when he stopped her flinching when he gripped the still tight rings about her.

Wide brown eyes jerked up at him and the raw scrapes down Kagome's cheek and neck caused Koga's resolve to kill the ogress to strength to a terrifying intensity.

"Shhh," he soothed slightly before he started to slowly gather the links at Kagome's feet.

The process was agonizing and a test of his patience but Koga wasn't giving Urasue any chance to get a hold of his woman again.

The slight clinking behind him told Koga that Ginta was free and assisting the other miko but thankfully the kit's antics were enough to keep the witch preoccupied. There were so many of them, the ogress didn't know which way to turn, much less take her attention away from him.

"Koga."

Kagome's soft whisper caused Koga to freeze, bright eyes snapping to her own. The chains were loose but not enough for his comfort.

He started to pull again but his woman's firm but soft hand on his own had him stopping once again.

Kagome quickly gestured her head towards her abandoned bow and quiver, causing understanding to flare in Koga's gaze. If he could get her back to them, she could get a clear shot.

Pride swelled in Koga's chest as he quietly nodded. However, he continued to pool the chain in front of him.

He had to be calm, patient. Too much depended on it…..despite the fact he only wanted to jump head-first and rip that witch's head off. Every instinct screamed for him to. But, his survival instincts, the urges to protect what was vital to him, were demanding he do whatever it took to keep Kagome safe…. even if it meant taking some steps backwards.

Once the last link finally rested in his palm, Koga quickly bundle up the metal chain and Kagome in his arms and leapt back to where Ginta was currently helping the older miko catch her breath. And, the annoying kit was still keeping the witch distracted.

Finally able to rip the offending chain rings off of his woman, Koga kicked them over the ridge's edge. The biting cold of mountain air filled his lungs and Koga felt the familiar pulsing warmth of his yokai about his wrist and fingers.

Goraishi wanted loose.

Patience, Koga thought grimly. Patience.

The Alpha resisted the urge to snort in amusement at his own advice. Koga telling his own weapon to wait. It was almost irony. Still….

"Koga."

His woman's firm call had him turning to see her gripping her bow firmly in her hands, an arrow nocked at the ready. The determination in her rich gaze was all the clue he needed.

Smirking with satisfaction, Koga finally let the beast of his true spirit, the yokai pulsing with his heartbeat as power crackled and sparked from finger to finger. With a vengeance, his weapon encased his hand, thirsty for blood.

A shared nod between them was all Koga needed. It was time for the pack to hunt.