Chapter 34
Battle on All Fronts
The buzzing was like thunder: swirling, rumbling, endless as they took the wind around them and choked the air.
Yet, still, Kaede pushed through the deadly cloud of insects, waving the smoking branch in her hand as if it were the only defense she had against them. Beside her, the ookami, Ginta, pushed his own advance, waving his matching branch about his head to swat the insects away.
The priestess was sure the two of them had to look like fools, except for the smoke the branches seemed to shield them from the insects' soulless eyes. Apparently, the kitsune's plan was working thus far.
Breathing through the cloth wrapped about her mouth and nose was difficult but Kaede pressed on, waving her branch as it caused the cloud of smoke to grow.
The little fox was clever, she'd admit. The blue flare of his fire drew the insects like a candle. And, the smoke she and Ginta were spreading was enough to keep them from wanting to return.
Kaede just hoped they didn't decide to venture back.
"How much longer do we have to do this?" Ginta huffed as he continued his frantic swishing.
"When ye hear no-more buzzing," Kaede suggested, sweat starting to bead on her brow.
"What do they even want?" he asked. "What is here?"
That was a good question, especially since the witch was long dead. These saimyosho couldn't be her guards. And, if they were Naraku's henchmen…..then she shuddered to think what he could possibly want within the depths of the cave-like shack.
Whatever was in there it needed to be destroyed. Naraku couldn't have it.
When all Kaede could hear was the swishing branches, she quickly glanced about the clearing. The smoke was thick but through it she saw nothing of the demonic insects, or the young kit.
"Ginta…..Ginta….." the miko called through her cloth. However, his constant noise had her shaking his shoulder. "Hunter! I believe they are gone."
The ookami looked one way then another before lowering his own branch. Coughing sharply, he threw the smoking wood from his hands as he shook his head as if to clear it.
"I can't believe it worked," he gasped, trying to catch his breath.
"Neither can I," answered Kaede, as she pulled her covering off her face. "But, we must hurry."
She was barely to the door of the hut when a sudden darkness flared within, causing her grip to falter. What was….what could it…?
With a deep breath, she pulled the door open, only to jerk back when a stinger aimed directly toward her rushed with a startling speed. Only luck allowed Kaede to move out of the way as the insect zipped past her cheek, the rapid flutter of its wings streaking against the weathered skin.
"Look out!" Ginta shouted, grabbing a link of chain from his belt.
With a sudden swing, he shredded the saimyosho to bits.
However, the relief was short lived when both the miko and the hunter heard the syncopated steps heading towards the door. The bright sunlight revealed the emotionless face of a clay soldier.
This in of itself didn't bother Kaede so much. However, the familiar thrum from inside the darkened exterior was all it took to make the thinning hair on Kaede's neck stand on end. That was when she spotted the crowded insects crawling over the baking mound in the back of the room.
This…..just got harder.
SSS
"Hold your position!" Koga called over the deafening marching of the clay soldiers. "Don't let them pass you!"
Miroku nodded as he swung his shakujo towards a nearby soldier's head, smashing it before swinging towards another.
Koga certainly wasted no time in getting into the thick of things, that was for sure. Miroku had barely set outside of Kaede's dwelling before the Alpha had demanded he follow him and Kagome out to battle.
Miroku knew better than to argue with the snarling ookami but really, he'd under-estimated just what was coming their way. There had to be hundreds of these clay soldiers marching tirelessly towards them.
A blinding arch of light from Kagome's arrow split a line of them into pottery pieces. Koga kicked, and punched, and spun himself with an inhuman speed, taking on nearly the appearance of the whirlwind that usually trailed in his wake. But still, they came.
"The lines are widening," Miroku called as he pushed back several soldiers with his staff handle, tipping at least four lines back like dominoes.
"I see it!" Koga shouted as he brought his clawed fist up, yokai energy crackling about his hand as his own weapon sparked and flared to life in his hand.
"Miroku, do you have a clear shot for your Kazaana?" Kagome called as she nocked another arrow into her bow.
Miroku looked about, dread chilling his chest.
"They're too spread out," Miroku answered.
"I've got it," Koga announced as he lifted his Goraishi, yoki flaring about the razored points. "Raku-rai!"
Instantly, five large waves of yoki cut through the ground, taking row after row of the earthen soldiers across the open field.
The attack was staggering, causing Miroku to grip his staff as he tried to steady himself. Kagome also had to steady herself as she tightened her hold on her bow.
Dust choked the air but the steady march continued towards them. However, the lines looked to be more contained, manageable….he hoped.
"Well, what are you waiting for," Koga demanded as he glared towards Miroku, a slight sheen of sweat coating his brow.
Apparently, the attack took more out of him than they expected.
Taking a deep breath, Miroku gripped the rosary wrapped about his wrist. He hoped this worked.
"Kazaana!" he shouted as he ripped the beads away from his palm, the whirling tunnel of wind leaping from his hand and sucking in everything about him.
SS
Kagome crouched down into the dirt, planting the base of her bow to keep her still. Koga rushed to her side to aid in this as the winds whipped about them furiously. The pull was intense but Koga's arms wrapped about her like steel bands, holding her in place.
Through the stinging of her eyes and the bits of dirt and grass striking her back and arms, Kagome clung to Koga's chest-plate. The slick sheen of sweat coated his arms and neck, and the look in his eyes was sharpened with pain.
"Koga," she called, snapping his gaze towards her. "Are you alright?"
Nostrils flaring, Koga nodded before he ducked his head over hers, shielding her from whatever it was that collided with his back.
"Koga!" she cried, worry causing her to tighten her grip on him.
"I've got you," he answered, his eyes starting to go far away as his pupils began to dilate. "You're safe."
"I'm sa- what about you?" Kagome demanded, feeling how rapidly his heart was beating. "What's happening?"
"Goraishi….." Koga huffed, breathing deeply through his nose. "Takes….a lot….."
Kagome studied him as she tried to grasp what he was saying. He'd used the weapon before. He was usually tired but….. he hadn't used it twice in one day!
"Koga, Koga!" Kagome called as she watched his eyes started to glaze over, his arms trembling. "Koga, don't you dare! You have to stay awake!"
"Trying…." He whispered, his voice sounding far away despite being on top of her. "Kagome….run…"
"Koga!"
However, he immediately crumpled on top of Kagome, pinning her under his weight.
SSS
Shipo ran with all his might, dashing from one tree to the next as the saimyosho continued in their frantic pursuit of him. However, his illusions were more than enough to keep them from swarming him.
Hard to corner your prey when you don't know which one is him.
Still, Shipo ran. His plan was working, for the most part. But, before he could get back to the others, he had to make sure the insects couldn't follow him back. He had to not only lose them but make them lost.
His copies were helping but there were still some that stubbornly kept up with him. If he could just lose the last few….
A loose branch under his tiny feet suddenly snapped under his weight, sending the kit tumbling head over tail into a nearby rock. Sliding down to the ground, Shipo struggled to get his world to stop spinning.
He really needed to find better friends.
The sudden buzzing in his ears had the kit snapping upright, backing into the large rock till the surface braced his back.
Fists clenching, Shipo prepared himself for the attack. If they wanted a fight, he'd give them one. However, before the first insect could dive towards him, a lone figure made its way through the trees, causing the breath to freeze in terror in Shipo's throat.
No!
"Return to the witch's home," the smooth voice ordered. "Now."
Without delay, the insects flitted off without a backward glanced, leaving Shipo alone with the one person he feared more than any-other.
"Well, now, kit," his voice replied before stepping into the sunlight reflecting off his baboon pelt. "How about we pick up where we left off?"
