Ch. 103- Together
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Kagome panted as she stared at the huge fissure that was left behind when she tried to hit Naraku with one final shot. The sky was clear of any miasma, the air now safe to breathe...and all the while, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and especially Inuyasha stared at the girl in awe. Suddenly...the castle started to slowly vanish around them.
"What the...?" Sango asked. "What's going on?"
"It seems that this castle was all an illusion," Miroku said. "The real one must still be out there, somewhere...but one thing's for certain: that was definitely the real Naraku we clashed with, just now."
It was at that moment that Kagome's knees suddenly buckled and she started to collapse, causing Inuyasha to gasp as he managed to unpin himself from the dismembered claw that Naraku had impaled him with, then ran over to her side as fast as he could, catching her in his arms.
"Kagome!" he cried as he gently held her, just as the others came to her side as well.
"I...Inuyasha..." Kagome whispered.
"Are you okay?" asked Sango.
"Yeah...just a bit lightheaded now," answered Kagome. "Where's Naraku?"
"...It looks like he's gone," Miroku said as he looked around.
"...Damn..." Kagome cursed silently. "I couldn't hit him."
"What do you mean?" Shippo asked.
"...Just as I was about to fire...someone ran up and grabbed him," Kagome said...causing Sango to sigh as she looked down to the ground.
"...I know who it was..." she said...just as the sun began to appear beyond the hills, chasing away the darkness.
XXX
In the forest, not too far from Inuyasha and company...Kohaku sat in a tree branch, his eyes still blank and listless. In his arms...was Naraku's disembodied head.
"...That wench," he said. "She is certainly a powerful one. However...it seems she is even more powerful than even Kikyo. She can purify and exorcise even my deadly miasma with those arrows of hers...I don't think even Kikyo has that power."
For some reason...a grin appeared on his features...a grin of malcontent.
"Well...I think I know who to keep my eyes on from this point onward," Naraku said. "That girl...I'll be sure to separate her from Inuyasha...and I'll make sure she cannot use those powers of hers to boot."
A dark chuckle soon erupted from his throat.
"Kohaku...let us go back to the castle...and be quick."
"Yes, milord."
XXX
Later that morning, Inuyasha and company stood over the hills, watching the sunrise as the wind blew.
"So it was Kohaku that saved Naraku?" asked Miroku.
"I think it was," Kagome said while she wrapped a bandage around Sango's arm, where she had gotten stabbed by Kohaku's kusarigama. "He was fast enough to be able to avoid the blast of power from my arrow and grabbed Naraku before it could hit." She sighed as she looked to the ground, her eyes hooded with shame and regret. "I'm sorry...if I had just been faster..."
"Don't blame yourself, Kagome," Miroku said. "In fact, if it weren't for you, we'd all be dead, by now!"
"He's right, Kagome," Inuyasha said. "I gotta say...that was really impressive, what you did!"
"You...you think so?" asked Kagome.
"Yeah!" Shippo answered. "And you sure looked scary, too! I've never seen you so angry before!"
"...Well...I couldn't help myself," Kagome said. "One minute...I was actually prepared to die when that miasma overwhelmed us...but then, when I heard Naraku insulting Inuyasha like that, something inside me snapped. The next thing I knew, I suddenly found the strength to stand and I just started firing arrows at him!"
"So it seems that just as Inuyasha draws strength from you," Miroku began while he glanced back at the half-demon in question, "you draw strength from Inuyasha as well, don't you think?"
"W-why are you puttin' it that way?" asked Inuyasha, his face reddening a bit.
"Ngh...!" Sango grunted as Kagome tightened the bandage.
"Sorry, is that too tight?" asked Kagome.
"It's fine," Sango said. "Thank you, Kagome."
"Of course," Kagome nodded. "How's Kirara?"
"She's still sick," Sango said as she held the frail nekomata in her arms. "That miasma must be really strong. It usually takes a lot to take Kirara down like that...the poor thing, she must be in so much pain."
Kirara gave a pitiful mewl as she clung to her mistress. It was then that Inuyasha's ears drooped as a somewhat guilty expression formed on his face.
"Um...Sango?" Inuyasha asked. "I'm sorry...Kirara got poisoned and you got hurt because of me."
"What do you mean?" asked Sango.
"Even though I knew the plan only had a slight chance of working," Inuyasha began, "I went through with it anyway, and I asked you to trust me...but...we couldn't defeat Naraku and we couldn't get your brother back, either." He then looked the demon slayer in the eye. "So for that, I'm sorry."
Sango's eyes went wide...but then she smiled and shook his head.
"No...don't be sorry," she said. "Now I know that I really can trust you all, completely. I know it won't be easy and I'm sure Naraku will attempt to overwhelm us again...and while I am a bit sad that we couldn't save Kohaku this time, I'm sure we'll find a way!"
"We will definitely find a way," Kagome affirmed as she stood beside her. "We'll be with you, Sango! Every step of the way!"
"Here-here," Miroku agreed as he stepped forward.
"Count me in, too!" Shippo exclaimed.
"We'll hunt Naraku down again," Inuyasha began, "and the next time we see him, we'll be sure to give him what-for...and we'll do it, together."
Sango nodded, a determined expression on her face as she looked to the rising sun, along with her friends.
'Kohaku...I know you don't remember me...but I'm sure some part of you wants to be with me, again. I swear...we will find a way to free Naraku's grasp! Just hold on a little longer!'
Yeah, I know this one's pretty short, but I think it serves its purpose. Next up, another one of my favorite arcs: the Jinenji Arc!
Review, please!
