Chapter 24

Ugly Truth

Heart racing, legs pounding, Hojo knew he was late to the meeting place he'd told the old woman to be at. He knew the area like the back of his hand but, for some reason, that day everything felt foreign to him. The forest was thicker, the road uneven, the sounds of birds or the nearby river were surprising and startling. It had turned him around so badly, he'd had to backtrack and retrace his steps a time or two just to find the right direction he needed to go.

Hojo knew what it was. He felt guilt: over the thievery of Kaede's most prized procession, over possibly harming the hoshi, a guest in her house.

He really hoped the monk was alright. Surely, he hadn't hit him that hard.

The horrible realizations had put Hojo off balance and distracted but still he continued to run. He couldn't give up now. The shame of it all would then be for nothing. And, Hojo didn't think he could face that.

His father's sneering face, the look of disappointment in Kaede's eyes, the obvious confusion and whispered rumors from the villagers. All of that would be worth it if he had something to show for it. He would swallow his father's rebuke and beg Kaede's forgiveness for what he did if he could just succeed in this one thing.

If he could keep Kagome safe, he'd weather anything. He owed her that much.

An impatient huff through the trees caused Hojo to stumble mid-step as he searched for the source. A quick perusal showed he'd reached his destination and the old woman from before was muttering and pacing just out of sight from the road.

"Where is he?" she hissed between clenched teeth, as she turned a worn pipe in her wrinkled fingers.

This was it! His one chance.

Taking a deep, burning breath, Hojo quickly made his way towards the elderly woman waiting for him.

Wide eyes blinked in his direction before she straightened her stooped form before him.

"Ah, there you are, dearie," she replied sweetly as a smile pulled the tight corners of her small mouth. "Just in time."

Hojo swallowed low as he nodded in agreement. He didn't have the heart to correct the old woman. Especially, if she was going to do him this great favor.

"I came as soon as I could," he informed shyly. "I hope it wasn't—"

"Yes, yes, yes," the woman interrupted, waving a wrinkled hand. "You're here, now. And, do you have something for me?"

Hojo nodded as he cautiously stepped towards the old woman. The pot in his hands trembled but Hojo tightened his grip to keep from dropping it on the worn road. He had more respect for the remains than that.

"Yes, yes," the woman's eyes gleamed as she held out her own trembling hands for the small vessel. "You just hand it over to dear old Urasue and I'll….."

However, no-sooner did the old woman's hands touch the jar than her wrinkled brow furrowed further as she studied it was an almost angry intensity.

"Wait, what…." the old woman turned the jar one way and another, causing Hojo to shift from foot to foot uneasily. "What is this?"

"The purist thing in our village," Hojo informed, eyes lingering on the pot in her shaking hands. "They are the remains of the great miko, Kikyo, who gave—"

However, a hard knock of the old woman's net-handle struck Hojo so hard it sent him sprawling towards the packed dirt.

"You simpering fool!" the old woman shrieked as she gripped the jar's base, nails creaking dangerously against the ceramic. "You were supposed to bring me something powerful! Not the decrepit leftovers of a long-dead priestess….. Wait."

Hojo suddenly jerked back at the change in the old woman's tone, terror warring with preparation. Was she going to strike him again? Would she smash the jar in punishment?

"Kikyo….." the old woman repeated, thumbnail tapping the jar thoughtfully. "She guarded the Shikon Jewel, did she not?"

"Y-yes?" Hojo answered, scooting himself further back from the woman.

"Hm….. Interesting. It was said she took the Jewel with her into death. Perhaps….this is salvageable afterall."

"I'm….glad it can help you," Hojo replied cautiously as he started to rise to his feet. "So, this will be enough."

"Oh, yes, dearie," the old woman said, smiling up at the jar with new heartfelt appreciating.

Relief warmed Hojo, making him start to believe this could all be worth it. That was moments before a searing pain ripped through him, causing him to give under trembling knees.

Red greeted his shaky gaze as he stared at his dripping palms. How did…."

"This will be more than enough," the old woman crooned right before Hojo's vision went black.

SSS

Blood!

The smell in the air was too familiar to Koga, still it caused his rushed steps to falter for barely a moment before he pushed through the remaining trees. The scene before him had him glad he'd decided to rush ahead of the rest of the group.

Sprawled out in the middle of the road, the prone figure of the human male was a gruesome sight to see. The sickly, metallic-sweet scent of fresh blood cloaked the air and Koga had a hard time deciding if the male was dead or alive. He seemed in that boundary where a man could go either way. All it would take was a swift blow and it was end him for good.

Koga knew if there was another ookami, they would beg for a mercy kill. To face death head-on and not slowly crawl to it in agony. In that case, he knew what would be expected of him.

But, this was a human. And, they tended to cling to life far more than anything else. On top of that, this boy was a friend of Kagome's. She'd want to try and save him, regardless of the dishonor he'd done.

Koga….found himself conflicted. On one hand, he could put the pitiful human out of his misery and do the universe's version of justice for the crime he'd committed. But, on the other hand, the human in the village wouldn't take kindly to him killing off one of their own, and if Kagome ever found out, she'd never forgive him. But, could he let her see this horror and that be any better?

Before Koga had a chance to decide one way or the other, something else got his attention. Over the blood and the filth of on-coming death, something else pricked his nose. Another scent, another essence.

It made sense: the human didn't give himself that wound. But, there was something….more about this scent. Something off. And, definitely not human.

"Koga?"

The call had the Alpha whipping about to shout a warning to the up-coming party however, they cleared the trees quicker than he expected.

A painful twist wrenched in Koga's gut at the look of horrified sorrow on Kagome's face as she rushed towards Hojo's fallen form. The old miko, Kaede rushed to join her with Miroku, as Sango, Ginta, and himself formed a perimeter line about the small group.

"Is he dead?" Sango asked, bringing her weapon in front of her in preparation.

"Nay," the old miko informed. "But, he is badly wounded. He must get back to the village and treated quickly."

"I don't see the remains on him," Miroku informed, causing the others to go further on alert. "It is possible someone else took them."

"A yokai was here," Koga ground out, eyes sharpening with his ears as he once again scanned the horizon. "They headed that way."

"There is nothing there but empty hills," Kagome informed. "No-one goes up there."

"Which means it's a perfect feeding ground for whatever is up there," Koga answered, glaring up at the distant hills. "And, it may be planning something for the miko's remains."

"We must get them back," Kaede announced resolutely. "But,….Hojo?"

"I'll take him back," Sango quickly offered, crouching down beside the wavering miko. "The village is not far and I can use my Hiraikotsu to support him."

"I will help," Miroku quickly offered.

Koga ignored the tightening of Sango's shoulders at the offer as he took another experimental sniff about. He had bigger things to focus on and the taijiya could take care of herself.

"Very well," Kaede agreed. "Ye shall see to him. The rest of us shall continue on."

Koga was tempted to try and convince the old woman to return with the soon-to-be body but he knew the miko had a personal stake in this. And, he knew better than to try and keep anyone from that.

A pained groan snapped everyone's attention to focus on the trembling male before them.

"Hojo," Kagome gasped as she started to pat his hand. "Hojo, can you hear me? It's Kagome."

A weak moan answered Kagome's plea and Koga felt his own irritation at the male start to slip away. This poor fool was so close to death he could practically taste it. If he survived the hour, Koga would be impressed.

"Hojo?" Kagome called, frantic. "Hojo, please! Just lie still. Sango and Miroku are going to take you back to the village. They'll take care of you and everything will be—"

However, the shaking hand gripping Kagome's caused her strained words to stop. Heavy, pained eyes stared up, causing Koga to lower his own in grudging respect. Coward or not, the human was a fighter.

"Ur….urs…."

"What is it, Hojo?" Kagome asked. "What are you trying to say?"

"Ura—sue…."

The effort was too much. All at once, the male's body went slack, causing Kagome and Kaede to cry out in horrified shock. However, the hoshi quickly pressed his fingers to the boy's wrist.

"He's still alive," he informed, calmly. "But, we must hurry."

"Of course," Kaede answered as she moved to give the other two the space to secure the male to move him.

Koga moved to wrap a comforting hand about his woman's shoulders but Kagome just stepped away from him, shaking her head. The rejection stung but Koga understood the need to focus. His woman didn't like falling apart in front of others; especially when a problem still needed to be solved.

"Who is Urasue?" Ginta asked, tone quiet but hard.

"She was a sorceress and necromancer," Kaede informed gravely. "She'd once terrorized the mountains North of here but had been driven out."

"And, had apparently, found new hunting grounds," Koga muttered harshly.

"If she has my sister's remains, there is no-doubt she will use them," Kaede added, terror evident in her solitary eye. "We must hurry!"

Koga nodded as he glanced back towards Kagome. She'd been tense through this whole thing. But, there was something new about her demeanor now. Her stance was stronger, surer. And, she met his gaze with a fiery determination that had pride swelling inside his chest.

It was time to go to battle. And, this time, she'd fight beside him.