Chapter 26

Urasue: Part 1

The thunderous bellow in the distance caused both Shipo and the witch to jerk wide eyes towards the cave's entrance. Shipo grinned like fool as a victorious gleam filled his gaze.

"You'll regret taking me, now," he cheered as he tried to get a better look through the bars. "Koga is coming for me."

"Koga?" the ogress asked, eyes blinking in curious confusion.

Shipo puffed his chest with arrogant pride. "He's the Alpha of the Ookami," he announced with a smirk. "And, I am his best spy. He'll not take to you stealing me very well."

"Won't he?" the sorceress challenged, purging her small mouth in irritation as she flicked mud-covered fingers in the eager kit's direction. "I don't have time for this. I've got more important things to finish. Stupid animals and their politics. Why can they not just leave my work alone? "

That was when a chillingly familiar buzzing filled Shipo's ears, causing him to shrink back in terror. It couldn't be!

To his terror, the single flying form of a saimyosho weaved its way towards the swiveled ogress, clicking about her ear.

"What?" the sorceress snapped, large eyes flashing in infuriated annoyance.

However, the ogress seemed intrigued with what the terrifying bug was chattering to her.

"You're sure?" she cackled in amusement. "Fine. You want the savage, have at him. Just leave me to my work."

Shipo choked on his squeak of horror when the saimyosho turned its shiny gaze in his direction. Those dark, soulless eyes were any sane creature's nightmare and to have them locked on him was enough to make any reckless courage wither and die in his chest.

Why did it keep staring at him?

"NO!" the witch screeched, stepping between Shipo and the nearing insect. "You can't have this one. I need him!"

Shipo had no plans to be a necessity to the conniving ogress but, if it kept him out of Naraku's clutches, he'd lay out on any slab till he got the chance to escape. Thankfully, the saimyosho didn't seem in the mood to argue and zipped out of the stuffy cave.

When the buzzing finally faded, Shipo snapped flashing eyes up at the witch.

"You're gonna regret taking his help," he warned almost gleefully. "Naraku always betrays those who work with him."

"Oh, I'm counting on it, dearie," the ogress cackled. "Why do you think I need you?"

That caused Shipo to pause. "What?"

Bulbous eyes gleamed as the ogress turned to grin at the stunned kit.

"Kitsune blood is the key ingredient to the strongest of shielding spells," she informed. "The younger the better. And, yours is quite young.
'Once the Jewel is in my grasp, you will be my means of escape. Be glad. Your life will ensure my own."

The witch's rattling pat against the lid of the cage caused Shipo to leap back in a horrified startle. A chilling cackle followed her slightly stooped form back to her pile of clay.

Shipo stayed crouched in the back of the cage, trembling tail covering his face and body. However, while he looked to all the world like the crying child, his eyes held the devious gleam he always had when he planned. For in his hands, he cradled the key to his freedom.

A key the witch took no notice to him swiping when she came close.

SSS

"You see! What did I tell you?"

Miroku fought the urge to cringe as he tried to focus his full attention on the young man laid out before him. The poor boy was hanging by a thread as it was without his father stirring up trouble.

"We let these beasts into our midst and this is what we get for it!"

Sango huffed as she packed more of the ground herbs into the wound.

"Does he think this will help his son?" she muttered bitterly. "Turning the village against those trying to save him?"

"He is a father," Miroku informed as he held Hojo's leg securely down to keep him from trying to jump off the mat in pain. "He is angry and afraid. He's trying to make sense of this horror."

"He's creating more," Sango countered. "Listen to him. The village is terrified and Kaede isn't here to calm them. He'll have the people burning this hut by the end of the day."

"His son is in this hut," Miroku replied, trying to appear calm as he digested Sango's words.

"You mean, his son is dying in this hut," Sango hissed as she tightened the wrapped bandages around Hojo's middle.

Miroku knew he couldn't blame the young taijiya for her frustration at the whole situation.

It had been a long hard run back to the village, scrambling to carry the dying man between them, and they'd only barely gotten Hojo into the hut to treat him when the boy's father started into his hysterics. But, right then and there, panic had no place in that room. Not if the boy had any chance of surviving.

"Sango," Miroku replied, snapping the taijiya from her irritation. "There is enough fear in the air, right now. I don't believe we need to add to it."

The flash of irritation didn't worry the young hoshi. If anything, it was good to see spirit in Sango's dark eyes. It meant she wasn't willing to give up the fight, just yet.

Nodding in agreement, Sango only snapped her eyes towards the hut's door for a moment before returning to their patient. However, there was no denying the confliction in her gaze.

"Do you think Hakkaku will be alright?" she asked. "It can't be safe for him, now."

Miroku was willing to admit he also worried for the lone hunter. When Koga and Ginta had taken off with the two mikos, Hakkaku had volunteered to return to the village with Miroku and Sango. He'd been determined to keep them safe traveling back and stationed himself as their personal guard at the hut's door. It was…..tense.

However, the hoshi just shrugged a cloaked shoulder.

"The hunter is a trained warrior," he replied calmly. "He will be fine so long as no-one tries to provoke the crowd."

"I should be out there, helping," Sango huffed.

Releasing a sigh, Miroku leveled knowing eyes on the twitchy taijiya. "You are helping in here," he explained. "Shall we stay with the task at hand?"

Reddening slightly, Sango nodded as she finished tying off the bandages. Miroku shook his head slightly. No-matter the irritation at her reluctance, he shouldn't shame her for trying to play to her strengths.

"You are an accomplished fighter, Sango," he soothed as he spread some of the poultice he'd been working on onto Hojo's brow for the fever. "But, right now, Hojo needs your help. I need your help."

The pronouncement had Sango stiffening as she snapped sharp eyes in his direction.

"You do?" she asked, the uncertainty ringing through her voice and causing Miroku's brow to furrow.

Had he been that cold towards her, lately?

However, before the hoshi allowed himself to get lost in that train of thought, he quickly snapped himself to the present. This was hardly the time or place for these kinds of worries.

"I do," he pronounced with absolute certainty. "I can't do this alone, Sango. And, you're the only one who can help me. Please."

Whatever conflict Miroku had seen in Sango's eyes, it vanished with those words as she doubled her efforts.

Miroku resisted the urge to sigh with relief. Perhaps he'd been too distant with the lovely taijiya lately but he'd certainly not intended to cause her any doubt as far as his feelings were concerned. With any luck, they'd be able to get through this problem and he'll be able to reassure her properly.

But, not now. Now, he needed to focus.

SSS

"We need to hurry," Kaede huffed as she and Kagome struggled to pull themselves up the ridge. "The Alpha may need our help."

Kagome didn't have the heart to tell the elderly priestess that Koga was probably doing just fine without them in the fight. But, even she would admit, the crashes and sounds of struggle above their heads was worrisome to Kagome as well.

Ginta had barely heard his leader shout up the mountain when he'd taken off to help, leaving the two straggling women behind.

A part of Kagome rankled at being left behind when Koga could be in trouble but there was only so fast Kaede could go and she was not about to rush her just as impatient mentor.

However, before she could reassure Kaede, a familiar buzzing set every hair on the back of her neck on end. Was that…..?

The rising shaded cloud behind them caused Kagome to spin sharply on her foot, hands pulling her bow in front of her as she glared on the horizon. Snaking up like swirling smoke, a large swarm of filthy saimyosho rode the wind towards them.

"Kaede," Kagome warned, freeing an arrow from her quiver to nock it.

The older miko glanced back, her eye narrowing in furious suspicion.

"What be that?" the old miko asked as she took a prepared stance of her own.

"They're poisonous insects of Naraku's," Kagome spat out as she tightened her grip. "He's found us."

"Then, perhaps the Alpha would like some assistance in another matter," Kaede offered, pulling her own arrow free.

Kagome nodded as she studied the approaching cloud with determination. She couldn't get up to Koga just yet. But, she'd buy him some time.

Bringing the fletching of her arrow to brush her cheek, Kagome released a single calm breath before freeing her first volley.