Dying to Live
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Miroku dismounted at the edge of the forest at the village outskirts. The ride in the chilled, wet air had not done him much good, and the monk's head swam a bit as he slid wearily off the nekomata's back. Closing his eyes, he pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead, willing the headache down before he had to go back to looking like he knew exactly what he was doing.
"Rrrrrrr," the sound rumbled beside him. It was familiar though, so it took a moment before Miroku lifted his heavy lids open under the weight of his sore head.
Kirara had gathered the layers of his vestments in her saber-toothed mouth, tugging on them gently but insistently. Her pointed, black ears flattened to her head with worry.
"Kirara, please let go," Miroku smiled the command softly while tugging on the fabric between his companion's fangs. Finally, she let go and with a pop shrank into her kit-like appearance; yet, her feline expression remained dubious, as she gazed up at her mistress' mate. Miroku couldn't ignore the niggling worry rooting in him at Kirara's behavior toward him. She could probably sense well the sickness roosting in his body. The monk did not have a choice at this moment - he would ignore it.
He advised Kirara to stay out of notice in the village, knowing well that the villagers might be even more sensitive to the presence of demons after the prior night's events. After the little cat demon skulked away to rejoin their friends in a more discreet way, Miroku began to pass by the homes on either side of the path toward the village center. As he passed the last line of still deserted houses, suddenly it came into view.
The ramshackle, blackened and collapsing skeleton of the village hall and stables dominated the village center.
He would have feared for the lives of the villagers - had a pack of women and children not immediately come hurrying up to him the moment that he came into view.
"Monk! Monk!" they called in urgent voices with white, strained faces.
"Monk you have returned," one of the younger women with a baby tied in a blanket on her back spoke up from the crowd. "The slayer told us to look out for your return to the village, having explained your heroic act last night. Everyone will be so happy to see you are alive."
"Are you well?" the young mother asked, as they walked together past the burned building. The remains still released ghostly wisps of smoke in the dampness, as misty rain hung in the air. A pang of paranoia hit him when he registered her question. He nearly missed clearing his throat, which had inopportunely begun to tickle with congestion.
"Y-yes," he managed, realizing suddenly she probably meant to inquire that he wasn't injured.
Thankfully to save Miroku from having to explain himself any further, Kohaku came striding up at that moment followed by Headman Kuga. "Brother-in-Law," Kohaku called and actually came up to embrace Miroku. It was a manly hug, a bit gruff with back clapping, but there was an unmistakable firmness in the grip that made it seem a bit grave.
What happened? Miroku thought. I wasn't out that long, right? But as the slayer pulled back, Miroku got a better look at the haggard look on the young face of Kohaku. The youth's skin was flecked down to his neck with scabbing scrapes and cuts. These superficial wounds were not what worried the monk the worst though. He figured there was more to what had passed in the night, given the state of the village hall.
"I couldn't help it, I worried about you, brother," Kohaku explained. "Though I was debating leaving the village to look for you soon, it didn't feel right to leave the people any sooner... after last night... "
"I am guessing things were not alright," Miroku replied, somberly gazing at the burnt-out structure again.
"They took a child again last night," Kohaku answered in a roughened voice. "Though a number of beasts followed you, we learned how to kill a number of others – but a few remained and attacked once we were distracted, after the hall caught fire..."
Miroku frowned listening to the brief summary of events. It sounded like the hall catching on fire was not intended. "Why don't you tell me about it?" he offered, encouragingly resting his hand on the clearly dejected, younger man's shoulder.
"Sure, let's go to the other end of the village – I don't know if you noticed last night: we ran across some friends of yours in the woods when Shippou and I were attempting to track the monsters – you know allies of a wolf demon, Kouga? They are piling up the wolf demon remains. The remains will have to be burned soon to assure no further trouble comes from them," Kohaku explained, leading Miroku along and continuing to explain to him the events of the previous night.
Feeling a barely perceptible rattling as he breathed, Miroku thudded his chest with his closed fist gently to avoid notice while Kohaku continued the recounting. As they walked a good distance through the village and well away from where the villagers were congregated around, they came up to the pile of destroyed demonic bodies.
Miroku took note of what Kohaku had described. The carcasses were roughly beheaded, and legs were missing on many. He saw how under Kohaku's direction the parts were being encircled with stood up pieces of broken tree branches. They were placed in an informal pyre-like arrangement. The Monk easily recognized the builders of the pyre as well - indeed it was the wolf brethren of Kouga, Ginta and Hakkaku.
Like Kohaku, Ginta and Hakkaku bore cuts, scrapes and bruises on their faces and bodies. Though they looked better healed than Kohaku, they had obviously taken abuse in the fight too.
"Brother Monk! Glad you're back!" they hailed him warmly, and Miroku smiled, liking the familiar way they addressed him. The two demons had reacted very affectionately to their group since Kouga had first admitted adoration for Kagome. Miroku found it touching that Kouga and the wolves retained their fondness for Kagome and her friends even after it was even more obvious that she would pair off with Inuyasha. They had turned out to be very good allies to them.
"Me too," Miroku replied, coming up to help stack the last of the tinder about the demonic remains while they discussed the effect of the fire on the possessed wolves. At last, they finished building the pyre.
Ginta released a tired breath and crouched down to gaze sadly at the wooden enclosure they had built. Hakkaku lowered down beside him. Clearly, this had already been hurting the two wolves to do, and the wolf demons' misery at what they had just built was obvious to any onlooker. When the slayer asked them to help burn the remains, he understood it was not just a means to an end. This was the closest Ginta and Hakkaku would get to mourning their former companions, who had been taken from them for reasons they did not yet understand.
"Would you want to light it?" Kohaku offered gently to the wolf demon brothers, as he pulled out an old dagger and a piece of flint. Then it dawned on Miroku at that moment. It would not surprise the monk that the wolf demons would be regretful at the loss of so many wolves through what appeared be such a malign cause. However, still yet to hear the full story of what Ginta and Hakkaku had been doing in the area at all, the Buddhist hadn't realized...
"You mean, these wolves..." he trailed off in understanding.
"These were Kouga's wolves," Hakkaku replied. Solemnly, he took the steel blade and flint from Kohaku and patted his brother's shoulder. Ginta still crouched, looking ahead pathetically at the pile of sticks and bodies.
Moving hesitantly, Hakkaku knelt down at the base of the pyre. Miroku and Kohaku stood back watching in quiet reverence. While Miroku was ready to hear more about the wolves and supposing what had happened to make them this way, he would not rob their allies of this goodbye to their lost friends.
Bright sparks flashed, as Hakkaku struck the flint and steel together. There was a hollow clacking sound. A curl of smoke signaled that the fire began to catch on a patch of dried leaves that had been clumped together at the base of the sticks. Carefully, Kohaku approached to show Hakkaku how to blow on the slowly igniting kindling to help stoke the flame better. The young man backed away when Ginta leaned in to help Hakkaku exhale onto the burning material.
Minutes later, the fire had taken off, and smoke was rising off the pyre well. Later, the odor and heavy smoking of the burning flesh would make it hard to stand near, but for now they stayed close. Gazing on seriously, they watched as the flames worked their way along.
At last, Miroku spoke quietly, asking the dreaded question: "Where is Kouga?"
Ginta and Hakkaku both frowned deeply. They explained to Miroku what they had told Shippou and Kohaku in the woods when they met up the prior night.
"A dark-coated Inu-Daiyoukai, you say?" Miroku replied, thinking a bit.
"You know Miroku, I have been thinking about that detail too," Kohaku added, as Ginta and Hakkaku listened in. "Do you remember when Rin and I first ran into you and Sis at the inn, and then you went with Rin to see about Sesshomaru's condition? I told you, we ran into an Inu-Daiyoukai that looked just like that."
"We all know from experience that Inu-Daiyoukai are not all that common. It's only because we know Inuyasha and Sesshomaru that we've even run across their kind," Miroku mused.
"Could it be that Rin and me running across that one on her ride away from Sesshomaru's castle in the West may not have just been a total coincidence? Especially knowing now that this local one seems to have to do with injuring Kouga?" Kokahu questioned. "Brother-in-law, his condition sounds very bad. He does not seem to know himself or possibly has lost the will to escape."
The monk considered the details, stroking his chin and thinking deeply. "There's definitely an eerie logic to suggest that this might be the type of lead we have been looking for, even if it's not a match to Sesshomaru's circumstances..."
"Brother Monk, your mention of Sesshomaru brings us to the question that Hakkaku and I must ask you," Ginta said, speaking up before he and Hakkaku fell to their knees in entreaty in front of Miroku. Behind them, the smoke was picking up from the fire, which had begun to crackle and take up in earnest.
"Shippou told us about the way that you saved Sesshomaru!" Hakkaku exclaimed, forcing an uncomfortable sigh from the monk. Shippou always had a way of saying things that he probably shouldn't. Generally things turned out fine anyway, but this was a time that Miroku wished that the fox had not said anything. Miroku still guarded the secret of the matching forbidden marks left on his and Sesshomaru's feet. As far as he knew, only Sango, Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Kagome were aware of those cursed marks and what they meant.
When Miroku didn't respond, Ginta continued. "Please Monk, if Kohaku is right, and Kouga is being held by the same demon that mortally wounded Sesshomaru, then without you, we don't stand a chance. Even if Hakkaku and I do find some way of rescuing Kouga, we fear now that he may die with the look of his condition. That and what we were told about how you found Sesshomaru. Please, please help us save Kouga!"
Miroku looked down at the wolf demons who were on their knees, begging with their hands clasped over their heads. Kohaku glanced at his brother-in-law, who was looking uneasy. The young slayer didn't know for sure, but he believed from the events that happened after Sesshomaru attacked at the wedding that it had cost Miroku something quite serious to save Sesshomaru. Still, he was smart enough to realize that he did not know all the details. His sister had been inconsolable, so he figured that it was bad. Meanwhile his brother-in-law had avoided discussing it in further detail, so Kohaku had not pried and accepted it was important that they not let Sesshomaru out of their sight until they resolved things.
The monk swallowed heavily looking off to the side. How could he say "no"? He had already made a mess of things, and it was distinctly looking like it was about to get worse no matter how he willed otherwise. Even so, he started to explain: "Ginta, Hakkaku, please understand: what I did to save Sesshomaru is not something I can easily repeat."
"We know, we know!" Ginta answered back. "Something like that, ransoming a life, isn't easily done – it had to be at a cost!"
"But we will pledge our very lives to you – a life debt on Kouga's behalf, if you will please just save him," Hakkaku begged.
Miroku understood: this was a very serious promise their friends were making. The monk was hesitant, but it would be worse if he didn't consider the eventuality of what he might end of up doing for Kouga. "Even if I could, you have seen what happened to Sesshomaru – Kouga will not be the same as he was. If you haven't noticed, Sesshomaru is not exactly grateful..." the Buddhist warned.
"We understand, Monk," Ginta interrupted.
"The kitsune told us, and we have seen Sesshomaru's behavior, but we would do anything for Kouga," Hakkaku explained. "Without Kouga, who would we follow? Honestly, Kagome and Inuyasha are probably some of the next most important allies we have – again, by virtue of that, we pledge ourselves to you on Kouga's behalf. Also, even if Kouga was made mortal like we see Sesshomaru is, we would stay by him. And we would do everything we could to help you set things right again on whatever account you save him, so please!"
Both wolves lowered their heads again to emphasize their petition.
Miroku rubbed his face with his hand and gazed down at them. "Okay," he finally said. "I can't promise anything, but I will do what I can for Kouga. Tonight, take me to the cave where he is being held. With any luck, we will find him there. Since this certainly all seems related to the wolves attacking the village, we should try to get Kouga away from this Inu-Daiyoukai as soon as we can."
"Thank you, thank you, Brother Monk!" Ginta and Hakkaku looked up with grateful tears in their eyes.
After making a plan to check back in together after the midday meal, Ginta and Hakkaku departed to hunt for a couple hours. Miroku and Kohaku trekked back toward the village center to find Shippou. Fortunately for the kitsune, his glamorized appearance had been holding well. Kohaku had even seen some of the villagers actually approaching and thanking the kitsune for helping pull people from the burning hall the night before. He felt they had to know by now that the youth wasn't human based on his strength and otherworldly features. Therefore, Kohaku was already explaining to Miroku on their walk some of the ideas that he and Shippou wanted to share while they would all eat lunch with Headman Kuga.
As they walked deeper into the village, it soon looked like that lunch would have to wait a bit longer though...
It was only a moment before, in a few long strides, a certain slate-grey haired man whipped into view around the edge of one of the huts ahead. Miroku's stomach clenched automatically. Instantly Sesshomaru was in the monk's face, bearing down on him aggressively. Without even a word from Sesshomaru, Miroku already knew from what Kohaku told him of how Rin had been inadvertently trapped in the fire and subsequently saved by the slayer that he would be facing the former Lord of the West's wrath.
"Did I not tell you?" seethed the taller man, who skillfully dominated Miroku's personal space. Sesshomaru was so close now, his long, loose, agitation-mussed hair threatened to whip against the monk. His pale hand shot out and jerked harshly on Miroku's collar.
"Sesshomaru, I heard about Rin, and I'm sor-" Miroku started to try to say before his assailant interjected again.
"We should leave this cursed, fucking place," Sesshomaru menaced darkly. His voice was even and scarily calm, but his grip on Miroku spoke volumes to the contrary.
Miroku understood what had happened had been bad. What if Rin had died in the fire - and more than that - what if Sesshomaru had perished the previous night? Miroku also now wished that they hadn't entered the village. Without Inuyasha and Kagome to help fight too, things were definitely harder, but there was no turning back now.
"Sesshomaru!" Shippou shouted, adding to the chaotic moment, as he appeared from the same direction from where Sesshomaru had emerged.
"Sesshomaru-" Miroku tried to speak again as well, but Sesshomaru only gripped his vestments harder. He seemed very intent on giving the monk a good rattling. Kohaku was also already stepping forward with Shippou's arrival to push the man off.
But Sesshomaru would not have it: wordlessly, he elbowed the slayer so hard that the slayer and kitsune fell into each other. This was unfortunately what led Sesshomaru to give Miroku a good jerk to his clothes – giving exactly the momentum it took to finally loosen the phlegm that had been building in the monk's chest.
Oh no, the thought flashed in Miroku's mind. He would not keep this convulsion down, and just then, the monk released an explosive cough across the front of Sesshomaru. The sound of it was awful, wet and choking.
An anti-climatic and humiliating string of spit clung to Sesshomaru's chest before he shoved Miroku away to finish hacking up his lung.
"And of course - now, you're sick," Sesshomaru cursed angrily and swiped at the offending fluid on his chest. "Useless mortals – how do any of you survive?"
Miroku remained doubled over from the pain of expressing the fluid from his lungs. He hated how tired he already felt, and it was barely already midday. Sesshomaru's bitter words rang painfully true. Can I get not even the cooperation of my own body now? the monk thought ironically. Still, Miroku managed a rueful chuckle before slowly righting himself. He swept the back of his hand across his mouth to clear the phlegm.
"It is a wonder, and I must be one of the stupider of my kind," the monk smirked.
Miroku would just play into Sesshomaru's spite, since he didn't have the spirit in him at the moment to argue with the man. Perhaps it was better that Miroku let Sesshomaru go on the offensive. The thoughts cranking through the Buddhist's head already told him he could only count on Sesshomaru's determination to defend Rin. Sesshomaru was notably a tough nut to crack, but Miroku would use it to his advantage that the man had failed to hide his emotions this time after watching danger befall the girl. Kohaku had told Miroku of how clearly disturbed Sesshomaru had become when he believed she would die in the fire.
"Sesshomaru, I'll tell you now that based on new revelations, we don't have a choice – we will stay and defend this village despite the danger," Miroku replied firmly.
Sesshomaru started visibly, obviously seeing red in his disbelief that Miroku could be so dull. "Why?" he replied sharply, while Shippou and Kohaku remained poised to stop Sesshomaru from assailing Miroku, if he tried again.
Miroku allowed himself a couple deep breaths before going on regardless of Sesshomaru's huff of impatience. The monk took even the slightest encouragement he could glean that at least Sesshomaru had asked for the reason: "Because these people need us, but also, I have made the discovery I had hoped for -a lead on how you may have lost your soul."
It had the effect Miroku intended. Reflexively, Sesshomaru stopped dead before he began to question acerbically, "What could this possibly-",
"Friends of ours told me a demonic ally of your half-brother's was attacked by a creature, a black-furred Inu-Daiyoukai." Miroku had emphasized the demon's type for effect. "Now our friends believe that the Inu-Daiyoukai possesses our ally."
Sesshomaru scoffed, apparently not seeing the significance. "It does not sound anything like what occurred with me. Not to mention, I doubt it's truly an Inu-Daiyoukai. The fur, the description of a 'possession' of your ally - does not sound like any I've known of."
"Yes, but that may even confirm it!" Miroku replied, actually feeling a bit excited. "We are certainly lacking a lot of information about your encounter because you were alone when it happened – and now, suddenly there's an unfamiliar, Inu-Daiyoukai-looking creature 'possessing', maybe even stealing another demon's soul? We should not leave even the barest possibility without investigation. Perhaps even now, this creature is just playing something of a game with our demonic ally's body before abandoning it, as it did of you?"
As Miroku finished, Sesshomaru shot him a look that clearly indicated he thought the monk was mad. Then Kohaku spoke up as well.
"Brother-in-law, what if the creature needs Kouga's body to control the possessed wolves? What if that's why it's keeping Kouga there?" the slayer added to the theory.
"Yes, I believe that could be the case," Miroku replied, before clearing his throat, which to his dismay now grew scratchy again. "We must find out and attempt to save our friend, but it will be dangerous. Only a few of us can go." Though Miroku was uncertain about the next part, he didn't have much choice in the matter and decided it would be better to prepare the man: "Sesshomaru, you and Rin will need to stay in the village tonight again. Part of our group will also stay to help the villagers put up a defensive, while some of us will go to investigate the Inu-Daiyoukai's lair."
The former-demon instantly growled his displeasure, once more closing the space between he and Miroku threateningly. Miroku resisted the urge to shrink away or cough in the man's face again. Unfortunately Sesshomaru's greater stature, even as a human, made it difficult not to quail a bit.
Sesshomaru put his face closer still, just inches from the monk's. A brave action, Miroku thought, considering he had just coughed all over his aggressor. To the side, Kohaku dropped his hand to the handle of his kusarigama– he wouldn't hesitate to rapidly throw the chain over Sesshomaru to pull him back from his brother-in-law, if the nut went even a hair closer.
"Fine," Sesshomaru spat after a tense minute. Miroku wondered if he had been forced to quickly weigh his options. Kohaku had told Miroku that Rin was still bed-ridden from the smoke she had inhaled. "But I refuse to have Rin and myself herded into a building like common chattel primed for the feast of vermin or to be cooked alive," he declared vehemently.
"No, you're right, that plan was not good at all." Miroku was willing to concede when he was wrong and saw that giving Sesshomaru familiar comfort in the image of being the "correct one" appeared to be helping dissipate his anger. "I understand Rin has been resting in a hut around the center of the village. And we will make sure villagers and members of our direct group will be placed to defend that hut. But it must be on the condition that others of the most venerable villagers, who would stand no chance in a fight, be permitted to shelter with Rin."
Sesshomaru ground his jaw minutely, considering this. His selfish tendencies obviously were urging him to rail against this, but the request was not unreasonable. Though Miroku guessed he probably disdained the thought of help, Sesshomaru had to acknowledge it might not be wise to defend Rin's location all on his own against an enemy that could attack in such numbers. "Also fine, but do not attempt to lock me in with them again."
Miroku sighed. Of course he didn't want Sesshomaru in harm's way given the way their fates were bound, but he could tell there'd be no holding the former Lord of the West under lock-and-key in this particular situation. Not to mention Miroku himself was clearly going off to danger by going to the den of the mysterious Inu-Daiyoukai. Better to accept it now: "No, you will defend with the others," Miroku sighed. He barely resisted the urge to beg Sesshomaru to please do it carefully, but it was a bit useless; Sesshomaru was already well aware of the mutual dependence of their existences.
Satisfied as he could possibly be, the bigger man withdrew from invading Miroku's immediate area. Casting a calloused glance around at the three friends from their group, he paused to glare at the slayer.
"You," he spoke pointedly to Kohaku. "I should thank you for saving Rin. However, deceive and strike me in such a cowardly way once more as you did last night, and you'll be advised not to turn your back on me ever again."
With that, Sesshomaru turned sharply and stalked off, back through the village without another word.
"Jeez, what a charmer," Shippou scowled, finally breaking the silence.
"Indeed," Miroku sighed. "But there isn't much we can do without him right now. Whichever of us stay in the village tonight will have to keep a close eye on him. I'm almost certain that he could be very reckless, still not having a good concept of what it means to be a human fighting against demons," the monk observed, his thought punctuated with an ugly sounding wheeze.
Kohaku came up and placed a gentle hand on Miroku's shoulder. The slayer's eyes lost their hardness from the encounter with Sesshomaru, giving way to tender worry. "For sure, we can deal with Sesshomaru later. But now, you need rest, Brother-in-law," he urged.
The three friends followed the path toward the village center. They would need to settle down for the precious remaining hours they had left before night fell again. Not only would they refine the plan to defend the village, they would also need to consider how to possibly save Kouga.
:::
Note: Hi all! Just wanted to say while I haven't seen many new reviews on this fic, we have had some new follows/favorites - thank you! Actually, I was also overwhelmed to see some record-breaking traffic stats that indicated a lot of you dropped in to read the latest update soon after the prior chapter was posted earlier this month. Honestly, that's super cool too ~ Grateful y'all are out there. Read on, review if you can, and peace, dear readers.
One additional announcement too - I have recently begun re-posting from the start of this story over on AO3 as well (same pen name). It'll probably take some time to catch up that posting to the current chapter of where we're at here on FF .net, but don't hesitate to drop by with a "hey" or such over on AO3, if you like!
Origamikungfu.