Chapter 4: Kaede's Urgent Call

"Shippo, I'm back," said Kagome breathing heavily, "How are things holding up?"

"Getting worse Kagome," replied Shippo stepping out of the way so Kagome could sit down and distribute medicine, "Sango and Kirara are beginning to feel the affects of the poison and Inuyasha and Miroku aren't doing so well battling the demon."

"They'll be better now that I've got the antidote," she said holding up Sango's head and pouring some medicine in her mouth. Kagome ripped Sango's outfit where her injuries were and applied the medicine.

"Here Shippo, put this on Kirara's wounds and make her swallow this," Kagome handed a rag to Shippo with some medicine on the end and the cap to the bottle of antidote that was filled with medicine.

They nursed the two then laid them on the ground to rest. Kagome strung an arrow on her bow and began to get to her feet when Shippo stopped her.

"No Kagome, you'll get hurt! Let Inuyasha handle this," he said pulling at her skirt.

"Shippo, I have to help them out. There not getting anywhere with just slicing off it's tentacles, they just keep growing back. I have to help, my purity arrows should kill it."

"But you'll get hurt!" said Shippo looking up at her with his tiny saddened eyes.

"I'll be fine Shippo. Watch out for Sango and Kirara for me."

Kagome got to her feet and snuck over to the demon puppet with her bow and arrow prepared. Inuyasha and Miroku were still battling the demon and didn't seem to be making any kind of progress except for getting multiple wounds on their bodies. Miroku had bruises on his arms and legs from the violent attacks by the puppet's powerful roots and Inuyasha had the same, including a few cuts where the roots had nicked him. He wasn't as badly cut as Sango and Kirara though so he didn't have but a tiny bit of poison in him.

"When will you die?!" asked Inuyasha dishing out swoops and slices with the tetsusaiga over and over again getting aggravated. But the demon kept growing more.

"Can you get to the heart Inuyasha?" asked Miroku knocking some tentacles that came at him.

"What do you think I've been trying to do?" asked Inuyasha landing beside him.

"We have to come up with a plan to distract it while one of us aims for the heart. It's the only way to defeat this thing."

Just as Miroku was saying that, an arrow, glowing with a bright light, came flying through the air and hit the demon puppet directly in the heart.

"Kagome!" cried Inuyasha as he looked over at her standing a few feet away.

It cracked open and burst into tiny pieces that disincarnated before they hit the ground. After a matter of moments, the puppet was gone and left nothing but a black spot on the ground where it had been sitting.

"What took you so long?" asked Inuyasha putting his sword in it's sheath and walking over to her with Miroku.

"I had to go back to the hut to get some antidote for Sango and Kirara. It took me a while to finally find it. I ran back as fast as I could."

"We better go back to the hut," said Mirkou holding his staff, "It seems not only Sango and Kirara need medicine but we do as well."

Miroku looked down at his arms and revealed bruises and cuts.

"Right," replied Kagome hurrying over to her two injured friends.

* * * * *

When they got to the hut, Kagome, Shippo and Miroku laid Sango and Kirara on some blankets and Kagome nursed Miroku's wounds and was in the middle of treating Inuyasha's.

"I wonder what Naraku meant when he said he found a way to kill me?" he asked looking at the ground pondering while Kagome dabbed his cuts with medicine.

"Sounds to me like he must have figured something out or found something that he assumes is strong enough to defeat you," answered Miroku rubbing his chin.

"Yea but what?" asked Kagome tapping bandages on his wounds.

"Good question," said Mirkou.

"I guess we'll find out," said Inuyasha pulling his shirt back on seeming very calm about the deadly threats made to him.

"But why would he come and tell us this when he could just have shown us?" asked Miroku looking over at Inuyasha.

"Beats me," Inuyasha said crossing his arms.

All of a sudden there was a knock at the door. Kagome got up and answered it, carrying Shippo on her shoulder. It was a man with a horse and he seemed to have a note in his hand.

"Is this where I can find an Inuyasha and Kagome?" asked the man.

"I'm Kagome," she told him pushing the woven flap back and stepping outside.

"I have a message from the priestess Kaede," he said handing the note to her.

"Kaede?" asked Inuyasha stepping outside standing behind Kagome and peering over her shoulder at the note.

"Yes, it's very urgent that you read the letter and reply as soon as possible," the stranger said.

"What's the matter?" asked Miroku stepping outside as well.

"You must respond quickly, I must leave now," he said jumping on his horse's back and riding off.

They watched as he road off then focused on the note. Kagome opened the letter and began to read.

"What does it say Kagome?" asked Miroku stepping behind her.

"It says:

Go to the village atop the hill, it's about a days walk from where you are. It is very urgent that you come immediately. Travel fast.

Lady Kaede"

"She must be in danger if she's sending such an urgent letter," said Miroku.

"I hope she's okay," worried Kagome folding the letter back up.

"You should set out quickly, I shall stay with Sango and Kirara," suggested Miroku.

"You perverted Monk, you just want us to leave so you can be alone with Sango!" said Inuyasha, "You know what she'll do if you grope her, despite if she's injured or not."

"That wasn't my intention at all."

"Feh, sure."

"How about Inuyasha and I go and Shippo stay with you?" suggested Kagome.

"Fine by me," said Inuyasha crossing his arms.

"Then it's settled," Miroku agreed.

They decided to wait until the next morning to go since it was nearly dark now. Early the next morning Kagome took her pack with some medicine and bandages inside, leaving some for Sango and Kirara. She grabbed her bow and arrows and bike and prepared to set off. Sango and Kirara had awaken and were recovering but were still unable to go.

"Oh and Shippo?" shouted Kagome as she was walking away, "make sure you nurse Sango's wounds, not Miroku okay?"

"You got it Kagome!" he yelled back waving goodbye.

"*Sigh* Why does she always think I'm going to do something to Sango?" asked Miroku as if he didn't know his own perverted mind.

"Come off it Miroku! You know you'd grope her once you got the chance! We all know it!" said Shippo.

"*Sigh*"

*^* R&R! *^*