Blargh, I suck. I haven't been writing nearly as much as I wish I was. So
is the horror of finding translated Card Captor Sakura manga. *Sigh.*
Anywho. I was reading back through chapter two and realized just how silly
sounding Kagome's little prayer was. I don't know why I wrote it like
that…too much Sailor Moon in my youth, I would guess. It's rather
corney…oh well.
I'm going to reeeeeeeeeally try to get the fourth chapter written for next week. Actually…I'm aiming to have both chapter four and five written. I've got Hell Week coming up for our latest theatre production. *whimpers like a little girl*
Please enjoy this latest installment. I actually worked really hard on the later scene. ^-^x
Where Lost Souls Meet Again
Chapter Three: And Death Shall Have No Dominion*
The next morning came early. Clouds rolled along the horizon, dark and ugly. Inuyasha just snorted when Shippou suggested they look for shelter to wait out the storm. "I'm Inuyasha," he said simply in response to why they shouldn't.
Shippou threw up his hands. "Of course, that's the reason for everything you do that's incredibly stupid."
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"You two haven't changed a bit."
Demon and half-breed whipped about to see a smiling priest lounging against a nearby tree, staff in hand. He waved casually to the fighting companions as he pushed himself off the trunk and began sauntering toward them. Around his wrist he wore a string of prayer beads.
Ecstatic, the kitsune ran to the erstwhile priest and jumped into his arms. Miroku fell back a little, thrown off balance from Shippou's increased size. He laughed when the fox-demon began yapping at him about everything that had happened since last they'd been together. "That's wonderful, Shippou. But you wouldn't happen to want to talk a little slower, would you? And perhaps on the ground? You aren't as small as once you were."
Sheepish, but far too happy to let it get to him, Shippou hopped down to the ground and began telling his human friend about the last few days with Shoukaki. Miroku nodded occasionally, interested to know about how the phantom child could be substantial during the day but not at night and her unique situation in the world. "A ghost that's here for no reason? And you haven't been brought back by a Tattaremoke? How very strange."
Shoukaki shrugged at his questions. "I can't quite explain it myself. I know that I died badly…and that I didn't want to…but I'm not here as a vengeful child or an outraged spirit. I just…I just came back. Even Mommy doesn't know why I'm here."
That got everyone's attention more so than anything else the small ghost had said up till then. Miroku knelt down and slowly placed his hands on the girl's shoulders. "My, you are quite solid, aren't you, little one?" Then he looked her deep in the eyes, studying. She blinked, a bit uncomfortable. "You can talk to the dead?"
She shook her head. "No no, I can only talk to Mommy. I can't even see the dead. I can hear Mommy talking to me from heaven, but that's all. She helps me sometimes when I'm really lonely." Shoukaki blinked childishly. "Why, is that odd?"
The other three just looked at her.
"Tch. You people always waste time. Come on, let's get going."
Miroku stood and grabbed Inuyasha by his arm as he began heading off toward the clouds gathering on the horizon. "Wait, Inuyasha. I'm camped not far from here, why don't you come and stay with me until this storm passes? At least you'll be with old friends, yes?"
Shippou jumped up and down, trying to get the priest's attention. "'Friends'? Is someone else with you, Miroku?"
Inuyasha looked the priest over with lidded eyes and nodded. "Yeah, lecher. Who else is with you?"
The one-time possessor of the air-rip smiled and tapped a finger to his nose. "Follow me and you shall see, Inuyasha." And then he turned on his heel and headed away, into the trees. One arm waved them along. "Come on, if you want. I can't force you but the company will be most welcome. Wouldn't you agree, Inuyasha?" His voice trailed away as he disappeared among the encroaching forestland.
Shrugging, Inuyasha turned on his heel and followed the Buddhist monk back among the trees. Shippou and Shoukaki followed after, the fox-demon skipping along, the phantom child dashing from flower to flower, taking in the scents. Sunlight poured over them in intermittent spurts, giving way to heavy shadow more and more frequently as the storm rushed in on them. Occasionally the monk would stop and look up, then continue on his way. Neither the demons nor the ghost made mention of his actions.
Bramble began to choke what meager path the four walked down the farther into the forest they went. Vines clung stubbornly to trees and moss dotted the aged bark. Up in the branches, birds rustled and cawed; a squirrel dashed across their way, followed closely by another. Shoukaki stopped to watch them disappear into the thickets until Shippou grabbed her hand and dragged her after. Insects flitted about their heads and buzzed merrily in the dying light.
As he was oft to do, the priest stopped yet again to stare up through the shaking canopy. Since their last halt, the air had grown thick with electricity and the musk of rain. Inuyasha took a long whiff, then coughed. Miroku looked at him curiously. "Are you all right, Inuyasha?"
Said demon nodded and rubbed his nose. "The air is getting heavy, that's all. It's not something I'm used to."
"You've been in storms before, haven't you, Inuyasha?"
The dog-demon glared at the priest before answering: "Of course I have. But none of them have ever smelled like this. I wonder what caused it…?" When no one answered, he shrugged and began walking again. "It doesn't really matter. I highly doubt a silly little storm is going to stop me."
"No, of course not, Inuyasha. But walking that way will."
Inuyasha turned to look at the priest as he finished his step, only to lose sight of him as the hanyou began tumbling down the incline he'd just stepped off. Rocks zipped by as Dog Boy spilled haphazardly down the hill, rolling and smashing into everything that graced the earth's surface. When he finally skid to a halt, he was about fifty feet below the rest and cradled in the roots of a fairly large tree. From above, Shippou looked down and waved jubilantly.
Miroku's voice drifted over the edge, sprinkled with laughter. "Well, I tried to warn you, my friend. In any rate, we'll be joining you shortly. The path leads to about twenty feet off the right of your perch. Wait for us." And his laughter drifted away as he began heading down to his demon companion.
Shippou peered over one last time to add his sentiments. "At least you made it before us, Dog Boy. That's something to be proud of." And then he, too, disappeared.
Alone but for the tree at his back, Inuyasha growled and sat up. A short ways away was the forest line—and the path he should have walked out on. Slightly put out, he waited for the others to join him; to pass the time, he stared up at the sky and the gathering clouds. The smell of lightning was stronger now and the half-breed could see arcs of electricity racing through the pregnant underbellies that coiled above him. A low rumbling was growing in the distance. This may not be good.
Pushing himself to a standing position, the hanyou loped out from under his tree to get a better view of the patched sky. He frowned. Those clouds don't look right. They're too oily and smell wrong—like soot. What kind of storm is this?
He was just about to hop up to the top of his tree to get a better look when Shippou came darting down the path from the entrance of the woods about twenty feet away. Following closely after was Shoukaki, her arms and legs pumping furiously, her face dark from lack of breath. Inuyasha raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Were those two…racing?
"Inuyasha! Save me!"
Before he could reply, the dog-demon had a face-full of kitsune and found himself tumbling to the ground. Shippou scrambled about, then finally darted up Inuyasha's tree. A couple moments later, that mischievous face poked back down and grinned. "Thank you, Dog Boy. I think you may have saved me."
Inuyasha just humphed.
And Shoukaki jumped on him. "Get down here, Shippou! You can't just pull my hair and then run away! That's not fair!" The little girl was eyeing the tree branches, her face plump as she pouted, arms crossed darkly in front of her. She stamped her foot. "You come down here right now!" Stamp stamp.
"No way!"
"Right now!"
"No!"
"Yes!" Stomp stomp.
"Ghost…get off…of…me…."
Shoukaki looked down. Flushing in embarrassment, she lightly stepped off Inuyasha's chest, then bowed politely in apology. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I didn't see you there…"
Pushing himself back up into a sitting position, all Inuyasha could do was stare.
Just then, Miroku shuffled out from beneath the tree line, staff jangling. He smiled and waved. Inuyasha stood and dusted himself off in reply. The priest sauntered over and took a look at his half-demon companion. "Nothing broken, I wager?" He nimbly dodged the claw that streaked his way, then turned his attention to the children. Shoukaki was jumping up and down at the base of the tree in some childish hope that she could reach the branch Shippou was on. Miroku laughed and picked her up. "No, no dear, you need to be higher. Here you go." He helped her up into the branches, where she quickly darted off after a retreating kitsune. Then the priest returned his attention to Inuyasha. "Ah, children, such sweet creatures, yes?"
Inuyasha decided not to bring up the "sweet, childish yelling" that was emanating from the tree, or the kitsune that just got thrown out.
With that out of the way, the companions turned and headed along the gradually forming road. The inky black sky began to rumble again. Shoukaki inched a little closer to Shippou and gripped his arm fearfully. He blinked and looked down at her. "Are you okay, Shoukaki?"
She nodded but huddled closer. "I don't like this storm. Something isn't right about it." She shuddered. "I don't think it's natural."
"Indeed not." She blinked up at Miroku as he took a spot beside her. His eyes were dark and focused, as though he were deep in thought. Inuyasha pricked his ears to listen. "It is indeed not natural, little one. That substance up there is not clouds, but demon souls. Many, many demon souls." He stopped and gazed up at the roiling mass yet again. Sweat beaded his brow. "I don't know how this happened, however. The Shikon Jewel is safely hidden and so many demons were wiped away. I don't know who could have done this." He sighed, then smiled down at the phantom girl. "But don't worry, we can solve this. So you have no reason to fear."
The little child frowned, then nodded. "I'll be brave, Big Brother. Besides…the dead can't kill the dead…right?"
Miroku just smiled and they continued on their way.
They walked along the road for quite a while in silence after that, the monk occasionally looking up at the bloated sky with worry. Inuyasha walked in the lead, away from the others. He was worried about this storm. If the Shikon Jewel was out of reach—Don't think about her, you idiot—and most of the demons destroyed, who could have the power to raise such a monstrous storm? Sesshoumaru could, but he had disappeared after the Jewel incident and all of the demons he'd brought with him had died in the clearing that day. Were it his brother, the youkai would have made himself known by now—it wasn't Sesshoumaru's way to fight Inuyasha from the shadows. And he couldn't think of any other high-powered demons that would care to raise a horde like this—especially since Naraku was dead. So where did it come from?
A horde of dead youkai…I don't understand who could do this. There aren't any high level demons that could. And nature couldn't produce a storm like that. Is it because the Jewel no longer has a priestess…? He mentally slapped himself in the head. Stupid stupid stupid! Of course it wouldn't be because of her. Stop thinking about her. Get a hold of yourself—you're nothing but a waste. That stupid human…that stupid, ungrateful human that left you behind…stop thinking about her, you idiot! That girl always had him feeling so weak! No matter what he did, he couldn't stop himself from going back to her, or thinking of her, or being strong. She couldn't possibly be the reason that the youkai are massing now. She wasn't so important…the Jewel was important. So what if she's gone?!
Thunder crashed, startling the half-breed from his thoughts. He looked up in time to see lightning arc out and slice through a grove of trees, the branches going up in dark flames. Soot and smoke slithered out along the ground, oozing and coalescing into a broader, voluminous shape. It roiled fitfully, then rushed toward the four creatures standing on the road. They stared in fascination as a gaping, screaming maw formed in the advancing creature, the blackness inviting them all to die.
With a scream, Shoukaki took off in the opposite direction, Shippou close behind. After a moment of gauging the situation, Miroku and Inuyasha followed suit.
Behind them, the demonic clouds rushed along the road, tearing up the soil, spitting rocks and breathing fire. Lightning split the trees that gathered about; thunder boomed. The dog-demon and the priest easily caught up to their smaller companions as they raced along, trying desperately to escape the steadily solidifying mass of soot and smoke. When it was apparent that the children were not going to be able to keep up their speed, Miroku grabbed Shippou and Inuyasha scooped Shoukaki up off the ground.
The mass howled like a fiend as it crashed along behind them, ripping apart everything in its path. Miroku ventured a look back, then promptly increased his speed. Inuyasha grunted and looked back for himself. What had once been a fairly shapeless hump of demonic miasma now stalked along behind, its wolf's head darting back and forth, its great paws gouging holes in the earth. Lightning streaked along its coat and fire bled from its eyes.
Even Inuyasha felt a stab of fear looking at it.
"Priest, what the hell is that thing?"
Miroku attempted to shrug. "I do not know, but whatever it is, it could very easily kill us."
Inuyasha laughed humourlessly. "What gave you that idea?" He took another look behind him. "Shit! Priest, get out of the way!"
Before he could respond, the hanyou bowled his companions over, flinging them off the road and into the sparse growth of trees a few yards away. Miroku struggled to sit up; just as he'd forced his way from the pile, a wall of flame shot up from the path. Oily smoke rolled from the tips and blackened the sky further.
Shippou stared in horror. "What…what happened?"
Shoukaki pointed fearfully toward the soot-wolf a hundred yards down the road. As the fire died away, the group could see the demon beast closing its gaping jaws, the last vestiges of fire leaking from its ebony teeth. Its deep sunk eyes turned and sought them out.
Above, the lightning began reaching farther and farther into the surrounding area. It tore through the trees, raked the ground and lanced through the few streams and lakes that lay about. Thunder roared. Miroku watched in horror both the lightning and the soot wolf; suddenly, he cried out and jumped to his feet. His eyes were on the lightning that had just shot back into the woods to his left. "My God…Sango!"
Without pause, he darted toward the tree line, completely oblivious to the fact that the giant demon wolf had just spotted them. Shippou cried out and made a grab for his robes, only to miss and plant his face in the grass. Inuyasha growled and readied himself. "I don't know what kind of demon this is or how it came to be, but I sure as Hell am not going to lose to it." He eyed Shoukaki over his shoulder; she cowered behind Shippou. "Can you fight with those rope things of yours?"
The phantom child lowered her head, but nodded. I don't have much choice, do I? she thought, resigned. They need all the help they can get…I can't just let them die. No more death…no more sadness…Shaking her head, she gathered her thoughts. She'd have to be very careful not to overdue it, though. Her ropes were a double-edged sword; she needed to use them carefully. With a sigh, she stood and approached the dog-demon. Her face was pale, her eyes a dark, seething black. She did not smile when she turned her face up to his. "I will help you, Inuyasha."
He nodded and together they turned to confront the dead.
Miroku ran helter-skelter through the trees, his robes snagging on brambles and undergrowth. Fire burned his lungs and pain lanced through his leg from the huge gash he'd gotten when Inuyasha pushed him out of the fire's path. He ignored it, however and pressed onward. Sango was more important than his comfort.
Lightning shot overhead. Miroku spun roughly on his feet and darted off to the left, crashing through bracken. A particularly low, sharp branch sliced his cheek just beneath the eye and tore his ear. He winced, but otherwise paid no attention to it. Sango was just a little farther along. He prayed the lightning hadn't found her yet.
It's searching, almost like it's alive. Where did it come from? Some thorns nicked his hands and arms, tearing the fabric of his robe along with his flesh. Someone must have sent this storm for a reason. Are they looking for the Jewel? Another branch whipped across his face; his eyes watered. God, if that's the case…Sango, please be all right!
Tearing through the woods as he was, Miroku failed to notice the pile of sticks and leaves in his way. With a yelp, the priest crashed to the ground, nursing a sore knee, among other things. Something grunted.
Curious, the monk stopped administering to his knee and leaned forward, toward the guilty pile. He poked it. It grunted. Blinking, Miroku leaned in even closer, then poked again. It grunted again. "How very curious." Once more, he leaned in to poke it…
…and got an elbow in the face for his troubles. Surprised, the priest fell back, clutching his tortured nose, while the pile stirred. Another arm popped up out of the mess, followed by a head, torso and finally legs. Leaves matted fine black hair and a facemask covered pretty features. A giant boomerang hung off her shoulder. Miroku wanted to cry.
Sango stood, brushing the last vestiges of earth from her hunter's outfit. A scrap of cloth was wound around her ankle. Pulling her mask from her face, she smiled down at him. "Well, I'm glad to see that you're well—"
Her words were cut short as the priest grabbed her in a rough embrace. His voice was heavy as he said: "Thank the gods you're safe. I was so worried the lightning had reached you first…"
For a while, Sango held him close in comfort, then she gently pushed him away so that she could talk. Her smile was beatific. "I'm all right, Miroku. You silly priest, worrying about me so. But I'm fine—I got out of the clearing before the lightning struck. I couldn't save anything, though…I'm sorry."
He shook his head vehemently. "I don't care about anything else; you're all that's important to me. I don't want to lose you." Suddenly aware of what he was saying, the priest clamped his lips shut. Sango was looking at him with wide, wondering eyes. Her lips were pursed slightly. Miroku coughed and continued on. "Your safety is far more important than any inanimate objects."
Her eyes grew solemn. "Even more than the Shikon Jewel?"
Miroku gazed deep into the hunter's velvet eyes for a long moment, then nodded. "More than anything."
A smile spread across her lips and she hugged him close. For a moment, Miroku simply lay pressed against her; slowly, his arms snaked around her waist and he clung to her, too happy to let go. When they finally did part, he bent over and delicately touched her ankle. "What's this?"
She blushed, then sat down carefully; the monk followed suit. She laughed. "It's my momento from the lightning. A chunk of bark caught me across the shin as I was grabbing for this." Calmly, the demon exterminator reached into the top of her armour and produced a small, incandescent sphere between her slender fingers. It illuminated her face and set sparks in her eyes. "It was the one thing I saved…Inuyasha would be far too sad if I were to lose this."
The monk shook his head. "You hurt yourself for that. You didn't need to."
"Yes, I did." He blinked at her. "That storm overhead…that lightning. Miroku, it was a demon. I may not be very active since Kagome blasted the majority of them off the planet, but I can still sense when a demon is present and that lightning was definitely demonic."
Miroku frowned. "So it's alive. I wonder if it brought the soot-wolf here…" Sango gave him a strange look, but he just smiled and waved it away. "Regardless, you're right, there is definitely a demon afoot."
She nodded and gripped the Jewel tightly in her hands. "And that's why I had to save the Jewel. There's no way I could ever let it fall into demon hands…"
As her words trailed away, the sky lit up with a thunderous stroke of light. The two humans started, then dove for cover as a bolt speared down a few feet from where they sat. It flickered and hissed, then spat at them: "Give me the Shikon Jewel."
Tucking it back into her top, Sango grabbed Miroku's hand and dashed into the trees. The lightning creature hissed, then arced across the trees' tops to smash down in front of the running humans. Electricity filled the air with its metallic scent. "I said to give me the Shikon Jewel, humans. It does not belong to creatures so weak."
Seeing nowhere to run that the demon couldn't reach them at, Sango took up a fighting stance and grabbed her boomerang. Her mask went back in place. "I will die before I give you this Jewel, demon. I will not disappoint Inuyasha like that." And she lunged forward, her boomerang springing from her extended fingers.
The creature dodged the blow easily and jumped forward in an attempt to electrocute the hunter where she stood. Sango stood erect, fully prepared to face the demon where she stood, when a staff shot out in front of her and repelled the lightning back. She stared in shock at the monk who stood protectively in front of her. "Sango, run!"
"But—"
"I said run!"
Taken aback by the harshness of his tone, Sango turned and fled back into the trees, in the direction Miroku had come from. When he was sure she was gone, the monk focused his attention back on the task at hand. Sango was safe—that was all that mattered.
The demon chuckled coldly, its voice sparking. "Foolish human, she was the far stronger between you. You just threw away your only hope."
Smiling and with eyes cold as steel, Miroku shrugged. "Perhaps, demon, but I am more than enough to defeat you."
"Oh? You can't possibly defeat m—"
Preoccupied as it was with Miroku, the demon did not sense the returning boomerang. The weapon sliced cleanly through the center of the creature, ripping it apart from back to front. Screaming in pain and consumed in its own fire, the lightning demon writhed as its own body ate itself away. Miroku grabbed the boomerang as it flew by, jarring himself from his feet and watched as the last remnants of his foe faded into the damp earth below. Sighing, he struggled to his feet and hobbled in the direction Sango had run. I'm just not cut out for this type of work anymore…
Above, the clouds began to lighten and the primal roar of thunder echoed harmlessly off the trees.
Inuyasha tumbled back across the harsh ground, his skull bashing painfully against several rocks. Nearby, Shippou was trying his best to ward off a horde of dancing flames with his spinning top. Shoukaki stood gallantly in front of the soot wolf, her black cords darting in and out of the roiling mass that composed the demon.
How the hell are we supposed to kill something that's already dead? This just isn't possible! Dog Boy drove his fist into the ground, frustration and fear getting the better of him. What if I can't beat this thing? Miroku's gone…Shippou can't fight that well and Shoukaki …something's wrong with her. She looks like she's in pain. Damnit, what am I going to do?!?
Another spout of flame tore along the ground; Inuyasha scampered out of the way, then charged back into the fray with renewed vigor. He wouldn't let some oversized pup beat him, oh no. Not Inuyasha. With a wild yell, he jumped the beast, claws extended.
Lightning crackled through the air, lacing itself through the oily blackness of the demon's body and sending Inuyasha flying back again. He cursed and looked up at the roiling clouds overhead. Lightning arced across the cloud's belly, diving down into the giant soot-wolf, almost like a lifeline. Off in the distance, another arc sped through the trees, snapping and twisting as though chasing prey. Miroku had run that way…the hanyou shuddered to think of the implications.
Stupid beast, why can't you just die? Again? Once more, the dog- demon threw himself against his opponent.
Shippou watched helplessly as his friends fought off the giant demon, himself unable to move for want of killing his own enemies. Around him, animated demons from the soot-wolf's flame mocked in vicious glee. The fire-darts danced around him playfully, singeing his tail and laughing like small children. His top was completely useless; if he smothered one flame, another just duplicated itself to fill the void. He had to kill them all at once, or there was no hope of destroying them. He wanted to cry. He wasn't good at this!
Kagome…Kagome help me! He sniffled as he sent his top out yet again, fully aware of the futility of it all. And not only his actions were futile; Kagome was gone and she couldn't possibly help him. I'm trying Kagome…I really am. But it's so hard. I promised I'd protect you and I couldn't do that. I found resolve in the fact that Inuyasha needed someone to help him through it and I got a hold of myself. I even grew up—you should see me, Kagome. I look like I could be your little brother. I'm taller, a little stronger…but it doesn't seem to matter. No matter how strong or big I get, I can't protect the ones I love… He watched as his top smothered two more flames, only to watch as two more took their places. They were laughing at him. Why can't I do anything right, Kagome? Why couldn't I save you?
A flame crept close and singed the end of Shippou's tail. The kitsune cried out and turned to face his attacker, while another came at his exposed rear. Laughing shrilly, the fire-darts pooled overtop the flailing kitsune and dragged him to the ground.
"Kagome!"
His cry could be heard all the way to where Inuyasha and Shoukaki fought with the soot-wolf. Shoukaki turned at the sound of her frightened companion, her black eyes shifting back to gray. The cords that wound around and pierced the demon dissolved into nothing, as did the small silver wire that wrapped grossly around her throat. A sliver of blood trickled down her neck.
Frantically, the phantom girl raced over to where Shippou lay, smoke rising from his smoldering fur. The smell was terrible. Screaming, she tore into the fire-darts, heedless of the burns they inflicted on her. The creatures laughed, but darted back, exposing a badly burned and wracked kitsune. Shippou tore at the ground with paws no bigger than Shoukaki's hand. His body, only slightly bigger than her own, writhed and twisted in pain on the charred ground. "Oh dear God…little kitsune…"
The demons laughed harder and darted for the ghost-girl, intent on burning her just as they had her companion. The child took them in with dully black eyes as she stood to face their assault. Raising her arms high, her body illuminated by some otherworldly light, she struck out at them. Black cords twisted around each fire-dart, holding them still. They struggled against their bonds, laughter turning to baleful chatter, chatter falling back into gruesome screams as her cords tightened inexorably around them. One or two exploded; several screamed in agony as they dissolved into nothing; yet a few others shattered as the black twine pierced through them and undid their bindings. When all was done, only she and the kitsune remained on the charred and tortured grass.
Thunder rang out overhead as Inuyasha threw himself at his opponent yet again. The beast smacked him aside as easily as a small fly and with about as much contempt. The dog-demon growled and attacked again. Over and over the dance went and Inuyasha was growing tired. He couldn't beat this stupid creature! As long as that lightning poured through its body, the beast would keep regenerating and repelling every one of the hanyou's attacks.
"Damnit, why won't you just die?"
Fire spewed forth from the demon's mouth, enveloping the brazen half- breed in flames. He sneered and jumped forward, straight into his opponents gaping jaws. "Haha! Die, you son of a bitch!" Steel-sharp claws raked down the innards of the beast, gashing the darkness wide. The mass recoiled and humped, wracked violently as Inuyasha skewered it on his arm. Soot and smoke crashed down over the dog-demon and drove him to the ground; he fell out through the demon's chest, a sizable wound staring back at him.
The beast roared. With a hole the size of a man in its chest, it slowly collapsed to the ground, the impact jarring Inuyasha from his feet. Smoke rolled off it and into the air, oily and black. The lightning on its body sparked and sputtered as though trying to revive the fallen creature. Inuyasha hmphed. It's about time the damn thing died again.
In the distance, the sound of screaming echoed off the trees. Curious, the hanyou turned his head to look. Lightning shot up from the trees, then crashed back down among the branches. Fire reddened the skyline. What the hell? As he watched, the lightning shot up again, jagged and flailing about violently. It sounded like something was screaming. What the hell is going on over there?
"Inuyasha, look out!"
Too late to respond to Shoukaki's desperate plea, Inuyasha took the full brunt of the soot-wolf's blow. He sailed through the air and landed with a sickening crack against the hard ground. Painfully, Dog Boy raised his head to see how the beast could possibly still be moving.
Electricity coursed frantically along the limbs of the demon and through the cavernous wound in its chest. The youkai was up on its front legs, shaking and weak and desperately trying to stand. Fire leaked from its mouth and eyes and a wailing groan broke from behind its teeth. The lightning coursed faster and faster; soon the demon was up and advancing. Its steps shook the earth.
Inuyasha simply stared at his enemy as it approached. He was in too much pain to move and far too weak to fight. Laying on the ground, all he could do was smile. "I guess I'll see you soon, won't I, Kagome? You won't be lonely anymore…" And so he waited for the final blow.
Thunder bellowed from the sky as bolt after bolt rained down on the smoke and soot creation that crawled across the surface of the earth. The demon howled once, then raised its paw to stamp out the broken hanyou. As its claws soared down through the air, another scream echoed out from the forest and suddenly all was still. The clouds that had once been so untamed broke and slipped apart as the lightning that imbued them fizzled away. Where once great bursts of thunder roared silence prevailed. The setting sun blazed brilliantly down to the earth.
Screaming, the soot-wolf came down to the ground far wide of Inuyasha, casting itself against the harsh earth with the power of its own swing. With no more lightning to keep it going, the wound inflicted to its chest began to tear further. To those watching, it looked almost as though two hands had reached down and were pulling the sides of the wound apart, tearing the demon in two. Its screams could be heard throughout the heavens, even after its body had been rent in two and nothing but billowing smoke remained.
Shoukaki rushed over to where Inuyasha lay, worry on her face. Gently, she reached down and pulled his head into her small lap. "Inuyasha. Inuyasha, are you all right?"
Said demon looked up at her; she could have sworn she saw sorrow in his deep amber eyes. "Heh, I guess I will be now. Now…" He trailed away and turned his face so that he no longer looked at her.
Carefully, the phantom child laid Inuyasha back down on the earth, then darted over to where Shippou still lay on the charred grass. His fur was badly burned and his paws were considerably scorched, but he was breathing deep and evenly. Shoukaki sighed as she took her place back beside him. His demon powers will heal him. That is good to know. Tenderly, she stroked his cheek with her small hands. I would not want you to die, little kitsune. Too many people would be sad. And I do not want to be sad any further than I already am.
Ever so slowly, the sun dipped beneath the horizon and the world was bathed in peaceful darkness. Shoukaki looked up at the sky, at the brilliantly twinkling stars and prayed that Inuyasha and Shippou could heal quickly. She really didn't want them to be hurt. She chuckled quietly and gazed at Shippou. "Funny, isn't it, little kitsune, how attached I've become to you two. And to think that I had tried to scare you away and kill Inuyasha only a few days ago. And look at this mess we've gotten ourselves into! You lead wonderfully hectic lives, don't you, little kitsune? If I'd known all this would happen, I think I may have stayed at home." She could feel herself beginning to cry, but kept talking anyhow. Maybe Shippou would like to hear her voice while he slept in the grass. "I mean, we're all safe, so I shouldn't be saying things like that. I'm so happy to have met you and Inuyasha and it's so wonderful to be able to travel around again. I just…well, what if you hadn't come out of this alive, you know? I don't think I could stand to see another person die, little kitsune." Her voice broke and she felt herself sobbing. Reaching up, she covered her dry face with small hands. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't cry. We're all safe; nothing happened. I'll let you rest now. We'll just wait for Miroku to come, little kitsune. And in the morning everything will be all right."
Her quiet sobs lay over them as they waited for Miroku to return.
*Those of you who can name the author of the poem I took the title of this chapter from earn a prize. Well…not really. But it's fun trivia.
I'm going to reeeeeeeeeally try to get the fourth chapter written for next week. Actually…I'm aiming to have both chapter four and five written. I've got Hell Week coming up for our latest theatre production. *whimpers like a little girl*
Please enjoy this latest installment. I actually worked really hard on the later scene. ^-^x
Where Lost Souls Meet Again
Chapter Three: And Death Shall Have No Dominion*
The next morning came early. Clouds rolled along the horizon, dark and ugly. Inuyasha just snorted when Shippou suggested they look for shelter to wait out the storm. "I'm Inuyasha," he said simply in response to why they shouldn't.
Shippou threw up his hands. "Of course, that's the reason for everything you do that's incredibly stupid."
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"You two haven't changed a bit."
Demon and half-breed whipped about to see a smiling priest lounging against a nearby tree, staff in hand. He waved casually to the fighting companions as he pushed himself off the trunk and began sauntering toward them. Around his wrist he wore a string of prayer beads.
Ecstatic, the kitsune ran to the erstwhile priest and jumped into his arms. Miroku fell back a little, thrown off balance from Shippou's increased size. He laughed when the fox-demon began yapping at him about everything that had happened since last they'd been together. "That's wonderful, Shippou. But you wouldn't happen to want to talk a little slower, would you? And perhaps on the ground? You aren't as small as once you were."
Sheepish, but far too happy to let it get to him, Shippou hopped down to the ground and began telling his human friend about the last few days with Shoukaki. Miroku nodded occasionally, interested to know about how the phantom child could be substantial during the day but not at night and her unique situation in the world. "A ghost that's here for no reason? And you haven't been brought back by a Tattaremoke? How very strange."
Shoukaki shrugged at his questions. "I can't quite explain it myself. I know that I died badly…and that I didn't want to…but I'm not here as a vengeful child or an outraged spirit. I just…I just came back. Even Mommy doesn't know why I'm here."
That got everyone's attention more so than anything else the small ghost had said up till then. Miroku knelt down and slowly placed his hands on the girl's shoulders. "My, you are quite solid, aren't you, little one?" Then he looked her deep in the eyes, studying. She blinked, a bit uncomfortable. "You can talk to the dead?"
She shook her head. "No no, I can only talk to Mommy. I can't even see the dead. I can hear Mommy talking to me from heaven, but that's all. She helps me sometimes when I'm really lonely." Shoukaki blinked childishly. "Why, is that odd?"
The other three just looked at her.
"Tch. You people always waste time. Come on, let's get going."
Miroku stood and grabbed Inuyasha by his arm as he began heading off toward the clouds gathering on the horizon. "Wait, Inuyasha. I'm camped not far from here, why don't you come and stay with me until this storm passes? At least you'll be with old friends, yes?"
Shippou jumped up and down, trying to get the priest's attention. "'Friends'? Is someone else with you, Miroku?"
Inuyasha looked the priest over with lidded eyes and nodded. "Yeah, lecher. Who else is with you?"
The one-time possessor of the air-rip smiled and tapped a finger to his nose. "Follow me and you shall see, Inuyasha." And then he turned on his heel and headed away, into the trees. One arm waved them along. "Come on, if you want. I can't force you but the company will be most welcome. Wouldn't you agree, Inuyasha?" His voice trailed away as he disappeared among the encroaching forestland.
Shrugging, Inuyasha turned on his heel and followed the Buddhist monk back among the trees. Shippou and Shoukaki followed after, the fox-demon skipping along, the phantom child dashing from flower to flower, taking in the scents. Sunlight poured over them in intermittent spurts, giving way to heavy shadow more and more frequently as the storm rushed in on them. Occasionally the monk would stop and look up, then continue on his way. Neither the demons nor the ghost made mention of his actions.
Bramble began to choke what meager path the four walked down the farther into the forest they went. Vines clung stubbornly to trees and moss dotted the aged bark. Up in the branches, birds rustled and cawed; a squirrel dashed across their way, followed closely by another. Shoukaki stopped to watch them disappear into the thickets until Shippou grabbed her hand and dragged her after. Insects flitted about their heads and buzzed merrily in the dying light.
As he was oft to do, the priest stopped yet again to stare up through the shaking canopy. Since their last halt, the air had grown thick with electricity and the musk of rain. Inuyasha took a long whiff, then coughed. Miroku looked at him curiously. "Are you all right, Inuyasha?"
Said demon nodded and rubbed his nose. "The air is getting heavy, that's all. It's not something I'm used to."
"You've been in storms before, haven't you, Inuyasha?"
The dog-demon glared at the priest before answering: "Of course I have. But none of them have ever smelled like this. I wonder what caused it…?" When no one answered, he shrugged and began walking again. "It doesn't really matter. I highly doubt a silly little storm is going to stop me."
"No, of course not, Inuyasha. But walking that way will."
Inuyasha turned to look at the priest as he finished his step, only to lose sight of him as the hanyou began tumbling down the incline he'd just stepped off. Rocks zipped by as Dog Boy spilled haphazardly down the hill, rolling and smashing into everything that graced the earth's surface. When he finally skid to a halt, he was about fifty feet below the rest and cradled in the roots of a fairly large tree. From above, Shippou looked down and waved jubilantly.
Miroku's voice drifted over the edge, sprinkled with laughter. "Well, I tried to warn you, my friend. In any rate, we'll be joining you shortly. The path leads to about twenty feet off the right of your perch. Wait for us." And his laughter drifted away as he began heading down to his demon companion.
Shippou peered over one last time to add his sentiments. "At least you made it before us, Dog Boy. That's something to be proud of." And then he, too, disappeared.
Alone but for the tree at his back, Inuyasha growled and sat up. A short ways away was the forest line—and the path he should have walked out on. Slightly put out, he waited for the others to join him; to pass the time, he stared up at the sky and the gathering clouds. The smell of lightning was stronger now and the half-breed could see arcs of electricity racing through the pregnant underbellies that coiled above him. A low rumbling was growing in the distance. This may not be good.
Pushing himself to a standing position, the hanyou loped out from under his tree to get a better view of the patched sky. He frowned. Those clouds don't look right. They're too oily and smell wrong—like soot. What kind of storm is this?
He was just about to hop up to the top of his tree to get a better look when Shippou came darting down the path from the entrance of the woods about twenty feet away. Following closely after was Shoukaki, her arms and legs pumping furiously, her face dark from lack of breath. Inuyasha raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Were those two…racing?
"Inuyasha! Save me!"
Before he could reply, the dog-demon had a face-full of kitsune and found himself tumbling to the ground. Shippou scrambled about, then finally darted up Inuyasha's tree. A couple moments later, that mischievous face poked back down and grinned. "Thank you, Dog Boy. I think you may have saved me."
Inuyasha just humphed.
And Shoukaki jumped on him. "Get down here, Shippou! You can't just pull my hair and then run away! That's not fair!" The little girl was eyeing the tree branches, her face plump as she pouted, arms crossed darkly in front of her. She stamped her foot. "You come down here right now!" Stamp stamp.
"No way!"
"Right now!"
"No!"
"Yes!" Stomp stomp.
"Ghost…get off…of…me…."
Shoukaki looked down. Flushing in embarrassment, she lightly stepped off Inuyasha's chest, then bowed politely in apology. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I didn't see you there…"
Pushing himself back up into a sitting position, all Inuyasha could do was stare.
Just then, Miroku shuffled out from beneath the tree line, staff jangling. He smiled and waved. Inuyasha stood and dusted himself off in reply. The priest sauntered over and took a look at his half-demon companion. "Nothing broken, I wager?" He nimbly dodged the claw that streaked his way, then turned his attention to the children. Shoukaki was jumping up and down at the base of the tree in some childish hope that she could reach the branch Shippou was on. Miroku laughed and picked her up. "No, no dear, you need to be higher. Here you go." He helped her up into the branches, where she quickly darted off after a retreating kitsune. Then the priest returned his attention to Inuyasha. "Ah, children, such sweet creatures, yes?"
Inuyasha decided not to bring up the "sweet, childish yelling" that was emanating from the tree, or the kitsune that just got thrown out.
With that out of the way, the companions turned and headed along the gradually forming road. The inky black sky began to rumble again. Shoukaki inched a little closer to Shippou and gripped his arm fearfully. He blinked and looked down at her. "Are you okay, Shoukaki?"
She nodded but huddled closer. "I don't like this storm. Something isn't right about it." She shuddered. "I don't think it's natural."
"Indeed not." She blinked up at Miroku as he took a spot beside her. His eyes were dark and focused, as though he were deep in thought. Inuyasha pricked his ears to listen. "It is indeed not natural, little one. That substance up there is not clouds, but demon souls. Many, many demon souls." He stopped and gazed up at the roiling mass yet again. Sweat beaded his brow. "I don't know how this happened, however. The Shikon Jewel is safely hidden and so many demons were wiped away. I don't know who could have done this." He sighed, then smiled down at the phantom girl. "But don't worry, we can solve this. So you have no reason to fear."
The little child frowned, then nodded. "I'll be brave, Big Brother. Besides…the dead can't kill the dead…right?"
Miroku just smiled and they continued on their way.
They walked along the road for quite a while in silence after that, the monk occasionally looking up at the bloated sky with worry. Inuyasha walked in the lead, away from the others. He was worried about this storm. If the Shikon Jewel was out of reach—Don't think about her, you idiot—and most of the demons destroyed, who could have the power to raise such a monstrous storm? Sesshoumaru could, but he had disappeared after the Jewel incident and all of the demons he'd brought with him had died in the clearing that day. Were it his brother, the youkai would have made himself known by now—it wasn't Sesshoumaru's way to fight Inuyasha from the shadows. And he couldn't think of any other high-powered demons that would care to raise a horde like this—especially since Naraku was dead. So where did it come from?
A horde of dead youkai…I don't understand who could do this. There aren't any high level demons that could. And nature couldn't produce a storm like that. Is it because the Jewel no longer has a priestess…? He mentally slapped himself in the head. Stupid stupid stupid! Of course it wouldn't be because of her. Stop thinking about her. Get a hold of yourself—you're nothing but a waste. That stupid human…that stupid, ungrateful human that left you behind…stop thinking about her, you idiot! That girl always had him feeling so weak! No matter what he did, he couldn't stop himself from going back to her, or thinking of her, or being strong. She couldn't possibly be the reason that the youkai are massing now. She wasn't so important…the Jewel was important. So what if she's gone?!
Thunder crashed, startling the half-breed from his thoughts. He looked up in time to see lightning arc out and slice through a grove of trees, the branches going up in dark flames. Soot and smoke slithered out along the ground, oozing and coalescing into a broader, voluminous shape. It roiled fitfully, then rushed toward the four creatures standing on the road. They stared in fascination as a gaping, screaming maw formed in the advancing creature, the blackness inviting them all to die.
With a scream, Shoukaki took off in the opposite direction, Shippou close behind. After a moment of gauging the situation, Miroku and Inuyasha followed suit.
Behind them, the demonic clouds rushed along the road, tearing up the soil, spitting rocks and breathing fire. Lightning split the trees that gathered about; thunder boomed. The dog-demon and the priest easily caught up to their smaller companions as they raced along, trying desperately to escape the steadily solidifying mass of soot and smoke. When it was apparent that the children were not going to be able to keep up their speed, Miroku grabbed Shippou and Inuyasha scooped Shoukaki up off the ground.
The mass howled like a fiend as it crashed along behind them, ripping apart everything in its path. Miroku ventured a look back, then promptly increased his speed. Inuyasha grunted and looked back for himself. What had once been a fairly shapeless hump of demonic miasma now stalked along behind, its wolf's head darting back and forth, its great paws gouging holes in the earth. Lightning streaked along its coat and fire bled from its eyes.
Even Inuyasha felt a stab of fear looking at it.
"Priest, what the hell is that thing?"
Miroku attempted to shrug. "I do not know, but whatever it is, it could very easily kill us."
Inuyasha laughed humourlessly. "What gave you that idea?" He took another look behind him. "Shit! Priest, get out of the way!"
Before he could respond, the hanyou bowled his companions over, flinging them off the road and into the sparse growth of trees a few yards away. Miroku struggled to sit up; just as he'd forced his way from the pile, a wall of flame shot up from the path. Oily smoke rolled from the tips and blackened the sky further.
Shippou stared in horror. "What…what happened?"
Shoukaki pointed fearfully toward the soot-wolf a hundred yards down the road. As the fire died away, the group could see the demon beast closing its gaping jaws, the last vestiges of fire leaking from its ebony teeth. Its deep sunk eyes turned and sought them out.
Above, the lightning began reaching farther and farther into the surrounding area. It tore through the trees, raked the ground and lanced through the few streams and lakes that lay about. Thunder roared. Miroku watched in horror both the lightning and the soot wolf; suddenly, he cried out and jumped to his feet. His eyes were on the lightning that had just shot back into the woods to his left. "My God…Sango!"
Without pause, he darted toward the tree line, completely oblivious to the fact that the giant demon wolf had just spotted them. Shippou cried out and made a grab for his robes, only to miss and plant his face in the grass. Inuyasha growled and readied himself. "I don't know what kind of demon this is or how it came to be, but I sure as Hell am not going to lose to it." He eyed Shoukaki over his shoulder; she cowered behind Shippou. "Can you fight with those rope things of yours?"
The phantom child lowered her head, but nodded. I don't have much choice, do I? she thought, resigned. They need all the help they can get…I can't just let them die. No more death…no more sadness…Shaking her head, she gathered her thoughts. She'd have to be very careful not to overdue it, though. Her ropes were a double-edged sword; she needed to use them carefully. With a sigh, she stood and approached the dog-demon. Her face was pale, her eyes a dark, seething black. She did not smile when she turned her face up to his. "I will help you, Inuyasha."
He nodded and together they turned to confront the dead.
Miroku ran helter-skelter through the trees, his robes snagging on brambles and undergrowth. Fire burned his lungs and pain lanced through his leg from the huge gash he'd gotten when Inuyasha pushed him out of the fire's path. He ignored it, however and pressed onward. Sango was more important than his comfort.
Lightning shot overhead. Miroku spun roughly on his feet and darted off to the left, crashing through bracken. A particularly low, sharp branch sliced his cheek just beneath the eye and tore his ear. He winced, but otherwise paid no attention to it. Sango was just a little farther along. He prayed the lightning hadn't found her yet.
It's searching, almost like it's alive. Where did it come from? Some thorns nicked his hands and arms, tearing the fabric of his robe along with his flesh. Someone must have sent this storm for a reason. Are they looking for the Jewel? Another branch whipped across his face; his eyes watered. God, if that's the case…Sango, please be all right!
Tearing through the woods as he was, Miroku failed to notice the pile of sticks and leaves in his way. With a yelp, the priest crashed to the ground, nursing a sore knee, among other things. Something grunted.
Curious, the monk stopped administering to his knee and leaned forward, toward the guilty pile. He poked it. It grunted. Blinking, Miroku leaned in even closer, then poked again. It grunted again. "How very curious." Once more, he leaned in to poke it…
…and got an elbow in the face for his troubles. Surprised, the priest fell back, clutching his tortured nose, while the pile stirred. Another arm popped up out of the mess, followed by a head, torso and finally legs. Leaves matted fine black hair and a facemask covered pretty features. A giant boomerang hung off her shoulder. Miroku wanted to cry.
Sango stood, brushing the last vestiges of earth from her hunter's outfit. A scrap of cloth was wound around her ankle. Pulling her mask from her face, she smiled down at him. "Well, I'm glad to see that you're well—"
Her words were cut short as the priest grabbed her in a rough embrace. His voice was heavy as he said: "Thank the gods you're safe. I was so worried the lightning had reached you first…"
For a while, Sango held him close in comfort, then she gently pushed him away so that she could talk. Her smile was beatific. "I'm all right, Miroku. You silly priest, worrying about me so. But I'm fine—I got out of the clearing before the lightning struck. I couldn't save anything, though…I'm sorry."
He shook his head vehemently. "I don't care about anything else; you're all that's important to me. I don't want to lose you." Suddenly aware of what he was saying, the priest clamped his lips shut. Sango was looking at him with wide, wondering eyes. Her lips were pursed slightly. Miroku coughed and continued on. "Your safety is far more important than any inanimate objects."
Her eyes grew solemn. "Even more than the Shikon Jewel?"
Miroku gazed deep into the hunter's velvet eyes for a long moment, then nodded. "More than anything."
A smile spread across her lips and she hugged him close. For a moment, Miroku simply lay pressed against her; slowly, his arms snaked around her waist and he clung to her, too happy to let go. When they finally did part, he bent over and delicately touched her ankle. "What's this?"
She blushed, then sat down carefully; the monk followed suit. She laughed. "It's my momento from the lightning. A chunk of bark caught me across the shin as I was grabbing for this." Calmly, the demon exterminator reached into the top of her armour and produced a small, incandescent sphere between her slender fingers. It illuminated her face and set sparks in her eyes. "It was the one thing I saved…Inuyasha would be far too sad if I were to lose this."
The monk shook his head. "You hurt yourself for that. You didn't need to."
"Yes, I did." He blinked at her. "That storm overhead…that lightning. Miroku, it was a demon. I may not be very active since Kagome blasted the majority of them off the planet, but I can still sense when a demon is present and that lightning was definitely demonic."
Miroku frowned. "So it's alive. I wonder if it brought the soot-wolf here…" Sango gave him a strange look, but he just smiled and waved it away. "Regardless, you're right, there is definitely a demon afoot."
She nodded and gripped the Jewel tightly in her hands. "And that's why I had to save the Jewel. There's no way I could ever let it fall into demon hands…"
As her words trailed away, the sky lit up with a thunderous stroke of light. The two humans started, then dove for cover as a bolt speared down a few feet from where they sat. It flickered and hissed, then spat at them: "Give me the Shikon Jewel."
Tucking it back into her top, Sango grabbed Miroku's hand and dashed into the trees. The lightning creature hissed, then arced across the trees' tops to smash down in front of the running humans. Electricity filled the air with its metallic scent. "I said to give me the Shikon Jewel, humans. It does not belong to creatures so weak."
Seeing nowhere to run that the demon couldn't reach them at, Sango took up a fighting stance and grabbed her boomerang. Her mask went back in place. "I will die before I give you this Jewel, demon. I will not disappoint Inuyasha like that." And she lunged forward, her boomerang springing from her extended fingers.
The creature dodged the blow easily and jumped forward in an attempt to electrocute the hunter where she stood. Sango stood erect, fully prepared to face the demon where she stood, when a staff shot out in front of her and repelled the lightning back. She stared in shock at the monk who stood protectively in front of her. "Sango, run!"
"But—"
"I said run!"
Taken aback by the harshness of his tone, Sango turned and fled back into the trees, in the direction Miroku had come from. When he was sure she was gone, the monk focused his attention back on the task at hand. Sango was safe—that was all that mattered.
The demon chuckled coldly, its voice sparking. "Foolish human, she was the far stronger between you. You just threw away your only hope."
Smiling and with eyes cold as steel, Miroku shrugged. "Perhaps, demon, but I am more than enough to defeat you."
"Oh? You can't possibly defeat m—"
Preoccupied as it was with Miroku, the demon did not sense the returning boomerang. The weapon sliced cleanly through the center of the creature, ripping it apart from back to front. Screaming in pain and consumed in its own fire, the lightning demon writhed as its own body ate itself away. Miroku grabbed the boomerang as it flew by, jarring himself from his feet and watched as the last remnants of his foe faded into the damp earth below. Sighing, he struggled to his feet and hobbled in the direction Sango had run. I'm just not cut out for this type of work anymore…
Above, the clouds began to lighten and the primal roar of thunder echoed harmlessly off the trees.
Inuyasha tumbled back across the harsh ground, his skull bashing painfully against several rocks. Nearby, Shippou was trying his best to ward off a horde of dancing flames with his spinning top. Shoukaki stood gallantly in front of the soot wolf, her black cords darting in and out of the roiling mass that composed the demon.
How the hell are we supposed to kill something that's already dead? This just isn't possible! Dog Boy drove his fist into the ground, frustration and fear getting the better of him. What if I can't beat this thing? Miroku's gone…Shippou can't fight that well and Shoukaki …something's wrong with her. She looks like she's in pain. Damnit, what am I going to do?!?
Another spout of flame tore along the ground; Inuyasha scampered out of the way, then charged back into the fray with renewed vigor. He wouldn't let some oversized pup beat him, oh no. Not Inuyasha. With a wild yell, he jumped the beast, claws extended.
Lightning crackled through the air, lacing itself through the oily blackness of the demon's body and sending Inuyasha flying back again. He cursed and looked up at the roiling clouds overhead. Lightning arced across the cloud's belly, diving down into the giant soot-wolf, almost like a lifeline. Off in the distance, another arc sped through the trees, snapping and twisting as though chasing prey. Miroku had run that way…the hanyou shuddered to think of the implications.
Stupid beast, why can't you just die? Again? Once more, the dog- demon threw himself against his opponent.
Shippou watched helplessly as his friends fought off the giant demon, himself unable to move for want of killing his own enemies. Around him, animated demons from the soot-wolf's flame mocked in vicious glee. The fire-darts danced around him playfully, singeing his tail and laughing like small children. His top was completely useless; if he smothered one flame, another just duplicated itself to fill the void. He had to kill them all at once, or there was no hope of destroying them. He wanted to cry. He wasn't good at this!
Kagome…Kagome help me! He sniffled as he sent his top out yet again, fully aware of the futility of it all. And not only his actions were futile; Kagome was gone and she couldn't possibly help him. I'm trying Kagome…I really am. But it's so hard. I promised I'd protect you and I couldn't do that. I found resolve in the fact that Inuyasha needed someone to help him through it and I got a hold of myself. I even grew up—you should see me, Kagome. I look like I could be your little brother. I'm taller, a little stronger…but it doesn't seem to matter. No matter how strong or big I get, I can't protect the ones I love… He watched as his top smothered two more flames, only to watch as two more took their places. They were laughing at him. Why can't I do anything right, Kagome? Why couldn't I save you?
A flame crept close and singed the end of Shippou's tail. The kitsune cried out and turned to face his attacker, while another came at his exposed rear. Laughing shrilly, the fire-darts pooled overtop the flailing kitsune and dragged him to the ground.
"Kagome!"
His cry could be heard all the way to where Inuyasha and Shoukaki fought with the soot-wolf. Shoukaki turned at the sound of her frightened companion, her black eyes shifting back to gray. The cords that wound around and pierced the demon dissolved into nothing, as did the small silver wire that wrapped grossly around her throat. A sliver of blood trickled down her neck.
Frantically, the phantom girl raced over to where Shippou lay, smoke rising from his smoldering fur. The smell was terrible. Screaming, she tore into the fire-darts, heedless of the burns they inflicted on her. The creatures laughed, but darted back, exposing a badly burned and wracked kitsune. Shippou tore at the ground with paws no bigger than Shoukaki's hand. His body, only slightly bigger than her own, writhed and twisted in pain on the charred ground. "Oh dear God…little kitsune…"
The demons laughed harder and darted for the ghost-girl, intent on burning her just as they had her companion. The child took them in with dully black eyes as she stood to face their assault. Raising her arms high, her body illuminated by some otherworldly light, she struck out at them. Black cords twisted around each fire-dart, holding them still. They struggled against their bonds, laughter turning to baleful chatter, chatter falling back into gruesome screams as her cords tightened inexorably around them. One or two exploded; several screamed in agony as they dissolved into nothing; yet a few others shattered as the black twine pierced through them and undid their bindings. When all was done, only she and the kitsune remained on the charred and tortured grass.
Thunder rang out overhead as Inuyasha threw himself at his opponent yet again. The beast smacked him aside as easily as a small fly and with about as much contempt. The dog-demon growled and attacked again. Over and over the dance went and Inuyasha was growing tired. He couldn't beat this stupid creature! As long as that lightning poured through its body, the beast would keep regenerating and repelling every one of the hanyou's attacks.
"Damnit, why won't you just die?"
Fire spewed forth from the demon's mouth, enveloping the brazen half- breed in flames. He sneered and jumped forward, straight into his opponents gaping jaws. "Haha! Die, you son of a bitch!" Steel-sharp claws raked down the innards of the beast, gashing the darkness wide. The mass recoiled and humped, wracked violently as Inuyasha skewered it on his arm. Soot and smoke crashed down over the dog-demon and drove him to the ground; he fell out through the demon's chest, a sizable wound staring back at him.
The beast roared. With a hole the size of a man in its chest, it slowly collapsed to the ground, the impact jarring Inuyasha from his feet. Smoke rolled off it and into the air, oily and black. The lightning on its body sparked and sputtered as though trying to revive the fallen creature. Inuyasha hmphed. It's about time the damn thing died again.
In the distance, the sound of screaming echoed off the trees. Curious, the hanyou turned his head to look. Lightning shot up from the trees, then crashed back down among the branches. Fire reddened the skyline. What the hell? As he watched, the lightning shot up again, jagged and flailing about violently. It sounded like something was screaming. What the hell is going on over there?
"Inuyasha, look out!"
Too late to respond to Shoukaki's desperate plea, Inuyasha took the full brunt of the soot-wolf's blow. He sailed through the air and landed with a sickening crack against the hard ground. Painfully, Dog Boy raised his head to see how the beast could possibly still be moving.
Electricity coursed frantically along the limbs of the demon and through the cavernous wound in its chest. The youkai was up on its front legs, shaking and weak and desperately trying to stand. Fire leaked from its mouth and eyes and a wailing groan broke from behind its teeth. The lightning coursed faster and faster; soon the demon was up and advancing. Its steps shook the earth.
Inuyasha simply stared at his enemy as it approached. He was in too much pain to move and far too weak to fight. Laying on the ground, all he could do was smile. "I guess I'll see you soon, won't I, Kagome? You won't be lonely anymore…" And so he waited for the final blow.
Thunder bellowed from the sky as bolt after bolt rained down on the smoke and soot creation that crawled across the surface of the earth. The demon howled once, then raised its paw to stamp out the broken hanyou. As its claws soared down through the air, another scream echoed out from the forest and suddenly all was still. The clouds that had once been so untamed broke and slipped apart as the lightning that imbued them fizzled away. Where once great bursts of thunder roared silence prevailed. The setting sun blazed brilliantly down to the earth.
Screaming, the soot-wolf came down to the ground far wide of Inuyasha, casting itself against the harsh earth with the power of its own swing. With no more lightning to keep it going, the wound inflicted to its chest began to tear further. To those watching, it looked almost as though two hands had reached down and were pulling the sides of the wound apart, tearing the demon in two. Its screams could be heard throughout the heavens, even after its body had been rent in two and nothing but billowing smoke remained.
Shoukaki rushed over to where Inuyasha lay, worry on her face. Gently, she reached down and pulled his head into her small lap. "Inuyasha. Inuyasha, are you all right?"
Said demon looked up at her; she could have sworn she saw sorrow in his deep amber eyes. "Heh, I guess I will be now. Now…" He trailed away and turned his face so that he no longer looked at her.
Carefully, the phantom child laid Inuyasha back down on the earth, then darted over to where Shippou still lay on the charred grass. His fur was badly burned and his paws were considerably scorched, but he was breathing deep and evenly. Shoukaki sighed as she took her place back beside him. His demon powers will heal him. That is good to know. Tenderly, she stroked his cheek with her small hands. I would not want you to die, little kitsune. Too many people would be sad. And I do not want to be sad any further than I already am.
Ever so slowly, the sun dipped beneath the horizon and the world was bathed in peaceful darkness. Shoukaki looked up at the sky, at the brilliantly twinkling stars and prayed that Inuyasha and Shippou could heal quickly. She really didn't want them to be hurt. She chuckled quietly and gazed at Shippou. "Funny, isn't it, little kitsune, how attached I've become to you two. And to think that I had tried to scare you away and kill Inuyasha only a few days ago. And look at this mess we've gotten ourselves into! You lead wonderfully hectic lives, don't you, little kitsune? If I'd known all this would happen, I think I may have stayed at home." She could feel herself beginning to cry, but kept talking anyhow. Maybe Shippou would like to hear her voice while he slept in the grass. "I mean, we're all safe, so I shouldn't be saying things like that. I'm so happy to have met you and Inuyasha and it's so wonderful to be able to travel around again. I just…well, what if you hadn't come out of this alive, you know? I don't think I could stand to see another person die, little kitsune." Her voice broke and she felt herself sobbing. Reaching up, she covered her dry face with small hands. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't cry. We're all safe; nothing happened. I'll let you rest now. We'll just wait for Miroku to come, little kitsune. And in the morning everything will be all right."
Her quiet sobs lay over them as they waited for Miroku to return.
*Those of you who can name the author of the poem I took the title of this chapter from earn a prize. Well…not really. But it's fun trivia.