Disclaimer: Read the previous chapters to find out what a disclaimer is!
*~*Chapter 12: Confrontation*~*
The group found themselves in a completely different enviroment. They seemed to be in some sort of hellish nightmare. The ground was gashed with small gorges, endlessly deep. In the larger ones, you could see red hot lava, slowly bubbling and giving off noxious gasses. There were no trees; the only alterations to the horizon were large rocks that juted out of the ground in sharp angles. There was a blood red sunset, leaving the travelers with a sense of dread. Miroku looked on, trying to catch a glimps of his companion.
"Where could she be...?" he wondered out loud. Inuyasha and Kitsaki were scanning the area with difficulty. The fums from the pits were intoxicating. Shippou's little nose couldn't take the fums and he was passed out in Kagome's arms.
"I see something!" Inuyasha finally exclaimed. He pointed to a small crevase a mile away. "There. I can't be sure if it's her, but I do know, *cough* um, that it is someone." He coughed into his shoulder.
"Inuyasha? Are you ok? Put me down. I can walk on my own," Kagome stated. Inuyasha snorted.
"Like hell! You can't even,*cough* hold yourself up, let alone walk!" he exclaimed. She glared at him harshly. The halfling gulped in shallow fear at the girl's fierce determination.
"I said, quite clearly, I. Can. Walk. On. My. Own. Now, put me down!" she said, putting alot of emphasis on her last words. Inuyasha was not convinced. However, the girl would not give up untill her feet were planted firmly on the ground. He sighed and slowly placed her on the ground.
"Fine! Fine, I give! But I will not be blamed if you fall into one of these large cliffs," he said, indicating the crevase that was only a few feet from where they were standing. Kagome just glared. She cradled Shippou's form closer and stagared off. Kit and Miroku watched them in amusement.
"No matter what the situation, those two always seem to find something to fight about," Miroku said with a chuckle. He promptly started to cough hoarsely. "Ah, these fums are very strong, ne?" Kit looked at him with a worried expression. *These fums must be killer for him and Kagome* She coughed into her kimono sleeve.
"We should get moving. If Sango is really here, she might be in danger," Kit said. She lept off in Kagome's direction, followed by Miroku. Inuyasha sighed, coughed again, and ran after them.
*~*~*~*
They had been traveling for what felt like days to reach the crevase. Kagome had fainted and was on Inuyasha's back. Kit was holding Shippou and Miroku looked close to passing out.
"Gahh...That took way longer than I expected. What the hell is wrong with this place??" Inuyasha huffed. Miroku wiped the sweat from his face and leaned on his staff for support.
"Well, what do we do now?" Miroku asked. Inuyasha shrugged. Kit leaned over the crevase and peered over the edge.
"That is one deeeeeeep hole! Yep, yep! Veeeeeeery deeep. I mean, REEEEAAAALL-"
"Shut up already! Ok, it's deep! We get the point! Do you see anything worth looking into, or what?" Inuyasha demanded. She rolled her eyes and looked down again.
"Yeh! I see a small cave in the wall! Only a few feet down! Come on!" With that, she lept off the cliff. Inuyasha sighed and glanced down to see the cave. He too, lept off and dissapered into the abyss. Miroku ran over and shouted down into the darkness.
"Hey!!!! HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO GET DOWN??????" he shouted at the top of his lungs. There was silence, broken only by his tired pants and the distant hissing off lava. A tumbleweed blew past him. He stared into the endless hole, trying to catch a glimps of any movement. He squinted against the un-natural sun. It blinded him for a moment. When he finally got his sight back, he found himself staring into a pair of big blue eyes.
"YYYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He jumped back a few yards and grasped his chest. Kit cocked her head in a confused manner. He glared at her comicly. "Don't DO that!!!! Damnit! Don't scare me like that!!!!!" Kit stared at him in her crouched position.
"Gomen nasai Miroku-san. I just came back to retrive you," she said with a small bow. She suddenly leapt up into the air and landed in front of him. "Get on my back. Quickly!" Miroku carefully got on her back. He placed his hands on her shoulders and placed his staff inbetween them. She jumped down into the crevase and landed with exceptional grace onto the ledge in front of the cave. The priest got off and sighed. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and re-ajusted Kagome on his back. Kit picked Shippou up off the floor and glanced up at the red sky.
"That red sky frightens me. I don't know what is going on, but something tells me that we are in trouble." Miroku noded silently. Inuyasha just stuck his nose into the air.
"Bah! Who cares? Let's just go already..... Jeeze...." He headed into the darkness, followed by Kit and Miroku.
*~*~*
The group had been walking for quite a while in the dark tunnel, lighted only by Kit's Kitsune Fire. The poisonus fums did not bother them anymore. Miroku seemed lost in his own private thoughts while Kit and Inuyasha were tense with apprehention. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, the group spied a faint light at the end of the tunnel. Instinct told Miroku that he shouldn't rush in, but there was a chance that Sango was in need of his help. He ran forward, not caring if it was a trap or not.
"Hn?!? Miroku?!? What the hell are you doing???" Inuyasha bellowed. "Argh! Stupid monk!" Kitsaki and Inuyasha rushed forward in an effort to catch up to Miroku, the light comming closer and closer. Inuyasha was held back at the substancial increase of light and was blinded by it for a minute. When his vision returned he found himself and the others in a large cavern with brightly lit torches at the ends. The room was pretty dull looking except for the torches. Kit squinted around.
"There! I can see a doorway on the right!" she said, pointing to a large dark shape on the opposite side of the room. As she said those words, a giant boomerang came rushing at her, smacking her in the face and knocking her out cold. She dropped Shippou and landed on the ground next to him.
"Kitsaki!!" The boomerang did a sharp turn and headed for Inuyasha. Thought the hanyou was strong and his reflexes fast, he could not dodge the flying weapon and landed face down in the ground next to the two kitsunes. Kagome landed in a heap on Inuyasha's back. Miroku watched the boomerang fly back into the hole where he noticed a familiar figure standing there.
"Sango!! Watch out!!" he cryed as he rushed to try and block the large weapon. Sango, dressed in her exterminator outfit, did not seeem to hear the monk's words. If she had, she made no knowledge of it. Sango mearly held out a hand and caught the boomerang with ease. Miroku was confused greatly.
"Sango? Are you alright? You're not hurt anywhere?" Sango didn't respond. The youkai exterminator turned to the man and held the boomarang in a ready position. Her eyes were blank and un-readable as she flung the projectile at the priest. Miroku dodged it only to have it hit him from behind on it's way back. He flew into the wall with a large crash, knocking some stones loose from the ceiling. Sango caught the boomerang and began to walk soundlessly to the helpless monk. Miroku slowly lifted himself in obvious pain and faced the oncoming woman, leaning on the staff for support.
"Wha...what's going on? Why are you attacking me, Sango?" Miroku asked in a strained voice. The woman did not respond, but someone else did.
"Ku ku ku...Ah, houshi. It is pointless to try and reach Sango now. She is totally and completly under my control." The monk turned his attention to a new figure who was dressed in a white baboon pelt. He clenched his teeth in anger.
"Naraku..." Miroku said through clenched teeth. "What have you done to Sango you bastard?!?!?" Naraku slowly walked over to Sango who stood motionless and laughed.
"Oh, such language from a holy priest! Now now, I'm sure we can settle this like gentlemen....heh heh," Naraku teased. The houshi tensed up with rage.
"Just answer my question!!!!!" he demanded. "What have you done to Sango???" Naraku smirked beneath his pelt.
"Isn't it obvious? Sango here was overwhelmed by her nightmares and accepted them as truth. Thus, her heart became weak and suseptable to me. She will tend to my every wish without question. Heh. She would even kill you if I asked her to." Naraku laughed again, Miroku was overcome with rage. He lunged at the baboon in blind fury.
"You heartless bastard!!!!" he cryed as he raised his staff to strike. He swung it down, only to hit an oversized boomerang. He jumped back in surprize as Sango stepped in between Miroku and Naraku. Naraku laughed sinisterly again.
"Fool! Sango will protect me, even if it means her life! You are powerless against me!" Miroku slowly realized that...he was right. He wouldn't hurt Sango and couldn't kill Naraku without killing Sango first. He slammed his fist on the ground in frustration.
"Poor monk. Sango, kill him and put him out of his misery." Sango threw her boomerang at Miroku. The priest didn't move an inch. The boomerang came closer and closer, still the priest did not move. Hiraikotsu came in contact with Miroku's body and smashed him against the wall, leaving a pile of rubble. Sango caught the boomerang and started to walk to the hole in the wall caused by her action. She stood in front of the pile of rocks, her cold eyes searching for the priest. Suddenly, her boomerang was knocked out of her hand and flew over to the side of the room. Sango gasped in surprize as Miroku emerged from the rubble and swung his staff at her knees, tripping her to the floor. She recovered and un-sheathed her sword. The monk laughed slightly.
"Always ready for anything..." Sango hesitated, but lunged at him hitting his staff. Naraku watched the two battle from a safe distance.
"Why did Sango hesitate?" he wondered out loud. He sat quietly and waited for the battle to end.
Miroku fought Sango off as best he could, but the youkai exterminator's skills were great. He dodged another stab and whirled around. He was now in back of Sango where he managed to catch her sword hand and pinned her to the ground on her stomach. He was bloody and sore from Sango's onslaught.
"I am really glad to have you as an ally," he said softly. Sango struggled to get free but found she couldn't. Suddenly, her hidden blades burst from her arm and came in contact with Miroku's flesh.
"Gahh!!" the monk yelled in pain. He had managed to remove the sword from her grasp, but she was still a very serious threat. Sango took a ready stance, her twin blades glinting dangerously. Miroku lifted his staff to a defensive position. His face was etched in concern for Sango. Sango made the first move: she rushed forward and slashed at the priest with her left arm. Miroku blocked it, only to have the other blade slice his left cheek. He jumped back and pressed a hand to his new wound.
"Good...Too good. I would hate to think what you would do to me on a daily basis like this..." he said. Sango hesitated again. A voice had awoken in her mind.
***Don't hurt him!! Naraku is the one you should be killing!!*** her mind screamed. Her eyes slowly started to come back to normal. "That's right..." she whispered. "Miroku's not an enemy..." Naraku stood up, a powerful aura surrounding him.
Sango!
Another voice came into her mind. Naraku's voice.
Kill him!! Now!!! Sango clutched her head.
"NOO!!! I won't!! Leave me alone! Get out of my head!!" she screamed. Miroku rushed to her.
"Sango?? What's wrong?? Tell me!!" He kneeled next to her, his eyes mirrored the concern in his voice. She didn't look up at him, only clutched her head tighter as the voice seemed to fill her ears. Miroku suddenly grabbed the sobbing girl in his arms and held her tightly, as if the world might end if he let go. She was shocked. Naraku's voice seemed to dissapear instantly as Miroku's embrace warmed her.
"M-Miroku...?"
"I'm here Sango. Nothing is going to happen to you...I promise." Sango stared straight ahead, a single tear running down her cheek. She closed her eyes tightly and returned Miroku's embrace. Naraku was pissed. Sango had fought off his spell, he didn't manage to kill anyone, AND, he was having to sit through a mushy romance! He cursed and revieled a hidden blade from his cloak. He ran forward, ready to slice the couple in two. As he drew closer, he raised the sword. Sango opened her eyes to see Naraku coming closer. There was no time to react. She gasped as the blade came down.
"Sankon Tetsusou!!!"
Sango stared as Naraku vanished, leaving only Inuyasha standing there.
"Are you two alright?" he asked with a worried tone. He suddenly realized that Sango was in Miroku's arms tightly. He turned around, blushing baddly. "Shouldn't have asked..." Sango leapt out of Miroku's grasp and started to turn a very bright red. Miroku stood up and shot Inuyasha a death glare. *Damn...*
Inuyasha went back to check on Kagome and the others. He was soon followed by Miroku and Sango (who was still quite red). The hanyou examined them each in turn, taking great care with Kagome for she had sustained the worst wounds. He let out a sigh of relief; her breathing was constant. He sat down and regained his usual arrogance.
"So, what I miss?" he asked quietly. "Anything interesting happen between you two?" He got no verbal reply, only soft mumbles from Sango and more death glares from Miroku. He rolled his eyes.
"Feh. Anyway, how we going to get outa here?" Suddenly, the cavern around them started to twist and distort. Inuyasha would have let out a yell, only his mouth didn't seem to have gotten the message. He couldn't move, couldn't talk; he was helpless. He didn't like the feeling. Everything went dark.
"Uhh..."
Inuyasha regained conciousness to find himself in the vines of a large tree! The hanyou was quite a distance from the ground and although he would not die from the fall, he would have a major aches after if he tried. He struggled to free himself, only to have a burning pain against his skin. He looked down at the vines holding him and saw that some sort of poison or acid was being secreated from it. He growled in frustration as he tried to move.
"Argh!! Stupid....Tree....."
He ignored the burning pain and ripped the vine from him. He grabbed the tree before he fell and tried to think.
"Ok, hold on. What just happened here? Damn it! I can't remember anything!!" he shouted. He growled again and suddenly remembered.
"Everyone was in danger.....Kagome!" He franticly searched for her and his friends. His sharp eyes finally spotted a dark-haired figure not to far below him. He raced down the branches of the tree, hoping he was not to late.
His heart dropped slightly when he reached his destination. It was Miroku.....Not Kagome.... Inuyasha shook his head and examined the priest. He did not appear to be hurt, but a small trickle of blood comming from his head gave the hanyou a bad feeling. He realeased him from the vines that had been holding him prisoner and shook him slightly.
"Miroku? Are you alright?" The monk groaned and stared at Inuyasha with a dased expression.
"Inu....Inuyasha? Wha-what happened?"
"I'll explained latter," he said. "Right now, I need to get you to solid ground." With that, Inuyasha leapt down to the floor below with agility and speed and lay Miroku down slowly against the tree. The monk still did not understand what was going on, but was just as happy to rest his aching head again. Inuyasha sighed and resummed his search for the others.
Soon after, he found Sango, Kirara and Shippou, but Kitsaki and Kagome were nowhere to be found. His face conorted in frustation. He could SMELL them, but he still couldn't find them. The young halfling started to dart through the branches dangerously fast. He desperatly tried to find them, when out of nowhere, he colided with something with such force that it almost knocked him out of the tree.
"Hey!! Watch where you are going, baka!!" Inuyasha's ears perked up at the voice.
"Kitsaki?" The large kitsune poked her head out from behind the tree.
"No duh! Just get your butt over here! Kagome's in real bad shape!" The hanyou was immediatly there, only to be shocked at Kagome's extensive wounds. She had a huge red stain on her left arm sleeve and another blood red stain in her right side.
Her face was brused and had minor cut here and there.
"Shit...We gotta get her down now."
"Yah. Take her whilst I search for the needed herbs and such," Kit reaponded. With that, she left Kagome in Inuyasha'a arms and lept off into the forest. Inuyasha lept to the forest floor near Sango and the others.
"Kagome! Oh my god! Inuyasha, will she be alright?" Sango asked desperately. Inuyasha didn't respond. He only lay the school girl on the ground carefully and stared at her wounds. How was she getting out of this one?
"Kukuku...Awwww...Look at the poor hanyou. He looks like he is going to cry...That is touching," a sinister voice from the trees said.
"Damnit! Naraku! Get out here and show your fucking face to me!! I'll rip you to shreds for what you did to Kagome!!!" Inuyasha shouted. His eyes scaned the trees, searching for the bastard.
"Heh. Want to fight? Fight me then...What are you waiting for?" Naraku teased. Inuyasha's blood was boiling. He quickly ran into the trees, searching for the bastard demon.
"There you are!!! Sankon Tetsusou!!!" Naraku turned around one second to late. In an instant, he was ripped to shreds. Inuyasha stared dumbfounded.
"Did I..get him...?"
"Of course not. Do you actually think Naraku would come out here in person? Don't make me laugh." Inuyasha spun around sharply.
"Kikyou??" The dead priestess stepped out from behind a nearby tree and glared at the hanyou.
"Me. You say my name like it was a bad taste. Do you not still care for me Inuyasha?" He stared at her. What is going on?
"Of, of course I do, Kikyou. It's just....uhh..." he shiffted uncomfortably. Kikyou's eyes narrowed. "I...Well, what are you doing here?"
"Not your concern. Anyway, want to find Naraku? He is in a large mansion near the Northern Mountains." Inuyasha stared at her.
"Why are you helping me? I thought you wanted me to go to hell." The miko stared icily at the boy.
"Fine! It's obvious that you want me gone, so I'll leave..."
"No! Wait...Gahhh.. It's not like that... I'm just confused.." The priestess' eyes softened as she stepped toward Inuyasha. She placed a cold hand against his face and sighed.
"It doesn't have to be like this, you know." She gazed longingly into his amber eyes. Her lips inched closer to his. "We could be together. All you would have to do is-"
"Inuyasha?' Kikyou broke away sharply and turned to see a kitsune women with long black hair standing in the trees with a small bundle in her hands. She narrowed her eyes and turned. She walked away slowly.
"I hope to see you again, Inuyasha." The hanyou watched her walk away as Kit uneasily stepped forward.
''Who was that, Inuyasha?" He turned away from her and started to walk back to where the others were.
"None of your business, pup. Just forget what you saw and everything will be all happy, got it? Hurry up. We need to get going soon." Kitsaki glared angrily at him for a moment before she stomped after him.
"Jeeze...What crawled up your butt?" Inuyasha choose to ignore that comment as they stepped to the clearing beside the tree. Shippou and Kirara were awake and trying to make Kagome and Miroku as comfortable as possible. Sango was leaning over Miroku, watching him intently.
"We gotta move from here. It's not safe by this tree." Kit said as she moved to the injured ones. She shot a look back at Inuyasha as she gently picked Miroku up. "Well? You gonna help or not? I may be strong, but I AM only one person!" He got the message and swept Kagome softly up in his arms. Kirara transformed and Sango hoped on her back.
"Here. Let me take him," Sango said to Kit. Kit nodded in reply as Shippou attatched himself to her shoulder.
"Kitsaki?"
"Yes, Shippou?"
"Kagome's going to be alright, right? I mean, you will be able to heal her, won't you?" Inuyasha tensed up as he waited for her answer. Kit sighed and shrugged.
"I really don't know. I expect I will be able to do something, but I don't know if I can compleatly heal Kagome-sama..." Both Shippou's amd Inuyasha's hearts sank. The hanyou glanced down on the girl in his arms as they walked off into the forest. He suddenly felt like he had been stabbed with Kikyou's arrow all over again.
"Kagome..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jebus Cripes!!!! That took WAY too long for me to write....*sigh* I am really sorry. I hope I am the only one who thinks this, but this is NOT one of my best chapters... Wahhhhh!!!! Gomen nasai!!!! Well, hope you enjoy this one and I PROMISE that the next chapter will be out soon!!! I've just been soooo tried lately. Training for the Marathon which happens to me only 2 weeks away!!! *shivers* And, Inuyasha has been put on a hiatus untill March 3rd!!! Plus, it will be on at 1:00, which means I am going to have to set my alarm clock twice in one night!!! Grrr..... I hate my life....
Anyway, enough with the mindless chatter!!! The next chapter will be called "Kitsaki's Gift". You better get ready!!!
*~*Chapter 12: Confrontation*~*
The group found themselves in a completely different enviroment. They seemed to be in some sort of hellish nightmare. The ground was gashed with small gorges, endlessly deep. In the larger ones, you could see red hot lava, slowly bubbling and giving off noxious gasses. There were no trees; the only alterations to the horizon were large rocks that juted out of the ground in sharp angles. There was a blood red sunset, leaving the travelers with a sense of dread. Miroku looked on, trying to catch a glimps of his companion.
"Where could she be...?" he wondered out loud. Inuyasha and Kitsaki were scanning the area with difficulty. The fums from the pits were intoxicating. Shippou's little nose couldn't take the fums and he was passed out in Kagome's arms.
"I see something!" Inuyasha finally exclaimed. He pointed to a small crevase a mile away. "There. I can't be sure if it's her, but I do know, *cough* um, that it is someone." He coughed into his shoulder.
"Inuyasha? Are you ok? Put me down. I can walk on my own," Kagome stated. Inuyasha snorted.
"Like hell! You can't even,*cough* hold yourself up, let alone walk!" he exclaimed. She glared at him harshly. The halfling gulped in shallow fear at the girl's fierce determination.
"I said, quite clearly, I. Can. Walk. On. My. Own. Now, put me down!" she said, putting alot of emphasis on her last words. Inuyasha was not convinced. However, the girl would not give up untill her feet were planted firmly on the ground. He sighed and slowly placed her on the ground.
"Fine! Fine, I give! But I will not be blamed if you fall into one of these large cliffs," he said, indicating the crevase that was only a few feet from where they were standing. Kagome just glared. She cradled Shippou's form closer and stagared off. Kit and Miroku watched them in amusement.
"No matter what the situation, those two always seem to find something to fight about," Miroku said with a chuckle. He promptly started to cough hoarsely. "Ah, these fums are very strong, ne?" Kit looked at him with a worried expression. *These fums must be killer for him and Kagome* She coughed into her kimono sleeve.
"We should get moving. If Sango is really here, she might be in danger," Kit said. She lept off in Kagome's direction, followed by Miroku. Inuyasha sighed, coughed again, and ran after them.
*~*~*~*
They had been traveling for what felt like days to reach the crevase. Kagome had fainted and was on Inuyasha's back. Kit was holding Shippou and Miroku looked close to passing out.
"Gahh...That took way longer than I expected. What the hell is wrong with this place??" Inuyasha huffed. Miroku wiped the sweat from his face and leaned on his staff for support.
"Well, what do we do now?" Miroku asked. Inuyasha shrugged. Kit leaned over the crevase and peered over the edge.
"That is one deeeeeeep hole! Yep, yep! Veeeeeeery deeep. I mean, REEEEAAAALL-"
"Shut up already! Ok, it's deep! We get the point! Do you see anything worth looking into, or what?" Inuyasha demanded. She rolled her eyes and looked down again.
"Yeh! I see a small cave in the wall! Only a few feet down! Come on!" With that, she lept off the cliff. Inuyasha sighed and glanced down to see the cave. He too, lept off and dissapered into the abyss. Miroku ran over and shouted down into the darkness.
"Hey!!!! HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO GET DOWN??????" he shouted at the top of his lungs. There was silence, broken only by his tired pants and the distant hissing off lava. A tumbleweed blew past him. He stared into the endless hole, trying to catch a glimps of any movement. He squinted against the un-natural sun. It blinded him for a moment. When he finally got his sight back, he found himself staring into a pair of big blue eyes.
"YYYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He jumped back a few yards and grasped his chest. Kit cocked her head in a confused manner. He glared at her comicly. "Don't DO that!!!! Damnit! Don't scare me like that!!!!!" Kit stared at him in her crouched position.
"Gomen nasai Miroku-san. I just came back to retrive you," she said with a small bow. She suddenly leapt up into the air and landed in front of him. "Get on my back. Quickly!" Miroku carefully got on her back. He placed his hands on her shoulders and placed his staff inbetween them. She jumped down into the crevase and landed with exceptional grace onto the ledge in front of the cave. The priest got off and sighed. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and re-ajusted Kagome on his back. Kit picked Shippou up off the floor and glanced up at the red sky.
"That red sky frightens me. I don't know what is going on, but something tells me that we are in trouble." Miroku noded silently. Inuyasha just stuck his nose into the air.
"Bah! Who cares? Let's just go already..... Jeeze...." He headed into the darkness, followed by Kit and Miroku.
*~*~*
The group had been walking for quite a while in the dark tunnel, lighted only by Kit's Kitsune Fire. The poisonus fums did not bother them anymore. Miroku seemed lost in his own private thoughts while Kit and Inuyasha were tense with apprehention. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, the group spied a faint light at the end of the tunnel. Instinct told Miroku that he shouldn't rush in, but there was a chance that Sango was in need of his help. He ran forward, not caring if it was a trap or not.
"Hn?!? Miroku?!? What the hell are you doing???" Inuyasha bellowed. "Argh! Stupid monk!" Kitsaki and Inuyasha rushed forward in an effort to catch up to Miroku, the light comming closer and closer. Inuyasha was held back at the substancial increase of light and was blinded by it for a minute. When his vision returned he found himself and the others in a large cavern with brightly lit torches at the ends. The room was pretty dull looking except for the torches. Kit squinted around.
"There! I can see a doorway on the right!" she said, pointing to a large dark shape on the opposite side of the room. As she said those words, a giant boomerang came rushing at her, smacking her in the face and knocking her out cold. She dropped Shippou and landed on the ground next to him.
"Kitsaki!!" The boomerang did a sharp turn and headed for Inuyasha. Thought the hanyou was strong and his reflexes fast, he could not dodge the flying weapon and landed face down in the ground next to the two kitsunes. Kagome landed in a heap on Inuyasha's back. Miroku watched the boomerang fly back into the hole where he noticed a familiar figure standing there.
"Sango!! Watch out!!" he cryed as he rushed to try and block the large weapon. Sango, dressed in her exterminator outfit, did not seeem to hear the monk's words. If she had, she made no knowledge of it. Sango mearly held out a hand and caught the boomerang with ease. Miroku was confused greatly.
"Sango? Are you alright? You're not hurt anywhere?" Sango didn't respond. The youkai exterminator turned to the man and held the boomarang in a ready position. Her eyes were blank and un-readable as she flung the projectile at the priest. Miroku dodged it only to have it hit him from behind on it's way back. He flew into the wall with a large crash, knocking some stones loose from the ceiling. Sango caught the boomerang and began to walk soundlessly to the helpless monk. Miroku slowly lifted himself in obvious pain and faced the oncoming woman, leaning on the staff for support.
"Wha...what's going on? Why are you attacking me, Sango?" Miroku asked in a strained voice. The woman did not respond, but someone else did.
"Ku ku ku...Ah, houshi. It is pointless to try and reach Sango now. She is totally and completly under my control." The monk turned his attention to a new figure who was dressed in a white baboon pelt. He clenched his teeth in anger.
"Naraku..." Miroku said through clenched teeth. "What have you done to Sango you bastard?!?!?" Naraku slowly walked over to Sango who stood motionless and laughed.
"Oh, such language from a holy priest! Now now, I'm sure we can settle this like gentlemen....heh heh," Naraku teased. The houshi tensed up with rage.
"Just answer my question!!!!!" he demanded. "What have you done to Sango???" Naraku smirked beneath his pelt.
"Isn't it obvious? Sango here was overwhelmed by her nightmares and accepted them as truth. Thus, her heart became weak and suseptable to me. She will tend to my every wish without question. Heh. She would even kill you if I asked her to." Naraku laughed again, Miroku was overcome with rage. He lunged at the baboon in blind fury.
"You heartless bastard!!!!" he cryed as he raised his staff to strike. He swung it down, only to hit an oversized boomerang. He jumped back in surprize as Sango stepped in between Miroku and Naraku. Naraku laughed sinisterly again.
"Fool! Sango will protect me, even if it means her life! You are powerless against me!" Miroku slowly realized that...he was right. He wouldn't hurt Sango and couldn't kill Naraku without killing Sango first. He slammed his fist on the ground in frustration.
"Poor monk. Sango, kill him and put him out of his misery." Sango threw her boomerang at Miroku. The priest didn't move an inch. The boomerang came closer and closer, still the priest did not move. Hiraikotsu came in contact with Miroku's body and smashed him against the wall, leaving a pile of rubble. Sango caught the boomerang and started to walk to the hole in the wall caused by her action. She stood in front of the pile of rocks, her cold eyes searching for the priest. Suddenly, her boomerang was knocked out of her hand and flew over to the side of the room. Sango gasped in surprize as Miroku emerged from the rubble and swung his staff at her knees, tripping her to the floor. She recovered and un-sheathed her sword. The monk laughed slightly.
"Always ready for anything..." Sango hesitated, but lunged at him hitting his staff. Naraku watched the two battle from a safe distance.
"Why did Sango hesitate?" he wondered out loud. He sat quietly and waited for the battle to end.
Miroku fought Sango off as best he could, but the youkai exterminator's skills were great. He dodged another stab and whirled around. He was now in back of Sango where he managed to catch her sword hand and pinned her to the ground on her stomach. He was bloody and sore from Sango's onslaught.
"I am really glad to have you as an ally," he said softly. Sango struggled to get free but found she couldn't. Suddenly, her hidden blades burst from her arm and came in contact with Miroku's flesh.
"Gahh!!" the monk yelled in pain. He had managed to remove the sword from her grasp, but she was still a very serious threat. Sango took a ready stance, her twin blades glinting dangerously. Miroku lifted his staff to a defensive position. His face was etched in concern for Sango. Sango made the first move: she rushed forward and slashed at the priest with her left arm. Miroku blocked it, only to have the other blade slice his left cheek. He jumped back and pressed a hand to his new wound.
"Good...Too good. I would hate to think what you would do to me on a daily basis like this..." he said. Sango hesitated again. A voice had awoken in her mind.
***Don't hurt him!! Naraku is the one you should be killing!!*** her mind screamed. Her eyes slowly started to come back to normal. "That's right..." she whispered. "Miroku's not an enemy..." Naraku stood up, a powerful aura surrounding him.
Sango!
Another voice came into her mind. Naraku's voice.
Kill him!! Now!!! Sango clutched her head.
"NOO!!! I won't!! Leave me alone! Get out of my head!!" she screamed. Miroku rushed to her.
"Sango?? What's wrong?? Tell me!!" He kneeled next to her, his eyes mirrored the concern in his voice. She didn't look up at him, only clutched her head tighter as the voice seemed to fill her ears. Miroku suddenly grabbed the sobbing girl in his arms and held her tightly, as if the world might end if he let go. She was shocked. Naraku's voice seemed to dissapear instantly as Miroku's embrace warmed her.
"M-Miroku...?"
"I'm here Sango. Nothing is going to happen to you...I promise." Sango stared straight ahead, a single tear running down her cheek. She closed her eyes tightly and returned Miroku's embrace. Naraku was pissed. Sango had fought off his spell, he didn't manage to kill anyone, AND, he was having to sit through a mushy romance! He cursed and revieled a hidden blade from his cloak. He ran forward, ready to slice the couple in two. As he drew closer, he raised the sword. Sango opened her eyes to see Naraku coming closer. There was no time to react. She gasped as the blade came down.
"Sankon Tetsusou!!!"
Sango stared as Naraku vanished, leaving only Inuyasha standing there.
"Are you two alright?" he asked with a worried tone. He suddenly realized that Sango was in Miroku's arms tightly. He turned around, blushing baddly. "Shouldn't have asked..." Sango leapt out of Miroku's grasp and started to turn a very bright red. Miroku stood up and shot Inuyasha a death glare. *Damn...*
Inuyasha went back to check on Kagome and the others. He was soon followed by Miroku and Sango (who was still quite red). The hanyou examined them each in turn, taking great care with Kagome for she had sustained the worst wounds. He let out a sigh of relief; her breathing was constant. He sat down and regained his usual arrogance.
"So, what I miss?" he asked quietly. "Anything interesting happen between you two?" He got no verbal reply, only soft mumbles from Sango and more death glares from Miroku. He rolled his eyes.
"Feh. Anyway, how we going to get outa here?" Suddenly, the cavern around them started to twist and distort. Inuyasha would have let out a yell, only his mouth didn't seem to have gotten the message. He couldn't move, couldn't talk; he was helpless. He didn't like the feeling. Everything went dark.
"Uhh..."
Inuyasha regained conciousness to find himself in the vines of a large tree! The hanyou was quite a distance from the ground and although he would not die from the fall, he would have a major aches after if he tried. He struggled to free himself, only to have a burning pain against his skin. He looked down at the vines holding him and saw that some sort of poison or acid was being secreated from it. He growled in frustration as he tried to move.
"Argh!! Stupid....Tree....."
He ignored the burning pain and ripped the vine from him. He grabbed the tree before he fell and tried to think.
"Ok, hold on. What just happened here? Damn it! I can't remember anything!!" he shouted. He growled again and suddenly remembered.
"Everyone was in danger.....Kagome!" He franticly searched for her and his friends. His sharp eyes finally spotted a dark-haired figure not to far below him. He raced down the branches of the tree, hoping he was not to late.
His heart dropped slightly when he reached his destination. It was Miroku.....Not Kagome.... Inuyasha shook his head and examined the priest. He did not appear to be hurt, but a small trickle of blood comming from his head gave the hanyou a bad feeling. He realeased him from the vines that had been holding him prisoner and shook him slightly.
"Miroku? Are you alright?" The monk groaned and stared at Inuyasha with a dased expression.
"Inu....Inuyasha? Wha-what happened?"
"I'll explained latter," he said. "Right now, I need to get you to solid ground." With that, Inuyasha leapt down to the floor below with agility and speed and lay Miroku down slowly against the tree. The monk still did not understand what was going on, but was just as happy to rest his aching head again. Inuyasha sighed and resummed his search for the others.
Soon after, he found Sango, Kirara and Shippou, but Kitsaki and Kagome were nowhere to be found. His face conorted in frustation. He could SMELL them, but he still couldn't find them. The young halfling started to dart through the branches dangerously fast. He desperatly tried to find them, when out of nowhere, he colided with something with such force that it almost knocked him out of the tree.
"Hey!! Watch where you are going, baka!!" Inuyasha's ears perked up at the voice.
"Kitsaki?" The large kitsune poked her head out from behind the tree.
"No duh! Just get your butt over here! Kagome's in real bad shape!" The hanyou was immediatly there, only to be shocked at Kagome's extensive wounds. She had a huge red stain on her left arm sleeve and another blood red stain in her right side.
Her face was brused and had minor cut here and there.
"Shit...We gotta get her down now."
"Yah. Take her whilst I search for the needed herbs and such," Kit reaponded. With that, she left Kagome in Inuyasha'a arms and lept off into the forest. Inuyasha lept to the forest floor near Sango and the others.
"Kagome! Oh my god! Inuyasha, will she be alright?" Sango asked desperately. Inuyasha didn't respond. He only lay the school girl on the ground carefully and stared at her wounds. How was she getting out of this one?
"Kukuku...Awwww...Look at the poor hanyou. He looks like he is going to cry...That is touching," a sinister voice from the trees said.
"Damnit! Naraku! Get out here and show your fucking face to me!! I'll rip you to shreds for what you did to Kagome!!!" Inuyasha shouted. His eyes scaned the trees, searching for the bastard.
"Heh. Want to fight? Fight me then...What are you waiting for?" Naraku teased. Inuyasha's blood was boiling. He quickly ran into the trees, searching for the bastard demon.
"There you are!!! Sankon Tetsusou!!!" Naraku turned around one second to late. In an instant, he was ripped to shreds. Inuyasha stared dumbfounded.
"Did I..get him...?"
"Of course not. Do you actually think Naraku would come out here in person? Don't make me laugh." Inuyasha spun around sharply.
"Kikyou??" The dead priestess stepped out from behind a nearby tree and glared at the hanyou.
"Me. You say my name like it was a bad taste. Do you not still care for me Inuyasha?" He stared at her. What is going on?
"Of, of course I do, Kikyou. It's just....uhh..." he shiffted uncomfortably. Kikyou's eyes narrowed. "I...Well, what are you doing here?"
"Not your concern. Anyway, want to find Naraku? He is in a large mansion near the Northern Mountains." Inuyasha stared at her.
"Why are you helping me? I thought you wanted me to go to hell." The miko stared icily at the boy.
"Fine! It's obvious that you want me gone, so I'll leave..."
"No! Wait...Gahhh.. It's not like that... I'm just confused.." The priestess' eyes softened as she stepped toward Inuyasha. She placed a cold hand against his face and sighed.
"It doesn't have to be like this, you know." She gazed longingly into his amber eyes. Her lips inched closer to his. "We could be together. All you would have to do is-"
"Inuyasha?' Kikyou broke away sharply and turned to see a kitsune women with long black hair standing in the trees with a small bundle in her hands. She narrowed her eyes and turned. She walked away slowly.
"I hope to see you again, Inuyasha." The hanyou watched her walk away as Kit uneasily stepped forward.
''Who was that, Inuyasha?" He turned away from her and started to walk back to where the others were.
"None of your business, pup. Just forget what you saw and everything will be all happy, got it? Hurry up. We need to get going soon." Kitsaki glared angrily at him for a moment before she stomped after him.
"Jeeze...What crawled up your butt?" Inuyasha choose to ignore that comment as they stepped to the clearing beside the tree. Shippou and Kirara were awake and trying to make Kagome and Miroku as comfortable as possible. Sango was leaning over Miroku, watching him intently.
"We gotta move from here. It's not safe by this tree." Kit said as she moved to the injured ones. She shot a look back at Inuyasha as she gently picked Miroku up. "Well? You gonna help or not? I may be strong, but I AM only one person!" He got the message and swept Kagome softly up in his arms. Kirara transformed and Sango hoped on her back.
"Here. Let me take him," Sango said to Kit. Kit nodded in reply as Shippou attatched himself to her shoulder.
"Kitsaki?"
"Yes, Shippou?"
"Kagome's going to be alright, right? I mean, you will be able to heal her, won't you?" Inuyasha tensed up as he waited for her answer. Kit sighed and shrugged.
"I really don't know. I expect I will be able to do something, but I don't know if I can compleatly heal Kagome-sama..." Both Shippou's amd Inuyasha's hearts sank. The hanyou glanced down on the girl in his arms as they walked off into the forest. He suddenly felt like he had been stabbed with Kikyou's arrow all over again.
"Kagome..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jebus Cripes!!!! That took WAY too long for me to write....*sigh* I am really sorry. I hope I am the only one who thinks this, but this is NOT one of my best chapters... Wahhhhh!!!! Gomen nasai!!!! Well, hope you enjoy this one and I PROMISE that the next chapter will be out soon!!! I've just been soooo tried lately. Training for the Marathon which happens to me only 2 weeks away!!! *shivers* And, Inuyasha has been put on a hiatus untill March 3rd!!! Plus, it will be on at 1:00, which means I am going to have to set my alarm clock twice in one night!!! Grrr..... I hate my life....
Anyway, enough with the mindless chatter!!! The next chapter will be called "Kitsaki's Gift". You better get ready!!!