The Days of Destruction
Chapter One:
Bring Forth: The Healer in the Snow
By: fairysphinxfairysphinx: Hello, everyone! This is my first Inuyasha fic, and I hope that you like it. But, as always, please don't give me any flames. Constructive criticism, but not flames. Flames will be used to cook my dinner. So, enjoy the fic! Oh! FYI: I haven't seen much of Sango, so I'm leaving her out of this. Sorry, Sango fans!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, so if you're looking for someone to sue, you won't find one here.
Fire licked the grasses and the trees. Deep grooves were inflicted into the landscape. A burned and battered Inuyasha fell to the ground, almost unconscious. "Curses," he muttered at the new moon. "Curses." His black hair reflected the fire, red and hot.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called from the sidelines, along with Shippo. "Get out of there! You're no match for that demon!"
"NO MATCH?!?!?! Kagome, if I ever get out of this, I'm gonna-." THWACK! Inuyasha flew into a tree with the force of the blow.
"You shall never come out of this battle alive!" the fire-breathing serpent demon hissed. "NEVER!" Up until this time, Miroku had backed out of the fight, observing things. Finally, he sighed, and silently made his way over to the upside down Inuyasha.
"Come on," he said. "Get behind me. It's time that I take care of this overgrown reptile."
"Hey! Destroying the demon is my job."
"Fine then. Get yourself destroyed. Then you won't have changed anything."
"I'll beat him as soon as the sun comes up!"
"You can't last for five hours!"
"Yes, I can!"
"No, you can't!"
"Can!"
Can't!"
"Can!"
"Can't!"
"Will you two stop bickering?!?!" the demon hissed.
"Yeah! Inuyasha! Get over here now!"
"No!" Inuyasha pulled himself up, and prepared to attack.
"Sit, boy! Sit sit sit sit sit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Inuyasha was pounded into the ground. "Now, get over here now, or I'll say it again!" He grumbled, and scrambled over to the fifteen year old.
"Well," Miroku said to the demon. "Looks like it's just you and me." The demon laughed.
"You? My opponent? That is funny!" The monk just smiled, and threw back to prayer beads on his hand.
"Wind tunnel!" The winds picked up. Fire, trees, dirt, grass, all headed for his hand, for the dark depths of the hole that resided in it.
"What? How can this be? No! But, if I am destroyed, so shall you be, too!" The demon opened his mouth wide. Its two front fangs ejected themselves from the mouth, heading right for Miroku. One got sucked into the hole. But the other went above the wind channel, and headed for the nineteen year old, landing right in his chest. "It may be too late for me, monk, but the poison being injected into your body shall be the end of you!" The demon's head disappeared through the hole. And it was gone.
Miroku recovered his hand, before falling o his knees, gasping for air. Kagome, Shippo, and Inuyasha ran up to him (Inuyasha more or less sauntered). "Miroku! Are you okay?" Miroku shakily lifted his head to meet her eyes.
"His poison is strong. Very strong." He reached up and pulled out the fang, it dripping a black liquid. "Kagome, do you have your healing supplies?"
"Yeah right here. Ick!" Kagome had reached her hand into her pouch to get the medicine, but came out with her hand covered in glass and an assortment of liquids. "Oh, no! The bottles must have broken! Now what are we going to do?!"
"It's obvious," Inuyasha said. "We have to find someone who can help us. It's as simple as that" Kagome nodded. The two took Miroku's arms, one on each side, and helped him up (which wasn't easy; Inuyasha was still human, …well, Kagome was Kagome). With Shippo leading the way, the four made there way past rivers, mountains, valleys, and plains.
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"Excuse me! Sir! Please, wait a moment!" Kagome called to a man who was beginning to go back into his house.
"How may I help you?" he asked her kindly.
"Where might we find a doctor for my friend?"
"Doctor?"
"Oh! Someone who can administer medicine to him, so he won't die!"
"A healer? Right up there!" the man said, pointing up a mountain. "At the very top." The foursome looked exasperated. It was a very tall mountain.
"At the top?" Kagome said with a forced smile. "Thank you!" The man nodded, and went back into his house. Inuyasha growled.
"You owe us big time for this, Miroku!" Inuyasha had turned back into his half demon state.
"Inuyasha! You're so fast, this should be no trouble for you!"
"What? Are you suggesting that I carry everyone up?"
"Oh! That's a wonderful idea, Inuyasha! You are so generous to offer that!" Kagome exclaimed. (Inuyasha: -_-U Why me?!) In no time flat, they were up on the snowy heights of the mountain.
"Now," Shippo said. "If I were the house of a healer, where would I be?"
"We should stick with the plan. I say that there's an ominous cloud hanging over the building, and we extract it. In return, our board and a healing potion for me."
"Whatever. It's just as good." Kagome, Miroku, and Shippo raised an eyebrow.
"You agree, Inuyasha?"
"Miroku, I don't care right now! Let's just get going!" After a quick scan of the area, Shippo reported back.
"There's a house in the valley over there!" he said, pointing in the direction in which he had come. "Let's go already!" The anxious fox demon led the way to a stone house in the middle of a valley. Green grass and white flowers covered the land around it.
"Remember!" Miroku reminded them. "Let me do the talking!" Kagome nodded in agreement. Inuyasha was too bored to care, and Shippo was busy investigating a weird plant. He (Miroku) knocked on the door.
A short, stout man with a moustache and a bald spot opened the door, looking rather cranky. "Sir," Miroku said politely, battling the pain and delusions, "I couldn't help but notice that there's an-."
"Can it, monk!" the man said sharply. "I already know about you and your trickery! There is no 'ominous cloud' hovering above us! You're just looking for a place to stay for free!"
"My apologies, good sir. It seems that we cannot fool such a brilliant man." Miroku turned away, limping in pain. Kagome faced the man.
"You weren't entirely correct," she said coldly, taking Shippo and Inuyasha by the arm, walking away.
"I never said I was turning you away," the man sighed. "I have my orders. The monk is wounded, and I am to escort him and his companions into the house. So, come forth with you, out of the cold." As the man walked back into the building, the foursome followed.
"Kagome," Inuyasha said, "You can let go of my arm any time now!"
"Oops! Sorry!" she said, releasing him, and Shippo as well. It was at that time that the remainder of Miroku's strength gave out.
"Hang on, Miroku," Inuyasha said, picking him up. "Hang on just a little longer."
"Stay here for the moment. I shall go alert the healer of your much anticipated arrival."
"Much anticipated arrival? Guys, I'm not sure we should go through with this!"
"Knock it off, Miroku! You just have a case of cold feet!" Kagome stated. Looking at the bewildered faces, she continued. "Er, you're just nervous." Shippo jumped onto Miroku's shoulder.
"You're going to be alright! It's just a poison antidote administered by some old guy!" Miroku sighed. All of these reassurances weren't very helpful, and the poison was eating away at him quickly. The old man entered the small room.
"The healer will see you now," he said, taking Miroku by one arm. Inuyasha took the other. Between the two, they were able to get him to an old brown door. The man knocked, before opening it and walking in. They rested Miroku on a small bed, close to the ground. "Your friend will be all right," he whispered to Inuyasha as they exited the room. "He's in the best hands he could be in."
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Miroku looked around the room. It was large, but not too large. The walls were a calming blue, the carpets, purple. There was a dresser, plants, and many shelves full of books and vials. "Well, it looks normal enough, except for that freaky looking doll over there," he said, referring to a human-sized statue, clad in grey robes, and a large, technicolored mask upon it's head. But, there was one problem. The doll was moving!
"I am not a doll," it said in a hushed voice. It got up, and walked over to Miroku, who could only squirm. The mask was very, very freaky
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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Kagome looked up from her tea as she heard a scream. "What was that?" she asked.
"It sounded like Miroku!" Shippo exclaimed. The old man chuckled.
"It's nothing to worry about. Your friend is fine."
"Inuyasha! Don't you have anything to say?"
"No, Shippo," he said. "I don't."
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"Hey! Knock it off!" The figure removed its mask, revealing white hair pulled up in a ponytail. "Geeze! No need to scream! The mask is how I syke myself for a healing ritual! But, if it makes you uncomfortable, I'll leave it off!" Miroku looked into two dark eyes.
"Wait," Miroku said, slightly confused. "Aren't healers men?" * healer facefaults *
"Apparently not!" she shouted. "I am a true to life healer, and don't you forget it!"
"You don't have to be so mean about it!"
"Will you just lie still and let me work?!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!" Miroku laid on the bed, still. He was becoming woozy. The last happenings had taken what little strength he had left.
"Now," she said, soothingly, "Relax. Think of peaceful things Trust me." He closed his eyes, comforted by the calming voice.
Miroku heard foreign words as his thoughts grew thick, his head, heavy, and drifted off into a contented sleep.
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Kagome and Shippo jumped up as they heard the door down the hall that went into the room Miroku had been taken into opened. A cloaked figure walked out.
"Well?" Shippo immediately asked, the figure coming into his sights. "How is he?"
"Your friend," it said, "Will be fine. But he must rest for a good amount of time. The poison had just about seized his body. Should he have come any later, he would have died. But, if you'll excuse me, I have to get some air." And, with a courteous nod, it walked out of the door.
Once outside, she pulled down her hood. It was always comforting to be out in the open, and the air that blew over the mountaintop was cooling. The songs of the mountain were soothing, and, on a lucky occasion, it would snow.
"Snow," she murmured. "The mountain's cleanser. A sign of purity. Joy. Hope."
"Yeah, I wouldn't think that someone would fuss over such a simple thing as snow." The girl jumped and looked behind her. Inuyasha was standing (more like balancing) on the porch fencepost.
"You startled me," she said, turning back to the landscape. " To startle a healer is to seal your coffin." Inuyasha looked at her, confused.
"Is that a threat?!"
"No. I am merely warning you to be careful."
"It had better only be a warning! I've defeated many demons, and I won't hesitate to hit a girl!!!"
"I don't doubt it. You remind me of a tornado."
"Throw that by me again?"
"You are hostile, and leave devastation and destruction in you wake. Yet, there is always good that comes from tornados, whether we choose to see it, or not." Inuyasha looked at her, head cocked to one side.
"There must be something wrong with your head. I'd better check and see if Miroku's not missing a limb or something."
"If you wish, although be alarmed not if he is in good shape."
Inuyasha walked back into the house, meeting Kagome and Shippo in the front of the room Miroku was in. "That girl is freaky," he informed them.
"Why? She seemed pretty nice to me!" Shippo said.
"Yeah, but she was just comparing me to a tornado!" he responded, much unneeded emphasis on the word 'me'.
"Hmm," Kagome mused. "That sounds about right!" * Inuyasha facefaults *
"It is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Sit boy!" Inuyasha was pounded into the ground. "Is too!" Stepping over his body, Kagome opened the door. "Miroku?"
" * Grumble, grumble * Yeah?"
"How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. Come on in. Is Inuyasha with you? I can see Shippo from here."
"Yeah. He's just pounded into the floor." Shippo and Kagome sat down by the bed, joined shortly by Inuyasha. "Are you hurting?"
"Just a little. It's not as bad as it was."
"That's good." The room was silent for a while, before Shippo spoke up.
"Miroku! What do you think of the healer? Inuyasha thinks that she's freaky!"
"I to agree with you there, Inuyasha. She was defiantly…different."
"Well! First meeting isn't everything, now is it?!" Kagome snapped. "And I'm going to get to know her better!" She marched out of the room. "Sir!" she called to the old man. "Do you know where the healer is?"
"Yes. She's gone back to her room, the last door on the left."
"Thank you!" She walked down the long hall, and came upon an eerie door made of withered wood.
"Who's there?" a voice called from inside.
"It's Kagome. I just want to talk to you."
"Come in, then." She slowly opened the door. The contents, unlike the door, were cheery, and inviting.
"I'd like to thank you for healing Miroku."
"It wasn't any trouble, really. Just poisoning. Just about anyone with medical knowledge could have healed it."
"But you healed him, even after we tried to trick you into a free stay!"
"I would have allowed you to stay anyways. It's just the way that I am." Kagome grew silent.
"There's one thing that's been bothering me. You…knew that we were coming. How?" The healer smiled.
"I have my ways."
Kagome looked upon the girl. She was about her age, with white/albino hair and dark eyes. The weren't cold, but expressionless. And there seemed to be a certain aura about her…something that wasn't right. 'What is it?' she thought. 'Huh. Maybe I'm just imagining things. That's it. I'm just imagining things. But still….'
There was the sound of splintering wood, thuds, and cries, even a low-pitched scream of pain. The healer got up. "They are here. I am sorry, but I must take leave now." As if on cue, the rickety door burst open, and a lot of men, angry men, stormed into the room.
"Healer! You are to come with us! To be hanged!" Kagome gasped.
"Why are you going to hang her?!" she demanded to know. "And who are you?"
"We are citizens of a village from the base of the mountain. Ever since this…this demon moved in here, there has been nothing but trouble for our people! And we've finally got enough proof to have her hanged! Now, out of the way, girl!" They pushed past Kagome, grabbed the healer, and headed out of the door, Kagome in hot pursuit.
As they exited the door, Inuyasha came out of the house. "Hey!" he said. "What's going on here."
"We're taking this demon to be hanged!" one called.
"I can't just let you-."
"Enough!" the healer said to him. "Let them take me." Looking down at the ground, the man who had once happily took care of the household, and who received her patients, lay dead, in a pool of his own blood. "Let them take me."
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"Hurry, Inuyasha!" Kagome cried. They (Miroku, against the orders of the healer, Shippo, and herself) were riding down the mountain on Inuyasha's back.
"I'm going as fast as I can! And as soon as we get to the bottom, you three are getting off!" They had all decided to follow after the healer, to the village, and do what they could to save her. It was the least that they could do.
"I can see the village!" Shippo called. Inuyasha came to a halt, and the three filed off, running the rest of the way to the town. What met their eyes was shocking.
Bodies lay strewn everywhere. The ground was soaked with blood. Mounds were in a row, and, digging with a shovel next to the last one, was the healer.
Inuyasha grew disgusted with the sight (heh, pretty rare event, huh?). "Did you do all of this," he demanded her. She looked at the red ground, and nodded. "Why I oughtta-."
"Sit, boy!" Kagome ordered. "What is your name?" she asked. Snow started to fall all around the healer. She looked up, her eyes filled with tears and pain, and said:
"Rayne."
END OF CHAPTER ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fairysphinx: Well? What did you think? Please go easy on the criticism, this is my first Inuyasha fanfic, and I probably got some information wrong. So, let's review:
Compliments: yes.
Constructive Criticism: yes.
Flames: No; they will be used to cook my dinner.
Have a nice day, and please review! Thank you, and enjoy!
-fairysphinx