Love Beyond Life
Chapter 14
Sango-sama
Author's Notes: I'm trying to script out exactly how many more chapters this is going to need. It all depends upon whether you guys will let me skip a bit of plot intensive time. (ie. Naraku being somehow defeated...) If you really have a huge preference, lemme know your opinion with any feedback you'd like to give; I really do appreciate it!
Also, this basically diverges from the manga about the time when the Shichinintai enter the manga storyline...so their story is not completely the same!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha...though I would take Miroku off Takahashi's hands if she ever put him up for sale. ^_-
*****
A slim smile crossed Bankotsu's lips as his rather flamboyant comrade slid limply to the ground. Trickles of crimson danced down the edges of the double blade.
He stooped down and picked up the shards that had fallen from the wound in Jakotsu's neck. Glistening crimson and the intoxicating darkness
All of his comrades had fallen. Two were taken by the half-breed and the wolf youkai, and, in ruthless greed, the rest had battled to claim their comrades shards. No one in the murderous band had been the more powerful than he...and he alone had survived. Now, he alone possessed the power of all seven shards.
But his sword still thirsted for more blood.
And he knew just where to get it.
*****
"Houriki!" came the shout, as the thick paper o-fuda glued itself to the kappa's forehead. Its olive skin was just barely visible above the water behind Sango, but it was just enough to neutralize it before it attacked Sango.
Miroku floated just above the dirt shore, clear beads of sweat danced across his equally translucent forehead; his throwing arm fell heavily to his side. It had taken nearly every ounce of his concentration to throw the papers as he used to do so easily. He almost could discern the painful reminder of an ache coursing through his muscles, though his physical body lay beneath the earth back in the village. The strain quickly had become too much to bear as he dropped down onto his knees on the grassy shore. He frowned, panting slightly. It certainly wasn't necessary, he really couldn't breathe anymore...but it was a comforting familiarity. And it was making him feel more rested.
His mind rushed to make sense of this situation. Why hadn't Sango notice that the kappa was right behind her? She may not have a spiritual skill for demon sight, but Sango had never had any problems detecting intruders before. Meaning that something had been distracting her when the kappa had approached.
*****
Inuyasha had gone off hunting in the woods. Shippou was snoring lightly beside Kirara.
Kagome had to admit she was feeling a bit sleepy herself, but she would have to stay awake at least until Inuyasha or Sango returned. She had spent the last few nights lying awake being concerned about Sango. True, her friend no longer tossed about restlessly in her sleep in nightmarish fits. But lately she had spent a lot of time, speaking—or rather shouting—at an invisible companion who, from the unquestionable tone of irritation in Sango's voice, had to be Miroku. 'If Sango is really seeing him, though, then Inuyasha and I should be able to see whatever it is as well. Sango just doesn't have as high an ability for sensing....'
Kagome looked up, startled from her train of thought. The jolt of powerful awareness shot down her back.
There were shards...many shards...speeding towards her.
She would have just enough time to shout.
*****
"How...?" She stared at him incredulously. Her hand was up at her cheek, probably as a gesture of surprise. But in doing that, she seemed to be completely unaware that she was standing naked in waist deep waters...and her hand at her cheek left her chest partially uncovered, leaving her all too vulnerable to his gaze.
His eyes marveled at the sight of her creamy white skin, and the few pale pink scars that dared to mar its smooth surface. True, it was nothing that he hadn't seen before; but it was a sight well worth the bruises she had given him for looking. He had no doubt in his mind that she would be angry with him when she came to her sense, perhaps even more so than usual because she couldn't hit him now. That flash of anger would dance in her eyes, making them shine with a fiery brilliance...and her face would flush slightly. The sum of the effect was worth whatever punishment that she never failed to dish out.
He closed his eyes and gave her a rare smile, before turning his head in the opposite direction.
Sango gasped sharply, as his movement jolted her from the trance; she quickly turned her eyes down to where his had lingered. She quickly threw her arms over her chest and pulled as much of her body as she could underwater, concealing both her body...and the infectious blush that tainted her cheeks a stark pink.
His smile remained. "I am a spirit after all. What sort of spirit would I be if I had no spiritual powers? It does seem that I managed to keep the spiritual powers I had when alive, but I have to use those same powers to do everything now. " From the corner of his eye, he could see that she was hiding beneath the water's surface and dared to look towards her. "It's taxing...but at least this form no longer bears the cursed void."
*****
Inuyasha slunk through the trees as silent as possible, tracking behind his unsuspecting prey.
He took methodically slow and careful steps forward with his claws extended, fully ready to pounce down on the rabbit as it nibbled carefree on some grass.
Just...
Step.
...a little bit...
Step.
...close—
A scream pierced through the air. Inuyasha froze for a brief moment, letting the rabbit escape.
The lake were Sango had headed was off in the other direction...so that scream had to be "Kagome..." He turned on his heels, clenching his teeth. "Damnit! I shouldn't have left...."
*****
With the edgy Demon Lord traversing the forest in search of food with his young charge, Kohaku was finally able to relax. He sighed, sliding his weight down the tree trunk to sit against its base. Although his kusara kama* had been confiscated, Jaken and the two-headed horse-like youkai, Ah and Un, didn't seem to pose much of a threat.
Ah and Un stubbornly pulled backwards as Jaken, huffing and puffing, tried to pull the great two-headed beast forward.
"Move you stupid beast!" he squawked.
The two heads slowly turned towards each other and then slowly back to face their diminutive adversary, who was still pulling the heavy roped which choked their neck. They gave a quick tug backwards, sending an aggravated Jaken flying over their back, through the air, and into the tree next to Kohaku, his beak-like mouth striking deep into the bark like an arrow. It wasn't long before the reptilian minion flopped to the ground with a thud.
Kohaku watched in amusement as Jaken picked himself off the ground, dusting himself off primly.
Jaken gave him a pointed look, until Kohaku brought a hand before his lips to stifle his smile. "Where is Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Off in the woods with Rin. Hunting food."
"Again?" Jaken groaned and leaned back against the tree.
"Where were you?"
"I was serving Lord Sesshoumaru by tracking his unworthy brother and his friends. For some reason, Milord believes that they will be able to find that wretched youkai Naraku more easily."
"Oh."
"I managed to find the warrior woman who travels with them...or rather, her dark robes and boomerang on the shore." Jaken nodded sagely. "The others must be close by..."
'Boomerang?" Kohaku's eyes widened, completely ignoring Jaken as he continued.
'Is that....Ane-ue...?'
*****
Inuyasha tore through the trees as fast as his legs would allow, finally reaching the open patch of forest they had been using as a camp.
Kagome lay motionless on the ground, with Shippou at her side and Kirara growling protectively in front of her lifeless form. He shook her gently, large tears forming in his eyes. "Wake up, Kagome. Wake up!" Sniffing, Shippou look back at Inuyasha sadly.
Tetsusaiga slid from its hilt, the friction between blade and sheathe sizzling as it transformed immediately when it touched the air. Inuyasha's eyes grew cold. "You're dead, you bastard!"
Bankotsu smiled predatorily. "You're more than welcome to try."
Inuyasha grit his teeth and lunged forward.
**********
End of Book One
To Be Continued....
*A kusara kama (or gama) is the chained scythe that Kohaku uses as his weapon.