The Horrid Cries of the Nothing Woman

Chapter 12

     A harsh wind forced its way through the trees, pushing down upon Inu-Yasha and Miroku as they struggled against it.  The forest swayed angrily as the demon hovered, his ugly, wart-infested hand growing frighteningly closer . . .

     "SHEYA!" Miroku called out, driving his staff into the ground.  He clenched the prayer beads in his hand . . . "Curse it, if Sheya were not there . . ." 

     But Inu-Yasha did not pay any attention, he resisted the winds and pushed forward . . . but they grew stronger against him . . . pressing him back down to the ground . . . he had to reach her again . . . if he could touch her again . . . just as he had done before . . . then perhaps he could snap her out of it!  Perhaps he could save her!

     "Sheya!" Inu-Yasha shouted above the din, driving his fingers into the dirt, wishing upon everything that they were his claws . . . "Sheya!  Please!  Listen to us!"

     "She can't hear you!" the demon laughed.  "Sheeee's miiiiine . . ."

     "Sheyaaaa!"

     Suddenly, against the storm of wind and light, the monster disappeared . . . vanquished as streaks of bright blades sliced through his body like a fog . . . the agonizing shriek that echoed into the night was cut short in a single blow . . .

     The winds ceased abruptly . . . the forest grew silent and dark once more . . .

     Miroku rushed to the aid of the stricken woman who had since fallen unconscious to the ground . . .

     Inu-Yasha gasped in shock at the figure that stood in the demons place.  Long silvery hair sheened behind her, her tail peeked from below her cowl . . . "Ayame . . ."

     She turned to him with a faint smile across her face, her eyes harsh as she examined him.  "Inu-Yasha?  Is that you?  You're so . . ."

      "Yeah . . . Ayame . . . what are you doing here?" he asked slowly, standing up before her, his black hair falling in contrast with the rest of his human body.  "You're still . . ."

     "Half demon?" she frowned.  "I guess this just isn't your night, huh, brother."

     "Brother?" the Monk questioned as he readied Sheya's torn bandages and open wounds, he glanced behind him to the stranger with a puzzled gaze.  "You mean, you two are related?"

     "Surprised?  Can't you see the resemblance?" Inu-Yasha barked impatiently, quickly realizing what he had just said.  "Nevermind tonight!"

     Ayame perked her ears into the night, her orange eyes befalling the fallen woman.  "I knew I sensed evil in that demon . . . there's a lot of evil in the forest this night.  Will she be okay?"

     Miroku nodded.  "She'll be okay . . . once she awakens . . ."

     "Inu-Yasha, I saw . . ." the hanyou-child began . . .

     Sheya stirred and blinked into the night . . . "Adahan . . ."

     The Monk frowned.  "No.  I am Miroku, from the village.  You're safe now."

     "But . . . Adahan . . ." she began to cry.  "Adahan . . ."

     Inu-Yasha turned his back to them with a worried frown, pretending to ignore her.  "Well, at least she's safe.  Now she can help us save Kagome and . . ."

     "That's why I came looking for you, Inu-Yasha." Ayame's voice was tight as she spoke, her gaze continued to drift over to the darkness of the woods as she spoke in a near whisper.  "I know where she was taken."

     "You WHAT?" Inu-Yasha shouted.  "YOU WHAT?  WHERE?  WHERE IS SHE?"
     "Some thing had her . . . took her to the northern part of the forest in my realm." She explained, twitching her claws anxiously.  "She's being held prisoner there . . . at least she was when I last saw them . . . then I came looking for you."

     "Why?  Why didn't you try to save her, Ayame?  Why didn't you do anything?" he began to scold, his words harsh and dripping with rage.  "You could have . . ."

     "Inu-Yasha, control yourself." Miroku insisted in his calm, stern voice as he helped Sheya to her trembling feet.  "There was nothing she alone could have done about it.  She came to seek your assistance."

     He scowled.  "Can you tell me where they went . . ."

     Ayame nodded slowly, her face firm and silent as she faced her brothers anger.  "I understand how you feel . . ."

     "Was she okay when you saw her?"

     "She was unconscious . . . I sensed that she was sick, but other than that he hadn't hurt her yet."

     A faint hint of relief flickered across his face, his fists were clenched and shaking.  "I will get that damn thing and I will kill it."

     "Well, you're not doing it without me." Ayame announced, standing behind him.

     "It might be a better idea to get Sheya to the village first and wait until dawn." Miroku began to explain, helping the woman along back in the direction in which they had come.  "Perhaps it would be best that you were at full strength before we go after them . . . and for Sheya as well."

     Inu-Yasha growled.  "But it might be too late if we wait . . ."

     "The Monk is right.  If you were to go off now then you would no doubt be killed.  That thing is . . .well . . . evil . . . I could rescue Kagome on my own . . ."

     "No, you'll stay with us." Inu-Yasha ordered.  "You're not gonna go off and get yourself killed without me to help you!  And besides, you guys are right . . ." he looked at his weak, human hands bitterly.  "I can't do anything in this condition.  I am so

useless . . ."

     Ayame placed a tender hand upon her brothers shoulder.  "No you're not.  We'll get Kagome back, I promise."

     "But . . ." he was on the verge of tears, hiding his face from them, holding it back within his pathetic body, his weedy emotions . . . his human foolishness and sentimentality . . . "We're running out of time . . ."

     But the Athema is hungry . . . Inu-Yasha thought angrily to himself.  I can feel it in the air . . . and so can Ayame . . . that's why she's so nervous . . .

     The Athema might not wait until dawn . . .

*** Oh, I had to get that chapter out!!  Hope you all like it!  Please review.  Reviews are goooooooood.  ***