My Strength Is In You
Chapter Four
The morning rays came upon the earth in swift waves, melting away the darkness and drying the dew that had collected upon the grass and leaves of the eerie northern forest. A cool wind rustled the canopy into an angry hiss as if it were alive, speaking to each other in hushed tones. Gossiping of the intruders that lurked within the territory that belonged to their master . . .
To their lord . . .
Inu-Yasha made a point to follow in the rear. His ears twitched at the very tiniest sounds, his heart always in his throat, muscles ready to react at the slightest hint of movement. He hated feeling like this.
Kagome remained in his sights for the majority of the morning. How she held her eyes to the forest floor, watching her own feet as she walked, her hands holding onto the straps of her heavy book bag as she strode in utter and complete silence.
It was unusual for her.
Not natural . . .
Though, neither was it natural the way she had cried out his name.
Again, shivers ran down Inu-Yasha's spine as he remember, trying his hardest not to look directly at Kagome for fear of raising questions.
Miroku remained faithfully at Sango's side, clutching his staff tightly in his hands, occasionally glancing her way, staying as close to her as she would allow. Though experience had taught the demon exterminator to be wary of Miroku's wandering hands, she allowed him to stay as close as he was . . .
It was a comfort.
The forest continued to talk about them.
The sun was swift amongst the puffy white clouds that lingered overhead.
No birds soared through the air. Their voices were deathly silent . . .
"How much further do you think this demon lord is?" Sango questioned, her voice tight with a hint of uncertainty.
No one answered for a long time.
Finally, Miroku sighed. "I am not certain. Perhaps by tomorrow . . . or the next day. Or perhaps today. There is no telling unless we can find someone to tell us where to go."
The group tensed, expecting Inu-Yasha to berate the monk. To tell Miroku that he was foolish and they should go find someone right that moment and threaten them until they divulged the information they needed . . .
But the hanyou remained silent.
Staring at Kagome from behind, wondering intently on why she had not said a word since the night.
How she had said his name . . .
"Inu-Yasha?" Shippou bounced over to the hanyou, leaping onto his shoulder.
He bristled . . . "I almost forgot about you, you little rodent."
"There's something watching us." He trembled. "A . . . a rat . . . or something . . ."
The group stopped, closing in against one another as they faced the forest with Kagome and Shippou in the center. Sango gripped her boomarange, Inu-Yasha the Tetsusiaga and Miroku the beads over his had . . .
But there was no sound.
Only the sound of the wind.
And yet, no one moved for a long time.
The tension was sickening. Cruel. Harsh.
Inu-Yasha could hardly take it anymore, his ears pricked, his claws cracked in anger as he whirled upon the fox tyke. "What is your problem scaring us like that?"
"But I did see something watching us!" Shippou wailed, clinging to Kagome. "Kagome . . . you can feel it right?"
She frowned. "No, not yet."
Inu-Yasha glared at her angrily. "What is your problem? All depressed all of a sudden? Geeze," he stormed away from her in a huff. "Moody as anything today!"
Shippou sneered. "Look whose talking moody."
"Perhaps the fox may be right, Inu-Yasha." Miroku began slowly. "I do feel an odd presence."
"This whole forest is an odd presence!" the hanyou roared, waving his arms about, pointing at the shadowy trees. "There's no noise . . . not normal! And now there's someone watching us!"
Shippou nodded sadly, hiding his face in Kagome's shoulder. "Stop being mean to me, Inu-Yasha."
He clenched his fists. "Being mean?"
"You are a bit overreacting, don't you think?" the Monk interfered.
"Overreacting? How else am I supposed to react whenever we're dragged out into the middle of no where and there's all this . . . tension . . . and nothing going on? Huh? How am I supposed to react?"
Sango frowned. "Inu-Yasha, calm down . . ."
"No, you calm down! He shouted, looking down on the demon exterminator and then glaring at Kagome. "And what is your problem, girl? You look like you're ready to cry! Scared already? Want to go hoooome?"
She trembled, her face was pale and her lips to match. "No, I'm fine."
Miroku watched for a full minute, putting his fingers to his chin. "She doesn't look that good, you know."
"I'm fine, really." She lied.
Inu-Yasha crossed his arms across his chest, turning his back. "Who cares! Whiny little . . ."
But that's when he smelled it again . . . the blood . . .
She had been bleeding the night before . . .
There was another scent there too . . . he hadn't noticed it before, but now he smelled it . . .
What Shippou had seen . . .
Inu-Yasha bristled as Kagome walked by . . . he smelled the rat on her . . .
What did the rat do to her?
*******
Quitta grinned fiendishly behind the fronds from whence he hid.
The girl was degrading nicely.
It was a pleasure he enjoyed.
His master would be very pleased.
The toxin of the Tantsue was beginning to take a hold . . .
From where there is no cure . . .
None – the rat grinned – absolutely none that they could come up with!
He bounced from foot to grimy foot with joy, clapping his warted hands happily.
His master would shower him with gifts for his success . . .
Stroking the claw taken from the great Tantsue he had used, he stole away into the shadows to gain a better vantage point as his master began his preparations for the intruders . . .
His special touch . . .
The fun was about to begin and the rat shivered with excitement . . .
"Stupid Miko-wench to ruin plans! Not anymore! Not anymore!" the ran hummed to himself. "Not a problem anymore!'
*** Hope you like this chapter – please review it! PLEASE!! I will only continue if you guys say so!!! Hmm- I wonder what sort of toxin Quitta used? What does it do? When will the others figure it out? And what is that evil lord gonna do? His 'special touch'? Stay tuned – same IY site, same IY story! ***