By Scribe of Figaro
SANGO'S SORROW: PART III
"konna toki ni umaretsuita yo
da kedo nan to ka susundet'te
da kara nan to ka koko ni tatte
bokura wa kyou o okutte'ru"
[We've arrived in these times.
But somehow things move on
So somehow we're standing here
and we're living through today.]
-Ayumi Hamasaki, "Evolution"
They camped in the woods only a few kilometers from the edge of the village. Inuyasha was still sulking about the treatment he received there, though in the quiet, machismo manner Sango tended to expect from him.
He's only recently befriended humans. Being treated unfairly by them again probably brought up the terrors Kagome told me about. The suffering he felt from the villagers he lived with as a child, those that never accepted him, she thought.
She turned to Miroku, who was tending the fire.
He was angry there in the village. He hid it well, but hearing his friends spoken of so poorly really bothered him. He's accepted them just as I have. He treats Inuyasha like a brother, and sometimes I can't help but think he regards Shippou like a nephew.
That thought ended abruptly as she sensed a powerful youki coming close. It was not yet dusk.
"He's fast," remarked Miroku, getting to his feet. Inuyasha drew his sword.
"Over there!" Sango shouted, brandishing Hiraikotsu.
The tiger youkai tore though the trees, landing just before them. The creature was easily ten times taller than a man, with orange and red fur striping along the length of its body. Its claws tore into the ground, and its tail waved back and forth like a club. Its red eyes burned bright, and the saliva dripping from its maw glistened in the orange glow of the setting sun.
It roared, revealing its massive fangs, and went straight for Inuyasha.
The hanyou dodged easily. Striking at its claws with Tetsusiaga, Inuyasha kept it from advancing, protecting Shippou and Kagome's position far behind him.
Sango threw her weapon.
"Hiraikotsu!"
The tora dodged, but failed to see the weapon on its return trip. The boomerang slashed deep along its back before returning to the taiji-ya's hand.
The wound was not fatal, but stunned it enough for Inuyasha to release a Kaze no Kizu directly toward the monster.
The creature dodged again, and though a wave of the Kaze no Kizu tore at its side, it did not die. Being injured seemed to fill it with desperation, allow it to tap into deeper resources of strength, and all present realized the youkai was suddenly moving much faster than before.
The tora passed Inuyasha and advanced on Kagome, dodging the purifying arrow she shot at him. But before it could reach her, Shippou blinded it with kitsune-bi. The momentary distraction allowed Inuyasha to reach her, wrap an arm around her waist, and pull her and the kitsune clutching her shirt to safety, all less than a second before the ground they were standing was scored with three parallel clawmarks.
Sango threw Hiraikotsu again, but at the last moment the youkai turned and swatted it away with a single claw. Seeing her unarmed, it ran toward her. She drew her short sword, but there was no chance she could block the creature's advances with it – the thing's paws were each as wide as her outspread arms, each protruding claw was half her height in length, and surely it had enough strength behind them to shatter her blade.
Out of the corner of one eye she saw it swipe at her, but before the blow landed an o-fuda struck the creature in the face, stunning it. The delay was just long enough for Kirara to rescue her mistress and carry her to the spot where Hiraikotsu was half-buried in the ground.
Miroku smiled, glancing over his shoulder to ensure Sango was safe, then dodged the swing of the creature's other claw. He seemed to enjoy himself, avoiding the swipe of claws by mere inches by jumping side to side, keeping its attention just long enough for Kagome to strike it in the flank with another purity arrow. The beast cried out, and finally its movements became sluggish with fatigue and injury.
"Kagome-sama!" Miroku shouted. "Can you sense any Shikon shards?"
He likely already knew the answer, as the youkai was nowhere near strong enough to be carrying them. When she confirmed his suspicion, he quickly unfastened the rosary at his wrist.
"Kazaana!"
The youkai was pulled into oblivion.
"Yatta!" said Shippou.
Miroku looked around curiously, the beads only loosely wrapped around his wrist, as if ready to open the Kazaana for another attack.
"Is something wrong, Houshi-sama?" Sango asked, worriedly. From her mount on Kirara's back, she held her weapon ready to throw at an instant's notice.
"I – I'm not sure. I had a sense of foreboding just before the youkai appeared, and yet . . . it hasn't dissipated." He waited a moment, brows furrowed, then sealed the Kazaana completely.
"I strongly suggest we stay here, and post a watch. I have the feeling this isn't over."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Where else would we go, bouzu? It's too late to travel now, and I sure as hell ain't going back to that village."
"Of course, of course," said Miroku. "Let's just be wary."
Author's Note:
Admittedly, Ayumi Hamasaki's music is of the genre that does not stand well on its lyrics alone, especially after translation to English, but if you're familiar with the song you might agree that it makes for decent anime-style fight music.
Chapter posted 13 June 2003