July 3-5, 2004 & August 1-3&7-9, 2004
Nube by Goddess of Anime
Insperation: 'You Gotta Be' and 'On My Way Down' (don't own either).
RFC (chapter 15) : FantasyDreamer06 = I'm glad you liked it. And I like how I wrote the characters, too. They seem more real. Well, it does to me at least. And you mentioned Kagome's dream.... That wasn't Kagome's dream I wrote about, it was one of Shippou's worst nightmares created by Zane. I don't know how you confused that but your review made me realize that maybe I didn't do a good enough of a job explaining in the text. [shrugs] When it comes to writing I'm a complete amature and have tons to learn (I'm not exaggerating here). Thanks for your review. And update your fic already!
Disclaimer: I am going to willingly say that I do not own Inu-Yasha. Besides, why wish for something you'll never have?
IMPORTANT: Hello to all! When I am finished with this first part I'll be taking a break and then I'll get back on it. And no, the parts will not be posted up as different fics.
WARNING: Even more violence than the one before (this is PG-13, and strictly so).
Scroll 16: The Assualt
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Cautiously they walked up the stone steps, nearly jumping at any and every sound. They found themselves on the left side of the castle, peering around the edge. To fill in the tense silence Sango asked quietly, "What now?"
"We'll have to go in," Inu-Yasha replied.
"We can't just go and knock on the door and say, 'Because we say so, Naraku, you have to die'. I doubt that would go over well," Miroku replied.
"Shut up you two," Sango hissed, yanking them lower to the ground. "Someone's coming." All three stared with one eye and saw a boyish silhouette approach.
"Is it Kohaku?" Miroku asked. Sango shook her head.
"He reeks of Naraku," Inu-Yasha growled. Sango shivered and nodded. This new creation smelled horrible, like a burning forest. This brought back a memory that she had long forgotten. She thoughtlessly touched her calf, a fear building within her.
A small shove brought her back. Glaring over her shoulder she followed Inu-Yasha down the hole, feeling uneasy. When her feet touched the bottom she had to crouch down, squaring her shoulders. What could be on the other side?
The walls around them were made of dirt and clay, shaped by wooden beams. It was a large, circular room with a stair-well winding up to a balcony that circled around. There were six doors, one on either side of them and four up the stairs.
"Do you think this may be a trap?" Sango asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yeah," Inu-Yasha said and jerked his head up. Miroku and Sango looked up at the balcony and saw the one and only Kagura. She smiled coyly, like she knew something that they didn't.
"Naraku is pleased to see that you have arrived on time," she said, her lips curling into a sneer. "Oh, my! Now aren't I bad hostess? I forgot to welcome of you. But before I do meet the other hosts." Kagura flung out an arm, a welcoming gesture. Then she lowered her arm to her side, revealing a new minion, Kiri, and Kohaku. She said softly, "Welcome to Naraku's castle. Go greet our guests, Diana."
Diana jumped onto the balcony railing and tumbled down with a dancer's grace. Her black hair was wild, tangled, and long. She lifted her head to face the trio, revealing green cat eyes. She had jagged stripes running from the jaw line to the cheekbones and a pair of black cat ears. She slowly rose, revealing her lanky form.
Inu-Yasha sniffed the air and realized something important. This new demon didn't smell like Naraku. She smelled of human and demon, there was no doubt about that, but she also smelled strongly of lavender.
Once again she bowed her head and spread her legs apart. The black hakama hung loosely, comical on her slender form. She had on a black haori that was small and the sleeves ripped off, showing off her muscular arms. She curled her fingers in towards her palms. Jerking her head up she flexed her claws and soundlessly ran at them.
Sango hurled her hiraikotsu at the demoness, which dodged it without breaking stride. Diana leapt up and came down at Sango, creating deep gouges into the huntress's side and a light one on her shoulder. Sango let out a gasp of pain and dived to the ground, narrowly missing her weapon.
Diana gave Sango a bored glance and then jumped onto Miroku, driving him to his knees. She raised her hand, poised to tear his right arm off when she received a powerful blow to her jaw. She looked up and saw Inu-Yasha, hissing and then growling at him.
Before them Kiri appeared, shimmering. Her form faded into mist, thickening with each passing moment. Inu-Yasha turned around repeatedly, unable to see. A yowl came from just behind him. "Go!" Sango yelled, the sound of her katana swiping through the air reaching his ears. "Get Kagome, Inu-Yasha!"
Inu-Yasha nodded, even though she couldn't see him. He ran to the closest door and didn't pause to look over his shoulder; partially because he knew they would be okay and mostly because he knew he wouldn't be able to see them.
Sango brought her katana down and pulled it back towards her. She could feel it slicing through flesh and then a roar. She felt her back connect with the ground and then hands circling around her throat. She pressed her legs against her stomach and propelled them forward, her feet slamming into Diana's hip-bones and thrust her backwards. Sango gasped for breath and then rolled onto her side. Next to her was her katana, bloody and chipped near the handle. None too gracefully she scooped it up and stood up, swaying from side to side.
Gravity was pulling her behind and in desperation she thrust the katana backwards, connecting with something that was soft, something that wasn't the ground. The creature behind her howled in rage, surprise and pain. Sango spun around, sword at the ready. Diana was glaring at her with hate filled eyes, spitting madly. She clutched her impaled belly, taking in deep breaths. Sango took this moment of weakness to slash at the cat demon repeatedly, just barely missing all her vital organs.
Bloody and weak Diana staggered backwards and said in a smoky, violent voice, "I'll get you for this." she bolted away, disappearing in the fog. Sango sighed heavily but there was no way that this was over.
Oh, how right she was.
A sharp object whistled past her ear, grazing it and her temple. A hand linked with hers. "Sango?" Miroku asked. "Are you okay?"
Sango nodded and gently touched the cut. She narrowed her eyes against the fog then they widened. The attacker was Kohaku, her brother....
No! she thought, shaking her head. That isn't my brother anymore. Kohaku is dead. This is just his body under Naraku's rule.
The boy before her wore a hollow smile, not the warm one her brother would give her. And his eyes. Oh, his eyes. These ones were soulless, cold. This body no longer held her brother's soul. Tears began to collect in her eyes when she felt her hand being given a reassuring squeeze. Sango smiled wanly at Miroku and shook her head.
Miroku looked at her in puzzlement and then figured out two reasons why not: 1) she wanted to give her brother a proper burial at the end and 2) the sounds of those damn hell wasps were evident.
The fog began to lift and the clarity of their surroundings hurt their eyes. The many torches were still lit and harsh on their vision. But that didn't stop them from widening their eyes in shock. There were five times as many hell wasps than normal and they closed over them and Kohaku like a hovering black and yellow dome, buzzing angrily whenever Sango raised her boomerang at them or when Miroku's hand went to his rosary.
Kohaku raised his sickle-like weapon and grinned evilly. "Well, dear sister, it comes down to this...." Then he released his weapon, throwing it at her.
This was it. If they wanted to get to Naraku they would have to get past Kohaku and Kagura.
Why are there so many damn passages?! Inu-Yasha thought, growling. It seemed to be taking a long time, and all that time he spent cursing at himself and praying to God that his Kagome was okay. He ran down another hallway, this one seemingly longer than all the others put together. Her scent was stronger and her fear more intense.
He found himself in front of a room with iron bars replacing the wall in the front. A fire was raging inside, licking at everything but Kagome.
The scent of blood and charred meat hung heavily in the room. Her stomach had gashes from obvious whipping and he could smell the blood coming from the back of her head. Her right cheek was bruised and so was her arm. He could smell the tears and the scent of Naraku on her. She looked so utterly alone that it flared something inside of him, that and the fact that someone had dared to harm her in such a way.
Throwing the door open he rushed into the fire, seething in pain. When he saw Kagome clearly and not through searing flames he tried to get to her, only to be forced back by a barrier.
"Kagome!" he yelled, trying to the avoid getting burned even though he knew that it was impossible. "Wake up you stupid girl-!" A sob had caught in his throat. He shook his head and thought furiously. So far he couldn't see a way to break the blasted barrier. He called her name over and over, hoping that she would wake up and when she saw it was him that barrier would just drop.
It looked hopeless until he saw her eyelids flutter and her lips slightly part. Wincing, she lifted her head. It seemed painful to just open her eyes. "In-Inu-Yasha?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Disbelief laced her words and when she could clearly see it was him tears swelled in her eyes, gluing her eye-lashes into dark triangles.
Sure enough, the fire died to a tiny flicker and then disappeared altogether. Inu-Yasha ran to her, picking the lock on the shackles. She slumped forward, her head resting on his chest with her legs around his waist and her arms clamped tightly around his neck. "I didn't think you'd come," she choked, tears finally released. "Naraku tried to... to...." She shuddered and uttered a small cry, tears multiplying. "And Kagura had said that you...."
There was no need for her to continue. Inu-Yasha adjusted his hold on her and growled in anger. They had toyed with her mind, scarred her, harmed her. He felt the desire for blood-lust rise in him. He felt himself losing to his youkai side until he felt Kagome place her hands on his shoulders and push herself so she could face him. With hatred and determination shining in her eyes she said fiercely, "I'm gonna kill Naraku with you."
Before Inu-Yasha could talk back a shriek of terror and scream of apology reached him. Kagome looked at him with fearful eyes. "Sango and Miroku?" she asked feverishly. Inu-Yasha nodded curtly and tried to put her down so she could get on his back but she clung to him. Sighing he ran as fast as could with her on his front.
"Wait!" she called out, forcing him to stop. "We need to get my jacket. The shard's in there."
Inu-Yasha's reply surprised her. "We'll have to get them later. They don't have much time left."
Nodding understanding Kagome tightened her grip and shut her eyes tightly, feeling wind collect around them.
Time seemed to speed up and when the scene unfurled before them time paused briefly, allowing them to take in the dilemma. Miroku was struggling to stay on his feet, his hand hovering above the rosary that kept the hell hole in check. Kohaku lay on the ground, seemingly had found himself at peace at last. Sango was supporting herself by gripping the hiraikotsu for dear life. When she caught Kagome's eye she picked her own pack and threw at Kagome with what strength she had left.
Kagome slid off Inu-Yasha and caught the pack in her arms. Puzzled, Kagome opened it and took out her bow and the quiver filled with arrows. With a nod toward Sango's way she nocked an arrow and pulled the string taut, raising it up to the balcony that Kagura stood on, releasing it when she was sure that it would hit her dead on.
Everyone stopped breathing, except for Kagura. She didn't seem to realize what was happening and she was about to set the hell wasps on the monk when and arrow came whistling past, grazing her cheek. Shocked, she raised her fingers to the nick and stared at the droplets of blood on them.
Slowly the wasps flew off, leaving the angered demon. Kagura opened her fan with a loud 'clack' and shouted, "Wind Blades Dance!" aiming the attack at Kagome.
Kagome willed her body to move but to her panic she was frozen to that spot. She shut her eyes and clenched her teeth, expecting to feel her body being ripped to shreds. It never came. Tentatively she opened her eyes and saw that Inu-Yasha had somehow managed to aim them back at Kagura.
Never had she felt more happy to see Tetsusaiga. It glowed with a powerful power and- Wait. Shouldn't it be more heavy then it is? she thought. He looked ready to strike Kagura but was stopped by Miroku.
"Stay back!" Miroku shouted, yanking the rosary off. With a growl of frustration Kagura swept the fan in front of her, escaping in the gust of wind. Quickly, Miroku covered the hole and collapsed. Even though Sango could barely keep up her weight she stumbled to his side and fell to her knees.
The whole thing seemed abrupt to Kagome. She ran to Sango, ignoring the biting pain that appeared through-out her body, and tried to help her up. Sango politely swatted her away, standing on trembling legs. When Kagome asked her if she need any help she got this reply, "I'll manage, Kagome. I didn't push myself this time. What happened to you?"
Kagome's back stiffened. "I don't want to talk about it," she whispered, standing now. Then she bent over and draped Miroku's arm around her shoulder and placed her arm securely around his waist, lifting him into a standing position. She saw his eye-lids flutter and heard him give a grunt of discomfort. She let out a breath of relief and lightly kicked his ankle. "You awake?" she asked.
"Sango?" he mumbled. Kagome giggled and shook her head.
"Nope. Guess again."
"Ah. Thank you, Lady Kagome."
"Don't think of it."
Miroku frowned slightly and narrowed his eyes in concentration. "Pray tell, Kagome, what shouldn't I be thinking of?" Sango cracked a smile and shook her head.
"Never mind," Kagome replied, sighing in exasperation. Suddenly, she whipped her head around. "I feel shards coming...."
Kicking up a whirling dervish behind him Kouga skidded to a stop next to her. She tried her hardest not to flinch but couldn't help it. Just to be safe she took a step back and bumped into someone else. Her back stiffened and her body tensed. Her eyes darted to the figure behind -who turned out to be Inu-Yasha- and then to Kouga. Relief seeped to every part of her body and didn't have to force herself to relax. She's known them for nearly two years and in no way were they anything like Naraku.
Except that they were guys.
"H-Hey, Kouga," she said nervously, keeping a wary eye on the monk hanging from her shoulder. She was aware that Kouga was examining her with his eyes and winced whenever he looked at her damaged belly. Feeling restless she snapped, "What are you staring at?"
Kouga ignored her bad mood and gently asked what happened. Kagome pursed her lips and prayed that she wouldn't cry. Everyone was asking how she felt and being patient with her and no one had yet tried to shove medicine and remedies down her throat.
Sidling in Sango -who was feeling, remarkably, better now- motioned for Miroku to use her boomerang. He silently protested but gave in, noticing that she could stand on her own. Both caught the other's eye and blushed lightly. They turned their attention back on Kagome, feeling sympathy for the moody girl.
"I don't want to talk about it," she squeaked, avoiding the gaze of both boys. There was no way she could retell what had happened with Naraku now. Tears well in her eyes and she quickly covered them with a hand. It was a futile attempt but she felt that if she cried in front of them then she would forever brand herself weak.
A hand hovered above her shoulder but she batted it away. "I'm fine," she said gruffly, resisting the urge to sniffle. She settled with a gulp. Slowly, Kagome lowered her hand and glared ahead. "Let's go kick Naraku's ass."
A few more chapters and part one is done! w00t! (can you tell that i hated writing this chapter?) I don't know much about Kouga's former pack or the followers he has now (i can't tell Ginta and Hakaku apart). Can anyone give me some information?