DEPTHS OF THE DAMNED
...Trouble in Her Way...
Disclaimer: groan I don't own anything InuYasha-wise.
A/N: Everyone's probably thinking, "Whoa! How could Kagome knock out Sesshoumaru and Kagura?!" Easy. Sneak up on them when they least expect it. That's one way, I suppose... Some were surprised that Kagome knocked out Sesshoumaru, some impressed. But anyways, just thought I'd get that across. And I will and/or try and get Kagura back in the story! Yes, I know, I think it's really just Sesshoumaru and Kagura that I'm always getting OOC...so please try and live with it. Whoa. Too long of a note! Anyways, enjoy the story!
"Kagome! Oh, my gosh! Kagome! Where could she be? Oh, how could I let her out of my sight? HOW?" Sango chided herself as she clenched her fists. She, Miroku, and InuYasha were still in the alley way. It had only been a few minutes ago since Kagome had come sneaking behind Sesshoumaru and Kagura, of course in her possessed state, knocked poor Sesshoumaru out on the head when he least expected it, and attacked his fiancé, Kagura, with her own clawed hands. Those piercing talons... The ambulance had just come by and left again with the two. Now the trio still sat here, and the pressing matter was, where had Kagome gone to?
"Sango, it's okay, don't worry about it, we'll find her for sure. So just relax a little." Miroku tried to calm Sango down by holding her shoulders and making her take deep, even breaths.
"Relax? How can I relax? My best friend has disappeared again, who knows where, and you're telling me to relax? I don't want to relax!"
"Sango, just listen to Miroku; it'll make him feel better, all right?" InuYasha interjected quickly, giving Sango an assuring look, before slumping back again against the wooden fence, deep in thought where his girl had gone off to.
"You two are right, I guess...I just can't help but wonder if she's safe or not..." Sango admitted softly, and buried her face in Miroku's hair. The scent of it always soothed her, for some reason, whatever it was, she never knew, but she just adored it. All her problems seemed to have just melted away...nothing really mattered now...wait...Kagome really mattered now! Sango jumped back up and tightened her grip. "I can't stand around any longer, I'm going to find my friend. Anyone want me, just call my cell. See ya."
Before the boys could do anything else, Sango ran off down the street in the direction she thought Kagome could've gone down. It seemed promising, being dark. Although she wouldn't admit it, the dark street she was going down seemed rather eerie and Sango felt she should not be down this way right now, especially in the evening, without anyone, like Miroku for example...
Shaking the bad thoughts from her head, Sango continued quickly down the street. The lamp posts had long burned out and the only light she could see were the small, glinting eyes of cats lurking in the shadows. Sango jumped once or twice when she thought she heard something follow her. It would do her no good to try and look behind her. It was now pitch dark...
Sango quickly lifted a leg as a rat came jolting by and she felt its long, hairy pink tail slither across her foot. She froze for a minute, waiting for the rodent to go away. When she was sure it was, she slowly continued to amble through the street, softly calling, "Kagome...Kagome, where are you? Kagome..." But every time, she received no response and she decided to lean against a rusting black iron lamp post. Surely it was close to eleven now. The time had gone by so quickly, she hadn't realized it. She batted her lashes and her heavy lids begged for sleep. She closed them for a while, but then realizing she couldn't just stop now, opened them and continued her search.
It was only after a while when Sango could see no longer, and all was quiet, that she heard soft chuckles and mumbling. The young woman tried to ignore it and find her way back home, but soon enough, she felt another presence or so... She whirled her head around and saw nothing but blackness. Another chuckle was heard closer, this time right next to her ear. She felt warm perspiration tickling the hairs on her ear and she stepped away abruptly. Sango felt something brush against her and she let out a small whimper, too quiet for humans to hear, except for herself.
"Afraid, are yeh? Yeh're all by yer lonesome, huh? Shame, really. Looks like she'll be easy for us, wouldn't yeh say, boys?" a voice sounded. Other voices of agreement sounded nearby, with a wrong sort of pleasure. "Run, if yeh want to, but it won't do yeh any good..."
Sango felt a lump form in her throat and she tried to speak, but couldn't utter any noise. Her legs locked and her arms stiffened at her sides. She couldn't move at all! She glared at the darkness surrounding her. The young woman could sense their presence was approaching closer...but what to do when you can't see your enemies?! As her hand slid down her jeans leg, she felt a lump in her pocket. Her cell phone! But what if when it went off, they would attack her? And these people obviously can see in the dark.
"GET OFF ME, YOU CREEP!" Sango yelled as she felt a cold, hard, clammy hand clasp her shoulder. With ease, she flipped the man over her shoulder and he fell to the ground with a very hard thud. He groaned and felt his neck and his eyes widened as he muttered, "She almost broke my neck..." That turned on the three other men. Two of them came up upon Sango and she did the same with them as she did the first man.
Three men lay unconscious on the asphalt and the leader of the group was now left to handle Sango. He swiftly approached Sango and she stared hard into the darkness all around her. She could've sworn she saw a flicker of dim light just in front of her...a lamp post was lighting up! Sango now had the chance to just barely distinguish her fighter's appearance. He had a pale, gaunt face with two beady little eyes perched beside the bridge of his nose, hiding underneath two bushy eye brows. He looked not young, yet not old either. She saw his jaw bone twitching.
"Knew those men were a whole bunch a wimps...well, knocked them all out, did yeh? Sorry, girl, but I'm not what yeh think..." he grinned boldly.
"Keh, bring it on old man. I can take any man, any day. You're no different." Sango sneered and kicked at him just as he outstretched his arms towards her way. He grunted and nearly buckled over as he held his upper abdomen. He slowly got back up again, only to be kicked in the face and he fell backwards a few yards. "I'm warning you, I took karate and now I'm a black belt." She paused and added with a good note, "I could kill you if I wanted...but it's not my thing. I'm not that type. Always hate to a see a good soul die...but I know you're no saint." Sango suddenly shuddered as an image of Kagome in her mind. Kagome hurting others, with no choice of her own to try and protect them from herself. It was like she was a puppet...
Sango scoffed and as she looked down, almost felt sorry for the man.
"Are yeh now? Heh. Won't do much good when I sort it out to the machinery." He mumbled lowly. Sango froze in her spot.
"Don't you dare try anything like that!"
She could run if she wanted, but he could shoot her from behind. No. That wouldn't do her any good; she's not one to run. Her thoughts rushed to her cell phone again. Miroku was probably worried sick...would he come looking for her down this dark street? Most likely yes. Although part of Sango wished he wouldn't, in fear that he'd get hurt as well. Her possibilities were shortening, now that she knew this man was armed.
A click sounded the young woman's ears.
Sango dove to the ground immediately and thanked herself. Any second standing there longer, she could be dead for all she knew. She rolled to the side into the shadows and they licked her up. She saw the gaunt man limping around, wondering she went to. She edged back against the fence behind her, when an alley cat's loud hiss and a yowl told of her presence.
She stood up and began to run through the shadows.
She knew she would regret it...
But it was her only choice...
She whirled her head around to look behind her. The man was looking straight into her eyes. She whirled her head forward again. Don't look scared...she told herself. 'It will only make him a bigger opponent...' she thought with a cold note. The sound of a car approaching suddenly aroused Sango from her surroundings. Could it be...?
"MIROKU!" Sango exclaimed and she ran to the open car door and jumped inside as she slammed it shut. "Sorry to be a backseat driver, but step on it!" Miroku grinned and nodded, mumbling softly what sounded like, "...so this is what it's like to be the getaway driver..."
As Miroku sped off back in the opposite direction, Sango crawled to the passenger seat and looked into the rear view mirror. She saw the man running after the car in vain. Sango couldn't help but laugh at his fruitless attempt. BANG! A gun shot. The loud noise caused Miroku to jump in his seat and the car swerved out of control. As doing so, Miroku quickly aligned himself and stomped on the gas pedal, car tires screeching and leaving marks on the street and the black vehicle sped off down the alley way. There was now a bullet hole going through the back bumper on the car. Other than that, everything looked in order.
"So...where are we going?" Sango asked shakily, not catching Miroku's worried gaze.
"Sango, that man could've killed you! If he did, I don't know what I would've done! You know I can't live without you! You're my life, Sango...you're as important to me as the very blood running through my veins.
"I'm not one to complain, but how could you be so ignorant and think of even going down that street by yourself?? Yeah, I know you were looking for Kagome. But right now, just try and forget about her and listen to me!
"You almost died back there. I heard that gun shot. You were lucky, just remember that. Even a black belt couldn't do much against a gun. Oh, Sango, I'm just glad you're safe!" Without warning, Miroku took his hands off the wheel and wrapped them around Sango's back and her face pressed into his chest. She could hear his heart beating. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. He loosened his grip on her to regain the control of the car. "You know I love you, Sango, that's why I couldn't let myself live with the fact of knowing you could be dead. Wouldn't be fair..."
Sango stared hard at the floor at her feet. She knew he was right...
Bored of the topic, she asked Miroku her question again.
"Miroku, where are we going?" she asked, noticing the quiver in her own voice. Was she really that shaken up?
"Kagura just got out of the hospital. Figured if we want to be on Sesshoumaru's good side, we'd come and visit." He added dryly.
"Oh, goody..." Sango muttered sourly to herself. All she wanted to do right now was go home and sleep for the rest of the night. "But...aren't visiting hours over? It's almost midnight, Miroku!" It was true. The clock in the car clearly said 12:00 PM. Miroku cocked his head at her and gave a lopsided smile.
"I know, but the nurse said she'd do this only once."
"Oh, goody..." Sango repeated quietly in her head.
Miroku opened the metal doors open to the hospital and Sango strolled wistfully inside. This place was just as eerie as it had been when she was dueling that man, hand-to-gun. What a backstabber... Sango never liked hospitals that much. As far as she knew, not all of the time, dying lives would come in, and stay in. She always tried to stay away from here. She knew several people that had to come here and never left...it had been a sad time, she was only a child...Mother...and Father...and dear, dear Kohaku...Mother had been giving birth to Kohaku, and died during labor, along with her poor baby brother. Father had been shot by a man with a pale, gaunt face and never left to come home from this place. Wait a minute...a man with a pale, gaunt face... The man who attacked Sango! The man who attacked Sango killed her father!
The whole time Miroku and Sango sat in Kagura's room with Sesshoumaru sitting beside her, Sango cursed to herself for not finishing off that man. Even as they left and Miroku said goodbye, Sango continued to ignore everyone else and her thoughts laid on that one, single man...that killer...even as a child, Sango had been in the car, waiting for Father, and she saw that man. Fearfully watched him shoot Father...she had been in a fit of tears. It was lucky that a police woman had been nearby. The man had been wanted, but so far, no one had caught him. Father, Mother, in labor and on the way to the hospital, and little Sango were driven in the police woman's patrol car to the hospital. Sango had left that place by her little lonesome to live alone...
"I'll kill that man...and avenge my father!" Sango growled, holding her promise close to her heart.
