Chapter 6 :

"Sessho-Maru and Kikyo must of taken them before giving you back" said Inu-Yasha. "They'll be difficult, if not impossible to defeat."

What else could go wrong? thought Kagome

"I see land!" shouted Sango "Its not that far off." They flew forward and landed briefly before taking off again in the direction of Kagome's home. Shortly after, they arrived.

"What happened to my house?" said Kagome.

"...I didn't want to tell you...it was like this when we left, your family is dead." Said a quiet Inu-Yasha.

Kagome turned to Sango "You knew? I was talking about how to tell my family and you knew they were dead?" said Kagome angrily. Her demonic eyes lit up as she looked around at the wreckage.

"Kagome, if you don't calm down, you'll become full youkai." Said Miroku "Just take some deep breaths."

"Take some air?! My family is dead, my house destroyed, Shikon shards missing, Shippo kidnapped and you tell me to take some deep breaths?" Kagome shouted. She clenched her fists together and an aura surrounded her. Inu-Yasha walked over and put his hands on her shoulder and looked into her eyes, she held the gaze and then turned to look at the ground. "Sessho-Maru will pay." Was all she said and then she walked quietly to the house and began taking the bodies out one by one and then began digging their graves with a plank of wood. The others came over to help and soon there were three big mounds of dirt and one small one (for her cat).

"Kagome?" said Inu-Yasha "I think you should get what you can from your house...before we leave."

I am never coming here again. I'll take my things and leave thought Kagome. Kagome walked silently to the house and began shifting through to find any food or things that could be saved. After about 30 minutes of this, Kagome stood up with some clothes, blankets, and cans of food and walked out of the wreckage. She took the larger of the blankets and laid it flat on the ground and put everything else in the middle and tied the corners of the blanket together. Without a word she took the bag and headed towards the well house when she stopped. "There is a shikon shard near by."

The others immediately went to the defensive mode, ready to fight off whatever it might be. They slowly walked towards the well-house where they found that no one was there. Kagome and Inu-Yasha sniffed the air but could find no trace of a demonic smell. Kagome walked towards where she felt the shard was and saw one of Shippo's mushrooms that he uses to leave a trail. Kagome bent down and picked it and peeled away the stem carefully until in the very center, you could see the shard. Using her claws as tweezers, she picked it up and showed the others. "Shippo must have stolen a shard from Sessho-Maru and left it for us."

"I wonder if he got anymore from Sessho-Maru? The less he has, the better." Said Miroku.

"Well I'm not just going to stand around talking about the shard" said Inu-Yasha, his foot already on the side of the well, ready to jump in "Come on, we gave him enough of a head start already."

The others nodded their head in agreement and one by one they jumped through the well to the feudal times.

"Oh my god! Look at what he has done!" cried out Kagome. The sacred forest that the well is in was torn apart and there were no trees left save one, the one that Inu-Yasha was trapped to for fifty years. "I can't believe it's all gone!"

"The village, he might of gone there too!" said Sango "Kirara!" Kirara then changed into the demon form and Sango and Miroku got on her back.

"Get on Kagome" said Inu-Yasha

"No, we can go faster if I fly myself." Said Kagome and then took off. The others close behind her. Shortly after they arrived at the village. It too was destroyed, but only half-way, as if something stopped it before it was able to finish. Looking closer Miroku pointed

"Look! Kaede has set up a magical shield that prevents all demons from entering. Its about to wear out though, we better hurry." Said Miroku. As he said this the others noticed Kaede kneeling on the ground murmuring something, she was hurt and bleeding and there were others behind her that was hurt and she was rocking like she was going to pass out at any moment. They rushed to them and Miroku caught Kaede as she fell over, passed her over to Sango without a word and began saying the incantation to put the shield back up again, this time with Inu-Yasha and Kagome inside of it.

"Kaede, are you alright?" asked Kagome.

"My child, thee has ears like Inu-Yasha, and your eyes..." said Kaede before she drifted into unconsciousness.

"Get me some clean cloths and warm water." Said Kagome to Sango. Sango went off to get the cloth and water. "Inu-Yasha, I want you to go and bring anyone else that is hurt to Kaede's hut, I can take Kaede there on my own." They separated, Inu-Yasha heading towards the villagers, and Kagome picking up Kaede and taking her to her hut. Miroku watched out of the corner of his eye thinking Wow, those demon powers has made Kagome really strong! Kaede must at least weigh three times as heavy as her then concentrated on his spells again.

Kagome walked quickly carrying Kaede to her hut and put her on the bed. She checked to make sure that Kaede was still breathing ok, then went to find more blankets to set up more beds for the hurt villagers I hope that Kaede will be alright, I don't know if I can treat everyone by my self, how many are hurt? How many are...dead? Kagome shuddered and continued making up beds on the floor. Sango came in with the warm water and cloths and began cleaning Kaede's wounds.

"mmm...demon...fluffy tail..." said Kaede.

"The pain is making her delusional, it must have been Sessho-Maru." Said Kagome without pausing in her work.

"Kagome, there are about ten more villagers that need immediate attention; I don't think I should move some of them from where they are. They are in pretty bad shape." Said Inu-Yasha entering the hut with someone in his arms. Kagome stood up and took some of the wet cloths with her and followed Inu-Yasha. I don't know how to do all of this! thought Kagome. They came to the first person who was just on the edge of death; his throat was torn, miraculously missing his artery. One of his arms was broken and his left leg was missing. There was blood and vomit all over him. Kagome turned away from the scene to collect herself and then went to clean the wounds "Inu-Yasha, I'll need a needle from my bag and some thread. And a fire."

"Ok" said Inu-Yasha and he went off to get the stuff.

Ok Kagome, think. This person is badly injured. Near death. I need to stop the bleeding in his neck and leg first. Kagome took one of the cloths and tied it tightly around the wound above the mans knee (below the knee was missing) to try to stop the blood. How do I stop the neck wound without cutting off his air? Kagome took another cloth and gently putting pressure around the wound on his neck. With all the blood cleaned off, she can see that the wound is one long slash on the side of the neck and it looked infected or poisoned, Sessho-Maru's venom claws... Kagome tried to stop the bleeding, but it still ebbed out slowly. The man's eyes fluttered open and then closed again. This guy isn't going to make it, I should go to someone else to help them but Kagome didn't move from her spot, she sat by his head gently putting pressure on the wound. Slowly, the movement in the mans chest slowed and comes to a stop. Kagome immediately notices and starts to perform CPR and in between breaths saying "don't die....please don't die...oh god! Don't let him die!" I killed a man! I should have been able to help him, but I killed him! Kagome put the mans head down on the ground again and began crying. Where is Inu-Yasha? She turned to look around and saw Inu-Yasha coming towards her. Inu-Yasha saw the tears on her face and broke into a run.

"Kagome, what's wrong?" asked Inu-Yasha as he reached her. Then he saw the unmoving man at her feet and knew "Hey, it wasn't your fault, he was close to death and there was nothing that you could have done to save him."

cries "I can't do this! I don't want to be a hanyou, I want my family back! I wish that none of this ever happened!" said Kagome. Inu-Yasha said nothing but put his arm around Kagome and held her while she cried. "Kagome, it'll be alright, come on, there are other people that need your help." Said Inu-Yasha. He stood up and helped Kagome up and then led her to the other villagers that were wounded.

"I can't...I can't do this...I just killed a man." Said Kagome

"No you didn't, you helped him to die in peace. With out you, he would have been here all alone with no one to comfort him. With out you, his spirit might be restless and roam the earth looking for comfort" Where the hell did that come from? "And you need to help the others so that they won't be lost too." Said Inu-Yasha

sniff "I guess you're right." Kagome said as she turned and walked towards the other victims.

Working together, Kagome and Inu-Yasha soon had all of the people that could be moved to Kaede's hut and had put small tents over the people with head and neck injuries so they wouldn't have to be moved. Sango took care of everyone in the hut while Kagome and Inu-Yasha spent the night going from tent to tent to change dressings or give medicine. Miroku stayed at the edge of the village chanting the prayers to keep demons away.

Morning...

yawn "You are looking better already Mr. ummm...well, anyways..." said Kagome talking to herself while attending to a man with a head wound. The night before the man was unconscious and was having difficulty breathing because of the position he was laying in. Now he was propped up on some rocks covered with a blanket and had another blanket on top of him. There was a large gauze taped on the right side of his head. Kagome noticed that it was starting to bleed through. She unwrapped the gauze and placed a fresh one on his head before exiting the tent. She then walked to Kaede's hut to see how people were doing there. "Kaede! You're up!" cried out Kagome in shock and happiness. Kagome ran over and gently put her arms around Kaede.

"Kaede woke up a few hours ago; she says that nothing ails her. She wants to go out and help Miroku with the shield." Said Sango while tending to another patient.

"Yes, that boy can't do it alone, he hasn't even had a good nights rest!" said Kaede. "I'm fine, just a little bump on the head, nothing to worry about." Said Kaede as she got out of bed and walked towards the door.

"Kaede!" said Sango

"Let her go, she's fine" said Inu-Yasha

"How are your other patients?" asked Kagome

"Good, most are able to get up and move around now, and all but one had woken up. That little girl over there hasn't moved since you brought her in." said Sango

"...What's wrong with her?" asked Kagome

"I think that she might be paralyzed or maybe just hit on the head so hard that she can't wake up from it" said Sango. Kagome walked over to the little girl and took a look under the bandages on her head. There was a deep gash, that was still bleeding a little this girl has lost a lot of blood...She needs more if she's going to make it through this...can't use mine or Inu-Yasha's, there's no telling what would happen "Sango, this girl has lost too much blood and she needs more, you and Miroku are the only ones that can give it, and Miroku is busy right now..." said Kagome

"Ok, what do you want me to do?" asked Sango

"Make a small cut in your wrist, enough to bleed but not deep enough to get your artery." Said Kagome. Sango took out a small knife and drew a line across her wrist. "Good, now place your wrist on the head wound." Sango put her dripping wrist on the little girls head wound and held it there. "Some of her blood will go back into your blood stream, she doesn't have any illnesses so you should be fine." Said Kagome. After some time, Sango got dizzy so she removed her hand and wrapped her wrist in some cloths.

"How is everyone out there? Any fatalities?" asked Sango

"There was one man that died..." said Kagome

"But, everyone else is doing better and I think that Kaede can take things from here." Said Inu-Yasha "We need to go after Sessho-Maru."

"Right." Said Kagome and she walked over to her bag and began packing her things. Inu-Yasha left to tell Miroku that they were going to be leaving soon.

"How can Kaede take care of the injured and hold up the shield by herself?" asked Miroku. "Maybe I should stay behind, to help out."

".....You're right, but I'll leave some kind of trail so you can follow us when you are done here." Said Inu-Yasha

"Take good care of Sango, will you?" said Miroku as Inu-Yasha walked away. Inu-Yasha turned and waved and said "Like she needs protection."

Kagome was with Sango in the hut and was able to hear the conversation and told Sango.

"Miroku can't to this alone! What if the demons break through and attack the village? That shield can't stay up forever." Said Sango

"Sango, we need you! Inu-Yasha and I can't take on Sessho-Maru and Kikyo on our own." Said Kagome.

"Kagome, you love Inu-Yasha right? And you would do anything to save him."

"Yes, but that's not my point-"

"I love Miroku, and I think that if he stays here alone, he'll be in danger, I can't take that risk to lose him." Said Sango "I'm staying."

Then Inu-Yasha walked in ready to tell them that Miroku was staying but then Kagome told him that they already knew.

"Sango is staying here with Miroku." Said Kagome "If the shield breaks, Miroku can't hold the demons off by himself, so Sango will help. Do you have all of your things together?" asked Kagome

"Yeah, I just need to grab my sword." Said Inu-Yasha as he walked over to where his Tetsusaiga was leaning against the wall "Lets go." Inu-Yasha and Kagome walked out of the hut side by side, and out of the village.

"Look for anything that Shippo might of left behind." Said Kagome

"Can't you smell him? Sessho-Maru? The stench is everywhere!" said Inu-Yasha.

"Well, my senses aren't perfect yet, I'm still getting used to it...Inu-Yasha?"

"What?"

"If we do get Shippo back and the shards, do you still want to become a full-blooded demon?"

"...No, I was thinking about turning human before so I could be with you, but now that you are hanyou, neither one of us has to change."

Kagome walked on silently "I wonder what the people in my time will think when they find my house and the graves? That I would be the only one not accounted for?"

"It doesn't matter, they would never be able to find you, even if they knew the secret of the well....wait, there's something not right..."

"And how right you are." Said Sessho-Maru as he walked out of the shadows "I see that your woman has taken to the poison quite nicely."

"You monster!" said Kagome.

"Now you are no longer a lowly human, but a lowly Halfling. Oh, I forgot to tell you, normal Hanyou's turn human for one day of the month. Lucky for Inu-Yasha, I don't know what day that is. But for you, you don't turn human for a day, you will turn full youkai." Said Sessho-Maru

"You are lying! All Hanyous turn human for a day, not youkai" said Inu-Yasha

"Yes, all natural born hanyous. But she isn't, is she?"

"I don't believe you..." said Kagome

"And since I'm in a good mood, I'll even tell you what day you will turn. Lets see...with the moon cycle, you should change on the first day of the new moon." Said Sessho-Maru "I hope that doesn't mess up your plans" he said sarcastically

If Kagome turns youkai on the day I turn human, there will be nothing to stop her and I'll be completely defenseless! thought Inu-Yasha.