Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does. muttering: Lucky
Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated. I had writer's block and I couldn't decide what I wanted to happen. Well, I guess you don't wanna hear my excuses so on to the story!
Chapter Five: Old Wounds Open Again
It was her! Kikyo knew who it was before they encountered each other. So she continues to search for the Shikon shards. Kikyo narrowed her eyes more as they continued their trek through the forest. Getting ever closer to their destination and the surprise that awaited them there.
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"Sesshoumaru," Kagome called
The Taiyoukai grunted as acknowledgement to the young miko.
"Do you feel it?" Kagome asked.
"If you are speaking about a youkai, then yes," Sesshoumaru answered.
"Not that presence, the other one," Kagome asked.
Sesshoumaru stopped walking and stood still for a moment before he growled.
"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome questioned.
"It's the dead miko," Sesshoumaru spat, the words sickened him.
Kagome gasped. If Kikyo was here, the he would be her as well. She had just started to mend her torn heart, allowed herself to smile and laugh again. Was fate so cruel as to take it away again? She didn't know if she could survive another heartbreak.
"We must hurry," Kagome said, walking a little faster than before.
Sesshoumaru could smell the anxiety and fear all over Kagome. Damn! He thought She's thinking about my stupid half brother again. If only she would...No! I must stay cold. Being soft now will present me as vulnerable! What is this girl doing to me? The Taiyoukai wondered. He certainly never acted soft towards anyone except Rin.
"Sesshoumaru," Kagome called, jarring him out of his thoughts.
Sesshoumaru walked forward, knowing that it would be a matter of time before the girl would have to face the object of all her hurt. Except, this time, he vowed that he would be there for her.
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Inuyasha and the rest of the group sped up their trek through the forest. Kikyo made it clear that she wanted to reach the shard as soon as possible when she frowned at the thought of resting. Sango and Miroku disliked Kikyo more and more each day. Kikyo wanted to rule everything. She was in charge of the group and expected everyone else to be her lackeys. When they had a chance to be alone, Sango spoke to Miroku. They had a firmer belief that Kagome was alive and it was this hope that kept them tolerant of the undead miko.
"Houshi-sama," Sango whispered, as they rode on Kirara's, hoping not to attract the attention of Kikyo and Inuyasha.
"Yes, Sango?" Miroku questioned.
"Do you have a strange feeling that Kagome-chan is closer, somehow?" Sango asked.
Miroku had to admit that he did. There was this nagging feeling that just wouldn't go away. This feeling that was warm and bright, just like Kagome- sama had been.
"Houshi-sama," Sango began again, before she felt a hand on her butt. "Eeeeeek. Hentai!"
A resounding slap echoed throughout the forest, scaring the birds into flight. It startled Kikyo and Inuyasha and caused them to turn around and find a large red handprint on Miroku's left cheek. Inuyasha sighed as Kikyo's eyes clouded with anger.
"Fools! Do you wish to give our position away?" Kikyo hissed.
"Kikyo, forget it. Miroku's always like that," Inuyasha said.
"He should learn to control himself, and a monk too!" Kikyo said.
Sango and Miroku remained silent. Oh how they wished they could each slap a chalk-white cheek. Or better yet, find their Kagome so they could finally be at peace.
Finally, as the sun began it's descent on the horizon, Kikyo announced that the Shikon shard was just ahead. The little group stopped and stared, the entrance to an underground tunnel loomed just ahead. (A/N: I'm running out of battle sites. Argh!) Sango whipped out Hiraikotsu as Miroku got his charms ready. Kikyo walked calmly forward and said.
"Come out, we know you have Shikon shards," she said.
Silence
"Give up your Shikon shards and you will live," she called out.
"Never," a voice in the dark said.
A flash of green sped out of the entrance and landed behind the group. It was a snake youkai and Kikyo could see the two shards between its eyes.
"A miko. Are you going to purify me?" the snake youkai mocked.
Kikyo just stood there, unfazed by the arrogant youkai's words. She merely nocked one of her arrows into her bow and fired a warning shot. The snake youkai just stood there, never looking at the purification arrow that just barely missed him. Kikyo nocked another arrow,
"Next time, I won't miss," Kikyo said.
There was a standoff between the youkai and Inuyasha's group. Suddenly, the snake youkai darted towards Miroku, who jumped back and threw two of his charms at the advancing youkai. Dodging the holy spells, the snake flew towards Inuyasha.
"Idiot!" Inuyasha shouted, swinging Tetsusaiga down.
The youkai erected a barrier, blocking Tetsusaiga. Kikyo took this opportunity and fired her nocked arrow, breaking the barrier. Slithering away from the dangerous miko, the snake headed towards the other female in the group. Becoming, stealthy, the snake youkai neared Sango as the group searched for the sneaky youkai. Sensing it near Sango, Kikyo called.
"Taijiya (A/N: Is this what a demon exterminator is called?), behind you!"
And fired an arrow towards Sango. Sango stood terrified as the arrow flew closer and closer to Sango, when at the last minute, Miroku tackled Sango and the arrow flew harmlessly by.
"What are you doing, Kikyo-sama," Miroku asked, brushing himself off.
"The youkai was near her," Kikyo stated in her defense.
"So you fire an arrow?" Miroku asked, hardly able to contain the fury in his voice.
"They're harmless, to humans," Kikyo said, shrugging.
Miroku was about to say something else but Sango put a hand on his arm, stopping his words. She firmly shook her head. Miroku bit back the angry words.
"Did you forget about me?" the snake youkai asked.
"No," Inuyasha said. "Take this, Kaze no Kizu!"
The attack hurtled towards the snake youkai but then a flash of blue light stopped it. (A/n: wink wink)
"What the hell?!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
He turned towards Kikyo but Kikyo didn't have her bow held in the firing position and he knew her power was not blue. Sango and Miroku exchanged looks. Suddenly, a flash of white appeared and destroyed the youkai with a sweep of its claws. Blood gushed everywhere as the dismembered youkai fell lifeless to the ground, not knowing what hit him. Grabbing the Shikon shards that flew out, the white blur disappeared into the brush. The group stood in shocked silence before Kikyo flew into a rage.
"We must get the shards back!" she screamed, disappearing where the white blur had previously.
Inuyasha followed his dead lover into the brush, leaving Sango and Miroku alone.
"Houshi-sama," Sango breathed. "D-do you think it was..."
Miroku just stared. "I don't know," he finally said.
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Sesshoumaru sped back to where Kagome had retreated to, clutching the two precious Shikon shards in his claws.
"Sesshoumaru," Kagome said. "Are you alright?"
Sesshoumaru gave her a puzzled look. The he stared down at his clothes and saw blood had stained them.
"This is not mine," he stated simply.
"Thank God!" Kagome breathed.
Sesshoumaru stretched his claws to her and showed her the two Shikon shards. They glowed a soft pink.
"Did anyone see you?" Kagome questioned.
"Perhaps," Sesshoumaru said.
A sharp intake of breath on Kagome's part. She hung her head a little and started to walk away. Sesshoumaru finally lost his patience and grabbed her wrist. Kagome stared at him with her sorrow-filled blue eyes.
"Do not be sad when you think of that wretched hanyou," Sesshoumaru said.
Then he pulled her into a crushing embrace, her hair tickling his nose. Kagome lay against Sesshoumaru and tears filled her eyes. Sobbing silently into Sesshoumaru's kimono, Kagome felt an odd sense of relief. Sesshoumaru held still has the young miko poured her long held tears out. Absentmindedly, he stroked her hair, soothing her. I will protect you. That hanyou will never cause you to cry ever again. Sesshoumaru silently promised. And this time, he had no second voice come in. He couldn't believe it. For the second time, a human had gotten to him. Broke through his icy exterior and touched his heart. Kagome stirred in Sesshoumaru's arms and he instinctively tightened them.
"Sesshoumaru, I'm fine now, you can let go," Kagome whispered.
"A moment longer," Sesshoumaru stated.
Kagome blushed and grew uncomfortably warm in Sesshoumaru's arms.
"Sesshou-kun," Kagome called.
Sesshoumaru jerked back at the term of endearment. No one had called him that ever before. At least, no one he could remember. He stared into Kagome's eyes and saw, for the first time, hope and happiness.
"We must keep moving," Sesshoumaru said.
Hugging him tighter, Sesshoumaru sprang into the air and flew towards Rin and Jaken.
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Inuyasha sprinted in the direction Kikyo had pointed out as he tried to find the person who had stolen the Shikon shards.
"Bastard, when I get my hands on you..." he muttered as he continued to sprint.
Behind him, Kikyo was spitting mad. Not only had she not killed the youkai, but she allowed someone to steal the Shikon shards from her. From the blue light, she could tell it was another miko. And there was only one that she could think of that could know how to stop Inuyasha's Kaze no Kizu attack.
"So, my reincarnation has found another toy to play with," Kikyo smirked. "No matter, I will kill him before her very eyes. The I shall take my soul back."
Kikyo smiled at the thought of gaining he soul back. She hurried forward.
Meanwhile, Sango and Miroku had taken another path, when they saw a shadow pass above them. Looking up, they saw two figures flying. Sango squinted to get a closer look. Her heart took a leap.
"Houshi-sama!" Sango exclaimed. "I-it's Kagome-chan."
Miroku looked up and his eyes widened. "I-it is! Kagome-sama is alive!" he said, very excited.
Sango laughed out loud for the first time in two long months. Her heart almost burst with joy as she saw the two figure become smaller and smaller.
"Houshi-sama!" Sango said.
She motioned for him to sit behind her on Kirara's back. The giant fire demon cat leaped into the air and followed the retreating back of their friend.
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Inuyasha sniffed the air and picked up a familiar scent. He knew his brother was nearby. Then it clicked, Sesshoumaru was the one who had taken the Shikon shards form them.
"What in all seven levels of hell would Sesshoumaru want with the Shikon shards?" Inuyasha wondered out loud.
Shrugging, the hanyou continued his blistering pace to find his brother as his dead miko lover continued her fast pace, not wanting to miss the encounter that was to follow.
A/N: Was that good? I hope so. Read and Review. Arigatou.
Preview of next Chapter:
"Kagome-chan!"
Kagome turned around, her eyes filled with shock. Then she found herself hugged by her best friend. Allowing her to hug her for a moment, Kagome suddenly pulled away.
Hope You enjoyed the story. Until next Time! Sayonara