Inuyasha

Coming of Age

Chapter 8

"Hurry, if we make it just over the hill we may be able to find some shelter."

"I don't think we can make it..."

"We have to try!"

Two lone figures in the night ran across the shady ruins that were once a village. The remains were obvious that something had gone through tearing the place up, it was by no means a natural disaster. Their feet hit against the ground in quicken beats as they ran for their lives. One was older then the other and she was the one leading the way. The younger of the two was also female and she struggle to keep up, but the unseen terror behind them seemed to be the only thing driving the younger one to keep going.

"Almost there..." The older one said under her breath as she ran.

The younger one was right behind her when suddenly several dagger like weapons struck the younger one in the leg causing her to trip and fall. The weapons flew past the older women by inches and a few actually cut her delicate skin. She skidded to a stop and quickly went over to her fallen friend. She pulled the odd weapon out of her leg quickly in one smooth pull, "A feather?"

"Ah, so the last two are finally in my grasp," a youkai of some kind said as she stepped out of the darkness of the shadows. Her body was covered in the delicate looking feathers but there was nothing delicate about them since each were dagger like weapons.

The youngest of the girls scrambled back up, despite her injury, "No! Stay away!"

"Ah, but I haven't gotten to finish my meal. The villagers were quiet fun, but my fun has to end somewhere so it might as well start here."

The youkai stepped forward but the older of the two lunged out at the demon with a hidden weapon on her arm, "Run away!" she yelled back to the young girl.

The young girl stumbled along the road, "What about you?" she called back.

"Go! You helped me escape, but this is where I have to repay my debt to you. Find the one they call Shippo."

The young girl nodded as she limped off as fast as she could away from the heated fight. The youkai watched the girl run off and she moved to chase after her, but before she even moved another step the older girl sliced her right across the chest. The youkai stumbled back from the sudden attack, hissing in anger, "You!"

"Not another step. Your fight is with me."

The youkai shook the blood off her hand, "Fine then. Naraku said we're suppose to keep you alive but with your recent escape I think he would rather have you dead."

The girl smirked as she held her fighting stance, "I rather die fighting then live in a prison the rest of my life as some caged animal."

"So be it."

The youkai lunged at her with her daggers in hand. The girl stood her ground with her hidden weapon raised, 'Shippo where ever you are? You have to find us soon. We can't last much longer...'

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"Here put some of this herb on it. Should help with the pain," Shippo said as he offered it to Keiji.

Keiji reluctantly took the herb as his sister helped him smear the medicine on his face. Oushi sword had left a large bruise on his face and it was an awful sight to see, but it looked much worst then it was, "Thanks," he mumbled some.

Shippo smiled, "No problem."

"So where did everyone else go?" Kyoko asked as she finished helping her brother and was now seated on one of the cushions.

"Tora was injured pretty good, but he said he's going to be ok...he just needs some rest I guess. Kisho is pretty tired from the fighting. He's all healed up, but to me he seems pretty drained. I guess that sword trick of his wore him out."

"What was the deal with that?" Keiji said out of curiosity, "I mean, he shouldn't have power like that."

Shippo was silent for a moment and shrugged, "To be honest I don't know. Not much is known about creatures like him. He's so...messed up physically if you think about it. His powers are out of balance and since he's maturing he can't control them one bit. Yet he's managed to stay strong somehow."

"Perhaps..." Kyoko spoke up, "Its his grandfathers blood. He was a powerful demon right?"

Shippo nodded, "Right."

"Well...then his powers must be helping Kisho. Inuyasha's blood may be helping too but, maybe its also hurting him."

Keiji looked to Shippo who was struggling with some thought in mind. His face twisted in an unknown emotion, "It's a possibility, lets not talk about it though. No use to trying to figure it out since we don't know much about it."

Keiji nodded, "I guess you're right for once. Maybe we should get some sleep. We haven't had much rest since we met up with all of you."

Kyoko stood up along with her brother, "You should get some rest too Shippo."

Shippo smiled to the two and nodded as he began to fold his herbs away, "Oh sure. I'm going to clean up first. Don't worry though, I can use a good rest."

Keiji and Kyoko just looked at each other and then looked to Shippo with a nod. The two were soon off to the room that Shippo had allowed them to use. Once they were out of sight Shippo left all the herbs he had gathered out on the table and went off to go sit outside. The weather had gotten better as night fell. The air still held a light chill to the air. Shippo rubbed his arms lightly as he took a seat on the wooden floor out front. The ground still had a moist feeling to it from the recent rainfalls, but Shippo didn't mind much. He took in a deep breath of fresh air and slowly exhaled, "Its almost like old times...except maybe it's a bit quieter."

It had been a long time since the night that brought the end to the Inuyasha group. Naraku had been keeping the group on its toes the entire time back then and he finally took his chance in toppling them once Kisho was born. Shippo looked back to the hut. If Kisho hadn't been born would things have been different?

"No...I shouldn't think like that," Shippo said as he tucked his head down. Where did such a thought come from? Was it from his own guilt or was it purely out of jealously?

"I did my best right?" Shippo asked himself as he sat there.

'When Naraku had attack he had targeted Miroku and Sango first. Of course the two held him off the best they could, but Naraku was just too strong and they were soon overpowered. Before they fell they had told me to warn Inuyasha. I of course wanted to prove to everyone that I was a fighter too and not just some deliver boy and I had ignored what they had said. If I had only delivered the message they could have made it.'

Shippo gripped his chest lightly. The long scar was still there from the fight long ago with Naraku. He had attempted to fight for once and received a heavy blow. He almost didn't make it and in fact Naraku had thought he was dead and had left him there in the forest. After the heavy attack from Naraku was over it was Kaede who discovered him and nursed him back to health. From then on Shippo had to carry the heavy guilt upon his shoulders. Kaede and everyone told him it was ok, but it wasn't. As time passed and things grew worst, Shippo's guilt grew heavier. Even now Shippo felt the heavy guilt on his heart as he gazed at Kisho from time to time. Shippo wanted to make it up to him some how, but what could he do?

"Just stay with him until the end right?" Shippo lifted his head up this time, "Stay strong. I have to, unlike last time."

Shippo was happy with his conclusion to his problem and he got up to his feet and stretched, "I guess its time to turn in...hmm?" A sound had caught his attention and he looked out into the darkness. Shippo focused some and soon the shadows faded away in his eyes as his night vision kicked in. He could see a girl lying against the ground not moving much. At first Shippo thought it was just another village girl looking around for something in the dirt but "Blood?"

Shippo stepped down to help her, but he stopped when she began to mumble something, "Stay...away youkai...I need to find Shippo..."

Shippo blinked lightly and tried to see if she was actually talking to him. As far as he could tell she was just mumbling, but it seemed she had been traumatize by another youkai, "Its best if I transform into a human form. Then I wouldn't scare her."

Shippo leaped into the air and in a puff of smoke he transformed into a human. He didn't really look too much different then before, but his pointed ears were more human like and his claws and fangs weren't visible. He slowly walked over to the girl and bent down to her level, "Hey, I'm here to help you."

Her head slowly lifted up to look to him, "...Shippo?"

He smiled lightly and nodded, "Yeah...hmm seems like you're hurt," Shippo glanced to the wound, "It isn't bad. You seem more tired then hurt though. Hold tight I'll get you some water."

She slowly pulled herself up and sat there in the dirt as Shippo disappeared into the hut. He soon came trotting out with a bowl full of water and the herbs he had before. He handed her the bowl, "Here you go. This should refresh you some."

She didn't even hesitated and she quickly gulped down the cool water. As she did Shippo took her injured leg and placed some herbs on it carefully. He then took some soft cloth in his free hand and wrapped the injury slowly. She gulped down as much of the water as she could in one breath. She finally let out a satisfied sigh and set the bowl down.

"So you said you were searching for me?" Shippo asked as he continued wrapping her leg.

"Yeah...in the village to the far south. There's a demon there that destroyed everything. I was trying to escape with this woman I helped, but she got caught. She told me to look for you and bring you to stop the demon."

Shippo tied a loose knot on her bandage, "Woman?" he said in a questioning tone. He wondered who it could be. His eyes lit up at the thought that it might be Sango or even Kagome.

"Her name was Sango, I believe."

"No kidding!" Shippo said in excitement, "Is she ok?"

"I'm not sure. She held off the demon while I got away. I don't know what happened..." Before she could even finish Shippo was scooping her up into his arms, "What are you doing?"

"Hold onto my back tight, ok? Show me the way to this village. We have to help, right? I can't do this without a navigator," Shippo said to her with a wink.

She blinked unsure, but a soft smile spread across her face, "Right, follow that road there," She pointed out as she got a firm grip around his neck. Shippo didn't mind carrying her since she was light. He leaped forward and jogged into the night down the smooth dirt path. The young girl was surprised at how smooth Shippo could run. She rested her head against him lightly and slowly began to shut her eyes to rest.

The moon was in its highest position in the sky as Shippo made his way down the road. It had been some time since he had decided to leave on his own to search for Sango. It wasn't the others concerns anyways so there was no need to tell them. They didn't know her and how could they understand how he felt about this situation? The girl that Shippo had picked up had fallen asleep but she had assured him that the road would lead him straight there.

Shippo let a light sigh escape out as he ran. He wasn't tired from running, but it was becoming difficult to hold his human looking form. He could hold his forms longer then before, but it had been some time now and it was becoming difficult to focus. He only hoped he that he was almost there.

"Oh!" Shippo said as a building came into sight, "That must be it."

He lowered his body slowly as he gathered himself up to leap high into the air in one powerful leap. His graceful body glided through the air with ease and he landed just on top of one of the run down buildings. The building seemed pretty secure as he tested his weight against it. The building itself just seemed to be a bit burnt, "Perfect," Shippo whispered to himself.

He gently lowered the girl down against the roof and covered her up with some straw to keep her hidden and warm, "I promise you'll be safe here," he said to the sleeping girl. She didn't say anything and only mumbled lightly in her sleep. Shippo nodded in approval of how things were going so far as he leaped off the roof down to the beaten roads below. As he fell his illusion magic slowly disappeared and his real self was once again visible. His tail swung from side to side as he looked around, "Not much left here...and I'm not smelling much either."

Shippo rubbed his chin lightly as he walked forward a few steps, "I hope this isn't another dead end lead," Shippo grumbled some.

The village remained was as silent as death in the darkening night. The eerie shadows the buildings cast across the ground made it difficult to see things clearly. Shippo's eyes darted around from one object to the next. His surroundings were putting his nerves on end as his tail twitched behind him. Just when he thought things couldn't get anymore tense a cold chilling voice spoke that made Shippo's blood freeze ten times over.

"Ho, ho...if it isn't Shippo. The last that remains of Inuyasha's pitiful friends," the word 'friends' came out more as a hiss as the cold voice spoke out, "Today will be the day when I finally capture you. Then the best entertainment will begin. The end of this disgusting Inu bloodline."

Shippo couldn't see who was talking, but he knew who it was, "Naraku! Where is she? I know Sango is here! You can talk all you want, but that's all you are, talk! You didn't do anything to bring our downfall except send your little puppets after us. Kisho will never fall to the likes of you."

Naraku stepped out slowly from his hiding spot. His human like form stood in the doorway of one of the destroyed buildings. His hands ran over the doorway as a light chuckle rolled from his lips, "Never fall? Has your own illusion magic covered your eyes? The woman called Kikyou has now become what she is. Kisho is not as pure as you believe. Once he's in my grasp again the small dot of darkness in his heart will grow and your own ally will destroy you," Shippo was silent as Naraku continued, "You are just the same. You believe what you are doing is to repay Kisho, but you are just lying to yourself. You are really doing this to ease the guilt on your shoulders."

Shippo's eyes widen as Naraku's comment hit home. Naraku could tell he hit a nerve in Shippo's mind and he began to take a step back, "With that. Let's see how well your noble cause holds up again Ondori, the rooster guardian from the Far West."

Ondori was standing on the rooftops above from where Naraku was last standing. Her bladed feathers were in each hand as she stared down at the trembling Shippo, "Ah. To bad he had to say that. You looked like a challenge at first, but now you look like nothing more then a scared puppy."

Shippo's head slowly rose to meet her eyes. True fear was itched in every feature on his face. Shippo had always said he was doing this to help Kisho, but in reality he really just didn't want the guilt anymore. He was selfish and the worst kind at that too. As his eyes watched her the daggers in her hands were no longer there. Their thin outlines glittered in the corner of his eyes as they reflect against the moonlight. Shippo's will to fight was gone and the daggers struck him right in his body, all five. His eyes rolled back as he fell in slow motion against the ground. This was the way it should be then? The price to pay for his mistake was to hand over his own lift.

"Shippo!" Sango's voice called out as she watched her fallen friend.

Shippo saw her chained to one of the buildings high above him. She was alive, but from what Shippo could tell she had taken quiet a beating. She had dried blood against her pale white skin. Her head hung low as her tired as watched him, but the fire deep within her still burned brightly. He smiled to her before his body hit against the ground. At lest he got to see one of his friends again. Just one last time was good enough for him. His body laid motionless against the ground as his wounds began to drip with his valuable blood.

Ondori yawned some, "How boring. Naraku completely shattered him mentally. I'm having no fun breaking him if he's just going to let me beat the crap out of him."

"How about I take his place?"

Ondori looked down to see who had replied to her comment. Sango tilted her head as she looked at this young man that stood over Shippo, "Inuyasha?"

"Impossible!" Ondori exclaimed.

"You're right, it is impossible. Jeez, you guys are so dense. I'm not my father for the last damn time. Come on do I really look like him? Wait don't answer that," Kisho said waving his hand. Shippo looked at him from the ground. How could he be joking at a time like this?

Sango stared at Kisho, "He's so much like his father. Wow, I never could imagine a second Inuyasha."

Kisho looked at Sango, "I don't know if I should be angry or not."

Ondori took her chance and she threw more of her feather daggers at Shippo and Kisho, "Ha, take that!"

Kisho growled lightly and he leaped into the air and with one slash his powers pushed back the daggers. Causing them to fall carelessly away from them, "I wasn't done talking! You better wait up their missy."

"I never!" Ondori said as her face flushed red, she had never been called missy before.

Kisho kneeled down to Shippo and slowly began to pull the daggers out. They weren't that big so Shippo wouldn't die from his wounds, but before Kisho could even pull one out Shippo caught his wrist, "Leave them."

"Huh?"

"Kisho...all the things I've been doing to help you. I just been doing them out of guilt...not out of the goodness of my heart. I've been selfish and betrayed your trust. Just leave me here-!" Shippo received a swift slap across the face by Kisho. Ondori and Sango both watched since they had never seen a man slap someone like that before.

"What the hell was that for? I'm trying to tell you something and you bitched slapped me!"

"Oh shut up. I tapped you and stop rambling stupid things. So what if you're trying to ease your guilt you're still helping me right?"

"I'm helping myself..."

"You're helping me and yourself."

Ondori gagged, "I hope you two aren't going to kiss and makeup now."

Sango laughed nervously, "Ooh, you should never joke about things like that..."

Ondori leaped down towards them, "Either way I'll slice them both."

Kisho had his back to her and he was about to turn around to attack, but Shippo leaped up into the air first. He spun through the air with one leg out to kick her, "This is for the village you have so carelessly took!" His foot ignited in a blue flame and slammed itself down against her side, crushing her on impact. She couldn't even mumble a word as her body fell down lifelessly against the ground. Shippo's own landing was a bit rough since the daggers made a lot of his muscles sore.

"Shippo, are you ok?"

Shippo nodded slowly as he took the daggers out himself, "Yeah...can you help Sango for me?"

Kisho got up to his feet, "Sure."

He walked over to Sango who watched him carefully. He raised his hands up, "I won't hurt you."

"I know..." she said lightly, "I was only looking you over. You look like your mother and father you know?"

Kisho blushed slightly as he sliced his claws through the chains, "Er...thank you."

She almost collapsed since she was so exhausted, but Kisho managed to catch her, "Hold onto my neck and I can carry you."

"Ok," Sango said weakly now as she gently wrapped her arms around his neck. He carefully lifted her up as he walked over to Shippo who was walking off, "Hey where are you going?"

"To get a girl..."

"Jeez, Shippo you never struck as a pervert until right now," Kisho said with a grim look.

"Not like that!" Shippo grumbled, but he smiled mentally to himself. He knew Kisho was acting like this just to cheer him up, "This girl came to the village to ask for my help."

"She's alive?" Sango said surprise.

Shippo nodded as he leaped up to the rooftop to pick the young girl up who was still asleep. He carefully gathered her up and jumped back down to join Kisho and Sango. The group slowly began the long journey back.

"Kisho, why did you follow me?" Shippo said as he looked in Kisho's direction.

"I saw you leaving...the look on your face explained it all to me. You had something from your past to face. I didn't want you to face it alone, not without a friend...keh that sounded corny."

Sango laughed lightly," Just like your dad..."

Kisho felt his face begin to turn red and he growled, "Ok we can stop saying that now!"

"Sango," Shippo whispered, "Where are the others?"

Sango rested her head against Kisho, "I'll tell you later. I need rest. I don't think I can stay up any longer..."

Shippo sighed, "Figures. I'm injured too, why can't I sleep while someone carries me."

Kisho smiled, "Because that would be disturbing."

The two laugh together as he walked. The truth on the whereabouts of the others would have to wait until the next day, but once they were revealed they would soon be stronger then before and Naraku would finally fall.

Ryo watched Naraku sitting quietly in his room, "You let them go?"

"For now. Let them enjoy their time together. Giving them a false sense of security. They are falling into a trap. Soon they will all be in my grasp once again."

"What about the last shard?"

Naraku narrowed his eyes at the mention of the shard. Ryo smirked lightly, "I take it you haven't found much then. Even with that Kagome girls powers you still can't find it?"

Naraku said nothing for a moment and choose to ignore Ryo's question, "For now we focus on the boy."

Ryo shook his head as he walked away, "You focus on the boy my issue is with Tora."