"…Blazing in the Night Sky." –Chapter Twelve: A Journey to Begins
As Inuyasha pulled into the driveway of Mr.Ondori's farm once more, he winced to see that both Miroku's and Sesshoumaru's cars were already there, Sesshoumaru's with a horse trailer hitched to the back. Sighing, he pulled up beside them and turned off the ignition, looking over at Kagome who stared straight ahead with a sort of glazed over look before he set a hand on hers to call her back to this world. Smiling, she fell out of her trance and looked back at him, giving him a knowing look before they climbed out of the car, grabbed their things, and went around the house to meet the others.
"Thank you very much for offering to take care of things while we're gone," Sango was saying to the rooster youkai, Mr. Ondori, as they neared the group. "It's no problem at all," He replied with a hearty laugh, even at this time in the morning. "You're late," Sesshoumaru said emotionlessly, as if falling back into his old ways as Inuyasha and Kagome came to stand beside them.
"Humphing," Inuyasha only replied saying, "We stayed up late, we woke up late, end of story." To that, Sesshoumaru raised a brow, turning his gaze upon Kagome who was trying not to look at him as a blush slowly crept up her cheeks. As if appeased by the action, Sesshoumaru smirked and caught Rin's hand, lifting his head toward the horizon as the first rays of sunlight were beginning to show.
Inuyasha, who had also noticed this, sighed in relief, pulling the bandana he'd been wearing previously to hide his hair, from his head. "Last night, huh," Sesshoumaru began once more, in a lower voice. "Keh," Was all he got before he tugged on the reins to pull the horse forward so that the couple could strap their bags to it as well.
"Well, are we all ready," Miroku asked, also catching Sango's hand in his as they moved back to join the other two couples. "I think so," Rin replied almost cheerfully. After her words died away and all the remained were the singing of crickets around them, they all grew silent and stared at one another until slowly, a goofy grin covered Miroku's lips and he turned from the rest and started walking quietly towards the forest, Sesshoumaru and Rin following after and Inuyasha and Kagome coming last.
'Here we go,' They all thought at the same time, though oblivious to that knowledge.
As evening fell upon them, each member of the small group felt their tired bodies scream for rest and finally relenting, they stopped to set up camp. As Sango, Kagome, and Rin went out to look for firewood, Miroku and Inuyasha worked on pitched the tents as Sesshoumaru fed and watered the horse as well as pulled the sleeping bags and other packs strapped to it from its back.
When the girls returned, Inuyasha worked on starting a fire while Sango rolled out the sleeping bags. Rin and Kagome started working on dinner. "I'm so tired," Miroku complained as he leaned back against a rather large boulder and yawned. "I wonder if we're getting any closer," Kagome asked to no one in particular as she stirred a pot of ingredients to make stew. "I'm sure we are," Rin answered, giving her a reassuring smile. But in truth, no one knew for sure and so the evening went on quietly as each brooded in their own thoughts, eating around the fire.
Finally, Inuyasha cleared his throat and said in a gruff voice, "Well, if it helps, their scent is getting stronger." At that, everyone lifted their heads to stare at him, causing him to shift uncomfortably under their intense gaze. "What," He finally burst out, "It is!" At that, a soft giggle began to erupt from Kagome's mouth, soft at first but growing slowly louder as she raised a hand to try and muffle them.
"What's wrong with her," Miroku whispered, leaning close to Sango. "I'm not sure, maybe she's cracking under the stress," She replied back, sending her friend a strange look. Kagome, who had noticed that the people around her were slightly alarmed at her actions, took deep breaths as she fought to quiet her fit of laughter. But as she did, growing silent for a moment, she lifted her hands once more to cover her face as the sob she'd obviously been trying so hard not to let out, broke free, tearing from her throat as tears began streaming down her cheeks.
"Kagome," Inuyasha began, as he sat up from his leaning position and reached out a hand to touch her. "We'll take care of this, Inuyasha," Rin said before he could, and she and Sango stood from their spots and lifted Kagome from hers as well to haul her off to one of the tents.
Sighing, Sesshoumaru shook his head sympathetically as Miroku lowered his, closing his eyes in defeat. Inuyasha, still looking after the direction the three girls had disappeared to, finally tore his gaze away and looked back at the other men, before giving a slight yawn. "Why are you so calm," Miroku grumbled, looking sharply at him. Shrugging, Inuyasha replied only saying, as the sobs in the tent died down, "I trust in their abilities."
A few days passed smoothly after that as they made their way over hills and through the forests to get to a destination they did not know the name of or where exactly it was, only the general direction it was in. But as the scent grew stronger, they group grew more excited, frightened at the prospect of what might be in store for them, but excited at the same time at what could be there. "I say we kill that bastard Naraku once we see him and never even give him the chance of escaping from jail again," Rin said savagely one day, surprising them all. "You know, I think I'll have to agree with you," Kagome answered calmly, surprising the others once more.
But in truth, that idea was running through everyone's head. Why give a sneaky little snake the chance of ever harming them, their children, or their future children? It was easier just to kill him and be done with it, claiming self defense in trials of course. As far out into the middle of no where they were going though, no one thought that anyone would know about it anyway. They could return home peacefully and never have to worry again.
Yes, they were all looking forward to that time, the time of returning home and sleeping comfortably, hearing the creaks in the floor boards and only thinking it was the old house and having it be really that. Hearing something rustle in the bushes on an evening walk in the forest and not wondering whether or not something abnormal would jump out and try and kill you. Indeed, that was a dream they believed to be fairly in their grasp.
Sorry for the shortness of this chapter, like I said, I've been having bad BAD writers block, I find it even hard to do this stupid A/N xX but, I promised I'd finish this story, and by golly, I will!!!...It just might take me a little while…especially with school starting and all, I don't know if I'll get so many breathers from my homework. So just bear with me and be patient like you guys have been (thank you very much). Also, I've started another story called, "The Onyx of Obsession." Its an original fiction, but I don't think its too terribly aweful, some of you might even like it. So if you could pretty please just give it a chance( ill set linkage on porfile), I'd love ya forever XD Anyway, thanks much! And Review please!!!