CHAPTER SIX:
BURNING TO OBSCURITY
I don't own Inuyasha or Cloud's hot body or any wild Chocobos or anything else for that matter. The only thing I own is my dog… Yeah, a lot good that does me. (Mutt doesn't listen to a word I say…) Okay… on with the story. Reviews give me inspiration, so… inspire me please!
(And no, I don't kill off Inuyasha.)
Hours later, Kagome and Cloud went back to the Feudal Era. As soon as they reached what was left of Kaede's village, the small children ran over to them. "Sephiroth and Sesshoumaru-sama left to find Naraku. They said you were too slow." Rin announced as soon as she reached Kagome. "Rin missed Kagome and Cloud. Rin misses Sesshoumaru-sama." Shippo was chasing Marlene around and Kohaku was overseeing their play. Kirara and Ah-un were patrolling in the air.
"Red XIII and Tifa still aren't back yet." Yuffie whined as she walked over to the group. "I'm tired of waiting. I want to go fight!"
"Kagome-chan!" Sango ran over to Kagome and Cloud. "Vincent is fine; his wounds healed perfectly overnight." They entered the hut.
"Why did you let Sephiroth leave?" Cloud demanded, narrowing his eyes at Vincent. Miroku sighed and ignored his angry words.
"Leave him alone! He needed to rest!" Sango protested.
"What should we do?" Kagome asked. "We can't all leave." Inuyasha… Where are you? Is Kikyo taking good care of you? Oh… I'm so worried…
"Yuffie and Miroku have to stay behind with the kids." Cloud crossed his arms over his chest. "Sango, come with Kagome and me. Vincent, stay here until Red XIII and Tifa come back. If you feel up to it, meet us."
"Uh… I think I'll stay here and wait with Vincent." Sango stammered, ignoring Kagome's eyes on her face. "Just in case."
"Thank you." Vincent nodded silently and went back to sleep.
"Where on Earth could they have gone?" Kagome asked Cloud as they stepped out of the hut. All the kids ran over to her. "Cloud and I are going to help Sesshoumaru and Sephiroth."
"Wherever Sephiroth goes, I can find him." Cloud said simply. "You can sense the shikon no kakera."
"Rin wants to come!" Rin pouted, already knowing she couldn't.
"Rin! You have to play tag with us!" Marlene shouted loudly. "Kirara!! Come down here and play with us! Ah-un can do all the scouting!" The neko youkai obeyed the girl, flying down and changing into her smaller form.
"That's right. Sesshoumaru told you to stay here." Kohaku scurried over. "If you're good, I'll cook you a lunch you'll never forget." Rin cheered and began chasing after everyone vigorously.
"Oi Kagome!" Yuffie stomped over. "Since everyone's leaving me behind you'd better use this. And you'd better give it back to me!" She handed Kagome a red orb. "That's my Leviathan." Kagome put it in her skirt pocket.
Cloud ran off in a random direction. Well, it seemed random to Kagome. As she turned to follow him she heard someone call her name. "Take this!" Sango threw a small green orb at her. "Vincent wants you to use it!"
Kagome smiled at Sango and raced after Cloud. She caught up with him, because he had slowed down for her. "I have two Materia!" She grinned at him. "But why are they two different colors?"
"The red one is used to summon. The green one is used to cast a spell." Cloud slowly smiled back at her as they began running together.
After thirty minutes of running, Kagome began to feel the shikon no kakera. She tugged on Cloud's sleeve to let him know. Then they heard the explosions. Kagome looked up in the sky and saw a huge comet crashing down not too far from them. "Cloud! What on Earth…" Her jaw dropped as the comet hit the ground.
The explosion was deafening. Trees were blown up and away. Fire seemed to be everywhere. "Someone used Comet2. Most likely Naraku." Cloud scowled, using his body to shield Kagome's from the blast.
"Cloud, how are we going to-" Kagome broke off and screamed as a huge tree crashed towards them. Cloud held his hands in front of him and a barrier appeared over them. He then grabbed her hand and began running.
Debris was falling everywhere. The shikon no kakera seemed to be everywhere. Kagome's head was spinning and she felt so confused. All she could do was run, run, run. That was when Inuyasha showed up.
Inuyasha stood in their path. Fire and destruction were all behind him, making him seem even more menacing. "I see you like the show I put on for you." Inuyasha laughed chaotically. This time he had his Tetsusaiga.
Cloud gripped his Apocalypse tightly, ready to fight. "Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha screamed out as he let out his signature attack. Cloud picked Kagome up and dodged it. "Kaze no Kizu! Kaze no Kizu! Kaze no Kizu!" The land was being ripped apart by his relentless attacks. Devastation was omnipresent.
"Cloud, you go on. I'll take care of him." Kagome said stubbornly, narrowing her eyes at Inuyasha.
"Are you crazy?!?" Cloud shook her shoulders, but Kagome broke away and shot an arrow right at Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga. As expected, it changed back into a rusty sword. Kagome then took out the green orb and held it close to her.
Onegai… Work for me, Materia! Kagome could practically feel the power seething through her fingers. She held her hands out in front of her. Hmmm… I wonder what spell it is… I guess we'll find out.
Green light shot into Inuyasha and he changed into a frog. "Nani? Wow, this is useful." Kagome said earnestly. "It stopped Inuyasha from attacking and it didn't even hurt him." She laughed, ran to the Tetsusaiga and took it with her.
Kagome didn't have to run for too long. Cloud was fighting off both Hakudoushi and Bankotsu. "This looks like a job for you, Leviathan!!" Kagome whipped out the red Materia and summoned it. A huge blue dragon came out of nowhere and hit Bankotsu with a Water Attack just as he tried to hit Cloud with a bolt of lightning.
Well, needless to say, Bankotsu was unconscious. Water conducts electricity. Hakudoushi stared at Kagome in astonishment. Cloud ran over to Kagome and gave her a hug. "You okay?" He asked her.
"I'm fine." Kagome put the red Materia back in her pocket. "Inuyasha is a frog, but I don't know for how long. You take care of Hakudoushi and I'll look for Sesshoumaru and Sephiroth."
"No! It's too dangerous!" Cloud frowned. "And there's no guarantee that they'll protect you if something goes wrong."
Hmmm… He has a point. But if Inuyasha changes back and comes here, I don't think I'll be able to fight him again. Kagome frowned thoughtfully. I have to keep the Tetsusaiga away from him so he won't do as much damage. And so far, Cloud is my best shot at protection. I hope Tifa and the others get here soon.
"Okay, I'll stay." Kagome nodded and moved out of the way so Cloud could continue his fight with Hakudoushi. She allowed her thoughts to wander, so that's she had to dodge Kikyo's arrow at the last possible moment.
Baka! How could I have been so inattentive?!? Kagome scolded herself.
"Where is my Inuyasha? What did you do to him?" Kikyo snapped, sending about five more arrows in her reincarnation's direction. Kagome dodged three, but two still got her in the left arm.
"Ite!" Kagome cried out, breaking Cloud's concentration. Bad mistake.Four arrows plunged right into Cloud's back. He fell to the ground. "IIE!!" That did it. Someone was going to get hurt. Kagome ran over to Cloud's body and knelt down by it. He was out like a light.
"Kikyo… You're finished!" Kagome took Cloud's Apocalypse, which was a bit heavy for her. She put the Toad and Leviathan Materia in his sword. I have to make this work… Combine your strengths!!! Purple light came from nowhere.
"Leviathan!" Kagome cried out. The dragon came out again and attacked Kikyo, Hakudoushi, and Bankotsu (who was still unconscious.) Then they all changed into frogs. Kagome picked up Cloud's body and put him on Leviathan's back. She sat behind Cloud, supporting him.
"Fly!!" Kagome commanded the great dragon and it obeyed, flying in the direction of the village. She caught sight of Inuyasha chasing after her and commanded Leviathan to hit him. It obeyed once again, changing Inuyasha's now unconscious body into a frog.
Leviathan was an extremely fast flyer, so Kagome reached the village without any trouble. As soon as Leviathan's head touched the ground, it vanished completely. "Kagome-chan!!" Sango ran over hurriedly.
Kagome held up Cloud's body and his sword. During the flight, she had managed to take out the arrows, but she couldn't stop the bleeding. "Sango-chan, I need some Materia to heal Cloud!" She shouted.
Sango nodded and sped off to the hut, coming back out with Yuffie, Miroku, and Vincent. Kagome caught sight of the children, Kirara, and Ah-un playing not too far away. Vincent undressed Cloud from the waist up and used a green-colored Materia to revive him.
Miroku put pressure on Cloud's arrow wounds to stop the bleeding. Then Yuffie expertly bandaged them. Kagome found herself fascinated with Cloud's muscular body. Wow… Okay, Kagome. Don't get too excited… She gulped and tore herself from his body long enough to look into his open eyes. Oh no!!! Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic. He can't possibly know I was ogling him like that. Kami-sama, he's smirking at me! Time to panic! He knows, he knows, he knows!
Miroku and Sango picked up Cloud's body and carried him off before either Kagome or Cloud could say a word. Yuffie shook her head and then turned to Kagome impatiently. "Oi! Give me back my Materia!" Yuffie snapped.
Kagome felt around for the orbs in her pocket, but only felt one. She pulled it out and gasped. It was neither red nor green, but purple. A shiny purple orb glistened in her hand. "That's not my Leviathan! What did you do?" Yuffie demanded, snatching it out of Kagome's hand. "What is it?"
"I… I don't know." Kagome thought hard. Before, the green Materia made her opponents turn into frogs and the red Materia summoned Leviathan. But not too long ago, every time after Leviathan used its Water Attack, the enemy would turn into a frog. "Could it be they turned into one Materia?"
"But… there's no such thing as purple Materia!" Yuffie gulped. "And even if there was, how could you get it?" She ran off to the hut, probably to ask Vincent. Kagome would've followed, but she wanted to check on the kids.
"Kagomeeee!!" Shippo squealed and jumped in her arms. "I missed you! We played tag for so long and I got bored. Then we heard a bunch of explosions. Are you okay? Is Cloud okay?"
"I'm fine, but Cloud got hit with Kikyo's arrows." Kagome said, overjoyed to see Shippo. "Did Tifa come back yet?"
"Nope." Marlene waddled over. "I'm starting to get tired of playing tag. And every time I have fun, I hear another explosion and get scared."
"Rin really misses Tifa-chan and Sesshoumaru-sama. Did Kagome-chan see Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin sighed loudly.
"Gomen nasai. I didn't see him." Kagome felt like sighing herself. Kohaku suddenly ran over, followed by Kirara and Ah-un. "Kohaku? What's wrong?"
"A whole bunch of youkai just showed up! But there were some other weird monsters with them. All kinds!" Kohaku said hastily, moving his hands around. "I think those other monsters were from Marlene's planet."
"Everyone, inside!" Kagome commanded. Marlene, Shippo, and Rin ran inside the hut. Sango, Miroku, Yuffie, and Vincent came back out.
"Kohaku! You and Kirara stay inside." Sango called out. Kohaku complied, dashing inside the hut and taking the small neko with him. "Kagome-chan!"
"Kohaku warned us just in time." Miroku frowned. As soon as the youkai and the monsters showed up, Kagome knew they had their hands full. Literally, Kagome was still dragging Cloud's Apocalypse and Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga around
"I have to put these back!" Kagome shouted over the noise of the screeching youkai and rushed inside the hut. She knelt down by Cloud and placed his Apocalypse by him. Kagome turned around to leave, but something tugged her.
"Nani?" Kagome whirled around. Cloud was holding onto her shirt. "Cloud, are you okay?" She placed Tetsusaiga on the floor near Kohaku.
"I'm fine. What's going on?" Cloud sat up, ignoring the minor pain in his back. "Why did everyone leave?"
"We've been ambushed by youkai and monsters from your world." Kagome explained and Cloud stood up instantly.
"Rin wants to fight!" Rin protested.
"No." Cloud said straightforwardly and left. Kagome gave Rin an apologetic smile and raced outside. There must've been at least one thousand creatures out there and every one of them wanted to kill.
"We could really use Tifa and Red XIII right now! Where the heck are they?" Yuffie screamed out as she attacked a large group of youkai.
"For all we know, they could be in the same predicament we're in." Vincent frowned as he shot through a couple youkai.
"Can any of you heal poison?" Miroku shouted. "Because if things get too time-consuming, I'll have to use Kazaana." It was obvious he was disregarding the poisonous bees flying around. (I forgot how to spell it. Is it Saimyoushu?)
"I do." Vincent spoke up. "Once you do that, I'll allow Chaos to take over."
"Oh great." Yuffie rolled her eyes and dodged a youkai's claw. Kagome shot through some of them with her arrow.
It seemed like a never-ending battle. Cloud would use his spell or command Materia or his Finishing Touch attack. Sango used her Hiraikotsu left and right. Yuffie let loose the fury of Materia and her Gauntlet attack. Miroku attacked the youkai with his staff and charms. Vincent used his gun to shoot most of them, occasionally using Materia. Kagome used her arrows and when she finished them, Cloud, Yuffie, and Vincent gave her some Materia to use.
"Vincent! Let's finish it!" Miroku called out. Vincent nodded and transformed into Chaos. "Kazaana!!!!" He cried out and sucked the remaining half of the youkai into his hand. Chaos used its Chaos Saber attack numerous times. Yuffie used her Gauntlet once last time and finished the battle, using his Finishing Touch. They won the battle. Every youkai and monster was dead.
"We did it!!" Yuffie squealed with delight and hugged Kagome, much to Kagome's surprise. Then she hugged Miroku. "That was sooo cool!"
"I see you defeated my minions." A soft, but deadly voice said. Everyone whirled around. Aeris stood there threateningly, holding Kohaku by the neck.
"Kohaku!!!!" Sango shrieked. "Let him go!"
"Not until I have Cloud." Aeris sneered at her, squeezing Kohaku's neck. "It's his own fault. He wouldn't let me have the Ancient girl."
"Rin!" Kagome gasped out. "Aeris, stop this!" Cloud could only stand there in shock. It was the first time Cloud had seen Aeris since Sephiroth plunged his sword through her stomach and killed her.
"Aer-Aeris?" Cloud took a step forward. "I'm right here."
"Cloud?" Yuffie looked at Miroku fearfully. Cloud began walking to Aeris, as if he was in a trance.
"That's right, Cloud. Come to me and the boy will live." Aeris narrowed her eyes at Kagome. "And don't you try anything."
I really wish I had some arrows right about now… Kagome thought hard. I'm exhausted, too. That battle took a lot out of me… Let's see… What Materia can I use against her? I have Bolt3, Ice3, Bahamut, and Alexander.
Cloud was a few feet away from Aeris now. She tossed Kohaku to the ground and Sango ran over to him. Aeris held out her hand and Cloud took it. "Yameru!!!" Kagome shrieked at the top of her lungs. Everyone froze.
"How dare you?!?" Aeris screamed and her eyes glowed red. She wove her hand and Cloud was blown away. He crashed right into Miroku. Aeris summoned Shiva and Ifrit at the same time and sent them both at Kagome.
The Hellfire and Diamond Dust were headed right for Kagome. Kagome closed her eyes and held the four Materia close to her. When she opened her eyes, both fire and ice seemed to be right in front of her. She held one Materia in her hand and it seemed like the entire world was purple. Kagome said one word: "Horobosu." The purple Materia soared out of her hands and imploded. The Bolt3 and Ice3 cancelled out Diamond Dust and Hellfire. Bahamut and Alexander attacked Aeris in unison. But Kagome didn't know this, for she was unconscious.
When Kagome opened her eyes, Aeris was gone and the single purple Materia was now separated into four separate orbs. She got up slowly, ignoring the incredulous look she got from Yuffie. "You've been out for two hours." Yuffie told her simply. Kagome had been lying on the floor of the hut.
"After you blasted Aeris, Bankotsu showed up and fought with Cloud for a bit. Then Kanna came and they left. Cloud's a bit mad at you for injuring Aeris, so he left. Vincent and Sango are searching for a safer place to hide the kids. Miroku is watching the kids. And of course I got stuck here with nothing to do." Yuffie would've babbled on and on, but she saw the look on Kagome's face. "Nani?"
"Cloud's… he's mad at me? Why?" Kagome was in shock.
"No offense, but you didn't need to give that attack all you had. Couldn't you have saved that for Naraku or something?" Yuffie raised an eyebrow. "You only needed to stop her, not try and kill her."
"What else was I supposed to do?" Kagome scowled furiously. "She sent those two monsters at me. I had to defend myself somehow."
"Yeah, yeah. I realized that. I had plenty of time to think since you were asleep for so long!" Yuffie sighed loudly. "Sephiroth, Sesshoumaru, Red XIII and Tifa are still gone. Why aren't they back yet?!?"
"Do you know where Cloud went?" Kagome stood up.
"No and I don't care. He's doing his solo thing right now. Don't bother him." Yuffie shrugged and looked up at Kagome. "I'm not sure, but I think he went near that big tree."
"Goshinboku?" Kagome blinked.
"Yeah, whatever." Yuffie jumped up. "It's not safe for you go off alone. Oh yeah and while the kids were playing, they found a whole bunch of arrows. I'll go get them for you. You stay here!" Yuffie scurried off, happy to use any excuse to leave the hut.
Kagome sighed, wanting to punch something. I didn't have any idea what I was doing. And yet he's still mad at me. Just great. But it's too quiet. And I'm worried about Tifa and Red XIII. They've been gone for so long now. I hope they're okay. I hope Sango and Vincent find another place for us to hide soon…
Yuffie bounded back inside, holding at least fifteen arrows. Kohaku followed after her, carrying the same amount. Kagome put them all in her quiver and looked at Yuffie. "Ikuso, Yuffie." Kagome smiled at the girl as they ran out.
Kagome and Yuffie ran into the forest daringly. They finally reached Goshinboku, but Cloud was nowhere to be found. "Geez, why isn't that jerk here?" Yuffie scowled and kicked a nearby tree.
Kagome ran over to the Bone Eaters' Well and looked down. Nothing. Where could he be? She frowned. "Are you sure he came this way?" She turned around. Yuffie was nowhere to be found. "Yuffie? Yuffie? Yuffie!?" She ran around the Goshinboku, looking for the female ninja.
"Yuffie! Yuffie, come out! This isn't funny!" Kagome became frantic. No, no. I have to calm down. Someone probably took her. At least they don't have shikon no kakera. What should I do?
Kagome ran around, looking for Yuffie. She called out the girl's name numerous times, but still nothing. Finally, Kagome came to a clearing the forest that she never saw before. She saw a whole bunch of pretty white flowers. She knelt down to touch one and was shocked when they all changed into white doves and began flying all around her.
"N-nani?" Kagome took a step back. The sky suddenly darkened ominously. A strong wind began forming. Storm clouds seemed to appear out of nowhere. A single bolt of lightning struck the middle of the field.
Kagome ran over to where the bolt hit the ground. There seemed to be some kind of odd hole. She felt something vibrating and took out the Bolt3 Materia. "Nani?" The orb was glowing white. A single dove flew past Kagome and into the hole. Without thinking, Kagome jumped in after it.
Kagome hit the ground hard. She was on a blue roof. She stood up. The dove was nowhere to be found. She was in a small village with identical buildings. They all had blue roofs. There seemed to be some kind of odd machine right smack in the middle of the town.
Kagome managed to climb down from the roof and found a local villager. "Excuse me, where am I?" She grasped onto the villager's arm.
The man stared at her as if she had two heads. "You're in Kalm Town, miss. Are you alright?" The man looked Kagome over.
"Uh… Have you ever heard of a town called… 'Midgar'?" Oh boy… I might as well try, right? Considering I have no idea where I am… Kagome inwardly sighed.
"Oh yes. Midgar isn't too far from here." The man smiled and walked away.
Just great… That's what I get for following a bird. Now I'm in another world and I have no idea where I am… Kagome groaned. But I do know that I have to get to Midgar. Here I go! And with that, Kagome began entering each and every building, getting as much information she could about Midgar.
So… If you liked it, review, review, review!!!