Korosu narrowly dodged the attack of a half-breed he didn't recognize. He hadn't even smelled him coming, he knew it was because he was so focused on the girl in front of him. He looked over to a cloud of dust left from the attack, entering a ready stance. He would have to make easy work of his challenger…
----
Inuyasha sniffed the air. He growled softly when he didn't pick up the scent of the demon's blood, but he could still smell him, hear his heart beating. He could smell Sango, too, and he could tell that she was still alive. As the dust began to settle, Miroku and Kagome jumped from his back, both ready to fight should they be needed. When visibility returned, they all stared the demon down, though Miroku more then the rest.
Inuyasha took a few steps toward the demon that seemed to not even care that he was there, holding Tessaiga tight in his hands.
"Just who in hell do you think you are?" Inuyasha hissed angrily at him, ready to strike at any moment. The demon gave him a vicious sneer.
"I should be asking you the same thing…seeing as you've interrupted my nice little meeting with my lady friend here," he said, bending his waif frame around to look at Sango. "Perhaps, since I've already told you…you can tell them who I am…"
Sango only glared at him for a moment, then shifted her gaze to Miroku. She was immediately relieved, and the fear she had seemed to melt away for the moment.
"M-Miroku!!" she called out, taking a few steps as she prepared to sprint. The demon, however, didn't seem pleased. He reached into his belt, pulling out a small hook with a long rope attached to it. Glaring, he through it at her with extreme precision, and the blade lodged itself into the tree she had been standing against, and the rope wrapped around her, pulling her back against the large trunk. The rope swung around a few more times, tying her tightly to the tree.
----
Sango looked at them all as she started to panic. She tried hard to break her bonds to the tree, or even loosen the straps, but it was useless. Her eyes met Miroku's, and she looked back into his gaze for a moment. She watched the stress build in him Korosu walked over to her, a wicked smile twisting his lips, leaning close to her and whispering into her ear.
"There are two things I asked of you that you have yet to do…" he hissed, his voice low. "I asked you your name earlier, and yet I still don't know what title the angels could've given you…and I asked that you save me the trouble of telling your friends who I am…and yet, you have yet to do so…" Sango swallowed hard, feeling a bead of sweat dripping down her forehead. She watched as he pulled away, his sinister red eyes meeting hers for a moment.
She decided it was best not to provoke him. "My…my name is…Sango…" she stammered. He smirked, seeming almost happy.
"Well, that's a pretty name…a perfect match for such a pretty girl…" he said, a sadistic sweetness in his voice. Sango grimaced inwardly as he spoke, but for some reason, his voice soothed her in a way. He…he killed Sesshomaru…and yet…he's making me feel almost…good…she thought. She tugged at the rope again, and Korosu grabbed her shoulder and thrust her back against the tree.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you…" he said. Sango winced, half expecting him to hurt her.
"W-why won't you just let me go?!" she demanded, forcing bravery into her voice. Korosu scoffed at her.
"You're asking for mercy, I presume? Warriors don't commonly beg for mercy…and with that display earlier, I would presume that you are a warrior…" he hissed. "Or, maybe you are just a scared little girl. Sometimes when one is threatened, one will fight with…primal instincts…" Korosu's eyes seemed to light up as he reached to his belt and put a blade to her neck. "Let's see, then…are you a warrior, or a helpless, frightened little child?"
----
Miroku watched as the demon pointed a dagger at Sango's throat. He wanted to call out to her, but he had to help her. He glanced over at Inuyasha and Kagome, and they both had the same look on their faces. They were all helpless. He watched as Kagome drew an arrow in her bow. The bow creaked a little, an he watched as the demon's ears twitched, and his red gaze flew over to Kagome.
"Oh, I guess you don't appreciate your friend's life…" he growled. He grazed the blade against her throat, drawing a few drops of blood, and Sango let out a sharp squeal. Kagome let down her arrow, looking right back at the demon. Inuyasha growled, grabbing onto Kagome's shoulder. The demon kept staring at Kagome, smirking.
"I love making beautiful women squirm…" he said viciously. She grimaced at him, and Inuyasha gave yet another low growl.
"You bastard…" he grumbled, "Let Sango go!!" The demon laughed, lifting the dagger from direct contact with Sango's neck. Miroku immediately noticed, and saw his chance to help Sango. He reached down and took a sacred scroll from a large roll of them he had tucked in his belt, and seized his short opportunity, throwing the scroll at the demon, following it with a physical attack he hoped he could land.
But Miroku didn't go without notice. The demon quickly saw, and threw the blade with sharp precision, catching the scroll, then landing in Miroku's shoulder. The monk's face was rattled with pain, and he hit the ground, grabbing his shoulder as the scroll burned from the enchantments on the demon's knife. Again, the demon laughed.
"Funny, isn't it, how I can twist own your attacks against you?" he inquired. Miroku didn't respond; he simply pulled the knife from his flesh, then glared up at the demon. He dragged himself up with his staff, doing his best to ignore the pain. He took a step forward, watching as the demon once again turned his attention to Sango…
----
Korosu watched the purple-robed monk stand, staring fiercely at him. The slightest of smirks danced on his face for a fleeting moment, and he looked again at the girl he had tied to a tree.
"So…I guess you're not going to tell you friends who I am…" he said blandly. He watched her for a moment, watched as she pulled at the ropes, watched as she looked over at the monk she had called Miroku. She turned her head back, and stared right into Korosu's red eyes.
"Why did you do that to him?! Just…just let me go! Killing Sesshomaru was enough to do to me!!" she cried. He looked at her wide-eyed.
"And, why is it that Sesshomaru is so important to you anyway?" he asked icily. She didn't respond, though tears formed in her eyes. Her face scrunched in a combination of sadness and anger. He reached forward, putting a finger on her chin. She opened her eyes, giving him an alien look. Korosu's face softened a little, an almost personal compassion in his eyes.
"You should know…having feelings for someone like that would only lead to your demise…" he said. Sango stared back at him wide-eyed, and Korosu could feel the same astonished looks from her friend's eyes piercing him. "There's more I wish to know about you…" he said. She furrowed her brow, their gaze never breaking, and she never noticed as he pulled a cloth from his belt, putting it to her mouth and forcing her to take a deep breath of the potion it had been soaked in…
Author's Notes: I know, I know…it took a while. I could've had it finished like…last week, but I would've been forcing it, and it would've sucked, and then no one would've been happy. That and I found the perfect inspiration…so stay tuned. More to come. ;)