Chapter Seven
Sango blinked, staring at the unmoving red - demon? - only a few feet away from her. It looked deadly enough, almost as though it would strike out if anyone were to get too close to it, but what struck her as odd was that fact that it just continued to float in one place.
Sango blinked tilting her head to the side, before turning to face Miroku, noticing that he too had a questioning look on his face, but most likely for different reasons. She prodded his arm with elbow, ignoring the sour look that she received for screwing up his concentration.
"Yes?"
"Do you have any idea what that thing is?" Sango asked, ignoring the small smirk that appeared on his face.
"I don't."
"Of course."
"But," Miroku started, giving her a slanted glance," it is surrounded by tainted spiritual energies. So whatever the creature is, it is dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
"Yes, so be on guard when you are fighting it."
Sango nodded slowly, ignoring the fact that Miroku had conveniently left out that he was too going to fight, but she supposed it didn't matter. He had said that she fought better than any man he knew, so he probably just thought that she would be able to handle the monster with expert precision. But whatever it was, Sango didn't care. She just wanted to get to the beast before it harmed her village.
"Well then," Sango started, unhooking the clasp on her boomerang, "shall we get started?"
"We shall."
"Good."
Sango hefted her boomerang into the air, ready to attack.
But before they even had the chance to go on the offensive –
Searing, hot white flames engulfed them.
~*~
Kill them.
Kagome shook her head furiously, attempting to ignore the cold chilling voice that was resonating through her mind.
Kill them.
It drawled once again.
Kagome whimpered, trying to once again ignore the voice in her head, but she couldn't. Instead she lifted her arm, biting down on her lip at the pain that shot through her body and closed her eyes.
A hot burning sensation shot through her arm, pooling at the palm of her hand. The feeling was foreign to her, and it brought strange unwanted images to her mind, but she didn't have time to think about that. All she had to do was kill, just like it wanted her to. And maybe, just maybe if she killed those two people she would be able to escape her bloody prison and return to the citadel – to safety.
Her eyes were still closed when the hot white flames erupted from her hand.
~*~
Tears were streaming silently down Sango's face as she sought to escape the hot burning flames. She could sense Miroku somewhere near her, letting out a long string of curses as the strange white flames too burned him as well.
The pain was just – Sango had never felt anything like it.
She felt as though her body was going to snap in two, and her lungs started to burn from lack of air.
She had to get out.
Keeping her eyes closed, she shuffled towards Miroku's almost silent cursing, trying her best to ignore how the flames licked at her hands, as though trying to melt her flesh. The flames were roaring in her ears, deafening her, so she was surprised that she was even able to hear Miroku's cursing, but that didn't matter at the moment, all that mattered was getting to Miroku.
She took a few more steps, shielding her face from the searing flames when she bumped into something strong and solid. She didn't dare speak, for fear of allowing the flames to enter her mouth; instead she wrapped her arms around it, slightly relieved that it was in the form of a body.
She felt an arm wrap around shoulders, and instinctively buried her head into Miroku's chest, cringing, as the flames grew stronger and stronger.
She felt as though she was going to die.
She had to get out.
And just as she had thought she would be stuck in that never-ending flame to die in Miroku's arms she heard the crinkling of paper, a quiet whisper and then –
She was doused in something cold and refreshing.
The flames around her had disappeared.
~*~
They are not dead.
"It's not my fault." Kagome whispered.
Then destroy them.
"I can't." She whimpered, placing her hands up to the side of her head as though trying to pull the voice out.
You'll have to destroy them.
"No. Killing is wrong unless it is to protect." The strange visions that continued to swim through her head were frightening. She wanted to get rid of them. All she could see was someone destroying people, innocent people, as though they were nothing – insignificant.
If you destroy them, the visions will go away, you will be free of them.
"Really?"
Yes. All you have to do is trust me, and kill them.
"Kill them?"
Yes. Will you?
A strange, impure power flooded into Kagome's veins.
"I shall."
Good.
The red energies that were wrapped around her tightened suddenly, fitting into her form and she withdrew the rest of her flames that were still burning. She blinked, her eyes turning a dark crimson red, and she could feel the energies pooling towards the center of her being.
It was a strange foreign feeling – the feeling of wanting to kill so unmercifully. She could feel it flooding into her body, into every fiber of her being – it was going to take control of her. And then – the images, the completely haunting images of people dying, they were replaced by the need to kill others. And Kagome knew.
These weren't her feelings.
But she didn't have time to think about that.
No, she had to kill, that way she could be free of the foreign power running through her veins.
As the tainted energy finished surrounding her being, fitting into every curve like a shell, her crimson eyes gazed around the small field, noticing two figures facing her, their weapons drawn.
She smirked.
She was going to have fun killing them.
~*~
Sango watched in silent wonderment as the energies surrounding the small figure shifted to curve around her body like a protective shell. She could feel the energy pulsating off of the enemy, coursing through the ground and causing the earth to shake beneath her feet.
She had never encountered an enemy with so much power in her entire life.
There were occasional times while she was practicing at the edge of the forest, and a random demon would come an attempt to take her life, but they were weaklings, and she was barely able to feel their demonic energies. But this enemy – it was so strong she could feel the energy grow stronger each time she took a step closer. And yet –
She wasn't afraid. And it felt somewhat surprising.
Miroku stood next to her, his face twisted into one of concentration as he watched the approaching woman, somewhat worried at the amount the energies radiating off of her. They were so tainted – so impure it was surprising. He had never known a creature to possess so much wicked magiks in his life but –
This one did.
And it was almost frightening.
Sango shifted beside him; hefting her large bone boomerang up into the air, as though ready to attack.
"Wait Sango," Miroku commented, wrapping his fingers around her wrist, urging her to put her boomerang down.
"What is it?"
"Her energies," Miroku paused for a moment and his eyes narrowed as concentrated, feeling around for the core of her power, "they – those magiks aren't hers."
Sango blinked, glancing at Miroku out of the corner of her eyes.
"She's being manipulated?"
"It feels that way, as though an outside force is effecting her."
Sango nodded slowly, lowering her boomerang slightly as she averted her attention back towards the approaching enemy.
Even if she was being manipulated, she was still dangerous. If she managed to kill the both of them, then she might even attack the village, and Sango couldn't risk that. Her family – especially her younger brother – wouldn't be able to stand a chance against her awesome power. It was just too unreal. Sango knew what she had to do. She wouldn't let this woman live; she would destroy her at all costs.
"I can't risk her destroying the village and my family," Sango murmured heaving her boomerang into the air once more, "she has to die."
Miroku nodded, a solemn look upon his face.
"And she is so lovely too, I really would have liked to get to know her."
Sango sighed in momentary aggravation, shaking her head in shame.
"Only you Miroku, only you."
Miroku gave her an odd sideways glance before extracting two ofuda from his robes and gripping his staff tightly. He didn't know whether or not he would be able to defeat this – extremely young yet beautiful – enemy, but he knew that he had to at least try. After all innocent people's lives were at stake, and those lives were something he couldn't risk.
"Let's go," Sango said before throwing her boomerang at her enemy with all her might.
Only seconds afterwards, she unsheathed her katana.
~*~
Kagome smirked maliciously as the unknown woman threw her weapon at her. This fight was going to be too easy.
Although the man had extremely strong spiritual powers, they still were not enough to match her own. Besides, all she wanted to do was kill, to be able to feel their blood dripping from her hands only to smear it across the wet dewy grass.
The need to kill was growing stronger.
One part of her continued to scream out, telling her that it was wrong, but as soon as that thought came, it disappeared, as though being pushed away by some outside force.
But she didn't care – she merely wanted to kill.
She lifted a hand up, smirking in a deadly sort of satisfaction when a strange blood red beam shot from her hand, freezing the twirling boomerang in mid air.
Kagome was grinning maliciously as the woman froze in place, the surprise eminent on her face as the once cream-colored boomerang turned blood red.
And then, Kagome fisted her hand, smirking in a sadistic sort of satisfaction as the boomerang exploded into a hundred pieces.
Large shards of bone flew every which way, embedding themselves into trees, splitting some in half.
Sango was shocked to say the least.
While the boomerang had exploded, Miroku had stepped in front of her, creating a barrier so that the large splinters of bone would not impale their bodies. But –
Her strongest weapon had still been destroyed. Even though Sango was still extremely skilled her katana – she relied on her boomerang most of the time for a quick kill, and hand to hand combat was far more dangerous. But she would not be afraid – she wouldn't let one simple obstacle stop her from reaching her goal.
As the splinters stopped raining down on the barrier, Miroku lowered it, giving Sango a level look.
"I don't think we are aware of what we got ourselves into."
Sango frowned.
"No, I don't think we are, but that doesn't mean that –"
Sango cringed in pain as a red beam of light shot through her shoulder, causing flecks of blood to fly everywhere. She could hear the woman laughing wickedly at her misfortune, almost as though she enjoyed seeing her in pain.
The sadist, Sango thought as she placed a shaking hand against her injured shoulder, attempting to stop some of the blood flow, but to no prevail.
"Sango –"
"Just shut–up and fight her!" Sango ground out, ignoring the momentary twinge of pain that shot through her body when she stood up.
But then – just as Sango stood up something connected with her stomach, knocking all the breath from her body.
Sango's eyes widened slowly, and she immediately latched onto the woman's hair, ignoring the searing pain that shot through her body as she bounced across the ground, dragging the woman with her.
Miroku blinked slowly, surprised at the sudden attack that the ebony haired woman had launched at them, before turning around the tossing two ofudas to her outer energy shell, well aware of what he needed to destroy.
As the ofudas connected, they crackled, a strange blue magik emitting from them, before the woman stood up, her foot connecting with Sango's bruising ribs, causing her to cringe in pain.
And as Miroku saw the long tendrils of blood red energy wrapping around Sango's recovering form, he knew he only had one choice.
He had hoped that it wouldn't have had to come to this, but he had to use it. Sango's life – and the life of others – was on the line. He simply couldn't risk it.
He glanced at the ebony haired woman, his staff clattering to the ground and then –
The winds howled harshly.
~*~
You aren't trying hard enough.
"I am," Kagome muttered as she dug her heels into the hard dirt Earth.
She was surprised at the power that was coming from the man's right hand, trying to suck her into it's dark murky depths but –
She smirked almost wickedly as a piece of the bone boomerang whizzed past her head. She caught it instantly, ignoring the slight twinge of pain that shot through her hand as the splinter pierced and flesh, and concentrated, digger her heels further into the ground.
She was going to kill this man for being so completely and utterly incompetent.
Her powers crackled, surrounding the splinter of bone in a strange black mist, causing it grow thicker, longer, more deadlier and then –
She threw it, smirking in a sadistic sort of satisfaction when she heard his muffled grunt of immense pain over the howling winds. But then something happened that she didn't expect to happen.
The winds got imperceptibly stronger.
The magik shell that surrounded her crackled, bolts of blood red energy shooting in every which directed and –
Her shell cracked.
Kagome blinked, surprise eminent on her features before her eyes hardened and she sunk her teeth into her bottom lip.
"Your powers aren't going to protect me."
A strong shockwave of pain rocketed throughout her body, causing her to whimper in pain. No – she wouldn't die.
Not yet.
Do not question my ability. I am far stronger than you shall ever be.
"Bastard."
Behave my little miko.
Kagome could almost hear the smirk in his voice but she didn't have time to think about it because – the monk pushed his powers further causing them to get stronger and –
Her shell shattered.
There was a suprised 'oof' from behind her and –
The winds stopped churning, and an indescribable sense of agony shot through her shoulder, down her arm and then exploded in her body.
The monk ran towards her, his staff in his hand once more, ofuda extracted from his robes as though ready to purify her with them when –
A cloud of black mist escaped from her body and she fell to her knees confused at what was happening. It was almost as though the wicked power that had been festering within her being had simply – disappeared. And the more black mist that escaped she realized that the wicked power was draining from her, seeking another body to invade – to fester within until it had that person so completely manipulated it would be like – her.
She had allowed herself to be manipulated. And now, two extremely angry people, one male and one female, were standing over her, glares on their faces. And – they looked as though they were ready to kill.
Kagome was more than fearful.
But then, the monk, he glanced at the black mist that was slowly floating away from her and, his eyes narrowed dangerously and the head of his staff was then positioned under her chin.
The golden metal was cold against her skin, and the rings jingled almost ominously. She blinked, looking up at the ebony-haired man, and the young brunette (which she noticed were both equally injured) attempting to figure out what had happened, how she had gotten to be there away from the citadel and why she had even allowed herself to be even remotely manipulated and –
Inuyasha.
"Damn it," Kagome mumbled, the strength suddenly escaping from her body.
"Damn it is right," the young lady growled, replacing the monk's staff with the blade of her katana.
But the fact that the woman was just about slice her throat did not even register in her mind.
She had just tried to kill someone.
If that monk hadn't done what he did, they would have both been dead. And from what she knew miko's didn't kill…
"I'm sorry," Kagome, mumbled sincerely, her body swaying slightly as the last of the impurity exited her body, along with her strength.
And – the woman withdrew her sword slowly, a brief flash of pity crossing her face before –
She let her sword clatter to the ground, and fell to her knees, wrapping her bleeding arms around Kagome's unconscious form.
"It's okay."
~*~
"So, what do we do with her?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I suppose you'll take care of her, after all you do have healing abilities," Sango replied as she held Kagome's unconscious body in her arms.
A lecherous twinkle flickered in Miroku's eyes.
"Oh I'll take care of her."
Sango gave him a pointed look.
"Which reminds me, I still need to kill you."
Miroku raised an eyebrow before a dawning realization passed over his face.
"Always one to hold a grudge, aren't you Lady Sango?" Miroku asked, his voice overtly cheerful.
Sango merely snorted in disgust, before adjusting Kagome in her arms once more.
"Of course. But – damn – remind me to rebuild my boomerang when she has recovered fully," Sango ordered, ignoring the elated look that Miroku sent her way.
"I can't guarantee that I will remember Lady Sango."
"Just – ugh – forget it. Now let's hurry up and get back to the village." Sango replied, shifting Kagome in her arms and doing her best to ignore the searing pain that shot through her own arm.
Miroku merely gave her a worried glance, before the two headed back to the village in a complete companionable silence.
~*~
Her head was pounding.
She could feel the pain surging through her body, trying to find some way to be released. Her shoulder throbbed painfully, and she could vaguely feel a strange type of pressure applied to it when –
She blinked, a strange light faded in front of her.
Before her, two overtly large voids were melding together – one a calming blinding white and the other a strange ominous blood red.
And it was then she knew that – she had to choose.
For if she didn't, that calming white void would mix with the blood red one and it would become –
Tainted. Impure.
She couldn't have that.
It was though she realized for the first time what was happening.
The white void – it was – her healing chamber.
It was a place where she could withdraw into to heal – remain unconscious from the real world until she had managed to completely heal within this realm and then –
Was this place within herself, within her soul?
Part of her was screaming yes, while the other part was screaming no.
But the more she contemplated this she realized that the two voids were melding together, the blood red turning into a light pink as it connecting with that blinding white light and –
She needed to enter it and fast.
She darted forward, reaching a hand out to touch the pink void and when she did – it rippled.
Her eyes widened in mild surprise as she watched the two connected voids rippling, sending small shockwaves through her body, and that of the small black void behind her.
And then, as if sensing her fear, the white void pulsated and then exploded, surrounding her in nothing but a hot blinding light. It curled around her body, the blood red void disappearing and – comfort seeped into her body as the wide void continued wrapping around her body, causing it to disappear from view.
And for the first time in a long time –
She was content.
~*~
His crimson eyes narrowed as he glared at the mirror in front of him.
Even though he had lost it – the only thing that would cause him to remain powerful – she had been foolish enough to draw it inside of her, the impurity – his impurity – still festering inside of it. It had allowed him to take control of her, if only briefly, but –
That blasted monk and his woman had gotten in the way, causing his control over her to snap and – he had to withdraw his impurity or else her purity would destroy it, causing their connection to break. And even if he had to withdraw most of it, there was still a little left, and all he had to do was keep it slowly festering within her, and he would win.
He would be victorious and –
He would be able to destroy the entire Inu-Clan with one fell swoop.
He was no fool. He knew exactly what they were planning, but he would be able to use it to his advantage. If he could simply get Kagome within his grasp without the Lord of the Inu-Clan realizing that it was Kagome who possessed the Shikon no Tama, then he could effectively withdraw it from her soul, and use it to destroy them all.
It was all he wanted.
And he almost had her.
But then that monk –
His eyes narrowed and a smirk appeared on his face.
That monk – he recognized him. Yes – he had been a part of one of his more brilliant plans, and according to his detachment's mirror – the monk was still adorned the wicked result of his plan. And when he had withdrawn his own miasma from within Kagome – the monk had recognized it.
His smirk grew bigger as his eyes glistened maniacally.
All he had to do was get the Shikon no Tama.
The monk – the Inu-Clan – everyone – was his enemy.
And he would have fun destroying them all.
But the only way he would be able to destroy them is if he had Kagome.
Kagome was the key to gaining absolute power.
Now all he had to do was obtain her.
But if his assumptions were correct –
He already had.