A/N: I am so, so, so, SO sorry for the extremely long wait! Lucky for you, I'm still alive; here's chapter five. Please enjoy yourself, and as a note, I like changing characters' behaviors, so if you think some of the things here are the things Sesshoumaru or any other character wouldn't actually do, just remember that I have a very imaginative mind. Changing things is my specialty.
Save Me
Chapter 5
Isn't it Ironic?
MEW.
Sango yawned and blinked a few times, trying to wake up. She stretched her arms out and then stared groggily at the kitty beside her.
"Ohayou, Kirara," she yawned, petting her small cat demon. Kirara mewed again and closed her eyes, enjoying the soft caress behind her ears. Sango looked up at the tree above her only to find it Inuyasha-less. She blinked hard at the branch. Yup, definitely gone.
She looked around curiously but once she spotted the man sleeping nearby—
SMACK.
Poor Miroku… thought he didn't stand a chance, which he didn't.
He jerked up from his cozy sleep and stared wide-eyed at the air, purely unfocused. "I didn't do it! I swear to you, by God I am not guilty! I was in no part of it, you have no proof-" he stopped abruptly and slightly turned his head to face Sango. "Hey there, dear Sango. I have a reasonable question to ask you-"
"You've already asked me, and no, I won't bear you-"
"Why did you hit me? I am clearly nowhere near you."
Ah and right he was.
There he was, minding his own business, his back against the tree and his staff in his arms, dreaming away about beautiful women. That is, until Sango rudely interrupted him.
Sango ignored him. "Where is Inuyasha?"
"Well, I assume he is-" he cut himself off once he looked up at the tree branch and realized that Inuyasha was currently not where he suspected. He looked back at Sango. "Uh, why ask me? What, do you think I ate him or something?"
Sango raised an eyebrow. "It's possible. That hand of yours is pretty strong."
Miroku rolled his eyes.
"Come to think of it…" Sango added, glancing around her surroundings briefly. "God, Miroku, did you suck up both of them?"
"Huh?" Miroku grunted, puzzled.
"Where's Shippo?"
"Inuyasha! Slo-o-w-o-w-ow down!"
Shippo clung desperately to Inuyasha's kimono, teeth gritted and eyes shut tight.
"Wimp," Inuyasha snorted. "You're still afraid of heights? You're the saddest excuse for a demon that I've ever seen!" He jumped from tree branch to tree branch, Shippo annoyingly clutching onto his shoulder.
"Please? Just slow down a little bit?"
"Look, do you want to rescue Kagome or not?"
"Of course I want save Kagome, just please… slow down a bit!"
Inuyasha landed on the tree branch and stopped, not even bothering to brace himself for the next lunge. Instead, he reached over his shoulder, snatched Shippo by the tail, held him over the ground in mid-air, and—
PLOP.
Shippo looked up from his place in the dirt and rubbed his sore behind. "That wasn't very nice, Inuyasha!"
"Keh," Inuyasha shrugged, grinning. "If you're going to complain the whole way there, then you can find her on your own." He turned, bent his knees and braced himself to jump; but then he froze. A familiar, disgusting scent was heading his way. He stood up straight and growled, facing the direction in which the scent was coming from.
As if on cue, a whirlwind of dust came gusting below the tree, zipping past Inuyasha. Then out spun the wolf demon, Kouga. Inuyasha turned as a low snarl escaped his lips. Kouga paid no attention to him, and instead looked around, as if searching for someone.
"Where's my Kagome?"
Inuyasha growled, "She isn't yours!"
"Where is my Kagome?" Kouga repeated forcefully.
"It's none of your business! Buzz off, wolf boy!"
Kouga placed his fists on his hips. "Where is she? Why can't I smell her anywhere?"
"Grr… Why don't you just butt out? Go chase some little bunnies around or something!"
That threw Kouga over the edge, but he pretended to ignore the last comment and instead snapped, "If it's nothing then why the hell do you look like you're going somewhere important?"
"Just go back to whatever is left of your pack, you rabid dog!"
"Dog! You wanna test that theory, albino kitten?"
"What the hell did you just say! At least I didn't need help in destroying a certain clan of demon birds that were barely a challenge!"
Shippo whipped his head back and forth between Inuyasha and Kouga as they continued to snap snide remarks back and forth at each other. He rolled his eyes. "Inuyasha!" he interrupted. Both demons shut up and looked down at the kitsune. "I know you hate him but can we please continue the search for Kagome? Why waste time with Kouga? Let's just go!"
Kouga turned back to Inuyasha. "Search? What, you lose her again? I guess you're not even strong enough to watch after my woman. I knew I shouldn't have left her with you!"
Inuyasha clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "Shippo you little creep…"
"Inuyasha…" came a soft moan from Inuyasha's left.
His fists slowly relaxed and he opened his mouth in slight shock. Was that… Kagome's voice? He and Kouga slowly turned their heads toward the voice. Inuyasha peered down and the woman.
Her dark, wavy, raven hair swayed in a breeze that wasn't even there, and her head was cocked, staring at Inuyasha. He looked into her eyes. She looked like Kagome, but her eyes were dark and lifeless, with no emotion at all. Just black pearls, staring into nothing.
"K-Kagome?" he whispered slightly.
The woman dipped her head and spoke one word through her pale lips. "Inuyasha…"
He hopped down from the tree, still a yard or so away from her and asked lightly, staring down at her clothes, "W-what are you wearing?"
Kouga had caught her scent right away, unlike Inuyasha, and didn't even step an inch closer. He'd also caught the wrongness in her; her clothes weren't the same. She was wearing a dark blue urushi haori decorated with red roses and was tied with a red butterfly obi belt and a short skirt that was a tad darker than her top.
Shippo jumped up into the girl's arms screeching happily, "Kagome! Are you all right?"
She didn't respond.
Inuyasha slowly walked closer to the Kagome-look-alike. "Are you okay?"
She set the little fox on the dirt and stepped up to Inuyasha. She rested her head on his chest and gripped his haori. "Help me…" she whispered.
Inuyasha wasn't just confused, he was lost. Finally, he closed his gaping lips and breathed in through his nose, and that's when her smell licked into his senses. He shoved her back and placed his hand firmly on Tetsusaiga.
The girl backed up and a mist surrounded her as she faded away.
Shippo looked up. "Was that Kagome? Why was she acting so weird?"
Inuyasha stared into the fog where the girl disappeared. "That wasn't Kagome, Shippo. She was nowhere near Kagome."
Kagome lifted her head and stared at the nearly black clouds. Maybe Inuyasha won't come for me in time. Naraku will win, and so will Sesshoumaru. She looked down, a small lump forming in her throat. Why does it always have to be me? I'm like bait for a shark… or garbage: tossed aside when I'm no longer needed. How selfish of him…
A soft stirring interrupted her train of thought. She turned her gaze across the fire where Rin slept soundly on the log. Any second she could easily roll over into fire, and that's what Kagome worried about most. Quickly she piled dirt into the flames until they flickered out. Smiling at the small girl, she leaned back onto the pole, thinking of how sweet Sesshoumaru was to have taken Rin in like that.
Speaking of…
Kagome's smile faded as she scanned the village. Where was Sesshoumaru? And what about Jaken? A surge of hope rushed through her. Maybe now she could escape! Searching every corner, every tree, she looked around the village again. Still there was no sign of either demon.
Careful not to make a single sound, Kagome crouched on her toes. She crept slowly to the gateless fence, trying her hardest not to kick any stones as she tiptoed across the dirt. Keeping alert, she rested her back against the wooden fence, her hair swaying in the breeze. Slowly she poked her head around the corner and looked around. No one was in sight, so she took her chance and bolted straight through the doorway to the forest.
Before she could even get two feet away from the gate, a thin pole-like stick was thrust in front of her. Her ankles collided with it one after another and she fell forward with a screech. Only then as she lay flat-faced in the dirt did she realize that it was a staff, not a stick.
"Ow…" Kagome grunted. She spun around and leaned on her hands, searching for the source that caused her to hit the ground.
There in front of her stood the one and only Sesshoumaru, holding Jaken's Staff of Skulls in his right hand and staring down at her. His eyes bore into hers, as if he was staring straight into her very soul. Jaken came stumbling from around the corner, panting heavily. Sesshoumaru violently tossed the staff back to him, eyes still locked on Kagome.
They set me up! Kagome assumed. She shuffled backwards on the ground and sprang up, sprinting down through the forest to the path leading away from the slayers' village. She knew she had to put some effort into escaping.
But of course, that was totally pointless.
Sesshoumaru cut her off, snatching the tie on her uniform firmly in his hand.
"You pathetic mortals are so predictable."
He dragged her back to the slayers' village at top speed. Just as they entered the gates, a voice called out, stopping Sesshoumaru dead in his tracks. The impact of his sudden brake sent Kagome tumbling to the dirt.
"Kagome!"
Palms and knees supporting her weight, Kagome stared with wide eyes at the soil underneath her. Was she imagining it, or did she really hear that voice call to her? Slowly she raised her chin toward the sound of the voice. There, on the other side of the awakened Rin, stood a white-haired man, two puppy ears propped on the top of his head.
"In…Inu…yasha?" They gaped at each other before she shoved from the ground and bolted toward the hanyou. Once she'd reached him and Rin had scrambled out of the way, she slid her arms around his torso, burying her face in his chest.
"Inuyasha…!"
He hugged her close, resting his cheek on her scalp. "Kagome, are you alright?"
Sniffling, Kagome looked up into his amber eyes, a tear streaming down the side of her nose. "I was so scared. I thought you wouldn't come for me in time…"
He looked over Kagome's shoulder and glared at Sesshoumaru, eyebrows scrunched and lips curling into a smirk, showing his canine. Sesshoumaru stared right back at his half-brother, not a word spoken and with no change of expression.
Stepping back, Kagome looked around. "Inuyasha… where are Sango and the others?"
The grin disappeared quickly from his face as his eyes fell back to the schoolgirl. "Uh… they're on their way."
She narrowed her eyes. "You left them behind?"
"No! They're just too slow. I needed to find you…" He stepped forward and pulled her back into his embrace.
That's odd… Kagome thought. Would he really leave them like that? Wait a minute… Her eyes scanned the area. Is that a jewel shard I sense?
Lifting his hand behind Kagome's back, Inuyasha flexed his fingers, readying his claws.
I don't see anyone…
He lifted his claws higher into the air.
Wait a second… Kagome's eyes went wide. What if-?
She placed her palms on Inuyasha's chest, shoving him away. Out of the clear blue, she shouted, "SIT, BOY!"
Nothing happened.
She gasped, stepping back with her hands raised to her waist as she yelled again, "SIT!"
Still, the rosary on Inuyasha's neck didn't react. He narrowed his eyes at her. "What…"
"Sit!" she continued screeching.
"Kagome, why-"
"SIT! SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT!"
Inuyasha kept staring at her, confused.
Taking a step away from him, Kagome tripped over her heel and fell back on her rear end.
He reached a hand out to her, worried expression planted on his face. "Kagome!"
"NO! Get away!"
For the first time in a while, Kagome was completely terrified. Inuyasha wasn't here to protect her, she couldn't protect herself without weapons, and even Sesshoumaru wouldn't provide much assistance.
"Kagome, what's your problem?"
Suddenly a rush of anger replaced fear. This wasn't Inuyasha, so how dare he act like him. Fists clenched at her side, she bolted up from the ground. She didn't step closer to the man in front of her, but the distance was enough. She wouldn't go down so easily.
"You tricked Kikyou," she growled, "and I may be her reincarnation, but I'm smarter than she was or ever will be. Stay away from me, you disgusting, foul, cowardly excusefor a man." Finally she stepped up to him, resting her hands on his shoulders. "And don't you ever touch me again, Naraku!" A white aura flowed around them both. Naraku' golden eyes widened as a bluish-purple blast exploded from Kagome's hands, sending him flying back sometwenty feet. His form singed and glowed white, small bolts of lightning flickering around him as the cloud of dust cleared.
Kagome stood, legs spread with clenched fists, panting in fury.
Naraku forced himself to sit up, and then he slowly and sloppily lifted one leg, then the other, and stood from the dirt. Angling himself to face the priestess, he lowered his head, glaring at her from under thick eyebrows. Slabs of skin dangled from the corner of the smirk on his lips. Sharp, red eyes bore from the friendly, curvy shape of Inuyasha's. The once straight silver hair was now blending into a black, wavy texture, down to his tailbone. White, fluffy dog-ears were stuck in between the transformation of cupped canine ears to human. He was taller now, with broader shoulders. The illusion of Inuyasha was rapidly fading as Naraku's now torn kimono was becoming clearer to see under the red. His smirk spread along his features as he grunted a deep 'ha' under his breath.
"You're getting feistier by the days, Kagome," he growled, dark voice returning.
Kagome gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes, lifting her hands directly in front of her, palm facing palm. A lighter blue lightning was forming again in between her hands. "I'm getting really sick of you!" she roared, the blue lightning becoming a sphere. The ball enlarged as she spread her arms, glowing with rage. "TAKE THIS!" Her hair flowing wildly around her with the gust from the lightning, she straightened her arms toward Naraku, sending the large blast hurling at him.
The dark demon's lips curled back evilly, showing his upper teeth, and he lifted his hand, spinning around to reveal a small albino girl with a mirror in her hands.
Kagome's eyes went wide as she watched her own attack come hurtling back at her. Like a deer in the headlights, she stood frozen in shock, everything glowing white around her. Then all of a sudden she felt two thick arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her off of her feet and into the air. She heard the explosion behind her and felt the gust of wind swirling around. The earth trembled as she landed back on solid ground, toes bending as she slowly fell to her knees. The arms released her just as a small, brown ball of fluff hopped in front of her.
Her eyes widened as she squealed in fright.
"Looks like it might rain…"
"Kirara! Hurry and try to follow Inuyasha's scent before the rain comes!"
The trio flew through the sky, Kirara hot on Inuyasha's trail.
Miroku's eyes surveyed the area, recognizing the mountain ahead and the forest. "Sango, is this not the way we travel to your village?"
She let her view fall around her. "Mmm-hmm." She nodded.
Suddenly an echo of a thunder-like boom surrounded them, and the trees shook as ahead of them a bright blue light filled the sky.
"What was that?"
"Sango, I think we'd better hurry," the monk stated, calm yet with worry.
Lips apart and eyes enlarged, she glanced over her shoulder. "What?"
"That may very well be your home indeed."
"Kagome!"
"Oh, Shippo, it's you!"
The teen wrapped her arms tightly around the furry little fox, relieved.
"Kagome!" a deeper voice exclaimed.
The girl looked up, surprised. "Kouga?"
Dashing to her, the wolf shoved Shippo away and dove to his knees, pulling Kagome into a tight embrace. "I'm so glad I got to you in time!"
She didn't hug him in return; instead she sat with a dumbfounded expression while her arms lay limp at her side. "You…?"
"Excuse me! But I believe I was the one doing the saving here, wolf boy!"
That voice...she'd recognize it anywhere.
"Now get outta my way. Kagome's got some thanking to do."
A clawed hand reached out and snatched Kouga's ponytail, ripping him away from the schoolgirl. The wolf landed to the side with a grunt.
Kagome blinked at the man in front of her who was glowering down at Kouga. "Inu…yasha?"
"Huh?" he peeked at her from the corner of his eyes.
She began to rise slowly, and then she charged at him, sliding her arms around his chest. "Inuyasha!" She buried her face into his red haori.
"H-hey," he stuttered, a hint of pink crawling across his features. He certainly surprised Kagome when he, too, wrapped his arms around her back, then suddenly jumping away from their spot, dragging her with him.
They parted, and with Kagome slightly confused, Inuyasha looked to the dirt where they had stood only seconds ago and noticed a feathered stick jutting from the ground.
"An arrow?" the girl pondered aloud. All of a sudden the arrow faded into a violet smoke that blended with the air.
Kouga, who had stood a while back, also stared at the mist. "It's poison."
Inuyasha raised his kimono sleeve over his nose and stepped in front of Kagome, backing up. The trio lifted their eyes in the direction the arrow had come. A woman was hovering in front of Naraku, who was standing on the wooden fence; his appearance completely reverted back to normal. In front of him, the girl's black hair flowed in a nonexistent breeze around her, dead brown eyes staring down on Inuyasha and Kagome. In her hand she held a bow, relaxed at her hip as if she'd just taken a shot.
The half demon narrowed his eyes at the girl, recognizing her from earlier events.
Naraku's lips curled back into a smirk. "I don't believe you've met my new incarnation. Or perhaps you have, Inuyasha…"
"Don't pretend you don't know," Inuyasha growled through gritted teeth. "Wasn't it you who sent her to fool me into thinking she was Kagome!"
"That girl… is supposed to be me?" Kagome noted quietly. "But she's so sad…"
"Indeed it was," Naraku continued to Inuyasha. "Obviously she was successful. You truly believed it was her, didn't you?"
Inuyasha didn't respond, instead he snatched the bow and quiver from his shoulder (which Kagome somehow didn't notice) and tossed them to the priestess behind him. She clumsily caught the bundle and stared at the back of his head.
"Show them, Kagome," he encouraged, "how strong you are. Apparently Naraku failed to see it the first time, but I saw, and I know you're better than them."
She blinked at him for a few seconds, and then she nodded and set her bow in place along with an arrow, aiming at the mirrored image of herself.
"Kagami, fight," Naraku whispered loud enough for the woman ahead of him to hear.
His new incarnation lifted her hand in the air beside her head, purple poison glowing in her hand and then forming into an arrow. She pulled it back on the string and quickly released it, sending it plundering toward the miko.
"KAGOME! Watch out!" Inuyasha yelled, turning to push her out of the way. Time seemed to slow down as the schoolgirl released her arrow, a moment too late.
"Kagome!" a new female voice called.
Kagami swerved delicately out of the way of the schoolgirl's arrow.
Life caught up to itself; suddenly there was a fast whooshing sound as Kagome covered her face with her arms. Wind gushed past her and there was a thumping sound of stone against bone and the whirring faded.
Feeling no pain, Kagome peeked through one open eye to see Inuyasha looking to his right. She followed his gaze, lowering her arms. A man and a woman, riding a large cat demon, landed on the dirt, the woman grabbing hold of a giant boomerang, which had swerved back to her. Kouga came bounding over to stand in front of Kagome as if to be a bodyguard.
"Sango, Miroku!" Inuyasha declared.
"You all right, Kagome?" the monk asked.
She nodded.
Naraku licked his cold lips. "Hm, being the hero, are we, slayer?"
Sango narrowed her eyes at the demon and clenched her teeth, growling, "Naraku!"
"I've got a gift for you, dear Sango."
Her eyes shot open wide as she breathed a light "huh?"
To the back right of Naraku, the leaves on the tree shook and a young boy dressed in a black suit with emerald armored shoulder, elbow, and shin guards appeared from the greenery, jumping over the fence and charging at Sango.
"Kohaku!" Sango pleaded as Kirara leaped to the side. Her brother landed with a thud on his feet, following after the trio, swinging his weapon violently in Kirara's direction. The feline continued to dodge the attacks as Sango shouted over her, "Kohaku! Please! Be strong!"
Kirara took one giant leap backwards, and the monk and slayer both jumped off, Sango refusing to draw her weapon while Miroku stood with his staff in his hands in front of him.
"HOUSHI!"
The monk flipped his body in the direction of the female voice, gritting his teeth. Only a flash of white was seen before a sharp pain kicked him backwards and he fell down into the dirt.
"No, Miroku!" the woman slayer cried. Kirara nudged her aside, away from Miroku as the sharp blade of Kohaku's weapon whizzed passed them. Sango climbed onto the cat's back, and Kirara flew up into the air. Before she could even turn around to retrieve the monk, Kohaku was already bringing his blade down on Miroku's throat.
"NO!"
CLANG.
The echo of steel continued to ring. Kohaku was thrown back. There, hovering over Miroku stood the half-demon, Tetsusaiga in hand. Sango sighed in relief.
"You okay, Miroku?" Inuyasha asked, reaching to his friend with his free hand.
"Yeah," the monk grunted, "thanks." He gladly took Inuyasha's hand and pulled himself up from the ground, eyes locked tight in pain. Sango and Kirara landed beside him. Kagome, with Shippo on her shoulder, came dashing over, resting a hand on Miroku's shoulder blade. Kouga wasn't far behind her.
"Are you all right?" she soothed. Miroku nodded.
Behind them, Naraku could be heard laughing loudly, low at first before rising. "This is my army!" The young group turned to face him. Hovering front of him was Kagami, beside him in the air on a large, fuzzy white feather was Kagura, on the fence was Kanna, and down on the ground Kohaku slid to a halt, weapon raised. Inuyasha growled.
"It's a shame that what little help you may have had has decided to desert you."
Kagome's breath caught in her throat. "Sesshoumaru…" she whispered to herself as her eyes scanned the area.
"Wrong."
Suddenly a glowing, vine-like cord whipped under Naraku as he leapt from his position on the wood, just in time to dodge the attack. In his place landed a silver haired man. His hand fell to the side, and the whip slipped back into two claws. Naraku landed on a decrepit rooftop below. Red eyes locked with gold, and he grinned.
"Hmm, what a surprise," Naraku's low voice rumbled.
A low growl escaped Inuyasha's throat as he faced the pale demon. His shoulders slouched forward as he brought his other hand firmly on the handle of Tetsusaiga, and his right foot slid back in a defensive stance.
Kagami swerved around and aimed her bow at the crescent moon on the forehead of the silver-haired man. He stared unwavering at her as her right hand dragged the arrow far back along the string, aiming carefully. He grinned as she freed the arrow. Swiftly he twisted to the side and deftly caught the dart in his up-faced palm. Golden orbs glared from under his thick eyebrows as the arrow in his hand melted away. Still, the girl held no reaction, instead another violet cloud formed into an arrow, and she set it in place.
"You are too stupid for your own good," he spoke smoothly, lifting his claws as he attacked her head-on with incomprehensible speed. Kagami's arrow whizzed passed him unnoticed as his hand came down with the intention of murder. Though he didn't show it, astonishment overcame him when she soared around behind him, completely evading the assault.
The silver-haired demon landed with his back to Inuyasha.
"Well, you always have another surprise for us don't you, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked half-heartedly. "Will we catch you saving some bunnies or somethin' next?"
He glared over his shoulder at her and growled, "When will you learn to hold your tongue?"
She brought the tips of her fingers to her lips and whispered an apology.
Kouga leaned back and whispered, "Who the hell is that guy?"
She breathed back, "Inuyasha's older brother."
He nodded, as if that explained everything. "Ah, gotcha."
"Bored now," Naraku's deep voice mumbled. His figure faded and disappeared as his harsh laugh echoed all around the village. Quickly, white glowing orbs replaced where he stood, then they covered the sky.
"Ah, damn it all!" Inuyasha growled.
"Are those demon orbs?" Kagome wondered aloud. Soon enough her question was answered as all sorts of snake-like demons, dragons, and other creatures charged them from the spheres. Gasping, she yanked an arrow from its quiver, setting it onto the bow. Suddenly she paused and spun around. Where could she release the arrow? The demons were attacking from all directions!
Sango stepped forward, left foot ahead of the other, and swung her heavy weapon in the direction of the front gate. The boomerang easily cut through the hoard of demons, but it wasn't enough to stop them all. The weapon swerved back to her and she snatched it by the leather that wrapped around the end, quickly bringing it down on the demons that neared, Kirara at her side.
Sesshoumaru lifted the Tokijin above his head and brought it down. A blast of lightning rapidly traveled through the pack of beasts coming from directly ahead of him, disintegrating them without much effort. He stepped to his left to dispose of those creatures, sword raised. Unexpectedly, Inuyasha's hip collided with his, knocking him out of the way.
"Stay out of this!" the half-demon roared. "This is my fight!" He raised the Tetsusaiga and swung it, screaming, "Wind Scar!" Golden streams wiped out the mass of demons.
The full-demon's blade came down on his half-brother's as he conveyed, "Says you."
They pulled away from the deadlock as a bundle of half-circle blades hit the mud where they had stood not too long ago. Inuyasha gritted his teeth and glared up at the sky where a familiar incarnation sat atop a snowy feather. She lifted her fan and flipped it back, sending more bright blades toward the hanyou. Inuyasha lifted his sword to block the attack, but in front of him leapt Sesshoumaru, Tokijin vertically raised, deflecting the blades. He then plunged into the air toward Kagura, ignoring his little brother's growls below him.
The wolf demon's foot crushed a snake's skull that had charged at Kagome. She released her arrow above Kouga's head, and it sliced through the few beasts that were attacking from behind him. Shippo had long gone and dashed under the stairs of a hut by now. Kouga glanced up with a smile but it quickly disappeared as he shouted, "Kagome, get down!" She ducked without question as Kouga leaped into the air and punched the small dragon demon aside.
Sango and Miroku attacked the demons side by side.
"Get back," the monk warned, lifting his right hand. He unraveled the prayer beads and unleashed the wind tunnel, pulling in what he could before Sango shouted to him to stop. Naraku's famous poisonous insects appeared, as if challenging him. Miroku sealed his hand and shouted to the air molecules, "Naraku, you coward! Why don't you come out and fight!" He was only answered with more demons.
Kirara roared from behind Sango and she whipped around just in time to block an attack from her brother's chained scythe. "No!" she pleaded, raising her boomerang against every strike. "I will not fight you!"
Miroku knew it would be difficult enough for Sango to keep her brother at bay without all the side trouble, so he and Kirara kept the pack off of the female slayer's back so that she could hold off her brother.
"Damn it, Sesshoumaru!"
Inuyasha jumped up and swung Tetsusaiga at his brother to get him to move from Kagura, then as Sesshoumaru landed back on soil, Inuyasha followed suit, bringing Tetsusaiga down on the upraised Tokijin
"Are you going to fight me or Kagura?" It was more of a statement than a question. Inuyasha bared his fangs before pushing back and spinning. He brought his sword up to protect himself as his feet reached dirt, the blades from Kagura's fan skimming along the steel.
It was then as his older brother headed towards the incarnation that he heard Kouga's voice rain out, "Kagome! Get down!" Quickly he spun to see the wolf kick aside a dragon demon. The hanyou dashed over and stood in front of the schoolgirl, bringing the wind scar to the demons' fate. Kouga, a yard or so behind Kagome, ended the lives of oncoming hellions.
Inuyasha turned to her. "You okay?"
She nodded with a smile. "Thanks-"
The hanyou's eyes went wide as he watched an arrow collide with her left shoulder, silencing her voice. Time slowed to an unreal pace as another arrow came skewing over his shoulder and slamming into the flesh of Kagome's chest. Another penetrated her stomach and another pierced her right shoulder, cutting through the strap of the quiver of arrows. A light gasp escaped as her grip on her bow loosened. The red wood skidded on the dirt.
Time slowly became more normal as Inuyasha stretched a hand out to her. "Kagome…" The arrows faded into a misty poison as Kagome dropped to her knees. Inuyasha automatically let Tetsusaiga hit the ground without care, a loud thunderclap echoing across the sky as he did so. He rushed to her side, catching her before she fell forward.
Kouga whipped around just in time to see her fall, and he came sprinting to her aid, but Inuyasha's growl stopped him.
"I've got her! Just go!"
"Wha-hell no!" He took another step forward.
"Get rid of the demons! I've got her!"
Though uncertain, Kouga oddly obeyed him and attacked any demon that approached.
Inuyasha laid the girl back onto his lap, her head supported by his forearm. "Hey," he whispered. She groggily blinked, trying to focus on his face. She gritted her teeth in pain, bringing a fist to her shirt.
"You make wounds seem… so easy to handle," she managed to croak. The blood that soaked her uniform from the four wounds was tinted maroon, almost purple. She lifted her left hand to his haori and tugged on the fabric, trying to lift herself. "Help me up, would ya?" Before he could even move, a pain shot through Kagome's shoulder and arm, causing her to yelp and release his kimono, lying back on his lap. "Never mind… maybe I'll rest here for a while…"
Inuyasha's mind was still trying to process what was happening. It was all so fast… one second she was smiling up at him and the next here she lay, soaked in poison and blood. It couldn't be real…
"Hey, Inuyasha," Kagome grumbled. He was knocked back to reality, gazing down at her as she continued, "Do me a…favor, would you?" She dug her hand into the small pocket of her green skirt, pulling out a clear, tiny jar. Inside the Jewel shards seemed to shine. "While I'm sleeping... would you protect these for me? Wouldn't want Naraku getting them… now would we?"
With his free hand, Inuyasha took the bottle in his claws. "Kagome, you should keep them."
"No, no. I can't... exactly make sure they're safe… if I'm snoozing away…"
"No, Kagome…"
"Oh… so now you're… sleep-depriving me?" She managed to cough out a laugh. "Man, this hurts… how can you handle a gaping hole… in your gut?" Suddenly her eyes widened slightly as she gazed over his shoulder. It seemed as though all of her strength returned as she forced her hands on the dirt to push herself up, then her palms landed on Inuyasha's chest, shoving him to the ground. She let out a painful grunt. That's when Inuyasha realized it: She pushed him aside so he wouldn't get hit by that arrow that was now in the side of her rib. The poison smoke faded. She smiled down at him.
"Idiot!" he snapped, gripping her upper arms and sitting up on his knees. Her legs sprawled across his lap, she gripped his haori. "What were you thinking! You're already hurt!"
She only looked into his eyes, swallowing back the knot forming in her throat. Slowly she planted her forehead below his shoulder muscle on his thick arm. "Aren't…. you always stupid… for me?"
He stared into her brown eyes and watched as the pupils spread along the irises. A small tear streamed across the bridge of her nose and dropped onto the red fabric.
"Kagome?"
There was no response.
He brought two clawed fingers to the flesh of her neck behind her jaw to search for a pulse.
There was none.
END OF CHAPTER
