Disclaimer: I don't own him...ya got me! And I don't own the quote either. That's Matchbox 20's material, not mine, from a song called "Bed of Lies" on the album called "Mad Season."
A/N: There were SO many reviews to the last chapter! (YAYS!) I especially like this chapt's quote...though it might not be cited quite accurately...I can't ever quite make out the words in the second line, I always thought it was "Let me" but "Help me" might be just as good and it makes more sense (winks) so I chose that. Kay, Yes we DID make it to 200! Over in fact! Just so that you know this chapter is 15 pages long in word, the LONGEST I have ever written for a single chapter before...So here goes you guys...This is the last one I think...the rest of the story is in an epilogue, which hasn't been completely written yet so it may be a little longer in coming...but it WILL come...this one is ALMOST finished! The name for this chapter comes at the end...now on with it eh? (Oh, and aijou means Beloved Daughter I think in Japanese)...Warning: There is gore in this chapter, violence...some death too You have been warned...but trust me, everything's okay in the end, don't be scared to read...
A Lover's Quarrel
"I am all that I'll ever be
Help me
Lay your hands over me
And don't go weak on me please
I know that it's weak—but God help me
I need this…"
The sun was setting swiftly, the golden light fading fast over the hills, peeking weakly through the forest in the west. Despite the fact that normally the villagers would've worked into the darkness of early evening, this night, as they had for some nights now, they hurried in from the black snake that was the river as nighttime approached, they abandoned the fields of rice. Their faces were masks of fear.
Most of them knew that the demon had come the night before. They'd heard the screams from the healer's tent and had heard rumor—starting no doubt from Mijai who liked such gossip—that the good in the girl they'd known as Sakana had been faced with the evil in the demon in red again. All of them believed it, they'd seen the girl alive and awake and walking to and from her bath that day beside the slayer, who seemed to be as much friend as she was protector. The girls that had washed clothes with the other servant that wasn't a youkai—the monk, Miroku—had tried to pull bits and pieces of information from him only to learn, and promptly spread the rumor that the Red Demon was pursuing the girl.
As Shisuki's mother ventured in from the river with a few of the other women of the village close at her heel, she caught sight of her daughter lingering by the stables, a look on her face that clearly screamed she was daydreaming. The girl's mother stole up to her and quickly jerked her daughter away, much to the girl's alarm.
"Mom!" she gulped, blinking back her thoughts. Koshi had left the stables some time ago, after cleaning most of the horses. The samurais had summoned him, demanded him in their midst, so he had left her—but she wished with a passion that he hadn't.
"Don't be short with me this evening, aijou, after what I've just heard, and with the darkness coming, I've a mind to bury both our heads below ground…"
"Mother! What're you talking about!" Shisuki demanded, confusedly.
"You know the girl that you and Toka pulled from the river?" her mother whispered, her dark eyes—like the ones 'Suki herself possessed—were sparkling and alive with fear.
"Yes, of course I know her!" she couldn't help but feel her chin pucker slightly at the memory of the way Koshi's face had been so pained when he thought that he wouldn't be able to follow Sakana to the ends of the earth and ask her grandfather and her clan or whoever else challenged him for her hand in marriage. For their chance at eternal happiness…and she wanted nothing more than to see his handsome young face smiling happily, not wrinkled with sadness…but happiness for him was another girl, older than 'Suki, prettier…richer…
"The monk traveling with her," Shisuki's mother didn't notice the way her daughter's face beamed bright red in the dim light, "Miroku is his name, he told Akira that this Red Demon is obsessed with this girl from the river!"
New fear opened up within Shisuki's heart. "Wh-what?"
Her mother didn't bother to answer her, "And the demon is coming to get her! He was here last night but it's likely that that young Koshi and that woman—the demon slayer—chased him off before he reached that poor girl…but tonight—tonight of all times!—they're planning to leave!" her mother huffed, eyes wide with fear.
"The Red Demon is in love with Sakana? But how—"
"Shh! We know nothing of this! I'm going to stay inside tonight and whatever you do—don't light a fire! The monk provided me with a few sutras that will ward away the Red Demon…" she frowned through the dim light, "They cost quite a lot but I'll take anything to keep us safe…" she gave her daughter a meaningful look as they neared their home, "Remember that, 'Suki, your family is the most important thing there is." Her eyes hardened then and she hissed in fear when her daughter tried to pull away, "What's wrong with you 'Suki?"
"I have to go warn Koshi-sama mother!" and the girl yanked her arm from her mother's grasp, and dashed off, ignoring her mother's frantic calls for her to come back.
Sango looked up, her chocolate eyes that were oh so gorgeous and huge and trained directly on him, made him squirm inside, made his right hand ache to rub along the smooth curve of her thigh and the erogenous muscle of the gluteus maximus and…
She wasn't happy. Damn, what did I do?
"Miroku," she growled, dangerously as he tried to smile at her nonchalantly, already beginning to suspect what it was that he'd done…it was rather obvious when he looked around. The villagers were hustling about around them, the samurais had seemingly disappeared, but Miroku knew that that was misleading. On his way in with the women he'd seen the samurais already on their horses, urging their mounts along the river, waiting. And he knew what for, as did Sango, Kagome, Shippo and Kilala. Well—the whole village knew what actually…
"Yes, Sango? Oh, but no, wait!" he rose his hands in front of him as Sango pushed off from the gate where she'd been leaning, waiting for him to come up from the river where he'd been trying to pretend he was one of the washerwomen all day, "Before you speak I must say—did I mention that among this whole village—and I have looked—there isn't one so fair as you!" he smiled at her, with genuine charm, and noted that she wasn't scowling too much…and she was coming closer. He restrained the nervous twitch of his right hand.
"Oh, Miroku," her voice was calm, light and even, "That's so sweet of you…" he sensed it coming but hardly had time to cringe before her hand flew up and swatted his cheek.
"Ow!" he clutched the offended flesh, and gave her a pained look. "But—my Sango—"
"Save it!" she hissed, and reached out, pulling him closer to her. His stomach did a flip-flop, and he didn't resist her closeness in the least. She still smelled like the clean, sweet water of this village's hot springs! By the gods! He'd seen her walk by when he'd been with the washerwomen further downstream. He'd watched her and Kagome cross, talking pleasantly as they went, and had almost excused himself from the village women's company to follow after them for a quick peep—but at that moment one of the mothers had asked him about her young daughter, who was of proper marrying age, and with how much she liked him she was sure her daughter would be delighted to…and his attention hadn't strayed again until he'd seen them crossing the river again, this time on their way back. Darn.
But now here she was and he could still smell the springs on her, the clean skin, clean clothes, clean hair…oh but how he wished her mind wasn't clean…
"What," she hissed in his ear, her sweet breath making his hand twitch and his stomach flip flop at once, "Did you tell the villagers today when you were with them?"
"Oh, but my Sango, I didn't tell them a thing! Except if it was about your great beauty…" he took advantage of the closeness to blow into her ear a little, and was thrilled to the core when she shuddered slightly—he wished that he had Inuyasha's sense of smell. Was it possible to tell what she was feeling by her scent with a dog demon's senses? Oh, how he envied Inuyasha the gifts that his demon heritage had given him from time to time. What, if Miroku had such gifts, would the women say when he was able to work them like clay and give them such delight, anticipate everything they craved…? And to think that Inuyasha and Kagome weren't lovers!
She pushed him—hard, harder, probably, than she'd even realized or meant to. He stumbled away a bit and, unable to feign pain, he smirked at her look of frustration. "Stop lying to me Miroku!" she gestured around them, and toward the fields where the samurais roamed in packs, swords at ready, bows and arrows clasped tightly, eyes searching the darkening woods. "Do you see that? Do you think I believe that it happened so coincidentally?" she sighed, one hand coming to her temple, eyes drooping closed. "I need a rest. I can't wait to go back to Kaede's hut and just sleep…"
Miroku shook his head once, as if dispelling his day of flirtation, and sighed sadly. "Sango, I didn't think that I'd told them much, I'm sorry…"
She looked up at him, keenly, "What did you tell them?"
"That their Red Demon is in love with our Kagome."
Sango's face looked as if she might suddenly pass out, and Miroku felt his conscience spring up, tightening his muscles and giving him a nasty sinking feeling in his heart. He lifted his staff up, making it jangle and shine dimly in what little light remained. "We can just leave now, along the road. Inuyasha will follow us." He paused, waiting to see what she thought of this, but when he got no answer he added, "As long as that boy isn't planning to come with us still…?"
With a sigh Sango nodded, "I think Kagome took care of him—I haven't seen him since we came back from the hot springs at all. And you're right—these people will be glad to see us go now that you've linked Kagome with the 'Red demon.'" She huffed, scoffing.
When Miroku offered up no immediate response in his defense, accepting his mistakes, she threw him one last look and nodded her head slowly, "Let's go get Kagome and get this over with…"
Miroku gestured with one hand, smiling casually for her, "After you, Sango my dear." She passed him and reentered the village with nothing but pursed lips and a nervous, tight walk that told him full well that she didn't trust him, or his hands…but as he followed behind her he was pleased enough to watch the curves moving underneath her green skirt…his hands itched and his stomach was tight but he'd already been slapped once in the last few minutes, thus he stilled his desires and waited, letting her be surprised by his reserve. Yes, that way when it happens again maybe she'll believe me when I tell her there was a piece of lint, or an insect, or a wrinkle…
Almost dark enough…Inuyasha stared through the trees; his ears flicking forward and backward with his tension, his muscles were corded and tight, waiting to spring. And when I do those samurais aren't going to know what hit them…but he stopped that thought, frowning to himself. Kagome wouldn't like it…indeed, the schoolgirl kept him civil; she tamed the inner beast where none of the others could. For her he would've thrown away his haori and dressed in a business suit and tie, if only to make her happy. And right now he knew that killing samurai, no matter how annoyingly arrogant they were, wasn't the right thing to do.
So he stayed silent and quiet, waiting tensely where he was. Another quick glance at the sun and he guessed only a half-hour before he could leap through their midst, scale the village walls, and grab her up for a getaway…I just gotta get her out of there, damn it! If she stayed longer he was certain that they'd never get their quest back underway…
Out in the rice fields a samurai's horse whinnied and stamped irritably. Through the dying light Inuyasha's keen eyes made out a frail, thin frame of a girl—younger than Kagome—dashing out into the midst of the samurais. He could hear her yelling a name of some sort that struck a cord within him; it was familiar. He'd heard it before…last night surely…
He pushed that thought away when he saw what was happening in the rice fields. The samurai that she was trying to speak to lifted one arm and called out the same name, drawing another samurai on horseback from further away toward him. This new warrior rode with a boy behind him. Inuyasha felt the hair all over his body bristle with instinctual hatred. He recognized the boy's form—it was the boy that had left his scent on Kagome, as well as the same boy that had shot the arrows into his flesh…
As if wounded all over again Inuyasha's shoulder and thigh blazed with heat and brief pain. He silenced his fidgety nerves with a quiet and short hiss, choosing instead to focus on what was happening in the fields still.
The samurai that shared his horse with the damned boy, who held a bow and arrow at ready, apparently his weapon of choice, stopped beside the girl and the first samurai. A quiet conversation began, but it was so far away that Inuyasha frowned, realizing that he'd never be able to hear it.
A splashing sound reached him then and his gaze jerked to the river. A samurai on foot crashed into the water, sword drawn and glimmering in the dying light. Inuyasha smirked when he noticed that this samurai limped as he walked and his nose was crooked…I know you, jackass, you tried to force yourself on Sango and got a little more woman than you could handle…the ugly, crooked nosed samurai stumbled out of the river and toward where the other warriors on horseback were talking to the girl. A few moments passed through which Inuyasha made out only heated whispers, and then an argument broke out among them. The boy with the bow and arrow seemed particularly vehement about something and Inuyasha noted that the girl wasn't pleased about it either—she'd dropped to her knees and was bowing in the direction of the samurai that Inuyasha had helped Sango beat the night before.
Ah kid, don't bow to him…Inuyasha smirked.
Suddenly a familiar scent tickled Inuyasha's nostrils and his gaze jerked from the meeting of samurais in the field to the village's gates…immediately he pinned the spot with his gaze, fixed it with his dog ears tuned to it like radar. Just as he'd scented she would, Kagome appeared, rail-thin and still weak, but noticeably better. He saw the bow and arrows slung over one shoulder and smiled a little to himself in something that bordered on pride. She does remember who she is…behind her Sango came, a steadying hand on the schoolgirl's shoulder, and Inuyasha felt his tension slacken a little. If Sango was there things were likely under control. Miroku appeared as well, the kitsune on his shoulder. He couldn't see Kilala but knew that she was likely trailing between Sango and Miroku protectively.
The group walked calmly out of the village and down the path, toward where the congregation of samurai was still lingering, but Inuyasha noticed that they'd stopped talking in favor of staring at the approaching group of mortals and small youkai alike. The hanyou tensed, waiting, watching, sensing danger as if it were a scent on the wind.
Sure enough, just as he'd suspected, one of the samurais on horseback edged in front of his approaching friends. The words that they exchanged were few and too quiet for Inuyasha to hear, but he did note the way that Kagome looked alarmed. He caught her eyes roaming over the forest, searching for him. He shifted uneasily, what the hell is going on?
Voices suddenly rose in anger. Sango and Miroku were arguing with the samurai that had stopped them, and for the first time Inuyasha heard what they were saying—which, he suspected, wasn't an accident. His friends were trying to protect him…but even if they hadn't bothered to do it he was confident that he would've seen it coming…even so he still folded his ears back in anger and growled quietly to himself in disgust. Why do things always become more complicated than they need to be?
"You can't use her as bait!" Sango's voice screeched, clearly heard against the silence of the fields. The samurai drew his sword, the metal twanging almost melodiously as it slid free of its sheath. He leveled it at Sango and at Kagome, ignoring Miroku for the moment.
The monk took advantage of that and used his staff in a sudden, darting movement, swiping the sword out of the samurai's hands. It clattered to the earth, and the samurai growled menacingly.
The beaten samurai, the man on foot, stepped forward, his girth further blocking Sango, Miroku, Kagome, Shippo and Kilala. The girl that had first run onto the field began to cry out, pleading, begging, but the man on foot grabbed her up easily into his arms, snarling as her did so. He held her firmly and the girl struggled only for a moment before crying helplessly, unable to get away.
Other samurais started to abandon their tedious search from along the river and soon joined the first that had moved to block the Shard-hunters' escape. More quiet words were exchanged, all the while Miroku and Sango looked outraged and tense, while Kagome's eyes had wandered frantically, her gaze almost pleading, over the trees again. Inuyasha felt his skin itch when her gaze passed over him…move, you stupid half-breed, before those samurai kill her! You've almost lost her twice now, and here you are sitting waiting to lose her again, for good!
His muscles tightened, his fists clenched, claws readying for the kill…his knuckles popped and Inuyasha surveyed the field, laying out an inner plan…
Miroku's voice rose loudly now, "Koshi-sama, how could you agree with these beasts?" that accursed boy was now with them, helping to close off all escape routes for the group. He'd apparently dismounted and was staring out at the forest, bow and arrows at ready…Inuyasha never heard his response, didn't even know if he bothered to answer at all, because his patience for this had worn out.
The sun had set…and Inuyasha's claws were hard as steel, ready to draw blood. I'm sorry Kagome but these samurai have proven more than annoying now…
He sprung from the darkness of the trees in one bound, splashing loudly in the river, the water obscuring his shape and color as the samurais stared in shock. A second later and the hanyou was on the riverbank, staring them down, amber eyes gleaming, white fangs exposed viciously. He crouched on all fours, ears perked, eyes narrowed like an animal, but the growl that escaped his throat was in plain and understandable human language.
"Let them go!"
A shout rose up, the guttural, deep voice of a samurai, Namaru in fact: "Our plan worked!"
Immediately a volley of arrows flew through the air, all aimed at the hanyou. Inuyasha smirked and sidestepped most of the projectiles, slashing others that came uncomfortably close into little bits. A war cry reached his ears, and Inuyasha looked up just in time to spot one samurai running toward him, his sword flashing in the rising moonlight. Behind him two more came, each waving their own swords and brandishing a separate war cry. Two of them were on horses…
Inuyasha leapt clear over the first, kicking him in the back of the head as he did so, knocking the first on foot samurai all the way to the river with a resounding splash. The horses hooves came next, one on either side, their swords pointed straight down at them…stupid samurais should know better than to ride their horses into battle with any kind of demon…when he'd been wild after his mother had died Inuyasha had attacked samurais just for their horses, like a panther, in the night. It was always a better choice for a growing pup and far more filling than fruits, slimy salamanders and tiny minnows…
As the horses drew nearer, Inuyasha growled at them, bearing his fangs, letting them scent him, letting them see that he was a carnivore through and through…and the horses, far smarter than their riders, stopped mid-stride and reared, whinnying in fear. Inuyasha backed away a little to avoid their flying hooves and remained crouched, waiting for the samurais to face him on foot.
When both men had abandoned the horses—which immediately bolted back toward the village as fast as their hooves could carry them, they seemed hesitant to engage the hanyou, but their swords were still drawn and ready…and then Inuyasha heard the breathing behind him and whirled round, claws at the ready. The samurai that had first attacked him had been trying to creep up on him from behind, and had nearly succeeded, but at the last moment Inuyasha whirled on him and his claws tore through the warrior's armor, barely missing flesh. Sparks flew when the metal tore apart, tumbling from the stunned man as he tripped and fell once more.
What a waste of my time…
Inuyasha shouted, "Move, bastards!" and leapt over the fallen samurai as well as the two that were still nervous about attacking him after their horses had failed them. The hanyou made a half-leap, half-running dash toward the group of horses and archers that were still separating him from his friends and…Kagome…her scent filled his nose, and his heart beat frantically, seeming to swell…
The horses in the group became glazed with terror. They bucked and bolted, tossing their riders and dragging them right away with them. Curses tore through the air, tossed at both the horses and the hanyou that had so frightened the mindless herbivores. But Inuyasha didn't pause at all—he could see his friends huddled together protectively, watching in shock as the samurais seemed to vanish around them…
And then Kagome stretched out one hand, pointing at something that Inuyasha couldn't quite see without turning his head to one far side. She screamed, "Look out Inuyasha!"
He heard it, knew what it was, but couldn't turn fast enough—pain tore through his left side as the arrow met with his flesh and he stumbled, catching himself with one clawed hand some five feet from Kagome and the others. He felt a hot liquid tumble from the side that had been hit, and piercing, breath-stealing pain tore through him. He knew instantly that a vital organ had been pierced…
"No! Inuyasha! No!" he heard Kagome's desperate screams and looked up to see her struggling to reach him, but the others were holding her back, their faces grim gray masks, fighting to remain unaffected.
Inuyasha coughed and choked, tasting blood…a lung…other organs could be pierced and he could easily, albeit with great pain, carry on and win a battle…but his lungs were vital, too vital for him to have a huge chance at success. But these are only samurai, only mortals…the thought gave him strength and he took a deep breath, ignoring the agony, the burning pain that tore through his lungs on the left side.
He looked to his left, at where Kagome had pointed, and saw…his eyes narrowed in sudden hatred, and he felt the blood that his heart pumped still so steadily burn almost as much as the arrow through his left lung did…the rage, the instinct, tore through him, infusing him with strength that the hanyou didn't quite understand the full capacity of…he rose to his feet, his gold gaze pinning the archer with a primal fury. The name of this archer, this competitor, floated into his mind and he snarled it aloud, "Koshi…"
The boy notched another arrow and shot it, but his aim was off and Inuyasha ducked the projectile easily. His fangs gleamed bright white, they seemed huge, too big to fit into his mouth. Koshi started to reach for another arrow, but his hands shook with terror—the monster before him was now regarding him with blood red eyes, as if a vein had popped in both eyes, spilling the precious body fluid into the whites of his eyes. A bluish streak—shaped like a lightening bolt—had made an appearance over each cheek. The demon stared at him with these transformed features, seeming to delight, even to feed off Koshi's fear. An evil grin spread over his face.
"Go on pup," his voice was low and gravelly, "Aren't you going to shoot me? Or are you going to sit there and piss your pants instead while I cut you open?" a small trickle of blood escaped Inuyasha's lips, sure sign that he couldn't keep up the fight for very long or he'd choke on his own fluids…
"Inuyasha! No! Stop!" Kagome was screaming at him, and although some part of him registered the call most of him ignored it, continuing to draw strength from the boy's simple and complete terror. If he thought about Kagome the hanyou would take over once more and the battle would end before he could win it—he'd be slaughtered. The burn in his left side ached with each breath but the demon ignored that pain, turned it into a source for continued rage and hatred aimed at the boy.
Behind him Inuyasha heard the two samurais that had been so hesitant to attack him before approaching behind him. Dropping on all four appendages, he rolled away and slashed with one clawed hand. His talons raked over the men's legs. Blood spurted, feeding the demon's frenzy. The men fell; howling in shock and pain…blood filled the demon's senses, smothering all else…
Another samurai raced at him, and Inuyasha slashed him through the neck twice when only one cut would've killed him, cackling in triumph. A female shrieking reached him, he scented, although dimly, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kilala, but he ignored them. If they knew what was good for them they'd stay clear. He was having trouble discerning his friends from his foes. He could only tell what was made of easy, mortal flesh. And when he met with it he tore it limb from limb.
There was a whizzing sound, a feminine wail…another arrow…he whirled on it and slashed the weak wooden thing to pieces; splinters flew everywhere. He growled gleefully to himself, turning blood red, sadistic eyes on the archer again, smirking at the thought of tearing the boy apart…
He rose to his full height, snarling when pain streaked, white-hot and blinding, down his whole chest. Was it the samurais' blood or his own that he smelled now? He couldn't be sure and the demon really didn't care. The blood didn't matter. I can make more…he reached one clawed hand to the trickling moisture that was escaping his sides, felt it hot and sticky between his fingers, and glared at the boy, who was still shaking as he notched yet another arrow.
"You think you can stop me, boy?" he snarled, still fingering the blood as he fixed the boy with his gaze. The demon struggled to draw another breath from the hanyou's tortured lungs—the urge to cough and heave was overwhelming but the demon ignored it and gave a gurgling cackle. "I'm going to rip you open like a fish!" he shouted and started slowly forward as Koshi froze in terror, "And then I'm going to grab your guts and choke you with them for touching my Kagome!"
Then Inuyasha started, confused dimly through the haze of his evil youkai blood, turning his red eyes away from Koshi's prone, frightened form to stare at a shadow that had appeared out of nowhere, coming straight for him…the demon realized that he had been so blinded by jealousy and rage and the scent of blood that he hadn't noticed this other samurai lingering with the group. Faintly he realized that he'd seen this samurai before. Behind the warrior's girth Inuyasha saw the shape of a girl flitting by, rushing toward Koshi, and had time enough to register that it wasn't Kagome before he saw the arc of the samurai's sword swishing through the air, highlighted by the moonlight. He saw the warrior's bent and misshapen nose, the ugly squinty eyes…and the sword coming toward his throat…
And then a high-pitched voice that he'd know even if he were dead cut through the air: "SIT!"
Weight immediately pulled at his throat and the hanyou felt himself slipping downward. The samurai's sword whisked just inches away from his precious ears as he sank, face first, toward the ground. The moment he hit the dirt the grit forced itself into his mouth, his nose, his eyes…and there was a terrible jolt of stabbing pain in his side as Koshi's arrow—which the demon had never bothered to pull out—was jammed even further into Inuyasha's flesh. He screamed at it, only to find himself choking on blood and unable to draw breath steadily….
The blackness closed over his senses and the pain melted away as he retreated deep within his own mind.
Namaru's blow sliced air and he stumbled, confused. There was a thud and suddenly, directly at his feet, the samurai saw that the demon was facedown in the dirt. His blood trickled freely there, mixing with the earth to make a disgusting reddish-tinted mud. The demon screamed in pain and started coughing and gagging on its own blood for a moment before finally lying still…
Was it really dead? Better to be safe than sorry…he lifted his sword, ready to make a final slash, severing the Red Demon's head from his body…but as his sword swung upwards he felt something hard smash into him—and bite deep into his flesh, sinking deep into his gut. The sword slipped from his fingers and clattered noisily into the dust beside the unconscious and heavily bleeding demon.
Namaru gasped confusedly and touched his side, feeling his fingers come back slick with his own blood. He looked up, seeking his attacker, first looking to Koshi until he saw that Koshi was on the wrong side of him. The boy had abandoned his bow to hold the younger girl by the name of Shisuki as she shivered and cried against him. The boy was staring at Namaru in horror…no…he wasn't looking at the samurai—but he was staring at something just behind him.
Turning in that direction the samurai saw the girl that the people of this village had dragged from the river as she slowly lowered her bow, looking pale and drawn and exceptionally weak…she shot me…
Pain shot through him and he stumbled again, "Bitch!" he gasped out, "You have the shittiest aim I've ever seen!" that had to be the explanation—she'd been aiming at the demon and had missed, hitting him in the gut instead. He sank to his knees and fumbled for his sword with one hand, the other clutched at the bleeding wound and the arrow shaft that protruded from it. He closed his hands around the sword and shifted, breathing hard, moving to position himself over the demon's prostrate body, still trying to deliver the killing blow…but the girl that's shot him shouted something at him, making him pause.
"What, bitch? I'll slaughter you next if you don't…" his side hurt badly, but not enough to make him stop talking. It hadn't been his injuries that stopped his flapping mouth. The girl is aiming another arrow at me…
"Get away from Inuyasha!" she was sobbing, he could see the tears in the dim light.
Koshi spoke suddenly, yelling, "Sakana! Why are you trying to save the Red Demon! He's a monster!"
Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kilala remained stunned by the entire episode, almost like statues. Everything had happened so fast…and now they weren't sure what to do, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion like a sick dream…
Kagome was the only one who seemed free of confusion. She knew what she wanted clearly and she was determined to get it. "Get away from Inuyasha!" she shouted, ignoring Koshi's question.
Namaru looked at her for a moment, stunned stupid, but then an angry gleam entered his eyes. "I always knew that this bitch," he wheezed, wincing in pain, "Wasn't human, Koshi, you stupid weasel…" he pinned the boy with his gaze, "Kill her Koshi."
"No!" Shisuki yelled, pulling on Koshi's arms as he reached for his bow in slow motion.
The boy and the girl from the village stared into one another's eyes, a silent conversation going on between them until Shisuki looked toward Namaru, Kagome and the others. She took a deep, shivering breath, "Sakana doesn't know who the Red Demon is, she doesn't know how terrible he is."
"That's too damn bad," Namaru sneered at Shisuki, clutching his side, and then his glance flew to Koshi, "Kill the demon then, an arrow to the head." He reached down with one hand, tentatively, and started to pull Inuyasha up, grunting and cursing in pain as he did so, stumbling on both his blood and the hanyou's. But before he could lift the dreaded Red Demon anywhere Kagome rushed forward and pushed him away, tears still trickling from her eyes at the same rate that both the samurai and the hanyou were losing blood.
Namaru forced himself up, moving away from the girl and the demon, confusion written clearly over his ugly and bruised features. "You stupid bitch!" he panted, pain running through his middle continuously. His leg was slick with blood, his fingers covered in it. He used his sword as a crutch, keeping him upright as he gathered his strength, still glaring at Koshi and Kagome. "Kill her Koshi." He spat.
Koshi notched an arrow and lifted his bow, staring at Kagome without expression. Shisuki shivered at his side and shook her head desperately, but when she reached for him Koshi pushed her away. His gaze locked with Kagome's.
Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kilala jumped into action. Sango rushed to join Kagome, Miroku moved immediately to shield the women's bodies with his own. Shippo hopped to Miroku's shoulder, his fur bristled in an attempt to look threatening. Kilala transformed in the blink of an eye into a fiery, saber-toothed beast, daring both Koshi and Namaru to make a move against her companions.
Koshi's cold stare had vanished, and his bow lowered suddenly. From one to another he looked, carefully taking in all of the facts. The arrow he'd notched into his bow slipped away. Sango and Kagome huddled together, each providing the other strength. Miroku guarded them as if he were made of something as hard and as painless as stone, unflinchingly. It was clear he would take the arrow meant for Kagome without question. Shippo bristled and growled on the monk's shoulder, the green eyes lite from within by an inner fire that Koshi had never seen the like of before. The fire cat a short distance behind them snarled and growled, waiting for the first sign of attack, poised to strike. His eyes at last came to rest at the center of this motley group…the red-robed demon.
Unconscious and silent, the dog-eared monster that had attacked the samurais and killed his father figure from among them was no longer a threat. He lied, bleeding into the dirt and the grass, completely helpless. Koshi would've killed him as Namaru had instructed had it not been for Kagome's and the group's instant action. Why would they save a demon like this? And then it hit him as he stared at Kagome's tears. She isn't looking at me, she's trying to reach the wounded demon…she doesn't care whether I shoot or not…He stared at the group and a realization struck him suddenly.
"You all know each other. Not just the small youkai, Kagome, the slayer and the monk…but him too…" he gestured with one hand breathlessly at the unconscious Inuyasha. "You know him…"
When the bristling of the kitsune and the coldness of the monk lightened a little and no one spoke out against him, Koshi sagged as he knew that his thought was right. Looking to Kagome he saw the desperation in her eyes as she stared at the fallen demon, still crying silent tears…his fingers tightened over the bow. "It's true isn't it." He nodded to himself, "You all know one another and you," his voice finally reached Kagome, she looked up, her tears glistening, "You, Kagome, you love him. That's the one that you told me you loved…"
She didn't answer him but he didn't need one to be sure about what he saw so clearly in her eyes, in her face, in her actions... Pursing his lips his eyes flickered briefly before he lifted the bow so fast that none of them had time to react, the arrow was already notched again. The bowstring twanged like the cords of a guitar, the arrow shot away before anyone could stop it, Shisuki screamed…
The arrow sliced straight through Namaru's neck, stopping him mid-stride. He had been about to slice through the Shard-hunter's group, tearing as many of them apart as possible from behind before in swift revenge for what Kagome had done to him, but Koshi had seen him and reacted instinctually. Perhaps, if the samurai had been kinder to the boy over the years Koshi might've hesitated, but Namaru didn't have a compassionate bone in his massive body. He had sealed his fate with his own cruelty ages ago.
The samurai lurched, blood spurting into the air…and collapsed in a sickening heap. His sword clattered to a stop inches from where Kagome was sprawled over Inuyasha, shielding him with her own body.
A few moments of silence passed, through which none of them spoke, until finally, Kagome looked up, her tears still falling, but her eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you Kisho…" her voice quivered with emotion, her breaths were drawn in little gasps.
Koshi lowered his bow and sighed, smiling slowly at her, "It's Koshi, Kagome."
"Koshi." The girl nodded, her eyes shining with a melancholy laughter. "Thank you."
He nodded once. "I'll pray for your happiness, Kagome…" he glanced at the others, as if seeking permission, and then his gaze hardened when it landed on her again, "But I'll never be able to forgive that beast you're protecting."
Kagome looked startled, "I don't know what he did…I…he thought I was dead…"
Koshi rose to his feet, Shisuki stood up beside him, quivering and crying quietly. "He killed three samurais, and injured five others. All of them died." His face became especially hard and cold with hatred at the last part, "One of them was the man I looked to as a father."
Kagome's face was an unreadable map of emotions. Her mouth opened once, then shut, and then opened again. Finally she closed her eyes and started crying again, "I'm so sorry Kishi—Koshi!" she corrected herself only to begin sobbing some more. Her hands over Inuyasha' still body tightened, the fear and grief mingling inside her, opening like another black hole. Though she didn't know it her thoughts mimicked the hanyou's of only a matter of minutes ago: Why do things always become more complicated than they need to be?
Voices rose from the village, the people were stirring, the lights of their fires growing more and more abundant and brighter. Koshi and Shisuki looked toward it, sighing with exhaustion as one. Though they didn't see it, Miroku was staring at them with a silent glimmer in his eye: he noted where the boy's hand had strayed on the younger girl. It appeared that he was only steadying her with his grip on her shoulder, but Miroku could see the beginnings of a wonderful companionship between them…
"We need to leave—Miroku?" Sango's voice rose behind him, and the monk turned to face her, nodding, "We need you to try carrying Inuyasha…"
Silently, after Shippo had leapt from his shoulder, he knelt and took hold of the hanyou. Kagome and Sango helped, turning Inuyash carefully onto his back, only to be stunned as he started to choke and sputter, blood forthed at the corners of his mouth.
Kagome gasped, her face blanching in horror, "Oh no! No! Sango, turn him onto his stomach! Pound his back!" they worked together, turning the heavy hanyou over once again, but before they could strike him the hazily started to waken and cough on his own.
Shadows appeared at the gates, looking out to the fields in timid curiosity. The villagers' fear would soon be overcome by the thirst for answers and then the Shard-hunters would never escape. Miroku looked toward Shisuki and Koshi and bowed with respect, "I thank you, Koshi-sama and lovely Shisuki dear, for all of your help…but, if I may ask…"
Koshi nodded slowly, "Yes?"
"Could you please keep the villagers away long enough for us to escape?"
Both youths nodded together slowly, and Miroku smiled at them softly, violet eyes warm in the night, "And may you be blessed in your future life together." When his name was hissed from behind Miroku turned back and wordlessly accepted Inuyasha's heavy and bleeding body. The monk, busy with the task of moving the stricken hanyou over to where Kilala had knelt ready accept their fallen comrade, missed the stunned gazes that followed his movements as Shisuki and Koshi realized what he'd been implying for them.
They watched as a moment later the demon slayer and the monk positioned Inuyasha's limp body onto Kilala's back, with Kagome and Shippo sitting behind, supporting him, and then the fire cat leapt into the sky, quickly gaining speed as she lumbered away. Miroku and Sango followed swiftly after on foot, Sango's hair flying in the timid night wind, shining under the moonlight. They could hear Miroku's staff jangling for a long time until finally the more distant sounds of the river swallowed it up.
Mijai was leading the villagers. Armed with spears, bows and arrows, shovels, and garden hoes, anything that seemed remotely like a weapon, they stumbled toward the boy and the girl, eager to discover what had happened.
They didn't quite get that far.
The scene that lied before them made the villagers recoil with shock. Three dead samurai lied within fifteen feet of the two youths—who appeared to be the only survivors. Blood was splattered and mixed into the earth everywhere. The fields stank of the stuff. The villagers stared, disgusted, holding their hands over their mouths and noses on instinct to avoid sickness.
Mijai slunk to Koshi and Shisuki, who appeared as stunned as the rest of them, standing stiff and still as they stared out toward the river. "What the hell happened!" he demanded, gesturing helplessly around the field.
Koshi's gaze was unfocused when he turned his head in the healer's direction and whispered quietly, "A lover's quarrel."
"What! What nonsense are you babbling, Koshi?" the healer demanded, fists clenching up.
But neither answered him, and, slowly, moving as one, Koshi and Shisuki turned and walked back toward the village, leaving the villagers to gawk at the dead samurai and the pools of blood and red-tinted mud that dirtied their fields.
Dazed and frightened at the scene of the slaughter the villagers never gathered the courage to chase after the missing Shard-hunters at all.
Some distance away as the night wore on, the demon slayer, the monk, the schoolgirl, the once more tiny fire-cat demon, the kitsune youkai, and the bleeding inuhanyou made camp, thanking whatever deities they chose to worship for their escape from the village, and praying that their wounded companion would recover swiftly. But even as Kagome and Sango worked to clean and bandage his wound the hanyou's future didn't look very certain.
Shippo and Miroku tended the fire, their faces silent, gray and grave. The unspoken fear of Death's presence hovered over them. The fire was larger, hotter, and more powerful than usual, as if the heat and light might scare away such intangible threats as Death.
Inuyasha's coughing was weak but persistent, and always he brought up blood. As the girls worked it was a struggle, a torture for the hanyou to even draw breath. His body was pale and covered in a chilled sweat.
Kagome cried silently as they wrapped his wounds. "It must've been through his lungs…" she whispered, her hands shaking as she passed the bandahes toward Sango. Slowly the demon slayer nodded, but she didn't meet Kagome's worried gaze, her lips were white with how tightly she held them together, as if fighting back words she didn't want heard.
"Should we pull the arrow out…?" now Sango looked from Miroku as he tended the fire to Kagome, but neither was sure of the answer. In the quiet only the fire could be heard crackling, aside from Inuyasha's labored, wheezing breaths. And then the hanyou gave a ragged retching sound and the others all carefully looked away, not wanting to see the bloody spittle he coughed up.
It was Shippo who answered their question, "No, leave it. If you pull it out too soon he'll lose more blood."
Kagome frowned and tried to protest, unsure of the tiny kitsune's logic, "But—"
"Shippo's right, Kagome." Miroku murmured quietly, "Inuyasha's body will heal around the arrow and later we'll pull it out and he will finish healing. But for now the arrow acts as a clot…" she nodded and one last thought flitted through her, if it's punctured a lung and we pull it out the lung will collapse…she rejoined Sango as they continued to wrap.
The silence of the night dragged onward, as did the answer to the group's primary question: would Inuyasha live or die?
Endnote: CONGRATULATIONS to Tiamathwho was the official 200th reviewer! YAYS! (throws a big party and lifts Tiamath onto a big throne) THANK YOU!
THANK YOU ALL: toxiclollipop Yami Chikara (please don't boycott me! I update as soon as I can! None of the others (at least none of my favorites anyway) ever do!) SerenaClearwater cool-chick-rae lost and alone Taeniaea LukeShaehl Missyblue(I have my "Hanyou" story finished as well as it's sequel taking off, everyone's mad at me for the cliffies right now, but I also have one that's new called "I Miss You" that will eventually get really good (I hope) too, and later there will be another sequel or companion if you will to "Hanyou" which will be all about Rin and Sesshy, and I also have two more ideas in the works, maybe even three...but suggestions are always welcome) agent-doo Pyrinsomniac(sorry it wasn't Inu that killed Namaru...but Kag had to have some revenge too (grins) and I LOVE Miroku!) toots (sorry...though if someone weird kissed me outta the blue and I was already in love with someone else, I'd be too freaked out to be nice, but that's just me...) BeccaPatty(Haha! You still remind me of my friend Becca from my gym class (BIG Grin!) I Need another chappy NOW gleep-bleepity-bleep! Hehe!) Simonkal of Inuy (hello you! I know you! (smirks)) D-Chan3 (sorry no..the way I figure it is that they help protect her becuase she's sorta chosen...) Lady-Sttar Flamesofthemo0n sveta89 freekazekagura (THANK YOU! But sadly I'm mostly grown up already and although I'm pretty good getting published is difficult...thanks for supporting me though! Someday, you know, in my dreams...I'll tell you guys if I do kay?(winks)) souless one (thank you! I do try, sometimes I feel repetitive tho (blush)) inuyasha'sbabe07 (Thank you! Good to have you back!) Rinelwin Ashley Lena17 or Hikaru1617 (You never bother me!(snickers))
Sorry to admit but I don't have enough of an epilogue done to give you a preview so I just get to go post now...enjoy all! Everyone really turned out this last chapter to review an give this story a good showing! (grins proudly) I hope that you'll all check out my next projects whenever they come and I hope to continue pleasing you with my writing for a long time to come! THANK YOU! Until next update...