Tenshi Houshi
Chapter Four
Fate's Games
"Sango, to your left!" Kouga shouted over the roar of the demons. Sango spun to the left pulling Hiraikotsu. Blood spurted in all directions as the boomerang ripped through the demon's flesh.
Ever since nightfall, demons had suddenly gone into a riot of chaos. They attacked anything, and Kagome was already wounded on her ankle. Inu Yasha spent more time defending her then killing the demons. Ayame and Kouga were defending, trying to device some plan to rid themselves of the brainless demons.
Hearing a shriek, Kouga spun around. He gasped and leapt forward spinning his leg around to kick the demon. Ayame fell to ground and quickly tried to stand. Kouga landed next to her and held her up. Ayame whimpered and clutched her ankle as blood seeped through.
"Ayame, you're hurt," he whispered. Ayame nodded and opened her eyes.
"I don't know... if I can keep up," she gasped out. "I can't walk, there's too much pain."
Kouga clenched his teeth and glanced around. The sun was beginning to rise, and it seemed that most of the demons were calling it off for the moment. He turned his head around looking deep into the forest. With a growl of annoyance, he pulled Ayame into his arms and sped off, deep into the forest.
Sango turned upon hearing a wind form. She watched as Kouga raced off. Why had he left? She threw the thought aside as she continued to do away with the demons.
As the first rays of light touched the land, it seemed the demons had retreated. With a sigh of relief, she sank to her knees. She lifted a hand wiping the back of it against her cheek to wipe the small stream of blood away from her lip.
*~*~*
"Sango-chan, please eat something," Kagome pleaded. Sango reluctantly took the offered food and simply nibbled it.
"Dusk is approaching, where the hell is Kouga?!" she snarled suddenly angry. "He agreed to fight."
"I'm right here."
They all turned around and gasped in surprise to a very exhausted looking Kouga.
"Kouga-kun, what happened? You look so worn out!"
Kouga let out an exasperated sigh. "You have... no... idea."
Inu Yasha choked on his ramen spitting it back into the cup. He lightly sniffed the air a second time to make sure he was right.
"You were gone for a whole day doing that?!" he shouted. Kouga ignored him as he slowly sat against a tree taking some offered food from Kagome.
"Well it was the smart thing to do. Think, Inu Yasha, what if you die during this battle? You won't have any heirs."
Kagome wrinkled her nose suddenly realizing what the two were talking about. "But... where's Ayame?"
Kouga growled softly. "She's... where she'll be safe. I don't want her to get hurt."
Kagome turned back to Sango. She wasn't eating again. She was staring out at the stars. I'm coming, Miroku, she vowed silently. She unconciously set her cheek into her palm and sighed softly. She closed her eyes listening intently to her surroundings. She heard a rustle in the bushes and was up in an instant. Her pounding heart slowed as Kirara walked out holding a small lizard demon. Sango chuckled softly and knelt down stroking the fire cat's back.
"Kirara, don't scare me like that," she scolded softly. Kirara simply meowed in understanding and set down its catch to eat. Kouga sat down cross legged and breathed in deeply. Suddenly his eyes snapped open and his head spun to the left.
"They're coming."
Moments later Kirara sat up with a start and transformed. Inu Yasha's ears swirvled around slowly. Kagome eyed him nervously.
"What are you doing?"
"Counting."
Kagome muttered something, Inu Yasha cursed softly at the same time. Kouga growled softly as he crouched. Sango stood, holding Hiraikotsu tightly. The staff jingled in the wind.
They heard a familiar, dark chuckle.
"Naraku," Sango whispered. Instantly a dark miasma sprayed out directly at them. Kagome shrieked in surprise stumbling back. Kouga quickly scooped the miko into his arms and leapt to a high branch before setting her onto it and sliding down. Kagome steadied herself on the tree before notching an arrow ready to fire at anything.
Sango tied on the poison mask just as Shippo took shelter on her shoulder.
"Shippo-chan, go with Kagome, you're not safe down here."
The kit quickly did as he was told. Just as he got to the branch, the demons attacked. Kagome let out a squeak as one tackled the tree, knocking it over. She hit the ground letting out a cough at the exhale of air. She was knocked unconcious.
"Kagome!" Inu Yasha cried, bolting for her. Miasma sprayed towards him from the front forcing him to a halt. A figure erupted from it, a man in a purple and black yukata. And it wasn't a kugutsu...
"Naraku, move out of my way!!"
He only laughed. He lifted a hand, letting his arm turn into the deadly vines. Inu Yasha covered his nose with the sleeve of his haori as the miasma surrounded him, clouding his view. He growled softly, feeling defenseless. He felt something press against his back and jumped with a start. He turned his head back and realized it was only Kouga.
"Find him?" he asked. Inu Yasha shook his head. Kouga nodded in response as they spun around to opposite sides, still back to back. They heard Naraku's sinister laugh return.
"You can't find forever!" Kouga shouted.
"That's true."
Kouga strained his ears as he heard a strange whistling noise. His hair started to stand on end. Something wasn't right.
He spun around kicking Inu Yasha to the ground who cried out in confusion. Kouga braced himself. This is it...
"What the hell-" Inu Yasha stopped short as the vines suddenly erupted all around Kouga, through him, where he once stood. Kouga gasped softly as his body fell limp in the mass of vines. His eyes glazed over and half closed.
"Inu..." he whispered. Inu Yasha quickly stood and neared him, almost afraid. He hesitantly cupped Kouga's chin to hold his head up. Kouga glanced up, locking his eyes into Inu Yasha's.
"Inu... Yasha... kill... kill him... please..."
Inu Yasha nodded solemnly. His eyes widened as Kouga managed to lift a hand and set it on his arm.
"And..."
He gasped sharply as his body trembled. His hand tightened on Inu Yasha's arm.
"T-tell Ayame... tell her I'm sorry..."
Inu Yasha nodded and hid his face behind his bangs as Kouga's spirit gave out and his hand slid away from his arm.
"I will avenge you too, Kouga."
Inu Yasha turned around looking at Sango who had a pained expression. Inu Yasha nodded to her as he drew Tetsusaiga. He raised it and hesitated a moment. He bit his lower lip as he pulled the sword down creating the Wind Scar. The miasma dissipated before them creating a clear field. He heard Sango cry out and spun around.
Sango clutched her hip where Naraku's vine had pierced it slightly. She watched him leap down from a tree.
"Hiraikotsu!" she thrusted the boomerang towards him. It hit him dead on. Sango raised her hand to catch it... but it didn't come.
"What the-" Naraku stuttered as the staff began to burn away at him. "What the hell?!"
Sango rushed towards him pulling the boomerang away. She pulled the staff from it and slammed it against Naraku's side who let out a cry of pain in response. Houshi-sama's staff...? She thought to herself. A wicked smirk covered her face as she thrusted it against him over and over, inflicting more damage each time. Naraku staggered back after a moment, smoke litterally erupting from his body. He was breathing heavily and trembling.
"You shall not kill me that easily!" he shouted desperately, sending his vines out. Sango dodged them easily.
"You missed!"
"Look again, wrench."
Sango spun around and gasped just as the vines penetrated Kagome's frail body.
"Kagome-chan!!!"
Inu Yasha spun towards the shriek of pain. His body froze and his blood ran cold. "Ka... Kagome..."
"Bastard!!" Sango screamed, jamming the staff through his chest. Naraku choked on his breathe as he slumped to his knees. He chuckled softly as his body began to disappear.
"You may have killed me..." he rasped out. He threw dirty looks towards the dead Kagome and Kouga. "...but... but I've killed two of your friends, and one has perished of his curse."
Sango bowed her head, ripping the staff upwards. Naraku let out one last cry before he was gone. Sango slowly slid to her knees, tears falling from her pained eyes.
"It's over..." she whispered before her body gave out.
*~*~*
"You did it!" a voice called out to her. She cracked her eyes open, her vision was blurred.
"You killed Naraku!"
She gasped, shooting straight up, a wide smile on her face.
"Houshi-sama?!"
His robes were torn and tattered, and the flap to his Kazaana rosary was down. His face was filthed with dirt, as was hers. Her taijiya armor had cracks in a few places and there were torn spots, but she didn't care. He was alive!
"Houshi-sama!" she cried out, leaping up to him. He locked an arm around her waist. She froze a moment... seeing that pained look in his eyes, but it faded away to happiness. She slowly lifted a hand to his face, touching his cheek, making sure he was there. She smiled happily as he slid his hand into hers and lifted it, crossing his fingers through hers.
"You did it..." he whispered again.
Chapter Four
Fate's Games
"Sango, to your left!" Kouga shouted over the roar of the demons. Sango spun to the left pulling Hiraikotsu. Blood spurted in all directions as the boomerang ripped through the demon's flesh.
Ever since nightfall, demons had suddenly gone into a riot of chaos. They attacked anything, and Kagome was already wounded on her ankle. Inu Yasha spent more time defending her then killing the demons. Ayame and Kouga were defending, trying to device some plan to rid themselves of the brainless demons.
Hearing a shriek, Kouga spun around. He gasped and leapt forward spinning his leg around to kick the demon. Ayame fell to ground and quickly tried to stand. Kouga landed next to her and held her up. Ayame whimpered and clutched her ankle as blood seeped through.
"Ayame, you're hurt," he whispered. Ayame nodded and opened her eyes.
"I don't know... if I can keep up," she gasped out. "I can't walk, there's too much pain."
Kouga clenched his teeth and glanced around. The sun was beginning to rise, and it seemed that most of the demons were calling it off for the moment. He turned his head around looking deep into the forest. With a growl of annoyance, he pulled Ayame into his arms and sped off, deep into the forest.
Sango turned upon hearing a wind form. She watched as Kouga raced off. Why had he left? She threw the thought aside as she continued to do away with the demons.
As the first rays of light touched the land, it seemed the demons had retreated. With a sigh of relief, she sank to her knees. She lifted a hand wiping the back of it against her cheek to wipe the small stream of blood away from her lip.
*~*~*
"Sango-chan, please eat something," Kagome pleaded. Sango reluctantly took the offered food and simply nibbled it.
"Dusk is approaching, where the hell is Kouga?!" she snarled suddenly angry. "He agreed to fight."
"I'm right here."
They all turned around and gasped in surprise to a very exhausted looking Kouga.
"Kouga-kun, what happened? You look so worn out!"
Kouga let out an exasperated sigh. "You have... no... idea."
Inu Yasha choked on his ramen spitting it back into the cup. He lightly sniffed the air a second time to make sure he was right.
"You were gone for a whole day doing that?!" he shouted. Kouga ignored him as he slowly sat against a tree taking some offered food from Kagome.
"Well it was the smart thing to do. Think, Inu Yasha, what if you die during this battle? You won't have any heirs."
Kagome wrinkled her nose suddenly realizing what the two were talking about. "But... where's Ayame?"
Kouga growled softly. "She's... where she'll be safe. I don't want her to get hurt."
Kagome turned back to Sango. She wasn't eating again. She was staring out at the stars. I'm coming, Miroku, she vowed silently. She unconciously set her cheek into her palm and sighed softly. She closed her eyes listening intently to her surroundings. She heard a rustle in the bushes and was up in an instant. Her pounding heart slowed as Kirara walked out holding a small lizard demon. Sango chuckled softly and knelt down stroking the fire cat's back.
"Kirara, don't scare me like that," she scolded softly. Kirara simply meowed in understanding and set down its catch to eat. Kouga sat down cross legged and breathed in deeply. Suddenly his eyes snapped open and his head spun to the left.
"They're coming."
Moments later Kirara sat up with a start and transformed. Inu Yasha's ears swirvled around slowly. Kagome eyed him nervously.
"What are you doing?"
"Counting."
Kagome muttered something, Inu Yasha cursed softly at the same time. Kouga growled softly as he crouched. Sango stood, holding Hiraikotsu tightly. The staff jingled in the wind.
They heard a familiar, dark chuckle.
"Naraku," Sango whispered. Instantly a dark miasma sprayed out directly at them. Kagome shrieked in surprise stumbling back. Kouga quickly scooped the miko into his arms and leapt to a high branch before setting her onto it and sliding down. Kagome steadied herself on the tree before notching an arrow ready to fire at anything.
Sango tied on the poison mask just as Shippo took shelter on her shoulder.
"Shippo-chan, go with Kagome, you're not safe down here."
The kit quickly did as he was told. Just as he got to the branch, the demons attacked. Kagome let out a squeak as one tackled the tree, knocking it over. She hit the ground letting out a cough at the exhale of air. She was knocked unconcious.
"Kagome!" Inu Yasha cried, bolting for her. Miasma sprayed towards him from the front forcing him to a halt. A figure erupted from it, a man in a purple and black yukata. And it wasn't a kugutsu...
"Naraku, move out of my way!!"
He only laughed. He lifted a hand, letting his arm turn into the deadly vines. Inu Yasha covered his nose with the sleeve of his haori as the miasma surrounded him, clouding his view. He growled softly, feeling defenseless. He felt something press against his back and jumped with a start. He turned his head back and realized it was only Kouga.
"Find him?" he asked. Inu Yasha shook his head. Kouga nodded in response as they spun around to opposite sides, still back to back. They heard Naraku's sinister laugh return.
"You can't find forever!" Kouga shouted.
"That's true."
Kouga strained his ears as he heard a strange whistling noise. His hair started to stand on end. Something wasn't right.
He spun around kicking Inu Yasha to the ground who cried out in confusion. Kouga braced himself. This is it...
"What the hell-" Inu Yasha stopped short as the vines suddenly erupted all around Kouga, through him, where he once stood. Kouga gasped softly as his body fell limp in the mass of vines. His eyes glazed over and half closed.
"Inu..." he whispered. Inu Yasha quickly stood and neared him, almost afraid. He hesitantly cupped Kouga's chin to hold his head up. Kouga glanced up, locking his eyes into Inu Yasha's.
"Inu... Yasha... kill... kill him... please..."
Inu Yasha nodded solemnly. His eyes widened as Kouga managed to lift a hand and set it on his arm.
"And..."
He gasped sharply as his body trembled. His hand tightened on Inu Yasha's arm.
"T-tell Ayame... tell her I'm sorry..."
Inu Yasha nodded and hid his face behind his bangs as Kouga's spirit gave out and his hand slid away from his arm.
"I will avenge you too, Kouga."
Inu Yasha turned around looking at Sango who had a pained expression. Inu Yasha nodded to her as he drew Tetsusaiga. He raised it and hesitated a moment. He bit his lower lip as he pulled the sword down creating the Wind Scar. The miasma dissipated before them creating a clear field. He heard Sango cry out and spun around.
Sango clutched her hip where Naraku's vine had pierced it slightly. She watched him leap down from a tree.
"Hiraikotsu!" she thrusted the boomerang towards him. It hit him dead on. Sango raised her hand to catch it... but it didn't come.
"What the-" Naraku stuttered as the staff began to burn away at him. "What the hell?!"
Sango rushed towards him pulling the boomerang away. She pulled the staff from it and slammed it against Naraku's side who let out a cry of pain in response. Houshi-sama's staff...? She thought to herself. A wicked smirk covered her face as she thrusted it against him over and over, inflicting more damage each time. Naraku staggered back after a moment, smoke litterally erupting from his body. He was breathing heavily and trembling.
"You shall not kill me that easily!" he shouted desperately, sending his vines out. Sango dodged them easily.
"You missed!"
"Look again, wrench."
Sango spun around and gasped just as the vines penetrated Kagome's frail body.
"Kagome-chan!!!"
Inu Yasha spun towards the shriek of pain. His body froze and his blood ran cold. "Ka... Kagome..."
"Bastard!!" Sango screamed, jamming the staff through his chest. Naraku choked on his breathe as he slumped to his knees. He chuckled softly as his body began to disappear.
"You may have killed me..." he rasped out. He threw dirty looks towards the dead Kagome and Kouga. "...but... but I've killed two of your friends, and one has perished of his curse."
Sango bowed her head, ripping the staff upwards. Naraku let out one last cry before he was gone. Sango slowly slid to her knees, tears falling from her pained eyes.
"It's over..." she whispered before her body gave out.
*~*~*
"You did it!" a voice called out to her. She cracked her eyes open, her vision was blurred.
"You killed Naraku!"
She gasped, shooting straight up, a wide smile on her face.
"Houshi-sama?!"
His robes were torn and tattered, and the flap to his Kazaana rosary was down. His face was filthed with dirt, as was hers. Her taijiya armor had cracks in a few places and there were torn spots, but she didn't care. He was alive!
"Houshi-sama!" she cried out, leaping up to him. He locked an arm around her waist. She froze a moment... seeing that pained look in his eyes, but it faded away to happiness. She slowly lifted a hand to his face, touching his cheek, making sure he was there. She smiled happily as he slid his hand into hers and lifted it, crossing his fingers through hers.
"You did it..." he whispered again.