---Chapter 7: Safe, for Now---
There was a loud crash nearby. Kagome's head lifted up from her knees and looked around, trying to make out shapes in the dark room. She didn't know which way the door was, so she couldn't leave to find out. She also seemed to have trouble standing altogether, her knees soon gave out on her and she slid down the wall to the floor. More crashes and yelling. Soon, she recognized the loud voice. "Inuyasha?"
Her voice was scratchy, from not talking for awhile. She weakly made it to her feet again, feeling the walls for a door of any kind. After grabbing hold of the handle, she pushed it open and looked around, her eyes adjusting the dim lighting. Despite how dark the hall was, it was much brighter compared to the pitch-black room she was in moments earlier. Kagome leaned against the door to support her weight and skimmed the hallway for a hint as to which was to go. She heard a loud cracking sound to her right and someone yelling something, so she ran that way, ignoring the weakness of her knees. She wasn't sure why her legs were so wobbily right now either, maybe Naraku did it hoping she wouldn't try to leave, what an idiot. She saw a flash of red eyes and something knocked her to the ground.
"You know, if you weren't in such a rush, you might've seen me." This voice was one Kagome hadn't heard before, and she looked up from her spot on the ground. It was a woman, in a white kimono with red stripes and dark blue designs everywhere. She had a yellow obi tied around her waist, and her eyes were as dangerously red as Naraku's. Her hair was black and pulled back into a tight bun, with feathers making a contrast to her dark hair. She was pretty, no doubt about that, but of course Kagome wasn't worried about that right now.
"Who are you?"
The woman smirked and gently waved a light purple fan in front of her face, "I am Kagura, the wind sorceress."
"As lovely as that is to know, Kagura, " Kagome made it to her feet and brushed some dust off the front, "I don't really care. I'm just on my way out of here."
"Do not mock me, miko!" The wind sorceress pulled her fan back and thrusted it forward, sending a gust of wind to knock Kagome off her feet. She flew down the hall and slammed into a shelf with scrolls on it, and fell to the ground, the papers falling all over her body. Kagura was smiling as she walked over to where Kagome sat on the floor, attempting to get up, "You're lucky Naraku wants you alive, or I could've killed you just then."
The priestess rubbed her head in pain and stood up again. She heard a scream from another part of the building and grew frantic. "What's going on?!"
"Oh that. We have a visitor. He seems to want you back, as Naraku had planned he would. Either way, it shouldn't be long until that half-demon is gotten rid of."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome pushed Kagura aside and ran down the long hallway. Another gust of wind lifted her from her feet and threw her into another room. She coughed and couldn't managed to get back up. Kagura stood at the doorway and spoke, "Yes, Inuyasha. But Naraku has requested I keep you busy until he is finished killing that dog."
"Dammit!!" He grabbed his side in pain and knelt on the ground, using his sword to hold him up. Wincing, he looked down at the place his hand rested and saw his haori covered in a darker red than that of his clothing. 'I'm bleeding pretty bad...' He thought for a moment, before looking up and seeing a vine collide with his chest and send him flying across the huge room. The vine lifted him off the ground, and he lost grip on Tetsusaiga, and watched it fall to the floor. He groaned in frustration, "Where's Kagome?"
He didn't have to look up to know that Naraku was grinning sinisterly, "The miko is with Kagura."
Inuyasha's head snapped up, "What are you going to do with her?!"
"Once I take the jewel, I'll first see if she's willing to cooperate. If she isn't, I'll gladly kill her. Perhaps then you'll see her again, seeing as I'm killing you right now."
"You will not..." A smirk played on the hanyou's lips, "Cause after I'm done with you, the jewel and Kagome will be safe with me. And you'll just be dead."
Naraku dropped him to the hard wood, "If you hadn't failed to protect them both earlier, they'd still be safe."
Inuyasha glared, his golden orbs burning with hatred. He grabbed his sword up and ran towards Naraku.
"Ou...that hurt..." Kagome rubbed her ankle, watching Kagura walk towards her. The priestess sighed unhappily and searched around the room she was currently in. That's when she spotted it. She planned out a fast-thinking idea and grabbed a broken piece of the wooden stool Kagura threw her onto and threw it at the demon, distracting her momentarily. While she dodged the wood chunk, Kagome leaped to the other side of the room, wincing at the pain in her left ankle. She fell to the ground in front of a display of weapons and grabbed a bow and an arrow. Just like she had planned, Kagura looked at the girl but stopped in her tracks when she saw the arrow pointed at her, ready to be released. Kagura narrowed her eyes, "Don't even try it you little brat."
"I didn't want to have to do this to you, but you're a horribly rudeperson." Kagome pulled the string as far as she could and let go, watching the arrow be engulfed in a light purple light as it flew towards Kagura. Kagura waved her fan, veering it just off-course and it pinned itself to the wall behind her. Kagome grabbed another arrow, "I can do this all day! Now let me go!"
"You're lucky I hate Naraku."
"What...?"
Kagura left the room, leaving Kagome quite confused. She quickly shrugged it off and grabbed a quiver of arrows and the bow. She made it to her feet, limping everytime her left foot touched the ground.
Naraku sent a vine at Inuyasha, and the hanyou chopped it in half, continuing his mad sprint towards his enemy. Naraku somehow managed to dodge the sword and stabbed Inuyasha in the stomache with a different vine from his body. "You're pathetic half breed."
"He is not!" A purple light caught Naraku's vision and he dodged the sacred arrow. Inuyasha weakly looked up to see the miko he had come to rescue, basically rescuing him.
"Ah, Miko."
"I have a name you know!"
"Yes, well, so good of you to come. I was just about to finish off this worthless dog."
"He's not worthless!"
"Don't worry about it, Kagome, I'm fine." She had gone to help Inuyasha up, but he refused to let her and stood up himself. "I'm gonna make you sorry you even considered doing this!"
Inuyasha started to run at Naraku, but he spoke before Inuyasha could do anything, "I'll see you soon, Miko." And with that, a dark purple mist filled the room, blinding Kagome and Inuyasha. Kagome coughed loudly, unable to breathe in the intoxicated gas. Inuyasha warned her that it was poisonous, and broke a large hole in the wall and helped her outside into the fresh air. She winced when he set her down to her feet. "What's wrong?" He looked down at her.
"Nothing, I'm fine. Where's Naraku?"
"He's gone. He's done this more than once. He fights for about twenty minutes then takes off. He could be anywhere now."
The priestess nodded her head in understanding and looked at Inuyasha and noticed his blood-covered clothes. "You're hurt really bad!"
"Don't worry about it, this is nothing."
"Are you kidding me?! We have to get back to the village and dress your wounds!" She tugged on his sleeve and began to walk forward, only to collapse to her knees and cry out. She grabbed hold of her left ankle, willing the pain to go away. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Stupid girl, you're hurt more than me." He lifted her off the ground and headed back to the village, ignoring her protests the whole way.
Sango stepped out of the hut, worrying about the whereabouts of Kagome. She had gone for a walk early this morning, and it was close to sunset. Miroku followed her out and looked around, "Inuyasha seems to be missing as well. He hasn't returned all day."
"Well that's expected though, he didn't want to be stuck here anyway. But Kagome's always back by noon! I'm really worried."
Miroku tried to lighten the situation, "Do you worry about me when I am gone longer than intended?"
A blush graced the demon slayer's face and she attempted to stay calm, "No, of course not! You're a companion in battle, so I do wonder sometimes, but I never worry!"
"Ah, is that because you know how strong I am?"
"No."
"Oh."
They saw someone in the distance coming out of the forest and stopped talking to see if it was who they hoped. When the figure got closer, they recognized the long silver hair, and could see he was carrying someone, who had long ago given up on trying to walk on her own. Sango smiled, "Kagome! You're okay!"
Inuyasha stopped in front of them, "Yea yea, she's fine. Thanks to me."
"You're so cocky. My goodness." Kagome rolled her eyes, and looked at Sango, "So, what was it like being a day without having to protect me?"
"A little boring. He didn't help much either." She motioned towards Miroku then continued, "And what does Inuyasha mean thanks to him? Why is he covered in blood? What happened!?"
"One question at a time, sheesh." Inuyasha took Kagome into the hut and sat her on the floor by the fire Kaede had made recently. Sango and Miroku followed, seating themselves across from Inuyasha and Kagome, "So...?"
Kagome interrupted, "Where's Kaede and Shippo?"
"Out getting us some dinner for the night. Now tell us what exactly happened today." Miroku answered, eager to know what was going on.
Inuyasha explained the whole thing, leaving out the details, like how Kagome saved his butt, and how he was losing. "And after I got rid of Kagura, I helped Inuyasha before Naraku could hurt him anymore." Kagome reminded him, ruining his heroic story completely. Miroku laughed, and Inuyasha reached across the table in front of them and wacked him on the head.
"In any case, Inuyasha refuses to let me dress his wounds, but won't even let me walk myself home!" She pointed to the stubborn dog demon next to her and he sighed, pulling the shirt of his hoari off, showing small cuts on his stomache and side, where there used to be large gashes only hours ago. "What?! How-"
"You're a priestess, you should know that demons heal quickly. And I thought I was dumb."
"You are." Shippo bounced into the hut, seating himself happily in Kagome's lap, avoiding Inuyasha's fist.
Kaede followed, setting down some food on the small table, watching as everyone helped themselves. She sat by the fire and was told the same story again. Shippo piped up, "So why can't you walk Kagome?"
"It's nothing really. I just hurt my ankle a little."
"A little?! You took two steps and fell over! You need to stop hurting yourself and treating it like no big deal."
"You're one to talk! I just wanted to help and you wouldn't let me!"
"Cause I'm half demon!"
"So what?!"
"So I don't need your help!"
"Inuyasha?"
"What now?"
"SIT!"
"AH! HOT SOUP! AH! "
Well, glad I got that chapter out. I was inspired while reading some other fanfictions so managed to write one. I'm not sure about my other stories, since I'm hitting writer's block now. Anyways, enjoy! Tell me what you think and if you have any ideas!
---Sasami---
