Chapter Three
A/U: I'm sorry to all my readers, for long waits between updates, but it is High school, and exhaustion from all the Band and Physical Training in ROTC. And homework, as well. I often lack the energy to haul my butt off my couch (because I don't like beds. Couches are better! ), and go to bed at 9 to 9:30 PM. I'm sorry, but I will most likely only have one update per week to two weeks. Friday nights, I've got football games, and the next one is several counties over. Nearly in the state's capital. So, this is the last update for a bit.
Kagome stared at the winged-being with fear, hoping that InuYasha would be able to get to her. Though, he didn't know that she was gone, and there was no way of telling if the sun had risen, yet. The being did not wield a primitive rifle, any more, but a large sword.
"I'll be sure to end this slowly, so that boy can watch you die so painfully. But, until I depart, you are at my will." The winged female grinned with malice as she spoke, raising her blade. Kagome backed away a few steps, feeling her back press against the wall. A gasp escaped the miko's lips once she realized that it had been foolish to come there so soon after that dream; or, at least without the rest of the Inu-Tachi following her.
"Kagome," InuYasha's voice called through the forest, his nose twitching all the while. He was trailing her scent, the sun just having risen. He enjoyed his hanyou body better and regaining his senses and, he was more powerful. The rest of the Inu-Tachi were all asleep, finding sunrise far too early to wake up.
Pausing at the mouth of a large cave, he stared into the darkness with bewilderment. The inu hanyou continued his anxious strides, attempting to enter the cave. When the boy tried to enter, an extremely powerful barrier fought with the same amount of power as Mt. Hakurei's barrier. It was extremely painful to try to fight against, though it was so well hidden, until struck. InuYasha quickly leapt back from the barrier and fingered the hilt of his Demon Fang. Removing the blade from its hilt, the seemingly useless katana transformed into a tremendous and mighty sword. The transformation did not cease there, as the blade glowed red.
His voice quickly erupted as a battle cry, "TESSAIGA!" The demonic blade struck down on the barrier and the two powerful forces fought for control. The barrier reigned victorious, emitting a large discharge and thrusting the Fang out of the inu hanyou's grasp. The sword landed on the ground, with enough force to cause it to stab into the ground and stand on its own accord. "Damn it…" His voice muttered in frustration, knowing that his Demon Fang couldn't break through the barrier.
Within the cave, the wounded miko was quickly losing consciousness. She felt that the situation was hopeless, having a slim chance of surviving. Kagome lay on the ground, watching the being that had made her known through her dreams, was now trying to kill her- and succeeding.
"I won't kill you, right now. I'll make the boy watch you perish, seeing as he is so fond of you. This blade was tipped with poison, if you are not yet aware… This isn't some shit like Tsubaki tried to pull…"
Kagome quickly interrupted, "How do you know of our encounter with Tsubaki?"
"It's hard to not notice the death of a Dark Priestess that powerful, and so corrupted, to take the body of a Hellish ogre. Don't think me as so naive. This poison will cause you extreme pain, with no sure sign of recovery, or Death." The winged girl unfolded her large wings and departed the same way she did in the teenage miko's dream, though the roof of the cave.
Upon her departure, the barrier vanished with her. The inu hanyou raided the cave, following the growing smell of Kagome's blood. He saw Kagome through the darkness, his amber eyes piercing the darkness.
InuYasha's voice erupted through the silence, "Kagome!" The miko was quickly slipping into unconsciousness, and could feel her body begin to numb. A cold sweat beaded on her brow as a fever was quickly developing. The woman was right, her body was aching and burning, but those sensations were rapidly growing more painful. Her blood pooled and streamed across the floor of the cave as the crimson liquid continued to pour from her body.
The boy quickly sprinted to the girl's side, feeling his feet slipping on a warm fluid that filled the inu with rage. An indefinable scent also lingered, but was quickly being drowned by the stench of the vital fluid. InuYasha quickly picked the blood-drenched body off the ground, cradling her wounded, pained form in his now delicate arms. He felt a war ensue between his human and demon blood, something about the place they now dwelled in unsettling and provocative. He hurriedly, but gently, picked up the high school priestess and cradled her like a father did to his child. He carried her so he wouldn't worsen her wound, but rushed out of the cave to escape his demonic urge.
Storming into the hut, InuYasha glared around to his drowsy companions. His anger only worsened to see they were just awakening.
"What the Hell are all of you just sitting around for," His voice boomed, giving the slumbering Kirara and Shippou a rude awakening.
A monk's concerned voice spoke, finally, "InuYasha, what happened? Where have you two been this morning?" The taiji-ya looked over her blood-soaked friends, all of the blood belonging to Kagome. It poured from her large wounds, which ran her through, completely. Her white blouse was now either vermillion, or a crimson red.
"I found her in a cave, I don't know what she was doing there, but she's got a terrible fever, and it's been worsening by each minute." The inu hanyou's reply came, laying the unconscious girl on a mat, carefully.
A young kitsune's voice quickly erupted, "Kagome, what happened! InuYasha, how did this happen!"
Low-voice and snarling, "I told you, I don't know how this happened!" Kaede looked over the miko's bleeding form and began quickly retrieving bandages and herbal remedies to place over the gashes. InuYasha realized that Kagome's shirt would have to be removed to efficiently bandage her wounds, so he respectfully and silently stood up, temporarily departing from the hut.
Sango glared at Miroku, tightly grasping his right ear in her fingers and dragging him outside, as well.
"Come on, hentai," Her voice growled. The monk's voice let out a nervous and slightly frightened chuckle, tinted with the agonizing pain of being pulled by his ear.
