Chapter 12: Haunting Moon Phase
Kagome stared down at the jewel in her hand, her chest rising and falling as her breath began to slow to its usual pace. Her hand began to shake from weakness and she dropped it down to her lap, the jewel falling back against her collarbone. She sighed softly, the air unsteady and shaky as if left her mouth.
"Kagome!" Sango shouted when the girl refused to answer or make any notion to show that she had heard her. Placing her hand on her shoulder she rocked her gently and brushed back the bangs from her sweaty face. "Please say something to me." She whispered, fearing that her friend still had yet to wake up and her eyes were only open temporarily.
Taking hold of Kagome's hand, Miroku stroked his thumb over her fingers and rubbed his hand along her back for warmth. 'Is she still asleep?' He wondered when she was still not responsive. She was still so cold and trembling beneath his hand. "Kagome?" He called her name quietly, leaning a bit to the side to catch a glimpse of her distant eyes.
Blinking in shock and slowly looking down to her hand, she saw another's over hers and panicked slightly. Leading her eyes up the man's arm she spotted Miroku's face and his concerned expression, and tightened her eyebrows together in a confused manner. "Miroku?" When she saw him smile, her hearing began to clear and the first thing she heard was Sango's soft voice calling her name. Looking in the other direction, she saw the demon slayer's face light up and was embraced unexpectedly.
Sango pressed her cheek into Kagome's shoulder and laughed softly in relief. "I'm so happy to see you awake." She said as she released her and wiped her eyes free of the tears that wanted to fall. "We didn't know if you'd make it through ok."
A small smile appeared on Kagome's face but it slowly started to fade when her memory began to return to her. She remembered Inuyasha and what he had done to her without being aware at all. Lowering her eyes to her leg she touched where she recalled being injured and winced when her fingers made contact above the sheets. Miroku and Sango started talking to her again but she had her mind on something else. Lifting her face she looked around the room for the hanyou and found no trace of him what so ever. "Where's Inuyasha?" She asked, interrupting Miroku right in the middle of his sentence.
Miroku shut his mouth at her question and looked around the room shaking his head. "I don't know. He left a while ago. Seeing you like this must have been too difficult for him." He said, staring straight into her eyes as she waited and hoped for an exact location of where he was.
Her expression fell to one of disappointment and she turned away from the monk's gaze. "I need to see him." She whispered as she looked out the small window to the darkening sky outside, a determined frown on her face as she spoke. The room went silent at her request and she looked back at Miroku. "I need to see him. Please take me to Inuyasha." She demanded in a slightly stern voice.
Sango looked over to the monk and placed her hand on her friend's arm. "Kagome…" She paused as Kagome looked back at her, the same look in her eyes she had given Miroku and she had to push herself to continue speaking. "You're injured. It's best if we don't move you around anywhere until you're better."
Shaking her head slowly side to side, Kagome moved the exterminator's hand away and started to hoist herself off the futon. "No it's ok. I'll be fine. I just need to-" Her voice stopped and she pressed her lips tightly together to hold back her whimper. Hands suddenly took her around her shoulders and she was slowly lowered back down onto the futon. "You don't understand." She said, gasping for air when she was sitting upright again.
Miroku watched her and felt sympathetic for her desperate attempts to find the half demon. "No. We don't understand." She looked at him in shock and he smiled slightly against his will. "We don't know where Inuyasha is but I'm sure if we look for him he'll come to us."
Kagome's face immediately lit up and a bright smile of appreciation appeared across her lips. "Thank you Miroku." She said as he started to help her to her feet. Stumbling a bit with her footing, she leaned against the monk for support to gain her balance and he wrapped his arm around her lower back. As they were about to take a step forward, another arm went around her and she gasped when Sango lifted her arms up and over her shoulder. "Sango?"
Smiling, Sango shrugged and started to lead towards the doorway, picking up Kagome's bow on the way. "It'll be easier to find him with three pairs of eyes and all of our scents together." She said, not looking down to the girl or the monk as they stepped through the doorway and onto the village's street.
Relieved and very thankful for having such companions, Kagome was led through the village and into a random direction they guessed to be where he could have headed. 'Where are you Inuyasha?' She wondered to herself, a little concerned that he wasn't there when she awoke. Looking up to the sky, she bit her lip when she saw how dark it was quickly becoming. The clouds were tinted orange and purple and changed colours constantly as the sun sank below the land. Her heart began to race in panic when she remembered what night it was tonight. "It's the new moon tonight." She spoke out loud, still looking at the sky as they entered the dark forest.
Miroku caught a quick glance from Sango then looked down at Kagome. "You sure?" When she nodded he became very alert and worried about what could happen. According to Inuyasha, Sesshomaru was still out there and on the prowl for fresh blood. Even Kagome's would do…no…it would probably make him the happiest demon alive. He kept a look out all around them and started to walk a bit quicker than before. "Then we've got to find him." With Sesshomaru on the loose and Inuyasha turning into a human soon, he knew without a doubt the demon would strike him at his most vulnerable point.
Kagome knew exactly what he was thinking just by the look on his face and she was just as worried, if not even more. The minutes dragged on like hours as they walked in the same direction and she could've sworn she'd looked up to the sky at least fifty times by now. Just as she was about to speak, the trees in front of their path were smashed to the ground, a large foot falling from the sky and crushing them underneath its weight. Kagome gasped as she was led into safety and set down against a tree.
Strapping her boomerang from her shoulder, Sango glanced down at Kagome to make sure she was ok before turning to face the demon. "Stay right there Kagome and don't move." She instructed then ran towards the youkai who had disrupted their plan. Sliding to a stop she threw her weapon over her shoulder and watched it spin through the demon's arm.
The demon's scream of pain was piercing to the ear and Kagome shuddered at the noise. "But what about-" Miroku's lifting of his staff from beside her interrupted her and she shut her mouth. The serious expression on his face told her that they hadn't forgotten and they'd be back soon. She watched him run off towards the demon without a word and she leaned forward to see their battle. The pain in her leg increased suddenly and she winced at the burning sensation that went right down to her toes. 'I need to find him now.' Rolling over onto her other leg she tucked it under her body and, using her hands against the tree for support she lifted herself on shaky knees to her feet. Letting out a long sigh of the breath she had held in, she frowned and let go of the tree. The first steps were difficult and she wanted to scream out and cry but moments later, having her teeth gritted and fists clenched, her leg grew numb and she moved more swiftly with a heavy limp.
Sango looked over her shoulder as she ran around the demon's side and gasped when she spotted Kagome heading out alone. "Kagome no! Come back here! It's too dangerous to go out by yourself!" She shouted, running out to catch up but was stopped by the demon's hand that scrapped across the ground and pushed into her boomerang, forcing her backwards.
With a frustrated frown upon his face, Miroku sliced his staff through the demon's fingers and turned his head just in time to see her disappear into the darkness of the forest. "Damnit." He muttered as the demon came down on him again and made it impossible for them to escape. He knew by the time he and Sango were finished destroying it there would be no way they'd be able to find her.
Kagome could hear them shouting after her but she didn't want to stop. If she waited for them they'd lose all hope in finding Inuyasha alive. The sky above began to slowly turn to a navy blue and she knew time was running short. Ignoring the searing pain in her leg that was spreading up her body, she kept moving, using trees to take away some of the pressure as she walked.
Sesshomaru dropped his bloody hand to the ground and helped his body stagger to his feet. Glaring at the hanyou, he used his arm to wipe away at the blood on the corner of his mouth. He was angered that his hanyou brother had figured out his weakness but even more angered by the fact that he thought he could kill him so easily because of it now. "Don't be so sure Inuyasha. I am still far strong than you'll ever be. It is only a minor weakness." He spat through aspirated breaths for air.
Observing the demon as he bent over and picked up his sword again with a trembling hand, he chuckled and pierced the Tetseiga into the ground beside him to lean his arm against it. "Is that so Sesshomaru? It seems you can hardly hold your sword with a steady hand." He taunted, grinning at how easily he could mock his brother.
The grip around his sword tightened and his upper lip slightly curled with rage. "You better watch yourself Inuyasha. I hate to inform you but you will not make it to morning." Dashing from his spot, he appeared right in front of the hanyou and sliced the blade of his sword through the flesh on his shoulder. He smirked as he had released some of his locked up anger and stress. Leaping over the hanyou, he pulled his sword back and attempted an attack from behind.
Inuyasha spun on his heels, the tip of the Tetseiga circling around to catch the blade of the Tokijin. He furrowed his eyebrows and replayed what Sesshomaru had said through his mind. 'Won't make it to morning?' As he pushed his sword into the demon's his eyes lifted above the demon's head to see the darkening sky. A shiver of a haunting realization went down his spine like a cold breath and sent goosebumps all over his skin. 'He's right.' He looked back into the youkai's evil eyes and nearly had his breath stolen from him. 'Does he know this is the night of the new moon? If I turn human while I'm fighting I really won't make it.' Shoving the demon backwards he charged him and swung his blade through the air until it hit the Tokijin. 'I've got to kill him before that happens!'
Sesshomaru dug his toes into the ground and balanced his weight against Inuyasha's. "Something scare you little brother? You've suddenly become agitated." He teased, his fangs glistening as he spoke. He knew something was up. Inuyasha's scent was shifting back and forth from a demon to a human as if battling till one conquered. He didn't totally understand but by the look in the hanyou's eyes, he had nothing to fear.
"Agitated? Of course not." Inuyasha grunted through grit fangs. His strength was diminishing rapidly and he was having a bit of trouble matching the youkai's weight against him. As his feet began to slide back across the dirt ground, he removed one hand from the hilt and raised it to the side of the demon's face. "I'm only anxious to watch you die!" He shouted and slashed his claws through the skin on the demon's cheek. He sensed Sesshomaru weaken and batted his sword away with his own. "Let's see how you like this!"
The blood that now covered his cheek had splashed into his eyes and caused his vision to blur with a slight tint of red. He growled loudly and spun around to find the hanyou but was too late. A searing pain ripped through his side, sending so much pain through his body that the Tokijin fell from his hand and clattered to the ground. His breath blew out of his mouth in one large gust as the pain choked up his throat. Lifting his eyes, he looked at the hanyou then down to the sword that had entered his body. "How could…I don't understand…Why were…" His muscles tightened and he pressed his lips together as the sword was roughly removed and he was shoved to the ground.
Inuyasha looked down at the demon with a heavy frown upon his face. He knew better than to celebrate now. In only a few seconds after watching his brother squirm, he would drive the blade of the Tetseiga through the demon's heart and send him back to hell. But if he stalled for too long he would become human and Sesshomaru would be the one to kill him. There was no doubt about it. His fingers stretched around the hilt of his sword and he could already begin to feel his blood cooling and the transformation start to make its affect. "I'll end this now Sesshomaru." He said and lifted his sword with two hands over his head.
Sesshomaru's shoulders hunched at the words spoken towards him so confidently. The Tokijin was right at his feet but still too far away from him to grab and protect himself from Inuyasha's upcoming blow. His claws dug into the dirt, as he looked up into his hanyou brother's eyes that were, surprisingly enough, fierce and full of hate. "Well done Inuyasha. You defeated me all on your own." He choked out, coughing at the end of his speech.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "Shut up! You're just ashamed that you were beaten by a half-demon! Don't even think about giving me praise! I'm not as weak as you thought I was!" He paused and bent his knees slightly to increase the amount of power he could put into his swing. "This is for Kagome and all of us and anyone else you hurt!" His battle cry lifted to the sky and he thrust his sword down into the chest of the demon with all the strength he had left.
'I have to find him quick.' Kagome told herself as she limped her way through the forest. It had grown dark so quickly and she was almost positive the sun had already set. The only light that led her now were the faint green flickers of the tiny fire flies that passed across her path. A small breeze rustled the leaves above her head and sent cool waves down her sweaty body. Her breathing grew more rapid and she winced with every step she took. Her eyelids were getting heavy and she had managed to stop her tears from rolling down her cheeks. "I need…to find him." She gasped, holding her body against a tree for support. "Before…it's too late and he…gets killed." As she went to take another step and she looked up to the sky, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed to the ground, her bow crashing down beside her. "No." She whimpered, tears filling her eyes as she rolled herself onto her stomach. "I need him." The bandage on her leg was no longer capable of soaking the blood that leaked from her wound, being already full as it was, and streaks of blood ran freely down to her ankle. Pulling her arms up underneath her and snatching onto her bow, she raised her chest from the ground and started dragging herself along the forest floor. 'I need to keep moving or else he won't make it.' She told herself, pushing her body to the limits and forcing it not to stop until she had found him. "Inu…yasha." She grunted, her chin nearly in the dirt as she dragged her body along the next inch. "Just…hold on a little bit…longer." Beads of sweat dripped off the tip of her nose and danced down her neck and into her shirt. Her body was totally consumed by darkness as she crept deeper into the forest on her search for the hanyou.
The Tetseiga's blade slammed against the demon's skin and clattered upon contact. The forest surrounding the two brothers suddenly went deathly silent. It seemed as if even the wind itself had stopped from blowing to watch in awe of what was going on. Starlight was the only source of light and it painted the two brothers a dull gray. An owl that had been sitting in a high, darkened branch took off upon assessing the danger.
Sesshomaru, once so full of fear, opened his eyes and scanned the sword pressed against his chest before that smirk grew across his lips. The fully transformed Tetseiga he had seen only moments ago had turned back to its former useless self as soon as it had touched him. He chuckled and swatted the sword away, knocking it from his brother's hands. "Inuyasha," He started, taking hold of his wound and rising to his feet. There had to be a reason why Inuyasha changed the state of the sword at the last minute and he was going to find out. As he lifted his gaze to the hanyou and went to speak he was suddenly put off guard and could only stare. This must've been the reason why. But he hadn't even taken notice of the change in scents.
Having the sword knocked away from him, Inuyasha could only look down at his bare human hands in disgust. There was nothing left for him to do but accept what Sesshomaru had planned for him and hope at least to make it out alive. The chances were that he most likely wouldn't though. Unlike Kagome, Sango, and Miroku who could fight despite the fact that they were mortal, he was totally and utterly useless in this state. The Tetseiga could do nothing for him.
A smirk grew again on Sesshomaru's face as he looked over Inuyasha's changed body. "A human. How could I have forgotten about the new moon and your susceptibility to your human blood at this time." Without waiting for Inuyasha to argue his point, he clasped his hand around his neck and lifted his feet off the ground. Pressing the tip of the Tokijin against his lower abdomen, his facial expression, so pure of evil, could easily tell anyone what he was thinking of doing. "Serves you right half breed. I'll kill you in the state in which you were meant to be." He hissed as he pressed the sword a little into his skin and tore the flesh right up to his heart.
Inuyasha held onto Sesshomaru's wrist, releasing some of the strain from his neck. The blood that escaped from his newly formed wound soaked through his haori and drained down along his skin. He couldn't move his eyes away from Sesshomaru. It was almost as if his head was being held in place there. Or maybe that he knew he was about to die. Either way, he couldn't look away. This was it. His time was up. 'I deserve to die for what I've done.' He told himself, thinking of Kagome and how he was unable to stop himself from harming her. 'I'm sorry Kagome.' Slowly, he managed to close his eyes and let go of Sesshomaru. He had accepted his death.