Chapter Twelve- Mazuki and the Cursed Book(part two)

!Warning! Some scenes are found not suitable for children. This story includes violence, mild language, and adult content. Reader discretion is advised.

Mazuki felt someone was carrying her. She slowly opened her eyes and saw blue robes of Miroku's. He was carrying her on his back,"Did I over sleep?"She asked embarrassed.

Miroku smiled,"We tried to wake you, but you wouldn't. You were asleep for three days."

"What!"

"I'm just kidding, we decided not to wake you." He smiled at her and she stuck her tongue out.

She hopped down and walked beside them. Naori was infront of her with Shippo on her shoulder and Kagome and Sango were behind her. She kept wiping sweat off her forehead, even though it wasn't very hot. She also had to stop for a breather twice. Why am I so tired? They walked a few more yards and she just stopped.

"Is something wrong, Mazuki?"Naori asked. Mazuki put her hand on her forehead and closed her eyes. She was extremely dizzy and her eyesight was getting foggy.

"I need to rest, I'm getting dizzy,"she sat down. Sango sat next to her.

"The next village is only a few miles up ahead, can't you keep walking till then?" asked Inuyasha, he crossed his arms and was getting impatient.

"Inuyasha, she just needs to rest,"said Kagome.

"Feh, why is she so tired anyway?"

Mazuki took a deep. That's what they were all thinking. Why was she so tired? She was always full of energy, but now she can't walk two feet without taking a rest.

"Inuyasha's right, I'll continue until we get to the next village,"Mazuki slowly got up.

"Are you sure?"Naori asked. Mazuki nodded and they continued.
Mazuki felt real tired, but didn't let it show. When she felt she was lagging behind, she would pick up the pace. She made sure that people didn't see pant, so she took steady breaths through her nose. Her eyesight was slipping out of focus and once everything was black until she blinked the color back in. Miroku and the others looked back at her, but she didn't make eye contact. They had walked two miles, and Mazuki couldn't take it. She was exhausted and collapsed on the dirt road.

"Mazuki!" Sango rushed to her side and saw that she had passed out,"I knew we shouldn't have done this." Miroku picked her up.

"We'll carry her to the next village, I'm sure they'll give us a room,"They began to walk towards the village. Naori noticed something fall out of Mazuki's kimono and she went to retrieve it. It was the book. She flipped through the pages and saw that they had words on them. But they didn't have words before. Wait, all this happened after she got the book. Could this book be the problem? If so, no wonder the old woman wanted to get rid of it. She gasped. What if she wasn't old at all! What if this book drained you out of energy and youth! I've got to show Miroku!

"Hey, Naori! Hurry up!"Inuyasha called. They were several feet ahead. She pocketed the book and caught up with them.

An old couple allowed them to stay in the storage shed and even got them food. Mazuki was still sleeping and Inuyasha, Sango, and the others went to get some herbs to help her. Naori and Miroku were by her side. She saw that this was the perfect time to show him.

"Master Miroku, I think I have an idea why Mazuki's so tired,"She said.

"What is it?"he asked puzzled. She took out the book and handed it to him.

"An old woman gave it to us. She seemed that she really needed to get rid of it. Well when we got it, there were no words."

"There's words now,"he said as he flipped through the pages.

"But there weren't words before, I saw the blank pages and I've seen Mazuki read everytime she lays down for bed. I think that book might be possesed."
"I'm sure it's just a book, but I will see if there is anything wrong happening, just don't jump to conclusions". Naori nodded. She knew that he didn't beleive her and wouldn't give the book a second thought. But he's dealt with things that were possesed before, why should this be different? Well if he wasn't going to do anything, she was.

The others returned and Mazuki woke up short after. They gave her some herbal tea and some concoction to help with dizziness.
Naori watched Mazuki with a close eye. She laughed and talked like she was normal, but Naori saw she was pale and at times her heart rate would go up. Naori was the first to fall asleep, even though she tried very hard to stay up.

Mazuki lit a candle and looked for her book. She got up and looked around, but didn't see it anywhere. She shook Naori awake,"Pst, Naori, have you seen my book?" she whispered in her ear.

"Um..."Naori wasn't sure what to tell her. If she said no then Mazuki will be mad if she finds out that she does have it. But if she said yes, she would want to read it and that will make her more sick. She just had to tell her what she thought,"Yeah, I have it, but I don't think you should read it."

Mazuki blinked,"Why not?"

"Because I think the book is draining you of energy. You should just throw it away."

"I'm fine now, there's nothing wrong with the book so let me have it please,"she stuck out her hand. Naori still didn't hand it to her.

"Don't you think it's odd that the old woman wanted to get rid of it so badly? And what's this book about?"

"Some person going on adventures. Now give me my book."

"What's the person's name?"

"It doesn't say, Naori what has gotten into you? Give me my book"

Naori pulled the book out of her kimono and Mazuki snatched it.

"Thank you,"she crossed to her side and read the book in the candle light.

"I warn you though, that's no ordinary book."

"Naori, you always had a wild imagination." Naori rolled over and Mazuki flipped to her page. Naori bit her lip, She's worse than my Mom!

As I walked into the village, I was surprised to see the bodies of several demons. I asked one of the village men what happened and he told me that they were demon hunters, or people who hunt demons for a living. I worked in the feilds and they payed me in food and shelter. I stayed in that village for three days and then I set off to continue my journey. I crossed the mountain pass with great difficulty because I was not used to mountain areas. But I had managed to cross them and I sat up camp.

There were no more words. Mazuki flipped through the pages and the rest were blank. "Weird,"she muttered.She picked up the book again and opened it. She felt like water was passing through her and into the book. Naori was right! Mazuki could almost see the book drain her aura, but she couldn't take her hands away. The book fed on her, sucking her dry. She tried to throw it, but it wouldn't budge like it was glued to her hand. It became too much and she passed out with the book firmly in her hands.

Naori walked around outside and watched the others get ready. She went to the creek just outside the village and washed her face. When she came back she noticed something was going on. Miroku rushed out of the shed and told Sango something and they all rushed in there. Naori knew something had happened to Mazuki and she ran up to the shed. Inuyasha was standing outside.

"Inuyasha, wants going on in there? What happened?"she asked frantically.

"Mazuki, won't wake up, but she's still alive and normal. We're trying to get her awake,"Naori tried to run inside but Inuyasha grabbed her."There's enough people in there already. they need all the space so they can work."

"It's that damn book! Get rid of the book!"She struggled but he was too strong for her.

"Naori, a book couldn't do that,"said Inuyasha.

"Actually, I think she may be right,"Miroku walked out and he was holding the book but it was torn and ripped cleanly in half."She was clutching this and would not let go. We had to rip it out of her hands. Looks like you were right, Naori."

Inuyasha blinked and looked at Naori. She was staring at Miroku with the look that said,'I told you so'

They decided to stay another night in the village for Mazuki's health. The book had drained her of so much energy that she couldn't get up or even eat. Naori talked with her and Mazuki thanked and said sorry over and over. Mazuki was the last to fall asleep that night. Miroku burned the book to get rid of it. If the old woman wanted to get rid of it, why didn't she just do that? She did a mental shrug and went to sleep.

A/N: I know, this entire story looks like it was made by a four year old. Waaah! I really tried! Waaah:sniff, sniff: tell me what you think.