Chapter 9: Kennomaru's offer

"Inuyasha, watch out!" Kagome shrieked. I glanced over just in time to see Kennomaru's other half stab Inuyasha's arm. I winced in sympathy, and turned back just in time to block a slice that would have split me from groin to nose. These guys are tough! I thought, parrying a thrust at my gut. Inuyasha finally slashed his opponent into two neat pieces. His look of satisfaction turned to one of horror as the two halves grew into their own separate bodies. Now there were three assassins. Just as the new threat began to charge, however, Sango's Hiraikotsu landing between him and Inuyasha, stopping his attack. She then jumped off of Kirara's back, and drew her katana, slashing it deep into her foes thigh. Kagome notched an arrow and let it loose, the arrow firmly lodging through my foe's right eye. He stumbled back, blue blood oozing through his hands and down the wooden shaft.

Taking advantage of the momentary break, I knocked the cycloptic ninja flying backwards with a snap kick, then turned to check on Inuyasha and Sango's progress. Inuyasha had a few nasty slashes, but was nowhere near death. Sango had no wounds whatsoever, and was holding very well. I turned, expecting the near dead cyclops to be where I left him, but there was nothing but a puddle of blood. Frantically, I looked around, and spotted him crawling towards Kagome and Shippou. Miroku was fighting a new fourth one, having apparently tried to stop the former's approach.

I took off at a dead run, trying to catch up to the wretched ninja. Just he as he began I grabbed three kazukas and threw them. They struck him straight in his spine, knocking him back down to his knees. Kagome then shot him with another arrow, this time striking him in the heart. The stricken monster bellowed in fury, sounding like the howl of Cerberus. The three others ran over to him, and merged back into one. Inuyasha helped Sango walk over towards everyone else. Sango had received a gash on her thigh, causing her to limp. Other than that, everyone else was in fairly good health. Inuyasha gave Kennomaru a murderous glare.

"Why did you stop, ninja? You afraid you'll be beat?" Kennomaru let out a sick, wheezing laugh.

"I have experienced that once already half-breed." The merged Kennomaru opened his eyes, revealing an empty socket in place of his shot out eye. "But you did take my eye, and for that I will make sure you die nice and slow. Sadly, that is not my mission now. Now, I must complete my Master's wishes."

"And what is the foul demons wish?" Miroku spat at the fell specter.

"To ask the one who joins you to join Naraku instead." He looked straight at me, his one eye seeming to glow. "Naraku knows the secret of how to get you back, if that is what you want."

I felt everyone's gaze on me. I didn't even have to think to know the answer. " I will not join Naraku, no matter what happens. I am a Samurai, loyal to my friends."

"How noble," he sneered. "But you will change your mind soon." He leapt into a tree. "You will find me when you change your mind." Then there was only the sound of the wind.

"Well, that was weird." Kagome started rummaging through her backpack. I quickly realized what she was looking for, and pulled out my suture kit.

"Hey, Sango, lets take care of that leg." I said, pointing to the log by the fire. She slowly nodded, and we walked over to where she could sit down. She winced as she eased her leg up onto the large old log. I pulled out a tsai blade, and cut away the fabric near the wound. Sango gasped in surprise, and I realized that it was not out of pain when I noticed she was blushing. "Oh, I am so sorry." I said bashfully pulling my hand away.

"No," she said quietly. "You are just trying to help after all. I glanced down at her exposed muscular thigh, and noticed quietly just how beautiful she was.

"This is going to hurt." I said to her.

"I know." she answered.

I cleaned the wound slowly with a small bottle of alcohol, inwardly cringing at the amount of pain I knew it was causing. Sango flinched, but did not cry out. I then pinched the wound shut, and began to sow it tightly shut. The worst part over, I decided to try to start small talk, but Sango beat me to it.

"You made the right choice, you know." She said . "Yeah" I replied softly. " But what will this mean for you guys? I mean..." I fell silent, struggling for words. "Back there," she whispered.

"You called us your friends, like you had known us more than just this one night." I quickly looked into her eyes. Uh oh. She might just realize...I turned my attention back to her wound, trying to think of an answer. Suddenly she reached out and raised my chin in her hands, forcing me to stare deep into her warm brown eyes. "You and Inuyasha both had the same wound. You and him somehow switched bodies, didn't you?" Shock overtook me, and I stammered slowly.

"H...h...how did you...?" She put her finger to my lips, a slight smile crossing her face.

"Being a demon slayer means you have to know all sorts of legendary powers. That, and the fact that you are much less irritable than Inuyasha." "Well, that is a hard temper to match." I joked. She laughed lightly. I finished the last stitch, and snipped off the remaining string. "Okay, you are all patched up for now. You just need some rest, and you'll have to let Kirara do most of your walking." She looked down, surprised that we were already done. I took off my heavy haori, and offered it to her. "You're not going to want Miroku see you like that , are you?" I said quietly.

She took the haori and put it on. "Thank you so much." she said with a grateful smile. I smiled back, and walked her slowly to her hut. She slipped in, promising to rest, and I went back over to the rest of the group.

Miroku scowled at me when I approached, letting me know that he was very jealous. Thank goodness this is before they start to really like each other. I thought. But wait, that means that I just changed the story! I wasn't supposed to flirt with Sango, and now who knows what will happen? Then I realized that this was Miroku. He would simply continue to womanize until he dies anyway. I then smiled, and continued up to them.

"Well, we might as well try to get some sleep." Inuyasha stated. "Kennomaru will have to wait until morning." After a round of goodnights, everyone went back to their huts.

I stood still, staring at the fire's flickering brightness. "I will track you down, Kennomaru. And I will stop you, no matter what."

End Chapter