Authors Note:
I had to put more thought into this chapter so I hope you guys can understand it and like it too. Please read and review, thanks!
'That wrenched girl! She'll pay for what she did to my son!' with teeth clenched the old woman spread the bamboo shades to display a hanyou sleeping peacefully on the floor.
She walked in with a bucket of water and placed it over a small fire near Hoshiko's face. As she felt the heat of the flames, she opened her eyes gently. The first thing she saw was a bright yellow light escaping the flames then the figure of the old woman who had given her shelter the night before. Her mouth curved into a smile as she said, "Good morning"
The old woman looked at her from the corner of her eye. It seemed she was displeased at her comment yet she smiled and offered her tea. "Thank you" she replied and sipped her tea. A faint, horrid smell emerged from the tea. It was the same smell she had encountered in Kagome's medicine kit.
'what's in this tea?' she stared at the brown mixture for a while before she began to feel light-headed. "Uh.. My head. What's happening?" Hoshiko dropped the clay cup onto the floor boards where it smashed into pieces, spilling the tea.
"Hm, I see my tea is taking affect. That's good."
'That voice.. Is it?'
Hoshiko numbly turned her head towards the old woman. She smirked a great and evil smile that managed to create fear in her. Soon after two more blinks, her vision became blurred and her limbs started to collapse around her. Before long, she herself dropped to the floor. The weight of her body seemed to increase greatly in a matter of seconds. Now she was too heavy to pull herself off the floor.
"What did you do to me?" she screamed at the old woman. The fear she had once seen in the villager's faces was now embedded onto her face. Images of Inuyasha flashed in her mind, how she wished he was there to save her! Although, for all the times he had managed to get there at the very last second this was a time she knew that her bravery and strength would have to be used. That is, if she would only let go of her fear.
"Feeling numb, are we?" replied the old woman, "What a pity. If you were all human I'd be able to finish you off with only one drink but then my plan wouldn't work." she frowned, "You better thank your father for giving you demon blood. That retched half-breed has always managed to cause trouble!" She turned back to her concoction and stirred it gently while humming a tune.
"What do you want from me?" Hoshiko yelled as she watched the woman, "I haven't done anything to you!"
The phrase must of angered her for she took out a dagger from her sleeve as she swirled around to face Hoshiko. The blade touched the skin of her neck just barely but managed to cut when she turned the blade sideways.
"If I didn't want to lure that useless half-breed here, I would of already killed you from the moment you walked into my village!" the old woman bellowed loudly at the hanyou's face, "Oh, that's right… My tea will only numb you for a while since you're a half-breed too. But when Inuyasha comes, he will see how his meek little daughter is slaughtered right before his eyes. So you see, I want him to suffer as I have!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" she said. Her efforts to move never succeeded as the only thing she could move was her mouth and eyes. Every other part of her body was paralyzed, at least for now. "Humph," the woman created a disgusted face and turned once more, "Your retched father sent my son away from me! He killed him while trying to save you, a worthless little girl!"
Hoshiko gasped. 'The demon.. From the forest.. I remember now.'
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Kagome kneeled over her backpack as she placed all her items back in. "Hairspray, first aid kit, Inuyasha's dog food.. I think I have everything!" she smiled triumphantly. Miroku had made sure that the fire was put out while Sango feed Shippo and Kirara. "That's good!" yelled Sango from afar, "we can travel once more then." she smiled at the miko.
Kagome picked up her great, yellow backpack and walked towards her friend after she looked up at the depressed dog demon. He wouldn't come down from the tree, it was almost as if the trees were a haven to him, where he could think in private.
When they began to walk, Inuyasha, of course, was in front. He walked at a fast pace and never bothered to stop or turn around when a comment was made. They all understood that he wanted Hoshiko back. Everyone missed her joyful expressions, childish comments and magical way of creating happiness.
Although, Kagome knew that she resembled Inuyasha the most. Even though she looked very much like the silver-haired hanyou, Hoshiko also had some of his characteristics. Hoshiko, like Inuyasha, was stubborn and brave. She enjoyed doing everything herself and disliked having to ask for help even though she usually needed it. What shocked them for the most part was her loving and caring ways were the same as any human. It was as if she wasn't a demon at all.
Since she was only a young hanyou at the age of twelve, her whole personality mustn't be entirely developed or perhaps Hoshiko embraced her human side mainly than her demon one. For whatever the case, they all cared for her deeply just the same.
"Inuyasha," Sango said suddenly, "I know this is a hard time for you but you must understand that we are here for you whenever you need us." Kagome nodded, "That's right!"
"And, you must also understand," she continued, "That I myself know the pain you must feel."
'Right, Kohaku.' he thought, 'It must almost kill her to admit it.'
He kept walking as if the words had gone unheard and paused by a cliff where there lay a town underneath. "I can smell her" he whispered, then jumped down.
"Inuyasha! Don't leave us behind!" yelled Miroku as he watched the half-demon leap down the rocky cliff.
Shippo transformed into a giant, pink balloon and floated down with Kagome on his back while Sango and Miroku rode Kirara's back. When they reached the bottom of the cliff, they could see Inuyasha running towards the town. They all dismounted and ran after him with heavy hearts. Would they find Hoshiko there?
Inuyasha halted at the very end of the town and sniffed the air once more, "What the..?" He began to sprint again yet faster this time for the scent he caught was of Hoshiko's blood.
The old woman smirked as she looked at Hoshiko, "He's finally here."
Anxious, Inuyasha followed the scent until he came to a humble cabin at the corner of the town. It had brown bamboo shades with two windows on the sides. Inside, he could smell Hoshiko. He growled softly as he walked towards it. Steadily, his heart beat grew louder. He knew he was afraid of what he might see inside.
As he spread the bamboo shades apart, he saw that the cabin was empty. Was his nose wrong? How could it be! That's impossible! He knew she was there, or at least was there.
"Nani?" he blinked with confusion.
He took a step into the cabin yet that's when his nose picked up her scent again. He heard Kagome's voice coming from outside yell, "Inuyasha! Come, look!"
He turned and saw that the rest of the gang had caught up with him. They seemed to be watching something dreadfully vile for they gasped with mouths wide open. He made his way to Kagome's side and shouted, "What do you want?"
As he arched his head to the direction of her out-stretched finger, he saw Hoshiko. A growl emerged from his lips. His daughter lay in chains onto a tree where an old woman was stroking her long, black hair. The cackle that soon rang out of the old woman made everyone's skin curl. "You must be that filthy half-breed, Inuyasha. Humph, I expected you to be taller"
"And who are you?" he shouted, "what are you doing with my daughter?"
With a firm hand on Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha approached the old woman with cautious steps. "My scent doesn't come familiar to you? What a shame. I suppose an introduction wouldn't hurt." she moved her silver tresses from her eyes and continued, "I am the mother of the demon who you slaughtered to save this worthless hanyou girl! And now I shall return the favor."
"Look well, Inuyasha," she said, "for you will have the chance to watch your daughter die!" The same dagger that she had used to cut Hoshiko's throat was now in her hand. She twisted the blade to the right then to the left. Her eyes fell hard into Hoshiko's as she raised her hand above her chest.
'Hoshiko' Inuyasha's eyes widened at the sight of the dagger. Tears were streaming down the tiny hanyou's face, "Hoshiko! No!"
"Wind Tunnel!" the gusts of wind smashed against the demon's body as it dragged her into it's shadowy deeps. A scream rang out of her lips before she dug her claws into the earth. "I won't be killed so easily!" she managed to scream beyond the wild winds. Inuyasha, who hadn't been able to get away, had been dragged away by the winds and now flew towards Miroku. He placed his sacred beads in front of his Wind Tunnel and watched how Inuyasha landed on his feeble body.
With a shriek from Inuyasha, both crashed into the dusty ground creating a giant cloud of dirt.
The demon stood up and began to ran towards Hoshiko. She limped with every step but her determination was still there. Inuyasha got up from Miroku and ran. If the woman had been younger, she would of surely reached Hoshiko in time yet her legs had become weak with age and she failed to reach the girl.
Inuyasha now stood around 5 feet in front of Hoshiko, who struggled to move once more. The old woman laughed in his face. "I will kill her even if I must kill you first!"
She brought out a twig from one of her sleeves that transformed into a sword as she placed it in front of her, facing the dog demon. Her yellow teeth showed from underneath her wrinkled lips. She thrusted the sword at him from the right and then brought it up to smash his head with one blow.
He drew the Tetsusaiga with a menacing smirk. He blocked the attack with great success but the old woman wouldn't let him rest. After one blow was dodged another was thrown.
Before long, Inuyasha and the old woman had reached the tree where Hoshiko was chained on. She tried to speak yet the cloth in her mouth wouldn't let her. She tried to move but the chains were too tight. And how her heart ached when she finally saw the sword fall on Inuyasha's arm. He screamed in pain but it only made him grow even more furious.
When he saw his chance he was able to attack her. He sinked his hand in his wounded arm. "Blades of Blood!"
Two of the blades managed to cut the woman's hand, making her drop her sword. Another pierced her chest, creating a wound bigger than his. He smirked and said, "How do you like that?"
Before anyone could cheer with victory, Inuyasha screamed yet again in pain. As he fell to the ground a horrible sight could be seen. Hoshiko had burst through the chains and slashed Inuyasha. Her eyes glowed red again. Two purple strips were painted on her cheeks, which meant that she had been able to tap into her demon blood and transform. She glared at Kagome and said in a deep voice, "I let you escape once, my poor little miko, yet you won't escape this time!"
"Hoshiko, don't…" Inuyasha whispered to her in a desperate attempt to set her free. As the hanyou girl walked past the demon mother, she looked into her eyes the same way she had before raising the dagger. Her lips quivered in a snarl, displaying Hoshiko's fangs. "Good for nothing demon!" she bellowed and sinked her claws onto her back.
The old woman didn't even let out a screech in pain when the claws met her skin but instead gripped Hoshiko's legs and said, "As a mother, I see that you have grown into something different. Your father must be suffering enough. My deed is somehow repaid." Her arms gently lost it's strength and slipped away. Her rotting corpse was devoured by the wind as her ashes flew away.
She stomped over the left over ashes towards Kagome. "Haven't had enough?" she yelled. "I didn't think you'd be so foolish."
'Her voice.. It's not the same. Can it be?' Kagome thought. 'It's Naraku!'
"Snap out of it, Hoshiko!" yelled Kagome, "Just search deeper and I know u have the power to overcome him! Please, if not for me then for Inuyasha!" She pointed at the hanyou. He held his stomach tightly with one hand while he pulled himself off the ground with the other using Tetsusaiga.
The small hanyou bolted towards the miko. She slashed inches away from her chest which only cut part of her hair. She gasped. Her fear began to grow as Hoshiko started to slash her rapidly. Miroku and Sango tried to get her off but both encountered serious wounds to their arms.
When Miroku and Sango finally backed down to cure their injuries, Kagome ran away from Inuyasha and the others. 'Someone will come to help me, I'm positive!' she thought as she heard Hoshiko's feet jolt after her.
Her pants grew louder as she entered the quiet forest. Not even the hanyou's steps could be heard anymore. This made Kagome even more frightened, she wouldn't know from where Hoshiko was coming from.
Long, yellow lights flashed in front of her, bringing with them was massive gust of winds. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" could be heard faintly in the canopy of trees. But the voice couldn't be Inuyasha's. He wouldn't attack Kagome so it must be…
"Hoshiko!"
Kagome managed to escape the attack as she jumped to the side. When she looked towards the cuts in the ground, she saw that the attack had been as powerful as if it had been Inuyasha himself.
Hoshiko sprang down from the trees and stood in front of Kagome. Her nose curled, as if disgusted. She took one look at her before sinking her claws into her leg. Kagome screamed loudly as her flesh tore with every fingernail.
Hoshiko's smirk started to fade until a blank expression replaced it. She blinked for a while. She finally turned her head backwards, towards Inuyasha. The stench of his and Kagome's blood now filled her nostrils. And even though it pained her do to so, she kept her eyes fixed on him.
He had dragged his injured body to were they now lay. The mossy ground began to stain with blood. Kagome's leg must be broken now since the pain had now become a numbness. Inuyasha's eyes flickered.
Kagome gasped softly. 'Is he crying? For me?' she thought.
Flashback
He saved his last breath to tell her, "I-I love…you…"
End Flashback
'That's right.. he had confessed that he loved me. But what if all that was a horrible dream? I could of actually fallen down a cliff instead and not known. Yet his tears are so real.. Maybe he did say that.'
Hoshiko's head began to tremble as Naraku's spell began to over-power her. The her lips started to quiver as the purple light slowly emerged from her back. It grew steadily until she burst out in a scream. She grasping her kimono as blood ran down her nose.
"Hoshiko.." Kagome whispered. She felt a tightening in her chest, "I know your still there, please.. come back to us! We need you. Inuyasha needs you!"
Kagome's words sank deep within her, merging with feelings of pain, regret and sorrow. No one had cared so much about her before, not a human at least. Kagome was willing to place herself in mortal danger to help her. It felt like motherly love, something that Hoshiko had never experienced.
"Ka-Kago-me, I-I want t-to" her small hands left her leg and the pain began again. Her hands and head trembled terribly as she tried to stand. The color of her eyes had now become a light pink.
"Inuyasha!" shouted Kagome suddenly, "What are you doing?"
The dog demon had just sunk the tip of his mighty fang into Hoshiko's back. Kagome had grown horrified, thinking the worst of him yet as Hoshiko fell to her knees so did a Shikon shard.
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"It was the only way!" shouted Inuyasha at the furious miko.
"Yea, the only one you could think of! Why are you insensitive, Inuyasha?" she turned her head away.
"Feh, it worked!"
Inuyasha and Kagome walked towards the village to rest and regroup. Kagome had grown angry after the incident in the forest, she described it as "foolish" and "rash". Yet Inuyasha didn't care, as long as Hoshiko was safe and Kagome was alive then he wouldn't dare of thinking about anything else.
Since Kagome couldn't walk, Inuyasha placed one arm around her waist to make sure she wouldn't fall while Hoshiko rested face-first on his shoulder. After the shard was removed Hoshiko had fainted.
"Poor thing, I wish we could of helped more." said Sango while they all stared at Hoshiko's cuts. The blood from her nose had been cleaned and the twigs from hair removed by Inuyasha himself. If anyone dared to touch the hanyou he'd growl menacingly, warning them to stay back. He stroked her hair every 2 seconds to make sure that it sparkled more than his. When he was satisfied, he lay beside her and let Kagome clean his wound.
"I told you we would get her back." Kagome smiled at the half-demon. His lips curved slightly yet never fully developed into a smile. She cleaned his wound with a cloth dipped in hot water. Inuyasha complained of the heat but she ignored him and kept curing him. "If you don't like it then why don't you do it!" she yelled after he took away the cloth from her hands.
She stood up to leave yet stopped when she felt his hand grab hers. She turned, confused.
Inuyasha stood up to face her, "Go ahead, cure my wound.. I want it gone as soon as possible" he handed her the cloth and sat back down. He looked up at her and raised his eyebrow, "what are you staring at?"
'did he just…? Oh great! Now I'm blushing!'
"Nothing" she waved her hands nervously across her face, "my mind is just playing tricks on me."
"Yea, it must always be doing that," he replied, "with you being so reckless and all."
"You're the least person to be saying that right now!" she yelled as she slapped him in the back. Not even a groan escaped from him yet he fell to the side anyways. "Oh, whoops!"