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Started: 10/4/2004
Revised: 7/1/2005
Reposted: 7/15/2005
Words: 1,680
Quote of the week: "...the souls of great warriors are reborn as horses; they will protect you." – variation of Lancelot's father's advice in King Arthur
A/N: This is Kagome's dream. Any chapters, and believe me, there are more, that are italicized, are her dreams. I'll only tell you this once.
I'm posting this early without ten reviews because I felt like it, and because I felt you guys deserved a nice, long chapter. Here's to the reviewers!
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Disclaimer: Inuyasha is nowhere in my grasp, nor will it ever be.
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Chapter 3
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The forest went unearthly quiet. Everything that drew breath was silent; even the ancient trees seemed to go still. A deadly enemy was here, and the victim the evil was pursuing moved swiftly and quietly through the dense forest. Clouds covered the sun, casting the world into a dull shade of gray. A cold wind whispered through the leaves, warning anyone who cared to listen. A strangled cry shattered the dead silence.
"Get off me!"
The voice was angry, but laced with terrible fear. A flurry of wind burst away, high-tailing it with its owner.
Despite his speed, his endurance, his strength, he was wearing out. Four days of nonstop running could do that to even the hardiest of demons. If it so occurred to him that he might rest, or take a drink, he was gravely mistaken. She was there. Always silent. Always cold. Her endless black eyes threatening to dispel his very sanity.
His pack! She had stolen their souls, then left them to the hordes of demons that served as her guardians, though she hardly needed them. And now she was after him. His soul... His jewel shards. He grimaced. A lot of help they were; they couldn't even get him away from this Demon of the Void!
Suddenly, a great mist enveloped him, seemingly swallowing him whole. He skidded to a halt, drawing great quantities of air into his burning lungs. His mouth and lips were parched, and his dry tongue felt like sand. It was futilely seeking any source of palpable liquid to draw energy into his quivering limbs.
With a great sigh, he drew his hand up and bit into the meaty flesh at the base of his thumb. He sucked, drawing the warm blood into his mouth. It wasn't what he needed, but it would have to work. A flash drew his attention forward, although nothing but foggy whiteness met his eyes.
Slowly, an even whiter figure materialized, as if from the mist itself. "Running is pointless," the little demon said in her haunting voice. "No matter where you go, we will find you..."
A feral growl escaped his dry lips. "What do you want from me!"
When she just stared in response, he howled in rage and took a flying leap towards her. Just as he came down for close combat, she disappeared, then reappeared farther behind him. He spun to face her, furiously trying to keep his growing panic in check.
"He will have your shards, and I... I will have your soul," she whispered.
"Over my - " his reply was cut short as his body was pierced through, a large tentacle with serrated edges disappearing back through the entrance hole. He screamed, and blood trickled down his chin. He fell to all fours, blood pouring from the jagged wound. "D - damn..."
He barely noticed the same tentacles slice through his legs, then rip the shards from his mutilated flesh. Arcs of wind followed, lacerating his unprotected body. His howls reverberated throughout the forest, now teeming with hordes of Naraku's demons.
"So sorry, wolf, but Naraku asked that we bring him back your head," came a sneering voice. Kouga's pain-constricted blue eyes met blood red eyes. "Now hold still, and your death will be short and sweet. Though if you move, I have no problem with delaying. Either way, I will have your head!"
A massive blade blocked the wind sorceress's attack. The arcs forked left and right, disappearing into the forest. The fog had long been dispersed by the sorceress's arrival. She now narrowed her eyes in anger. Kouga groaned and fell, splashing into his own pool of blood. He rolled onto his side, ignoring the searing pain.
"Don't you dare die on me, you mangy wolf!" a familiar voice growled, interrupting the injured wolf's hazy thoughts.
"Go... away, mutt..." he whispered harshly. "This is... my fight!"
"Yeah? Don't look like your doing so good. I don't care what the hell happens to your flea-bitten carcass... But I don't want Kagome crying over your sorry ass, so don't you go and die!"
"...Kagome?" Kouga echoed, closing his eyes. He tried to swallow, but ended up coughing out more blood.
"Kouga!" a female voice screamed.
Kouga opened his eyes to see said Kagome running towards him. She fell on her knees at his side, gently pushing loose strands of hair out of his face.
"Why are you interfering?" demanded Kagura, bringing her fan up to her face.
"Inuyasha! We need to get Kouga out of here!" Kagome cried.
"You are not leaving until I have his head! Kanna, take care of them!" Kagura commanded, stepping up behind the demon child.
Kanna said nothing, but held her mirror up, and it began to glow an eerie blue. Kagome was having none of that. She stood, placing her feet on either side of Kouga's waist, protecting his prone body.
"I will not let you harm him!" she cried, getting an arrow out.
Kirara ran up, the demon slayer and the monk on her back. She growled, and the two riders jumped off, forming an arc behind Kagome and Kouga. Shippou huddled between Kirara's giant paws.
"This place is infested with demons," said the slayer. "Miroku, we should help get rid of them."
"Right," Miroku answered with a nod. "Inuyasha! How many of Naraku's incarnations are we dealing with?"
"Both Kagura and Kanna," Inuyasha replied. "They've already stolen that damn wolf's shards."
Everything seemed to have come to a standstill. Inuyasha and the others surrounded Kouga, Kagura and Kanna faced them, and both groups were surrounded by demons. The draw was ended when Kouga growled in pain. Demons shot forward and met a wall of warding spells, a giant boomerang, saber fangs, and a staff. Inuyasha grunted with the effort of blocking off Kagura's wind blades.
"I grow weary of this fight," growled Kagura, her ruby eyes narrow slits. "Give me that wolf's head and I'll let you live just this once!"
"If you want his head, you first have to get through me!" snarled Inuyasha.
Kagura sneered. "Have it your way. Dance of the Dragon!"
With a great sweep of her fan, tornadoes formed, heading straight towards Inuyasha and the others. Tiny rocks that were harmless were now speeding bullets, along with other bits and pieces. Kagome gasped and fell on Kouga, trying to shield his body with her smaller one. Rock after rock imbedded into her flesh, but she bit her lip and kept silent. The cries of her friends reached her ears, and she began to get angry. Suddenly, Kouga's voice penetrated her thoughts.
"Kagome... Stop protecting me! I'm the one who's... supposed to protect you! ...And that puppy."
"Don't be stupid, Kouga!" Kagome cried, looking down at him. "You're badly injured!"
A faint smile graced his lips. "I always new you were some woman," he whispered. "...But now is not the time for your stubborn attitude."
With a growl, he shoved her off and staggered to his feet, breathing heavily. His wolf pelt was now a dull russet, and blood continued to drip from it. He sighed and closed his eyes, ignoring the sharp pain of flying projectiles. Then he opened his eyes and stood up straight.
"Kagura! Stop hiding behind your wall of wind and fight! I'm going to waste you!" he roared. He heard her chuckle over the wind, and he looked up.
"Poor wolf," Kagura jeered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You want to meet your death standing? Then I will grant your death wish! Dance of Blades!"
She flung her wind blades, and they shot straight towards the doomed wolf. Except, once again, Inuyasha stepped in the way, taking the blows on his own body. He yelled out in pain before falling to the ground. Kouga stared open-mouthed, and Kagome screamed in horror.
"Well, it looks like I'll have two heads," laughed Kagura. "Now, no more interference. Die!"
Kouga lost his balance and fell forwards, landing next to Inuyasha. The wind blades slashed through both of their bodies, and they screamed their pain, their blood flying everywhere.
"Kagura!"
Said sorceress stopped her assault at the commanding voice, looking to the left of the two fallen canines. Her eyes widened in surprise.
Kagome was surrounded by a brilliant pink light; the only things visible were her piercing brown eyes and her hands, holding her poised bow and arrow. Her eyes looked familiar.
'Her eyes! They look like Kohaku's!' she thought. 'Blind, as if she were being controlled!'
"Kagura, I will not let you live, even if you beg!" shouted Kagome, her voice echoing. Fear placed its terrible caress on Kagura, who trembled. "Who are you?"
Kagome didn't answer. Her steady gaze paralyzed Kagura, and she released her arrow. Kagura screamed at the thought of dying, but the hordes of demons that Naraku had sent with her and Kanna made a wall in front of her. As they shrieked in agony, Kagura called Kanna to her and they escaped into the oncoming night, riding the wind on Kagura's feather.
Kagome knew they had escaped, taking Kouga's shards with them. The pink light, which had pervaded her entire being, dispersing her pain, burnt out and took the tattered remains of her clothes with it. She didn't notice. She only noticed her pain, which came back full force, and her fallen comrades, all unconscious. A powerful aura touched her senses. She turned her head and took in the sight before her.
Inuyasha's brother stood there, his eyes surveying her surroundings before they met her gaze. Kagome wasn't frightened. She was in too much pain to feel anything else. She turned to face him and took unsteady steps towards him.
"S - Sesshoumaru... Are they gone? All the demons?" she whispered, not really expecting an answer. "What happened?"
Her last question surprised and confused the demon lord. He raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. After her question, Kagome lost her balance and fell at his feet. She looked up at him and reached her hand out to grasp his foot.
"Please... help us..." she whispered before losing consciousness.
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