Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or its characters. I do own, however, the original characters: Alden, Cora, and Setsuko. Using my original characters in your own stories is not permitted, unless with my consent. Thank you.

Chapter 4

Haunting Vulnerability

That damned spirit continued to shake its chains and pull its shackles, using every ounce of its strength that it could muster, under all of those supremely intense conditions. Fire persisted and issued forth; seething vapor erupted mercilessly. That one grinded its teeth in torment and pain, but not once rested. It persevered in its endeavors; it was determined to break free. The clanks of its shackles reverberated strongly through the excruciating mist, once successfully drowning out the multitude of cries of perpetual lamentation.

Alden's eyes shot open. He again found himself shaking momentarily from the horrific images. His heart pounded hastily and painfully.

"What was that?" he thought to himself, gasping for air. "It was.....like the nightmare last night. It was so clear too, as.....if I was awake and conscious....."

He sat up to breathe and recover, mulling over the terrifying dream.

"What was that thing? That.....shadowy demon with those red eyes....it's trying to escape from.....wherever that was."

After his severe panting had ceased, Alden decided to get up quietly, careful not to awaken his sister. He walked over to the window and looked at the moon. It seemed to be sleeping, as the sky was laden with stars, like a comfortable blanket. This was as it appeared to Alden, a nocturnal serenity, but, unbeknownst to him, it was not an honest serenity, but one of deception.

Abruptly, his eye caught something.

"Huh?"

In the distance, a dark figure was approaching the slumbering village. Alden found it difficult to discern; the black of the night concealed it very surreptitiously, as it crept up upon the town. But as it approached closer, the moonlight hit its face, revealing a very majestic form. The demon resembled a type of mountain lion, bearing vibrant golden plumes down its body and a head of pure white fur. Its eyes radiated with a savage green, as it broke into a speedy run.

"What the hell is that?!?" Alden said aloud in disbelief, causing Cora to wake. "Is it a demon?"

It neared the houses of the quiet village, the moonlight reflecting off its ferocious eyes. Cora walked over to stand next to Alden, balancing on her toes to look out the window.

"What is it, Alden?"

"I don't know, but it's heading straight for the house Kagome and the others are sleeping in!"

Cora beheld the demon, causing her to emit a shriek and her eyes to pulsate with fright. Alden left the window, exiting the house and calling to his sister.

"Stay here! Don't leave!"

"Alden, don't go out there!" Cora cried, her eyes swelling with tears. "Don't go!"

But it was too late. Alden ran out into the foreboding night, finally revealing its true form that had deceived him once before.

The lion-like demon was now in the midst of the village, unbeknownst to the sleeping villagers. It tore through the air of the night with monstrous strength, its spherical emerald eyes still set upon the house Kagome and the others were staying in. Alden hastened his run to get to them, the slaying of the previous demon flashing through his mind, the scene of Inuyasha's claws ripping through that opossum demon's flesh. It drove him to go out blindly into the dangerous night; he would reach the others in time to save the village. He didn't want anything tragic to happen, especially after he had seen the water of his sister's eyes.

The demon reached the abode at the same time as Alden. Its plumage whispered in the wind of its run, and its eyes remained unwavering with fierceness. Once it had reached the slumbering house, it opened its mouth and exposed its bloodied fangs. Its exterior seemed so gallant and beautiful, yet it bore a set of mammoth teeth that had sunken into flesh, giving off a very threatening breath. It inhaled the pristine air surrounding it, and blew with immense power, causing a violent windstorm to emit from its mouth. Alden was flung against the wall of the house, and was knocked out.

"Ugh....."

"Jewel shards....." the demon breathed.

Inside the house, Inuyasha's ears pricked up and he sniffed the air with his nose. He opened his eyes.

"Demon," he said.

Alden lay unconscious. The demon's fangs dripped with blood and saliva now, as its frenzied eyes stared.

"Shards....." it said.

Out of the house, came a leaping Inuyasha, armed with the trusted Tetsusaiga.

"Die, demon!"

Tetsusaiga came crashing down in a vertical sweep, instantly cleaving the lion demon in two.

The noise of the battle resonated in Kagome's ears, causing her to wake. She abruptly roused herself, and ran outside to see what had just occurred.

"Inuyasha!" she cried. "What happened?"

"A demon....."

Kagome noticed an unconscious Alden, as he lay sprawled up against the wall.

"Alden!"

She rushed to Alden's side, shaking his arm and attempting to wake him. He remained unconscious. Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga, watching Alden to see if he would come back to his senses. A worried Cora now had rushed out to her brother, shaking him more harshly than Kagome. She had witnessed the whole thing from the corner of the window.

"Alden, wake up!" she cried in desperation. "Please, open your eyes!"

Alden heard his sister's call. He came back into consciousness, having momentary blurry vision.

"Cora?" he mumbled.

He closed his eyes once more, and opened them again. The blurriness ceased, as he saw Inuyasha, Kagome, and Cora gathered around him.

"Ugh. What happened? The demon....."

"Alden!" Cora exclaimed, pulling her brother into a deep embrace. "Why did you do that?"

"I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I wanted to do something."

"Hey," Inuyasha said to Alden. "You better watch your back."

"Inuyasha! I can't believe how you can act towards people sometimes! You're so uncaring!" Kagome yelled at him.

"Feh."

"Ugh!"

"Hey, at least I can defend myself," Inuyasha retorted.

"Yeah, but you're a half-demon, remember?!?"

"Feh. Even in my human form I can defend myself!"

"Ugh! You're so stupid sometimes!" Kagome screamed, glaring at Inuyasha.

"What is going on out here?" Sango wondered, peeking her head out.

The others were now awake.

"Some demon tried to come and attack us while we were asleep," Inuyasha said. "But I took care of it."

"It was looking for jewel shards," Alden told them. "I heard it before I passed out. It wanted Kagome's jewel shards."

"I did indeed sense a demonic aura," Miroku said. "How do you like that, Sango? Impressed?"

"Oh, come off it, monk," Sango replied, watching his groping hand carefully. "You were asleep when it all happened."

"Well....."

"A demon tried to steal the jewel shards?" Shippo asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "What time is it anyway? Is it still nighttime?"

"Go back inside, runt," Inuyasha told him.

"Would you please just shut up Inuyasha?!?" an irritated Kagome yelled. "I think it is best not to awaken the villagers because of this. The demon is gone; there is no point exciting them. Now, let's just try to get some sleep."

"Feh. How come those two get to sleep in a house all to themselves?"

"Inuyasha, sit!"

Inuyasha was forced down face-first into the ground at the sound of the one-word incantation.

"Are you okay, Alden? Do you need anything?" Kagome asked sympathetically.

"Oh. No thank you. I'm okay," Alden lied.

"Um, okay then. Let's try to get some sleep. Inuyasha, stand guard for Alden and Cora."

"Feh!"

"Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha obeyed, persuaded by the threat of another "sit."

This particular demon encounter had frightened and disturbed Alden greatly. It was only adding to his other mixed emotions: confusion, disbelief, hopelessness. His sister's eyes had housed these as well, and they would always seem to linger. But Inuyasha's words had left a mark in his mind as well.

"Am I vulnerable?" Alden thought to himself. "Am I weak? Can I not defend myself? Am I really taking flight instead of tackling conflicts head on? What if a demon were to try to attack us again? Would I be ready? Would Cora be safe?"

This myriad of thoughts circled and echoed through Alden's mind continuously, as he tried to fall back to sleep. It was a conspicuously futile effort. He lay restless; mind racing and thoughts sweeping through him like a persistent gale.

Morning came, after Alden had only acquired about an hour of sleep. The rays that entered the room roused him reluctantly, as his sister looked out from the window, gazing at the face of a new day. She had also been restless during the night, awakening sporadically from her sleep. The light of the new day, however, consoled her.

Inuyasha had remained vigilantly on watch during the night, however, was asleep as of the moment. Cora noticed him sleeping, and did not disturb him. She turned around and noticed that her brother's eyes were open.

"Hey, Alden," she said. "You okay?"

Alden's face showed his night of restlessness and unease, as well as his fatigue.

"Are you okay?" he asked Cora.

"Yeah. That was scary last night. Don't ever do that again."

"I had to tell the others. I had to do something. I didn't want anyone to get hurt."

"Don't do it again."

Alden didn't say anything more. He still lay recumbent, his eyes showing a dreamy spaciousness. He was engulfed in a reverie, an obvious manifestation of his night's thoughts.

Cora turned back to the window, noticing the tired Inuyasha.

"Looks like Inuyasha kept watch over us all night," she said sarcastically. "Well, at least he was here and guarded the door."

Alden's reverie was scattered, as he fled back to reality. He sat up and looked over at his sister, who was still looking at the early setting. He then stood up and got dressed, as if perfunctorily, and exited the house.

"Inuyasha," he said. "Wake up. It's morning."

Inuyasha opened his eyes after a few seconds.

"Huh? What?"

"I have to ask you something," Alden said to him. "Can you show me a way to defend myself? Such as you have your strong sword, Tetsusaiga, and your half-demon abilities?"

It took Inuyasha a few moments to return to consciousness and register Alden's request. But after a while, he stood up, crossing his arms.

"Feh. I was gonna tell you that anyway," Inuyasha retorted. "You need a way to defend yourself."

"I know," Alden concurred. "I don't want to be left defenseless any more. I need a means to fight."

"Well, I can't argue there."

Cora noticed the two talking from the window. She wasn't listening to their conversation, however.

"Hm. I wonder what they're talking about?"

She left the window, and got dressed. She grabbed a comb out of her huge backpack and attempted to get out all the tiresome knots in her hair. Afterward, she left the abode to find that they had already left.

"Hm. They must have gone to eat breakfast."

Cora thus, entered the house next to theirs, finding everyone sitting and eating.

"Oh, hey Cora!" Kagome greeted her. "Come sit! We were wondering where you were. Alden said you were coming."

"I had to brush my hair," she said. "Even though it's pretty straight, it has a lot of knots in it."

"Oh, yeah. Mine too."

Everyone was now conversing and eating. Most of them were still talking about the incident with the demon last night, mentioning it to Kaede and Myoga, who were now amongst them. Alden seemed crestfallen at the mention of the demon encounter, where in turn Inuyasha spoke up.

"I'm gonna help Alden here learn to fight for himself," he told everyone.

"Pf! Alden and fighting don't exactly get along," Cora spoke up. "He took a year of karate once, but it didn't go so well."

"I hated that teacher," Alden said. "Even the most disciplined pupil couldn't take her crap."

"Yeah, well, these demons in our time are no pushovers," Inuyasha said. "Especially for humans like you."

"I agree," Miroku intervened. "You have to have a means to defend yourself. Not only with your fists, but other means. In this era."

"Yeah, such as Miroku has his wind-tunnel, Inuyasha has Tetsusaiga, and Sango has her Hiraikotsu," Kagome said.

Alden, upon hearing Sango's name, turned towards her for a moment. She bore a kindhearted smile and a gentle demeanor; Alden found himself in a temporary daze because of it. He soon clicked out of it, without anyone noticing. Sango had turned her attention back towards the conversation before taking note of Alden's look as well.

"What do you have Kagome? Do you have a weapon?" Cora asked.

"Well, I'm a good archer," Kagome told her.

"Oh. Is that the box that holds the arrows?"

Cora was pointing to Kagome's quiver that lay next to her on the floor.

"Yep. That's my quiver," Kagome said. "And I can sense the jewel shards, too, when they're nearby."

"Wow. Everyone has something special. Everyone is good at something. I wish I had something."

"Everyone is good at something. Even you, Cora. You just have to find it."

The conversation between Kagome and Cora became a side conversation, as the others talked about their abilities and weapons. Alden now bore a more determined look, as he was eager to find something to defend himself with. He realized now that he had to protect Cora, more importantly, even if it was an era infested by demons and foreboding evil.

After breakfast, Inuyasha came up with the idea of having a day of rigorous training for Alden, taking him up on his request.

"If you want to learn how to defend yourself, then we should start with the fists," he told Alden. "Because if you are somehow stripped of all your weapons, that is what you must resort to."

"Okay. Then, let's start." Alden said.

Thus, a day of training commenced, out in the open fields on the outskirts of the village. After a few hours of practicing punches and kicks, which he mastered flawlessly given time, Alden began to spar with an unarmed Miroku. Alden at first was told to evade Miroku's assaults, and then to counter. Alden's face and demeanor showed an ultimate determination; his extreme will allowed him to master all of what he was taught.

Meanwhile, Cora watched Alden from a distance. Kagome, Sango, Shippo, and Kilala joined her, as they sat on a grassy hill.

"Your brother is strong," Kagome commented.

"Pf! Yeah, right," Cora said. "I can beat him up."

"Ha ha. Come on. He is physically strong, but even more so in here."

Kagome pointed to her heart. Cora looked at her for a moment, and then resumed watching her brother. She smiled.

After the hours of physical unarmed training, Alden proceeded to train with improvisation of weapons. Miroku was armed with his staff, as he advanced to strike the unarmed Alden. In response, Alden took quick action; his reflexes and wits hastened. His eyes searched for anything suitable to defend himself, and, upon hasty seeking, caught attention to an umbrella propped up against a jagged boulder. It was this same black umbrella that traveled with Alden to the Feudal Era, the same one that shielded himself and Cora from the pelting rain of their time. He thus, took the umbrella up in hand, clashing it with Miroku's staff.

"Wow! That was quick thinking!" Shippo exclaimed, observing the ensuing fight.

"Kagome," Cora said, asking for her attention.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think maybe, you could train me?"

"Well, I don't know, Cora. I mean, I don't think I would be a very good archery teacher."

"Oh, please, teach me! I keep thinking about how before you said everyone has something they're good at. I don't have anything special about me. Alden is getting training, and now he's going to be prepared to fight. Well, what about me? I want to be able to defend myself too!"

"I think that would be a great idea, Kagome," Sango intervened, concurring with Cora's idea.

"Please!" Cora cried.

"Well, okay. I'll try to teach you something," Kagome said.

"Yay! Yay!" Cora yelled in joy, doing cartwheels and flips across the grass. "I'm going to be able to fight like Kagome!"

"Wow, you can do good gymnastics!" Kagome commented.

"Thanks. I've been doing it for three years now."

"Well, that's something you're good at."

"Well, yeah, but doing cartwheels won't help me to fight. And my backflips aren't nearly as useful as your ability to sense shards, Kagome. That's cool! I wish I had a special power like that."

"He he. Yeah, it is useful. But being nimble and quick like you are with gymnastics is too, you know. That can definitely help you when we're caught up with demons."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Want to race?"

"Okay! But I'm gonna win!"

"First one to the tree wins."

"Okay. Ready, set, go!"

Cora ran as fast as she could down the hill, meandering around boulders that littered that ground and the tall grass at the bottom. She hastened her heels to the tree, with a slower Kagome behind her.

After the race, the two sat in the shade of the victory tree, Cora basking in her ability and obvious win.

"Ha ha! I won!" she exclaimed.

"Yep. Wow, you're really fast," Kagome said, panting slightly. "That is a good thing that you can run like that."

"Uh huh. You're right. I am good at something, I guess."

Sango, Shippo, and Kilala walked over to the resting Cora and Kagome.

"You're really quick, Cora," Sango said, smiling. "That was really good!"

"Thanks," Cora said, petting Kilala's head. "I like running races."

Kagome noticed a peculiar twig lying in the grass that perhaps fell from the tree. It had an odd wishbone-like curvature, very knotty and bent.

"Hey, wait a minute," she said. "I've got an idea."

She broke off pieces of the knotty twig, and ran back to the village to collect something from her backpack. She obtained a rubber band from it, and stretched it taut across the twig's two wishbone ends. Having thus finished her creation, she hurried back to show Cora.

"Look, Cora," she said. "It's a slingshot."

"Hey, that's cool," Cora said. "But what's it for?"

"For you," Kagome said, handing it to her. "To defend yourself with. When worst comes to worst, you can use it."

"To defend myself with? Are you serious? It's just a little slingshot. Can't you teach me to use a bow and arrow like you?"

"Well, I could try, but it will take a really long time. And plus, I don't know how exactly to explain it to you. I guess it's sort of like it's innate; I'm just naturally good at it."

"Oh. But, I mean, it's only a little slingshot."

"It is. But, have you ever heard the story of David and Goliath? How David triumphed over Goliath only armed with a slingshot and his faith?"

"Yeah, I have. Thanks, Kagome. That makes a lot of sense."

Kagome and Cora spent the rest of the day chipping soft stones into unique shapes, in which Cora used them for her slingshot. They carved them into shapes such as sharp-edged diamonds, rounded spheres, and pointy hearts. Cora pulled them back in her slingshot, held it taut, and released them; hitting specific targets that Kagome pointed at.

"Hey, you have a knack for it!" Kagome said. "Perfect aim!"

"Thanks, Kagome. I guess it's innate," Cora smiled.

A beautiful sun soon set over the horizon, as the villagers began finishing up their work for the day and head in with their families. Everyone now was sitting down comfortably and eating. Alden was profoundly exhausted and famished, as he crunched on some of Kagome's potato chips and guzzled some water. Cora was still conversing with Kagome about her experiences in gymnastics, as a perverted Miroku attempted to stroke the brooding Sango. She hit him on the cheek for his antics, Alden witnessing the lewd act with a sigh. Inuyasha sat in Indian style posture, engulfed in a sort of reverie.

"What a day," he thought. "I just hope it wasn't a waste of time. We should be looking for jewel shards now, and discovering what is up with the well. Argh! I know Naraku is behind this! But we haven't seen or heard of his whereabouts, nor have we been really searching yet. Well, we should start looking. Remaining here in this village won't do any good. But what has happened is strange; with the well and Alden and Cora appearing. How did they wind up here? Does Naraku want them here purposely or is he just playing around with the well's magic; maybe testing it for something. Maybe he has figured a way to find more jewel shards because of it, or manipulate time itself! We have to go out and look for him! But I know, when I mention it to Kagome, she'll probably just want us to lie low in the village. Ugh."

"Hey, Inuyasha, aren't you gonna eat something?" Kagome asked him, freeing him from the maelstrom of his thoughts.

"Feh. No thanks."

"Inuyasha, I just wanted to say thank you for today," Alden said. "Thank you greatly; for helping me learn to defend myself. I appreciate it."

"Feh. No problem. You can't be completely defenseless. You've got to learn how to fight if you're going to be here a while in this era."

"Definitely," Shippo chimed in.

"Wow, Inuyasha sure is being nice!" Kagome thought to herself. "I wonder if he's feeling well. Or, maybe he's up to something!"

Kagome was looking at Inuyasha.

"What do you want?!?" Inuyasha yelled at her, in response to her staring.

"Ugh. Whatever."

"Feh."

The group continued to converse and eat their dinner for a while, as blackness soon filled the sky with the leave of the sun. A fire was relit to illuminate the setting and dissipate the darkness, as a cry was heard not too far off into the distance.

"Demon!" someone yelled. "It's a demon!"

It was the voice of a young woman. Soon, she came into view, running away from the demon that seemed to be pursuing her. She approached the midst of the village.

"I know I smelled demon!" Inuyasha said, unsheathing Tetsusaiga. "Feh. I'll take care of it."

Yellow slits appeared aglow in the newly found darkness, as the demon crept up into the village. The burning scythes soon accompanied a long body, with about twenty bony legs scampering across the grassy plains. Inuyasha spotted it, as Tetsusaiga grew with a valiant luster. He leapt at it, Tetsusaiga drawn, and attempted to slay the bizarre demon. It opened its mouth wide, and shot out a devastating blast of light, exploding right in the midst of the airborne Inuyasha. He was flung through the air, and landed hard against the ground.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried.

"It must be after the jewel shards," Alden thought. "Just like the other one."

Alden saw that it was leering at Kagome with its bright slits; it hungrily craved the shards.

"Kagome! Watch out!"

"Huh?!?"

Alden acted quickly, his reflexes enhanced given the situation. He hastily picked up his black umbrella again, clutched it firmly in his two hands, and swung with all his strength at the impending blast from the demon. It had targeted Kagome, sensing the power of the shards in her midst, within her backpack. But the blast was reflected; Alden's swing of the umbrella shot the blast right back at the demon, recoiling and hurling it back devastatingly.

"Alden!" Kagome cried, as she held a slightly hurt Inuyasha.

The demon lay sprawled across the ground, unmoving. Inuyasha beheld the spectacle of Alden's determination and grinned at it. His time wasn't wasted.

"Nice one."

A moment later, the demon began to rouse itself. Cora saw it, as it slowly opened its sickle-shaped eyes.

"Ah! It's waking up!"

Cora grasped her slingshot, which was lying on the ground nearby. Her agility snapped into action; as she held the slingshot taut, armed with a heart-shaped rock, and pulled it back tightly. She aimed at the awakening demon, closing her left eye to ensure more precision and accuracy, and let it go. The single sharp-pointed rock flew through the air like a devastating dart, and lodged itself into the demon's soft, vulnerable forehead.

"Huh? She got it?" Kagome wondered, beholding the awe-striking sight.

The demon wailed in utter pain and agony, as it dropped to the ground once again. Blood seeped out of the hole in its forehead, and it died.

Everyone, including some villagers, awaited to see if the demon would rise again. But it did not; it dropped to the ground permanently. Alden was in complete awe at his sister's actions. She looked back at him, and walked over to embrace him.

"Alden, I was scared," she whimpered to him.

"It's okay," he said. "But, look at what you did! You got the demon good!"

Burying her face into his shoulder, she smiled.

The demon's corpse was carried away by the villagers and made into armor; its hard skin and bony legs proved to be useful. It was uncanny, however, that the demon's forehead was its only soft spot; it was indeed a fortunate thing that Cora's aim was accurate and correct in choosing its target. The villagers thanked Alden and Cora gratefully and abundantly for their rescue; they insisted that they stay longer in their village to rest. Inuyasha and the others took them up on the offer.

"Nice job, Alden," Inuyasha said, holding out his hand. "Looks like your not defenseless after all."

"Thanks, Inuyasha," Alden said, taking Inuyasha's hand and shaking it. "Thanks for helping me out."

"Feh. Don't worry about it."

"Cora, that was awesome!" Shippo exclaimed to her.

"Thanks, Shippo. It was scary though."

"Yeah. Well, you'll get used to it eventually, just like I did."

"You got used to it?" Inuyasha intervened. "Since when? You've always been crying and terrified with every demon we meet up with, you runt."

"Inuyasha, sit!!!" Kagome yelled.

Inuyasha's head was forced to hit the earth.

"Ugh!"

"Cora, you did awesome," Kagome said. "See, you really can fight and defend yourself!"

"Yeah," Cora smiled. "It looks like I can."

"That was true demon slaying if I ever saw it," Sango said. "Great work, Cora. And your brother, Alden....."

Alden heard his name called, and looked to see that it was spoken from Sango's tongue. She smiled at him, and walked over.

"That was smart of you to deflect the demon's blast like that," she said. "I would have never of thought of that, nor would've tried it if I would have."

"Um. Thank you, Sango," Alden said. "I just want to.....be able defend myself. And my sister."

"That's very valiant of you. I strive for the same reason as you, it seems. I would do anything to save my brother, Kohaku."

"You have a younger brother?"

"Yes. Just as you have a younger sibling. You see, my brother, Kohaku, is the only one that I have left.....my family was murdered.....and, well, it is a very long story."

"You don't have to tell me, Sango. I am sorry."

"It is alright.....but that is what I strive for now. To get Kohaku back. He has been manipulated by Naraku."

"The demon that seems to have ensnared you all. He must be the most foul demon of all."

"He is. And, I will have my revenge," Sango said, balling her fists and clenching her teeth. "I will avenge everyone."

"I am sorry, Sango. For all that has happened to you. I can't imagine anything worse than losing your loved ones; the ones closest to you. I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to Cora."

Miroku walked over to Sango's side and intervened.

"We are going to sleep now," he said. "The others have already gone in."

"Oh, I didn't even notice," Sango said. "Okay. Good night, Alden."

"Good.....night, Sango," Alden said, upon realizing just now that he had had a long conversation with Sango.

Sango left Alden as she headed in, with Miroku attempting another stroke of her. She responded with an immediate slap. But before going entirely inside, she looked back at Alden for a moment. He didn't notice her look, for he was already heading inside the adjacent abode, where Cora was already nestled. She looked back at him, and noticed that when she did for too long, her face grew very hot.