Author's Note: I really need to get going on this...Waaaaaaa...Help...
Disclaimer: I, Candide Avedo do not own anything that has to do with Inuyasha.
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Sango, Where Art Thou? - Part 2
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Sango rode quietly behind Kagura on the feather, armed with a replica of the hiraikotsu, and wearing an extra layer of peasant clothes. Another day had passed, once from which she had been busy trying to regain her strength while she was locked in her cell once again. But she didn't stay for the whole day in there. No. Naraku, once again, had other plans.
Sango shook her head, laughing in her thoughts. Naraku had no other plans except just for the sake of gaining the jewel shards and possibly turning himself into a full demon. He didn't need it, if Sango was being truthful. The more she thought about it, Naraku was starting to sound a little like Inuyasha. Well, their obsession with becoming a full demon was. Only Inuyasha's not so focussed anymore, now that Kagome was there.
She smiled. 'I wonder what they're doing right now.'
However, at that thought, Sango felt a sense of foreboding at what she had to do. In truth, she felt like she would rather die.
How could she even consider doing such a thing as this?
Oh, wait. It was just because she never doubted her friend's strength and that they would find a way in getting the jewel shards back. Perhaps then she would be back with them, kicking more demon butt. There was no doubt that no matter what path they choose to get there, she knew that their will power and teamwork would help them make it.
This could just be a a little diversion to let her live a little longer. At least, until she could find a way to help relieve her brother from his evil clutches.
Sango could certainly remember what exactly happened yesterday.
-
( Flashback )
Terrified screams echoed through the seemingly empty castle. Sango sat up abruptly, alert and in wonder. What now?
She winced as a jolt of pain were cast upon her legs. The poor conditions and the encounters with Naraku made it so much harder for her to recover quickly- It was taking much more time than she thought.
There were sounds of scruffling outside her door, and a moment later, it opened. A stern-looking Kagura stepped in; but once she saw Sango, her face was lit up by her sneaky smile.
"Taija. Naraku wants you. Now." she called, and began to lead the way, her lips now pursed tightly.
Sango groaned inwardly. That demon was going to have a lot on his hands when she finally recovers. All these summons were making her anxious every single time.
This time when Sango came in, there was no surprise. Naraku was there, his face impassive. Yet his eyes held a certain feel that he was mocking her. She stood in front of him, still wearing the peasant robes.
"Taija, I hope you're feeling charitable today." Naraku's face twisted into a sneer.
Sango bit her lip, and she couldn't help but recieve a small shiver of anxiety. The demonic aura around him was so strong that it wiped the full notion of the pain in her legs.
"What is it? Do you want me to sacrifice my life right now for some sort of scheme of yours again?" she felt Kagura shift uncomfortably behind her.
"No, not to that extent...Yet. However, I would like your co-operation." Naraku nodded to Kagura, who bowed herself out of the room. Naraku continued on. "I thought that the best way to make use of you is to do it the way I made through to you with your brother."
Kagura wasn't gone for long. She made her way into the room, shoving two large figures unceremoniously on the ground. Sango tried to look uninterested, but she has yet to ignore the moans from the two men, all undeniably from pain.
"So, taija, are you willing to put the life of these two on the line just for your own interest?" drawled out Naraku, watching her carefully. "I can happily end their lives right now, just say the word."
Sango chewed on her tongue, biting back the intense feeling of lashing out at the demon, and possibly ending the lives of these two innocents. It somehow didn't surprise her that that demon would result in bringing in bystanders into forcing her to do his deeds.
"Well?" Naraku glanced at Kagura, who remained waiting. "Just say the word, and I'll have Kagura finish them off. That and everyone else in the place they came from."
Sango bit on her tongue harder, trying to take of the uneasiness.
"Bear in mind the first two lives that you could be ending. They may have families. One of them may be helping his poor mother survive by his meager wages. Think about it, taija."
Sango stared at the two faces of the captive for the first time, and she found herself defeated. 'Damn Naraku. He's playing with my conscience...' "You monster!" she yelled, standing up.
Naraku smiled. "I know." he stared at her indifferently. "So, is that a yes?"
"Do I have a choice?" Sango said quietly. "Do not harm them and I'll do what you ask of me." she turned to him, mustering up the courage to give him a cold leer. "But hear this, if anything happens to them, I'm going to cut you limb from limb."
Naraku raised his eyebrows. "I would like to see you try, taija."
-
Sango plucked at the feather, as she remembered those last words. She hadn't known how to react to it, but she felt as though it he was inviting her in a way. Like he wanted her to throw the best she could once again, even if she was in no shape to fight. Toying, again, with her.
When she found out what he'd wanted her to do...
"Oh, my... Kagome... I'm so sorry." she whispered.
Kagura, who heard, looked at the taija, pursing her lips in annoyance.
"We're almost there. Don't you forget what Naraku told you." she spat out, as they neared the village. They were nearing the sloping hills, and saw the valley in the short distance.
The early morning blaze stunned their eyes when they stared straight ahead, and the whole scene would have been peaceful had it not been for the skeletal warriors that Kagura brought with her.
Like a hunting eagle they circled the skies, searching for any trace of their desired quarry; their quarry, Inuyasha' group.
-
Kagome waited patiently in the garden, quite upset that Inuyasha failed to wake her up early that morning. They were to look - in Inuyasha's case, sniff - for any trace of the two men. The second man was only discovered to be missing by a fellow worker when he didn't show up for work.
Shippo and Kirara were also left with her, much to their dislike. Not to mention the old woman were left with them as well.
Eversince the disappearances, security at the Lady Farica's home was doubled. However, Kagome knew that if it was Naraku that's doing all of this, then there's no doubt that the extra security wouldn't come in handy. They would just be in the way.
"Kagome, we're back." called Inuyasha, jumping over the fence, startling a few guards in the process.
"Why didn't you wake me up!" asked Kagome, glaring at him, and Miroku came in shortly, through the front door.
"Don't worry, we didn't find much." replied Inuyasha, dusting himself off.
"We only had trails that could all be misleading." added Miroku. "I mean, those two men might not be together at all. I mean, he could have been mugged by some of the villagers here. Then there's always the possibility of the two of them having a fight and killing each other off."
"No THAT's far-fetched." said Farica, as she stood beside Kagome, holding a confused Kirara in her arm.
"It's still a possibility." answered Miroku.
"Are you sure you looked everywhere?" asked Shippo, looking up at Inuyasha accusingly.
"What are you implying, runt?" growled Inuyasha, advancing on the kitsune.
"I think he meant that are you sure you didn't overlook anything that might seem unusual?" asked Kagome, as Shippo hid behind her ankles.
"There was a trace of their scent right outside the village." said Miroku, placing a finger on his chin. "But that trail ended before we thought we could follow it."
"We-" Inuyasha began, but he abruptly stopped, growling low in his throat and glaring at the ground.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" asked Kagome nervously, fearing for the worst.
"He's here."
Miroku froze, holding his staff ready. Lady Farica looked confused, and Kirara jumped out of her arms, transforming into her large demon form. Shippo refrained from his hiding place behind Kagome's ankles.
From nowhere, the sound of rustling leaves came closer, until it was just beyond the gates. Inuyasha poised for attack.
Just then, a brown blur landed in the yard, startling them all.
"Him?" asked Kagome, blinking, as a haughty looking Kouga appeared before them. Miroku, Shippo and Kirara inwardly sighed as they relaxed.
"Yes, him." replied Inuyasha, flexing his claws. "Whaddaya want, Kouga?"
Kouga looked at him, perplexed, to Kagome, to which he then smiled. "Ah, so Kagome's here."
Casually, amidst Inuyasha's protesting glares, Kouga stepped forward, taking Kagome's hands in his. Kagome blushed, failing to sense Inuyasha's negative vibes as Kouga smiled at her.
"Uh, hello, Kouga, nice of you to drop by." Kagome said uneasily, smiling at Farica to indicate that everything was okay. Then old woman just stared at the loin-cloth wearing demon in surprise.
"Yeah, real nice." added Inuyasha, rolling his eyes. "As nice as seeing Naraku's face early in the morning. A real blessing."
"What did you say, MUTT?" asked Kouga, who had tried to ignore him.
Both of them rounded on each other, but Kagome sighed, and stepped in, putting each a hand on their shoulders.
"Look, you two, it's really not the time for that." she implored, and Kouga immediately desisted Inuyasha, his expression turned more sour.
"Yeah, speaking of Naraku," Kouga took the time to glare at Inuyasha, before placing his attention back on Kagome. "I was not too far away from this place when I captured Naraku's foul stench."
Kagome looked alarmed, and so did Miroku and the others.
"You've captured Naraku's scent?" repeated Miroku, then looked a little confused. "Wait, but shouldn't Inuyasha have gotten his scent by now?"
Kouga shook his head. "Nope, the direction of the wind's not in your favour, yet even if it was, I doubt the Mutt's abilities..."
"You goin somewhere with that?" asked Inuyasha, cracking his knuckles.
Kouga was about to answer, when screams erupted from beyond the gate. Shippo shivered.
"Kagome, what's that?" he asked.
Miroku warily stared at the gate doors, as the sounds of people marching were to be heard. Not to mention-
"It seems to be getting closer, whatever it is." he answered. "I think you should get Farica away from here, Kagome. Bring Shippo and Kirara with you. I think Inuyasha and I can handle this."
Kagome nodded, as she pulled on Farica's arm to drag her back into her home, quickly followed by Shippo and Kirara.
"Don't worry, Kagome, nothing's going to happen to you while I'm here." said Kouga, watching her run for cover.
Sixteen or so guards hurried to the front gate to confront the upcoming attacker. Inuyasha and Miroku also kept guard as the noises of colliding metal and heavy synchronized footsteps grew closer.
Without warning, a strong sharp gust of wind blew down the front gates with one strike. It echoed throughout Farica's demesne, scaring the many residents that were caught unawares. Dust from the loose earth made vision more difficult, and Inuyasha, Miroku and Kouga covered their eyes with their arms, until everything settled down a bit.
"Well, hello there."
Kouga growled low in his throat. He'd know that voice anywhere. The same voice that probably haunted his fellow demons right to and even beyond their deaths. The woman who took pleasure in killing for no reason.
"Kagura." he muttered, as the familiar figure stood serenely in front of them, her vivid eyes laced with a bit of humour. Beyond her stood her many skeletal soldiers, awaiting her command.
At the sound of his voice, her ears pricked, and Kagura's face turned to him, her lips curving into a smile.
"What a surprise. The wolf boy's here." Kagura turned her attention back to the group, and scanned her surroundings.
"What do you want, Kagura?" asked Miroku boldly. "There's nothing for you here."
Kagura raised her eyebrows. "Nothing? Heh. All I can see is nothing. But I know it's here." she stared at Inuyasha, who scowled. "You're hiding the priestess, aren't you?" her smile grew wider.
"Whatever it is, WITCH, you're not getting it!" a man who looked like the captain yelled, and encouraged his men to attack.
"No, wait!" called out Inuyasha, trying to warn them. But it was too late.
Kagura faked a yawn, and unraveled her fan. Then, with a graceful twist of her wrist she sent the many men flying into the air, landing ungracefully into a heap in different places. Lazily Kagura turned her attention back to the three men, who were poised for action.
"Look, I don't want to really have to waste my time today." she began. "Yet a part of me knows that you wouldn't bend down so easily. So I've got a little present for you."
Miroku, Inuyasha, and Kouga prepared themselves for an attack, or maybe some other foul incarnation of Naraku, but it turned out that that wasn't what Kagura had in mind.
Waving her fan, the skeletal soldiers parted, and a solitary figure slowly walked forward.
Inuyasha and Miroku recognized the familiar swagger as she walked, the way her hair had been worn, and not to mention her weapon.
"S-Sango?" Miroku whispered, as she stood in front of Kagura, barely looking any of them in the eye. She focussed her eyes in the far distance, and she also refused to show any emotion whatsoever. Even without Sango's usual slayer uniform, she still held some sort of dangerous aura to her.
"Demon slayer?" said Kouga incredulously, not believing it. "What made her follow Naraku?"
"You idiot, she didn't go into Naraku's side." snapped Inuyasha, though he too, was surprised. He didn't plan on finding Sango this way. Glancing over to Miroku, he didn't plan on this either.
"How do you know?" answered Kouga, still eyed Kagura. "She could be controlled by him."
"Enough." said Kagura.
"What the hell did you do to Sango!" asked Inuyasha, gripping his sword.
"I certainly didn't do anything, but Naraku did." replied Kagura cooly. "Now enough of this. Taija, do as Naraku has told you, or bear the burden of the consequences!"
Sango moved, but as Miroku and Inuyasha noticed, she had a little bit of hesitation. However, without much choice, they moved to confront her. At the same moment, Kagura's soldiers stood in the way, blocking Sango from view, and from any further contact. With their hands full, Inuyasha and Miroku couldn't get through to her, try as they might. Kagura's soldiers were plentiful. Sadly they didn't notice her as she made her way into Farica's home.
Kagura, satisfied that she had safely executed Naraku's first orders, made to watch at a safer distance, but before she got very far, a tornado soon stopped her in her tracks.
"You haven't forgotten about me yet, have you?" asked Kouga, smirking. "I won't let you get away from me this time."
Kagura was surprised, but she quickly composed herself. "Well, I see you don't have your little wolf friends with you."
Kouga aimed a kick at her, which Kagura dodged easily, leaping into the air, and landing a few feet from him.
"They're far away from your grimy hands." he answered, landing as well. "It's just going to be you and me."
Kagura smiled. "I'd want nothing better."
For a few moments they stared at each other, seizing each other up, until-
"Dance of dragons!" shouted Kagura, waving her fan once more.
"I'm going to take you down today, Kagura." Kouga called out, charging forward, sending loose earth into the air again.
-
Sango slowly crept into the large house, not knowing where to find the others. She only relied on the basic surroundings, and checking for any traces of them. Most importantly, Sango tried to keep her mind on the task ahead. The expressions on Inuyasha's and Miroku's faces were what she mostly expected, and perhaps a bit more. She hadn't counted on them being so hurt, but then again, it wasn't as though they understood what was going on. They were certainly mistaken, thinking that she had betrayed them. She couldn't. She wouldn't. After seeing the looks on their faces, she couldn't.
Creeping into the bright hall, she kept alert for any sounds. The place seemed so empty that she could almost hear her own heart beating erratically in her chest. Her palms were getting sweaty from holding the duplicate of the hiraikotsu. It wasn't the same, but so was the situation.
A rustle of fabric had her frozen in her steps.
Movement had come from the room just ahead of her.
Taking small cautious steps she headed for that direction, noticing a door slightly adjar. She kicked it down, startling the hidden occupants inside as well.
Those occupants were certainly staring at her as though she was some kind of ghost.
"S-Sango!" cried out Kagome, rushing over to give her a hug. Not too far behind came Shippo, who seemed to be close to tears, and Kirara who had returned to her small self and was rubbing on Sango's foot. Sango was quite overwhelmed for the moment that she forgot what she came here for, until her friend drew away, smiling happily at her. A old woman whom she had never met just stood idly by, looking confused and worrisome.
"Sango, we were so worried about you." continued Kagome, studying her closely. "Hey, Sango, your clothes are all different, and- are you okay?" she interpreted Sango's silence and reluctance to join in the happy reunion.
"Yeah, Sango, we're so happy to have you back!" smiled Shippo, and a happy Kirara meowled happily at her.
"Kagome...Shippo...Kirara...ma'am...Please, stay away from me..." whispered Sango, backing away. "I-I can't let you get hurt."
"Sango, what's going on?" asked Kagome cautiously. "I don't understand-how did you get back?"
Sango looked away, but not before giving Kagome a look that just about explained everything.
"Oh, Sango." Kagome whispered. "What have you gotten yourself into?"
"You've got to stay away." said Sango calmly, backing further away. "I want you to fight me off, Kagome. It's the only way I can say that I tried taking the jewel shards from you."
Kagome shook her head. "I can't do that, Sango, I-"
"Just DO it, Kagome, I NEED you to! Or else-Or else I have to take them from you myself!" Sango cried out, feeling her own body separated from her mind as she took out her hiraikotsu. Confused, but determined to save the shards, Kirara changed back into her larger demon self, and Shippo just didn't know what to think. The old woman continued to stay away from her, as Sango sadly poised her weapon for an attack.
'This is ridiculous...Having to fight my own friends just to save them...It's all too confusing...' Sango thought, and she faced her friends as enemies.
-
Inuyasha and Miroku panted heavily as they broke down one skeletal soldier after another. There was no relief in sight, but at the rate they were going, they should have been at the halfway mark by now. Many bone remains littered the garden that was once so well-maintained, now a burial ground for them. The nearby pond was littered in fallen armour, and a tree was decorated with a fallen guard.
"Inuyasha, this is pointless." said Miroku, as he chopped off a head of one of the many, and found it still standing and ready for another round.
"You're telling me." agreed Inuyasha, not too far from him. "I mean, this all just doesn't seem right Miroku."
"I know. I'm worried about Sango."
"Yeah. Same here."
-
Kagura panted heavily as she wiped the sweat off her brow. Across from her Kouga did the same, both never keeping their eyes off each other. The had both been throwing each other massive hits, but for every attack they made, the other also blocked. Only a few blows had ever really landed, and most of them were on Kouga. Kagura was only hit once in the stomach while she tried to hit him with the same attack two times in a row.
"So-are-you-ready-for-more?" panted out Kouga, flexing his claws.
"What are you waiting for?" said Kagura, managing a smile.
Kouga smirked. "As you WISH!" he charged, zig-zagging his way towards Kagura, aiming his trusty jewel-embedded leg at her face.
Kagura, however, saw the attack in advance, and swiftly waved her fan at him as she dodged, sending Kouga flying high into the air, and landing with a crash at her feet. His impact made a small crater in the ground, and from it came the painful moans of the fallen demon.
Laughing, Kagura walked over to him, bending slightly down to get a better look. Only to recieve a painful punch to the face, as Kouga quickly recovered, landing lightly beside her as she landed heavily on her back.
"Well, I guess you got what you were asking for." he said, as he watched her get up, infuriated and patting her face with utmost concern.
"Y-you bastard." Kagura blurted out, surprised at his comeback. She felt something wet at her cheek, and she stared at her hand, which now had a red streak smeared on it. Her stomach made a dramatic summersault. "My face-what did you do to my- You're going to pay." she muttered, picking up the fan that she left on the ground. Kagura cautiously patted her face once more.
Kouga just stared, looking amused. Whatever this wind user was doing, it wasn't something that he'd call threatening.
"Well, if you ask me, it's not doing anything to your complexion. You look just fine." he said, wanting to laugh at her perplexed face. She may not mind being thrown about at times, but when it comes to her face? Confusing demon, but very much like a woman.
Kagura felt confused. That wolf demon was finding her actions amusing. "This isn't something to laugh about, Wolf boy." she snapped, taking her fan out once more.
This time Kouga burst out laughing, and Kagura never seemed to have gotten the point on the joke. Only a small part of her found it nice to make someone laugh. For the first time, at least, even at her own expense, and temporarily.
Kouga tried to get a few words out, but couldn't, for everytime he got a good look at her face he would just snort and start all over again.
Kagura was about to get a few words out to him, when her chest suddenly seemed to tighten in their own accord.
'Oh, no.' she thought, frantically. 'Oh, no, please.'
'What do you think you're doing, Kagura?' a cold voice entered her thoughts.
'I-I'
Kouga had stopped laughing, and this time got back into his attacking position.
"Time to finish what we started, Kagura." he called out, but he was ignored, as Kagura's mind was filled with Naraku's voice.
'Kagura, I need you back here now.'
'I can do better, please, I know I can.'
Kouga was confused, as he watched Kagura scrunch her face up in thought.
'I said NOW, KAGURA.' Naraku's voice shouted in her mind, and Kagura's chest suddenly constricted, making it impossible for her to breathe.
"Y-yes, Naraku." Kagura answered, getting the point and taking out her flight feather. The voice in her head was gone, but the pain in her chest was still lingering. Oh, the pain of being imprisoned by Naraku's control. She took one last look at the demon who she had fought, whose expression now turned serious.
"I'll come back to finish you off, do you hear?" called Kagura, hopping onto her feather.
"Heh, you have nothing on me." Kouga called back, narrowing his eyes at her as she floated into the sky.
Kagura just rolled her eyes, and headed off to pick up Sango. She doubted whether the taija actually got anything, but judging by the way Naraku had called them back so angrily meant that he had been watching through Kanna's mirror, and whatever he saw had no pleased him one bit.
When Kagura got closer, she saw that Inuyasha and Miroku almost destroyed all of her soldiers, and would soon be heading for that miko's rescue. Around the back of the demesne, she found Sango, looking slightly bruised and battered, but still pretty much okay. She decended down to pick her up, and without a word said between them, they left to return back to Naraku's castle.
-
Kagome, Shippo, Kirara and Farica caught up with Miroku and Inuyasha, who were standing amidst the ashes and bones of the dead.
"Inuyasha, Miroku, are you guys okay?" asked Kagome, peeking up at their faces anxiously.
"We're fine, how about all of you?" asked Miroku, taking a good look at them all.
"We're all fine ourselves." replied Farica, looking a bit shaken, but fine.
"What I want to know is what the hell just happened." said Inuyasha, tucking his sword back into it's place at his waist. "If anyone knows, I'd be glad to know. Sango better not be messing with out heads like that."
Kagome shook her head. "She told me about some things. I mean, when I saw her just a while ago. I think she's got something up her sleeve."
"Sango's doesn't seem to be in any condition to actually have anything up her sleeve." said Miroku, sitting himself down on a rock.
"She said she's going to be fine." said Shippo, clinging to Kagome's leg.
"At least we know where she is." said Kagome, taking out and staring at the shards that she has in her possession.
-
Sango and Kagura returned to the dimly lit castle once more, where Naraku once again awaits. This time he waited for them at the entrance, his black hair billowing freely about from the passing wind. As they landed Naraku immediately addressed Sango, ignoring Kagura completely.
"You've disobeyed me, taija."
-
C.A.: Heh...heh he, I know, I know. I'm overdue, aren't I? Casually tries to stay out of angry reader's way Well, as one review suggested, there aren't very many out there. There's that real good reason. It's so hard to write. Anywhos, I'm lagging. Ah well. I'm just carrying on and giving it my all, and hoping that you'll all likie. I've got the next chapter drawn out, but it's hard to really complete it in a much more readable way. But yes, at least I've finished this one. Makes me happy :)