Author's Note: Eureka! A spark of inspiration. Just needs to tweak a few more knobs.
Disclaimer: I, Candide Avedo do not own anything that has to do with Inuyasha
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Brother
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A few blows to the face and two throws later, Sango found herself inside her prison quarters once again, this time never knowing when she would come out. It wouldn't really be a surprise if he actually left her there to rot. Then it would be either up to everyone else to break her out, or herself, for that matter.
Kagome's voice still echoed in her mind from what must be a few days ago.
"Sango, we know what you want us to do, but we just can't." Kagome stayed stationary as Sango launched the hiraikotsu, whizzing past them, and embedding itself in the wall opposite.
Kagome winced as pieces of splintered wood and paint crumbled to the ground.
"You don't have to prove anything. We trust you- I just don't know if you are even aware of that. If Naraku's done something to make you go after us, then-" Kagome gave her a reapproachful smile. "I don't blame you. It's got something to do with Kohaku, right?"
Sango grimanced. "Something...Like that..."
Kagome nodded. "We'll get you back, Sango. Don't worry about it."
"Kagome, you don't have to-It'll just waste your time-"
"We don't want to hear it." smiled Kagome. "Naraku's gone too far this time, so we're not letting him off the hook that easily. Not this time. I'm sure Inuyasha would say the same if he really knew what was going on."
"I know, but if Kagura, or anyone else comes after you, it'll be because of me, I'm so sure of it." Sango bit her lip, as the sudden though of Kagome's blood staining the ground flashed vividly in her mind. "I'm getting confused."
"Listen to your friend." the old woman said, staying where she was. "You must be something else to have them believe in you so much. If she says that they'll be bringing you back, then you can be as sure as the sun rises that they will be."
As much as she would like to agree with what she said, Sango knew that the future was as unpredictable as demon slaying. You never know what you're going to encounter next. Pretty much the history of her life. Encountering the unpredictable. Usually at her age, parents would be more concerned about setting her with a suitable marital match, both intellectually and financially. Now, at this stage, it was to be laughable.
Such is the life of a demon exterminator.
She plucked at her robes, those that accumulated much dirt from the past few days. They weren't really something so uncomfortable, but Sango had the prickling feeling that they had killed someone to take possession of it.
Speaking of killing...
How long was she here, inside this cell? A few days, perhaps? The miasma around the place was so thick that it was difficult to tell. Was it day, or night right now? What she knew, for a fact, though, that another shower was in demand.
If Sango was being honest with herself, she's feeling grateful for even living this long, stuck in Naraku's castle and considering the conditions. He wasn't even making her bleed much with his punishments, unless he was a such sadistic bastard that he would leave her to contemplate on the pain. Yes, that was probably it. Kagura, however, didn't seem to be punished. He only gave her a cold look and she backed away.
A knock on her door called to her attention. Sango snorted. Who, in their right mind knock on the prisoner's door as if asking for entrance? She waited for the door to open, but it did not come. A few moment's of silence passed, and the knocking returned.
"Come in." Sango whispered, and she was quite surprised that in came Kagura, carrying a coloured bundle of fabric tucked under her arm, with a small clay jar in the other hand, and rolled-up pieces of thin white cloth. Kagura just set the things down on the floor, and stared at Sango, scruncing her nose in disgust.
"Get up." Kagura commanded. "Follow me." Sango did as she asked, seeing no harm in the matter.
In silence they made their way through the dark halls again; this time, Sango knew where they were headed for, and she found herself sighing inside her head in relief.
The same procedure followed; Kagura waited outside, while Sango went into the bathroom, giving strong caution to the bathtub as she stepped into the barely warm water.
A part of Sango expected something of an attack on her mind like last time, but nothing came. Scrubbing the dirt and grime off as much as she can, Sango took her time. When she had her fill of it, she climbed out, shivering heavily. This time, however, there was no change of clothes, and it was only then that she realized that Kagura left the dry clothes in her cell.
Opening the door to only a tiny crack, she came face to face with Kagura, who was starting to look impatient.
"Finished?" she asked.
"Um, yeah." Sango nodded. "But the change of clothes..."
"They're in your room." Kagura replied, still waiting.
Sango frowned. It's not exactly what she'd call a room, but...
"Are you wanting to change, or do you just want to stay there?" Kagura said, tapping her foot.
Realizing that she had to walk out there naked, Sango put her arms around herself, trying to stop herself from shivering. She walked out, with her hair slightly dripping, and wincing as some of the wounds that Naraku gave her a few nights ago got exposed to the cold air and water.
Kagura didn't say anything, but she did give Sango a swift look from top to bottom, stopping at a few of the scars. Then, making a gesture for her to follow, made their way back to Sango's cell.
The water on her skin was dry by the time they got there, so some of the shivering had subsided. She thought that there was nothing else and that she would be left on her own again, but Kagura followed her in, and closed the door quietly. Then, she walked over to where the piles of fabric were, and grabbed a plain underrobe, and threw it to Sango, who caught it.
"Put that on and sit down." Kagura said, picking the jar up from the ground, and opening the lid.
Sango did so, feeling the cool thin fabric settle on her skin. She then sat down, kneeling neatly on the floor.
Kagura then made her way behind Sango, and startled her as she hiked up the plain robes to her shoulders.
"What are-" Sango protested.
"Do you want to have those cuts stay on, or are you going to let me have a look at them?" she snapped, turning to face Sango with an expression that told her to shut up.
Huffing in annoyance, Kagura began to scoop up the ointment, and patted it on her skin, making Sango gasp.
"Stop moving."
"I can't help it." answered Sango.
Kagura rolled her eyes. What in the world was she thinking, doing this? For a while Kagura tended to the various cuts, and once she was finished, she bandaged Sango in the rolled-up white fabric. Then she moved on to treat a leg, carefully rubbing the cool medicine, and also wrapping the fabric once she was done. The same process occurred with Sango's right arm.
The rubbing made the ointment warm up on her skin, and Sango's muscles loosened up. She slumped her shoulders forward, letting the feeling spread on her skin.
Having finished, she then threw the final bundle of clothing to Sango, who unfurled it. It was a kimono, similar to the one she had, only the colours were light blue and black, instead of the pink and green.
Confused by the sudden elaborate treatment, Sango opened her mouth to speak, but Kagura cut her off again. This time looking very angry and uneasy.
"Do you want to see your brother?"
The question threw her off balance so much that the question was blown right off her mind. Her immediate reaction was;
"Of course I would."
Kagura contemplated for a few seconds, then motioned for her to follow.
Besides the suspicious feeling in the pit of her stomach, Sango couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement and hope. Getting the chance to see Kohaku was something that she would do anything for. Eversince her first day, she hadn't seen him. At least a week had passed since she was first 'taken hostage', and things weren't even going anywhere. Not that she could complain.
That usual sneering face now focused into something like doubt as they walked on.
Their echoing footsteps stopped just stopped in front of a roughly made door. It's condition was quite new, which meant that it had rarely been used. Moreover, what scared Sango the most was that there was a big chunk of wood that blocked the door from sliding, or anyone from entering.
There was no doubt in her mind now that Kohaku was in there.
"Help me get this off." said Kagura, putting both hands on her waist. "You should be strong enough, am I right?"
Sango and Kagura both tried to push the large piece of wood out of the way, with quite a lot of effort. It was a lot heavier than it looked. After a big heave that left them both quite breathless, Sango and Kagura placed the wood aside where they could easily get back to it later.
Wiping her brow, Kagura then used both hands to slide the door open, careful not to make any noise. Then, she stepped inside, and Sango followed, eagerly anticipating the fact that she's finally going to see him. Maybe now it wouldn't be so hard to convince him about the past that he had with her. It was just going to be Kohaku and herself.
When she got inside the room, however, Sango felt her breath come short just a tad bit.
The place looked disgusting, with the smell of rotting wood and wet soil spreading around the room like it's own miasma. The mud on the floor that she walked on wasn't so thick, but there was still a certain amout of challenge in manoevering to get through. Just like all the other rooms, and this was no exception, was lacking in light. Only two long candles were posted on the wall parallel to each other. The room itself was small, but quite long. Both of the candles weren't enough to fully illuminate the place, yet Sango saw that there was something like a dark shadow leaning against the wall.
The faint sounds of slow breathing was now coming from the very end, and Sango forced herself to trudge through the mud faster, managing to stay on her feet as her sandals grew heavy with the muck.
With a sound of deep disgust Kagura followed, pulling up at the hems of her kimono from getting soiled.
Sango soon saw something that brought relief on her features. There, sitting down slumped against the wall was Kohaku. He was on the only part of the room that had the least amount of mud. What must be fruit flies were busy buzzing around his face.
She kneeled next to him, ignoring the objecting sounds of the one who led her there.
"Kohaku?"
The boy she had addressed to had his head between his knees, like some abandoned puppy. He did not hear her.
"Kohaku, can you hear me?" asked Sango more urgently, placing both hands on either shoulder.
Kohaku shuddered awake, turning his head up to hers with the same emotionless expression. Yet at the sound of her voice his brows creased, and his shoulders tensed. In reflex he moved away from her, patting the ground next to him.
Sango's throat felt hoarse as she tried to call his name again.
"Kohaku...It's me..."
Standing up, Kohaku searched the ground again, and found what he was looking for just close by. She could only watch as he waved his weapon threateningly in front of her, hoping to keep her away.
"Why do you follow me?" he asked, and his eyes moved over to Kagura, who kept close by. "Why did you bring her here? Aren't you risking your life with these actions?" Kohaku sent her an accusing look.
"Just stop it with these questions. I know what I'm doing." answered Kagura, glowering; yet Sango didn't miss the slight anxious tone in her voice.
But Sango ignored it all. All of her focus was right on her brother right now.
"Don't you remember me?" she went on, holding out a hand to him. "You almost remembered me, at least, I think you did."
Kohaku just shook his head slowly, trying to back into the shadows where the dim glow of the candles couldn't reach.
"Just try, Kohaku...How about Kira-"
"I said just a visit, taija, not to brainwash him." said Kagura, and from the look on her face, she was getting close to losing her temper again.
Sango rolled her eyes. "What is it that you want from me, Kagura? There's a reason why you took me here. Why?" she clenched her hands into fists. "Are you mocking me?"
A melodious laugh filled the room.
"What makes you say that?" she asked, waving a hand carelessly into the air.
"I dunno, but the looks you've been wearing at this time screams out that you've got something on your mind." Sango scoffed.
Kagura pouted, studying her fan as she pondered on her response.
"I want to know..."
"Know what?"
"What it's like...To feel free."
Sango arched her neck to the side. "What do you know? Why do you even think about it? YOU tell me, Kagura. What do you think it's like?"
Kagura couldn't bring herself to answer promptly. The meaning was all there, but how does it feel? Feel...Yes...She felt something there, alright. It was distant, faint. Kagura felt it the last time she had tried to escape Naraku. But it had been brief. How did it feel? Light, airy, a never ending feeling of bliss? Maybe. There would be not a single word that could possibly describe the feeling. Doing something that she chose to do regardless of the consequences and lack of restraint was-all that she ever wanted.
She shared her thoughts to Sango, who leaned against the wall, listening to her every word.
"I'm not one to fall for your innocent act, Kagura. I know what you're going to do when you get that freedom." Sango gave Kagura an appraising stare. "You'll just attack on will, using threats and bribes to get what you want. All you Naraku re-creations are the same. Born from Naraku, with the same tasteless appetites."
After what happened to her brother, father, and the other slayers, Sango could not forgive them.
"How about you just think about what's going to happen to you when Kagome and the others get here."Sango finished, glaring at Kagura's grave expression.
"Don't place me in the same category with Naraku." she replied, watching Kohaku who was motionless. "I'm nothing like him."
"What makes you even think that you're not like him?" Sango demanded, stepping forward, until they were a few feet apart.
Kagura smiled dangerously. "You may not know this, but Naraku's asked me to destroy the two men that were held captive. Them both, AND the village where they came from."
-
Kagome and the others had recently finished helping Farica restore some of the things in her place back to normal. Much of the people in the village were shaken up, but they all pulled together on cleaning up after Kagura's army had left. All in all, the damage was superficial, and no one but the soldiers were killed, except for the occassional poor soul who failed to get out of the way-but they were minor injuries.
After consulting with Kagome with what just happened with their friend Sango, everyone was more determined than ever to find her. Especially a certain two-tailed friend.
"Kagome, I don't know what to do. She won't stop pacing!" said Shippo, watching Kirara walk around in circles.
Stretching her tired muscles after putting fresh flowers on the graves for the dead, Kagome looked around for the feline until she saw her. Kirara's two tails were low on the ground; her head drooped down, looking like, in Kagome's opinion a cat that had been denied of it's catnip. The small demon stared up at Kagome, and mewled sadly; at that, Kagome understood.
"Shippo, you realize how Kirara's feeling, don't you?" she asked, as the little fox placed a small daisy on one of the graves.
"I think I know." he replied, placing a small paw to his chin.
Inuyasha bounded over to them, with a solemn Miroku behind him. The hanyou had reluctantly agreed to go and find Sango as soon as possible, despite the injury Kagome still attained. He too, was concerned about their friend, but he figured that if they were to go and find Naraku with a still-recovering Kagome, then they wouldn't be getting anywhere. So, they stayed for a couple of more days until she could walk properly again.
"Kagome, hurry up, it's getting late." said Inuyasha, watching her as she distributed the last of the flowers to the remaining graves.
The sun was already setting, illuminating the sky with it's vivid colours of orange and pink. Much of the noise around the village had quieted down now, and everyone else was just getting ready for their dinners.
"I'm fine-in fact, I think I'm well enough to get going tomorrow." answered Kagome. "It's better if we start by then." Her eyes were bright and eager.
Inuyasha sighed inwardly, knowing that once Kagome had her mind set, there was no use in trying to change it. Yet the happy vision of Kouga yelling at him for putting Kagome in danger just decimated every thought in his mind. He didn't even know what happened, and here the wolf demon was, making assumptions. If there hadn't been distractions, he would have happily thumped the damn demon to the ground. Before long, his eyes were squinting angrily at the space in front of him.
"Inuyasha, are you okay?" asked Kagome, tugging on his arm, and making Inuyasha jump.
"Forget it, Kagome." said Miroku, with a twitch at the corner of his lips. "He's, shall we say, occupied for the time being." The monk knew exactly what was going on in the hanyou's mind, and he would bet a large sum of money on it, too. He just made a mental note on not to mention anything about it to Inuyasha. "Come on, let's get going. We need to have a lot of rest if we are going to get an early start tomorrow."
Kagome keenly stared at Inuyasha and his raptured expression.
"I know how you feel, Inuyasha." she said, placing her arm around his, and making him walk back towards their current lodging, where Farica would be waiting. Inuyasha gave her a bewildered look.
"You do?" he couldn't imagine that pummeling Kouga's blasted moreno wolf demon body into the ground was something a thought that Kagome would share.
Kagome nodded, as they trudged along the dirt path. "Sango knows what she's doing. Don't you worry about her."
Inuyasha couldn't help but feel a bit comforted by Kagome's arm on his- he shook his head vigorously. It didn't mean anything, no, of course not. Still, the reassuring feeling of she small gesture was something he knew he could count on Kagome. He found it easy to trust her now, rather than before, when they first met. Then again, there was always something that Kagome seemed to do, to make him stand out, make him feel needed.
"Inuyasha?" asked Kagome, as Inuyasha hadn't answered her question for the second time. "Were you listening to me? You are so, detached today."
Inuyasha gaped for a few seconds. "Me? W-what are you talking about?"
He laughed, despite the obvious twitch in his eyes. "Nothing's going on, isn't that RIGHT, Shippo?" He bent down to the little kitsune, who stopped at the humourless look on his face.
"Uh, n-no, Inuyasha." stuttered Shippo, and Inuyasha turned away, satisfied.
"Mrarw."
Miroku stopped, as Kirara looked behind her, staring far into the distance, right into the nearby forest. Inuyasha sense it as well, and placed a hand on the hilt of Tensaiga, and putting Kagome behind him. The monk placed his wind tunnel at the ready, waiting for the moment.
Then, steadily growing closer, were the sounds of pained wailing, and cries. It was all incomprehensible, where none of them could distinguish whether it sounded like a human, or demon. The bushes nearby rustled, and insects dispersed from hiding.
"You three stay here. I'm going to go and investigate." Miroku walked ahead, straight into the tangle of leaves and bushes. His face was set, both wary and apprehensive.
"Be careful, Miroku." warned Inuyasha, watching the monk walk deeper, until they could no longer hear his footsteps. Minutes came and gone, and there was no sign or sound of Miroku returning, or in trouble. The possibility of trouble was multiplied, as the day gradually gave way to night. The sun was almost fully set now, with nothing else to guide their way back but the glowing windows of the houses nearby.
"Miroku?" called Shippo, hiding behind Kirara, who remained calm.
"What do you think is happening, Inuyasha?" asked Kagome, trying to peek through the darkness. "If something went wrong, we would've heard a shout, right?"
"No need." said Inuyasha, and Kagome noticed him relax. "He's coming, but he's not alone."
Kagome looked alarmed. "Inuyasha, what do you mean-"
"Miroku's not in any trouble."
Kirara gave another call, and this time, they could hear staggering footsteps. They would pause, then start again, slowly progressing their way back.
"Hey, Inuyasha, Kagome, can you hear me?" Miroku's voice wafted from the darkness. They could hear him panting, struggling to speak. "I need some help."
"Kagome, stay here with Shippo and Kirara. I'm going off to help Miroku." Inuyasha then bounded off after Miroku, leaving a worried Kagome.
-
"Do you think that they are the ones who'd been taken by-"
"I've got no doubt that they are." Farica seated herself at her desk, where many papers littered its' surface. Plenty of complaints had streamed in for her in the past couple of days, demanding an explanation for the past events. Taking her people's naivety of the outside world, she refused to reveal anything that might cause some unwelcome changes. The wife of the man that went missing had kept vigil for as long as she could, but to no avail. It was only yesterday that she accepted the fact that he was forever gone.
Then, just a few hours ago, a surprise came to her door at the same time she was getting ready to retire for the night. The reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo ( or so she was told ), the monk, kitsune, neko-youkai, and the hanyou Inuyasha came back from their job with two grimy men, whom she recognized as her own people. Both seemed quite exhausted, and had collapsed on Kirara from their return.
After some time later, they placed the two men on beds, cleaning them up as best as her maids could. She then had some food quickly prepared, in case they should wake. Since her sleep was completely wiped out of her mind, asking for some tea seemed like a good idea while they got some things straightened out.
"No doubt?" repeated Inuyasha, refusing to take some tea. "Listen, lady, there's no way that they can be those two that were captured by Naraku."
Farica sent him a questioning look, which Miroku answered.
"What he means to say, is that the demon we know wouldn't be capable of doing such a merciful deed. He's liable to destroy anything that he wishes to be gone from this earth. I'm just surprised that he hasn't done anything for the past few days indicating that he is out to finish what Kagura started." Miroku refrained from saying Kagura and Sango, for Kirara looked crestfallen once again.
"What will happen if he does?" asked Farica curiously. "Will there be a small chance that people could make an escape before things get worse?"
"Yes, there would be a small window, but I don't think that evacuations would be necessary." Miroku replied.
"If there should be anyone evacuating this place, it should be us." added Kagome, watching Shippo doze off, his head on her lap. "I'm sorry, Farica, but we've caused you so much trouble."
The old woman waved her hand, dismissing the apology. "No matter. What's done is done. As long as what that demon is after stays out of his grasp, then no such regret should be imposed." Staring at the two men who were resting peacefully, she turned to them all with a smile on her face. "You all should head to bed. Leaving early would be something that you preferred, am I right?"
"Yeah, thanks." said Inuyasha, getting up. "I'm beat." He and Miroku left off immediately to their shared room, yawning.
Kagome stayed behind so she could pick up Shippo. Kirara waited patiently beside her. Farica watched them for a few moments, as they headed off to bed.
"Kagome." called Farica, before Kagome could fully slide the doors closed.
Hearing her name called, Kagome peeked her head back inside. "Yes?"
"I do hope you find your friend soon."
Kagome smiled. "Thank you, I hope so too."
-
Kagura smiled dangerously. "You may not know this, but Naraku's asked me to destroy the two men that were held captive. Them both, AND the village where they came from."
Sango could barely control the anger that she had managed to keep in check in front of Naraku. She lunged at Kagura, only to land in mud, making a mess of herself once more. Kagura scrunched her nose in disgust, and at the thought of having to wash her again.
"You know, taija, I'm not going to keep on supplying you with clothes just because you can't avoid making a mess of yourself."
"You monster! Killing the innocent doesn't get you anywhere! What makes you think that I would help YOU!" Sango shouted. Her voice was cracking under the strain. She knew that Inuyasha and the others could have fought the threat off, but it may have been a few days ago since her attack, and they might have left already, leaving the village vulnerable.
Kagura looked down at Sango as she steadily rose to her feet. "...You're wrong, taija."
Sango looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I didn't. I set them free." Kagura glanced at the doorway, fearful of being seen and heard. "You heard me. I set them free."
Sango mulled the thoughts over, getting nowhere. There was no explanation for the wind user's actions except out of pure will to get out of Naraku's control. Is she so desperate that she'd actually risk her own neck to prove how much so?
Then, there was Kohaku. Sango had no other chance to speak to him after Kagura's words, for Kanna suddenly appeared before them, expressionless as usual. The almost-mute girl was only there to send a message to Kagura, for Naraku requested her presence.
Kagura had didn't mention anything else beyond that point. She only gave Sango directions to help her re-seal the door. When Sango gave a sound of protest, Kagura mentioned that Kohaku wouldn't be allowed out until Naraku wishes for him to be. Then, Kagura led her back to her cell, with Kanna close by, the reflection in the mirror obscuring their vision from time to time.
They shut her in, and Sango heard the familiar scrape of the lock. Minutes later, Kagura came back, with a set of fresh robes.
"I know what you want from me, Kagura. I can't let you have it." Sango said, as Kagura dropped the clean robes beside her, with the same two colours.
"Be as it may, taija, I only want freedom." she looked haughtily at Sango, before shutting the door closed once again.
Sango could feel her eyes flutter, as her exhaustion enticingly called for sleep. Her strength was slowly coming back to her, so it shouldn't be too long until she fully recovered. As much as she hated to admit it, Kagura's aid to her injuries were quite a big help. Sango felt a lot more clean, that's for sure.
The moon shone dimly through her small window, forming a small crest on the wall beside her. Sango found herself wondering what the others may be doing at the moment. She missed them, a lot. But Sango knew she had to be strong. Deep inside she felt as though the near future involved with the final confrontation between Naraku and the others. It felt close.
Thinking about the suffering of countless villagers and of her friends, Sango could not think of anyone else who deserved to be destroyed as much as Naraku did.
-
C.A.: Explanations on the poor treatment on Kouga...I like the demon boy, but Inuyasha's imaginations can sometimes call for such things. I fought tooth and nail in order to complete this! Indeed, literally! Homework was giving me wrist cramps. Yes, forget about this, now, on to the next chapter.