---Road to an Eternity of Wars---
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha.
Okay…so the last chapter did seem really short…Anyways, moving on…
Chapter 19: Crimson Blood
---Recap--- (I haven't done this directly before…!)
But before he could make a firm decision, Kagome had squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to witness this as the sword had plunged into his back and stuck out of his front stomach.
Kurama's pupils dilated as he saw the sharp metal that had gone through his body.
Kagome whimpered, 'Why…why did I just…do that…?'
---Now---
Miroku's POV…
He grabbed the broom off the area on the front porch that hadn't been approached in what seemed ages.
Miroku could heard the playful laughter of Shippo and Kohaku in the distance, probably in the backyard, playing tag or some game of that sorts
He sighed, 'I hope they're doing all right'
A sudden flicker to his right alerted the monk, 'The barrier…it…flickered' He frowned, sensing its distress.
Usually, the barrier responds to Kagome's emotions…but…what was going on right now…?
As usual, Miroku started to fret, discarding the sweeping tool and running off to the kids, asking if they knew what was wrong. But that action was merely out of hope. Of course they wouldn't know.
Overall POV…
"WHAT THE HELL? I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, WOMAN!" Yusuke shouted out, trying to wrench himself out of Genkai and Kuwabara's grip.
He jerked forward, finally free from his teammate's bonds and ran towards the arena in fury.
Normally, Yusuke would've only been worried about his friend, but…that wound looked serious and Kurama seemed to be standing there in shock, as if waiting for something to happen, which, wasn't going to. Nothing greatly benefiting anyone, anyways.
'Almost to the arena…!'
And…
SLAMYusuke topped over, headfirst into the ground, tripping over some unnatural crack or something on the ground.
"Hn" Hiei sighed, pulling his outstretched foot back towards his body and trailing his eyes back to the fight in from of him.
Sighing in defeat, Yusuke sat on the ground where he fell and hooked his arms around his knees, staring as well.
------
"What the hell was she thinking…?" Botan's eyes widened, transfixed on the current scene.
Keiko closed her eyes and tore her gaze away, unable to bear the sight, "What were you thinking when you drove that blade through Genkai's shoulder?"
"I-I know, but…! This is his stomach! I hit Genkai on the shoulder. There's a difference" Botan's voice shook, trying to calm herself down, "And…besides…doesn't Kagome like Kurama?"
"How do you think she's feeling right now?" Sango's voice grew raspy and hoarse, asking meekly. You could tell she was trying to change the subject.
"I'm sure she'll do okay" Yukina offered, cocking her head at the still scene, fingers playing with her silver obi and ice blue kimono underneath the black cloak.
"I guess she'll be fine – if she's now mentally stable" Keiko sighed warily, "I don't think she's realized what she's done yet"
"Agreed there" Botan eyed the look on Kagome's face, "I hope she doesn't have a panic attack like I did…"
"Ah!" Sango turned to Botan, "You missed that scratch on your face…" the demon slayer pointed to a slightly deep scratch from Botan's cheekbone to jaw, "I can't believe you missed that!"
"Me too" The ferry girl grumbled, feeling the cut and taking some disinfectant out of their first-aid kit.
------
'What…what did I just do…? Kurama…? Are you…okay…?'
Slowly, Kagome's vision blurred in disbelief and shock, trying to adjust to this colour of red that had splattered carelessly into her eyes. It stung like rubbing alcohol on a cut and it hurt with the equivalent pain of a cut in the eye.
The world seemed as though it was blank for a moment, before she was immediately, and finally assaulted with the copper smell and taste of blood.
Pulling out the sword, Kagome hurled, vomit coming out of the hood of her cloak and splattering onto the dirt beneath her.
------
Falling onto the ground, Kurama gritted his teeth in pain, shakily pulling a seed out of his hair. The whip wouldn't work again. Somehow, Kurama knew that.
He used his other hand to gently wipe some blood off that was forming around his stomach while his 'enemy' seemed to be distracted, throwing up for some peculiar reason.
Kurama winced. Some of the dirt on his hand was swimming freely in the blood.
Drip, drip, drip.
"W-who are you…?" Kurama asked once again, biting out in a raspy voice, his hand clenched around the seed.
The cloaked figure seemed to behaving qualms at the moment too, for she seemed to hesitate before coughing. Finally, she replied, "S-somebody that you k-know…"
Kurama put on a puzzled face and frowned. Somebody he knew?
A ghost of a smile lingered on Kagome's lips, one that nobody could see due to the shadow of her cloak.
His hand was slightly unstable, so when he tried to throw the seed towards the woman, it missed and with a 'clink', dropped onto Kagome's stomach area.
It bounced off.
It bounced off.
'There's something under her cloak and clothing!' Kurama came to the realization, 'But…what…?' His vision began to blur: the after effects of blood loss.
Kagome silently thanked the bendable sword underneath her miko outfit for deflecting that attempt. She unconsciously nursed the gash on herupper ribs that she had gotten while carelessly falling.
Yes, there was a rock of some sorts underneath her because of the destruction caused with Hiei's attack.
It sort of hurt that Kurama didn't know who she was, but how would he know if their team had spent hours making sure that they wouldn't be found…?
The red-haired man seemed to slump a bit more, but it was hardly noticeable since he was already on the ground in the start.
Kagome's pupils started to dilate again as her eyes started to transfix on the blood she lay on. Forcefully looking away, Kagome clutched her wound, directing her eyes somewhere else.
It landed on the hole in his back. Gasping in shock at how big it had gotten, Kagome started to get dizzy, then fainted. She had never thought that wound was that large.
Now realizing that both opponents were unconscious, Koto and Juri snapped out of their 'trance'.
'A-and this was a tie too! A tie! Tie! TIE!'"WE GET THE POINT!" Yusuke roared, finally jumping forward to help his friend.
At the same time, the rest of Kagome's team raced to their friend and captain.
------
Yusuke and Hiei picked up Kurama's limp form and carried him back to the area they were standing then, gently lying him onto the ground and checking his wound.
Genkai bent down and started to disinfect and clean the blood that had started to crust around his stomach.
After an effort of trying to heal him, Genkai was handed a roll of bandages from Kuwabara, "He'll be alright. Kurama should wake up soon" Genkai tied off the bandage end and sat up, stretching her legs, while still paying mind to her tender shoulder.
"We have no choice but to continue" Hiei stated, staring at the announcers, who seemed to be trying to work things out with each other.
Kuwabara fumed, "I'll go. I gotta let out some air" Stretching his muscles, Kuwabara cracked a few knuckles, "They're girls and all…but she hurt Kurama!"
------
Yukina gingerly hoisted Kagome into her arms, watching as Sango wrung some blood out of her cloak that was still on her body.
"I have to look at the wound…" Botan muttered worriedly. All she could see was a crimson-soaked cloak with a rip tearing right through it; not enough to uncover her identity, but enough to reveal her white, dark blue, and silver fabric underneath.
"But…that means that you have to take off her cloak…!" Keiko whispered back frantically, not really liking to risk that option.
"Yes, but if I don't, then it'll get infected and she'll get ill!"
"…"
"Guys…" Yukina whispered, "I guess I'll have to go on now…" She eyed Kuwabara, who was entering the beaten down arena with what seemed like an aura of anger.
They fell silent.
Taking this as a signal to go on, Yukina took a deep breath, once again fiddling with the hem of her cloak. This was it.
This was the last match of the day. Yukina was left wondering what would become of this.
Sorry about the long wait! Homework really drags you down… TT Anyways: read and review onegai!
Sayonara,
Tenshi-Battosai