When Night Falls

Disclaimer: I'm glad I don't own Inuyasha. Breaks into tears.

Oh my god, I'm so sorry you guys. School started and it's been incredibly hectic... please don't hate me! I'm planning on getting the next chapter next week for sure. I'm so sorry! I don't want to dissapoint any of you...

Chippy: Thas sweet! Welcome to FanFiction!

xXSpoiledSangoXx: Wow... thanks so much! I wouldn't mind a swarm of e-mails though, they make me happy. Weeeee!(Runs around in circles)

Ninalee-chan: Yes, poor Miroku... but I have a reason! What is it? Heehee... you'll just have to wait and find out! EEEEVVVVIIIILLLL!

Moonyme: You are a happy person, aren't you? Happy? HAPPY! DAMN YOU! BE HAAAAPPPPPPPPYYYYYY! Oh wait... you really are. Sweet.

Veglma: Maybe. How should I know? I'm just the author. Oh... right.

Medlii: Don't worry, he'll be back. I give a reason why he ain't here right now... have a cookie! (Shoves big-ass cookie down Medlii's throat.) Enjoy!

Okay guys, please don't hate me too much... I'm sorry. Anyway, here there be chapters!

Chapter 11: Waves of Death!

Miroku was nearly thankful when the battle actually began. His limbs were stiff and sore after the long period of inactivity, and he was looking forward to actually being able to stretch them out. Not that he didn't have his worries… his spiritual powers were still greatly decreased, and the space of battle was confined to the small strip of beach they stood on, making it extremely dangerous to the others if he were to use his Kazaana. There was the odd demon he had met earlier, but he was unwilling to risk shattering his necklace again, for fear of a single bead becoming lost in the sand and swept out to shore. Once his body was no longer able to handle the possession and the demon was once more repressed he would be, essentially, dead weight. And so, when the water demon charged straight onto the shore, he was left to his hands. He had never fought without the shakujou or his spiritual powers before, and he was incredibly wary.

Koga, in his usual style, was the first to actually assault the demon, launchin a whirlwind of kicks which all missed their target. Inuyasha, not to be outdone by his biggest rival, darted after him, the Tetsusaiga drawn and his face etched with concentration. Sango, who was at a lack for the Hiraikotsu, seemed too pause a moment, but then drew her sword and entered the fray, Kirara following.

Miroku glanced over at Kagome. Right now, they were the most vulnerable of the group, of course, excluding Shippo. Miroku for his reasons, and Kagome for the fact she was not properly combat trained, and her bow and arrows, much like the shakujou and Hiraikotsu, had been lost in Kaze's whirlwind.

The battle against Mizu seemed to be going well. She was having trouble handling the constant, quick attacks of Sango, Koga, and Inuyasha. Every now and then a bright red, shining gash would appear on her previously flawless body. But as fast as they had gained the advantage the tide was turned. Koga suddenly in mid-attack and fell to the ground in a heap.

"What's going on?" asked Kagome.

"I don't know…" Miroku answered, trying to figure out just how Koga had been hit.

They rushed forward to see what went on, and what they saw made them gasp. Koga's skin was dark and cracked, blooding oozing out everywhere, his eyes were bloodshot and deep in his face, which was sunken obscenely.

"Water…" he mumbled, causing new cracks to open up in his skin on the corners of his mouth.

Kagome winced at the sight, but Miroku wasted no time in scooping up the wolf demon in his arms and carrying him into the water, well away from the battle. Immediately his skin became lighter and less papery and he sat up, holding his head.

"What happened?" asked Miroku.

"I… I don't know," growled Koga, "it was like every ounce of water was drained from my body…" He still was very weak, his body bleeding profusely.

"Stay here," muttered Miroku, "I'm gonna go warn the others."

Koga, too weak to protest, nodded, and Miroku took off once more.

"SANGO! INUYASHA! Be careful! She can suck the water from your body!"

"Shut up Monk!" growled the demon, her hands turning on him. Immediately Miroku felt himself go incredibly thirsty, and his inside swelled in pain as all water seemed to drained from them.

"Not today!" he gasped, and immediately he threw up a barrier, cutting off the water demon's attack on him. With a sigh of relief he felt all the water return throughout his body.

Miroku had finally discovered a purpose in the battle, as every time the demon would try to suck the water out of one of his companions, he would be there to put up a barrier around them. But with his weakened spiritual powers, his energy was draining quickly. Thankfully, however, Mizu seemed to become frustrated quicker. She was losing and she knew it. Her body was covered in gashes and she was breathing heavily, (not to mention the fact that she was missing an arm. Miroku wasn't sure, but he had the idea it probably smarted a bit). And it wasn't long before Koga was back in the fray too, further annoying the already pissed demon.

"Damn! That's it! I didn't want to do this, but you fools have pushed me to the limit!" she hissed in between attacks. With a scream, her attackers were thrown back from her body. They watched in horror as a incredibly powerful surge of energy shot from her body. "Just try to survive this!"

For the longest time nothing seemed to happen. The Inu-taichi looked around in confusion, just trying to figure out what was going on. And then, very slowly, the water on the beach began to recede.

"What's going on?" growled Inuyasha.

Kagome's eyes widened in horror. "I read about this in my science book once! When the water recedes it means there's a tsunami on it's way!"

At her words, Mizu began to cackle maniacally. "Then you must know that there is no escape for you!" Just as she said this a gigantic wall of water appeared over the horizon behind her. Kagome screamed.

"What do we do?" Sango asked, coming up next to Miroku.

"I… I don't know…" muttered Miroku, but then the idea struck him. It was incredibly dangerous, but… "get out of here."

"What?" asked Sango.

"I told you, get everyone out of here. I have a plan."

"But…"

"Trust me, I'll be fine, I just need the beach clear. GO!"

Sango seemed taken aback for a moment, but then nodded. Calling to Kirara, she was swept off her feet. Miroku turned for a moment to see Inuyasha carrying Kagome off, and a small twister speeding away. Good, he thought, now I'm ready.

"What's wrong, monk? Accepting your death?" taunted the demon.

Miroku remained silent. The tidal wave approached quickly as he stared it down.

"It's over," cackled the demon.

"Not so fast," smirked Miroku.

Just as it seemed the water was sure to hit him, he tugged the beads off his right hand, revealing the cursed Kazaana.

"Wha- What's going on?" stammered Mizu as she was dragged forward.

"You're death…" hissed Miroku (cheesy, I know).

As the water struck land, it was immediately absorbed into the Kazaana, sweeping in Mizu with it. As more and more water surged forward, Miroku struggled to keep his footing. But, finally, the last of the water was gone, and, collapsing to his knees, Miroku sealed the tunnel. He had done it, he had stopped the wave. As a hand came to rest on his shoulder, he looked up to see Sango.

"I thought I told you to leave."

"Yes, but you also told me to trust you, and I trust you more than I want to leave you."

Miroku chuckled, then stood up and hopped on Kirara back. He had never thought he'd be so happy to leave the ocean.

That night (or, rather, resting period, as it was still impossible to separate night from day), after Koga had left for his tribe, they sat around the campfire and Miroku had told them the rest the story of what Mizu had told him.

"So how many more of these guys you think there are?" grunted Inuyasha.

"Well, it's hard to tell after only two battles," Miroku said, "but I would assume there are four."

"Four? How do you figure?" asked Sango.

"Well, at least so far, our enemies seem to be following the elements."

"What? But wind isn't an element," spoke up Kagome.

"The element system we tend to follow is the Chinese one. The Chinese system of the elements contains five, Wood, Metal, Fire, Water, and Earth. However, to the far west of China, there is a different system, it contains four, those being Wind, Water, Earth, and Fire."

"That's crazy," grumbled Inuyasha.

"So," said Kagome, ignoring him, "that leaves Earth and Fire, right?"

"Yes, but I could be completely wrong about this whole thing…"

"Oh, well, it's too late to stay up wondering," yawned Kagome, "I'm going to bed." She set up her sleeping bag about ten feet away. Shippo was quick to bound over and snuggle up to his surrogate mother.

Inuyasha let out a slight mumble of agreement, and started searching for a suitable tree.

"Aren't you going to bed, Houshi-sama?" Sango asked.

"I'm… not tired," he lied.

"Yes you are, your so tired you can't even lie properly. Come on, you've had a hard past couple of hours."

"Which is exactly what I've been wondering about. Don't you find it odd… that I always seem to be found first? That I'm always the one taken?"

"What do mean?"

"I mean the demon at the inn, and then Mizu… why me? It's almost like I'm attracting them or something. And because of this damn necklace I can barely fight back!" he growled, tugging gently on the string of beads around his neck.

"But you've survived haven't you? You're not powerless, Houshi-sama, you can fight back!"

Miroku stared at her for a second, but then his eyes were cast back down to the fire. He sighed. "But for how long?"

Sango didn't know what to say. He wasn't like this often, but whenever Miroku got into one of his fatalistic states of mind, it bothered Sango deeply. This Miroku scared her. Not just because it was such a contrast to his usual attitude, but because it also made he acknowledge just how close Miroku was to death, a fact which she liked to push as far back in her mind as possible. She knew she could never understand Miroku's feelings. She had lost her family, but that was in the past, it had come and passed. But Miroku had to wake up each day wondering whether it would be his last. Miroku, the pervert, the comic relief, had more conflicting emotions to hide than any of them.

"We have a problem brother."

"What is it?"

"The monk… he absorbed sister's body, how are you to gain her powers?"

"It is not a problem. Here, use this."

"What is it?"

"It is a shard of what they call the Shikon no tama."

"It has great power… what am I to do with it?"

"When the monk uses his power, throw it in."

"… What will it do?"

"You shall see, my kin, you shall see."

End Chapter 11

Dun Dun Dun! What's going on here? Conspiricy? I think so! Please review, should have next chapter up next week... gulp... hopefully.