Every Time
Chapter 2: Blood
Disclaimer: Don't own.
Small feet scampered through the village underfoot. Not stopping, he darted in and out of anywhere those he sought might be.
"Kagome! Inuyasha!"
Dodging a man with a cart, the kistune stopped for a breath. A shout met his small, furry ears from afar;
"Oi! There be a youkai slayin' goin' on!"
Astonished gasps echoed, as half of the people started running for shelter, and the other half tried for good seats. Frightened, Shippou called out again.
"Inuyasha! Kagome!"
But his shouts were lost within the fray.
OoOooO
Though rays of the sun dappled the field, the mood was anything but fitting. A cool spring breeze touched the fine hairs on the girl's shoulder, brushing them away. They danced in front of her disheartened sepia eyes, staring forwards desperately. Across from her, a pair of similiar coloured orbs gazed back without feeling, lacking any sort of concious. No emotion.
Neither moved. Sango tried to breath, but it was hard. Her lungs felt heavy, as if filled with lead. She would be ready to move at a moment's notice, and yet she remained frozen, silent. A whisper came from behind her, nothing but a murmur from concerned lips. A third pair, relentless indigo, watched as their owner leaned against a chipped wooden fence. As the scene unfolded, his heart began to pound faster, as if it would leap right from his flesh, leaving an empty, bleeding cavity.
Never in his life had the monk felt so lonely. As an only child, an orphan at that, he'd never known family, nor true friendship. In that way, he envyed Sango. And he reveled in the close bonds he'd somehow forged with her and the others.
These thoughts seemed pathetic to think, though, as he saw red droplets fly from the freshly made wound on her shoulder...
"Sango!"
Kirara's ears twitched. Knowing the kistune would never find those he sought in time, she gave the monk a quick nod before heading for town. Bounding over roof-tops, she was desperate to save her mistress. When the girl was driven by pain, she became ever so weak, blindly determined.
Sango's hand covered the light wound, blood pushing through between her fingers, dribbling down her knuckles. She grunted, rushing forward to block the chain scythe as it came back, just barely evading the strike to her neck. She swung her hiraikotsu back, cursing the normal woman's garb she wore, as it limited her movements.
Meanwhile, a small crowd had begun to form, it's droning slowly growing louder. Composed of mostly the village-men, they stood just close enough to get a good veiw.
"All of you! Get away!"
Their attentions were redirected to the monk, glaring at them from his place. He raised his staff strongly, pointing away.
"If you care to live past this night, you will immiediately leave the vicinity!" he commanded, voice strong, "This is no demon slaying as you have assumed, but a battle you have no business in! Leave, now!"
With slight grumbles, the herd migrated back into the town, eyes still fixed on the monk. The pair clashing behind him were unwatched, though, as the battle continued fiercely. A strike to the leg, blocked, just barely. Sango jumped away, unaware of anything around except her lost brother.
No matter how hard she tried, why could she never get past Naraku's tricks? She used to be so strong, and she still was, but... the hanyou had weakened her. Had taken away all she loved. And without that, it was hard to even breath.
As much as she denied them, maybe she did need the others' help...
"Kohaku!" she tried desperately as he followed her, "Try and remember me, please!"
For a moment, his memory screamed in anguish at him. Her face... the tears rising... were familiar and yet...it wasn't. There was nothing there, save a large black hole.
He didn't really want to kill her. But he really didn't have a choice. Master told him to. Told him that woman wanted to hurt him, like she tried to before. Did she try to before? Again, he didn't know. But Master was usually right. Master knew his pain, and was able to take it away. Master made everything that much better.
To add insult to injury, he didn't even make sign that he heard her. Her eyebrows furrowed, memory of nightmares drowning her. She saw him like that. Killing. Killing her father. Killing everyone that she'd ever loved, and ever would love. And destroying all the good moments along with them. If she could have him back, maybe all those moments would become reality again. They could slay again, together. Their clan could be given proper respects, and they could continue. Start again!
'I want you back, Kohaku!'
His weapon was cold in his sweaty hands, the chain almost slipping. The girl whipped around, swinging her weight to give power to her weapon. It sang as it flew towards him, the impact seeming inevitable.
And yet it never came, as he jumped up and away.
Off-balance, she felt herself slip. Her legs tangled under her, and she damned her lack of katana, or any other weapon. It'd been warm that day... having such things underneath the yukata made living all the more unbearable. She'd let Kagome put them in her over-sized backpack, so there was no hope in using those.
The dirt was bitter in her mouth, the grass just as disgusting. She rolled away quickly, feelingKohaku's blade knick her already injured arm.A sick feeling ofdebility came over her as she stood again, barely escaping. The stench of more blood hit her nostrils. Almost reaching her weapon, she was again confronted with the numb metal. Foot over foot she stumbled backwards. The hiraikotsu had been abandoned, too far to reach.
Her head throbbed, muscles suddenly very tired. Hopping backwards, her attempts began to fail. Life suddenly seemed far off, and sound distant, as the blade came ever so close. Slowly, slowly, impending death. She barely had time to blink.
"Sango!"
She felt herself hit the ground hard, after being stuck in mid-air a few seconds. Her body's intuition made her get up and look around. She knew she hadn't been hit, but...
The clanking of metal meeting wood caught her ear, directing her attentions left. The monk held his staff somewhat horizontal in front of him, the chain wrapped heavily around it. The creaking sounds gave the impression it was about to crack, and the look on his face showed it. Eyes determined and teeth gritted, he showed anything but fear.
"Houshi-sama..."
Sango felt herself grow even more unwell, as if her stomach would climb up and out of her mouth itself. Closing her eyes as second to try and wash out the heat, she let her weight fall to her knees.
Finally, strength regained, and the battle still in stalemate as both the houshi and the taijiya had untangled themselves, she found her tongue.
"Houshi-sama, go, this is my fight!"
His eyes flashed to her for a second before he was forced to swing around to dodge his opponents weapon.
"I want you to have what you wish Sango! And if you are killed, you can't very well succeed!"
"But-"
He grunted, and she noticed things had changed since she last saw him. There were slashes down his front, one on his scalp, the red liquid trickling down his face. Had she passed out for a while? Most likely. Regardless, shecrawled for her hiraikotsu, eyes away from the two. She would fight. It wasn't any of Miroku's business! He was supposed to have his own revenge, not hers...
The next few minutes blended together in her memory, which had begun to get very fuzzy even then. As she finally reached her weapon, she heard a scream of sorts. Blood was near everywhere. The stench had grown even more powerful, intoxicating.
"Houshi-sama!"
Just one heart-bitten word drifted on the air, silence in the void. The wind was still, and all movement halted. Her legs began to move, though she didn't remember telling them to do so, bringing her closer to him.
The sickening thud of a body landing awkwardly. Bones snapping. Blood spraying onto the ground.
"Houshi-sama!"
No words came from his slightly parted lips, only slow exhalation. The hazy indigo of his eyes seemed out of focus, as if he were looking for something he couldn't see. She felt herself kneel beside him, palms slapping the ground hard, rocks and stones creating abrasion on the calloused skin.
"Houshi...sama..."
OoOooO
Fingers lightly traced the cut on his scalp. It had been cleaned for the most part, but there were still remnants of blood in his tangled hair. Two eyes, one a little swollen, hadn't opened for a few hours. His breathing was variegated, sometimes quick and shallow, other times long, almost strained. And yet, he didn't wake.
"Shippou and Kirara got us as fast as they could," Kagome whispered to the girl, who knelt solemnly by the monk's side.
"It's my fault..." Sango murmured, and the other shook her head. Kirara slept in the corner, unharmed, and the injuries of the taijiya were minimal, or so she insisted. Kagome and Inuyasha had arrived in time to comprehend the situation, and watch as Kohaku stopped cold, and ran back into the foliage.
"He's dying," came a rough voice from the doorway. Looking up, the two found their red-clad hero.
"I know that's not what you wanna hear," He continued, "But he's only mortal. I don't know how much blood he really lost, but..."
Sango's eyes were cast downward, smoldering.
"It's my fault..."
End of Chapter 2