Okay, I've updated once again. This chapter is definitely longer than the last one. I guess I should inform you guys on some things.
First off, by my reasoning this fic should be 9 more chapters (including this one) and then followed by a 2 part epilogue. That's what's planned now but who knows my plans always end up changing.
Secondly, after this fic I think I'll be doing a one-shot story that's in my head. It will be quite big though, probably equal to about 5 chapters of this story, possibly.
Third, after that I think I'm gonna start on another chaptered fic. Once again being IY but this time an AU. It will be drama/Romance. Even though A Wish from the Heart is listed as Drama/romance it still contained action/adventure. This new fic, tentatively titled Mates are Forever (tentative!) will be a strict Drama/Romance. As it is now, there will no Action/Adv in it at all.
Fourth, depending on when I get to those later things, fanfics will start to go on the back burner. Come my spring semester I plan to take an Intro to Fiction writing course, which will probably eat up most of my writing. Now some of you may be wondering why I'd take that course if I'm already writing here. 1st remember I'm actually a Computer Engineering major, writing is my hobby. 2nd, as mentioned in the past I have quite a few original fiction ideas that I would like to write and hopefully one day publish. I figure the Fiction writing course would help in this aspect.
Now enjoy the story and remember I don't own IY.
A Wish From the Heart
Chapter 52: A Day Late and a Person Short
Inuyasha and Kagome rushed as fast as Inuyasha's feet would carry them. Kagome was filled with enjoyment yet that was overshadowed by worry. She had not ridden on Inuyasha's back since their journey with their companions and it felt good again. Yet she did not have time to dwell on this too much as she worried for friends. She and Inuyasha had set out right away. Inuyasha had not stopped since they started yet Kagome had been able to get a little bit of sleep on Inuyasha's back, though it was not very restful. She prayed that they got there in time.
"Inuyasha, about how much longer do you think until we make it there?" Kagome asked.
"Well I can pour on a little more speed and I think we'll be there in five minutes," Inuyasha said.
Kagome was shocked that they were that close. "Do what speed you can; I know you're already getting tired."
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," Inuyasha said. He knew he was tired for the running but he worried for his friends too. Inuyasha was also happy that Kagome was worried about him as well, even though he didn't believe he needed it. "Hold on, tighter," Inuyasha warned as he increased his speed.
Before Kagome knew it they were at the gates of the Demon Exterminator's village. "Do you have a death wish, demons?" one of the guards asked.
"Do I look like a demon to you?" Kagome shouted as she got off Inuyasha.
"Forgive me, miss. We shall free you from this demon," the other guard said.
Just before Inuyasha could think of responding with either words or fists he was cut short. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," another voice said as the gate slowly opened. The guards turned towards the gates. "Attempting to separate a demon and his mate could cost you, especially this one."
"Well at least you give us a better reception," Inuyasha replied.
"Inuyasha, forgive Takai and Kage, they are new here and only know you by reputation and not by face," Midoriko replied.
"You mean… he is thee Inuyasha," Takai said.
"Forgive us, you are most welcome here and we will not forget your face again," Kage continued.
Inuyasha only replied with his usual 'Feh' as he and Kagome walked into the village.
"It might also help if you visited a little more often," Midoriko said.
"Well this isn't exactly a social visit," Inuyasha said.
Kagome waited for him continue but he didn't. She decided to talk then, "We came here to warn you, there…" Inuyasha hand in front of her face stopped her. She looked at Inuyasha totally surprised. "We have to warn them!"
"Its too late," Inuyasha said.
"So that is why you came," Midoriko said.
"Yes, though I can smell that we are already too late. How long ago?" Inuyasha questioned.
"Yesterday, just as afternoon became evening," Midoriko said.
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha asked as his voice rose.
"Yes, I am sure. Why are you so troubled?" Midoriko asked.
"The stench of Naraku that is here belongs to the same person that showed up at our place yesterday around noon," Inuyasha said.
"But how did he get here so fast?" Kagome asked.
"I do not know," Midoriko said.
"Has anyone been hurt? Is Sango and Miroku okay?" Kagome asked.
"I should start from the beginning," Midoriko said.
#######
Sango and Kohaku sat on a rock near Midoriko's Cave. Their shift of guard duty was coming to an end soon and they were taking a break. Technically it had been Sango and Miroku's shift but Miroku had been so over-protective of him recently that she forced him to switch with Kohaku.
"Have you been okay, Kohaku? Lately your mind seems to be elsewhere," Sango asked her younger brother.
"Well its just I've been having nightmare's lately. It's my memories of what I did when Naraku had control of me," Kohaku came out and said.
Sango knew this was a touchy subject with her brother. Even when he was revived he had retained the memories of what he had done. It took him about the first year to get over the memories but he had conquered them. If they were now bothering his sleep, she feared that he'd have to go through that again. "I don't know what I can really say to help you Kohaku. In the end this is a battle within you and only you can decide the outcome. You have to realize that you were not responsible for what happened."
"I know that. It's just still a little hard," Kohaku said.
"Just remember, that everyone is here for you," Sango said.
"Thanks," he told her. "There's one other thing I wanted to talk to you about…"
"What is it?" Sango asked. From the look on her brother's face it was another serious issue.
"I know that father and everyone has been saying I'm getting a lot better as an exterminator, but I've been thinking," he said slowly. "I don't think I'm cut out to be a slayer."
"You're just pressuring yourself too much. I think you're just being too harsh on yourself."
"It's not that. I just really don't think I want to be a slayer. I'm just not comfortable with all the killing."
Sango looked closely at her brother. She could tell he had definitely given this issue much thought before telling her. "You know, I think part of me always knew you weren't cut out for this. Have you talked this over with father?"
"Not yet. I know how it's been a tradition in the village that those that grow up become slayers like their family before them. I'm afraid I'm letting him down. Especially since you're the girl in the family and following after him while I'm not."
"Hey!" Sango yelled but they both shared a good laugh. "I don't think father will be too mad. In the end, I think he just wants what's best for us. There also comes a time when we have to make our own decisions in life. You choose to live your life the way you want, no one can tell you different. I just want you to know that I will always be there for you."
"Thanks sis," Kohaku said as they exchanged a hug.
"Isn't this sweet," a dark voice came. "I'm tired of listen to your brother-sister talk."
"Who are you?" Sango yelled out. She was worried. She hadn't sensed his approach. Either she had been careless while talking with Kohaku or he could hide from her senses. She hoped it was only the former. Their opponent before them was a demon of short height. He was only about 5'2'' or 5'3''. He had black hair that came down to about his shoulders but no further.
"It doesn't matter who I am. All that matters is that I get what I came for," he said.
"And what is that?" she asked.
"Your life," he said as he came charging at her.
Kohaku stepped in front of Sango to try and protect her. He swung his weapon at their assailant only to have him knock it to the side with his arm. He then hit Kohaku in the stomach and a few hits to the face before knocking him about 15-20 feet away. Sango swung her sword at their attacker only to have him jump away. She cursed herself for leaving Hiraikotsu back at the village.
He then made a cloud of miasma around himself and was quickly lost in it. Sango stared closely in front of her waiting for him to reappear. She had not noticed that he had in fact slipped behind her and was charged at her from behind. She heard a small noise behind her and realized where he was. She knew that she wouldn't be able to turn in time but did so anyway. At the last second, he jumped away which left Sango confused but watched as a staff dig into the ground where he would have been if he had continued.
Midoriko and Miroku weren't far behind his staff. He just had to keep the demon from attacking Sango. He wished the demon hadn't seen it, it would have impaled him. "Who are you?" Miroku asked.
The demon didn't answer. "Another detachment of Naraku," Midoriko said.
"Are you sure?" Sango asked.
"I can sense Naraku's aura around him," she said.
"I see I have some more worthy opponents," he said. "Well I think I've worn out my welcome but I think I'll take a parting gift." It was only then that they noticed that he was near the unconscious body of Kohaku.
"I won't let you take him," Sango yelled as charged at him. She hadn't gone far before he created some more miasma around himself. Sango was about to continue to charge into it when Miroku stopped her.
"That stuff is poison," Miroku warned her. Midoriko wasted no time in using her powers to clear away the miasma. Unfortunately when it was gone so was their foe and Kohaku.
#######
"That's the same guy that attacked us, alright," Inuyasha said.
"What I don't get is why he attacks so suddenly and then leaves right away," Kagome said. "His battle with us wasn't that long either. We didn't really do anything to him before he fled."
"He was testing you," Midoriko said. "He wanted to gauge your strength and if he could catch you off guard enough, like in the case with Sango, he would kill you. Luckily we got there in time to save her."
"Then why take Kohaku?" Inuyasha asked.
"Probably since he was right there and to make Sango suffer."
"So how is Sango taking this?" Kagome asked worried about her friend.
"She's broken up over it. She blames herself for not being able to do anything," Midoriko told her.
"I'll go check on her," Kagome said but before she could go anywhere Sango's voice caught her attention.
"I'm going and you can't stop me!" Sango yelled as she threw open the door to the house.
Miroku was right behind her trying to stop her. "You can't go. You need to stay calm."
Before Sango could yell at her, Inuyasha decide to butt in. "You're not going anywhere Sango. We'll take care of this."
"Inuyasha, what are you doing here?" Sango asked surprised to see him.
"We were attacked as well and was hoping to get here in time to warn you but he beat us here," Kagome told her friend.
"Will you tell Inuyasha to leave him alone and let me go?" Sango asked her friend.
"I'm with Inuyasha on this. You can't do this in your condition," Kagome said.
This was the one thing Sango had been afraid of – everyone wouldn't let her fight just because she was pregnant. She was about to continue to fight back against them for her right to fight when Midoriko placed her hand on her shoulder. She didn't know what it was but Sango felt herself calm down. "You have to understand they are thinking about what's best for you – both of you," Midoriko said. "Trust them."
"Don't worry about Kohaku," Miroku said. "I'll go with Inuyasha and we'll get him back."
"I'm gonna have to say no to that as well," Inuyasha said. "You'd be better here. If this detachment comes back here, you're going to be needed. Not to mention Sango's going to need your emotional support as well as physical."
Miroku knew that what Inuyasha said rang true. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say your growing up," he told his friend.
"Shut up, monk," Inuyasha yelled at him. Kagome just smiled. It reminded her of old times.
"So what will you do now?" he asked them.
"I don't know yet but we'll get Kohaku back."
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Well I hope you guys like it. I can't really provide many fanfic recommendations since I've stopped reading for quite a while. I'm looking to start reading again so maybe some recommends in the future. I can recommend one thing. Watch:
Detective Conan Movie 6: Phantom of Baker Street
I'm a big fan of whodunit mysteries and also a fan of Sherlock Holmes. I really liked this movie. To anyone who enjoys the same things, check it out. But be sure to come back for:
Chapter 53: The Third Attack