Pairings: Inu/Kag Mir/San Sess/Rin
A/N: Sorry I haven't updated! Actually, I was going to, but I was swamped with Geometry! Ack, I HATE radical expressions! SO DAMN CONFUSING! (Beats head in frustration)
Sorry, this chapter's a little short, but since it's my birthday coming up, I swear I'll update then!
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Chapter 26
x.
Sango barely made it onto the lime green tile before the ogres came towards her. She instinctively ducked, the monstrous creature soaring over her, onto another tile farther away. The other two leaped towards her as well, trying to take a swipe at her. Though she tried her best, one of their clubs spiked her, sending her flying in a random direction, away from the ogres, and hopefully, towards a tile.
Landing harshly on her butt, Sango had time to catch her bearings before the ogres were leaping towards her once more. Having no time to think properly, all the slayer could do was leap away from them before the tiles beneath her disappeared. All thought of what color she needed to get to was obliterated from her thoughts, as the only goal she had in mind was to keep away from the demons mulling her down.
Finally, when the ogres slowed down a tad, Sango saw her chance. Propelling off of a yellow tile, Sango hurled her Hiraikotsu towards the unsuspecting creatures. The front one was sliced cleanly in half, both appendages falling into the space below. The two behind, however, were smart enough to bat the weapon away with their colossal clubs, the boomerang crashing into a mahogany tile a good fifty yards away.
Sango's breath came in great heaves, the strain of jumping through this maze of colors taking its toll on her human body. She had just enough strength to leap to the other tiles before they disappeared. Taking a quick glance towards the center, she noticed that the color in the middle had not changed: their goal was still to find a lime green tile.
Finding the tile with ease, Sango rested on it, keeping an eye upon the ogres many yards away from her, apparently realizing that this opponent would require strategy to hunt down. Frankly, the slayer didn't care about what they thought; all she could think about was catching her breath, and making sure Miroku…
'Miroku!' she thought suddenly. She had forgotten about how he was doing so far. If the center tile hadn't changed color, that meant that he hadn't yet landed on the correct tile! This meant that the ones they'd stepped on hadn't reappeared yet! Panicked, she scanned the other side of the area, where she could barely see a purple blob leaping in frenzied movements away from the carnivorous ogres catching up to the monk at an alarming rate.
"Miroku!" she shouted, noticing his number of tiles decreasing. The amount of distance he'd need to cross to safely reach the lime green tile was so far away…not only that, but there seemed to be no other tiles of that color anywhere else on the field.
Sango cursed, suddenly feeling so helpless. She finally realized Miroku's feelings for her, and since then, all that's happened has endangered her love's life. In addition to that, everything's occurred in a way that Sango can't help in. She felt tears coming to her eyes; even though she was healthy, alive, and very able to do something, she couldn't, didn't know how. She felt as if she were letting Miroku down. She was a slayer, she should be able to do something, right?
Suddenly, it occurred to her. She was a slayer…she should be able to help Miroku out that way! Frantically, she jerked her head this way and that, her caramel eyes finally landing on the Hiraikotsu, about twelve yards to the right of the ogres, who were watching her intently.
'If this doesn't work, I don't know what will!' she thought, leaping away from her tile with such agility, it caught the ogres off guard. The beasts quickly tried to catch up with her, but she was too nimble for their massive bodies. 'For once, I'm glad I have a slim body…' she thought to herself as she sped onwards. 'Hold on for just a few seconds, Miroku!'
Fright rejuvenating her senses, Sango safely managed to land on the haphazard platform, grabbing her weapon and sidling off of the tile with ease, the ogres confused at her tactics. If there was one thing about ogres, it was that they weren't that intelligent, even if some acted like it. They were actually very stupid, and easy to fool. They were only good for sheer force, which they could easily outgun an army with.
Jumping with renewed energy, Sango slowly made her way towards Miroku, who had noticed her racing towards him, and slowly made his way towards her as well.
"Miroku!" she called, trying to get him to understand her method. Nodding in acknowledgement, he jumped with all his might off of his tile, towards the lime green one. His jump allowed him to make it half way across the necessary length, until he began to fall at a rapid pace, gravity taking its toll on him.
"HIRAIKOTSU!" Sango cried, thrusting her boomerang with a ferocity Inuyasha could be proud of. The weapon swerved violently, making its way downwards, landing underneath Miroku, who used the energy to make a second leap, barely managing to scrape the edge of the tile. Sighing with relief, Miroku lifted himself onto the tile, turning his gaze downwards to see the glint of his lover's boomerang falling into the abyss below.
As the tiles renewed themselves, Miroku leapt over towards Sango, the center tile turning into a deep orange shade. Nodding to each other, a silent plan was formed between the couple as they leaped together, each stepping on the same platform, splitting up only at crucial moments, their path synchronized. They planned to waste as little tiles as possible, the ogres closely following.
The best part of the plan was that by going in a near-straight line, it forced the ogres to the side, making it impossible for them to sneak up and attack their backs (the tiles disappeared behind them, making it impossible for the ogres to follow their backs)
Noticing one of the gruesome creatures making its way behind her, Sango unsheathed her sword, and leaped for the creature, staking it, and propelling herself off of the monster, taking sadistic satisfaction at seeing a fountain of crimson blood flow out of the giant's belly, the creature falling onto a tile, where its 'buddy' angrily threw him off the edge.
The two managed to keep this strategy up for most of the game, but with their endurance slowly dwindling, they were going to need a new plan…fast…
x.
She could see it all…see it all happening…but she didn't know what caused it. Why was she seeing things like this? All this blood, all this madness? All this darkness, coiled up around the world, an unending suffocation, killing off all that was pure in existence; where was it all coming from?
At first, Hari thought it was Naraku…but he had never held this much power, had he? The darkness felt so familiar, but so strange at the same time. Where had she seen it?
'This vision…it's so weird…' she thought, glancing around at the village she was in, the forest…each was torn apart and laying in shreds. But the worst part of it all was that everything was drenched in blood. She gasped; it was all over her hands. She rubbed them on her kimono; it was covered, too. She felt herself morphing, changing, not becoming herself.
Someone appeared in front of her, their figure obscured in the darkness the blood created. Squinting, Hari could make out Sesshomaru walking towards her.
"What?" she wondered. Had Sesshomaru caused this?
"The Key must be destroyed," was all he said, releasing his whip, and pointing it threateningly, as if about to strike at some unseen force.
"The key?" Hari repeated. "What key? What are you talking about, Sesshomaru?"
"The Key must be destroyed," he repeated. Then, as if time had skipped ahead, he continued in a strangely sad tone, "My brother…forgive me…" Then, the demon lord turned his back on the serpent, and walked away in the crimson curtain of darkness.
"What the hell is-?" she cut herself off with a gasp. There was a trail of blood leading into a clearing. Following the trail, the sight before her shocked her to no end.
In the clearing was a gargantuan tree, taller than any she could ever imagine. At the base, slashed to the core, covered in so much blood she could hardly recognize him, was Inuyasha. His golden eyes were musky and dull, his hair matted and sliced in parts, his ears floppy and cut. His clothes were tattered, covered in blood, organs spilling out, his throat slashed, his arms bent in ways that seemed impossible. All of it was too gruesome to describe, that one could only see to believe. Yet, even though she did see it, Hari couldn't begin to believe that this had happened.
"I warned him," came a soft, cold voice. Hari turned towards the intruder and stared in astonishment.
"Kagome…" she whispered.
"I warned him," she repeated like a broken record, her tone icy, even though crystal tears slid down her face. "Inuyasha…why did you believe her? Why not me? Didn't you think she'd be a threat to us all? To you and me?"
"Kagome, what are you talking about?" Hari shouted. She needed answers, and this vision was only confusing her. If this was the future, she needed to know what it was her mind was trying to tell her!
But it was as if Kagome hadn't heard her. Instead, the schoolgirl slowly strode up to the hanyou, and kissed his cold lips. "Goodbye, darling," she whispered before turning around and making a full dart towards an old well on the verge of collapsing.
She never made it. Before Kagome made it three feet away, she made a gasp, falling over. She landed on the ground with a soft thump, an arrow imbedded deep within her back, the aura surrounding the murder weapon dark and malevolent.
'What is going on here?' Hari asked herself, feeling her mind crumble on its own. 'Nothing makes sense…is this the danger? Is this the future? Where is Sango, Miroku? Everyone else? Where? Where?'
Unable to handle the questions surging her mind, she screamed, long and loud.
x.
Kagome jerked her head upwards when she felt another presence enter the vicinity. She, along with everyone conscious, were quite surprised to see Nali standing there. They had expected Sango and Miroku to come back first, not the dragon.
Expression looking quite bored, she said, "I need you to come with me," she took a glance towards Kagome.
"And what is so important that you need to drag her along?" Kouga demanded, stepping forwards to protect the woman he loved. Sure, he was doing as she said, he was backing off, but that didn't mean that he shouldn't do something about this, right? Who knew what would happen to Kagome, since even Sesshomaru had lost his mind when he went with that creature?
"The sword made from the fang from Inu no Taisho," Nali began, "You'd want that back, wouldn't you?"
Kagome's eyes gleamed with hope. "So, you'll take me to it then?"
Nali nodded. "I'd let anyone come to claim it, but there is only one able-bodied human in this clearing, unless my eyes deceive me?" Before Kouga could answer, she added, "And there'd be no way I'd let a child go into my realm, wouldn't you agree?" She tossed a knowing look towards Kouga, daring him to contradict her.
A bead of sweat trickling down his cheek, Kouga waveringly replied, "No…you're…right…"
"Good," eyes showing a no-nonsense attitude, she jerked her head, "Come along, girl." Opening the vortex that lead to a burned-out clearing, Nali disappeared without waiting for Kagome to catch up.
'That dragon creeps me out,' Kouga had to admit, though he wouldn't dare say so out loud.
Running towards the vortex, Kagome took a glance back. "Kouga!" she called.
Kouga's eyes gleamed. Was Kagome going to thank him? "Yes, my dear?" he asked sweetly.
"Look after Inuyasha for me!" she ordered before hopping into the vortex, the portal sealing itself shortly after.
"Agh…" Kouga grumbled indignantly, feeling as if he'd been demoted further. Sesshomaru could barely hide a chuckle; some people really were fools, weren't they?
Meanwhile, Rin, Jaken, and Shippo had halted their game of tag, and had finally noticed the absence of people.
"Master Jaken, how come so many people are leaving us?" Rin asked, her innocent eyes glowing with curiosity.
"How should I know, you impertinent child?" Jaken shot back rudely, contemplating whether to bop her with his staff or not. 'Young people these days; don't know when to keep their mouth from moving.'
"Hey!" Shippo intervened. "I may not know what 'inpermitent' - or whatever it is! - means, but I do know that you're being mean! Apologize right n-" Shippo was cut off from his nobility when he felt a face-full of wood hit him. "Owwy!" he whined.
"Hmph! Serves you right for trying to boss me around!" Jaken said heatedly, "Haven't you ever heard of respecting your elders?"
"Pardon me, Master Jaken, but I don't think elders need respect when they act like bullies!" Rin pointed out, kicking the toad away from her friend. Helping the kitsune up, she asked if he was okay.
"Umm…I'm fine, thanks," Shippo replied, feeling embarrassed that he had to be saved by a girl.
Smiling, Rin replied, "You're welcome! Thank you for trying to stick up for me, but I think that next time, you shouldn't bother; I can take care of myself!" Shippo suddenly felt distraught.
'And if I can't handle it, Lord Sesshomaru will always be there for me, right?' Rin added to herself thoughtfully. 'He always has been there…he always will…right?' Each time she said it, she felt ever more doubtful. She shook her head. "Right!" she shouted determinedly, though scaring the other two around her at the sudden outburst from the girl.
Eyes returning to normal size, Shippo thought disdainfully, 'I don't think I'll ever understand girls…'
x.
When Kagome entered the barren land, she almost couldn't believe her eyes. By what Nagori had described of the so-called maze, she had expected to find huge hedges or stone labyrinths. A charred area of land as far as she could see was the exact opposite of what she had predicted.
"You can thank Inuyasha for creating this mess," Nali spoke up from behind the schoolgirl. She was slightly surprised, forgetting the serpent was there, but soon recovered at the mention of Inuyasha. At her questioning look, Nali continued. "That sword of his ruined my maze. It'll probably take another couple of centuries to replant the hedges and let them grow to at least half of what they used to be. Not to mention I have to fish around for more demons…"
"I'm sorry," Kagome whispered. She didn't exactly know what she was sorry for, as the demons of the maze tried to kill the one she loved, but she knew that she just had to apologize for something.
"Sweet child," Nali said, "but remember; sometimes, sweetness can be both a blessing and a curse." In a flash, the dragon disappeared. "Stay here a while; you may find something you're looking for," was her parting comment.
After hearing these so-called words of advice, Kagome stood frozen, wondering what they're meanings were. Still, she had no time to worry about them. She needed to get Inuyasha's sword, and the quicker she found it the better.
Traipsing around the barren land, she quickly figured out that it'd take a long time to even run a little ways, and the charred ground didn't look as if it reached any endpoint. Still, she persisted in searching, finally coming upon a glow off in the distance. The aura shone a violent crimson, but it didn't seem threatening to Kagome. In fact, it seemed familiar, like an old friend.
'That must be the sword,' she thought to herself, catching her breath and running farther, rejuvenated by seeing her goal within running distance.
Finally, she collapsed before the weapon, breathing hard; that was farther than she had thought. It looked so close, but now that she thought about it, she must have run near half a mile to get here. Still, at least she made it, so that was something; now she had a present for Inuyasha when he woke up. Thinking about that made her smile.
However, her upturned lips soon turned downwards as she stared at the changed blade. The old blade still looked as useless in this state as it usually did, but there was something about it that made it looked refined, brand new. There was also a blinding red aura swirling around the blade, mixed in with a silvery aura, which Kagome recognized as the wind created by the sword's aura.
Picking up the rusted sword, Kagome examined it, but could find no other solution than her own. 'Well, now we know where Inuyasha's kimono went to…'
Standing up, she wondered how long it would be for Nali to come to pick up her. In the meantime, what would she do? Thinking back, the dragon had said that there may be something they were looking for…but what? What else could there be that Kagome hadn't already found?
Eager to find out, Kagome began to wander around the landscape, Tetsusaiga in her hand, determination in her heart.
x.
Sango's breath was heavy as she mindlessly achieved her goals. Jump from one tile, to another, dodge the monsters, slash here, cut there, continue to jump. Still, nothing could last forever, and it was here where everything stopped its concurrent ride. Suddenly, a stitch shot through her side, and Sango froze in mid-jump. Miroku, fearing for her safety, grabbed her arm, maneuvering her towards the correct tile. The one they were standing on fell away, and the middle platform changed colors again, the old tiles being replaced with new ones.
"Sango, are you okay?" Miroku asked, trying to stay on the tile for as long as possible.
"My side," was all she could say; speaking made the pain worse. Miroku nodded in understanding, and the two continued, though slower, sloppier, Sango breathing heavily and slowly wondering how long she would be able to last. Miroku seemed to be focusing his entire being on her, and her safety. He seemed to be showing no remorse or fear for himself, only for her.
She felt moved by his compassion towards her. As a slayer, she had never really had interests in marriage or finding a man to settle down with. All she thought about was her job at finding demons and destroying them, collecting supplies to keep her village running, and to collect a pay. That used to be all that was in her mind when she was a young girl.
Somehow, she felt that she should be slightly thankful towards Naraku. Not for all the malevolent actions he's done, of course, but for leading their group together. If not for Naraku's curse, Miroku would have never met up with Kagome and Inuyasha, who would have still been living with Kikyo, Kagome never existing in the first place. And if it wasn't for Naraku, Sango would never have gone after Inuyasha, thus never meeting Miroku who had joined them.
'Even though I hate you,' she thought to herself, 'I must thank you. For making me understand…for giving me someone who loves me for who I am.'
Eyes narrowing, Sango thrust all her energy into jumping to the correct tiles, allowing all the fallen ones to be replaced. Kneeling down, she huffed and puffed, her breath lousy and her balance and vision off. Sweat dripped from her brow, and she swore there were involuntary tears forming, though she wouldn't let them fall. She was too strong for tears, right? At least, in a situation like this?
She expected to feel the brief feeling of weightlessness as the tile beneath her fell, though she never felt it. Instead, she felt as if the tile were growing heavier. Opening her eyes, she looked around, and found that the monsters chasing them had vanished, and for a brief second, she thought that the game was over.
However, the game had just begun.
TO BE CONTINUED……