Kikyo dragged Sesshomaru along, his weight starting to strain her back. For a while he had been more or less supporting himself, but his body was succumbing to the poison and he relied more on Kikyo's shoulder to keep him upright. I sure hope my back doesn't give out before we reach the village Kikyo thought in dismay. At least the poison didn't kill him. Any mortal man would have died within seconds of blood contact.
The sun was brighter now, and the morning dew on the leaves of the trees began to drip away. The air seemed especially pure, as though the binding of Onigumo had lifted a curtain of demon stench that was polluting it before. Kikyo gratefully breathed in this air, glad to be out of the midst of a place reeking of blood and torn flesh. It felt like she had been walking forever, and Sesshomaru just kept getting heavier. A small stream caught Kikyo's attention, and she hurried over to it as fast as she could. The priestess gently laid the youkai down on a tuft of grass and pulled her head out from under his arm. Then she knelt down to the edge of the stream, cupped the sparkling water in her hands and took a sip. The cool liquid splashed down her throat and cooled her insides. Kikyo rinsed her face and dried her hands on her tattered, ripped kimono. Now feeling refreshed and ready to move on, she ambled back over to Sesshomaru. He looked so pathetic and weak; the whites of his eyes were turning red, and his face was becoming very pale. Kikyo leaned down to pull him up, but as she neared his body, she sensed tension. Something wasn't right.
"You don't have to do this" Sesshomaru said, his voice low, almost raspy.
Kikyo frowned. "And why wouldn't I? After the countless times you've saved my life, I think I owe it to you."
Sesshomaru didn't reply. He was not in the mood to argue, nor to protest against her carrying him, though he hated being weak. The truth was obvious; he was content to be getting cared for once out of his entire life. He had never been rescued, never needed to be rescued, until now. And the feeling of being with Kikyo was so strange, yet so pleasant…
Kikyo studied the youkai's face. Why does he has to be handsome even when he's hurt? She thought, unable to lift her eyes from his face. Suddenly embarrassed to be thinking such things at a time like this, she brushed the thought from her mind.
"We'd better get a move on" Kikyo said gently.
Sesshomaru pulled himself up into a sitting position, hiding the intense pain behind a cold, expressionless face.
"No! You musn't move unnecessarily!" Kikyo cried.
Sesshomaru supported himself with a nearby tree and slowly got to his feet. Damn, I can barely move he thought with frustration.
Kikyo rushed next to him and put his arm around her neck. "Don't act so tough all the time" she said, helping the youkai away from the tree. "I don't want you to get hurt."
Sesshomaru grumbled but allowed Kikyo to move him. He had misjudged her the very first time they met. He never did realize what strength she possessed, both physically and mentally.
Kikyo continued forward, keeping a slow but steady pace. They made their way across fields and through meadows of blooming flowers, still not reaching any sort of civilization. Kikyo was starting to worry that maybe they were heading the wrong way. But she reassured herself, thinking that the journey was just taking longer because of the extra load.
"Something's coming" Sesshomaru said suddenly.
Kikyo abruptly stopped walking and listened. The sound of footsteps and crunching leaves could be heard. There was rustling in the bushes, and the voices of men coming closer.
"Oh, it must be the village men. We're close!" Kikyo said excitedly.
But Sesshomaru wasn't feeling the same excitement. He sensed danger. They continued to move along until all of a sudden, men began pouring from every direction. They came out from in between the trees and bushes, surrounding Kikyo and the limp youkai. Each man was armed with a bow and arrow, which were pointed straight at them. Kikyo scanned the group of people, recognizing many of them from Kaede's village.
"It's okay" she said, confused as to why they were all armed. "It's just me, Kikyo. The wise woman's elder sister."
But the men were not worried about Kikyo. Their dark, fearful eyes were focused on the youkai beside her. Their weapons did not move.
"It's him!" shouted a female voice from the crowd. "That's the demon!"
Kikyo whipped her head around agitatedly, trying to see who had spoken. But the men had begun to move closer, their arrows looking even more sharp and menacing.
"Wait…what are you doing?" Kikyo cried, shifting her grip on Sesshomaru's arm. "This man is hurt! I must bring him to a healer in your village as quickly as possible!"
The villagers continued to close in on them, ignoring the priestess's protests. Sesshomaru felt the anger begin to build inside of him. Do these mortal fools think that they can defeat me? He thought, straightening himself up. There may be poison in my blood, but my blade holds the power to slice you all into pieces!
Kikyo gasped as Sesshomaru pulled himself from her grasp and charged at the nearest men, ripping his sword from its sheath as he went.
"Sesshomaru! NO!" Kikyo shouted. "They're only villagers!"
But Sesshomaru had already begun to attack, and with each swing five men were slaughtered. The others who were witnessing it started releasing their arrows, but they had no effect. As soon as the arrows made contact with Sesshomaru, they disappeared into nothing.
Kikyo stood in shock, unable to move or do anything. Suddenly, as though not enough drama was occurring at the moment, there was a loud exploding noise like nothing Kikyo had ever heard before. Then she saw Sesshomaru double over and crumple on the ground. A young lass pushed through the crowd, holding an unusual weapon in her hand. It was long and made of wood, and smoke was rising from the barrel at its tip. Kikyo studied the female's face and almost choked when she realized who it was. Kagome?
Kikyo ran over to where Sesshomaru had fallen, trying to shove her way passed the swarm of men that were surrounding his motionless body. But they refused to let her through, and a few of them even grabbed her and pulled her back. Kikyo could not remember when she had ever felt this furious. But seeing Kagome with that dangerous weapon, and using it against Sesshomaru…it caused the hate to rush through her veins. Kagome had never been someone she regarded nicely, especially since she had taken Inuyasha from her, but Kikyo always put up with it. This time, she couldn't let it pass. The priestess ran at Kagome, who saw her and went wide-eyed in shock. Kikyo ripped the rifle from Kagome's grasp and knocked her down, shoving a sandal clad foot into her neck. Some men nearby saw what was happening and hoisted Kikyo away from Kagome, whose eyes never lost their look of terror. Kikyo was fuming, the rifle still in her hand and a sweat accumulating on her brow.
"You foul woman!" Kikyo shouted, struggling in the grasp of the men.
The men surrounding Sesshomaru lifted him from the ground and began to carry him away. Kikyo saw them leaving and tried even more desperately to pull away from the villagers that held her. But she had actually become unknowingly weaker, because she had not been nourished with the souls of the dead. Her struggles were useless. A man reached a hand out to Kagome and helped her up, then they all began to head back to the village. Kikyo was dragged along as well. Where is Kaede? The priestess thought desperately. She would not stand for this! When did the village men become so cruel?
The trees parted and the collection of small huts that made up the Northern village came into view. Kikyo didn't know whether Sesshomaru was dead or alive, and the panic was starting to settle in. What were they going to do to him? The men had ambushed her. As if it was all planned...were they plotting to take Sesshomaru all along? Kagome, you are as good as dead Kikyo thought. Nothing could've hurt her more than seeing Sesshomaru fall only a few days after Inuyasha…