I decided that Mondays were good for posting. Mondays are boring, dragging days. Why not spice them up a bit? Anyway, here's chapter 17. Read review and enjoy!
Mayu Kitsune
Blood and Tears
"You mean you're not picking up anything?" Inuyasha questioned loudly.
Kagome shook her head in response, "She's not anywhere near here, the shards are too far away for me to sense them at all." she replied regretfully.
Damn, I don't get it, how could she just vanish like that? Inuyasha thought in frustration.
"Well, we're not doing any good standing around here." he stated, beginning off.
"Hey Inuyasha, where are you going?" Shippo asked.
"I'm going to find Moyuru the old fashion way, looking." Inuyasha replied, continuing to walk away.
He began his search on the outside of the village, sniffing at the air, looking for tracks, anything, but he still came up with the same result, nothing. The others had searched for a while as well, but soon nightfall came and they returned to the village to rest. Everyone seemed to be worn-down and a bit edgy.
Though he was tired, Inuyasha continued to search even after everyone else had decided to call it a day.
"He's been searching all day now." Sango mused aloud as she and the others sat down to food.
"Yeah, he's been looking for her ever since we noticed she was missing and he hasn't taken a break yet! The way he's been acting you'd think it was Kagome that was missing." Shippo commented.
Kagome walked up to join the rest of them after having finished helping Kaede, she looked tired.
"Hi Kagome." Sango said brightly.
Kagome returned to greeting before sitting down, "Where's Inuyasha?" she asked, looking around.
"Still looking." Sango replied with a heavy sigh.
"Hey, here he comes." Shippo announced.
Kagome looked up to see the hanyou moping towards them. He was obviously exhausted, but the mix of emotions she could see on his face suprised her. He looked so sad, frustrated and angry all at once! Had him and Moyuru really gotten that attached? She briefly wondered if he would ever look for her like that if she ever went missing.
"No luck?" Miroku prompted as Inuyasha sat down with the rest of them.
Inuyasha shot the monk a dirty look, "No shit! If I'd had any luck do you think I'd come back empty-handed?" he snapped.
Everyone looked a bit taken aback by his response. "Calm down, getting all worked up and angry over it isn't going to help find her." Miroku stated defensively.
"What's wrong with you anyway? You didn't have to do that, he was only asking!" Kagome scolded.
Inuyasha looked to her with an annoyed expression, "You'd think it was obvious what kind of luck I had."
"You didn't have to yell!" Kagome retorted.
Inuyasha just let out an indignant huff, sitting next to the fire with his legs crossed and his hands shoved into his sleeves. Surprisingly enough, he didn't even bother eating, what was wrong with him?
"Aren't you going to eat anything?" Kagome asked after a moment agitation still present in her voice.
"Not hungry." Inuyasha replied simply.
Kagome gave him a concerned look as he stared off into the distance. Had Moyuru's disappearance really upset him that much? "You need to eat, you have to be hungry after all you've been doing today." Kagome urged.
"Would ya just leave me alone? I said I'm not hungry!" Inuyasha snapped irritably.
Kagome looked a bit shocked to say the least, he had never really acted like this towards everyone before, "Why are you being so hateful towards all of us?" Kagome demanded.
Inuyasha didn't offer an answer.
"I'm talking to you, stop ignoring me!" Kagome shouted.
Inuyasha sent an irritated glare her way, "I'm going to go keep watch." he stated coolly, getting up and beginning for the outside of camp.
Kagome stared off after him, He's never done that to me before, what's wrong with him?
Inuyasha took his place in a tree on the outskirts of what was left of the village. He just sat there, his amber eyes scanning the area every so often and his dog-like ears alert. He was so tired yet he couldn't get himself to sleep. He had never found himself so worried before. . . where was Moyuru?
"We'll bed down here for the night and start moving first thing in the morning." Michiko announced.
Moyuru had barely heard, being lost in her own thoughts. The opportunity was soon coming, but she still didn't know how she was going to do this! She was irritable, hungry and tired. She and Naomi both could do nothing but sit there during the afternoon break. Nothing but sit there and watch as the rest of them eat to their heart's content.
Moyuru had raised a racket, protesting to at least get food for Naomi. She had finally succeeded, but not before getting slapped in the face and beat for her actions. Naomi had wanted to share the food, but Moyuru had turned down the offer and was now almost wishing she hadn't.
"You two," Michiko barked out, motioning to two of her soldiers, "Guard the hanyou, make sure that our little captive doesn't try anything stupid." she ordered.
Moyuru sent her a glare and she only smirked back. Damn her. Moyuru thought as the guards did as they were ordered. They both took seats next to her, one on each side.
The soldier that had her sais took one out and began toying around with it, spinning it around on his fingers and dropping it nearly every time. Moyuru let out a heavy sigh, those weapons had been given to her by her brother and this dimwit was misusing them!
"What are you doing? Planning to keep those as a trophy? You certainly can't use them." she commented idly.
The guard shot her a dirty look before stopping his pointless abuse of her weapon.
Moyuru smirked a bit, having gotten what she wanted. She slowly began to work at the ropes that bound her hands together. She hadn't been able to do so all day, she had been watched too closely. Besides, she needed something to do now that they were sitting idle.
She paused for a moment when her claws could no longer reach them. That meant that now all she had to do was wait until nearly everyone was asleep before snapping them, grabbing Naomi and getting the hell out of there. The demon that guarded Naomi had already seemed to be nodding off.
The two youkai that kept watch on Moyuru stayed alert as long as she looked to be awake. Moyuru thought for a moment before faking a wide yawn, and lying down on her side. Soon she looked to be sleeping, even snoring softly to make it more convincing.
"I'm tired." one of the guards commented.
"Yeah." the other agreed.
The one that held her sais let out a wide yawn, "I know that Michiko sama told us not to fall asleep, but I'm too tired to stay up and watch the captive, especially when she's sleeping. It makes me tired just listening to her snore!" he complained quietly, "Not to mention all the others snoring."
The two took time to look around, the only other demon not sleeping was the guard that watched Naomi, he had made every effort to stay awake but didn't look like he would last too much longer.
"Listen to the colonel over there!" one of the guards snickered, pointing to a somewhat decorated demon across the clearing.
"I can hear him all the way over here!"
"Guy snores like a damn bear!"
"No wonder his mate left him, she probably couldn't get sleep one way or another."
Both of the guards poked fun at their comrades for a while before sleep seemed to claim them as well.
Moyuru waited until she was sure that they were off in dreamland before beginning to move. She was tired as well, but she had so much on her mind that she had found it impossible to sleep anyway, it only worked to her advantage. She gave the ropes a light tug and they snapped, freeing her hands to begin working on the ropes around her ankles. She didn't waste much time, using her claws to cut them right off.
She slowly and cautiously moved toward the guard that held her sais. He stirred as she neared, causing her to freeze. He mumbled something unintelligible before rolling a bit and continuing to sore. Moyuru let out a sigh of relief, continuing to approach him carefully.
She caught the glint of metal on his sash, the metal of her sais. She reached for them, taking hold of both at once and beginning to pull them out slowly and soundlessly. She went rigid as the youkai began to move, paling when he began to roll over.
If she let go of her weapons to allow him to move, then they would fall and clang together! That would surely wake him up! She made a split-second decision to pull them out. The guard stirred more and he muttered something as his eyes began to open.
Oh no! What could she do? He was waking up! Moyuru looked around in a panic, what could she do? She couldn't kill him, it would make too much noise! She remembered how whenever her mother had scratched her behind the ears she had seemed to calm down, it felt good. She didn't have time to think of another idea!
Moyuru's hand quickly moved for the youkai's ear, beginning to scratch behind it. He went rigid for a moment, his eyes growing wide before he seemed to relax and his eyelids grew heavy. Soon he was out again and Moyuru let out another heavy sigh of relief. Now for Naomi.
The demon that had been sitting watch over the little girl had fallen asleep, unable to stay awake all night. Moyuru quietly slipped up next to Naomi, beginning to shake her a little bit.
The little girl's eyes began to open, searching around before resting on Moyuru. "Moyuru chan!" she exclaimed, nearly too loud.
Moyuru quickly silenced her, "Shh!" she said quickly, putting a finger to her lips. The hanyou froze as the demon that the other two had referred to as the colonel let out a loud snore.
"Sorry." Naomi whispered as the tension died down.
"Come on, let's get out of here before they wake up." Moyuru said, taking the little girl by the hand.
Naomi silently took it, getting to her feet and beginning after her friend into the forest.
The colonel had been sleeping peacefully, that is until one of the younger demons that slept near him rolled over, his arm smacking his superior in the face. The colonel was instantly awakened with a start, his eyes narrowing once he'd calmed down. He grumbled a few curses before angrily throwing the arm off his face and growling at the young demon who continued to sleep.
That idiot could sleep through anything! He still lay there, his arm now across his own chest and his mouth wide open, still snoring and drooling none the less. The colonel let out an indignant huff, beginning to lie back down when his ears caught a slight noise, it sounded like someone whispering.
His eyes searched the camp, going wide when he noticed the soldiers that had guarded their captives had fallen asleep on the job and the prisoners were gone! Those idiots! "The prisoners! The prisoners have escaped!" He sounded loudly, awakening nearly everyone in camp. The three guards rose very slowly.
"You idiots! You're not supposed to fall asleep on the job! You let them get away!" The Colonel raved at them. They instantly went into a formal bow before apologizing furiously.
"Colonel, shouldn't you be working on recapturing them instead of wasting your time on these buffoons?" Michiko snapped.
"Yes, Michiko sama." the demon replied hastily before ordering his men out.
Moyuru turned, her ears perking as she heard what she had dreaded. They had been found out!
"Haha, what is it?" Naomi questioned.
Moyuru didn't answer the question, kneeling down in front of the little girl, "Quick, get on! We have to move faster!" she exclaimed.
Naomi caught on to the urgency in the hanyou's voice and didn't hesitate to get onto Moyuru's back.
"Hang on!" Moyuru ordered the little girl before taking off at a fast run. Naomi let out a cry of suprise as Moyuru suddenly sprung up into the trees, jumping from limb to limb and moving nearly faster than she had on the ground. Moyuru was sure that the trees would make it harder for them to find a trail or to hit her if they happened to catch up.
"I'm scared." Naomi cried as she clung tighter to Moyuru, the ground looked so far down, what if she were to fall?
"It'll be okay, just don't let go!" Moyuru replied as she tried to quicken her pace. It was nearly no use! The demons were faster, her tactic had only thrown them off a little bit.
She cried out in panic as a chain wrapped around her ankle, causing her to begin falling. She hit the ground below hard, sliding a few feet before stopping. Naomi rolled off once they had hit the forest floor.
"Go! Don't worry about me, save yourself!" Moyuru shouted to her.
The little girl hastily scrambled to her feet and beginning to run. If she got back to the village maybe she could get Moyuru some help!
Moyuru pulled herself up after a few seconds, having loosened the chain enough to slip her foot out of it. She was now in sight of the youkai! They were gaining fast! She began to run, trying to catch up with Naomi so she could hopefully scoop her up and try again to outrun her pursuers.
All hopes of her escaping with Naomi were dashed as the chain wrapped around her neck. She let out a strangled yelp as she was jerked backwards, hitting the ground before breaking into a coughing fit. Was this it? The end?
Naomi paused, looking back, "Haha!" she cried, beginning back.
"No Naomi, Run!" Moyuru shouted, again struggling to pick herself up. The clawed hands of the demons caught her arms and held her shoulders, the chain again pulling as she began to struggle to free herself. One of the demons flashed by her, headed straight for Naomi!
"NO! Naomi!" Moyuru yelled, as she struggled vigorously with the guards but to no avail. She could only watch in horror as Michiko's claws flashed and the smell of the little girl's blood hit the air.
Moyuru's legs weakened beneath her and she sank to her knees. No! This couldn't be happening! She had failed her.
Michiko stood over the girl, "What a shame." she mused mockingly before fisting Naomi's hair and holding up her motionless body to face Moyuru. The little girl's eyes were wide and lifeless, she was gone. "I warned you." Michiko stated simply
"No! Put her down! How dare you!" Moyuru shouted in rage, again struggling with the youkai that held her. They were all that stood between the hanyou and Michiko's bloody end. Moyuru wanted nothing more than to rip the youkai's heart right out of her chest, she already felt like it had been done to her.
Michiko dropped Naomi to the ground before approaching the grief-stricken hanyou.
Moyuru made to lunge at her though she was still being held back. "Damn you! Damn you to hell you--"
Moyuru's sentence was cut off as Michiko's claws raked across her cheek, "Silence!" the youkai growled, "I gave you fair warning you loathsome half-breed.. I don't make idle threats so if you blame anyone for your little friend's death then blame yourself."
Moyuru tried lunging again, but it was still no use, "I'll kill you! You won't get away with this!" Moyuru snarled, leveling a dangerous glare at the youkai in front of her.
Salty tears streamed down her cheeks, stinging the wounds on her face and mingling with the blood that ran from them. Her emotions were raging within her, both rage and sadness battling for control, "I'll kill you." she said quietly as her head lowered. Her bangs covered her eyes and she seemed to stop struggling. Her shoulders began to shake as tears flowed more freely, wetting the ground in front of her. "I'll kill you." she repeated in a whisper.
"I doubt it. Don't despair, you shouldn't miss your little human too long for you'll soon be joining her." Michiko said with a smirk, "Tie her up, we'll continue on our way now."
"No!" Moyuru protested, beginning to struggle as the ropes were brought near her. She continued to thrash about as the demons forced her to the ground. Vigorously, she tried to fight the ropes that were being wrapped around her wrists. The owner of the chain-whip tightened it around her neck.
She let out a strangled gasp before her airway was completely cut off. Her struggling began to get weaker as she lost air. No! I can't let them take me! her thoughts screamed as her weakened state made it easier for the soldiers to bind her hands.
Once they had tied her wrists and slipped a rope around her neck the chain let up, allowing her to take in gulps of precious air. Now she lay on the ground, panting heavily, "No. . ." she whimpered quietly, "This can't be happening. . . Naomi. . ." she sobbed, feeling helpless to do anything.
Michiko was reveling in her hanyou cousin's despair, it brought joy to the youkai to see Moyuru this way.
"Michiko sama." a soldier called, bowing as he halted in front of her.
"Yes, what is it?" she prompted as she licked her claws clean of the little girl's blood.
"What do we do with the human? Shouldn't we bury her?" The soldier questioned.
"Leave her, I'm sure the wolves can take care of the rest." Michiko answered before turning to her captive, "And what they don't take care of the vultures will, don't you agree Moyuru?"
Moyuru didn't answer her question, having fallen oddly silent. The soldiers had drug her up so that now she sat on her knees, her head bowed so that her bangs covered her eyes.
Something's wrong, I can sense it. Michiko thought, looking pensively at the hanyou in front of her, Is the strong demonic aura I'm sensing coming from her?
A bright blue glow began to surround Moyuru's form as her fists clenched, "Damn you." she growled dangerously. Some of the guards looked uneasy.
Michiko's eyes widened as she seemed to realize what it was, Those powers she used against Naraku, she's about to use them again! she thought.
"You idiots, what are you waiting for? Knock her out!" Michiko shouted. A few of the soldiers immediately moved to carry out their order.
"Don't touch me!" Moyuru cried out as bright blue flames erupted outward as they had before against Naraku, only this time on a smaller scale.
Most of the demons that had surrounded her leapt back, the others foolish enough to stay near perished. Michiko stared in shock as Moyuru began on a rampage, her hands now free from the ropes that had nearly vaporized in the flames which had now died down. The blue glow had faded from her eyes, showing now that they had turned a hellish red. She didn't even bother with her weapons, killing all in her path with nothing but her claws! It was chaos!
She's going to kill anything that moves and these idiots are too panicked to fight back! Michiko thought as she began to back away, what chance did she stand now. It was better to retreat and try again than it was to stay, fail, and die on top of it all.
Rage could bring out power in someone that they themselves didn't even know they possessed. Moyuru, a mere hanyou, was taking out youkai like they were nothing but humans! All this in a violent fit of rage that had triggered her transformation.
The last of Michiko's youkai soldiers let out a terrified scream as he was taken down, Moyuru's claws digging deep into his gut before making a finishing strike to his neck. The demon dropped to the ground and Moyuru slowly turned her gaze to her mortified cousin: the last demon standing.
Moyuru stared her down for a few moments, something about her stare was paralyzing! Her scent had changed, she no longer smelled like a hanyou, though not quite like a youkai. She was something different, a different breed of demon.
Michiko could feel the fear welling up inside her as she forced her legs to move, stepping back. She finally forced herself to do the only thing she could think of doing. The youkai turned and began to dart off into the forest, hoping that Moyuru couldn't catch up.
Moyuru simply leapt, landing in front of her, "Going somewhere?" the hanyou asked in a voice not quite her own, giving a sadistic smirk, characteristic of someone with a lust for blood.
Michiko found herself cowering, shrinking back as the hanyou advanced. She could smell the blood of the other demons. She didn't have to look to know that Moyuru was covered in it. It dripped off her claws and had splattered onto her clothing.
Moyuru's lips curved into even more of a smile as Michiko backed into a tree, sinking down it and staring up at her in horror. "Look at you Michiko, cowering like that. You absolutely reek of fear." she said, "You have a right to be afraid because, dear cousin . . . my revenge knows no mercy."
More screams pierced the night as the hanyou's claws tore at Michiko's flesh, mauling her relentlessly until she began to come back to her senses. She tore herself away, clenching her eyes shut and backing up. When she opened her eyes again, they were no longer glowing, she was back to normal.
She looked a bit disoriented, glancing around a moment before catching sight of Michiko. She stared in horror at her mangled body before her gaze traveled to her own hands which were stained crimson with blood. She gasped in apparent shock, "I-I. . . I did this? . . But. . ." she stuttered out to no one.
She slowly began to back away, her eyes once again focused on Michiko. Her heartbeat quickened as did her breathing, No, I couldn't have. . . I don't kill like that! Moyuru thought. She was snapped back to reality as she tripped over something. She landed on her rear, cringing a bit before looking to see what it was that had been in her path.
"Ahh!" she screamed in terror as she caught sight of the colonel whose body she had tripped over. He had been mauled to death as well, blood still flowing from the gaping gashes in his gut. What terrified Moyuru even more was the look on his face, his eyes were wide and empty and his mouth was frozen open in a silent scream even in death.
Moyuru scrambled to her feet, backing against a tree before looking around. Scattered all about the place were the bodies of the rest of the demons; not one of them had been left alive! What have I done? she thought. Her eyes began to well up with tears as she became more distraught. How? How could she have done all this? It just didn't make sense! She wasn't a mindless killer!
She paused as she caught sight of Naomi. She slowly began forward, hoping and praying that somehow the little girl could still be alive. Moyuru fell to her knees next to her, reaching out and taking her gently into her arms.
Naomi just hung there limply, her skin cold and pale. She was gone. Moyuru's tears flowed more freely as she hugged the little girl's body to her, "I'm sorry." she cried softly, "I'm so sorry!"
There was only one thing she could do for her now, she said that they were both going back and that's what they were doing. She would take her friend back to the village so that she could be buried near her mother and father. It was all she had left that she could do.
She had failed her! The little girl looked up to her like her own mother! Moyuru tried to swallow back tears as she began on her way with Naomi in her arms.
"Inuyasha, it's no use, you've been searching forever and haven't found a thing! Give it a rest!" Shippo exclaimed as a very frustrated inu hanyou began to continue his search.
"What? Are you saying I should just give up?" Inuyasha questioned loudly.
"That's not what he meant, we all think it's about time you took a breather!" Kagome retorted.
"Humph, I don't need a break."
"Don't be ridiculous." Miroku stated.
Inuyasha shot him a dirty look.
"He's right you know, you've been searching ever since the battle ended the other night and it's getting late into the afternoon now." Sango agreed.
Inuyasha gave them both an indignant look, "I took a break when I kept watch last night, I don't need another one." he snapped irritably. His lack of sleep was catching up to him, forming dark circles under his eyes and making his mood anything but pleasant.
"We'll search for her for a while." Kagome insisted.
"Yeah, if she still has jewel shards then Kagome'll know if we get close." Shippo said in agreement.
"I can handle it! If you go out there then I'm coming with you. Besides, Kagome's got a date with that Hojo guy, I'm sure she wouldn't want to take too much time on a lost cause and miss it." Inuyasha said spitefully.
"What?" Kagome asked, looking to him in question.
"You Know what I'm talking about."
"No, I don't."
"That guy at your school or whatever you call it. I'm sure you two would make a great couple." Inuyasha grumbled.
A look of shock came over Shippo's face, "Kagome? Two-timing Inuyasha?" he stammered.
Everyone's attention now turned to her. Her eyes went wide, "No! That's not it at all!" she exclaimed, waving her hands in front of her in defense.
"Wow that is surprising." Sango mused.
"I would have expected something like that from Inuyasha, but not you Kagome." Miroku agreed.
Inuyasha turned red with anger, "I heard that Miroku! You're really one to talk!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the monk.
"We all know he's got a point." Sango stated, seending a sideways look at Miroku who didn't even try to deny anything. He gave a nervous laugh.
"That's not it though!" Kagome insisted, "I'm not two-timing anyone!"
The miko's senses tingled a bit, but she ignored it, passing it off as a trick of her nerves. The yelling and shouting went on in the group for quite a while, Inuyasha accusing Kagome of getting cozy with guys in her time, Kagome denying it, and the others making random comments.
Shippo and Kirara stood a bit of a distance back from them all. Shippo shook his head slowly, "I don't ever wanna grow up if I end up acting like that." he stated.
Kirara just mewed once in what seemed like agreement.
"Hey, look everyone, someone's coming!" Shippo yelled suddenly. He gained an indignant expression when he noticed that no one was paying him any attention. "Hey guys! Someone's coming! Look!" He yelled again, but still no one paid the kit any attention,
"Inuyasha! . . SIT!" Kagome shouted suddenly. Inuyasha hit the ground and she glared at him. He was making her so angry, how could he suspect that?
Shippo took this as an opportunity to get everyone's attention. "Someone's coming! Didn't you hear me before?"
The rest of them looked to him before looking in the direction he had been pointing. There was someone coming. Inuyasha picked himself up and brushed off his clothing.
He seemed suprised all of a sudden. It was Moyuru! She was back! He caught her scent and was sure it was her though her scent was nearly masked by the scent of blood and tears.
He began towards her where a crowd had already begun to gather. By the time Inuyasha and the rest of the gang reached the spot the villagers were already causing a ruckus. What was it that they were shouting about?
Inuyasha shoved a few of them aside, making his way towards the middle of the small crowd of surviving villagers. Kagome followed not too far behind. She froze and gasped upon seeing what the fuss was about.
There lay Naomi on the ground where Moyuru had set her down. She was obviously dead. A few of the village men had surrounded Moyuru, not allowing her to leave having tied her up and set her in the middle of them all.
"I just want to leave! I don't want to cause any more trouble!" Moyuru shouted.
"We've suffered enough because of you and you should have to pay for it!" a villager retorted.
"Look at her! The hanyou finally shows her true colors, she's covered in blood! Do you really want to allow this thing to live!" another villager questioned, addressing the crowd now and pointing an accusing finger in her direction. There were shouts of approval.
"She's not good for the village!"
"Yeah, we're all better off with her dead!"
"None of this would have happened if she hadn't come along!"
The villagers' shouts only caused Moyuru more pain. This was all she could take! She stayed silent. They would kill her for sure, she knew it.
The villager that had seemed to be leading this assault against her drew out a sword he had taken from a dead bandit. Moyuru recognized him, he was one of the men Naomi's father had been talking to when she met him.
"I told Koji that he shouldn't allow his daughter around this hanyou!" He shouted, nearing her. The villagers in his way stepped aside, "It's her fault that he and his daughter are dead! The price that she should have to pay is her life!"
Mothers shielded their childrens' eyes while others looked on as the sword was raised over the hanyou. Suprisingly enough, Moyuru didn't move or plead for her life. As far as she was concerned he was doing her a favor.
She wanted this all to end and if this was the only way out of it then she would welcome death with open arms. She could join all those she had loved and lost never to lose them again . . . it sounded so much better than this hell she was living. She clenched her eyes shut as the blade began it's downward descent.
Wow, I'm really evil aren't I? But please don't kill me! I didn't want to do thatto poor Naomi, but incase you haven't noticed, nothing in this story is overly convenient. That makes things boring. . . . I don't know why my muses tell me to give my characters an extremely hard time or kill off one. Anyway NO PREVIEW THIS TIME! He he, I'm really evil now. If I give you a preview then I'd give away the chapter. I will give you the chapter name though. Chapter 16: A Deep Sorrow.
REVIEW!
Mayu Kitsune
