In the Beholders Eye
Written By Sarga
May/June 2006
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters, I'm just taking a theme and running with it...
Chapter 8: Big
Miroku stood at the edge of a wide but shallow expanse of shoulder high grass. The wheat coloured stalks climbed towards the sky, threatening to engulf Shippo and Kilala and dwarf Sango and Miroku. The field appeared to be designed, the forest they were leaving ended too abruptly while the forest on the opposite side seemed just as out of place.
The grass encircled the base of a forest-covered mountain, the mountain's rounded peak speaking of its age. Near the peak, Miroku could pick out the signs of a rocky fortress; their goal. Even from this distance, Miroku could tell it was a cold and unwelcoming place. Its walls high, obscuring any signs of the contents within.
The monk who resided in the fortress, a hermit named Iyouko, hadn't left his home in more than a dozen years. According to acquaintances, before he had closed himself off to the world he was an impatient, unapproachable monk. He had delighted in playing word games with those who would dare to interrupt his reclusive lifestyle.
"I would imagine this grass goes right around the whole mountain," Miroku was lost deep in thought, still looking to their end destination. "We might as well go straight through."
The air held an ominous stillness, the grass before them standing stark still. Miroku tentatively swung his staff in front of his body before stepping through. Feeling none the worse for wear Miroku motioned to his friends to follow.
"You know," Sango proposed as they cautiously walked through the grass. "We could use Kilala to get to..." Sango's words were cut short and Miroku whipped around to see what had happened.
"Damn rock..." Sango's disembodied voice mumbled from below. Reaching into the grass, Miroku offered his friend a helping hand.
"Yes, about Kilala...Why don't we use her?" Miroku agreed as he pulled her to her feet.
Responding to their conversation, Kilala transformed to her full size and knelt for the others to mount her. Wasting no time, Kilala took to the air, her graceful leap mysteriously marred by a sudden jolt.
"What the...?" Sango grabbed Kilala's fur, nearly bucking off the beast.
At Kilala's feet were monkey-like demons, tiny slate-coloured wings dangling unused on their backs. Snarling, they bit and scratched at Kilala's paws as she tried to shake them off. More leaped out of the grass towards the group, some catching hold to Kilala and dragging them all further downward.
"HIRAIKOTSU!" Sango yelled as she hurled her large weapon at the monkeys in the grass. Several dodged out of the way, the boomerang chopping grass as it barreled ahead.
Jumping into the newly made clearing, Miroku used his staff to knock back two of the beasts. They leaped at him wildly and without hesitation. Sutras flew from the monk causing more of the creatures to disintegrate instantly. Unphased, more came into the fray, a seemingly endless supply jumping from the wall of high grass.
Catching her weapon, Sango threw it again, this time towards the forest. The large blades made a long path to their goal, knocking several of the previously hidden demons to the wayside.
"That way!" she shouted to her allies, swiftly catching the blade as she ran to catch up.
Patches of grass burst alight in blue flame, Shippo's fox fire singeing some of the creatures. A group of the demons squealed in high pitched noises, retreating into the grass.
"I know that he prides his privacy," Miroku shouted to his comrades as his staff bludgeoned more beasts from their path. "But I never imagined he would make it this difficult for visitors to approach." Miroku made a dash through the path Sango had made, Shippo and Kilala close behind.
Miroku heard a whooshing sound as he saw Sango's weapon hurtle past his body towards several of the demons in their path. They quickly reached the end of the expanse, and ran into the open space beneath the trees.
Turning back towards the grass, ready to condemn any that would follow, Miroku was surprised to see that no pursuers were in sight. The only visible movement was that near the middle of the field a steady ripple of grass moving away from the group.
"I hope that's a good sign," Shippo commented dubiously.
End of Chapter
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