(A/N: Yup people. I changed the name. The old one was getting to my head, and it was starting to get on my nerves... So I changed it to New Developments. I'm glad some of you liked the new change.)
Disclaimer: I don't own?
Chapter 26: Nothing to Hold You Back
Shiori emerged first and waited outside for Kagome. Shiori wore a red fighting outfit and had her white hair put up in a high ponytail with a few strands framing her tan face. A sword and a few daggers were attached to her side.
Kagome came out with both her swords she had gotten from Totosai and some daggers hidden around her body. She wore a black set of priestess garbs that had a silver vines coiled around her body starting from her right leg. Her bluish-black tresses were tied up in a long braid.
They nodded to each before dashing off to the heart of the village.
"Like I've said earlier, the bats come once and a while and terrorize the village, stealing their food, silks, wine and killing many," explained Shiori, "They're led by a bat demon named Mayonaka."
"But as far as I see, this village seems kind of poor, so why would these demons keep tormenting this particular village when they can go to a richer one? I'm sure that they would benefit more from that." Kagome glance at Shiori. What surprised her was, there was a blush that was growing darker.
Shiori then mumbled a quick and quiet response that caused Kagome to almost trip over a rock. She recovered her footing and started sprinting to the village right beside the bat hanyou.
"Uh… I'm not sure I hear that right… You mind repeating that again but louder?" asked Kagome. Shiori blushed a few shades darker until it matched the matching shade of her eyes. She was practically glowing in the dark.
"Mayonaka wants me as his mate so that I may produce a barrier for his clan," the young bat hanyou responded quickly to Kagome.
"Haha… That's what I thought you said but… I can't believe how similar we are!" Kagome giggled which caused Shiori to look at her confused.
"Well you see, Kouga, leader of a wolf clan wants me as his mate because I can sense the jewel shards. Sound similar?" Shiori didn't know what to say and just nodded dumbly as they raced off into the village.
Many of the huts were destroyed and what were left of some were just splinters. Fire started to spread rapidly trapping them in the middle.
Kagome jumped back as another bat youkai swooped down to grab another human. Blood was littered throughout the battlefield. The metallic scent was thick enough for Kagome to taste it in her mouth. She wrinkled her nose in disgust trying to block out the smell before she puked.
"Kagome behind you!" yelled Shiori as she slashed at a demon coming her way. Kagome quickly unsheathed her sword and spun around. Fresh blood splattered the ground in front of her as her sword removed the bat's head. Thick blood ran down her blade, dripping onto the brown soil.
She slowly slid out her other sword and started to help her white haired friend. Her movements were graceful, never wavering, as both demons danced around each other in perfect harmony. Blades met flesh and blood as the whole town was bathed in the red liquid.
The sun was peaking over the horizon when they stopped to take a breather. There were still fifty or so bats but they were hovering in the sky. All of the villagers were slaughtered, even the children and infants. This once lively village now housed the dead and wondering spirits. What was once clean was now a bloody battlefield.
"Hahaha," laughing was heard from above. Both Kagome and Shiori snapped their heads up to see one bat demon that seemed oddly familiar.
"Mayonaka…" whispered Shiori, "why have you attacked the village again? I've already refused your offer."
"Is that so, my dear? No actually, I'm after that bitch," he pointed at Kagome, "she ruined my beautiful claws! I swore my revenge on you."
"Oh… no wonder you look so familiar. What makes you think you can defeat me now?" questioned Kagome.
"Now that my clan has made you two exhausted I'll finally get what I deserve. What was that human saying? Killing two birds with one stone? (A/N: was it that:S I forgot, I don't exactly use it. Correct me if I'm wrong.) I'll get my revenge and I'll get my rightful mate. Haha" he cackled maliciously.
"I rather die than be your mate," Shiori yelled. She readied her chained sickle and positioned herself in a defensive position.
"Attack them!" screamed Mayonaka. Eight bats swooped down on each girl but they quickly disposed of them. Both took deep breaths to steady their hearts. Although the bats were relatively weak, attack after attack wore them down.
"Why don't you face me one on one instead of sending your clan members to me? Are you afraid to go up against me? I can't blame you, you lost pretty badly last time," Kagome taunted. She knew once they disposed of this arrogant bat, the rest if not most of them would stop attacking.
"Why you little bitch!" yelled Mayonaka. He drew a sword that was attached to his left side, and dived towards Kagome.
"Should I take that as an insult?" Kagome raised one blade and blocked his attack while she tried to slash him with his other sword.
"I see, I've succeeded into weakening you. Your movements have become sloppier and a lot slower." He took to the sky and swooped down again, trying to sever her head from her body. Kagome crossed her blades and blocked the attack. She pulled her hands closer together similar to a scissor motion and seized his sword within hers. With a flick of her wrist she disarmed him and sent his blade across the battlefield.
"You're right. I am growing tired of this. Why don't we end this now?" Shiori was off to the side battling the many bat demons while she was battling Mayonaka.
"You may have disarmed me, but you are still a weakling bitch," Mayonaka drew two daggers from his sleeves and started to charge at Kagome. Kagome immediately dodged and he took to the sky.
"I still have an advantage over you. I'm not bound to the earth unlike you. You won't be able to reach me with that short range weapon of yours," he cackled maliciously. This was seriously getting on Kagome's nerves. Readying her swords into an attack position she remembered that Midoriko drilled into her head, Kagome drew some of her miko energies into her swords.
Kagome crossed her swords, each of them cracking with energy. "You will not insult me!" she jumped as high as she could but it still couldn't reach him, and Kagome slashed onward. A burst of energy came from the swords and was heading for the laughing bat. The blade of wind was surrounded by crackling lightning and struck him through the middle and finally exploded killing the other bats behind him. The electricity cracked and hit many of them.
Most of the bats turned into ash or were burnt really badly. Kagome landed and nearly collapsed. She used her two swords for support while she slowly kneeled down on her knees. Her breathing was choppy and sweat beaded her brow. She had used a lot of her energy on him plus she was a bit drained from yesterday's demonstration.
"Kagome! Watch out! Behind you!" shouted Shiori. Tired, Kagome looked behind her to find one of the bats charging at her. Kagome let go of her swords and summoned her bow. She pulled back the string.
"Haha stupid girl, what are you going to shoot at me? Air! I think not," the bat continued his course towards Kagome not the least frightened.
Kagome still tired and kneeling pulled a tiny thread of energy, just enough to summon her arrow and released the string. The bat's eyes widened when he saw the arrow and that he was quickly heading into the path of the arrow, and at his speed, he couldn't stop. A bright flash of pink and the demon was turned to ash including two others who were in the path of the arrow.
Exhausted, Kagome dropped her bow. It dissolved into small grains of silver and gold sparks and melted back into her skin. Kagome sat there taking deep breaths trying to soothe her heart. Standing up, Kagome picked up her swords and proceeded to kill the remaining bats.
With the two of them working side by side, it took around five minutes to complete. The battlefield was a bloody mess and from what they could see, there were no survivors. This time the bats had wiped out the whole village. Some of the huts were still on fire and the ones that weren't were destroyed during the fight.
"Are you alright Kagome?" asked Shiori, they were beginning to dig graves for all the villagers even though they weren't the best of people. But it was only respectful to at the very least to bury dead.
"Yea I'm fine. What happened to the rest of the army, I swore there were a lot more…"
"The majority of them flew off because their leader was dead, but some of the more loyal ones stayed. By the way, where did that bow and arrow appear and disappear to? I don't recall seeing you have it with you…" The sun had finally arisen. The red tint in the horizon was nothing compared to the red battlefield and their blood-soaked clothes.
"Someone named Totosai had forged my swords and the bow and arrows for me. He had put a special spell on the bow and arrows so that I may summon them on will," Kagome explained. They hoisted body after body into the graves and buried them.
"Shiori what are you going to do now? Everyone here is dead, there's nothing to hold you back here."
"I know… I really didn't expect this to happen, so I don't know what else I may do…" she looked down sadly.
"I'm sorry. If I didn't anger that idiot, then maybe everyone would have been alive…" Kagome said softly.
"It's not your fault Kagome. Mayonaka would have probably attacked the whole village with or without you here. And if you weren't here, I might have had to mate that jerk."
"But I couldn't help but feel partially responsible. How about I make it up to you? You can travel with me."
"But what about Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"Oh don't worry. I'm sure he wouldn't mind another person to protect Rin."
"Rin?"
"Yeah, that's the little service I have to do to help Sesshoumaru, protect his human ward Rin."
"D-did you say human!" Shiori stuttered.
"Yeah, that was a surprise too. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind. And then after that is done, we can look for my father and then you can live with us too!" Kagome actually felt a bit excited about this prospect. After this short time and the life and death situation, Kagome was starting to view Shiori as a little sister she never had.
"I guess I could. It's not like there's anything to look forward in this deserted village. I'm just going to have to pack a few things and we can take a bath, because we both reek of blood and then we can go."
"But then we need to hurry, I said I'd be at Sesshourmaru's castle in just least than two days!"
"Are you sure you can make it on time? Considering this is the first time we're going there…" They headed inside the hut and rummaged through there belongings finding clean cloths and bath supplies.
"I hope so, I promised Shippo that I'd be back," answered Kagome. They headed out of the hut with their belongings with them. Shiori was in the lead with her stuff packed and Kagome followed with her backpack. They head out of the village to a close hot spring to bathe.
Somewhere Else
Sango and Miroku skinned the rabbit Kirara had caught and stoked the fired so that they may begin roasting it for breakfast. Inuyasha had made them start their search for 'Akoya' right after the talk with Kaede. They were heading west hoping to catch her with Sesshoumaru or at the very least collect some jewel shards. But just before dawn, Kikyo had disappeared with Inuyasha somewhere but none of that really concerned either one of them.
"I wish Kagome was still with us…" Sango sighed. She had missed her terribly even if it had only been a few days. It had made her start to wonder when she would be able to see her again. The cheerful sounds of conversation between Shippo and Kagome were dearly missed. Shippo's quick and cheerful chattering and Kagome responses with chuckles or laughs had greatly affected them. And with them gone, it just… didn't seem right…
"I know Sango, but if Lady Kagome was here, she would be suffering from Inuyasha and Kikyo being together. Maybe it was better off for her to have left," Miroku wisely said. They had just finished skinning the rabbit and he was washing the knives while Sango was roasting the food.
"I know… but I can't help but feel… sigh I'm being selfish here. I know that it's better that she's out there but it's just so frustrating! I don't know if she's even alive! It's just so…" Sango broke off. Silent tears streamed down her face as she fiddled with the hem of her kimono. Miroku for once wrapped his arms around Sango and pulled her onto his chest, offering comfort without being a pervert.
"Shhh… It's okay… it's okay to be selfish sometimes… We're only human. Everything will turn out for the better, you'll see." Sango only cried harder while Miroku gave her some comfort.
(A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I have a lot to do and I'm just not in the mood of writing. I hope this at least satisfied some people. Since I had the poll for so long I might as well stop it and announce the winners. Which are: Reioseiga (by: LadyAkina), Raiseiga (by: Kuro-Himitsu) and Ryusaki (by: Pernes Empress). Thanks for all the votes and help. I hoped to enjoyed this chapter.)
