A/N: Hello again yes it's me! I know you all must have been wondering where the crap I've been but I appologize and fear not! Updates will be coming quickly now. I hope you all are enjoying my very first fanfiction ever and please leave me a review, it's the only way to know how I'm doing. thankies.
Chapter 4
Kagura flew above them, her image barely visible as she skimmed through the sky above the treetops. Making her way silently in the night sky. Sango whisked her way through the bushes on the ground below in full stealth-like form, not allowing herself to make the slightest of a sound.
They knew Naraku was planning something. He nor any of his minions were seen of in over a month and now Kagura was on the move. They knew this could only mean trouble was on it's way.
Many hours earlier Sango and Miroku along with Kilala had left early in the evening after Myoga the flee demon had come with the news of Kagura's appearance. They left Shippo the kitsune and Myoga to wait until morning for Inuyasha and Kagome's return. Knowing the others would catch up to them later, but hopefully not so soon as to blow their cover as they sneaked along below Kagura.
Sango swiftly followed with her beloved companion Kilala to the left of Kagura, while Miroku stayed to her near right. This, they hoped, would prevent them from losing the demon if she turned quickly in one direction because the further they went, the deeper and darker the forest became.
Sango peered up through the darkness at the bottom of Kagura's feather, which she used to ride the wind. Where could she be going? Sango looked to Kilala in her tiny form as she skipped over a small root sticking out from the dark earth surrounding the ground. She searched to her right for Miroku. It was so dark now that she could barely see his form. She raised her eyes back to Kagura once more just to watch as the demon began to pick up her speed. Sango sprinted ahead desperately trying to keep up with her. She ran beneath a large tree but once she reached the other side Kagura had disappeared. Oh no where did she go? Looking to her right she could no longer see Miroku's dark form. "Where did they go Kilala?" she whispered looking to the small two tail for an answer. Just as she had turned something caught her eye. She darted behind the large tree and peered from behind. There she saw someone else; someone she had not seen in a long time and so desperately wanted to help. "Kilala, its Kohaku."
Kilala let escape a deep growl because at that moment they realized their dear Kohaku was not alone. Behind him followed a Rat youkai. It's large yellowed front teeth protruding from its mouth. It wore ragged clothing and had a slight grin across its face.
Kilala leapt forward about to attack before Sango stopped her. The demon was not posing any threat to her younger sibling. He was leading it somewhere. "Let us follow them Kilala," she said, creeping along below the bushes to keep from view.
They followed for a short time before they came to a clearing beside a dark river. The river current was strong and the water gushed. There were large pointed rocks sticking their pointed tops from the water surface.
There Kagura stood looking out at the crescent moon as it filled the clearing with light. "Yo" Kagura turned to see the two enter the clearing. Sango watched as her brother crossed to stand quietly beside Kagura his eyes lowered towards the ground without expression.
"Did you bring the shard" The rat demon squealed in his scratchy little voice. His beady blood red eye's gazing greedily as Kagura pulled from her kimono a single shard, blackened from corruption. "Let me have it!" he screeched running towards her.
With a single wave of her fan Kagura sent sharp wind blades at the pathetic youkai. " You forget your place. Tell me what I need to know and you will have your reward."
The rat demon fell to the ground, fear evident in his eyes. "The grave is on the outskirts of a village not far north of this place. The village itself is built on top of the burnt remains of the old palace." He grinned knowing that the shard was so close to being in his grasp. "I attacked one of the elder humans living there and threatened to kill his daughter to get the information. He coughed up a tale his parents had told him of the Lords daughter and child from the castle before it was burnt to the ground." The demon held out his hand "Now give me my prize!" he demanded.
"Here is your prize!" Kagura laughed as she gave a swift move of her hand, waving her fan and sending numbers of wind-blades for the rat demon. He leaped out of the way, scurrying towards Kagura. "LIAR!" he screeched "Foul creature! Your words are nothing but deceit! I shall punish you and take that shard that is rightfully mine!"
He swung his claws at Kagura pitifully as she easily avoided his attempts to attack her. "Finish him Kohaku" Kagura demanded to the young exterminator. At the very second Kagura had finished ordering the boy, he leapt towards the rat swinging his chain blade and narrowly missing the demon.
The rat slashed at Kohaku, ripping a gash in his arm. The young demon slayer yelped out in pain. Sango couldn't take it anymore. "Haraikotsu!" She yelled throwing all of her weight into the boomerang weapon, striking the rat demon in half.
Miss Sango. Kohaku was so surprised to see her. But he knew he could not show that he knew who she was because of Kagura.
"Prepare to meet your demise Kagura!" Miroku was running out of the forest, wrenching the prayer beads away from his right hand to reveal his wind tunnel. Almost on cue Saimyōsho appeared from the trees. Covering his hand Miroku jumped back, a few seconds longer and he would have sucked one of the insect demons in, poisoning him.
"So you've been spying on me" Kagura grinned with satisfaction. She knew the entire time they were following her; she wanted them to get a clue to what Naraku was planning. "Come Kohaku." She called to the boy, sweeping them both up into the night air.
Kilala leapt forward in her full form. "Dance of the Dragon!" Kagura called out sending a tornado of wind towards the two tail youkai, knocking her back.
Cackling at her triumph Kagura and Kohaku made their escape. Flying off into the night closely followed by the Saimyôsho.
"Damn it!" Sango cried falling on her knees. Kohaku I failed you once again. I am so sorry. Blood was spattered across the ground in front of her where Kohaku had stood only a moment before. Oh Kohaku, how you must be suffering. Sango felt her eye's sting as tears formed and slid down her cheeks. She had promised her brother she would free him from Naraku's control, but she still had no idea how to possibly do that. The Shikon jewel was becoming closer and closer to being completed and if Naraku captured all the shards there would be nothing stopping him from removing the shard residing in Kohaku's back. That shard was the only thing keeping her brother alive.
"Its alright Sango" Miroku was beside her now. He rapped his arms around her. "Kohaku is alright, it was only a light wound."
Sango turned to Miroku, her eye's shining in the moonlight with tears. He stared back, his dark eyes full of empathy. He knew she was suffering when Naraku was in hiding during the past month because she had not seen or heard of any trace of Kohaku as well. She held up her head as best she could; not letting anyone know the dreadful pain and doubt that was filling her heart. "Sango, please, you don't have to hide your pain in front of me. I love you, I don't want you to suffer alone."
Sango was shocked to hear Miroku say those words with such ease. Of course she knew he had always cared for her in some way since he was never afraid to show his feelings towards her, but never had he ever uttered words that made those feelings sound as something more then lust.
"Miroku…" her voice was nearly a whisper as he took her up into his arms and kissed her cheek gently.
"Now come, we must go on and find this village that demon was talking about. There must be something significant there and we need to get it before Naraku does."
"I know Miroku but there is no way we could continue on at this point. To get to this village we would need to cross the river and fly with Kilala to get there before Naraku. But there is no way we can do this without losing our scent for Inuyasha to follow."
"That's right" Miroku agreed. "… And without Inuyasha we can not break through Naraku's barrier. But waiting would only give Naraku the advantage."
They were in quite the predicament.
Suddenly there was a whirlwind of dust and leaves, which burst from the forest. The three companions stood coughing as the dust settled; trying to see who was standing there before them.
"Hey you, where's Kagome and the mutt?" It was none other then Koga, leader of the wolf demon tribe. "I smelled Kagura in the area and came to check it out. So where the hell is she? Don't tell me you let her get away!"
Sango and Miroku couldn't say they were pleased to see Koga. While he did come in handy, his temper and attitude could be said to be equal or even surpass Inuyasha's. But at that moment the cunning monk got an idea.
He thought he could use the wolf demons speed to reach Inuyasha and Kagome and give them the message of where they were heading. Of course he knew that Koga wouldn't play messenger boy so easily. But he would likely go if he thought that Kagome and Inuyasha were alone together. Miroku knew Koga was not so stupid that he could not tell Kagome had feelings for Inuyasha, and he would definitely not like the idea of the two being alone together.
"Kagura escaped us, we suspect she is heading back to Naraku to give him information." Sango replied to the wolf's question.
"What information" the wolf demon was still sniffing around the clearing, obviously trying to get a whiff of Kagome's scent.
"He is looking for something, and it sounds like whatever it is can be found in a village north of here." Sango finished.
"Naraku's on the move that way? That's all I need to know." The demon prepared, as he was about to sprint across the river when Miroku interrupted.
"Kagome is with Inuyasha."
The demon stopped dead in his tracks right at the edge of the riverbank. Keeping his back to them. "She's where?"
"With Inuyasha. They went back to her time but are due to return here tomorrow morning sometime. I suspect they will be arriving as soon as the sun rises. Hmmm… now that you think of it that should only be an hour or so from now. They are suppose to catch up to us but I suspect they will take their time. Especially since they have no idea where we are going and we have no way of telling them."
Miroku knew that playing with someone's feelings was an all new low, but this was dire circumstance. He knew Inuyasha and Kagome would come looking as quickly as they could. But without their scent Inuyasha would never find that village in time. They needed Koga to find him.
"That basturd." Koga was mad. "Don't worry, I'll get Kagome and Dog-breath. You go ahead and get whatever that thing is before Naraku does."
A panting Ginta arrived in the clearing, followed by an obviously overtired Hakkaku. "Koga, finally we caught up to you." Ginta wheezed. "Can we take a break now?"
"What are you idiots talking about? We just took a break talking to these two! Come on, we've got to go get Kagome and Dog turd!"
With that Koga took off in a whirlwind of dust and leaves, just as he had come. Followed by the two other members of the wolf tribe.
"Oh Miroku, do you think that was a good idea?" Sango looked worried.
"No matter my dear Sango, Koga is a dependable guy, especially when it comes to Kagome. He will not rest until he's found them and passed along the message." Miroku said, satisfied that what he did had just cause. While also knowing that Inuyasha would not be pleased with him for sending the wolf demon his way.
The three then took off into the sky, heading north to find the village and stop Naraku from exerting another devious plan to ruin lives.
Looking at the setting moon and the beauty of the serene landscape Miroku could not help but appreciate the landscape sitting before him.
THWACK! The sound echoed over the forest below them as a deep red handprint appeared on the monk's cheek.
"Damn it Miroku, keep your hand's to yourself!"
A/N: Well I felt the ending to that needed a funny. Now I know all you Koga fans out there are probably cursing me out right now but please save your tomatoes for eating not throwing. I like Koga too! And I must say he is so much fun to write. I also appologize for making Miroku be so mean to him but it was necessary. Anywho continue on and read the next chapter. Things are getting to be a spicy chicken fahita: D
