Freedom

Chapter19: Passing Through

"By order of Lord Raibaru the Shihitou Inuyasha is to be taken into custody," the guard said from on his horse.

Touran looked up at him as impassively as she could but her nerves were fried. The last she had seen of Inuyasha he was been loaded into the carriage as everyone was preparing to leave. He had not looked good then, and she could only conclude he looked worse now. She fought with herself not to glance back at the carriage that sat in the middle of the caravan. Her brother's presence behind her anchored her wayward mind and she allowed a little of her anxiousness to show through in her expression.

"I'm sure that you heard that he was injured during the tournament. If he is not taken to a healer soon he will not recover."

The leader of the band of men heaved a sigh and looked between her and the growing line of Shihitou behind her.

"He will be taken into custody, injured or not."

"On what grounds?" Miroku snapped suddenly, stepping up next to Shuuran. The deep gash in his arm didn't seem to be bothering him much and he gripped his double sword in his right hand, frowning dangerously.

The lead guard looked down at him and heaved another sigh, as if this whole thing was a waste of time. "Treason," he answered shortly.

Touran managed to snort decisively. The guard turned his attention to her and heaved another sigh before jumping down from his horse. His men glanced at each other before doing the same. If the head guard had been paying attention he would have seen the ripple that passed over the line of Shihitou as they all exchanged looks. A rather cruel smile curled Touran's lips and she shifted her weight to one foot. The guard looked her up and down and gripped his sword.

"I will take the hanyou into custody with or without your consent. If you hand him over you will be free to leave," he explained slowly, discreetly motioning for his men to begin searching the eight carriages that made up the caravan. The line of Shihitou shifted so that they were between the men and the carriages and the head guard sighed in irritation.

He looked to Touran and Shuuran but they stared back at him impassively, not giving him anything with their expressions.

"Just give him to me. I give you my word that he will be treated as soon as someone can be brought in," he said, a note of desperation ringing in his voice.

Touran heaved a sigh and had to redirect her gaze away from the guard. Shuuran watched this sadly and sighed as well. "It's not your word we don't trust," he said. "We just cannot give him to you."

The guard's eyes hardened and he unsheathed the sword at his waist. "Then I will have to take you all in!"

The guards rushed forward with a cry but were instantly pushed back by the line of Shihitou. Metal met metal and echoed across the empty valley as the moon shined down on the battle going on below. Kouga grasped a man's fist in his hand and cracked it back, snapping his wrist. He followed up with a blow the chest with the blade of his gauntlets. The man gasped and fell. Dead. Raian rained fast heavy slashes at the two guards attempting to overpower him. He feinted to the right and stabbed at one of the guard's unprotected midsection before pulling his sword out and slashing at the man's neck. He guard dropped his sword and wrapped his hands around his torn throat, blood seeping out from between his fingers. He fell with a gurgle. Dead. Touran's eyes gleamed brightly as she hacked down another guard with her daggers. His blood froze in his veins and he fell. Dead. Shuuran fought next to her, his movements quick despite his large muscular build. Lightening, his element, danced across his knuckles as he slammed them into a guard's face. Skin began to blister and bleed, his eyes widened and exploded, running down his bloody cheeks. He began screaming. Clawing at what once his face. Shuuran backhanded him and his head snapped to the side, his neck breaking from the sheer force of the blow. Dead.

The battle once lasted a few minutes and it left all the guards defeated and the 10 Shihitou, Touran and Shuuran panting slightly. The twelve of them stood there for a few moments before Touran turned sharply and walked over to Inuyasha's and Kagome's carriage. She unlocked it and peered inside worriedly. Two pairs of eyes fixed on her. She knew she must look a mess; he clothes, face and hair gory and blood-streaked, but it was nothing that the Enjo and Shihitou hadn't seen before. Inuyasha stared down at her and seemed to question her with his gaze. She bowed her head in answer and he breathed out a shaky sigh.

"How are you feeling?" she asked worriedly climbing up into the carriage so she could examine him better. His bangs were plastered to his forehead with sweat. His face was pale, save for his cheeks, which were flushed a soft pink. The bandages around his stomach and thigh were stained a dark brown, meaning that the wounds had finally stopped bleeding. He seemed to be having trouble taking a full breath, but other than that he seemed perfectly aware of his surroundings. One of his hands was threaded with Kagome's and would frequently clench, the only outward sign of his pain. Touran watched this with a sad gaze.

"Should've turned me in," he rasped softly.

Kagome heaved an annoyed sigh and squeezed his hand. "What would they have done to you Inuyasha? Tortured you? Let you die?"

"Anything's better than what they'll do to everyone in the clan when they catch us," he whispered.

Touran clucked her tongue and gave Inuyasha a smirk that she only half felt. "If they catch us, you mean. We'll drive through the night and should make it home before sundown tomorrow."

The hyou youkai jumped down from the carriage and gave them both a little grin. "It would be wise to rest Inuyasha. The journey will get bumpy."

The hanyou just closed his eyes but Kagome looked down at Touran, understanding of the situation in her gaze. The hyou youkai nodded before she stepped away. Kouga, Tsuta and Raian stepped back into the carriage and it was closed and locked behind them. Kagome took in the blood splattered all over them but said nothing and returned her attention to the hanyou in her lap. Just by looking at him she knew that his fever had risen. She sighed and reached for the bag that sat her feet. She prayed for a few more seconds before the caravan began moving as she dug out a jar of dried herbs that she had prepared a few weeks ago. She looked to Kouga, Tsuta and Raian and gave them a small smile.

"I'd cover my nose," he suggested softly.

They all stared at her but did so without complaint. She uncovered the jar and at once the strong smell of the herbs filled the carriage. She looked up at the other Shihitou present to find them breathing as shallowly as they could. She offered them a little smile before looking down at Inuyasha again and pinching up a small amount of the dried herbs between her forefinger and thumb. Kouga wordlessly passed her a canteen full of water and Kagome nodded her thanks before tossing the herbs in. She closed the canteen and shook it thoroughly before opening it again and pressing to Inuyasha's lips. Even muted the smell was strong and Inuyasha coughed heavily as the drugged water flowed down his throat. After only a few moments he fell completely limp and his head lolled into the crevice created by Kagome's bent arm. She secured the jar of potent herbs and nodded for the other youkai to tell them that it was safe. They dropped their hands and coughed lightly at the smell lingering in the air.

"Damn woman! He's out cold right? I mean, he'd have to be," Tsuta exclaimed giving her an amused look.

Kagome smiled as well and managed to look slightly sheepish. "Jiru taught me how to make them. He should stay asleep for at least a few hours. If he wakes up I'll just give him more."

Kouga grunted as he worked on loosening his gauntlets. The carriage lurched and began moving again. Kagome looked down at Inuyasha and saw his face twitch in discomfort but that was all. After Kouga managed to get his gauntlets off he placed them on the floor between his feet and looked up, his eyes resting on Inuyasha.

"So he'll be leading us," he stated softly causing everyone to look over at him in surprise.

Raian sighed quietly, his gaze also on Inuyasha. "I don't want to fight anymore," he said softly. "But I will allow him to lead me if that is his wish."

"Aye," Tsuta agreed.

Fire surrounded him and he spun around trying to find an exit. His mother's screams echoed in his ears. There was no end to it. He left pain, despair and an overwhelming urge to just lay down and fade away. His limps were heavy. The air was thick. Darkness pressed down on him from all sides.

It grew hotter and hotter. He could feel his bones begin to ache and give way. He continued to run through the fire, trying to find an opening. Suddenly, after what felt like years, the fire seemed to disappear and he was running through his village. The villages stood outside their homes watching him run by impassively.

Always running…

'They caught you Inuyasha. You let them catch you.'

His father's disappointed voice…

His mother's smile…her screams…

Kagome…

(AN): This chapter is horribly short. I know this and I'm sorry. My computer finally died for real and we had to get a new one. I lost the other half of the chapter and couldn't remember the rest of it. I'll try to get the next one out as soon as I can.

Read and Review. No I don't own Inuyasha.