Crusade Against the Moon
Chapter Four : Enenra
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor the characters from the show.
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Then, it attacked, face lunging and surrounding him once again. Inuyasha opened his mouth wide, scratching at his chest, pulling at his haori in a failed attempt to breathe. What ever it was, he could feel it entering his body, in through his mouth and nose. His vision started closing in and going black around the edges, then darker and darker. A bright flash flickered before his eyes – a hallucination? Everything was just getting so fuzzy and far away.
In the back of his mind, he wondered if Kagome was still there, if she was okay. He wished he could tell her to run, to get Miroku, anything to get her away.
Anything to keep her safe.
Then silence, darkness, and he was gone.
The sound of Inuyasha's body hitting the floor jarred Kagome's senses. She could only assume the light had come from the specter itself. 'Please, please, please!' She forced herself to keep pushing on the middle aged woman's chest and peeked back to see the apparition hovering over her hanyou's body. "Inuyasha!" His flailing hand did nothing to calm the increasing panic in her heart, but she couldn't just leave this helpless woman to die. Trading one life for another just wasn't right! She closed her eyes tightly, the corners wet with frustrated tears as she pushed at a more fevered pace. 'Please, please, please,' she repeated, 'I need to help him!'
A shuttering breath had her pulling back and staring dumbly. She'd never given someone CPR before. Ignoring the sweat rolling down her temple, she helped the woman into a sitting position.
"Wah?" Old hands went up weakly to support a throbbing head, and the other flew to her stomach following a very audible gag. Kagome grimaced. The poor woman was definitely suffering from a concussion.
'If we had been any later-' she stopped her train of thought immediately. Gently grabbing the woman's shoulders, she pushed her back against the wall to steady her jostled equilibrium. "Everything's going to be okay," she whispered, "just stay here."
The woman didn't even acknowledge Kagome, mind still in a daze, she stayed put and slid a trembling hand over her eyes.
A flash like the one she'd seen right before entering lit up the room like lightning. What had felt like minutes had really only been seconds, but nothing prepared Kagome from the sight of the specter pouring itself over Inuyasha, entering him through all the orifices of his skull. Like a fish out of water, his jaw hung agape, open wide in a futile attempt for some air. Guilt flooded her heart as she took in his bloodied claws raking through his haori and into his chest.
It could have been from her lack of practice, or her mind recovering from the shock of seeing the man she loved in such a compromising state, but she was slow to react. Her body shaking and sweating with dread, she struggled through the smog in her mind. 'My... my bow!'
Drawing it from her shoulder, she pointed it at the specter. What was it really anyway? Would her arrow even work on it? Noticing Inuyasha's eyes rolling back and his arms dropping, she refused to waste another minute on the thought and let her arrow fly.
The rose of her spiritual power lit the room anew. Instead of turning, the creature slid its smokey eye sockets to the back of its head. In a split second decision it pulled away from Inuyasha, but her arrow pierced it on its lower side like she had done to Naraku long ago, obliterating it almost completely before it made a mad dash towards a window, the rest of its body billowing slowly behind it like hair underwater.
Not bothering to give the creature a second look, Kagome ran to Inuyasha's fallen body, hands shaking and hovering over him with indecision. She called out his name, but it garnered no response, so she fell to his chest and placed her ear near his mouth. Listening closely, she felt his chest expand and he breathed out a small gust of air. She leaned back on her haunches in relief. He was okay.
It had taken half a day for Inuyasha to wake up, and when he did, it wasn't in the best of moods. Miffed and ego taken a blow, he realized he wouldn't be much help on this particular quest. Worse of all, he had woken with his head on Kagome's lap, and everyone was watching. He could barely take the embarrassment as Shippo snickered behind a curious Miroku.
A hum drew his attention back to the woman as she pushed his bangs out of his eyes. "You're awake," she smiled down softly.
"Wha- of course I'm," he pushed away from her lap to save himself some dignity, but a burn in his chest had him hissing and falling back to her.
"Don't push yourself too hard," she worried, "you're still healing."
"Healing?" He went to grab at his naked chest but she pulled his hand away with her own.
"If it's uncomfortable, I can change your bandages."
He watched her warily, eyes going from their joined hands to her face before he finally looked away with a defeated "keh."
She smiled tenderly before turning her attention to the nosey bystanders, "I'm all out of water, would you mind, Miroku?" She gestured to the empty pail next to her. It's not like she could have fetched it anyway, especially with Inuyasha's dead weight on her and all.
"Of course, Lady Kagome." He rushed to the pail and headed towards the shoji door that lead outside. "Come now, Shippo, unless you want to be privy of what adults do in their spare time."
Kagome and Inuyasha bristled behind him, faces turning red, both protested in unison.
"Heey we're not-"
"Fuck you, Miroku!" Inuyasha went to get up again, but Kagome pressed firmly on a shoulder, eyes averted and shooting flames at their perverted friend.
Shippo tittered as he scrambled up Miroku's shoulder, sticking his tongue out at Inuyasha as the shoji closed before him.
Inuyasha fell back with a grunt, face dejected as he stared at the floor beside him.
With a sigh, Kagome grabbed the moist rag that had fallen out of the pail and pressed it against the makeshift gauze on his chest. It soaked up the moisture and softened the dried blood, making it easier to peel away. She wouldn't be able to do much until she had more water, but she settled with working on the corner for now. After it wet through enough, she lifted the corner and began pulling it in the direction the tiny white hairs of his chest grew. Inuyasha tensed beneath her and she immediately let go. "I'm sorry Inuyasha, did I hurt you?"
"Keh," he scoffed, "you can't hurt me."
She squinted her eyes mischievously at him and puckered her lips. "Oh, is that so?"
He eyed her warily as she gained a pleased look on her face, until she moved a delicate hand down to his chest. "W-wait!" Eyes going wide, he immediately regretted what he'd said. Inuyasha went rigid as she swept her hand across his violet beads, then in a move he wasn't expecting, she lunged for his bandaged chest.
"You know," she whispered. He caught her wrist and she leaned towards him, flexing her fingers in the process, "it's been a while since I said it."
He bared his fangs at her. "You wouldn't dare."
Pushing against him was like pushing against a wall, and she was making no progress at all, so she pressed her body on her arm in added effort. Her hair fell around them, and she leaned closer, her fingers twitching dangerously. "Oh?" She feigned innocence before smirking, "wouldn't I?"
"You idiot," he snarled, "I'll crush your legs!"
"Not if I push you off first!" She hollered back.
Inuyasha growled her name in warning, teeth still glinting, and Kagome's heart faltered. It was animalistic and raw, and she fought desperately against the blush she felt creeping up her neck. She silently cursed her newfound weakness towards him before letting her stubborn nature settle back in. There was no way she was going to let him win this. So she pressed her teeth together and leaned her face closer for added effect, "Sssssssiiiiiih-"
Kagome squeaked as Inuyasha pulled her down with an arm, pressing her flush against him, and the room twisted around her in a blur. Instead of being above, she was now underneath him. Disoriented, she blinked owlishly as he pulled away with a satisfied smirk. She couldn't help grinning back, and before she knew it, she sputtered out laughing.
Inuyasha watched her for a moment as she relished in her amusement. The wrinkles at the corner of her eyes, the crinkle above her nose, the pink flushing her cheeks. After a moment, he noticed their position and proximity, then felt the same heat grow on his own face, so he pulled his arm out from beneath her and gruffed up his voice, feigning annoyance, "what the hell, Kagome."
Recovering from her short outburst, Kagome opened her eyes. She felt and watched Inuyasha draw away and lean heavily on one arm. She took a couple labored breaths to regain her composure. "Sorry," her grin was contagious, and Inuyasha fought to keep the corners of his mouth drawn straight.
"I'm supposed to be the reckless one, not you."
She hummed pleasantly as his hair fell over her shoulder.
"You idiot," he whispered. Her hair was in disarray, and he leaned down to brush it from her face, but grimaced and pulled back hissing.
"Inuyasha."
Closing his eyes in defeat, he sighed, but made no effort to move further.
She felt the air he exhaled brush her cheek and looked down at his bandaged chest regretfully. It was healing, but slowly. He must have damaged it quite a bit in his desperation, not that she'd ever say that out loud. "Kagome, how..." already putting things together, he didn't finish his question.
She hesitated, "you don't remember?"
He gave her an exasperated look, ready to retort but she quickly cut him off.
Leaning up on her elbows, she lifted a hand deftly towards his gashes, but stopped herself from touching him. "That thing," she started, "what ever it was, it was all over you." She eyed him carefully, trying to find the right words to tell him. "You couldn't breathe."
Leaning away from her, he cursed under his breath. "I fuckin' did this." His face scrunched as he felt the pull of his skin when he moved.
"Inuyasha," she reached for his exposed biceps. "I'm sorry I left you," she admitted regretfully, and watched as his golden orbs turned to her, "I wasn't paying attention, and I-"
"Stop it Kagome. This wasn't your fault."
"Well it wasn't yours either," she bit back stubbornly.
Frustration mounting, he opened his mouth to retort but stopped when he heard the shoji slide open.
"Water's ready my friends." The monk strutted in with a snickering Shippo, but stopped at the sight of the two on the floor. "You see what I told you," he conspired, a hand to the side of his mouth as he whispered to the fox kit. Kagome pulled away from Inuyasha's arm as he fell back onto her lap, grunting and angry. Ignoring Miroku's perverse taunts, she sat up and motioned for the bucket before getting to work.
They briefed Inuyasha on what happened after his black out and concluded, much to his chagrin, that they would be the ones handling this particular mission instead. "I'm still going," he added, "wouldn't hurt having a little back up."
"Me too!" Hollered Shippo, "someone's got to stop this idiot from jumping into danger." He pointed at Inuyasha with a tiny thumb.
Inuyasha balled a fist and leaned towards him, "ya little runt."
Shippo jumped away and hid behind Kagome. He pulled down the skin from an eye and made a goofy face.
Closing his eyes and breathing hard to calm his rising ire, Inuyasha didn't bother reaching around Kagome to knock the kit on the head. It was really hard not killing the brat sometimes.
After having his wounds redressed, Inuyasha pulled on his fire rat robe - which had magically sown back together. He stretched out his arms one by one as everyone got busy around him. Shinobu came in a little while later with his wife and trays full of food. Everyone dug in and ate together with the shoji doors slid wide open. The sun was bright and warm, and the air was fresh and relaxing.
Everyone picked at the random trays between them and the dozen bowls full of different food choices. A couple of shrimp here, some scallions there, a slice of cooked fish and a bowl of rice for them each. Shinobu finished munching on a morsel before speaking up, "I hope the food is to your liking."
"It is," Miroku replied, "thank you."
"How did you all venture last night?"
Kagome retold the story while Inuyasha busied himself with a second helping. "Unfortunately, the creature got away."
"As it always does," Shinobu answered.
She looked over at Miroku, "I suppose we'll have to stay another night." It was a question and a statement all the same. She knew Miroku had a family now. Three children must be a handful for just Sango to take care of, especially for three days.
"I told the monk to stay back," Inuyasha grumbled through his food.
Ignoring him, Miroku turned to Kagome with an appreciative smile, "we can start purifying the village after we eat." He turned his attention back to Shinobu and explained, "we'll start at the perimeter, surrounding the village with my ofudas and then finish in the middle. It should create a barrier and prevent the demon and other evil entities from returning for some time."
"Consider yourself lucky," Shippo pipped up, "you won't have to deal with Inuyasha after today. There's no way he'll be able to stay with something that strong and pure up."
A pair of chopsticks flew across the room and knocked Shippo on the head.
"Ow," he complained, "hey!" And he sent a glare to Inuyasha who had found more chopsticks to eat with. Kagome smiled and ran her fingers through Shippo's pony tail. He grumbled a little before climbing into her lap to be showered by her affection.
Miroku continued, ignoring the two shameful males in his group, "staying tonight would be for the best."
With a satisfied grin, Inuyasha dropped his empty bowl and crossed his arms. "That settles it, one more night and we'll leave in the morning."
"Very well," the headman replied. He got up as carefully as his old legs allowed. "It was a pleasure dining with you all. Please find me when you're done so that I may pay you for your services." He bowed and exited the room with his wife collecting cleared out trays and empty bowls behind him. Once they were gone, the group got their things together and travelled to the edge of the village.
Miroku stopped at a sign where the village's name was carved in elegant Kanji, *Nikko. There was a worn down path curving out that lead to the forest they had traveled through. "We'll start here." He pulled out his ofuda from a sleeve and flicked it before him. It stood straight between his fingers, and Kagome watched, waiting for directions. He brought the hemp paper in front of her, "concentrate on this, and pray. Your power should flow naturally out to it."
"Pray," she parroted, "for what?" Briefly, she remembered the time she was stuck in a cave with Kikyo. She had asked her to pray back then too. And it had worked.
"For protection," he replied. He relaxed his arm and motioned behind him. "Picture every person, child, and adult." And she looked beyond him, at the people going about their day, working and plowing away, farming, feeding, taking care of each other in a cohesive unit. "Every creature, from the livestock to the pets, even the birds that come and go. Pray for them and their safety. Meditate about it, and push that energy into the ofuda." He reached into his sleeve and pulled another one out, passing that one to her. "First, watch me."
Closing his eyes, he brought the ofuda close to his face and held it there. Kagome felt the power radiating out of him and onto the stiff paper. After a brief moment, she saw it glow a soft white. When the monk finally deemed it fit, he opened his eyes slowly and pulled the paper away towards the sign. He smoothed it over the back, and when his hand left it, a clear dome grew from it, surrounding the immediate vicinity. His aura tickled over her skin and she watched as it completed it's expansion.
Sensing the power, Inuyasha opened his eyes and watched the bustling village. "Ya done back there?" His ears flicked as he listened beyond them. He was still really bothered about how things had ended last night, so he kept vigil, even though it was said the creature only came out after sundown. He wasn't taking any chances. A red tail fluffed in the distance, and he saw Shippo chasing some kids through an alleyway.
Walking up behind him, Kagome followed his line of sight and smiled tenderly. It was times like these that she wondered what Inuyasha was thinking. Seeing Shippo so carefree warmed her own heart. He had to be feeling the same, didn't he? "We're going off to the next spot."
He turned slightly towards her and caught her eye, "you're doin' the next one?"
"Yeah," she nodded with a shy but excited smile. She couldn't wait to test her abilities.
"You're stronger now," he concluded, his arms relaxing at his sides, "you'll do great."
Miroku chose that moment to stroll by with a gesturing hand, "this way you love birds."
Faces going red, Kagome squeaked and hurried to the monk as Inuyasha cursed and trailed behind them. He imagined tearing off Miroku's head and tossing it into the river for the fishes to gouge on.
Kagome's eyes bulged out as they came up to their next destination. The village fell back behind them leaving bright green grass with sprinkled daffodils before her, then massive trees and bamboo stalks branching high and thick beside them, and a wide path cut through the middle which lead to a bridge built of stone. She admired the red painted wood carefully crafted on top of it. It loomed several stories high over a river, she could hear it rushing loudly down the mountain. "I know this place!" She nearly jumped from excitement. There were two samurai guarding it, standing right where the red railings began. Kagome kept her distance but never drew her eyes away, "is this... is this *Shinkyo Bridge?"
Impressed, Miroku nodded, "so, this is still up in your time?"
"It is! But I've never visited it before! Is... is it true that only the Shogun is allowed to cross it?"
She heard Inuyasha 'keh' behind them as Miroku replied, "it is."
Tensing up, Inuyasha eyed the two samurai. He regarded them carefully, taking in their katana and the weak areas of their armor. They'd be no problem if they acted out, he'd fought samurai before. These two were just a couple of small fry. He'd have them knocked out before they could even blink.
"You can choose anything around here to place the ofuda on. Maybe the sign," he gestured to the one posted next to a samurai, "or the stone," he pointed with his tinkling staff to the base of the bridge.
Kagome didn't like any of those options. As beautiful and exciting as it was to be this close to the bridge with the larger than life mountain behind it, the samurai were making her feel anxious, and she needed to clear her mind if she was even going to attempt her first barrier. Not only that, but she could almost feel Inuyasha stiffening up behind her. "I think I'll do it on a tree," she concluded. It was the town she was protecting anyway, not the bridge, nor the Shogun. They seemed to have that plenty under control.
"Very well." Miroku gestured to her ofuda with an open palm. "I've already prayed to all the ones in my possession, so they each have a trace of my energy in them."
"Okay, thanks." She turned and walked up to the base of the mountain. The terrain was uneven and bumpy, full of rocks, twigs, leaves, and thick year old roots. It was a bit difficult to walk over with her crimson dress up flats. She could feel the mist rising up from the river and touching her skin. The tree she stopped in front of was tall, and the mountain was taller. She was almost struck in awe at the beauty of it all. Nothing had ever smelled cleaner than this alone. 'If only the samurai weren't here,' she thought grumpily, maybe they could have had a nice picnic.
"Remember," Miroku guided as she closed her eyes, "think of the people, the animals, and the nature surrounding us."
As if in a 3D video game, her minds eye hovered over the village, then swooped down smoothly, passing and swirling around each individual. Around Shippo, the laughing children, around the huts and the trees and the critters of the forest. Everything became quiet and loud at once. Her ears concentrated on the sounds of the tweeting birds, the rushing river, the monkeys' voices echoing in the mountain trees, the wind brushing through the leaves, and her body relaxed in a moment of complete nirvana. It was beautiful, peaceful, and clear. All were precious things, precious things in need of protecting.
Her body hummed with her power and will to keep everything and everyone safe, and she felt a heat rush through the core of her chest and up her arm. Surprised, she opened her eyes as the ofuda grew warm in her hand. It was glowing a bright pink, to the point that it seemed that it would burst.
"Now place it on the tree," and she did. She smoothed it out as Miroku whispered beside her, as if he had meditated with her as well, not wanting to break the peace around them. "Before you lift your hand, picture the barrier you want. However big or wide, picture it spreading out as far as you can make it. Make it strong, make it last."
She stopped for a second, two fingers lingering on the parchment. Miroku was surprisingly good at this. Maybe she could learn a few more things from him as well. It seemed like Kaede wouldn't be the only one she'd want as a sensei. She almost snickered.
"Concentrate," Miroku warned, sensing her flickering aura, "and ..." she pulled her hand away, "release."
There was a burst of air, and the trees shook, her hair flew from her face, and she blinked her suddenly dry eyes.
"Remarkable," gasped the monk.
Kagome took a step back and turned completely, taking in the glittering dome that was five times wider than Miroku's had been. It changed colors like a pearl, the more she walked and looked up at it, the more it reminded her of a bubble, morphing from a soft pink to blue. "Will it hold?"
"It will more than hold," Miroku explained, inspecting her creation with the excitement of a child, his staff rung as he ran from one side to the next, "this barrier will hold up for days!"
Turning to him with a disappointed look, she repeated, "days? But it needs be up longer!"
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "with practice, it will come. To be honest, I don't know how long this barrier will hold, but it's strong. Mine only last a couple days," he dropped his hand and swooped it before them, "but your barrier is astounding! It's significantly bigger, I have no doubt it's purpose will be served well."
Chewing the inside of her cheek, Kagome continued looking at it, wondering how she could check its strength. She turned and walked backwards, then turned again and repeated the process, looking this way and that. She bumped into a firm body and gasped as two hands gripped her arms and spun her. "Inuyasha!"
His eyes were liquid honey, "Kagome," he squeezed her arms for effect, "you're incredible."
He struck her speechless, she was proud and embarrassed at the same time. She wasn't one to brag but, he wasn't one to give compliments either. "Thank you."
Something caught his eye behind her and he quickly let her go, "damned monk," he grumbled, and walked towards the town. "Enough dallying!" He shouted out behind him, "the sooner we finish the sooner we're out of here!"
"Wait!" She called out for him, running and grabbing his haori.
"What is it?" He asked calmly.
"Ah," she blinked, surprised that he wasn't annoyed or still shouting, "I need you to do something for me."
He crossed his arms and waited.
"My barrier, Miroku said it would only last a few days."
"I'd say a week judging by the size," he looked up at the luminescent dome.
"I need you to attack it."
Shocked, he drew away from her, "you finally lost it."
"I'm serious, Inuyasha. Break the barrier."
"What for?" He argued, "we're waisting time! Let's go."
"No!" She pulled at his sleeve again. "I need to know how strong it is. Inuyasha," she looked him in the eye and spoke calmly, making sure he understood how serious this was, "it'll help me get better."
Silently, he watched her stand there before him, determined and spirited as ever. His memory ran back only moments earlier, to when she put the barrier up, hair floating away from her face, body glowing and sparking. Did she even realize how untouchable she had looked? She was absolutely divine, and here she was, wanting to be near him, asking for help.
He ceased, "okay. I'll do it." The smile that lit her face was blinding, and he had to look away as he pulled out Red Testsusaiga. He felt his skin sparking, tiny little shocks attacking him as the barrier reacted to his malicious intent. It was going to break, and it was going to fall. He didn't want to witness the defeated look she would bare. He walked past the monk and exited the barrier, turning and assuming a stance.
"Wait!" Miroku panicked, "stop, Inuyasha! What are you doing?"
"Move aside bouzo," he warned.
"It's okay," Kagome walked up beside him and led him towards Inuyasha's side.
Miroku watched dejectedly, "it wont hold."
"What," Kagome whispered.
Inuyasha growled at hearing the monk, and swung his sword.
The barrier vibrated loudly, sparks flew all around, and for a moment, it seemed like it would stand. But like melting wax paper, it began to dissolve where it was hit, the hole spreading like an infection until it was completely gone. They all stood silently together, the river roaring under Shinkyo Bridge.
"Wow." Kagome's voice was tiny. Where she had first been impressed with her creation, she no longer was. Just one try, that's all it took, and it was down.
Pulling out another ofuda, Miroku turned to the young priestess. "You'll make another one," he placed it in her hand, and held her with his larger ones for comfort, "stronger and better than the last."
She nodded, and walked back up to the tree. She repeated the process, concentrating, pulling more at her powers, and when she opened her eyes, she placed the ofuda on a large bamboo shoot instead. "Stronger," she whispered, and a new barrier went up. Her hair flew again, and she turned, witnessing as it enveloped a larger area.
Realizing she could do it on her own. Miroku split up with them, deciding they could cover more ground if he started on the opposite side of the village. So they moved on, Kagome walking to the next area as Inuyasha followed beside her. She was abnormally quiet, and it irked Inuyasha's nerves. He watched as she crinkled the ofudas in her hand. He growled, and she turned startled eyes at him. "I told you it was a stupid idea." Her face soured, and he regretted saying anything at all.
They made it to their next destination. A tall white torii gate with moss growing up its sides, signaling the entrance of a Shinto Shrine. It was white as a fish's belly, unlike the one at Kaede's, and the mountain soared proudly behind it.
Kagome nibbled at her cheek uncertainly. 'I have to make it bigger.' She walked up to one of the columns and lifted the paper. She could feel Miroku's energy sleeping inside it. 'I have to make it stronger.' She closed her eyes, and listened to nothing and everything. It was quieter here, the river was off in the other distance, so she had better range of the creatures in the shadows. 'I have to protect.' That familiar feeling at the pit of her chest swam up her arms again, and the ofuda warmed up. She opened her eyes, forcing her energy to it, placed it on the gate. The wind blew her hair like before, and she turned to inspect her work.
The last thing she expected was Inuyasha to be standing immediately behind her. Mouth forming a small 'o', she watched as his eyes grew with intensity and resolve. "Inuyasha?"
"You did better." They both stared at each other. Kagome couldn't believe she was getting yet another compliment from him. Two in a day? This had to be some kind of record!
She smiled sweetly at him, and reached out for his hand before he could run from embarrassment, "thank you." Feeling elated and happy again, Kagome forgot to check her barrier. It was up, it was strong, and it was protecting. Hand in hand, they walked to their next destination.
Night had come rather quickly, and the four friends stood outside on guard, waiting for the creature to attack. The villagers turned on their fires one by one, warming up their cold abodes. Hours passed by, and the moon shifted across the sky. The light from the flames disappeared one after the other, and it was clear the the creature was not coming back.
With a sigh of relief, they all went back to their room for some much needed rest.
First thing in the morning, they started packing to leave. Shinobu had already provided them with a cart full with barrels of rice, different foods, and payment for their services. The group waited outside as Inuyasha went back into the room to retrieve the last barrel. Before he could reach it, the headman called out his name from the hallway.
Turning, Inuyasha slid the screen only to come face to face with him. "What is it old man?"
"Have you given anymore thought to my request?"
"The answer's still the same. Ain't no changing my mind." He took a step to leave, but Shinobu stopped him. His hand gripped Inuyasha's arm, and he let loose a low growl. The geezer quickly let go.
"You must reconsider, that woman, Lady Kagome, you plan to marry, no?"
Inuyasha's eyes went wide, "the hell?" Where was this coming from?
"You'll have children, a family. You'll need to support them. What better way than by joining us?"
Baring his teeth, Inuyasha growled in his face. "What makes you think they'll want anything to do with a demon like me?"
"You're strong," he pleaded, "and powerful."
A snarl escaped him this time, "and a half breed all the same."
The headman stood straighter and seemed to puff up his chest a bit. A gold pin glinted in the light. "You'd have their protection, imagine the strength you'll gain. Allies. Hundreds of them."
"Like you said, I'm powerful enough. You're the ones that need me, now leave me the hell alone." He walked to the other end of the room and grabbed the barrel.
Shinobu didn't quit. He was a leader, maybe for just his town, but a leader none the less. "If you refuse, their protection will be revoked. There are others, they're rising up, and your town won't be spared."
Inuyasha squeezed the barrel in his hand. He heard footsteps going up the stairs.
"Lady Kagome," he continued, "and any children you sire wi-"
With just those few words, everything went red. The barrel was airborne and slammed next to Shinobu, he didn't flinch as it exploded, rice flying everywhere, the screens breaking and collapsing under the pressure. A gasp sounded behind him. Rice hit the floor and splattered like rain drops before a storm. And before the old man realized it, Inuyasha was already in his face, fist bunching in his robes and lifting him from the floor.
"You've got some fuckin' nerve," he spat.
Angry, shocked, and breathless, Shinobu stared at Inuyasha, too afraid to say anything else.
Inuyasha relished at the sound of his rising heart beat. "Threaten them again, and I'll kill you."
The old man raised his hands in defeat, and behind them, Kagome whispered her hanyou's name.
With a shove, Inuyasha released him, not caring if he broke a bone in his fall. He turned and brushed past Kagome, "let's go," he growled, "we don't need anything here."
Kagome stared at the mess left in Inuyasha's wake. Shinobu caught himself with the screen at his other side, but it gave and he went falling down with it. She rushed to his side and helped him sit up, brushing the rice on his shoulders and arms. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "he's usually not like this."
"Enough." The headman pushed her gently and raised a hand. "My words were careless." She hovered beside him as he got up and dusted himself.
Her name was hollered from outside and they both turned in the direction.
"Off you go," he urged, "your service is much appreciated."
Bowing, she thanked him for his hospitality and ran back to her group.
The trek back home was taking twice as long. Instead of riding on Inuyasha's back, Kagome walked beside him, carrying small bags full of herbs. She sighed sadly, missing the warmth of his back. Miroku led a horse and carriage with a few barrels stacked in the back. Shippo sat on the highest one, munching impatiently on some dried up meat. "Are we there yet?"
Kagome sighed again, she'd lost count how many times he'd asked that.
The sun was almost done setting, and the second night of their trip back home would soon be upon them. "Are we there yet?"
His only answer were the crickets warming up from the cold.
This time, he sighed instead, loudly at that, "are we there yet?!"
"YES! Fuckin' runt!"
Tossing his almost devoured food to the side, Shippo jumped up with excitement, "really?! Which way?!"
Inuyasha pointed a clawed hand down a curve in the path that disappeared behind some trees, "now get the hell outta here." Shippo was gone before he could finish the sentence.
The trio sighed in relief. They continued walking in silence, relishing in the absence of Shippo's voice. A handful of minutes passed before the trees began tapering off, the huts rose from the horizon and with a pep in his step, Miroku rushed off ahead of them.
They lagged behind, Inuyasha with an arm curled around a barrel and Kagome swinging her bags lightly. The silence was a little awkward, she still wasn't used to being totally alone with him, but there was that familiar comfort that started to rise and settle between them. Their arms brushed more than a couple times, and Kagome thought back to his arm shoving Shinobu into the air. She looked up to the sky, hoping to see the first stars of the night, but the trees obstructed her view. "Say, Inuyasha..."
He hummed his response. Their feet crunched the ground with each step they took.
"Back at the village, at Nikkon.." she peeked at him from the side, "what was that all about?"
Inuyasha grunted, "don't worry 'bout it."
She bit her cheek, "how can I not worry about it?" She asked quietly. "The room was almost destroyed."
He sighed, "just drop it, okay?"
Keeping her silence, she muddled through this weeks events. This week, it'd been a whole week! She watched as fireflies lit up out of no where, floating around them lazily. A week back with her friends, her family, with Inuyasha. She smiled gleefully. There was a time she thought she'd never see him again, but here they were, walking along together as if five-hundred years hadn't been between them just a few nights ago. Five-hundred years, would he even live to be that long? Had he been alive in her time, watching from a distance? Suddenly, she needed to know he was there, the world was dark, and her thoughts suddenly made her feel very alone. "Inuyasha," she called, reaching a hand towards him.
"I'm here," he said. And she knew it, she could see his hair, the whitest thing lighting yellow here and there from the fireflies.
"It's dark," she complained, finding his arm and sweeping down for his hand.
He snorted, and held her hand tightly, fingers crossing with her own.
Miroku was almost singing by the time he got home. He tied the horse close by and left the cart next to the hut. The windows were bright, so he didn't expect to find an empty room when he pushed the door mat aside. "Sango?" The fire was on, but things were strewn haphazardly about. He turned from their home and called out again, struggling to see in the darkness. His heart started racing, but he refused to jump to conclusions.
Logically, he went to Kaede's to check there next. He nocked on the wooden beam before entering, the old woman was sitting with his baby boy on the ledge of the floor. "Kaede." He hurried over to them and picked up his son, kissing his forehead and holding him close. He looked up at her, worry written on his face.
"You were gone longer than expected," she evaded. He looked around the room but noticed his girls were not around. Kaede sighed and folded the small blanket in her lap. "They're with their mother."
"Where is she?"
Kaede was silent for a moment. She put the blanket away and restocked her fire. "Things are amiss, young Monk."
"I'm going to look for her."
Sighing, she turned back and accepted the child, rocking him as he sucked on his tiny fist. The little dark patch of hair poked at his eyes, and Kaede wiped them away with a wrinkled hand.
Failing to console him, she spoke up, "she'll be back soon."
"I don't know that." Miroku grabbed his staff and stepped down, sliding his sandals back on. "Thank you Kaede." His son would be in good hands.
He didn't even take a step before Sango crashed into the hut, breathing hard and tears in her eyes. Their twins screamed out 'Papa' in unison and grabbed at his legs. "Sango?"
She lifted a trembling hand to her lips before throwing herself at him, "Miroku!"
Sango quivered in his arms, and he squeezed her tight, trying to calm her and rubbed his hands comfortingly on her back. But instead of getting better, she pulled away, her face flushed and forehead wet with perspiration. "He's gone," she cried, grabbing at his robes, her mind refused to believe something like this would happen again. "He was watching the kids, and, when I came back home, he was gone!"
"Gone?"
"Gone!" She repeated, "Kohaku's gone!"
(A/N)
I wrote my first InuKag Oneshot! Go find it on my main page. It was a hit on tumblr! :-)
Against the Odds :: It was only natural to start a family after reuniting in the feudal era and marrying. But no one had told Inuyasha and Kagome the consequences of a priestess and a half demon having a child... mostly because no one had done it before.
I really love this chapter! I also want to thank everyone for leaving such wonderful reviews! I'm so glad you're all enjoying my story as well as my writing. I'm an artist first and writer second, so it takes much effort getting anything out to you. But your lovely reviews have helped and inspired me tremendously.
The "last chapter" section, at the top of the page, has been edited. The events are the same, just written better.
College is quite the workload, so I'm only updating when I have the time. Spring break is around the corner though, so thank you for sticking with me! Let me know what you think of this one!
*Nikko – This is a real town in Feudal Japan. Look it up on google if you'd like to see where on the map the gang has traveled to.
*Shinkyo Bridge – This is a bridge also located in Nikko. I described it briefly as I saw it on google. No one was allowed to cross it as described in this fic. Even now, that remains true, unless you pay a fee.
*Tori Gates - This was also briefly described in the story. Please go search all these landmarks, they're absolutely beautiful.
Sending out my love and appreciation!
~RUBELLA