"Has anyone seen Risu lately?" Kagome asked.
"I thought he returned to his mate and children," Miroku replied, "During these troubled times it would only be natural to worry about their safety."
"Yes, he's disappeared before to go check on them," Sango added, "He's probably warning them about Naraku."
"I guess you're right," Kagome said, "Still…It's been days since anyone's seen him. I can't help but worry a little."
"Tch, I wouldn't worry about him, he's probably holed up somewhere safe," Inuyasha huffed, "Risu's just like Myoga; always running to where danger ain't."
Meaning the danger is right here with us, Kagome thought glumly. She already knew that they all might as well be wearing big target boards on their backs, but that didn't stop her from hoping somehow they might all be spared the big battle that she knew was coming. She'd been doing her best to try and preserve what little happiness everyone could find in Kaede's village, to give them all just a moment where they could feel at peace and not worry for once.
The huge cloud of darkness growing in the north was a constant reminder that their brief respite wasn't going to last forever.
Kagome and Inuyasha hadn't spent long in the modern era, not after she'd sensed that sudden wave of anger and sorrow, just long enough to gather what she needed and have dinner with her family. She'd done her best to smile in front of them, to not let them know just how terrible the danger she faced truly was. When she'd told them how much she loved them at the dinner table, Souta had commented on how weird it was for her to get so emotional over curry rice. She'd never hugged her mother so fiercely when she said goodbye.
To his credit, Inuyasha didn't make a big deal for once out of her tears as they jumped back through the well. There'd been no time for crying though, the angry aura in the distance had doubled by her return. Miroku discussed it with her, having sensed it himself, but neither of them could make heads or tails of it. They concluded that whether or not it actually had nothing to do with Naraku, knowing their enemy it would soon anyway and they should be prepared to face it.
Days passed, and if anything the angry aura in the distance only grew stronger, as did the approaching dark clouds. In the past they would have rushed off immediately to investigate it, but not now. With half their group missing, Sango still weak from giving birth, and children and infants in their midst they couldn't risk going that far. The last time they'd split up to leave the children behind, Naraku had attacked instantly; and that was before he had the whole jewel.
No matter what, they had to stick together, even if that meant waiting behind with the children until they had a solid plan of action against Naraku.
That didn't mean they would wait to be attacked. Kagome worked with Kaede, and set up an emergency evacuation plan with the villagers should the village come under fire. When she wasn't helping the others, she practiced her archery in the trees behind Kaede's hut, working on her accuracy and how quickly she could activate her purification powers. The miko wasn't going down without a fight.
The others refused to remain idle as well: Miroku spent hours building up his stock of holy talismans, Kohaku practiced with Recca and Domei's crowd, teaching them basic defensive moves against demon opponents, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru kept alert scouting the forest nearby for any sign of Naraku's attack. Even Rin made rounds through the village with Futeki trying to assist anywhere she could.
Sango alone remained restless, spending the hours nursing and tending to her twins. Everyone helped her out when they could, but Kagome noticed the longing look in her friend's eye whenever the taijiya saw the others working while her Hiraikotsu and slayer uniform lay nearby untouched.
They were all doing their best, but would it be enough to face whatever Naraku was going to throw at them? Kagome swallowed her doubt and told herself that it would have to be enough.
The sky grew overcast, and gray clouds loomed overhead, but that day as far as Kagome, Kaede, and Miroku's senses could tell it was just a regular storm brewing overhead and nothing demonic. They'd all gathered outside, allowing Sango to get the last bit of fresh air she could before the rains came and drove them all inside. They all sat on a grassy hilltop, talking quietly as the clouds rolled in. Nearby the children played, Sesshomaru watching over from a distance as Rin was gathering some flowers.
That was when the winds changed direction.
Kagome knew instantly that something was amiss when Inuyasha sat up, his ears twitching as he sniffed the air. She looked over her shoulder and saw that Sesshomaru sensed something as well as he'd suddenly started glaring and turned to face the wind.
But it was Futeki that grabbed everyone's attention.
"Mama?" The small hanyou exclaimed, abandoning his game and sniffing the air. His tail fluffed out in excitement, and everyone turned to stare at the little boy.
"Sorry pup. Close but that ain't her scent," Inuyasha grunted as he stood, sniffing the air again, "It's Kaida's."
"Kaida's but not Kohana's?" Kagome asked, "Shouldn't it be both?"
"No," Inuyasha shook his head, "I'm only detecting her scent, and Naoe's…" He sniffed again, his face darkening, "…and demons."
"What?!" Sango sat up quickly, arms wrapped around her son, "What about Ronuku? He's supposed to be with them!"
"I know," Inuyasha said, his voice becoming tense, "But he ain't! It's just the two of-"
"Rin. Futeki," Sesshomaru had walked over, interrupting his brother to speak to his children, "You will remain here. Do not leave the village." Without waiting for an answer, the inu youkai turned and sprinted off into the forest.
"Papa!" Futeki wailed, held back by Rin so that he could not follow.
"Oi! Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha jumped up angrily, "What the-"
"You said you smelled demons right?" Kagome stood up, slinging her bow and quiver of arrows over her shoulder, "Let's go, we've got to hurry."
Inuyasha looked to the miko and nodded, but seemed to hesitate as he looked behind her at the children and Sango. Kagome paused too, what if this were some sort of trap? Would Naraku attack them while they were away?
"Go, Inuyasha," Miroku stood, planting his shakujo firmly on the ground, "Kohaku and I will look after them, we musn't waste time." The younger taijiya behind him nodded, gripping his scythe.
"Right," Inuyasha nodded, "Thanks. Come on Kagome." He crouched down allowing the miko to jump onto his back, and the two sped off. Kagome looked back once, noticing a transformed Kirara helping Miroku and Kohaku herd everyone back towards Kaede's hut. Though Sango went with them, her worried eyes followed the hanyou and the miko until they disappeared through the trees.
Don't worry Sango, Kagome thought, I'm sure there's a good reason for this. We'll find out what happened and bring them back.
Thunder growled overhead, the storm threatening to break soon. They weren't very far into the trees as the first drops began to fall, and soon they were rushing through a steady downpour. Kagome had to duck her head behind Inuyasha's shoulder to keep the rain from stinging her eyes, but the hanyou didn't even seem to be fazed by it. Even as the pair slowly became soaked, he raced onward never losing speed. Silently, Kagome was thankful to be pressed against his warm back; without it she would be drenched and freezing.
"Dammit!" She heard Inuyasha hiss suddenly as he began to race faster.
"What's the matter?" Kagome asked.
"I can smell blood," Inuyasha grunted, "Kaida's. They're in real trouble."
Before Kagome could ask, she heard it. The sounds of battle. The snarls of demons and the cries of someone in pain as swords clashed. Thunder rumbled again as Inuyasha leapt over a soaked log, water splashing up behind him as he raced through the trees.
Please, Kagome prayed, her stomach dropping in fear, Please let us make it in time.
The sounds became louder as they drew closer, until suddenly Inuyasha halted at the top of a ravine. Kagome peered over his shoulder and gasped at what she saw below.
Corpses littered the clearing below, nearly thirty demons lay dead at the bottom, but over a hundred more snarled above them. Eyes glittering in bloodlust, hungry saliva dripping from their fangs, they surrounded a pair of humans who were pressed up against a boulder, blocking off their escape.
Naoe and Kaida.
Kagome didn't have a clear view of them, but she could tell that Kaida was gripping a blood soaked shoulder, her sleeve stained red against the wound. Naoe stood in front of her, protectively shielding the wounded noblewoman as he raised his sword against the demons.
"Naoe," Kaida shouted above the rain, "There's too many of them! One of us has to make it, go! Leave me, that's an order!"
"Forgive me Lady Kaida," The samurai responded, "But I can't obey that command. It isn't in my nature to abandon a woman in distress, I won't allow you to face your death alone."
"If you don't go, then we'll both die!" Kaida shouted back.
"Perhaps," Naoe said, "But a samurai's life is not his own. I will protect you until the very end."
"Naoe, don't do this!"
The demons reared back, preparing to strike and obliterate their prey.
"I've heard enough," Inuyasha grunted, "Let's go Kagome!" He unsheathed the Tetsusaiga as Kagome jumped off of his back and notched an arrow into her bow. The arrow glowed pink as her priestess powers charged the weapon.
"Bakusaiga!" Before either of them could attack, Sesshomaru's voice rang out through the clearing. His attack shot through, and over half of the demons were instantly obliterated. The taiyoukai stepped into the clearing, amber eyes blazing in the rain as he raised his sword to strike again.
"Tch, Show off," Inuyasha grumbled, leaping into the air and swinging his own sword, "Adamant Barrage!" Hundreds of crystalized spikes shot out from his weapon, impaling another good portion of the demons and blasting them away from Naoe and Kaida.
"Look who's talking," Kagome mumbled, releasing her arrow into the fray. The holy light disintegrated any demon it touched, purifying them instantly, as the arrow buried itself into one of the larger demons turning it quickly into ash.
Naoe continued to hold his protective stance in front of Kaida, but the two watched with wide eyes as the demons that had threatened to consume them moments before were now being swatted away as though they were nothing more than flies. Within moments, there was nothing left of their attackers but charred bodies and smoldering ash.
Kagome, who had picked her way down the edge of the ravine during the battle ran through the carnage and approached the samurai and his wounded mistress.
"Are you all right?" The miko asked, noting their appearance with a sense of shock and sympathy. Kaida, who'd always seemed to keep her appearance pristine, was as haggard as a homeless beggar. Her clothes were blood stained and torn, hair tangled and snagged, and dirt caked her arms and face. Naoe didn't look much better, and both of their faces were gaunt, dark circles bagging beneath their eyes. It was as though they hadn't bathed, slept, or eaten in days.
"You," Naoe said, looking surprised as he stared at Kagome, "You're alive."
"Why wouldn't she be?" Inuyasha asked as he walked up, sheathing his sword. He gave another sniff, "You guys reek."
"Yes well, between fighting for our lives and running for three days straight, there hasn't been much time for personal hygiene," Naoe answered a bit sourly.
"Three days?!" Kagome exclaimed, "What happened to you?"
Something snapped behind them. They all turned to see Sesshomaru, a demon bone crushed beneath his boot as he stood a few feet away, his eyes angry yellow slits as he stared at the two bedraggled humans hunched beneath the boulder.
"Where is she," He spoke, his voice like ice. It wasn't a question, Kagome realized, and for a moment she feared that Sesshomaru might kill them if they didn't answer. Slowly, Kaida limped out from behind Naoe and stood before Sesshomaru. The noble woman met his gaze, before slowly lowering her head.
"Forgive me," Kaida spoke, her voice small and quiet, completely unlike the commanding presence she usually demanded, "Once she discovered your loss I wasn't able to stop her."
"Loss?" Kagome asked, "What lo-"
"Explain yourself," Sesshomaru interrupted. His eyes flicked, noticing something behind Kaida, "What is it that you carry on your back?"
For the first time Kagome noticed a dark cloth strapped to the noblewoman, almost like a backpack. As Kaida pulled the cloth around held it in front of her, the miko realized that it was stained with blood.
"I didn't want to leave him there," Kaida said, gingerly holding the object, "…either of them."
"We were hoping that once we found a safe place we could give them a proper burial," Naoe explained.
Burial?! What?!
Kagome's thoughts became an alarmed buzz, but she stood in silence as Kaida slowly knelt forward and gently placed the cloth on the ground. As the noblewoman peeled back the layers of the cloth, revealing the contents within, Kagome's stomach dropped and she covered her mouth in aghast horror.
Futeki's bloodied dead face stared up at her, his little body awkwardly contorted. Next to him lay the tiny corpse of a squirrel.
"When Risu told us that Naraku attacked you and that Sango had died," Kaida spoke, her voice shaking, "I thought that there had to be some mistake, you couldn't have lost that easily. But then Kohana found Futeki's body, and…I wasn't able to stop her. Her or Ronuku. They were far beyond words, there was nothing we could do." She bowed her head again, unable to meet them in the eye.
Sesshomaru's whip of light shot forth, striking Futeki's corpse and shattering it instantly. Kaida looked up and stared at him in shock and anger, Naoe echoing her expression.
"That vulgar object's mere existence is an insult," Sesshomaru said coldly, "My son lives, that thing is nothing more than a puppet."
"What? But how?" Naoe and Kaida exchanged looks. Kagome stepped forward and knelt next to the smoldering remains; sure enough, when she reached inside she pulled out a wooden golem, much like the ones Naraku used to use when he would send puppets of himself to attack their group instead of actually showing up. Wrapped around the golem in Kagome's hands was a lock of silver hair.
"Damn him!" Inuyasha barked, "Naraku must've gotten a piece of Futeki's hair when he sent his demons after us!"
"So you were attacked?" Naoe asked.
"Yes," Kagome nodded, "Naraku sent demons after us while we were trying to rescue Kohaku. He managed to take Kohaku's shard, but the last of Kikyo's power was somehow able to save his life. Kikyo's the only one we lost, everyone else is alive."
"What of Risu?" Kaida asked, pointing to the squirrel, "Is he a puppet as well?"
"No," Inuyasha said, his face falling as he stared at the corpse, "…That's him."
"Risu," Kagome's eyes watered as she gently touched the squirrel's pelt. His body was cold, "What on earth happened to you?" A sense of guilt flooded her, none of them had worried when their friend had disappeared. He'd been dead this whole time, and they'd all assumed he'd fled.
Oh Risu, I'm so sorry, the miko felt utter shame as the first tears dripped down her cheeks.
"If…if you all survived, then why would Risu tell us otherwise?" Naoe muttered aloud.
"Another of Naraku's tricks," Sesshomaru answered, "The squirrel has been dead for more than a week, his soul has been taken to the underworld. If he spoke to you then you were talking to a corpse."
"He was after their power then," Kaida whispered, "Naraku was after them, and we fell for it." She closed her eyes and clenched her fist, "Ronuku…Kohana…forgive me. I was not able to stop you."
"Their power?" Kagome looked at Kaida, and then Naoe, "Please. Tell us what happened."
Naoe looked to Kaida. The noblewoman looked to the samurai and nodded; the two took turns and began their tale, explaining everything from the hidden village, to their past lives as Tsuneo and Hisae, to Seiko and the power of the sibling's bond. Kagome and Inuyasha listened with shocked expressions, their eyes wide as they listened to how Ronuku and Kohana defeated the Outengu, and later how they rushed off in a rage to take on Naraku themselves.
Sesshomaru's face remained passive through the entire story.
"…their attack didn't hit Naraku," Naoe said, "Instead it struck the jewel. From what we could tell, the jewel began to absorb their energy before it turned it back on them. The light emitting from their power turned dark and they weren't able to escape."
"Now it appears that Naraku is controlling them as though they were puppets themselves," Kaida added, "But we can't be sure. Before Naoe and I could step in to try and free them, Naraku took them and vanished, leaving behind a hoard of demons to attack us. We had no choice but to run. For three days they were in pursuit, if it hadn't been for you we would be dead."
"That anger I sensed," Kagome said, almost to herself, "Just before I went home. If their bond power is as strong as you say it is then it only makes sense that it would project itself that strongly, that must've been them!"
"Those idiots!" Inuyasha roared and stamped his foot, "Just what the hell were they thinking?! They should've known not to take on Naraku themselves!"
"Regardless," Kaida said, "They have, and now they are suffering for it. Along with the jewel, Naraku has access to their power. We must be prepared to face it."
"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru spoke. Everyone turned to face him as he stared at his brother, "I am entrusting Rin and Futeki to you."
"Huh?" Inuyasha stared back, "What are you yammering about?"
"Should any harm come to them, know that your life will be forfeit and I personally will see to your demise."
"Wait, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha stepped forward, "You aren't seriously thinking about going after Kohana and Ronuku by yourself are you?"
Sesshomaru didn't answer. Instead he turned and vanished into the trees, his body nothing more than a white blur.
"Damn it, you jack ass!" Inuyasha prepared to run after him, "You can't go alone, he has the jewel now, what the hel-"
"Inuyasha, wait." Kagome called out and then hanyou stopped, "We have to go back. Kaida and Naoe need help, they're wounded and tired. The others need to know what happened, we can't split up at a time like this."
"Yeah…but, Sesshomaru-"
"Would you not do the same if it were Kagome who was captured?" Kaida asked, "It's a foolish plan, but I doubt you can stop him." Inuyasha stared at the noblewoman. His ears twitched and he mumbled something angry.
"Fine," he grumbled, "Let's go."
Kagome re-wrapped Risu's body and held him in her arms.
"Thank you Kaida, for bringing him back," the miko said sadly, "We'll make sure he has a proper burial and…we'll tell his family."
This is awful, Kagome thought, how am I supposed to tell them that Risu died and we did nothing to stop it? And Sango…she's already had so much grief already, what will she say when I tell her what happened to Ronuku? Or Rin and Futeki about Kohana?
The miko's heart broke as she thought about the pain she was going to inflict on her friends just by telling them the awful news. She tried her best to hold back her tears as she helped the injured Kaida onto Inuyasha's back and propped Naoe up so that he didn't stumble on the way back to the village, but she was fighting a losing battle.
As she cried silently, she vowed to herself that she would do everything in her power to stop Naraku. No matter what, that monster couldn't be allowed to win. He'd committed too much evil in this world, she wasn't going to allow him to hurt any more of her friends!
Before they left the bottom of the ravine Inuyasha turned and looked out into the forest.
"Sesshomaru!" The hanyou yelled, "You'd better come back! You hear me?"
The rumble of thunder overhead was his only reply.