4
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. "Keep back," he growled to Kagome and Miroku. He watched Inuyasha's body intently, one hand on Tenseiga.
A bluish mist arose around the body, and grey imps began to emerge, gathering around the still form. Sesshoumaru sprang, slashing with Tenseiga, vaporizing the minions sent to drag Inuyasha to hell. He backed away and sheathed his sword.
Inuyasha drew a huge, shuddering breath. His golden eyes opened and he looked around in confusion. "What the hell? . . . Monk, damn it. Why the fuck am I covered with sutras?" He began to struggle. "Just wait until I get loose." Noticing Sesshoumaru, he growled, "What you laughing at, bastard?"
Kagome gave a strangled laugh. Inuyasha was back among the living. He was his normal rude, uncouth self. The monk smiled and moved to the other side of the fire. "Lady Sango, if you would do the honors and remove the sutras. I think it best if I am well away. I believe you would not be in any danger."
Sango knelt by Inuyasha, a sword in one hand. She ripped away the first paper. Inuyasha swore, "Damn it, that hurt. Who the hell are you?"
"Your slayer," Sango replied.
"Precisely," commented Sesshoumaru, as a brief smirk of amusement ghosted across his features.
"What the hell?" the angry, confused hanyou gasped as she ripped off the last sutra.
At last one of the group took pity on Inuyasha. Miroku explained what they knew, "That creature that bit you the other day gave you the vampire curse. You became as mad and mindless a creature as when controlled by your youkai half. You began drinking blood. You were dying."
"I don't remember none of that," Inuyasha complained.
Miroku continued, "The slayer staked your heart. Lord Sesshoumaru used Tenseiga to revive you."
Inuyasha sat up and glared at Sango, "You KILLED me!"
Sango shrugged. "It was necessary. You had become vampire. You would rise as one of the undead after the fever killed you. As a mindless beast under the control of your master." She turned to the rest of the group. "I believe that the dark lord I seek, the one who sends these vampire creatures, is the same one known to you as Naraku."
x x x
"Kanna, bring your mirror," Naraku ordered. The small white haired demon positioned the mirror so Naraku and Kikyo could observe its contents.
"Show me the jewel shards," he commanded. The mirror surface flickered through images of several demons before focusing on the group of shard hunters around their fire.
"Inuyasha," Kikyo whispered.
"And that is your next task, my queen. Beguile the hanyou. Get him to steal the shards from the girl and bring them to me." Naraku tugged on her hair and pulled her close. "Kanna, leave," he absently added as he maneuvered Kikyo toward the pile of furs.
x x x
Running through the trees, the hanyou's ears flicked. He stopped, turning about to listen.
"Inuyasha . . . Inuyasha," whispers came from deeper within the woods. He followed the sound.
How could it be? It was Her voice. Kaede said she was dead and gone fifty years ago, after he was sealed. The scent, it was hers.
There beneath the trees, a shimmer of white. Long black hair framed a pale ghostly face. It was her. "Kikyo," he breathed. Dumbstruck he followed her into the brush, captured by her call.