I could hear them in the forest; their voices rang like gunshots in the night, jolting me like an electric shock. Why had I run away? The thought was scorched in my brain and burning shame in me. I had put everyone in danger. The world around me was closing in, spinning erratically. Mocking me.
I had let Naraku get a chance to attack me. Gave him the perfect opportunity to get us separately. I wanted to smack myself. And hard. How stupid had I been. . . How arrogant to think that I could handle everything on my own . . . Who knew how much Narku and his monster had done before I could get they're on time. I needed to get there before—
I came to a sudden halt, my ears detecting something: Footsteps. I cursed, glancing back at the area where I heard the screams of Kagome, Inuyasha, and Kouga. Someone was following me. I was sure of it. I sniffed the air. Nothing.
"Hahahaha," cackled a new voice. I swiveled my head to face the direction where the noise had come from. It was where my friends' scents were all jumbled. Seriously, what was going on? I had no time . . .
Glancing nervously at the empty forest, I turned my back ad continued to the path I had originally followed, sprinting with al the strength I could muster. I dove for it, not bothering to look back.
Finally I arrived into an open plot of land within the forest, the same place where Inuyasha lay on the ground, blood oozing out of his abdomen. I curved into the mask of the shrubs, peaking at the skeptical before me. Kouga was running everywhere, his face screwed into concentration as he fought the demon I had met before. The demon was no longer shackled, his mask gone.
But it wasn't Kouga, Inuyasha, or the demon that had caught my attention at this point. In the center, slithering before Inuyasha was a snake. A snake, or a lizard, I couldn't tell, but all I knew was that it was the ugliest creature I had every laid eyes on. It was sickly white, with two razor-looking arms that glistened with blood. I only guessed it was Inuyasha's by the glare he was giving the snake-like creature.
Goosebumps broke out along my skin, and I had to remind myself to focus. Inuyasha took a large focus on the demon until his nose wiggled and his eyes finally rested on my hiding spot. I poked out of the bushes and gave him a curt nod, placing a finger on my lips. Inuyasha glowered but quickly looked away and struggled to right himself, spitting blood on the ground.
The cackle escaped from the direction of the creature and the next moment, he disappeared. Chills went through my body and had this really uneasy feeling surged throughout my body. Perhaps he was small, but that didn't mean that the creature wasn't dangerous. My gaze scoured the range of the trees and Inuyaha began swinging his sword all over the place, his face furrowed with the strain. Apparently the sword was still heavy.
Cursing under my breath, I shifted within the bushes masking my presence from the others. They would know I was in the area for sure . . . But not where. My fingers tingled with the anticipation, the wait. The ground around Kouga and Inuyasha once and a while shook and then again somewhere else, prompting both Inuyasha and Kouga to reach for those areas. They are too slow, they'll never catch up with that thing, I thought, my gaze zooming here and there, and searching for possible places the creature might strike next.
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck at my arm, my blood-spilling out in a matter of seconds. I screamed in surprise, my legs weakening from the shock. I held my ground, my hands gripping my arms tightly, my body shaking tremendously. I heard another laugh, and the sound of slurping. I shuddered before opening my eyes.
Before me, was the same creature that had taunted Inuyasha, except now I could see him much clearer? And it was a he, by the way, by the look of the creature's face. Its looks were nearly identical to the first demon's. Matching hair color, the same scarlet red eyes, and pasty complexion. But his body was, of course, a different matter.
Moving in the slithering trace of a snake, but having the arms of a knife, the creature's mouth was dripping with blood—my blood. He stared up at me, his tongue curving around his mouth, savoring every bit of my flesh that I guessed he bit off. Nausea started to develop and I almost puked in disgust.
I glared at the monster, straightening my back as I addressed him.
"I hope you choke on that and die you miserable excuse for a demon." Ok, so I had the strength to be angry. That was a good start. The creature eyed me weirdly as he continued to suck on my blood. I almost recoiled in disgust.
"What are you supposed to be then, bug?" I said, my voice oozing with eminent dislike. That probably wasn't the best thing to say, but my anger wasn't to be abated.
The creature gave the shadow of a smile, which seemed to me more amused than happy-If he was even capable of happiness. . . More like savagery, I thought, as I shifted my feet.
"Well, well. If it isn't Naraku's side project," he said, inching his small body toward me. I'd have to be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I couldn't pin point, whether it was the face, or the razors, but something about this creature gave me chills down my spine.
Ok Kaname, what do you do, think, I thought, rummaging through my brain for a good plan. Run. No too cowardly. Attack. No, not yet, too rash. I didn't know what to do, my mind going blank on physical attacks. Come on, my internal voice yelled. Think, you don't want to get killed by a miniature snake.
After sitting there in silence for more than a minute, the thought came it me. A soft little voice echoing from the back of my head; Stall him, it said. Well not like I had anything better to do.
"Side project? Is that what I am now?"
"More or less." He paused in his approach of me. "Hmmm your flesh was exquisite. Different from that Dog Half-breed. Much more. . . . pleasant." Well it was nice to hear a compliment. Not that comments on my being delicious and eatable, bother me at all . . .. Nooo, not at all . . ..
I almost laughed out loud. So I wasn't completely hopeless, I could still use sarcasm. There's a start.
My nerveless fingers, moved away from the cut on my arm, curling and scratching at the air; A nervous habit of mine. The anxiety didn't come from the threat od pain. Nor was it from fear of Naraku. It was those eyes, the ones that looked me up and down, assessing my figure, or more; I knew exactly what he was doing, he was assessing me. Checking whether my patience was as low as Kouga and Inuyasha. I almost snorted recalling how simpleminded the both of them were. Almost.
"What are you?"
"Me? I am Kagegomaro, the demon who lays within Jeromaru's belly," he said. So they had names now, that was a start. I could only guess Jeromaru was the demon I had fought.
"Dammit where'd he go!"? Kouga yelled from behind. His voice was like a slap to the face, and abruptly my feet were moving, my fist moving toward Kagegomaru's face. The creature smirked and then, disappeared again. I froze, my fist dangling useless in midair.
Dumbfounded, I just stared at the ground where he disappeared which probably wasn't the most productive thing to do.
"Watch out!" came a voice before I felt myself being pushed aside. The moment I moved away, a scream let out.
"Miroku!" Sango yelled rushing ahead, Kagome and Shippou at her heels. I watched Miroku, shaking in pain as blood dripped down his arm as mine had.
"Are you alright!? Damn that Kagegomaro," I hissed looking over his arm as more blood began to flow to the earth. I ripped the sleeve of my shirt, ignoring the throbbing of my arm.
"Kaname? Where have you been?!" shrieked Kagome as she approached. I waved her off, focusing my attention on Miroku's wound. I wound the sheet again and again until it resembled a well-put package, tightening the double knot.
"Kaname, what happened to you? You look beat up," said Sango. The other nodded, anxiety ricocheting like a disease across their faces. I looked away, refusing to meet eyes with any of them.
"Naraku happened . . .. "
"Naraku? Wait but he was just here, how come he didn't—"
"Succeed in kidnapping me?" I finished, getting to my feet and peeking through the bushes. Inuyasha and Kouga were still searching the ground. Kagegomaro could have been anywhere. "He tried to get me possessed, but somehow I got away." Wanting to diverge from my foolishness, I wiped off the dust on my clothes, and got up to help Kouga and Inuyasha.
"Wait Kaname! You're going to need this," Kagome said pulling out my sword. I could have hugged her there with joy. I shrieked quickly grabbing the sword from her grasp, assessing it with careful eyes, checking for any damage.
"Where did you find this? I thought I dropped it—"
"When you were fighting Naraku? He said you did," Miroku said darkly. "He threw it at us and said that it was proof that you were gone."
'Did he now?" I said staring down at my sword. The ground rumbled again and I, learning from my mistakes, pushed the others away and pulled out my sword in defense. Not a second later, Kagegomaro's razor arms attacked and slammed against my sword.
"Now die!" Kagegomaru rasped murder radiated in his red eyes. I was pushed back, the force of his attack catching me by surprise. I hadn't expected him to be this strong. What the hell kind of things was Naraku giving this guy . . .. I gasped, remembering.
"Kagome! Does he have any jewel shards on him,'' I grunted, pushing hard against Kagegomaru, enough to make him flip back and then disappear again from sight. Temper rising, I circled the area, screaming swears and insults into the air to my heart's content. I kicked the dirt, and spat at it. Yeah, that's how I was going to get him; I was going to insult him to death . . .
"Agh! Come out and face me you annoying—"
"Kaname! Shhh there are kids here!" I spun around ad suddenly felt guilty with the shocked faces of my friends. Shippou's looked confused, however, Kagome's hands sealed around his ears. I just shook my head and remained silent.
This couldn't last long. If we couldn't defeat Kagegomaru and Jeromaru, there was no guessing what they would do to the people who came across them. I bent down and went to whisper in Miroku's ear, Sango lowering her face to listen.
"You all hide, Sango can watch over you guys. I'm going to help Inuyasha and Kouga. Leaving those two simple minded idiots alone together won't get anything done."
"Kaname," Sango began to say, but I rose by hand and she closed her lips.
"I can handle it, these creatures can't be left alone. They are too savage. Too hungry for humans. Naraku probably wanted them let loose if we died. For his damn amusement," I said. I looked at both their face intensely and after a long moment of silent, Sango gave a small nod.
I was up from the ground, jumping over the bushes, rushing over to Inuyasha. His guts were still bloody, but overall nothing he hadn't handled before. He was growling in anger, his gaze, targeted for the ground. Kouga seemed to be preoccupied with Jeromaru though and blasts of the earth and yells of frustration were let out.
"Inuyasha, are you all right?" I asked, coming back to back with him, my gaze focused on the ground, my nose sniffing for any sight of Kagegomaru.
"Heh I'll live," he said bitterly. His sword was on the ground, both hands struggling to hold it up. "Where the hell did you go anyway? That filth Naraku tried claimed that you were already captured." I exhaled a humorless laugh, my blood boiling at the memory of the assault.
"Yeah, he tried, but we'll talk about that later. Where did he scurry off? Is he still here?" Inuyasha shifted to the right and I responded moving just as slowly to the left, my feet smoothing over the dirt.
"That Jeromaru struck at him the moment his shackles were released. Surprising really." I didn't answer. Why would Naraku make such a demon? An incarnation that doesn't listen to his orders? Then why bother keeping him alive? Does he want to kill Inuyasha that badly?
The questions kept, swirling and swirling in my head, trying to find a possible explanation to it all. Even in the moment of battle that we were in.
The dirt sprang and I didn't hesitate. I swung my foot out, and kicked, relishing in the scream of pain I heard afterward. I hurriedly threw Jeromaru on the ground and went to stab him. Then a wishing sound came and he was gone.
"Dammit, you little vermin!" I screamed, catching sight of rumbling. The dirt and rocks gave him away, but he didn't need to know that.
I tried carefully, tiptoeing as I followed. He was heading towards the others, where they hid. Ha, doesn't he have anything better than targeting Kagome and the others. Inuyasha tried to follow, his eyes wide with the anticipation. I didn't need him rushing it.
"Inuyasha, stop, we need to be careful about this. Don't do something stupid,' I hissed smacking his arm.
"What did you say—"?
"Shut up you idiot!" I whispered, raising my hands at him I frustration. I turned away from him and kept in course of where Kagegomaru was going. He probably had a way of detecting us. Smell? I shook my head, my mind going into frenzy. No it wasn't that, maybe it was our yelling and movements that alerted him.
I gripped my sword in a tighter hold and waited in what seemed like a lifetime, for Kagegomaru to spring.
If he couldn't tell where we were, he would stick to hoping Inuyasha and Kouga were too hot blooded to detect his looking out of the ground.
And true to form the earth part and I pounced. I grabbed the bug by his hair and threw him hard on the ground, barely missing his razors as they lashed out in a panic. I took ahold of my sword and surged forward without another thought. . And that was when I heard Inuyasha's yell to get down. but not soon enough. . . .