The True Holder of Shikon
Disclaimer - Don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter 23 - Moving Forward
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Early the next morning, Sango ordered out only two search parties, five clean up teams, and three groups that cleaned up and prepared the dead for identification and burial. She was helping with the injured that she had not had the chance to treat. It was only an hour later that the woman from the night before entered.
"May I look around for my son? Please?" Sango nodded. The somber woman walked down the middle of the room slowly, looking from boy to boy. At the end of the line, she turned around, white-faced and pale. Sango stood up and walked over to her after she had finished.
"Well? Did you find him?" There were many old men in there but just as many young boys as well as those ages in the middle. They were trying to fight with farming tools like hoes, scythes, and pitchforks.
"No..." She put her face in her hands and let out a quiet sob. Sango sighed and put her arm around the young woman's shoulders and guided her out.
"The search parties are still out there but there is a slim chance that they will find anyone." She paused. "I will not tell you any lies. They are cleaning up the dead from the battlefield now, if you would like to look there." The taiji-ya felt bad for the woman in all honesty. After taking her hands from her face, she looked at Sango with a deep frown.
"I thank you for everything that you have done for us. The casualties of the battle were nowhere near what we have suffered during the course of their raidings and pillaging. Sometimes they took young women. There were human-like youkai, like the one traveling with you, but not nearly as clean and eloquent." Her words made the taiji-ya realize how much the village suffered. "Because of you and your group, we will be able to move on. Because of you and your group, Naraku's army will no longer haunt our dreams every night and the new generations can live without the knowledge of the fear that we felt every day." Sango felt tears sting her eyes but she knew that it was not the time to cry. "Thank you for saving who you could. I am sincerely grateful." So, she left to go find her son. A moment later, someone put his hand on her shoulder. She looked over to see Miroku standing there.
"You are handling everything all right, are you not?" She nodded.
"I am used to barking out orders. After all, I was one of the elite taiji-ya." She turned around and sighed. "Though, my nerves are wearing thin from all of this destruction. That and all of this blood everywhere. It smells horrible."
"I am sure it will fade when everything is done." She rubbed her temples as he took his hand back.
"Tonight we burn the youkai bodies. I will assume that Naraku already knows."
"Yes, I am almost certain of it myself." He stated quietly. "There is also no doubt in my mind that he will be furious with us, particularly you."
"I know." A malicious smirk lit up her face. He hated the expression on her. "That was one reason why I decided to help; the other, of course, being the welfare of this village." He sighed.
"Tomorrow will be the burials, correct?"
"Will you be up to it?" She asked with a slight hint of concern. He frowned at her.
"I am the one who should be asking you. I believe that I know what will happen. All of those graves will remind you of your village. I know that you will see it as the taiji-ya graveyard, Sango. Do you think you can handle it?" She gave him a cold look.
"I am perfectly fine, Houshi-sama. I can handle anything right now."
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Sango almost wanted to eat her words. All of the women's faces...the children's looks of remorse and recognition. She steeled herself earlier for this grave encounter.
"Are you feeling well, Sango? You look a little pale." Kagome looked up at her best friend in concern. The taiji-ya seemed to jump right back to her senses because she smiled slightly and nodded.
"I'm fine, Kagome. Where is Sesshoumaru?"
"Haven't seen him." She looked around. "Though, I haven't seen much of any of the boys. I know that Inuyasha and Miroku are digging. I don't know for sure if Sesshoumaru would help." Sango almost snorted. However, the Taiyoukai had surprised her too many times for her to be sure of herself about this.
"Thanks. I think I'll just ask Inuyasha." She went to find her hanyou friend among all of the villagers. She found him easily enough. "Inuyasha, have you seen your brother?" He looked up at her for a moment before looking around.
"He was around here somewhere. I think he's helpin' some of the men drag bodies over here." She nodded and thanked him before wandering off. She soon found herself in front of the forest. A foul wind blew in her direction.
This does not feel right... Naraku?
She watched the shadows intently, waiting for a glimpse of the one she knew was nearby. Then two glowing eyes revealed themselves to her from the depths.
"What do you want now, half-breed?" She asked in a mocking tone which was meant to get him angry. He appeared without his white baboon disguise. He smirked at her.
"You disrupted my plans once again, Sango." She moved one foot back one step and glared at him. "I am not a happy person. You had better change that quickly."
"How do you wish for me to do that?"
"Now is not the time. I suggest you stop playing this game." His eyes went to someone behind her. "How kind of you to join us, Lord." Sango did not take her eyes from Naraku. She heard Sesshoumaru's voice next.
"What are you doing here?"
"I am merely here to deliver a message to the one that I have chosen." She could sense the tension between them.
"She will never be yours, Naraku. I should have killed you when you tried to rape her before. I never should have left." Sesshoumaru snarled. "You do not deserve to live."
"I will not die here and now, Sesshoumaru." The hanyou scowled. Sango turned and looked at Sesshoumaru's face. He looked downright angry. She took a step toward him.
"Sesshoumaru..." He looked at her before his amber eyes went back to Naraku. She suddenly broke out into a run just to get to him. She had to be near him.
I...don't feel safe when he is not next to me.
He steeled himself for when she threw her arms around him. He put one arm around her and lifted the other one menacingly while glaring at his nemesis. Naraku stared on, his eyes beginning to glow dangerously.
"Do not get your hopes up, Sango. You will never be safe from me. You will be mine when the time comes." He vanished in a large cloud of miasma. They watched him go and Sango closed her eyes, resting her cheek against Sesshoumaru's chest.
"Do not listen to his lies." His voice soothed her and nearly made her feel like crying with sheer relief. "He will never have you. Not while I still live." He wrapped his arms completely around her, feeling her sigh with relief.
"I know." She whispered softly.
You will always protect me. I can feel it. You will always be there for me...no matter what.
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Kagome saw them approach a few moments later. They looked so natural together that she just had to smile.
He is so tender with her. I never would've guessed...
"Kagome..." She looked at Sango and blinked. "I...I am going to be gone for a little while with Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and Houshi-sama later tonight. We have something to tell them." There was a tone in the taiji-ya's voice that made the miko realize that she would hear something, also. She wouldn't be left out.
"Okay. I'll look after the little guys." She smiled cheerfully. "Besides, I promised Rin and Shippou that I would play a game with them."
"Thank you."
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Naraku called on Kanna. He wished to study Sango's actions. He knew that if he followed her and that little group, then he would be sensed and detected. The small mirror showed Sango in a room by herself...
Such beauty and power. What else could I ask for? You should be on my side, Sango. We would make an invincible team...
Just then, Sesshoumaru entered the room. He felt almost instantaneous jealousy... Especially when he kissed her.
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Sesshoumaru sat down next to her and pulled her as close as physically possible. Sango blushed a light red and smiled. She leaned against him, feeling his warmth and security.
"I want to thank you..." He stared down at her with a raised brow. "You protected me." He chuckled.
"My naive little one, it is my wish to protect you. I would give anything for your safety." She smiled wider before straightening herself in his lap so that she could easily stare into his amber eyes. Then she leaned in and kissed him. He felt her pressing close to him and it only succeeded in driving him nearly insane. He needed her... However, rushing such a delicate process could destroy their relationship. He went backwards and wound up laying on his back with her right on top of him. She broke away and laughed. He growled and switched their positions before mocking her laughter.
"I do not laugh like that." She stated indignantly.
"Yes, you do." He smirked at her and put his face close to hers. She almost felt like he was stealing her breath from her very lungs. It felt as though her face was on fire. She knew that she was blushing. He chuckled at the look on her face. He loved having such an effect on her.
"S-Sess..." Her lips trembled and her breath was uneven. He kissed her again, this time pulling away quickly and rolling off of her. He positioned her next to him so that his arm was around her waist and her head was on his shoulder. "I..."
"Shh." He commanded softly. "Go to sleep. You need it." She nodded and let out a long breath.
"I love you." She whispered. He closed his eyes.
"I love you, too."
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Kagome hefted her pack onto her shoulders and grinned.
"Well, we're off again!" It was two days after Naraku had shown up. They had finished the graves last night and now were set to leave just after sunrise. The entire village was up to see them off safely. Rin was on Sango's back, still asleep. Shippou was hanging drowsily onto Miroku's shoulder. Jaken was using his staff to support himself.
"Good bye! Thank you for all of your help!" The woman that Sango had talked to waved to them. "We are forever grateful!" The girls and Miroku waved back. Sango smiled and looked forward. This was...the part of the woods that Naraku had appeared in. She scowled when she thought of him. All she wanted to do was put her hands around his throat and choke him to death.
I will kill you, Naraku. I will end this battle for my sanity and I will win.
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The trail was a small path that led through fields and small clusters of trees. Flowers were almost everywhere, their bright colors a beautiful sight for sore eyes. Sango looked up at the sky as she walked beside Miroku. It was around noon. The group had been silently trudging forward, meeting no certain limit or deadline. They just kept going out of the need to do so.
"Looks like a good day for a walk, doesn't it?" Inuyasha asked with a smirk. "Couldn't have asked for better weather, if you ask me."
"Care to slow the pace a bit until we stop to eat?" Kagome asked suddenly. The hanyou frowned and thought for a moment.
"I suppose." He stated thoughtfully. "But we do have a minor set-back to make up for." Miroku sighed.
"Though, would it really be called a set-back, Inuyasha? We destroyed Naraku's army, after all." The hanyou nodded.
"That is true but his armies barely get involved with us. The only way it wouldn't be a set-back would be if it slowed Naraku's progress." Sango smiled at him. He should be getting more credit. He knew what he was talking about. "Sango, are you ready to face what all of this is coming to?"
"I am, Inuyasha." She stated firmly. "I have never been more ready for battle or war in all my life." Her grip on Hiraikotsu's strap tightened. "I want him dead. No matter what I have to do."
Around ten minutes later, they stopped to eat and rest. They had been going since early morning and Rin was anxious to eat. Shippou chased after Kirara, who was chasing a butterfly. Jaken stood off to the side and stared at the path they would be taking. He found his gaze going to Sango every now and then. She was helping Kagome with the food. He stared as she laughed and smiled as though nothing was wrong.
"Oh! I saw something a few minutes back. I am going to check it out." She stood up after putting her bow and arrows over her shoulder, and began to walk back down the path. Jaken paused for a moment before running after her. He walked quickly beside her.
"M'lady?" She looked down at him and raised a brow.
"Jaken? I am surprised that you would wish to talk with me." He flushed and felt a little nervous.
"Well, you and my lord, Sesshoumaru-sama, are going to be mates. I wish to apologize for my previous behavoir toward you." She smiled at him. He felt a little better.
"I understand. After all, this must have been a big surprise to you. Sesshoumaru did despise humans." She said softly. "It is a pretty big step to stop hating someone of a certain kind that you previously hated." He watched her frown in remembrance.
"You were taught to hate youkai?" Her steps faltered for a split second.
"Not all youkai, Jaken. Kirara was always my friend and loyal partner. Besides that, I had never met a youkai willing to be friends with a human." She smiled. "Sesshoumaru was that way. He would never have been caught dead with a human. When he and I talked that one night, we really hated each other. I hated him because of his selfishness and his attitude toward others." His eyes widened. "But when he showed that he would offer me his understanding without anything in return... I knew that he had changed." Jaken had no idea what to say. They walked in silence for a few seconds before a scent hit him. Sango went off the path and kneeled down next to something.
"This place..." She stood up with something white in her hands. They had passed it before but they didn't think that it was anything special. After all, Sango and Sesshoumaru had spoken to the hanyou not too long ago. Their thoughts had been that he had merely passed by.
"This is a piece of his pelt. There is no mistaking it. It is made from a baboon." She ran her fingers over the white fur. "Why would he be foolish enough to leave this here?"
"Methinks, perhaps, that he wishes to lead you into a trap." Jaken said softly. "We should leave before he ventures back." Sango froze and dropped the fur she held in her hand before falling forward. The toad youkai smelled blood in the air. One of Naraku's long tentacles, covered in crimson, withdrew into the woods. "M'lady!" He noticed that the wound was located on her right side, toward the middle of her back. She got to her hands and knees before it happened. The air swirled with electric power and a force field appeared over the fallen taiji-ya. She got to her feet. Her wound vanished in front of his very eyes.
"You are starting to piss me off, you half-breed bastard." She lifted her head and her eyes were narrowed dangerously. She spun around and the shield over her vanished as she pulled an arrow from her quiver of arrows. She engaged the bow and dislodged it in one fluid motion. Then she went forward and walked back out with a wooden statue that had a long black strand of hair wrapped around it. "Damn..." She whispered. "Damn you!"
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Thank you all for sticking with me so far. You are very patient readers!