How Will I Know
Disclaimer: OMG I saw the Avatar 1 hour special last night…. Sokka kissed a girl… twice! (Three times if you count Uae) and Smellerbee's a GIRL! And Jet needs to go find some corner and assume the fetal position for 100 years, and Zuko's as great as ever. And, team Avatar took out the whole drill! When Aang was tearing down that cliff for the final blow… it was breathtaking. Oh, I don't own InuYasha.
Chapter 10: Dawn Escape
Sango looked through the deserted cabin on the cliffside one last time, and the tattered door flap rippled in the breeze. Miroku sat outside, trying to sense Naraku or anything that might be a clue to his whereabouts. He sighed, and gave up after the second day of staying around the cabin. Shippou jumped onto his shoulder.
"Did you find anything?" He asked, hopeful.
"No, Shippou. Kagome and Kagura seem to have left, a few days ago. In fact, when we got here, it felt like the cabin had been deserted for at least two days. We would have gotten here faster if InuYasha had helped sniff it out."
Shippou sighed.
"I can't believe InuYasha, he's such an idiot! Going after Kikyo when Kagome's in danger…" Shippou started whimpering. "I miss Kagome!" He cried, and Miroku pat him on the head before standing up. He stretched, and turned toward the house, then gazed out over the valley.
"We all do."
Sango walked outside, having heard the conversation. Kirara sadly mewed from her side as Sango nodded her agreement.
"Well, we should head down the mountain. InuYasha will probably meet up with us soon, and no matter who he brings with him, it'll be easier to find us if we're down the mountain by the river." Miroku suggested. Sango sighed and rearranged her weapon more comfortably across her back. They al looked at each other, trying to smile. They gave up smiling and sighed, and began the trip down the mountain.
InuYasha continued walking, following no scent in particular, just meandering through the forest. He came out of the forest onto a path, and realized he'd been following his own scent. Well, I've said goodbye to Kikyo, but I'll probably see her again soon enough. InuYasha thought as he grinned to himself.
As he walked down the path in the direction he was going before Kikyo's soul collectors sidetracked him a few days ago, some demons flew overhead. He studied them, and they seemed to be running from something. They carried a faint scent of Naraku, which sent InuYasha into a determined fury. He bounded the opposite direction from where the demons were headed. I'm finally coming, Kagome… I'm not so sure you're ok now as I used to be. You've been gone an awfully long time.
Kagome sighed. Today was the day she was finally going to break free. Naraku never visited her, and by the amount of light she got, Kagura only brought the food at sunrise and sunset. It was dark out now, so she'd wait for Kagura to bring the food and after she ate it she would make her escape. She patiently waited for Kagura, pretending to be asleep. Soon enough, she heard the scrape of the door as it slid open. Kagura's footsteps were quiet as she walked in and set down a bowl of food in Kagome's reach. This morning, however, Kagura seemed to hesitate. Kagome heard her shift again, as if she bent down and set down more than food. Her pace was unusually quick and jagged on her way out of the room.
Kagome sat up and looked at the food. Her side was all but healed now, and she could twist sideways and even do jumping jacks. However, it was still sore and would probably open up again if it was stressed. She was careful with it. The bowl of rice was there, as well as the glass of water. However, there was a small curled piece of paper tucked under the water. Kagome picked it up and realized it was a basic map of probably the castle. What's more, there was a slightly marked path that led to the nearest doorway.
Why did Kagura… does she know I'm planning to escape? Whatever her motive, I'm glad she left this. I hadn't considered the castle passageways. I wonder what it will look like outside. Will it be a plain, or mountain, or… well, ocean? She quickly ate the rice and drank the water. It was just enough to keep her content, but not even enough to give cramps from exercise such as running, as she would be doing today.
She folded the map and tucked it into her shirt. After sitting still for a second just listening for footsteps, she stood and removed her shackles in a practiced manner. This is also probably a pretty good time to cut my handcuffs, too. Kagome walked over to her bow and arrows silently, and picked up an arrow. After trying to remove the metal cuffs, she gave up and just sawed through the rope. For the first time in a while, she stretched her arms out and around to her sides. Much better.
After slinging her bow and quiver over her back, she turned towards the door. She stopped right in front of it, listening again for any sign of witnesses, then carefully slid it open just enough to fit out. After carefully closing it again, she pulled out the map. It fit her position at the moment: there was a hallway directly facing her and one going off to the left. When she turned around, she was surprised to find her door had vanished. She shrugged in her mind and turned left. A minute later, she came up to a doorway on her right. The map said to turn opposite from it and go forward. She turned, but there was only a wall.
I'll give it a shot… She walked forward, and the wall dissolved when she touched it. There was nothing but a small meadow that would have been beautiful had it not been so proximal to Naraku. There was a 15 foot drop to a gently sloping mountainside, and then some low brush began further down the mountain and then a tree line 100 yards away. Kagome took a deep breath and lowered herself off the edge, moving out of the shadow of the castle. She let go and fell the 15 feet. After landing in a small heap and rolling, she stood and began running for all she was worth in the way InuYasha had taught her; quietly and gracefully, but swift.
She made it to the tree line at a full sprint, and nearly smashed into a tree when she tripped over a root. Instead, she fell on her stomach into a conveniently placed patch of moss and grass and slid for a few feet. As she sat up, she carefully inspected herself for injuries, and then listened with baited breath for any sign that she'd been discovered. When no sound came, she sighed and began making her way through the forest. She suddenly broke loose of the foliage and onto a path. There were thick, high trees on either side, and she felt it would be safe to continue.
Kagome walked on. The trees gradually thinned, but she'd been keeping track, and had gone at least 10 miles from Naraku's castle, maybe more. The sun was now directly overhead, and seemed to be an omen of hope. It seemed to say 'This will be alright'. If only I could believe that…
Suddenly, a demon drifted overhead and spotted Kagome. "There you are, fugitive!" The demon charged Kagome, and was blown to pieces by a sacred arrow.
"I guess I've been discovered missing." Kagome sighed, and began to keep better track of her surroundings, like where she could hide.
A demon sat on a large ledge overlooking a path, unable to be seen. She yawned, and gazed out over the valley. There was a large aura of what seemed to be pure spirit gradually growing stronger. She started, and looked more closely. She suddenly saw a demon, and as soon as she spotted it the demon dove toward the ground. The massive spirit energy was released, and the demon blew to smithereens. Wow… the demon thought. That looks like it might be able to wound me some… I know I'm not all that pure… this aura... I've never felt it before, but it seems to be wandering this way. I think I shall investigate when it passes under me.
Yes, yes indeed! There is a demon out there, who is probably… well, who knows what she might do or be? I said demon, could be human, cat, … anything else. Sorry to leave you hanging, but next chapter is something that deserves its own chapter! (In my mind, anyway it does, for it contains the further introduction of this very important demon.)