Netsuai
Bunkai San:
Sosei
Kagome stared into the fire, watching the glowing embers' light reflected off the water on the grass. She gaze shifted over to Inuyasha who was in a similar state of which his mind was wondering. Her senses perked up as she heard something come from around the corner. "Sango. Come on…Sango!" it was Miroku. He was distant, but she could tell it was him. She looked over to Inuyasha who had now closed his eyes and was glaring at the disturbance.
Smiling, Kagome got up and walked around the corner to see what was happening. She came in time to see Sango pick something off the ground and throw it in the direction of Miroku. She grinned when she heard Miroku's proclamation of discomfort. He said something else next but she couldn't make it out. A weary sigh could be heard from Sango as she came out of the shadows. Kagome went out to greet her friend, as the last time she had spoken to her was when she was distraught. She welcomed Sango with a smile in which it was returned. I'm glad to see an actual smile on your face, Sango. Kagome said to herself as she handed Sango some freshly cooked fish. Sango ate it hurriedly as if she hadn't eaten in days.
Questionably, Kagome asked, "what's the hurry, Sango? You have the whole night to eat." Sango looked up with a mouth full of fish.
Taking a big gulp, she answered her saying, "I want to finish eating before he gets here," glancing quickly into the darkness where Miroku was approaching. With one last mouth full, she lay what was left of the consumed fish aside and cuddled under her blankets. Kirara's ears perked as she saw her mistress starting to relax. She mewed as she yawned and stretched from her place by the fire and went to go join Sango under the comfort of her blankets.
Quickly she rolled over as Miroku finally approached. Kagome looked over at her and laughed to herself as her friend tried to pretend she was asleep. Miroku reached the fire and glanced at Sango with a smile on his face. He looked around to see some fish still being cooked.
Looking at Kagome, he asked, "is the fish ready yet?" She nodded and he reached out and took a fish. He ate slowly as if he wasn't sure if he should eat or not.
"Is everything ok, Miroku?" Kagome asked him. He looked at her as he came out of his daze.
Smiling he said, "oh nothing…" he paused briefly as Sango stirred from her sleep. Apparently she's actually asleep now. Kagome thought to herself.
"Well Kagome," he said yawning. "I'm going rest now." he rubbed his neck and looked up at the stars. "It's late," he said, not moving gaze. "You should go to sleep. We both should." Kagome saw out of the corner of her eye, Inuyasha open one eye and watch Miroku tentatively. Aware that he was being watched, Miroku yawned again and said, "well, I'm going to bed. Good night Kagome." Then glancing over to Inuyasha he added, "good night Inuyasha." A grunt was all that was heard from Inuyasha as Miroku lied his back against the rock wall.
Kagome laid down on the grass and looked up at the stars. She let the darkness of the night engulf her. Her mind wondered into her memories of the day's events. Slowly, her memories entwined into dreams as her consciousness slipped away.
As dawn broke over the horizon, Kagome woke to the smell of fish…again. Her appetite was gone as her eyes fell upon the too familiar food. She couldn't refuse it because of how proud Inuyasha was when he caught it.
"Good morning Kagome!" Inuyasha said cheerfully as he rotated the fish over the fresh fire.
Still groggy, Kagome squinted as the sun's raise burned her eyes. "Morning." She said quietly. She looked around her to see that Miroku and Sango were still peacefully asleep.
"Look!" he said, drawing closer to her. Before she knew it, a burnt fish face was staring at her. She screamed before she realized that it wasn't a threat. Obviously hurt by her reaction, Inuyasha sat back, disappointed, and continued to turn the fish in silence.
After calming down from the shock first thing in the morning, she yawned and looked back at the pouting half-akuma. "Come on, Inuyasha." She said dazedly. "Why do you get so worked up when you catch fish? I mean, you can kill a thousand demons with one swing. But to catch some fish is a big accomplishment?"
Inuyasha ignored her as he gazed into the morning fire. He knew why it was important to him, but he didn't think Kagome would understand. His mother was the one who taught him how to fish. She was frowned upon for this. Wives weren't meant to teach such skills. But growing up without a father, she had no choice. He loved the way she smiled every time he brought one home. Seeing her happy made him forget. Mother.
His thoughts were cut short when Kagome reached out to take a fish. "They're not ready yet, you know." Her hand moved past the fish and toward his face. "What?" he questioned irritably as he moved away from her.
"Just stop for a second!" she demanded annoyingly. He stopped moving as her hand came and moved across his cheek.
"Umm…Kagome?" he stammered.
Kagome pulled back, examining her fingers. "What hell did you just do?" he said, dumbfounded. When she didn't reply he added, "what are you looking at?" she looked up at him and smiled with a playful grin.
"Look at this, Inuyasha." Kagome said as she reached her fingers out to him. He looked down to she her fingers were wet.
He looked up at her puzzled. "What?"
Kagome pulled back her hand and studied it again. Smiling her playful smile again she said, "you were crying."
Shocked by what she said, he reached up to feel his cheeks. Sure enough they were a little wet. "No I wasn't. It's-it was just the dew fr-from this morning." He glanced at Kagome whose smile broadened.
"Sure Inuyasha, whatever you say." she got to her feet and continued to smile to herself. Stretching, she said, "I'm going for a walk. See if I can find some fruit or something around here."
Walking off, Inuyasha called after her but she didn't listen. She had heard enough of him for one morning. She strolled into the woods. The suns raise reflected off the leaves and dew, making it seem like the forest produced light itself. The breeze took the sent of the forest with it, tangy enough to wake her senses.
After a while, she came across a bush of what looked like purple strawberries. I'm not from this time so maybe I'll just pick a few and ask someone if they're edible. She took the end of her shirt and cupped it to make a place to put the berries. Once she had filled it, she turned around and went back.
It took longer than she had expected, but she found her way. By now Miroku and Sango had awoken, and Miroku already had a red mark on his face. As she drew nearer, she could tell that they were both getting sick of fish as well. She smiled as she approached and her friends greeted her.
"Took you long enough to get back, Kagome." Inuyasha said.
Ignoring him, she walked straight to Sango and sat down. "What's that?" Sango asked her, pointing to the berries.
"Oh," Kagome said quickly. She had already forgotten. "I found these berries in the forest. I thought we could use some other kind of nourishment aside from fish."
Miroku's and Sango's eyes widened at the thought of fresh fruit. Quickly Kagome added, "I don't know if they are poisonous or not. So I thought one of you guys might know."
Sango reached out and cut open one of the fruits. A small drop came out onto her finger. She examined it and smiled. Taking off the leaves of the fruit, she popped it into her mouth. "They're perfectly editable, Kagome." Smiling, she grabbed another and ate it hurriedly. Kagome and Miroku each took one and sampled it. It tasted like blueberries and strawberries, with some other flavors they Kagome couldn't justify.
Just then, Shippo hoped up onto Miroku's shoulder and said, "what's that? It looks taste."
"It's pa-puru. It can be used to give you a quick boost of energy or helps in the healing process if you're seriously injured."
"I don't know what's wrong with the fish I catch, but if you people want to eat that purple crap, you can go right ahead." Inuyasha stated.
"Oh Inuyasha. It's not the fish; it's just the consistency. Maybe we could eat some other kind of meat." Kagome said, trying to cheer him up.
"Hmmf, whatever. Me and Kirara will enjoy my fish. Wont we?" he looked over at the little cat akuma who mewed her response. Smiling, he added, "great." Looking back at the rest of the group, he said. "We're gonna go off to catch more fish." He stood up and started off towards the river. "You coming Kirara?" she hoped up on his shoulder and mewed happily. "Be back in a few hours."
Kagome just sighed. She wasn't in the mood to argue. Her and the rest of the group sat and enjoyed the fruit that she had brought.
A pile of steam rose up from the fire as Sango dosed it with water. The camp had been packed up and they were just waiting for Inuyasha and Kirara to return. They had been gone for well over three hours. Sango was worried because it only took half an hour to reach the river. Had something happened to them? She thought to herself.
As if reading her thoughts, Kagome put her hand on her friends' shoulder to comfort her. "Don't worry, Sango." She said smiling. "Inuyasha hasn't been hurt so far and he's been through much worse than going down to a river. Not to mention that Kirara is with him, so they're both safe."
A loud rumble was heard as the forest in front of them began to collapse in certain places. Dust rose from the disturbed earth as animals and birds fled from the sight. Sango tightened her grip on her Hiraikotsu. Kagome and Miroku raced back the camp to get their weapons. Shippo how ever ran and hid behind the pile of bags. Once Kagome found her bow and arrow, she ran back to stand by Sango's side. Miroku joined them short after, carrying his staff and gripping his beads on his right hand, ready to unleash his Kazaana if needed.
They waited patiently as the akuma started to approach. As the final row of trees collapsed, it was revealed. Its serpent like head rose up higher that fifty feet in the air. It's body looked like that of a red centipede. Its roar broke out and echoed across the valley.
Kagome unleashed a sacred arrow from her bow, but her aim was poor, she had only nicked the beast before it came down with and ear piercing hiss. Only then did Kagome realize that its side was bleeding. "STOP!" she cried over the deafening shriek. Sango stopped dead in her tracks as she looked at Kagome in bewilderment.
Miroku answered Sango's unasked question by saying, "look! It's already wou-nded!" the giant akuma screamed again, but not in a challenging way. It was agonized. Just as the cry died down, another was heard. Inuyasha came out of the forest, jumping as high the opposing akuma, Kirara, in her larger form, following close behind.
"WINDSCARE!" he yelled. A bolt of light shot forth from his Tetsusaiga. The attack cut the demon in two. Its top half fell to the ground, only a few feet from where Inuyasha stood.
Kagome and the others, aside from Shippo who was till hiding, ran to meet Inuyasha and Kirara. Inuyasha greeted them with a smirk. "Nice aim, Kagome." You're getting better." She ignored his comment and moved closer to the decapitated demon.
"Did you wound it before you killed it, Inuyasha?" she asked.
"Of course." He said defiantly. "Its dead isn't it?" rolling her eyes, she moved toward the dead akuma.
A low rumble came from inside it. Kagome shrieked and ran back, behind Inuyasha.
Shallow breath came out of it bloodied mouth. "Inuyasha…" I whispered quietly in a deep, dying voice.
"Its still alive!" Sango shouted aghast. "How can that be! It's split in two!"
"I… am still alive…because I choose…not to die…just yet…" it gasped between words. Blood oozed out of its mouth and it tried to speak. "I have a…message for the one…they call…Inuyasha."
Kagome took a step back. "Can we trust him?" she asked Inuyasha.
"Of course not." He glared down at the dying creature. "He reeks of Naraku." Kagome looked down at the body before her and felt pity for it.
She gasped as she saw a Shikon no Tama piece imbedded in its neck. "Look!" she cried. "There's a jewel fragment in its neck."
"That is correct…" it whispered, quieter this time. "I must deliver…my message…before it is…too late."
"Well," Inuyasha said smugly, swinging Tetsusaiga over his shoulder. "I'll just put you out of your misery before you can poison our ears with the words from Naraku."
"Wait, Inuyasha!" Kagome cried. "Don't you think we should wait and here him out?"
"Why should I? He came from, that corpse of a body, Naraku."
"Exactly." Kagome said. "Maybe he can tell us where Naraku is? Did you stop to think of that?" she glared down at him.
"Oh."
"I fear…it is too late now…forgive me…Inuyasha" it sighed slightly as its eyes started to close. "My time…is up."
Suddenly, Kagome turned on her heals and ran back to the camp. Inuyasha called after her, but she had no time to respond. As she approached her destination, she ran toward the pile of bags and blankets. Shippo screamed from behind the pile as he thought that it was the demon. "Kagome!" he shouted relieved. "It's you! Is everything ok?"
"It's safe, Shippo." Said Kagome, not letting her eyes leave her bag as she rummaged through it. Finally, she found hat she was looking for. She spun around and ran back to the dying akuma, clutching in her hand some of the pa-puru she he collected early that day.
When she reached the demon, its eyes were nearly closed. She placed the berries into its bloodied mouth. Somehow, it managed to swallow the fruit. "What the hell are you doing Kagome? Why are you bring that damned demon back to life!"
She turned to him and said "because, this dying thing could very well tell us where Naraku is," her tone rising, "saving us a lot of time and effort. So if you would just shut up and let me finish!" as she turned around again to tend to the demon, Inuyasha slunk back, his hears drooped as he back off to join Miroku and Sango who were also in shock.
Hours had past since Kagome had finished addressing the demon. Finally, she sat back down, covered in the akuma's blood. Inuyasha and the others had already reset up the camp. The fire was burning bright as the sleeping serpent rested 10 feet away. Inuyasha had been watching it the whole time, never taking his eyes off of it. Kirara returned a few minutes later carrying eight fish in her large mouth. After pacing them beside the fire, she returned to her smaller form.
Miroku and Sango eyed the fish distastefully. Even though they were sick of that meat, they had nothing else to eat.
Kagome's appetite, however, was dead when she saw the fish. She got up and stretched her sore limbs. "Well, I going to go take a bed. I need one." She walked over to her bag and pulled out a new set of cloths and a towel from her time. Before she left, she walked over to Sango and whispered in her ear, "keep on eye on him for me."
"Which one?" Sango asked. "Inuyasha, Miroku, or the demon serpent?"
Kagome straightened and wondered. "I guess all of them." She smiled to her friend. Sango smiled back as Kagome turned and ducked away into the bushed, toward the river's edge.
Kagome shivered as she stepped into the frigid water. The current was slow and steady, slowly washing away the blood of the demon. She eased herself into he liquid, relaxing as the water warmed. What a day. She thought. Inuyasha didn't help any. Exhaling slowly, she thought, what a jerk. Cant even stop to think about the consequences. As her hair started to get wet, she raised out of the water. The wind blew by, chilling her more than the water did. Arrgh, I can't stand this. Looking down she thought, I got most of the blood off. That's good enough for now. Another draft went by as she withdrew from the water, her flesh exposed to the growing nights air.
She raced for her towel as she heard a rustle in the bush. "Who's there?" she called. When there was no response, she glanced at her bow and arrow that was only a few paces from where she stood.
The bush rustled again, followed by a bang. "Ouch!"
With that, Kagome reached out and grabbed her bow and strung it with her last arrow. Pointing it at the brush and said, "come out, or I'll shoot!"
She pointed her arrow back down as she saw Sango step put from the bush. "I apologize, Kagome, for disturbing your bath. But this," she said, kicking Miroku as he fell over, out from behind the shrub, "got away while I went to fetch more berries."
"Good times" Miroku said smiling, before Sango kicked him again.
"Come on you little rodent," she said, dragging him out, gripping his ear tightly. "I'm getting you back to camp." Looking back at Kagome, she added, "enjoy your bath Kagome." Smiling, she started to walk back up the hill, dragging Miroku behind her.
Kagome was covered in twigs and dirt again, after her hike back from the river. "So much for being clean." She mumbled to herself. As she approached the campsite, she saw that Miroku, Sango, Kirara, and Shippo were already asleep. Inuyasha was gazing into the fire, occasionally looking up at the injured akuma.
As she drew nearer, Inuyasha looked up at her. "How long does it take you to clean yourself? I had to stay up and wait for you." Closing his eyes, he waited for her response.
"No one said you had to stay up and wait for me Inuyasha." Kagome said, sitting down in front of the fire.
"Hmmf, whatever." Looking up at her, he added, "I'm going to sleep, you can do what you want." Lying down, he set aside his sword and turned his back to the fire.
Oh Inuyasha, Kagome thought, you always have to have the last word. She rested her head against the rock wall, listening to the sounds of the night.
Kagome woke with a start as Inuyasha was shaking her. "Kagome," he said quickly. "Kagome wake up!"
Out of dreariness, she slapped him in the face, trying to get him away from her. When her eyes adjusted he was looking at her with a pissed expression. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she asked, "why is your face red?"
"Oh really?" he said glaring at her with sarcasm in his voice. "I always just wake up with a slap mark on my face." Rolling his eyes, he dragged her to her feet. "That demon," he said, "is awake. Talk to it."
Shaking him off her, she said irritated, "why don't you? You're the one it wants to talk to."
"Hmmf," he gloated, "I don't disserve to speak with that lowly demon."
Rolling her eyes, Kagome pushed past him, "God, Inuyasha, don't get so high on yourself!"
Grumbling to herself, her approached the demon to find some of its blood had returned and it appeared to have started to grow another abdomen. "You seem to be doing well, demon" she addressed it.
The serpent akuma looked up at her with what looked like a smile. "I thank you dearly, priestess Kagome." Bowing its head slightly, "I am eternally in your debt." Dry blood still stained its mouth and neck. Its voice was deep, and thunderous, that seemed to be suppressed.
Looking around, it inquired, "where is the one named Inuyasha? I have an urgent message for him from the band of the Furi- Akuma."
"The Furi- Akuma?" Kagome asked. "What's that?"
The demon smiled up at her with its pointed teeth, shining with saliva and blood. "We are called the Furi- Akuma. That means the 'freed- demons'. I, like others in our band, were released from the awful half akuma, Naraku. After being trapped in his body unwillingly, and now freed, we plot our revenge against Naraku." Its eyes narrowed at the mention of his name.
"Are you after Inuyasha's help? Is that why you're here?" Sango asked, who came around the corner.
The demon looked at her and answered respectively, "I apologize, but my words are not meant for you. Please leave while I finish."
Bowing its head it looked up at Kagome who said, "it's alright, she helped heal you as well as I. Not to mention that she is part of our group, and whatever we do, we do together."
Bowing it head again, it responded, "very well." It raised up onto its stomach and onto its newly developed abdomen. Its height was well above fifteen feet. It stretched it neck out and, what appeared to be a yawn. A loud roar escaped its massive mouth. Slowly, it coiled around itself so its height was now only eight feet. "Now," he said quietly, "where is the rest of this group so I may explain myself?"
The group gathered around the demon as he settled down near the fire. Inuyasha leaned up against a nearby tree; his eyes closed with and aggravated expression on his face, spinning his Tetsusaiga with his hand. "How to begin?" he thought. "Well, I guess the polite thing to do would be to introduce myself. My name is Chishio- Kawaki of the Furi- Akuma clan. We where released from Hyoukyo, you know him as Naraku. We where unwillingly trapped inside his poisoned body, unleashed, only to protect him from his enemies.
"I remember fighting you Inuyasha." He said, looking over at the half demon. "You fought well. But my own cowardice shied me away from battling you any farther."
"That's not a surprise." Inuyasha said smugly in the background.
Chishio- Kawaki, unlike the others would do, he responded coolly saying, "I am not as proud as you, Master Inuyasha. But when I face an opponent, I would rather flee one day, and live to fight the next. Fighting power such as yours, against power such as mine, would be a futile attempt. My life would be wasted now and there would be another demon before you now, speaking these words. Only the brighter akuma's are aloud to joint he Furi- Akuma Clan. A coward I may be, but sometimes fleeing is better than dying." When Inuyasha didn't responded, he returned his attention back to the group.
Kagome couldn't help but smile since he was the first make Inuyasha shut up voluntarily. Chishio- Kawaki continued to speak. "We require Inuyasha and the rest of you to assist our revenge against Hyoukyo. We have never asked for the assistance of humans before, but now we have made an exception."
Kagome stood up and said, "I can't speak for the rest of the group, but in. If you think that with our help, we can destroy, Hyoukyo as you put it, I will give all that I got to bring him down."
Sango, Miroku, and Shippo nodded and Kirara mewed her approval. Inuyasha just grunted and said, "whatever. If the rest of you are going, then I guess I have no choice. Someone has to protect you."
Chishio- Kawaki nodded and looked around to each member of the group. "What can each of you offer our resistance?"
His eyes rested on Sango who stood up and said, "my determination is my strongest weapon. With the support of my friends, my power is endless." With a nod of approval from Chishio- Kawaki, she sat back down.
Miroku was next. "Although that one day my right hand will consume me, and doom hangs over my head, my optimism will not disintegrate. As destroying Naraku being my only option, my will power grows stronger and even more unbreakable." Chishio- Kawaki smiled at his courage and motioned for him to sit back down.
Kagome stood and took a deep breath. "Naraku has harmed many and killed even more. He deserves to die. Pain and suffering will always follow him. He can't be aloud to live. With the of powers of the Hateshiganai Yotogi Nisou, I vow my services until I see fit." Chishio- Kawaki smile broadened as she sat back down.
Shippo looked around to see everyone looking at him. Carefully, he stood up and cleared his throat. "Umm…I can't really promise anything about power or determination, but when my friends are in danger, or my courage is needed. I'll do my very best."
Chishio- Kawaki lowered his head to Shippo's level. He shivered and tried not to cry as the great demon breathed hot steam onto his body. "Sometimes the strongest powers can come from the smallest source." As Chishio- Kawaki moved his head back to his normal height, Shippo sat down sighing to still be alive.
Inuyasha yawned as they all looked at him. "Well if you all are done, can we get moving?"
"So you're coming, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.
"Hmmf, of course." He straightened up and sheathed his Tetsusaiga. "Can't give up on a chance to get that bastard Naraku. Not to mention you all will probably die if I'm not around any way."
"Well," Kagome said, standing up, "lets get going." She slung her bow over her shoulder. The rest of the group got to their feet.
Chishio- Kawaki rose to his full height with Shippo sitting on one of his spines. Kirara changed into her large form and bellowed a roar that echoed into the valley, stirring birds from their nests, flying up into the new morning sun.
Author Note:
well, to be truthful, i really hated the whole "noble" part in here near the end. plus i didnt really get to do much proof reading when i finished typing. hope you out there on the web enjoyed some of it. please continue to read and send me reviews!
Allyson