Author's note: Please follow the R&R and R&R but don't forget to get some R&R! Hooha! Ok, I'll stop. Ya, I don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter 14: When only lies can light your path
"Ahhh!" A cry echoed through the sleepy morning forest. Black crows anxiously frothed forth from the epidermal canopy like spores shooting up into the brisk atmosphere, the scream frightening them out. A rustling noise started out of the deathly silence and the scuffling of hurried feet clamored through the underbrush. Heavy breathing ensued.
The early morning sunshine innocently cloaked the unfolding scene in unsuitable serenity. A small figure thrashed desperately through the peaceful foliage, seeking sanctuary. He sprinted, never looking back. A chain clinked and jangled with every stride. He panted, sucking in air as if he couldn't stop. A branch scraped at his leg and he yelped. He was covered in bruises, scratches, and cuts and the branch just stabbed at a fresh wound. It seemed, even nature pursued him.
He bolted into a clearing and just in front of him was a village. Its presence was unexpected, but not unwelcome. He huffed down the main street, hoping his stalker would not follow. Villagers tried to approach him, but were thrown off by his unabated sprint, like he was on the way to Marathon.
A crowd startled behind him and an uneasy hush jolted his pounding heart. He tried to swallow. His throat almost crackled from drought. Sweat leaked down his brow and stung his eyes. In an instant, a villager with a loaded cart stepped out onto the road in front of his charging path. With an explosive collision, his body flipped off to the side and the cart flipped several times, emptying its contents. He slammed into the ground and groaned as he tried to gather himself up, barely reaching his knees. Blood drooled down his legs and he collapsed. His dazed eyes vacantly watched a slowly approaching figure enclose in on him. His eyelids slowly closed after futilely trying to stay open, like an insect's legs curling up in a death pose. Kohaku's brown chalky irises disappeared as he perceived a wretched grin slide over the figure's face.
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Kagome's eyes slowly opened and she found herself snuggled in Inuyasha's arms. A blush flowered across her cheeks. She secretly glanced up at Inuyasha's face. He was intently listening to Miroku and Kaede across the room.
"You should not let her unconditional forgiveness and care for you cloud your mind, Inuyasha, leaving her to chase after Kikyo scars her. Kagome is strong, but even she can't stand alone long, especially when enemies pop up." Miroku's voice was firm with resolve. Kagome watched Inuyasha's eyes widen only the slightest bit. He nodded.
Kagome scrutinized his countenance. He was composed. His mouth was a trim line, his bangs rested stoically on his forehead, and his eyes shimmered with wisdom. Though Kagome would have perplexed over Inuyasha's new disposition longer, a squeaky greeting unraveled her thoughts.
"Kagome! You're awake!" Shippo clamped onto her arm. Everyone looked at her and she became self conscious. Her eyes darted from person to person until they staggered to a halt on Shippo.
"Yes," she replied to fill the awkward gap.
"Would you like some water?" Sango asked hopefully.
"Um, sure," Kagome smiled.
A tugging feeling grasped her. Kagome gasped. Her head spun to face the other direction. She tried to stare through the wall of the hut.
"What is it Kagome?" Inuyasha asked.
"A jewel shard. It's coming this way," her eyes narrowed to slits as she concentrated. Everyone was suddenly alert.
"You are sure?" Inuyasha's voice was steady.
"Yes," Kagome affirmed.
"Where is it coming from?" Inuyasha probed.
"It's coming straight toward the village."
Miroku and Sango stood up. Miroku looked more anxious than usual. Still, it seemed that Miroku and Sango had recovered from their injuries, except the gash on Miroku's arm. Kiara lept up next to them.
"Can you stand Kagome?" Inuyasha's voice roused Kagome's attention.
"I,... I don't know," she said hesitantly.
"Then maybe you should stay here," he offered calmly.
"Let me at least try first," she said, a bit annoyed. He just blinked at her and stood gently up. He released her legs, but held her so she wouldn't fall down. She grasped his shoulder with one arm, but determinedly focused on steadying her legs. With a wobbly effort, she was standing. She smiled at her accomplishment. Inuyasha smiled back at her.
A huge crash outside brought all of them to attention. Kagome jumped and Inuyasha had to catch her, lest she fall. Villagers were agitated outside and then a collective scream brought everyone out of Kaede's hut. The villagers had been petrified by something.
Sango was the first outside and she stopped dead in her tracks. Everyone gathered behind her. She seemed paralyzed.
Everyone stared wide eyed at the scene before them. Kagome fixed on one person. The villagers flocked away. It was Kano. His streaming cerulean locks were unmistakable, even though his back was to them. Kagome shuddered at his presence, but it didn't seem to immobilize Miroku.
Miroku stepped out and prepared to open the wind tunnel when a cry assaulted him from behind.
"NO! DON'T!" Sango came crashing down on him and gripped his hand. He glanced up at her confused and pained by the grip of her talon like hands oh his injured arm. "You can't," Sango whispered and implicated her meaning by staring at something. Miroku followed her gaze.
Miroku observed Kano leer back at him, though he was not facing them. Just beyond Kano's looming form, a small beaten figure lay strewn on the ground in a puddle of blood. It was Kohaku.
"Get away from him!" Sango roared into action, hurling the Hiriakotsu at Kano. He looked slightly annoyed and caught the spinning weapon with one hand. Sango gasped out of her fit of rage. He threw it back at her and she cried as it pinned her to the ground.
Behind them, Kagome had distracted Inuyasha. She insisted on fighting and grabbed a bow and arrow. Inuyasha conceded and stood by her until Sango came tumbling down beneath them. Kagome's face contorted as Kano's form was now clear since Sango no longer stood before him.
"Take this," her eyes glistened dangerously. She let the arrow fly and everyone watched expectantly. Kano batted it away with out even looking and stepped toward Kohaku. Kagome's jaw dropped. She was sure it would have ripped right through him.
Inuyasha lunged in front of her and drew Tessaiga. His eyes hardened and the blade glowed before changing into the mighty fang. He flung it at Kano, who turned to peer curiously at him. Kohaku seemed to be unconscious so he couldn't escape. Kano turned to face Inuyasha. He caught the Tessaiga with one hand like he had before.
"Don't you learn anything?" he stared at Inuyasha. Inuyasha just looked at him as he wrenched the blade up and quickly slashed across Kano's torso. Kano's eyes widened as he nimbly retreated. He even looked impressed.
"You must have been practicing," Kano marveled. A fine tear was visible in Kano's black kimono.
"Huh," Inuyasha snorted. "You sure leave in a hurry don't you?" Inuyasha's eyes were steady and commanding.
"Just getting started," Kano grinned.
Miroku sneaked behind the battling pair to Kohaku. He looped an arm under Kohaku's and dragged him up. He started slowly retreating out of sight.
Inuyasha didn't spare Miroku a glance so as not to give away his presence. Kagome watched as she helped Sango back to her feet. Inuyasha seemed calm and collected.
Kano watched as small grin slipped between Inuyasha's lips. Kano dangerously returned the gesture before leaping forward. His hair flapped behind him at his speed. He watched as Inuyasha's complexion steadily peered at him. Inuyasha then plunged Tessiaga up at his plummeting form. Kano's irritated countenance caught the sword yet again and landed in front of Inuyasha still gripping it, but ready to strike. Inuyasha fired a fist into Kano's jaw upon his touching ground. Kano's face was nothing short of horror. He utterly couldn't believe he had be struck. He released the sword and it was brought to his neck. How dare he? Kano's wrath boiled.
Kagome beamed at the seemingly easy victory. It was surprising to say the least, how well this was going. What a difference Inuyasha made! It was totally different from last time.
Inuyasha pressed the sword to Kano's neck, but a pink fire burst out of Kano's neck and banished Inuyasha back into the hut.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried.
Sango grabbed her Hiriakotsu and charged Kano. She offered him a fist which he dodged and then swept the Hiriakotsu under his feet. He jumped over it and latched on Sango's weapon wielding arm. His crushing grip threatened to break her slim forearm and she yelped. He grinned at her weakness only to feel his gut penetrated by her sword. He looked down, and sure enough it was implanted there. He glared at her charged face.
Sango breathed hard as she withdrew the sword to gouge him again. Kano twisted the fist that immobilized her hand and she screamed. He nimbly wound her arm about her head, spraining it and forced her to pivot so that he held her back to him. He held her hostage as she painfully looked up to behold Inuyasha.
"Let her go," he threatened.
"Certainly," Kano smiled mischievously.
Sango felt a rush of energy flow through her body. It stemmed from where Kano clutched her arm and sifted through her entire being. She glanced behind her at her captivator. What is he doing?
Suddenly Kano released her and she slammed into Inuaysha who fell down with her. He yelled as she knocked into him. His fire rat cloak started smoking. Her earthy eyes widened, bewildered. She scrambled to get off him. He clutched his chest wearily. Kagome grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Inuyasha! Are you alright?"
Inuyasha cringed as he sat up. He stared at Sango who was frightened and confused. Sango stared at her hands and then back up at Inuyasha. How did this happen? Sango knew she possessed no spiritual powers. Inuyasha and she continued to exchanged confused glances until Kagome gasped.
"Where did he go?"
"What?" Inuyasha asked.
"Kano's gone!"
"What!" Sango couldn't believe it.
"He must have gone after Miroku and Kohaku," Inuyasha reasoned as he stood up. He sheathed Tessaiga and leapt after the way Miroku had gone. Sango got up.
"Kiara!" Sango yelled for her companion who immediately appeared. She and Kagome leapt on to catch up with the sprinting hanyou.
"Wind tunnel!" A cry in the distance hastened them to reach Miroku and Kohaku.
As Sango and Kagome reached Miroku, he was just outside a hut, trying to fend off a provoked Kano. Kagome jumped down as soon as they got there and drew her bow. Sango charged the villain with Kiara. Miroku had closed the wind tunnel and was looking weak. Sango noticed his anguish at having used his wounded arm. Inuyasha was there too, standing just before Miroku, defending him.
With all her fury, Sango tried to drive Kano off. He did not react or even turn to her as she stormed at him. Kiara strategically flew down for the kill when he ducked, and with a fluid motion, unsheathed his strange sword and bore it up directly under them. An all consuming pillar of fierce pink light ripped through the sky for as far as the eye could see. It was like a horrible column of pure energy, yet it glowed black. Sango let out a piercing scream and Kiara roared in defeat.
Kagome dropped her arrow as she was blinded by the mighty force that smote her friend. She protected her eyes with her arm as a ripple of wind followed the attack and washed over the bystanders. The light started to dissipate and all Kagome could do was stare in disbelief.
There Kano stood. He lowered his weapon to point at the ground. His face was blank, as though nothing had happened.
"S..San... go!" Miroku let out a call that sounded more like a wail.
"No, Sango!" Kagome searched desperately to locate the demon slayer and Kiara. Inuyasha was just staring straight up in total shock.
"Sango..." Inuyasha called almost breathlessly.
"You, you.. BASTARD!" Miroku screamed like a battle cry.
A man who had been inside the hut behind Miroku and Inuyasha, ducked out. He ran as fast as he could to get away. He carried a scalpal and Kagome assumed him to be a doctor. That meant Kohaku must be inside the hut! Kagome looked down at her arrow. She felt so helpless. She couldn't shoot a sacred arrow.
Miroku dashed forward in front of Inuyasha who startled at his abrupt action. He dug in his robes and pulled out a scroll with a lot of scribbles on it. He threw it at Kano, who held up his sword to it. It met a barrier, but did not disappear. It appeared to be fighting it. Kano looked distractedly at it and almost elegantly flipped his sword up and slashed through the sutra. It burned a green smoke that formed a skull as it vanished. Kagome gasped from the side.
"Miroku, get out of the way!" Inuyasha drew Tessaiga. Except Miroku didn't and he unwrapped his sacred beads that contained the wind tunnel.
"Look!" Kagome cried. She pointed up at a two small black dots in the azure sky. Miroku and Inuyasha chanced to see the falling objects. Miroku's eyes grew wide.
"It's Sango and Kiara," Inuyasha breathed. Miroku looked desperate. She glanced at Inuyasha pleadingly.
"What do we do?" Kagome's eyes watered.
"You're not going anywhere!" Miroku glared at Kano, pure hatred in his eyes. He pulled back the beads. Kano blankly stared at him and with his sword-free hand, pointed up. Miroku looked to clearly see Sango and Kiara's bodies tumbling rapidly down at them.
With out a word, Inuyasha hurled himself up off the ground at the plummeting forms. He flew into Sango and tore her away from gravity and latched one hand onto Kiara's paw. He was around seventy feet in the air. Kagome watched as he draped Sango over his shoulder and desperately held onto Kiara with two hands. Kagome ran over to where they would land, which was somewhere behind Kano. Her heart was in her throat.
Miroku unleashed the wind tunnel. At that, Kano ran straight at him. Miroku couldn't believe it. Kano sidestepped so he through his back to Miroku and sunk his feet into the earth as he skidded into Miroku. Miroku didn't fall back, but his other arm was jarred from holding the wind tunnel steady. Kano latched onto the wind tunnel arm and pointed it straight at Inuyasha, Sango, and Kiara's descending forms. They were caught in the vortex and Sango slid out from Inuyasha's grasp. He made a last swipe for her, but missed.
"Ah!" Inuyasha cried.
"Sango!" Kagome screamed.
"No!" Miroku tried to close the wind tunnel and throw off Kano, but to no avail when suddenly Kano released him. Miroku broke into a run, but saw that he would be too late. He opened the wind tunnel a second time and pulled her. Her unconscious form fell more toward him now. He closed the wind tunnel and lunged for her. She landed with a smack that crashed them into the ground.
Inuyasha reached ground with a snapping crunch. He landed in a hut. Kiara lay on top of him. Kagome, who was relieved to see Sango and Miroku ok, rushed to find Inuyasha. Kiara was still knocked out and her fir was frizzled and dusty. Kagome tried to pull her off of Inuyasha, but the demon cat was too big.
Inuyasha grunted and pulled himself up. He coughed as the dust settled. Kagome pulled him up, though he slumped back.
"Kagome," he looked at her, "is everyone alright?"
"Yes," she smiled relief.
He closed his eyes and smiled. He tried to stand up again. Kagome gasped as she discovered blood smattering his legs and almost pouring down his back.
"Oh no! You're wound is open!"
Inuyasha didn't even look at her as he walked out, limping slightly.
"Kagome, watch over Kiara."
"Inuyasha,"
Kano was gone from where he had been standing. Miroku shakily got up as Inuyasha's shadow passed over his face. He checked Sango to see she wasn't wounded. She appeared to be only unconscious. He laid her down and followed Inuyasha who gingerly approached the hut where Kohaku had been placed. Kano strode out suddenly, Kohaku under his arm.
Inuyasha growled and revealed Tessaiga. Kano just stared back. Kohaku was drenched in blood. His body was limp and he showed no sign of life.
"You didn't," Miroku glared at him.
"If you care for his life, you won't follow," Kano declared.
"You,..." Inuysha hissed. He looked to attack. Kano shot straight up into the air. A white light flashed above them and he was gone.
"Damn it," Inuyasha breathed.
"Go after him, Inuyasha. Sango and I will follow once she wakes." Miroku told him. Inuyasha nodded as Kagome came over. She was holding her bow and arrows.
"I'm going with you," she announced.
Inuyasha looked at her for a moment and then agreed. She quickly walked over to him and waited for him to let her on his back. He was slow to respond, but then admitted her. Miroku watched them dash off. It was up to them now.