Chapter 18: Silent Night
A rustling noise awoke Kagome from her light sleep. It was pitch dark save for the moonlit entrance of the cave. She groggily swayed her head back and forth as she searched for someone.
"Kikyo?" She whispered. Her voice was meek and her throat dry. Her wounds were tender and she gently propped herself up on her elbows to look about. But the priestess was nowhere to be found. The fireplace where Kikyo once sat was cold and abandoned.
A scuffing sound echoed from the entrance of the cave. Kagome ducked down and slowly slunk backwards in the dark. Her glistening eyes stared out of the blackness.
A figure stood in the entranceway to the cave. A woman. But not Kikyo.
Kagome retreated as quietly as she could.
The figure did not move for a long time. She seemed to be staring into the cave, but Kagome could not read the expressions on her face for it was hidden by shadows. The moonlight poured down her back. She waited for a long while.
Kagome bit her lip. Can she see me?
The woman slowly stepped inside the cavern. She let out a hiss of disgust.
"What a place to wait," her voice said distastefully.
Kagome had to stifle a gasp with her hand. Kagura! Kagome immediately recognized her voice. She tried to muffle her breathing or any noise that would give her away.
Kagura released her displeasure and then pulled out her fan. It snapped open and she held it to her mouth for a moment. Kagome sucked in a deep breath. One dance of blades would be enough. Kagome felt a drop of sweat siphon down her cheek. She doesn't know I'm here, does she? Where's Kikyo? Is she coming back? She didn't... She didn't tell Kagura I was in here...? Kagome felt her hands go cold. Her heart started pounding in her chest.
Kagura waved her fan gently. A slight breeze whistled through the cave. Kagome ducked her head down. But then another figure stepped up beside Kagura. They both stood outlined in the moonlight. This one was smaller and had a weapon loosely gripped in his right hand.
Kagome's eyes widened. Kohaku!
Kagura lifted her fan and Kohaku stepped further inside the cave. Kagome felt her muscles tense. Her breathing came faster and her heart started racing. Kohaku's chain clinked as his shuffling gait drew nearer and nearer to Kagome's best attempt at a hiding place. She swallowed.
The boy stepped closer and closer. Kagome bit her lip to stifle her agitation. She was trapped. He would see her any second now. But if she tried to run for it she would be spotted and cut down. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't see any way out. She lay paralyzed.
Kohaku stopped right above her. She pinched her eyes shut, praying he wouldn't say anything. After an agonizing minute that felt like an eternity, Kagome dared to open her eyes. He was just standing there. She blinked in amazement. How could he not have noticed...?
"Okay that's far enough," Kagura commanded and then shut her fan with a snap. Kagome watched wide-eyed as Kohaku's body let out from under him and he fell limp beside her. His head hit the cold dirty floor with a smack. His knees knocked together. Kagome sucked in another horrified breath. All she could do was stare into his vacant pale hazy eyes.
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Kikyo walked silently in the quiet moonlight. She enjoyed the secrecy the night afforded her. Owls hooted in the trees and the wind swept through the trees. Their branches swayed uneasily.
Kikyo stopped and lifted a hand toward the heavens. A single soul collector descended down to her and dropped a soul into her grasp. Then more came circling around offering the small orbs of light. She passed about the souls and directed her servants like in a mystical dance. Her body felt replenished. She gracefully waved off a soul collector from her side. They continued to orbit the area.
It hadn't been long since she left the cave, but she should return soon. The trees were agitated. She felt a tingle run down her spine.
Something rustled in the woods behind her. She turned about quickly.
Kano stood not but a few feet away with a sinister smile. She glared at him.
"Hello, Kikyo," he said in a despicable tone. She raised a distrusting brow. He lunged at her. She eluded him swiftly, but his speed was amazing.
Kano darted between the trees and grabbed her by the arms. She saw his fangs glint as his face drew closer to hers. A blast of pink erupted between them. Kano shrieked and jumped back. Kikyo held her steaming bow firmly in her hand. He rubbed his maul sorely. Something about her proud pose and her ostentatious hold on the bow infuriated him. He withdrew his long sword and displayed it for her. He couldn't wait to make her tremble with fear.
He swept his sword at her with an air-ripping thrust. Kikyo bristled as she felt the wind stroke her face.
His blade was sharp and powerful. A strong power was coming from him, a power like none she had felt in ages. She felt her body tense as she held her ground. He held his sword pointed at her face. His stare deadlocked with hers.
"Come quietly now," he hissed.
Her mouth twisted into a very subtle surly smile. The sour look on his face only festered.
"What makes you think I should fear you?" Her voice was crisp in the soft night.
"Things are a bit different than when we first met. I think you should know that by now," a foul smile crept over his lips. Kikyo's eyes wandered over the magnificent dark power coming from inside him. "But I still need your spiritual power."
"How pathetic," she said flatly. He waited patiently with a sneer. She didn't move. Her bow remained firmly in her hand.
"Have it your way," he waved his sword about and then darted forward again. Kikyo side stepped one devastating slash and then another. His sword sunk mercilessly into the soil each time. The earth endured the deep scathing thrusts as he slashed and scraped his way at her in a maddened dash.
All he would have to do was subdue her enough to extract her power. He'd hoped she wouldn't have time to react, but she surprised him with her agility. Frustration boiled inside of him.
Kano suddenly stopped his assault and withdrew from sight. Kikyo stood waiting with her bow in hand. She knew he was watching her from the shadows somewhere.
The night was quiet again after a barrage of attacks. The silence was hungry for action. The stillness begged for movement.
Kikyo let a hidden arrow she held in her other hand slide gently out of inside her sleeve. She fitted it in her bow and fired. A blast mushroomed out of the woods nearby. Kikyo waited. Her eyes searched the site for his form, but she would not go check. His sword rested in the soil unattended. She watched it for any movement, but nothing stirred.
She lowered her bow slowly. Something was moving over the ground. She peered down as a shiny metallic liquid started crawling over the soil toward her. She stared cautiously and backed away. She bumped into something from behind and spun around. Kano drove his fist clasping the arrow down upon her. But at the instant he should have stabbed her with her own weapon, the arrow glowed a magnificent pink. He screamed and dropped it. His hand steamed and fizzled. He backed away as he clutched his afflicted palm.
The arrow dropped onto the shining liquid at their feet and burst with light. The fluid purified to pure water and the arrow disintegrated.
Kano's face mixed with surprise and fury. He hissed venomously at her like a snake. His enamel white teeth glinted in the moonlight and his irises glowed with rage.
"You will pay for that," he seethed, "This isn't over." He darted over to reclaim his sword. Kikyo squeezed her bow, but he didn't return for her. Instead he escaped into the night. The darkness quickly filled his place.
The trees moaned after he left. The tension brooding in the woods hadn't faded at all. It was only growing thicker. Kikyo's brow furrowed. She hurried away from the area.
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"Just how long does he intend to keep me waiting here with this? Such a dreadful creepy place." Kagura sat by the entrance of the cave peering out. She sighed and peered back inside the cave to where Kohaku's body lay. So this new demon killed him for the sacred jewel shard in his back did he? Is this all a part of Naraku's plan?
A scuffling noise made her look up. Kagura's eyes narrowed and she stood up.
"What was that?" Her voice was demanding. She stepped over the cold bare floor and inspected. It was dark beyond the mouth of the cave. She stared hard and long, but nothing else sounded. A spider crawled along the floor by Kohaku's face. Kagura watched absentmindedly. She turned around and stopped.
Below her was a barren patch of earth. An outline was present, even in the darkness. She stepped back to get a better look.
"So... this is where Naraku was born," she stared carefully at the outline on the stone. A chill ran up her back and she briskly stepped over to the threshold of the entrance. She stared out longingly. He's watching me even now, isn't he?
When Kagura had finally turned her back, Kagome let out a breath she'd been holding. She felt her pulse pounding like a hammer inside her head. She didn't know what to do and it didn't seem like Kikyo was coming back. Still, Kagura didn't seem to know she was there either.
Kagome covered her mouth with her hand. A spider was crawling over toward her. It slowly inched toward Kohaku and crept along the side of his face. The small eight-legged creature reached the edge of his neck and slipped inside his kimono. She firmly clasped her hands over her mouth and scooted back when she bumped against a rock beside her and it clattered to the ground. Kagome gasped. Oh no!
Kagura spun about and stared with her deep red eyes. Kagome sat up on her haunches despite the pain in her wounds.
"Ahhhh!" Kagome yelled as she dashed out of the way of a slicing blade of wind that ripped into the wall she was just crouched by. She clattered to the cold hard floor and scraped her fingernails as she shakily tried to get up.
"I thought I heard something back here," Kagura stepped over to her and tapped her fan to her lips. "So it's you," she stared down at Kagome. Kagome held a hand against her wet bandage and breathed hard. She squatted and waited for Kagura to make her next move. "What are you doing alone in a place like this?"
"What have you done to Kohaku," Kagome demanded through short breaths.
"Kohaku..." The name drifted off Kagura's petite red lips. Her eyes trailed from his form back to Kagome's starved brown irises, "I didn't do anything to him. But that's not exactly your problem now is it?"
"What happened to him?" Kagome seethed.
"Afraid I don't know," she snapped her fan open. Her deep red eyes took in everything about Kagome's condition and her isolation. "No bows or arrows, no clothes whatsoever, and no Inuyasha. What could you have possibly been doing in Onigumo's cave? Hiding perhaps? With wounds like that I wouldn't be surprised."
Kagome didn't respond. She offered Naraku's incarnation an angry glare.
"It really doesn't matter to me what you were doing, but it looks like today is not your lucky day." Kagura lifted her fan. What shall I do with her? Should I kill her? Is that what Naraku intended?
Kagura's condemning carmine irises stared down at her. Then the wind sorceress snapped her fan shut again. Kagome watched hesitantly. Kagura lowered her fan. Kagome felt a wave of relief pass over her. Something told her that Kagura wouldn't kill her. Maybe now she could get out of here. She could just make out the sunrise brimming on the horizon outside.
The wind sorceress was about to say something when a ragged slash ripped through the cave. Kagura's eyes bugged and she slumped forward. Kagome gasped. Her eyes widened and she reflexively caught Kagura's descending form before she fell on top of her. Kagome's horrified eyes darted up to a form who was waiting just behind Kagura.
"No," Kagome gasped.
"Hello Kagome. Did you miss me?" Kano smiled.
Author's Note: Hey, sorry I know. I'm not good about updating. But at least I try. You guys are gonna make me work, huh? Well good for you. I've been slacking. Anyway, hope you enjoyed.