One chapter left! I'll have this finished either by tonight or tomorrow I swear (I know that sounds familiar doesn't it) I seriously can't wait for this story to be done. I am soooo sorry about the wait.
Kohaku's POV-
The trek back to the campsite was taking longer than expected, and I noticed the ground was getting wetter and wetter, almost like we were walking through a swamp. Kikyo didn't seem to mind, in fact she said nothing.
"Uh, La-… Miss Kikyo, are you sure we're going the right way? I'm afraid we might be- Ah!" I started only to fall face first into a large puddle of mud.
"Oh dear, you should be more careful," she said, her voice dark. I pushed myself up and looked back at her, seeing that her foot was pressed down on a branch, causing the other end to be sticking up. Observing the now protruding branch, I realized that the part that was protruding upward was the same branch that I had tripped over.
"Now you're covered in mud, you must want to clean up," she continued, gently grabbing my shoulders and helping me to my feet. "We need to get that stench off you so you don't irritate Inuyasha and Kirara's sense of smell," she explained, but I couldn't help but feel weird about the way she was acting.
Mud was usually scentless; would it really bother their noses so much that I needed to bathe before I could be around them? Before I had a chance to question her, we were already at a river and she was heading back to the woods.
"I'll be back in a little while to bring some fire wood so we can dry your clothes when you're finished. Be sure to do a good job. I'm sure you don't want to see you sister while looking like you just crawled out of your grave," she commanded, sneering slightly before disappearing into the woods.
Unfortunately, she did hit a soft spot. I haven't seen Sango in so long and I'm sure I looked like a wreck. On top of being covered in mud, there's no doubt that I was covered in scrapes and bruises from being chased through the woods so many times.
With that thought in mind, I stripped down to my hakama before laying the rest of my clothes on the bank and stepping into the water. Yelping slightly at how cold the water was, I quickly started scrubbing the dirt and grime from my skin.
After I was positive that all the dirt and dried blood was gone, I grabbed my clothes and scrubbed them all clean right as Kikyo came back with a basket full of wood and twigs.
"I see I came back just in time. I'll start a fire, why don't you hang your clothes on this branch and I'll start the fire underneath so they can dry quickly," she offered, smiling, but I could see that the smile was just for my sake.
"Uh… thank you," I muttered, hanging the clothes where she told me before seating myself on the ground as she worked to start the fire.
Once the fire started, we sat in uncomfortable silence. Kikyo busied herself with tending the fire by continuously feeding it stacks of wood. However, after sometime I noticed that the fire was producing a lot of smoke.
"Uh, maybe you shouldn't keep throwing wood on, it's smoking quite a lot, I think it can't get enough air," I commented, catching her attention for a brief moment before she went back to what she was doing.
"The wood is wet, it can't be helped," she stated, pushing the coals around which caused another puff of smoke to fly into the air and envelope my clothing.
I grimaced, realizing that my clothes would probably smell like smoke for the next two weeks before falling back into silence.
Every once in a while Kikyo would say something, either commenting on the weather, or future travel plans, but I didn't really listen.
In my eyes she was still the enemy. She may be innocent in all this, but it was because of her that Kagome was so miserable. Hasn't she ever heard of an empty gesture? Sure, Kagome was selfless enough to actually give Kikyo her soul, but she should have declined.
A priestess should know better than anyone that the living must die, and the dead must stay dead. A walking corpse like her was an unholy abomination. She was never meant to walk on this earth again.
Of course I still planned to treat her with respect, Inuyasha would probably kill me if I didn't, but that didn't mean I had to like her.
"You're clothes are now dry," she said, pulling me from my thoughts as she pulled my clothes off their branch. She turned away, allowing me to get changed, before dowsing the flames with water. "Come, I'm sure Sango will be thrilled to see you," she stated, smiling as she led the way through the forest.
It was then that I realized that this was truly happening. I was finally being reunited with Sango after being separated for so long. Did she truly forgive me for what I did to our clan? Would the others accept me as easily as Kagome did?
We walked in silence, her leading the way while I watched my feet to make sure I wouldn't trip again.
I couldn't help but worry about Sango's comrades. I knew Kirara would accept me, but what about the monk, Miroku, and Inuyasha? Kikyo seemed indifferent about me being there, but would the others trust me?
After what seemed like an eternity, I could finally see a camp fire in the distance and the smell of cooked fish wafted through the air.
I could feel my chest tighten, and my heart beat thundered in my ears. Kikyo was the first to enter the clearing the campsite was in, and when she did, she announced her return.
"I've returned, and I brought with me an old friend," she stated, gesturing to me just as Sango looked up.
"Sister!" I yelled, unable to control myself as I ran toward her. She was quickly scrambling to her feet, shooting past the monk as she lunged at me, enveloping me in her arms.
"Kohaku! Are you okay? You're not hurt are you?" she asked, fussing over me as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"No, Sister, I'm fine. Better than fine, the jewel shards gone, he can't control me anymore, I'm finally free," I sobbed clutching her tightly as she gasped, before letting out a breathless, choked laugh.
"Is it true? I-is it really gone?" she asked Kikyo, pulling away slightly giving me time to register that Miroku was smiling by the fire with Kirara while Inuyasha was nowhere to be found.
"Yes, I have the shard in my possession and it has been purified. He will no longer be a pawn of Naraku," she explained, causing Sango to crush me in her embrace.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," she exclaimed, squeezing tighter and tighter. I was so absorbed in my happiness that it didn't even register that Sango was thanking Kikyo for saving me.
For the next week I spent every second I had with Sango. In the morning, everyone would wake up and Sango and I would prepare breakfast, then we would set out traveling. We would occasionally come across a demon with a jewel shard, but usually Sango and I would deal with them, almost like family bonding.
In fact, Inuyasha and Kikyo tended to keep to themselves. They would both walk quietly at the head of the group, and whenever we set up camp, Inuyasha would disappear into the trees while Kikyo settled herself at the base of a tree, watching over Miroku, Sango, and I.
Multiple times I attempted to bring it up, either to Sango or Inuyasha himself, but something always got in the way, whether it was a demon, or just making up for lost time with Sango when she had something to show me.
However, when I woke up this morning I knew something was off. Something was going to happen and I didn't know what but I didn't like the feeling.
"Kohaku, you've been quiet all morning. Is something the matter?" Sango asked, smiling at me while I shook myself out of my stupor.
"Yes, Sister, I'm okay, I just-" I started when a loud growl reverberated throw the forest. Without a second thought we all jumped into positions. I pulled out my kusarigama, while Sango prepared Hiraikotsu and Miroku quickly scanned the area, his staff in his hand prepared to defend.
Kikyo seemed rather calm, but her bow was already drawn, prepared to attack when ready, and even though Inuyasha seemed rather indifferent, he was gripping Tetsuaiga just in case he needed to unsheathe the sword.
"The beast has five jewel shards," Kikyo stated, before turning to Inuyasha. "And it's heading this way," she finished, while Inuyasha nodded.
"We'll take his jewel shards and send him to hell," he muttered, drawing Tetsuaiga lazily while I cringed. With that attitude he was most likely to do something reckless and get himself killed. He needed to be more careful.
However, I didn't have time to think about that, because as soon as Tetsuaiga was drawn, a large, grotesque demon emerged from the forest.
"Give it to me!" the beast roared, slashing out at Inuyasha and Kikyo. Inuyasha quickly jumped out of the way, leaving Kikyo who threw herself to the ground, just missing the attack.
"Let's go!" Sango yelled, heaving Hiraikotsu back before hurdling it towards the demon. The hit was successful; however the skin on the demon was strong due to the jewel shard, so it simply grazed the demon, leaving a thin cut in its wake. However, it succeeded in taking out two of its jewel shards
The beast roared, now angry while Inuyasha blindly attacked, only to get knocked aside, and slammed into a tree.
"Inuyasha!" Kikyo screamed, firing an arrow. However, because she was so distracted by Inuyasha, the spiritual arrow missed, flying blindly into the forest. "What?" she gasped reeling backwards as the demon swiped at her again, causing her to fall backwards, snapping her bow in the process.
"Miroku! Kohaku! Do something!" Sango yelled, frantically pulling at Hiraikotsu which seated itself deeply into the truck of the tree.
"Right," I yelled as I threw kusarigama at the demon, successfully sinking the blade into its leg and extracting another jewel shard. The demon roared, and I couldn't help but smile at how far I've gotten as a demon slayer.
"Kohaku!" I heard Miroku scream, and before I had a chance to react I was being thrown to the ground by him. The demon then slammed his fist into Miroku, the blow that was meant for me, which sent him flying into Sango.
"Sister! Miroku!" I yelled, cursing under my breath. Sister and Miroku were defenseless, my weapon was lodged into the demons leg, and Kikyo's bow was snapped in half.
Inuyasha pulled himself to his feet, growling loudly before attacking again. I cringed when I saw how reckless his attacks were. He was basically swinging wildly in an attempt to kill the thing.
"Inuyasha! Calm down! If you fight like that your defenses will be down!" I yelled, but he just growled, shooting me a dirty look as he sliced at the demons arm. Another jewel shard.
Knowing I couldn't talk any sense into him, I scrambled to my feet before running to Sango and Miroku. Miroku was old cold, accidently hitting his head on Hiraikotsu when he saved me from the demons attack, and Sango was still trying to pull Hiraikotsu out of the tree.
"Sango, you have to talk to Inuyasha. If he keeps acting like this he's going to get hurt!" I pleaded, while gripping Hiraikotsu and trying to help free it from the tree.
"I can't! He's been like this ever since Kagome went home and sealed the well," she cried, a few tears forming in her eyes as I reeled back.
"Wait, what?" I asked, blanking slightly. However, before she had a chance to explain, Inuyasha let out a blood curdling scream.
Sango and I cursed slightly before looking towards the fight. Inuyasha was slumped on the ground, a puddle of blood slowly spreading beneath him, and my own kusarigama protruding from his stomach.
"Inuyasha!" Kikyo screamed while the demon grabbed the kusarigama's chain, lifting Inuyasha into the air and swinging him around wildly. Blood splattered on the ground and the trees, no doubt from the wound being torn wider, while Kikyo ran towards us.
"What happened?" Sango asked, tearing her eyes off of Inuyasha to look at Kikyo who looked like she was going to be sick.
"I don't know. One minute he was focused on fighting but then he was looking over here at you and the boy, and he was so distracted about whatever was going on over here that he didn't defend himself from the monsters attack. Please, Sango, you must help him!" she begged, literally dropping down to her knees.
Sango frowned before standing up dropping down to Miroku and looking at me, then Inuyasha, and the demon. I could literally see thoughts churning in her head as she assessed the situation.
"Kohaku, I need you to distract the demon, get your kusarigama back, and when I tell you to, you need to get Inuyasha and get away from the demon," she explained, so I nodded, jumping to my feet.
Grabbing some rocks from the ground, I started throwing them at the demon's head; successfully hitting him, and causing him to growl.
Instantly, he dropped Inuyasha and my weapon, and started charging towards me. Cringing, I threw another few rocks that hit him in the eyes, momentarily blinding him and freeing the last jewel shard while I dashed through his legs towards Inuyasha, grabbing the scattered jewel shards as I ran.
"Kohaku, get out of there!" Sango yelled, so I grabbed kusarigama from Inuyasha's stomach carefully and pulled him towards the nearest tree.
"Strap yourselves down somewhere!" she instructed, so I used kusarigama's chain and wrapped it around Inuyasha and I before wrapping it around the tree. I gave her a thumbs up so she nodded, and after pushing Kikyo behind her, she grabbed Miroku's right hand and pulled the beads that sealed the wind tunnel off.
Aiming his hand at the demon, the wind tunnel burst to life, pulling the demons body into the void along with a few branches and rocks. Once the demon was gone, Sango forced his hand closed and re-wrapped the bead, sealing the weapon and letting out a deep sigh.
Taking a breath, I untangled Inuyasha and I from the tree before propping him up on the trunk as Kikyo and Sango ran over.
"Sango, Kohaku, go get a bucket of water. Hurry!" Kikyo commanded, while Sango nodded and grabbed my hand; dragging me into the woods.
Once we found a rounded piece of bark, Sango brought me to the nearest river before dropping to her knees and getting to work.
"Sango… back there you said about Kagome sealing the well… what were you talking about?" I asked quietly, while Sango's hands froze.
"About four weeks ago Kagome disappeared. No one knows why, but she returned home with Shippo and sealed the well so Inuyasha can't get through. For the first we he tried desperately to get her back, but eventually he gave up trying to get through the well.
"Ever since she left he's been completely reckless. He no longer cares about his own life, all he wants is to complete the jewel so he can bring her back," she explained, a few stray tear streaming down her cheeks.
Then it all started to make sense. The reason he never came after Kagome was because he didn't know she was still here.
"Sango… who told you that Lady Kagome went home?" I asked tentatively, while she looked up giving me a weird look.
"Kikyo saw her jump into the well… she tried to reverse the seal but Kagome's spiritual power is stronger than her owns. She's been traveling with us to help Inuyasha get her back by locating the jewel shards," she deadpanned, however, I stopped listening to her.
Kikyo tricked her. She lied to Kagome and has been lying to everyone else. Inuyasha was terribly wounded because he thought Kagome left him.
Slowly the pieces started fitting together. The reason Inuyasha never searched for Kagome, the tension at the campsite, how reckless Inuyasha was in battle, everything was making sense.
"That's why she tripped me in the words…" I muttered to myself, earning a weird look from Sango. "Sango… she's been lying to you this entire time. Kagome never went home. She's still here. She was the one who saved me from Naraku!" I exclaimed, my heart beating thundering in my ears.
"Kohaku what are you talking about? That doesn't make any sense!" Sango questioned, dropping the bark onto the ground.
"Kagome never left! Kikyo summoned her one day to ask her to say goodbye to Inuyasha for her because she was dying. Her body couldn't handle to foreign souls anymore. So being Kagome, she gave Kikyo most of her soul, so she could stay with Inuyasha.
"She and Shippo have been traveling together until they found me in the woods, she saw how scared I was and she found out how to take the jewel shard out.
"She brought me to Sesshomaru and he used Tensaiga to bring me back to life after she removed the jewel shard. She's traveling with him now as a deal for helping me," I finished, and I could see Sango's eyes come alive with anger.
"That lying witch!" she snarled, slamming a fist into the ground. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted her. I knew Kagome wouldn't just leave like that! God dammit!" she yelled, crying uncontrollably.
"Sango, that's not all. Without her soul, Kagome is slowly dying. If she doesn't get it back she'll die," I explained, my own tears falling freely. Sango's eyes became wide, and before I had a chance to react she was standing up, grabbing my arm.
"Let's go," she growled, dragging me back to where Inuyasha and the others were.