Author's Note: Thank you all for your reviews! Please enjoy the rest of the story. I's only going to get better. (To get you a hint, I plan on about 21 chapters to this story)
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of it characters. I do, however, own this story and all created characters.
Chapter 12: Phase Three- The Little Trickster
Kohaku scooted around the tiny hut, planting himself down behind the wooden house, away from the people. With his wounded leg extended, he breathed slowly, trying to alleviate the pain from his mind. With his eyes shut, he thought about the two people he encountered, a girl wishing for the affection of a demon and a monk longing to see his sister. The two were different and alike. Both wanted something that may never happen. His thoughts became fuzzy at the sound of crinkling grass. He opened his eyes, looking for the source of the sound. To his left a young fox demon popped his head from the side of the hut.
"Kohaku, what are doing here? You should be in bed resting," Shippo scolded at the boy as he ran to his side, "your wound is serious." He grabbed Kohaku's arm in an attempt to move him. Kohaku, surprised at the pup's determination, smiled to himself.
"Shippo, can you help me?" he asked sweetly.
"I am trying to help you!" Shippo struggled to say, pushing the boy's arm.
"I mean with something else. See that bag?" Kohaku pointed to a woven brown sack that hung from a hook. It looked heavy. Shippo nodded towards the bag.
"I know you are strong. I felt it when you lifted my arm," Kohaku praised, making the child beam, "Do you think you could get it for me?"
Without a verbal response, Shippo climbed the side of the wooden building. He tapped the hook, loosing its grip on the sack. The sack fell with a thump on the ground. The pup jumped down next to the bag. Rolling his sleeves, he prepared himself for a bit of work. He grabbed the sack with both hands and tugged. The sack moved an inch.
"That's it," Kohaku encouraged the little demon, "You are almost there."
Shippo paused and then looked at the injured boy, puzzled.
"Why do you need the sack?"
Kohaku gulped silently at the question. He stared at the pondering pup, but no words left his mouth. Shippo's wide eyes began to squint in question at the lack of an answer.
"Well," Shippo began.
"There is something inside for you." The speed of the sentence excited the fox demon. His eyes once again widened.
"Really," the young demon responded in glee. Kohaku nodded with a small smile.
"If it would be easier, you can get it out from over there."
The eyes of the child grew even larger. He rubbed his paws together, thinking about what could be inside the plain sack. No longer able to contain his excitement, he crawled into the sack. The light from outside hardly lit the sack, making it difficult to see. Using his sense of touch, he searched around for something, anything. He frowned after searching for what seemed like hours. Placing his fists on his hips, he shouted angrily through the opening of the sack.
"There's nothing in here!" He saw a dark figure, holding a smaller sealed sack. Fear overcame the fox demon as the figure threw the small pouch into the bag. Darkness followed as dust began to fly inside the woven sack. Shippo coughed and scratched at the sides of the sack, trying to free himself.
The injured boy held the sack tight. He felt the young demon struggle. The sack became less and less mobile as the demon's motions began to slow. The powder had taken affect. The bundle slept as he tied the sack with some twine. Releasing his gripped, he strained to stand. The pain in his leg was still excruciating. Finally on two feet, he heard leaves rustling. He looked towards the trees, towards the sound. The figure dropped from the trees, landed quietly in front of him.
"Did you complete the task?" The wounded boy asked the visitor.
Kohaku nodded, holding his hands out for the boy to see. In his hand he held a sedated cat demon, curled in a ball. The wounded boy grinned in satisfaction. He untied and opened the sack where Shippo slept, allowing Kohaku to place Kirara with him. He resealed the sack and gripped it tightly.
"The hairs have been collected." The boy stated to his master, holding out two long black strands of hair.
"You should have three, besides these," Kohaku stared as he handed a white cat hair and a long silver strand to his double.
The twin stroked his hair, extracting a foreign hair.
"This is from the monk," The creature said, hoping to please him.
"Take the sack to the tree, place them at the base." Kohaku told his double.
The dead boy began to walk from his deceitful double, ready to leave. As he left, Saimyosho emerged from the trees. One swooped down and took the jewel shard that was stuck to the creature's back, which was attached by wax. It winced in pain. Knowing that it was no longer a true copy of Kohaku, it took its Kusari-gama and removed the leach embedded in its leg. The leach squirmed before it met its demise by the blade. The creature's leg healed in an instant with the irritation gone.
"Kirara!" A voice was heard in the distance. The creature knew it was Sango, but did Kohaku? Kohaku stopped at the sound of the voice.
"I know that voice, but from where." Kohaku grabbed his head. As soon as he grabbed it he released it. His eyes were glazed over, showing the creature that he was under Naraku's control.
The Saimyosho whispered the orders into the creature's ear. It stared at Kohaku, knowing what his commands were to do. Hearing the footsteps of the demon slayer, the creature left into the forest, sack in hand and the Saimyosho following behind.
"Kirara," Sango repeated, hoping her friend would respond. She turned the corner of the hut to find her brother, standing erect, dressed in full body armor. Her surprise and concern resonated in her voice.
"What are you doing out of bed, and why are you dressed like that?" Her question did not faze the boy. Fists clenched, he raised his weapon. The young girl watched him as his weapon shined in the setting sun.
Kohaku, no. Her worst fear had again been realized. Naraku had once again played his cruel trick, a deception that ripped at her heart once more. Tears began to flow as the boy readied his attack.
"Kohaku, no!" Sango yelled, hoping her voice would get through to him. Swiftly he let the weapon swing downward, narrowly missing the girl's chest. Losing her balance, Sango fell to the floor, landing in a cloud of dust. She listened between coughs, hoping to find the boy. Instead, she heard the voice of Miroku and Kagome who were now sitting by her.
"Sango, what happened?" Kagome asked the dusty demon slayer. Recalling the recent event, more tears fell from her eyes. Cuffing her hands she covered her eyes, trying to hold back the tears.
Naraku must have taken control of Kohaku again. Miroku clenched his fists at the thought. Naraku always left them vulnerable, pulling on their weaknesses of the heart, just to get rid of them. He searched with his eyes, hoping to find a hint to where the boy went. No footprints, no misplaced plants. It was like he disappeared. Looking back at Sango, his heart broke. Watching her cry over her brother again made him ache. He promised to himself that he will get Naraku and return her brother, so she would no longer cry.