Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any of its characters. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi. However, this story and created characters are mine.
Chapter 18: True Intent
Miroku struggled, but felt himself getting weaker, and itchier. He stared at Sango, checking to see if she hurt. The blue eyes on his face scanned gently over her constricted body. Upon reaching her face, he cursed himself. He never should have let her go alone. Her expression read pain. She probably fought with the shape shifter, he thought, probably while it imitated him. Miroku's heart sank at the latter. Although it was not him, it was his appearance that hurt her, making him feel guilty. His eyes shifted to the ground, feeling unworthy of her presence.
Miroku forced himself to look at his love again, despite how he felt. His eyes filled with sorrow. Something wet struck his cheek, interpreting his concentration. He looked up and saw the leaves dripping a red liquid, no, a thin paste. His eyes widened upon the realization.
"Sango! Wake up!" Miroku shouted, fearing for her life. He wasn't sure how long she had been connected to the tree. The longer they stayed bound to this tree, the longer their blood was being taking from their bodies.
"Sango! Please wake up! We need to escape."
Only silence answered the monk. Fear grew inside his soul as scenarios ran through his mind. Tears dropped onto the clinging roots that blanketed his body. He could not let her die, not here, not now. His body, though, had different plans. Blood had been leaving his body since the shape shifter left him to die, draining him of strength. His eyes closed as he faced his only true love. I'm sorry.
A sudden wind swept passed the fearful monk. Feeling the breeze, Miroku open his eyes to find his demon companion standing above his trapped body.
"InuYasha," Miroku weakly groaned, lifting his head to see his rescuer.
Using Tetsusaiga, InuYasha sliced the tree, causing blood to spew. The roots hat once confined the prisoners shriveled into twigs.
"Get up," InuYasha stated, "They took Kagome. We need to save her."
Miroku was slightly suspicious of his tone, but his worry for Sango overcame those thoughts. He rose quickly and rushed to the demon slayer, cradling her in his arms.
"Sango," Miroku whispered softly while stroking her rose colored cheek. He was hoping, wishing for her safety, her well being. If she were to die, he thought, what would I have to live for?
"She's fine." Miroku shifted his eyes to his rescuer, wondering about how InuYasha got the knowledge to diagnose a person's condition.
"I don't have time for you to sit around and worry about your girlfriend. We need to save Kagome."
"What?"
"Are you coming or not?" The half-demon began to grow impatient with the hesitant monk.
"I won't leave Sango, not until she awakes," Miroku replied while watching over his unconscious beauty.
"Fine," the half-breed turned away, getting ready to go to the castle to face Naraku. One step and his plan was foiled as a strange-looking couple emerged from the canopies of nearby trees.
"Sango, Shippo!" Kagome shouted from InuYasha's back as he landed on the ground. She rushed to aid her friends, but seeing the figure of InuYasha cut her short. She stepped back, fearing for her life. She knew that this was the imposter, the shape shifter.
The doppelganger of InuYasha just stared at the girl, waiting to see what she would do next. Kagome scurried back to InuYasha, who had prepped himself for battle. His claws pointed towards his clone, ready to draw blood.
"Here," the imposter said, tossing the fang blade to its rightful owner, "I no longer wish to have it."
InuYasha, now upset by the villain's surrender, eyed his now rusty sword that lay on the ground.
"I thought I could use that sword to kill Naraku, but I do not have the capability to wield it effectively."
Wind swirled around the crestfallen shape shifter, blowing through its long locks. Upon leaving its silver hair, the wind tickled InuYasha's nose, causing it to itch. The dog demon eased his defense position, standing erect while the creature lifted its head to the sky. The creature sighed, knowing that there was nothing else it could do, for now. The Naraku incarnation turned from the group.
"Leaving without saying goodbye again Midori," InuYasha commented, causing the imposter to stumble a bit. Its head turned to look at the half demon. InuYasha continued his glare at his double, retracting his claws.
"And what would give you that notion?" The image of InuYasha responded, hoping the accuser would have no evidence to back his claim
"No incarnation of Naraku would give back my sword."
"Why would you say that?"
"Because Naraku would kill for this sword, and would give praise to any who would bring it to him."
"Then you don't know him, or his minions, very well. Naraku would destroy any who he feels are traitorous or threatening to him and his power. And he would not praise the one who brought him Tetsusaiga."
"Besides, you called me 'insensitive' just like before you left."
"But everyone calls you insensitive."
InuYasha kept calm, yet was determined to prove himself right.
"You carry the same scent that Tomi did went I accused her of being a demon." He watched his twin turn around.
"And wasn't Tomi Midori?"
The incarnation, hearing this evidence, bit its lip. It had tried hard to keep everything a secret. Her dog demon appearance melted away into the brown haired, green-eyed teenager she once was.
"Mi-Midori?" Miroku stumbled over his words. The last time he saw his sister was the day she died, when Naraku swallowed her whole. Her presence overwhelmed him. He reached his arms towards her, to touch her, to make sure she was real.
"It is me, Miroku." Midori responded to his body language, stepping back slightly, "Naraku brought me back."
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious?" InuYasha interrupted in annoyance, "To get to us, to destroy us."
"You are right," Midori sadly replied, her head hung low; "his intention was to use me to separate your group, and destroy you one by one."
"So you took us to the tree to have us killed by allowing it to suck our blood." Sango, who had awakened at the sound of voices, now joined the conversation.
"If the blood sucking roots touched you, then that is what would have happened."
"But we were. The roots had wrapped around us and…" Sango stopped suddenly as she felt the ground shift beneath her. She, along with Miroku, jumped up to avoid the sinking earth. The two grabbed Shippo and Kirara before they fell into the deepening hole.
"The blood sucking roots were underneath the tree, where I planted multiple demons before beginning the scheme," Midori stated to the couple, "I may have lost my own body, but I have not lost my heart."
"Why are you telling us this? Why tell us the truth?" Kagome, with concern written all over her face, asked.
"I realize that I can't confront Naraku, I would only be setting myself up for returning to him." The young girl replied, knowing that her total victory was only dream.
"I will kill Naraku. I promised you that." Miroku stepped closer to his sister, hoping to hold her once again. The young girl looked at the monk with moist eyes.
"Kagome didn't tell you then," Midori said with a slight smile, "You kept your word. I thank you." The eyes landed on Kagome, who nodded at the comment.
"What word? Did you know something Kagome?" Miroku questioned his friend, who only looked away from his glare.
"It does not matter now. I have come to reason of my predicament and fate." Miroku stared back at his sister, confused at the words which escaped her mouth.
"Looks like we have another visitor," InuYasha scowled as a young boy emerged from behind a tree. Kohaku, clothed in his armor, stared quietly at the girl.
"So you found me then," Midori called to the boy, "or did I find you."
The image of the girl faded as white hair and a red kimono took her placed. The twin of InuYasha raced towards the boy. With his claws elongated, he reached for the boy. In response, Kohaku reached for his Kusari-sama. He raised it high above his head. The two clashed, leaving a pile of dust. The group waited as the dust settled. They saw the creature had slammed the boy into a tree, with one hand holding his arm high, restricting his weapon to strike. His other palm was planted firmly on his stomach, sticking his claws deep within the boy. Sango watched in horror as blood seeped from her brother's mouth.
"No!" The scream from Sango pierced the creature's sensitive ears. The shape shifter heard footsteps coming towards her and her opponent, but suddenly halted.
"Sango wait," Miroku cried to his love in his arms, "don't hurt her."
"She hurt my brother," Sango retorted with tears in her eyes. The sight was painful for the monk.
"So whose promise, whose trust will you keep my brother?" The InuYasha clone hissed, "Will you be true to your love, or your sister?"
Miroku clenched his teeth at the question. He wanted everyone to be happy; he wanted to help both his sister and his love. Before he could answer, an arrow shot through the air, hitting the tree above the two in brawl.
"Let him go Midori, please," the young miko set her bow down, showing she will no longer fight.
"He will die one day, whether by my hand or another. Why do you wait for the inevitable?" The creature tossed the boy aside. Sango, free from Miroku's grip, stumbled to her brother's side. She looked at the wound; five deep holes in an almost perfect circle were planted in his abdomen.
Seeing his chance, InuYasha raised Tetsusaiga. Noticing his position and blade, Midori transformed again. The fur of the fire rat disappeared as a red and white kimono replaced it. Taking a feather from her hair, the Kagura imposter took to the sky, evading an attack from InuYasha. Midori watched behind Kagura's eyes a sadden monk call to her. It made her heart cry.
A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! It builds my confidence. This story just continues to grow and grow. Keep your eyes peeled for more chapters in the upcoming weeks.