I swam to the bottom of the river and grabbed the rocks to keep me down. I stayed at the bottom but used the rocks to propel myself downstream. I was moving twice as fast as the stream since I was going with the flow and using my own strength. When I finally came up for air I got out on the opposite side of the river and crawled into a large bush before passing out. When I woke at sunrise I crawled from under the brush and once again began to run up the river, this time though, I hid inside the forest staying only close enough to see the river in glances. I didn't want the bandits to see me as I passed by them. I heard the sound of pursuit and darted around the side of a tree, pressing my back into the wood. The footsteps slowed once they got to me and I heard someone softly calling my name. I risked a glance around the tree and saw Inuyasha. I stumbled when I saw him and he came quickly to my side. "Oh Inuyasha, the bandits can't have gotten there already have they?"
"No I came back to get you. Nozomi said that you had finished what you were doing." Inuyasha slung me onto his back and took off towards the village. With him running at his top speed it took half a day; it would have taken me three running as fast as I could. He stopped at Kaede's hut and helped me inside. The last thing I remembered before I once again passed out was Nozomi gazing at me worriedly and her eyes, her beautiful eyes…they were the same color as mine.
I slept a full day, so that left two days or more to prepare for the bandits. When I woke I told the others about what I had done. Miroku clasped my hands in his own and said, "My dear you have shown to be one of the cleverest of women, are you sure you wouldn't bear my children?"
I ripped my hands from his and Sango hit him in the head. "Now I have a plan on how to take a few men out before they even get here."
Sango sat in front of me on Kirara and Kagome sat behind me as we headed towards the bandits. Each of us had a bow and a whole rack of arrows. Kirara set down on a large branch in one of the trees and we notched arrows into our bows and pointed to the rows of men heading to us. We released our arrows and Kirara moved into a different tree unnoticed, again we fired and again we moved. We shot and moved until all of our arrows were gone, and we flew back to the village. Not every arrow hit of course because once the first three had hit their targets the men ran into the forest a few feet in every direction looking for the archers. But as we headed back, we calculated we killed or injured at least thirty of the bandits. We touched down in the village and called all the men to us.
Kagome stepped in front of the villagers getting their attention. "Friends! We have been together for close to a year now and often demons have even come here looking for the Sacred Jewel. Well now a demon and many bandits are headed this way. They will get here tomorrow and we need to be ready. Those who can fight are welcome to stand with us. Those who cannot, will stay behind to help any injured and stay out of the way of danger." She said quietly. "No one has to fight with us but we will not scorn any of your help."
Nozomi had not left my side if she could help it once I had gotten back to the village. I took her aside as the villagers went to Kagome, Sango and Miroku to discuss what they could do. Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kirara were in the woods keeping their senses open so no one could sneak in unawares. I took Nozomi inside the new hut beside Kaedes home. Apparently while we had been gone, Kaede asked the villagers to add another hut beside hers since so many people now called hers home. I had Nozomi sit down then went to my stuff. I grabbed one of my knives and my staff and went back to her side. "Nozomi hold out your hands." I told her and when she had done so I cut her slightly across each palm and pressed the staff into her hands. They automatically gripped the wood and the blood seeped into it. "Nozomi, I give you the gift of Ebony. May she be your strength when you are weak, may she protect you when you have the need. Ebony, dark strength, protect my daughter Nozomi, my hope."
There was a dark pulse in the wood and Nozomi smiled sweetly up at me. "Ebony said that she would be honored to watch over me."
I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You will not be in the fight tomorrow. But I want you to be with the villagers and get ready to fight for them if anyone should get past us. Get some rest." Nozomi nodded and curled up in one corner of the room and fell asleep, one had clutching Ebony as if she was a new toy.
I went outside the hut and found Inuyasha was back. I was close enough to hear what he said. "They have camped for the night, they are attacking tomorrow morning."
"What about the well? We should have some one over there if they split their forces." I said leaning against the side of Kaede's hut.
"Sango and Miroku already said they would take Kirara over there. Sango feels that if they split the demon will head that way and since she is an exterminator she wants to be where he will be." Inuyasha said. "Kagome will be with the villagers behind me with her bow. The villagers will shot the bandits as they come and I'll deal with any who survive."
"And where will I be?" I asked.
Kagome looked at the ground. "That's up to you but I had a thought. Sayo said he wanted to kill you right? Well what if you waited a few feet in front of Inuyasha and challenged Sayo to a duel?" She looked up at me fearfully. "I don't want you to be in danger Dawn but…what if with Sayo's death the other bandits flee?"
I walked over and gave her a hug. "That's a good idea Kagome. You're right, if I kill Sayo the bandits might run, so I'll challenge him and if he refuses I'll join Inuyasha in line. If he agrees, once I kill him I'll still join Inuyasha in line."
Kagome returned my hug fiercely. "I was so worried when you made us leave you behind. Dawn you are one of my best friends, I don't want anything to happen to you." She said as tears leaked from her eyes.
Inuyasha looked at Kagome nervously and I grabbed her by the arms and gently shook her. "Kagome! Everything is going to be fine! Calm down." Kagome nodded and I pushed her backwards until she bumped into Inuyasha. He uncrossed his arms nervously and she leaned against his chest. "Inuyasha make sure she stays calm okay?" I asked.
Inuyasha nodded and rested his hands atop her shoulders as she leaned tiredly against him. "Kagome you need rest. Let's go to Kaedes hut, Shippo is already asleep in there." Kagome nodded and let Inuyasha lead her inside.
Sango and Miroku followed me into the hut with Nozomi and we sat around the central fire. Miroku was quiet; he too seemed to be a tad nervous about the upcoming battle. When I asked why Sango explained for the both of them. "Kagome told us how she was going to ask you about going one on one with Sayo and we'd feel better about it if we were going to be close enough to help out. Myoga returned while you were following them and said that Sayo had drunk some of Yukio's blood and it made him stronger."
I stared into the fire thinking, finally I looked up at them. "I will kill Sayo. He would need more than Yukio's blood to beat me. He would have to be Yukio at least to stand a chance." I stood and stretched. "I am off to sleep. Wake me long before they arrive okay?" Sango and Miroku nodded watching me closely as I moved towards my daughter. I stretched out and laid my hand over hers before succumbing to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a challenge.
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