Chapter 9. Taken
As Kimaryu glided effortlessly through the clearing sky, he stared into Kagome's angelic face. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was somehow familiar to him-almost important.
What was this holding him back? Why had he been unable to take her life back in the village?
What separated her from all the other insignificant lives he'd taken. The moment flashed over again in his head. When he'd raised the Tetsusaiga it wasn't that he couldn't, rather, someone told him not to. He struggled with these new feelings of helplessness and guilt and tore his stare away from Kagome as he ascended.
Miroku made his way to Inuyasha and Koga and sighed with relief. They were still alive.
"Kilala, go retrieve the others. I shall stay and guard them."
The nekomata let out an affectionate growl and headed back toward the camp. Miroku looked down at Sesshomaru and Koga in anger. They could have stopped him. They could have done something to save her.
"I should have come with them." He sighed.
After a long moment of silence, he readied himself for Kilala's return.
"No sense placing the blame, I suppose."
He lifted Inuyasha and dragged him to a strewn mat.
"Sango . . ."
Kimaryu rushed through the forest, Kagome in his arms.
"It's happening again." He groaned, "Could it be Sesshomaru's sword that has weakened me so? Either way, I must hurry back to the ruins before it worsens." He descended to the ground, unable to fly. He would arrive by nightfall.
Sango jumped off of Kilala's back, clutching Shippo to her chest. Ginta and Hakkaku weren't too far behind. She gasped as she saw the three demons unconscious and wounded.
"What happened here?"
Miroku rushed to her side.
"Sango, you're still recovering from your injuries. You shouldn't be here."
"Never mind me! What happened?", She said more urgently this time.
Miroku looked down.
" It was Kimaryu, he slaughtered everyone in this village. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and Koga tried to stop him but they failed."
Ginta and Hakkaku stopped in their tracks when they saw their beaten leader.
"Koga . . ."
Sango looked around, quickly noticing the absence of a friend.
"Miroku, where is Kagome?"
Miroku continued to look down not wanting to see the horror that was gripping her face.
"He . . .has her."
Sango's heart skipped a beat.
"This can't be."
Miroku leaped forward just in time to catch her as she lost her footing.
"It's my fault! I should have been here. I could have done something!"-Miroku cut her off and pulled her close to him.
"Stop it, Sango. There's nothing any of us could have done."
She hit his chest, tears already flowing down her cheeks.
"I know, but . . ."
Miroku held her there in his arms, trying his best to comfort her as she wept for Kagome.
"Lord Sesshomaru!"
Jaken's shrieks echoed through every inch of the forest as he stumbled through the fading light.
"Where are you, master?"
He stopped and rested by a fallen tree. Darkness was but an hour away. He knew that he would be perfect prey for wandering youkai if he did not find Sesshomaru.
"I have to hurry", he said, "but in what direction?"
A strange humming sound filled the air and Jaken leaped behind the tree. The source of the sound emerged in the form a pale serpentine demon that flew overhead.
"That's a soul gatherer.", He whispered, "The soul gatherer of that Kikyo woman."
Quickly and quietly, he decided to follow. The phantom curved and curled its way through the tree tops as Jaken crept behind it. He scampered and hopped along until he arrived at a small clearing. The forest immediately lit up with the glow of soul collectors, each carrying a glowing bundle. In the center of the clearing stood a woman with flowing black hair. She was clothed in the garb of a priestess.
"It is her."
One by one, the white serpents fed the souls of the dead into her body. She sighed heavily as her strength returned.
"She's a specter!" Jaken said a little too loudly.
Kikyo's gaze shifted to the forest.
"Come out! I know you're there!"
There was no movement. Seeing that the intruder was not going reveal himself of his own volition, she raised her hand.
"I warned you.", She said with a smile.
The trees and brush Jaken hid behind where uprooted and hurled aside by the swarm of soul collectors.
"AAAHH, please don't kill me!!! I-I was just. . ."
Kikyo laughed. "It's only you."
Jaken stammered, "Y-you're not going to kill me?"
"What are you doing here?"
Jaken stared down at his feet, too ashamed and frightened to gaze upon her.
"I'm afraid I'm lost."
"You searching for Sesshomaru I take it?"
Jaken nodded.
"Take this."
One of the soul collectors descended from the sky and coiled itself around Jaken.
"It will lead you to Sesshomaru and the others."
Kikyo turned and began to leave when Jaken called out to her.
"You're not coming? I-I mean not that it's any of my business."
Kikyo continued into the darkness.
"I have other matters to attend to."
Miroku fed the fire with nearby wood as he and the others sat solemnly by their wounded.
"What do you think Inuyasha will say?" Shippo asked.
"I can't say. His wounds are great so he probably won't be back to speed for at least a day or two."
Suddenly everyone's attention was diverted to the outskirts of the villages as Jaken wondered in.
"I've been searching high and low for Lord Sesshomaru and now that I . . .!"
He was rendered speechless when he saw his master's body.
"Lord Sesshomaru!"
Jaken ran to his side and began to sob.
"Don't worry, Jaken.", Shippo said, "He's still alive."
Miroku turned back to the fire, not wanting to see the others' vacant expressions. Where did they go from here?. What was there next move? Whatever it was, it had to executed soon or dear friends would be lost to them forever.
"Please just hold on. We're coming for you. . . ."
Ch.10 Battle Scars- Inuyasha awakens to discover his worst fears have become reality. Kagome has been captured by the demon Kimaryu and he is powerless to save her. Joining forces with his two most powerful adversaries might be the only option left if he wishes to save the one he loves. But will he be able to realize it in time?