Chapter 10: the unexpected loss of a loved one
Inuyasha and Kagome had arrived at the village just as the others were waking up. They greeted the others and sat down. Inuyasha and Miroku went out and talked while Kagome and Sango stayed in the hut. As soon as the boys left Sango asked Kagome what had happened and Kagome showed her the ring and Sango squealed. Then Kagome proceeded to tell her all about the area they were in.
Half an hour later Inuyasha and Miroku came back; they discussed which way they were heading and what they needed to take with. After deciding they gathered their gear and left the village with Keade's blessings. Along the way they discussed more of what they had planned and Inuyasha and Kagome took a few moments to walk alone a head of the group. Sango and Miroku smiled as the two watched inuyasha and Kagome. Shippo was also a head of the group playing around with Kirara.
Miroku sighed and hung his head. "what is it Miroku?" Sango asked as she looked over at him.
Miroku shook his head, "why can't our relationship be like that?" Sango's face turned red and she didn't reply. " I mean we've already confessed to each other but nothing else has happened."
" w-well what do you want to happen, Miroku" Sango stammered and didn't look at him. Miroku stopped and looked at her. Sango turned around to face him, "what?" Sango gave him a questioning look as he walked over to her. Sango's face turned red. "Miroku?"
Puts his hands on her shoulders, causing her to blush even more, "I want us to have a relationship to be more open."
By now Inuyasha and the others had stopped a ways down the road to give them some space. Sango just stood there blushing unable to come up with anything.
"Sango?" Miroku asked and dropped his hands.
Sango watched as his face went through a variety of emotions and sighed. " you know its hard for me, I've never been in a situation where I've loved someone as much as I love you."
"it's alright, Sango, neither have I." Miroku goes closer to Sango and she blushes. "its ok to feel afraid of being in a relationship with someone. And when you get into a serious relationship and things get bad you're going to get hurt regardless. I wont ever hurt you though Sango, I just want you to know that."
" oh kiss already!" Inuyasha yelled as Sango stared into Miroku's eyes.
Miroku and Sango looked over to the others to see Inuyasha flaring his arms and then returning to what he was doing. Miroku chuckled and turned back to Sango, who was blushing. " if you're afraid it's okay, I'm scared too; but I love you Sango and that alone subsides that fear and makes me do the things I'm doing now." Leans in and kisses her. " now come on the others are waiting."
Miroku smiled and turned around leaving Sango dumb founded and eventually she caught up to him and they joined the others.
"Thank you inuyasha for those amazing words of encouragement." Miroku said once they joined the others.
"anytime." Inuyasha smirked. Miroku rolled his eyes as Kagome just laughed and walked beside Sango and while walking the talked.
By afternoon they reached a village and walked in and were stopped by a women in her mid 30's. she came up to the group in tears and clung to Inuyasha's kimono. Miroku asked what was wrong and she told them.
About two months ago her son was kidnapped along with a few of the other local children. All at separate times but kidnapped all the same. Miroku said that him his friends would do what they could. Inuyasha then asked where the demon took his captured prey. The women said up that mountain and they all looked over to see a jagged mountain with clouds around the top.
"where the hell did that mountain come from?" inuyasha asked with a weird face.
Miroku just gapped at it, " I have no idea…."
"what are we going to do Inuyasha? Help?" Kagome asked as she moved more towards Inuyasha.
Inuyasha shakes his head and puts an arm around her. "well what else can we do?"
"we have to help, Inuyasha." Sango said turning away from the mountain. "where did that mountain come from?"
" it appeared before the kidnappings of the children." the lady said. And Inuyasha decided that they would help.
On their way their they exchanged the scenarios of each kidnappings. Inuyasha sighed and shook his head as Miroku mentioned that the mountain looked more and more like a demon. Shippo jumped into Kagome's arms and agreed.
When they got to the base of the mountain Koga showed up and went directly to Kagome but stopped when he saw the mark barely visible on her neck. He made a face then turned around and punched Inuyasha. Inuyasha got up and screamed at him and aksed why he did that.
"you mated with her!" Koga screamed.
"What's it to you." Inuyasha barked back
"She's my women!"
"Heh no. No she's not. I think we've been through this already." Inuyasha said moving to Kagome's side.
"Koga, I've told you I love inuyasha and he's my fiancé." Kagome said
"But…"
"But nothing Koga. Just give up." Inuyasha said, "but we can use your help"
"Why would I help you." Koga asked turning away.
"Koga, please, we can use all the help we can get for this." Kagome asked as she stepped in front of Inuyasha. "we don't know what or how strong this demon is."
Koga pouted and Ginta and Hakaku showed up and Koga agreed to help. They headed toward the mountain only to stop directly at the base. Inuyasha said that they should stop for the night and Miroku said there's a hut not too far. So the group headed in that direction.
The hut was fairly large and Kagome asked Koga and the other two if they were going to come inside too, they said no. Inuyasha looked around and announced that there were three rooms. Miroku's face lit up.
"Shippo you're sleeping with me ok?" Sango said and Miroku's face went dark.
"Ok Sango" Shippo said with a smile and Kagome laughed and went to Sango.
"don't you think after what happened you'd be willing to sleep in the same room as Miroku. After all, you are engaged too." Kagome whispered. Sango's face turned red and she glanced over at Miroku who was now standing beside Inuyasha. "I mean come on give him some slack. He's trying to get somewhere more than where you two are at."
" yeah but I don't want Shippo so sleep by himself." Sango said, her face still red.
Shippo giggled, " don't worry about me Sango I'll be fine."
Sango's face was still red when Kagome laughed and Inuyasha chimed in. "you know you don HAVE to do it if you sleep in the same room."
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed and popped him in the head with her mouth opened.
"Ow, what its true." Inuyasha rubbed his head.
"he does have a point." Miroku said face almost as red as Sango's
Outside Koga and the other two were sitting on the roof. They were questioning Inuyasha and the others' sanity. After a few more words from Inuyasha and Kagome, Koga decided to chime in. "why don't you just let her decide."
Inuyasha looked up and made a face. Miroku sighed " Koga's right. If Sango doesn't want to sleep in the same room as me I'm ok with it."
It was all quiet as the group thought about it. Inuyasha shrugged and left to the farthest room of the hut. Kagome agreed then followed Inuyasha. Shippo just yawned as was long gone before the decision was made. All that was left was Sango and Miroku in the main part of the hut.
"well, um , Goodnight Sango." Miroku said with a smile and turned around and began to leave.
"Miroku wait." Sango ran to catch up to him and he turned around. Sango blushed and looked down.
Miroku raised an eyebrow as he waited patiently for what she wanted. With her face red she reached up and gently pressed her lips to his. "good night, Houshi."
Miroku blushed slightly but smiled and grabbed her arm as she brushed past him and he pinned her to the wall with a soft thunk and kissed her deeply. He broke the kiss and took her hand. "Come on. Inuyasha is right. Just because we sleep in the same room doesn't mean anything. And ill still love you and will respect you if you want to wait. We don't have to rush into things like Inuyasha and Kagome."
"Miroku." Sango smiled and let Miroku lead her to the remaining room.
In Inuyasha's room he made a face and hung his mouth open. He then whispered to Kagome, who was sitting down on the futon. "did you hear that?"
Kagome laughed, "no cause I'm not eavesdropping. Now come here."
"Pfft yeah right" Inuyasha wiggled his head in mockery and walked over to Kagome and sat down next to her.
Kagome laid down, pulling Inuyasha down with her and kissing him. Inuyasha smiled and laid next to her wrapping an arm around her.
Miroku and Sango Laid down together and though hesitantly, Miroku placed an arm around her as well.
The next morning the group set off like planed and by noon they had made it half way up the mountain. They stopped and had lunch. After they rested and ate they headed off again with Sango and Miroku on Kirara, Kagome and Shippo with Inuyasha and Koga and his friends behind him.
"damn how big is this mountain?" Koga asked as they all were walking.
"obviously bigger than we thought." Inuyasha said.
By night they were farther than they had been earlier but was still not at the top. They set up camp and Kagome prepared supper. After eating they all settled and Inuyasha filled Koga in on what they were doing.
"So we're doing this for a village? Their children were kidnapped by some demon on the top of this mountain?" said Koga with a disgusted look
"You got it." Inuyasha replied
Koga grumbled and scratched his head. " how did I get roped into helping?"
"Kagome asked you." Inuyasha grinned and Koga rolled his eyes. "even though you have no chance you're still whipped!"
Inuyasha laughed as Kagome walked over and placed her hands on his ears. " and so are you Inuyasha."
"What? No I'm not." inuyasha said quickly objecting.
"You sure about that?" Miroku asked with a sly look.
"I'm not!" Inuyasha barked. And everyone laughed, including Koga, Ginta and Hakaku. "yeah well Koga and I aren't the only ones. Miroku."
"What? How am I whipped?" Miroku asked
"Mhm lets see." Inuyasha thought for a few minutes. " I cant think of anything." This caused everyone to laugh again and eventually everyone went to sleep.
The next few days went the same as they got closer and closer to the top. When they finally almost made it they were attacked. Ginta, Hakaku, and Shippo screamed and the others immediately got into attack mode. As they searched the sky and surroundings they saw nothing and kept their guard up and when they reached the top there was a large castle. The group eyed it suspiciously and then the demon responsible appeared. He growled and glared at them and as he attacked they braced themselves.
The fight soon began and Inuyasha and Koga were the ones attacking the leader demon as the others fought off the lesser demons. Inuyasha used his most powerful attacks on the demon and received shockwaves from his attacks. Koga used his sword and Sango lent him some of her poison and other demon slaying equipment.
The demon however was getting tired still put up a fight and soon he was the only one there and all but Kagome, Shippo, Sango, Miroku and the two wolves were fighting and even Koga started to slow but inuyasha was determined to win this.
As the day began to turn into night Inuyasha was still fighting and as he used all his attacks on the demon, the demon attacked back. Kagome grabbed an arrow and fired one of her sacred arrows and hit the demon square on. This action caused the demon to change his target and he rushed toward Kagome but Inuyasha stopped him and tackled him. Kagome called out inuyasha's name as he was struck again and the blood poured out of his wound on his abdomen.
The injury slowed inuyasha down drastically and every so often was attacked and stuck again. Before the night was over Inuyasha was on his knees panting and clutching his sides.
The others were watching franticly as he dodged the oncoming attacks by inches and before midnight the demon used what energy he had left to grab Inuyasha and jumped off the edge of the mountain and exploded himself.
"Inuyasha, No!" Kagome screamed and as the dust cleared she ran too the edge of the mountain and looked down. Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen.
The group was stunned and Shippo began to cry. Sango covered her mouth with her hands and went to Kagome. Miroku and the other three stood there in shock.
" Inuyasha! No! Inu Yaashaa!" Kaogme screamed, her voice echoing. As sango came close to her she snapped, " stay away from me! Just levae me alone!"
:Kagome.." Sango stopped and watched Kagome as she turned back to the cliff.
"come on Kagome you need to get away from the cliff." Koga said as he too came closer to her.
"I said stay away from me!" Kagome yelled and sobbed. "he cant be gone. He's not! Inuyasha. No."
The group didn't say anything as Kagome repeatedly screamed for Inuyasha. Her cries went unanswered and Sago stood up as her own tears began to fall. Miroku walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. Sango buried her face into his chest, ' if it hurts this much just loosing Inuyasha, then it'll hurt worst if I lost Miroku.' Sango tightened her arms around Miroku's waist as she began to sob.
"waah he cant be gone!" Shippo wailed " but no one could have survived that! Inuyasha!"
As the night waned on and drew closer to morning and the day drew closer to noon, Kagome was still crying and calling for Inuyasha.
The others were now sitting close to her and Sango was still in Miroku's arms with Shippo in hers.
Koga and his friends were silent and Koga was closer to Kagome than the others. And Kagome huddled with Inuyasha's fire rob after it had fallen from the sky, and she cried harder.