MC: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait! I hope you guys have enjoyed the interesting twists in this story, and be prepared for another big twist! Enjoy!
Also, I'm not sure if I've done it yet, but the rating will be changed to T, just in case. Thanks for your support!
Chapter 14
Sango frowned at the scene unfolding before her, her irritation level rising quickly with every shouted word. I swear, I feel more like a babysitter than a nurse! "Alright, Jaken, knock it off!"
"But that stupid child stole my rice bowl!" Jaken growled, shaking his fist at the little girl currently cowering behind a fuming Kagome's legs. "She's not stupid, you ugly little toad! She hasn't stolen anything from you!"
"Then why is the little cretin holding my bowl?!"
Kagome huffed, turning to kneel in front of the little girl before holding her hand out. "May I have that bowl, please?"
The girl's eyes widened and began to shine with unshed tears, before Kagome leaned forward and whispered, "I promise I will find you a prettier, shinier bowl, okay? Plus, why would you want to use something that ugly man has used?"
At that logic, the girl thrust the bowl into Kagome's hands, giving Jaken a disgusted look before skipping over to Sango, who was desperately trying to hold in her giggles.
Jaken sighed in relief, a triumphant smile on his face. "My thanks, Higurashi. Now, if you'll just hand me my bowl over -"
SMACK.
Groaning, Jaken fell backwards, his hands holding his now-sore forehead as the rice bowl rolled innocently away from him.
"That'll teach you to mess with children." Kagome muttered under her breath, sending Jaken another glare before jogging over to a now laughing Sango. "Where is Rin?"
"Rin?" Sango choked out, trying to get her breathing under control as she glanced around. "Who's Rin?"
"That's the girl's name." Kagome sighed, joining Sango in looking around the clearing. "Where did she run off to now?"
"Higurashi."
Chills ran up Kagome's spin at the cold voice of her captain, and as she spun around, her mouth dropped at the sight of a silently giggling Rin latched on to Sesshoumaru's leg. She quickly ran over to him, skidding to a stop before bowing frantically. "Sesshoumaru-sama, I'm so sorry, I didn't know where she had run off to and - "
"I need to see you in my tent."
Blinking, Kagome slowly straightened from her bow, confused as Sesshoumaru turned and gracefully walked - well, as gracefully as someone could with a child latched on to your leg - into his tent. Sighing, she started to follow him, but was suddenly intercepted by Miroku, who wore a worried expression on his face. "I hate to stop you, but this is urgent. As soon as you're done speaking to Sesshoumaru-sama, meet me in Sango's tent - I'll be waiting for you there." With that he gave her a quick smile that didn't reach his eyes before running and disappearing into the medical tent.
What was that about? Kagome thought, quickly squashing the nagging feeling she was getting as she stared at the medical tent. Something suddenly landed on her hand, startling her, before sighing when she saw it was Myoga. "Myoga, don't scare me like that. Where were you anyway?"
"It's of no major concern. However, I did see that little display with Jaken back there." Myoga lifted an eyebrow at her at her small blush. "I'm pretty sure Sesshoumaru-sama also asked you to meet him in his tent."
Rolling her eyes at his condescending tone, Kagome turned once more to Sesshoumaru's tent. "I just hope I'm not in trouble, again."
Kagome stared wide-eyed at her captain, her mind blank as she processed what he said. "Wait…you want me to do what now?"
"I was hoping you weren't deaf, as I don't like to repeat myself." Sesshoumaru sighed, ignoring her glare. "I need you to spy on Banryuu, follow him around. I need to know where he's been sneaking off to in the middle of the night."
"But, Rin - "
"The girl will stay in my quarters tonight, if you're worried about her safety. Now go, it's growing dark, and more than likely Banryuu is preparing to leave camp once more."
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama." Kagome bowed low, giving Rin a soft smile before patting her head. "Be good for Sesshoumaru-sama for me, okay? I promise he won't bite." She whispered the last part, earning a silent giggle from the younger girl before quickly leaving the tent and a smirking Sesshoumaru behind.
"Miroku?" Kagome asked, poking her head inside the medical tent. Something suddenly grabbed her arm, and Kagome had to bite her lip to keep from yelping. She was pulled to come face-to-face with Miroku, who was staring at her in awe. "Why the hell didn't you tell me you were a girl?!"
"What?!" Kagome hissed, pushing him away from her, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "I'm not a girl!"
"Kagome, it's okay." Sango appeared next to her, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "He found out, but we can trust him."
"I still can't believe you knew, and I didn't!" Miroku exclaimed, running his hands through his hair wildly. "I can't believe it, I can't believe it…"
"Great, it's only a matter of time before everyone else finds out." Kagome groaned, sinking into a nearby chair. Sango patted her shoulder empathetically before turning to Miroku with a frown, "How did you find out, anyway?"
"I don't know, it was like, I woke up this morning, saw you, and just…knew." Miroku hissed, his pupils dilating as he began to pace. "I don't even…"
"Calm down, Miroku, why are you so upset about it?" Sango asked softly, flinching when he turned towards her. "Sango, do you even know what will happen if Sesshoumaru finds out? Or worse yet, Jaken? We'll all be killed, and especially after this afternoon's display, Jaken will be looking for anything to get you into trouble!"
"Then how will you guys get in trouble?" Kagome asked, blinking when Miroku threw his hands in the air in defeat. "We know, and we didn't say anything!"
"Just calm down and breathe. I'll make you some tea." Sango said in a soothing tone, steering Miroku into a chair before turning to her make-shift stove. "What did Sesshoumaru need to see you about, Kagome?"
"Kagome?" Miroku asked in confusion, glancing at said girl, "That's your real name?"
"He wants me to spy on Bankotsu." Kagome replied, ignoring Miroku as she looked up at Sango. "He said he's been sneaking off in the middle of the night, and I guess has suspicions about what he's doing."
"You know, I have noticed him absent during dinner." Sango mused, pouring hot tea into a tin cup before shoving it into Miroku's hands. "Drink all of it, and don't talk anymore."
"I should probably go, Sesshoumaru-sama said Bankotsu would be leaving soon."
"Be careful," Sango warned, giving Kagome a pointed look as she made her way towards the exit of the tent, "You never know what will happen. I'd at least take Myoga with you just in case."
"Myoga? Who are you talking about?"
"Miroku, just drink your damn tea."
"I think they're on to me." Bankotsu whispered frantically, his fists clenching and unclenching as he stared at the entrance of his tent. "I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."
Silence was his answer as his heart began to beat sporadically, causing him to squirm on his cot. Glancing once more up at the entrance of the tent, he noted how the sky was beginning to darken. "It's almost time…"
"I spy something…green."
"A tree leaf." Myoga answered in a bored tone, his large head cradled on one small hand as Kagome huffed. "You must be one of those supernatural guardians that can read minds."
"No, you're just super obvious."
Sighing loudly in annoyance, Kagome shifted in exaggeration on the tree branch the pair was currently perched in, biting back a giggle as the little flea guardian was almost unseated. "Hey, quit that!"
Kagome merely rolled her eyes, smirking to herself as she once more looked out across the field the army was currently camped on. The ruined village lay just half a mile beyond that, and as she studied it, her heart gave a small, sad tug for the lives lost. "That's just so barbaric…"
"What is?" Myoga followed his charges' gaze, frowning when he noticed her staring at the village. "People, in general, are barbaric. There's simply no escaping it."
"I can't help but wonder though…what if we had gotten here sooner?" Kagome asked in a near whisper, blinking back tears as she sighed softly. Myoga just shook his head, gently patting her hand. "What's done is done. At least you were able to save one soul."
"Yeah, I guess." She muttered, focusing her gaze back on to the camp as the sun began to set behind the hills.
Silence fell between the pair as they observed the camp from their perch. As the sun finally disappeared, all the soldiers began to meander back to their tents, calling out goodnights to their companions. When the last tent flap settled into place, another one slowly opened, allowing a cloaked figure to slide through.
As the figure began weaving through the tents towards them, Kagome adjusted her bow and quiver on her shoulder, readying herself to descend onto the forest floor.
"I'm going to jump onto the hem of his cloak - he won't notice me as quickly if he suspects anything." Myoga whispered into her ear, and given a nod, jumped his way down to the forest floor. Kagome waited a few moments before slowly making her own way down the tree, pausing every time she heard something rustle or crack. When her feet finally touched solid ground, she leaned her back against the trunk of the tree, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the forest floor before following after her guardian.
"I'm worried about Kagome." Sango sighed, wincing as her brush caught a snag in her long, brown hair. Miroku was currently sitting at her desk, thumbing through reports he had managed to steal from Jaken's tent on the soldiers, looking for anything on said soldier. "Well, luckily Jaken hasn't discovered anything about her identity yet."
"I'm talking about Sesshoumaru-sama sending her out on this stupid mission thing." Sango sighed, leveling a glare at Miroku's confused stare. "What?"
"Are you jealous he sent her instead of you?"
"No!" She huffed, placing her brush down with a little more force than necessary before turning fully to face him. "I just don't understand why he couldn't send you, or even that sneaky little advisor of his."
"Maybe be just trusts her."
"No, he trusts Souta."
"Oh…" Miroku slid the file labeled 'Higurashi, Souta' back in place before closing the folder. "You're worried that whatever this is will endanger Kagome's identity."
"What if she gets hurt, and Sesshoumaru-sama happens to beat me to her?" Sango plopped down on to her cot, running her fingers through her loose hair in worry. "I have a feeling that this isn't going to end very well."
"Do I need to make you some tea?" Miroku asked sympathetically, making a move to stand up. Sango shook her head, giving him a small smile before patting the cot beneath her. "I'm sure you'll accidentally poison me - I've got my teas mixed in with my medicine, amongst other things. Now come here."
Kagome jolted awake, her eyes wide as she looked frantically around her. She was currently bound to the tree behind her, her legs folded beneath her as her knees rested on the ground. Flexing her hands, she realized grudgingly that her hands were tied backwards around the tree.
"Souta?"
Jumping at the voice, she glanced over to see Bankotsu tied against a tree a few feet away from her, his own eyes wide as he stared at her in confusion. "Souta, what are you doing here?!"
"How the hell am I supposed to know?!" She whispered back harshly as she began to struggle against the ropes. "I was trying to follow you out here, and the next thing I know, here I am tied next to a damn tree in the middle of nowhere! Speaking of which, why the hell are you tied to a tree, too?!"
Before he could answer, the dark figure burst through the bushed, a sword drawn as it quickly began to advance on Bankotsu.
"Bankotsu, no!" Kagome screamed, watching is horror as the figure swung the blade down on to her comrades neck, dark red liquid splattering all over the ground. As Bankotsu's head bounced sickeningly away, leaving a trail of blood across the healthy green grass, the figure turned to her, red eyes piercing through her own blue ones.
"You should not have come here." The figure growled out, slowly advancing towards her. Kagome began to struggle with renewed vigor against her binds, tears coursing down her cheeks as she sobbed. "Please, please don't…"
"I know who you really are." The figure continued, using the end of the bloody sword to guide Kagome's face up. "And soon everyone will, and you'll be killed for InuTashio's poor judgment."
"W-What?" Kagome sputtered, her stomach churning with nausea as the figure wiped Bankotsu's blood of the sword and onto her haori. "Such a naïve child. You'll soon learn just how wrong you were in siding with them."
"Who are you?!" Kagome managed to choke out, her gaze following the figure as it began to back out of the clearing. "You will know soon." was all it said before finally disappearing into the darkness.
The binds suddenly disappeared, unceremoniously dropping Kagome onto the cold grass. As she pushed herself back up onto her hands and knees, the thick, coppery smell of Bankotsu's blood began to sicken her, her stomach doing flips as she tried to avoid touching any of the cooling blood splattered around her. Using the tree, she pulled herself up onto wobbly legs, hugging the tree like it was a lifeline as she took deep, calming breaths.
"Kagome!"
Something shifted in the air, and Kagome lifted her head to look in the direction on Myoga's voice, her eyes wide when Bankotsu's body, head, and blood evaporated into the air. "What the - "
"Kagome, there you are!" Myoga exclaimed, jumping on to her arm as he looked over her in worry. "I've been looking everywhere for you! I followed Bankotsu for a while before he finally turned back around and went back to the camp. He was muttering something about a stone, but once he got back to his tent, he passed out."
"B-Bankotsu's alive?!" Kagome stuttered, looking around the clearing. Any traces from earlier were completely gone, much to her disbelief. "B-But I saw him, he was here, t-tied to the tree and then he…he got his head chopped off!"
"What?" Myoga blinked as Kagome continued to mutter to herself, his own gaze roving across the clearing before landing back on his charge. Her skin was pale, her pupils dilated as she went to a tree a few yards away, studying it intently. When it finally clicked, Myoga just groaned, rubbing his hands over his large, buggy eyes before sighing. "Kagome, come here."
Stopping her tirade, Kagome stumbled her way towards the flea, kneeling when he motioned her to. Jumping on to her shoulder, her began to examine her neck, frowning when he noticed a small pinprick on her throat.
"Just wonderful." Myoga sighed, shaking his head at Kagome's confused - and half-crazed - expression. "You were poisoned."
MC: R&R!