Written for past theme #112 - Arrow over at iyissekiwa. This piece was awarded second place.
A Brighter Hope
Hit the mark!
The arrow sprang free, volleying toward the ancient cedar she'd singled out among the thicket… and went wide, missing rough bark by scant inches. The young miko sighed, wiping at the sweat that'd collected on her brow before fishing out the last feathered end remaining in her quiver. As she readied the arrow for launch, her thoughts carried her right back to their last encounter with the enemy: Naraku.
Her hands had trembled with rage as she thought of the broken slayer, another innocent life uprooted by evil, touched by the taint of misery that followed the Shikon no Tama. Her anger had burned white-hot that day, and her aim had ultimately suffered for it. Though Naraku had been forced to retreat, they all knew it wasn't the last they would see of him.
All she'd been able to think about at first was how she'd squandered her chance.
But then she'd realized that they hadn't walked away from the ordeal empty-handed. Sango, though still on the mend, had chosen to stay with them, and though there was still much they didn't know about the foe they all shared in common, it was obvious now that he at least possessed a weakness.
Kagome took a breath.
Then the final arrow burst from her bow in a flash of holy light, splintering the aged wood as it buried itself just short of the center.
She smiled grimly.
It wasn't perfect… but for now it was enough.