Chapter Thirteen: Rightful Revenge?
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Kagome and Inuyasha jumped down the well early the next day. The miko was worried about her cousin and she wanted to see what had become of her.
"Do you think she's alright?" Kagome asked Inuyasha as they made their way out of the forest. The inu hanyou shrugged his shoulders.
"Who knows? Maybe she managed to kill off Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha said hopefully.
Kagome gave him an annoyed look. "Don't you think it would be better if Helen and Sesshoumaru started to be a little friendly with each other?"
Inuyasha frowned as he remembered Sesshoumaru and Kagura. "I don't think so," Inuyasha said. "After all, you never know what Sesshoumaru is thinking, what he's feeling…"
Kagome sighed. "Yeah, maybe you're right…Say, Inuyasha…"
"Hmph?"
"It's…nothing."
As they approached Kaede's hut, Miroku greeted them with a solemn look on his face. "What's wrong, Miroku?" Kagome asked.
Miroku's expression darkened. "Come in."
Puzzled, Kagome and Inuyasha followed the monk into the hut. Helen was lying inside wearing the garb of a miko since Kaede had her blood stained clothes washed. Kaede and Sango were sitting near her, while Shippou perched himself on Sango's shoulder.
"Helen!" Kagome said her voice laced with worry. The young miko dashed to her cousin's side and noticed that her cousin's neck was wrapped in bandages. Kagome could also make out a bruise from beneath the bandage.
"What happened to her?" Inuyasha demanded, rounding on Miroku.
Miroku bowed his head. "We don't really know. Sango and I were talking at the edge of the village when she came out of the forest, bruised, wet and bloody…We don't really know who attacked her…It could have been a demon."
"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha growled angrily. "That bastard took her from Kagome's world after Goshinki possessed her."
The others stared at him with wide eyes. "Goshinki?" Sango asked.
"The fight at Naraku's castle? When she picked up the sword?" Miroku asked. Inuyasha nodded.
"Let me see her wounds," Inuyasha said.
"Inuyasha, you can't remove her bandages!" Kagome said. "She's probably still bleeding! Speaking of which, have you disinfected the wound?"
No one answered. "We ran out of alcohol," Sango answered. Kagome had given her a small lecture on modern medicine.
Kagome rummaged around in her back pack and drew out a bottle of alcohol and some white cloth. "Sango, could you please put her head on your lap?" Kagome requested. The young taijiya obliged and gently laid Helen's head on her lap. Kagome scooted over to her and gently unwound the bandages. She gave a tiny gasp when she the claw marks and the blood as well as the bruises.
"Who on earth could have done this?" Kagome whispered, scanning the wounds.
Inuyasha made his way over to them and crouched low beside Helen to get a good look at the wound. The hanyou growled and his eyes flashed with anger.
"What are you doing?" Kagome asked.
"These claw marks on her neck," Inuyasha muttered, anger etched in his voice, "belong to Sesshoumaru."
"How do you know?" Kagome asked.
"When you've been hit by those claws a lot of times, you kinda remember the mark they leave on you."
"It's quite remarkable that he didn't snap her neck off," Kaede said. Miroku nodded.
"That bastard's gone too far," Inuyasha said as he sat down and folded his arms. "He did this because Helen would get in their way?"
"Their?" Kagome asked as she unscrewed the cap of the alcohol bottle. "Who is 'they'?"
"I guess Kagome doesn't know about it," Sango said. "Inuyasha said that he spotted Kagura and Sesshoumaru…together."
Kagome's eyes widened. "I guess that's why he hates Helen." The miko began to gently disinfect Helen's wound, but the sting of the disinfectant made the young woman open her eyes.
"Ow!" Helen said, attempting to sit up, but Kagome stopped her.
"It's just me," Kagome said. Helen turned to look up at her.
"Kagome," she whispered. "My neck hurts enough without you making the wounds sting."
"I'm just disinfecting them," the miko said. Helen twitched as Kagome gently applied more disinfectant to the wounds.
"Why don't you tell us what happened?" Miroku asked.
"I don't think-" Sango began.
"It's okay, Sango," Helen said. "I think I can talk."
Everyone leaned in to listen to her. "Well," Helen began. "Sesshoumaru took me to Lady Shinsuke-"
Kagome noticed that Helen hadn't referred to Shinsuke as 'mother' yet.
"-then he left. I told Lady Shinsuke that I wanted to return home. She seemed reluctant at first but then I managed to persuade her. She sent a servant to accompany me. We came to a ravine and we crossed it by going over a tree trunk. But then, Kagura appeared. She said she wanted revenge because it was my fault why Sesshoumaru left her-"
"Sesshoumaru dumped Kagura?" Everyone asked. Helen nodded then continued.
"-she…she attacked and Namiko, the servant tried to fight her off, but she was too powerful. She turned her attention to me and cut down the tree we were walking on. As I fell, Namiko tried to save me…but Kagura…killed her…I fell into a river beneath the ravine once I was able to make it to land, I kinda realized that I was lost. I walked around for a bit, then an oni attacked me, but Jaken saved me-"
Kagome and the others felt grateful towards the little toad whom they had never really liked.
"-then he came. I kinda forgot what I said, but I did shout at him…angrily and I guess he still has feelings for Kagura because he attacked me after I insulted her and I guess, I'm pretty lucky that Rin was there, if she wasn't…"
Everyone was quiet as they stared at Helen.
"He's gone too far," Inuyasha said dangerously.
"What do you plan to do?" Kagome asked, looking intently at the hanyou.
"Oh, forget it!" Helen suddenly said as Kagome began to replace her bandages. "Don't bother going after him! He's not worth your time."
Inuyasha was silent.
"Anyway," Helen continued. "I think it's best if we all rest, I feel very tired."
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The sun was setting over feudal Japan. Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku and Sango were outside Kaede's hut, sitting on the grassy slopes beside the stone steps that led to Kikyou's grave.
"I don't think we should," Sango was saying. "I mean he didn't kill her."
"He would have, though."
"Just leave him alone, Lady Shinsuke and Lady Takara can deal with him," Kagome suggested but inside, the miko was slightly disturbed. Why was Inuyasha so concerned with Helen or why was he very protective for that matter? Did he perhaps…?
Inuyasha ignored her. "You don't know Sesshoumaru like I do. He won't stop until all obstacles blocking his path are destroyed."
"But I don't think he'd actually kill her. I mean, she is of noble blood and she's a full demon, she's only in a human's body," Miroku pointed out.
"He still thinks she's disgusting and trust me, he's going to kill her someday…one way or the other…" Inuyasha's voice was soft and low.
"What do you propose we do?" Sango asked.
"Sesshoumaru knows about the well, we can't stop him if he decides to actually go after her," Kagome said.
"Are you guys coming or not?" Inuyasha stood up and looked at his companions. They all looked at him.
"Where are we going?" Kagome asked although deep down, she had a sneaking suspicion that she knew where.
"We're going to teach Sesshoumaru a little lesson he'll never forget," Inuyasha said eyes glimmering with hatred.
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Helen opened her eyes and gingerly sat up. Everyone, except Shippou and Kirara, were gone.
"Helen, you're awake! Does the wound still hurt?" the young kitsune asked.
"A bit, my neck aches. Where is everyone?" Helen asked.
Shippou gave her a wide eyed look. "I don't really know," he admitted. "They left not so long ago."
Helen looked out the door. A foreboding feeling started to fill her…
She quickly stood up and stared for a moment at the miko clothing she wore before saying, "Kirara, take me to them!"
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Sesshoumaru looked up into the darkening sky and narrowed his eyes. What he did last night to Helen was stupid. He shuddered to think of what his mother would say when she found out that he had nearly killed his betrothed. He wondered if she were still alive; the wound he had given her was deep and he was thankful that he didn't pump his poison into her.
He glanced over his shoulder. Rin and Jaken were keeping a good distance away from him. He couldn't blame them; even Ah-Un seemed to be afraid of him. He inwardly sighed. Rin was afraid of him and he couldn't blame her. His actions last night must have made him look like a monster in his adopted daughter's eyes…
There was a slight rustle in the trees and a moment later, Inuyasha and his friends burst out from the forest.
"Little brother, what brings you here?" the youkai lord asked.
Inuyasha growled and took out his Tessaiga. "You bastard," Inuyasha hissed. Sesshoumaru noticed that his brother's companions had their weapons out. He knew perfectly well what they were going to do, he had expected this…
"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said as he slowly took out his Tokijin.
"Mi'lord?" Jaken responded.
"Take Rin and yourself and leave."
The toad nodded, somewhat reluctantly. He took Rin, who looked worried for her adopted father, and they both flew off on Ah-Un.
There was silence in the clearing as Inuyasha and his companions stared at Sesshoumaru and he stared at them.
Sesshoumaru suddenly charged at them. Inuyasha met him head on and their swords clashed, sending sparks flying into the air.
An arrow suddenly sped towards Sesshoumaru and he quickly jumped in the air to avoid it. So, they planned to attack him together?
"Do you need your comrades to hide behind, little brother?" he asked, slightly amused.
"Kaze no Kizu!" Sesshoumaru dispelled the attack with his Tokijin and quickly jumped out of the way as Hiraikotsu and a couple of sutras sped towards him. He inwardly scowled. They were indeed serious. He knew perfectly well that Inuyasha and his friends were not to be taken lightly…
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango's boomerang sped towards him, but he deflected it with Tokijin. He was getting bored with them now…
"Soryuuha!" His own attacked screamed death as it headed towards Inuyasha. Inuyasha quickly stood in front of his companions.
"Bakuryuuha!" The Backlash wave roared towards Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru's own attack and the Backlash wave surrounded him, but he had been in this situation before…
Inuyasha watched as the Backlash wave and the Soryuuha surrounded his brother but the hanyou felt dismayed when he saw that the attack was easily dispelled.
"Little brother, I needn't wonder why neither you nor your companions could defeat Naraku," Sesshoumaru taunted.
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Helen and Shippou were riding Kirara. "Helen, what could Inuyasha and the others be doing?" the kitsune kit asked.
Helen bit her lower lip. The wounds on her neck were throbbing with pain but she answered Shippou, "I don't know…but I have this feeling…"
Kirara suddenly flew into a clearing where Inuyasha and the others were battling Sesshoumaru.
"Inuyasha!" Helen shouted. Everyone looked up at her. She saw Sesshoumaru's eyes go briefly to her neck and then to her own eyes.
Helen got off Kirara and ran to Kagome. "Helen, what are you doing here?" the miko asked. "You're injured!"
"I know, but you mustn't do anything this rash!" The clash of metal on metal turned Helen's attention to Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru who were now engaged in fierce combat. Helen looked at them wondering how two people with the same blood could hate each other so much.
Inuyasha suddenly sent the Kaze no Kizu attack at Sesshoumaru. The youkai lord jumped into the air and Inuyasha quickly knocked out his sword a powerful Blades of Blood attack…
"Kongosouha!" Helen's eyes widened as the Adamant Barrage hit Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as he felt the Adamant crystals pierce his pale skin…
He thought he was going to die, but just as he thought so, he felt Tenseiga pulse. As the sword enveloped him in light, the last thing he saw was Helen, looking worried and shocked…
Helen stared as the attack reached the unsuspecting Sesshoumaru. When the smoke and dust cleared, she saw that all that remained was his sword, Tokijin.
"Did you…kill him?" Helen asked with uncertainty.
Inuyasha frowned. "No, stupid Tenseiga, he got away."
"Tenseiga?" Helen asked.
"It's a sword that he possesses, a sword which he clearly hates," Kagome explained. "It can save a hundred lives with one swing and sever the bonds of death. Their father gave him Tenseiga and he gave Inuyasha the Tessaiga, that way, neither one can kill the other."
"Smart," Helen said. "Anyway, are you saying that Tenseiga spirited him away?"
The others nodded. "It's happened before," Sango said.
"Anyway," Kagome said, looking up at the sky. "It's getting dark, we should get going."
The others nodded. "Wait a minute," Helen said. She indicated to the fallen Tokijin.
"Leave it," Everyone said in unison. Helen shrugged and followed them out of the clearing.
Time passed and darkness settled over the land. A woman riding on her feather landed beside the sword. Her eyes seemed to hold a glint of sadness as she beheld the blade of her love. Kagura gently picked up the sword. She held it with the same gentleness a woman would hold a baby. Sighing, she flew off.
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Morning came and found Helen outside Kaede's hut. Still garbed like a miko and admiring the morning sunrise.
"Hey," Kagome said as the miko went out of the hut. The others, including Inuyasha, were still sleeping.
"Morning, Kaggy," Helen said.
Kagome flushed. "Don't call me that!"
Helen grinned then shrugged. "Alright."
"Does your neck still hurt?"
"Kaggy…the wound is gone!"
Kagome's eyes widened then she approached her cousin and looked at her neck; it was flawless and free of wounds. "I guess, it's because of your demon blood," Kagome said softly.
"But my powers were sealed, remember?" Helen pointed out. Then she remembered that Goshinki had tampered with the seal.
Kagome shrugged. "Who knows?"
Kaede suddenly came out of the hut, holding an empty basket in her wrinkled hands. "Morning, Kaede," Kagome and Helen greeted in unison.
Kaede greeted then in return. "Where are you off to?" Helen asked.
"To find more herbs," the old miko replied. "I'm afraid we used up all the herbs when we treated the wound on your neck."
Helen flushed. "Maybe I should go get the herbs," the young violinist offered. Kaede shook her gray head.
"No, no, child! The herbs I will look for can only be found in the forest of Inuyasha. It is dangerous and though I notice that your wounds have healed, you do not know which herb is which."
Helen looked annoyed for a moment. "Really, Kaede-obachan, I can manage. Besides, I know what the herbs look like, you've given me a lot of them yesterday and as to demons"-she took the basket from the miko's hands-"they'll think I'm a priestess and scatter. Sango said that minor demons are afraid of priestesses, so no worries there."
"Helen." It was Kagome this time. "Should you?"
"Please, I can take care of myself!" Helen said indignantly and walked off.
Kagome sighed.
"Is she always this rebellious?" Kaede asked.
Kagome nodded.
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Helen hummed softly to herself as she knelt down in a meadow where plants grew thick. At first, she didn't like the forest and thought that it would be dark and gloomy but who knew that there would be a blissful place such as this meadow in the forest?
A butterfly fluttered in front of her and she smiled. She had always liked butterflies; she also liked it when they landed on a white rose, her favorite flower.
By noon, Helen had filled the basket with herbs. She then noticed that the sky darkened and the wind had become a little chilly. Looking, to her dismay, she saw that a steady drizzle was pouring. She stood up and the rain began to fall harder.
Just peachy! The young violinist thought. She glanced around the meadow and saw a small cave at the very edge between two trees.
Kaggy's gonna kill me, she thought as she raced to it. She entered it. It was dark and gloomy and there was a forbidding aura in the air.
"What are you doing here?" a cold voice asked. Helen jumped; the basket in her arms fell to the ground.
Helen squinted into the darkness. A figure was sitting weakly against a cave wall.
"Sesshoumaru!"
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Done! Hehe, the situation seems familiar, ne?
Anyway, please review!
And thanks to those who reviewed!