Omg sorry for slow updating! I had to go camping for 4 days...ugh. Then I'm going on vacation on the 10th through the 13th or so I think. Soooo there might be a chapter shortage, but I'll try and make up for it as best as I can!
I don't own InuYasha, and take no credit in the events of this story whatsoever. All charachters and events belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Shonen Sunday.
InuYasha- Chapter 380- Wolves Graveyard
After defeating Moryoumaru's arm, Kouga had led the group away from the battle scene. They were deep in a dense forest, mist and fog clouding the trees. A mountain stood behind the woods, towering high above them.
Kouga stopped walking to turn back to them, "Up ahead is the sanctuary of the youkai-wolf tribe. Outsiders can't enter."
"I understand," Kagome answered for the group. "We'll wait here. Be careful. Ok, Kouga-kun?"
Kouga placed his hands on Kagome's upper arms. He stared into her eyes, "Don't worry Kagome. I'm just going to get a weapon."
InuYasha got between them, pulling Kagome to his side. "Get going you bastard."
"Ko-Kouga," Ginta said, Hakkaku at his side.
Hakkaku continued, "Saying you're going to get a weapon…"
"…From the youkai-wolf tribe's graveyard?"
"Graveyard…?" Miroku asked.
Kouga faced him, "Yeah it's our ancestral grave. There's a weapon stored there. It'll probably come in handy." He smiled, looking on to the direction of the said cemetery.
"So long as you don't get punished for your sins," Hakkaku commented.
"Be careful Kouga," Ginta finished as usual.
Kouga continued to stare through the forest. "Yeah. Let's go."
"Eh?!"
Kouga turned to them, "You two are coming as well."
After Kouga and his companions left, InuYasha and the group decided to sit down to wait. There were large rocks scattering the ground, and a single log lying upon the floor. InuYasha and Kagome sat next to each other on the rocks, Shippou sitting by Kagome's side. InuYasha held Tetsusaiga close to his chest, his leg crossed over the other. Miroku and Sango sat on the log, Miroku holding his Shakujou as InuYasha held his sword.
"It sure has become a predicament hasn't it?" Miroku spoke, "Their objectives are different but…. In trying to complete the Shikon no Tama, Naraku and Midoriko are the same."
Kikyou's words rang in the air, "When Naraku gets his hands on the complete Shikon no Tama, I'll purify him and the jewel together. That's the only way to defeat Naraku."
"However…" Kagome spoke up, "To complete the jewel means that Kohaku-kun's life has to be sacrificed."
Sango turned away from the group, her expression mournful.
"That's what Kohaku is hoping for."
"…Sango-chan…" Kagome stared at her with a sad expression.
Miroku stared at her out of the corner of his eye. "What about you Sango? Are you hoping for Kohaku to die?"
Sango hesitated before answering. "…I don't know."
"Bah! Don't lie about it," InuYasha shouted. "It's clear from your face that you don't want that!"
"InuYasha…" Kagome stared at him.
Sango jumped up and shouted in protest, "But!"
"I should tell you that I don't have the least inclination to give up Kohaku's life," InuYasha cut her off.
Kagome pitched in, "Sango-chan, everyone feels the same."
"Listen Sango, it's not like we're a soft hearted bunch feeling sorry for you," InuYasha continued. He clutched Tetsusaiga, remembering Kikyou's words yet again. "You can't destroy Naraku with a sword…"
Kikyou…that might be true now. But that doesn't mean I'll give up. I will make Tetsusaiga much stronger!
He pushed Tetsusaiga out to the group, determination on his face. "We'll destroy Naraku before the Shikon no Tama is complete! All of us, together!"
"That decides it then," Miroku concluded, "After that we will prevent the Shikon no Tama from being completed." He turned to Sango, who stood next to him. "Sango…. What we need to do now is act in unison. So…stop worrying."
"Yeah…" she agreed with teary eyes. I won't let Kohaku die. Thank you…everyone….
Meanwhile, Kouga, Hakkaku and Ginta bounded across the barren land.
"S-Say Kouga…" Hakkaku panted. "Shouldn't we be heading back?"
"Huh?!'
Ginta looked up, "Bu-But look above…"
Skeletons of deceased wolf demons sat chillingly upon the ledges, fully clad in the traditional armor. They stared down at the three with empty, cold eyes. One held a menacing looking crescent spear weapon, a threatening guard of the afterlife.
"Scary…" he commented, looking to the left. More dead wolf demon's sat on that side as well.
"Ha! What are you so scared of?!" Kouga yelled, picking up the pace. "According to what I've heard, right in the center of this graveyard it seems a treasure was placed!"
Hakkaku leaned into Ginta's ear, "It seems like we're grave robbers."
Up ahead, the mountain sides collided and curled together, making a ring in mid air. It was connected at the bottoms, and had a little growth in the middle, serving as a stand. In the center of the circle on display was a mirror, shimmering in the afternoon light.
"S-Something is shining," Ginta observed from afar. Everyone concentrated on the mirror. There was something inside…. "That's…"
"It looks like a claw!" Kouga began to run to it, eager for his new weapon. Suddenly, the rock on his right side began to move violently. It morphed and twisted, high into the air. Soon it began to take shape, the shape of a wolf.
A three headed wolf.
It stood before Kouga, its rock tongues hanging from its mouth.
"Wha…"
"It's a three headed wolf!"
Kouga glared at it. "Heh. The graves protector, eh?"
"I cannot allow you…to go any further…." The heads took turns speaking, breaking in heavy, shaky breaths. Flames danced out its mouth as it exhaled slowly, swirling around its nose.
Hakkaku and Ginta were amazed, "H-he spoke!"
"That's a great help to get the talking over with!"
Hakkaku tried to reason with it, fearing for his life, "U-um we're not grave robbers…. We just want to borrow that weapon for a bit…"
The head closest to the mirror spoke in a low growl, "Impossible." The mirror shined upon its heads, illuminating it eerily in the dimming light. The claws shone inside the mirror, attached the holder by chains. "The Goraishi is the treasure of the youkai-wolf tribe. It is a youkai claw that is the focus of the souls of generations of the youkai-wolf tribe. If you want to get it…"
"I gotta defeat you, right?!" Kouga asked, jumping up at the wolf-structure. "Here I come!"
Fire spewed from the wolf's mouth, pouring out into the air. "You brat!"
