After a long delay I finally am back to writing, mainly just this story. I have thoughts of adding the twin girls of Miroku and Sango's from the InuYasha story line. If someone could tell what the names of their kids are I will be quite happy to know. Otherwise I am naming the boy after Miroku's father or grandfather. I hope this chapter doesn't bore you too much. I am trying to be creative and write 2,000 words instead of the original 1,000 in the first chapters. Any ideas, I am all ears but if I find it to be too much like any of the other stories I may not use it. I also re-read the previous chapters and made corrections to it. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do.
Chapter 12 Unfinished Conquests
Touga and Miroku left as quickly as possible, opening the barrier just enough for them to leave. The atmosphere outside of the barrier being suffocating with odd auras and smells, the landscape still the same but yet a lot of the ground had been disturbed. Miroku took to the air on Kirara as the dragon and Touga followed. They soon landed in a dense area full of medicinal shrubs and plants, several of them being herbaceous. Touga could smell the stream that runs through the village. He couldn't detect any poison in the smell so far.
Miroku quickly showed him one of the plants he labeled top priority and told Touga what part is used for what as they began scouring the area for as much as they could find, being careful to keep their guard up. They ran down the list, sending Kirara and the dragon back and forth to the fortress and their location, Kaede allowing them entrance while the villagers helped unload the bushels while the ones with experience in tending wounds began preparing them for use.
"I have had goose-bumps ever since we left the fortress. You would think they would have gone away by now but my hair is also standing on end on the back of my neck. I hope we can be done before it gets past the heat of the day." Miroku commented, trying to initiate a light conversation as they gather the plants.
"I too feel ill at ease. The land is tainted somehow and I hope the taint doesn't spread to our medicine and nourishment. If we have time, I suggest that we gather extra since this supply will only last us a short time. I have spoken to the priestess Kaede about Kagome's condition. I wish to be prepared should I have to stay behind with her as she heals. I only wish now that I asked Sesshomaru to bring back a healer from his fortress to help with her condition." Touga did not like the thought of him and Kagome being left behind until her condition is stable enough. The barrier would weaken over time with Kaede, Miroku, and Sesshomaru gone.
With four forms of energy making the barrier it would be hard to penetrate but with just his energy, there is a possibility that the new threat could have a way to penetrate a purely demonic barrier. The red Tessaiga being one of the ways any barrier can be penetrated. He would not be so arrogant to think only his old fang can penetrate it. The demon is old enough to be as strong as him.
"Hopefully it will not come to that. I have only hit 20 summers and I am already worried about grey hairs." He joked. Trying to ease their nerves and lighten the atmosphere. He carried on further into the forest, searching for more plants as he carried his basket with him.
"I already have silver hair so I don't need to worry about it. I still have more than 1,000 years till I will have to worry about that. My life most likely will not last that long." He spoke nonchalantly. He was met with silence. He straightened up and spread his senses, locating Miroku's aura. "Monk Miroku, are you okay?" As he narrowed in on his location, looking for any undetected intruders. He looked unbelievingly at the branch above the unconscious monk. Dangling from the branch is part of a leg from a horse, even more crazy, it tried to kick him. He came to the conclusion that it had kicked the monk in the back of the head and knocked him unconscious.
He groaned as he tried to get his bearings on what happened. He pushed himself up, trying to get off the basket that he carried with him. "That blow was almost as good as Sango's Hiraikotsu." He looked around for the offender and found the demon Touga with an incredulous look on his face as he glanced his way. He watched as the demon dodged a kick from the leg of a horse... that is hanging from a branch of the tree… 'Yup I have seen it all.' He rubbed the knot that formed in the back of his head then collected his basket while avoiding the horse leg.
"I wonder if there are any other bizarre beasts such as this horse leg." Touga remarked.
"Neither of us sensed that horse leg, it doesn't even have an aura. This could cause a need for worry if there are more of these creatures." Miroku was on to something and they both knew it. Although a horse leg alone is not so harmful, it could be a potential hazard should there be another creature, beast, or demon around. "We will have to be more on our guard and expect the unexpected more so than normal."
The heat of the day had passed and they continued to stock up on supplies, knowing to expect the worst and the possibility of having injuries later or along the way to the western lands. Kagome's wounds and infections could also worsen or even one of the villagers.
By the time they were finished gathering the water and plants, Sango was beginning to walk around slowly to stretch her muscles and get her bearing on the pain she still has from the child birth. She slowly made her way out of the hut and to the hut that kept Kagome inside. She needed to see her sister like friend and make sure she will be okay. She finally made it and slowly knelt down by her friend's side, proceeding to check for a fever and the wounds she sustained.
She knows the guys had moved her to another hut because of her being in labor. She didn't blame them but she wished that now she could stay in their hut with them so she can help watch over her and hopefully Kagome will wake up soon to see her newborn god child.
She smiled gently as she continued to check her wounds, remembering the happiness on Kagome's face when she announced her pregnancy. She hoped that Kagome will be able to find love and have a child of her own. She already showed her strong parenting skills with Rin and Shippo. All of the kids love her dearly.
"Oh Kagome, I hope you get better soon. I don't know what all has happened since I went into labor but I'm sure with your smiling face, we will make it out of this alright. We pulled through the time of Naraku, a nightmare that seemed unending. With your purity and the strength of our allies we can make it through another challenge. When you wake up, I promise to soak in the hot spring with you, but first you need to get better and wake up." Sango encouraged, hoping that somehow Kagome had heard her small pep talk. Deep down she was scared but on the outside she wanted to be strong. Knowing Kaede is looking after her newborn son; she lay down next to Kagome and nodded off listening to Kagome's steady breaths.
Sunset approached and the two men had finally returned from their rounds for the day. Both sitting down as they were given water from one of the village woman and nodding their thanks. They added to the barrier then watched as the bushels were counted, hoping it would be more than enough so they would not have to go out again the next day.
Kaede came over when she was done tallying. "Ye have done well, we have at least 10 days of supplies minus the water, that could be an every other day issue. We shall see what tomorrow brings. Now tell me, have you seen any of these beasts?" She sat down with them as they watched the sky get darker and the eclipsed moon rise.
Quiet murmurs spread as the two men told of their day and findings, mainly just about the horse leg that hangs from a branch and kicks when a being is close. The villagers all said their prayers and whispered their thanks to the brave males as they turned in for the night, counting their blessings as they knew that many villages are not as lucky as they are.
Touga stood and made his way to check on Kagome. He had been feeling antsy all day with not being near her and able to physically see that she is okay and being taken care of. He was slightly surprised to find the demon slayer, Sango, asleep next to her. Her bandages looked like they had been changed earlier that day and would be fine for a bit more. He sat down at the end of her bed roll just as Miroku came in, looking for his wife, looking relieved to see her resting next to their friend. He gently shook her awake and helped her to sit up.
"Sango, we should get back to our hut and rest. Touga will watch over Kagome while you rest and regain your strength. We need you well and ready to travel as soon as Inuyasha and Sesshomaru return. All of us that are well enough will be travelling to the western kingdom so we can have more protection and supplies there." Miroku gently informed his wife, hoping she doesn't catch on to the slip up. He watched her tiredly nod and they slowly got up and walked out of the hut, heading to their own resting area until…
"ALL those are WELL enough to travel. Miroku you had better not be saying what I think you are saying!" Everyone heard a yelp from Miroku as Sango clobbered him on the head with his fist then proceeded to drag him to the hut by his ear.
Touga shook his head before examining his claws, cleaning the dirt from them before he turned to check on the bandages and clean the young priestess up. Her healing seemed to have slowed even further causing a frown to show on his face. He finished cleaning her up and decided to inspect her aura and see if there is anything that may hint to what is wrong. He fell into a meditative pose as he continued to scrutinize her aura, hoping to find something.
After a while he decided to pull out the jewel and place it in her hand, see how she reacts to it. As he thought, she subconsciously tightened her hold on the jewel; his barrier staying in place as her touch cleansed the jewel of its impurities. Her aura seemed to weaken steadily as the night grew on and he watched as her energy continued to deplete.
His eyes narrowed dangerously as he realized that something is feeding off her energy, keeping her weak, making it hard to recover. He placed his hands over her and focused on her diminishing energy and tried to push some of his own energy into her, hoping that he can help her. He fed her as much as he could afford and then closed his eyes to rest and recover from the activities of the day.
His thoughts drifted to how he was resurrected from the dead and the calling her soul had made in its desperation to stay with this form. When he came to the burning shrine he could smell her blood heavily laced in the air. It almost made his head spin as he tried to focus on finding her. He wondered why the jewel would also plea to be saved from the inferno. He didn't know much about the jewel but he is content with waiting for answers.
He felt Kagome's energy begin to slip away again and he opened his eyes to look at her, finding her brow creased with a small sheen of sweat. He expanded his aura, trying to seek the source of what is keeping her from healing. Finding a small dimmed aura inside of the barrier, he used his speed to get to it before it knew he found it. He stood before the demon, scrutinizing it before amusement flashed across his expression.