Chapter 6
Laughter filled the small campsite, the flames of a small fire illuminating the smiling faces of the adults in the group. Shippo danced around, magical fire jumping from his fingers to create various illusions. The little kitsune had taken it upon himself to entertain the others as tensions had been growing. There had been little to no progress with the jewel as what Kagome didn't have of the gem, Naraku did.
It had been a hard day for them, they had heard of a rumor of an ominous fog that killed anyone, or thing, that it passed over, several villages had been destroyed because of it. Of course, the group had been able to figure out that it was Naraku's miasma that caused the plague and when coming across the villages Kagome and Miroku took to cleansing the poison that still hung in the air. And without Naraku there the group went about putting the dead to rest and taking what supplies they may need.
It was stressful always being so close but never within reach of killing Naraku.
"You've really improved," Kagome beamed at the kit coming to sit in her lap. Slim fingers combed through his gleaming copper hair, his emerald colored eyes closing before he purred contently.
Her smile fell, her body stiffening before sapphire eye swept the area. Darkness pulled at her soul, the same kind which pulsed against her aura. A tainted part of the jewel was close, and coming closer by the second. Such a level of darkness radiating from the jewel meant only one thing.
"Naraku is heading this way!" Kagome shrieked. "And he has his part of the jewel!"
Everyone jumped to their feet, each moving back to back with their weapons in hand.
"Which way is he coming?" Inuyasha demanded, his dark gold eyes searching the treeline, his ears swiveling at any noise.
"I don't know! It's too tainted for me to tell," Kagome yelled back, panic evident in her voice. With an arrow notched, she stood tens, eyes searching the darkness.
"We must be ready for anything," Miroku whispered, the sound of his prayer beads moving alongside the chime of his khakkhara*.
"We'll end it here," Sango hissed, Kirara roaring at her side as she transformed in a mass of fire.
"Agreed," Inuyasha smirked.
Kagome's eyes looked down for a second to see Shippo trembling beside her. Breifly regretting that the group had been delayed on their return otherwise he wouldn't have to be here. "Shippo stay close to one of us at all times," he looked back and nodded, taking a step that much closer to her.
The pulse surged pulling Kagome's eyes up. "He's attacking from above!" She yelled forcing her companions to follow.
Any light from the moon had given was stolen as a large mass of black overtook the sky. Glowing eyes of red peered through the mass of demons closing in on them.
"I've come for the other half of the jewel!" Naraku chuckled above the crowd. On either side stood his children: Kagura and Kanna, along with several others in which Kagome wasn't sure they'd seen before.
"Never," Kagome hissed.
"So be it," he laughed before everyone around him soared towards them.
Inuyasha jumped in front his sword raised over his head before bringing it down in a slash. "Kaze no Kizu! The attack jumped from his sword in three golden pillars of light, cutting through the hoard of demons.
Following behind was Miroku, his left arm outstretched while supporting it with his right. "Kazaana!," he yelled preparing those behind him, and himself, as the black void of wind opened and began sucking up the dead and still living demons.
Several large demon bugs flew into the void making Miroku cry out in pain. It seems Naraku had released the Saimyosho as well. Quickly wrapping it, Kagome was at his side a blue glowing illuminating her hands as she pressed them to his back. Forcing the energy of her reiki out and into Miroku, the reiki quickly purified the poison.
"Thank you," Miroku panted.
"Don't do that unless you have to," Kagome insisted. A roaring demon was now charging them. In a second Kagome fired an arrow, the more modern looking and all metal arrow, being able to conduct and handle more of her reiki, soared straight through the demon and several others before striking the ground to release a small burst of holy light. The arrows were far more capable and lasted a lot longer with Tōtōsai having made them specifically for her, and of course with them being "magic" they always returned to their quiver.
A cry of "Hiraikotsu!*." Had the miko and monk turning in time to see an approaching demon be torn in half. The demon's blood coming to splattering across them.
Staying close but still far enough to fight, the group moved closer and closer to where Naraku stood, his miasma flowing out from his baboon belt to kill the foliage around them, the large demons already tearing through what trees were left of Inuyasha's previous attack with Tessaiga.
Bodies were already beginning to pile up, but none stayed down long, as with a sweep of her fan Kagura was using her dark magic; Shikabane mai*. Though she wasn't "reviving" as many as the group knew she could. Kagura wanted Naraku dead so she could live free but she needed to at least act as if she were trying or Naraku would kill the Wind youkai immediately.
More demons rose from the ash. It was as if every time they were cut down two more came to take its place. And maybe it was as Naraku smirked evilly across the field.
Dodging an attack, Kagome rolled over the back of her opponent, purifying them as she charged an arrow and released it towards Naraku. Demons jumped in the arrows way, others charging at her. As long as she could purify the bodies they couldn't be used again or multiple.
"Kagome!" Shippo screamed dragging her eyes to the side, panic quickly filling them, to see the small kitsune being cornered by three ogres.
"Kagome!" Kagome turned back to see a demon in her face, his clawed hand raised to strike. "Kagome!"
"Kagome!" Her body jerked at being touched, dazed sapphire eyes finding concerned brown staring back at her. "This is our stop,"
Looking around she was greeted by the site of the bus they had boarded several hours ago. With Yusuke grabbing her hand Kagome allowed him to move her, her mind still foggy.
Stepping off the bus, the two stood on the side of a wooded road that turned off into a gravel path, fog dancing among the tall trees. For a moment it was like she were back in the past, just another day to which she and her friends would search for jewel shards.
Gripping the straps of her backpack, full of clothes gifted to her by Shizuru this morning, Kagome tried to will down the memories that she currently swam in.
"It's a bit of a walk from here, but we'll be there in an hour,"
Kagome nodded, walking or hiking didn't bother her, she'd been doing that for days on end for months. Of course, they also were fighting demons at the time and using her connection with the jewel to track down shards.
They walked till coming to a broad set of stairs, far wider than those on her shrine and with an added several more flights of stairs. Yusuke sighed heavily in annoyance where she was already bouncing up the steps with a small giggle at his antics.
"I hate these stairs, just seeing them makes my body ache," he grumbled aloud.
"So this Genkai, she's the one who trained you?" Kagome mussed, thinking back to when he'd shared his story with her. The dark tournament having been a part of his last adventure and an adventure it was. They lived similar but different lives up to this point, of course, she hadn't died as he had, but had come more times than she wanted to admit.
"Grandma? Yea, she's pretty ruthless," looking back Kagome spotted a grin. The relationship they formed must have been close, it reminding her of Kaede. The older woman had become her teacher and grandmotherly figure, offering her advice and guidance with all subjects. If not for Kaede and Miroku she wouldn't have become as strong as she did, or in this case was.
Sad eyes turned to him. "Why haven't they attacked us yet?" Kagome knew they were there, even if she couldn't see them the lure of the cursed gem would be enough for them to follow or investigate.
His eyes searched the area even though his senses told him they were near, they had almost doubled since leveling the city, and yet not a single one made themselves visible. Yusuke shrugged not wishing to worry her before bumping her shoulder with his. "It could be because I'm with you," he gently teased.
"Maybe," Kagome whispered. She hated this, the sheer fatigue and strain that consumed her at her countless attempts to call upon her reiki. What she could feel, and use, was barely enough to keep the gem around her neck purified.
"What brings you here dope? Didn't I beat you enough?" Came a gruff female voice from ahead.
Looking up Kagome spotted an aged woman nearly half a head shorter than herself. Graying hair fell in tangled waves to squared shoulders, lavender-brown eyes staring down at them boredly. Dressed in white and red fighting attire the woman looked too small to be a fighter but Kagome knew better than to judge from a person's appearance. Looking closer the woman was both at ease and tense, ready to spring into action at a seconds notice.
"Shut it, grandma, we came from your help," he growled out to the woman once beside her. From the bits and pieces Kagome had gotten from talking with Yusuke, this woman had to be Genkai.
Now a few steps below them, Kagome bowed deeply. "It's a pleasure to meet you Genkai-sama,"
"Another sweet girl? How do you do it boy?"
Kagome looked up 'Another?' For a moment she was filled with anger, and it spilled into her words. "We're just friends," she snapped venomously. Immediately she wanted to take back the anger, it was misplaced. It's not like she was being used as a replacement or compared to a past lover, but still, she felt angry because she wanted so badly to be seen as herself: as Kagome, not a past lover or held to the standards of her ancestor.
"And a bit of a spitfire too," Genkai grinned before taking a drag off her cigarette. "Come on in and tell me about that thing hanging around your neck," she instructed already having an idea of what it was and why they were here. The girl was powerful, and for whatever reason, there were seals blocking that power.
wolfYLady: There you go another chapter!
Hope you enjoyed and please review!
Kaze no Kizu: The Wind Scar
Kazaana: Wind Tunnel
Khakkhara: Monk/Buddha Staff
Hiraikotsu: Flying-Return Bone
Shikabane mai: Dance of the Dead/Corpse