Disclaimer: InuYasha & Final Act are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz Media & Madmen Entertainment.

SessKag Week 2023 Day 6 – Trust

Word prompt: Confidant

Scenario 1: Fighting back to back

Scenario 2: Character A entrusts something in character B's care

Chapter Six

A sinister laugh circled around them. The subsonic growl ending as Kagome stiffened. When she ran out here, it was just to get away from the disaster she left in the village. She didn't bother to bring her bow with her, nor keep an eye on her surroundings. It was why Sesshoumaru surprised her and what got her in this mess to begin with. Would she never learn?

Pulling back, the two of them searched the darkened trees for the source of the laugh. With the timing of everything, there was no doubt in her mind this was the youkai that cursed her and Inuyasha. The youkai she would defeat for all the pain it had caused. "You should go." She whispered, not wanting to be the reason for any more problems than she already had. He snorted, keeping her in his arms as he scanned the forest.

Lightening flashed.

Chilling, blood colored eyes sent daggers through her. The sneering, wrinkled face framed by stringy grey hair… Kagome would never forget that face…

"Urasue…" Her whispered words slipped past her lips, a shudder running through her. How could the oni be standing before them? Kikyou had killed her, she was certain of it. Squaring her shoulders, Kagome took a deep breath. It wouldn't be the first time she cleaned up after Kikyou.

"Sesshoumaru," He didn't respond, but she knew he was listening. If he wasn't, he would have walked away long before now. "Promise me. If I don't make it out of this battle," Her fist clenched, yearning for the worn wood of her bow. "Find my family in the future, tell them I love them and that I was sorry I couldn't return." She glanced up, locking eyes with the stoic youkai. "Don't let them suffer not knowing what happened to me."

"Don't be silly." He shifted, his back pressing against her own, protecting her most vulnerable side. "You'll tell them yourself." She smiled, any worry about this encounter fading away. She would not face this enemy alone. This time would not be a repeat of the last. This time, she would survive, her soul remaining intact.

"I don't know how you survived Urasue!" She shouted through the rain, hoping to trick the oni into speaking, or even laughing once more, giving them a chance to pinpoint their location. "But your life ends here."

Laughter filled the forest; a smirk spread across her face. Closing her eyes, she could glean the general direction the oni was standing. They hadn't moved since the lightning strike. Did they not consider her a threat? Had she not heard how she defeated Naraku?

"Who said anything about Urasue?" The withered voice chuckled, giving her pause. If not Urasue, then someone related to them; a far greater concern. Kagome knew what to expect from Urasue. This strange oni though? Beyond the curse, which she still didn't understand the details of, their powers were a mystery.

In the end, it wouldn't matter. She would defeat them, protecting her friends, and making them pay for what they did to Inuyasha.

Hands lifted, envisioning a bow in her hands. She was still a novice at working with her reiki in this way, but she wouldn't let that stop her. If she failed, Sesshoumaru was here to help. Just as his whisper in the hut promised, he would aid her in obtaining her vengeance.

Bright pink reiki lit up the forest, giving away their positions as much as the oni's. She had one shot and needed to make it could before the oni attacked. One shot to end this as quickly as Kikyou had. One shot to prove she was worthy of the title Shikon Miko.

She pulled her arm back, as if there truly was a bow in her hand, the glowing reiki arrow level with her chin. "Hit the mark!" She shouted, releasing her fingers. The glowing reiki shot through the air, eating the distance between them and the oni.

The youkai chuckled as the reiki arrow drew closer. Hope swelled in her chest before shattering into a million pieces when the oni dodged at the last minute.

"Focus, Miko." Sesshoumaru's steady voice rumbled through her. It wasn't a chastisement as it would have been with Inuyasha. It was a reminder that battle was unpredictable and she would get another chance to end their opponent, even if she had to create the opening.

The oni sunk into the shadows, disappearing from sight. At least, disappearing from Kagome's sight.

"Do you see them?" She asked, voice barely a whisper. He hummed, hip pressing into the left side of her back. She purposely aimed to the right. Let the oni think they had the upper hand. She would create her opening. She and Sesshoumaru both.

Once more, she envisioned a bow in her hand. Reiki arrow poised and ready to fire at a moment's notice. Without the physical bow in her hand, her muscles didn't ache as they would, straining against the force of the pulled string. Though, it forced her to pay more attention to her stance as she waiting for their next opening.

A snap of a twig.

She and Sesshoumaru turned to her left in one fluid motion. His clawed hand shot up, grasping the oni's throat as they came within striking range. Kagome released her reiki arrow in the same breath.

The oni screamed as the reiki ate through them. Ash floated to the earth, mixing with the soft mud. A smile spread across her face as she turned to look at Sesshoumaru. "We make a pretty good team."

"Hn," He flicked his hand in the air, forcing the oni's ash off his flesh. Smudges remained, his lips twisting in a frown.

"Thank you." She took his hand in her own, using the damp sleeve of her haori to wipe away the oni's remains. "I suppose we should go back to the village. Inuyasha might be awake by now." Her smile faded, knowing how her best friend would react to his new reality.