InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Delayed Dawn ❯ The Trogan Gallops Again ( Chapter 16 )

A Delayed Dawn

 

Disclaimer: I could never claim to own something that belongs to the positively brilliant Takahashi-sensei.

 

Warning: This story is posted in the mature section for good reasons. If ideas such as vulgar language, descriptive violence, and sexual situations such as rape disturb you, then you are warned now.

 

Chatper Sixteen The Trojan Gallops Again

 

*War Dog Compound, Sesshoumaru's Office*

 

Sesshoumaru was not at all surprised to see Inuyasha and Miroku sitting in his office. One thing Sesshoumaru immediately learned about his brother and his acceptance into The Pack was that he never made decisions. He would always drag Miroku with him and sit in his office, waiting for advice or some kind command. It was his years in The Toukens that did this to him. He had been given orders for so long that he didn't know how to make any kind of decision on his own.

 

And in this case, he was glad. Sesshoumaru was aware of Naraku declaring a new war against anyone after this jewel. Miroku had explained that this drafted Kagome and Sesshoumaru agreed with Miroku's conclusion. And that was what brought them to his office. What to do with the drafted?

 

“She definitely knows more than what she lets on,” Miroku said. “Not to mention that she is probably the most powerful miko we ever have encountered.”

 

This was new to Sesshoumaru. He had figured long ago that Higurashi knew more than she divulged. It was a trick of scientists. To only give enough to get people interested, and to come to some sort of hazy conclusion. After the attacks on the museum and her sudden disappearance, he knew that she was protecting something. But to hear that she was a miko. How come no one had mentioned it to him before? He had to find out.

 

“And you didn't sense this on her early monk?” Sesshoumaru inquired.

 

Miroku swallowed a big lump. “Well, uh, no, sir, I didn't,” he answered. And that was the truth. During his time with her at the museum, he didn't feel anything from her other than a pat here or there, and the sense that she was just a plain human who studied too much. He hadn't even sense any kind of concealing spell.

 

“Interesting,” Sesshoumaru muttered, much to his own delight because using words like that caused the monk to squirm in his seat. But it was more than interesting. Having the mikos on his compound allowed him to study them. Not like they were lab rats, but he could see them, sense them, and feel their auras and their power. He could make the distinction between demons, hanyous, humans and mikos by their auras. Never had he encountered anyone who could conceal their true aura.

 

If everything the monk and his pathetic half-brother were saying was true, then he was afraid that drafting the doctor was in order. He had been lucky. The few that had survived the drafting had found safety under his protection. Jinenji was particularly grateful and he did the best work he could to show Sesshoumaru his appreciation. Even the mikos, who were known for their healing abilities, learned much from him. Now they had to convince Higurashi to join them for not just her own safety, but also for her knowledge.

 

Sesshoumaru sighed. He knew a little something about Higurashi's personality from Miroku and Sango's reports. She was intelligent, caring, stubborn and defiant. Some of those qualities she shared with someone he knew. And it was those qualities that were going to cause some problems. He had to be careful with this.

 

“Bring her in,” he said, his eyes closed, voice steady but soft.

 

Miroku nodded and Inuyasha remained still. They knew what they had to do know. It made things simpler for the both of them, though not necessarily for the girl, or even for Sango for that matter. Miroku and Inuyasha both stood from their chairs. Miroku headed for the door first, Inuyasha following.

 

“That is not a regulation sidearm, Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru remarked. Inuyasha paused, turned slightly towards his brother and then realized that the sword was still by his side. He glanced down at it, unsure of what to do. “Explain,” his brother now demanded.

 

Inuyasha sighed. “Fuck you,” he said. He didn't want to explain. There was no reason to. And he didn't even know how to explain it. All he knew was that the sword worked and he liked it.

 

Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow before quickly narrowing his golden eyes. He directed his gaze over to Miroku, knowing that the human was not as defiant. Miroku had to tell. “One of the artifacts, sir. Somehow, Inuyasha was able to tap into its, uh, power and destroyed some demons who attacked us.”

 

“You're telling me that that rusty piece of crap destroyed a hundred demons?” Sesshoumaru interrogated the monk. Miroku could only nod. Sesshoumaru stood up. “Hand that weapon to me.”

 

Inuyasha quickly spun around. “Fuck that,” he spat, hand ready to draw the sword.

 

Sesshoumaru was not going to do this with Inuyasha. “Don't make me repeat myself.” And in a matter of seconds, Sesshoumaru was over the desk and holding Inuyasha inches above the ground by his neck. With his other hand, Sesshoumaru reached over for the hilt of the rusty sword.

 

Inuyasha fell to the ground with a loud thumb, coughing to catch the breath that momentarily got lost. Sesshoumaru was standing against his desk, glaring at his own hand. Blisters and scorches decorated his smooth skin. The sword had a magic barrier! He hadn't detected it. It refused him, but accepted Inuyasha. How was that possible? Nothing like this existed in their time. It was old magic, lost with the rest of the ancient ways.

 

Once he was breathing normally again, Inuyasha started to cackle. “Bastard. I told you no.”

 

Sesshoumaru glanced over at the monk, looking for an explanation to what just transpired. Miroku shook his head for he had none. One of the many mysteries that only the magnificent Higurashi could answer for herself. Miroku now had several questions to ask the doctor.

 

“Go,” Sesshoumaru commanded to them. Inuyasha scrambled up and followed Miroku out. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and concentrated his youki power to heal his wounds. There was more than the jewel that the doctor needed to explain.

 

*The Higurashi Shrine*

 

Kouga took to listening to the radio and Sango sat at the bottom of the steps, thinking about what Miroku had said. She didn't truly realize the revelations that would come with this Naraku character declaring his own war. It didn't make sense. Declaring war when one was already declared. Marking an innocent person as a target for death, or worse. This man was truly delusional. To go after something that might not even exist. She hoped for Kagome's sake that it truly didn't exist and that this Naraku gave up his foolish quest. But, with the sword, and her sudden and powerful miko abilities, she wasn't so sure.

 

Sango rested her head against the wall and sighed. Miroku and Inuyasha seemed to be taking their sweet time. And Kagome was being awfully quiet. She had heard crashes and the sort coming from the room Inuyasha imprisoned her in, but now it became silent. Sango figured that the poor girl had ended up crying herself to sleep.

 

The sounds of the radio were soothing and Sango closed her eyes, knowing that it was the wrong thing to do. But right now, she was mentally exhausted. The last year was physically exhausting, trekking through most of Japan, even parts of Korea and China to search for this girl. Then, unexpectedly, they found her, not far from where she had been. Though it didn't mean that she had been here the whole time. They did what anyone else in their position would do, followed rumors and clues.

 

She wasn't too worried about accidentally falling asleep, knowing that the ever alert Kouga was nearby, on guard and ready for any kind of action he could get. She chuckled. That made him sound like Miroku. Then she yawned, unsure of why she was so sleepy all of the sudden.

 

Kouga concentrated on the moves, dancing with a hidden opponent. While this wasn't his fighting style, he did what he could to concentrate and focus. He wasn't sure what was going on since he wasn't a member of The Pack. But he didn't mind. He just liked the fighting. Kouga was okay with his life. His family joined The War Dogs and he joined up with The Toukens as a pup, right about the same time that Inuyasha joined.

 

At their first meeting, they fought. Something had sparked between them and their rivalry made them fight harder, train more, until they were of age to lead The Toukens. Kouga was not resentful for being placed second in command underneath Inuyasha. Inuyasha had proved himself more times than Kouga had. But Inuyasha's luck was bound to run out one of these days, and Kouga was already there waiting.

 

The front door opened. Sango snapped her eyes open to see Miroku and Inuyasha walking in. Kouga plopped down on the couch and gave his comrades a two fingered salute.

 

“What the fuck Kouga, we could've been the enemy,” Inuyasha bellowed noticing the relaxed nature of both Sango and Kouga.

 

“Fuck, I smelled your shitty ass a couple of miles down the road,” Kouga chimed back, snuggling into the comfort of the couch.

 

Inuyasha just shrugged his shoulders. He followed Miroku over to Sango, and Kouga was not far behind. Sango stood up, anxiously waiting what word they brought with them.

 

“Well,” she quipped a bit too quickly. Miroku dropped his gaze onto the floor. He didn't have to say anything. Sango knew by his body language. “I see. When? Immediately?”

 

“Unfortunately, yes, my dear Sango. Sesshoumaru is afraid for Kagome and believes that if she will not come peacefully with us, then we must resort to force to protect her.”

 

Sango nodded. She then heard something. A chime? No, something else, like a bird or . . . “Inuyasha, are you. . . “She paused trying to put a finger on what it was she heard from him. “You're whistling!” Sango exclaimed with much surprise. She'd never heard the hanyou whistle before. Didn't even know if he could.

 

Kouga and Miroku both looked at the hanyou. He noticed everyone looking at him and stopped. “What?” He asked innocently. “Shit, let's get the goddamn thing, I mean girl, and get moving. I'm sure Naraku's bastards will be back soon.”

 

Sango and Kouga leaned towards Miroku. “What happened with him?” Sango asked, Kouga just as interested.

 

Miroku raised a hand. “I must not divulge such personal matters to others,” Miroku calmly stated.

 

Kouga's eyes went wide and then a naughty grin grew from cheek to cheek. “Shut the fuck up. He didn't? That quick?”

 

Sango rolled her eyes. “Knock that off. Perverts, both of you. Now really tell us.”

 

Miroku sighed. Sango could easily see through most of his ruses. “Sesshoumaru very violently tried to take the sword from Inuyasha. The sword however has a barrier such that it burnt the inu-youkai's hand quite severely. A personal victory for our inu-hanyou against his brother.”

 

“The sword won't let Sesshoumaru touch it, but only Inuyasha?” Sango asked. “I wonder what that means?”

 

“Perhaps our. . . guest knows,” Miroku added, indicating that they should go upstairs with Inuyasha.

 

“Goddamn motherfucking shit almighty!” They heard a familiar voice yell out his usually choice of vocabulary. They stopped at the top of the steps when Inuyasha came into view. His whistling, almost cheerful face was twisted with anger and pure rage.

 

*The Woods*

 

Kagome walked through the vegetated area just northwest of the shrine. These former neighborhoods had been abandoned long ago and nature once again marked its claim on the land, covering everything in its path. Kagome rather appreciated nature's return. It calmed much of the chaos of the war.

 

She was sure she had walked a good hour or so away, and she figured another hour or so until those two jerks returned. It was this thinking that made her stop. Finding a log that was sturdy and still early in its decomposition, she sat down. Whipping her backpack off her shoulders, she opened the yellow bag and pulled out a water bottle and something to snack on.

 

Going to Naraku was probably not the brightest idea, and now that she was drafted, there was no doubt that he knew her name at least. Kagome needed a new plan. She wished she had thought of something while still in the safety of the shrine. She felt really stupid all of the sudden. Stupid Inuyasha, jerk. Trying to take away her life's work. She sighed. Suddenly, she felt really, really stupid. And that was why she didn't sense it.

 

*The Higurashi Shrine*

 

“Fucking wench is gone!” Inuyasha directed his bellow at the wide-eyed Sango and arrogant wolf demon.

 

Kouga felt Inuyasha's murderous glare. “What?” He snapped back at the inu-hanyou.

 

Inuyasha stomped over to the wolf. “I gave you an order. A simple order and you blew it.” Inuyasha sighed. “Fuck. What were you doing, sniffing shit?”

 

Kouga was fuming, wanting to lash out at Inuyasha, but didn't. Inuyasha was right. With that girl in her room, he couldn't distinguish between the scent that came from her directly and that of her room, since he was downstairs in the living room. However, he couldn't sense any kind of aura from her, unlike the time when they fought that demon army. Her miko aura just flicked off, and she was just a normal human.

 

“Let's go. We're under orders to find that stupid wench and bring her ass back.” He marched down the stairs passed his comrades. “She's drafted now,” he said so low that only Kouga could pick up on it. The four of them left quickly, Inuyasha and Kouga in the lead, following Kagome's fading scent, with Sango and Miroku left behind to follow.

 

*The Woods*

 

Kagome let the water bottle slip from her weakened grip, and her snack quickly trailed. She was stunned speechless. Not even a scream. Had she been thinking that hard? Had she really missed the youkai sneaking up on her? Kagome reached behind her, grabbing nothing but air.

 

“What?” She gasped at the sudden realization that she was cornered in a deserted area, with a snarling youkai approaching, and her weapons were left at the shrine. She looked back at the youkai in front of her.

 

The youkai was one that could not normally take on a human appearance. True youkai and some hanyou could look human or near human enough, all others had to wear concealment spells. But since the war started, oni and youkai stopped using the spells as they were now seen as a tool of oppression by humans and domesticated youkai.

 

She stumbled backwards, tripping over the log she had chosen earlier as a seat. Kagome started to panic. Never had she found herself in a situation without the use of her bows. Even at the museum, she at least had an arrow nearby, though many thought that it was just some ancient relic she greedily held onto.

 

The youkai was a cross between a boar and a bear. She wasn't sure. It was husky, reaching almost eight feet in height, with thick, moldy skin. Its eyes sunk deep into its rough face, flat snout than shone with snot and teeth that were yellow and sharp, dripping with dangerous saliva. It stood on two legs like a human, and had two arms. Kagome was also glad that it was clothed in human fashions as well. That sight alone would have scared her more.

 

Eyes darting randomly across the scenery, Kagome continuously checked at the youkai's advance while desperately searching for something, anything that could be construed as a weapon. All she found was dead and decaying forest matter. Whatever was going to happen, Kagome knew that she wasn't going to end up looking too pretty.

 

Given a few moments before the lethargic animal was within attacking range, Kagome figured her only chance of prolonging her life by even a few more seconds was to run. She was already a piece of prey for everyone else. Being hunted by this thing might just be the end of a struggle that had just barely begun. Kagome scrambled up onto her feet, turned and ran. She didn't dare look behind her, but her senses told her that the chase was on.

 

She was cursed. Cursed with no sense of balance. Not seeing the roots that had somehow rose out of the ground at the right moment to trip her, sending her body skidding across the forest floor. “Itai,” she winced, her body shaken by the fall. Her fall wasn't completely in vain. Just a few feet from her reach was a thin branch that had snapped off from a tree, forming a pointed tip. Perhaps she wasn't cursed after all.

 

Slithering along the ground, ignoring the rocks and twigs that created painful friction against the front of her body, she reached out to grab the branch that would become her makeshift weapon. Her body cringed at the sound of the youkai approaching. Only a few more inches.

 

“AAAAHHHH!” She hollered as the youkai swiped its claws at her legs, ripping the jeans and into the first layer of flesh. The smell of iron reeked. She could feel the warmth of the blood dripping down her legs, soaking into what pants she had left. With a burst of energy, she lunged forward, gripping the branch in her hands.

 

Spinning around so that she was on her back, Kagome pointed the stick upward. But with the wound, her miko energies were busy trying to keep her alive and was unable to charge the stick. She shook the stick a few times, praying that she could get some power into the piece of wood. Kagome's eyes went wide in fear as she realized the truth. She was going to die in the middle of the words. Accepting it, she closed her eyes.

 

She felt weightless, like she was flying. Not wanting to open her eyes, afraid that she had gone to hell instead of heaven, Kagome just sighed. Death wasn't as painful as she figured it to be. Perhaps it was that quick and that the youkai had decided not to eat her. She would have to thank kami for that one.

 

“Fucking take this thing,” a gruff voice interrupted her tranquil thoughts as she felt herself being tossed into the air.

 

Kagome shot her eyes open to see herself soaring through the air. “What?” She screamed, fearing a hard impact onto the ground.

 

“Gotcha doctor,” another voice said. This one was smoother. She looked up to see the cocky grin of a wolf demon. The wolf demon she recognized from the shrine. His blue eyes twinkled at the sight of her in his arms.

 

“You,” she breathed as she realized that maybe she wasn't dead. Twisting in his grip, she looked over to see Inuyasha slicing the oni-youkai in half with the sword he stole from her. As he landed on the ground, the beast sprayed its blood and guts around the area. Kagome closed her eyes and it rained red. Gross, she thought as she could feel chunks of youkai guts clinging to her clothes.

 

“Oh, thank goodness,” Sango breathed as her and Miroku arrived. Sango hurried over to Kagome. “Are you all right?”

 

Kagome didn't hear Sango's question. She could only see Inuyasha. He turned around to face the huddled group, a slight smirk on his face, the large transformed sword resting proudly on his shoulder. He sighed and placed the sword back into its sheath. It glowed as it untransformed to fit snuggly in its ancient hold. Hand resting on the hilt, Inuyasha made his way over to make sure that she was at least alive. He would hate for her to be dead. That would mean a failed mission.

 

Kagome pushed herself out of Kouga's grip and stumbled over to Inuyasha. Inuyasha could only stare as this girl ignored all of her pain to make her way towards him. It wasn't the first time someone had wanted to show him gratitude. He didn't mind the attention. As long as Kouga didn't get any of it. His smirk got a bit bigger as he waited for the thanks to pour from her lips.

 

She stopped in front of him, hunched over from the damage to the back of her legs. Getting her breathing under control so she could block out the pain, she looked up at the hanyou, taking in his features. A defined, yet soft jaw line, large amber gold eyes that were bright from the energy of the attack, silver white hair that draped down his back and the most defining feature of him were the two little doggy eyes on top of his head. They were cute, but that wasn't going to stop her.

 

Raising her hand, she curled her fingers into a tight ball and threw the punch into his open chest. Inuyasha caught his breath as he looked down at the pain she caused. He looked up at her. “What the hell wench?”

 

Kagome was breathing too heavily, her breath erratic. “I. Am. Not. A. Thing!” She cried out at him. Then she winced as the pain over took her ability to control it. She fell into Inuyasha's firm chest, clinging onto his clothing as her legs gave out on her.

 

Sango rushed over and took Kagome off of Inuyasha. Inuyasha didn't know what to do. This girl was in pain, yet she still found the strength to bitch him out. He watched as Sango laid Kagome onto the ground.

 

“Kagome-chan?” Sango softly asked. Kagome opened her eyes. “Kagome, you're coming with us, okay? We'll take you to get fixed up.”

 

Kagome almost nodded and then realized what it was that Sango was exactly saying. The pain in her legs momentarily faded as Kagome's fear kicked in. Kagome tried to back away from them. “No,” she said repeatedly, flailing around on the ground. Turning over, she crawled on her hands and knees toward her backpack. Everyone followed her; curious as to what she is doing.

 

“My backpack,” she cried when she saw the yellow bag gone. She frantically searched around, trying to spot the yellow against the browns and greens. It was here before she was attacked. “You have my backpack,” she said, not as a question.

 

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads. “Kagome-chan, please, your wounds. . . “Sango tried to plead with the girl.

 

“My backpack,” Kagome said through gritted teeth, holding back the pain that was battling with her other emotions.

 

“I don't know what you're planning wench, but wherever you were going, you ain't going,” Inuyasha barked at her.

 

Kagome turned to glare at him. “I know that,” she said to him, her voice weak and shaky. “I just, I need my backpack,” she explained.

 

“You mean this,” a voice spoke. Everyone looked at each other and realized that the voice didn't belong to any one of them. They looked up. And the owner of the voice looked down.

 

Roshully's note:

Uh, hi. Yeah, I wasn't completely thinking. I had this chapter typed and stuff and whoops, didn't update. Too busy with life and `TGO'. Thanks for the reviews and stuff. This story is what I do when I'm bored…