InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Gathered Storm ❯ The Space Between ( Chapter 5 )

Author's Note(s): I apologize for the late posting! I do hope no one has lost interest! My muse was lacking b/c of the stress at work. I am humbled by all of the critiques and praises of my fabulous audience. Please feel free to leave comments at will! They keep a girl motivated.

 

*BORING DISCLAIMER*: I claim NO ownership over the cast of Inuyasha.

 

 

 

Chapter Five: “The Space Between”

 

The walls are high but made of glass
The dye is dark but not yet cast
And though remorse comes easily
An act of love could set you free… “A Way to Live” by Heather Nova

 

 

The soft lights from the rising sun beckoned slight warmth to dwell upon the tree-cloaked camp the five of them had created the other night. Sango rolled her eyes, shivering into her thick blanket as the monk appeared with a saucy wink from beyond the thicket of forest. His smile hinted at the vision he had encountered and his feelings about the situation as well. And knowing Miroku, lecherous thoughts were wheeling about his mind.

 

She tucked her face back against her knees, peering out at the camp fire as the wintry wind picked up around them. The scent of snow was drifting about their makeshift sanctuary. A blush tinted her cheeks as the monk took his place beside her, humming a deep tune with lively notes. Her glare slid over his face, “Monk, what has you in such a melodic mood?”

 

The sarcasm swathed words only added to his already widening grin, “My dear Sango, are you so innocent? Can't you sense your sister-in-arms is in a bit of a predicament at the moment?”

 

Sango's brow furrowed as she tore her gaze from Miroku and tried to focus her vision past the clearing at the swaggering red and dainty green figures entering the campsite. “Kagome, what have you gotten yourself into?” She smirked to herself, starting at the laughter that broke out from the man beside her.

 

“Ah… what indeed, sweet Sango. We shall see how this plays out, hmm?” His violet eyes danced with mirth as he nudged his love with an elbow.

 

Sango growled softly, as she was not ready to completely accept the situation. “You might be entertained at the notion, monk, but I will remain wary. Inuyasha is predictable. There is something that always draws him from Kagome. And you know what I speak of.”

 

Miroku shrugged his broad shoulders with a grin as he lay against the trunk of a giant maple tree. “Wanna make a bet out of it, Sango?”

 

She shot him a look that belayed her lack of trust in him. “A bet? Are you so petty, Miroku?”

 

He shivered as she spoke his name, not underlining it with `monk' or `lecher.' “It's not petty, sweet Sango. It's merely a friendly game of chance that -happens- to include two of our dearest friends. I say that Inuyasha stays with Kagome this time around.”

 

Sango snickered un-ladylike at the proposition. “And I say he'll run with his tail between his legs. Not because of Kagome, mind you. But that blasted Kikyo seems to lure him away.”

 

A pleased grin pulled at Miroku's lips. “Now that we've set the stakes, I shall declare what I want if I win.”

 

An angry spark lit her dark eyes as she glared back at the monk. “I don't even dare to ask what you would deem as `winnings,' monk.”

 

“But-- Sango! You must allow me have a little fun.” His violet eyes glittered in a teasing manner as her nudged her lightly with his elbow once again.

 

His beautiful taiyjia crossed her arms over her chest in defiance, looking into the fire as she heard the foot steps of her friends come closer.

 

Miroku poked his lower lip out slightly while trying to understand her body language. “Then I propose we decide what each of us wants when one of us wins and go from there.”

 

Sango's voice reverberated with warning, “It better not be too lecherous, monk.”

 

“Sango, my sweet Sango, you pain me. Have you not seen the innocence in my words? I'm a blessed monk, you know.”

 

Another snort was all that was uttered from the graceful huntress as she settled down beside the fire as gust of frigid wind clawed trees that surrounded the make-shift camp.

 

*-----------------------------*

 

Her rusty joints creaked lightly from the cold and consuming storm. It had been many years since the old priestess had experienced a winter such as this. It felt as though life itself had been sucked out of the precious earth and kept imprisoned in a land far away. This shook her stance a bit since she knew that really the winter was a natural cycle for life, but this seemed different. The auras of the flora and fauna about her did not seem to be sleeping, the seemed to be non-existent all together.

 

A whisper of fate drifted through her mind as she leaned against the entrance of her small abode, causing a shiver more out of impending prophecy than cold to tremble through her. Clasping her hands together and dipping her head slightly in benediction, she took in a breath to allow visions of the proposed future to whisk about her mind.

 

As soon as she opened her mind, she was pushed back with the mental picture of death marching across the countryside and feeling appalled buy the scent of a twisted heart of a woman lost to the known world. Another worldly presence cloaked the field of undead, leading the band of warriors against a formidable foe. At the end of the battlefield, she saw them. Valiant heroes that faced much destruction and woe stood with unimaginable strength.

 

“Leeeave now, young onesss.” The darkness howled in a raspy tone, hurling an oppressive aura at the bright spirits of the collected heroes. “You have no power here...”

 

Her vision was whisked towards a new element of the prophecy as a flash of red swept over the depressing sight. Sounds of clashing metal rang in her ears at the hints of the battle against light and dark. Incoherent chants and screams swamped her senses, leaving no room for interpretation. The force that had held her there in her premonitions tossed her back to the mortal realm once more, leaving the seasoned miko quaking with the ferocity of the vision.

 

Her head hit the side of the wood paneling of her door, causing a white streak to cloud her vision. Painful gasps of air wretched from her lungs as she tried to let the sting pass from both the bump on her head and the vision. She rolled to her side, allowing the blood flow to circulate back through her shaking form.

 

Never had she ever experienced such a premonition. The severity she had gathered from the situations that played before her told her that this was the most sincere situation that she would play a part in.

 

The gray hair that crowned her head gathered about her eyes as she pulled herself in a seated position. Yes, this was the beginning of a huge battle for the mortals that roamed the country. She best get prepared for the dyer events that were to occur.