InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bandit of the Woods ❯ Flames ( Chapter 6 )
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GothicElf: I'm glad I inspired you. Personally, I cried writing it, rereading it, editing it, and double-checking everything before I posted. But I cry at commercials, so I'm not a good measure.
Jesse the Wolf Demon: Yes, I like the way Hojo turned out too.
Leomae108: I'm very fond of the old honorable way of dying.
Pan-Son-Forever: This chapter has fluff, promise.
Squeakyinuears: Ah, yes. Irony is wonderful. But look at it like this, there is no more admirable act then dying for what you believe in. So if he hadn't have died then he would be less admirable. Ironic still, I know. Actually chapters 4 & 5 were originally one chapter in my head, but then I wrote it and it was 17 pages in Word. Inu/kag relationship: it gets deeper, but there isn't much history left to tell. I mean all we really know about Robin and Marian is that they were kids together, so in keeping with that theme, not much history left. I like what Miroku says too. It took me a long time to get it right, but the result was worth it.
Anjiburu Iszuzu: Thanks. No I haven't heard of the fifth ending of Inuyasha.
Hellkeeper: It's already up at mm.org, but I think I rated R.
ScarletRaven1001: *Sigh* One of the reasons I write my fics all at once then post over time is to keep out inconsistencies. Obviously I missed one, my apologies for the confusion.
Wingsong: I don't even have a computer at work… But I can't say I'm sorry for making you cry, because the last chapter was meant to make people cry.
MM.org
Moon_Kitsune: There's more romance in this chapter.
To all my other reviews: Thanks.
Bandit of the Woods
Chapter 6
Flames
Naraku stared down at his reflection in dark amber liquid filling the pint tankard before him. His lips were dry and cracked, moistened only by the occasional lick of his tongue and the drink that rolled past. Thick black hair hung in irregular clumps from lack of care. Dirt smudged his usually flawless face. Naraku brought the drink to his lips and gulped it down. The liquid rolled down his throat, soothing the churning rage that had built in his chest.
It had gone on for a week. Everyday the amber liquids filled many a glass set before the Sheriff. He didn't care what the type, ale, mead, brandy, a spot of scotch here and there, all worked just as well. All meant to drown out the ringing in his head. That voice that kept reminding him how close he had been. A little more time, and few more methods of persuasion, and that boy would have talked. That weakling would have sung all he need or wanted to know about Inuyasha. But no, that damn Kikyo had to come and ruin it. All for her god damned pride.
Naraku swallowed hard and tossed back the last of the drink. How did Inuyasha do it? HOW? He lived in that damn forest day in and day out, despite the weather. He waltzed into town right under the noses of the best of guards, won the people's affection, and slipped back out, leaving Naraku and his men looking foolish. Always slipping through his finger's like so much sand. And he even had time to win the heart of the Lady Kagome. Something he, Naraku, could never manage to do, even with all his riches and power.
A twisted sort of smile split his face. Lady Kagome… with her graceful curves, luscious breasts, soft pouty lips, and silky hair, she was perfect. The perfect trophy wife for the most powerful man in the kingdom. How he wanted to make those soft lips of her's swell with blood, to feel those soft orbs under his hands, to taste her, to watch her withering beneath him.
He closed his eyes and an image of the woman of his desire appeared in his mind. She lay on the silky red sheets of his bed, raven hair tossed about, sweat glistening on her body, and her breathe coming in heavy pants. Naraku bit his lip and groaned as blood began to pool below his belt.
A thought suddenly made its way in his drink-fogged brain. He was the Sheriff, the most powerful, influential man, in all of Nottingham. The only one ranking above him was Kikyo. If he wanted Kagome, who would stop him? A cruel smile twitched at his lips. What would Inuyasha do when he found his precious woman had been tainted by his worst enemy? It would be the ultimate revenge. And when Inuyasha rejected her as a whore, she'd have nowhere to run but into his arms.
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Kagome hummed to herself as she brushed out her long black hair. It was late and her mind had strayed to a white haired man who often came to call when the world was dark. Inuyasha never told her when he would come, only that he would, no matter how many times she asked. It had become something of a game for them. But the game was disheartening, for her at least. Many a night she had stayed awake late only to have him not show, or gone to bed only to be woken soon after by a gentle kiss.
Kagome put her brush down and rose to her feet. Perhaps it was time to go to bed; the sun had long ago hidden itself away. Kagome sighed as she nestled herself down in the comfortable bed. Inuyasha had not come, nor were the chances of him doing so very good. She understood that he couldn't come every night, for risk that he might get caught, but still she wished to see him.
The sound of footsteps in the hall beyond her chamber door snapped Kagome from her sleepy sadness. Who could possibly be wandering the halls at this hour? All people with any reason had gone to bed. She noted that the steps were irregular, stumbling a bit here or there, as if the person were unable to keep their balance. Kagome frowned and rolled over in bed. Whoever it was, was probably drunk and just now heading for bed.
Then the footsteps stopped. They didn't fade as the person moved on down the hall, but rather ceased entirely right when they were the loudest; right outside her chamber door. Kagome strained her ears to pick up the sound of someone who might have slumped against the wall or fallen to the floor, but there was simply nothing.
The sound of her door opening brought Kagome bolt up right in bed. With the torch light of the hallway behind him, leaning casually against the doorframe, was the Sheriff of Nottingham, Naraku. He looked a mess. His hair was matted and greasy and his clothes looked like they hadn't been changed in days.
"Hello Lady Kagome." He said in an oily sort of voice, his words badly slurred. Kagome could practically smell the alcohol on him. He pushed off from the doorframe and began to cross the room. His steps were halting and stumbled, but confident none the less. "You know I've been thinking." He began again, "That you are a very beautiful woman. Much too beautiful to be wasted on that bastard Inuyasha. No, you deserve a man who is just as… amazing as you." By this time Naraku was standing at the foot of her bed, holding on to one of the posts for support. Kagome cringed away, trying to cover as much of herself as possible with her blankets.
Naraku smiled darkly at her as he pushed the sheer privacy curtains aside. Kagome edged away, the urge to call for Sango rising as he leaned close. Suddenly, in a movement much faster then she thought he could accomplish in such a state, his hand snapped up and covered her mouth. Kagome's scream was muted and her escape cut off by the other arm that wrapped around her waist. Naraku chuckled at her struggling as he crawled awkwardly, due to both alcohol and lack of hands, into the bed with her.
"Shhh, my dear Kagome." Naraku's voice was now husky and sent shivers down Kagome's spine, "It will only hurt a little at first." Kagome's eyes widened as the realization of what he planned to do hit her. Her struggling became more urgent and the need to cry for help insatiable. She kicked her legs and beat her fists against him, but he remained unfazed. Naraku moved her below him, keeping a hand over her mouth, and used his weight to pin her to the bed. With his now free hand he reached up to cup her breast.
Kagome fought harder, but only managed to get a chuckle from the drunken man. She could feel herself begin to panic. Her heart raced as his hand moved down her side. What was she going to do? His hand caught the hem of her nightgown and began to move back up. Tears leaked from her eyes. Suddenly, in a moment of absolute panic, she bit him. Coppery blood filled her mouth as her teeth pierced Naraku's digit. The Sheriff yelped and pulled his hand away.
"You bitch!" he roared. Kagome cringed away as he raised his hand the strike her. The blow never came though. The noise had roused Sango, who was none too pleased with the sight before her. In an instant she had retrieved her boomerang and rushed back into the room. With a mighty swing the great weapon she sent the Sheriff flying against the opposite wall. Sango grabbed the shocked Kagome by the wrist and made a run for the hall.
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Narak u slammed against the stone wall with a painful crack. He saw the blurred image of Kagome and Sango running from the room. Growling he tried to rise, but the alcohol and pain made his body slow. Naraku managed to get to his feet, but it was painfully slow.
"Guards!" His voice echoed around him causing the pain in his head to triple instantly. The sound of footsteps hadn't even stopped before he was shouting orders and claiming to have been attacked. If he could not have Kagome, no one would.
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San go threw the doors to the barn open, Kagome still in tow. She grabbed the halter of the nearest horse and pulled it from the stall. The warrior girl tossed the lead rope over its neck a tied the end back to the halter. With all the agility she had acquired from years of training she swung astride the unsaddled horse. Sango reached down and offered Kagome a hand. The still slightly stunned girl responded mechanically, gripping Sango's forearm as the Amazon did the same. With a grunt Sango pulled Kagome on behind her.
Sango spurred the horse forward just as the castle doors opened and a number of guards swarmed out. Many shouted for them to stop, but it was useless. With Kagome gripping her waist tightly Sango kicked the steed into a dead run and took off down the darkened road. It didn't take long for the sound of other hooves giving chase to reach her ears. Sango urged her horse faster. She had taken an oath to protect Kagome with her life, and she would not break that promise. But as strong as Sango was, she couldn't fight all the guards at once. So she ran, not out of cowardice, but to keep Kagome safe. What good was it to stand and fight if it meant Kagome would still end up in the grip of that monster?
Sango saw Miroku look out of the church as they flashed past. His usually unshakable expression was down, his face etched with worry and something else… She brushed the thought away; she didn't have time to wonder on the workings of the handsome monk's mind. She heard the sound of some panicked horses, but didn't bother to look back. The dark forest loomed ahead. Sango knew it was a sanctuary for them. The guards wouldn't follow them onto Inuyasha's turf, they weren't that stupid.
The horse's breath was coming in heavy gulps and foam touched its muzzle as it struggled to keep up the unyielding pace. Sango spurred it forward again as the hoof beats started to gain. Sango chanced a glance over her shoulder. Kagome was clutching her waist with her all her might, the younger girl's eyes were squeezed tightly shut. Naraku's guards were quickly surrounding them. Sango looked forward again. The edge of the forest was only just a head of them, if they could just pass into the trees…
Sango breathed again as the sanctuary of the trees surrounded them, and then she realized the thundering hooves hadn't stopped. She looked back, hoping, praying the guards would be backing off. Her eyes widened as she saw that not only had they not backed a way but were in fact gaining on the tired horse and its double load. Sango spurred the horse again knowing it was fruitless, the beast had already given its all.
Sango's head snapped back around, eyes wide with the beginnings of panic. Something flashed across the path ahead. The sound of something crashing through the trees along the path made them all turn to look. Not far off a howl echoed and rose into the air on wings of the night wind. Kagome whimpered in fright. The crashing sound was now all around them. The guards had drawn their weapons and looked very strained.
Sango spurred the poor horse again as the closest guard reached out the grab Kagome. The Amazon drew her sword but never got the chance to use it. Just as the guard was about to grasp Kagome's arm, something covered in fur leapt out of nowhere. Its jaws clamped down on the man wrist with enough force to break the bone. The sudden weight on the now injured arm caused the man to topple off his horse and onto the forest floor, being stepped on and kicked by the galloping horses before he came to a stop.
Everyone looked back just in time to see a wolf step up to the man's body. It threw its head back and howled. The cry rushed over them all like a wave of icy water. Other wolves joined in the song. The crashing sound around them shifted and wolves seemed to materialize out of the forest itself. Fangs flashed in the moonlight. With a roar the wolves attacked.
Sango couldn't tell what was going on. All around her and Kagome wolves dragged guards from horses. The frightened herbivores panicked and scattered into the forest, oblivious to the fact that the predators were not giving chase. A ring of wolves suddenly appeared and closed off the path before the girl's. Sango reined in the horse, coming to a skidding stop. They were surrounded. The horse danced, pawed, and snorted nervously. Sango brandished her sword, though it seemed pointless against wolves who had taken down the guards so easily.
"Put away your sword Lady Sango. My wolves have no intention of harming you or the lady Kagome." A male voice said soothingly. Sango swung around to face Kouga and several other wolf demons. Kouga was gently stroking the head of a nearby wolf a cool smile gracing his lips. Sango heaved a sigh of relief and sheathed her sword.
"Thank you for saving us." Sango said as she slid from the back of the sweating horse. She offered her hand to Kagome, who accepted and slid to the ground with as much grace as the situation allowed.
"Don't worry about it." Kouga shrugged, "It was either save you and make Inuyasha really happy with me, or not save you and have him skin me alive; after hours of torture of course. Real tough decision there. Oh and sorry about this, but it's the rules." The wolf demon produced two pieces cloth. Kouga moved forward and covered each of the girl's eyes. He took each of them gently by the arm and began to lead them forward. Kouga gave a yip and the pack began to follow him into the forest.
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Inuya sha lay lazily on the roof of his treetop hut looking up at the moon. He sighed wistfully as thoughts of a raven-haired girl danced through his mind. Somewhere she was under that same moon. He smiled at how it would play on her skin and hair, giving her a heavenly glow. Her dress blowing in the wind and her blue eyes shining. The dress was white and she held a bouquet of white roses in front of her in one hand, the other reaching out for him. He lifted his hand to her as well, watching as her beautiful eyes sparkled happily.
"Inuyasha." Her voice was like silk on his ears. She said his name again and he could feel her breath on his skin.
"Kagome." He whispered back softly.
"No Shippou." Kagome said in a voice that was definitely not her own, "Wake up Inuyasha!" The dog demon snapped awake and bolted up right. His forehead made contact with the fox demon's chin and both toppled back onto the roof in pain.
"Fuck." Inuyasha snorted, not bothering to move.
"I always knew you had a thick skull, but damn." Shippou replied as he sat up and rubbed his chin.
"Fuck you. Is there a reason why you woke me up from such a good dream or are you just being a pain in the ass?"
"Kouga's back." Shippou answered shortly as he stood up and looked down on the drowsy leader.
"Oh let the celebration begin." Inuyasha said sarcastically. "I hate to be the barer of bad news fox, but Kouga is all grown up and I am not his babysitter."
"But he brought something very special back with him tonight." Shippou was grinning like an idiot for some unknown reason.
"Well that's fucking peachy. Can't it wait till morning?"
"Nope. It's one of those 'right now' sort of things." Shippou replied his eyes practically glowing with amusement. Inuyasha eyed him carefully. Shippou was too smart for his own damn good sometimes. Inuyasha heaved himself up and leapt down to the deck level and stepped into the loop of rope. "Don't worry." Shippou called after him, "I'll be gone by the time you get back."
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K agome looked around in amazement as the blindfold was removed from her eyes. All around her were cozy little huts nestled amongst the largest tress she had ever seen. Moonlight dappled the ground and danced as a breeze whispered passed. This place smelled wild and free, nothing like that stuffy castle. The wind played in her hair and she smiled.
A sound drew her attention up. Descending from the treetops on a simple rope, was Inuyasha. The moonlight made his white hair shine and his golden eyes glow. He looked amazed to see her and his lips were curling into a soft smile. Kagome couldn't help but take a few steps towards him.
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Inuyash a's eyes widened as he saw what, or rather who, was waiting with Kouga. Kagome looked like she had stepped out of his dream. Her white nightgown was being tugged gently about by the breeze and her raven locks played about her face. The dappled moonlight kissed her skin. She suddenly looked up at him with those azure eyes and he felt the air leave his chest. As she stepped closer he had the urge to jump down to her, but retrained himself.
As the rope touched down he easily jumped over to stand before her. Kagome looked up at him as if she thought he was dreaming. Carefully he reached up and placed his hands on her upper arms.
"Kagome." Her name left his lips in a whisper, "What are you doing here?" He was surprised when her beautiful eyes began to glisten with tears and she suddenly threw herself into his arms. Inuyasha blinked in surprise a few times before wrapping his arms around her in a gentle embrace. "Shh, don't cry Kagome. Please don't cry. I hate it when you cry." He pleaded in a soft whisper. Kagome whimpered and snuggled closer to him, but managed to stop the tears. He gently pushed her away, but just enough to be able to look at her face. "There now, no more tears. Let's go to my chamber and you can tell me what needs to be done to fix this." She nodded.
Inuyasha wrapped an arm securely about her waist and pulled her close. He slipped his foot into the loop of rope and pushed in to the ground. Relaxing his leg they began to rise easily towards the trees. She couldn't keep the smile off her face as the earth fell gently away.
"Come Lady Sango," Kouga said as they watched to two lovers ascend, "I'll show you to Miroku's chamber. He's at the church tonight, and I doubt he will object to you borrowing it." Sango nodded and followed the wolf demon.
Inuyasha stepped out of the rope loop and onto the deck of his small home. Kagome looked around in awe. Inuyasha couldn't help the smile that appeared on his lips at the sight of the beauty. Kagome was caught off guard when Inuyasha pressed his lips to hers, but quickly melted into him.
Inuyasha frowned slightly, Kagome smelled of horse, sweat, wolves, fear, sadness, the forest, and of course her own unique aroma. But under that he could smell something else, something disgusting. His eyes snapped open and he pulled away. Kagome looked up at him in surprise. Carefully he leaned close and sniffed her more carefully. He was sure of it now, that smell was Naraku, a drunken Naraku.
"You smell like that bastard Sheriff. What happened?" He asked gently despite the growl that rose in his throat. Kagome eyes filled with tears again and her lip began to quiver. The growl in his throat deepened. "What did he do to you?" Inuyasha demanded, his grip tightening around her protectively. Kagome buried her face in his chest and began telling about her evening. She told him about waiting up for him, then the footsteps and the drunken Naraku. Then her and Sango's flight from the castle, and how much the guards and wolves had scared her. Inuyasha held her as she talked, his growls growing darker with every word.
When Kagome had dissolved into tears again, he tightened his grip on her. As much as he wanted to run out and rip Naraku's spine out through his neck, Kagome needed him more at the moment. Carefully he scooped her into his arms and walked inside. He sat down on the edge of his bed and settled her into his lap. Inuyasha gently drew circles on her back as he whispered comforts and promises of great pain to Naraku to calm her.
Slowly the tears dried and she lifted her eyes up to look at him. Her eyes were a little puffy and her cheeks slightly pink. Inuyasha couldn't help but think how beautiful she still looked to him. He gently dipped his head and brushed his lips to hers. It was supposed to comfort her, so he was a bit surprised when Kagome pressed back with bruising force. All thoughts of comfort fell away as his grip tightened around her and crushed her body to his chest. Kagome melted into the embrace. He took her lower lip into his mouth and began to suck it gently. Kagome whimpered softly as his tongue slipped past her lips to explore her mouth.
Inuyasha let himself fall back on to the bed, bringing Kagome with him. She gave a surprised yelp as he quickly reversed their position. He gently claimed her lips again, then moved his mouth down her jaw line. Inuyasha worked his way towards her ear with butterfly kisses. When he reached his destination he gave the soft lobe a nip with his fangs, eliciting a gasp from the girl below him. Inuyasha smirked as he began to work his way down her neck. Kagome's tiny hands gripped the back of his shirt and whispered his name. Inuyasha responded by nipping her collarbone. He ran his tongue across the sensitive skin then up and over her chin. He locked his mouth with hers again. After several minutes he came up for air. Inuyasha propped himself up on his forearms and looked down at her.
"Is this really what you want Kagome?" He asked softly, his voice husky with passion. "I don't want you to do this just because you're upset."
"I want this Inuyasha." Kagome replied softly lifting her hand to touch his cheek, "Please." He dipped his head and captured her lips again briefly before rearing back to look at her again.
"But we aren't married." He reminded her.
"So. Make us married." She replied. Inuyasha looked away.
"Kagome you deserve better then me. You're a proper lady, and all I can offer you is what you see in this hut. The manner, the money, everything I had when we were kids is gone. Kikyo and Naraku seized it while I was helping King Sesshoumaru fight the Youkia Wars. I can't give you all the things you have now." Kagome looked up at him with her bright blue eyes, not bothering to look about at the room they now occupied.
"I see all I need before me." her voice was so soft even his demon hearing was strained to catch it. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he rose off her.
"I'll send for Miroku." Inuyasha left Kagome sitting on the bed as he walked out. He made quick work of crossing to Kouga's hut and knocked on the door. After a moment of shuffling, a sleepy eyed wolf demon appeared at the door. "Kagome wants to get married tonight. Can you send a wolf to Miroku?" Kouga eyed him in amusement.
"Damn, that woman's slowin' you down, Yash. I sent that message out fifteen minutes ago." Inuyasha blinked several times as Kouga laughed.
"Feh!" Inuyasha snorted and crossed his arms. This only made the wolf laugh harder. A howl sliced the night and Kouga fell silent. He cocked his head towards the sound. Inuyasha waited patiently, Kouga had taught his wolves a different code for long distance communication, just incase their enemies wised up enough to hire a wolf demon of their own. Even Inuyasha himself didn't know the whole thing. After the call fell silent Kouga's face was twisted in concern. He slowly turned his eyes to look into Inuyasha's golden ones. The amusement and laughter that they had held only a moment ago had been replaced with shock and fear. He swallowed hard and Inuyasha raised an eyebrow.
"The church is on fire." Kouga's voice was as scared as his eyes.
"Get the horses. I'll get Shippou and some weapons." Inuyasha commanded. Kouga nodded and both canines took off in opposite direction. Inuyasha rushed to the next hut, which was Miroku's, and banged on the door. He didn't wait for the girl to answer.
"Sango, Miroku's in trouble. Kagome is in my hut. Look after her." He was gone before she could open the door. He landed next in front of Shippou's door and kicked it in. "The church is on fire, let's go!" he yelled at the surprised fox. Shippou didn't have time to answer before Inuyasha was gone as fast as he had appeared. The half demon ignored the bridges between the huts, and merely leapt the distance in a single agile jump. He yanked open the door and rushed inside. "Kagome stay here. I'll be back." He said shortly as he grabbed Tetsusaiga from its stand. He didn't give her any more time to answer then anyone else before rushing out. He ignored the rope and jumped off the edge of the deck.
Inuyasha and Shippou touched down about the same time. Kouga was waiting for them on the ground astride a large bay war-horse. He held the reins of Shippou's roan and Inuyasha's dapple-gray. The two demons leapt easily onto their mounts and all took off into the night.
The horses' hooves thundered over the earth at breakneck speed. All three mounts were crossed with demon blood, making them faster, stronger, and longer winded then anything the Sheriff or his guards had. Trees flashed past in a blur of nightshade brown and green. The rebels turned onto the main path and spurred their horses forward with all the speed they had. Manes, tails, and hair whipped in the wind as they practically flew over the ground.
They broke through the tree line and onto the road leading to Nottingham. Before them stood the once proud church, engulfed in flames. The flames reached towards the sky as if trying to touch the stars. Even the stones seemed to burn. The small group came to a skidding halt next in the churchyard and leapt off.
Inuyasha reached the doors first and slammed his fist into them. The already half burned doors flew off their hedges with a loud crack. Inside, flames had already taken over. Pews, hand crafted many a year ago, were already black, some crumbling under their own weight. Flames crawled across the floor and up the walls, consuming everything in their path. Thick black smoke boiled over head, trapped by the still standing roof.
The three demons covered their mouth and noses with bits of cloth and ran into the flames. The church wasn't very big, only a main room, a couple of smaller rooms, and a cellar for the sacramental wine. Kouga took the room off to the right, which was normally Miroku's living chamber, Shippou went to the left, to a room mainly for church guests, and Inuyasha headed for the cellar.
Kouga pushed the door of Miroku's chamber open with a great effort. The door and been barred from the inside, but the flames' heat had made the heavy lock weak. The flames hadn't made their way here yet, but smoke had leaked in from the cracks in the door. The wolf demon looked around desperately. The smoke in the room made it hard to see. Kouga could just make out the sparse furnishings of the chamber. There was a bed, table, chair, and a chest at the bed's foot. Kouga called out for the monk, but only got a lung full of smoke for his trouble. Coughing hard as he tried to look through the smoke with eyes that tried to wash the offending gas away. With another fierce cough, the wolf demon hurried into the room. He knocked the table over to see under it, finding nothing he up ended the bed; still no Miroku. Desperate to find his friend and get out of the inferno he kicked open the chest, only to find robes. Cursing darkly the wolf ran from the room.
The left chamber door was yet untouched by flames when Shippou reached it. He threw his shoulder into the wooded barrier with as much force as he could. The door broke open with some difficulty, but opened none the less. It was a mistake. The flame instantly latched themselves to the fresh air, rushing into the room in a heavy back draft. The young fox had just enough time to throw up a shield of his own flames before he was engulfed. When the flames died down to their previous level, Shippou pushed past now burning furniture to search the room for his friend. This room was also used for storage, so had a number of items besides the bed. Shippou didn't bother with things that couldn't hide a body, but ripped the doors off a wardrobe, only to find it empty. He kicked the bed over, but there was nothing there. The fox turned and broke several more pieces of furniture before he felt his lungs burn for oxygen and was forced back towards the main door.
Inuyasha leapt down the steps of the wine cellar. Lining the walls were at least 20 large barrels of wine and two large wine racks stood in the middle of the room. The flames here were fewer and farther between then those on the floor above. He hurried around the room checking between barrels and behind racks, anywhere someone could be hidden from view. By the time he had made a complete circle, he was still empty-handed. He roared in frustration and slammed both his fists into the hard stone floor. He felt the building shake around him. Hot ash and hunks of burning wood fell from the ceiling. He looked up as if he could glare the fire into submission, but his eyes fell on something else entirely. One of the wine racks was swaying dangerously back and forth. Inuyasha's eyes widened as it over balanced and began to fall.
"Shit!" He whispered. In the blink of an eye he had leapt straight into the air. He crashed through the ceiling above. The half demon grabbed Kouga and Shippou as they rushed past, before jumping again. This time all three demons went through the roof of the church. There was a deafening boom as alcohol hit flames and a rush of heat as the fire reached out to reclaim the escapees. The three were separated by the force, all landing painfully several dozen meters away. Their horses had started away by the blast and now came to stand with their riders.
The three demons looked up as the church groaned. Burnt beams and rafters snapped like dead twigs, then with a final death moan the whole structure collapsed in on itself. Heavy stone blocked cracked and smashed under the weight of their kin. Flames reached out for life giving oxygen around the stones that had started to glow, some starting to melt.
Shippou bowed his head and breathed deeply. Kouga looked away and gave voice to a pained cry. Inuyasha squeezed his eyes shut as angry tears began to burn his cheeks. The worst part was not knowing. None of them had found the monk, but that didn't mean he wasn't there. Had he been locked in somewhere? Was he now under that pile of burning rock? The rebel leader tried to climb to his feet only to have his knees give out beneath him. He slammed his fist into the ground angrily, leaving a large dent. He buried his face into his arms. Around him Shippou had silent tears leaking down his cheeks, dampening his shirt. Kouga's howls had died to whimpers. Each rebel too far off in their own world to notice anything around them.
Inuyasha jumped when a small hand touched his arm. He bolted up right to find himself looking down on a small girl. She had white hair, dark eyes, and a perfectly round mirror. He blinked a few times not sure what he was seeing. Slowly she raised the mirror to him as if she wished him to look into it. Inuyasha looked at his reflection for only a moment before it blurred and changed.
Before him he saw a scene as if he were standing in the churchyard. He saw Miroku stick his head out of the church as Sango and Kagome flashed past on their horse. The monk ran from the church to stand in the rode between the girls and the fast approaching guard. Miroku lifted his staff and struck the ground. Blue light exploded upwards, causing several of the guards' horses to start and some to even throw their riders. A handful of guards charged past, giving chase to the fleeing females.
Inuyasha continued to watch as the guards who had been thrown rose and attacked the monk. Miroku fought against the attack, taking out several guards with his staff. But the monk was outnumbered, by a lot. Two guards managed to grab his wrists and twisted them behind his back. Another cuffed him in the head, and the monk fell limp. One guard lifted the monk onto a horse while the others began to set fire to the church.
The small girl pulled the mirror back and the picture faded. Inuyasha looked at her in disbelief for a moment, then sighed. The girl looked back at him with a blank stare, but something made him want to believe what she was showing him. 'Kanna's a good girl, quite though. She needs her sister, only she can truly understand the child's strange powers fully. She is still so innocent.' Those had been Miroku's words. Miroku had trusted her, he would trust her. Only one final thought filtered through his mind. Miroku was alive.
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