InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Brother My Brother ❯ Chapter 2

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

"It's-- It's Naraku," he managed to choke out before his knees buckled and he fell to the ground, coughing and struggling for a breath of air through the thick cloud of miasma. "Inu-- Inuyasha…" The effort of speaking proved too much for him, and Miroku struggled to keep himself from collapsing entirely onto the ground. It can't end like this… Not like this… There was without a doubt no oxygen left in the area. It had all been overtaken by the poisonous miasma, and try as he might, Miroku could not breathe. He was beginning to feel weak and dizzy, when he felt something grab at the back of his collar. He made a strangled sound of surprise before he was lifted into the air, slung over a shoulder, and transported quickly to another part of the forest. Sweet air rushed to his lungs, and he coughed the inhaled miasma out of his body.

"You okay, Miroku?"

Miroku looked up to find Inuyasha standing next to him. He nodded and replied as best he could, "Yes, yes, I'm all right. Thank you."

"Good. I'm going back for Kagome and the others."

Again before Miroku could say anything, Inuyasha leapt into the air, taking long bounds to the field he had seen Sango training in earlier that morning. The forest below him was flooded with purple miasma, no doubt a product of Naraku's. The trees and greenery were wilting, dying in the suffocating poison. Inuyasha looked frantically for a sign of Kagome or Sango, Shippo, or Kirara, but saw nothing. That is, until he reached the edge of the field and discovered a giant barrier.

The shield was half spherical and stretched upwards some dozen feet, sheltering the field from any outside intrusion. Inuyasha swore over and over again as he peered into the wall of the shield, not being able to see anything through it, and slashed at it with his claws. All this succeeded in doing was burning his fingers a great deal, and he cursed some more as he looked desperately for a way in. There was no doubt in his mind that Kagome and the others were trapped inside, with perhaps Naraku, or more likely one of his puppets or incarnations. Kagura maybe. Inuyasha could have cared less who was in there, he was more concerned with the fact that he himself was not in there as well.

He spent another minute or so slashing at the wall with his claws when an idea struck him. He would go and get Miroku. Of course, with his spiritual powers, he may be able to take down this barrier! He turned and swiftly made his way to the thicket in which he had left Miroku moments before. Upon his arrival, the monk looked up at him.

"Inuyasha, what's wrong?" he inquired, standing.

"There's a barrier around the field Kagome and the others were in," he replied. "You're going to have to take it down."

Miroku nodded. "I will do what I can." Still fatigued from his near-death experience, he politely inquired if he could ride on Inuyasha's back. The half-demon grunted in displeasure, but knew there was no time to argue. Instead, he grabbed one of Miroku's arms and slung him over his back and took off toward the field again. They arrived in a manner of seconds, and Miroku approached the barrier with a look of concern.

"Inuyasha, this is one of Naraku's powerful barriers," he reported. "I'm not sure I can break through."

"Well, you'd better," Inuyasha snapped in response. "Because I can't get through it and Kagome, Sango, and Shippo are on the other side. Probably with one of Naraku's incarnations or puppets or something."

Miroku frowned in frustration, gazing up at the shield stretching high above their heads. "I will do my best, but my powers alone may not be enough."

Inuyasha groaned in annoyance. "Just do it already, will you? At this rate, by the time we get to the other side, the others will all be dead!"

Miroku did not respond to that. Instead, he closed his eyes and furrowed his brow in concentration. Inuyasha watched him impatiently. If Miroku could not get them through the barrier, then he was all out of ideas. There was no one else around with that kind of power. His left ear twitched and he picked up the buzzing sound of insect wings.

"Damn," he swore. "That's gotta be Naraku's poison insects. Miroku, keep it up and I'll fend them off if they get too close." Inuyasha drew the Tetsuisga and the sword transformed into its impossibly large form in his hands. He listened closely and heard that the insects were coming closer to their location. A few insects would be no trouble for him, as long as Miroku hurried with this spell or whatever he was doing. Soon, the insects emerged from the forest trees, their insistent buzzing filling the air as the sky turned black with their numbers. Inuyasha braced himself as the insects began diving at them, their stingers pointed and ready for penetration through their flesh. With one swing of the Tetsuisga, hundreds of them disappeared in a flash of light. Still others emerged from the thick sea of trees. Inuyasha vanquished them as well, and more appeared in the distance.

"Damn, where do they all keep coming from?" he demanded. "Hey Miroku, about done over there?"

Miroku did not answer, and Inuyasha looked over his shoulder at him. He was lost in his concentration, a bead of sweat sliding down the side of his head. Inuyasha growled to himself, then turned his attention back to the oncoming insects. Another swing of the Tetsuisga and another took out more of them. The next group of them was smaller, and Inuyasha hoped that he had finally made a dent in their numbers. That was when he heard a strange ripping sound from behind him, turned and saw that Miroku had pierced a slight hole in the barrier.

"Hurry Inuyasha," Miroku grunted as he struggled against the force of Naraku's barrier. "I cannot hold this open for long."

"Then come on," Inuyasha responded, grabbing his arm and pulling him through the hole with him. As soon as they were on the other side, the hole closed and Miroku fell to his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"Stay here and recover, then catch up with me," Inuyasha instructed. He turned then and started through the thick violet mist that blanketed the field and made it impossible for him to see very far in front of him. "Kagome!" he called frantically. "Kagome! Sango! Shippo! Can anyone hear me?"

A giant burst of wind blew him backwards and he struggled to remain standing. He knew immediately who could be responsible for such a wind and he called out Kagura's name with a snarling tone. He could not see her, and the violet mist overwhelmed his nostrils so that he could not smell her either, but he was certain it was her. Another gust of wind knocked him over, and he landed a few feet away on his stomach. The wind continued, pinning him to the ground for a moment, until he was able to overpower it and struggle to his feet. He held the Tetsuisga in two hands and made ready to use it against his adversary, when suddenly the wind stopped. It surprised him, and the strength he was using to remain upright almost made him topple over forwards.

"What the hell…?" he demanded as the violet mist rose from the ground and vanished into thin air. The sky became clear again, and his senses returned. "What's going on around here?" He looked behind him and found Miroku coming towards him, looking just as confused as he was.

"This is not right," Miroku stated. "Where did the barrier go? The mist? The miasma? The insects? Certainly Naraku did not flee from our presence."

"If he knew what was good for him," Inuyasha responded, setting the Tetsuisga on his shoulder. "But that bastard never knows when to give up. Wonder what happened."

"We must find Sango and the others," Miroku said. "Perhaps somehow they were able to defeat him."

The wind blew slightly, and brought to Inuyasha a scent that made him cringe. "Blood," he reported. "I smell blood. It's… Kagome's…?" He took off, leaving Miroku behind and rushed to the source of the smell. "Kagome!" He spotted her laying on her side on the far side of the field, her back towards him. Her white school uniform was stained red with her blood, and a wave of panic overcame the half-demon. "Kagome!'

He was at her side in an instant, but he hesitated to touch her. Her blood was spilled all over her and around her body, more blood than Inuyasha would have suspected she even had. "Kagome," he said to her motionless form. "Kagome, can you hear me? Say something!" He touched her arm, but it was cold and he drew it back again. He got up, circled her once, then crouched down near her face. "Kagome, wake up!" He touched her face, his now blood-stained fingers smearing the liquid over her cheek. "What's wrong with you? Wake up!"

Kagome's skin was paler than usual, her mouth hung open, and her eyes were closed. She appeared as if she were asleep, though Inuyasha knew quite well that she was not. He continued calling to her, afraid to touch her much, but brushing his fingers against her cheek once in a while. Her skin was too cold for his liking, but all rational thought left him as his mind raced in panic. What do I do? What do I do? His breathing quickened and he circled her body once more, then sat down in front of her again.

"Kagome, wake up! Damn it, wake up!" He did not know what else to do other than yell at her. His heart thudded in his chest and his eyes were beginning to sting.

"Inuyasha?"

The half-demon panicked for a moment. She's talking! She's all right! She said my name! No, that wasn't Kagome… Who…? Miroku…? The confused half-demon looked around and found Miroku approaching him with an absolutely horrified look on his face.

"Inuyasha… Is she alive?" the monk inquired softly.

His heart skipped a beat. "Of course she is!" he shouted in response. "Why wouldn't she be? She's fine! We just gotta… Just gotta… Gotta…"

Miroku's expression soften in compassion as he leaned down and touched Kagome's hand. The skin was cool to his touch and as he examined her, he found no signs of life within her.

"Inuyasha…" he began. "She… is no longer with us."

The half-demon's ears twitched, then laid flat on his head. "What the hell are you talking about? She's fine!" He licked his dry lips and collected her body in his arms. He cradled her against him, brushing the hair from her face. "I'll just… Just watch after her. She'll be fine."

Miroku's expression of compassion turned to concern. "Inuyasha…" He could not think of how to begin. Then, another thought occurred to him. "Where's Sango? Shippo? Did you find any of them?"

"She's fine…" Inuyasha had turned away from him, still holding Kagome's body in his arms. Miroku sighed, then stood and scouted the area. About twenty feet away he spotted the unmoving form of Sango, the deadly Hiraikotsu draped over her. Miroku rushed to her side, moved the boomerang from her and called her name.

"Mir-- Miroku…" She opened her eyes slightly, her voice weak and forced. "Go… N-- Naraku is… Is…"

"Naraku has fled," Miroku told her. "Please, relax. Rest yourself. You are badly injured."

The truth of his words was evident in her face and on her body. She had bled heavily through great wounds along the length of her entire form. There was blood surrounding her on all sides, her head resting in a puddle of the liquid. Miroku's hands shook as he removed his outer robe and proceeded to rip it into parts which he placed over her wounds.

"Miroku…" She coughed, and blood dripped from her mouth.

"Sango, do not speak," he responded. "Save your strength." He continued to dress her wounds, listening intently to her ragged breathing. Naraku shall surely pay for this. This is inexcusable. He should not have done this.

A noise in the bushes startled him and he looked up to see Kirara coming towards him. She was in her larger more intimidating form, but she was limping badly, her left foreleg gashed open and bleeding heavily. In her mouth she held the small and limp form of Shippo.

"K-- Kirara…" Sango struggled, reaching for her nekomata friend with a trembling hand. Miroku caught her hand and set it back on the ground.

"Please, rest," Miroku insisted. He turned to Kirara who walked to him and placed Shippo's body in his lap. She transformed then, resuming her usual small form before collapsing onto the ground. Miroku was overwhelmed with injured bodies, and he called for Inuyasha to help, but the half-demon did not respond or come. First he checked Shippo's bloodied form, placing his hand flat on his chest, hoping to feel his small heart beating against his chest. He felt nothing.

"Miroku…?" Sango inquired.

"He possesses no life," he replied. He licked his lips, then set Shippo's body on the ground next to him. Tears were beginning to sting the backs of his eyes, but he refused to let himself weep. Not just yet. There was too much to be done now. He took another piece of his robe and tore it for a bandage for Kirara's leg before turning his attention back to Sango. He continued dressing her wounds until he was sure he had bandaged them all.

"Any broken bones?" he asked her, investigating her arms, legs, and her neck. She shook her head.

"Not that I know of," she said. Her voice was not as forced, but it was softer and sounded more tired.

Miroku picked Kirara up gently, then sat her on Sango's stomach. With a sigh to hold his tears back, he also placed Shippo's body on hers, then he gently lifted her head, placing an arm underneath her neck, then the other arm under her knees. He lifted her off the ground and stood, holding her close to him as he carried her back to where Inuyasha still sat with Kagome.

"We must move from this area," Miroku stated. "We cannot chance Naraku returning here to attack again."

Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah, I know." The half-demon stood, holding Kagome close to his body as if he were afraid someone would take her from him. "You got everyone else? Then let's go. Hurry up." He turned and started walking back into the trees, and Miroku followed close behind. Soon they were walking side by side.

"Shippo has been killed," Miroku reported to him.

Inuyasha said nothing.

The two of them continued walking, their progress slowed by their downcast states of mind. Still, just as dusk was setting in, they reached a beautiful meadow on the other side of the forest. A flock of white birds flew over their heads as they looked out at the long grass blowing in the wind.

"This should be sufficient for a burial ground," Miroku said. "There's no use in carrying them around any longer." He found a patch of clover and laid Sango down on it. She was sleeping, but her brow was furrowed. Miroku knew that she was in pain, but he knew little about the natural herbs that grew in the forest as Kagome had. He collected Shippo's limp form and placed him next to Sango before he went to the edge of the woods to find a tree limb suitable for digging with. Once he found one, he began digging in the soft soil of the meadow, away from the trees so as not to interfere with their roots. It was a little while before he had dug a grave for the young fox, and he went to retrieve the body with a heavy heart. He noticed Inuyasha had sat down near a tree with Kagome's body still in his arms.

Miroku placed Shippo in the grave he had dug for him, then proceeded to cover the body with the topsoil. He placed the tree limb he had used for digging as a grave marker, then lowered himself before the grave on one knee. He closed his eyes as he offered silent prayers for the fox who, in his opinion, had died much too young. Naraku shall certainly pay for this. Standing, he turned to where he knew Inuyasha to be with Kagome's body, and approached him.

"Inuyasha," Miroku said softly. "We must lay Kagome to rest."

"Don't you even think about touching her," Inuyasha replied in a growling tone.

Miroku was taken aback. "Inuyasha… You can't hold on to her forever. If so, you prevent her from finding eternal peace. Please, give her to me."

Inuyasha snarled in response. "I'll kill you if you lay a finger on her."

Miroku hesitated. Perhaps… Perhaps it may help him to hold her a while longer. He sighed, his pity for the half-demon evident as he shook his head. "All right. We'll lay her to rest in the morning."

Inuyasha said nothing, and Miroku returned to where he had left Sango. He removed Kirara from her stomach and placed her next to her sleeping form. Miroku touched Sango's forehead, brushing the bangs from her face as he watched her, helpless as she struggled for survival.