InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dumb Luck ❯ Hope Follows Sorrow ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer- I do not own InuYasha or any of the original characters; they are the property of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. This story is an individual creation for personal and shared enjoyment of true InuYasha fans that I hope is up to the quality of the real series. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

Author's Notes - Please do not bash the Kikyo…

Chapter Six: Hope Follows Sorrow

"What do you mean, you don't know?" The man towers over the boy with angry frustration. A tearful woman standing behind him whispers, "Manobu…" and lays a hand on the man's shoulder which he ignores with his anger driving him. "You were supposed to be watching her!"

The boy hangs his head, "I'm sorry Otousan."

Manobu sighs and closes his eyes briefly, reaching up with one hand to cover his wife's slender one still resting on his shoulder. He gives it a gentle squeeze and looks down on the boy's bowed head. "Masanobu," he waits for his son to look up before saying firmly, "go and gather some of the men."

The boy immediately obeys, running off and his father watches him go before turning and taking the woman's hand between both of his, "Don't worry Miyo…we'll find-"

"Otou-saaan! Okaaa-saan!"

They both turn, surprised to see their missing daughter waving cheerfully in the arms of an unknown woman. Miyo gasps and runs forward to meet them, taking the girl to cradle her in her own arms, the basket in danger of being crushed as she kisses Hona's dirty face murmuring "thank God" over and over in relief.

Manobu is right behind her, giving a quick glance at the little girl's condition before really looking at the woman and, after observing her attire, bowing respectfully. "Arigato Miko-sama; for bringing our daughter back to us."

Kikyo bows back, "I am happy to be of service." Her serene face shows a hint of amusement, "I think that Hona has learned the dangers of going out alone with no real harm done." She watches their joyful reunion with envy and pushes the distracting emotion away before bowing once more and turning away.

"Miko-sama?" Manobu is quick to call after her and she stops, half-turning to look back. Manobu takes a step forward and bows with earnestness, "Won't you stay and accept what hospitality we can offer in way of thanks?"

Kikyo shakes her head with a distant look on her face, "Seeing your happiness to have your daughter home safe is thanks enough."

He looks disappointed but bows his head, respecting her decision and they watch her nod in acknowledgement before turning to walk back towards the forest.

Kikyo is only a few yards away when she halts again, this time by the ominous feeling of something nearby…and getting closer. The familiar pulsing of energy foully corrupted has her pivoting on her heel, her eyes wide and her senses tugging her like a compass in the direction it is coming from. `A Shikon Shard!' The rhythmic emanations are moving swiftly, `…towards the village!' She begins running back, drawing and nocking an arrow without pausing.

Manobu hears her rapid footsteps and looks back, alarm crossing his face at her armed appearance.

She runs past, saying over her shoulder, "Something dangerous is coming!" Her eyes scan the peaceful looking landscape as she reaches the edge of the village, stopping to turn with a frown towards the Shard's murky energy and still sees nothing. `Where is it?'

Her dark eyes widen when she feels the slight tremor under her feet and she gasps, pulling back on the bowstring just before the ground erupts in front of her. Something huge bursts out; blocking the sunlight as it looms over thirty feet above her with a terrible gurgling roar. She stares at the long sinuous form undulating blindly overhead, anchored securely by the tail-end still submerged, that resembles nothing less than a worm and, under its mottled purplish-brown hide that glistens wetly, at the twin-pinpoints of bleakly shining light. `Two Shards!' She aims determinedly at them and lets her arrow fly.

The creature jerks and twists violently to the side causing the blazing arrow to flash harmlessly by.

Kikyo is amazed at how something so big can move so fast and, closing her ears to the terrified screams behind her, draws another arrow and swiftly shoots.

With another jerk, the beast dodges this one as well and slides easily back into the hole, spewing crumbled dirt behind it to seal the hole. She tracks the visible path of the Shards under the earth as the demon-worm passes beneath her heading towards the center of the village, and recalls that it had no eyes, `How can it dodge my arrows with no sight?' She holds her bow ready as she watches the thing change course to head for the largest concentration of people. `Does it sense vibrations?' Kikyo runs forward, yelling at them to run but she cannot be heard over their panicked cries.

A few of the men are trying to give direction without any signs of organization that only adds to the confusion. Several of the villagers suddenly drop screaming from view as the ground collapses under a tight cluster of frightened people while others claw at the edges of the new hole to keep from following their neighbors. Those still standing scramble to get away and the beast thrusts up through the opening, curving its rippled length to point what must be its head toward a mother trying to drag one child and carrying another. It sucks all three of them into the circular mouth horrifyingly fast, sweeping about to pluck villagers, one by one, into the gaping maw ringed with needle-sharp teeth.

Another arrow speeds across the distance and, as if the creature can sense it coming, it manages to twist out of the arrow's path, the arrow glancing harmlessly off of the slick-looking hide, and yet the beast never halts its grisly harvest. Kikyo firms her mouth and takes aim once more…this time at the lower portion of the beast that is held immobile by the very hole it had created. The arrow slams deep into the creature's flesh, causing it to rear up, writhing and squalling in pain. It swiftly slips back into the hole, blocking it up with dirt.

Disappointed that her arrow didn't kill it, she draws another and readies herself, her eyes following the dark shine of the Shards moving under the ground as the beast burrows downwards until she realizes that it is in retreat. Kikyo lowers her bow and glances at the devastated villagers, the wind teasing her unbound hair, then back towards the invisible pull of the Shards…headed west.

-----------------------------

Sango looks down at the sniggering kitsune seated in front of her on Kirara's back and raises her eyebrows, "Don't you think that's enough?"

Shippo turns his head towards her with a devilish twinkle in his eye and a big grin, "I can't help it." He looks forward over the cat-youkai's ears at the running hanyou just ahead and begins shaking with repressed laughter again.

The Taijiya blows her breath out in a resigned sigh and Miroku, seated behind her, leans closer to be heard over the rush of air. "You can hardly blame him Sango," she hears the smile in his voice, "He is young."

She looks back at him with narrowed eyes and notices his smirk, "Then what's your excuse Houshi-sama?"

He shrugs helplessly and she rolls her eyes to look forward again. `They're both idiots.' She shakes her head and says aloud, "Well you two better get it under control before he hears because I won't protect you if he does." The kitsune practically in her lap snorts audibly and she hears a low chuckle from behind and hangs her head, trying to keep her own face straight.

"Sango-chan!" InuYasha has stopped momentarily and Kagome, perched on his back, waves and points to the north before the silver-haired hanyou leaps off in that direction, pushing for more speed.

Sango urges Kirara faster to get closer so they can hear each other and shouts to them, "What is it?"

InuYasha stays focused on his path and Kagome looks up at her friends flying alongside with a concerned expression on her face, "InuYasha can smell another village that's been attacked."

Sango flexes her fingers in Kirara's fur and looks behind her to share a serious look with the now sober Miroku then nods back at Kagome in understanding.

They continue on for a ways until the village in question comes into view and Shippo points excitedly, "The people are alive!" Sango urges Kirara to hurry, trying to keep up with the speeding hanyou.

Two familiar mounds of dirt are prominent in the village proper and the few men that are visibly present turn to face them armed with tools and scavenged weapons, desperation showing on careworn faces. Miroku approaches them with his hand raised peacefully, "We mean you no harm. We came to help."

The man standing foremost lowers his makeshift weapon and motions to his fellows to do the same. He bows briefly, a tired frown marring his face. "I am Manobu, Houshi-sama; head-man of this village." He looks the strange group of people accompanying the Monk and shakes his head. "There is not much to do," he looks down at the ground, his shoulders slumping, "we cannot even bury our dead."

Miroku looks back briefly at his companions and asks, "What happened here?"

Manobu raises his head, the look of horror lingering in his eyes, "A youkai attacked this morning…" he takes a deep breath shaking his head, "it came with no warning." He gestures at a nearby mound, "out of the ground and…"

Sango steps forward, "What kind of youkai was it?"

Manobu looks at the huge boomerang slung over her shoulder, "It looked like a great worm." He looks her hard in the eye, "It ate many of my people Taijiya-san." His free hand closes in a fist, "You will stop it?"

Sango straightens and nods sharply, "We'll do our best."

"Good." He seemed to shrink a bit, sorrow taking over. A woman emerges from the hut a few feet away with a young girl in her arms and tears running down her face. The girl is likewise sobbing, clinging tightly to the woman. Manobu turns and wraps his arms about both of them, saying over his shoulder, "No one else should loose a child like that."

InuYasha looks at each of the mounds and the lack of destruction to the village. A different soil scent, that of grave dirt and bones and is almost overpowered by the creature's signature smell, gets his full attention and he addresses the grieving man, urgency coloring his tone, "What happened to the Miko that was here?"

Kagome stares at the back of the InuYasha's head with wide eyes, the others turning to also look at him in surprise before they all wait for the head-man's answer.

Manobu looks up at the group staring at him and looks concerned. "She drove the beast away and followed it." He frowns meeting each of their eyes in turn, "I offered to go with her but she insisted on going alone." Confusion moves in, "But how-?"

InuYasha cuts him off, "Which way did she go?"

Manobu blinks at his rudeness and raises an arm to point, "West."

InuYasha spins on his heel, "Let's go!"

Kagome rushes after him with Shippo in tow, "InuYasha…!"

Sango and Miroku watch them then glance at each other. Sango bows to Manobu and turns to follow, calling for Kirara.

Miroku hesitates between his duty to comfort these poor people and his need to join his comrades before bowing quickly, "Forgive me, I must go."

The sad little family, which is smaller by one, stands amid their violated home and watches as the unique group leaves…Manobu strangely feeling hope grow.

--------------------

Please Review!

Thanks, Darkless