InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Escape ❯ Shadow Youkai ( Chapter 18 )

Shadow Youkai

She stared glumly at the green grass. It had been three days since she had found out she had

lost the Shikon shards. And she still hadn't come up with an idea. She knew she had to start

looking for the shards again, but how? She had already proved she couldn't guard them on

her own. She was tempted to ask Sesshoumaru for help, but she still had hesitations on

trusting him. Sighing, she leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes. *I've come so far,

and to have lost the shards....how many more months will it take to retrieve them again? And

with Naraku around, he will probably be searching for the shards more than ever now. I need

to hurry and find them again. But how?*

"You look conflicted."

Kagome jumped and opened her eyes.

"Sesshoumaru! Could you at least make some noise instead of sneaking around?"

"It is my home and I was not sneaking around. What are you thinking about."

"The shards."

"So you have lost them. It is not a big matter, humans lose things all the time."

"Do you know how important the shards are? They are powerful and in the hands of the wrong

person, it can create so much destruction. I have to get them and make them whole again."

"Do you need help."

Kagome turned her head up and look at him. He was staring off into the distance, perhaps

looking at Rin.

"What?"

"Do you need help."

Kagome looked at her hands in her lap.

"Yes......but-"

"You do not want my help?"

"I don't trust you."

"What is more important, trust or the shards?"

"They are both equally important."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I can't choose between the two! They are both important."

"Do you want my help or not?"

"Could you just take me to a nearby village?"

Sesshoumaru turned his head and stared at her with his piercing gold eyes.

"Please?"

"Very well, but remember, the offer won't come again."

"Thank you."

"I'll take you in the late afternoon, be ready by then."

He turned his back and walked away. *Not exactly what I was thinking of, but, I can live on

my own. I'm not that helpless* Calling to Rin, she tried to think of a way to break the news to

her.

Rin grabbed onto her leg, holding tight.

"Onee-chan, don't leave!"

"Rin, I told you, I'll come back and visit."

"What if onee-chan gets hurt?"

"I'll be fine, I know plants that will help me when I'm hurt, don't worry."

"Rin" Sesshoumaru said.

"Hai?"

"Let go of her leg."

"Hai Sesshoumaru-sama."

To her surprise Rin did exactly what he asked.

"Will onee-chan promise?"

"Promise, I have to go Rin. But we'll see each other again."

"Ok."

After one more hug, Sesshoumaru picked her up and and sped away. Throughout the way

they didn't say a word to each other. When he came to the outskirts of a small village he set

her down.

"Thank you. And, I hope we meet again."

"Perhaps."

Before she could take a breathe he was gone, leaving no trace. With a huff, Kagome walked to

the village with nothing but determination. When she arrived, the town lacked it's usual

activity of people. And she could feel the fear of the people in the houses. Walking around she

could see no one outside so she settled for knocking at a door.

"What do you want?!"

"I'm a traveling miko and"

A hand came out and pulled her into the house. There was a gnarled old woman who

reminded her of Kaede but a more shrunken version.

"You are a miko?"

"Yes, why-"

"Good, the village needs one badly. There has been a youkai stalking our village. It's speed is

incredible! It snatches anyone that is alone faster than lightning. We are too afraid to even go

outside anymore! It use to come out just at night, but lately it has been attacking in daylight

as well. Miko, you must save us!"

"Ano, what does it look like?"

"A few people have been able to catch a glimpse of it, but not enough to describe the monster

well. Just that it's colors are dark, to blend into shadows. Will you help us?"

"How many people has it taken?"

"It has only taken children, but since most of the children are being hidden, it is starting to

take young women."

"That's terrible! Taking children! I will do my best to help."

"I hope so, the previous two didn't help at all. But maybe you will."

Kagome face dropped just the tiniest bit. *Two mikos before me failed? Yikes, but I can't back

out. These people need my help*

"I'll do it, but do you have a bow and some arrows?"

"Yes yes, I have some somewhere in here."

The old woman hobbled around, looking for the weapon. Finally she found it behind some

pots. It was a little old but well built and the arrows were in good shape. Picking them up she

went outside. Darkness was falling and the sky was streaked purple and red. She put her

barrier up, not taking any chances. Then she let out her senses. She felt the monster, and it

had a shard! It was coming closer at a very quick speed. She made ready her bow and waited

for the monster to come. She saw a shadow that zipped around the dark buildings. *It's too

fast, I can't aim for it!* She was thrown off her feet, hit by an unseen foe. She rubbed her side,

there would be a large bruise on there for sure. She picked up her bow and saw the shadow

streak running off into the forest. Kagome followed it, unaware of other shadows creeping

upon the village.

She gasped for breath, where was it leading her? Something hit her on her side again and she

grabbed her waist in pain. When she looked up, she could see the youkai standing still. It had

no distinct body parts. Just a long, thin body that was black and dark blue to blend with

shadows. What was frightening was it's blood red eyes and the claws dripping with blood. It

held it's claws to it's mouth, sucking on the blood.

"You have delicious blood, miko, more powerful than the others. It is a good thing my

brethren are feasting on the village instead of you. I can have you all to myself."

Kagome glared at him and picked up her bow again.

"You cannot hurt me with your bow, others have tried and it does nothing. My body will just

regenerate."

"Why is it that all you youkai always have to underestimate humans?"

She strung an arrow and aimed at his heart.

The shadow youkai creeped closer.

"Go ahead, that's what I said to the other two. Pretty soon, your blood will flow through my

body."

Kagome let go and the arrow and became surrounded by a purple light. It zipped through the

youkai, evaporating it into dust. She caught a glimpse of his face before he disappeared, a face

of surprise. Sighing, she tore strips of her kimono and bandaged her side. When she was

nearing the village she could hear screams in the air. She started sprinting towards the

sounds. When she arrived she could see blood all over the ground and the bodies of villagers

strewn everywhere. In front of her was the limp body of a young child. Her hands trembling

she turned over the child and could feel no heartbeat. Anger coursed through her, and she

could feel something coming over her. Power. And it was screaming at her to find the

murderers. She gently laid the child back down and slowly walked to the center of the village.

She could other shadow youkai feasting on bodies, blood everywhere, but mostly on their

bodies. They all looked up at her in surprise.

"Hey, we left one alive."

"I'll eat it, I only had two so far."

"Wait, can't you feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"She smells of danger you idiots. Hurry, let's leave."

The leader got up and was getting ready to run away when to his surprise and Kagome's a

large purple barrier surrounded the village.

"What the hell is this?"

The others got up and tried to get through the barrier but was thrown away with burns on

their hands. Angry, the leader went up to Kagome and grabbed her neck. Something snapped

in Kagome, maybe it was the dead child, or the stress of loosing shards, or the dead bodies of

innocent people. But she felt something snap inside of her, and she felt.....calm. She lifted her

hands, palms facing the leader, and could feel something coming out from deep inside her

body and out of her hands. With a bright light and a strangled scream the leader was burned

to a crisp. The others looked on in fear. Kagome looked down at the pile of dust which was

being blown away by a wind. She looked up and lifted her hands again. In the space of one

minute, every shadow youkai was gone and being blown away by a mysterious wind. With the

barrier up, no wind should have been able to get through. But this did not pass through

Kagome's mind. When she was done the barrier went down and she became herself again. She

should have been exhausted from using so much power, but she felt strangely refreshed.

Looking sadly at the human bodies on the ground, she rolled up her sleeves and began to look

for a shovel to dig graves.