InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Leaving the Past ❯ Chapter Nine ( Chapter 9 )

Author's Note - I had been posting all updates to ff.net first, but since that site has been having a lot of problems lately, and since people have been reviewing and following the story here (thank you, thank you!) I've decided to simultaneously publish this chapter both places. I hope that you enjoy!

Chapter Nine

"Kagome?"

With their attention riveted on Hakkaku, Kagome and Rin had failed to notice the two figures grouped together by the edge of the forest. One was standing - the other was slumped against him, an arm twisted around his shoulder for support. Long white hair and red clothing.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried.

Inuyasha slumped against Ginta's shoulder, too weak to respond again. Kagome ran to him, cradling his face in her hand.

"Inuyasha…"

The half-demon had slipped out of consciousness.

"Get him inside," Kagome ordered, charging ahead of them. Together the two wolf youkai carried Inuyasha into the house, placing him down awkwardly on the bedding that Kagome unrolled on a wooden bench.

Rin followed closely behind. Akio was fully awake and complaining in a loud cranky wail. Rin tried to quiet him, bouncing him on her hip, at the same time anxious to hear what Ginta and Hakkaku were saying. The two demons crowded behind Kagome.

"It was the Cats, Sister!"

"They had driven us back!"

"Inuyasha and Kouga stopped them!"

Kagome wasn't paying attention to either of them. She tugged Inuyasha's shirt off and paused for one horrified moment as she saw the bandages inexpertly wrapped around his chest. His right side was sticky and soaked with drying blood. She grabbed a small pair of scissors from her medicine box and began to carefully snip through the bindings.

Rin turned to one of the wolf demons. "When did they attack?" she asked.

"Early this morning," Hakkaku answered, his eyes wide. "It's a clan of the cat youkai from the North, they've been driving off other demons from all the areas around here."

"They killed dozens and dozens before Inuyasha and Kouga arrived!" added Ginta.

"Kouga told us to return Inuyasha to Kagome. He had to stay on the mountain in case the cats attack again," finished Hakkaku.

Akio had begun to wail in earnest. Ginta bent down and started making faces and cooing noises. Hakkaku peered over Kagome's shoulder.

"EVERYBODY OUT!" shouted Kagome.

Rin joined the chastised youkai outside.

"Thank you," she said. "Will you be okay?"

"We're fine," answered Hakkaku. "But we have to get back to Kouga."

Ginta was still making faces at Akio, who was now laughing, his little mouth wide open revealing his second newly-teethed fang.

"Ginta!" the other demon shouted impatiently, knocking him on the back of the head.

Ginta straightened up and the two of them began to run as if an entire tribe of demon warriors were hot on their heels.

Rin stayed outside with the baby, giving Kagome the privacy and time she needed to tend to Inuyasha. She stood scanning the forest for a long time, a nervous knot beginning to form inside her stomach. She wondered how the wolves were faring. Maybe Inuyasha and Kouga had managed to drive these cats off permanently.

Akio had fallen asleep again. Rin looked down at his small claws, curled into tiny fists as he slept. He was so helpless. She shivered. Cat youkai. A distant memory stirred in the back of her mind. She was certain she had encountered cat demons once before, before with Jaken and Sesshoumaru…

"Rin?"

Ichiro's voice startled her. He was here? How long had she been waiting? An hour?

"Inuyasha's awake."

They hurried back into the house, Rin taking a moment to carefully lay Akio in his cradle in the other room where it would be quieter.

Inuyasha's eyes were closed. His breaths came out in rasps. Rin saw that his left shoulder and arm were also now in a sling.

"Those stupid wolves should never have brought me back here," he said out loud.

"Hakkaku said you chased the demons away," said Kagome, dabbing at four long scratch marks on his right forearm.

He opened his eyes.

"Yeah. And they'll be coming after me now."

Kagome stared at him, her eyes wide. She turned to Ichiro.

"Go find Takumi. Get the men together and tell them they have to fortify the village."

"NO!" said Inuyasha. "Get them out of here. Villagers aren't any match against these demons. They'll only be in the way."

"Inuyasha-"

"Get them out!" he insisted angrily. "You too, Kagome. The cats know I'm a threat and they know I'm wounded, they'll be tracking my blood right back to this village. And I don't think they like dogs much either," he added grimly. "I'll have to face them here. "

Kagome turned to Ichiro.

"Do what he says. Tell everyone that they have to evacuate the village. Take shelter in the huts by the river."

"Yes," said Ichiro, and ran out.

Inuyasha turned his face to the side of the pillow.

"It won't make much difference anyway. If the demons get past me they'll slaughter everybody here."

"Inuyasha, you can't fight again. You haven't had time to heal."

"If they come I'll have to," he answered roughly, grimacing from the pain. "And I don't want you here. Take Rin, take Akio, and get as far away as you can."

"No," answered Kagome.

"Kagome!"

"No," she repeated, gripping his hand and dropping to her knees. "I'm not leaving."

Rin quietly slid the screen open and slipped out of the room.

She went to where she kept her own things, and changed into her exterminator's suit. She picked out her dagger and a whetstone, and slowly began to sharpen the blade. Even if he wasn't injured, Inuyasha would be hard pressed to take on an entire clan of demon warriors. She heard excited shouting, the sounds of people speaking in groups and moving past the house quickly. Then the sounds died away. It became eerily quiet. She struggled to control her fear, breathing deeply once - in and then out.

There was a knock on the screen. Ichiro slid the panel open without waiting for a response.

Rin looked up.

Ichiro looked as nervous as she was. He was also dressed in his fighting costume, sickle tucked into his belt, the chain dangling from his hip.

"Jiro and Saburo are looking for Kirara. I've sent the rest of my brothers with the villagers to the river."

Rin nodded.

"I'm going to send Kirara to find my parents and Lady Kaede. They may be able to get back before the demons attack."

She nodded again, and rose to follow him out of the room.

"Ichiro! Ichiro!"

Rin heard Kirara's roar before she saw the demon.

Kirara had already transformed into a giant cat, larger than a bear. Her eyes blazed with demon energy, her long tusk-like fangs already bared. Ichiro hoisted his two brothers onto the demon's back.

"Hurry! Bring Mother and Father back as quickly as you can."

"Wait," Rin interrupted. "Kirara, do you remember Inuyasha's brother's scent?"

"No!" Ichiro shouted.

"These are high youkai!" Rin shouted back. "Miroku and Sango won't be able to stop them." She turned from him and spoke to Kirara.

"Kirara, listen to me. You have to find Sesshoumaru first. Find him."

Jiro was frightened. She reached up and clutched his arm.

"Tell Sesshoumaru-" She paused. What could she tell Sesshoumaru? She couldn't ask him to come. He had warned her that he would not interfere in her life again. It had been explicit. She couldn't ask him to come for her sake.

"Tell him… the cats are coming from the North. Tell him that Inuyasha is badly injured."

She gripped the boy's arm tightly.

"Tell him that we are going to die."

He'll know she thought. And then he will have to decide.

"Don't do it, Jiro! Don't do it, Kirara!" Ichiro screamed.

Rin looked into the cat demon's eyes once more.

"Find him, Kirara. He's our only chance."

Kirara growled once. Rin couldn't tell if it was an assent or not. The demon leapt into the air, a terrified Jiro and Saburo clinging to its back.

"ARE YOU MAD?" Ichiro shouted, his eyes wild with anger. "HE MIGHT KILL MY BROTHERS!"

"No," she answered, still watching as Kirara rapidly disappeared into the night sky. "He won't hurt them." He wouldn't hurt them she assured herself. But he may decide that her fate, and especially his hanyou brother's fate, was no longer his concern.

She turned to Ichiro.

"It's the only chance we have," she repeated, desperately willing him to understand.

Kagome appeared in the doorway.

"We have to prepare," she said to them. "They'll be coming."