InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Light into a Darkened Heart ❯ Loss of Vision ( Chapter 3 )

Remember my previous disclaimer? Chant it softly to yourself at the beginning of every chapter, this wastes less time.

Chapter Three: The Loss of Vision

Kouga could feel his leg beginning to cramp as he huddled in some dense bushes just downwind of the jewel-seeking group. Inuyasha had long since abandoned them, departing as soon as everyone was asleep for the forest and the clay priestess. The night was alive with sound and scent. The forest was glowing very slightly from the presence of Kikyo's shinidamachu(spelling?). The leaves on the trees rustled from the light wind which blew down the smell of green, growing things off the mountains. Nights like this always made Kouga feel gloriously alive and reminded him how truly wild and free he was. It was a gift that many animal youkai could realize and celebrate the ties connecting them to the natural world surrounding them. They were a part of it and it was a part of them, one could not deny one's essence.

From his position on the ground he could clearly see the firelight reflected off Kagome's face, highlighting the delicacy of her lips and cheekbones. "She is so beautiful" He sighed to himself. As Kouga waited he began to daydream again. This time he could see himself approaching Kagome's sleeping bag as she slept. He imagined himself kneeling down and cupping her cheeks in his hands, running his fingertips over her lips as they gently parted on a sigh. He saw himself moving his hands down over her shoulders to gently rub her arms. "Kagome..." He whispered softly.

Suddenly Kouga's attention was diverted from his increasingly stimulated dream to the scent of demon blood. He could hear the labored breathing of an approaching youkai. All his muscles bunched under his armor as he realized the time had come to execute the first act of this drama. The demon's scent was oily and pungent, almost like rotting meat. Suddenly the youkai burst into the clearing heading straight for the slumbering Kagome. Jerked awake by the sudden racket, Kagome saw the demon and made a grab for her bow and arrows. Before she could even grasp them, however, Kouga had also burst into the clearing and speared the shard-hungry demon to the ground. Kagome screamed and this time grabbed her bow and arrows intending to shoot the youkai at the first opportunity.

At that particular moment however, the demon spat at Kagome from it's position on the ground and covered her face with a viscous yellow slime. She could feel the slime enter her eyes and screamed. Kagome's vision began to fade and she fought against it attempting to wipe the substance off her face. When she realized that at least for the moment her vision was gone Kagome concentrated instead on what she could hear.

By this time Miroku and Sango had awoken and seen the skirmish taking place. Sango saw the demon's spit cover Kagome's face and rushed to guard the miko as she attempted to wipe the slime off. Miroku reached inside his robes grabbing the first ofuda he came across. He knew it would be impossible to open the kazaana with Kouga so close to the attacking youkai. He could not however get a clear shot with scrolls either since Kouga was practically on top of the demon.

The demon threw Kouga off himself and lumbered to it's feet. The wolf rushed forward again, claws raised, when the youkai lunged away from him and slashed at his back as he passed. Kouga could feel the razors pass through the flesh on his back and slide around his side. Gritting his teeth he knew he needed to end this battle soon or risk further injury to himself or Kagome. Kouga turned and waited for the demon to rush forward, assuming that the wolf was too weak to attack again so soon. It was the last mistake the demon ever made. Kouga ducked and ripped upward with his claws as the demon leaped and passed over his head. The wolf prince laid the demon's gut open with one deft slice. The youkai collapsed to the ground attempting to crawl away to recover. Kouga jumped into the air and cut down this time severing the head of the noxious being from it's shoulders.

He immediately whipped around and approached Kagome who was seated on the ground with bow and arrow still raised, although shaking slightly. She could sense Kouga's approach and her adrenaline was only beginning to ebb. He knelt down beside her and pulled her close to him, cradling her between his shoulder and his neck. He began running his hands over her arms and back searching for any cuts or abrasions. Satisfied that there were no other injuries he stood up with Kagome in his arms. He turned to Sango who was still standing close to Kagome, guarding her. "She needs immediate attention for her eyes. They must be cleaned and have some healing herbs applied." Sango nodded and told the wolf that there was a small stream about two miles from their current camp. Miroku was busy attempting to calm Shippo who had woken out of a dead sleep to see the battle and then the disemboweled youkai. He was currently struggling to get away from the houshi and leap onto Kagome.

"Where is Inuyasha, Kouga?" Sango queried. Not wanting to upset Kagome, Kouga jerked his head to the left where the eerie lights were intermittently seen through the leaves at the tops of the trees. Out loud he said "I don't know. He's probably close by." Catching on, Sango nodded grimly and turned to enter the glowing forest. Kouga told the monk in a voice that dared him to object, "I'm taking Kagome to clean her eyes and apply the herbs needed to treat her blindness. I will return her as soon as she is properly cared for." Kagome opened her mouth to object but closed it again when Kouga gently told her, "If we do not act quickly you could lose sight permanently and we have just the herbs necessary to heal you at the pack's dens. I only want to help, please let me do this much for you......as a friend." Kagome nodded and told Shippo that she would return soon and not to worry. With that Kouga turned and ran leaving a whirling dervish behind him.