InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Loss of Self, Discovery of Truth ❯ Panic and Confusion ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Panic and Confusion

 

Two days had passed and tensions were running high once more in the close knit group. Kagome couldn't in good faith go home to help dissolve the charged atmosphere. Sesshoumaru would have asked too many questions and they weren't quite ready to share the fact that she was from the future. He already knew a great deal about their facsimile of a family.

Inuyasha, especially, wasn't keen on Sesshoumaru being told anything that wasn't on a strict need-to-know basis. The two days that the adventurers stayed in the village made a huge difference in the local economy. With their extra help the crops would most likely prove more than enough to keep the village out of the red for the coming year.

It was mid-afternoon when the messenger arrived. Exhausted and battle-scarred, a young woman appeared at Kaede's door. She knocked briskly and was beckoned to enter. The woman with short dark hair looked around; her dark eyes surveyed the room registering the presence of the traveling shard hunters.

“Miko Kaede?” She asked, stepping over the threshold and introducing herself. “My name is Koharu and I've come to request your help.” She paused, giving Kagome and Miroku another look, as they were sitting alongside Kaede creating a powerful herbal medicine.

Kaede continued to slice up the roots while giving the woman her attention. “What help do you need Koharu?”

“I have heard there are fine warriors, demon slayers and holy men in this village. I need assistance. My village is under attack and I seek aid.” She bowed her head meekly, showing proper respect to a powerful miko.

Kaede was slightly amused at Koharu's behavior. “Perhaps this is something you should discuss with Miroku. He usually deals with the business end of those warriors you were describing.”

Miroku felt his eyes sparkle at the opportunity. Not only was a lovely young woman asking for his help, but he could also make a profit. Surely Kagome and Sango wouldn't argue with a little payment for their services. Their travels grew expensive and he seemed to be the only one paying attention to that detail. He rose to his feet, ignoring the warning look Kagome shot him.

“My dear Koharu, my name is Miroku. I am but a humble monk. My friends and I will aid you in the protection of your village,” he smiled charmingly at her.

“You will?” Koharu asked; hope reflecting in her eyes, and making her look younger than she did when she first arrived. She reached over and took hold of Miroku's hands, catching him by surprise. Normally he would be the one to make that move. “I would be so appreciative!”

Miroku blinked, trying to focus on what she was saying and not the temptation she presented him. A forward woman was too good to be true in his experience. Besides, even though his friends were unaware of this, he was no longer a womanizer. He might continue to flirt, but his heart was spoken for and he wouldn't betray that woman's trust. “Of course we will help, naturally we will ask for some compensation to help us on our quest.”

Koharu nodded with a relieved smile. “Naturally, and we will make sure that you take a King's ransom if you are to have this little situation rapped up by morning!”

Kagome rose to stand beside Miroku, drawing attention to herself. “We'll be ready to leave in the half hour,” Kagome informed the young woman. She turned to Miroku. “I'll gather the others, you,” she glanced back at the woman starring at her friend with a dreamy expression, “don't get yourself into a mess.”

Miroku broke into a mischievous smile. “When have I gotten myself into a mess I couldn't get out of?” The smile was wiped off his face after Kagome left and the young woman was still staring at him with a dazed expression. He could already feel trouble brewing.

Kagome found Sango polishing her bone boomerang. Inuyasha and Shippo were sitting beside her, both taking a nap. Inuyasha was sleeping on the lower branch of the tree while Shippo rested against the trunk.

“We've got a job,” Kagome informed them. Sango nodded, but continued to polish her weapon. Inuyasha cracked one golden eye to look at her. Shippo continued to sleep. “We need to be ready to leave in half an hour.”

Sango nodded again, Inuyasha closed his eye, and Shippo continued to sleep. Annoyed with her friends, Kagome went in search of Sesshoumaru. It didn't take long to find him. He was standing with his back to her, his attention focused on a large tree. Or rather, the scarred bark of the tree where Inuyasha was imprisoned for half a century.

“Sesshoumaru?” Kagome called out tentatively, not wanting to intrude and anger the emotionally unstable former demon-lord. He didn't move or acknowledge her presence. “Sesshoumaru?” She called out again, louder.

Still, he didn't answer.

“Hey! Sesshoumaru!” Kagome shouted while reaching out to grab his shoulder and gain his attention as her patience ran out. Sesshoumaru caught her wrist before her hand could touch his shoulder. He turned to look at her, a cold look in his human hazel eyes.

“I heard you the first time,” he announced, annoyance evident in his tone. Kagome jerked her hand, but Sesshoumaru kept a firm hold of it.

“You should have answered then,” she blew her bangs out of her eyes. “Will you let go of my hand now?”

Sesshoumaru dropped her wrist as if it were made of fire. “What?”

“What what?” Kagome demanded, rubbing her sore wrist. It wasn't natural that he should still be so strong. She liked him better when he was half-dead.

“What did you want?” Sesshoumaru clarified, turning to look back at the tree and ignoring the sense of guilt at seeing a bruise forming on her wrist in the shape of his hand.

“We're leaving for a nearby village,” Kagome told him. “Be ready in fifteen minutes.” She turned, fully intent on leaving the arrogant jerk to himself.

Sesshoumaru heard her leaving and called out before she was out of ear shot. “Was this where he was sealed?”

Kagome looked back over her shoulder. It was times like this that she hated her sympathetic nature and walked back to stand beside him. “This is where Kikyo sealed Inuyasha for fifty years.” She paused. “It's also where I released him when the centipede demon tried to kill me.”

Sesshoumaru turned his back to the tree and began to head towards the village once more. “Some things are better left alone,” he commented. Kagome's fists clenched at her side as she tried to control her temper at his words. How dare he insult Inuyasha at a time like this!

She hurried to catch up with him, taking hold of his upper arm this time. She turned him to face her. “Can you stop for one day? Must you always insult Inuyasha? He's your brother. He's helped you in your times of need even though you certainly have never deserved it. I used to think he was being petty, but you really are insufferable!” She stormed away, leaving a bewildered human male in her wake.

Hidden in the bushes, Inuyasha felt his jaw drop. He had followed Kagome as she went to speak with his brother. It didn't matter that Sesshoumaru was human now, he still wouldn't trust him around any of his friends alone. When he saw his half-brother bruise Kagome's wrist he was livid, but he controlled his anger, not wanting to reveal his presence.

Inuyasha remained in the bushes watching her retreat into the distance. He'd leave in a moment so that he could get back before she realized he had left. Right now he was more interested in watching his brother's reaction. He couldn't believe what he was seeing when he saw regret flash through his brother's eyes. Obviously it was a trick of shadows and light.

oooooOOOOOooooo

“So you will bear my child?” Miroku asked Koharu as the ensemble approached the village. The journey had been even more tense than the past few days in Kaede's village. Sango and Sesshoumaru were riding Kirara. Kagome was on Inuyasha's back with Shippo clutching onto her. Miroku rode with Koharu on a horse demon she had in her possession.

“Maybe we should start now?” Koharu answered with a sly wink. Miroku gulped the huge lump in his throat. Things were getting out of hand quickly.

“I think later would be better,” Miroku hedged. He didn't like the look of hurt he could see on Sango's face. He expected her to become jealous but he seemed to only be causing her grief. Soon he would need to re-evaluate his methods. Normally if he flirted with a woman, Sango would get possessive, and he would be able to see evidence of her feelings for him. It didn't seem to be working this time.

Something seemed to have happened between Kagome and Sesshoumaru as well. In the last few days it seemed as if they were at least tentative friends. Now there seemed to be an invisible wall. At least Kagome and Inuyasha weren't fighting. They weren't exactly talking either though.

He could only resolve one dilemma at a time. “Actually Koharu, I must decline. My heart is spoken for and I could never love you.”

He almost punched his fist in the air when he noticed Sango's quick glance in his direction. However, Koharu's words stole the air from his lungs. She shrugged, “So? I just want your body anyway.”

Luckily, he didn't have to answer. “We're here,” Sango announced as she guiding Kirara to land softly on the ground.

Sesshoumaru promptly slide off the fire cat demon, it was demeaning to ride such a creature. He noticed Kagome and his half-brother from the corner of his eye and wished now, more than ever, to have his demon powers back. He wanted to leave this uncomfortable situation. Things would be much simpler if he could simply go off on his own and continue to hate Inuyasha for living. The fact that he needed Inuyasha's help and that of his friends was the worst punishment of all.

Perhaps it would be better to go off into the woods and allow himself to be killed and put out of his misery. Sesshoumaru growled to himself, causing Miroku to look over at him curiously. “What?”

“Did you just growl?” Miroku asked innocently.

“Shut up,” Sesshoumaru answered. He didn't like being human. His emotions were overwhelming him. He was sulking. Sulking did not become him at all.

“So where is the problem?” Inuyasha asked. He was walking close beside Kagome at the front of the group. He looked back at the rest of his companions and noticed that Miroku had situated himself between Sango and Sesshoumaru. It looked as if he were now avoiding Koharu. That was curious.

“Oh it's up there,” Koharu pointed and the group gasped at the sight of the large, slug looking type demon.

It was a bluish-green color and seemed to be leaving a trail of slime behind it. It also seemed to be swallowed up villages whole and absorbing them in its large body. “What the hell is that?” Inuyasha asked, unsheathing Tetsusaiga.

Kagome pulled her bow off from around her shoulder. Shippo jumped off her hip and ran towards Kirara. Sango readied her boomerang and Miroku said a silent prayer while Koharu remained silent.

“That is the parasitic youkai that tried to devour me,” Sesshoumaru answered.

Inuyasha turned to look at his brother, disgust evident on his features. “You touched that thing?”

“I assure you it was not intentional,” Sesshoumaru answered.

“It shouldn't be that hard to kill it,” Inuyasha remarked, concentrating on the winds and energies surrounding the youkai. He used his sword for its powerful attack, missing the cringing look on Sesshoumaru's face at his action.

“Wait! Inuyasha no!” Miroku shouted, realizing the folly of the attack. The demon only increased in size and strength afterwards. The color drained from Inuyasha's face.

“Well shit,” Inuyasha cursed as he stared down at Tetsusaiga. It had converted back into its useless rusty sword condition. The demon somehow channeled all the energy and power from it to be absorbed.

“Maybe I can make a difference,” Kagome muttered, notching her arrow. Sango had shot her weapon at the demon, moments after Inuyasha's failed attack and watched in horror as it simply absorbed it.

“Wait Kagome, stop!” Miroku tried again, frustrated at his group's one-track mind. Too late once more, Kagome fired. Only the holy powers of the arrow did not destroy the demon, rather they were scattered, as if reflected off a prism.

“What are we supposed to do?” Inuyasha shouted, rushing towards Miroku where the others had gathered. They were trying to hide from the parasitic demon, but it was simply waiting and not attacking. It had all the time in the world, and it knew it.

“Oh, now you're going to listen to me?” Miroku asked in annoyance.

“We didn't hear you,” Kagome protested.

“If this demon could be defeated, I would have found a way,” Sesshoumaru interrupted.

“Thanks for that brilliant plan,” Miroku answered sarcastically. He glanced back towards Koharu and frowned. “What's wrong with her?”

“I don't know. She's just standing there. It's as if she were possessed earlier, but I didn't feel any jewel shards controlling her like Kohaku,” Kagome answered.

“I guess all the hot air in her head finally ran out,” Sango guessed bitterly, her dislike for the girl evident.

“We have to do something,” Inuyasha shook his useless sword before resheathing it. He glanced over at Sesshoumaru. “Unlike you, we don't give up.”

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes but remained silent, unsure of a snappy comment.

There was a breeze in the winds and Inuyasha cursed, glancing towards the disturbance. “That's just great, the wind witch is here.”

“One of Naraku's golems is bound to be nearby as well,” Sango reasoned.

As if predicting the future, Naraku's representative revealed himself, laughing at the motley cru. Kagura stood beside him, eying Sesshoumaru with interest. The group split into tactical teams at Miroku's suggestion. They had decided to listen to him lead their group since their previous attempts failed.

Miroku went after Kagura while Sango and Inuyasha were to try and defeat the parasite. Kagome readied her bow, intent on ending the golem's existence quickly with Sesshoumaru at her side.

“This game grows old, don't you agree miko?” Naraku's puppet asked, laughing darkly at the band of heroes. Kagome fired an arrow at him, but Naraku simply sacrificed a tentacle that quickly replaced itself after disintegrating.

Kagome groaned in frustration, but simply notched another arrow. She began to take aim, allowing Sesshoumaru to take over the task of shredding the tentacles that came hurling towards her with the Samurai sword he now possessed. She was about to fire her arrow when a sickle came hurtling towards her. Sesshoumaru knocked her back, avoiding the blade.

“It's the boy,” Sesshoumaru growled. He should have killed the boy years ago when he first crossed paths.

“Kohaku?” Kagome called out, trying to reach the boy she knew lived inside the body of Sango's brother. His dark eyes looked at her blankly as he readied the sickle for her again.

“No!” Sango shouted, hearing Kagome call out the name of her little brother. She left Inuyasha to contend with the parasitic demon as she rushed towards her brother. She couldn't allow him to kill her companions, but she still couldn't bear the thought of him dying at their hands either.

“Sango wait!” Inuyasha shouted, moments before the demon shot out a large quantity of ooze directly at him that he failed to avoid.

“Oh no,” Kagome whispered as she watched Inuyasha being covered in the ooze. Kagura suddenly stopped her attack on Miroku and began to laugh. She looked over towards Naraku's golem and nodded her head before taking off on her feather, snatching Kohaku on her way and drifting on the wind's current. A swarm of poisonous insects took her place. Miroku's hand began to hurt, knowing what he would be forced to do now.

Naraku's golem smiled menacingly. During the distraction he created a cloud of miasma that engulfed the couple on the ground before him. Kagome purified the dark energy so that it couldn't affect her, but Sesshoumaru was not so lucky.

The jewel shard in his borrowed arm began to fill with malice and hate. He could feel a sharp, searing pain radiate throughout his body focusing on the spot. Kagome's eyes widened as she realized what was going on and she quickly took hold of Sesshoumaru's arm, trying to purify the hate.

“Just get it off,” Sesshoumaru ground out, the pain was too intense. It felt like his entire body was being consumed by malice and darkness. Kagome purified the shards, causing the arm to disintegrate in the process due to its corruption.

Naraku's golem spread his arms out wide. “I'll give you a free shot miko, my goal has been accomplished.” He smirked at the form of Sesshoumaru, holding his upper arm where the tainted arm was once attached. Kagome glared at him and started to ready her bow, but Miroku beat her to it, by swinging the poisonous insects directly at the golem instead of absorbing them. He then threw a holy parchment on Naraku and destroyed him and the insects all in one blow.

Sesshoumaru stood and gazed in the direction of Inuyasha as the others rushed to his aid. He knew that it was too little too late. “At least he's been human before, the change shouldn't hurt him too drastically.” He spoke as calmly as he could, ignoring the fresh wave of pain he felt.

Kagome turned back to him. “You mean he's going to be okay?” She had her bow out, but she didn't want to accidentally purify Inuyasha in the process.

Miroku looked back and forth between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, unsure of what to do. “We can't just stand back and watch.” Sango had just received her bone boomerang and was trying to act like the encounter with her brother didn't bother her. When the creature absorbed Inuyasha, her weapon had been released.

“We have to do something,” Sango agreed. Kirara had been standing guard over Shippo and Koharu. The young woman had regained her senses and was very confused now, but no one paid her any attention as their priority was Inuyasha.

As they all readied their weapons, intent on attacking the monstrosity the field suddenly filled with a thick mist which then cleared almost immediately. Only one thing was left at the location of the struggle.

Inuyasha stood facing his friends, ooze dripping from his claws. Only, there was insanity gleaming in his crimson eyes. Dark purple stripes adorned his flesh and his canines had elongated along with his claws.

“It seems to have worked in reverse from how it functioned on me,” Sesshoumaru commented.

“I think now would be a good time to use your subduing spell,” Shippo commented, hiding his face against Kagome's leg.

“Osuwari!” Kagome shouted, terror gripping her when absolutely nothing happened. Inuyasha began to walk towards his friends, madness evident. He paused, looking as if he were fighting himself.

His crimson eyes flashed golden, “Run!” Inuyasha shouted, directing his panicked eyes towards Kagome. He fell to his knees, holding his ears. “Kagome run away!”

Miroku looked towards Kagome, “Do what he says!” He glanced at Sesshoumaru, “Go with her, both of you get out of here!” Miroku and Sango readied for battle.

“I can't leave him!” Kagome screamed, ignoring Shippo's insistent tugging on her leg.

Inuyasha seemed to have a little sanity left. He looked towards them. “You must all run.” He closed his eyes, struggling for control. “Humanity lost.” He looked back up and there was a great deal of pain in his eyes. “Run!” He tried to turn his back on his friends and headed for the deep forests.

“Inuyasha come back!” Kagome screamed after his retreating figure. She turned to Miroku and Sango. “We have to save him!”

“He is doing what he can to save you from himself,” Sesshoumaru interrupted. Everyone listened to him. “Most of his humanity was stripped from him, as was most of my youkai.”

“Right, you must have some left, or else you probably wouldn't have survived the attack,” Miroku agreed thoughtfully. “But Kagome's right, we have to go after him.”

The group hurried towards the forest, following after Inuyasha. They found him pretty quickly. He was engaged in a fierce battle with a small army of demons. It was as if Naraku had set up another present for the group of travelers.

“It's the demons I told you about!” Koharu explained, having followed the group and regained her sense. Inuyasha was engaged in carnage and the others quickly joined in. The group became segmented, leaving Sesshoumaru and Kagome alone.

“Kagome! Get out of here! Take Sesshoumaru with you!” Miroku called out. He was sure that the battle would be easily won. He also had a feeling that with Inuyasha in his current state that Sesshoumaru and Kagome would be in the most danger.

Sesshoumaru had his dagger out, ready to destroy any demons that came his way. Kagome glanced at him, seeing the extreme danger he was in given his human strength and his handicap. They had both sustained a few injuries, but he was bleeding more than was advisable given his recent condition. “We have to get out of here,” Kagome told him, dragging him away from the battle field and heeding Miroku's advice.

“Inuyasha and the others will be able to defeat the demons,” Kagome said confidently. Sesshoumaru glared at her, obviously not pleased to be pulled away from the battle.

“And when he's done he'll come after us to finish the job,” Sesshoumaru answered.

Kagome shook her head. “No, he'd never allow himself to harm us.” She led Sesshoumaru away from the heavy fighting. She was still close enough that she could aid if her friends called for her.

“He will be able to smell us out,” Sesshoumaru commented, vastly annoyed that she didn't believe he could fight. He may not have been the invincible demon lord he used to be but he was still a mighty foe to face. And as far as the invincible demon lord part went, he was mostly invincible.

Kagome shook her head, confident in Inuyasha. “He will not allow himself to harm us. He'll try to run far away to protect us.”

“I really don't think that protecting this Sesshoumaru is on his priority list.” Sesshoumaru glanced down at his missing appendage once more. According to the dream he had, he had both arms and a son with Kagome's eyes. He looked over at the annoying woman leading him away from battle. Obviously it must have simply been a dream. He could see that there was no future in that little imagining.