InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Malice ❯ Stalking the Spider ( Chapter 30 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: kanna37 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.25.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.0K | Visits: 959 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.25.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.0K | Visits: 959 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 30: Stalking the Spider
The next morning, Sesshoumaru stood at the edge of the village, waiting for his brother's group to gather. He was rather impressed, though he would never say so; the group was efficient, already packed and moving towards him, the only thing they seemed to be waiting for was the appearance of Inuyasha and Kagome themselves.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he could feel his brother's youki flaring against his own, and he started, actually surprised - Inuyasha and the miko had finalized the mating.
Already? I had not thought she would be ready so soon... it appears that she is much more resilient than we all gave her credit for.
He studied their combined auras, and was startled at the sheer power flowing between the two of them, like the perpetual loop of a circle, the power flowed steadily, calm - neither dark nor light, but impressively neutral.
I was correct then, he mused. She is a most excellent match for him.
He cast a quick glance at the dead miko, curious to see what her reaction would be when she caught sight of the two that were just about to top the rise in front of them.
He was not disappointed.
Both Kikyou and Miroku spun around to stare at the two that were rapidly approaching, though with drastically different facial expressions.
Kikyou looked surprised, but happy, no anger at all in her aura, and Sesshoumaru relaxed minutely when he realized that she was not going to cause trouble.
Miroku, on the other hand, did look angry, and the daiyoukai frowned, snapping out, "Why are you angered, monk?"
He turned and looked at Sesshoumaru with a determined look. "I worry that Kagome was not ready for such a step - I am concerned that he pressured her into this."
The youkai Lord growled low in his chest, disgusted. "You are a fool, monk. If he had done something such as you suggest, their auras would not have entwined to this degree. This is a bond that cannot be forced."
Miroku, despite the fact that he was genuinely afraid of the powerful Lord, held his gaze, wanting to be sure that he spoke the truth. Finally, he nodded, backing down from his aggressive stance just as Inuyasha and Kagome reached them.
Sango stared at him, confused, then looked at the two that had just arrived... and when she saw the way her best friend responded to the hanyou, she knew what had occurred - and why Miroku had been so concerned.
But she could see instantly the happiness within her friend - a light that had been missing since she'd been attacked, and knew that there was no force involved in anything. Kagome had obviously been more than willing.
The silence was a little awkward for a moment, until Sesshoumaru said, "Little brother." He bowed his head slightly, then caught his eye. "You chose well - this Sesshoumaru approves your mate as part of the House of the West."
That broke the ice, and though Kagome and Inuyasha both blushed a bit as they realized that everyone knew, they accepted the congratulations of their friends with good grace.
After a few moments, Inuyasha finally asked, "Oi, Sesshoumaru. What have your spies found? Anything new since yesterday?"
"Apparently, whatever you did to the spider has destroyed what little mind he had, and all that is left seems to be instinct. He was seen heading for a series of caves that go deep into the earth - they have never been fully mapped." He met everyone's eyes. "This could prove dangerous - we could easily become lost, even with our senses, Inuyasha and I could lose our way as well."
Kagome frowned. "What caves, my Lord?" she asked slowly.
"They are not far from here - a few hours to the south. Why?"
Her eyes lit up. "Inuyasha, take me home. Those caves still exist in my time - they are a tourist attraction," at everyones confused looks, she chuckled, "meaning that people come from all over to see them. In my time, they have been fully mapped. I think it's worth the couple-hour delay it would cost to have maps of those caves."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Indeed, it would be."
Inuyasha grinned, then offered his mate his back again, when she was on, he turned, calling back over his shoulder, "We'll be back as soon as possible!"
Then he took off, and the two were gone before anyone could blink.
Miroku and Sango, having already seen her futuristic light devices, knew what to do with them, but Kikyou and Sesshoumaru needed to be shown what they were for - and were both impressed with them.
Once everyone was equipped to Kagome's satisfaction, the group finally got underway, moving quickly across the terrain towards the caves - all of them hoping that this trip would be the last they would need to make in pursuit of the spider hanyou.
But though they started out making good time, luck wasn't with them at this point, as, about an hour before hitting the entrances to the caves, they ran into a rather annoying interruption: Koga, and his companions, Ginta, and Hakkaku.
Kagome, as usual, barely had time to spit out "incoming shards!" before the haughty prince was in the middle of the group... but this time, Inuyasha's feral growl was met with silence, as Koga took in within moments the fact that Kagome was now mated fully to the inu hanyou.
"What the hell do you want, wolf?" he spat, staring uneasily at the silent wolf. He moved to stand in front of Kagome protectively, and she clutched onto the back of his haori, also uneasy, as the rest of the group prepared for all hell to break loose.
Finally, Koga looked away from Inuyasha, and spoke, his voice neutral. "Stop worrying, mutt. I told you I understood that she was yours now, and that hasn't changed."
"Then why the hell were you lookin' at her like that?!" he demanded.
"Because I may have to accept it, but I don't have to like it, you insufferable bastard! You have the woman I've been in love with for years... and I never will! Just be glad you have her - and leave me be," he hissed.
Kagome clenched her hands tighter in Inuyasha's fire rat, a blush staining her face. "Koga," she sighed softly, "you knew I was in love with Inuyasha from the first time you met me - when you kidnapped me," she said, as she finally let go of her mate and stepped to his side, "I told you straight up then and there that my heart was already taken. You just didn't listen."
Inuyasha was stunned at that announcement. She felt that way about me... even back then?
Koga shook his head, glancing around at the people surrounding him and his pack members, noting that the daiyoukai brother of the hanyou appeared to now be traveling with him, then turned back to Kagome.
"I'm the prince of my people, Kagome - it isn't in me to just give up. Don't worry, though... I've accepted my loss." With a sigh, he finished, "I'm here because you hunt for Naraku - and I wish to join you."
Sesshoumaru watched the wolf for a few minutes, weighingly, then glanced at his brother. Inuyasha was scowling, but surprisingly, didn't immediately reject him. Brow raised, he said, "What benefit would we find in allowing you to do so?"
The group exchanged glances, then looked back at the two brother's and Koga. Things might actually be civil for once...
"Three more warriors for the fight, and three more hunters to help provide food."
"Feh." Inuyasha turned away from him in seeming disgust, pulling Kagome with him, then threw over his shoulder, "Do what you want - but if you plan on hunting, you'd better do so now - where we're going, I don't think you'd like what limited prey you might find."
Koga scowled. "What do you mean? Where the hell are we going?"
"There is a series of deep caves about an hour south of here - that is where the spider has gone to hide. We simply follow where we must," Sesshoumaru said, then turned and followed his brother and the miko.
The wolf prince stared after the group for a few moments in surprise, then barked out, "Ginta, Hakkaku - hunt, then find me." When his pack mates nodded and disappeared, he sprinted after the rest of the group.
Slowing his pace once he caught up, he chose to walk with the monk and taijiya - and the dead miko. Perhaps they would actually speak to him.
"So... how long...?" he asked, gesturing towards Inuyasha and Kagome.
Miroku cocked a brow in his direction. "Last night."
Koga sputtered. "Oh... well, shit. No wonder he was so irritated with my presence. Hell - I'm surprised he can even stand being around anyone with such a new mate bond. His instincts must be in an uproar."
Sango frowned questioningly. "What do you mean?"
He glanced at her, surprised she didn't know. "Usually, when a mate is taken, the male will keep he and his female away from all others for a time, anywhere from three or four days to a week to ten days. It's a time of bonding for the new pair."
"Oh. I've never heard that," she said. "Will he be okay, not having that chance?"
Koga shrugged. "Don't know... haven't ever seen anyone that didn't have a chance to do the bonding properly."
At that, Sesshoumaru spoke up from ahead of them. "Inuyasha will be a bit more irritable for a time, but he is a son of our father, and will be fine."
Miroku nodded, relieved. "That is good. I would not like to think he was suffering for any reason - I believe he and Kagome have been through enough," he said.
Sesshoumaru found himself agreeing with that assessment. I can not imagine what it did to him when he was forced to live her memories of her attack - I do not know if even I could have held onto my control in such circumstances.
Perhaps... it is a tribute to the strength of father's blood that even half of it is so powerful. I must admit... my brother is stronger than most full youkai - there is nothing in which to find shame there.
Kikyou, who had up 'til that time, been quiet, spoke up. "Naraku has much to answer for, this not the least. He has always interefered where he had no place."
At that, everyone got quiet, losing themselves in their thoughts - thoughts of all the things the spider had to pay for. The last hour of the trip was spent in thoughtful silence, and thus went by quickly.
By the time they all arrived at the entrances to the caves, Naraku's scent was so strong that even the ningens in the group could smell it, letting them know that Sesshoumaru's spies were definitely correct - the spider had gone underground.
Once they were all gathered around the cave's entrance, Sesshoumaru spoke up. "I think that we should make camp here, and start early in the morning - after a good nights rest. There is no telling," he said thoughtfully, glancing at the cave entrance, "just how far down the spider has gone, but it is my guess that he will go as deep as possible in his attempt to hide."
Kagome opened her map and nodded. "Yeah, I think you're right. And if you look here," she moved over towards him so that he might look at the map as well, "the deepest part of the cave system is here," she pointed at one particular symbol on the map. "That cavern is not open to the public in my time - it's too unstable," she finished slowly.
Inuyasha scrunched his face in thought. "Oi... is there any underground source of water in those caves?"
Kagome looked at the map again, then nodded. "Yeah, but... once we pass it, there isn't anymore water - so we're gonna have to carry our supply." She sighed, rubbing a hand over her eyes as she thought. "I think Sesshoumaru is right. We should camp here, and make our plans tonight, then start fresh in the morning."
Everyone agreed with that assessment, and soon, they had a nice, tidy camp set up. Before long, Ginta and Hakkaku arrived, bringing three dear and four rabbits into camp already cleaned, and soon, they had several cookfires going, so that the meat could smoke all night. That would give them meat for up to a week that they could easily carry.
Once things were settled as far as they could be for the night, the group found themselves once again drifting into silent reminiscences of their painful pasts, each one different, but each one traceable to Naraku...
All but Sesshoumaru himself.
Inuyasha found himself thinking over the distant past - a past he shared with Kikyou - and Naraku.
So much pain, and all so that bastard could make a stupid wish. One stupid wish. And I was just as stupid, wanting the same thing he did.
He shuddered, scenes from that day of betrayal slipping through his mind, and all he could do was be grateful to the kami that he hadn't gone down the same path as the spider.
Kagome's mind was lost in thoughts of all her time in this era - and on what had happened to her on that day that he'd taken her. As those memories began to run through her mind, she lost herself in them, and started shivering - unbeknownst to her, her power also began to spike - and as it did so, Inuyasha's youki rose to meet it before he even realized what was happening.
The rest of the group became aware that something was wrong when the two mates powers began to rise - and Kagome began whimpering. Very quickly, the camp was vacated, as the purification powers became too strong for the youkai, and the youki became too strong for the monk and the miko. Sango was the only one not really affected, but she left anyway, staying with Miroku and the others.
"What's happening?" she asked, awed at the sheer power coming from the camp, and Miroku and Kikyou exchanged glances, then looked at Sesshoumaru.
The daiyoukai stared towards the camp, then shook his head. "Her power called to his, but I am not certain what caused hers to spike." Before he could continue, an ominous pulse flared through the air from the direction of the camp, leaving the group members gasping, and Koga and his wolves howling.
"It's getting stronger," Kikyou gritted out, and Sesshoumaru nodded.
"I believe..." he began, then broke off for a moment, a frown touching his brow, before finishing, "they are calling the jewel to them - and it is answering."
Kikyou's eyes widened, then she closed them, concentrating, and then they popped open again, awed. "He's right! Kagome and Inuyasha's reiki and youki are combined - I've never seen anything like this - and the jewel is there, too. This is..." she trailed off, shocked.
Miroku nodded. "So, Kagome was right." When everyone looked at him questioningly, he raised a brow. "Do you not remember? She said that we would not have to hunt the shards any longer - that they would be able to call them."
Sango's brow furrowed. "That's right - she did say that."
Sesshoumaru continued to stare in the direction of the growing power that still pulsed through the air, with a far-away look in his eyes. "It appears that the power within the two is growing exponentially. Naraku will not be able to fight them," he looked at the group standing with him, "and neither will anyone here. If they chose, they could destroy us all."
Kikyou's brow rose. "You think this power increase will change them?"
"No. It was merely a statement of truth."
Just then, the power began to withdraw, and the atmosphere calmed once again. As they all cautiously made their way back to the camp, everyone had the same thought running through their minds:
What would they find waiting for them?
Enjoy!
Amber
The next morning, Sesshoumaru stood at the edge of the village, waiting for his brother's group to gather. He was rather impressed, though he would never say so; the group was efficient, already packed and moving towards him, the only thing they seemed to be waiting for was the appearance of Inuyasha and Kagome themselves.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he could feel his brother's youki flaring against his own, and he started, actually surprised - Inuyasha and the miko had finalized the mating.
Already? I had not thought she would be ready so soon... it appears that she is much more resilient than we all gave her credit for.
He studied their combined auras, and was startled at the sheer power flowing between the two of them, like the perpetual loop of a circle, the power flowed steadily, calm - neither dark nor light, but impressively neutral.
I was correct then, he mused. She is a most excellent match for him.
He cast a quick glance at the dead miko, curious to see what her reaction would be when she caught sight of the two that were just about to top the rise in front of them.
He was not disappointed.
Both Kikyou and Miroku spun around to stare at the two that were rapidly approaching, though with drastically different facial expressions.
Kikyou looked surprised, but happy, no anger at all in her aura, and Sesshoumaru relaxed minutely when he realized that she was not going to cause trouble.
Miroku, on the other hand, did look angry, and the daiyoukai frowned, snapping out, "Why are you angered, monk?"
He turned and looked at Sesshoumaru with a determined look. "I worry that Kagome was not ready for such a step - I am concerned that he pressured her into this."
The youkai Lord growled low in his chest, disgusted. "You are a fool, monk. If he had done something such as you suggest, their auras would not have entwined to this degree. This is a bond that cannot be forced."
Miroku, despite the fact that he was genuinely afraid of the powerful Lord, held his gaze, wanting to be sure that he spoke the truth. Finally, he nodded, backing down from his aggressive stance just as Inuyasha and Kagome reached them.
Sango stared at him, confused, then looked at the two that had just arrived... and when she saw the way her best friend responded to the hanyou, she knew what had occurred - and why Miroku had been so concerned.
But she could see instantly the happiness within her friend - a light that had been missing since she'd been attacked, and knew that there was no force involved in anything. Kagome had obviously been more than willing.
The silence was a little awkward for a moment, until Sesshoumaru said, "Little brother." He bowed his head slightly, then caught his eye. "You chose well - this Sesshoumaru approves your mate as part of the House of the West."
That broke the ice, and though Kagome and Inuyasha both blushed a bit as they realized that everyone knew, they accepted the congratulations of their friends with good grace.
After a few moments, Inuyasha finally asked, "Oi, Sesshoumaru. What have your spies found? Anything new since yesterday?"
"Apparently, whatever you did to the spider has destroyed what little mind he had, and all that is left seems to be instinct. He was seen heading for a series of caves that go deep into the earth - they have never been fully mapped." He met everyone's eyes. "This could prove dangerous - we could easily become lost, even with our senses, Inuyasha and I could lose our way as well."
Kagome frowned. "What caves, my Lord?" she asked slowly.
"They are not far from here - a few hours to the south. Why?"
Her eyes lit up. "Inuyasha, take me home. Those caves still exist in my time - they are a tourist attraction," at everyones confused looks, she chuckled, "meaning that people come from all over to see them. In my time, they have been fully mapped. I think it's worth the couple-hour delay it would cost to have maps of those caves."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Indeed, it would be."
Inuyasha grinned, then offered his mate his back again, when she was on, he turned, calling back over his shoulder, "We'll be back as soon as possible!"
Then he took off, and the two were gone before anyone could blink.
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True to Kagome's word, they were back within a couple of hours, carrying the maps spoken of, and handing over a map to each member of the group, she also gave each person a flashlight - and a pack of batteries.Miroku and Sango, having already seen her futuristic light devices, knew what to do with them, but Kikyou and Sesshoumaru needed to be shown what they were for - and were both impressed with them.
Once everyone was equipped to Kagome's satisfaction, the group finally got underway, moving quickly across the terrain towards the caves - all of them hoping that this trip would be the last they would need to make in pursuit of the spider hanyou.
But though they started out making good time, luck wasn't with them at this point, as, about an hour before hitting the entrances to the caves, they ran into a rather annoying interruption: Koga, and his companions, Ginta, and Hakkaku.
Kagome, as usual, barely had time to spit out "incoming shards!" before the haughty prince was in the middle of the group... but this time, Inuyasha's feral growl was met with silence, as Koga took in within moments the fact that Kagome was now mated fully to the inu hanyou.
"What the hell do you want, wolf?" he spat, staring uneasily at the silent wolf. He moved to stand in front of Kagome protectively, and she clutched onto the back of his haori, also uneasy, as the rest of the group prepared for all hell to break loose.
Finally, Koga looked away from Inuyasha, and spoke, his voice neutral. "Stop worrying, mutt. I told you I understood that she was yours now, and that hasn't changed."
"Then why the hell were you lookin' at her like that?!" he demanded.
"Because I may have to accept it, but I don't have to like it, you insufferable bastard! You have the woman I've been in love with for years... and I never will! Just be glad you have her - and leave me be," he hissed.
Kagome clenched her hands tighter in Inuyasha's fire rat, a blush staining her face. "Koga," she sighed softly, "you knew I was in love with Inuyasha from the first time you met me - when you kidnapped me," she said, as she finally let go of her mate and stepped to his side, "I told you straight up then and there that my heart was already taken. You just didn't listen."
Inuyasha was stunned at that announcement. She felt that way about me... even back then?
Koga shook his head, glancing around at the people surrounding him and his pack members, noting that the daiyoukai brother of the hanyou appeared to now be traveling with him, then turned back to Kagome.
"I'm the prince of my people, Kagome - it isn't in me to just give up. Don't worry, though... I've accepted my loss." With a sigh, he finished, "I'm here because you hunt for Naraku - and I wish to join you."
Sesshoumaru watched the wolf for a few minutes, weighingly, then glanced at his brother. Inuyasha was scowling, but surprisingly, didn't immediately reject him. Brow raised, he said, "What benefit would we find in allowing you to do so?"
The group exchanged glances, then looked back at the two brother's and Koga. Things might actually be civil for once...
"Three more warriors for the fight, and three more hunters to help provide food."
"Feh." Inuyasha turned away from him in seeming disgust, pulling Kagome with him, then threw over his shoulder, "Do what you want - but if you plan on hunting, you'd better do so now - where we're going, I don't think you'd like what limited prey you might find."
Koga scowled. "What do you mean? Where the hell are we going?"
"There is a series of deep caves about an hour south of here - that is where the spider has gone to hide. We simply follow where we must," Sesshoumaru said, then turned and followed his brother and the miko.
The wolf prince stared after the group for a few moments in surprise, then barked out, "Ginta, Hakkaku - hunt, then find me." When his pack mates nodded and disappeared, he sprinted after the rest of the group.
Slowing his pace once he caught up, he chose to walk with the monk and taijiya - and the dead miko. Perhaps they would actually speak to him.
"So... how long...?" he asked, gesturing towards Inuyasha and Kagome.
Miroku cocked a brow in his direction. "Last night."
Koga sputtered. "Oh... well, shit. No wonder he was so irritated with my presence. Hell - I'm surprised he can even stand being around anyone with such a new mate bond. His instincts must be in an uproar."
Sango frowned questioningly. "What do you mean?"
He glanced at her, surprised she didn't know. "Usually, when a mate is taken, the male will keep he and his female away from all others for a time, anywhere from three or four days to a week to ten days. It's a time of bonding for the new pair."
"Oh. I've never heard that," she said. "Will he be okay, not having that chance?"
Koga shrugged. "Don't know... haven't ever seen anyone that didn't have a chance to do the bonding properly."
At that, Sesshoumaru spoke up from ahead of them. "Inuyasha will be a bit more irritable for a time, but he is a son of our father, and will be fine."
Miroku nodded, relieved. "That is good. I would not like to think he was suffering for any reason - I believe he and Kagome have been through enough," he said.
Sesshoumaru found himself agreeing with that assessment. I can not imagine what it did to him when he was forced to live her memories of her attack - I do not know if even I could have held onto my control in such circumstances.
Perhaps... it is a tribute to the strength of father's blood that even half of it is so powerful. I must admit... my brother is stronger than most full youkai - there is nothing in which to find shame there.
Kikyou, who had up 'til that time, been quiet, spoke up. "Naraku has much to answer for, this not the least. He has always interefered where he had no place."
At that, everyone got quiet, losing themselves in their thoughts - thoughts of all the things the spider had to pay for. The last hour of the trip was spent in thoughtful silence, and thus went by quickly.
By the time they all arrived at the entrances to the caves, Naraku's scent was so strong that even the ningens in the group could smell it, letting them know that Sesshoumaru's spies were definitely correct - the spider had gone underground.
Once they were all gathered around the cave's entrance, Sesshoumaru spoke up. "I think that we should make camp here, and start early in the morning - after a good nights rest. There is no telling," he said thoughtfully, glancing at the cave entrance, "just how far down the spider has gone, but it is my guess that he will go as deep as possible in his attempt to hide."
Kagome opened her map and nodded. "Yeah, I think you're right. And if you look here," she moved over towards him so that he might look at the map as well, "the deepest part of the cave system is here," she pointed at one particular symbol on the map. "That cavern is not open to the public in my time - it's too unstable," she finished slowly.
Inuyasha scrunched his face in thought. "Oi... is there any underground source of water in those caves?"
Kagome looked at the map again, then nodded. "Yeah, but... once we pass it, there isn't anymore water - so we're gonna have to carry our supply." She sighed, rubbing a hand over her eyes as she thought. "I think Sesshoumaru is right. We should camp here, and make our plans tonight, then start fresh in the morning."
Everyone agreed with that assessment, and soon, they had a nice, tidy camp set up. Before long, Ginta and Hakkaku arrived, bringing three dear and four rabbits into camp already cleaned, and soon, they had several cookfires going, so that the meat could smoke all night. That would give them meat for up to a week that they could easily carry.
Once things were settled as far as they could be for the night, the group found themselves once again drifting into silent reminiscences of their painful pasts, each one different, but each one traceable to Naraku...
All but Sesshoumaru himself.
Inuyasha found himself thinking over the distant past - a past he shared with Kikyou - and Naraku.
So much pain, and all so that bastard could make a stupid wish. One stupid wish. And I was just as stupid, wanting the same thing he did.
He shuddered, scenes from that day of betrayal slipping through his mind, and all he could do was be grateful to the kami that he hadn't gone down the same path as the spider.
Kagome's mind was lost in thoughts of all her time in this era - and on what had happened to her on that day that he'd taken her. As those memories began to run through her mind, she lost herself in them, and started shivering - unbeknownst to her, her power also began to spike - and as it did so, Inuyasha's youki rose to meet it before he even realized what was happening.
The rest of the group became aware that something was wrong when the two mates powers began to rise - and Kagome began whimpering. Very quickly, the camp was vacated, as the purification powers became too strong for the youkai, and the youki became too strong for the monk and the miko. Sango was the only one not really affected, but she left anyway, staying with Miroku and the others.
"What's happening?" she asked, awed at the sheer power coming from the camp, and Miroku and Kikyou exchanged glances, then looked at Sesshoumaru.
The daiyoukai stared towards the camp, then shook his head. "Her power called to his, but I am not certain what caused hers to spike." Before he could continue, an ominous pulse flared through the air from the direction of the camp, leaving the group members gasping, and Koga and his wolves howling.
"It's getting stronger," Kikyou gritted out, and Sesshoumaru nodded.
"I believe..." he began, then broke off for a moment, a frown touching his brow, before finishing, "they are calling the jewel to them - and it is answering."
Kikyou's eyes widened, then she closed them, concentrating, and then they popped open again, awed. "He's right! Kagome and Inuyasha's reiki and youki are combined - I've never seen anything like this - and the jewel is there, too. This is..." she trailed off, shocked.
Miroku nodded. "So, Kagome was right." When everyone looked at him questioningly, he raised a brow. "Do you not remember? She said that we would not have to hunt the shards any longer - that they would be able to call them."
Sango's brow furrowed. "That's right - she did say that."
Sesshoumaru continued to stare in the direction of the growing power that still pulsed through the air, with a far-away look in his eyes. "It appears that the power within the two is growing exponentially. Naraku will not be able to fight them," he looked at the group standing with him, "and neither will anyone here. If they chose, they could destroy us all."
Kikyou's brow rose. "You think this power increase will change them?"
"No. It was merely a statement of truth."
Just then, the power began to withdraw, and the atmosphere calmed once again. As they all cautiously made their way back to the camp, everyone had the same thought running through their minds:
What would they find waiting for them?
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A/N: I apologize for the wait on this chapter - but the good news is that my move is done! Hopefully I'll be able to concentrate on my stories a little more now... anyway, things are gonna come to a head soon - Malice is heading into it's finale. I think I have about seven or eight more chapters to go.Enjoy!
Amber