InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part II): Tortured Soul ❯ To Save a Friend ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter Ten

To Save a Friend

Late that evening after the sun had gone down, the door opened and Naraku returned. He held his hands behind his back as he watched the two of them. Kagome moved away from Kohaku and put up a barrier laced with purification power once again. Naraku looked at her with pure hatred. "If you know what's good for you, you will drop the barrier now." She glared at him, knowing that she was at his mercy. However, she needed her energy and didn't want to have to focus a barrier around herself too.

He walked towards her and lifted her from the ground, though to her surprise he lifted her gently. "If you agree to help me, I will let the boy go." She looked to Kohaku and then back to Naraku. "Just drop the barrier and he's free to go." She looked at him closely and knew she couldn't trust him for a second. "If I drop the barrier you will harm him, I'm not that foolish Naraku."

Finally he brought his other hand from behind is back. Again he held the dagger. Kagome began to panic. Once he started draining her power the spirit barrier would fade. She also knew she would need her energy to get Kohaku and Kilala out of there. She cringed back from him. "Don't do this, I can't help you. Sesshoumaru won't listen to me." He stared into her eyes for a moment. "Perhaps you speak the truth, perhaps not. Will you try to contact the demon and convince him to give me the gem?" She turned her head away. "You still show insolence, even now." Again he lifted her dress and held the dagger there, poking her with it slightly. He was enjoying watching her discomfort. "Will you help me?" She again looked to Kohaku who was watching them with a look of terror on his face.

Finally he thrust the dagger in again and she cringed at the pain but focused as much energy on the barrier as she could. She felt her very life being drawn into the blade and the barrier around Kohaku began to dim.

Finally Naraku pulled the blade from her and she sunk to the ground, holding her wound. She looked to Kohaku. He was still protected but she couldn't keep it up much longer. Naraku then brought the blade to her wound. The power on it began to heal her, and she looked up at him. She could tell that again he was enjoying her pain and the smell of her blood. He didn't allow the wound to fully heal, only enough that she would not bleed to death that night. He walked towards Kohaku but as he did the barrier grew stronger. He looked to the blade and realized that it was strengthening it. He turned and left the room, knowing that by morning she would probably not have enough energy left to keep him away from the boy.

When she heard the door lock, she dragged herself towards Kohaku. She released the barrier and told him it was time to sleep. Kagome pulled him into a tight embrace and held Kilala in her other arm. She began to focus what was left of her powers. It didn't matter if she was drained, she would get them out of here tonight.

A couple of hours later both Kilala and Kohaku were sound asleep. Kagome had rested her body and knew that she would have to make this quick. She considered seeking out Sango, but Miroku seemed to be the one that she was best able to connect with, probably due to his spiritual powers. She delved into the darkness, searching frantically for Miroku. Finally she found him and pulled him into her dark world.

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InuYasha had decided to call it a night. The group made camp and after eating decided to get some sleep. Miroku again lay down with his eyes opened. He again felt himself becoming drowsy and realized Kagome was trying to reach him. He relaxed his body and allowed her to take him.

He stood there in darkness. About twenty feet in front of him stood Kagome. She held Kilala in her arm and had her other arm around Kohaku. She seemed to be leaning on the boy for support. He rushed to them quickly. She placed her hand on a band around the cat's neck and it dissolved, she then shoved Kilala into his arms and looked to the boy. He stepped forward and grabbed Miroku's hand. The monk then got a good look at Kagome. She was pale and had bruises everywhere. The whole mid section of her dress was soaked in blood. "Kagome, what happened to you?"

Her voice was very weak and she was gasping for breath as she spoke to him. "I am not with Sesshoumaru, I'm with Naraku. You must get to Sesshoumaru; the shinju is inside of him. Naraku is going to try to get his child and use her to get it from him" She stopped speaking and appeared to be gathering strength. "I can't come with you, Naraku has marked me and he will be able to find us if I do. You can't tell InuYasha that I'm with Naraku. He won't be able to find me, and he needs to get to his brother." Kohaku moved towards Kagome and she stepped back. "Don't let go of Miroku." The boy stepped back to the monk's side. He began sobbing "Kagome, please come with us. Naraku will hurt you again when he sees that I'm gone." She smiled at the boy, though she appeared to be in pain. Then a frightened look crossed her face. "It's Naraku…" The words slipped away as they watched her fade in front of them.

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Miroku jerked awake. He looked down and quickly realized that he held both Kilala and Kohaku in his arms. Both of them woke too and Kohaku began crying. Miroku quickly went over everything that Kagome had told him. She's with Naraku, and looked as though she were near death. He looked to InuYasha and realized that Kagome was right. They wouldn't be able to find her, at least not without Sesshoumaru's help. He jumped to his feet, frantically waking the others. They both looked up at him. "We've got to go, now!" He turned and began gathering their things. Sango sat up and saw her brother sitting across from her. She began crying and hurried to him. He too was crying.

InuYasha sat up, trying to figure out what had just happened. He saw both Kilala and Kohaku and looked at the monk. "What's going on Miroku?" He asked as the monk hurriedly threw their things together. "We've got to get to Sesshoumaru. He has the shinju inside of him and Naraku knows it." InuYasha caught the monk looking at Kohaku, and the boy began to cry harder. "What else is going on, why didn't Kagome come here herself if she could send them through." Miroku looked at the ground. "I think she wanted Sesshoumaru to remain protected." He said, keeping his words as truthful as he could. He didn't care how powerful Sesshoumaru was, he would help them get to Kagome…whether he liked it or not.

They took off for Sesshoumaru's this time able to go much faster. Miroku, Sango and Kohaku all rode Kilala, while Shippou stayed with InuYasha. They moved through the night as fast as they could. Only Kohaku and Miroku knowing just how badly they needed to hurry.