InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Smokes and Mirrors ❯ To Be Brave ( Chapter 26 )

Smokes and Mirrors

 

 

Chapter 26: To Be Brave

 

It took him under ten minutes to get to the main industrial section and now he had no clue which way to go, or what to do. Miroku turned around in circles trying to figure out where that gun shot came from.

 

Somewhere up ahead, the teen heard some strange noise. `Someone's there,' was his first thought. Next was what if that someone was the one with the gun. Miroku had nothing to defend himself with. Swallowing hard, he decided to think positive and hoped whoever was there, was in fact the victim and not the assailant.

 

Slowly, cautiously, he approached, keeping to the shadows in case he was wrong. There was more shuffling coming from right around the building. Taking a deep breath, Miroku prepared to leap. Muscles taut and ready to spring out of the way, he stepped into view.

 

Shock overrode all other thoughts.

 

Amara stood there, the left side of his face slick with blood. Anger burned deep within his eyes as the young adult stared back at the immobile teenager. Metal bar held tight in his grip, Amara didn't wait for the other's reaction. He put all his hatred and anger behind his momentum and smacked the bar hard on current opponent's head.

 

Miroku fell, pain shooting through his entire being. He tried hard to keep the darkness that was ebbing at the corner of his eyes at bay. It was hard, though. His head hurt and his vision was blurred.

 

Amara, breath coming in short gasps, stood on his shaking legs before the fallen adversary. Slowly gathering his strength back, he tried to raise the bar again for another round on the moaning boy's head. Barely able to lift his weapon, something else caught his attention. His eyes searched his surrounding desperately trying to figure out from which direction the sirens where coming from.

 

“Shit…”

 

Metal clattered on the floor.

 

Miroku looked up in time to see Amara's retreating back. `Huh?' was his only coherent thought. His head now clear enough, police sirens could be heard approaching at a rather fast pace. Steeling his resolve, he pushed himself off the ground. His dark orbs looked around, searching for something, anything. In his momentary fogged up brain, he realized that if Amara was here, then Inuyasha and that Kagome girl are most probably here as well.

 

Spots of dark liquid were everywhere and a trail lead straight to an entrance. Looking up at the building to his left, he noticed the broken window on the second floor. Without second thought, Miroku headed for the entrance, dutifully following the bloody path, and hoping he wasn't too late to help his friend in need.

 

xXxXx

 

Inuyasha watched in pure horror as Naraku approached the defenseless girl. Acting on impulse, he managed to push himself through the door and stand still despite his leg injury. Gun raised high and held strong, he yelled out.

 

“Stop!”

 

Surprised at the sudden interruption, Naraku turned around. He came face to face with a very angry, very unstable, very bloody Inuyasha Taka. A delicate eyebrow rose.

 

“Are you trying to follow in your father's footsteps?” His curiosity at the boy's foolish ways distracted him from his main focus. “Are you trying to be a hero when you can barely stand?” Harsh, shaky breath was his answer. Naraku's lips twitched in amusement. He took a step forward. “Put the gun down boy.”

 

Swallowing the pain in his shoulder, Inuyasha raised his other hand to keep the gun steady on his target. He switched the safety off and held his ground. “Drop it.” he motioned for the small knife in the kidnapers hand. Amused beyond imagination, Naraku complied and let it slip from his grasp. Motioning again with the gun, Inuyasha didn't bat an eye as he continued. “Step away from her and face the wall.”

 

Doing as said, grin still in place, Naraku stepped away from his prey and faced the wall. He couldn't see what was going on, but the shuffling sound told him enough. The young Taka was trying to be a hero, just like his dear Papa. The smirk on his face widened as his eyes caught the miniature torch laying there, innocently just out of reach on the table. He was going to have fun with that. Turing his senses on the teens behind him, Naraku waited for the opportune moment.

 

Inuyasha, on the other hand, had his entire focus on the now unconscious girl. At the sight of the knife, she had whimpered and finally lost whatever battle she was fighting. Her body went limp as she lost all conscious thoughts.

 

After one last glance at their attacker, Inuyasha secured the gun in his waistband. Adrenaline his only strength, he quickly went to work on the binds holding her in place. Both legs free, he set about freeing her hands. His concentration was fully set on Kagome, completely forgetting about the third person in the room with them. The girl now free to be moved, Inuyasha slowly lowered her to the ground, grunting in pain as he strained his own wounds.

 

He quickly unbuttoned his shirt, removed it and draped it over her, preserving whatever dignity she had left. Not wanting to waste anymore time, he closed a couple buttons and was about to get them both out of there. The sound of objects falling to the floor caught his attention. Looking up in Naraku's direction, Inuyasha's eyes widened in pure panic as flames headed straight for him. He ducked in time, rolling on the floor, dragging Kagome along with him, and got them both out of harms way. The pain now shooting through his body was too much. He couldn't do this anymore.

 

In his head, Inuyasha knew that if he didn't incapacitate his aggressor, neither him nor the girl in his arms would make it out of here alive. Absentmindedly, he reached for the gun and aimed in the general direction of Naraku. Not caring much anymore for his actions, he pulled the trigger, again, and again, and again. Eyes closed, Inuyasha lay there unmoving, not daring to look at what he's done. His labored breathing was a sure sign that he wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon and Kagome's limp form in his arms told him she was in no rush to leave either.

 

Maniacal laughter had his eyes open within a second. Inuyasha stared at the scene before him and felt oddly detached. Naraku stood exactly where he was. Not a single bullet hit him. The bastard was perfectly healthy with the most inane look on his face. Somewhere in the background, there was broken glass and a hissing noise told him a pipe must have been hit as well.

 

Naraku slowly advanced on the two victims. Inuyasha's body was numb, sensation no longer running through him. His eyes glazed over and Naraku's form kept going out of proportion. Everything was slowly getting darker and darker. The loud thudding of his heart beats and his harsh breathing blocked all other noises, including the unnerving laughter of the bastard now standing right beside him.

 

Inuyasha closed his eyes, thinking this was it. His last thoughts were curses for giving up so quickly.

 

xXxXx

 

Miroku's face was pale, all blood drained from his face. He stood by the second floor's stairway exit. He'd been following a rather very bloody path all the way here and those gun shots freaked the hell out of him. Following a tense silence was laughter. It wasn't joyful in the good sense. It had no love or warmth in it. It was so cold and insane that it froze him inside out.

 

His hand held the metal bar in his hand so tight, his knuckles were ghostly white. He thanked whatever God that was listening for having him go back and pick it up before continuing down the bloody path. Now it was his only weapon against the enemy. At this point, he wasn't sure which he valued more, his friend or his life!

 

With a strength he didn't know he had, Miroku brought his breathing back to a somewhat calmer pace. He had to do this; he owed his friend that much for putting up with him since kindergarden. Quickly yet quietly, he drew near the door where the bloody path ended. Peeking inside, he saw his friend sprawled on the floor. His eyes were closed, his breathing awkward and his face contorted in pain. In his arms was the new girl, Kagome, who seemed to be blissfully unaware of her surrounding.

 

Miroku's eyes were diverted back to the enemy. He seemed completely oblivious to the fourth presence in the room. Taking advantage of this, the teenager ran with his weapon held ready. Hard metal met soft head and a sickening crack filled the room.

 

Momentary shock filled the boy again as he stood there, his weapon held at the ready once more, and stared down at the three bodies that lay before him. A strange rush passed through him and he used that drive to push the unconscious aggressor off his friend. The enemy out of the way, he turned his attention back to his friend. He scanned his physical state and swallowed a sob. Now was not the time to crack. They needed him and he will be there for them.

 

Miroku shook his friend's shoulder to get his attention. “Shit man,” he silently cursed. “Come on, wake up!” Urgency filled his voice as he continued his efforts to wake his friend.

 

A moan answered him. Inuyasha opened his eyes and a relieved Miroku greeted his sight. Too drained to do anything else, he locked eyes with the other teen. “Get her out of here.” Inuyasha's voice was hoarse, but direct. Miroku's eyes moved to the girl, letting it roam over the scantly dressed form, and back to him. “Hurry!” Nodding, Miroku moved to the other side. From the looks of things, Inuyasha needed medical attention more than the girl. Then again, he didn't know why she was unconscious. Anything could have happened and she is practically naked.

 

A light blush colored his cheeks as he laced his hand under her knee and behind her back, preparing to lift her up. Inuyasha's hand caught his before he could rise, though. Looking up at his friend, Inuyasha spoke in a serious tone. “Don't do anything stupid, letch.”

 

Appalled at the accusation in such a drastic time, Miroku stared at his friend. His pose relaxed a little at the sight of his friend's smirk. Shaking his head, he got up and swiftly headed for the door. Even at such a critical time, Inuyasha managed to lighten the mood with some stupid joke. He was almost at the exit of the building when an explosion shook the entire structure. Miroku lost his balance, but only for a moment. Running outside, he looked back at the huge warehouse.

 

Spurting out angrily, flames burst out of every visible window on the second floor.

 

xXxXx

xXxXx

 

A.N.

Well, here it is. I don't have much to say except that I'm disappointed I get so little reviews… Well… I don't got much to say, but I already said that, right…

 

Okay! Thank you all for the reviews and thank you for reading. I'm glad some of you are enjoying reading it as much as I am in writing it. See ya all next time!

 

Quote: A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out - Jack Dalton