InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tenseiga ❯ Kagome Does Battle ( Chapter 10 )

Kagome sat back, gasping softly. She closed her eyes and tried to swallow around her parched throat. Three fields were all she's managed to revive. It would have to be enough. She could feel her life flowing out of her into the Earth even now, as if something had sucked the land dry. The old man sat down next to her.

"You are killing yourself for strangers."

"What Gods are in these lands? Or perhaps I should ask what demons?"

"We have our share of monsters it is true, but I have never heard of one who could stop the water from coming."

"It is not the water, it is the Earth itself. Something is draining it of life, sucking it dry. It means to slaughter every living thing and consume the Earth as well."

He was silent for a time. "There is a demon with such powers over the Earth as to accomplish this, but he lives in the mountains, not here."

She followed the line of his finger to a bank of clouds. She frowned slightly. Those were not clouds. For one thing, they were too high. A gasp managed to slip past her lips.

"The Himalayas! Gods I'm near Nepal! Oh, Sesshomaru, find me quickly."

The old man watched as she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to claim her. He gestured toward a group of men. "Carry her back to my house. Make sure she is comfortable and see to it there are descent clothes waiting for her when she wakes up."

One of the men frowned down at her sleeping form. "Well, what is she?"

"I believe she is a mortal woman, though she is gifted with extraordinary powers. It would not do to take advantage of her, Ratri. She is helping us because she can and for no other reason."

Ratri nodded and lifted her, carrying her effortlessly to the old hut near the fields where Simbuno, the Wise Man, lived. He laid her on a straw mat and took the extra care to cover her with a threadbare blanket. He lingered for a moment though, looking down on her child-like face. She was young, for all the magic and wisdom she seemed to carry. She reminded him a great deal of his daughters. Evening found Kagome awake once more, but barely able to move. The drain had continued even in sleep. She sighed softly as she examined the ceiling.

"Is something wrong child?"

"As near as I can figure, I only have two choices. One, I let whatever this thing is slowly drain me of my life then go on killing all of you, or two, I put myself in a trance and concentrate everything on counteracting it."

"I like the first the least."

"I feel the same way, but there is a feel to this, as though whatever is doing this expects blood, seeks it even. Something tells me that no matter what I do, it will mean my life in the end."

"How can I help?"

"I'm not sure you can. I'm not sure anyone can."

"Then the trance is your best option. This I can help induce, but first you must eat something."

"No, you have so little."

"But what we have is thanks to you. The fields went through an entire growing season in a single day and look as though they will do so again tomorrow. We will build up our stores. Three days is all you must last. Then stop your fight and we will work out another plan."

She nodded slowly and allowed him to feed her a little. After the small meal he began to chant. Kagome could feel herself relax and she lapsed into meditation. After a few minutes her mind and her body were no longer one and Simbuno stopped chanting. He patted her gently on the shoulder.

"Good luck little one, you will need it in the days to come."