InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The 2 Great Swords ❯ Almost Time ( Chapter 26 )

Shhhhthwack! “Good Kagome, again!” Shhhhthwack! “Very good child, once more!” Shhhhthwack! Kagome's arm was getting tired as Kaede yelled “One more!” Shhhhthwack! “Alright… that is enough for today.”

 

Kagome nodded her agreement before rubbing her arm, trying to dull the ache the repeated firing had caused. She could have sworn she had shot a good thousand arrows today.

 

“Now as ye know… today is the final day I have to instruct ye.” Kagome nodded. “Ye have grown much in these few weeks and have been one of my best pupils.” Kagome smiled broadly at the praise. “I believe ye are just about ready to depart.”

 

“Thank you, Kaede.” Kagome said smiling. “I don't know what I would have done without you.” The old woman smiled at that.

 

“Come along child. I believe Sango should be fully healed by now.” She waved her student on and turned to move back to the village.

 

The walk back was silent as bits and pieces of the last few weeks at the village had been. After Sango had gotten injured against Ransetsu, things had been quiet. Her days consisted of training, lunch, training, dinner and then finishing with more training.

She could now shoot and use her abilities with confidence. She could make barriers and discharge the energy through her palms easily enough. She smiled at herself as she remembered the first morning of training where she thought she was hopeless.

 

`I'll have to thank Inuyasha later somehow… he really helped.' She thought to herself. They got to the hospital and walked in, turning down into Sango's corridor.

 

After the first week of her being admitted Miroku had been deemed well enough to leave, despite his constant assurances that he needed more rest. All in all, it had been a good few weeks.

 

They entered the room to see Sango on her feet again, getting readjusted. She bent her body around in different directions in order to regain her feel. Inuyasha watched from the corner with an `about time' look on his face.

 

“Hello, guys!” Kagome said brightly. “Where are Miroku and Shippo?” She asked looking around.

 

“The pervert's out making amends to the priestess who fried him and the brat's playing with some village child.” Inuyasha said grumpily.

 

“What have you done all day?” Kagome asked.

 

“He has been staring at me all day.” Sango huffed. “He must've figured that staring at me would make me move faster.”

 

“Well now we can't leave today because you were too slow.” He snorted. “Pathetic humans…”

 

Kagome smirked to herself. `I'll have to show him what I've learned, and then we'll see who's pathetic.'

 

“Well then, now that Sango is up we shall retire to my house to eat. There is much to discuss.” Kaede said and turned to leave the room with everyone following her.

 

 

Kouga growled looking upon the village Kagome was in. He had been told to wait until sunset before attacking so the priestesses of the village couldn't do anything to hide his woman.

 

He thought back to what had happened three weeks ago, right after he slew the king of the south. He reached Naraku's place the day after and demanded to know what had happened.

 

Naraku had said that Kagome was smuggled out of the south in an unknown direction. Kouga was furious to say it nicely. Half of Naraku's chamber was destroyed when he calmed down.

 

Naraku, who had been unfazed by the tirade, calmly said he could find her in a couple weeks and Kouga left upset. He finished annexing the southern kingdom's territories in a week and was left with nothing to do.

 

It was a few days ago when Naraku had sent word via some emotionless puppet that his woman was in the priestess' village. Infuriated, he left immediately with a small contingent of men and was now sitting outside the village's detection waiting for the sun to drop.

 

`Not too much longer…I'm coming for you…this oughta be fun…' He grinned sadistically thinking of the torment he would bring. Unbeknownst to him, Muramasa gleamed at his side excitedly. It was almost time to hunt…

 

 

Naraku was pleased. He was more than pleased, he was ecstatic! A few weeks ago, Kouga had shown up overflowing with Muramasa's influence. He wasn't sure how it had happened but Muramasa had taken him over.

 

`Only one more move to make… then it's all over…' His original plan had been to demolish the western kingdom right after the south, but Kouga had arbitrarily decided to get his precious Kagome first.

 

He knew where she was, but he had waited purposefully to bide his time and think up a stratagem. He had, after all, tried to kill her before but Ransetsu had failed. Left with no other human insurgents, he was out of options. At least until Kouga had shown up.

 

His plan was simple yet effective. In Kouga's band of soldiers, was one worm Naraku had under mind control drugs. He had instructed this puppet to follow Kouga in, get ahead of him and kill Kagome.

 

With his precious woman dead, he would snap and his mind would become a wasteland. Free to be controlled perfectly by Naraku, the perfect puppet with Muramasa's power. He chuckled to himself. This was the last move before it was all over.

 

 

“So… do we know where we're going tomorrow?” Shippo asked in between mouthfuls of the last banquet before they went back to camp food.

“We are heading southwest, Shippo. From what we have figured out, our goal lies between the coast separating the west and the south kingdoms and some mountains. There is an area there we will need to search.”

 

“How *gulp* sure *slurp* monk?” Inuyasha got out between intervals of stuffing his face.

 

“Inuyasha could you eat a little more politely?” Kagome asked from beside him. Her answer was a snort and more stuffing.

 

“I am totally sure of this my friend.” Miroku said smiling. “We can find it there.”

 

“Good.” Inuyasha said finishing his plate and setting it in front of him. He let out a semi-contented sigh.

 

Kagome sighed as well. Her horse-like friend was finally finished. He got up to leave, “Where are you going Inuyasha?” She asked as he made for the door.

 

“Sleep, we're leaving early.” Was his answer as he left.

 

“Me too.” Shippo chimed and ran out the door to find his own tree. As surprising as it was, he had found a father figure in Inuyasha.

 

Miroku and Sango were the next to leave and announce their retirement. Kagome was left with Kaede. “Thank you very much for the food Kaede.” She said smiling.

 

“Thank you child. Perhaps you should get some sleep too?” Kagome nodded but didn't move. “Kagome?”

 

“Kaede…could I ask you something?” Kaede nodded to her. “How do you know Inuyasha?”

 

“Have you asked him?” Kaede asked after a slight pause. Kagome shook her head.

 

“No… I guess I would've but he never speaks about his past so I figure I'd try you.”

 

“I see.” Kaede sat up in her chair and tented her fingers together. “You should already know this given his background, but his past is not easy. It is filled with pain and suffering. In fact, he probably will not be able to escape from it before he defeats his enemy.”

 

“I know but… I want to help him…” She said looking down at her plate.

 

Kaede smiled. “It sounds as though he may be more than just a traveling companion to you.” Kagome blushed slightly. “I believe the best way to get answers is to try to talk to him. That is the only solution. Now, get some sleep.” Kagome nodded and left the room.

 

“Shut up. Tell him to go shove something sharp up his ass. I'm not doing it!” Kagome froze at the sound of Inuyasha's voice as she exited Kaede's residence. She looked around the corner of the building to see Inuyasha apparently arguing with himself.

 

She heard some undistinguishable speech but couldn't see who it was from before Inuyasha growled, swore and threw something out of his hand. Kagome shrunk backwards wondering if Inuyasha was entirely stable.

 

“Kagome!” She jumped as he called her. “Shouldn't you be getting to sleep now?”

 

She moved from her hiding spit knowing she was caught. “Sorry… I just wanted to ask you something.” He gave no complaint so she continued. “How do you know Kaede?”

 

“Why do you want to know?” He asked back arms crossed.

 

“Well I just was curious… that's all…” Inuyasha looked like he wanted to yell at her for being stupid but something stopped him.

 

“I came here once when I was young.” He said so quietly that she barely heard him. “It's not a very fond memory.”

 

“Well…maybe you could talk about it? It may help.”

 

“Nope. Don't think so.” He said simply before turning and jumping off into the trees.

 

Kagome sighed as he left. `You scared him off Kagome.' She berated herself she turned to make her way back into Kaede's place but froze. `Wha…What's that?' She spun around and looked off into the darkness.

 

`Strange…' She thought. `I could've sworn…' She shook her head figuring she was too tired and walked in to get some rest, completely unaware of who and what she had just sensed outside the village.