InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Breaking of Dawn ❯ Pursuers in the Dark ( Chapter 13 )

Chapter Thirteen - Pursuers in the Darkness

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With Rin securely clutched in her arms, Kagome made her way through the dark corridor. Her nose was assaulted with many different scents, but she had learned not to trust that particular sense in this situation. What Hamei had mentioned about Naraku messing with scents seemed to be true.

She hadn't moved far down the murky and dark corridor, before she noticed Rin's scent disappearing and she reasoned that if Rin's scent had been affected, then other scents were probably affected too.

The corridor she walked through was located underneath the ground and the only light offered were a few torched located very far apart. If she hadn't recently obtained better night-vision, she would've been practically blind when a torch was absent in the corridor.

As she walked, Kagome was on the lookout for any stairs or a latter that would lead her up and into the free.

Rounding a bend in the corridor they were suddenly confronted with a crossway. The corridor split into four different directions and Kagome wasn't really sure which one to choose. Rin wiggled around in Kagome's grasp and Kagome took it as a hint to let her down. Lowering herself carefully to the floor, Kagome opened her arms and released the young girl.

"Where are we going Kagome?" Rin whispered slowly, remembering to keep as quiet as possible.

Kagome shook her head as she contemplated the options. It could be dangerous to wander about in the underground corridors, especially when she couldn't rely on her sense of smell. She didn't have the opportunity to backtrack by scent if she got lost, and the corridor didn't provide any signs or marks that she could recognise and use as reference-points.

"Just wait a second…" Kagome murmured slowly.

Twisting her head in different directions she strained her hearing again. She could vaguely hear the sounds coming from the battle above ground, but she couldn't hear anything else that would provide a clue as to where she was, or which way to choose.

Sighing, she decided to take the right turn. If she kept turning to the right at each crossway, she couldn't get lost…

Taking Rin's hand again, she took the right turn and began to move forwards again.

After many more crossroads, Kagome became aware of another presence not far away. It was faint, as if it was shrouded or blocked by something, the way sound would seem muffled if you heard it through a wall.

Slowing down, she began to feel really uncomfortable with the situation. She wasn't close enough to feel what kind of aura the presence had. It could be both human, youkai and hanyou. It could be Naraku…

She wasn't the one that was supposed to be brave… that was Inuyasha's role. But on the other hand, if Inuyasha was in trouble, she was willing to do anything to help him. Just like he would do the same for her…

It could be Naraku, but it could be Hamei's sister too, or it could be someone else. She only had to move close enough to be able to feel the aura's texture…

Having decided, Kagome stopped and turned to Rin, whispering to her that she should wait here. The presence wasn't too far off and Kagome would be able to keep her eyes on Rin at the same time. Rin nodded to show that she understood, but grabbed Kagome's sleeve before she could rise again.

"What should Rin do if she hears something from behind?" She asked slowly.

Kagome thought for a moment before answering. If Rin began to run, she would make too much noise and maybe trigger some kind of hunting instinct, but she couldn't just stand there and wait to get caught either.

"If you hear something from behind, walk as silently as you can towards me and keep close to the wall. Try to keep your breath controlled and don't scream. Do you think you can do that?"

When Rin nodded, Kagome pulled her in for a tight hug.

"Don't worry. You'll be back with Sesshoumaru in no time, just wait and see."

With that said Kagome released her hold on the small girl and began to creep silently down the dark corridor. She hadn't moved far before she was able to discern the aura. It was hanyou. Moving closer she assured herself that it wasn't Naraku's because it didn't expel any of his negative `vibes'. Sighing in relief at the discovery, Kagome stopped in front of a small door. The hanyou was on the other side…

When Kagome tried to yank the door open, she discovered that it was locked shut. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure that Rin was fine, before flexing her claws and bringing them down on the bolt that held the door.

After a small token of resistance, the door swung open on creaking hinges.

Before Kagome got a chance to glance inside, her nose was assaulted by a foul stench of decaying blood. Eyes watering, Kagome was forced to back away as she gasped for fresh air. She barely managed to keep her stomach from heaving as she glanced into the room. The little light provided by a single torch did nothing to help her see what the room contained. The walls were black as coal, darkened by both old and new blood.

Holding her breath as she entered, Kagome found her way to the hanyou by following the light of her aura. She didn't take extra time to check if the person was okay as she lifted the body up and nearly ran out of the room, slamming the door shut after her.

Finally, with the foul stench somewhat muted by the closed door, Kagome was able to gain her bearings. She looked down at the body in her arms and saw that it was indeed a female hanyou. No doubt Hamei's sister. She didn't look good though. Even in the dim light from the torch, Kagome was able to see how pale she was. She was covered in smudges of dried blood too, but Kagome couldn't find any open wounds on her.

She didn't get more time to check her health as a weak scraping sound reached her ears. Looking up, Kagome realised with a startled curse that she had been too preoccupied to check up on Rin since she came out from the terrible room.

Rin was edging closer by the minute, glancing over her shoulder every second to keep track of something that Kagome hadn't noticed until now. Something was coming…

This couldn't be good.

Adjusting her hold on the hanyou in her arms, Kagome gestured for Rin to move faster. Rin obliged quickly and when she was within reach, Kagome grabbed her and swung her up on her back in one smooth motion. They would have to move quickly if they wanted even a small chance at escaping.

Not looking back to check how far behind their pursuer were, Kagome charged forwards with supernatural speed and agility. After some moments, they reached another crossroad and Kagome sped around the corner.

Bending down, she allowed Rin to crawl off her back while she put the unconscious hanyou down as well.

It would do them no good to run around in the dark corridors. If the pursuer knew the way, he would have no trouble getting ahead of them and catching them by surprise. Besides, charging around in the corridor made too much noise and it could lure out other pursuers.

No. the best they could do was wait for the pursuer and then ambush him. Using whatever surprise they had to their own advantage.

Kagome looked around while she tried to catch her breath and calm her nerves. She didn't know what was after them and she was too riled up to think clearly. She only hoped that the little bit of training she had receive from Inuyasha would pay off.

As she strained her hearing and concentrated on the sound of the approaching footsteps, she realised that this was the first time she would fight for real after becoming a hanyou. This was the first time she would fight with everything she had, mainly her claws, her strength and her speed. This was the first time that her killing someone could be the only option.

The thought chilled her and yet, as her eyes met Rin's and then moved to the battered hanyou at her feet she realised that she could do it. If it was necessary, she would do it.

When the footsteps were only a few feet away, Kagome rose to a crouching position and she flexed her claws.

It was now or never.

Pouncing forwards, she registered the startled expression in her pursuer's face as her hand came around his neck and locked tight, her claws drawing small droplets of blood as they pierced his tender skin. She slammed him into the opposite wall while her own eyes widened in recognition.

"Miroku?"

She released her hold and he dropped to the floor coughing.

(ooo)

Inuyasha shook his head to dispel the dizziness when he finally recovered after the harsh landing. In his own subconscious, he was vaguely aware that he'd probably be out could now if it hadn't been for the `training' he'd received from Kagome on a daily basis when she `sat' him.

Jumping to his feet once again, he looked around at his surroundings to get an idea of how the battle was going.

Deep cracks had been made in the ground from Kagura's wind-blades and Inuyasha was somewhat surprised to see that the ground was beginning to give in under him. Small cracks began to spread from where he had landed and then made a criss-crossing pattern as they moved away from him.

Cursing loudly he barely managed to jump out of the way before the ground disappeared from underneath him, but it didn't stop there. Once it had begun it continued onwards and it occurred to Inuyasha that the ground was full of hidden passages. He had obviously started some kind of a domino effect when he had connected with the ground as hard as he had done. The deep gouges left by Kagura's attacks had only helped to weaken the ground…

Jumping out of the way once again, Inuyasha turned around to find that his half brother was still locked in a fierce battle with the wind witch. He would have joined him, but he realised with a sudden chill creeping up his spine that if he did, he'd only put them all in a graver danger.

Somehow he had managed to loose the Tetsusaiga…

Whirling around he tried to catch a glimpse of it amongst all the fallen debris, but he couldn't see it anywhere.

This didn't bode well at all.

(ooooo)

A/n: Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed!