InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Cave ❯ Return the Light ( Chapter 5 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: wbk 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Horror | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.31.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 373 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Horror | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.31.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 373 | Status: Completed
I own nothing connected to the story or characters of Inuyasha. I make no money from this.
Return the Light
It was decided between the three of them that Sango and Miroku would return to the cave, but they would wait until daylight. The pair would venture only as far as necessary into the cavern. They would place the talisman in the closest point of power.
Miroku would cover their presence with a barrier, so as not to alarm the darkness. The barrier would not be removed until the talisman was in place. Then the slayer and the monk would retreat with all speed.
Once the seal was placed the dark entity would be understandably enraged. While it wouldn’t be able to escape, it had already shown that it could affect the structure of the rocks. The possibility of a cave in would be great. Sango and Miroku had no desire to be trapped in the caves with the evil presence, even if it was sealed.
Since they had a mission to accomplish the next day, Sango and Miroku decided to rest while they could. Kagome reclaimed her spot at Inuyasha’s side. When she sat down, she smoothed the stray hairs out of the hanyou’s face. The warmth of her touch caused him to open his eyes. “I’m sorry, Inuyasha. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Keh! I wasn’t sleeping. I was just resting my eyes. I’ve been sleeping too damn much lately. So what was the conversation between you three about?”
“Miroku and Sango are going to use the talisman to reseal the darkness in the cave. They’re going back in there after first light. Then we can go back home and treat your wounds properly.”
“The hell they are!” The force of Inuyasha’s voice brought a smile to Kagome’s face. If he was strong enough to bellow, he was recovering nicely. “If anyone goes back in there it’ll be me. I’m the one who pulled that fucking thing out in the first place. I’m responsible for putting it back. I don’t want anyone else putting themselves in danger to fix my mistake.”
“You can’t even sit up by yourself. How are you planning on being able to go back into that cave?”
“Kirara can help me, just like she helped get me out. Besides, by morning I’ll be fine. I’m not as weak as you, remember?”
Seeing the futility of arguing with a stubborn hanyou, Kagome offered a compromise. “Fine. Why don’t you get some more sleep. In the morning, if you can get past me, you’re welcome to take the talisman back into the cave yourself.”
“You got a deal, wench.” They both went to sleep with a confident smile on their lips.
8-8-8-8
Miroku and Sango rose with the sun. Both had slept remarkably well, knowing that the outcome of this battle would be decided this day, one way or the other. They quietly made preparations for their quest, not wanting to wake the others.
Kirara was the first to wake. The twin-tailed kitten walked over to her mistress and nuzzled Sango’s hand in greeting. Sango knew that the action was the neko’s silent entreaty for their safe return. The slayer tried to convey confidence of victory as she stroked the kitten. Sango saw the question in the cat’s eyes and responded to it. “We will do our best to return unharmed, but this must be done.”
Even though the words were whispered, they resulted in another pair of eyes opening. Kagome watched as her friends made their final preparations for their quest. When all was ready she said, “I’ve been thinking about this all night, and I think it would be a good idea to try and strengthen the power of the talisman before you take it back in there. Maybe if Miroku and I work on it together for a little while, it would help.”
“A few minutes would not be a great delay, and I, too, think it would be beneficial,” the monk responded. “We can only follow what our hearts dictate in a situation of uncertainty, such as this.”
The two sat together in meditation, the talisman held between them. While they poured all the spiritual reinforcements into the ancient object that they could, Inuyasha was also slowly waking up.
The dull fire and sharp pains that he felt move throughout his body told him that the injuries had not had proper time to heal, but he’d be damned if he’d let anyone else know this. Gathering his resolve, he attempted to sit up. It wasn’t a quick process.
Sango noticed the hanyou’s movement and came to his side. “You shouldn’t try moving around yet, Inuyasha. You’re not fully recovered.” The slayer put one hand on his chest and gently pushed him back into a reclining position. As she pulled up the blanket that had covered him during the night, and tenderly tucked it around him, she said, “You need to rest to build your strength. You don’t want the fever to return, do you?”
“Keh! I’m fine, Sango. I’m not some weak human, you know.” Inwardly, he was seething at how easily the woman had been able to overcome him. His strength hadn’t returned at all! If anything, he was weaker than when he’d fallen asleep, and his fever was starting to climb again, too. But Sango was a demon slayer, after all. She was experienced with demon physiology, and finding weaknesses. His bargain had been with Kagome. Surely the miko would not be able to push him around this easily.
“Be that as it may, it will still take time to regain your strength. The amount of blood that you lost yesterday will prevent your injuries from healing for a while yet. Let us take care of this while you recuperate.”
Inuyasha huffed his answer to the discussion, but remained still as he waited for Kagome. Once the miko returned he would be able to prove that he was stronger than she and take over the mission to reseal the cave.
When Kagome and Miroku finished infusing their spiritual power into the talisman, the monk and slayer started off on their quest. Indignant over being ignored, Inuyasha addressed the miko, “Oy, Kagome. Ain’t you forgettin’ something? We had a deal, remember? I’m gonna be the one to fix this mess. This is my fight, and I’ll be the one to finish it.”
While he’d been talking, he’d managed to sit up once more. Kagome walked over to him, and gently pushed him back down. “You know you’re in no shape to go back in there, Inuyasha. Now take it easy so your wounds have a chance to heal.”
Throwing the cover off, Inuyasha tried to sit up, yet again. This time the movement roused Shippou, who had been sleeping at the hanyou’s side. Reaching a small hand up to Inuyasha’s arm, the tiny kitsune pulled the man back down. “Lay still, Inuyasha. I can’t sleep when you’re moving all around.”
Inuyasha realized the futility in trying to prove strength that he apparently didn’t have if even Shippou could overpower him, and watched as two of his closest friends walked toward uncertainty.
8-8-8-8
As they neared the cave Sango and Miroku could both feel that the power of the darkness had increased greatly. The moss that had embellished the face of the opening was now brown with death. The bodies of birds and small animals decorated the ground in close proximity to the mouth of the cavern.
“It appears as if we have no time to lose, my dear Sango. I think that now would be a good time to set our barrier. Stay close once it is up. I’m not sure how far it will extend.”
“I’m ready, Hoshi. I would like to put this in the past before any more innocent lives are lost.”
Seeing the determination settle on the face of the woman he loved, Miroku erected the barrier over them. They made their way into the cave, only to find more dead bodies of small animals strewn along the path. The rate of decomposition of the bodies seemed to have been hastened by the greed of the darkness to devour them. At one point Miroku stumbled over the remains of a rather small fawn, only to see its mother’s body off to the side. Sango had managed to hold the monk upright, thereby keeping their contact constant.
The sight of so much death and destruction weighed heavily on both of them. Miroku saw all life as a sacred gift, and to see that so much had been ripped painfully away from its rightful owner caused him great grief.
Sango had seen so much viciousness in her life that the sight of the bodies brought tears to her eyes. Even the lives of the lesser demons that were interspersed with the natural animals brought home the point that it had been done for no cause except to feed the strength of a great evil. The correlation to the deaths of her family almost brought her to the brink of despair.
The further they walked into the tunnel, the more prolific the scenes of death became. How much of this could they have prevented, if they had returned to set the talisman immediately? Both of them were starting to feel the guilt and despondency of the situation, when suddenly Sango’s mind woke to the knowledge that it was the increased power of the dark entity that was at work.
Shaking the monk to bring him out of the darkness, Sango said, “Either you must find a way to increase the strength of the barrier, or we must bring the talisman out of concealment. The power of the evil presence has grown too strong.”
Miroku blinked in surprise, as he registered Sango’s words. As he put the last bit of power into the shield, he realized that without the strength of the woman at his side he would have been gradually overcome by the darkness.
He had long been able to see the courage of the slayer, but her fortitude never failed to impress him. Even her willingness to see past his flirtatious nature and wandering hand testified to a confidence in herself that few could be said to possess.
This delicate flower of womanhood that was encased in an iron will was the answer to his every desire. She was soft and yielding, yet strong and determined. She was the most beautiful person that he’d ever met, yet she remained unspoiled by conceit. She was, and always had been, the answer to all his needs. She was the perfect mate for his soul, and he thanked the fates everyday for bringing her into his life.
Sango looked at the monk with awe. How could one man hold so much spiritual power? The ability to hold this barrier for so long must be so draining, yet Miroku didn’t complain. After a lifetime of looking out for herself, and constantly having to prove her worth in a man’s world, she was relieved that the monk would take this opportunity to protect her and still not think less of her. She could relax when she was with the hoshi, and never feel that she had failed a test of character. When they were together they were both free to simply be themselves, and not what the world expected them to be. She knew that with Miroku she would always be an equal partner.
Miroku had managed to hold the barrier long enough for them to safely approach the spot that the talisman had to be placed. The time of danger would come when the barrier was removed. Before he dropped the spiritual shield there was still one thing that he had to do.
Without thought, he pulled his lady love into a tight embrace, and kissed her with enough emotion to last an eternity, if need be. It had entered his thoughts that this could possibly be the last chance they would have to express their feelings for each other, and he was not willing to let the moment pass unmarked.
Sango responded instinctually to the embrace, and held her man just as tightly as he held her. She returned every bit of emotion in her kiss. It was a silent pledge of two souls to always celebrate their love. It was a promise to stay side by side throughout eternity.
When they finally broke apart, Miroku said, “We must finish this now, Sango, my love. But if anything happens to prevent my escape, remember that I will always be with you.”
“And I will forever be by your side, Hoshi.” Sango felt the thrill of love run through her body just before the gale strength winds blew past them. It was all the slayer could do to hold onto the monk.
Miroku knew the moment of truth had arrived. The darkness knew of their presence, and the talisman was no longer hidden from it. Dropping the barrier to conserve his strength, he reached out to put the object in its rightful place.
The force of the wind increased as it shrieked throughout the system of tunnels. Miroku tried in vain to reach the last few inches that were needed. The realization that he would not succeed brought worry for the safety of the woman he loved so dearly. “Sango, run! There’s no way that I can fight this wind to set the talisman in place. I may be able to hold the darkness off long enough for you to escape, though.”
“I told you that I would be by your side forever, and I meant it, Hoshi. I will not leave this spot without you.” Sango reached out and joined her hand with the monk’s and added her strength to his. It was just the extra amount of push that was needed, and together they set the talisman in place.
Once the object was set, a great and terrible wrenching could be felt. The strong winds were joined by the sudden shifting of the ground. Miroku looked at Sango and said, “I suggest we make a hasty departure, my lady. I would like to continue our kiss in the light of day.”
Both the slayer and the monk took off at a run, never losing the grasp of the other’s hand. When one would stumble the other was there to lend support. They ran with a speed that surpassed the wind. They gave each other the confidence to expect escape.
As they neared the mouth of the cave, the line that the darkness could not cross, they saw the rocks begin to fall. Together they made a superhuman effort to gain their freedom. They would either live together or die in each other’s arms.
8-8-8-8
Kagome was pacing around the campfire. Her attention divided between the entrance to the cave and the man that was caught in a fevered dream. Inuyasha had experienced a return of the elevated temperature that he had fought the night before. She had tried everything that she could think of to bring it down, but nothing had worked. Kagome feared that the wound in his leg had become infected. With his strength so depleted, Inuyasha stood no chance of fighting it on his own.
Suddenly the mouth of the cave erupted in a fury of dust and rocks. Kagome stared at the opening, hoping against hope that her friends would appear, but the cloud of debris wouldn’t give permission for her eyes to make out anything concealed within it.
Running in the direction of the collapsing rocks, Kagome almost missed Sango and Miroku’s tumbling forms. The pair was as gray as the dust they emerged from. The force of the wind had aided their escape, but had caused them to lose their footing. As the two rolled to a halt, Kagome saw that they were holding hands. It was a strange but seemingly effective tactic, as the couple had escaped relatively unharmed.
Miroku looked at Sango, and both silently nodded. After their trek through the cavern of death, they knew what had to be done. Sango hurled her hiraikotsu above the cave opening, bringing down even more rocks. Before the stones had fully settled, Miroku was busy with the prayers that would fuse them together, thus preventing any unwitting entry.
“Quickly, Sango. Let us find all possible exits that are marked on the map. We must close them all.”
With all speed and determination, they made their way to each known point of possible entry. Sango would bring down a rain of stone, and Miroku would then meld them into a solid wall. The nightmare of the darkness would not end until every possibility of it being able to cause another death was removed.
Only when the last opening was closed did the two return to their friends. They did not expect to be met by a frantic woman and a delirious man, but that was what awaited them. Shippou and Kirara had been sent to the stream to bring fresh water to clean the hanyou’s wound as well as bathe his fevered brow.
Kagome was at the end of her composure. Worry for Inuyasha’s health had been working on her all day. As the man had battled the fever throughout the day, his mumbled words had become more disjointed. At one point the miko could swear that he had been having a conversation with his mother. The hanyou had tried to assure her that he would be good, if only she wouldn’t look so sad anymore. The tear that had escaped the corner of his eye had broken Kagome’s heart. She’d done the only thing that she could think of at that moment. She held him closely while stroking his hair. She’d told him that he had been good, and that he only brought joy to her life. It had seemed to comfort Inuyasha, because he’d been able to sleep without fretting for a short period.
But it hadn’t lasted long. His fever had continued to climb all the while she had waited for their friends’ return. By the time Miroku and Sango finished their mission Inuyasha had fallen silent. His tormented thrashing had been almost stilled due to the depletion of his strength,
Kagome knew which herbs were needed to help fight the infection before it was too late, but they did not grow in the area. Even if they did, she couldn’t chance leaving Inuyasha in such a helpless state. He would be easy prey for any animal or demon in the area. Even humans would not hesitate to end his life if they found him like this.
Quickly Sango and Miroku took charge of the situation. They made short work of packing up their camp. Miroku filled every container that they could easily transport with the water that Shippou and Kirara had brought back. Sango wrapped Inuyasha in the blankets that they had to help insure that the trip would be as pain free as possible. Kagome gratefully watched as her friends took charge. She had reached the point of emotional exhaustion that precluded rational thought. She realized that there was always at least one of their small group willing and able to pick up the slack whenever she needed support, and she offered a silent prayer of thanks.
When all was ready, Sango once again took her place on the transformed Kirara. Miroku carefully lifted the fevered Inuyasha behind her. Kagome climbed on behind him, and held him securely in place. It was decided that they would return to Kaede’s hut with all possible speed. Miroku would carry Shippou, and get to the village as quickly as he could.
Kirara took off with great gentleness, as Kagome spoke soothingly to Inuyasha. Sango asked every deity that she could think of to insure their safe return. Even though the trip took little more than an hour, it seemed as if it would never end.
By the time they reached Kaede’s, Inuyasha was soaked in perspiration, yet he trembled with the chills that ran through his body. Sango wasted no time in securing help in moving the Hanyou into the home of the village priestess. There was no one that would refuse her command that day.
When they had settled the man on the futon that was close enough to the fire to prevent further chills, Kaede began her examination. She quickly ascertained that the broken bones had been set properly, but the wound was indeed infected. The antiseptic herb that Kagome had yearned for would be the preferential treatment for the injury. Unfortunately, Kaede did not have it in her possession. She gathered a contingent of villagers and charged them with finding enough to treat Inuyasha’s wound. She really didn’t think that they would return with enough of the scarce herb in time to save the young man, but it was the best that could be done in the situation.
Soon after the party of villagers had left on their quest, Miroku and Shippou made their way back to the home of their friend. The long faces that greeted them let them know that the news was not good.
Seeking to give whatever comfort he could to his surrogate mother, Shippou said, “I know it’s not much, Kagome, but I found this for you. You were talking about needing it this morning, and we saw it on the way here. I made Miroku stop, so I could pick it. It is the right one, isn’t it?”
The small kitsune held out a very large bunch of the very herb that Kaede had just sent the villagers to find. “Shippou, you are really a life saver! As soon as I give this to Kaede, I’m going to give you the biggest kiss and the tightest hug that you’ve ever had!”
8-8-8-8
It had been a long, tense night. There were times when Inuyasha’s future had been in doubt, but the antiseptic made from Shippou’s herbs had done the trick. It was a treat to hear the complaints come from their friend’s mouth as the fever started to recede. If Inuyasha was complaining, he was recovering. There was enough for the man to complain about to keep him occupied for quite a while.
After the fever had broken, and they all had a few hours of restful sleep, Inuyasha had let them all know how much mending bones itched. And when it was time to change the dressing on his wound the whole village was made aware of just how much the strong antiseptic burned. The volume of the yell that the hanyou let lose was high enough to assure that the forest was free of nesting birds for some time to come.
Then he let everyone know that the bed was too soft, the blankets were too confining, the hut was too stuffy and the tea that they made him drink was entirely too undrinkable. Every time a new complaint came to his mind he would sit up in preparation of sharing it with the others. Each time that he sat up, Kagome would gently push him back down, with a reminder that he needed to regain his strength.
When all matter of lack of comfort had been addressed, the group began discussing what had happened in the cave. Kaede had heard legends of the great darkness that had almost overcome the world in the past, and offered her insight whenever necessary.
It was the consensus of those present that the glowing walls were an outgrowth of the darkness, itself. It was a trap to lure unsuspecting prey close enough to the evil being to help keep it fed while it lay dormant. It must have been possible because age had weakened the power that had been used to seal it. The kiss that was shared by Kagome and Inuyasha had awakened the hunger of the evil power. The couple had shared feelings similar to those of the young lovers that had been used to lure the darkness into the cave. The pain caused to the evil entity by their love had been great enough to wake it from hibernation.
When Inuyasha had removed the talisman, all the fury that had been suppressed for so long broke loose. That was what had caused the floor of the cave to collapse. The cunningness of the dark was such that it could feel their deepest desires and darkest fears. The evil one immediately began feeding on the misery it caused them to feel. As it consumed the their desolation, it became stronger.
When Kagome broke free if its hold, and Inuyasha shielded himself from it with the talisman, the fury of the darkness neared insanity. It would not like the idea of losing the pair of young lovers. After a millennia long diet of small snakes and rodents that happened to wander too close, the humans, hanyou and demons of their group would have been an unimaginable feast.
When they had removed the talisman from the cave, the darkness had lured an untold number of victims into it’s grasp. It still didn’t have the necessary strength to leave the system of caverns that held it prisoner, but with each new conquest it grew closer to being able to escape.
After reentering the cave, Miroku and Sango’s shared kiss alerted the entity to their presence. Their love caused a point of light in the darkness, and the light caused pain for the evil. It reacted with a fury born of desperation. It unleashed every bit of power that it had, yet Sango and Miroku managed to replace the talisman.
By sealing the cave entrances, the pair had instinctually found the way to prevent the darkness from gaining strength. Without life to devour, it would never again be able to escape.
“What I can’t understand is how you had the strength to get me out of that pit, wench.” Inuyasha looked at Kagome with wonder and admiration showing in his eyes.
“I don’t understand how that worked, either. All I know is that I wasn’t going to leave you alone in the dark again.”
“And the power that it took to break the hold of the darkness would be so great, Kagome. I couldn’t begin to free myself. How did you manage to do it?” Sango shuddered at the memory of the way the darkness had held her so tightly in its grasp.
“It seems as if the power of love, combined with whatever strength was left from the original sealing combined to overcome the obstacles that the darkness tried to place in you way. You are indeed fortunate to have such feelings for each other. Without them I fear that none of you would have returned.” Kaede refused to contemplate the horrors that she feared her young friends would have suffered if they had remained in the clutches of the evil darkness. “It looks as if each of you took your turn at guaranteeing the success of this undertaking. You each have the strength to come to the aid of the others when needed. You complement each other well.”
“Whatever it was, I’m just glad that it’s all over and that we got away. I never want to have to go back there again.” Shippou gladly sucked on the lollipop that Kagome had given him.
“Perhaps,” Miroku added, “but it never hurts to keep our guard up against the things of this world that seek to cause harm. We can never foretell where it will appear again.”
8-8-8-8
The sparrow flew above the flower filled meadow, looking for a meal of insects or grubs. For some reason its food had become scarce in this area. The small bird was attracted to a strange twinkle that seemed to come from an unusual rock formation. Settling down on a relatively flat surface, it pecked at the softly glowing spot.
A few small rocks slid from their perch, and an opening appeared. The bird found that the opening was just big enough to permit entry into a small niche, and the twinkling glow that was just beyond the entryway.
Without a thought the bird hopped into the darkness, and its happy world ceased to be.
8-8-8-8
So there it is. I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Happy Halloween to all.
And once again, a special thank you goes to kojika00/malitiadixie for all her help with this.
Return the Light
It was decided between the three of them that Sango and Miroku would return to the cave, but they would wait until daylight. The pair would venture only as far as necessary into the cavern. They would place the talisman in the closest point of power.
Miroku would cover their presence with a barrier, so as not to alarm the darkness. The barrier would not be removed until the talisman was in place. Then the slayer and the monk would retreat with all speed.
Once the seal was placed the dark entity would be understandably enraged. While it wouldn’t be able to escape, it had already shown that it could affect the structure of the rocks. The possibility of a cave in would be great. Sango and Miroku had no desire to be trapped in the caves with the evil presence, even if it was sealed.
Since they had a mission to accomplish the next day, Sango and Miroku decided to rest while they could. Kagome reclaimed her spot at Inuyasha’s side. When she sat down, she smoothed the stray hairs out of the hanyou’s face. The warmth of her touch caused him to open his eyes. “I’m sorry, Inuyasha. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Keh! I wasn’t sleeping. I was just resting my eyes. I’ve been sleeping too damn much lately. So what was the conversation between you three about?”
“Miroku and Sango are going to use the talisman to reseal the darkness in the cave. They’re going back in there after first light. Then we can go back home and treat your wounds properly.”
“The hell they are!” The force of Inuyasha’s voice brought a smile to Kagome’s face. If he was strong enough to bellow, he was recovering nicely. “If anyone goes back in there it’ll be me. I’m the one who pulled that fucking thing out in the first place. I’m responsible for putting it back. I don’t want anyone else putting themselves in danger to fix my mistake.”
“You can’t even sit up by yourself. How are you planning on being able to go back into that cave?”
“Kirara can help me, just like she helped get me out. Besides, by morning I’ll be fine. I’m not as weak as you, remember?”
Seeing the futility of arguing with a stubborn hanyou, Kagome offered a compromise. “Fine. Why don’t you get some more sleep. In the morning, if you can get past me, you’re welcome to take the talisman back into the cave yourself.”
“You got a deal, wench.” They both went to sleep with a confident smile on their lips.
8-8-8-8
Miroku and Sango rose with the sun. Both had slept remarkably well, knowing that the outcome of this battle would be decided this day, one way or the other. They quietly made preparations for their quest, not wanting to wake the others.
Kirara was the first to wake. The twin-tailed kitten walked over to her mistress and nuzzled Sango’s hand in greeting. Sango knew that the action was the neko’s silent entreaty for their safe return. The slayer tried to convey confidence of victory as she stroked the kitten. Sango saw the question in the cat’s eyes and responded to it. “We will do our best to return unharmed, but this must be done.”
Even though the words were whispered, they resulted in another pair of eyes opening. Kagome watched as her friends made their final preparations for their quest. When all was ready she said, “I’ve been thinking about this all night, and I think it would be a good idea to try and strengthen the power of the talisman before you take it back in there. Maybe if Miroku and I work on it together for a little while, it would help.”
“A few minutes would not be a great delay, and I, too, think it would be beneficial,” the monk responded. “We can only follow what our hearts dictate in a situation of uncertainty, such as this.”
The two sat together in meditation, the talisman held between them. While they poured all the spiritual reinforcements into the ancient object that they could, Inuyasha was also slowly waking up.
The dull fire and sharp pains that he felt move throughout his body told him that the injuries had not had proper time to heal, but he’d be damned if he’d let anyone else know this. Gathering his resolve, he attempted to sit up. It wasn’t a quick process.
Sango noticed the hanyou’s movement and came to his side. “You shouldn’t try moving around yet, Inuyasha. You’re not fully recovered.” The slayer put one hand on his chest and gently pushed him back into a reclining position. As she pulled up the blanket that had covered him during the night, and tenderly tucked it around him, she said, “You need to rest to build your strength. You don’t want the fever to return, do you?”
“Keh! I’m fine, Sango. I’m not some weak human, you know.” Inwardly, he was seething at how easily the woman had been able to overcome him. His strength hadn’t returned at all! If anything, he was weaker than when he’d fallen asleep, and his fever was starting to climb again, too. But Sango was a demon slayer, after all. She was experienced with demon physiology, and finding weaknesses. His bargain had been with Kagome. Surely the miko would not be able to push him around this easily.
“Be that as it may, it will still take time to regain your strength. The amount of blood that you lost yesterday will prevent your injuries from healing for a while yet. Let us take care of this while you recuperate.”
Inuyasha huffed his answer to the discussion, but remained still as he waited for Kagome. Once the miko returned he would be able to prove that he was stronger than she and take over the mission to reseal the cave.
When Kagome and Miroku finished infusing their spiritual power into the talisman, the monk and slayer started off on their quest. Indignant over being ignored, Inuyasha addressed the miko, “Oy, Kagome. Ain’t you forgettin’ something? We had a deal, remember? I’m gonna be the one to fix this mess. This is my fight, and I’ll be the one to finish it.”
While he’d been talking, he’d managed to sit up once more. Kagome walked over to him, and gently pushed him back down. “You know you’re in no shape to go back in there, Inuyasha. Now take it easy so your wounds have a chance to heal.”
Throwing the cover off, Inuyasha tried to sit up, yet again. This time the movement roused Shippou, who had been sleeping at the hanyou’s side. Reaching a small hand up to Inuyasha’s arm, the tiny kitsune pulled the man back down. “Lay still, Inuyasha. I can’t sleep when you’re moving all around.”
Inuyasha realized the futility in trying to prove strength that he apparently didn’t have if even Shippou could overpower him, and watched as two of his closest friends walked toward uncertainty.
8-8-8-8
As they neared the cave Sango and Miroku could both feel that the power of the darkness had increased greatly. The moss that had embellished the face of the opening was now brown with death. The bodies of birds and small animals decorated the ground in close proximity to the mouth of the cavern.
“It appears as if we have no time to lose, my dear Sango. I think that now would be a good time to set our barrier. Stay close once it is up. I’m not sure how far it will extend.”
“I’m ready, Hoshi. I would like to put this in the past before any more innocent lives are lost.”
Seeing the determination settle on the face of the woman he loved, Miroku erected the barrier over them. They made their way into the cave, only to find more dead bodies of small animals strewn along the path. The rate of decomposition of the bodies seemed to have been hastened by the greed of the darkness to devour them. At one point Miroku stumbled over the remains of a rather small fawn, only to see its mother’s body off to the side. Sango had managed to hold the monk upright, thereby keeping their contact constant.
The sight of so much death and destruction weighed heavily on both of them. Miroku saw all life as a sacred gift, and to see that so much had been ripped painfully away from its rightful owner caused him great grief.
Sango had seen so much viciousness in her life that the sight of the bodies brought tears to her eyes. Even the lives of the lesser demons that were interspersed with the natural animals brought home the point that it had been done for no cause except to feed the strength of a great evil. The correlation to the deaths of her family almost brought her to the brink of despair.
The further they walked into the tunnel, the more prolific the scenes of death became. How much of this could they have prevented, if they had returned to set the talisman immediately? Both of them were starting to feel the guilt and despondency of the situation, when suddenly Sango’s mind woke to the knowledge that it was the increased power of the dark entity that was at work.
Shaking the monk to bring him out of the darkness, Sango said, “Either you must find a way to increase the strength of the barrier, or we must bring the talisman out of concealment. The power of the evil presence has grown too strong.”
Miroku blinked in surprise, as he registered Sango’s words. As he put the last bit of power into the shield, he realized that without the strength of the woman at his side he would have been gradually overcome by the darkness.
He had long been able to see the courage of the slayer, but her fortitude never failed to impress him. Even her willingness to see past his flirtatious nature and wandering hand testified to a confidence in herself that few could be said to possess.
This delicate flower of womanhood that was encased in an iron will was the answer to his every desire. She was soft and yielding, yet strong and determined. She was the most beautiful person that he’d ever met, yet she remained unspoiled by conceit. She was, and always had been, the answer to all his needs. She was the perfect mate for his soul, and he thanked the fates everyday for bringing her into his life.
Sango looked at the monk with awe. How could one man hold so much spiritual power? The ability to hold this barrier for so long must be so draining, yet Miroku didn’t complain. After a lifetime of looking out for herself, and constantly having to prove her worth in a man’s world, she was relieved that the monk would take this opportunity to protect her and still not think less of her. She could relax when she was with the hoshi, and never feel that she had failed a test of character. When they were together they were both free to simply be themselves, and not what the world expected them to be. She knew that with Miroku she would always be an equal partner.
Miroku had managed to hold the barrier long enough for them to safely approach the spot that the talisman had to be placed. The time of danger would come when the barrier was removed. Before he dropped the spiritual shield there was still one thing that he had to do.
Without thought, he pulled his lady love into a tight embrace, and kissed her with enough emotion to last an eternity, if need be. It had entered his thoughts that this could possibly be the last chance they would have to express their feelings for each other, and he was not willing to let the moment pass unmarked.
Sango responded instinctually to the embrace, and held her man just as tightly as he held her. She returned every bit of emotion in her kiss. It was a silent pledge of two souls to always celebrate their love. It was a promise to stay side by side throughout eternity.
When they finally broke apart, Miroku said, “We must finish this now, Sango, my love. But if anything happens to prevent my escape, remember that I will always be with you.”
“And I will forever be by your side, Hoshi.” Sango felt the thrill of love run through her body just before the gale strength winds blew past them. It was all the slayer could do to hold onto the monk.
Miroku knew the moment of truth had arrived. The darkness knew of their presence, and the talisman was no longer hidden from it. Dropping the barrier to conserve his strength, he reached out to put the object in its rightful place.
The force of the wind increased as it shrieked throughout the system of tunnels. Miroku tried in vain to reach the last few inches that were needed. The realization that he would not succeed brought worry for the safety of the woman he loved so dearly. “Sango, run! There’s no way that I can fight this wind to set the talisman in place. I may be able to hold the darkness off long enough for you to escape, though.”
“I told you that I would be by your side forever, and I meant it, Hoshi. I will not leave this spot without you.” Sango reached out and joined her hand with the monk’s and added her strength to his. It was just the extra amount of push that was needed, and together they set the talisman in place.
Once the object was set, a great and terrible wrenching could be felt. The strong winds were joined by the sudden shifting of the ground. Miroku looked at Sango and said, “I suggest we make a hasty departure, my lady. I would like to continue our kiss in the light of day.”
Both the slayer and the monk took off at a run, never losing the grasp of the other’s hand. When one would stumble the other was there to lend support. They ran with a speed that surpassed the wind. They gave each other the confidence to expect escape.
As they neared the mouth of the cave, the line that the darkness could not cross, they saw the rocks begin to fall. Together they made a superhuman effort to gain their freedom. They would either live together or die in each other’s arms.
8-8-8-8
Kagome was pacing around the campfire. Her attention divided between the entrance to the cave and the man that was caught in a fevered dream. Inuyasha had experienced a return of the elevated temperature that he had fought the night before. She had tried everything that she could think of to bring it down, but nothing had worked. Kagome feared that the wound in his leg had become infected. With his strength so depleted, Inuyasha stood no chance of fighting it on his own.
Suddenly the mouth of the cave erupted in a fury of dust and rocks. Kagome stared at the opening, hoping against hope that her friends would appear, but the cloud of debris wouldn’t give permission for her eyes to make out anything concealed within it.
Running in the direction of the collapsing rocks, Kagome almost missed Sango and Miroku’s tumbling forms. The pair was as gray as the dust they emerged from. The force of the wind had aided their escape, but had caused them to lose their footing. As the two rolled to a halt, Kagome saw that they were holding hands. It was a strange but seemingly effective tactic, as the couple had escaped relatively unharmed.
Miroku looked at Sango, and both silently nodded. After their trek through the cavern of death, they knew what had to be done. Sango hurled her hiraikotsu above the cave opening, bringing down even more rocks. Before the stones had fully settled, Miroku was busy with the prayers that would fuse them together, thus preventing any unwitting entry.
“Quickly, Sango. Let us find all possible exits that are marked on the map. We must close them all.”
With all speed and determination, they made their way to each known point of possible entry. Sango would bring down a rain of stone, and Miroku would then meld them into a solid wall. The nightmare of the darkness would not end until every possibility of it being able to cause another death was removed.
Only when the last opening was closed did the two return to their friends. They did not expect to be met by a frantic woman and a delirious man, but that was what awaited them. Shippou and Kirara had been sent to the stream to bring fresh water to clean the hanyou’s wound as well as bathe his fevered brow.
Kagome was at the end of her composure. Worry for Inuyasha’s health had been working on her all day. As the man had battled the fever throughout the day, his mumbled words had become more disjointed. At one point the miko could swear that he had been having a conversation with his mother. The hanyou had tried to assure her that he would be good, if only she wouldn’t look so sad anymore. The tear that had escaped the corner of his eye had broken Kagome’s heart. She’d done the only thing that she could think of at that moment. She held him closely while stroking his hair. She’d told him that he had been good, and that he only brought joy to her life. It had seemed to comfort Inuyasha, because he’d been able to sleep without fretting for a short period.
But it hadn’t lasted long. His fever had continued to climb all the while she had waited for their friends’ return. By the time Miroku and Sango finished their mission Inuyasha had fallen silent. His tormented thrashing had been almost stilled due to the depletion of his strength,
Kagome knew which herbs were needed to help fight the infection before it was too late, but they did not grow in the area. Even if they did, she couldn’t chance leaving Inuyasha in such a helpless state. He would be easy prey for any animal or demon in the area. Even humans would not hesitate to end his life if they found him like this.
Quickly Sango and Miroku took charge of the situation. They made short work of packing up their camp. Miroku filled every container that they could easily transport with the water that Shippou and Kirara had brought back. Sango wrapped Inuyasha in the blankets that they had to help insure that the trip would be as pain free as possible. Kagome gratefully watched as her friends took charge. She had reached the point of emotional exhaustion that precluded rational thought. She realized that there was always at least one of their small group willing and able to pick up the slack whenever she needed support, and she offered a silent prayer of thanks.
When all was ready, Sango once again took her place on the transformed Kirara. Miroku carefully lifted the fevered Inuyasha behind her. Kagome climbed on behind him, and held him securely in place. It was decided that they would return to Kaede’s hut with all possible speed. Miroku would carry Shippou, and get to the village as quickly as he could.
Kirara took off with great gentleness, as Kagome spoke soothingly to Inuyasha. Sango asked every deity that she could think of to insure their safe return. Even though the trip took little more than an hour, it seemed as if it would never end.
By the time they reached Kaede’s, Inuyasha was soaked in perspiration, yet he trembled with the chills that ran through his body. Sango wasted no time in securing help in moving the Hanyou into the home of the village priestess. There was no one that would refuse her command that day.
When they had settled the man on the futon that was close enough to the fire to prevent further chills, Kaede began her examination. She quickly ascertained that the broken bones had been set properly, but the wound was indeed infected. The antiseptic herb that Kagome had yearned for would be the preferential treatment for the injury. Unfortunately, Kaede did not have it in her possession. She gathered a contingent of villagers and charged them with finding enough to treat Inuyasha’s wound. She really didn’t think that they would return with enough of the scarce herb in time to save the young man, but it was the best that could be done in the situation.
Soon after the party of villagers had left on their quest, Miroku and Shippou made their way back to the home of their friend. The long faces that greeted them let them know that the news was not good.
Seeking to give whatever comfort he could to his surrogate mother, Shippou said, “I know it’s not much, Kagome, but I found this for you. You were talking about needing it this morning, and we saw it on the way here. I made Miroku stop, so I could pick it. It is the right one, isn’t it?”
The small kitsune held out a very large bunch of the very herb that Kaede had just sent the villagers to find. “Shippou, you are really a life saver! As soon as I give this to Kaede, I’m going to give you the biggest kiss and the tightest hug that you’ve ever had!”
8-8-8-8
It had been a long, tense night. There were times when Inuyasha’s future had been in doubt, but the antiseptic made from Shippou’s herbs had done the trick. It was a treat to hear the complaints come from their friend’s mouth as the fever started to recede. If Inuyasha was complaining, he was recovering. There was enough for the man to complain about to keep him occupied for quite a while.
After the fever had broken, and they all had a few hours of restful sleep, Inuyasha had let them all know how much mending bones itched. And when it was time to change the dressing on his wound the whole village was made aware of just how much the strong antiseptic burned. The volume of the yell that the hanyou let lose was high enough to assure that the forest was free of nesting birds for some time to come.
Then he let everyone know that the bed was too soft, the blankets were too confining, the hut was too stuffy and the tea that they made him drink was entirely too undrinkable. Every time a new complaint came to his mind he would sit up in preparation of sharing it with the others. Each time that he sat up, Kagome would gently push him back down, with a reminder that he needed to regain his strength.
When all matter of lack of comfort had been addressed, the group began discussing what had happened in the cave. Kaede had heard legends of the great darkness that had almost overcome the world in the past, and offered her insight whenever necessary.
It was the consensus of those present that the glowing walls were an outgrowth of the darkness, itself. It was a trap to lure unsuspecting prey close enough to the evil being to help keep it fed while it lay dormant. It must have been possible because age had weakened the power that had been used to seal it. The kiss that was shared by Kagome and Inuyasha had awakened the hunger of the evil power. The couple had shared feelings similar to those of the young lovers that had been used to lure the darkness into the cave. The pain caused to the evil entity by their love had been great enough to wake it from hibernation.
When Inuyasha had removed the talisman, all the fury that had been suppressed for so long broke loose. That was what had caused the floor of the cave to collapse. The cunningness of the dark was such that it could feel their deepest desires and darkest fears. The evil one immediately began feeding on the misery it caused them to feel. As it consumed the their desolation, it became stronger.
When Kagome broke free if its hold, and Inuyasha shielded himself from it with the talisman, the fury of the darkness neared insanity. It would not like the idea of losing the pair of young lovers. After a millennia long diet of small snakes and rodents that happened to wander too close, the humans, hanyou and demons of their group would have been an unimaginable feast.
When they had removed the talisman from the cave, the darkness had lured an untold number of victims into it’s grasp. It still didn’t have the necessary strength to leave the system of caverns that held it prisoner, but with each new conquest it grew closer to being able to escape.
After reentering the cave, Miroku and Sango’s shared kiss alerted the entity to their presence. Their love caused a point of light in the darkness, and the light caused pain for the evil. It reacted with a fury born of desperation. It unleashed every bit of power that it had, yet Sango and Miroku managed to replace the talisman.
By sealing the cave entrances, the pair had instinctually found the way to prevent the darkness from gaining strength. Without life to devour, it would never again be able to escape.
“What I can’t understand is how you had the strength to get me out of that pit, wench.” Inuyasha looked at Kagome with wonder and admiration showing in his eyes.
“I don’t understand how that worked, either. All I know is that I wasn’t going to leave you alone in the dark again.”
“And the power that it took to break the hold of the darkness would be so great, Kagome. I couldn’t begin to free myself. How did you manage to do it?” Sango shuddered at the memory of the way the darkness had held her so tightly in its grasp.
“It seems as if the power of love, combined with whatever strength was left from the original sealing combined to overcome the obstacles that the darkness tried to place in you way. You are indeed fortunate to have such feelings for each other. Without them I fear that none of you would have returned.” Kaede refused to contemplate the horrors that she feared her young friends would have suffered if they had remained in the clutches of the evil darkness. “It looks as if each of you took your turn at guaranteeing the success of this undertaking. You each have the strength to come to the aid of the others when needed. You complement each other well.”
“Whatever it was, I’m just glad that it’s all over and that we got away. I never want to have to go back there again.” Shippou gladly sucked on the lollipop that Kagome had given him.
“Perhaps,” Miroku added, “but it never hurts to keep our guard up against the things of this world that seek to cause harm. We can never foretell where it will appear again.”
8-8-8-8
The sparrow flew above the flower filled meadow, looking for a meal of insects or grubs. For some reason its food had become scarce in this area. The small bird was attracted to a strange twinkle that seemed to come from an unusual rock formation. Settling down on a relatively flat surface, it pecked at the softly glowing spot.
A few small rocks slid from their perch, and an opening appeared. The bird found that the opening was just big enough to permit entry into a small niche, and the twinkling glow that was just beyond the entryway.
Without a thought the bird hopped into the darkness, and its happy world ceased to be.
8-8-8-8
So there it is. I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Happy Halloween to all.
And once again, a special thank you goes to kojika00/malitiadixie for all her help with this.