InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Choice ❯ Chaper 3 ( Chapter 3 )

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Chapter 3

 

Miroku had felt the strong aura as it approached the village. It was one he knew from previous encounters. Sesshomaru. The name alone was enough to send shivers down his spine. He was a being of immense power and skill and been known to kill ruthlessly when it served his purpose. In most of their previous encounters he had been out to kill Inuyasha, but they had joined together to in the end to destroy a common foe thanks to Kagome. She alone talked him into joining their effort and at the final battle they had seen his sheer destructive force. After that there was no doubt that had he wanted he could have killed their friend with little effort.

 

`I hope he isn't here to continue his endeavor against Inuyasha,' he thought before rushing to find his friend. He found him by the God tree as usual staring into the horizon-alone.

 

“Inuyasha, are you all right?” he asked. There was a vacant and troubled look in his eyes. “What did Sesshomaru want?”

 

“Kagome,” he whispered to the monk.

 

“Kagome? Why would he be looking for Kagome?”

 

“I don't know, but it can't be good. I think we should find her.”

 

“She is more than capable of taking care of herself now, Inuyasha, and she did say that she'd visit once in a while.”

 

“When did she tell you this?”

 

“The night before she left.”

 

“What else did she tell you, monk?” he demanded.

 

“Inuyasha, she told us that she needed a place that she could raise Shippo in peace without fearing for his safety. Although she would miss us all she would be back to visit, but she didn't want us to follow her. Sango and I both agreed with her decision even though we hated to see her leave.”

 

“You knew she would cover her tracks so I couldn't follow,” Inuyasha growled.

 

“Don't growl at me, Inuyasha. Even if you choose to deny it, you know as well as I do that as long as Kikyo walks this land she isn't safe. She left trying to protect us and so you could have the woman you want without her in the way.” He turned to walk away, but stopped to look at his friend over his shoulder. “She waited up for you half the night so she could spend time with you as well, but you were already occupied. Don't blame her, Inuyasha, if you knew where she was then so would Kikyo.” He left leaving him standing there and returned to the village all the while wondering why Sesshomaru had come looking for their friend.

 

 

Kagome and Shippo traveled from village to village helping those that needed it. They never stayed in one place to long enjoying the freedom to come and go as they pleased. They had also made it a point never to give anyone their real names. Instead Kagome went by Rae while Shippo called himself Shido, they both though it was safer this way. It had been over a month since their departure from Edo and even when it got rough in some of the villages they continued on.

 

It was late afternoon when they reached a nearby village for supplies and perhaps lodging for the night. While looking around many watched the unusual pair as they made their purchases. It wasn't everyday they saw a beautiful young woman dressed as a warrior with a kitsune child tagging along. They didn't mind the stares having long gotten used to it.

 

It was getting late and they needed to find an inn. While asking one of the villagers where they might find lodging a young girl's scream was heard. Kagome immediately ran and followed the screams for help to a small clearing that held a very large oni and a girl of perhaps fourteen.

 

The oni was stalking her while she was trying desperately to close her torn kimono. Kagome's power flared in her anger catching the attention of the oni who looked up to see who was interrupting his fun. A small growl escaped her when his eyes turned to scan her form with a lecherous smirk.

 

“Let the girl go, now,” she growled.

 

The oni was nearly twice her height with grayish looking skin and a horn on once side of his head. He was wearing only a piece of fabric in the front and back to cover himself while his chest remained bare.

 

“So, you would take her place then.”

 

“No, but you can die for what you have done.”

 

He merely laughed at the onna in front of him. “There have been many who have tried, but never a woman. I will enjoy my victory over you.”

 

“I may be a woman, but you will not win.”

 

She drew one sword and took her stance before rushing forward to find the oni gone. A large hand tried to grab her, but she did a back flip to avoid it. In her hand a small glowing orb formed and was thrown to purify his hand from his body. He screamed in pain before turning to see her in a defensive stance a short distance away.

 

“You bitch. I had thought about keeping you a little while, but now I'll just kill you when I'm done!” he roared.

 

Kagome's eyes turned white as she took her stance once more and let out a small amount of her purification power to flow into her sword. He charged her in his fury and when he swung at her she ducked and brought her sword up to slash him across the stomach. He screamed in anguish as he was slowly purified. She stood and extended her senses to make sure that no other threat was close by before turning to the girl who watched her with a mixture of fear and hope.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“Yyyyyessss. Thank you for saving me.”

 

“You're welcome.” She moved slowly towards her so she wouldn't scare her any more than she already was and kneeled beside her. “Come on, lets get you home,” she said while helping her get up.

 

She merely nodded in agreement and let herself be led back to the village. Kagome knew that she was in shock so she kept a comforting arm around the girl silently offering what comfort she could. When they reached the village her body started to shake uncontrollably at the sight of a woman who looked to be in her early forties stood in the doorway.

 

“Nara,” she screamed.

 

“Mother.”

 

The girl ran into the arms of her mother sobbing while she tried to soothe the child and looked at Kagome and Shippo.

 

“What happened to my daughter?”

 

“Please, momma, Lady Rae saved me from the oni that has been attacking the village. She..she… she killed it momma.”

 

The woman's eyes shone with tears that slowly began to fall. “Thank you, thank you Lady Rae. I don't know what I would have done if something happened to Nara. She's all I have.”

 

“You're welcome.”

 

“Please, you must stay here for the night. I insist. Please come in.”

 

Kagome and Shippo nodded and started to head into the small hut, but before she could enter a small sound caught her attention. In the dark a man stood in the shadows watching them closely. The little she could see told her that he was handsome with shoulder length black hair and violet eyes. He also carried a sword that glinted in the moonlight telling her that he was a warrior or at least someone accustomed to fighting. What unnerved her though was the intensity that he watched her with. She held his gaze for another moment searching for signs of evil intent, but after finding none she broke their stare and went inside.

 

She found Shippo sitting with his back against a wall and sat beside him. Nara was softly crying while her mother held her tightly and whispered words of comfort. The scene made her miss her own mother more than she already did. It was a painful sight and made her realize that if it weren't for her loyal kit she would be completely alone.

 

Shippo knew that his mother missed her family and would occasionally become depressed especially so he sat closer and held her hand in his own giving it a squeeze. She tried to give him a small reassuring smile, but it was still filled with sorrow.

 

“Please, Lady Rae, tell me what happened.”

 

Kagome told her everything and watched as the woman gently ran her hand through Nara's hair and softly cried. Thankfully Nara had worn herself out with the trauma of the ordeal and had fallen asleep with her head in her mother's lap.

 

“There is no way that I will ever be able to repay you and your companion nor will the village. That oni has attacked several young girls in the village and no one has been able to stop it.”

 

“This is my son, Shido and payment is not necessary. I'm glad we could help.”

 

“My name is Sakura. Please, I've just finished dinner it's not much, but I insist that you both eat.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

The bowls were filled with rice and stew and passed around and while everyone ate it was quiet. No one wanted to wake Nara. When the meal was finished they put the dishes away to be cleaned in the morning and laid down to sleep.

 

As usual Kagome woke at sunrise and roused Shippo as well. With a finger to her lips, telling him without words to be quiet, they gathered their belongings and left the village before any woke.

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