InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Side ❯ Deal with the Devil ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 02: Deal with the Devil

Inuyasha’s ears perked up as he heard a struggle coming from within the castle. Like a flash, he was out of the tree and running toward his friends. “I knew it!” He muttered under his breath, growling in his chest. “I knew something was up with that guy!”

Bounding through the girls’ room, Inuyasha stood in shock. Sango was fast asleep, as if nothing was wrong, even though Kagome was missing. Kirara didn’t look disturbed either. Inuyasha looked at them confused, then remembered that Miroku was in a separate room down the hall. Perhaps she was there? Jumping over Sango and Kirara, he slid back the door and sped down the hallway.

“Miroku?” Inuyasha yelled as he entered the room. There were definite signs of a struggle. Miroku’s futon was disheveled and there was human blood on the floor. Inuyasha leaned down a little closer to it and sniffed. Not Miroku’s. That fact made him feel a bit better, but not much.

Looking around and trying to figure out what happened, Inuyasha heard muffled noises coming from the closet. He slid the door open, ready for trouble, when a bound and gagged kitsune fell out. “Shippo?” Inuyasha bent down to untie him. “What the hell happened? Where’s Kagome and Miroku?”

“Some guys came in and grabbed me, then attacked Miroku and… wait.” Shippo looked up at Inuyasha with watery eyes. “Kagome isn’t in her room?” he squeaked.

Inuyasha growled in frustration. “No.” His anger was growing to astronomical heights. Shippo jumped up to his shoulder as soon as Sango and Kirara joined them in the room.

Sango searched the room in obvious confusion. “What happened?” She asked, taking off her over-kimono to change into her slayer gear.

“Shippo said that him and Miroku were attacked. Where’s Kagome?” Inuyasha inquired with an accusing tone.

Sango regarded him suspiciously. “She got up a while ago. Said she was going to go talk to you.”

“Oh no.” Shippo whined as he jumped up to Sango’s shoulder.

“What?!” Inuyasha growled. He ran out of the room toward the tree he was sleeping in with Sango and the other’s following. Fuck, now he was really starting to get pissed off. What the fuck was going on. Kagome’s gone missing. Miroku and Shippo were attacked. And, if the castle guards attacked them, why the hell had they only attacked them and not Sango and himself.

He searched the night air for Kagome’s scent, but picked up something else. Something that made his blood boil.

# # # #

“Inuyasha, what is it?” Sango asked, looking at Inuyasha with concern from the back of Kirara. She was surprised to see the state of Miroku’s room, and even more surprised that she hadn’t woken up from the noise it must of caused.

Inuyasha looked worried before, but now he was obviously pissed. “Inuyasha?”

Her words seemed to jut him out of whatever world he was in. “It’s Naraku. He’s coming this way.”

Sango felt her stomach churn. Naraku? Here? Now? When her best friend and her…her…//love// Miroku were missing? “Faster Kirara!”

Kirara growled and gained speed. But even with that, they still couldn’t catch up with Inuyasha. “Are you picking up anything of Kagome or Miroku, Inuyasha?”

“Yeah, and it’s coming from the same direction that Naraku is going.” Sango picked up a small choke in his words. All Naraku needed was Kagome, and the Shikon-no-Tama could be completed. Sango felt her stomach turn again and her heart jump up into her throat. Kohaku…If Naraku forced Kagome to complete the jewel, Kohaku will…

“Hey!”

Sango looked down to see a whirlwind following them. “Kouga!”

Even without the jewel shards, Kouga was still fast enough to create a whirlwind, but he tired easy. His voice broke for gasps of air. “So the dog smelled it to, huh?” Kouga’s eyes wondered around the area. Sango’s heart sank at the realization that he was looking for Kagome. She was worried enough as is, without having to explain the situation out loud. But, she waited for it anyway. “Where’s Kagome?”

To Sango’s surprise, Shippo launched himself down to Kouga from her shoulder. The wolf demon caught the kitusne and placed him on his shoulder. “What’s going on, kid?”

Shippo told Kouga what had happened in the castle and Sango saw the wolf demon’s eyes glisten with anger. “So my Kagome and the monk are missing, in the same direction that Naraku is headed?” Kouga growled.

“Yeah.” Sango replied, shakily. Her eyes brimmed with tears that she refused to shed the closer they got to the mountain, where Naraku was most likely waiting for them; with Kagome and Miroku in hand. //Please…please be alright.//

# # # #

Miroku woke to the murmur of a chant, and found himself in a circular clearing of the forest. Testing his movement, he found that his hands and ankles were tied. Skimming the area, he saw hooded figures standing around him and Kagome. Kagome? Miroku whirled around to see Kagome unconscious next to him, her feet and hands bound as well. He glared at the people all around them. “What are you doing? What are you calling?”

In all reality, Miroku didn’t expect an answer, so when one of the hooded figures walked up to him to speak, he was a little taken aback. “I am sorry.”

Miroku knew that voice. “Yoshikawa?”

Yoshikawa taking off his hood was Miroku’s answer. His face was very sullen and there was an apparent sadness in his eyes. Truthfully, the man didn’t look like he wanted to be here anymore than Miroku did. “What is going on?” Miroku demanded.

“Your slayer friend was right, unfortunately, to doubt me.”

“Then your story about the miko?” Kagome asked, surprising Miroku. She had finally woken up, but didn’t seem too surprised of their predicament.

Yoshikawa sighed and closed his eyes. “Lies, mostly.”

“What are you calling?” Miroku demanded again.

“A demon, named Naraku.”

“Naraku!”

“You made a deal with him, didn’t you?” Kagome asked with unusual insight. What did she know that the others didn’t? Yoshikawa’s face was all the answer the needed. Kagome exchanged looks with Miroku. “Why?”

“What I told you about the battle with the demons was accurate; we did not prevail. But, the miko didn’t give their lives directly to erect the barrier. We lost, and retreated. A day later the demon Naraku appeared with a proposition.”

“Proposition?”

“Yes . He wanted the miko of this village to try and combine the pieces of the Shikon-no-tama; in return he erected the barrier I told you of.” The monk lord’s eyes lowered. “Unfortunately, the miko failed, and died trying. So, the demon demanded that we turn over any monks or miko who enter our village. So, the erected barrier not only stops demon attacks, but attracts people with spiritual power.”

Miroku’s eyebrows furrowed, so that was the reason he and Kagome sensed something, even though there were no jewel shards. The barrier was bait for them, and Naraku was going to get exactly what he’s been looking for, Miroku realized as he looked over at Kagome. The last jewel shards and the priestess to combine them all rolled in to one package and delivered to his doorstep. Damn it all. This was bad. He needed to find some way to at least get Kagome out of here, or they were all doomed. He hoped that Inuyasha had picked up on some of this and was at least on his way.

Then he sensed it, the disgusting aura that only one demon could give off. Naraku was very close. This was beyond bad. He needed to get Kagome out of here. He could tell that Yoshikawa was a good person, so maybe…“Lord Yoshikawa, you don’t know what your doing. At least let Kagome leave, I will stay. Kagome has the last pieces of the jewel and has the power to complete it. Naraku cannot get his hands on her!”

Yoshikawa seemed to really take Miroku’s request to heart, biting his lip in nervousness. His face then grew serious as he bent down to untie Kagome. “Run a little ways into the forest and hide.”

“Lord Yoshikawa, do you know what your doing? You’ll bring the demon’s wrath upon us!” One of the hooded followers yelled.

“I might of signed a deal with the devil, but I refuse to let him get something so powerful and have it be my fault!” Yoshikawa helped Kagome to her feet.

“Lord Yoshikawa…” Kagome started.

“No time for this, run!”

Kagome looked at Miroku as if pleading him to come as well, then took off, understanding that in this situation, it was a better idea. Miroku let out a sigh of relief when he saw Kagome disappear into the forest. Now all that was left was to survive this…somehow.

# # # #

Kagome ran into the forest as fast as she could //Inuyasha…Inuyasha…where are you!//.
She knew something was up when she had gone out to talk to Inuyasha and found that statue. Kagome could tell that it had been very well made; a beautiful monument of a priestess and a monk holding what seemed to be pieces of glass. Its inscription said it was dedicated to those who had given their lives to protect the village.

But something was a miss. Yoshikawa said there were only three miko in the village and no monks, so why was a monk on the monument? Kagome had cleaned away part of the inscription that was covered and it made reference to those who did and will give their lives for the village. Meaning something was still going on. Kagome hadn’t had time to think of what, when a man came and knocked her out from behind.

Now, she could feel the owner of the nearly completed jewel closing in on where she had left Miroku. She stopped and found a place inside a hollow trunk of a fallen tree to hide in. It had an eyehole, big enough to see through and make out where Miroku still sat //Please stay alive, Miroku!//. But then she felt another pulse, a fainter one of the Shikon jewel, a shard, close to her. There was only one person left with a piece of the jewel…//Kohaku//.

She could tell he was just outside of the log she was in, but he wasn’t coming in after her. Maybe the kid remembers enough not to try and catch her. His presence was all Kagome could keep her attentions on, too afraid to look away to check on Miroku. Kohaku lingered for what seemed like forever until they both heard a very distinguishing yell and he ran off to the clearing.

Kagome, finally relaxed enough to turn her attentions to somewhere else, looked through the eyehole. She smiled in relief to see Miroku free and Inuyasha battling Naraku. Kagome crawled out of the log to run and join the fight.

Reaching the clearing, Kagome saw all of her friends fighting. Even Kouga was there. Demons were flying around everywhere, swarming Miroku and Shippo. She then noticed that all the people from the village were gone except Yoshikawa, who was on the ground bleeding. Kagome ran over to him to see if he was still alive. Kneeling down beside him Kagome saw that his wound wasn’t too bad; he would live. It was then Yoshikawa opened his eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know he took it. So sorry…”

Took it? What was he taking about? Yoshikawa passed out again as Kagome heard Sango’s worried voice. “Kohaku! Kohaku, can you hear me? Hold on!”

Kagome whirled around to see Sango in tears holding her brother who was writhing in pain. The shard in his back was glowing, as if Naraku was trying to call it back. But why would he…//wait//. Kagome felt around her neck for the necklace that held her jewel shards. //Oh my god! I’m not wearing them!!//. He really was trying to call it back!

Kagome sprinted over to Sango. “Come on, let’s take him into the forest and as far away from Naraku as we can. That will weaken the hold.”

Kagome helped Sango carry her little brother into the forest and lay him down. She and Sango both looked up when they heard Miroku yell. He was hopelessly outnumbered, and with the poisonous insects there, he couldn’t use his wind tunnel. Kagome could see the conflict in Sango’s eyes. “Go. I’ll look after Kohaku.”

Sango gave her a teary nod and ran off to help in the battle. She said she would look after Kohaku, but Kagome could think of nothing to do. As soon as Naraku rips out the shard, Kohaku will die and he will have all the pieces of the Shikon-no-tama. The only reassurance was that the jewel had to be finished by a powerful miko, so he couldn’t do it without Kagome or Kikyo.

Kagome sat there holding the boy, trying to think of something to stop the inevitable from happening. The shard in his back was giving off an eerie black glow as it was wriggling its way painfully from the young demon slayer’s body. Kagome reached to embrace the screaming boy; it was then she saw the tainted glow of the shard brighten to a soft pink shine as she touched his back. It was purifying from he touch! Kagome could think of one possibility to help Kohaku. Usually it would be too dangerous, but the boy would die anyway if she didn’t do anything. //Please, oh please, let this work…//

# # # #

Things were going from bad to worse. If it hadn’t been for that one villager everything might of turned out okay, but of course that would have been convenient for Miroku. He was relieved to see Kagome escape, even if it was only a few yards away; but things went to hell when Naraku arrived.

He was his usual cocky self when he saw what his little pawns had caught him. “Well, well, if it isn’t the monk.” He remarked with a low chuckle. Naraku then turned to Yoshikawa. “Was he traveling with his companions? Why didn’t you get the miko?”

Yoshikawa bowed low to the ground. “I am sorry my lord, but the hanyo Inuyasha protected her from us, we only made it here with the monk.”

//A very good lie//, Miroku complemented him on his answer. It was very accurate to the way Inuyasha would have acted. Miroku fought back a smile of relief.

“My lord.” One of the hooded figures stepped up. Naraku eyed him, like he was a bug just asking to be squashed. Apparently, Yoshikawa was supposed to be the only one to talk to Naraku, from what Miroku had gathered. The Miroku recognized him. He was the same one that protested to Kagome being set free! //Shit!//

“He is lying! We had the wench in our possession and he released her!” The man jabbed his finger at Yoshikawa. Yoshikawa met him with an icy stare, one that was just as powerful as yelling ‘traitor!’. But to Miroku’s awe, another man stepped up. “Fool, quit trying to get in Lord Naraku’s good graces with a lie!”

Naraku seemed totally impassive to this as he kept his eyes on Miroku, clearly not hearing a word they said, until the traitor ran into his line of sight. Naraku seemed ready to squash the bug, but then he saw what the man was holding. It was something shiny and on a necklace. //Oh Kami, no!// It was Kagome’s jewel shards!

“These prove my story!” The man bellowed, obviously proud of himself, when he should be feeling like and idiot in Miroku’s opinion. Naraku’s icy glare turned to Yoshikawa. Instead of being stopped in his tracks like people usually were from that gaze, the young lord bounded for Miroku. Naraku snarled and swung to hit him, but not before Yoshikawa managed cut Miroku loose. “You dare defy me, human!” Naraku’s tentacle hit Yoshikawa hard and flung him back as Miroku heard a familiar yell. “Kaze no Kizu!”

A strong slash of energy destroyed the offending tentacle as Naraku stepped back, with a sneer on his lips. Inuyasha bounded in, with Sango and the rest of the gang behind him, even Kouga. Sango threw Miroku his staff and then landed.

“Trying to start the party without us Miroku?” Inuyasha yelled. The sight of the hanyo made the humans scatter, but not before Naraku caught the traitorous villager and yanked Kagome’s jewel shards from his hand, then threw him away like garbage.

Miroku ran over to Inuyasha. “Naraku has Kagome’s jewel shards!”

“What?” Inuyasha growled at Naraku. Miroku saw the hanyo look around the clearing. “Where’s Kagome?!”

Miroku saw a glint in Naraku’s eye, Inuyasha not knowing where she was meant she was somewhere vulnerable. And it was true. Miroku couldn’t disclose her whereabouts, not right now.

“Safe.” Miroku stressed. Hoping Inuyasha would get the hint. Inuyasha glared at him, but seemed to get the point. It was then that Naraku’s reinforcements arrived. Swarms of demons and poisonous insects filled the air and swooped down on the group. Sango and Miroku fought the lower nuisances as Inuyasha went after Naraku. Now, if only they could get the jewel shards away from him.

# # # #

He had seen Kagome retreat into the hollow log and despite what she thought; Kohaku was standing by to protect her. If Naraku found her, then Kohaku’s chance to take revenge would be spoiled. It wasn’t until he heard Inuyasha’s war cry that he abandoned his position. If he didn’t come to his ‘masters’ aid, then Naraku would know his control was slipping on him.

Running into the clearing, Kohaku caught sight of his sister fighting along side the monk as Inuyasha went after Naraku. Not sure how to react, he waited for Naraku’s telepathic orders, but none came. Instead, Naraku looked at him and smiled. “Now, for the last piece of the puzzle.”

A scream of pain ripped out of Kohaku’s chest. It felt like his life was being torn away from him by the Shikon jewel shard in his back. He could feel the slow movements of the shard as it slowly tore out of him. He could barely make out the scream that came from his sister as she ran toward him. He felt her hugging him in desperation…

Then everything went black…

Warmth. It was starting to spread throughout his body from the jewel in his back. Kohaku opened his eyes to see Kagome kneeling over him, concentrating hard. He could see her hands hovering over his chest with burn marks on the palms. He then felt the shard moving, but lightly this time, like it was just floating out of him. What was she doing? It almost felt like it was out, but then Kohaku panicked. If it came out, he would die! Almost as if she felt his worry, Kagome opened her eyes and smiled even though she looked exhausted. “Trust me, Kohaku.” She said weakly.

He nodded his head. He had to trust her; she was the only one who could possibly save him. It felt like the shard was almost out of his chest when the light changed from a bright pink to a pitch black. Kohaku heard Kagome hold back a scream as sparks of light shot out, cutting at her hands. The sparks intensified as they shot at her face, slicing thin red lines in her cheeks that soon after erupted with blood.

He wanted to cry, seeing the pain that she was going through, trying to save him. Her hands were now covered with burns, cuts, and blood. He face was screaming of pain and utter exhaustion. He could tell that what she was doing was sucking the life out of her. He couldn’t stand it, his eyes filled with tears as he screamed. “Stop, you could die!”

“Trust me and believe in me.” Kagome whispered. Kohaku wanted to believe in her, but couldn’t stand the idea of her dying because of him. He saw Kagome open her eyes again. They were brimming with tears that she refused to shed. “Please?”

Kohaku swallowed hard. “I believe in you, Kagome.” She gave him a meek smile and closed her eyes once again. He then closed his eyes as tears slid down his face, //Please. Please let her live through this//.



TBC…

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