InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Side ❯ The Power of a Miko ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: The Power of a Miko

Sango and Miroku had nearly dispatched all the lower demons when a scream came from the woods. “Stop, you could die!”

Sango knew that voice, //Kohaku?//. Sango stared at the forest in fear as a demon came at her from behind.

“Sango!” Miroku yelled, finally getting her to turn around. It was too late, there was no way she could put up a defense. She braced herself for the hit and closed her eyes.

“Don’t think so!” She heard Kouga yell. The wolf demon kicked the demon out of the air, crushing its skull. Landing beside them, Kouga pointed to the forest. “Go see what’s going on, I’ll take care of these guys!”

Sango gave him a nod of thanks as she and Miroku sprinted off towards where she left Kohaku and Kagome. Sango’s chest was filling with the pounding of her heart. What had she been thinking? Kagome didn’t even have a weapon when she left them. How could she have been so stupid? Now she might not just loose her little brother, but her best friend as well. Trying to push her fears aside, she concentrated on running. When they left the clearing, Sango could make out a dance of blinding colors coming from the spot Sango knew that they were at. “Miroku, what is that?”

“I think it’s coming from the jewel shard Kohaku has. Let’s hurry!” There was obvious worry in his eyes. What was the monk sensing that she could not?

Sango froze in place when she came to the clearing she had left her best friend and little brother in. The light was coming from the Shikon shard, because Kagome was trying to save Kohaku. Kagome looked exhausted, and her expressions told them how much pain she was in. Her hands were covered in blood as the cuts in them continued pouring out crimson while new ones from the shard sliced into her. Kagome’s face was being sliced too, along with any other body part the light beams could reach.

Her eyes filled with tears as she started toward them. Miroku stuck out his arm to stop her from going any closer. His eyes were locked on Kagome as well. “Miroku…”

“Don’t break her concentration. If we do, they both will die.” Miroku’s eyes never left the miko. He was scared too; Sango could see it in those dark eyes.

“But, what’s…?”

“I think Kagome is trying to purify the jewel inside Kohaku, but Naraku has put up a barrier around it to stop such a thing from happening. This is purely Kagome’s will against Naraku’s.” Miroku paused. “All we can do is pray.”

Sango’s legs gave out from under her. She fell to the ground and watched the miko through blurred eyes. Kagome was risking her life to save Kohaku for her. Kagome bit her lip, drawing blood, to stop herself from screaming. Sango grew cold at the sight. She couldn’t bear it. What if she lost them both?

Sango was brought out of her stupor by the sound of two people approaching. Turning, she saw it was Kouga and Inuyasha. Kirara and Shippo landed beside Miroku, Shippo’s eyes were wide with fear as he saw Kagome. Miroku gave him a look to silence any questions. The kitsune understood and leaped over to Miroku while Kirara de-transformed and jumped up on Sango’s shoulder.

“Kago--” Inuyasha began to yell, until Miroku cut him off with his hand. Kouga stood next to him in a dumbstruck awe.

“Do not break her concentration!” Miroku hissed in a very uncharacteristic tone. “Where is Naraku?”

Inuyasha didn’t answer. He just stared at Kagome. Sango felt horrible. She knew that Inuyasha loved her, and if she…if she died, it would be on Sango’s hands. Miroku shook Inuyasha. “Is Naraku nearby?”

Inuyasha’s gaze didn’t move. “Don’t know. He wore out quick, then disappeared.” That was all Miroku could get out of the stupefied hanyo.

Kagome’s spiritual aura blazed into light blue, as the jewel shined pure white, blinding everyone. As the brightness dissipated, they could see the jewel shard hovering between Kagome’s hands over Kohaku. She was able to stop the jewel from falling into Naraku’s hands, but…//Kohaku…//

Kagome closed her hands around the shard and opened her eyes. She looked down at Kohaku, but had no expression on her face. Sango’s heart didn’t feel like it was beating. Could her little brother possibly be alive without the jewel shard? Sango found herself hoping against hope.

Sango took in a sharp breath as she saw Kohaku open his eyes. Was it really possible? “Kohaku?”

He sat up a little and looked at Kagome, then over at Sango, then back to Kagome. She smiled at him. “Thanks for believing in me.”

“Kagome…” Kohaku started. Kagome closed her eyes and began to fall sideways. “Kagome?!”

Inuyasha darted over and caught her in his arms. His bangs hid his eyes, but Sango could see him shaking. He was scared. Scared he was going to loose her still. “Kagome?” He said weakly.

Kagome opened her eyes and looked up at him, giving him a fragile smile. “I’m okay, Inuyasha. I’m just tired.” With that, she passed out, jewel shard still in her blood-soaked hand.

# # # #

Inuyasha’s stomach turned when he first smelled Kagome’s blood. Luckily, Naraku was getting weaker and weaker and retreated quickly muttering something about ‘stupid wench’. Relieved that he could finally leave to check on her, Inuyasha started off towards the smell. Kouga joined him. “You smell it too?” Kouga asked with a shaky voice.

Inuyasha knew it was no time to fight with the wolf about Kagome not being his, because from how much blood he smelled, she might not be anyone’s in a few minutes. They got close enough to see Sango and Miroku just standing there, watching some kind of light show. It was only when they reached them that Inuyasha understood why they were just standing there. The state that Kagome was in made his blood run cold; all he could figure was that she was trying to save the boy from Naraku, and it was killing her.

Miroku had stopped him from interfering, but when he tried to get information out of him, all Inuyasha could manage were short sentences. Right then nothing else mattered but the quiet beating of Kagome’s heart. As long as Inuyasha could still hear that, he was okay, but only just.

Now, with her in his arms, Inuyasha felt a tear slide down his cheek. He had never been so scared in his life. He knew he was really starting to fall for Kagome, but it never hit how hard until just now, seeing her in so much pain. Inuyasha hugged her to himself, still shaking a little. She was tired and scratched up, but other than that she was okay, and alive.

The others came over towards them, kneeling down to check on her. Sango scooped Kohaku up in her arms as she sat down by Inuyasha. The boy wasn’t taking his eyes off Kagome; they were still filled with fear. “Is she…okay?” Kohaku asked, choking back tears as Sango hugged him closer.

Miroku was the one who answered him. “There doesn’t seem to be any serious wounds. She is mostly just tired, I’d imagine.” Miroku smiled at him and patted Inuyasha on the shoulder.

“Inuyasha.” Kouga said, sniffing the air. Inuyasha looked up at him in anger. What the hell could be more important than Kagome right now? “What?” He snapped back.

Kouga ignored his anger and sniffed the air again. “Get Kagome out of here.” Kouga’s eyes widened as he yelled. “Now!”

Kouga had barely dodged a tentacle as it swooped towards him. Naraku was back. Inuyasha was to dumbstruck to think of what to do, too afraid to move from Kagome. He wasn’t sure how bad off Kagome was, or if she would be okay if they took the time to fight Naraku. Miroku stepped between the group and Naraku and erected a spirit barrier. “Go, He’s after Kagome and the last jewel shard!”

Naraku hit Miroku’s barrier, sending the monk into the nearest tree, knocking him out. “Miroku!” Sango yelled, getting up to fire hiraikotsu. Naraku shot out to strike Sango when Kohaku pushed her out of harms way, getting sliced through the shoulder in the process. “Kohaku!” Sango screamed as she hit the floor.

Kouga caught the other tentacle coming towards them and squared off with Naraku, keeping him busy and away from Kagome. Inuyasha sighed with relief, in the knowledge that Kouga would try to buy them as much time as possible. For once, he was happy the wolf was around.

Inuyasha turned to see Sango tending to her little brother. “It’s okay, he just scratched me.” Kohaku reassured her, getting up to protect his sister once again. Kohaku met Inuyasha’s eyes. Inuyasha wanted to blame the boy for Kagome’s state, but his eyes were red from tears and were filled with worry. Inuyasha shook the feeling away; he couldn’t hate the boy that Kagome nearly killed herself to save. Kohaku pulled his kusarigama out from behind his back and held it in a defensive position. “Please, get Kagome out of here!”

“Kohaku…” Inuyasha didn’t know what to say. This boy was willing to fight Naraku one-on-one just to get Kagome out of harms way. Inuyasha smiled to himself; then again, Kagome had that effect on people. It was one of the many reasons Inuyasha loved her. “Heh, like I’m going to leave you here, brat.”

Kohaku looked at him in shock as he got up from Kagome, lying her down gently. “You look after Kagome, I’ll handle Naraku.” Kohaku nodded and ran over to Kagome while Inuyasha unsheathed tetsusaiga //This fucker is going down//. Inuyasha just joined the fight in time to see Kouga slammed up against a tree by Naraku. He sliced the tentacle holding up Kouga, freeing him, and then faced Naraku. “Your not getting Kagome or the last jewel shard!”

# # # #

Miroku came to with Sango hanging over him. “Are you alright?” That sweet voice asked him. Miroku smiled and started to go for a grope, until he remembered the situation //Damn, perfect timing too…//. He sat up to see Kohaku tending to Kagome, who was still unconscious. “What happened?”

Sango filled him in about the situation as he looked over Kagome’s wounds. They weren’t too bad, from what you could see through the dried sweat and blood starting to cake around them. Mostly shallow cuts that hurt a lot worse than they really were. Her breathing was regular and her hands would heal in time, it was her ability to heal that had him worried. He had felt how much energy she had been giving off during the purification; an amount he didn’t even know she had. Her strength would have to return before she could heal, //if it can return…//, Miroku sighed in his head. The possibility that she was too exhausted to recuperate was an unwanted thought in Miroku’s mind. She also had so many cuts that were not closing; the threat of bleeding to death was a huge risk. They had to get her out of here and back to Kaede’s, a two-day journey. Things were not looking good.

Miroku was cleaning a cut under her eye when they opened slightly. “Miroku…?”

“Kagome, are you alright?” Sango asked, obviously not knowing what to really say. Kagome gave them a light smile as she opened her hand revealing the last jewel shard. It was so bright, Miroku had to blink a few times to adjust his eyes. “It worked?” Kagome asked them both.

Sango began to cry as Miroku answered her. “Yes, it did.” Kagome’s smile widened as she passed out once again. If Miroku would have known this would be the last time he would talk to her and see that smile, he would have thought of something better to say.


TBC…


I know...I’m mean. Review please!