InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Sweetest Sacrifice ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

The Sweetest Sacrifice

 

Chapter Three:

 

The last of Inuyasha's bandages had come off. Over the week, the ankle had fully healed, and now he was `good to go', as Kagome's father would have said. Inuyasha had initially wanted to leave right away, but his sense of honour and duty hadn't permitted him to leave without first repaying the girl. But that was honestly ridiculous. What the hell could he do that would be adequate enough to repay her for saving his life?!

 

The answer came in the form of a particular scent one morning about three days after the mending of his ankle. He was outside with the runt, chopping firewood for the storm that was threatening to bucket down on them. The smell had not gone unnoticed by the kit either, who had become panicked almost immediately. He had run inside to tell his mother that he had smelt something `scary' in the woods around them. Falling back toward the house, Inuyasha's nose was working double-time to assure himself that it was the same scent.

 

Certain that it was, he barked out an order - unknowingly using inu - that they stay in the hut, and took off. He was certain that the youkai had finally tracked him down, and was now out to finish what she'd started. It was Kagura that had chased him into the taijiya village, allowing him to discover the maiden who embodied kushimitama and causing the chase that has caused him to wind up in the care of the young human girl. It was Kagura that had caused his secret time of weakness to be revealed. It was Kagura who had caused an entire village to hunt him down with the intention of killing him. It was Kagura who had almost caused his life to come to an end, and he wouldn't be forgetting it any time soon.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

Kagura was waiting for the hanyou to catch her scent on the wind. Once she had found that he was still living, it had proved remarkably easy to find him. She was hesitant to approach him, though, feeling the aura that permeated the woods; that of a rarely powerful miko. She was unsure if, living so far out in the middle of nowhere, the woman was trained, but she was not willing to risk her life. The aura was vaguely reminiscent of the dead sister of miko the hanyou was working for. She didn't want to get too close if she could help it.

 

A disturbance on the wind signalled that the hanyou had caught her scent. Shifting out of sight, she silently awaited his arrival, barely able to suppress her fear. She knew that he was only hanyou, but then again, so was her Master. She knew first-hand how powerful a hanyou could be, given the opportunity, and was slightly tempted to off herself just to spite Naraku. But she knew that, were she to hang on and hope, she would accomplish something very important. She would just have to wait to see what it was.

 

As it was, she didn't have to wait for very long for the red-and-white hanyou to step into the clearing, his nose and ears visibly twitching as he tried to locate her. A flick of her fan, and he was forced to jump out of the way of two semi-circular blades of her youki. It was with a smirk that she stepped out of the underbrush to face him, her red eyes glittering with the thought that she may be able to eliminate one of the threats to her life. Hopefully, if she defeated the hanyou, her master would be pleased with her and overlook any transgressions in the past.

 

“So, you've been hiding yourself here with the miko, have you?” Kagura's fan covered the bottom half of her face. “I never figured you'd stoop so low as to require the protection of a mortal woman, half breed. Tell me, is it because her power is reminiscent of the late sister of the old miko you serve now? Or are you simply too fearful of my Master that you require someone to keep your nightmares at bay?”

 

“I serve no one!” Served as a battle cry as, leaping out at the wind witch, the hanyou swiped at her with his claws. She managed to leap out of the way just in time, barely changing the winds to blow the scent of her fear away from the hanyou's sensitive nose. It would do her enemy no good to know that she feared him, possibly giving him an edge in battle, should he prove to need it. As it was, she had no such abilities to sense emotion, and she was basically fighting blind. She had to ensure that she didn't allow the hanyou to know just how much she feared his power. “And you leave the dead woman out of this, you witch!”

 

Kagura was forced to shield herself with her large feather, reinforcing the normally light transportation device with her youki in order for her only method of escape to survive. Nevertheless, she was thrown backwards as the hanyou collided with her feather, toppling them further into the forest, down a hill. The hanyou landed on all fours as Kagura stumbled to maintain her balance, the growling of her opponent suggesting he was more animal than man at the moment, and that worried her greatly.

 

Realising that her fate was likely to be torn to shreds were she to remain, the idea of escape flashed through her mind for the briefest second before she shook the thought free. Her Master would likely kill her for her disobedience if she fled, preferring her to have fallen doing his dirty work than to live to see another day. She decided that, since her Master was most likely watching, she would tough out the fight, and hope that she came out of it alive.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

The taijiya village was in an uproar over the sudden influx of youkai from the surrounding region. Even the youngest taijiya, not even fully trained, bore arms against the fearsome beasts, many being killed for their troubles. Women and children, with the exclusion of Delyina and Sango, had long since fled the village in hopes of being hidden. The monk that Sango and Kohaku had brought to the village had gone with them, insisting that he would encase them within a barrier and return to fight when their safety was assured.

 

“Hiraikotsu!”

 

The battle cry was accentuated by cries of anguish as the youkai in its path were torn in half. The giant demon bone flew back to its mistress, who again flung it out after a mere second of getting a hold of it. In the meantime, Sango fought with her short katana, fending off the rouge demons that had made it to her person. They were usually small, able to duck from the path of her Hiraikotsu, and were rather easy to take down. Many of the youkai that had attacked were in fact large, and many were taken down by the various weapons of the slayer's village.

 

Her brother's kusarigama whizzed past her ear, very nearly severing her head at the neck. Sango flashed Kohaku a mildly shocked look, only to see him running to her to fend off a demon that had snuck up to her back unawares. Bringing herself back to the present, she caught her large boomerang again, flinging it toward a large group of oni that were cornering her father and cousins. She did not keep her eye on it, knowing fully well that she had a good twenty seconds before it returned to her, slicing off the head of an approaching nekoyoukai as it pounced.

 

Her twin-tail companion was among those defending the village, battling a lower-level inuyoukai, very similar to a simple dog. However, the two creatures were equally matched in speed and power, and both eventually took to the outer regions of the village. There was little blood spilt on both parts, until Kirara saw an opening and bit down into the inu's neck. Viciously tearing the main artery open with her fangs, she batted the head around with her front paws until the other youkai had ceased moving. Abandoning her kill, she returned to help her mistress, racing past to give Sango ample time to climb onto her back before rising to the skies.

 

The Hiraikotsu in her grip, Sango used the giant boomerang to shield herself and her nekomata companion from an oncoming blast of energy. Surveying the situation from the skies, she gasped in horror at the scene. Blood was everywhere, the cries of both demons and humans ringing in her ears. Ducking low as Kirara swerved to avoid a fireball from a random youkai, she flung her giant boomerang again, cutting down three of the flying youkai. She bore no serious injuries yet, being one of the more skilled slayers in the village, though her muscles were already protesting to the abuse they had just suffered. Kirara flew lower, grabbing the neckline of Kohaku's uniform, and took to the skies, high enough to permit both youths a small breather. The boy looked up at his sister, his eyes glazed. He raised his kusarigama and swung it up at the twin-tail's neck, aiming to take her life and send the three of them plummeting to the ground.

 

“Kohaku! No!”

 

Quick thinking on Sango's part made her place her Hiraikotsu in the weapon's path, knocking it off course and leaving it dangling by the chain. With horror, she watched her baby brother yank on the chain, returning the blade into his hands, this time swinging it at her head. Kirara's quick descent aided Sango in dodging the deadly sharp weapon, dropping the boy to the ground a little ways away from the battlefield. Turning his back on Sango, Kohaku fled her presence and, with that same look in his eyes, headed toward the village.

 

“K-Kohaku…” Sango uttered, her energy spent. With that last word, she collapsed from utter exhaustion.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

“Kanna.”

 

“Yes, Naraku-sama?”

 

“Tell Kagura that I have another assignment for her. We have what we wanted; there is no point in wasting our time with the half-breed any further. We will exterminate him another way. For now, I want that miko here.”

 

“Yes, Naraku-sama.”

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

Kagura felt more than saw the presence of her Master's insects. Coming with them was another mission, and, though she was fearful, she wasted no time in obeying. It appeared that she would live to see the outcome of the battle with the half-breed after all, even if she didn't like how it had ended. Her only regret was that the mission she was just given would likely ensure her death.

 

“It's been fun, half-breed!” She cried, once again plucking her feather from her hair and enlarging it. Settling herself on it, she took to the skies, calling back “A pity I couldn't stay to slaughter you; it'll just have to wait until another time!”

 

Inuyasha snarled as he watched the witch take off. He momentarily thought about taking off after her, but reasoned that the girl and kit in the hut were likely worried about him. This thought caused him to panic; the direction that Kagura had taken off in was the direction to the hut! “Shit!” He cursed, running after the witch, praying that he was wrong about her destination. He didn't know why he cared - he supposed he felt obligated to protect them, after they had sheltered and protected him.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

Kagome and Shippou were nervously awaiting Inuyasha's return from wherever it was that he'd run off to. The way he'd literally barked at them in inu - Shippou translating that it meant `stay hidden' - had frightened them enough to comply, locking the door and barricading themselves in until he returned to tell them that it was safe to emerge.

 

Kagome's heart dropped into her stomach at the sight of a woman literally flying out of the forest on a feather. Who was she? She bore superficial wounds all over her body, scarily similar to the healing wounds on Kagome's own face. The logical deduction, made by both Kagome and Shippou, was that she had run into Inuyasha… and won.

 

Kagome's panic increased as the woman landed in the clearing, replacing the now shrunken feather into her hair. A fan was produced and, with a flick of the wrist, a small tornado was whirling at her home. Screaming and latching onto Shippou, she attempted to brace herself for the immanent whirling of winds that threatened to tear apart her house. She felt the force of the wind, even though the solid walls, hearing the roof being wrenched from the structure and flying off.

 

She screamed once again as she was grabbed by the wrist and hauled upward, dropping Shippou in her shock. Daring to open her eyes, she was met with a dark, glittering red. Blinking to gain her bearings at the sudden increase in altitude. The demonic woman commanded her contraption to rise higher into the sky, the winds that had just torn the roof off Kagome's house died down to a pleasant breeze. “Let me go!” Kagome cried much more bravely than she felt, slapping the strange woman in the face.

 

Blinking down at her captive, the woman raised an eyebrow. “My, but you are the feisty one…” she chuckled to herself. “Naraku-sama will definitely have his hands full; I do not envy him one bit. Now, girl, you will stop squirming!” She ordered, grabbing both of Kagome's hands and painfully wrenching them behind her in order to subdue her.

 

And then, there was the rushing of air, as she felt herself plummeting toward the ground. Squeezing her eyes closed as the ground rushed ever closer, she braced herself for the impact that never came. Strong arms encircled her waist, her feet swept up as one of the arms on her waist let go mere seconds before she felt her descent abruptly stop. Daring to open her eyes one at a time, she looked up to see the honey-coloured eyes of her rescuer, as he glared, baring his fangs, at the wind youkai. “Th-thank you.” She managed to stammer out as he deposited her on her feet, shakily holding his arm to gain her balance before letting go.

 

“Get the kit, and hide.” He snarled, not taking his eyes off the demon that stared at them slightly bored. “I'll deal with Kagura. Just don't get caught.”

 

Inuyasha had long-since made the connection. Kagura was attempting to capture the four maidens who embodied kushimitama, aramitama, nigimitama, and sakimitama, and a miko with which to manipulate them. He could feel the raw purification powers of the girl who had scrambled behind him, knowing them to be untamed and untapped.

 

His job was to bring the four women to the ancient miko that was the sister of the one who had purified the Shikon no Tama, to ensure that they were never used to create a new one. However, it seemed that old Kaede-baba had forgotten that a miko's power was also necessary. He'd just have to take this girl with him back to Kaede's in order to keep her out of harm's way.

 

Kagura hissed at her new wound; a rather large gash in her right shoulder that disabled the use of her arm. With the poor aim of her left arm, and bleeding heavily, she began contemplating fleeing the scene to return to her master. Surely he would understand that there was no way she could continue to fight in her condition. She grimaced, inwardly laughing at herself. There was a snowball's chance in hell that he would give her no punishment for failing both missions. She had no choice but to fight.

 

“Sankon tessou!”

 

The battle cry snapped Kagura out of her thoughts as she desperately tried to manoeuvre out of the path of the attack. There was only so high the half-breed could jump, after all, and that gave her a slight edge. Ignoring the pain in her arm, she attempted to raise her fan high enough to cast an attack. “Fuck…!” She cursed, wincing and holding a hand to the gash. It honestly wasn't as bad as she thought, but it still hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. Ignoring her pain, her own battle cry struck through the air.

 

“Fujin no mai!”

 

“Fuck!” Inuyasha cursed, noting where the attack was headed. Kagome raised her arms over her head in a futile attempt to protect herself against the youki that was headed her way. What she did feel was not what she expected. A layer of cloth covered her, blocking out the light and stopping the attack in its tracks. Opening her eyes, she was met with a vibrant red. “You keep that on!” She heard Inuyasha's voice as he leapt to attack Kagura again, his red over-shirt missing.

 

Clutching the haori to her, Kagome watched in horror as the silver of Inuyasha's hair flashed across her vision moments before a cry of `ryuuja no mai' sent him, and a few more twisters, flying into the wall of he house. Said wall crumbled away, the entire west side of her home destroyed. The roof, she and Shippou could have perhaps repaired over time, but the walls…? No way.

 

“Inuyasha!” She cried, not seeing him emerge from the rubble. Had he been buried alive among the stone and dust? Was he knocked out? Was he too badly injured to continue fighting? Her fears were relieved when she saw him push a large support beam off his person and stumble to his feet. He was bleeding from the mouth, and sported many cuts and bruises, but he was otherwise fine.

 

So caught up in worrying for Inuyasha's safety, Kagome failed to notice Kagura sneak up on her once more. The hand clamped over her mouth was a pretty good indication, though, as was the whisper in her ear. “You wont get away from Naraku-sama. He wants you. He'll get you, no matter what!” Kagura hissed, using her good arm to rip Kagome up out of the bushes.

 

Kagome's left arm was nearly ripped from its socket as she dangled below Kagura's feather. Slapping at the hand that held her with her right, she tried to loosen Kagura's hold on her wrist. She succeeded in swaying rather violently as the feather rose ever higher into the sky. She shrieked, slapping at the hand that held her in an iron grip one last time, her hand emitting a sharp pink glow.

 

Hissing as if she were burned, Kagura's grip on her faltered before disappearing altogether, letting the young woman plummet to the ground. Screaming, Kagome suffered a sense of déjà vu when she was, again, caught by Inuyasha. This time, though, when she opened her eyes, he was looking directly at her, as if in shock, before snapping his attention toward the retreating Kagura.

 

“Th-thank you Inuyasha.” Kagome managed again as he set her on her feet.

 

“Keh, stupid wench!” He grouched, flopping to the ground and massaging his shoulder, where Kagura's youki attack had barged him through the crumbled wall of the house. Ignoring his wench comment, Kagome made sure he was all right before picking her way through the rubble, trying to find if anything was salvageable. “Well, come on, woman.”

 

“Eh?”

 

Inuyasha looked back at her, staring at him, as if she were stupid. “That demon was after you. I'm taking you somewhere where you'll be out of their reach.”

 

“But why?” She stood where she was. “Why do they want me?”

 

“Just get movin'!”