InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ This Wasn't In The Job Description ❯ Of Weakness and Strength ( Chapter 66 )

Chapter 66

 

Of Weakness and Strength

 

On her fourth day with Sesshomaru, Kagura was feeling weak. But all through the day's meetings with the Lord of the West and his advisors, she had shown no sign of her failing health. She made sure to keep her wits sharp as they discussed battle strategy. Always, she was being tested by the suspicious youkai under her new Lord's inscrutable gaze. Never did she falter as she gave quick and concise answers to every question, even as she felt every fiber in her being tremor with impending collapse. When she made her respectful bows and left them, it was hard not to make a hasty retreat to her own quarters. Instead, she held herself steady and decorously made her way down the halls to her rooms.

 

A weary sigh escaped Kagura's lips as she slid onto her futon. Lying on her side, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She loosened the ties of her yukata with a leaden hand to make herself more comfortable, feeling like an old piece of cloth that was slowly unraveling at the seams.

 

The soft sound of the shoji doors sliding open almost did not register. She opened her eyes, adrenaline pumping into her body and stirring her fight or flight instincts, only to see Lord Sesshomaru regarding her. His gaze was steady and solemn, but she saw nothing to fear from him and relaxed.

 

“You are growing weaker,” Sesshomaru said softly. “You try to hide it, but it can't be hidden from me.”

 

Kagura sighed and struggled to sit up. Quickly, Sesshomaru put his hand up to stop her, and she slumped, a frown on her face. It was too much to have hoped she could fool him. To her amazement, he walked over and sat beside her, quiet as a cat in silk.

 

“No need to explain,” Sesshomaru continued. “I wanted to tell you that you have done well. I will not let you perish. We move soon.”

 

“I will go with you,” Kagura said.

 

Sesshomaru did not respond to Kagura's firm statement. She looked into his golden eyes steadily, daring him to deny her. Instead, to her amazement, his gaze softened.

 

“Are you sure?” Sesshomaru asked. “You are valuable to me, I won't have you spend what little energy you have left recklessly.”

 

“Yes, I am sure,” Kagura said. “Where my Lord goes, I follow. I live to serve you.”

 

Kagura's passionate response made Sesshomaru quirk an eyebrow. This wind sorceress had fire in her veins. Every day, he had more and more respect for the former minion of his adversary. Such an indomitable spirit this woman had!

 

“And I promise to protect you,” Sesshomaru said. “And pledge to save you.”

 

~*~

 

Before InuYasha, Kagome, Miroku and Sango left Totosai to seek out the mysterious Kenmeimaru, there was one thing the wizened old demon said must be done. He came out of his forge armed with tongs, marched up to InuYasha, and without even a by-your- leave, opened his mouth and yanked out a canine. The hanyou yelped in surprise, and then held his hand to his mouth, grumbling and glaring daggers at the old sword smith.

 

“You keep this safe, young lady,” Totosai said, handing the tooth to Kagome. “And stop complaining, InuYasha. It will grow back by tomorrow.”

 

Pocketing the tooth, Kagome looked at InuYasha with a faint smile on her lips. The hanyou took his hand away and glanced over his group of friends. Kagome's smile faded and she pursed her lips. Sango cocked an eyebrow. Miroku opened his mouth to speak…

 

“No fucking `toothless' jokes, Miroku,” InuYasha grumped. “Let's get going.”

 

Sango glared at Miroku as he shut his mouth with a snap and shrugged. They shouldered their packs, and InuYasha reluctantly left his broken sword with Totosai. The old sword smith cradled the sheathed Tessaiga in his arms as he watched them leave. Slowly, the dark forest swallowed the travelers who had brought such chaos, distress and aggravation into his life.

 

“My poor sword, you were my greatest creation,” Totosai crooned to it. “If Inu no Tashio knew what his reckless offspring had done to you, he would surely wake from the dead in a rage. I told him not to leave his swords to his sons…they should have stayed with him in his grave.”

 

~*~

 

A pair of red, demon eyes glowed with seething frustration, and long ebony locks practically crackled and writhed with annoyance. Naraku stared grimly at the blank mirror in Kanna's hand, reflecting back his own handsome and grim visage. His eyes narrowed as his mind raced over the implications of having lost his ability to track InuYasha. To make matters even more aggravating, his new creation Byakuya, who had been sent to capture them, had not reported. He could not stand any more failure…

 

“Broaden the search in the last area they were spotted,” Naraku commanded.

 

Nodding, Kanna complied and cloudy blue filled the mirror, swirling a moment before clearing. A forest scene coalesced, and a figure could be seen. A slow, evil smirk spread over Naraku's face as he peered at the person skulking about. They had lost their means of following InuYasha, but there was this one other player who obviously could.

 

“Kanna, lead one of my golems with some of the lower youkai as back up to capture Kikyou,” Naraku commanded.

 

~*~

 

An early morning mist permeated the forest floor where InuYasha, Kagome, Miroku and Sango had camped for the night. As she woke up, Kagome wiped at the film of dampness that had settled on her face, making her eyelashes sticky from moisture. Rolling over, she looked at InuYasha next to her. Her movements had woken him and he gave her a quick smile. She reached out and picked strands of silver hair off his face from where they had stuck.

 

“How are you feeling?” Kagome asked softly.

 

“You mean my first full day without Tessaiga since my youth?” InuYasha replied wryly. “It feels…strange.”

 

“Well, at least your tooth grew back already,” Kagome said with a smile.

 

“Yeah,” InuYasha replied, smiling back with a full set of canines.

 

They heard someone stretch and yawn, and the sound of rustling. Kirara chirped, climbing out of Sango's sleeping bag to start licking at the dampness on her fur. Sango groaned, her muscles sore from so many nights sleeping on the hard-packed ground, grimacing as she used both hands to support her lower back.

 

“Oh, I ache everywhere,” Sango said tiredly.

 

“I can help you with that,” Miroku replied, then threw his hands up innocently at her suspicious look. “No, really, I give a mean massage if you let me, dear Sango!”

 

“Let's wrap up camp quickly and we can be at Kenmeimaru's cave by midday,” InuYasha said, pulling his long legs out of his sleeping bag.

 

Quickly, Kagome rekindled the fire, and took her teapot and a bag of tealeaves from her backpack. As he packed up, InuYasha's hand kept straying to the place in his obi where Tessaiga should be. Kagome caught him doing it, his empty hand clutching at nothing instead of the pommel of the sword. It was easy for everyone to sense his tense and distracted air, and uneasiness.

 

Silently, Kagome prayed to whatever kamis ruled this realm that they would get to Kenmeimaru and receive his help without being attacked by Naraku. She sighed, closing her eyes a moment and took a deep breath, willing them success and safety. InuYasha had to have Tessaiga back as soon as possible, and she would do whatever it took to make it happen.

 

~*~

 

The damn thing just would not work. Kikyou banged at the side of the square metal box that housed her sensitive nanotech detection system. Gritting her teeth, she watched the indicator on the dial swing up and down wildly, while it emitted a sickly whir. Then it came to a stop and clicked off.

 

`Damn the dampness of this forest!' Kikyou thought irritably. `It has screwed up the fan and is shorting out the circuitry.'

 

A hand to her brow, Kikyou thought morosely that she could have built a better one if fate and circumstances had not intervened so soon. The funding ran out when Midoriko disappeared, and she had to scrape together what she could to try and thwart Naraku. She gave the device one more shake, and was startled as all the lights went on and the indicator on the dial flew up.

 

“Kikyou….”

 

The smooth, melodious, voice made Kikyou pale, and go cold inside. She turned her defiant stare towards her unexpected, but long feared adversary….