InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ The Dark Sacred Jewel ( Chapter 10 )

Time After Time

 

By RosieBird

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha! I don't own anything! *Sob* Sorry it's been such a long while. I guess one of the downsides of being a grownup and living in the real world is that hobbies take a back seat. Here is chapter 10! I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. I realize that chapter 9 was a bit wordy, but it needed to be so. Hopefully, everyone understands a bit more. I've also fixed some of the spellings of the names. Some of you might also be wondering if some of the other characters will appear (Sesshomaru, etc.) Just keep watching. Don't worry; I intend that everyone will be happy. Anyway, on to the chapter!

 

Chapter 10 - The Dark Sacred Jewel

 

“Kagome's bleeding pretty badly.” Sango said She quickly pulled out a handkerchief to try and stop the blood. The wound wasn't as deep as it appeared, but Sango knew that head wounds always bled strongly.

 

“Sango, get Kagome into hiding and take care of her. Miroku and I will handle these guys.” Inuyasha said.

 

Sango nodded and gently held Kagome behind the table. Miroku and Inuyasha stood in front of them, ready to block the attacks.

 

“Ayame, why are you doing this?” Miroku shouted. Ayame stood still, but smiled evilly.

 

“That rotten girl doesn't deserve to live. She leads men on and breaks their hearts, just like she did to my poor Koga!” Ayame screamed.

 

Another volley of rocks flew at the window. One sharp rock nicked across Miroku's cheek and he hissed sharply.

 

“Miroku!” Sango shouted.

 

“Stay there!” Miroku ordered and Sango obeyed. Kagome groaned softly and Sango breathed in relief. She was only unconscious.

 

“Koga made his own choice.” Inuyasha shouted. He rested his hand against the sword but he knew he wouldn't use it on the mortals who attacked them. And he also knew that Ayame knew it too.

 

“No!” Ayame screamed and another volley of rocks sailed through the air. Sango covered Kagome as glass shattered and fell. The table protected them for the moment, but they needed to get Kagome to a doctor.

 

“Inuyasha! Miroku!” Sango shouted. “We have to get Kagome out of here!”

 

“You're not going anywhere.” Mika had suddenly appeared, along with Satoshi. As if having been held by strings that had suddenly been cut, the thugs around them fell to the ground. Ayame stared around her in rage.

 

“I almost had them!” she screamed at the other two.

 

“Save your energy.” Mika said evenly. “You'll have plenty of other opportunities for revenge. But you must know the deal you agreed to.”

 

Ayame frowned but stepped back. Mika looked at Inuyasha and Inuyasha felt his stomach clench.

 

“How nice to see you again, Inuyasha.” Mika said with a smile. But it was not a pleasant or warm smile, rather a smile that made Sango cringed and shiver.

 

“Mika, isn't it?” Miroku spoke up. Inuyasha wished the monk would keep silent. He was not the same spiritual master he had once been and was no match as he was.

 

“I understand that you have come under the wing of a demon.” Miroku continued. “Surely you must know such a cost is fruitless.”

 

“Perhaps I do.” Mika said and brandished her gun toward the young man. “But perhaps I do not care.” She fired the gun and Miroku threw himself out of harm's way.

 

“Keep you tongue silent, monk!” Satoshi snapped. “Or next time, I'm sure Mika will not miss.”

 

Sango watched in horror before turning her attention back to Kagome. Her face and gone pale and she felt very cold.

 

“Inuyasha!” Sango shouted. “Kagome's getting colder. We have to do something.”

 

Inuyasha wasn't sure what to do. They could try to run, but they'd be taken down in an instant and Kagome would be killed or captured.

 

“Shiho!” he shouted. “Show yourself!”

 

There was a moment of silence and then Shiho appeared. She was dressed in green and her eyes glowed down at him.

 

“Why Inuyasha, whatever can I do for you?” the woman smiled wickedly at him.

 

“You can go to hell for all I care.” Inuyasha spat. “You think you're protected from me just because you have a mortal shield? That doesn't mean I can't take you out.”

 

“You misunderstand.” Shiho purred. “This attack was Ayame's idea. I felt that having her help was worth a bargain. She wished to see Kagome suffer as Koga suffers, and I agreed.”

 

Shiho began to laugh. “But I also knew that she would never succeed. Which only serves my purpose better.”

 

“What purpose?” Miroku asked. Mika glared at him and raised her gun. Shiho signaled her to stop.

 

“Haven't you guessed?” Shiho asked. “You were all so clever earlier tonight.”

 

“A negative Shikon jewel?” Sango gasped.

 

“Yes. The Sacred Jewel of Four Souls, as you said, is courage, wisdom, friendship and love. So the opposite would be fear, greed, envy and hate. With those four vices, I will create a powerful Jewel to directly challenged that power of the Shikon Jewel.”

 

Shiho waved her hands to her followers.

 

“Mika will bring hate. The hate Kikyo felt for you, for Kagome, for all living things. Satoshi brings the greed of Onigumo. I will supply fear. And our dear Ayame here, who is so jealous of Kagome and longs for Koga, will give us our envy.”

 

Ayame looked at Shiho in surprise. If the real Ayame within had been able and rational, she would have screamed her fright and disgust. But her envious anger only kept her silent.

 

“You are, of course, welcome to try and stop us, Inuyasha.” Shiho sneered. “But you are powerless without your demon powers.”

 

“Inuyasha!” Sango screamed. Inuyasha turned in surprise. All the while Shiho had been talking, she had been manipulating a large fragment of glass and how now sent it sailing toward Inuyasha's body. Inuyasha threw up his arms but knew he couldn't stop the hurling glass. But the blow never game.

 

“What is this?" Shiho screamed out. Inuyasha opened his eyes to see Kagome, surrounded by the aura of the Shikon Jewel, floating a few feet of the ground.

 

“Do not think you have defeated me.” Kagome said, but it was not Kagome's voice. The voice was one of power, strength and immense confidence. Inuyasha watched Kagome drift between him and Shiho. Behind her the glass fell and shattered.

 

Shiho was livid.

 

“You were destroyed!” she roared. “I destroyed you and took your body!”

 

“Midoriko?” Miroku whispered. Inuyasha looked at him in shock and back to Kagome. Midoriko? The priestess from whose body the Sacred Jewel had been created during her battle with the demon? But how?

 

Sango gingerly climbed out of the diner and stared in shock. Kagome had been unconscious only moments before. Now, she radiated such a power that Sango was speechless. She walked towards Miroku but her eyes never left Kagome. She was so entranced that she didn't notice Satoshi move toward her.

 

“Sango!” Miroku shouted but too late. Sango's arms were pinned behind her and the deadly green blade pointed at her throat.

 

“Poor little demon slayer.” Satoshi said. He took the opportunity to roll his tongue over her neck. Sango growled and Miroku felt ready to kill.

 

“Get away from her!” he screamed.

 

“Why don't I send you to join your dear Kohaku?” Satoshi said and raised the blade high. Suddenly, Sango and Satoshi were sent sprawling as another body kicked Satoshi away. The blade embedded itself into Satoshi's left leg and he roared in pain. Miroku flung himself beside Sango and pulled her to him.

 

“Is she alright?” Sango looked up to see Koga.

 

“I'm fine.” she answered. Miroku closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair. He'd almost lost her again due to his inability to protect her properly.

 

“Satoshi.” Shiho shouted at him. “You will be punished. Do not forget from where your power comes.” Satoshi cringed beside Mika as his leg lay prone on the ground.

 

“Shiho.” Kagome said. “Get hence. I will not fight you here. Release the girl and take your followers.”

 

Shiho sneered. “I will take all that has freely come to me.”

 

“Ayame!” Koga shouted. Ayame looked at him and tears trickled down her cheeks.

”Oh Koga, why can't you just forget that girl?” she asked. “I love you so very much. I offer myself so freely but you won't take me. So, I will take you the only way I can. Shiho will help me.”

 

“That's a lie!” Inuyasha shouted. “Shiho will use you and toss you aside. She's only going to take what she wants from you!”

 

“Ayame, please!” Koga shouted again. Ayame seemed to considered his words and moved toward him.

 

“Koga?” she whispered.

 

But Shiho pulled her back sharply and surrounded them all in green light.

 

“No!” Koga shouted and ran toward Ayame. He was thrown back by a massive crackle of green demonic energy. Shiho cackled and vanished. Koga sank to his hands and knees and pounded the pavement.

 

“Ayame!” Koga screamed to the sky.

 

Inuyasha ignored the wolf and stood before Kagome.

 

“Midoriko?” Inuyasha dared to speak. Kagome's eyes and face looked down at him. “Please let Kagome go.”

 

“What are you going to do?” she asked. “Will you defeat Shiho and her minions as you are now? You must know that you cannot win. Kagome has the spiritual power of many ages within her. She is descended from my line and she will be the key.”

 

Kagome touched the ground and the bright light faded. A fresh river of blood streamed from her head and she collapsed into Inuyasha's waiting arms.

 

***

 

The first thing Kagome was aware of as she came out of the darkness was a headache. Then she heard the sounds of voices talking, although she couldn't understand anything that was said. She longed to clear her vision of darkness, but she couldn't move. Was she dead? The voices came clearer and clearer with each passing moment.

 

“Why isn't she awake yet?”

 

“Be patient. She sustained a serious injury.” The answering voice sounded so familiar, but in her daze and confusion, Kagome wasn't able to recognize it.

 

“She looks like she's dead.” That was Shippo, Kagome realized.

 

“She'll be fine, Shippo.” came Miroku's soft voice. “She's strong and Inuyasha got her here for Dr. Seiga to examine.”

 

“I can't believe you let this happen, mutt-face!” Koga's shout came next. “How could you let those punks do this to her?”

 

“It's not like I had a choice.” Inuyasha snapped back. The sharp sounds ricocheted around Kagome's buzzing head, causing her to groan and whimper in pain.

 

“Listen!” Sango whispered urgently. “Did you hear that?” There was complete silence for a moment as every eye turned to Kagome.

 

Kagome's eyes fluttered slightly before opening and squinting into the bright hospital lighting.

 

“What happened?” she croaked.

 

Inuyasha flung himself beside her and hugged her as tightly as he dared. Kagome blinked in surprise before resting against Inuyasha's body.

 

“I was so afraid we'd lost you.” Inuyasha whispered.

 

“Inuyasha, please allow me to examine her.” Kagome looked up to see a tall, thin man with very long hair. He bent down and held a tiny light into her eyes, causing her to squirm uncomfortably.

 

“She doesn't seem to have a concussion, although you should watch her carefully overnight.”

 

“Thank you, Doctor.” Miroku said. Inuyasha looked up at the doctor with a look that Kagome found to be between annoyance and gratitude.

 

Dr. Seiga barely acknowledged the remark before signing his name to Kagome's chart. One handed?

 

“Sesshomaru?” Kagome asked. The doctor looked up and Kagome saw the same gold eyes of Inuyasha. He did not smile or even blink.

 

“You seem to have had an effect on these mortals, little brother.” Sesshomaru said and turned to leave.

 

“I'll remember that the next time I see Rin.” Inuyasha said with a smirk. Sesshomaru paused a moment and then continued out the door. Kagome lay down again, feeling dizzy.

 

“Kagome, are you okay?” Shippo asked in a concerned voice.

 

“Just a little dizzy.” Kagome answered. “I wasn't prepared for Sesshomaru.”

 

“Most of us weren't, especially when Inuyasha told us that they were again brothers.”

 

“Still half-brothers, but closer than we used to be.” Inuyasha said. “Dad's first wife died when Sesshomaru was little and he got remarried to my mother when he was about 16. Suffice it to say that we've still got our differences, but it also helps that our Dad is still around.”

 

Kagome nodded and smiled sleepily.

 

“What happened at the diner?” she asked.

 

“Ayame showed up. She somehow had all these thugs under her control. You can probably guess how. They started pelting the place with rocks and you were knocked out.” Sango said.

 

“Ayame?” Kagome said, suddenly remembering. “Where is she?”

 

“She's with Shiho.” Sango said softly.

 

“What!” Kagome shouted and clutched her head. She sank back into the pillow and felt Inuyasha take her hand as they related the story to her.

 

A few hours later, Kagome was released and told to rest overnight.

 

“It's a good thing it's Friday.” Sango said. “But we should all go somewhere quiet until Kagome's better so her mom won't worry.”

 

“Yes, that's the last thing we need.” Miroku said. He'd been very quiet most of the time at the hospital. Sango knew he would speak his thoughts when he was ready, but she felt fairly certain it was related to her.

 

“Let's go to my house.” Sango said. “Dad's out of town and it's quiet there. We should all be able to sleep fairly well, although it's a bit cramped.”

 

“I've a better idea.” Miroku said. “Let's go to my house. I'm sure we'll all be much better off.”

 

Kagome couldn't see what the difference would have been until she got out of the car and saw where Miroku lived.

 

“Wow!” Kagome breathed. She stared in amazement at a western-style mansion, complete with acres of trees and gardens.

 

“Everyone should be able to have their own room.” Miroku said. “If they want that is.” He grinned merrily at them, which gave Sango her cue to pinch his cheek firmly.

 

“Pervert.” she muttered, but was quite glad to hear Miroku joke again.

 

Miroku opened the door and Kagome, leaning against Inuyasha for support, was helped up to a room where Sango would help her clean up.

 

“We can set these to soak overnight.” Sango said, observing her uniform. “The blood should be gone by morning.” Just to be sure, she poured some peroxide over the stains to remove the blood and set it to soak.

 

“Why does Miroku live someplace so big if it's just him?” Kagome asked from the bathroom. She saw no signs of parents or siblings.

 

“His mom died when Miroku was just a kid.” Sango answered. “And his Dad isn't exactly the paternal type. He sends Miroku enough money to live on and keep the place up, but that's about it.”

 

“How sad.” Kagome whispered. There was a soft tap at the door.

 

“Kagome? Sango?” Miroku called through the door. “I found some clothes for you to where. May I come in?”

 

“Just a moment, Miroku.” Kagome called. She hurried into the bathroom while Sango came out to answer the door.

 

“Here, I'm afraid it's the only women's clothing in the house.” He gave her two kimono and lowered his eyes. “They were my mother's. She was a very traditional woman.”

 

“Thank you, Miroku. I'm sure Kagome will be flattered.” She turned to go but Miroku caught her hand.

 

“Sango, please, where the green one yourself?” he asked. “It was my favorite of my mother's.” He turned and closed the door behind him. Sango smiled. Water ripples decorated the green kimono, while Kagome wore a dark blue kimono purpled and pinked with flowers. Both ladies came downstairs to find Inuyasha and Miroku too had changed into simple brown robes.

 

“I'm afraid I don't have much in the house right now, but I ordered some takeout, if that's okay?” Miroku said.

 

“It's fine.” Sango said. The food arrived ten minutes later and Miroku made them all tea. Afterwards, Sango and Kagome went upstairs to bathe while Inuyasha and Miroku when to another room.

 

“What do you think is bothering Miroku?” Kagome asked. Sango shrugged and leaned against the bath side.

 

“I'm not sure, but I think he might be feeling guilty about what almost happened today. I think he's remembering what happened in the past when I died.”

 

Kagome nodded. She too remembered how horrible it had been. Naraku had sent his deadly tendrils of body toward Miroku when Sango intervened. However, Naraku had known what the girl would do and attacked her as her guard was down. She was run through and been thrown at the monk like a rag doll.

 

“I'm sure he still hasn't forgiven himself for that.” Sango said. Kagome nodded.

 

“I think you should go talk to him.” Kagome said. Sango stared in surprise.

“Right now?” she squeaked. “But he's bathing.”

 

“Well, you still should go talk to him.” Kagome said. “I think he needs to hear your voice right now.”

 

Sango sat still a moment more before rising and drying herself off. She redressed in the kimono and looked back at Kagome.

 

“Will you be alright?” she asked.

 

“Yup, I'm fine.” Kagome smiled. “I'll finish here and go to bed. You just go be with Miroku right now.”

 

Sango smiled and blushed a pink hue before leaving.

 

Kagome smiled after her friend. She was fairly certain she would not see the young woman again tonight.

 

***

 

Sango stood outside Miroku's bedroom, her hand poised to knock. What had she been thinking? But she knew she should at least talk to him so she might put his mind at ease. She knocked on the door but there was no answer. She tried again with no result. Summoning her courage, she pushed lightly on the door. It opened gently. What she saw took her breath away. The bedroom was awash in candles and Miroku sat on the floor before a table. He was scribbling on a pad of paper but looked up with a pleasant smile.

 

“I hoped you wouldn't keep me waiting long.” Miroku smiled and Sango was unable to speak.

 

To Be Continued…

OOHHH! What's going to happen next, I wonder? Keep reading. Oh, and may I please take another moment to apologize profusely for taking so long to update. I have no excuse really, other than to say that I haven't known what to do and have had no time to write. Stay tuned in for the next chapter which will be up in….45 seconds, probably.

 

Stay cool minna! From here on in, this will be fun! ^_~