The Light in a Darkened Heart

Remember my previous disclaimer?  Chant it softly to yourself at the
beginning of every chapter; this wastes less time.
 
 
 >Cha>Chapter Three:  The Loss of Vision
 
 
    Kouga could feel his leg beginning to cramp as he huddled
in some dense bushes just downwind of the jewel-seeking group.  Inuyasha
had long since abandoned them, departing as soon as everyone was asleep for the
forest and the clay priestess.  The night was alive with sound and scent. 
 
   The forest was glowing very slightly from the presence of Kikyo's
shinidamachu(spelling?).  The leaves on the trees rustled from the light
wind which blew down the smell of green, growing things off the mountains. 
Nights like this always made Kouga feel gloriously alive and reminded him how
truly wild and free he was.  It was a gift that many animal youkai could
realize and celebrate the ties connecting them to the natural world surrounding
them.  They were a part of it and it was a part of them,  one could
not deny one's essence.
 
    From his position on the ground he could clearly see the
firelight reflected off Kagome's face, highlighting the delicacy of her lips and
cheekbones.  "She is so beautiful" He sighed to himself.  As Kouga
waited he began to daydream again.  This time he could see himself
approaching Kagome's sleeping bag as she slept.  He imagined himself
kneeling down and cupping her cheeks in his hands, running his fingertips over
her lips as they gently parted on a sigh.  He saw himself moving his hands
down over her shoulders to gently rub her arms.  "Kagome..." He whispered
softly. 
 
    Suddenly Kouga's attention was diverted from his
increasingly stimulated dream to the scent of demon blood.  He could hear
the labored breathing of an approaching youkai.  All his muscles bunched
under his armor as he realized the time had come to execute the first act of
this drama.  The demon's scent was oily and pungent, almost like rotting
meat.  Suddenly the youkai burst into the clearing heading straight for the
slumbering Kagome.  Jerked awake by the sudden racket, Kagome saw the demon
and made a grab for her bow and arrows.  Before she could even grasp them,
however, Kouga had also burst into the clearing and speared the shard-hungry
demon to the ground.  Kagome screamed and this time grabbed her bow and
arrows intending to shoot the youkai at the first opportunity. 
 
    At that particular moment however, the demon spat at
Kagome from it's position on the ground and covered her face with a viscous
yellow slime.  She could feel the slime enter her eyes and sced.&ed. 
Kagome's vision began to fade and she fought against it attempting to wipe the
substance off  her face.  When she realized that at least for the
moment her vision was gone Kagome concentrated instead on what she could hear. 
 
    By this time Miroku and Sango had awoken and seen the
skirmish taking place.  Sango saw the demon's spit cover Kagome's face and
rushed to guard the miko as she attempted to wipe tlimelime off.  Miroku
reached inside his robes grabbing the first ofuda he came across.  He knew
it would be impossible to open the kazaana with Kouga so close to the attacking
youkai.  He could not however get a clear shot with scrolls either since
Kouga was practically on top of the demon. 
 
     The demon threw Kouga off himself and lumbered to
it's feet.  The wolf rushed forward again, claws raised, when the youkai
lunged away from him and slashed at his back as he passed.  Kouga could
feel the razors pass through the flesh on his back and slide around his side. 
Gritting his teeth he knew he needed to end this battle soon or risk further
injury to himself or Kagome.  Kouga turned and waited for the demon to rush
forward, assuming that the wolf was too weak to attack again so soon.  It
was the last mistake the demon ever made.  Kouga ducked and ripped upward
with his claws as the demon leaped and passed over his head.  The wolf
prince laid the demon's gut open with one deft slice.  The youkai collapsed
to the ground attempting to crawl away to recover.  Kouga jumped into the
air and cut down this time severing the head of the noxious being from it's
shoulders.
 
    He immediately whipped around and approached Kagome who
was seated on the ground with bow and arrow still raised, although shaking
slightly.  She could sense Kouga's approach and her adrenaline was only
beginning to ebb.  He knelt down beside her and pulled her close to him,
cradling her between his shoulder and his neck.  He began running his hands
over her arms and back searching for any cuts or abrasions.  Satisfied that
there were no other injuries he stood up with Kagome in his arms.  He
turned to Sango who was still standing close to Kagome, guarding her.  "She
needs diatdiate attention for her eyes.  They must be cleaned and have some
healing herbs applied."  Sango nodded and told the wolf that there was a
small stream about two miles from their current camp.  Miroku was busy
attempting to calm Shippo who had woken out of a dead sleep to see the battle
and then the disemboweled youkai.  He was currently struggling to get away
from the houshi and leap onto Kagome. 
 
    "Where is Inuyasha, Kouga?"  Sango queried.  Not
wanting to upset Kagome, Kouga jerked his head to the left where the eerie
lights were intermittently seen through the leaves at the tops of the trees. 
Out loud he said "I don't know. He's probably close by."  Catching on,
Sango nodded grimly and turned to enter the glowing forest.  Kouga told the
monk in a voice that dared him to object, "I'm taking Kagome to clean her eyes
and apply the herbs needed to treat her blindness.  I will return her as
soon as she is properly cared for."  Kagome opened her mouth to object but
closed it again when Kouga gently told her, "If we do not act quickly you could
lose sight permanently and we have just the herbs necessary to heal you at the
pack's dens.  I only want to help, please let me do this much for
you......as a friend."  Kagome nodded and told Shippo that she would return
soon and not to worry.  With that, Kouga turned and ran, leaving a whirling
dervish behind him.