Power at Hand

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha series, even though I lurve Inu no Taisho, Sesshomaru, Naraku, etc. etc. lol

AN: Much love to all who have reviewed! I’m glad you guys like my writing, I know in past stories my descriptions came off as choppy and somewhat harder to follow, so I’ve been trying to improve. So I’m glad it’s working, lol.

On the last chapter, I think I fixed the problem where people could only read part of my “AN:” and if that problem comes up again, please don’t hesitate to let me know. ^^

Anyway, on with the story!

~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~

Chapter III: Disappointment and Desperation


With Kirara’s help in flight, Sango and Kagome finally finished putting out the fires that had spread through the village. Just as Shippo had said, not a scrap of life had survived, which Kagome was grateful she had left her kit near the forest’s edge. Even though he knew there were no survivors and he could clearly see the ashes of the village from where he stayed, she was glad he did not have to suffer through the detailed sight of the remains. She herself was having trouble holding her lunch in, the smell and view both colliding in her delicate mind just how brutal a war could be.

Miroku was in the middle of digging the last grave, having broken a sweat from hours of digging, refusing to allow his body to rest. The more he dug, the more irritable he became at a certain absent hanyou. The three warriors’ resolve to defeat Naraku had increased tenfold, their moods souring when they were finally allowed leave to rest for the night. Kagome walked away from the remains of the buildings and gathered Shippo in her arms, trailing behind Sango and Miroku back to camp. With a light thud, the young miko settled herself onto her sleeping bag, feeling filthier than ever and wanting desperately to bathe, but settled in defeat at the chance to finally rest. A similar though crossed through the monk and demon slayer, but at the wee hours of the morning, and so much stress weighing you down, cleanliness suddenly didn’t seem that important. Besides, there was always tomorrow to bathe.

Inuyasha bounded towards the group near dawn, not three hours since the quintet had laid themselves down to rest. He was reluctant to return, treading softly so as not to wake anyone. Near the back of his mind, he wondered why the three smelled of smoke, but for now, that was the least of his concerns. Kneeling down, he allowed Kikyo off his back, turning towards her for any hint of reassurance towards his decision. She gave a warm smile, kissing his lips softly, only to step back when he jumped at the sound of Kirara’s mewl. The neko demon looked at the two, feigning indifference, but knew distinctly that her mistress and friends would not take kindly to this new turn of events. And seeing how jumpy Inuyasha already was wouldn’t help matters in the least. That just meant brash words, a crying miko, and so many more problems to come. With a light flick of her two tails, Kirara curled up in a ball next to Shippo, knowing that where he would be would probably end up as the safest place away from the cross fire of the love triangle.

As a couple of more hours passed, Inuyasha began to grow impatient with the group, trying to figure out why on earth none of them were awake by now. Finally, he nudged the houshi with his foot, impatient to get some answers, and just vaguely worried that the group might have fallen into some sort of sleeping spell. Miroku lazily swatted the foot away as he cracked an eye open, none to happy to actually see the half breed now that the excitement was over.

“Inuyasha…”

His flat tone said it all. The monk didn’t even know that Kikyo was around, yet Inuyasha was already in trouble. His ears pressed back against his skull as he huffed, trying to show an air of aggravation, a light snarl playing on his lips.

“About time you woke up. We’ve been waiting for a while now.”

Still lying down, Miroku turned his head to see the girls and Shippo all still asleep. Quirking a brow, he faced Inuyasha in question.

“We?”

When the half-breed failed to meet his gaze, the monk quickly sat up and looked around for the other party. He froze, staring across the campsite at none other than the dead priestess, Kikyo. Her expression was cold, cold enough to make his skin crawl and he struggled against the involuntary shiver that slithered down his back.

“Inuyasha…”

The monk had said one word and his name twice so far in the morning, yet again the tone put the hanyou to shame, hearing the words without Miroku ever saying them.

“She can help.”

Miroku cocked a disbelieving brow at Inuyasha, trying to figure out if the dog demon had finally gone insane or not.

“Are you daft, Inuyasha? Do you realize what this could do to…”

He cut himself short, refusing to discuss Kagome’s heart in front of the present company.

“Inuyasha, I would ask to have a word with you in private once the rest are awake.”

Though the monk wanted nothing more than to bop the hanyou now for his incompetence and scold him until he felt like a week olde pup still in diapers, but at no time did he want to leave Sango or Kagome asleep with only Kikyo present. Though angry, the monk had patience and would bide his time for his upcoming lecture.

Kagome began to stir, giving a soft whimper from the night’s encounter. Drearily, she opened her eyes, the fist person in her view being her deceased incarnation. With a yelp, Kagome jumped up and went for her bow in defense, experience warning her not to trust the embodied phantom before her. As she drew the arrow back, Inuyasha stepped in front of her, putting his hand over the tip and lowering her weapon to the ground. He was angry and she was stunned, neither saying a word.

Before the outbreak could start, Miroku was gathering Sango, waking the demon slayer to possible danger, and placing a sleeping Shippo in her arms to protect.

“Inu…Inuyasha? What? Why? When? How could you!?”

Kagome’s words echoed in the silence, tears of betrayal already slipping down her flushed cheeks. Her brows furrowed in a mix of emotions, predominantly confusion, but Inuyasha could easily see the anger she was trying to hide.

“She’s coming with us, to help with whatever power Naraku has probably gotten his hands on.”

Kagome stared at the boy before her, a loss for words as she kept mouthing the words “How could you?” Kikyo’s soft voice broke through the tense silence, her eyes never wavering as she fixed her reincarnation with a hard stare.

“Whatever that power is, Naraku was sure to already find it, or was the cause of it. You will need my help in defeating him.”

Miroku stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Kagome’s shoulder, his angry gaze meeting Kikyo’s, daring her to try and hurt the younger priestess.

“I believe you are mistaken, Lady Kikyo. Where as you are powerful, yes, I am afraid I must make it clear that I do not trust you.”

“I am not asking for your trust, monk, I am stating that…”

“Oh but you are. For my friends to sleep at night with no fear of betrayal from you, that requires trust. And I am afraid that you have done nothing thus far to earn such a thing. Again, I am sorry, Lady Kikyo, but my voice stands and asks that you please take your leave.”

Kagome looked up at Miroku with a grateful expression, her heart warming even more when Sango stood up to silently voice her agreement. She was shaken out of her serene thoughts of gratitude at Inuyasha’s chastened tone.

“What the hell?! She offers you guys some help, and you try and toss her out like that? She’s changed! She hasn’t had any contact with Naraku for Kami’s know how long.”

His angry glare jumped from Sango, to Miroku, and finally settled on Kagome, causing the girl to squirm slightly in discomfort. Sighing inaudibly, she finally decided for the group, her voice so soft that even Inuyasha had trouble hearing.

“She can stay.”

Miroku studied her face, trying to pinpoint what she just said when her expression said it all. She was crestfallen, defeated within the confines of her mind that she was being replaced.

“Lady Kagome, are you sure? Neither Sango or myself would blame you for turning her away.”

Kagome tried to fake a smile, though it failed somewhat miserably, looking up at Inuyasha, her eyes letting the group know just who would blame her, and how far her heart would fall if that were to pass.

“It’s alright. I don’t mind. She’s more experienced with the bow and controlling her powers anyway.”

She gave a nonchalant shrug, turning around before another bout of tears could flow. Sango gave Miroku a look to keep an eye on Kikyo and Inuyasha while she suggested that her and Kagome go to the hot springs to clean up from the prior night’s problems. Miroku agreed, requesting they leave him time to bathe as well after the girl’s returned.

“What happened last night that they’re going back to the hot springs and you want another bath?”

Miroku narrowed his eyes dangerously at the hanyou, his patience wearing thin with so much on his mind. Taking a few calming breaths, he sat down, explaining to Inuyasha and Kikyo what had transpired the night before.

~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~

Sugimi looked about, finding himself yet again in the humid cell. He made a disgruntled noise, his inner beast making a fuss about the walls closing in. In truth, after sitting there for hours with nothing to do but think of the people he killed and the power that was dangling over his head, the cell did feel like it was shrinking. The mold made his nose twitch, hunger from years of death finally catching up after the most recent kill. Horrible as it was, it was still blood and flesh, and it ate at him that he had yet to have a single half decent meal.

His guilt weighed heavier when he realized that had he of been in control, he would have taken a bite out of the first human he slaughtered. Though naturally, he would have wanted a beast of burden to gorge himself on and replenish his strength with, but Naraku had walked him into a village. After the first scream and the smell of blood, his beast clawed at his insides to feast. Feast and be done with the torment. And a feast he wanted, if nothing more than to free himself and the world of Naraku’s newest weapon. But alas, Naraku allowed him the smell of blood, the sight of death, the feel of being a killer…and yet as his predatory instincts struggled to break free, his thirst; his hunger for blood still lingered on the tip of his tongue.

Sugimi turned his head in disgust at his own thoughts, trying to rid the need he felt. He had practically tasted that girl’s fear. And on top of that, Naraku in the very end gave him a taste, a true actual taste of blood when he was forced to attack the girl’s relative. Just as he was allowed the satisfaction of something’s life in his jaws and the hope of gaining strength enough to break free, that hope was ripped away in a sudden retreat. He heard the human struggling with cries of anguish, the lone survivor of his rampage.

And yet, here, the great Inu no Taisho sat once more, bound by nothing than a cluster of life supporting shards.

He sighed, feeling degraded. Though, I do feel slightly stronger. That human’s blood was enough to boost my strength just a bit, a promising sign. Now, how to gain enough strength to break free… A squeak caught his attention as he looked to the other side of his cell. His nose wrinkled at the thought, but he concluded that desperate times called for desperate measures. His body craved nourishment, and though small and unsanitary, this is what the Kami’s were offering. I wonder what I did while I was dead for the Kami’s to center me in their deranged joke… With that thought he reached a clawed hand swiftly towards the rat, skewering it before it could run, and devouring it before Naraku or his minions would know that he now had a way of escaping. Patiently, he sat back at his post, waiting for the next victim, inwardly grimacing at what he was now reduced to. When I’m free…No one will no of this…Ever.

~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~//~~~

AN: The plot line will be coming into focus soon, I hope. ^^ I’m just trying to get the feel of the characters and their struggles at the moment. Let me know if I’m over doing it. O.o

Critiques and comments are loved and adored. Reviews are welcome. ^.^