While You Still Think You Know Everything by KEdakumi
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
By this time the remaining demons were shouting, hoping to draw out their unseen enemy. Kagome took a special arrow out of her arsenal and aimed at the taller dog demon. He looked up to see the projectile and went to run but was instead thrown several feet back before collapsing to the ground. Shippo decided to join in the fun again, taunting the shorter dog demon as the water demon tore off in her direction. Kagome jumped as a ball of water left a small crater in the tree next to her. She was thankful for the sparring sessions with Sango, Miroku and Shippo when the demon next appeared behind her. His left arm took the form of a sword and she barely duck before it went swinging over her head. A strong kick to her side reminded her to back up and away from the danger. She could feel her energy pulse and barely avoided the sword arm again. The demon brought his arm back for another swing, catching her on the arm. She didn't want to purify him, only stun him, but she found out long ago that her energy can take on a mind of it's own. The demon didn't even have a chance to scream as the purity of her soul ran up his arm and overwhelmed him completely, turning him to ash.
She took a few moments to catch her breath before taking off toward the sound of explosions. “I hope Shippo remembers to leave something for the villagers to come back to.” She thought to herself, picking up her pace.
She came just in time to see her her little fox bounce off a tree. A green whip glowed in the darkness. She absently wondered if that was a trait that all the dog demons shared before jumping into action. She shot an arrow as she ran, hoping to catch the demon's attention. It worked. Unfortunately, it also missed... mostly. With the light from the fires around the village she watched her arrow graze past the demon's face. He brought his whip in her direction with a snap. Kagome noticed the acidic poison eating into the ground before she manage to raise a quick barrier, just before a set of claws would have ripped into her. A growl told her she managed to burn his hand before he backed up. She was silently thanking Miroku and Kaede again for helping her take better control of her of her soul, allowing her to form it's energy to what she needed.
“You will regret that bitch!” the little dog spat. Kagome winced as the whip appeared again, cracking hard against the shield around her.
Without warning, the demon stopped his attack. He looked at his side at the arrow protruding out of it, just a few inches above his hip. He turned to see a trembling villager loading another arrow and attempting to aim it at him again. Kagome watched as he ran at the man, growling, only to be thrown to the side by a large blast of Shippo's foxfire.
“Get out of here! NOW!” Kagome shouted as she let down barrier, startling the surprised villager out of his panic induced trance. The man didn't need to be told twice and was off again into the dark. Kagome ran toward the demon who was back on his feet. She noticed Shippo holding his side, his clothing taking on a dark tone. The demon charged at her little friend and she acted on instinct. Bow in hand, she let her arrow fly. It grabbed the surprised demon in the chest and pinned him to the tree next to him. He managed to shoot her a hateful look before closing his eyes.
The friends looked at each other for a moment, taking deep breaths, then around at the damage done to the village. Two huts and the stable were burning brightly, but aside from several downed trees and craters in the ground, the village looked to be saved. It looked like they would be burying two villagers, but the damage could have been much worse. Kagome looked at the dog demon on the ground and the lizard one still complaining about being caught under Shippo's big rock. “Three still alive.” She thought. “Now to bundle them up before letting the villagers back.”
She knew, if allowed, the villagers would charge right in and kill her prisoners. She didn't want that. She wanted to understand why they were attacking the villages and then turn them over to Sesshoumaru or whomever the demon lord of the east is. Though Sesshoumaru would probably still kill them, she wanted to make sure no wars would be started with the actions of these few.
“Are you going to be alright?” she asked Shippo as she gently lifted his shirt to look at the slice along his ribs.
“I'll be fine.” he replied with a slight hiss as she applied some of the herbal remedies from her bag then started to wrap it.
“That's good.” she said. “When we're done, why don't you go build a fire near our tree'd friend there while I bring over our other two guests.” and with that she carried her medical supplies over to make sure the taller dog demon wouldn't bleed out. It wouldn't do to have your prisoner die too soon. A part of her felt a bit of guilt as she placed a sutra on the dog before removing the arrow and wrapping his wound. She had hoped to have been able to get in a clean shot so he didn't suffer as he lay frozen on the ground, but looking at the wound, she knew it hurt. Something in his eyes close to relief shown when she finally was done wrapping. She gave him some herbs to cause him to sleep then drug him over to lean against the tree where his co-conspirator was pinned.
Finally walking over to the lizard demon. She watched a moment as he thrashed about and cursed. She then threw another sutra, effectively freezing him in place as well. “I would ask you why you have been attacking these villages, but I don't think you'd answer me right now, even if you weren't frozen at that odd angle.” She could see the fire in his eyes. It was a look of pure hatred. “Please be aware, I could still purify you now.” Ah, there the hatred disappeared for a moment to replaced with fear. “Instead I will be attempting to contact the proper people... demons... whatever, to let them question you instead.” Anger again in his eyes... then laughter? “What is he thinking?” she wondered.
Eventually Shippo had the fire going and Kagome set up another barrier around their campsite and tree that held their 3 guests. This was a special barrier with sutras that were in tune to Kagome and Shippo, specifically. No guests could get out and no humans, in. It was safer for everyone, though the villagers chose to disagree upon their return. Several of the men shouted and tried to force Kagome to hand over the demons to take revenge on the attack. They said, though they were grateful to her and Shippo for their service, that their duty was done and the village would be responsible for meriting the punishment. Kagome argued that she didn't try to spare them just for them to be killed outright. Their were others that may want to speak with these three, but if not, then she would turn them over to the village. This seemed to satisfy the men and two remained 'guard' while the others tried to right the village again. It was breaking dawn before Kagome could finally sit down. Shippo laying next to her with his head on her lap.
She watched the sun rise through the trees while starting to doze. It had been a long night and after some sleep, it was going to be a long day. She was going to have to either leave Shippo here to stand guard while she looked for the demon lord of the east or she was going to have to send Shippo. They really didn't want to be separated, but she wouldn't send out one of the villagers and she didn't trust them to watch her guests without killing them.
Speaking of guests, she looked to the one pinned to the tree as his short hair blew in the breeze. “He looks young.” she thought while absently running her fingers through Shippo's hair. All of the sudden the young fox shot up. He looked around frantically, finally setting his sights on the boy on the tree. He ran over and cautious sniffed at him, as if he were afraid the spell would let loose and he would be attacked again.
“Oh shit....” he mumbled.
“Shippo! Language.” Kagome reprimanded without thought as she stood beside him.
He disregarded her words as the young fox jumped onto a branch next to the demon's head. “I thought he smelled a bit familiar. I've been trying to think all night where I recognized that scent from.” He reached over to the boy's head. It was hanging down with his hair in his face, so Kagome walked over to lift his chin. His short silver hair parted around his face. The black tips framed his features. She noticed the red mark that came from the side of his head and swirled around one cheek, but what caught her eye was the blue crescent moon on his forehead.
“Shippo...” she started hesitantly. “What is the scent you recognized?” though she thought she knew the answer.
“Sesshoumaru.” Was his quiet reply.
“Oh shit...”
“Indeed, priestess.” Came a deep voice from outside the barrier. “You will remove this barrier and explain why my son is run through with one of your arrows before I kill you both for touching what is mine.”