The Darkest Hour -- Part I

[Author’s Note: This is unrelated to my previous Inuyasha fanfic.]

“Where are your priorities?” Inuyasha bellowed, his voice echoing off the trees around them. “We have to keep searching for the jewel shards! Naraku is going to get all the shards at this rate!”

“I have a test! I have to go home! You know this!”

“Then why did you bother come back if you could only stay a day?”

“To help you!” Kagome cried, inches away from his face.

He snorted. “I don’t need your help, wench.”

“That’s it!” Kagome spun on her heel and grabbed her oversized bag. “I’m going home! Now!”

“See if I care!”

Shippo fought back a sniffle. “Are you really leaving, Kagome?”

“Let her go,” Inuyasha said.

“Shut up, you,” Shippo snapped. “Kagome, please don’t listen to him. Don’t leave me with this jerk.”

Kagome knelt down in front of the little fox demon and hugged him. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, Shippo.”

The young kit seemed unconvinced. Inuyasha turned his back to the display, muttering under his breath. Kagome merely sighed and rose to her full height.

“I promise,” she added, when Shippo continued to sniffle. She reshouldered her bag. “Oh, and Inuyasha?”

“What?” he answered grudgingly.

“SIT!”

Inuyasha immediately slammed into the ground. He cursed loudly as he struggled against the spell. With a satisfied smirk, Kagome headed back to the well.

* * * * *

Kagome could see the well, signaling that she was almost home. However, as she got closer, she felt that something was wrong. No birds were singing and no animals were foraging, making the forest too quiet.

‘Demon,’ she realized. ‘A big one.’

She glanced at the well. If the demon was fast, there was no way she could make it in time. However, she was too far away from Inuyasha and the others to depend on them for help.

‘I have to try.’

She drew an arrow out of her quiver. She willed her hands to stop shaking as she notched it in her bow. Taking a deep breath, she made a dash for the well.

She almost made it.

* * * * *

“Stupid bitch,” Inuyasha growled when the spell finally dissipated. He jumped to his feet. With a disgusted look, he dusted off his clothes.

“Well, maybe if you weren’t so mean to her, she wouldn’t have to use that spell on you!” Shippo cried. “You big dumb dog man.”

“What did you call me?”

Before the kit even had a chance to reply, Inuyasha pounced. He wailed mercilessly on the fox cub. With a long suffering sigh, Miroku stepped forward.

“I doubt that’s going to help our situation, Inuyasha,” the priest stated.

The half-demon stopped, dropping Shippo unceremoniously to the ground. “Yeah, well, what do you suggest, Miroku?”

It was Sango who answered. “We should head back to the village and wait for Kagome’s return. We need to replenish our supplies and some of us are still injured from the last battle.”

Inuyasha eyed the girl. Bandages still covered her neck and forearm. A quick glance at Miroku confirmed that the priest was still favoring his injured shoulder.

“Fine, let’s go.”

They hadn’t been walking long when a roar echoed through the forest. Each froze, listening to the sound. Wincing in pain, Sango freed her boomerang.

“What is that?” Shippo whimpered, pressing closer to the others.

“A demon,” the girl replied.

Miroku nodded. “A large one by the sounds of it.”

“You’re wrong.” The others glanced at Inuyasha. “There are more than one and they’re looking for something.”

Understanding suddenly flared in his amber eyes. “They’re after Kagome and the shards!”

“Inuyasha, wait!”

However, the half-demon ignored the cries of the priest and the others. He ran toward the well at full speed. “Idiot, you should have stayed like I told you! Stupid wench!”

He hoped that cursing her would keep his mind off the dread building in his stomach.


Part I [Author’s Note: This is unrelated to my previous Inuyasha fanfic.] “Where are your priorities?” Inuyasha bellowed, his voice echoing off the trees around them. “We have to keep searching for the jewel shards! Naraku is going to get all the shards at this rate!” “I have a test! I have to go home! You know this!” “Then why did you bother come back if you could only stay a day?” “To help you!” Kagome cried, inches away from his face. He snorted. “I don’t need your help, wench.” “That’s it!” Kagome spun on her heel and grabbed her oversized bag. “I’m going home! Now!” “See if I care!” Shippo fought back a sniffle. “Are you really leaving, Kagome?” “Let her go,” Inuyasha said. “Shut up, you,” Shippo snapped. “Kagome, please don’t listen to him. Don’t leave me with this jerk.” Kagome knelt down in front of the little fox demon and hugged him. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, Shippo.” The young kit seemed unconvinced. Inuyasha turned his back to the display, muttering under his breath. Kagome merely sighed and rose to her full height. “I promise,” she added, when Shippo continued to sniffle. She reshouldered her bag. “Oh, and Inuyasha?” “What?” he answered grudgingly. “SIT!” Inuyasha immediately slammed into the ground. He cursed loudly as he struggled against the spell. With a satisfied smirk, Kagome headed back to the well. * * * * * Kagome could see the well, signaling that she was almost home. However, as she got closer, she felt that something was wrong. No birds were singing and no animals were foraging, making the forest too quiet. ‘Demon,’ she realized. ‘A big one.’ She glanced at the well. If the demon was fast, there was no way she could make it in time. However, she was too far away from Inuyasha and the others to depend on them for help. ‘I have to try.’ She drew an arrow out of her quiver. She willed her hands to stop shaking as she notched it in her bow. Taking a deep breath, she made a dash for the well. She almost made it. * * * * * “Stupid bitch,” Inuyasha growled when the spell finally dissipated. He jumped to his feet. With a disgusted look, he dusted off his clothes. “Well, maybe if you weren’t so mean to her, she wouldn’t have to use that spell on you!” Shippo cried. “You big dumb dog man.” “What did you call me?” Before the kit even had a chance to reply, Inuyasha pounced. He wailed mercilessly on the fox cub. With a long suffering sigh, Miroku stepped forward. “I doubt that’s going to help our situation, Inuyasha,” the priest stated. The half-demon stopped, dropping Shippo unceremoniously to the ground. “Yeah, well, what do you suggest, Miroku?” It was Sango who answered. “We should head back to the village and wait for Kagome’s return. We need to replenish our supplies and some of us are still injured from the last battle.” Inuyasha eyed the girl. Bandages still covered her neck and forearm. A quick glance at Miroku confirmed that the priest was still favoring his injured shoulder. “Fine, let’s go.” They hadn’t been walking long when a roar echoed through the forest. Each froze, listening to the sound. Wincing in pain, Sango freed her boomerang. “What is that?” Shippo whimpered, pressing closer to the others. “A demon,” the girl replied. Miroku nodded. “A large one by the sounds of it.” “You’re wrong.” The others glanced at Inuyasha. “There are more than one and they’re looking for something.” Understanding suddenly flared in his amber eyes. “They’re after Kagome and the shards!” “Inuyasha, wait!” However, the half-demon ignored the cries of the priest and the others. He ran toward the well at full speed. “Idiot, you should have stayed like I told you! Stupid wench!” He hoped that cursing her would keep his mind off the dread building in his stomach.


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