The Darkest Hour-- Part VII

Sango frowned as the sun continued to dip toward the western horizon. She flinched when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She relaxed slightly when she realized it was Miroku.

“He will be back in time.”

She sighed. “For Kagome’s sake, I hope so.”

They stayed together, watching Shippo play. She kept waiting for his hand to drift. Yet, as the minutes passed on, she became more surprised at his restraint.

“We are going to get Kagome back, Sango.”

She glanced at the priest. “How can you be so certain?”

“Because I believe.”

She was speechless. Most of the time she had to remind her herself that he was a priest. Yet, there were moments like this where she wondered how she could think of him as anything else.

“What are you two doing?”

Sango tore her gaze from Miroku to Inuyasha. She didn’t know why she was fighting the urge to blush. “We have been waiting for you.”

“Well, waiting’s over. Let’s go.”

Miroku sighed, rising to his feet. “Nice to see you, too, Inuyasha.”

* * * * *

The door to the cell was jerked opened. Kagome immediately pulled herself into a tighter ball. She flinched when something landed on her.

She uncurled a bit. She was surprised to find cloth draped over her. “Huh?”

“Put it on,” Hantako ordered. Her anger flared when the girl stared at her. “Don’t make me ask you again.”

The girl scrambled to comply. Before Kagome could even tie the belt, Hantako was jerking her to her feet. The demon’s claws were digging into her skin, threatening to draw new blood. Kagome’s whimper of pain only made Hantako tighten her grip.

Kagome was running to keep up with Hantako as the demon stormed through the castle. In the courtyard, one of the panthers was waiting. Hantako threw Kagome across its shoulders and climbed on behind her.

“Your half-breed may think he has won, young miko,” Hantako muttered, “but he’s in for quite a surprise.”

* * * * *

Inuyasha felt Sango and Miroku stiffen behind him as Hantako and Kagome entered the clearing. The demon had a death grip on Kagome’s arm as she pulled the girl off the panther. Inuyasha clenched his fists but did nothing.

“Well, dog-boy, aren’t you full of surprises? I never pegged you as the punctual type.”

“Ha ha. Now let her go.”

“Why do you care so much about her?” Hantako smiled as yanked viciously on Kagome’s arm, making the girl whimper. “She’s just a shard detector to you, isn’t she?”

“I told you to let her go,” he growled.

“Where are the shards?”

Inuyasha pulled out Kagome’s necklace. The dying sunlight made the fragments glow. “Now, let Kagome go,” he ordered.

“Fine. She was boring me anyway.”

The captor shoved the girl violently forward. Kagome cried out as she stumbled. Calling her name, Inuyasha rushed forward and caught her by her shoulders.

The simple robe she was dressed in opened, one half slipping over her shoulder. Glancing down, Inuyasha was shocked to find her was naked underneath. With her head bowed, Kagome tried to quickly cover herself.

However, Inuyasha grabbed her wrist, stopping her. She glanced up at him with wide, haunted eyes. “Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“Inuyasha!” Sango cried. She stared at the two in shock. Why wasn’t he letting Kagome cover herself?

He ignored the demon exterminator. With a gentle hand, he pulled the robe further down Kagome’s shoulder, baring more of her skin. The girl closed her eyes, trying to hide her tears.

Whelps and cuts crisscrossed across her body, forming ugly red marks on her pale skin. His blood boiled as he pulled the robe back up on her shoulder. With a sob, she gripped the edges of the garment closed with her fist.

“Go to Sango.”

With one more glance at him, she ran to her friend. He turned to her captor, the monster responsible for Kagome’s torture. His blood burned hotter at the creature’s smirk.

His sword slide free with a hiss as the blade transformed. “I’ll kill you.”

“I’d love to see you try,” Hantako said with a smirk as her panther placed itself between her and the hanyou.


Part VII Sango frowned as the sun continued to dip toward the western horizon. She flinched when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She relaxed slightly when she realized it was Miroku. “He will be back in time.” She sighed. “For Kagome’s sake, I hope so.” They stayed together, watching Shippo play. She kept waiting for his hand to drift. Yet, as the minutes passed on, she became more surprised at his restraint. “We are going to get Kagome back, Sango.” She glanced at the priest. “How can you be so certain?” “Because I believe.” She was speechless. Most of the time she had to remind her herself that he was a priest. Yet, there were moments like this where she wondered how she could think of him as anything else. “What are you two doing?” Sango tore her gaze from Miroku to Inuyasha. She didn’t know why she was fighting the urge to blush. “We have been waiting for you.” “Well, waiting’s over. Let’s go.” Miroku sighed, rising to his feet. “Nice to see you, too, Inuyasha.” * * * * * The door to the cell was jerked opened. Kagome immediately pulled herself into a tighter ball. She flinched when something landed on her. She uncurled a bit. She was surprised to find cloth draped over her. “Huh?” “Put it on,” Hantako ordered. Her anger flared when the girl stared at her. “Don’t make me ask you again.” The girl scrambled to comply. Before Kagome could even tie the belt, Hantako was jerking her to her feet. The demon’s claws were digging into her skin, threatening to draw new blood. Kagome’s whimper of pain only made Hantako tighten her grip. Kagome was running to keep up with Hantako as the demon stormed through the castle. In the courtyard, one of the panthers was waiting. Hantako threw Kagome across its shoulders and climbed on behind her. “Your half-breed may think he has won, young miko,” Hantako muttered, “but he’s in for quite a surprise.” * * * * * Inuyasha felt Sango and Miroku stiffen behind him as Hantako and Kagome entered the clearing. The demon had a death grip on Kagome’s arm as she pulled the girl off the panther. Inuyasha clenched his fists but did nothing. “Well, dog-boy, aren’t you full of surprises? I never pegged you as the punctual type.” “Ha ha. Now let her go.” “Why do you care so much about her?” Hantako smiled as yanked viciously on Kagome’s arm, making the girl whimper. “She’s just a shard detector to you, isn’t she?” “I told you to let her go,” he growled. “Where are the shards?” Inuyasha pulled out Kagome’s necklace. The dying sunlight made the fragments glow. “Now, let Kagome go,” he ordered. “Fine. She was boring me anyway.” The captor shoved the girl violently forward. Kagome cried out as she stumbled. Calling her name, Inuyasha rushed forward and caught her by her shoulders. The simple robe she was dressed in opened, one half slipping over her shoulder. Glancing down, Inuyasha was shocked to find her was naked underneath. With her head bowed, Kagome tried to quickly cover herself. However, Inuyasha grabbed her wrist, stopping her. She glanced up at him with wide, haunted eyes. “Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Inuyasha!” Sango cried. She stared at the two in shock. Why wasn’t he letting Kagome cover herself? He ignored the demon exterminator. With a gentle hand, he pulled the robe further down Kagome’s shoulder, baring more of her skin. The girl closed her eyes, trying to hide her tears. Whelps and cuts crisscrossed across her body, forming ugly red marks on her pale skin. His blood boiled as he pulled the robe back up on her shoulder. With a sob, she gripped the edges of the garment closed with her fist. “Go to Sango.” With one more glance at him, she ran to her friend. He turned to her captor, the monster responsible for Kagome’s torture. His blood burned hotter at the creature’s smirk. His sword slide free with a hiss as the blade transformed. “I’ll kill you.” “I’d love to see you try,” Hantako said with a smirk as her panther placed itself between her and the hanyou.


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