“Inuyasha, watch out!” warned Miroku running from cover to aid Inuyasha. Inuyasha jumped out of the way of the serpent’s enormous tail whip. The tail whip impact hurled large rocks at Miroku. “Wind tunnel!” shouted Miroku removing his cloak from his hand. The whirlwind sucked the debris into Miroku’s hand as Inuyasha anchored himself with the Tessaiga.
“Miroku you fool! Get out of here! I’ll take care of this!” instructed Inuyasha.
“I won’t let you fight alone!” Miroku wrapped his hand after the serpent dove into the ground. “You’re going to need us!” he said.
Sango ran into the field followed by Kirara to join in the fight. Kagome searched around for her bow and arrows to join the battle. Her weapons lay next to her bike across the field. I have to get across to help the others! Kagome crawled out of her hiding place. The ground trembled. The serpent resurfaced right underneath Kagome! Kagome rode the mound of dirt settled on the serpent’s nose.
“Kagome!” shouted Inuyasha.
Kagome screamed out to Inuyasha. The others watched in horror believing Kagome was going to be devoured. Miroku advised Inuyasha to use caution as Inuyasha ran at the serpent. Kagome jumped off the dirt in hopes that Inuyasha would catch her. Inuyasha stopped in his tracks looking up at Kagome.
“What are you doing, you idiot!”
“Catch me, Inuyasha!” she cried falling into his arms.
Inuyasha leapt in the air. The serpent whipped Inuyasha in midair across the field. Kagome’s eyes widened after witnessing her safety net tossed aside. She screamed when all of a sudden a pink balloon caught her.
“Shippo!”
“Hold on, Kagome!” said Shippo in distorted tone.
The serpent noticed the floating balloon then prepared to strike. Sango aimed her weapon. “Hiraikotsu!” The boomerang spun like a saw in the air at the serpent’s body. It cut the serpent’s tail off. Miroku acted quickly. He unwrapped his hand. “Wind tunnel!”
The serpent’s tail was sucked into the void. The serpent burrowed into the ground yet again. Sango and Miroku ran to Kagome. She was alright. Kirara collected Kagome’s bow and arrows and placed them at Kagome’s feet. Kagome thanked Kirara then looked around for Inuyasha.
“Behind you,” Inuyasha walked to the group dusting himself off. “What the heck where trying to pull off? Now you know why you shouldn’t jump off a serpent!”
“I would’ve fallen anyway then what?” replied Kagome. “Would you have let me hit the ground?”
“Come on! That’s not what I meant!”
“Not again,” Shippo face-palmed.
The ground trembled again. Inuyasha and Kagome stopped arguing. Miroku suggested a battle strategy. “It’s hard to fight against the serpent because it keeps burrowing underground. We’ll have a better chance to destroy him by keeping him above the ground,” Miroku stated the obvious.
“Good point. I was about to say that,” said Inuyasha with some sarcasm.
Sango made another entry to the plan. “We can’t keep him surfaced forever. We have to strike him with everything we got the first chance we get!”
Kagome affirmed. Wicked laughter rocked the ground on which they stood. Sango hopped on Kirara. They elevated to get a good shot at the resurfacing serpent. Shippo ran for cover. Miroku waited ready to unwrap his hand for the opportunity to suck the pieces of the serpent into his hand. Inuyasha prepared to strike the serpent with his phantom sword. Kagome drew out her arrow. They waited. Finally, the serpent resurfaced a few meters from them. Inuyasha cut the flying rocks down to pebbles. Sango was about ready to throw her boomerang when she noticed a strange scar on the serpent’s back, but she couldn’t tell what it was due to the settling dust. When the serpent fully resurfaced, Miroku noticed the serpent’s tail reappeared.
“The serpent regenerated!” he informed the others.
Sango now had a clear view of the scar on the serpent’s back. Its shape was that of a spider matching Naraku’s scar. “It’s another one of Naraku’s incarnations!” she shouted to the others. “Hiraikotsu!” shouted Sango.
The boomerang sliced the serpent on its side. Inuyasha leapt in the air and summoned the wind scar. Kagome released her sacred arrow. Miroku waited for the right moment to open his hand. Sango caught her returning boomerang. Kirara moved away from the incoming fire. The serpent tried dodging the wind scar but it was sliced in half. The serpent’s bottom half dissolved. Kagome’s arrow aided the wind scar in destroying half the serpent. The serpent slowly regenerated. Inuyasha charged at the serpent so as not to give it more time to repair itself. The serpent opened its mouth. A bright light glowed between its teeth. Kagome pulled back her arrow against her bow. “Inuyasha, get out of there!” Inuyasha paid no heed to Kagome. He summoned the wind scar again. Kagome took aim and released her arrow. The serpent fired its lightning bolt at Inuyasha. The wind scar collided with it but the lightning overpowered the wind scar. Meanwhile, Kagome’s arrow ripped through the serpent’s body. The serpent looked at the gap Kagome’s arrow made in its body.
“The sacred arrow alone isn’t enough to bring me down,” grinned the serpent demon. Recovering from the shock of beam, Inuyasha got on his feet not wanting to believe the serpent overpowered his wind scar. “I told you, Inuyasha. I told you your wind scar would prove useless! Now prepare to be destroyed!”
Inuyasha smiled. I’ll just use my backlash wave. That ought to teach you not to mess with me! The serpent fired again. Inuyasha lifted the Tessaiga over his head. “Backlash wave!” he shouted bringing his sword crashing to the ground.
The serpent’s fire blast was rerouted back at the serpent. The backlash wave turned into the wind scar. The wind scar ripped the serpent into many pieces. Miroku opened his hand. “Wind tunnel!” The serpent was sucked into Miroku’s hand. Miroku closed his hand and wrapped the prayer beads around it. Kirara made a soft landing as Sango got off Kirara and met up with the others. Inuyasha put his sword away.
“All in a day’s work. I like a little exercise in the morning.” Inuyasha grinned.
The others exhaled out loud. They were glad that was over with. Shippo dusted himself off and congratulated him. They gathered their things together and continued on their way. When the group was at a distance, the remains of the serpent joined together again.
*******
Something kept troubling Kagome as the group approached the next village. Why did that serpent attack us? Sure, someone’s always out to steal the jewel shards from us but this serpent was not after them. The serpent only seemed interested in Inuyasha? Kagome looked at Inuyasha walking ahead of her. Her concern over him was written all over her face. Oh, Inuyasha. Naraku wants you dead. I always hate it when you get hurt. Whenever you get injured it’s as if I’m being hurt. But, I’m glad you’re alright.
Kagome was so deep in thought she did not notice Inuyasha standing in front of her with his arms crossed. Kagome stopped in front of him looking at the ground. She lifted her vision and faced Inuyasha. He looked a bit upset like he usually is, but Kagome’s face did not change.
“What are you making that face for?” he demanded.
Kagome tried to change the look on her face but she could not. “Oh, no reason. I was just thinking.” I was thinking about you.
“That look bothers me!” Inuyasha said.
“Why?”
“You look sad.”
What? Did Inuyasha say that he gets bothered whenever I look sad? Kagome kept looking into Inuyasha’s eyes. That made Inuyasha grow uncomfortable.
“If you’re going to say something go ahead and say it!”
Kagome rested her head on his chest. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt.”
Inuyasha heard what she said but the strange looks from Shippo, Sango and Miroku made him feel uneasy. “Come on, Kagome.” He pushed her away softly. “You actually think that serpent was a challenge?” His pride kicked in. “He was easy!”
Inuyasha turned around and keep leading the group. Kagome shook her head. Oh, Inuyasha. When will you learn to share my concern for you?
Sango walked ahead of Miroku with Kirara at her side. She too was lost in thought. Kagome really cares about Inuyasha. I wonder when I’ll meet a man who’ll care for me, and I’d care for. Sure I care very much about my brother but that’s different. I’ve always watched out for Kohaku, but who’s looked after me? Hmm, my family and friends have. I can live with that. But why do I still feel so empty and sad? I know it’s not Kohaku I’m thinking about. If not Kohaku, then who else? Who could I be thinking about?
Sango walked on followed by Miroku. Miroku glanced at Sango’s rear end.
I wonder when Sango will bathe again. It has been a long time since she washed up. A smile formed over Miroku’s face. It’s been far too long. . . Miroku daydreamed about the times he was caught spying on Kagome and Sango bathing.
Shippo walked beside Miroku looking up at him and noticed that was staring at Sango. Shippo gave Miroku a cold stare. Pervert. When will you get some manners?
Inuyasha’s noise picked up a scent. “What it is, Inuyasha?” Kagome noticed Inuyasha’s noise twitch. “What do you smell?”
“Human flesh and blood.”
*******
They arrived at the village spotting a dying girl lying in the middle of the road. Miroku rushed over to the girl and held her head. She was young. No more than 11 years old. The little girl opened her eyes with great difficulty. Miroku looked into the girl’s eyes. “Who did this?” The girl blinked opening her eyes again very slowly. She murmured very softly. Miroku put his ear closer to the girl’s mouth to hear what she had to say. “Seer-pent,” she said weakly. The girl released her last breath and died. Miroku lay her body down softly then made a small prayer for her. Kagome’s eyes filled with tears. Sango hung her head in sadness. Shippo wiped away a tear. Kirara let out a sad meow. Inuyasha stared at the bodies littering the place. Blood stained the house walls and streets. Small streams of blood flowed slowly down the ridges of the village. The crows had not arrived yet to feast on the bodies. Inuyasha walked slowly into the village to assess the devastation. Kagome followed closely holding her hands together on her chest.
“Inuyasha?” Kagome approached him. Inuyasha did not say a word. She looked at his face to see his sorrow.
Whoever killed these people is going to pay, he thought to himself.
Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention, but Inuyasha kept looking around the village. Miroku walked over to Kagome and Inuyasha. “The young girl said a serpent did all this.”
Inuyasha raised an eye brow. “Could it have been the same serpent Naraku sent against us?” he wondered.
“More than likely. These villagers have been dead for quite some time. I suppose we stopped the serpent from continuing to destroy other villages.”
“I wish I made that serpent suffer more for what he did!” Inuyasha declared.
“Perhaps we should bury them,” Sango suggested.
“This is one job I can’t get used to,” Kagome said.
Inuyasha frowned. “This isn’t our job! Our job is to find the jewel shards not bury dead villagers!”
“So you don’t want to help bury the villagers?” Miroku asked.
Inuyasha sighed. “Of course I’ll help. I just don’t like doing this. If I wanted to bury the dead I would’ve gotten a job as a grave digger.”
They went to work. Sango and Inuyasha collected bodies from one side of the village while Miroku, Shippo and Kirara dug trenches. Kagome fetched some flowers to place on the graves. Inuyasha pulled two bodies out of a downed house into the trench Miroku was digging. Sango moved some debris from a small boy lying face down. She turned him over and gasped. Her eyes filled with fear. They boy looked very much like Kohaku. Sango covered her mouth with the back of her hand. She got on her knees. Her eyes watered. Kohaku? A tear streaked down her cheek. Sango moved her hand over the boy’s face to close his dead eyes. “Kohaku,” she murmured.
Inuyasha walked over to her to see what the matter was. Once he saw the boy Inuyasha knew what was troubling her. “Sango, that’s not Kohaku. He’s still alive.”
Sango nodded and wiped away her tears. She got up and pulled the boy into the trench. Knowing that Kohaku was still alive and not being able to talk to him was probably worse than him being dead, but there is still hope for Kohaku.
By the time Kagome returned from picking flowers to lie on the graves, the first few trenches were filled with bodies. Shippo and Kirara tossed dirt on the bodies. Miroku continued digging more trenches. Sango and Inuyasha kept pulling more bodies to the freshly dug graves. No one said anything for a while.
Inuyasha looked for intact bodies in the middle of the village. He moved pieces of lumber away but did not find the crushed victims intact. Damn serpent! If only you’d come back so you can pay for what you did! Inuyasha caught a scent of something. He raised his eyes and looked toward the forest. Trees shook. Something was approaching fast. Inuyasha grabbed the handle of his sword preparing to draw it out.
Kagome came running up behind him. “Inuyasha! Something’s coming!” she warned.
“I know, Kagome. Get ready!”
Inuyasha could not pick up the scent of the approaching creature for the smell of the villagers’ blood and decomposing bodies was very strong. Inuyasha kept staring intently into the forest. The trees were uprooted by something moving underground. Inuyasha knew what it was. It was the serpent they defeated earlier. The serpent surfaced after it exited the forest. It was not as long as it was before because of the serpent’s previous battle injuries, but the serpent was still regenerating. Soon it would be as long as it was before.
“So, you came back for more?” Inuyasha grinned drawing out the Tessaiga.
“Inuyasha, when will you learn?” The serpent gave a wicked laugh. “You cannot defeat Shakra! I am invincible!”
“That’s what all the demons say before I destroy them!”
“I am different. I have proven to you that your Tessaiga is useless against me. You can cut me as many times as you want, but I will still return!”
Inuyasha frowned. Miroku removed the prayer beads from his hand.
“You fool! I am prepared for your wind tunnel!” Shakra grinned at Miroku.
Venomous insects appeared like a cloud out of the forest and formed a barrier around Shakra. Miroku wrapped his hand with frustration. His wind tunnel was of no use now. Kagome armed herself. Kirara transformed. Sango got ready to throw her boomerang. Inuyasha stood ready to attack.
“Inuyasha, can you not handle me on your own?” Shakra tempted Inuyasha to fight alone. “Do you need these foolish mortals at your side to defeat me?” hissed Shakra.
“Kagome, Sango, Miroku get back! I’ll take this demon down myself!”
“No, Inuyasha! That’s what he wants!” warned Kagome.
“We won’t let you fight alone!” Sango scowled.
“I think I’ll listen to Inuyasha,” fake smiled the terrified Shippo.
Inuyasha knew that he could not persuade the others from helping battle against Shakra. “Well, Shakra, looks like you’re in for a tough fight!” said Inuyasha with some glee.
“If your friends would not back down, I’ll have to do it for them!”
The serpent fired a bolt of lightning at Kagome and the others. Sango commanded Kirara to morph then she and Kagome grabbed on to the transformed cat’s tails. Kirara pulled them away but the concussion of the blast knocked them off Kirara. Kagome landed on the roof of a hut. Sango hit the ground but was unharmed. Inuyasha used the wind scar on the serpent. The serpent pulled away then fired a bolt of lightning at the wind scar. The two forces collided. A blast resulted of their collision. The serpent crashed onto the trees. Inuyasha’s fall was broken by hay in a stable. Miroku charged throwing Shakujou seals at the serpent. The seals stung the serpent but did no serious harm. The insects swarmed down at Miroku. Miroku twirled his staff in circular motion and, like a propeller, cut down the insects. The giant serpent loomed over Miroku. It prepared to fire another bolt when a boomerang cut its throat. Sango leaped in the air, retrieved her boomerang and landed on Kirara.
Inuyasha wiped out the remaining insects with the Tessaiga. “There, Miroku, now you can use your wind tunnel,” he shouted
“Thanks, Inuyasha!”
The serpent slithered in between the village using the debris as cover from its attackers. Sango followed the serpent from the air with Kirara. She pointed out Shakra’s location to the others. Miroku and Inuyasha, both on opposite sides of the village, closed in.
As Inuyasha ran for the serpent he remembered about Kagome. Oh, no! Kagome! “Kagome! Where are you?” panicked Inuyasha.
Shippo remained hidden in his secret chamber. He opened the door of the fallen cabinet to find out what was going on when the serpent crawled by. Shippo turned pale and slowly closed the door. It’s not time to go outside yet. Hurry, Inuyasha!
The serpent followed Kagome’s scent. Kagome still lay on top of the roof unconscious. She rubbed her head and when she opened her eyes she saw five giant eyes staring back at her all blinking in unison. Kagome screamed.
“Kagome!” Inuyasha shouted her name again. Inuyasha crashed the Tessaiga on the serpent’s scar of the spider. The serpent screeched in pain with its black blood sprayed everywhere. Inuyasha leapt onto the roof. He picked up Kagome and took her to safety.
Kirara carried Sango near Shakra. “Hiraikotsu!” shouted Sango. Her boomerang hit the large, middle eye bursting it like a balloon. White fluid splashed on debris all over the ground.
Miroku climbed on top of a house and removed his robe from his hand. “Enter the void. Wind tunnel!” Debris and body parts were sucked into Miroku’s hand. Shippo’s hiding place shook. Shippo crawled out and was immediately pulled by Miroku’s wind tunnel. Screaming, Shippo held on to a fixed post.
By now Shakra was two-thirds its former length. Shakra stuck its tail into the ground while firing a bolt at Miroku but it was sucked into the void. Shakra’s tail emerged underneath Miroku knocking him off balance. Miroku closed his hand. The serpent sped towards Miroku and head butted him. Miroku was thrown in the air landing hard on his right arm. The pain in his bones was almost as intense as if he had shattered them. Kagome ran to Miroku’s aid. Inuyasha continued his attack on the serpent. He hopped on the debris but was thrown off balance by Shakra’s tail whip. Sango charged at Shakra on Kirara from the air. Shakra fired bolts in the air larger than before striking Kirara. Sango hopped off Kirara landing safely on a broken yet sturdy roof top but Kirara crashed hard on the ground. Kirara transformed back to its normal self. Sango shouted out to the motionless Kirara then she turned Shakra giving the demon serpent a mean glare. Shakra’s four eyes locked on to Sango. He waited for her to attack. The power of the wind scar headed straight at Shakra from behind. Shakra threw itself to the side. One part of the wind scar’s attack struck the ground in front of Sango. She was flung in the air landing meters away on her back. She lay motionless. Shippo rushed to Sango carrying Kirara. Shippo laid Kirara next to Sango and tried shaking Sango awake to no avail.
*******
The serpent faced Inuyasha. Inuyasha’s blood boiled in anger and hate.
“Inuyasha, I wanted to face you alone,” Shakra reminded him. “Your friends have now paid the price for refusing to heed my command.”
“I’m going to make sure you pay for the harm you’ve done to my friends and these villagers!” Inuyasha predicted.
Shakra laughed. “Understand, Inuyasha, that I destroyed this village as a way to stop you from going out of my reach. I attacked this village first because I knew I had to face you. I had to learn your fighting techniques as well as that of your friends’. By letting you defeat me I was able to gain valuable battle experience. After our first battle you had to come across this village. Your pathetic mortal heart had no choice but to feel burdened to have to bury the villagers. By doing so you gave me time to regenerate myself. I prepared to battle you and now I am here. Your friends are out of my way. Now you belong to me!”
“Humph, we’ll see about that!” Inuyasha jumped in the air to strike Shakra. Shakra’s tail surfaced behind Inuyasha grabbing hold of him in midair. The serpent’s tail twirled around Inuyasha’s body tying his arms and legs. Inuyasha yelled in pain as Shakra began to crush him. The Tessaiga fell off Inuyasha’s hand.
Kagome picked up her bow and arrow. “Hold on, Inuyasha!” She drew back the arrow against the bow string and released it. As soon as it heard the sound of the released arrow, Shakra dived into the ground still holding on to Inuyasha. A bright blue aura formed over the arrow as it sliced through the air and barely cutting through the serpent. Shakra healed itself while burrowing in the ground then resurfaced and fired a bolt of lightning at Kagome. Inuyasha watched helplessly as the bolt struck the ground near Kagome throwing her against a tree.
“Kagome!” shouted Inuyasha.
The evil serpent laughed again. “They should’ve listened, Inuyasha. Once I’m done with you I’m going to devour your friends starting with the pretty one with the arrows!”
Inuyasha grinned. He struggled to get free but it did not do any good.
“The more you struggle the more I squeeze!”
Shippo crawled over to Kagome. “Kagome? Kagome! Wake up! You must help Inuyasha!” Kagome did not budge. Inuyasha yelled in pain. Shippo turned to the serpent. I must help Inuyasha. But I’m just a kid. What can I do? Shippo looked at the serpent. He thought of an idea. The serpent prepared to devour Inuyasha. Shippo transformed into a bull with sharp horns and charged at the serpent. I hope this works! Hang on, Inuyasha! Shippo was terrified. He did not know whether his plan would work or fail. He knew he could be badly hurt as a result of his heroics, but his friends were in trouble and he was the only left who could help. Shippo screamed as he rammed the serpent on its side. The serpent felt a sharp pain. He turned in the direction of where he felt the prick. Shippo turned back into his normal self. He tried taking a step but, like a drunk, he fell on the face first on the ground dazed from the impact with the serpent. Stars circled over his head forming a rotating halo.
The serpent prepared to fire a bolt of lightning but Inuyasha tried to buy Shippo some time to escape. “Hey! You’re going to pick on a little kid! Fight me, you sorry excuse for a demon!”
The serpent turned its four eyes to Inuyasha. “I’m a poor excuse for a demon?” hissed the offended serpent.
“No, I said you’re a sorry excuse for a demon! I was hoping Naraku would send something more demonic than a giant earthworm!”
Shakra squeezed Inuyasha harder. “If you haven’t noticed this giant earthworm has defeated you and your friends!” teased the serpent.
Shippo heard Inuyasha’s screams of pain. “Inuyasha?” cried helpless Shippo.
“Ah! Shippo! You must save Kagome!”
Shippo did not want to leave Inuyasha like this, but there was nothing more he could do. He was not strong enough to fight the serpent. So Shippo ran to Kagome. The serpent fired lightning at Inuyasha. The impact of the bolt sent Inuyasha crashing to the ground like a meteorite. Smoke came out of his sizzled body. The serpent loomed over the burnt body. He tasted victory. Shippo tried picking up Kagome, but she was too heavy. If only he could turn into a balloon underneath her then he could carry her. Shippo looked back at Inuyasha. The serpent fired again at Inuyasha. Inuyasha’s body jolted in reaction to the powerful blast.
“And now, Inuyasha, you are mine!” growled the serpent triumphantly. Inuyasha’s body beat. The serpent jerked back. This must be what Master Naraku was referring to! Inuyasha is about to become a full fledge demon! Good thing he explained to me how to suppress his transformation! Shakra searched for the Tessaiga. He found it lying on rubble. Shakra tried picking it up with his mouth, but the aura around the Tessaiga repelled Shakra. The serpent thought of another idea. It picked up the rubble underneath the Tessaiga and flung it on top of Inuyasha. The Tessaiga landed on Inuyasha suppressing the demonic transformation. Shakra laughed wickedly. “So, Inuyasha, you thought that you’d defeat me with your better half? You are pathetic!” The serpent lunged at Inuyasha to devour him but halted when a force field of some sort jolted it. The Tessaiga had formed a barrier around Inuyasha protecting him from Shakra. “What? No! I won’t lose now that I’m so close to victory!” If I remove the Tessaiga away from Inuyasha, he will turn into a demon and fight me harder than before. But leaving the Tessaiga on him prevents me from finishing him. Either way, victory is farther than I had hoped! Unless . . . The evil serpent decided to crush Inuyasha with a giant boulder. Your Tessaiga can’t protect you from this! The serpent unearthed a giant boulder lifting it with his tail and preparing to drop it on top of Inuyasha. “Farewell, half breed!” The serpent lifted his tail past his head to catapult the boulder down on Inuyasha. He was about ready to throw when Shakra felt a sharp pain on his tail forcing it to release the boulder. The boulder landed on the serpent’s body pinning him to the ground. The serpent looked around for his attacker. Sango still lay on the ground by the tree line. Miroku was sheltering himself behind a boulder holding on to his right arm.
Shippo was dragging Kagome into the forest when he saw the serpent react to pain. Shippo looked up at the sky behind the serpent. The serpent sensed something was about to strike behind him. The serpent turned its head. A large, red dragon swooped down burying its claws on the serpent’s eyes. The serpent screamed in pain firing lightning blindly at the sky. The dragon flew off the serpent’s head taking its eyes with it. Shakra was blind.
Raygan emerged out of the forest charging at the serpent. The dragon circled over the serpent’s head. Raygan jumped off the dragon with his sword glowing blue. “Dragon strike!” Raygan’s sword sent a beam down the middle of the pinned serpent. Shakra split in two. “Fire on the remains quickly!” Raygan signaled to the dragon. The dragon launched a great ball of fire consuming the serpent’s body. Miroku came out of hiding. He was in no condition to fight, but he knew what he had to do. Miroku held out his hand moaning in pain. Raygan picked up Inuyasha’s weakened body and the Tessaiga. He put Inuyasha on the dragon to get to safety. Miroku opened his hand. All of the serpent’s ashes were sucked into the void. The evil serpent demon was finally defeated.
*******
Raygan placed Inuyasha next to Kagome. Shippo placed Kirara near Sango’s head. Miroku sat next to Sango’s bruised body. He removed a large piece of cloth out of Kagome’s backpack. Raygan rushed over to Miroku.
“Here, allow me,” he volunteered. Miroku moaned in pain as Raygan made a cast for Miroku’s arm. “You are fortunate, Miroku. Your arm is not broken only badly bruised.”
“Thanks for your help. Ah. We thought we had defeated the serpent. I should’ve known better. This serpent was another of Naraku’s incarnations.”
“Do not blame yourself. You all were caught off guard by doing the noble thing in burying the dead.” Raygan placed his face mask next to Kagome’s backpack. He lifted his eyes to the village. Raygan caught the sounds of Shippo’s sniffs. “What’s the matter, little one?” he asked Shippo.
“Inuyasha . . . I couldn’t–I couldn’t help him! And Kagome – she was hurt because I was too afraid to fight!” Shippo cried.
Raygan placed hand on Shippo’s head. “There is no need to cry, Shippo. You showed great courage in attacking that serpent to help Inuyasha.”
“But I couldn’t save him!”
“You are wrong. If it was not for you I would not have been able to rescue Inuyasha on time. It was because of your courage Inuyasha is still able to breathe.”
Shippo wiped away his tears and looked up at Raygan. “You really mean that?” Shippo sniffed
“Of course I do,” Raygan said with sincerity. Shippo felt much better. The red dragon sat near the group. “Dragon, keep watch,” Raygan commanded. The red dragon flapped its mighty wings as it took flight. It circled the group keeping an eye out for danger.
Miroku looked down on Sango waiting for signs of movement. Raygan carried a pouch of ointments and potions. He withdrew a bottle of a certain potion and it poured into Kagome’s mouth.
“What is that?” asked Miroku.
“An elixir. Kagome should come through in a short while.”
Raygan moved onto Sango.
“Raygan, how did you know?” Miroku wondered how it was that Raygan was able to rescue them. How did you know we were in danger? I thought you had gone far from these parts.”
“I had gone far from these parts, but then my dragon caught the scent of a giant demon. The serpent’s scent was coming from the direction of the village there. I remembered you and your friends were going to cross through the village, so I had to return assuming the worst.”
“You made it in a nick of time.”
Shippo noticed the little dragon was not with Raygan. “Um, Raygan? Where’s your pet dragon? He was with you wasn’t he?”
“He is with me.”
“Where? I don’t see him.” Shippo looked around. Raygan turned his toward the sky. Shippo and Miroku did the same. “You mean that’s Dragon?” Shippo’s eyes widened.
“Yes. Dragon is part of rare species of dragons with the ability to morph into larger dragons.”
“Wow, that’s like Kirara,” Shippo awed at the circling dragon.
“Where did you find this dragon?” Miroku wondered where Raygan obtained the dragon.
“I found it in a cave far west of the Continent. I went in search of a wild dragon terrorizing settlements. In my excursion I came across this dragon. I caught it and made it my own. Turns out this little dragon was the wild dragon the settlers were so afraid of. Settlers had gone in search of the wild dragon, but were never able to find it because it morphed into a smaller size.”
Shippo noticed a sad smile formed on Raygan’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. When I brought the dragon back to my village my younger sister fell in love with it. She named it Draggie because she found it cute,” Raygan paused then continued. “My sister was dying of a strange disease. None of the medications in my village worked on healing my sister. I embarked on a journey to find a cure for my sister. Legend had it that a mystical dragon resided in the large mountains above the clouds guarding potions able to heal any disease.”
“Was the legend true?” Miroku filled with curiosity.
“At the time I had no choice but to believe it. I climbed up the tallest mountain and found the cave which was supposed to house the heavenly potions. There I found a container filled with a strange substance. I took it and returned to my village.”
“Did the potion work?” Shippo got excited.
“I never got the opportunity to test it out on her. By the time I returned to my village my sister had passed away. The potion turned out to be a rejuvenating potion,” Raygan tired not to be saddened. “This is the very potion I found in the cave.”
Miroku looked at the long-necked container Raygan held in his hand. “Is that what you gave to Sango and Kagome?”
Raygan nodded. A moan drew Raygan’s and Miroku’s attention. Kagome was coming through. Raygan came to her side. “Inuyasha,” she said weakly.
“Raygan?” Miroku called to him. “Why did you not give some of the potion to Inuyasha?”
“The potion is supposed to only work on mortals. If I feed some of the potion to Inuyasha, it could kill him.”
“But Inuyasha is half mortal,” Shippo interjected. “Maybe it could work on him.”
“Very well. I pray this works. I am not fond of demons, but Inuyasha appears to be different from the rest.” Raygan poured some of the potion into Inuyasha’s mouth.
“Now what?” Shippo asked.
“We wait.”
Kagome awoke. “Inuyasha? Inuyasha,” she repeated his name softly.
Kagome tried getting up but Raygan held her down. “Rest, Kagome. You will be well in time, but right now you must rest.”
Kagome’s vision was a bit blurry, but she made out Raygan’s face. “Raygan?”
“Yes, Kagome. Please rest.”
How did you find us? Where is Inuyasha? Kagome turned her head to one side. She saw Shippo, an injured Miroku, and unconscious Kirara and Sango. The others are here but where is Inuyasha? She turned to the other side. Inuyasha lay lifeless with smoke still rising from his charred clothing. Inuyasha! Please don’t die on me!
Raygan cleaned Kagome’s face. “Kagome, listen to me. Inuyasha is badly hurt, but he’ll manage to pull through.”
“You saved us?” said asked weakly.
“For the most part. Please, get some rest.”
Shippo petted Kirara. “What are we going to do about Kirara?”
“Kirara is a demon,” said Miroku to calm Shippo’s worries. “Its body will rejuvenate soon as will Inuyasha.” Miroku looked up at the darkening sky. “Night is falling.”
“Miroku, get some rest,” said Raygan. “You too, Shippo. You all have had quite a day. I will keep watch until morning. Breakfast will be waiting.”
Miroku’s sat against a tree. After a few moments, his eye lids got heavy and went to sleep. Shippo curled up beside Raygan. Rest now, friends. Raygan thought to himself. I will not let any harm come to you. I promise. Yes, even you Inuyasha.
Shippo rubbed his nose.
“What is it, Shippo?” asked Raygan.
“It’s that old familiar smell.” Shippo spoke in his sleep.
“What old familiar smell?” Raygan raise his eye brows.
“The smell of dried blood.”
Raygan looked at Shippo with a somber face. You are so young. It is a shame you had to be exposed to such evil. I only pray you do not grow accustomed to it. He looked at the others in hopes they would be all better by morning. Raygan stood up and kept watch. The red dragon kept flying overhead keeping an eye out for any attacker.
