Nocturne - An Inuyasha Fanfic

Chapter Forty-Three: The Others

Nocturne - Chapter Forty-Three: The Others

Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

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Her heart pounded in her chest, but the adrenaline that had coursed through her veins earlier left Kagome feeling drained. She stood up slowly, her hand clenched around her bow. The sound of wood cracking, like a branch broken underfoot, caused her eyes to widen. She felt perplexed until it registered that the crack had come from her bow. Kagome glanced down to see her bow snapped in two, barely hanging by a splinter.

Great, she thought, how opportune. Kagome looked around but did not see anyone, nor could she sense the presence of yokai, either full nor half-blooded. With a start, she realized which way Inuyasha had pursued the hanyo spy and dashed off in that direction.

They had gone towards the village where Setsuna had been left. While Kagome knew the girl would be protected, that did not stop her from running as fast as her legs could carry her.

Kagome spotted the group nearly right where she'd left them. She was almost out of breath when she finally came to a stop.

"Mother?" Setsuna questioned at the sight of Kagome running towards them. She ran over to her mother, meeting her several feet away, and hugged her around her middle. Everything seemed fine, Kagome realized, and the only odd thing they had seen was her sprinting towards them.

Sango sauntered over to Kagome as well and grabbed her arm, "What's happening? Where's Inuyasha?"

Kagome glanced over at Shizuka, who'd been left behind with Sango, Rin, and Setsuna. The woman had a faraway look in her eyes, her complexion pale. Kagome wondered what she thought and if she could sense the danger. "We're being watched. There were....others..." Kagome told them. She watched as perplexion washed over them all and, for Sango, desperation shortly after.

"Others?" Sango demanded harshly. "What do you mean?" Then, having thought better of it, she turned her attention to Setsuna. "Where did the children go, little one? Before you left?"

Setsuna glanced at her mother, looking for guidance but receiving none. "They said they were going to...umm." A guilty look crossed her face, and she toed the ground nervously. Wherever the group of children, the trainees, had gone to play was not somewhere; they were supposed to go alone.

Despite the circumstances, Rin, ever the calm one, moved close to Setsuna and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. You can tell us without fear. We must know."

Her thoughtful words allowed Setsuna to open up and whisper that they'd gone to play in a meadow, where the stream passed by. It was a place where families went to play and relax on a hot summer's day, but children were forbidden from going alone due to the wicked current that pushed the stream along. The edge of the stream bed was gentle and shallow. However, several feet out - where the stream widened - became deep and tumultuous for those unversed in swimming, which many of the village children were.

Sango cursed beneath her breath and looked around, hoping the youngsters had thought better of their ill-advised plan and made for home, but she couldn't have been so lucky. Her husband, Miroku, was nowhere near the village, having left with the twins to visit a nearby town for supplies and news. She had to deal with this and the fear for her younger children on her own.

Kagome knew of the spot. They had visited there often enough years ago. "Rin, you remain behind and look after Setsuna. Go find Kohaku and tell him what's transpired." Her voice was calm and steady, but inside she felt unsettled. Together, Kagome and Sango jogged to where the children were playing.