The Fox's Son

Chapter 11 - Confrontations and Strangers

Naruto sat in a tall, large tree, a good distance away from the Inu group as he silently observed the fight. He watch each of them closely. The Inu group wasn't nothing new to him, for he had seen most of their battles in the vision the jewel showed him. He can't say that he was too impressed. The lacked battle tactic and teamwork. Everyone was fighting, instead of thinking. He could see a couple of ways the battle could have ended quickly if they organized themselves in a way that all of their skills could be utilized efficiently.

He shook his head as he turned his attention to the woman who was standing on a feather. She had striking red eyes and pointed ears. She short black hair that was styled into a high ponytail and bangs over her forehead. She was wearing a blue kimono with floral patterns on it and was barefoot. Naruto deduced that this was one of Naraku's incantations, Kagura. This was only affirmed when Inuyasha first growled out her name.

He watched as she just stood on her feather, watching the group fight the demons that followed her. It appeared that she wasn't going to join the fight, making the red head curious of her intention. A couple of moments later, with his sharp vision, he saw as a bug hovered next to her. Hate, irritation, and lastly, frustration, crossed her features as she took out her fan.

'Either that was a signal for attack, or her master was spying on her.....' he mused to himself as he analyzed the situation. He thought back to the hate and irritation that flashed across her face before she took out her fan. 'Hmmmmmm.......was that malice I sensed?' he thought to himself as he continued to observe the battle.

He watched as the woman stood and prepared to swing her fan to use the Dance of Blades attack. There was only one question left to answer in Naruto's mind. 'Who are you aiming for.....' he mentally asked himself. As soon as he asked it, his question was answered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"KAGOME! WATCH OUT!" Shippo yelled at Kagome's feet.

As the young highschooler looked up to were the little fox was pointing, she barely had the reflexes to move out of the way in time, before the wind blades could cut her in half. Even in her avoidance of certain death, the wind sorceress managed to score a hit that sliced deep into her left thigh.

Kagome cried out as she fell to the ground. Her arrows clattered and fell out of her shiver as her bow laid, sliced into two, at her side. The miko was now defenseless.

Inuyasha was still fighting with the horde of demons when he heard Shippo yell Kagome's name. He heard a blast sound and Kagome's own scream, before he smelled her blood. Had he turned around completely, he would have been able to find the girl.

"KAGOME!" he screamed as he saw Kagura preparing another dance of blades.

He moved to charge at either her or the sorceress, but in a rush, was confronted by hundreds of snak yokai that he had forgot about in his haste to get to the miko. The swarmed over and around him, barring his path and packing themselves in way that was too close for him to effectively use Wind Scar.

"DAMNIT!" he growled out in frustration as he began to swing his sword again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upon seeing that her wind blade had hit her target, although grazingly, Kagura winced. She mentally grimaced. It appeared that Naraku's plan would work for once in his pathetic life. Inuyasha too busy with the snake youkai, and the monk and demon slayer were far to into the fight to do anything about it.

'I'm sorry....' she mentally apologized before preparing to swing her fan again.

Just as she was about unleash her wind blades, she stopped at the sound of something zipping through the air. When she looked to her right, she saw Naraku's bug pinned to a tree by a needle looking object. She looked at it in shock.

Before she could move or do anything, she felt something prick her neck before succumbing to darkness. Her body when limp and she began to fall. She was caught by a pair of strong arms. The figure looked down at the unconscious demon before disappearing out of sight.

In his lair, Naraku narrowed his eyes as something took out his bug. Using another bug, he looked upon the battle scene to see that Kagura was no longer in sight. The only thing that could be seen was her fan on the ground, something Kagura wouldn't leave behind. This left Naraku in a state of anger, uneasiness, and confusion. What the hell happened!?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kagome saw the sorceress raise her fan to send attack again. He had closed her eyes, realizing that she was about to die. 'Mom, Souta, Grandpa. I'm sorry......' she thought as she prepared to meet her end, a tear escaping from her eye.

A full minute pasted and Kagome felt nothing. 'Am I already dead?' she thought to herself as she began to open her eyes. When she opened them, she was shocked to see that Kagura was no longer there. Looked around to see her friend fighting the last of the yokai.

When all the remaining yokai were the defeated, everyone turned toward a tree when they heard a loud gasp and whimper of pain. Under the tree sat Kagome, holding her thigh that was currently bleeding. Everyone quickly made their way toward her to see if she was alright.

As one, the Inu group huddled around Kagome and Shippo, letting out a series of questions of 'Are you alright?' and 'What happened?' all at once. Kagome took deep breathes as she labored throught the pain. When she was finally able to move, she grabbed Shippo who was curled up and shaking.

"I'm fine." Kagome croaked out, but then winced in pain at her bleeding thigh.

Once he realized they were safe, Shippo uncurled and looked around. He was sitting on Kagome's lap. When he caught the scent of blood, he looked down to see a deep gash in Kagome's thigh. He gasped as he lept off of her.

"Oh my gosh, Kagome you're bleeding!" He said.

"We should get that wrapped up before she bleeds to death. It's probably infected." Miruko said as he tore the bottom piece of his robe and tied it around her thigh.

"Let's get her to Kaede. I'm sure she'll be able to do something for her." Sango suggested as she go on top of Kirara.

Inuyasha quickly picked Kagome up bridal style as the other's followed Sango's example of hopped onto Kirara. Inuyasha quickly began to run in a burst of speed followed by Kirara. They needed to hurry up and get to the village before Kagome got sick. As he traveled at high speeds, he looked down at Kagome who had fallen asleep. 'Please be okay, Kagome.....' he thought to himself as he continued to make his way to the village.