Kaya's Story (An InuYasha Fanfic)

Chapter 64: Ko's Distraction

As I ran, I tried to figure out how a demon puppet worked this close to the barrier. It just didn't make sense. Although considering Naraku's last demon puppet was almost pure, I'll believe anything at this point. I was brought out of thoughts by an attack from my right. "I see, you just couldn't stay away, could you?" Ko snickered. "Not on your life," I growled at her. I pulled Tenkari from its sheath and charged her. Demon puppet or not, she was pretty strong. Some time into our battle I heard the rumble of a distant explosion back the way I had come. I hope InuYasha and Kagome aren't involved in that. Ko took my distraction as a chance to get in a good blow, but I knew what she was going to do. She was less than pleased that I dodged her attack, causing her to attack again this time with more speed. Half-priestess or not this barrier was starting to take its toll on me. I didn't have many options right at this moment, plus I was worried about InuYasha and Kagome. I needed to end this now. Apparently, I had zoned out while trying to make a plan because I didn't catch her advance. She kicked me in the chest sending me flying into the wall of rock behind me, knocking my sword from my hand once again. I stood up slowly and drew my bow. Ko let out a laugh, "You honestly think that little trick will work with me?" "I don't know, but I guess we'll find out!" I yelled while releasing an arrow. She dodged the arrow, but I expected that. I fired another arrow in her direction, narrowly missing her. This time I did something I had seen mother do many times before but had never attempted myself. I notched two arrows this time, there was no way she could dodge them both. I fired them and watched as she dodged one but the other hit her square in the chest causing her to disintegrate; leaving behind the burned doll of a demon puppet. I dropped to my knees for a moment. This barrier was taking more out of me than I cared to admit. After a minute, I stood up and grabbed my sword before heading back in the direction of Kagome and InuYasha.

When I came to where we had been waiting for Sango and Miroku, I found that InuYasha, Kagome, Shippo, and Kirara were gone. Now I was really worried, where did they go? I started sniffing around trying to catch their scents, but nothing came up. After a little while, I decided I would try to find out where that explosion came from. It didn't take me long to pick up the scent of gun powder and death. I followed it and found the remnants of Ginkotsu along with two different scents of blood. One belonged to that idiot, Koga, but I couldn't quite make out the second. By how much the scent lingered, I knew Koga was in really bad shape and of course the spiritual barrier wouldn't help his condition any. I began to sniff around, considering Koga wasn't here, someone had to have moved him and my guess is Kagome had something to do with it. After a long while of sniffing around, I caught Kagome's scent. It was faint but it was there, so I ran off after it. Not long after leaving the mountain, I lost her scent. Back to square one, I guess. Wandering around was my best bet, but at least I was away from that stupid barrier. After walking for a bit, I caught the scent of smoke and became worried. I climbed to the top of a nearby tree and found a black plume of smoke above a river in the direction I had been headed. A moment later, I saw an explosion and then another which meant the Band of Seven were down there. I took off across the treetops as quickly as I could, hoping to get there in time to help.

As I got closer I could smell the oil and gunpowder. Even in broad daylight, the river seemed to glow bright with the flames that were dancing across it. Just before I reached the river, I heard another explosion followed by Kagome's voice screaming InuYasha's name. I stood on the cliff above the river and saw the destruction of the explosions. "InuYasha!" I called. That's when I noticed the cave. Kagome was standing there with InuYasha's Robe of the Fire Rat wrapped around her. I could feel tears starting to form but I wiped them away. I feared the worst had happened. I jumped down from the cliff, landing next to Kagome almost causing her to fall in the river, as well. I caught her and she looked up at me with panicked expression. "We'll find him," I assured her. We raced down the riverbank trying to find any sign of him. Ginta and Hakkaku were trying to reassure Kagome just like I was, but Koga had to go and say something stupid. Kagome began to cry into InuYasha's robe, causing Koga's face to turn to panic. "Now you've done it," I muttered. She was blaming herself and nothing I said right now would stop that train of thought. That is until I saw InuYasha walk up to Koga and hit him in the back of the head. I sighed with relief, just before InuYasha and Koga began to argue. Kagome's movements caught me, InuYasha, and Koga off guard. She ran to InuYasha, pressing herself into his chest. InuYasha wrapped his arms around Kagome, giving her reassurance that he was okay. A moment later Koga began to leave, shocking Ginta, Hakkaku, Shippo, and me. Our shock soon left as he turned to InuYasha, smug as ever, stating he wouldn't stop trying to win Kagome. They began to argue like children, prompting a conversation between Ginta, Hakkaku, Shippo, and me. "One stupid guy, calling the other one stupid," Shippo stated. Hakkaku chimed in, "yeah, they're both stupid." Ginta added, "dumb as a sack of hammers." "You said it." I finished before Shippo hummed in agreement. In unison, InuYasha and Koga yelled, "what did you say?" This caused me to burst out laughing. We left shortly after that to return to the base of Mt. Hakurei in hopes of finding Miroku and Sango waiting for us.