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Premonition
by Vernie
Prologue
They had been traveling for days. And it was terrible. Not merely because of the fact that they were low on supplies, or that a strange suffocating mist had hung in the air after three straight days of pouring rain, or even for the reason that they didn't know exactly which direction to head in (and often times, were heading in). What made this trip a dreadful one was the actuality that they hadn't found even the slightest hint of a shard in over a month. Yet, the group continued their journey, despite the fact of having no actual shard rumors to pursue.
Inuyasha, needless to say, had been more than a little bitter towards everyone in their traveling group for the past few weeks. He had been restless during the night—staying up as the others slept. Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo felt most uncomfortable traveling alongside the irritable demon, who seemed almost as if he would snap at any moment. They had now entered a strange new forest, one that seemed a little…odd.
Miroku was the first to sense it. The evil energy. Something lurked within this forest—something strange and uninviting. He had brought it to Inuyasha's attention, but the hanyou merely shrugged as they continued to travel into the wooded area. Miroku knew better than to protest. They needed to find more shards, for time was not on their side.
As the five companions (plus one fire cat) traveled further into the forest, Kagome came to a dead stop, frowning as she studied the surrounding area. The others, realizing the girl was now concentrating hard on something, watched her curiously.
"Kagome?" Sango asked the girl, giving her an uncertain look, "Do you detect something?"
Kagome nodded. "Shards—perhaps three. They were too far-off at first, barely detectable. But they're close by now, and traveling fast." She paused. "Very fast."
A hopeful grin spread over Inuyasha's face. "It's about time. Which direction?"
Kagome frowned. "I don't know…"
"You don't know?" The hanyou crossed his arms and glowered.
Miroku raised an eyebrow. "Concentrate, Kagome."
"It's-it's moving so fast! I can't-"
At that moment, something large and extremely rapid tore through the misty, adjacent area. Its speed was most impressive, which in addition to the fog, made it difficult to make out the creature's appearance or even the silhouette of its apparently massive body—which made the creature's velocity even the more remarkable. Miroku looked to Kagome as he heard the young girl gasp in astonishment.
Inuyasha frowned. "What the hell…"
Sango could feel herself becoming nauseous. "It's-what is it? The energy." She covered her mouth with the sleeve of her demon exterminator's outfit. She frowned as she placed her other hand gingerly on Kirara's head, who snarled as the soft, thick fur on her back of her neck stood up.
Miroku, too sensing the sickeningly evil energy, clutched his staff securely. "Inuyasha, be aware. I feel that this demon is not a usual one in any sense."
"I can handle this, monk." He scowled, drawing Tetsusaiga as it transformed into its larger counterpart. Kagome was already reaching for one of her sacred arrows, preparing herself to draw the projectile if need be. Miroku looked to the young demon exterminator at his side, feeling somewhat nervous as he sensed the girl's uncertainness. Sango, someone who was truly accustomed to the behavior of demons, for once, seemed a little perplexed over this particular one—not a good sign.
A strange growling noise emitted from deep within the forest. Inuyasha noticed the two large, glowing red eyes which peered through the dense fog out at them. Inuyasha, taking a few sniffs at the air, frowned bewilderedly. "What the hell is it doing? Cowering in the forest?"
Kirara let out a small, protective growl. "It's stalking us," Sango whispered. "It could pounce at any moment."
Another growl emitted from the beast's direction before it tore through the forest once again. As Inuyasha brandished his sword towards the creature's direction, Kagome let out a startled yelp as the demon passed her only a few feet away.
Sango frowned. "It-it seems to be toying with us."
Inuyasha nodded in agreement, strengthening the hold on his sword. "What on earth makes this demon travel so quickly? I cannot even wield Tetsusaiga fast enough to destroy him."
Miroku watched apprehensively. He had sensed it earlier, and Sango's uncertainness confirmed it—there was something different about this beast. They had had their run of peculiar demons before, but the strange energy this particular one gave off was something of extreme evil. If Inuyasha couldn't wield Tetsusaiga quickly enough to destroy it, he was certain neither him nor Sango would be able to defend themselves against the beast either. Reaching within his robes and pulling out his talismans, he prepared to slap the scrolls upon the demon during its next attack—which proved to be sooner than he had expected.
Once again, the creature tore through the area at lightening speed. It's quickness enough to make even Inuyasha's head spin. Kagome clutched her bow in which an arrow was drawn, and shot a sacred arrow directly at the creature, which of course missed its mark by several feet. The demon came to a screeching halt and it became apparent what exactly this creature was—some sort of mountain cat. And a large one at that, standing twice the height of Kirara, who was currently in her superior form.
The demon's body was a shade of light auburn, with black tipped ears, a blunt tail, and fangs. Huge, sharp fangs. Its back now curved up like that of an irritated house cat and a string of thick saliva strew from the creatures mouth as its glowing red eyes remained fixed on the young miko who stood horrified before it. Miroku instantly sensed Kagome's unbridled fear as the girl began to tremble. The monk quickly made his way to stand in front of her, and perhaps unleash his Kazaana. However, without warning, the cat charged Kagome before anyone could even think of protecting the girl, knocking her small, frail body to the ground as it began its cruel attack.
Miroku could hear the girl's horrifying screams—a sound too much for the monk to bear. He and Sango shouted her name in unison as Inuyasha charged the creature instantly, finding time enough to exert his Tetsusaiga against the beast, which had turned its full attention towards Kagome. The powerful blow proved to be enough to impact a great injury to the creature, however not enough to kill it as the demon let out one last, loud growl before skidding away back deep into the forest.
Now it was obvious. Kagome had been injured—and seriously. Inuyasha knelt to her side. "Kagome! Kagome please speak to me!" The hanyou let out a distressed yell as he cradled the girl's limp, injured body into his lap. "Kagome. Just hang on. We'll get you back to Kaede's." Miroku knelt next to Kagome as Sango, who's eyes were now brimming in tears along with Shippo's, took the girl's hand in her own. "Stay with us, Kagome. Stay with us," the girl sobbed quietly. A crimson fluid spilled from her body, soaking the ground around them as well as the monk's robes. Miroku reached out to the girl, as she breathed one last breath before closing her eyes indefinitely.
~*~*~
Miroku sat up, breaking out of his painful slumber. He found himself out of breath, panting as he held his chest. He studied his surroundings. It was dark, cold, and the only light that could be seen was that of the moon. He took a deep breath as he immediately stood up, walking to the other side of the campfire, which had now died down. He spotted Kagome, currently in a deep sleep and wearing a small grin with her small arms wrapped around Shippo's tiny body.
He let out a sigh of relief. It had been a dream—no, a nightmare. But it had seemed so real. Too real. He glanced towards Sango, who was in a similar state as Kagome, resting peacefully next to Kirara under a large, ratty blanket. 'That dream,' Miroku thought to himself, 'There was something about it. It wasn't just a nightmare; it was a forewarning of an event yet to come.'
"What are you doing, monk?" an angry hanyou asked from the bough of a large tree above the campsite.
Miroku looked up at Inuyasha. "Checking on the girls' wellbeing." He frowned, "And they're fine." 'For now,' he added in thought.
To be continued…