The Color of Hope: Chapter 72: First Blood

Tentacles speared the space between Sango and Kirara, every strike driving them further and further apart. Hiraikotsu hadn't returned to her, which was odd. It must have become lodged in something. Locating and retrieving it in the midst of Naraku's attack simply wasn't possible. She would have to rely on her auxiliary weapons, and her father's training.

He'd taught her how to combat multiple enemies. 'Moving targets', he called them. He'd tutored her on the many nuances of battle; what to watch for, how to counter, when to advance and when to retreat.

'One should never rely solely on a singular weapon,' he instructed.

The taijia pivoted, narrowly avoiding yet another tentacle as she reached for the wakizashi secured in the red sash at her waist.

Her father drilled her, endlessly, relentlessly, on the use of every available weapon, until her skill was as sharp as the arsenal she'd mastered.

'Your enemy won't back down simply because you've lost your only blade.'

She'd excelled under her father's tutelage, even when unfairly matched. This was nothing. Naraku was nothing. And she was more than capable of destroying this asshole.

Naraku's miasma was gaining ground. It circled closer and closer, actively limiting their fighting space, and cutting off all viable options for retreat. He wouldn't get away with this! She'd make Naraku pay for everything he'd ever done to her family!

"Kirara, can you get any closer to me?" Sango called.

The firecat sidestepped an attack, shifting gracefully through others in an effort to bring her hulking form closer. Deftly, Sango eased back and to the right. Slicing through Naraku's tentacles, she tried to close the distance.

The demon-cat shifted forward and left, but for each step the two made, Naraku sent more and more tentacles. It seemed Naraku's aim was the old woman behind them, a viable target to keep Kirara preoccupied. Curled in on herself, Rei was too frightened to defend herself, which forced the two-tail to return to her side time and again to protect her.

Kagome's furious scream jerked Sango's focus forward. A steady barrage of tentacles angled down toward the miko. Their furious strikes were haphazardly placed, pounding into the dirt and pushing Kagome backward from her position.

Liberally spattered with leaves, dust, and other debris, claws tearing through tentacles that came in to close, she pressed forward, desperately fighting to keep Naraku from shoving her and the children into the miasma wall behind them.

Kibou and Shippo stayed close to Kagome, trying their best not to trip her, but Sango could see they were struggling. They needed help, and soon, before the boys became a sprawling mass of limbs at Kagome's feet, inevitably taking her down with them.

Sango shifted uneasily. Getting back to Kirara's side wasn't working, so she edged forward instead, fiercely fighting to get close enough to help Kagome. Strike after strike, tentacles fell, but where one went down, two or three more were there to replace it. Pinned in place, Sango chanced a glance back to gauge the fire-cat's proximity. The two-tail was still at Rei's side, snarling and snapping at the projectiles that were preventing her from meeting Sango over the battlefield.

A sudden surge of tentacles aimed at her position forced the taijia sideways, and off her feet. Dragging her sword up, Sango rolled to the left, barely avoiding a direct hit to her chest when she saw Kagome's body arch back accompanied by an ear splitting scream.

A tentacle had impaled Kagome's left shoulder. The mottled projectile split at its tip, the pieces folding left and right to anchor themselves on her back, just above her upper shoulder blade. Blood splashed through the air, splattering across the miko's neck and cheek.

Droplets flecked the children's faces. They froze in shock, then screamed in terror. Kibou latched onto Kagome's leg, causing her to stumble, dislodging his grip. Seeing an opportunity to help, Shippo darted away.

Sango staggered to her feet and lunged forward, only to be forced back yet again, barely avoiding a trio of tentacles that darted after her in quick succession. It wasn't until a flash of blue foxfire erupted and a new batch of tentacles sheared off in different directions that Sango realized Shippo was huddled beside her, fearfully defending her position as she regained her footing.

Sango and Shippo fought, hard, but couldn't gain any ground. Their every move was cut off. They were forced to watch in horror as Naraku forcefully dragged Kagome toward him, separating her from Kibou.

Suddenly alone on the battlefield, the little dragon froze, platinum eyes searching frantically for somewhere safe to run.

"Kibou!"

Kibou's head jerked toward Shippo's voice. He scrambled backwards, avoiding a tentacle that speared the space between him and Kagome, exactly where he'd been standing. Little hands and feet slipped and slid through the soil as fast as his tiny body could move, tears brightening his wide, frightened gaze. Shippo shot away from Sango, dodging multiple attacks before grabbing the little dragon by his arm. He hauled Kibou with him, then shoved the small boy between him and Sango before taking up his previous position.

One after another Naraku's tentacles drove the threesome further and further from Kagome. Foxfire flared randomly as Shippo alternated between guarding Sango's back, and keeping Kibou tucked safely between them in their forced retreat.

Naraku's strikes were noticeably slowing. Why? Sango scanned her surroundings. Relief washed over her when she realized they'd been pushed back to Kirara's position. Naraku's attention was so focused on Kagome that he'd made a rare, costly mistake. They wouldn't have long before he realized his error.

Sango knew that taking advantage of Naraku's distraction now might be their best chance at freeing Kagome. Her cries of pain, muffled to whimpers for the sake of the children, broke Sango's heart. Her sister needed her and she wanted to immediately rush in and rescue Kagome, but she needed to keep a level head and remember her father's training.

If she and Kirara could get into the air, cut Naraku's hold on Kagome, and fend him off long enough for Inuyasha and Miroku to arrive, they'd have a chance at winning this fight. Because right now, without them, the odds weren't in their favor.

Shifting quickly, Sango slid onto Kirara's back.

"Shippo. I need you to keep Rei and Kibou safe for as long as you can."

Reaching for the gas mask she kept stashed behind her armor, she hurriedly tied it on. Shippo's eyes were huge on his tiny face, fear and uncertainty reflected in their emerald depths. Despite his obvious panic, Shippo nodded bravely and took a deep breath. Stealing his little fox shoulders, the kit turned to face his enemy, blue foxfire dancing with renewed determination off his little canine paws.

Sango felt her heart stutter, and silently questioned whether or not she had made the right decision. Sensing her hesitation, Kirara moved back and lifted only a few feet into the air.

"Okay, Kirara. Let's go."

Whether it was overwhelming fear, or desperation to help his adopted mother, Sango would never know. Kibou was just a child, after all, with no battle experience. But just as she and Kirara launched upward, Sango heard Kibou scream, "Use your wings, Momma!"

Shippo hushed him in an instant, his panicked gaze swinging back to the taijia and the two-tail, but it was already too late.

Tentacles were suddenly everywhere, and before they were able to clear the top of the treeline, Sango and Kirara were slapped sideways, both forced harshly into the ground they'd only just left, tentacles repositioning to rain down on them all.

A/N: First- I want to say thank you ALL for your kind reviews!

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, and am looking forward to hearing from you all again!

Also, I owe Snow a huge thank you for looking over this chapter! I owe you one!

Second- I am so sorry for the delay- RL has been chaotic, and health stuff has been all over the place.

My dr. gave me on a new medication to try over for the last two months; the studies on it looked promising. I was hopeful it would ease my pain levels some. I wanted to get back to writing and posting more like I used to, among many other things.

But sadly, I had no luck. Admitting to myself that it wasn't working was awful. But it's okay because I have so many other wonderful things to be grateful for! I have an awesome family, and great friends too- you all included. Thank you guys for always supporting me, for encouraging me. Thank you for your patience and understanding. And THANK YOU for the many smiles your kind reviews and PM's have brought me.

You guys are amazing!

HUGS.

Until next chapter-

Neisha