Caged Hearts: Kagura's Sorrow
Episode 3
Inuyasha and Miroku run through the night. The half-demon says, �I hope Kagome and Sango are alright!� The monk replies, �They�ll be fine. Koga won�t let anything happen to Kagome, and Sango can take care of herself.� �How can you expect me to have faith in that stinking wolf?� Inuyasha asks. �I�m not asking you to like him!� Miroku says. �But if anything goes wrong, he can always outrun it.� �We wouldn�t be in this situation in the first place if you hadn�t gone after that woman!� says Inuyasha. �How was I suppose to know Naraku would chose now to reappear?� the monk asks. �That�s not the point!� Inuyasha shouts. Suddenly, Inuyasha stops. He sniffs the air. �Naraku! He�s coming!� �No.� says the monk. �Look! It�s Kagura�she has Kohaku with her!� As the two watch, the sorceress approaches and grounds her giant feather. �Kagura!� shouts Inuyasha. �So Naraku sent the two of you to slow us down.� �What�s wrong with Kohaku?!?� cries the monk. As soon as they land, the boy collapses on the ground. �He�s just unconscious.� says Kagura. �Inuyasha, where is your woman?� �My What!?!� he shouts. �The priestess with the power to purify the sacred jewel! Where is she?!?� Kagura asks. �What do you want with Kagome?� asks Miroku. �Naraku controls this boy through the jewel shard in his back. If she purifies the shard, then Narku�s hold should dissolve.� �Why would you want that?� asks the monk. �I have my reasons.� she replies. �More importantly,� says Inuyasha, �Why do you smell like my brother?� Kagura looks embarrassed. Inuyasha sniffs the air and says, �Kagura! Get downwind.� With a wave of her fan, the wind patterns change and Inuyasha sniffs the air again. �It�s not just you.� says Inuyasha. �Sesshomaru�s near by. His scent is mixing with Kagome and the others. They�re near Naraku!� �Come!� says Kagura pulling the feather from her hair. �You must be joking!� says Inuyasha. �If Naraku kills your lover, then my revenge dies with her. Now, you can travel as fast as the wind or as slow as the monks sandaled feet. Take your pick.� Inuyasha turns to the Miroku only to find that he is already beside Kagura. With a look of distrust, the half-demon joins them. The four are surrounded by a strong gust, and they rise into the air. The monk asks, �So Kagura, do you no longer serve Naraku?� �I despise Naraku.� she says. �The only reason I ever obeyed him was because he has the power to kill me at any point. But this time he has gone too far and I�m willing to risk death if I can harm him.� �Really?� he says. �In that case, since you are no longer our enemy, I was wondering if you would be interested in bearing my children.� �Miroku!!!� shouts Inuyasha. Kagura meets the monk�s eyes and she smiles. She raises her fan to cover her face, then she snaps it shut. The monk clutches his throat and tries to gasp. �What�d you do to him?� asks Inuyasha without much concern. �I cut off the air to his lungs.� �Don�t kill him.� says Inuyasha. �He probably deserves it, but he can be useful. Also, Naraku wants him dead.� �He�s far from death.� says Kagura. The monk continues to try to breathe until his skin turns the same color as his robe. �D�you think that�s enough?� asks Inuyasha. �I suppose so.� says Kagura. She opens her fan and Miroku begins to take gasping breaths. Which way Inuyasha?� she asks. �That way.� he answers; and they�re gone like a summer�s breeze.