Chapter 3 Fox and Hound
Sango stood in the forest, waiting. The bear demon was there, she knew. Naraku had sent it out into the forest with a tainted Jewel Shard.
The bear roared, charging. Sango dashed to the top of the cliff, hidden by the mist from the waterfall. Kagome watched, trembling. She was the bait for the bear. Naraku sat watching from a safe distance away where he could view everything in comfort and revel in the demon slayer’s pain at the same time.
Kagura huffed. Always did like to see the slayers suffer, she thought darkly as she kept the giant feather aloft. The bear suddenly charged down from the trees above Sango.
The Huntress turned to be knocked down the cliff by its great paw, Hiraikotsu catching in the brush as she landed on the flat part of the rock where Kagome was. Kagome cried out as the bear demon stood upon its hind legs, raising a forepaw to strike her.
Sango leapt forward, sword and hidden weapon at the ready as she clung to the bear, slashing it. The demon cut away the weapons, dashing the woman to the ground. Sango stood again, jumping and punching the bear.
It gripped her arm in its jaws, body slamming her into the ground. Sango grunted, nearly smothered as she was pressed between the bear’s massive weight and the rock below. She pushed out from under it, lunging at its eyes.
The bear shoved her away with a paw. Sango’s head hit the ground. She was sent half-rolling and skidding to land on her side. The bear followed her.
Naraku grinned, moving Kagome so she was on a higher outcropping of rock. The bear growled, red eyes following the priestess. It started for her.
Sango stood, aiming a kick at the bear. “Sango!” Kagome cried as the bear hit Sango in a fierce upper cut, sending her tumbling back across the rock strewn ground. She heard the woman cry out as she was struck again.
The bear hit her hard, catching her by the front of her armor in its jaws and shaking her like a rag doll before throwing her limp form away.
The woman struck a rock mound in the ground, rolling and spinning off it into the air from the force, turning and landing hard on the ground. Sango’s body was forced upward once more, the demon slayer winded as she struck another rock mound.
Naraku scanned her body as Sango’s head came to rest against the mound, bruised and battered but beautiful. Sango lay spread eagle on the mound, legs and arms spread, and body prone but for her head.
The woman rose, pushing herself up enough to allow her chest to fill. The breath was heavy in her lungs, having been pushed from it so suddenly. Sango collapsed again, eyes closing as she fell beside the mound.
The bear moved closer, saliva dripping to the ground a mere inch from the demon slayer. Sango opened her eyes slowly and looked at Kagome. The bear raised a paw for a finishing blow.
Sango leapt to her feet, racing around the bear and up the cliff, charging back down and flinging herself onto its back, beating at its face and hanging onto its head.
The demon roared, swinging its head downward. Sango gasped as it struck her against the ground once, dragging her across it before turning and raising its head to do this again. The bear shook its head, swinging her off.
Sango flew through the air, landing upon the raised root of a tree that had been snapped by lightening. The wind driven from her once more, she fell to the rock beside it, stunned for a moment.
The bear roared, charging after her, knocking the tree aside. Sango crawled up a small hill weakly. The rock beneath her knee gave, she hit the small outcropping heavily on her stomach, and chest dragging across it as her hands gripped the rock.
The rocks below her gave and she rolled beneath the bear. Sango rose to her hands and knees, leaping out from under the hulking beast. One forepaw came up, catching her sharply.
She gasped, landing heavily on her side. The bear’s great maw raced for her. Sango leapt up and ran towards the cliff top.
The bear followed, galloping after her. Sango dashed between its swinging paws, evading all but the last swing as she made for the top. It struck, catching a glancing blow to her head.
The demon slayer flew through the air, landing in the dirt and rolling over a rock before coming to rest with a leg, arm, and chest hanging over the side of the cliff near the waterfall, nearly beaten.
Sango shook her head, dragging herself back from the edge and racing toward the bear again. She fell upon it with furious strikes, catching fistfuls of its hair and pulling. The bear roared. She pulled again.
It turned its blazing red eyes upon her. The woman’s eyes widened as she felt the paw slam into her chest. Kagome watched as Sango’s body sailed through the air, tossing and turning and flying toward the falls.
A tree lay across the cliffs that were separated by the falls. Sango flew toward it, striking an upturned branch heavily. She fell back onto the trunk, dangling backward over it. Naraku grinned.
Sango’s legs, arms, and ponytail could be seen hanging against the background of the falls. Naraku marveled at the wounds, following the curves of her body that he could see on the Huntress.
The bear clamored onto the old trunk. Sango opened her eyes halfway, watching as it raised a paw and struck. The trunk broke, her hidden weapon catching upon the other half of the branch still there.
The bear struck that, breaking the tree’s holding on the other side of the cliff with its weight and woman and bear tumbled down the falls, Sango trapped under the demon’s massive girth.
* * *
Kagome watched the still water near the falls. Slowly, a form emerged. Sango floated lifelessly to the bank on her back. Kagome sobbed, falling to her knees.
Sango moaned. “Kagome…” The girl smiled.
“Sango!” Naraku held her back.
“Let the mighty demon slayer rise herself. If she cannot, then she has not passed this trial,” he said. Sango turned over onto her stomach, breathing heavily. Her face submerged, eyes closing.
Her body floated stilly on the water, hair slick in her ponytail down her back, bangs floating near the top. Slowly, she rose to her knees. She collapsed again, chest heaving.
Again, she rose and stood. Naraku smirked. “Good. Now, go to your chamber and dry. The next task shall start soon.” The demon man turned and walked off. Kagome turned to Sango.
“Sango!” She cried out as the woman fell back into the water.
* * *
Sango awoke, chained once more. Kagome sobbed, chained as well. “He said I couldn’t treat your wounds,” she murmured helplessly. “He said if I did he’d kill you!” Sango smiled sadly.
“Oh, Kagome… Come here.” Kagome came to her as much as the chains would allow. Sango nuzzled her—it was the only thing she could do chained as she was to the ceiling and floor.
Naraku laughed as he watched this in his room. Kagura bowed. “Kagura, prepare the next task.”
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