Chapter Twelve:

Chapter Twelve:

I blindly moved forward, running my hand along the stone walls as I moved. As I moved deeper into the miniature cave I felt the ground grow higher and soon I was walking on a miniature beach inside the cave. I popped my bubble helmet and took a deep breath, salty air almost burning my ultra sensitive nose. It was hard to see, being that there was no light, but eventually my eyes grew accustomed to the dark and I was able walk towards a rocky cliff that had formed in front of me.

“So what exactly are we searching for again?”

I shrieked and spun around, jumping about twenty feet in the air. Inuyasha doubled over in laughter.

“We…really…outta…work…on your…hearing…” he gasped out. I growled at him and turned around, continuing on along the path to the rocks. Inuyasha got up and quickly caught up to me.

“Come on, you know it’s true! This is what? The fifth time I’ve scared the living shit outta you? We really gotta work on that.” He snickered. I ignored him.

“Kimi?”

“…”

“Kimi you can’t ignore me forever.”

“…”

Suddenly, Inuyasha was in my path, scowling at me. I stared at him blankly, folding my arms across my chest as I waited for him to move.

He growled at me, not moving. I sighed.

“Inuyasha we don’t have time for this. We need to figure out what’s in here and then get back to Kagome and the others before they land in some trouble.” I snapped, shuffling around him. As I passed he grabbed my arm.

“Kimi, I’m sorry.”

I nodded and yanked my arms out of his grip, continuing on. He sighed and followed along behind me. 

We walked up to the rocks in silence. I noticed one small jagged looking rock sticking out of the pile. I pulled it out and peered inside.

“Aww gross!” I jumped back, holding my hand to my nose to block the smell. Inuyasha grimaced and peered inside for himself, moving an even bigger rock out of the way. The opening became big enough for one of us to crawl through, the reeking smell hitting us harshly. I used the sleeve of my jacket to somewhat filter the air so I could breathe. Inuyasha did the same with his robe and we both peered in.

Gore. That’s the first word that popped into my mind when I saw what was inside.

Little corpses with skin torn to shreds, some pieces were floating in the puddles of water, were piled up in hills. An even tinier door was on the other side. It was about as big as the palm of my hand and had a tiny golden door knob.

Inuyasha and I both stepped back.

“The door. Let’s try it.” I nodded. We ended up playing rock paper scissors to see who would end up reaching their hand in there and opening it. I won. I stepped back and watched as Inuyasha crawled halfway in the hole. I heard some commotion, someone coughing, and then Inuyasha stepped back out. A tiny water nymph is his hands.

“Oh thank goodness!” She gasped, gulping down fresh air. I smiled and took her from Inuyasha.

She was pretty, dressed in a pink flowing kimono. She wore a tiny crown atop her head.

“Hey aren’t you the water goddess?” She looked up at me with big blue eyes, the color of the ocean, and then smiled fondly.

“Why yes. I am.”

I shared a worried look with Inuyasha. “If you’re down here…then who did Kagome and the others go to?”

“Why that evil serpent! He’s an imposter.” She growled.

I placed the water goddess on my shoulder, waiting for her to crawl/walk safely into my hood before we took off running back to the dragon. I recreated our bubble helmets, this time including a tiny one for the goddess, and we swam to the dragon. We climbed onto his head and he took off swimming into the larger cave.

We entered a bright shining solid gold palace. It was quiet. Inuyasha and I shared a worried look.

We ran to a large throne like room where a giant serpent sat on a throne, fending off Kirara and Kagome’s sacred arrows. Miroku and Sango had teamed up and were fending off small alligator like creatures. Inuyasha ran to the fake water god and unsheathed the Tetsusagia and started to fight him. I raised my hands, a large wave shadowing over the creatures, and let them fall back to my side. The large wave crashed down on the minions, drowning them. Miroku and Sango rushed to my side.

“Who’s that?”

I looked back to see the tiny water goddess standing on my shoulder, glaring at the serpent king with rage. I had forgotten about her.

“Oh, this is the real water goddess. Your highness, these two are some of my friends. This is Miroku and this is Sango.” She smiled at them warmly.

“It’s nice to meet you two.”

I looked back to Inuyasha, watching as he fought with the serpent. I raised my hand again and brought it back, gathering green energy until it formed a bright green sphere that covered my hand. Then with all my strength, I hurled the glowing green orb at the serpent, striking him in the middle of his scaly green chest.

He shrieked and fell to the ground, withering in pain. I looked to the water goddess.

“I didn’t know if you wanted me to kill him or…”

“Go ahead. This is his third time trying to take my power. I have no need for him anymore.”

I nodded and looked back at the serpent, the hole in his chest glowing brighter and brighter as I stared. Then he exploded.

As debris flew past us it exploded in slammer explosions, designed to keep exploding until none was left. The serpent’s staff flew to the ground and landed a few feet from where we stood. I lowered the goddess to the floor and she ran to the staff.

She picked it up and grew to our size.

“Thank you for helping me get my staff back.” She smiled at us. Inuyasha came and stood next to me. I grinned up at him and grabbed Miroku by the back of his collar as he tried to make a move on the water goddess. 

Kagome walked up to us with the little boy in tow and I was glad to see he was okay. I squatted down to his level and smiled at him.

“What happened?”

The little boy looked at me with wide eyes but said nothing.

“Alright water god! Give me back my best friend!”

We all stood up just in time to see a little boy run into the room, full speed with a large spear. Inuyasha yanked the spear out of his hands as he passed.

“Hey!”

“You’re too young to be holding one of these. You could poke an eye out.” Inuyasha snapped irritated, holding the spear above his head, out of reach for the little boy who was jumping against Inuyasha trying to get it.

“Stop it!! I need to rescue my best friend! The water demon’s gonna eat him!” Tears began to build in the little boy’s eyes.

“Taromaru…” the little boy next to me giggled. Taromaru looked at him and grinned.

“Suekichi!” They collided in a hug. I smiled, my heart all warm and fuzzy. Sango laughed with me and the water goddess walked to me. She stood in front of me, looking at me blankly.

I stared back, my expression matching hers.

“That’s where I know you from!” A warm smile lit her face as she pulled me into a hug. My eyes grew wide and I froze, everyone else fell silent.

“You’re Midoriko and Kishin’s daughter, Kimiko.”

I stared at her, my eyes bulged out like a fish’s out of water. She smiled. “Technically, I’d be considered your god mother. Midoriko and I were very close. I was even her maid of honor.” She winked at me.

I blinked. “You…you knew my mom?”

Her smile grew sad. “Yes, she saved me once. Much like you and your friends did today.”

I couldn’t speak. Inuyasha moved beside me, grasping my hand.

The water goddess’s smile grew larger and she took my other hand. “I know you have a lot of questions about what all has happened. I have a few answers. But I cant tell you them now. You need to save the world first.” She kissed my cheek. I broke into a smile.

“Are you sure you’ve been in that cave for a while? You sound like you know everything that’s happened to Kimi.” Kagome stated, giving the water goddess and suspicious look.

The goddess laughed and nodded. “I know it seems suspicious, dear Kagome. Midoriko has visited me several times in spirit. You’ve talked to her yourself, Kimi.”

“You mean those dreams?”

She nodded, her expression turning wary. Sango came up beside me, on the other side, and looped her arm through mine. Miroku and Kagome joined her with Shippo on Miroku’s shoulders.

“You have a long journey ahead, Kimi. I wish you all luck.” She enveloped me in a hug again. “And just know, both your parents are very proud of you.”

“B-both?” I squeaked, pulling away.

She bit her lip. “I can say no more. You must leave now. Be strong.” She smiled weakly, gesturing to her fish henchmen to show us out. I knew my mother all to well. I knew she wouldn’t want me to protest. Inuyasha squeezed my hand as we walked out back to the boat.

The little boys followed us into the boat, watching me in curiosity. “So you’re Kishin’s daughter?”

I nodded, watching their reactions warily.

You would’ve thought I was a celebrity.

I was bombarded with questions about him. “Did he save you and your mom any? Is he really THAT powerful? Is he actually the last nature demon?”

“Whoa whoa whoa. SLOW DOWN!” Sango shouted above them, causing both boys to fall back into their seats on the boat silently, cowering with fear. I almost laughed but refrained myself. Inuyasha wasn’t so lucky.

“Stop laughing! I’m serious! They need to let her at least answer a question before they ask her another one.” Sango glared at him. I nudged Inuyasha. “Yeah!”

He rolled his eyes.

I chewed my lip. “Alright. I will answer ONE of your questions. Go.”

“Is he actually the last nature demon? Or are there more out there.”

“Well duh! You’re looking at one, stupid.” Inuyasha smirked. Both boys stared at me wide eyed, their mouths dropping to the floor of the wooden boat. “And shut your mouths. You’ll catch flies that way.”

I flicked Inuyasha on the forehead. “You’re so mean.”

“Feh.” He grunted, his arms folded across his chest.