Surrender by Sereia

Rejuvenate

Kagome covered her mouth, trying to control her breathing so she took in less of the toxic fumes. She'd spent over a week in Sango's village; why couldn't the snake youkai have come after her then?

As far as she knew, there weren't any nests nearby, and she'd taken the same route on her way there, so she couldn't have disturbed them on the return trip.

Maybe they'd been following her before, laying in wait until she was alone and biding their time. It wasn't like she didn't make these trips often, though with how busy everyone had been, most of them had been by herself lately. She couldn't fault them for it, though. It was a big event, and everyone—

She managed to duck the spray of acid, but they'd been expecting it, and Kagome cried out as two sets of fangs sank into her arm and side. The effect was immediate, vision swimming as power flared, the serpents attached to her exploding.

A barrier formed around her, but it wavered along with her strength. Hands clenching in the dirt, she tried to cleanse the poison from within, but it was fast-acting, already pumping through her bloodstream. The horde hissed in unison, encircling the glowing dome, and it took everything in her to keep it intact.

Her time spent in the feudal era had been peaceful, though some sensed the power within her and automatically assumed the jewel still existed. It didn't matter how many times the story was retold or reshaped; the Shikon Miko carried the power, so it had to be the jewel. Few of them realized the energy came from Kagome herself.

"I don't have anything of value," she said, holding herself upright with her bow. "The jewel is gone!"

"Even if that is true," they hissed. "We will feed on your flesh and absorb the power from within." Kagome cursed aloud, telling them exactly how stupid that plan was, a few of the smaller snakes disintegrating as they dove at her barrier.

It was getting harder and harder to stay conscious, and while she knew the barrier would remain intact if she used a conduit, she wasn't sure how strong it would be. And if she didn't get some help soon, the venom would make quick use of her organs.

She sent the last of her power into her bow, whimpering as the poison burned her from the inside. "I just need a place to rest," she whispered. If she could get somewhere safe, she'd be fine.

Her power rippled as she fell forward, the barrier flashing before it, the bow, and Kagome herself disappeared.