The Blood I Shed for You
Disclaimer: Considering I am posting this story on a site called fanfiction.net, one would assume that it is exactly that, a fanfic. One would also assume any writers on this site would be immune to law suits in any way, shape, or form. Though, this may not be the case, and I do not wish to trustingly leave myself in the hand of another. I hereby announce I have no ownership of the Inuyasha series, manga, and movie. Ownership and all rights go to Rumiko Takahashi. I write any and all stories merely for entertainment of others, and myself. I receive no money for my efforts. Any original characters I may or may not use in any of my stories are of my own making, and though none of them may be protected as mine by law and I will have no power should someone decide to use one, I do appreciate permission, first.
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A bright, mid-afternoon day found the Inu-gang looking like they'd seen better days. Sango and Miroku seemed tired as their feet occasionally dragged and scuffed, Sango's Hiraikotsu weighed heavily on her shoulders. Inuyasha's clothes wore his blood, though any injuries he had had healed. Kagome was dirty and walking with a slight limp, her heavy yellow backpack slung over one shoulder and a half-sleeping Shippo on the other. Kirara walked by Sango's side not seeming any worse for wear.
They were headed back to the Bone-Eater's Well. Kagome needed to go home to restock her supplies and rest. She had told Inuyasha she wanted to go back to sleep and rest up, half expecting him to resist. He made no move to stop her or even object in the slightest, which must have meant she looked worse than she felt. Inuyasha had even tried to convince her to travel on his back when he noticed her limp. She refused, saying she didn't want to get blood all over her before going home. She didn't want her mother to worry. She was beginning to regret that decision very much. Her ankle hurt the more she walked. She had sprained it during their last battle, which has only been a couple of hours ago.
It was a battle with a highly irritated scorpion youkai that had managed to get a hold of two Shikon shards. Inuyasha had been keeping its head-end busy while Kagome tried to shoot off the venomous end of its tail with a sacred arrow. That was when the scorpion youkai thrashed violently and unexpectedly, sending a surprised and cursing Inuyasha through the air. It turned its attention on Kagome and the other jewel shards she carried. It was then she sprained her ankle trying to avoid the scorpion's deadly tail as it brought it crashing down into the ground where she once stood. Kagome tried to run, but her injured ankle caused her leg to give way beneath her. She fell flat on the ground just as Sango's Hiraikotsu came sailing through the air, crushing one of the scorpion's claws and cutting off the tip of the tail. Kagome watched as the tip landed right in front of her face. She noticed the poison that dripped from it, melting the ground, and got an idea. She grabbed the tip with both hands and raced at the youkai, ignoring the screaming pain in her ankle as she plunged the poison tip deep into the youkai's eye. It screamed in agony as its own poisons began melting away the insides of its head, a strange, eerie scream. Kagome watched Inuyasha leap through the air and slice the distracted youkai in half with his claws. Kagome then plucked the Shikon shards from its twitching body and added them with the rest.
Sango and Miroku had been alternating between chasing and running from it all day. Inuyasha and Kagome had been at Kaede's hut packing bandages, herbs, potions, and just about anything else they'd need. Well, Kagome had been the one packing, Inuyasha simply waited at the door with an impatient look on his face and reminding Kagome that they should be shard hunting at regular intervals. Kagome ignored him with practiced ease as Kaede introduced her to some new remedies and helpful advice. After a couple hours, and a lot of complaining on Inuyasha's part, they'd found the rest of the gang, and helped them corner and defeat the youkai.
Inuyasha was a few paces ahead of the rest of the group. He looked back at Kagome, noticing that her limp had gotten worse. She would make her ankle worse if she kept walking on it like that. Meanwhile, Kagome had similar thoughts about her ankle as she realized she probably wouldn't be able to continue walking all the way to the Inuyasha forest.
"Sango. . ."
"Yes, Inuyasha?"
"Could Kagome ride on Kirara? She's slowing us down with that leg of hers."
Even though he sounded more irritated than concerned, Kagome realized he'd been paying attention to her ankle this whole time. Sango noticed his concern, too as she nodded with an affirmative grunt. She turned her attention to Kirara.
"Kirara. . ."
Kirara mewed in understanding as she began to transform and grow into her larger, demonic form. Inuyasha, who had been paying attention to what was going on behind him suddenly sniffed the air. He stopped abruptly and slid into a defensive stance, searching the forested area ahead and listening all around as his ears swiveled intensely. The rest of the group, noticing his sudden change in behavior, became alert as well. Kirara's behavior mimicked Inuyasha's. . . sniffing intently, ears swiveling for the slightest sound. Sango and Miroku prepared for anything as they stepped closer to each other, nearly back to back. Sango didn't worry about Miroku's wandering hands since the situation seemed rather serious. She probably should have, though, as his left had reached back to brush against her rear. She would remember to hurt him for this violation later. Meanwhile, Kagome had moved closer to Kirara, Shippo situating himself between the two. The group was tense as Miroku was the first to speak.
"What is it, Inuyasha?"
". . .Youkai."
"Where?" Sango asked, her hand ready on Hiraikotsu at the first sign of danger.
Inuyasha seemed frustrated as he answered. "I don't know."
The group became silent once more as they strained their senses for any hint of the impending danger from the surrounding forest. They nearly jumped out of their skins as a feminine scream ripped through the air around them. They jumped away to face the direction the scream had come from, only to make a haphazard circle facing a dark figure and a startled Kagome. Kirara growled fiercely at the strange, cloaked figure. Miroku shifted gears as he switched his plan of attack from his Kazaana to his staff, the enemy too close to his friends to use the air void. Sango also followed suit as she swiftly moved her hand from her Hiraikotsu to the sword she carried sheathed at her side. Inuyasha had also taken these few seconds to unsheathe Tetsusaiga and direct it towards the hooded Youkai before speaking up.
"Who the hell are you, and what do you want?" He asked very gruffly.
With out speaking, the stranger lifted a hand containing. . . the Shikon shards! Kagome gasped as she realized her shards had been stolen with out her even realizing it. Inuyasha growled as he gripped Tetsusaiga with both hands, preparing to attack, until the stranger spoke.
"Foolish houshi and untrained miko." Snapped the unknown stranger with a deep and cutting voice. "With all your magic you haven't enough brains to put any sort of barrier on the container of these shards."
Seemingly disgusted, the stranger threw them back at Kagome. The jar hit her in the stomach, cushioned by her puffed school uniform. She caught them in her hands as they fell.
"Had I been after them, none of you would have been able to stop me."
At that comment, the group seemed to relax somewhat.
"Fools. None of you are fit to protect the Shikon no Tama."
"Shut up, before I tear your head off!" Inuyasha snapped, obviously irritated at being criticized.
"I am not here to fight. You may try, but you will find out how bitter the ground can taste."
"Keh." Inuyasha smirked, feeling as if he'd been challenged. "Taste this!"
With that he rushed the stranger. The rest of the group moved away to avoid the fight and watch from a considerably safe distance. As Inuyasha brought the blade down, the youkai sidestepped out of the way. In one, fluid motion the youkai placed a foot in front of Inuyasha's feet and a hand on his back. With a simple twist, Inuyasha was sent skidding across the narrow path the group had been walking on from the force of his own momentum. He continued to skid face first until he reached the place where the path curved to the left, and slammed into the base of a tree. Inuyasha moaned as he stood back up, facing his opponent. He smirked as he noticed everyone was far enough that he could use the Wound of the Winds.
"You're still nothing but a pup, mutt. You will never beat me. You're only wasting your time trying."
"Keh. You talk big, bastard. I'm going to shut that big mouth of yours for good!" He said as he prepared his Tetsusaiga and watched the Wound of the Wind. "Tetsusaiga!"
Inuyasha swung, the bright light of the Tetsusaiga filling the air as it destroyed everything in its path. When the light, dust, and smoke cleared there was no sight of the strange youkai. He stood ready for a few more minutes, but when no attack was made he scoffed and sheathed Tetsusaiga.