WARNING! This Chapter does contain spoilers. You have been warned.

Enjoy~

Inuyasha is not mine


Toxins - Rewritten


Chapter 2: Magatsuhi Arrives!


Wind rushed past Byakuya as he soared through the air, two Saimyoushou followed close behind him. His paper crane flew gracefully on the wind, similar to how a boat sails through the sea. The illusionist sat with his arms crossed and a bored look on his face as large barrier was quickly drawing near. Byakuya flew carelessly through the barrier as if it wasn't there leaving the Saimyoushou behind and awaited the attack he knew was coming. Suddenly he vanished in a light purple mist as large shards of ice shredded his paper crane from below. He shook his head looking up at the paper watching it fall from his place on a near by tree.

"So aggressive..." he said to himself. Byakuya pulled a small piece of paper from the inside of his kimono and threw it seemingly blindly into the forest in front of him. The paper launched from his hand like a bullet disappearing past the thick trees, a moment later a yelp of pain echoed around him followed by a loud thud similar to something large and heavy falling.

"I'm glad I didn't have to take her down..." Byakuya said jumping down from the safety of his tree branch and walked over to where the demon he attacked had fallen. Laying on its side on the floor covered in tentacles was a large wolf demon, it growled at the tentacles that held it constantly ripping them from its body but in the instant the tentacle was ripped apart two new tentacles would sprout from the wound. It took only seconds for the demon to become completely entangled; he stepped over to the demon's head and pet its nose. The demon growled viciously at the contact unable to defend itself.

"It seems your time has come dear," the demon continued to growl at Byakuya it's bright blue eyes burned holes into his head "such a waist of a gorgeous demon... it's sad really... Never seen a black wolf demon with blue eyes that can create ice at will before." Byakuya said staring back into the demons blue eyes.

"Orders are orders" He said shrugging his shoulders as he removed another piece of paper from his kimono, it had writing on it which he assumed was a curse of some kind, Naraku just gave orders. He placed the paper on the demon's nose and waited. Only a moment passed before the paper began to glow and spark, the demon yelped and whined in pain as the sparks grew to bolts of electricity. The tentacles released the demon as the electricity flowed through it; the demon stood weakly in an attempt to escape but quickly realized what electricity was really doing. With one final howl to the sky the demon fell lifeless to floor and with it came the paper back to Byakuya's hand. New words were written on it now though Byakuya couldn't tell what it said.

He tucked the paper away in his kimono then grabbed his gourd and pointed it at the dead demon next to him. In an instant its body was sucked into his gourd leaving nothing but a light burn mark in the grass.

"Now how am I going to infuse the Fuyoheki powers into clothing...?" Byakuya thought a loud creating a new crane to fly off on. With the thought he flew off in search of a person who could do what Naraku wanted.


Shippou shot up from his seat next Rin and bolted out the hut door after he finished stuffing his face with rice. Rin watched the little demon run off towards the Bone Eaters Well and thought about following but Kirara walked over to the girl cuddling up against her legs. Rin happily pet the cat demon.

Jaken shook his head and mumbled something along the lines of "silly children". Kaede shook her head as well leaving the hut to follow Shippou. Sango watched Kaede leave then turned back to the sleeping Kohaku. She sighed lightly, which caught Jaken's attention.

"He sure has been sleeping a long time, without eating or drinking anything." He said. Sango looked over her shoulder and said,

"Yeah, because he won't wake up until Sesshomaru kills Magatsuhi" She turned back to her brother and thought, "But it's been a long time... since we've been together for this long." her face fell a bit "It's Ironic, though even if he doesn't wake up, his heart will still be at peace more than when we're separate..."

Outside in the village streets Miroku played with some of the village children, showing them how to write things like, daughter, little sister, and bride. They watched the monk amazed by his ability to read and write. He paused as a cloud blocked the sun, looking up he saw a dark ominous cloud quickly approaching. Mirkou sent the children away watching the cloud draw near.


Sesshomaru flew farther into Inuyasha Forest following the faint sent of Magatsuhi. After a few moments he could tell the shadow demon had stopped moving.

"It's close..." he thought. The next instant a strange swirl appeared in the sky, out of the swirl came Byakuya. Sesshomaru was surprised to see him and let him speak.

"Even though it's so faint, you sure sniffed out Magatsuhi's sent from a long way away." Byakuya floated gently on his paper crane and continued "I expected you'd have a good nose Sesshomaru.

The illusion demon glanced at Sesshomaru's left side

"Huh?" He noticed Sesshomaru's new arm, "Your left arm... I was sure you didn't have one, did it grow back?" he asked curiously

"I have no business with you. Leave." Sesshomaru said with little emotion.

"Aw," Byakuya whined backing away from Sesshomaru "No civility, as usual." When he was a save enough distance Byakuya continued,

"So I take it you're only interested in this guy, huh?" As Byakuya finished his sentence Magatsuhi's shadowy face appeared behind him with a menacing scowl on his face.

In an instant Sesshomaru withdrew Tenseiga and slashed into Magatsuhi other eye, but his surprise Magatsuhi eye healed almost instantly.

"Tenseiga didn't cut him" Sesshomaru thought confused. Byakuya kept his distance and with a smile thought,

"Fight him to your heart's content Sesshomaru. That Magatsuhi is an illusion I created," He turned his head and glance in another direction "Right about now the real Magatsuhi is..."


Inuyasha sat on Kagome's bed later in the day waiting for her to return from her battle with the demon x-ham, he had insisted he go along with her just in case but she refused. He waited patiently with arms crossed too impatient to do anything. After four hours Inuyasha had had enough, he was going to go help her whether she wanted him to or not. He hopped off her bed and marched for her front door passing her grandfather on the way down, he mumbled a hello and kept walking. Inuyasha opened the front door with every intention of leaving to help but stopped when Kagome walked right into him. He hugged her for a brief moment realizing he was worried about her, she didn't comment probably thinking he was helping her regain her balance but they blushed anyway.

"Ready to go?" He asked. Kagome looked at him confused. Inuyasha rolled his eyes,

"To go back."

"Ooh! Right let me pack and we can go." Kagome said walking past him to her room. Inuyasha watched as she packed her belongings. She had finished fighting the demon "x-ham" unharmed which made him smile; he continued to smile the entire time she packed. Kagome wasn't sure what had Inuyasha in such a good mood it didn't bother her at all in fact his good mood was contagious and she found herself smiling as well. The young woman glance around her room mentally checking off the things she had grabbed, satisfied with what she had she turned to Inuyasha a smile still on her face as well as his.

"Alright Inuyasha I'm ready to go" Kagome said to the half demon that was now standing.

"Good, let's go" He said in no rush at all.

Once through the well the two of them immediately knew something was wrong. Inuyasha sniffed the air and growled as he could smell blood.

"What's going on? Things seem out of place." Kagome said grabbing an arrow from her holster.

"Let's go Kagome!" Inuyasha said grabbing her and placing her on his back, he raced towards the village and noticed the smell was coming from Kaede's home. He also picked up on the scent of poison, not good.

At the village the two saw what was left of Kaede's home. It looked as if someone had set off a bomb with debris all over the area and the roof caved in.

They rushed over to the hut to find Sango and Miroku both unconscious and wounded. Kagome jumped from Inuyasha's back and ran over to the two as she got closer Sango woke up.

"Huh? Inuyasha," she looked up at the two before continuing "Go after... Kohaku..." She finished weakly holding her wounded arm.

"Sango that's a horrible wound!" Kagome said getting a cloth to cover the large gash.

Inuyasha went to Miroku and called to him, the monk turned his head to look and Inuyasha and spoke,

"Sorry Inuyasha... for being in this state." he said dropping his head. Inuyasha grabbed Miroku by the collar and pulled him up some

"Miroku you..." That's when Inuyasha noticed the markings on his shoulder. Dark purple and red scars coated the monk's right arm, due to the curse on his hand. The scars ran up along his shoulder and now on his chest.

"The miasma wound is all the way to his chest" Inuyasha thought in surprise, he thought about what Kikyou had told him about the wound.

"When the miasma wound reaches his heart, most likely the monks life will be..." Inuyasha's thoughts were interrupted by Miroku speaking

"Thanks to Yakurou Dokusen's medicine, I've become unable to feel the pain... but I guess I overdid it a little" he looked away from Inuyasha as a strange swirling sound started up.

Sango sat up immediately and looked at Miroku "That sound... it can't be... The Wind Tunnel!" she thought as the sound was indeed coming from Miroku's cursed hand.

Inuyasha stood up at the sound, "Miroku, your Wind Tunnel is..."

Miroku looked away from his friends and thought "Will the miasma wound reach my heart first or will the Wind Tunnel tear me open before that..."

"Miroku!" Sango called.


Sesshomaru examined the Magatsuhi before him and began to wonder, "There's something strange about this Magatsuhi..." he thought, "The faint sent that I've been following all the way here is..." He sniffed the air again and realized the sent was coming from Byakuya.

Like lightning he lunged at Byakuya and just barely missed the demon with his claws, or so Byakuya thought.

Sesshomaru landed his attack on Byakuya's gourd which sliced it in half revealing a chunk of flesh. The shadowy image of Magatsuhi started to fade as Byakuya spoke up

"It's a piece of flesh from when you cut Magatsuhi. Shouldn't it be infused with the scent of the spirit that couldn't escape?" He backed away from Sesshomaru before continuing

"It was all I needed to lure you out here and buy some time, but you've realized that a bit too late." he finished. Sesshomaru was honestly surprised; he had fallen for this trick so easily.

"Right about now, the last Shikon Shard is on its way to Naraku." Byakuya said "So just hang around here a bit longer." he finished with Sesshomaru glaring at him.

Out of nowhere hundreds of demons charged for Sesshomaru, he didn't move nor show and emotion.

"How laughable. Do you honestly think these small fry could impede me?"

Yeah, that's why I summoned a couple thousand of 'em" Byakuya said as Sesshomaru withdrew Bakusaiga, with one swipe all the demons were dismembered by shocks of electricity from the mighty sword killing them all.

Byakuya back away slowly, awe struck, as the last of the demons fell to the forest floor.


Inuyasha with Kagome on his back charged after Kohaku and Magatsuhi.

"Hurry Inuyasha!" she yelled out.

"It's because he's being possessed by Magatsuhi, Kohaku's shard... Until now I've never felt it tainted black to this extent" Kagome thought as the two were catching up to the boy.

At the village people were gathering around Kaede's home, they were talking about rebuilding the house for her. In the forest Sango readied her Demon Slayer armor ignoring he wound. Shippou, who had been with Kaede, came up behind her and asked,

"Don't your wounds hurt?"

"I'm fine," she answered "Besides, at least you and Kaede are alright." She said tying her hair up. As she started to walk away Shippou spoke up again,

"I wonder how Miroku is doing" Sango didn't answer

Inside of a small hut Miroku, Rin, Jaken and Kaede sat. Miroku and Rin were on makeshift beds as both of them were unconscious. Jaken glared around the small room,

"Hey!" He yelled, "Isn't this a storage shed!" he complained.

"Don't complain little demon" Kaede answered giving Jaken a glare of her own. Miroku's hand shook again with the effects of the Wind Tunnel, his prayer beads clicked together as they fought to keep the abyss closed.

Jaken ignored the monk and looked down at Rin.

"Hmmm... Rin is unconscious as well..." He thought as he started to sweat nervously, "She got hit with Magatsuhi's toxic aura... if Lord Sesshomaru finds out about this; I'm as good as dead..."

Sango walked into the hut soon after Jaken's thought, Kaede turned to her as she walked in. The demon slayer knelt down next to Kaede and Miroku and asked,

"How is he?"

"He's been asleep, but... he isn't in pain. It's probably the effects of the medicine from Yakurou Dakusen that he drank." Kaede answered.

"In order to fight alongside me, Miroku drank a medicine that rendered him unable to feel pain." Sango thought aloud. "If he could feel pain properly he wouldn't have sucked in so much of Magatsuhi."

"So much that it would tear the Wind Tunnel" She thought.

"Are you following after Inuyasha and Kagome?" Kaede asked trying to change the subject, "Though I think staying with Miroku would be..."

"If Naraku is defeated, the curse will be broken and Miroku's Wind Tunnel will disappear." Sango interrupted. Kaede looked at the young woman with sadness clear in her eyes

"Sango..."

"In order to take Kohaku's shard, Naraku will defiantly show himself... Kaede?" Sango said turning away from the old priestess

"Could you please... leave us alone for a little while?" her face was impossible to read as she hid her eye under her bangs. Kaede nodded and picked up Rin motioning for Jaken to follow, she was going to make a medicine to help the little girl the three left the hut as Sango knelt closer to Miroku.

Sango looked down at the unconscious monk, her eyes started to water as she thought.

"Miroku... Miroku is always risking his life for my and Kohaku's sake," She placed her hand gently on top of his cursed hand.

"Please don't die" she thought as she leaned down taking Miroku's face in her other hand and kissed him tenderly.


Kohaku rode the demon farther down the canyon he had been traveling. Soon a dark cloud appeared over a mountain top just ahead of him, the demon he rode slowed a bit as the cloud got closer.

Inuyasha and Kagome, who were not too far behind, saw the cloud as well

"That cloud..." Kagome started

"Smells like Naraku's miasma!" Inuyasha finished. As the two got near tentacles of all shapes and sizes began to emerge from the cloud, all headed towards Kohaku.

"They're trying to take Kohaku's shard!" Inuyasha said as he pulled out the Tessaiga. In an instant the blade was covered in jade green diamonds

"Adamant Barrage!" he yelled as he swung the mighty fang which released a barrage of diamond blades at the tentacles. The demon that was carrying Kohaku plummeted to the canyon floor as it head was blown off by the barrage. Kohaku didn't attempt to get off the demon which had Inuyasha rushing to the boy's aid.

When in reach however Kohaku pulled out the scythe he had before and sent the blade at Inuyasha. He dodged the blow backing away and letting Kagome off his back.

Kohaku's weapon began to change after its attack, the blade split into a tripod type structure with Kohaku at the top still holding the hilt. Magatsuhi spoke,

"Have you come to take back the shard? In that case, it would mean reducing this boy to little pieces. Since I myself have no physical body, this boy is my precious shard container"

Kagome and Inuyasha eyed the boy, Kagome drew and arrow and readied her bow.

"If I purify that shard, Kohaku should wake up" She thought. She quickly aimed for the shard and let her arrow fly, it sped towards Kohaku infused with a pure light but to her surprise the arrow vanished before it hit the shard.

"You fool woman," Magatsuhi said leaking from the jewel to hover behind Kohaku, "Your spiritual powers have been sealed by me" He chuckled.

Kagome looked at her bow in disbelieve "So even the power of my holy arrows has been sealed" She thought.

"Very soon the Jewel of Four Souls will be complete" Magatsuhi taunted. Inuyasha growled,

"You think I'll let you?" He yelled lunging for Kohaku, "Kohaku wake up!" he called as Kohaku's weapon began to engage him.

"Wake up huh? What do you think will happen if he does?" Magatsuhi asked as the scythes blades closed around Inuyasha in midair, trapping him.

"What?"

"Do you know what this black tainted Shikon shard is showing Kohaku's heart?"

Kohaku sat in a bloodied courtyard, his father and companions lay dead all around him.

"Fa... Father" he called frightened. He got to his knees,

"Sister!" he looked around, "Sister help me!" he yelled in fear. A faint voice caught his attention and he quickly turned to it,

"Ko...haku..." the voice said weakly

"Sister!" That's when he saw her, Sango was on her hands and knees covered in blood along with HIS scythe in her back. She turned her head to him slowly,

"Kohaku... Why..?"

Kohaku couldn't' believe what he was seeing, he stood quickly and looked at his hands. They were covered in blood.

"I... did that..? To father and everyone else..?"

"The great sin that Kohaku committed, killing his father and comrades. By the power of the shard he is reliving that day repeatedly." Magatsuhi said

"Ever since he's been asleep?" Kagome asked stunned.

"It's been repeating the entire time since he fell asleep. So even if he did awaken, Kohaku's heart would already be shattered." As Magatsuhi finished tears of blood began to fall from Kohaku's eyes

"Even so, Wake Up Kohaku!" Sango yelled as she arrived to the scene on top of Kirara. Kohaku has a small smile on his face as Magatsuhi spoke again

"What a cruel sister. Even though I told you it would be pointless even if he did wake up..."

"Wake up! Fight, Kohaku!" Sango called out but no reaction came from Kohaku. More tentacles poured out of the dark cloud which caught Kagome's attention. Amongst the pitch black cloud Kagome noticed what appeared to be a speck of light.

"Light? That's the light that Kikyou left in Naraku's jewel. The light that purifies Kohaku's shard and causes Naraku pain!" The tentacles shot towards Kohaku to take his shard, Kagome was expecting the tentacles to be repelled but nothing happened.

"Cut the tentacles!" She yelled "Kikyou's purifying light isn't working!"

Sango quickly threw the Hiraikotsu which easily tore through Naraku's tentacles. Inuyasha pushed back Kohaku's blades with Tessaiga, once free he sent another barrage of diamonds at the remaining tentacles.

"Dammit Naraku, get back!" He shouted as the tentacles were torn apart.

"Kikyou's light didn't work... why?" Kagome thought aloud.


Clouse grumbled as he walked casually through Inuyasha Forest. He knew he was getting close to this girl Kagome, her sent was all over the area

"She must live around here" He thought. After a few miles he stopped and scanned the area briefly then sniffed the air for a good while. The woman's sent was coming from several directions two of which were the strongest.

One way the sent was fresher than the other but the slightly older sent was by far the stronger of the two.

"Hmm, she must have come from this direction," He looked to his right where the stronger sent was coming from "She must live there. This means she must have left recently and headed that way." Clouse thought for a moment before heading towards the stronger sent.

"I guess I'll be visiting a human village, oh joy" He said smiling at his sarcasm. Minutes later Clouse could smell the tell tail signs of a village, fresh cut wood, burning fires, dried food, herbs and humans. Clouse Sighed as he approached the village already knowing he was going to be attacked. He decided to just walk the parameter of the village staying within the forest as to not scare the villagers. The large wolf demon began his patrol near an old well; the woman's sent was all over the old stump of wood and lead to the village. He walked closer the well, he was curious as to why she visited it so often, and looked down expecting to see a bottomless pit of some kind. To his surprise it was filled with dirt.

"I'll never understand humans" Clouse said walking towards the village again. A quick sniff of the area revealed the faint scent of a young fox demon and a dog demon of some kind. His scent was new to Clouse it wasn't quite dog demon and it wasn't quite human either.

"Is this the scent of a half demon?" Clouse thought having never met a half demon before he was a bit intrigued by the scent.

"Does this woman travel with demons?" Clouse wondered. He continued on and the two demons scent were just as frequent as the woman's, the closer he got the more scents flooded him. He could almost see the pair walking through the forest.

Clouse was completely focused on the scents before him. His ears shot up as the sound of an object flying towards him stole his attention. Clouse quickly jumped back just barely dodging an arrow that had been aimed for his heart.

"Be gone demon! Next time I will not miss." Kaede warned, another arrow was already pointed at Clouse.

"I mean this village no harm; I have an item to deliver is all." Clouse said

"What item would this be?" Kaede asked

"I met a traveling monk named..." Clouse paused thinking about the monk who had given him the herbs no matter how hard he concentrated he couldn't remember the monks name. "I... can't recall his name oddly... He told me he wished to aid the priestess named Kagome, and gave me some healing herbs to give to her. The monk said something about it helping her spiritual powers" Clouse said.

Kaede thought about what the demon had said, it wasn't uncommon for various people across the land to offer gifts to Inuyasha and friends. Even demons, much like the one before her, would come to offer their thanks. Curious to see if the demon spoke the truth she lowered her bow.

"Show me this item, slowly. One can't be too careful" Kaede said, she was ready to fire her bow at any moment. Clouse nodded and removed the bundle of cloth from his waist strap and held it out.

"Open it" Clouse nodded again and unwrapped the cloth, he picked up one of the oddly colored leafs showing it to Kaede. The old priestess could tell the leaf wasn't poisonous she knew many herbs, however, she had never seen this type before.

"I've never seen an herb like that before, what's its purpose?"

"The monk told me that it can amplify spiritual powers but its full extent is unknown to me, I do know however that it's not poisonous. I can't smell any toxins in it and to further prove its safety the monk ate a leaf before me. He also mentioned that in order for the herb to take effect demon saliva and the person's blood has to mix, again I'm not sure the herbs full extent." Clouse replied honestly. Kaede lowered her bow completely and approached Clouse; he towered over her standing near 10 ft. Clouse smiled slightly as she drew near, the old woman showed no fear as she stood before him which surprised him.

"I'll take the herb then," Kaede held out her hand and Clouse placed the bundle in it "Please tell the monk thank you." At that Kaede turned around and began walking back to her hut. "Don't hang around too long demon-"

"It's Clouse," Clouse said "And about that... would you mind me staying for a while? It's clear by the scent around here that a few demons constantly come and go, I would like to meet them you see. I just missed them it seems. Please excuse me if I'm being rude... I've never met a half demon before."

Kaede looked over Clouse, he seemed relaxed. "Alright Clouse, but you will have to work while you wait. Remember, I have my eye on you." With that Kaede turned and lead Clouse back to the village to begin repairs.


Thanks for reading :D

~Pie


Chapter 3 preview.

Chapter 3: It Begins

"Sesshomaru" Magatsuhi hissed in pain. Naraku's tentacle rumbled as it regained life and charged for Sesshomaru. The demon lord barely registered Naraku as a threat as he pulled his sword, Bakusaiga, from his hip.

"Naraku's body... huh." With one swipe of his sword Naraku's tentacle erupted with electricity destroying all that touched it. Sango and Kirara rushed to Kohaku who fell after the aftershock of Sesshomaru's sword. He landed safely on Kirara's back. Inuyasha watched as sparking chunks of Naraku's body fell all around him,

"The parts of his body cut by Bakusaiga won't be able to be used again..." He said. Kagome watched as the chunks broke apart into smaller and smaller parts.

"Amazing..."

Sesshomaru faced Magatsuhi withdrawing Tenseiga once again. The spirit demons face was nearly cut in half.