Kagome stood there, staring wide eyed at Neith and Xether. So much had happened lately, she had almost forgotten about the Shadelings altogether.
"Well well well," Neith said, his black eyes cold as they bored into her, "It's the happy lovers. Or maybe not to happy anymore, hmm?"
Kagome opened her mouth to say something, but InuYasha cut her off as he moved forward. He stepped in front of Kagome, right arm out, as if trying to hide her behind the long sleeve of his haori.
"I thought I smelled a stench, but I thought it was just dead fish," his voice was cool, mocking, and Kagome knew if she could see him, he'd probably have that familiar grin on his face.
He was obviously spoiling for a fight.
Be careful, InuYasha, don't get cocky. I know you can use your Solar Flare now, but there are two of them.
"Very foolish of you to come this far out, away from your friends," Neith said. The black star over one eye seemed darker in the low light, almost as if it were glowing with it's own power.
"I don't need help gutting you," InuYasha retorted, "I can do it all on my own."
Grasping the hilt, InuYasha pulled his sword free of the scabbard.
The familiar sound of the Tetsusaiga flaring to life resonated across the clearing. InuYasha held it out, one handed, pointing it at the two Shadelings.
"Did anyone ever tell you people who carry huge swords are usually over-compensating for a lack somewhere else?" Neith grinned.
"Shut up!"
Kagome watched Xether closely. The woman wasn't saying anything, just glaring daggers at the hanyou. Not chiming in with the taunting, the woman hovered there, both her hands clenched tightly.
She's remembering Xanter, Kagome thought, And she wants revenge on InuYasha.
Kagome, still half-hidden by the red haori's sleeve, leaned forward and spoke softly, "Be careful, InuYasha."
An ear flicked. Not turning, he spoke back to her, equally low, "There's two of them. I don't like this."
"Me either."
"They're going to try and divide us," he said, never taking his eyes off them, "We need to find a place I can defend you in."
Anger burned in Kagome, anger and humiliation. Once again, her presence was just a hinderance to InuYasha. She knew her skill with the sword wasn't good enough to take on a Shadeling. InuYasha couldn't take one on until he had gotten the Solar Flare from Izumi.
"I'm sorry."
"Shut up," he said, but his voice was gentle.
"Do you really think we can't see her back there?" Neith called out, "Put your arm down, InuYasha."
InuYasha didn't move. He didn't like Neith even looking at Kagome. Neith's attention was not healthy for anyone, "Your fight is with me, Neith," he called up, "Remember?"
Kagome reached out, and putting her hands on InuYasha's arm, pushed it down. InuYasha blinked at her, but Kagome kept her eyes on Neith and Xether.
"There she is!" Neith called out cheerfully, "Our little Kagome! How are you doing, little one? Had any more interesting mental breakdowns lately?"
InuYasha swung his face out, anger in his eyes, "You shut up!"
"I know I'm not crazy," Kagome called up to Neith, "but I have to hand it to you, you did a good job of getting me to believe it for a while."
InuYasha lowered his head a little, eyes flicking towards her. His voice was uneasy, "Kagome."
She spoke again, "But it was just some second rate parlour trick after all."
"Parlour trick?" Neith grinned, "It was good enough to have you nearly kill yourself in despair, wasn't it? I could-"
"Shut your mouth!" InuYasha roared, fangs flashing.
Kagome raised a hand, laid it gently on his back. She could feel him trembling with fury. She spoke gently, "Don't let him goad you into anger. It's not bothering me."
"It's bothering me," he hissed.
Neith had almost had Kagome kill herself. When InuYasha had found her, she had been seconds away from plunging a dagger into her own throat, just to escape life in an evil mental asylum. She had possibly started doubting InuYasha was even real...doubting that he was coming to save her. The rage that surged inside him when he thought of it made him want to just attack something, forgo the Tetsusaiga and use his claws and fangs, just rip and rend and tear.
"So," Neith said, lowering himself a little, "how shall we do this? Here? Back at the village?"
"Just kill him!" Xether suddenly screeched, "Stop talking to him, and kill him for me!"
Neith looked back at Xether, and Kagome and InuYasha suddenly saw worry cross the Shadeling's face, "I will, love, I will."
Love?! InuYasha suddenly thought, Are Neith and Xether together?
There goes my lunch.
"What's the matter?" InuYasha called up to her, "Don't like me anymore?"
"You killed my brother, you bastard!" Xether screamed, "And for that I'm going to make you scream in agony before I kill you!"
Kagome spoke, almost a whisper, "InuYasha, be careful, please."
"Oh please," InuYasha taunted her, "I doubt you could do any more than just piss me off. Neith is the one I want. He and I have a score to settle."
Xether's face twisted in fury, "I'll tear your heart in two, you bastard! I'll skin her alive and make you watch!" Xether screamed, slashing outward with her hand. A long, black crescent came flashing out towards them.
Kagome heard InuYasha curse. In one fluid motion, he turned, scooping Kagome up, and lunging into the forest.
Kagome was silent as InuYasha ran, plunging into the forest. She was angry with the Shadelings, and angry at herself. There was nothing she could do to help InuYasha here, nothing at all. Arrows were useless, her sword was useless.
Even DarkWind here couldn't help, as the Kageri was back on another plane, visiting lands he had. Kagome had discovered that since their bond was broken, when DarkWind went to another plane, she couldn't contact him at all. There was no link there any more. She hadn't told the Kageri, as she knew he would start refusing to leave her side, and she didn't want that. DarkWind was entitled to a vacation the same as anyone else.
Besides...she knew InuYasha would still be there for her.
Only now...
They hadn't expected the Shadelings to attack together. They usually worked alone, with the exception of the Twins. Once Xanter had been killed, they had let their guard down.
Now they were paying for it.
Kagome watched his face as they ran. His eyes were scanning the edges of the forest, looking for some sort of defensible place he could stop. If he could keep Kagome out of their hands, the fight would be a lot easier.
Kagome peered back, around InuYasha, saw both Xether and Neith moving hot on their trail, and gaining on them.
She had just been about to tell him to just put her down and turn, face them, so he wouldn't be attacked from behind, when InuYasha suddenly made a sharp turn, lunging from the path, deeper into the forest.
They moved into a clearing, one end abutted up against the stone wall of a cliff. Thick, heavy brush ran along there back to the path.
It wasn't a great place, but better than nothing. It would be hard for anyone to come up behind them without a least making one hell of a racket.
InuYasha put Kagome on her feet, casting a quick glance over his shoulder, watching as Neith and Xether moved into the clearing.
He looked back to her, eyes wide with the seriousness of the situation.
"Stay behind me", he said, "got it? If you see anything, tell me, don't face it on your own, not against them."
Kagome swallowed, and nodded, "Got it. Be careful."
InuYasha cast one more look at her, as if trying to reassure himself she was safe here, before turning back to face the Shadelings, Tetsusaiga drawn.
Kagome stood halfway between the cliff face and InuYasha. She wanted to be close enough to him for safety, but not so close she got in his way. She watched as Xether hung back, letting Neith come forward.
"Well, InuYasha," Neith grinned. His long dark blue hair moved easily as he walked, his strange orange eyes intent on the hanyou. His somewhat regal bearing was marred by the savage grin on his face.
"Looks like we finally get to finish what we started, so long ago."
"We'll start it," InuYasha growled, "but I'll finish it!"
With a laugh, Neith dove forward.
Kagome, hands curled into useless fists, watched the battle before her.
InuYasha snarled, and lunged, bringing the Tetsusaiga up overhead, swinging it in a great overhead arc.
Neith pulled a sword as well, a long black blade. It was thicker than a normal sword blade, but not nearly as thick as Tetsusaiga.
With a resounding clash, the two blades met, sparks flashing outward. Neith and InuYasha set their feet, each pushing against the other in a struggle of strength. Noses almost touching, Neith grinned at InuYasha, the hanyou's teeth bared in anger. Their faces were reflected in the Tetsusaiga's face.
"You've gotten stronger, InuYasha!" Neith laughed, "You're almost my equal in strength now!"
"I aint your equal, I'm better than you!" InuYasha snarled, shoving back hard. Neith was forced to dance back a step. Seeing his chance, InuYasha lunged, swinging Tetsusaiga in a massive arc.
Neith lunged backwards, just avoiding the edge of the demon blade. There was a huge grin on his face. He was enjoying himself.
InuYasha swung again, driving the Shadeling back another step.
Neith retreated backwards, just out of the hanyou's range.
InuYasha was forced to stop, to back up several steps. He couldn't go too far ahead without leaving a gap open that would let Neith slip past him.
"Come on, InuYasha," Neith taunted, "What are you waiting for?"
"Ah shut up," InuYasha called back, "Like I'm interested in chasing you all over the forest. You wanna fight, then why don't you come over here and get to it?"
Kagome watched, body trembling with nerves. If only she had her bow and arrows. She might be able to use her Spiritual Arrow against Neith. Something to make it easier...
As Neith came darting in again, Kagome watched InuYasha set his feet, taking up a familiar stance.
Do it! she thought, Take him out!
InuYasha raised the Tetsusaiga over his head, bringing it crashing down. Instead of his usual attack, this time he reached directly for the Solar Flare.
"Solar Flare!"
Tetsusaiga bit deep into the earth.
The WindScar came ripping outward, instantly replaced by the Solar Flare. The yellow ribbons of the Wind Scar flared up into red and white flames, flashing and roaring.
Neith cursed, the grin gone from his face, and dove to the side. The Solar Flare blasted past him, almost knocking him off his feet, a hot blast of heat and fire.
It rocketed out, seeming to engulf everything in it's path. For a second there was only fire, but it quickly died back, revealing a landscape untouched by fire. As Izumi had promised, the Solar Flare only harmed those who had allied themselves with Keimetsu. Plants, animals, even innocent people would be untouched.
InuYasha grinned savagely. For the first time, the Solar Flare had been right there, within reach, like his Wind Scar. No more doubt. No more guessing. The blade had taken and accepted the blessing from the Sun Goddess, had learned it.
Thank you, Tetsusaiga.
Begrudgingly, he also thanked Amaterasu, in case she were listening.
Neith had backed up, out of range.
InuYasha wanted to whoop. The taunting look on the Shadeling's face was gone. He was looking at InuYasha warily now.
Now, finally, InuYasha was a threat.
The grin suddenly re-emerged on the Shadeling's face, and he lifted off his feet, sliding backwards. InuYasha warily tightened his grip.
"Well done, InuYasha. First point to you. But our battle is by no means over yet."
He faded back out of sight.
InuYasha's ears flicked, listening. He expected a sudden rush from any side, and he tensed, waiting.
"Get ready, Kagome," he said, "They're planning something."
Silence.
"Kagome? I said get-" he looked over his shoulder.
She was gone.
Blinking, InuYasha turned, staring into the empty clearing, "Kagome?!"
Silence. Emptiness.
What...how...
That grin.
"Neith! Get back here! Don't you touch her!"
Kagome struggled, cursing in her head. She had no idea how Xether had managed to get up behind her so silently. She had been watching InuYasha fight, worried he would open himself up to an attack, and was pleased to see he was being careful.
He's holding back because I'm here, she thought, angry, He can't really get into it with Neith because he knows he needs to protect me.
Well...maybe that's a good thing. A little caution is alway-
A hand had clamped over her mouth, hard, another grabbing her arm, wrenching her backwards. Kagome's hands flew up to the arm of the hand on her mouth, to try and yank it away, but her arm was twisted hard, and she was thrown off balance. She staggered backwards, and found herself being picked up and almost thrown over the brush, into another small clearing.
Her attacker was still on her, and she struggled, kicking out, writhing, but whoever had her was strong, and it was like fighting a tree.
Another hard shove, and she flew several feet forward, landing roughly on her hands and knees with a grunt.
Not even looking around, Kagome gathered herself, pushing to her feet, planning on taking off as fast as she could. She needed to get back to InuYasha, there was no way she could fight them on her own.
Kagome had only taken one step when a foot struck her ankle, tripping her. With an angry cry, she fell again.
Once again she struggled, pushing off with her feet, staggering to her feet. One, two, three steps, and she slammed into Neith.
A vice-like grip clasped onto her arm, and she felt herself spun in place, thrown off balance. She was being pushed and pulled around like a sack of rice, kept off-balance.
Her arms were viciously yanked behind her, a strong arm slipped behind her back, in front of her elbows, pinning them in place, and she felt herself lifted off her feet as Neith rose into the air.
Desperate, InuYasha left the clearing behind, darting back out onto the path, letting his nose guide him.
"Bastard! Where are you?!"
Several steps, and he broke into a second clearing, sliding to a stop, horrified.
Neith hovered about 8 or 9 feet off the ground, Xether beside him, her sword drawn.
Kagome stood before Neith, as if standing on some invisible platform. Her arms were twisted behind her, held in place by one of Neith's arms linked around in front of her elbows, pinning them. His right hand was twisted in her hair, tight, holding her head up, face out. Blood dribbled from her knees.
"Let her go!"
"There you are, InuYasha," Neith smiled, "I was starting to wonder if you were going to notice she was gone at all, or just stand there."
"I said let her go!"
Neith yanked hard on Kagome's hair, jerking her head back. Kagome made a quiet noise of pain, but refused to cry out.
Neith smiled, "Now now, manners."
InuYasha grasped the hilt of the Tetsusaiga, preparing for the Solar Flare. He would be able to take out Neith and Xether, leaving Kagome unhurt. Izumi's blessing would ensure she was safe.
He started to call in the power of the Solar Flare.
Xether grinned, and lifted the sword, placing the edge against Kagome's throat, "I wouldn't."
Blinking, InuYasha stepped back a step.
Xether smiled, "Go for your Flare, InuYasha, and I'll slit her throat ear to ear before it reaches us."
Cursing, InuYasha loosened his grip, feeling the Solar Flare fade out around him. He wouldn't be fast enough.
Neith spoke, "Good dog."
"I'm the one you want, come for me!" InuYasha snarled, "I killed Xanter!"
"I know," Xether hissed, "And for that you'll pay."
Kagome looked down at InuYasha, gritting her teeth. Her insides churned with anger. They were just using her to hurt him. She knew how he felt about her. Knew he still loved her, so much. Knew he would hold himself responsible for her safety, for any pain forced on her.
"So how shall we do this?" Xether grinned, her eyes flashing nastily in the low light of the day, "Should we cut her fingers off, one by one? Slice off her nose?"
"First off," Neith said, "We pull the dog's teeth. InuYasha! Throw away Tetsusaiga!"
Grinding his teeth in fury, his grip tightened on the blade for a second, as if longing to throw Tetsusaiga at Neith. He took Tetsusaiga in his left hand, angling his arm out a little, to toss it to the side.
Kagome grunted as Neith yanked again on her hair, hard, "Come on, now, InuYasha. You're a hanyou! Use those arms! Nice and far."
InuYasha hissed a breath. Right hand in a fist, he angled out his left arm, and threw Tetsusaiga. The blade went flashing out to his left. It whipped into the forest, sinking deep into the trunk of a tree. It quivered there a second. Then, with a sigh-like sound, it shifted back to it's old, beaten form.
"Good."
InuYasha felt his claws digging into his palms, he was clenching his fists so tight, "Now let her go!"
"Do you remember," Neith asked him, as if nothing were happening between them as if they were old friends, "When I first had you? I had you convinced your friends had abandoned you. Left you alone. I offered you power, power beyond anything you could imagine. And you turned me down."
"You're damn right I did!" InuYasha yelled back.
"Just before your friends found you, before they saved your skin, do you remember what you were doing?"
InuYasha glared up at Neith, eyes flashing from Neith's face to Kagome's.
Her eyes were closed, squeezed shut. Neith's fist was full of her black hair, twisted cruelly tight.
He knew what she was doing. She didn't want to see him. She knew she was being used to hurt him, and it was killing her. She couldn't meet his gaze.
I just want you out of here, he thought.
"Don't you remember, InuYasha?" Neith asked again, his voice cruelly amused, "No? Then I shall remind you.
You were bowing to me.
Let's see that again, shall we?
On your knees."
InuYasha shivered with fury, raising his fists, "Just come down here and fight me, you coward bastard! Man to man, one on one! We'll settle this once and for all!"
"Neith gave you an order," Xether said, and moving her sword, she put the tip to Kagome's upper arm.
Before anyone could say anything, Xether slid the blade forward, sliding the very tip into Kagome's upper arm.
Kagome's back arced, fists whitening. Her jaw clamped, locking back any sound. Her breathing became faster and louder, though, and she shuddered, making a weak, mewling sound. Her arm went cold, then hot, and she felt something liquid slip down her arm, running down towards her elbow, dripping.
"Stop it!"
"I said on your knees!"
InuYasha cursed. Shuddering in helpless fury, literally snarling in rage, he sank to his knees. His eyes were riveted on Kagome's face.
Xether continued to slowly, cruelly, slide the tip of the blade into the woman's arm, using a slow motion to draw out the agony.
Kagome's eyes were screwed shut, her face pale. She was shuddering so hard it was almost hard for Neith to hold her. Pain-filled whimpers escaped her lips, but she would not scream. Tears welled up, spilling over her cheeks.
"Let her GO!" InuYasha screamed.
Neith looked at Xether, "That's enough for now."
Xether looked at him, anger on her face.
"That's enough for now, Xether," Neith said firmly, "We want to make this last, don't we?"
Xether's lips twisted in anger, but she moved, yanking the blade out of Kagome's arm.
Kagome sagged slightly, taking deep breaths, chest rising and falling as she gasped.
Head drooping forward, she opened her eyes, looking through he bangs at him. At first he was just a smear of red and silver against a brownish smear, through her tear-filled eyes. A blink or two brought it all into focus.
He knelt on the ground before and below her, arms half lifted, as if he didn't know what to do with them. From here, she thought she could see him tremble.
His gold eyes were wide, riveted on her face, "Kagome."
Neith's hand grabbed up a handful of hair again, jerking her head back and up, calling down to the hanyou.
"Let's see that silver hair on the ground, InuYasha! Forhead in the dirt! Come on, bow to me!"
"You stinking piece of-"
Neith yanked again, hard, and Kagome grunted in pain. Her arm throbbed, and her side felt hot and wet. How deeply had Xether stabbed her? Xether's sword came up again, resting across her throat.
InuYasha won't bow to you bastards, she thought savagely.
Panting in rage, InuYasha shivered. He wanted to bite and claw and rip and tear. Utter hatred raged through him.
Placing his hands on the ground in front of him, a muscle jumping in his jaw, he lowered his head, closing his eyes in rage and humilitation, shuddering, moving slowly forward until he felt his forhead rest against the ground.
Kagome heard Neith called out in joy, "Well done, Dog!"
Her eyes opened.
On the ground in front of her, InuYasha knelt, bowing as deep as he could go, long silver hair draped forward, resting in the dust and dirt of the ground.
No!
Pain left, fear left, replaced by a coldness.
You don't bow to them!
"InuYasha, get up!" she screamed, "Don't you dare bow to them!"
"Don't be so stupid," Xether laughed, "He has no choice!"
InuYasha ground his teeth together, claws sinking into the dirt, I'll kill you, he thought, When I get her back, I'll kill you with my bare hands.
He heard Kagome suddenly cry out, in pain. His eyes flared open.
A pulse moved through him.
No! I can't!
Neith laughed.
Another pulse.
Not now! I'll kill her too!
He fought it. Fought it back as best he could. But his anger was too strong. The sound of Kagome's pain, the harsh laughter of Neith, swamped him, over whelming him.
His eyes darkened, turning red.
Kagome grunted as Neith yanked her hair again, hard. Her arm was burning like fire, her muscles starting to ache from being forced into such an unnatural position. Opening her eyes again, she looked down at InuYasha. He was still bowed, forhead on the ground. The sight of his beautiful silver hair lying in the dirt caused anger to swell inside her, anger and fury.
Under her shirt, the Shikon suddenly gave a single chime, a soft ding!.
Kagome blinked.
The Shikon? It rang.
Behind her, Neith laughed again, twisting a handful of her hair, wrenching back her arms painfully.
Gritting her teeth, Kagome watched the hanyou below.
I'm sorry, InuYasha. I promised you I wouldn't use it unnecessarily.
But this is necessary.
Kagome closed her eyes, and reached inside for the Shikon