Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Eventually, everyone gathered around and spoke to each other to pass the time. They'd come up with new theories that were either too ludicrous or not sensible. Shippo dug through Kagome's bag and pulled out a small jar bottle that was used to contain the jewel shards.

"I thought this was taken away by Naraku's insects, Kagome?" He asked holding the little jar. Kagome looked over and smiled as she took it in her hands.

"It was." She agreed. "I brought a spare in case I ever broke it. Go ahead and hold it, Shippo." Miroku's head snapped up and Kagome gasped.

"Do you sense that?" Sango asked as Kilala hissed and arched her back. Inuyasha sniffed the air and immediately stood up with his hand on his sword.

"A demonic aura." Miroku replied.

"It's…so powerful." Kagome barely managed to finish her sentence when she heard the sound of loud screams and Inuyasha's stomping out of the lodging. The group closely followed him with weapons in hand.

The sky was no longer blue but rather a dark gray color and it rumbled with harsh thunder. Villagers ran from their homes, screaming incoherencies, in order to save their lives. Running towards the entrance of the village stood a pile of dead bodies, both of men and women. The blood was trickling from wounds inflicted on different parts of their bodies and their eyes were opened in a panicked craze before they died.

Over them stood a demon. He was handsome and incredibly tall, dressed in traditional armor and holding an enormous spear in his hand. He had red jagged lines across his face and black hair that was held back, away from his face.

"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha spat at the demon who released the dead body of the old man who had welcomed them. It thudded against the ground and tainted it red with the blood that spilled from his neck. Kagome gasped and covered her mouth with her hands at the horrendous sight, earning a look from the demon, whose eyes immediately widened.

"It's you." He said in a deep voice as he ignored Inuyasha's question. Kagome tore her gaze away from the old man's body and blinked at the demon. "You're the priestess."

"I—"

"How do you know her?" Miroku asked taking a step forward. The demon turned to him with mild interest.

"Her reputation proceeds her." He replied simply. "You are more beautiful than I would've imagined." His compliment dumbfounded everyone and made the anger start to cook in Inuyasha's blood.

"Excuse me?" Kagome's voice held clear disbelief. His words contradicted his actions.

"I have been looking for you."

"So you're the sick bastard whose been going around killing villagers." Inuyasha snarled in disgust.

"That is me." He agreed with a nod. "I was in search of this beautiful maiden and it seemed everywhere I searched I had just missed her trace."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Okinasu." His stance oozed power and authority. His eyes were calculating and scanning over everyone—predicting their moves.

"What the hell do you want with Kagome?" Inuyasha's hand flexed on his sword, catching Okinasu's eye.

"I wish for her to become my bride." Kagome's mouth dropped and everyone took a second to reevaluate his words. Inuyasha's mouth went slack but as soon as he recovered, he bounced back with a fire. He cracked his fingers, chuckling darkly.

"I'm sorry to break it to you, but it seems that won't be possible." Bending his fingers again, they cracked even louder. "She won't become your bride."

"I'm afraid I didn't ask you for permission." Okinasu removed his eyes from the half-demon and turned them to the still shocked priestess. "This is a request for her to heed."

"I can't marry you." Kagome managed in her stupefied state. Inuyasha walked over and stood directly in front of Kagome's body, shielding her physically from him. Okinasu had heard tales of the priestess traveling with the half demon and of them being lovers and from what he could see, it seemed they were accurate.

"You can't just be massacring villages just to marry Kagome." Miroku argued with suspicion. He was sure there was more to Okinasu then he was willing to admit. "What do you need her for?"

"A bride." Okinasu replied again and Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched.

"You don't know me." Kagome squeaked and Okinasu released an enchanting smile on her.

"That is what I wish to do, my lovely." Inuyasha snarled. "To get to know you."

'Clearly things are done backwards in the Fuedal Era.' Kagome thought.

"Alright you son of a bitch." Inuyasha pulled out Tetsusaiga out of his sheath and pointed it at Okinasu. "You need to go back to where you belong."

"If a duel's what you wish." Okinasu lifted his spear and pointed it towards Inuyasha. Out of instinct, Inuyasha ran towards him, raising his sword and swinging it towards him only for it to get blocked by his spear. Though, Tetsusaiga was larger than his weapon, it was obvious it held tremendous strength for it to hold off Tetsusaiga's attack. Trembling from the pressure he was using, Inuyasha ground his heels against the ground and pushed harder but it was useless because Okinasu managed to throw him back.

"Inuyasha!" Everyone yelled as the half demon wiped the small amount of blood from his lip. The force Okinasu used managed to thwart of his sword and make it hit him. He stood up and raised the blade over his head.

"Wind Scar!" He yelled, letting the flash of Tetsusaiga's power be shown. It cratered the ground as it made its way over to Okinasu who looked surprised at the attack. Raising his own weapon he slammed the spear into the ground, dissolving the Wind Scar.

Inuyasha's smirk was wiped off his face as he leaned over and observed that Okinasu was still standing and that he had somehow deflected the Wind Scar. 'What the hell?' Inuyasha thought, grounding his teeth.

"Impressive trick." Okinasu remarked. Inuyasha smirked again and went for another attack.

"You ain't seen nothing yet." He let his sword slice the air and release the Wind Scar again only for it to be deflected once more.

'The Wind Scar is useless against him,' Kagome thought nervously as she watched the two of them battle. Miroku placed his staff into the crook of his arm and grabbed his rosary beads. He released them and opened up his Wind Tunnel.

Sensing the strong winds, Inuyasha plunged his sword into the ground and the demon released a purple smoke from his spear. Miroku unknowingly sucked it up and immediately felt his hand sting with a fire sensation that caused him to bend to his knees and yell in pain. Sango went to his side in an instant and closed his hand, wrapping it back up with his rosary beads.

"Miroku are you okay?" She asked frantically as the monk shielded his eyes from the real world to concentrate on something other than the pain in his hand.

'My arm…feels like it's about to be severed off.' He thought.

"This is a fight between men, monk." Okinasu said. "It would be wise to stay out of it."

"What the hell did I suck…in?"

"Poison." He replied simply.

"Miroku." Kagome said softly as she held his shoulder in comfort. Inuyasha looked back at his friend, angry that he allowed such stupidity to happen. Okinasu still stood in the same spot, taking in everyone's reactions. He noticed Inuyasha's concern over his friend, Kagome's gentleness as she squeezed his shoulder and Sango's frantic worries. It was clear as day to him that the woman was in love with him and he could imagine that the monk was in love with her.

"You bastard!" Inuyasha yelled as he lunged at the demon. Okinasu thwarted him off with his weapon and knocked Inuyasha off his feet. Kagome gasped and ran over only to be stopped by Inuyasha's hand. "Stay back, Kagome." He warned without removing his heated eyes from the demon in front of him.

"But Inuyash—"

"Stay back." Although her natural reaction was to go against what he said, especially now when he seemed in trouble, she forced herself to take a step back. He jumped onto his feet and a fight ensued between Inuyasha and Okinasu. Their weapons slammed one another, provoking loud sounds. They were on an even playing field, with no one having the advantage for too long. When Inuyasha would finally gain the upper hand, Okinasu would somehow push back and regain the leverage and so it continued like a game of pinball for a while.

Miroku tried to breathe in air as he concentrated on Inuyasha's form. He observed as the half-demon used his technique, Adamant Barrage, on Okinasu. However, it failed and somehow the demon was able to stop it from penetrating his body. The fight ensued and Inuyasha tried a direct attack on him only for his wrist to be grabbed and twisted. He shouted at the sharp pain and Okinasu slapped the Tetsusaiga out of his hand, knocking him once, for good measure, in the face with his fist.

Inuyasha got onto his feet and held his wrist with his free hand. There was a slight pinching feeling that made him wince and his breathing slowed. He noticed Tetsusaiga was away from, by Okinasu, and he growled.

'Damn it.' He inwardly cursed himself. Sango saw Okinasu's intention and immediately sprang into action, throwing her weapon over her head towards the menacing demon.

"Inuyasha!" She shouted as her weapon swiftly cut through the air towards the source of the demonic energy. Okinasu blocked her Hiraikotsu with his spear and caused it to bound away from her. Kilala transformed next to Sango and hissed viciously, warning him off with her teeth. The Hiraikotsu landed somewhere behind Okinasu and out of their reach.

Kagome watched in horror as every attack Inuyasha used was deflected and any time he tried to get near the Tetsusaiga, Okinasu would toss him to the other side of it. Inuyasha noticed Okinasu's eyes captured by the young woman who he protected and growled. He let the adrenaline in his body dictate his movements and soon his nails pierced the flesh of his palm, letting blood ooze.

"Blades of blood!" With his claws drenched in his blood, he used his own body as a weapon. However, Okinasu was able to deflect the blades that were headed towards him and turn them back towards Inuyasha who yelped in pain and was flung across the ground.

"Stop!" Kagome screamed to the demon but he had no intention of leaving this village without the woman and the half demon's dead body. "Leave him alone, please!"

Inuyasha's body lifted up in a slow and calculated manner. His body was hunched over and his head was bowed towards the ground. Kagome squinted and saw that his hands were shaking and that his claws grew even longer. Realization dawned on her and her heart beat frantically.

"Inuyasha, no! Don't transform!" It was useless though. Inuyasha's body itched for survival and his mind wasn't clear to think. He could barely hear Kagome's rational voice begging him to stop. All his fingers wanted was for the feel of the demon's blood as it dripped from his claws. He wanted to kill Okinasu.

His attacks were more frantic and less calculated than before. In this state, Inuyasha couldn't use sensible logic and only acted upon animal instinct. His body prowled through the attacks that Okinasu kept hitting him with, some which drew insane amount of blood, in order to survive. He snarled at him as he stood up from the ground and ran towards him, jumping and slashing the air close to his face.

Okinasu raised his weapon, making it emit a light and hitting him with it in the abdomen, causing him to skid across the floor with a dangerous crash. The dust scattered around him and a rock behind him broke into smaller pieces after he crashed against it. Coughing, Kagome instantly looked through the curtain of smoke in hopes of seeing his persistent body continue to attack Okinasu. When her eyes saw his form strewn across the ground with barely any movement from his chest, which indicated his breathing, she felt the blood drain from her face.

"Inuyasha!" She yelled in a panic but she wasn't heard. Not a single twitch of life eased her pounding heart and she could feel her hands going cold and her body going numb. From the spot he was in, Okinasu took a few steps forward with ultimate slow precision. His features were stone and his eyes were glued to the lying form of the injured half-demon. Seeing the difference between this version of the demon and the version he originally encountered, he saw what set him apart. He lifted his spear high over his head and let it cut through the air to plunge into Inuyasha's body.

"I'll go!" Kagome shrieked suddenly with her eyes screwed shut and her hands balled into little fists by the bottom of her skirt. Miroku's eyes widened and Sango's head snapped towards her friend, her mouth gaping open like a fish.

"Kagome—"

"I'll leave with you and do as you ask." Her voice wavered slightly and held less force than it did before. She was certain of her decision because it would save Inuyasha, but it wasn't easy to follow through with it. Okinasu grinned, leaning off of his toes and lowering his weapon so it was by his side again.

"I knew you'd see it my way." His smile was brilliant, seeing as he just won, but Kagome couldn't hide her distaste. She glared at him and grounded her jaw.

"You must do me one thing in return."

"What is that, my love?" His voice was like honey and felt like velvet. Now that he'd gotten his way he saw no reason to be aggressive and hostile.

"Leave Inuyasha and my friends alone, Okinasu." Her eyes became slits as she stared at him. "Don't hurt them or kill them." He watched her. "If you grant me this then I will become…your bride." Her voice cracked on the word bride and she felt her breathe leave her body. Her nails pinched the meat of her palm in a sharp bite and she bit the tip of her tongue to remain quiet.

Okinasu raised an incredulous eyebrow at the woman. He wasn't an idiot, he knew that she didn't want to marry him and she was doing it against her will, but he didn't care about such petty things. He was amazed that she would still demand things of him, considering the position she was in. It showed she had no fear and was more courageous than he first imagined. Very carefully, he bowed his body forward.

"You have my word." He vowed and Kagome visibly relaxed infinitesimally. She could feel the blood flow through to her finger tips and her heart unclench against her chest. The thought that her friends would all remain untouched soothed her and helped her go through with her decision.

Sango ran to her friend, pulling out her sword from her hips and pointing it at Okinasu, who smirked at it. Sango's breathing was rapid and her hands shook slightly, but she was unwilling to let her friend walk away with this demon.

"Kagome you can't go." Sango shouted back over her shoulder at Kagome. Her eyes were glued to Okinasu's form but her voice was never directed at him. "It's a ludicrous idea!" Kagome bit her lip and silently agreed. Miroku held onto Shippo, who helped him limp over to the girls. Okinasu watched as the humans tried to defy him, although everything was against their favor. He kept his promise to the priestess because, although, he was a demon, he prided himself in keeping his word. Besides, not only did he want the priestess' body and heart, he also wanted her spiritual power and he'd hate to resort to rougher means to obtain it.

"Kagome—"

"Inuyasha will be seething!" Sango argued, cutting Miroku off, in hopes that Inuyasha's name would bring the girl back to her senses.

"He will understand." Kagome reassured her with a tight smile. 'I hope' she mentally added. "Take my small container and continue your search for Naraku in the direction of the mountains."

"Without you?" Shippo's voice broke and Kagome started feeling an overwhelming emotion of sadness as she stared into the fox's tearful eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded.

"Without me." She affirmed. She didn't dare mention any information pertaining to the jewel shards so she wouldn't alert Okinasu. It seemed he didn't know that she could see the fragments, and if he did then he hid it well. She thanked the stars that Shippo had her small glass bottle and her bag with any necessary equipment to ail them during their search. Sango turned to look at her friend, unafraid of turning her back on the demon, and let her eyes fill with tears.

"Please don't do this." She insisted but she could see it in Kagome's eyes that her mind was set.

"You have to get Kohaku." She squeezed her friends arm. At the mention of her little brother, Sango felt the hole in her chest rip open with a brand new different pain.

"My lady." Okinasu extended his hand to the priestess to take. "First, rid yourself of your bow." His eyes were glued to the weapon in her right hand, staring at it with offense. Kagome had no arrows, which made her curse herself for being so careless, but she carried her bow around religiously. It was an extension of her and an outlet for her spiritual power. She stared at it and tightened her fingers around it, momentarily, before tossing it onto the ground and stepping forward to take his hand. Sango watched with disgust as the creature wrapped his fingers around Kagome's dainty hand and smiled. Every instinct in her told her to fight but when she took a step forward, Kagome gave her a stern look that told her to stay back. Okinasu banged his spear on the ground, now that he had his woman, and they were gone.

"Crap." Miroku groaned with one knee at the ground and his eyes staring at the spot Kagome and Okinasu were standing seconds ago.

"Kagome…" Shippo whispered devastated. Kilala mewled and rubbed her large head against Sango. She caressed the demon-cat's head and sheathed her sword, proceeding to turn and take a deep breath.

"We have to care for Inuyasha." She bent down and wrapped one of the monk's arm around her neck as she helped support his weight. They staggered to Inuyasha who laid unconscious and bleeding on the ground. "Shippo help me out." Sango asked the fox.