Shizuka's eyes snapped open, the touch of a cold hand on her cheek. Her claw hand reached up to grab the chilling hand, though it only grabbed air. Shizuka sat up abruptly, looking at her dark surroundings. In front of her sat a man, no not a man, a demon. His hair looked waved, a dark black in color. His eyes were narrowed, cold and red; a light blue eye shadow above them. Though what seemed to startle Shizuka the most about the demon was the sense of evil and hate radiating off him.
"Well I've seen you've come to", the man, authority in his tone.
Shizuka slowly began to back away, using her feet to push her back.
"Who are you and why am I here", Shizuka questioned with a growl, eyes narrowed. "And where is Rin?"
"Hm, I do not need to answer questions from a lowly nanny like you", he said coldly, standing and walking closer to the kitsune.
"Don't you come any closer to me", she growled in a low voice, her nails elongating. "Now tell me who the hell you are and where the hell Rin is!"
She jumped up, the navy colored blanket slipping off of her body.
She wasn't surprised to find her kimono slightly torn in the back. She remembered covering Rin, getting cut across her back by one of those insects. The man continued to walk towards Shizuka, his eyes nor smirk never faltering. Shizuka was finally backed to the wall, the man pressing against her. Shizuka's eyes widened in fear and disgust before seeing his hand rising. Her eyes shut tight, expecting the sweet kiss of death, flinching as she felt the hand caress her cheek gently.
"My name is Naraku", he whispered in her ear, his warm breath kissing the sensitive lobe of her ear.
A shiver of anger ran down her spine as she lifted her hand, pushing him away.
"Don't you put you're nasty hands on me", she snarled out at him, raising her hand dangerously.
Naraku's smirk soon turned to a frown as closed the small space between them, punching her in the face. The force of the blow made Shizuka fall hard on her side. Naraku glowered at her bending down, grabbing a fistful of her kimono.
"You're lucky I'm letting you live", Naraku replied coldly, before smirking. "I'll need both you and the human as bait."
Her eyes narrowed before widening, realizing his plan.
"You bast-", she began to murmur before feeling a fist connect with her stomach.
Naraku's smirk slowly grew into a smile, anticipating what he would do to this kitsune
Back with Sesshomaru
Sesshomaru's face was nonchalant as he walked towards the newest of Naraku's castles. Jaken was pulling Ah-Un with trouble; the creature seeming depressed.
"Come on you stupid creature move", Jaken squeaked out as he yanked the leather rein.
Sesshomaru ignored the toad as he continued to walk. Intent on getting what was his.
Back at Naraku's Castle
Shizuka's body was thrown into a room with two human children, sliding to an abrupt stop against the wall.
"Shizuka-sama", a high pitched voice cried out, crawling over to the battered kitsune. The woman's body was littered with bloody cuts and bruises, a now shredded kimono barely covering her body.
"R-rin-chan", Shizuka stammered out looking up at the small child with narrowed eyes.
"Aw, what a great reunion", Naraku said sardonically, wiping blood, Shizuka's blood, onto his purple kimono. He turned his eyes to the human boy that sat with his back against the wall. "Kohaku, make sure these woman don't escape. Not that woman could give you much trouble."
He snickered as he walked from the room, slamming the sliding door shut. Rin trembled as she watched the man go, though her attention shifted from the closing door when Shizuka groaned. She slowly propped her body up with the support of the wall and her blood stained tail, eyes closed and body tense with pain.
"Shizuka-sama are you okay", she small child questioned, crawling closer to her.
Shizuka gave a shaky smile as she nodded her head, patting the spot next to her gently. Rin scooted closer to the woman before looking to Kohaku. She mustered up an unsure smile as she looked to the human boy saying, "This is Shizuka-sama. She helps Jaken-sama take care of me. Shizuka-sama, this is Kohaku-kun."
Shizuka looked at the boy, her eyes narrowing at him dangerously. Yet her eyes relaxed into a look a perplexity. This child seemed so blank, so empty, like he was missing a part of himself. Shizuka sighed as she nodded her head as a greeting to the child. He slowly imitated the nod, watching as Shizuka wrapped an arm around Rin's small body. The kitsune slowly began to pet the child gently on the head. A twinge of pain ran through the boy, eye closing tightly. A fuzzy image of a woman appeared into his mind, yet it soon disappeared. His eyes slowly opened, looking around the room, at the two captives. The two females were now asleep, the smaller lying across the bigger ones lap.
Outside the Castle
Sesshomaru arrived at the castle, the shield dissipating to let him and Jaken in. Ah-Un was to wait outside; orders of the Inutaisho. Naraku was sitting on the front steps of his castle, smirking darkly at Sesshomaru.
"Hello Sesshomaru", Naraku said, standing and walking down the steps.
"Where are they Naraku", Sesshomaru said, his face holding a murderous look. "I have no need to waste my time on scum like you."
Naraku stopped where he was, no more than three yards away from Sesshomaru.
"They are inside this castle", Naraku said, as he began to transform. "But it isn't like you are going to be seeing them!"
Tentacles and giant insect like parts began to replace Naraku's lower body. Sesshomaru watched blankly, glancing at Jaken, using his eyes to tell his ward to get the girls. He turned his eyes back to Naraku, unsheathing the Toujikin slowly. Naraku smirked sadistically as he sent one of his tentacles at Sesshomaru's throat. Sesshomaru slashed through the appendage, ignoring the plop of the severed flesh. Naraku sent more of his tentacles at the inu youkai, only to have those slashed down. Sesshomaru then gracefully charged at the monstrosity called Naraku, slashing at his head. Naraku dodged easily, sending more of his tentacles at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru slashed through them, glaring at Naraku.
"This trick will not work", he said coldly. "So why do you persist?"
Naraku said nothing as he began to chuckle; watching the chunks of his flesh begin to form back together. Sesshomaru frowned as he began to walk towards Naraku, Toujikin held in front of him. Naraku's eyes narrowed, sadistic glints in them. Slowly his flesh flew up and began to engulf Sesshomaru. The Inutaisho quickly chopped them off, growling as he became more annoyed. His normally amber optics began to change into a deep red as his body began to transform. His man form began to turn into that of a huge canine, him standing over Naraku. A low growl left the giant dog's throat as he swiped a paw at him.
Inside the Castle
Jaken was slowly wandering from room to room, opening doors and shutting them. He could hear the sounds of battle echoing from outside of the castle. His tiny feet scampered even faster as he muttered to himself.
"Why does Sesshomaru want these two girls, when can it go back to me and the dashing Sesshomaru?"
He stopped for a moment to sigh before getting kicked down the hall. The toad youkai bounced off the wood floor, landing on his butt. Her rubbed his aching posterior before look to his attacker. And what he saw left Jaken flabbergasted. It was a simple human boy, no older than 14.
"How dare you attack me you pitiful human", Jaken yelled holding his Staff of Two Heads in front of him dangerously. "I will burn you to a crisp!"
The mouth of the elderly man's head opened, letting a tornado of fire erupt from it. Though as he let loose his attack, he heard someone shout something out.
"No!"
Jaken pulled the staff back, the mouth of the wooden weapon closing. The flames soon dissipated and left Jaken bewildered yet again. A very bloody and battered Shizuka lay atop the young attacker, shielding him from the attack. She slowly stood to shaky feet, the young boy also standing.
"Jaken what the hell are you doing", Shizuka yelled to the dismay of the young girl that had joined them.
"Well I came to save you wench", Jaken said angrily. "Sesshomaru-sama is outside right now fightin- Look out behind you!"
Shizuka barely missed Kohaku's Kunai Whip Chain, as she slid. ((AN: I got this from Inuyasha world, I don't know if the weapon is right.))
The boy yanked his hand back, the weapon returning to hand.
"Rin get over here", Shizuka called, grabbing the girls hand and yanking her behind her. "Jaken get Rin out of here. Now!"
She turned and glared briefly at the ward, eyes intense. Jaken gulped lightly as he looked at the eye, before turning to Rin.
"Come on you dolt", he yelled, beginning to run towards another door. "We must leave!"
Rin nodded her head as she began to run after Jaken.
Shizuka's orange eyes narrowed dangerously at the boy.
"What do you think you are doing", she questioned with a growl.
The boy gave her a blank stair as he prepared his Kunai for another attack. Kohaku threw the chain length at Shizuka, merely grazing her side as she charged at the boy. Kohaku pulled the weapon back, yet not in time; Shizuka's fist flying across his temple. The boy's eyes widened before closing in unconsciousness, hands letting the weapon fall to the ground, body falling towards the ground. Though before the boy could hit the ground a blood covered tail wrapped around his waist and an arm grasped him just under his armpits. Shizuka grunted slightly as she replaced her tail with her arm, swing the boy into her arms. She began to run the same direction that Jaken and Rin exited, though she wasn't as patient when it came to getting out as the two others. With a weak claw to the wall she made her own exit, jumping through the well sized hole. She looked at her surroundings. There was a small pond, fish swimming about, unaware of the danger around them. There was a small garden and path that obviously led from this area to the front. Shizuka looked about for the scent of Jaken or Rin, picking up a faint trace along the winding pebble trail. Her fatigued body jogged along the trail coming to the front, where the battle ensued. Her eyes widened as she watched a giant three legged dog attacking Naraku viciously. Though her initial shock soon wore off as she saw on the sideline, Rin and Jaken. She slowly jogged towards them, Kohaku's body beginning to pull her down.
"What are you still doing here", she asked them heatedly, looking from the small child to the smaller demon.
"We are watching Sesshomaru-sama fight", the two answered in unison, never taking their eyes off of the giant inu.
"Well we have no time for that", the kitsune cried out, stamping her foot. "Sesshomaru came to save us; he is trying to give us time to escape! Now go!"
The two looked at her as if she spoke in a complete different language. The kitsune then glared at them with stern eyes, making them stand.
"Now come", Shizuka said as she began towards the forest that surrounded the castle. "We have no time to waste!"
The two followed the girl, looking back at Sesshomaru with worried eyes. Though they were more in fear of leaving the Inutaisho behind, rather than worry for his health. It was obvious he had the upper hand as he smacked Naraku around. The quartet had made it to the middle of the forest by the time they stopped. Shizuka set Kohaku on the ground gently looking to Rin and Jaken, eyes stopping on Jaken.
"I'm going back for Sesshomaru", she said looking at the toad demon. "Watch over these two and make sure nothing happens to them!"
And with those words, she was off back towards the battle.
At Naraku's Castle
Sesshomaru had pinned Naraku under one of his massive paws, letting his acidic drool drip onto the demon's tentacle shield. The acid was quickly burning through the many layers of tentacles, beginning to drip onto Naraku's skin. The demon cried out in pain, growling, knowing this battle was lost. He slowly began to fill the area with miasma, somehow escaping from under Sesshomaru's paw.
"This is not over Sesshomaru", his voice echoed through the area. "I will get you…." The voice trailed off as the miasma began to dispel, Naraku gone.
Sesshomaru looked around, head turning from side to side, looking for the demon. He growled when he saw none, yet heard rustling sounding from the pushes. He had quickly turned and was ready to strike, though his defense fell when he saw it was Shizuka. The three legged dog slowly began to shrink back down into a man. He held back his look of questioning when he saw her rag covered body.
"Where are Rin and Jaken", he questioned impassively.
"Back in the forest", she said looking at him worriedly. "I am pretty sure they should be okay. Now are you okay?"
The lord looked upon himself, seeing nothing more than a couple of deep gashes across his chest and a cut upon his remaining arm.
"These are nothing", he murmured as he walked from the now crumbled castle towards Shizuka. "The question is, are you okay?"
The kitsune looked at him oddly before looking down at her obviously worn out body. She gasped, more concerned with her tattered clothes. She threw a hand over her chest, blushing lightly.
"Oh it's nothing", she muttered quietly. "I just got hurt….by Naraku."
She had whispered the last part, other handclutching a laceration lightly.
Sesshomaru frowned, looking at the kitsune and her wounded body.
"You will be seen by a doctor when we get back to the castle", he said simply as he began into the forest, walking past Shizuka.
Shizuka nodded her head gently, in no position to say anything else as she followed him, tail swishing limply.
Well Hope you enjoyed and I will get the next chapter to y'all by next month...If you review of course.