Chapter 7 Blood Stained

Corruption, defilement- the keys to unlocking the sacred Shikon no Tama's true power. Soaked in the blood of the innocent; and twisted by the wrongful desires of man and demon, alike the cursed jewel gleams with death. With each hand that touches it; with each life stolen by its malevolent light, it slips deeper into the void of darkness. Thus does it increase the user's power. It revels in suffering, it sings for the cries of children, it summons forth the creepers of hell itself to swallow up the hope of light-light that could one day free the world from its pointlessly futile miseries. All because of sphere no larger than a birds eye.


"Hmm." Kimaryu mused as he severed a poor fool's head from its shoulders. Screams of terror rang out across the village as his onslaught continued. In the wake of the hunt, he'd found himself in awe of his new plunder.

"Run for your lives! He's a demon!"

The screams grew louder as Kimaryu tore his way through the crowd. A mere wave of his hand sent the paniced crowd flying every direction. He drew one of the swords from his belt as the people continued to scurry about. Closing his green and hazel eyes, he focused the power of the five jewel shards within him. Their tainted energies surged through his veins, bestowing upon him unholy amounts of power. He seemed almost lost in a trance as he stood there with his sword drawn. The shards connected him to every life in the village. He could literally see everything and everyone within a few miles of him and he hated them all. Every-Single-One.

A bit of his hatred spilled onto the blade and transformed it into it's true form.

"Wretched fools", he sneered, "Drown in your misery."

He raised the Tetsusaiga over his head and struck the ground. The screams of hundreds were silenced in one swift motion as a wave of energy came crashing down upon them.


Inuyasha jumped up.

"What?", Kagome asked pulling at his sleeve.

"It's him", he whispered

"Are you sure?"

Inuyasha clenched his fists.

"Yeah, he's . . . killing them . . .", he could barely bring himself to say it, "He's killing innocent people with my Tetsusaiga."

Kagome said nothing more and went to retrieve her bow and arrows from the hut. Kimaryu had to be stopped.


The screams of an injured woman caught Kimaryu's attention as he sauntered through the decimated village.

"Please . . .run", she urged her son. Her leg had been caught under a fallen piece of lumber.

Trying free his mother from the debris, the boy cried , "I won't leave you here."

"Fear not!", Kimaryu bellowed, "You can leave for the netherworld together!"

He raised the sword, preparing to slay them both when a green energy whip twisted around Tetsusaiga. He smiled as he turned and sent the attack streaking back to its source. Sesshomaru.

"Well, well, back for more I see."

Sesshomaru didn't move a muscle.

"Ah, still smarting over your last defeat.", Kimaryu taunted, "No worries, I was just wrapping up some loose ends."

He turned back to where the mother and child had been standing a second ago to find that they had vanished.

"Hmm. I see you brought friends this time."

Kimaryu sniffed the air.

"A wolf, a half demon, and a mortal girl. Sesshomaru, you truly are pathetic. What makes you think this will end up any different than last time?"

Sesshomaru's claws began to glow with green fire.

"They are of no concern to me. I'll be finished with you long before they have anything to say about it."

"My, we are confident aren't we?"

Kimaryu held the Tetsusaiga in front of him, almost in a solute. "Need I say it?"

Sesshomaru flew forward and the battle was on. The two met like lightning. Sesshomaru ducked and wove under Kimaryu's attacks which consisted of a broken rhythm of chops, slices, and stabs. Sesshomaru leaped back and unleashed a searing dose of poison from his claws. Kimaryu waved his hand, dissolving the poison and moved in with an attack of his own. Blade met claw in a surge of light.

"I see you obstructed Tetsusaiga's barrier." Sesshomaru said calmly, the blade only inches from his face.

"A little trick I learned in limbo. You've your father to thank for that!"

Kimaryu threw Sesshomaru back and went for the kill. Before he could lay a hand on him, a tornado of kicks, punches, and strikes met Kimaryu's chest as Koga flew in between them.

"That was for Kagome!"

Sesshomaru glared at the unwelcome intruder.

"I don't need your help."

"Lets get one thing straight here, pal. I ain't here to for you or that mutt brother of yours. I got a score of my own to settle with this bastard."

They both turned back to Kimaryu who was fully recovered from the surprise attack.

"Don't get in my way."

The battle continued. Kimaryu avoided Sesshomaru's attacks and knocked him aside. Immediately, Koga's fury was upon him, but this time he was ready. He caught Koga's leg in midair and slung him to the ground. Gripping the Tetsusaiga with both hands, Kimaryu stabbed at the downed wolf with all his might. Koga quickly recovered and slugged him in the face. Then, Koga dropped onto his head and unleashed a whirlwind of kicks that slammed the enemy in the face. Kimaryu stumbled back in pain as a steady flow of blood trickled from his swollen mouth.

"How'd ya like that?"

Kimaryu moved forward with lightning speed and brought the Tetsusaiga slicing through Koga's side. Sesshomaru flew in and knocked Koga back before the Tetsusaiga could cleave him in two.

"I thought you didn't have allies.", Kimaryu taunted as he and his cousin clashed.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.

"I don't."

Sesshomaru reached out to grab Tokijin from Kimaryu's belt, but was kicked back..

"I think not."

Kimaryu raised his sword, then stopped at the sound of a drawn bow.

"Don't move a muscle!" Kagome shouted as she and Inuyasha arrived on the scene.

Kimaryu smiled.

"The half-breed and the girl. You're all here."

Kimaryu drew Tokijin.

" I said don't move!"

"You'll have to excuse me if I don't take to your orders, your highness!"

A surge of energy exploded from Tokijin and ripped straight for Kagome.

"Look out!"

Inuyasha scooped her up and leaped to the side, barely missing the blue bolt that whizzed past them. For a moment; they lay there , half dazed half enjoying the moment of entanglement.

"Are you okay Kagome?", Inuyasha asked.

She nodded, breathing heavily in his arms.

"Look, I'll handle him. You just stay here."

"Please be careful." Kagome said.

Koga launched another assault while Sesshomaru flew at Kimaryu from the side. He easily matched everyone of the wolf demon's blows while keeping Sesshomaru at bay. Ducking under a kick, he twisted to meet Sesshomaru and sent Koga sprawling.

"Damn!", Koga growled in frustration, "He's gotten stronger and faster since last time."

He stood up and wiped the blood from his lips. "But not strong enough!" In an explosion of rage Koga burst forward. Without taking his eyes from Sesshomaru, Kimaryu moved his arm.

Blade met armor and then flesh in a movement so fast Koga was hurled back. Blood flowed freely from the wide crimson streak across his chest.

"One down."

Kimaryu rushed for Sesshomaru when he realized a blur of red was descending upon him.

"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"

He jumped back just in time as Inuyasha's claws came down.


Miroku stood leaning outside the hut. Sango was still resting her wounds while Ginta, Hakkaku, Jaken, and Shippo conversed about their individual plights. He couldn't have cared less. His attention was entirely focused on the battle not far from them. A malevolent wind was blowing, and Inuyasha and Kagome were dead in the center. "This doesn't look good."

Kimaryu's aura was growing stronger; no doubt ,a result of the jewel shards. Miroku looked up in surprise when he felt a raindrop pelt his head. He laughed as he made his way back to the front of the hut. "So much for a malevolent wind. More like a thunderstorm." He stopped just short of the doorway and looked back towards the mountains. Lightning exploded across the sky.

"Please, you two. Be careful."


Kimaryu towered over the two brothers as he prepared himself. A bolt of lightning crackled overhead and his grip on Tetsusaiga tightened. His wicked smirk widened when he felt the first raindrop land.

"A perfect backdrop for your deaths, wouldn't you agree?"

Inuyasha popped his knuckles and crouched down, taking on his fighting stance.

"Definitely, but the only one dyin' here today is you."

Tetsusaiga twisted in Kimaryu's hand.

"I'll try to save you for last."

With that, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru leaped forward in unison. Claw met blade as Inuyasha flipped over Kimaryu's head. Another bolt of lightning ripped across the sky as Sesshomaru whipped at Kimaryu with his attack. Rain sizzled on the energy whip as the two danced around each others moves with deadly intent. Their fight was cut short when Inuyasha crashed down between them. He slashed at Kimaryu's face but missed everytime. Kimaryu slammed him in the nose with his forehead, sending him stumbling back in a daze.

" Gotcha!"

Tokijin stabbed through his right shoulder and lifted him off his feet. Sesshomaru moved forward to save him but was thrown down by the power of Tetsusaiga.

"Ahh!", Inuyasha cried out as Kimaryu held him up in the rain.

"Are you in pain?" Kimaryu laughed above the roar of the thunder. Inuyasha's blood dripped down the sword and onto Kimaryu's fangs. "You won't feel it much lo. . ."-

"Release him!", screamed Kagome.

A sacred arrow flew through the air and tore through Kimaryu's right arm. Inuyasha and the Tokijin dropped to the ground along with scorched pieces of flesh.

"My aaarrm!" Kimaryu roared.

"You did it Kagome!", Inuyasha cheered still clutching his would.

"Inuyasha, get the shard!" Kagome shouted.

Kimaryu's eyes widened in shcok. "NO!"

Just as Inuyasha reached out for the smoking flesh that held the shard, he felt Tetsusaiga's blade slice through his side. Kimaryu kicked him out of his way and knelt down in pain.

"I can assure you that you won't die slowly, human.", he said from behind clenched teeth.

He shoved the blackened shard into the bone and new flesh formed around it until his arm had fully regenerated.

"Wind Scar!"

"Kagome!"

Koga leaped infront of her and turned his back shielding her from Tetsusaiga's light.

"Koga, no!", Kagome screamed as he fell to the ground. She fell to her knees in tears. "Koga, please get up! You have to get up!"

"Kagome run!" Inuyasha shouted.

"I won't!"

She stood up and loaded her an arrow to the bow, her last arrow.

"Kimaryu, you coward! Prepare yourself! This is the day you die!"