Chapter 7 Win or Lose
The training ground was located behind the castle. Demon soldiers and alike stopped their sparring practice and activities for the day to clear it for their Demon Lord and Yashihiro. They removed the racks of weapons and benches to make room for the fight. Knowing their masters, they would need plenty of space.
Inuyasha stood on the side with his arms crossed, yawning.
"What's going on?"
Inuyasha glanced at the demon who suddenly joined him. He was skinny and tall with long braided red hair. His green eyes sparked in curiosity.
"Yashihiro and Sesshomaru planning to go at it. You came just in time!" Inuyasha patted the demon in his back hardly.
"I'm visiting for the festival. Souten wanted me to buy some things for her. Anyway isn't this a strange time to spar? I know Yashihiro just got back from the North."
"It's a duel for a prisoner who escaped and whether Sesshomaru is going after her, Shippo."
The fox demon blinked. "Interesting. A prisoner, eh? Can you fill me in?"
Inuyasha looked around then leaned closer to Shippo. "I don't know much, but I'll tell you what I know. You're smart, maybe you can figure it out. Because to be honest, I'm just as confused as the others with the way Sesshomaru is acting. I have a few ideas though…"
Few spectators stood on the side, excited to see the fight. No civilians, just some castle servants and few demon soldiers who remained in the castle.
"Any fatherly tips?" Yashihiro whispered. He began stretching and started to remove his armor.
"Here's the first one. KEEP your armor and haori."
Yashihiro stared at Inuyasha incredulously. "Why?"
"This isn't just some sparring, kiddo. Didn't he tell you to treat it as if fighting to the death? Unless you don't feel as strongly as before about protecting that girl then you can just back down now-"
Yashihiro huffed. "Fine. I'll defeat him!"
"I'm not so sure about that." Shippo hummed.
Yashihiro turned to look at his friend. "And what are you trying to say?!"
He rolled his eyes. "Maybe you should just let Sesshomaru win. It's useless."
"I don't think so!"
The fox demon winked. "See it for yourself."
Yashihiro didn't understand him, but the fox demon didn't elaborate on his answer.
"He's coming." Inuyasha muttered.
Yashihiro straightened up. His father had been right. Across the field, Sesshomaru made his appearance clad in his honeycomb red and white kimono and full armor. The sounds from the spectators were hushed into silence in his presence.
Yashihiro took a deep breath and walked towards the center. Eyes were on both demons, who stood two hundred feet apart facing each other. The bright sunlight bore down on both of them, slightly illuminating their forms.
The time keeper stood on one side, waiting.
"Damn, what did I miss!?" Satoshi arrived and jumped in between of Inuyasha and Shippo. He was catching his breath from running, until he noticed his demon friend.
"Shippo! You're here!" He threw an arm around him.
Shippo grinned. "Yes I am. And no you didn't miss anything yet, it's just about to start."
"Oh really? Well in that case, HEY HIRO! FINISH UP EARLY SO WE CAN GO OUT AND DRINK WITH SHIPPO! MY TREAT!"
Yashihiro's pointed ears twitched, and then he sighed. Stupid Satoshi.
"I can assist with finishing this early. I need not to waste daylight in order to bring her here before dusk." The Demon Lord suddenly said. He smirked, catching his nephew off-guard.
Is he… trying to intimidate me?! Yashihiro thought. For the first time in a long time, he was unnerved. I hope to Kami this woman is worth it.
"AND BEGIN!" The time keeper yelled. Sesshomaru vanished that exact moment.
Still slightly shaken, Yashihiro drew tetsusaiga, just in time to use it to ward of Bakusaiga as it was brought down from behind him.
Green and white sparks surged from the blades as it collided.
Holy Buddha. He's fast!
Yashihiro swung his sword and jumped high in the air, transforming his sword.
"Kongosoha!" Shards of diamonds sprung forth from Tetsusaiga towards the spot where Sesshomaru was previously standing.
"Too slow."
Yashihiro heard his uncle whisper close behind him in midair.
Before he could turn, Sesshomaru delivered a punch that sent him flying towards the ground. He somersaulted to gain control and used his sword to minimize the impact of his fall and embedded it on the ground.
Sesshomaru landed gracefully. "You could give up now, and save yourself bruises."
Yashihiro wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Never." He rose from his kneeling position and rushed forward. Sesshomaru did the same and met him with his blade. The dog demon took a defensive stance and countered all his attacks.
Few minutes later, Sesshomaru lunged and clipped his opponent with his sword. Yashihiro jumped backwards, clutching his arm. It stung and it bled slightly.
"Careless." Sesshomaru chastised. He extended his arm and sword and walked slowly towards him.
Yashihiro brushed off his cut. He was probably the only one who is not affected by Bakusaiga's magic because of his human blood.
"Fine." Yashihiro gruffed, annoyed. He took a deep breath to calm himself. When Sesshomaru lunged for him, he brought tetsusaiga forward and cut into thin air.
"Wind Scar!"
Sesshomaru's eyes widened in surprise to see the familiar, powerful waves of energy. But there was something different about it… it reeks of purification. The demon lord was able to leap out of tetsusaiga's lethal zone, but sustained damage to his armor.
Shippo and Satoshi were shocked and rather impressed to see their friend's new skill. Inuyasha, on the other hand was at loss for words. Yashihiro's wind scar was laced with sacred power.
The Sacred Wind Scar. Inuyasha was only able to use it in the past WITH Kagome's sacred arrow. His heart clenched, but he chuckled and looked in the cloudless sky. Look at your son, Kagome.
Sesshomaru dusted himself. "That was rather impressive." He twisted the sword in his hand, eyes narrowed. "However I am done playing for today."
Yashihiro only had a second to start defending himself when Sesshomaru appeared in front of him and began striking him with Bakusaiga. He was incredibly fast, and it was getting harder for him to keep up and follow. He tried to gain distance from him in order to wield one of his techniques, but Sesshomaru wouldn't have any of it.
Yashihiro lost his footing and fell on his back, while tetsusaiga was lost from his grip and landed a few feet away from him. The sword reverted back to its original form.
"Admit defeat now, and tell me where she is." Sesshomaru said, with Bakusaiga's pointed end at his neck.
Yashihiro glanced helplessly at his sword. Ugh. "No!"
Sesshomaru pushed his blade closer to his skin. "I do not have time for this, Yashihiro!"
"Then I guess you'll have to kill me!" He yelled stubbornly, annoyed. Plus he couldn't bear letting the girl down. She didn't deserve his betrayal.
"You are a foolish boy." He growled, his eyes slowly bleeding scarlet.
Yashihiro gulped nervously.
They glared at each other for a few minutes.
Then Sesshomaru exhaled slowly, resigned. He sheathed Bakusaiga.
He leaned forward and whispered something in his nephew's ears.
When the Demon Lord pulled back, he looked sincere and his eyes had reverted back to its amber color. Yashihiro was staring at him with shock and disbelief.
"Well?" Sesshomaru pushed.
Yashihiro scratched his head and looked away grudgingly. "Village to the south-east."
Sesshomaru turned around and walked away. A blue light surrounded him then he was gone.
"Hey, good job! You lasted longer than before. Ha!" Satoshi said while he helped him stand up.
Shippo handed him his sword back. "That was fun to watch!"
"Pft. Whatever." He wished that they could've fought longer too, but his uncle was unwavering with his decision to find that girl.
"Meh, you lost, so what? You'll defeat him one day. Your wind scar could use some improvement though… it's a bit choppy. Want me to show you?" Inuyasha grinned.
Yashihiro beamed. "Do I ever!?"
"Okay okay that's for some other time. Now let's go see the adoring village women, and drink, and have fun!" Satoshi dragged Yashihiro and Shippo by their arms. "Inuyasha-sama, wanna join?" He added.
The hanyou rolled his eyes at the Miroku look-alike. "Nah. You boys have fun."
A/N:
Okay Rin will be back on the next chapter after being MIA on the past 2 chapters. Promise. Lol.
Next chapter: Stranded
Sesshomaru goes out to find her! Better RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN! LOL
