Promise of a Prince, Chapter 9
"The Thunder Brothers…dead?"
Uraseu briefly nodded her head, her large bulbous eyes peering into what seemed to be the empty darkness, "Killed by the dog, yes. They served their purposes well."
"Did you not foresee this? You've lost five of my shards in the process…"
The witch's jaw clenched then, her nostrils flaring in the process, "All of the shards will be brought together with the restoration of Kikyo. She will serve me and bring an end to him and all that oppose me!"
"You are forgetting that you require a portion of the reincarnation's soul to do so. You may have souls of the dead, but that is not enough… How do you plan on taking her from him with your current lack of shards?"
"It is why I am here…you must lend me more!" Her hands clenched into fists, her claws sinking into the fleshy masses of her palms until blood pooled to the surface.
"I do not have to do anything, woman. You've not come through on your end of our deal. But, since I am feeling generous, I will grant you more. Use them wisely, or you may very well find yourself joining Kikyo in the slumbering arms of death…"
Xx
A single streak of lightening filled the sky, the distant crackle of thunder following suit. Seemingly appearing out of thin air, Ah Un levitated high above the trio, Sesshomaru and Kagome positioned on his back. One of the dragon's jaws foamed with smoke, the other bearing sporadic cracks of electricity.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called out to him, her eyes large as saucers. She attempted to scramble from the saddle, intent on reaching him, yet the Daiyoukai's arm wrapped around her waist in a fashion she'd come to find familiar.
"He's come to kill me!" Totosai discarded the bow before scrambling behind Sango as he cowered.
"Totosai, why have you conspired with Inuyasha to plot against me?" It was a simple question, one that he wanted an answer to. For days they'd been in search of the blacksmith turned rogue, and Sesshomaru finally caught a trace of his scent in the wind. It was what led them this far inland, and surprisingly, he was with familiar company - Inuyasha.
Before the recent discovery, he was simply going to kill the old-man and take the bow. However, at the sight of the half-breed, half-bastard present and the newly transformed Tetsusaiga, Sesshomaru had become curious. Just how did such a lowly demon such as his little brother figure out how to harness the sword's real potential?
"Because you happen to be evil!" Totosai yelped as if the answer was obvious.
Kagome attempted to yank away from Sesshomaru's side, but he still held onto her, "Totosai your word was like a blood vow to me. I think you are looking for an early retirement to your grave."
At that, the old man squawked, sweating profusely as he hugged one of Sango's arms, "I wasn't talking about you Sesshomaru!"
"Stop sucking up to him!" Sango snapped, her brow twitching as she attempted to pry herself away from the old man.
"You're going to pay for kidnapping Kagome! I'll slit you in half you sad excuse for a demon!" Just like in their father's tomb, he was unable to attack Sesshomaru outright with Kagome standing there, but at that present moment, he had help.
"Let's go, Kirara!" In a blaze, the small cat demon transformed, growing far bigger and at least five times with her sabretooth-sized canines bared as she roared. The Slayer was mounted on her seconds later, an over-sized boomerang strapped to her back.
"Inuyasha, you plan to use a mere mortal against me?" It was apparent. The Exterminator was barreling towards them on the back of the feline, intent on taking him head on. It was of no consequence. She was no real threat to him, but Inuyasha was more ignorant than he initially perceived him to be.
Typical.
Kagome released a sharp scream the moment Sesshomaru leapt from the dragon, darting towards the ground so quickly that when she blinked, they were already standing near the bow. Only then did Sesshomaru release her. "The boy, Shippo…I will remove his head from his shoulders if you attempt to escape me. Stand back, out of the way." He did not glance at her. His gaze was preoccupied with Inuyasha who was currently leveling his sword.
The threat was clear. She was to do as he asked, if not, Shippo was going to be dealt the punishment. She leered holes in his back, reaching for the bow that was discarded by Totosai. She was soon off on the side lines, standing a few yards away from where she assumed the "action" was going to transpire. Never once did she break gazes with Inuyasha.
"Well, go on, Inuyasha, or have you changed your battle strategy? You usually charge at my blindly with great haste." The half-demon did not need to be prodded again. He set off, swinging the Tetsusaiga in a wild erratic arc that was meant to cleave his older brother in half.
Kagome didn't bother holding her breath. She'd seen Sesshomaru escape closer encounters in their short time together. She doubted such a simple attack would claim his life…but that did not mean that she could not hope that it would. From her current position, it seemed as though the cat-beast was diving downwards, the Exterminator on her back. The large boomerang came hurdling towards Sesshomaru, but even it was avoided, just as Inuyasha attempted to hit him as well.
"They're so slow he's making them look like they're carrying dead weight…" Tototsai murmured, picking at the inside of his ear with his little finger.
Though she could not hear him, Kagome was thinking the exact same thing.
Inuyasha would be able to hold his own, but that Demon Slayer was going to get herself killed.
There was no competing with Sesshomaru's speed, let alone his raw power, but if they prevented him from attacking and kept him on the move, it increased the likelihood of him making a mistake. Secondly, it significantly decreased his offense capabilities.
It was a brilliant plan, the more Kagome thought of it. More than likely, it was this "warrior woman's" doing rather than Inuyasha's. He was a bit too dense to come up with complicated battle strategies and techniques- always preferring brawn over the abilities of his brain.
"Kagome, what are you waiting for, take a shot!" Inuyasha barked, leaping backwards out of his brother's path just as the boomerang came tumbling towards him once more, Sango right behind it.
Take a shot?
She felt her chest tighten in a knot. She did have a new bow, a new bow with no arrows. What if all three of their powers combined weren't enough to take him out? If he lived, she'd regret it and pay in full with Shippo's life.
Was it worth the risk?
Thus far, Sesshomaru had not done her…too much harm. He had been good to her considering the situation, minus the times that he chose to physically harm her.
She didn't know what to do.
Nevertheless, the m€ore she waited around, the more Sango would tire out. She was just human after all, and the moment she was unable to continue, Sesshomaru would overtake them both. They needed her help, desperately.
It went like that for minutes on end, them barely missing Sesshomaru - only a hairs breath away, but time was winding down. He was likely going to make a mistake soon, and they would have him then.
All the while, Kagome stood watching, the new bow gripped in her hands tightly until her knuckles were white.
Abruptly, Sesshomau landed a few yards in front of her after yet another dodge of their attacks. Though Sango and Inuyasha seemed withered, the demon lord was alarmingly unconcerned - almost as if he was batting off a fly. "Inuyasha, make her stop."
"Why, his seems to be working really well on you!" Sango called out, her lips pursing behind her mask. She was currently high above them, simply waiting for another opportunity to attack again.
"I've played with you enough." This time, rather than keeping his gaze on Inuyasha, his attention seemed to zone in on his brother's new human.
"Don't look at her, look at me!" Inuyasha charged towards Sesshomaru, to no avail. His brother was up and off the ground and soon directly in front of Sango. Kirara was entirely dismissed with a douse of poison to her face, her large red eyes slamming shut as she hissed.
The Slayer found herself being held by her throat as Sesshomaru strangled her with one arm - her feline partner completely transforming back into the small kitten she originally was. Her hand darted to reach for the katana strapped to her obi, but something stopped her, the feeling of a gaping cavity in her chest as Sesshomaru's claws ripped through her. Blood filled her mask, ultimately from her mouth. Her slender brows furrowed, brows orbs rolling up to view his stoic face.
Inuyasha and Kagome both were too stunned to move.
The moment he released her, she went hurdling towards the ground, not before Inuyasha leapt to catch her.
Kirara fell to the ground, tiny paws furiously rubbing at her face. By the way her chest was sputtering, she couldn't even breath.
Kagome felt as though she'd vomit. Before she knew it, she was running towards them, dropping to her knees at the Slayer's side. Inuyasha seemed to be trembling as he held her, soon removing her mask. Doing so revealed how she clenched her jaw, breathing through her nose. She was beginning to become a Pallor color the more and more she lost blood. By the looks of it though, she was hanging on to dear life determined not to die there.
"I-Is K-Kirara o-okay?" She attempted to murmur, but her voice was barely audible.
This, this wasn't right. Sesshomaru had gone too far this time, too far. She didn't care about what happened to her, he needed to be stopped, he needed to be put down, for everyone's sake. Inuyasha eased Sango to the ground, slowly turning to face his brother, "Kagome, stay with her…"
There was a somber tone to his voice that saddened her, but Kagome understood it well. More than likely, the demon slayer wasn't going to make it. She didn't know her, but she felt her eyes sting with tears as she gazed down at Sango's frame.
Kagome's eyes closed tightly as she bit her lower lip in an effort to suppress her tears down. The more her grasp on the bow tightened, the more she could feel its aura pulse. She was unintentionally channeling her energy through it, and the more she thought of how much anguish the demon lord had caused, she realized the bow's potential.
Totosai and his ox were both sneaking off, taking advantage of just how distracted Sesshomaru was.
"How can you hope to kill me when you can't even see the Wind Scar?" Inuyasha had truly disappointed him. As it appeared, he got the blade to transform, but that was it. He did not know how to fully wield it. Typical. The sword might as well die if Inuyasha was going to swing it around like a Neanderthal.
"Sesshomaru!" It was Kagome's voice, and it caught the brothers' attention. She had the bow poised, the string drawn back taught. She didn't have any arrows, no but she did not require them. An energized, seemingly electric arrow formed the more she tugged the string backwards. It glowed brightly with a vivid, golden aura.
Totosai had truly out-done himself.
When the demon lord did cut his eyes towards Kagome, she released the arrow sending it whizzing past Inuyasha. It blind-sided Sesshomaru completely, and once it struck the center of his chest, it exploded with a vibrant light that was nearly blinding. More electricity flared out in a dispersal pattern that faded as it spread. The dust from the attack had yet to settle, and she hoped…she prayed to Kami that it was enough to kill him.
She hoped.
"…It's not over." Totosai gulped, peaking from behind a gray bolder that was big enough to hide him.
"...That thing packs a punch…" His golden orbs warily eyed Kagome who still apprehensively gazed at the still settling dust.
"It wasn't enough, was it?"
Slowly, he shook his head.
Kagome inwardly cringed. This nightmare had the possibility of continuing. Still, it felt good, good to be back with Inuyasha, but this wasn't the time to latch onto him and hug. Once this was over, she would be able to, she reminded herself. She'd even be able to visit her home.
When the debris cleared, it did reveal the Taiyoukai, his cuirass was completely demolished, the sleeves of his haori ragged and tattered. However, what stood out was a deep laceration above his left shoulder.
She barely grazed him because of poor aim and inexperience, but she'd done enough to get her point across.
"Kagome isn't going back with you Sesshomaru! You'll pay for what you did to Sango. There's no way in hell you're going to live through this!"
She tugged back on the bow again, setting another arrow into motion. She could hit him. She could. He was fast, yes, but so long as Inuyasha kept him pinned under his attacks, her was an easy target.
Just like Sango had been doing.
She could do this, she could.
"You've turned your hand against me? I will cut the kit's head from his shoulders…" Once more, he'd underestimated her. He figured that the threat of Shippo would keep her line, but it did not. She believed that if she banded with them, she could be free of his grasp.
How wrong she was.
Sesshomaru darted for them, and being right in his path unsettled Kagome completely. It was easy watch him close in on his "prey" but being the prey in battle was far different. She nearly forgot to release the arrow.
"..Do you see that?" Inuyasha asked, his brows furrowing. He could see his brother's aura…how it scraped against the Tetsusaiga's. The opposing winds of their power created some sort of vortex…something that could be cut into.
"See what, your brother?!" Had Inuyasha completely lost it? She assumed that he was speaking of Sesshomaru who was currently charging full speed at them, "Yeah, and he's getting closer!"
"No…not…that…" Both of his hands gripped the fang's hilt as he elevated it. His instincts were telling him to cut into the created vortex. What would come of such, he did not know, but Kagome's arrow created the fissure that forced their opposing demonic auras to collide.
So, he did, swinging the blade directly at the "white" crest that was his brother's aura. White streaks of light tore through the ground, ripping through several layers and blowing them backwards.
The attack stopped Sesshomaru in his tracks. The mere wind of it was enough to catch his attention, but he was frozen, stuck as the white-hot rays came slamming into him- specifically the left side of his frame. It overtook him completely, his howl of pain sounded as it ripped through his torso.
"W-What is that?!" Kagome lifted her hand in front of her face to block out the light that unexpectedly exited the sword.
"H-He did it! He did it!" Myoga bounced up and down on Totosai's left shoulder, "That's the Wind Scar! He did it!"
Before more damage was dealt, his body...dissolved, a black, sheathing aura formed around him, him and Kagome both.
She didn't have an opportunity to reach for Inuyasha before she too was swallowed up in the dark mass as they vanished.
