Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha or Yu-Yu-Hakusho. If I did it goes to say this fanfiction wouldn't be up.
A/N: I know I know all of you guys would probably want to kill me for taking this long to update but please understand guys I had finals going on. (Though I haven't done too well in them.) Anyway the next chapter is here so pretty please, forgive me‼
Chapter 10
Kagome winced as she opened her eyes. The light was too bright.
Where am I? she wondered as her body tensed up. She couldn't remember how she ended up in this state. She was groggy and her head felt like it weighed a tonne. Her whole body felt sore and a dull thudding started in her head.
What happened? She thought.
She began ransacking her mind trying to remember exactly what happened that caused her to land up in this state. Nothing happened.
Letting a soft inaudible sigh of pure annoyance and frustration escape her lips she gently closed her eyes.
Forget it. I'll try and remember later after I start feeling a bit better. She thought.
Relaxing her aching muscles she stayed still for a while dimly taking in the surrounding sounds in. Slowly her foggy mind began to clear and the memories of how she landed up in this nearly dead state came floating back.
-x-x-x-x-
The Inu-taichi continued travelling through the thick forest.
"Inu-Yasha please can we slow down!" Shippo whined. They'd been travelling at a restless pace for quite sometime, since Inu-Yasha had literally been working them – along with himself as well – to the bone.
He had forced them to get up earlier than the crack of dawn and settle in to sleep way after night had completely fallen. And he had made them follow this tiring pace for more than a week. And frankly everyone – including Kikiyo – was getting fed up of it. And that was saying something.
The only person who didn't seem to really tire of the pace was Kagome who had now nearly mastered all of her old demonic power she recovered from the few Tsuki shards she had acquired.
And if she ever found out that the main reason that Miroku, Sango, and Shippo, really wanted to slow down the pace was because they were worried about her in reality and not bothered about themselves, she would have probably given them a good thump on their heads.
"No we can't so suck it up and deal with it runt!" Inu-Yasha scoffed.
Shippo turned to Kagome with pleading eyes and was soon joined by Miroku, Sango, – and surprisingly – an annoyed Kikiyo.
"Inu-Yasha lets stop and rest. We've been running like we're youkai war-horses for days now, and everyone's tired." Kagome said.
"I said no!" Inu-Yasha said.
"And I said we stop." Kagome replied calmly.
"And what the hell are you going to do if I say no?" he asked arrogantly.
"Simple," Kagome said dropping her back-pack down and beginning to set up camp, "Sit Boy!"
"Kagome! Why I oughtta…" He growled getting up from the crater his subjugation had just created.
Kagome however who was hardly paying him any attention as she was busy setting up camp just simply said a 'Sit Boy!' once again causing Inu-Yasha to deepen the crater he had just created.
Inu-Yasha got up once again muttering darkly about Kagome to which the raven haired re-incarnated youkai hime calmly asked, "You want me to say the magic words again?"
The silver haired inu-hanyou wisely shut his mouth still glaring at the girl while everyone watched the exchange with a huge sweat-drop on their heads.
Why does he even bother trying to argue with her when he knows he can't really win? They all thought.
-x-x-x-x-x-
Kagome slowly inhaled a deep breath as a tiny frown formed on her face. Wasn't that what happened in the morning? And judging by the time now it had to be just past sunset.
She sighed inaudibly once again.
What happened after that? She thought.
She grimaced lightly as the memories came back slowly.
Oh yeah! Him! She mentally grumbled.
-x-x-x-x-x-
They had just finished a heavy mid-morning snack. It helped make up for the rabbit-food excuse of a breakfast they had eaten earlier before Inu-Yasha dragged them back on their journey.
And now everyone was lazing around a bit glad for the much welcome break when it happened.
The moment they felt it they realised that it may have been better if they had in fact continued on their restless war-horse pace because at least then they might've cleared the thick forest and not be ambushed as they were now.
They had barely any time to prepare themselves before Hakkudoshi appeared before them with a horde of demons in tow.
It was obvious he was sent by Naraku to try and kill them all again. And they knew this encounter was going to be far tougher than their last one. Maybe it would be fatal.
-x-x-x-x-x-
Their hunch about this encounter being a fatal one turned out to be true.
The moment Hakkudoshi began his attack Kagome realised that one of her most recent worst fears had been realised. Naraku had definitely grown stronger by leaps and bounds since their last encounter. And his energy wasn't ordinary youkai ki which made her positive that he had managed to somehow tap into the power stored inside the shards of the Yami-no-Tsuki in his possession. But considering Hakkudoshi was still using his old attacks – albeit they were more powerful than before – she concluded that Naraku still had no idea of the existence of the Tsuki jewel.
At least Kagome still had one thing to celebrate about.
But she couldn't celebrate. At least not now. Not while she was still fighting Hakkudoshi, since all her friends were injured and they were currently losing the battle.
Kikiyo and Miroku had already fallen and little Shippo was doing his best to protect them. Sango was surrounded by a large horde of youkai, and Inu-Yasha was brutally injured and had lost a large amount of blood that could fatal even for a demon.
She was at a loss for what to do.
We have no choice Kagome! She heard Midoriko yell in her mind.
Quit stating the damned obvious and think of a solution Riko! Kuronue retorted.
Well then let me finish bat! Midoriko shot back.
Kami! Can't the two of you give it a rest even at a time like this! We need to do something! Kagome yelled at both spirits.
Well I was going to suggest a solution till bat-boy here interrupted me! Midoriko huffed.
Riko save your tantrum for a later time when we're all safe and I can deal with it. Just give me a way out here right now! Kagome said urgently.
Simple! Take your true form. You'll be able to defeat all of them in five blows maximum, and you can heal everyone else's injuries. Midoriko suggested.
Are you insane Riko?! You know what could happen if Kagome did that! Kuronue argued.
Yes I am but I'm sure nothing will happen at all. Kagome can use Kikiyo's soul which is trapped in her body as a filter. And she can use the shards of my soul as an additional one if needed. Both of us are powerful priestess' and besides Kagome herself has inherited powerful miko abilities from her human family line. Midoriko reasoned.
You may be on to something Riko. Kuronue agreed.
Are you two nuts? What if I lose control of myself? You know how unstable I am! Kagome cried.
Yeah we know! We're your former comrades remember? But Kagome Riko is on to something. She and Kikiyo are powerful mikos. And you too have powerful miko powers from your family. That put together will act as a near perfect limiter. And as for you going berserk, right now considering the situation we're in, it's a risk we'll have to take. Kuronue argued.
But…! Kagome protested.
You'd rather have your friends who trust you with their lives die rather than take a tiny risk? Riko asked.
No!
Then go for it! Riko and Kuronue yelled.
All right fine! But on one condition. If I lose control of myself and pose a threat then you'll kill me. Kagome stated.
It was Midoriko's and Kuronue's turn to protest but Kagome silenced them.
Promise me that! Otherwise I won't be able to transform! She yelled.
They gave in.
"Well then, here goes… Let's just hope everything works out in the end." Kagome prayed softly as she began focusing all her energy while picturing her demon form with closed eyes.
Had her eyes been open she would've seen the awe-struck looks her comrades were giving her as she transformed before them engulfed by a pulsing eerie evil blue glow mixed with a pure pink one.
Her wavy blue highlighted raven hair slowly became silky long black curled tresses, while her already petite feminine teenage body took on a more lithe slender mature appearance clothed in onyx black and silver. The baby face slowly elongated into sharp elfin features.
Her ears slowly elongating slightly into elfin ones, her canines enlarging into tiny fangs, her increased sensitive sense of hearing and scent, she could feel every little change taking place in her body namely the more suppressed youkai urges and instincts began to make itself more apparent.
When she opened her eyes the change of colour from hazel-chocolate to blood ruby crimson wasn't unnoticed.
Tsukina Yami had finally appeared.
A smirk formed upon delicate glossy nude pink lips as a slender arm covered in an onyx black sleeve was gracefully thrust outwards with a tiny ball of evil blue energy glowing brightly and maliciously as it grew in size taunting the child demon and his minions in front of the elegant Lunar Maiden.
"There is a saying that children must only be seen and not heard. Do you know what that means?" she asked the evil child youkai in front of her. Her voice was soft, gentle and polite, her expression serene and calm. But both Midoriko and Kuronue recognised the hidden taunt, a trademark of the feared Maiden.
When there was no response forthcoming she continued serenely as if she had all the time in the world. "It means that a child no matter the status their family has in society, whether they are future princes, lords, or common beggars with nothing to inherit should only be seen, and nothing more. They are expected to only be seen. I'm guessing no one ever thought you that my dear boy?" she asked. The calm politeness had not vanished from her voice.
"I thought so." She said after a few moments. "Well then since no one has ever taught you, let me take the pleasure of doing so. But I must inform you, I'm a very strict mentor who doesn't tolerate indiscipline. And even though you've just come under my tutelage you have still broken a rule, and so like any pupil you must face the consequences. But first-" She nimbly snapped her fingers as the tiny ball of blue energy suddenly began shooting out long threads that went through the hearts of all the live youkai Hakkudoshi had brought in tow killing them in less than a spilt second.
"Now that we've gotten rid of all distraction, I believe it's time we start with your punishment child." She said pointing to him with a slender digit. Before he even had time to react he was surrounded by a huge tornado that appeared to be made up of shadows.
The screams they began to hear from the centre of the tornado were heart-wrenching, but the elegant Lunar Maiden simply ignored it and began walking towards a now fallen Sango.
"Now while the child is learning his lesson, I think I should cater to more urgent matters before I lose this form." She said bending down and taking Sango's hand gently in her own.
"This may feel a bit unfamiliar but not unpleasant, and it will over in a moment." Tsukina said as she began to glow a comforting pleasant white along with Sango.
Unfamiliar but not unpleasant was the right term since there was no other way of describing it. Sango felt as though she was sitting in front of a warm fire on a cold winter night, and being out in a refreshing cool breeze on a hot summer afternoon at the same time as she saw all her wounds disappear. So did everyone else when Tsukina had finished healing them.
"Shippo I'm leaving the rest up to you. Tell them everything." She whispered gently before she collapsed. It was only then did they notice the various wounds on her unconscious body and realise she had absorbed their own as the Lunar Maiden disappeared and once again transformed back into Kagome.
They distantly heard Hakkudoshi's final dying screams.
-x-x-x-x-x-
Oh yeah! That's what happened. I became Tsukina once again and used up too much ki. No wonder I feel so tired, sore, and disoriented. Note to self: Don't do that for a while. Ah! The hell with it! Knowing me I'm sure to do that sooner than I intend myself to. She thought opening her eyes slowly and forcing her sore muscles to co-ordinate with her brain and work, lifting herself to a sitting position.
"Awake at last Kagome?" a familiar gruff male voice asked.
She looked up to meet the gazes of two pairs of eyes. One honey amber and another hazel brown locked intensely with her own.
She tensed up completely.
I never ever get a break, do I? she asked herself rhetorically as she awaited the inevitable confrontation that would happen now.
I should have never agreed to become Inu-Yasha's companion in the first damned place! She grumbled.
A/N: There finally done. And it took me more than four hours to type up.
My body's gone stiff dammnit!
Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed this.
Read and Review.
Till next time then Ciao!
Ow! my damn aching back!