~Authors Note~
Hello my faithful readers! Here is your tenth chapter, I hope the suspense wasn't too much for you ^_^
I want to give a huge thank you to Sangoscourage for helping me with this chapter!!! It was a huge boost. Thank you so much!
-this chapter was not 100% written by me, Sango helped with the ideas and wording :)- WRITTEN BY SANGO + ANGEL
(DISCLAIMER - while I'm at it... The original characters and places in Inuyasha are not mine whatsoever. They are ... the manga-ka's and anime creators)
::Back in the feudal age::
Gin sat in their home, staring into space as he ate the weird stew he had made. It had already been a whole day since Yuki and Akeela had left. They were only supposed to get checked on, and them come straight back.
He groaned in frustration and fell on his back. The only thing was, he wouldn't be able to go there to check up on them anyway. Yuki had the shard, which was the key to getting back and forth. Putting his bowl down he sighed again. He was starting to worry.
"Gin-san?" Asked a voice, it was Kaede.
"Come in."
Stepping inside, she sat down beside him. Noting his troubled expression, she asked him what the trouble was.
"Yuki hasn't come back. She's been gone since morning, it's taking too long."
"You think something hath happened?" **
Gin held his head, closing his eyes, "I don't know. I'm just getting uneasy."
Kaede nodded.
He opened his eyes and stared into the small fire, "I can't even get back there to see if their okay…" He murmered, tightening his hands into fists.
Kaede paused, as if unsure if what she was doing was right. "I… may have a solution to thy problems." She hesitated, Gin shot his look to her, straightening. "There is the main jewel, the round ball. Also, there is a shard that was underneath, embedded in the silver foundation of the jewel." Gin nodded, "That's the one that Yuki has?"
"Ye are correct." Kaede answered, "But, there is one more."
Gin looked surprised, "I did not know that."
The old lady shook her head, "Not many people even know of the second shard." Putting her hand in a pocket, she brought out her hand. Reaching for Gin's hand, she dropped a round ball into his hand. It was a mini version of the main Shikon Jewel.
"I am entrusting this to ye, only to get thy family. Ye must be very careful, ye are now in possession of 2 parts of the Shikon Jewel." Kaede said carefully, "Who knows what dangers ye may come across, seeking the power."
Gin clenched his hand, "I understand."
Packed and ready to go, he laid down that night. Ready too set out in the morning. Closing his eyes, he murmured, "Yuki… Akeela… be safe…"
::Back in the present::
The rain hadn't let up. It was a slight sprinkle, but enough to have Yuri turn on the windshield wipers.
Akeela sat stock still, glaring through the front windshield.
It's their fault they are all dead. They don't deserve to live. How could they do that..?!?! Karu… mama………. Why'd they have to kill you?! She screamed at herself, clenching her fists.
The men on either side of her felt the atmosphere suddenly change, and the suddenly tense child between them.
"Hey, whats your problem?" He asked, feeling uneasy.
Akeela started trembled in her seat. Not in fear, but in anger. A slow rumble began to rise in her throat, and the men automatically pushed themselves against the door, leaning away from her.
Her body seemed to pulsate. She turned red, hate filled eyes towards them. "It's your fault that Karu is dead." She rumbled in a disoriented voice, baring her teeth.
"Oh crap… Yuri! Stop the car!" Blake shouted at the oblivious driver.
"What?! I'm…"
"Would you just stop?! The kid's freaking out!" The other man screeched, already undoing his seat belt. Neither of them felt very confident anymore.
Yuri slammed on the brakes, throwing them all forwards a little bit. He twisted in his seat to see what his companions were talking about. "What the…" He started to reply but was cut off as the young wolf hanyou lunged at him from the backseat, snapping the ropes and her seatbelt. He gasped and flung his door open. He managed to evade most of Akeela's attack, but her claws had managed to slice into his shoulder.
The car was slowing to a stop by itself. The other men jumped out of the vehicle, running to stand by Yuri, their guns at the ready.
"What the heck is she?!" Blake muttered under his breath.
Akeela slowly made her exit from the vehicle, all predator like. The three men backed away, not sure how to proceed.
"You… killed my mama… and Karu… you've taken everything that's precious too me." She growled, her red, hate filled eyes lingering on Yuri. He gulped, his hand clutching his shoulder.
Slouching down into a wolf like crouch, she snarled, "You'll pay for this." She hissed under her breath.
The rain didn't bother them a bit. She looked even more threatening with the water dripping off of her ears, down her hair. The men took a few steps back, knowing by the look of hate on her face that she was not kidding in any way whatsoever.
Yuri stood behind the two burly men, "What are you waiting for, stop—" He was interrupted as Akeela lunged.
_____________________________
Karu sat in the passenger seat, trying not to pant or wince at every bump. Even though his shirt was ruined, he was freezing. In a slow and painful process, he finally got the stupid thing on. During that time, he was positive that he almost fell unconscious, but another bump jolted him awake. Hiromasa wearily looked at him out of the corner of his eye, "You sure your okay?" He asked hesitantly.
Karu gasped as they hit a deep pothole, "Y-yeah, super dooper." He gritted through his teeth, furiously blinking the blurriness away. Hiromasa snorted, "You look like you could die right now. Your sweating, and you look half unconscious." He said, serious now.
"I told you, I'm going to save Akeela. Even if it kills me."
Hiromasa shook his head, "I don't understand how you can already risk your life for her, and be so worried, when you've been with her a day." He muttered.
Karu shrugged, and immediately regretted doing so, "Don't ask me. I just feel I can't leave her alone. Not until I know she's safe." He panted, clutching at his chest again. It was throbbing so bad, and he thought it may have started bleeding again.
Driving in silence for another 15 seconds, they slowed up. The kidnappers vehicle was up ahead, unmoving. The doors were wide open.
Stopping a good few feet behind the enemy's vehicle, Hiromasa stepped out, eyeing the area. Karu limped out, using Hiromasa's shoulder for support. Walking closer, they saw a few pieces of clothing, and blood. Karu shivered, the rain had started to pick up a little bit, blinking away the droplets on his eyelashes, he looked forward a little bit.
There were blood marks, all seeming to trail across the ground into the wooded area. Karu turned his confused gaze to Hiromasa. "Don't look at me. I have no idea what's going on." He said in a grave voice. "Whatever it is, it isn't good."
Quickly taking a peek in the drivers side, they saw blood in there too. Looking in the backseat, they saw ropes on the floor and a very broken seatbelt. They had been broken by force. They looked at each other, understanding lighting in their eyes.
Just then the chief and Karu heard two blood curdling scream. Hiromasa quickly supported Karu's weight and they ran towards the sound, bracing themselves for whatever scene awaited them. Coming around a huge tree, what they saw made the two men go pale.
There on the ground, lay two badly mutilated bodies, blood surrounding them. A few feet further, a young demon girl was about to finish off Yuri.
"Stop!" Karu choked out, raising his hand out to her. He took a few steps in front of Hiromasa.
Akeela started and whipped around, snarling.
Karu and Hiromasa took a small step back. Her eyes were blood red, and her claws had extended, blood dripping off of the ends. They were obviously very lethal. Her hair seemed to be a darker shade, and she had two strange marks on the side of her chin down neck a little bit. She definitely was not her normal self.
She's not a monster….. she's not a monster… everybody else called her a monster. But I never did. I still won't.
Her eyes lingered on Hiromasa, then turned back to Karu, confusion entering her eyes.
"Who are you?" She growled, never letting her strong grip on Yuri's collar let loose. Karu looked closely and saw his chest rise and fall, he was still alive.
"Akeela… Akeela stop… it's me. You have to stop." Karu started to call out, trying to stop the hanyou. He took a small step forward. Those eyes were very intimidating.
She growled even more, "Who—are—you—"
Karu almost narrowed his eyes, "I'm Karu."
Akeela looked hopeful for a moment, but quickly hid the look, "Karu is dead." She growled, not as menacing though.
"Not now, he isn't." Karu said softly.
He saw Akeela taking in the blood soaked shirt, his unsteady legs.
A half-dead sounding chuckle sounded, Yuri opened his eyes, "He's dead all right. I killed him myself." He purred, if he was going to die, she was going to take them with him.
Akeela started shaking, her eyes turning even redder.
"Shut… up!!!" She screamed, throwing the despicable man against the nearest tree. Yuri was already pretty torn up, including his already torn up shoulder. He probably had a dislocated shoulder now as well.
"Akeela! You have to stop!" Karu panicked, walking towards her. Limping, he realized he was bleeding again, he was feeling woozy. Pain sliced through his upper torso as he took each step, but he tried to ignore it.
"Karu…" Hiromasa said uneasily, shifting from one foot from another.
"Go arrest Yuri." Karu said under his breath, taking one slow step after another.
"Akeela," He said softly, now three feet away from her.
She spun around to face him, and he almost whimpered. In one fluid motion, she swung out her arms and clawed him across his stomach, sending him flying against a tree.
"Karu!" Hiromasa shouted, running towards Akeela, bringing out his gun. Before he was even close to shooting, he too was clawed and thrown against another tree.
The white bandage that was wrapped around his upper torso, started to turn red, and he felt himself getting dizzy. Coughing, blood spattered the ground beneath him. Everything was moving when it shouldn't be. Looking up, he groggily saw Akeela stalking towards him. Forcing himself to stand, she stopped.
"Akeela stop...it's me...." Karu whispered, desparate.
His only answer was a vicious snarl, she crouched again. He softened his gaze, and walked towards Akeela as she lunged.
Hiromasa looked up dizzily from where he lay, "Karu…."
Akeela's claws went through his shoulder, but he didn't back away. Kneeling to her height, he slowly, painfully wrapped his arms around the small girls shoulders.
"It's… okay…" Karu murmered into her hair. He was starting to fade, again.
Akeela stood, frozen to the spot. She didn't expect that.
"Akeela, it's okay. You can stop… Yuri is taken care of." He whispered, his voice breaking. "You can… stop."
He slowly, painfully felt Akeela withdraw her claws from his right shoulder, and he inhaled sharply. Waiting for the final blow, nothing came. He only felt two small arms slowly wrap themselves around his torso, making him wince.
"Karu…." Akeela whimpered, before falling unconscious into his arms. He exhaled slowly. It was over. She was back to normal, no more weird marking, and her hair was the usual shade. Well, everything was the same except her being unconscious. Cradling her in his arms, he slowly stood up, fighting off the dizziness and pain. Staggering back to where Hiromasa was crumpled up in front of the tree, he took his handcuffs off. Laying Akeela down beside the chief, he stumbled over to Yuri, who was now unconscious, and chained him to the nearest tree. He tried to ignore the bodies.
Barely able to stand, he realized that both vehicles were gone.
He stood, staring blankly. There were more… men?
Realizing his situation, he groaned. I have to carry…. He groaned again.
Making himself stand tall, he struggled to walk in a straight line to Hiromasa and Akeela. Putting Akeela over his bad shoulder, he exhaled sharply, but ignored it. Next step… he grabbed Hiromasa's arm and used all of his strength to haul the chief up to his height, putting his arm around his neck.
Wow, heavy.
Panting, blood starting dripping down his arm and from his shirt onto the ground. He tried to ignore everything.
Putting on foot in front of another, he slowly staggered down the dirt road, back to the main paved road. He almost fell a few times, once he almost dropped Hiromasa.
Karu heard a small groan, and he barely had the strength to look over. "Your…. Awake…" Karu huffed. Hiro groaned, trying to get his bearings.
"Karu…?" He murmered, "What the heck are you doing…"
Karu stumbled again, struggling to get his footing. "Saving your sorry bottom, that's what." He wheezed, his breathing was coming out in ragged breaths.
"Your gonna…. Kill yourself….." Hiromasa muttered, trying to gather his feet beneath himself but didn't find the strength.
"You… hit… a nerve…. Non-paralyzation to the… legs…. Broken ribs…" Karu whispered under his breath, black dots starting to appear.
"No wonder……" Hiro said groggily, "T-thanks… Karu.." He said before falling unconscious again.
Stumbling along for another 5 minutes, Karu heard the most heavenly sound ever. It was the sound of a siren, an ambulance. It sped over the hill he was about to attempt climbing up. He kept walking, afraid that if he stopped walking he would tip over.
The ambulance slammed on it's breaks, immediately spotting the bloodied man carrying the even bigger, broken man and small little girl. The driver practically dived out of it's seat, rushing to his aid.
"What the--, sir!" The man said in a panic as Karu started too collapse. Barely able to hold himself up, the mans companion, a young lady, hefted Hiromasa off of his shoulder. Mentally sighing, he let himself fall, barely conscious. The man barely had time to catch him and Akeela.
Karu barely heard the paramedic, it was something colorful though. "What the-------, what in the world happened to this guy?! An how far has he been lugging these two for?" After some more muttering, Karu gladly accepted the darkness.
___________________________________________
"Karu…? Karu? Karu!" A small voice probed, bringing him out of his daze. Whaddya want? Karu thought groggily, I'm trying to sleep. He growled too himself.
It only took a moment for him too realize what had happened. His eyes shot wide open, and hand immediately resisted him from sitting up, thank goodness.
"Karu?" Asked a timid voice, the small hands holding him down belonged to Akeela. She was sitting on a chair beside his bed, in a small white nightgown looking thing. Quickly taking in his surroundings in one sweep, he recognized the very white room as a hospital room.
"I thought I was…." Karu said, almost confused. Akeela's eyes opened in fear, and her hands clenched the sheets which she clung too.
"In the… box, they had to 'bring you back' twice." She whispered, tears starting to form under her eyes again, "They said they didn't know how your still alive."
Karu almost smiled, I guess I really couldn't leave her until I knew she was 100% safe.
"It's all my fault…" Akeela whimpered, hiding her face with her hands, "Those bad men… you… your friend… I hurt them all… I'm a—"
"Don't even say it, Akeela."
She turned a tear-streaked face up to Karu, her face crumpling up.
"Your not…a monster…" He said, realizing It still took him too breaths to say one stupid sentence, "You had every right to be angry. You couldn't help yourself. It was better them, then yourself."
Akeela slowly nodded, even so, he noticed a strange glint in her eyes, as if she wasn't totally satisfied, even so.
"And as for Yuri," She tensed at the name, "He'll be locked up for a very, very long time. He will be dealt with." Karu assured her.
Akeela could only nod, and she gave him a big hug, forgetting about his wounds for a moment. He tried not to say anything, wincing.
"I'm… sorry…. I hurt you…" She sobbed. Karu just stroked her hair, fighting back the fatigue. After a few moments she quieted down, and she sat back to stare at him.
"Karu—" She started to say, but was interrupted by a shout of, "Akeela!" And a pair of strong arms whipping her up into a bear hug, lifting her off of the ground.
Tensing, she tried to squirm out of his arms, and automatically, she looked desperately at Karu. Karu, obviously thinking that he was a 'bad man', as Akeela put it, launched himself out of the bed, reopening most of his wounds, and whipped her out of the other mans arms. Struggling to stay standing, he held her closely, shielding her with his body.
The man didn't fight back, only stood in shock. His once happy face turned into a frown, "Akeela… you've already… forgotten…me….?" He asked hesitantly, hurt and confused.
She allowed herself a good look at the man, squirming in front of Karu a little bit, her eyes widened.
"Papa….?"
Few! Yuri is now out of the way. OH! I noticed in the last chapter I kept spelling 'Yuri' as 'Yuki'. Yuki = mom, Yuri = idiot. Not sure why I chose such identical names... oops anyway.
I HOPES YOU ENJOYED THE CHAPTER!! Please review and tell me how it turned out ^_^
~Angel~
ps. I do not plan on ending this soon. We've got another good few chapters ahead of us I do believe :) Just thought I'd throw that out there, and if that makes you happy TELL ME so I don't cut it short lol.