Chapter 12: Rivalry
Inuyasha soon found that he was no longer in the clearing. Rain was falling, masking the far horizons from Inuyasha's sight. Yet, he still scanned the area around him but saw nothing but empty terrain and the dense shower of rain. However, before he made a complete revolution, he noticed something glint in the distance. He froze, unable to make out what it was. He became entranced by the object and felt compelled to move towards it. All his other cares seemed to melt away as he approached it, not knowing or caring what it was anymore.
As he neared his destination, Inuyasha could feel an evil before him. This evil was something familiar - it was his brother Sesshomaru. Yet he continued to trample forward as if in a trance. He could not find the strength to resist whatever was pulling him in that specific direction. He knew that the Tetsusaiga was still not at his side and he did not stand a chance versus Sesshomaru, yet he could not turn away.
It wasn't long before Inuyasha figured out what the glint was that he had seen. Through the rain he had caught a glimpse of Sesshomaru's blade - the Tokijin. His brother had drawn his sword and had simply waited for Inuyasha to draw near. Inuyasha now knew that he had to fight his brother - with or without the Tetsusaiga.
Finally coming to a stop several feet in front of Sesshomaru, Inuyasha gazed into the face of his brother. "Hello," he finally spoke - calm yet on edge.
Sesshomaru kept Tokijin at his side, ready to strike at any moment. "Hello half breed," came Sesshomaru's reply. "It seems as if we are the only ones here."
"How can you be so sure?"
Sesshomaru did not reply, he only lifted his blade towards the half demon. "Do you see anyone else?"
"Seeing is practically impossible."
"Yes, but can you smell anything else?"
Inuyasha admitted that the only thing he could smell was Sesshomaru, yet he still did not believe they were alone. However, that was the last thing on his mind for he knew that Sesshomaru was planning on attacking at any moment. Within a mere moment, Sesshomaru vanished from Inuyasha's sight. Confused, his stare traveled upwards only to be met with the raindrops in his eyes. Still, Inuyasha knew Sesshomaru had to be somewhere nearby. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Inuyasha was met with the eyes of his brother. "Still too slow brother. You should work on that. Too bad you won't live to try," Sesshomaru growled.
Inuyasha had no time to react before Sesshomaru's claws tore across his face. Inuyasha was thrown back unable to keep his ground. "Ahhhhggg…" he grunted as he slammed into the ground. He laid there for a moment, trying to discover how to combat this attack. He suddenly felt pain deep within his stomach. He raised himself up onto his elbows and felt another pang of agony rip through his insides. He looked down upon his stomach and saw the beginning of a stain of blood begin to soak through his kimono. Sesshomaru must have struck him in the stomach as well as the face - simultaneously. It must have been that attack that sent him to the ground with such force.
Slowly he rose from the ground. Breathing raggedly, Inuyasha turned to look at his brother. He clutched his stomach as he turned back towards Sesshomaru. "Where have you got my Tetsusaiga?" Inuyasha mumbled, wincing a little in pain as he did so.
Sesshomaru grinned, causing Inuyasha to shudder. "Are you still worried about that damn sword? It's mine now."
"It will never be yours!" Inuyasha cried, pulling out his claws now drenched in his own blood. "Blades of Blood!" he screamed, sending the red blades towards his brother.
Sesshomaru moved quickly out of the way avoiding the piercing blades. He landed swiftly on the ground a few feet from Inuyasha. Putting away his sword, Sesshomaru stood with his eyes fixed on his brother. "Once again you are trying foolishly to beat me. We were given this wonderful opportunity to settle our differences and you aren't even giving me a fair fight."
Inuyasha stumbled backward another few steps as Sesshomaru lunged forward with his poisonous claws narrowly avoiding them being driven into his stomach. However with the wound he had received earlier in the fight, Inuyasha was unable to retaliate, only retreat. This he did with careful consideration, for Sesshomaru was much faster than him. With one last effort he flew back as another onslaught was delivered. He was able to move a significant distance sending him quite a ways off from the fight. Injured beyond compare, Inuyasha slowly sank to one knee. Both hands fell to the ground for he lacked the strength to hold them up any longer. He could only wait as Sesshomaru advanced ready to end the fight. He knew that Sesshomaru finally saw his chance to defeat him.
However something different flowed through the air. Something both of them had experienced before. Sesshomaru stopped moving forward as the wind changed. Inuyasha's breathing became quick and unsteady. A low growl escaped his lips as he felt the blood flow hot throughout his body. He felt the change inside of him - he felt his whole soul begin to transform.