Silver Demons
by SkyFire
Hugs and virtual cookies go out to: Shi-koi, Basia Orci, KitsuneToy, Katreal, Saphira1204, CNome, Silvermane1, hittocerebattosai, Demetra666, PleiadesWolfe, Sakuya Nightroad, and Yeleen! Wow! Thank you so much for your reviews! Virtual cookies and heaps of chocolate for everyone; you guys are made of awesome! \^-^/
Shi-Koi: 'Arrogant doggy'? That does pretty much sum up Sesshoumaru, doesn't it? *grin*
Basia Orci: Thank you! Glad to please!
KitsuneToy: *grin* Compensating? I actually have a fic on my IJ that has something to say about that ('Research', it's a Seph/Gen). Actually, I read from chapter 300-something (end of the anime) to the end; now I'll just have to go back and read the first half... ~-^ Glad you're enjoying my shiny evilness! ^-^
Katreal: Thank you! This chapter's the longest one yet at almost 3K words... hope you like it! ^-^
CNome: Hehehe... I hope this chapter lives up to expectations. ^-^
hittocerebattosai: O_o It would? Remind me to hang onto you if I ever fall down any dry wells/Mako reactors... ~-^
Demetra666: How could I not? It was wonderful! \^-^/
Sakuya Nightroad: Between Seph and Sess? Actually, I think it would depend entirely on which one of them was having a bad day; they seem pretty well-matched. I'd love to watch, though! ~-^
Yeleen: *gives special cookies* Hope your exams went well! Hehehe... lots of "love-sparks" flying this chappie! The temple will never be the same...
Note: Sorry about the delay; this chappie kicked my butt. I got about three notebook-pages written yesterday and I didn't like any of it so I scrapped it. Today I tackled it from a different perspective and things worked out much better. I'm a lot happier with how it turned out and some of what I scrapped even made it in, only now it works! *headdesk*
Warnings: Eventual Sess/Seph (shonen-ai or yaoi, I haven't decided. We'll see when we get there. ^-^)
Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII or InuYasha and no money is being made.
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Chapter 13
They hadn't been walking for very long - they were barely half-way back down the path to the village - when a sudden surge of demonic aura from back the way they had come stopped Inuyasha in his tracks.
The hair on the back of his neck standing on end in warning, he turned abruptly to look towards the temple they had just left just in time to see the familiar flare of crackling blue light followed by lightning from the clear sky - Sesshoumaru's Dragon Strike. Inuyasha winced at the sight, questions coming instantly to mind. How had the monks managed to piss off his brother enough for him to bother using his Toukijin at all, let alone the Dragon Strike? He only used that attack when he was seriously angry, or the fight was serious... or if his opponent was Inuyasha.
Since it clearly wasn't the last option, it had to be one of the first two. But what could those monks have done? Most attempts to purify the daiyoukai would only irritate him, and nowhere near enough for that cold, unfeeling mask of his to crack.
Then he could only stare as arcs of blue light cut right through Sesshoumaru's attack, turning the lethal Dragon Strike into just so many harmless sparks and turning one of the temple outbuildings into so much rubble.
What the-?!
A few blasts of Toukijin's demonic energy was answered by yet more of those blue arcs, cutting through them like nothing. Now that he was watching, he could see two forms floating in the air above where the temple courtyard would be - one light, one dark - both soaring and zipping around to attack and defend with demonic speed.
The pale one had to be Sesshoumaru, but who was the dark one? Those blue arcs were clearly a powerful demonic attack, but he hadn't sensed any demon other than his brother when he'd been there. Had he just shown up and used the monks' distraction to attack the pale lord? Such a cowardly attack would have pissed Sesshoumaru off enough to Dragon Strike.
Or maybe it was a human with a demonic blade? If it was he felt almost sorry for them; to break up Toukijin's attacks, that sword would have to be just as powerful, and the odds of a demonic sword that strong leaving a human bearer unpossessed were not good.
But he still couldn't forget that there had been no unknown demonic aura as there would have been if that was the case; even Toukijin had one. So what did that leave?
Some strong spiritual attacks might look demonic from a distance, he supposed. Between Sesshoumaru's own daunting aura and Toukijin's, it was impossible to tell from that distance if those blue arcs were demonic or not.
Another Dragons Strike, another series of arcs that turned it into nothing more than static and light.
Was Sesshoumaru actually having a hard time? From what he could see, they were almost matched for speed. Would it actually come down to dumb luck? Could his brother actually be defeated?
No. Way.
If asked, Inuyasha would deny that his next move had anything to do with any lingering sense of family loyalty. He didn't do it for Sesshoumaru. He didn't. He did it for himself because, just as Sesshoumaru had claimed his right to chose the time of Inuyasha's death, Inuyasha had long since claimed his right to Sesshoumaru's.
No one was going to kill his brother but him!
Abandoning his friends in favor of greater speed, Inuyasha took off back up the trail toward the temple.
Kagome's surprised "Where are you going? Inuyasha!" was answered only by a gruff "Sesshoumaru's in trouble," from the quickly-disappearing hanyou.
oOo
Sephiroth wasn't quite sure what to think. He saw Sesshoumaru's eyes turn red, heard what could only be called a growl as the man reached for one of the swords at his side. The hair on the back of his neck rose in warning and every instinct he had was screaming danger!
Then Sesshoumaru vanished.
It was hard-earned instinct alone that saved him from being cut down with the first blow, that let him bring the Masamune up in time to block Sesshoumaru's descending swing. Blue-green eyes widened slightly in surprise; not only had the other man moved with a speed rivaling a Hasted First, his swing had been strong enough to send Sephiroth skidding back several feet.
Playtime was clearly over. It was time to get serious.
Was it something he'd said?
More sword-strikes, blocked more by instinct than anything else, pushing him back across the courtyard.
Enough!
Sephiroth blocked, then began launching his own attacks, sending a rain of lightning-fast blows at the other man, the masamune naught but a flashing silver blur.
Blocked.
Both men backed away as they realized almost simultaneously the futility of that course of attack. They circled each other for a long moment, making and discarding plans of attack. Clearly, their speed and reflexes were too evenly matched for any head-on attack to succeed.
Sephiroth missed his Materia. A good Fire would have come in useful. Or maybe Stop, so he could hold the so-called 'demon' still long enough to find out what had happened, why his eyes had changed and the fight escalated all of a sudden.
He lifted his sword into a guard position when Sesshoumaru suddenly held his sword out in front of him and had the sinking feeling that he was going to regret not having a good MBarrier or Wall.
Red eyes met blue-green and Sesshoumaru spoke two words.
"Dragon Strike."
oOo
Sesshoumaru watched in satisfaction as Toukijin's attack blasted the courtyard to rubble. It was almost a shame to kill such an unusual human - he was still stunned that the man had been able to hold him off as long as he had, even almost match his speed - but the insult to his heritage had sealed the man's fate. Nothing could survive the full force of the Dragon Str--
Wide arcs of blue light scattered his own attack into so many sparks and laid waste to Sesshoumaru's side of the courtyard, the daiyoukai having to move fast to avoid getting sliced in half.
What the-?!
The sparks fizzled out to show the human down on one knee, a little singed around the edges, eyes blazing, but still very much alive.
And fighting, more of those blue arcs speeding at the daiyoukai with every swing of that ridiculously long sword.
Sesshoumaru dodged again, red eyes narrowed in irritation, and sent another Dragon Strike hurtling on its way.
oOo
Arriving once more at the temple's destroyed gates, Inuyasha stared. Whatever he'd been half-expecting, this wasn't it.
On one side of the conflict was Sesshoumaru. He was clearly enraged; his eyes red, his aura surging in an almost tangible haze around him, his markings no longer perfectly smooth but jagged link his own demonic markings. He zipped around the courtyard in a blur, launching attack after attack with little effect.
On the other side was... well, he still couldn't figure that one out. He looked human enough with his round ears and lack of obvious markings, but no human he knew of could fly, nor were any anywhere near that tall, and there was something about his eyes.... He had no demonic aura that Inuyasha could sense, nor did his ridiculously long sword, but he was the one tossing out those blue arcs. His clothing - what there was of it - was like nothing He'd ever seen - he was not blushing. He wasn't. Oh, hell, he was - and combined with that long silver hair he couldn't quite catch the words before they escaped.
"Oi, Sesshoumaru! I know they say that everyone's got a perverted side, but don't you think you're taking it a little bit too far?"
The glare Sesshoumaru sent him should have killed him on the spot. "Stay out of this, half-breed," he hissed.
"Keh! Whatever!" Inuyasha said, then settled in to watch. He'd let them wear each other out for now, but he was going to keep an eye on them and step in if he had to.
oOo
He had clearly underestimated just how stubborn his full-youkai brother could be, and clearly his indecently-dressed opponent also posessed that quality in abundance.
His companions arrived at the gates just as the sun was setting, lighting the sky with brilliant orange and pink. They set up camp aoutside the temple walls, which seemed to serve as an unofficial boundary for the two fighters as neither they nor their attacks went beyond it. Into it, yes, but not past it. They gathered firewood, started a fire, then set about making the evening meal. They made enough for both themselves and the two fighters, figuring that as full night fell they would call it quits for the night and start again in the morning.
No such luck.
Both kept right on fighting, the night lit only softly by the thin crescent of the growing moon and the brief flashes as swords clashed and attacks launched.
They were still at it the next morning when the group rose from an unrestful night's sleep, though the rhythm of blows was slower now as they - finally - began to tire.
After breakfast, the group headed back up to the gates' remains to watch.
Both men had clearly been fighting for a long time, clothing littered with dozens of tiny slices, the occasional spot of blood from a minor cut or scrape the only obvious injuries. Both heads of knee-length silver hair were hopelessly tousled and tangled enough to draw a wince from both women; it would take hours to get all the knots out! Both men were still attacking. Slower, yes, but still trying to kill each other with minimal success.
Or were they?
Golden eyes narrowed as Inuyasha watched the fight.
A burst of demonic energy followed quickly by another Dragon Strike sped across the courtyard at the black-clad man. It was by all appearances a serious attack except for one thing. Sesshoumaru's eyes were no longer red, his markings back to their usual crisp, clean lines, and he seemed almost... amused.
The dog-eared boy wasn't sure just how he came to that conclusion - Sesshoumaru's face was as blank as ever - but he was certain of it nonetheless. Sesshoumaru, one of - if not the - most-feared daiyoukai in all of Japan, was actually having fun.
A few lighting-fast flicks of the sword sent blue arcs out, cutting effortlessly through Toukijin's attacks and slamming into the heap of rubble that was all that was left of the temple, narrowly missing the daiyoukai as he dodged gracefully out of the way. It was by all appearances a real effort to cut the demon lord in half except for one thing. A tiny, barely visible grin and the light in blue-green eyes. He, too, was having fun.
Inuyasha had the sudden urge to bang his head against a wall. The only problem with that was that between the two of them, the fighters had reduced all the walls to heaps of rubble and there were none left standing.
oOo
At last, late in the morning - almost noon, really - the fighting slowed, then stopped. The sudden absence of noise had more than one head turning towards the temple, waiting to see which - if any - being would come out, since Inuyasha hadn't bothered to share his brain-breaking revelation with them.
A few interminable minutes later, the slightly-ragged form of Lord Sesshoumaru picked his way across the gate-rubble, followed by an equally-ragged figure in indecent black clothing made even more so thanks to various sword-slashes. A brief hesitation, then they made their way down to Inuyasha's camp even as Kagome and Sango had to deal with sudden nosebleeds.
Water was offered and accepted; imperiously by the daiyoukai, with a nod of thanks from... whoever he was. A similar offer of noodles was ignored by Sesshoumaru, accepted politely by the unknown man, and pounced on by Inuyasha.
Once that was done, Inuyasha decided that he'd been patient long enough; he had questions that wanted answers.
"So," he said to the stranger. "Who are you and how come you can keep up with Sesshoumaru?"
For a long moment, the stranger just stared, blank-faced. "You can talk," he said at last.
Inuyasha bristled, glaring. "Of course I can talk!"
"Ah. Most of the monsters I've met just growl if they make any noise at all, except for that one a few days ago...."
"Look. I got no idea what you're talking about, but you're in for a fight if you call me that again! I'm not a monster, I'm a half-demon!"
"Is there a difference?" Sesshoumaru said drily.
"You, stay out of this!"
"Half... demon?" the stranger repeated. He looked to the rest of the group. "And you... believe this?"
Miroku spoke up. "Yes, because he is a half-demon. See the ears, the claws and fangs? His mother was a human and his father was a full demon, just like Lord Sesshoumaru over there."
"Daiyoukai," said demon corrected.
"Ah, yes. My apologies. Full demon lords."
Doubt was still obvious in glowing blue-green eyes, but was clearly set aside for later. "As for your earlier question," he said, turning back to the half-demon, "I am Sephiroth, General of SOLDIER."
He said it as if it ought to mean something to them.
"So how come you can keep up with Sesshouamru?"
Sephiroth frowned. "I told you, I am head of SOLDIER."
"Is that supposed to mean something? Keh, forget it. Not like it matters. So why were you two fighting, anyway?"
Sephiroth looked to Sesshoumaru, who looked to Inuyasha. "That is none of your concern, half-breed," he said. Standing, he looked to Sephiroth even as one clawed hand ran through his hair, the knots seeming to vanish all on their own. "Though there was no clear winner, I will hold to my end of the bargain. I will find the location of this 'Wutai', 'phone', and 'Shinra'. Follow or not, as you choose."
"None of my-? Keh! I bet you don't even remember. That's it, isn't it? Ha!" Inuyasha called after Sesshoumaru's retreating back. "You don't remember! Who's the senile one now, huh?"
"It was... interesting meeting you all," Sephiroth said, "thank you for the meal." Then he turned and followed the daiyoukai, the tangles in his own hair falling away under a careless swipe of one hand.
The two men had barely disappeared around a bend in the trail when Kagome spoke. "Did Sesshoumaru just say 'phone'?"
-
TBC...
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