1Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, or any characters of the show.
A. n.: Here's the next chapter, as promised.
Chapter twelve: Quest for the Sword (Part II).
Kagome walked through the tunnel. After yet another turn she saw a glimpse of green light further down the passage. The girl speed up and soon entered a relatively large hall. The light she saw earlier turned out to be emitted by some strange sort of silky material that covered all the walls in the room.
Kagome took in her surroundings. Girl noticed another passageway much wider than the one she came from, but it wasn't what caught her attention. In the center of the hall an old, rusty katana was impaled into the stone floor.
That's it? Talk about disappointment. Dunno what I was expecting from the demonic sword, but certainly not to turn out to be a piece of junk. Kagome tripped over something. Girl bent down and picked an old wooden sheath. Man, it's dusty. No wonder I didn't notice it at first. Probably these two come in a unit. Well, I only promised to get the sword, so I might as well bargain a little.
Kagome suddenly felt a sense of danger. Trusting her intuition girl jumped sideways and rolled away right before segmented leg hit the place Kagome was previously occupying.
Clutching the scabbard as if it was a club girl turned to face her opponent.
"Oh, crap."
First thing Kagome saw was a pair of razor sharp fangs dipping with poison, then there were two sets of compound eyes, glowing in the darkness ever so slightly, after that girl noticed a massive round body covered with hair and eight thin but nevertheless strong legs.
I'm boned.
The spider-youkai dashed forward and Kagome had to jump up high to avoid the fatal blow of the demon's leg. While in the air girl managed to thrust the sash deep into the monster's eye and rapidly pull back. It was hard to guess what the giant arthropod was thinking but judging by the furious flair of its aura, the youkai was not too happy.
Kegome gulped – this was definitely not the way she pictured her death. Girl readied herself for the ultimate move she only used in grave danger. Kagome drew a deep breath and then…
"INUYASHA!" she yelled with all her might.
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Inuyasha banged his fist into the invisible wall again and again. His hand ached unbearably, but the boy would be damned if he just left his best friend to die out there. To Inuyasha's surprise Sesshomaru too would slash his claws across the border every once in a while, his eyes now blood-red with a black outline.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome's terrified scream reached the boys ears.
He took a few steps backwards. Hold on, Kagome, I'm coming! With that thought Inuyasha thrust himself into the barrier. He felt it. Slowly, but steadily he was making his way through the wall, that seemed solid earlier. And it hurt like hell. A thousand needles poked into the body would probably cause less pain, but at the moment Inuyasha could barely register it. Just a little longer. Don't you dare to give up, kiddo!
Boy felt face first on the hard ground. Made it! Inyuasha pushed himself of the ground and took off leaving behind only a cloud of dust. In a few minutes he burst into the green-lighted room.
"About damn time!" Kagome grumbled, dodging yet another strike. Girl had a long gash on her forearm, but otherwise seemed to be doing quite well. "Don't you stand there, looking stupid! Help me!" Kagome slashed previously uninjured set of eyes, successfully blinding the monster.
To attack the spider-youkai bare-handed would be a little reckless even for Inuyasha, so he gripped the only weapon available – the rusty old hunk of metal imbedded in the floor. Sword slipped out easily and the boy dashed forward stabbing it into the giant spider's hamstring.
While Inuyasha tried to retrieve the blade an uninjured segmented limb came slashing through his shoulder, effectively pinning the boy to the floor. Demon turned the hideous head towards his prey and lunged at it with his fangs ready for the fatal blow.
"Oh, no you don't!" Kagome jumped in front of her friend and shoved the sheath between the monster's jaws, while Inuyasha finally managed to pull Tetsusaiga out and, using the dull blade, break the leg that held him captive.
The youkai tossed about in blind fury. Kagome didn't manage to duck in time and was sent crushing into the wall. Girl felt limp on the floor, incapable of movement for some time. Demon felt her reiki, trying to purify it to no avail. The spider braced itself for a jump, but as it sprung into action Inuyasha stepped between the youkai and Kagome.
The time slowed it's pace as the boy raised Tetsusaiga above his head. Streams of wind begun to swirl around the blade. In one swift motion Inuyasha slashed the sword where his instincts told him to. Yellow light engulfed the blade and the spider-youkai's body, causing the monster to hiss in pain. In the matter of seconds the demon was reduced to the pile of ash on the floor. The undamaged scabbard hit the ground with a soft rattle.
"The hell is this?" Inuyasha eyed the giant sword in his hand.
"Looks like a fang to me," Kagome limped closer to her friend.
"To me it looks like our buddy Sesshomaru has a major inferiority complex. I bet he has a tiny…"
"Inuyasha!"
"Okay, okay. Aside from that, are you hurt?"
"No. Not as bad as you, anyway."
"Keh, like a little scratch can hurt me."
"How about a little reach-through hole under your clavicle?"
"Heh, that's nothing," Inuyasha ripped the remaining of the spider's leg out and instantly fell on his knees from the agonizing pain in the shoulder.
"Nothing, huh?" Kagome kneeled down next to her friend. "Idiot," girl hugged him gently. Inuyasha sighed and closed his eyes leaning into the embrace.
"Quack, Sesshomaru-sama, the filthy human is touching your father's fang!"
"I am aware of that, Jaken."
Inuyashas eyes immediately shot open.
"You bastard, just for this lousy sword you were going to sacrifice Kagome's life? Well, take it and live us alone!" boy threw the blade (once again reversed in its smaller form) at the taiyoukai's feet.
Girl looked at the demon lord. He somehow seemed so… sad, that even a thought of becoming angry abounded her. Sesshomaru was the first to look away breaking the eye-contact. He bent down to pick Tetsusaiga, but the sparkles enveloped the hilt, burning taiyoukai's palm.
"What is the meaning of this?" the demon lord questioned his servant.
The kappa quacked once again.
"Can it be that Tetsusaiga has chosen itself a new master?"
"Impossible. It could not do so, unless I was dead."
"But, Sesshomaru-sama, maybe the sealing spell broke the bond between you and your weapon? Be that as it may you can simply kill the human and reclaim what is rightfully yours."
Kagome's eyes widened. She tightened the grip on her friend and inched forward to place herself before him.
"Get away, kiddo. You'll get killed too."
"Shut up! You wouldn't be in this whole mess if it wasn't for me."
"Don't tell me to shut up, brat, I came here willingly."
"Are you kidding? I had to drag you all the way, while you were kicking and fighting, you lunatic."
"As if a wimp like you could make me do something against my will."
"Who are you calling a wimp, bonehead?"
"Sessh-Sesshomaru-sama, are you leaving?" Jaken's voice cut in.
The taiyoukai was soundlessly walking away.
"Human's lifespan means nothing to the immortal. I will wait until his expires."
"But, but…"
"Are you questioning my decisions?"
"No, no, no, no, no. I would never dare to do such a thing."
Kagome hurriedly picked the sword and the scabbard and then helped her friend up.
"Can you walk?"
"You're the one who is limping, stupid."
"You're the one who is bleeding, stupid. Hold on a sec," Kagome tore off the sleeve of Inuyasha's jacket and bandaged boy's shoulder with it. "This should do for now. Let's go."
Supporting each-other friends slowly made their way through the caverns following shortly after the two youkai. Kagome soon heard the familiar cracking under her feet.
"D-d-damn it. I hate spiders."
Kagome thought about taking a ride on the taiyoukai, but quickly dismissed that idea – Inuyasha (literally) needed her support now and no phobia would get in the way. Girl was glad when they finally left the stone surroundings of the caverns and found themselves under the evening sky.
"Humans, how badly are you injured?" asked Sesshomaru.
"What do you care?" snapped Inuyasha.
"We're fine," assured Kagome, though her limp did not go unnoticed.
The taiyoukai sighed. He didn't know many humans in person, but he was quite sure that these two were the most stubborn of their species. The demon lord gripped the back of Inuyasha's jacket and pulled Kagome close by the waist.
"What a?.." both asked in union.
"Sesshomaru-sama, don't live me behind!" Jacken attached himself to his master's leg just as the taiyoukai took off into the air.
In a few minutes they landed on the shrine grounds.
"Wow," exhaled Kagome. "We should do it again sometime."
"Yeah, well I'm lucky still to have my stomach containments inside," complained Inuyasha.
"Kagome! Inuyasha!" Kikyou ran to greet them. She noticed that the two were wounded. "Looks like my worry was not unjustified."
"I'm fine, but could you please take care of the stupid one over here? He lost a lot of blood, but refuses to admit it."
Girls dragged the flushing Inuyasha into the one of the ever empty shrine buildings.
"I think I'll live you two now, but before I go, I need to clarify something. Inuyasha, did Sesshomaru know this was a trap?"
"Nah, I don't think so," the boy admitted reluctantly. "If anything he seemed pretty mad."
"Thanks!" Kagome embraced her friend tightly, causing him to wince in pain.
Girl skipped away on her uninjured leg.
"What is she so happy about?" Inuyasha scratched his head.
"No idea. Wait here, I'll get all what the necessary for the treatment," with that said she exited, but was soon back carrying a pile of medicines, kettle, basin and a couple of wash cloths. "Drink this," Kikyou passed a cup of hot herbal tea. "It will help you relax and ease the pain."
Inuyasha obediently accomplished the task since the tincture had a rather nice taste. The miko made him lie on the straw futon. She removed the makeshift bandage and skillfully begun to clean the wound.
Inuyasha felt the tea starting to take affect. Through clouded eyes he watched as Kikyou absentmindedly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Since the foggy mind refused to work properly the boy voiced the only thought that lingered in his head.
"Have anyone ever told you, that you look pretty?"
Girl was a little bit taken aback. To be honest she was called beautiful, gorgeous, glamorous, but pretty?..
"No."
"Well they all are stupid, cuz you do," with that Inuyasha finally blacked out.
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Sesshomaru debated whether or not to inform Kagome that he was leaving for good, but decided that she would figure it out soon enough. He gathered a cloud of youki around, but as the taiyoukai left the ground something crashed into his back.
"You're off guard," Kagome said gripping his shoulders so she wouldn't fall.
"Unhand me, girl."
"No way! We are some fifty feet above the ground and I'm not a suicidal type. What the hell do you think you're doing leaving like that?"
"Are you that dense? I have nearly caused your death."
"Well you didn't do it on purpose."
"It doesn't change anything."
"It changes everything!" Girl sighed in frustration. "Look, if you had absolutely no regard for my life, would you do what you are about to do?"
"What are you tal…"
Kagome let go of the demon lord's shoulders and begun headlong glide towards the earth.
"Damn it!" Sesshomaru caught the girl in mid-fall and smoothly descended in what looked like a deserted old park. "What was it about not being suicidal?"
"Ha! I knew you'd save me, even though you had nothing to gain, since you are so determent to part ways."
"And why are you so determined to make me stay? You certainly do not benefit from my presence. Aside from this you said yourself you hated me."
"I did?"
"You did, this morning."
"Oh, yeah, now I remember. Don't tell me you took it seriously!.. You know, humans tend to say a lot of stuff they don't actually mean, but we are friends, aren't we? And, well, I'm gonna miss you should you go," there was a long silence between the two. "C'mon, stop being a moron, you don't really have to go."
"Look at your arm."
"Oh, so that's what's troubling you, is it? I know how to fix this," Kagome summoned a little of her miko energy and before Sesshomaru could react girl kicked him in the stomach with all the force she could muster. "There. Now you don't have to feel guilty anymore."
"You…" for the first time in his life the taiyoukai was at a complete loss for what to do or say.
"Yes?" Kagome flashed Sesshomaru the brightest smile he had ever seen.
You look cute in a way. Demon lord shook his head.
"Let's go, Sesshomaru," girl snatched youkai's hand and pulled him after her. "I don't have all day, you know. I still have a toad to beat up."
Demon lord's fingers hesitantly curled around Kagome's.
"You are limping."
"I'm not letting you carry me – it's humiliating. Though a piggyback ride would be okay."
"Piggyback?"
"Here," Kagome jumped on Sesshomaru's back. "Gee-up! Onwards, to the Higurashi shrine!"
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"Curses, I did sprain an ankle," girl muttered under her breath as she examined her injuries sitting on the edge of the bed. Two clawed hands instantly wrapped themselves around Kagome's foot and with a short jerk the joints were back in place. Girl had to bite her lip to suppress the hiss of pain. "Thanks."
"Your arm," Sesshomaru demanded.
"You don't have to do it, you know."
Taiyoukai cut off the sleeve of Kagome's blouse with one of his talons and examined the injury.
"Was this done by a fang?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Sesshomaru said nothing, but pulled girl's arm close to his mouth and ran rough tongue over the lips of the wound a couple of times.
"Wha? Whazza? What are you doing?" Kagome tried to pull her hand away.
"My saliva will close the cut and neutralize the poison."
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Souta entered his room, glad that for once the disaster called Rin was not there. The teen stretched himself in fatigue on the soft bed that was once his. His serenity did not last long, however, as he heard his sister's voice through the thin wall.
"I know that you are probably more experienced in this area than I am, but did you have to use your tongue? It gives me the creeps."
"It is customarily in the youkai society."
"Well, you didn't need to rip my shirt."
"It was in the way."
Souta banged his fist in the wall.
"GET A ROOM YOU TWO!" he shouted.
"We're in a room!" Kagome yelled back.
"THEN GET A HOUSE! Geez, what a couple of perverts," he muttered moving to his uncomfortable makeshift bed on the floor.
A. n.: Well, that's my longest chapter by far. Hope you enjoyed it.