Chapter 14- Fight
"You may each choose a weapon and keep in mind the objective is to make your opponent surrender, not to kill them" Katsuo announces.
Akira moves to the weapon rack they've set up and chooses a double-sided sword that gleams wickedly in the sunlight. I've decided to stick with the sword I'd had at the arena because of it's ability to cancel out demonic energy, which would really come in handy against Akira's ability to create other weapons using her youki. Akira walks back over to face me in the center of the clearing, and the others form a circle around us.
"Good luck" she whispers to me.
"You too" I smile, and flick my gaze towards Inuyasha's so she knows I'm speaking of more than just with the fight. She gives me a small smile in return and looks to Inuyasha also, who looks so nervous and unsure, emotions I'd never seen on him before.
"Begin!" Katsuo's voice rings out around the clearing and we both leap into action, our swords meeting with a loud clang. We push away from each other and Akira tries to use one of the swords attacks but is surprised and confused when it refuses to work. I smirk before informing her;
"My sword cancels any demonic attacks a sword may have when it's used against me upon contact. All I had to do was let our swords touch."
She growls softly and charges at me once more, swinging her sword and aiming for my right side. I move to block it and she quickly turns, hoping to catch my unprotected left side. I'd expected it, however, and I created a small barrier around myself. Her sword bounces off the barrier and out of her hands, flipping through the air and landing several feet outside the ring. She snarls and backs away from me, focusing her youki and creating a sword. She swings it in an arc and I meet it with my sword. It disappears when it encounters my sword and before she can move out of the way I end up stabbing her side. Blood instantly appears under the yellow fabric of her haori and she leaps backwards and out of my range once more.
"Damn" she mutters and glares over at me. I rush at her quickly, using my powers to increase my speed, and slash at her but she disappears and I only cut through air where she had been moments before. I feel the sharp sting of claws dig into my shoulder and I coat my body in reiki, burning her hand slightly. She snarls in pain and gives me a hard push, sending me flying until I land with an audible thump several feet away, just outside the makeshift ring. The wind is knocked out of me and I struggle to get back up, holding my injured shoulder and wincing slightly. Turning around to gaze at her I see her injured hand quickly healing and the wind start to pick up around her.
'Perfect...just perfect' I think, panicking slightly. I can't risk using too much power in case I lose control but she's transforming, letting the beast out of the cage, and my powers are the only thing I can rely on. Absently, I note the servants gathering by the door to the gardens and gazing out of windows to watch.
"She's. Fine. Ya Bastard" I hear Inuyasha grunt and with Akira busy transforming, I glance over to the side and gasp when I see who he's talking to. Sesshomaru's eyes are red, his irises a brilliant blue and Inuyasha's pushing him backwards, struggling to keep him from interrupting the fight. I can tell Sesshomaru's not trying as hard as he could be, that he's fighting for control, and I'm thankful that everyone's attention is on the fight. I hear a roar and turn to see Akira in her beast form, a sight that would be breathtaking had I not known she wanted to rip me to pieces. I smother a shudder and prepare for her to attack, crouching low and watching for any sign of movement. Finally, after several moments of staring at each other, she pounces and would have crushed me had I not moved quickly and dove under her belly, cutting the soft, barely concealed flesh there. She roars in pain and uses her hind paw to smack me out from under her.
Once more I land several feet away and my shoulder screams in pain when I land on it, making it throb as I make it to my knees before she pounces on me, pinning me between her paws and lowering her muzzle to snarl in my face. There's only one way to get out of this. And my friends are going to kill me for it.
Reaching deep inside, I summon my reiki and shut my eyes, refusing to look at the blue glow I know is gathering in my palms and try not to lose myself to the intense feeling of power. But I can tell I'm fighting an impossible battle as my eyes gloss over, my vision taking on a blue tint as I push my palms up and blast her, aiming for her chest. She lets out a pained whine as she's thrown off me and lands on the other side of the ring. Two large areas on her chest are clear of any fur but aren't burning any more than that as her healing is increased in the form she's in now. Her youki must be running low, though, because in the next moment she's surrounded by a gust of wind and her tiny figure appears, struggling to get up. She makes it to her knees and raises her head when she feels the press of my sword under her chin, reiki swirling around it dangerously and leaving a small burn where the metal meets her skin.
"I...yield" she spits out at me. I move my sword away from her neck but keep a tight grip on it, reiki still swirling around and look wildly around me.
"Miroku" I get out between my clenched teeth. Instantly, the monk appears at my side, looking down at me worriedly and I grasp his arm tightly. "I can't...I'm losing control of it."
Understanding dawns on his features and he gives a tense nod before turning to look at everyone.
"I need all demons, or those with demon blood" he adds, looking at Inuyasha "to get out of the clearing. Now!" he yells when nobody moves. Katsuo is the first one to leave the gardens, I notice with slight amusement, and behind him is Inuyasha who's carrying a wide-eyed Akira in his arms. The rest follow after until only Sesshomaru remains and he only gazes at me in Miroku's arms with barely concealed fury.
"Sesshomaru" I gasp out "leave!"
"No" he snarls back. Miroku stands between us and before he can block my view of the taiyoukai I see his eyes go red once more and it triggers something in me, halting the feeling of losing myself, if only by a tiny bit. Abruptly I push Miroku out of the way and after giving him a sharp look he reluctantly follows the others and exits the gardens. I take a small, baby step toward Sesshomaru and then suddenly, he's there. Touching my face, my arms, holding my hands in his and gazing down at me with an intense look.
"Sesshomaru I'm trying but if I hurt you..." I trail off, glancing away and trying to pull my hands from his. He only tightens his grip. "You need to go!"
"Dammit Kagome not without you!" he gives me a soft shake, forcing me to look at him. I gasp when I see the wild gleam in his changed eyes and I make one last effort to pull my hands from his. He snarls and pulls me closer, moving our intertwined hands to grasp my face as he forces me to keep looking at him and tears pool in my eyes when I see the despair in them.
"Never leave you" The beast rumbles, dropping one of my hands and stroking my face with his knuckle.
"Sesshomaru" I choke out, my tears escaping from my eyes and running down my face.
"Shh Kagome. Don't cry"
The soft, caring tone only makes me cry harder and he wipes at them with his hands. He grasps my shoulders and I cry out at the sudden pain as he lays his hand on the injury. He stiffens immediately and looks down at me.
"Hurt you?"
"No" I assure him "No it wasn't you."
He turns me around and slides my haori off my shoulder to reveal the claw marks and sweeps my braid over the opposite shoulder. I'm startled when I feel his tongue on it and I squirm to get away. He grasps my arms to still me and pauses what he's doing, whispering against my skin; "My saliva has healing properties" before continuing what he'd been doing. Several minutes pass and he finally pulls back and I shiver as the wind passes over the wet area. The throbbing pain disappears and I turn around, facing him and realize his gaze is still red, his beast still in control.
"Need you" he rumbles out, gazing at me and I almost tear up all over again.
He's about to kiss me but Rin calls his name and his head snaps over to her, standing by the door to the gardens. She says something about someone important at the gates that is requesting to see him and I watch as his eyes slowly clear as he stares at her. He looks back to me and gives me a small nod before turning back to her and walking away.
"Maybe you do...but what about Sesshomaru?" I mumble to myself when he's out of range.
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