AN: Here's another chappie! Hope you like this one, and hope I get more reviews on this! (please, please, pretty please?)
Battle of Sacrifice
She was feeling sick.
Whatever Sounga was doing to her, Tenseiga wasn't able to stop it completely. She had the distinct impression that the evil blade was trying to drain her powers, but the protection sword wouldn't let it. It was a battle over her soul, and it was tearing her to pieces.
Please, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru. Please, hurry!
Around her, she could faintly hear voices, some she recognized as Naraku and Kouga, and some she didn't. The four demons watched with intent as she drifted in and out of consciousness, barely holding on. Hakudoshi snorted in contempt.
"She can't protect herself forever." he muttered under his breath. "Sooner or later, that shield of hers will shatter, and we will have her powers."
Kanna simply laughed blandly at him. "She's not trying to hold out forever, Hakudoshi." she said simply. "She's trying to hold on until the Takahashi brothers arrive."
Kouga glared at the miko with contempt. "I want her, Naraku." he seethed. "I want ot teach her a lesson for messing with me." Naraku gave him a venomous look, and the wolf youkai quieted for a moment.
"I will let you have her when the ceremony is completed; that was our deal." the lead youkai said quietly. "In the meantime, curb your anger. It will only make it harder for you to deal with the brothers later."
"You really think they'll show up?" Hakudoshi sneered.
Naraku smiled coldly. "Oh, I know they'll show up. She's part of their little gang now, and a part of the Takahashi family. They won't let her die – not alone, at any rate."
/----/
Taisho and Izayoi glared daggers at the two humans standing before them. Beside them, Totosai merely grimaced. He knew Naraku would pull something like this. After all, his ancestor, Ryukotsei, was just as cunning as he was.
"Taisho," Izayoi said softly, "you and Totosai can take care of Souta."
Her mate shot her a surprised look. "You want to join in on this?" he murmured.
She nodded viciously. "No mother has a right to treat her daughter the way that woman treated Kagome. I want to make sure she knows that before she leaves here." Taisho chuckled quietly at the unspoken words: If she leaves here.
"You heard her, Totosai." he said loftily. "Mrs. Higurashi is hers. We get Souta."
Totosai grinned and swung his cane in front of him. "Shall we get to it, then?"
"Of course."
In a flash Taisho was upon Souta, driving the man back and into the wall. Totosai was by his side an instant later, slamming his cane into the wall beside Souta's head. "That miss was deliberate." the old swordsmith said blandly. "Do you want to let us out now?"
Souta snarled at him and drew a sword, slashing across Taisho's chest. Surprised, the youkai was forced to jump back. Totosai instantly moved to hit the human in the head, but he used the sword to block the cane. Totosai cursed.
"Taisho! He's prepared for this!" he called out.
"Just means it will take a little longer, that's all." Taisho called back gamely.
On the other side of the living room, Izayoi and Mrs. Higurashi faced off. Kagome's mother quickly moved forward, aiming a sharp upper-cut to Izayoi's chin. However, Izayoi wasn't a youkai's mate for nothing. She side-stepped the blow and latched on to Higurashi's shoulders, wrestling the young woman to the ground. Higurashi snarled, and the wrestling match quickly degenerated into a catfight. Both women began clawing and biting, trying to find some advantage over the other.
Souta was just as stubborn as Higurashi, and was easily side-stepping Taisho's blows, even if he was tiring quicker than the youkai was.
It didn't really matter to Taisho. Either way, the man was backing up, right into the corner where Totosai was waiting.
/----/
"Sesshoumaru, look!"
Down below, surrounding the small shed in the back of Shikon High School, were Sango with her Hiraikotsu and katana; Miroku with his staff and armed with at least a hundred sutras; Shippo with his fox-fire; and Rin with her bow and quiver. Sesshoumaru silently nodded approval at his girlfriend. It wasn't much, but they would have to –
"Look, dang it!" Inuyasha snapped. "Can you see?"
Sesshoumaru looked towards the door of the shed, and grimaced. Kanna stood blocking the doorway, a mirror in her hands. He didn't have to ask what the mirror was supposed to do; whatever it would be, it wouldn't be beneficial to them.
"Rin! Take out the mirror!"
In a flash Rin had fired her weapon, but the arrow was merely absorbed. Kanna smirked.
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru exchanged worried glances. This would not be easy.
/----/
AN: Yeah, I know, a crappy chapter, but bear with me. I really haven't done much in the way of extended battle scenes, and you all know how well I do normal ones. So anyways, review please, and tell me what you think so far. Let me know how I can improve, and please give me more than just better detail!