Here's the next chapter, it came sooner than expected thanks to this frigid weather. Thank you Mother Nature! It gets a bit bloody and gory here, just warning you. Thank you to all those who have reviewed and followed/favorite this story and special thanks to SoniaKawai, RedWyrmLord and xoxoSoCal619Sweetheartxoxo for writing the most reviews.
The group locked inside the barrier watched in horror as the hunters were massacred one by one. Yet there was something chillingly beautiful in the way the blood sprayed into the air and soaked the grass. Or perhaps it was the graceful way each creature was brutally executed by razor sharp claws and deadly fangs.
The two raging taiyokai's were a blur of flowing silk and fur, they moved too fast for human eyes, the only way to track their movements was through the trail of carnage they left behind consisting of severed limbs, viscera, and cries of agony.
"What's wrong with them, why are they doing this?" Inuyasha screamed
"I think I can help with that question" a tentative voice spoke
Inuyasha looked down at his shoulder incredulously
"Myoga, what the hell? When did you get here?"
The little flea shuffled around nervously "That's not important, what's important are Lady Amaya and Lord Sesshomaru."
Said demons were currently battling against some of the remaining hunters who would not die without a fight. The battle all snarls with lashing claws and snapping jaws.
"Please Myoga, tell us what's going on." Kagome gently pleaded, casting a glare at Inuyasha to remain silent.
The group gathered around Myoga who now perched on Kagome's shoulder with a grim expression.
"As you all know, Inuyasha, when in life threatening danger and without Tessaiga becomes overwhelmed by his demonic blood."
Everyone nodded their heads, recalling Inuyasha's raging bloodlust when in his demon form.
"This is very similar, but there are differences. Amaya and Sesshomaru are demons, very powerful demons. Therefore their demon blood is always awake, it's part of them much more so than Inuyasha's. Because of this they can willingly enter this demonic form and control it, but it unleashes the dark part of their nature that always lurks just under the surface. The creatures out there are still very much Sesshomaru and Amaya, but now they are unbound, free to act upon their own cruel desires. They can still think, they know and revel in this bloodshed and will only stop when they wish it. "
The group took a moment to digest Myoga's words, all the violent and bloody acts being performed just outside the barrier were done freely and knowingly, it sent shivers down their spines.
"So we just have to wait until they feel like stopping?" Sango questioned angrily.
"Unless you can break this barrier, then yes." Was Myoga's grave response.
"How the hell are we supposed to do that, my Tessaiga can't break through!"
The group shuffled anxiously, the sound of death fading as the hunters continued to fall. Suddenly, an unexpected voice spoke.
"There is a way."
Everyone turned to look at Matsu, who spoke timidly, wringing his hands together.
"On my travels with Lady Amaya, I have learned many things, she has taught me many things."
The black haired boy gently touched the barrier, running his hand down it with closed eyes.
"This barrier was formed from her youki, to render it unbreakable all she had to do was to create a barrier with more youki than Inuyasha and Tessaiga, which is why it cannot be broken by him. But, since it is made out of youki, it can be purified, if Kagome and Miroku work together, it is possible they can purify it."
Everyone was silent, eyes turning to look at Miroku and Kagome. The two spiritual humans also looked at each other, wondering if they could actually do it. Kagome nodded her head slightly, Miroku smiled and yelled
"Let's do it!"
Just like Amaya had taught them, Kagome and Miroku formed a ball of spiritual energy in between their hands, they focused hard until the sphere was the size of a small soccer ball.
"Are you ready?" Kagome whispered, a bead of sweat running down her forehead. Miroku, eyes squinted, mumbled a quiet "yes".
Taking a deep breath Miroku threw his ball as hard as he could at the barrier, Kagome following a second after.
Red. It was all around them. Everything was pretty, pretty red. The faces of the dead, their sinister claws, their enraged eyes, everything soaked in crimson. The two taiyokai panted, clothing torn, armor lost in the sea of bodies. Their blood sang within them, rejoicing in the lovely bloodshed.
The forest was finally silent, only the steady dripping of blood and ragged, dying breaths could be heard.
Amaya's eyes wandered about the forest, taking in the scent of blood, fear and death. Sesshomaru was savagely beating what appeared to be a spider demon, she watched as his claws sank deep into already mangled flesh. She licked her lips as she watched the blood gush onto the forest floor, every slice Sesshomaru made was sleek and smooth, absolutely captivating. Her ear suddenly twitched and Amaya's head turned sharply as she saw movement in her periphery, a rabbit youkai hobbling away into the forest. She leaped towards him and grabbed him by his long ears, and yanking his head to face her.
"Well, well, well...what do we have here, a little rabbit strayed too far from his burrow."
The rabbit trembled with fear as he heard the bloodied demoness laugh cruelly, fangs flashing.
"Tell me little bunny, what have your keen ears heard. Who sent you to kill me?"
Amaya's voice was not the smooth, low tone everyone was used to, rather it was a rumbling growl that terrified the rabbit in her grasp, rendering him unable to speak.
"Ooooo, is this form too frightening for my little friend. Here, maybe this will help."
Red eyes faded to vibrant violet, fangs shortened and her face melted into a mask of serene calm. Amaya spoke once again, in her soothing voice, dripping with false warmth.
"Now, look at me little bunny."
The terrified rabbit lifted his brown eyes to her purple ones, becoming trapped in Amaya's gaze. Her youki swirled around him, calming him and lulling him a trance. She released his ears and and he sagged to the floor, still paralyzed by those enchanting violet orbs and her heavy youki.
"Tell me, who sent you to kill me, what have your lovely little ears heard?"
The rabbit youkai felt compelled to speak, he couldn't resist.
"A very strong demon, a western inuyoukai. He wore a blue cloak, I only saw him once."
Amaya traced a crimson claw down his cheek, drawing blood.
"Thank you, little rabbit."
She raised her arm, claws extended, eyes once again a burning red.
"STOP!"
Amaya dropped the dazed demon, crimson eyes narrowed at the now freed group running towards her. She growled in annoyance, snarling at the humans.
"Amaya, this isn't you. Let the demon go."
Amaya glared at the monk who had spoken, and took a sinister step forward.
"You dare tell me what to do. This filth attempted to kill us, on orders from the same youkai who plans to attack my people! They deserve to die, if we hadn't killed them, they would kill us."
Her voice was a snarl, her face twisted in a sneer. The blood that covered her body only highlighting her inhumanness. She felt Sesshomaru come up next to her, also glaring at the group of humans.
Sesshomaru lifted the terrified rabbit demon by the neck while addressing the humans.
"You do not understand the ways of demons, these creatures knew that if they did not succeed, they would die. Letting a single one of these pathetic demons live would be seen as weak. As rulers of demons, we cannot let that happen."
As he spoke, his hand tightened, causing the demon is his grasp to squirm and gasp for air. Just as he was about to finish the job, a small voice tearily spoke.
"Lord Sesshomaru, please stop. Please stop fighting."
Sesshomaru's hand loosened as he looked at his little ward, gazing sadly at him with a tear stained face. Matsu came up behind her, grabbing Rin's hand and turning solemn brown eyes in Amaya's direction.
"Lady Amaya, it's over. Please come back to us."
Silence reigned as the taiyokai's gazed intensely at their wards, a moment later Sesshomaru dropped the demon, who fell to the ground unconscious and Amaya took a shaky step forward, eyes fading back to purple. Turning to look at her companion, she locked eyes with Sesshomaru's now golden ones, pain and fatigue written in their cold depths.
Everyone gazed at the bloodied demons, for the first time scrutinizing their appearance. The two taiyokai were covered in dark blood, most already dried and sticking to their skin. Red drops dripped from the ends of the hair, most notably on Sesshomaru, whose dazzling locks were streaked with the dark liquid. Their clothing was tattered, claw marks had shredded the once beautiful silk, their armor was gone, most likely torn off in the heat of battle. A few arrows that still protruded from the two demons, it seemed they were unable to pull them out, they gushed a steady stream of blood that flowed down their backs. The area around the wounds was cracked and black, purification arrows. But their most disturbing feature was their eyes, they were blank. No remorse or sorrow could be seen, it was as if nothing had happened. As if they had not slaughtered twenty-nine creatures in less than an hour, and had not almost perished at the hands of the skilled hunters.
They began to slowly walk forward, the ground making squishing noises as they treaded across it. Two little blurs darted forward, sprinting over the bloodied ground and slamming into the two demons. Rin and Matsu sobbed into their guardian's legs, not caring that blood soon smeared on their faces and clothes.
"I-I thought you were going to die!" Rin cried, clutching Sesshomaru's leg.
"You said you wouldn't leave me, but you were, you were going to leave me!"
The group watched as Sesshomaru showed a different side of him, one that only few had ever seen. He bent down to Rin's height and gently wiped the tears from her eyes. Looking deeply into Rin's brown gaze he spoke softly
"Rin, I will not leave you, you have nothing to fear, for such weak demons could never defeat me. I told you, you could remain by my side as long as you wished, therefore only your decision will separate us."
The human child threw her arms around Sesshomaru's neck and he carefully lifted her into his arms, carrying the distressed child towards the rest of the group. Amaya, with a noticeable limp, held Matsu's hand as they too walked towards the humans, who were shocked into silence at the tender gestures after such a savage display. Those hands that had torn demons and humans limb from limb now comforted the once frantic children with gentle pats.
"Grab your belongings, we are moving to another location."
No one argued with the demon lord, everyone collecting their bags and cleaning up the remainder of their interrupted lunch quickly and quietly. Unbeknownst to the humans, the taiyokai were facing a dilemma.
'My body cannot last for much longer, I will soon fall into the healing sleep. I must remove the remaining arrows from my back.'
She cast a look at Sesshomaru, her bloodstained mokomoko gently nudging his. He stared at her from over Rin's head, which rested comfortably on his shoulder. His gaze seemed to stare at the air around her rather than herself, he was watching her fluctuating youki. Sesshomaru's own white aura flickered as well, their bodies natural healing stunted by the spiritual energy flowing through their veins. Shortly after this, the process began.
Amaya stumbled slightly, Matsu casting a worried look at his guardian, glancing at the arrows that still protruded from her.
"Lady Amaya, are you alright?"
"Yes Matsu, I'm just fi-."
She did not finish her sentence for Amaya was kneeling on the ground, vomiting thick, dark blood. She heaved painfully as more of the liquid spilled onto the ground. Everyone ran to gather around the demoness. She growled something out, but no one could understand.
"Amaya, we can't understand you!"
Once again, she snarled something at the group, they stared in confusion at her until Sesshomaru pushed through the group. He bent down and in quick movements he yanked the arrows from her back, she growled again and Sesshomaru looked at her leg, finding the shaft of an arrow protruding out an inch, the head buried deep in the muscle. With practiced ease he removed it carefully and tossed it to the ground.
The vomiting had stopped, but now Amaya shivered violently, she clawed at her ruined clothes, tearing off her kimono and her under clothes. The group turned red, thinking she was going to go all the way but thankfully, she seemed to have some sort of leather band, Kagome thought it looked rather like a sports bra, covering her ample cleavage.
Now that the clothing was gone, everyone could see the extent of the damage, deep lacerations covered her torso, skin and muscle hung limply around the wounds. The damage the arrows wrought seemed to be spreading, spidery black tendrils flared out from where the purification arrows had once been.
Amaya panted heavily, still kneeling with her hands on the ground. Suddenly, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed on the forest floor, her mokomoko acting like a cushion. Matsu, who had been grabbed by Sango, attempted to run forward but a sharp command froze him.
"Do not touch her."
All eyes turned to look at Sesshomaru, who glared coldly back.
"She has entered a healing sleep, if you walk to close her youki will attack you."
They all took a step back from the slumbering demoness, instead carefully watching Sesshomaru.
"I will soon enter a meditative state to heal myself, do not disturb me. I will still be aware of my surroundings, but I need these arrows removed first."
The humans in the group were once again speechless, a lot had happened in the past two days. An attack on them by the taiyokai's, the beginnings of intense training, an attack on the taiyokai's and now they are falling asleep!
Cold golden eyes watched the group expectantly, landing on a pair of equally colored mischevious eyes. Inuyasha stepped forward, a grin on his face.
"I'll yank those arrows out for you!"
Sesshomaru huffed quietly but otherwise remained silent, turning his back towards his younger brother.
Inuyasha slowly pulled the three arrows lodged in the center of Sesshomaru's back. He took his time, making the process as painful as he could for his brother. But Sesshomaru did not utter a sound, only the tensing of his muscles revealed his pain.
What Sesshomaru did next would remain engraved in Sango and Kagome's minds forever. He gracefully stretched and began casually undressing, removing his tattered clothing and revealing a strong and lean figure. The streaks of blood that still coated his body only enhanced his otherworldly beauty, like the magenta stripes that were now visible on his wrists and hips. He did not take his pants off, much to the females' dismay. He casually strolled to a nearby tree and gingerly leaned against it, his mokomoko pillowing his wounded back.
"Sesshomaru, what the hell? Put your clothes back on!"
Sesshomaru cast the red Inuyasha an irritated look, then closed his eyes and with a small smirk and all the haughtiness of a noble muttered.
"Jealousy does not suit you, Inuyasha."
All right, not ending on a cliffy or anything today. You'll get plenty of Amaya and Sesshomaru lovin' next chapter. Not sure when the next update will come...but you wont have to wait terribly long. Please review, especially those of you who favorite or follow this but don't review...you know who you are!