Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi-sensei.
Author notes: Sorry if they are OOC. This is my first Inuyasha fic. Sorry if there are any English grammar and spelling mistakes. Gomen ne, minna.
Chapter 20: The Mission
"You seemed different after your walk." Sesshoumaru commented idly, looking at his brother. "Fresh air really works wonder huh?"
Inuyasha glared at his brother. "Shut up. Don't think I don't know what you are trying to do."
Sesshoumaru shrugged. "On second thoughts, perhaps the cold wind had ailed your brain."
Inuyasha chose not to dignify the comment with a response. Instead he went over to the window, looking down at the various inu-youkai practicing their drills.
Just then, the door opened. Kaze and Ame stepped in, followed by Toutousai, Hikari and Yuki.
Inuyasha turned to the newcomers and sat down at one of the chairs. "Sorry Yuki I lost your cloak."
Yuki smiled. "It's alright. Sesshoumaru-sama was the one who gave me that cloak. He said you'll lose it in the end anyway."
Inuyasha glared at Sesshoumaru. "Sneaky, manipulative bastard."
Sesshoumaru simply ignored Inuyasha who was trying to bore holes into his brain by staring at him intently. Truth to be told, he was not sure if his plan would worked. He was actually counting on Inuyasha's predictability.
The rest were all confused at Inuyasha's statement. None knew what transpired, saved Inuyasha and perhaps Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru cleared his throat and started. "I asked you all to gather here because I want to update you all on certain information that I received just this afternoon from Jaken. The Hyounekozoku were spotted heading towards Ryuukotsusei's sealing mountain and are estimated to reach there approximately the day after. Inuyasha, Kaze and Ame will set off tomorrow morning in an attempt to intercept them."
"But they'll never reach in time." Hikari cried. "It's a three day journey from here to that mountain."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "That is true. But there is a way for them to travel faster."
"What is it?" Inuyasha asked.
"If Kaze and Ame travel in their original form, they can cut short the trip to two days. Then they will reach just in time, with the Hyounekozoku."
"But Inuyasha cannot transform." Ame pointed out gently. "How could he travel with us then?"
Inuyasha sighed. No matter how powerful a hanyou is, there's always a certain limitation that they could never cross.
"Inuyasha would have to ride on one of you." Sesshoumaru replied.
"What?" Kaze cried. "No way. We are not horses to be ride on."
Ame sighed. She knew Kaze doesn't really trust Inuyasha yet. So that leaves her. "I'll do it then. I'll let Inuyasha ride on me."
Kaze's face turn red. "No way. You can't let him ride on you."
"Why not?"
Kaze blushed. "Because..you are a girl....and he's a boy. And if he rides on you...it's going to be erm...an intimate position."
Inuyasha blinked. He hadn't thought so far. Looking at Kaze's red face, he was suddenly reminded of how he used to act with Kagome and Kouga. He laughed out, spitting some tea in the process.
Kaze glared at Inuyasha. "What's so funny? I'm right, am I not?"
Ame and the rest were grinning. "There's no other way, Kaze. You won't let him ride on you right?"
Kaze looked at Inuyasha who was staring at him with a smug look on his face. Sighing deeply, he replied. "Okay. He can ride on me."
Inuyasha could not resist it. He smiled sweetly at Kaze. "Are you sure, Kaze? We are going to be in a really intimate position, you know?"
The rest howled in laughter at Inuyasha's words. Even Sesshoumaru's eyes twinkled with amusement as Kaze's face turned ten shades of red. Kaze had the look of a martyr facing a terrible death and swore to kill Inuyasha one day. He settled for glaring at Inuyasha. If looks could kill, Inuyasha would have died ten times over already.
"There's no choice, isn't it?" Kaze answered stiffly.
Inuyasha grinned. "Oh Kaze, I'm so looking forward to, ahem, riding you." The rest started laughing even harder at Inuyasha's words and Ame even fell off her chair, clutching her stomach.
Kaze looked at her mournfully. "Glad to see I can be a source of amusement to you, Ame."
Inuyasha stared at the two dogs in front of him with something akin to awe. "Wow...they are really big. You sure I won't fall off?"
Sesshoumaru looked at his brother, his expression saying 'Are you stupid or what.' "Just hold on to Kaze's fur alright? Nothing would happen. You ride that firecat so many times before right?"
"Ya. But Kirara is not as big as them." Inuyasha continued, stroking the fur of the chocolate brown dog absently. The dog gave him a big lick on his face, which he wiped off promptly.
"Be careful, little brother." Sesshoumaru sighed. "That's Ame you are petting. And Kaze looks really pissed off now."
True enough, the black dog besides the chocolate brown dog growled lowly, baring his fangs at Inuyasha. Inuyasha simply rubbed the black dog's ears and it growl contently instead, staring at Inuyasha with a baleful gaze.
Sesshoumaru stared at Inuyasha. "How did you know he likes that?"
Inuyasha blushed. "Because my ears are like his, okay?" Inuyasha pointed his twitching ears. "I know how it feels like to have your ear rubbed."
Sesshoumaru nodded. He watched as Inuyasha struggled to climb unto Kaze's back. The three of them took off into the air, disappearing.
Turning around, he looked at those present and suddenly asked. "Where's Toutousai?"
Finally, after two days of intense traveling, Kaze, Ame and Inuyasha finally reached the mountain.
"It seems like they are not here yet." Inuyasha sighed in relief, pointing to the undisturbed mountain. Kaze and Ame transformed into their human selves, automatically scanning their surroundings to detect any scent of strangers.
"The seal is still intact." Kaze whispered, pointing to the claw holding the dragon. "It's amazing, isn't it. How a small little thing like that can seal such a powerful dragon."
Inuyasha looked at the claw and then rubbed his chest absently. "Ya. It's amazing how small things can imprison you much more effectively than any other chains."
Ame and Kaze exchanged a look. Inuyasha seemed strange to them at times. Sometimes he acted like a typical, brash, foul-mouthed hanyou. At other times, he would suddenly do or say something that seemed so out of character for his age.
Suddenly, a huge booming sound caught their attention. Before they knew it, nekos began appearing from the top of the mountain. Kaze snarled and immediately leapt upwards, only to be push back by an unknown barrier.
"Interesting, isn't it?" a blue-haired woman appeared from the shadows. "To see these filthy dogs being trapped underneath us like the vermin that they are."
The nekos chorused and shouted wildly, their blood inflamed with the lust to kill. Inuyasha raised his head, only to see a pale blue barrier in the shape of a dome engulfing the three of them.
The blue haired woman smiled. "Let's see what we have caught, boys. Two inu-youkai...and a hanyou?" The last part was said in a puzzled tone. "Why did Sesshoumaru not come himself, but sent these three whelps here instead? Is he afraid of facing his father's killer?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama wouldn't want to dirty his hands fighting you bastards." Ame retorted. "Besides, the three of us is more than sufficient to send you bunch of nekos to hell."
"Big words, little girl." The blue haired woman laughed. "It may be so, but do you think the three of you can defeat Ryuukotsusei, the killer of Inu no Taisho?" The woman looked at her captives and smiled. "It was all a trap actually. I purposely let out news of us allying with ryuu youkai through Ryuukotsusei to lure Sesshoumaru to come here and stop us. Then when Sesshoumaru is not at Saigoku, we will send all our forces to attack. Do you really think we will ally ourselves with those stupid dragons?"
Ame's eyes widened. "You purposely let out news to trap us here?"
The blue-haired woman continued. "Our aim is actually Sesshoumaru. I know that you all would not expect us to attack so early. Hence just now I've already sent a signal for the troops to advance towards Saigoku."
Inuyasha's heart froze. "What? You mean it's my fault that we fell into this trap?"
The blue-haired woman grinned. "You were just a pawn, little puppy. But thanks for bringing them here all the same. We might not have Sesshoumaru here, but at least we increase our chances of success."
Kaze sighed. "Damn. You won't win so easily. Sesshoumaru-sama is still in Saigoku, he'll beat your sorry asses back to those mountains."
The blue-haired woman laughed. "Provided he knew when we are attacking, puppies. If we attack suddenly just like that, I'm sure even Sesshoumaru would be hard pressed to fight against so many of us.
Ame looked up angrily. "You tricked us."
The blue-haired woman signaled towards the neko. "Let's go boys. We still need to rush to meet Oyakata-sama at Saigoku. Wouldn't want to be left behind like some people here, ne?" As the nekos chorused and prepare to leave, Karan turned towards the three in the barrier.
"By the way, I placed a small bomb near the claw. So if you three don't get out of this place quickly, I don't know what Ryuukotsusei's going to do when he sees you after the seal broke. Take care, puppies."
As the three watched the neko left, Kaze kicked the ground. "Damn, we fell into their stupid plan."
"It's all my fault." Inuyasha sighed, "I was too foolish."
"Don't be silly." Ame replied. "Didn't you hear what she said? Someone would have told Sesshoumaru anyway. But we were lucky. If you weren't there, Sesshoumaru would have come instead, and nobody would be left to defend Saigoku."
Kaze looked mournfully at the blue barrier. "I hate to say this, but Ame's right. This is actually a common tactic in military; to sound east and strike west. I just wished we could quickly get out of this barrier and return to Saigoku to warn them."
"Yeah. Our original plan was for us to thwart their plan of awakening Ryuukotsusei and then return to Saigoku to assume our duties of leading our respective armies. If we are trapped here, Saigoku's military forces would be halved since we are not there to lead the armies." Ame added.
"We won't be trapped here." Inuyasha whispered, unsheathing Tessaiga. The two stared in surprise as the huge fang turned red in front of their eyes.
"Kaze no Kizu." Inuyasha screamed, even as he sliced the barrier open in front of their very eyes.
"Sugoi." Ame and Kaze whispered, as the barrier melt away like butter.
Unknown to them, Toutousai had been following them secretly, masking his scent with a special powder. He rode on his cow, staring at the Tessaiga in surprise. Myouga was with him and both of them were awed.
"Hey, Toutousai, I didn't know Tessaiga can break barriers." Myouga squeaked.
"Neither did I." Toutousai replied.
Unfortunately, Inuyasha was a second too late. A second bombing sound could be heard at the same time Kaze no Kizu broke the barrier. The three watched in horror as the claw melted away and the dragon's eyes opened.
The dragon's eyes landed upon the three, or more specifically, on Inuyasha. "Hehehe....look what we have here. Two little inu-youkai and one inu-hanyou." The dragon licked his lips. "You smelt like the one who sealed me, the one they called InuTaisho."
Inuyasha sighed inwardly. "So what? I am his son."
"Orh? Are you here to take revenge for your father then? I welcome a fight. Afterall, I need to stretch my bones after such a long nap."
Ame and Kaze exchanged a look. Then before Inuyasha could stop them, the two simultaneously leapt towards Ryuukotsusei, flexing their claws. Ryuukotsusei simply smiled and allow the two to attack. But their claws did not even leave a graze behind.
Ame and Kaze landed beside Inuyasha. "It's useless." Ryuukotsusei grinned. "Your pathetic claws can never hope to even scratch open my body of steel."
"We have to end the fight quickly." Ame cried. "Every second here is a second waste."
Inuyasha nodded. I need to perform Bakuryuuha again. Inuyasha thought grimly to himself. But now is not the time yet. I need to wait till the moment where Ryuukotsusei attack and overwhelm his youki with my own.
Kaze looked at the dragon that was approaching them slowly. Then he looked at Ame. "Ame, maybe we should attack together?"
Ame nodded. Both of them formed balls of energies with their youki and threw them towards Ryuukotsusei. Ryuukotsusei just simple stood there, taking all the blows calmly. Kaze stomped in fustration and gestured to Ame. Ame immediately understood his meaning and created thin column of youki, converting them into water. Kaze simultaneously used his youki to changed the air current around them to create strong winds. The two then combined their attacks to form chains of tornadoes which raced towards Ryuukotsusei. Ryuukotsusei, on the other hand, raised his hand and broke their attack easily.
"Inuyasha, don't just stand there. What are you doing?" Ame cried.
"I'm waiting." Inuyasha replied.
"For what?" Kaze shouted, throwing more attacks towards the dragon. The dragon just laughed and continue to advance.
"For the right moment." Inuyasha replied. Ryuukotsusei choose the moment to fire a blue ball of flame towards the three. Inuyasha immediately pushed the two behind and countered the attacked. "Kaze no kizu." Kaze no Kizu pushed the flame ball away and the two attacks landed onto a nearby wall of stone, causing little pebbles to fly downwards in a torrent towards them.
"Oh?" Ryuukotsusei looked amused. "So it seems like you have some tricks up your sleeve."
Inuyasha grinned but said nothing. Ryuukotsusei, enraged, rushed towards Inuyasha, moving swiftly despite his size. Inuyasha deftly avoided all his attacks, parrying them away with Tessaiga. Unknown to Ame and Kaze, Inuyasha was actually trying to lead the dragon away from them by occupying his attention.
Ryuukotsusei was frustrated. He cannot believe that he can't even defeat a mere hanyou. His face was twisted in anger as the strength of his attack increase gradually.
Just a little more. Inuyasha thought to himself. At this rate, Ryuukotsusei would soon attack me with his ultimate level of youki. That's the time to attack.
Unfortunately, Ame and Kaze don't know about Inuyasha's plans. All they see is Inuyasha being pushed backward, able to defend himself but unable to attack. They thought Inuyasha was on the losing end.
"We need to do something." Kaze decided. No matter who Inuyasha is, he was still their clansman and he refused to sit there and watch Inuyasha be killed.
Ame nodded. "What can we do?"
Kaze looked at Ryuukotsusei, who seem to be focusing entirely on Inuyasha. "We transform and attacked his back."
Ame nodded and the two of them pounced simultaneously onto Ryuukotsusei. Kaze bit hard into Ryuukotsusei but Ame clung onto his chest, sinking her claws into his heart. Blood gushed out. Ame held on tightly, hoping to cause as much damage as possible. Unfortunately, Ryuukotsusei had other ideas and raise his claws, prepared to flick Ame off.
Inuyasha's eyes widen in horror as he realize the two were in grave danger. He could see that Ame was going to be torn apart but he was too far to do anything. "Ame!" He shouted instinctively.
Kaze heard Inuyasha's cries and saw the claw rushing towards Ame, who refused to let go. With horror, he realized Ame was going to sacrifice herself. He leaped towards Ame, knocking her down. Unfortunately, Ryuukotsusei's claw hit him in the process. The two dogs landed in a heap onto the ground, transforming back to their humanoid form.
Toutousai could stand to watch no longer, and rushed down to protect the two inu-youkai. Ame cradled Kaze's bloody form in her arms, trying to assess the damage. Ryuukotsusei slide towards them, intent on finishing them off.
"Ryuukotsusei, your opponent is me!" Inuyasha screamed, a familiar pain flooding his heart at the sight of his fallen companions. For an instant, the scene reminded him so much of when they fought against Naraku that he had to blink away tears.
"Sango!" Miroku cried, watching in horror as the Taijiya's body was pierced through by the poisonous tentacles. "Why did you do this? Why did you shield me using your own body?"
Sango coughed wetly, blood dribbling down her chin. "I...I can't let you die."
"Don't leave me." Miroku plead. Inuyasha watched his two friends struggled helplessly, glaring at Naraku who was standing there smirking.
"I'm so sorry....Houshi-sama." Sango whispered, her voice dropping lower. "I just wish....I can be your wife...and be the one...to bear your children." With that, her eyes closed, never to open again.
"Sango!!!" Miroku's anguish cries echoed through the plains. Inuyasha watched as Miroku's eyes deaden and knew that his friend would never be the same again.
"How is he?" Toutousai asked, looking at Kaze.
"I'm..fine...We need to keep fighting." Kaze whispered, struggling to get up.
"Don't. Why are you so foolish? I was prepared to sacrifice myself already." Ame cried. "Why did you take that blow for me?"
Kaze smiled, blood flecking his lips. "I can't let you die, Ame.....Don't you understand? I'm prepared to die too."
Ame looked at him. "I...."
Toutousai stared at the two. "Gee, you youngsters nowadays. How could you still find time to romance when there's a big battle before you."
Ame and Kaze turned to look at Inuyasha. Inuyasha was sweating and panting from exertion, his body showing signs of fatigue from dodging Ryuukotsusei's blows.
"We need to help him." Ame cried.
"No one can help him now." Toutousai whispered. "Only he can save himself."
"How?" Myouga asked, landing on Ame's shoulder.
"Only by performing Tessaiga's ultimate attack, Bakuryuuha, then would he be able to cut Ryuukotsusei's body of steel into pieces. Otherwise, just by attacking his heart is useless. He would not die unless his body lies in parts."
Ame stared at Inuyasha's form. "What? How do you perform Bakuryuuha?"
Toutousai looked sheepish. "Well theoretically speaking, you have to collide your opponent's youki with your own and send the ball of youki back to your opponent, hitting them with their own power plus yours. However, you need know which spot of youki to aim and your own youki must overwhelm your opponents."
"Theoretically speaking?"
Toutousai continued. "Well, no one has ever performed it I think."
Ame screeched. "What? Not even InuTaisho has done it before? Oh no....."
Kaze coughed laboriously and chuckled. "Seems like our lives are all depending on that hanyou now."
Meanwhile, Inuyasha was exhausted. The last attack, and it will end here. Damn, why is this harder than the previous time?
As the big blue ball of flame rushed towards him, Inuyasha could feel his youki surging. Please, a little more. I need to raise my youki to overwhelm his.
For a moment, Inuyasha thought he could not make it. His strength was giving way and his hands were slippery with sweat. But one look at Ame and Kaze, as well as Toutousai, gave him new determination and he grunted, pushing himself harder than before.
I see it now, that spot of whirling youki. That's the place to hit.
Inuyasha smiled. Swinging his katana, he cried. "Bakuryuuha!!!" The rest watched in awe as the big ball of swirling youki raced towards Ryuukotsusei, destroying him completely.
Inuyasha sheath his katana and quickly ran towards Ame and Kaze. "How is he?"
Ame looked at him, tears in her eyes. "Not good. He's losing too much blood now. We need to get him medical attention now."
Inuyasha sighed. "Make a tourniquet to stop the bleeding first. We have to rush back to Sesshoumaru. As long as we reach Sesshoumaru, Kaze will be okay."
As long as we reach Sesshoumaru, Tenseiga will be able to revive him. Don't worry, Kaze, I won't let you die.
Author notes: Okay...why is it that Inuyasha take so long to perform Bakuryuuha. Let me explain my intepretation of this technique. The reason why Bakuryuuha is so powerful is because you add your own power on top of your enemy's power and sent it back, hence no matter how powerful your enemy so, as long as your youki rise above your opponent and you managed to send back the youki, you'll win. Let me give my own explanation in terms of algebra.......
Okay, now let's assume Ryuukotsusei's youki is X, Inuyasha's is Y and Ryuukotsusei's defense armor value is Z.
Now, if Inuyasha perform the technique when Ryuukotsusei's attack is too weak, X plus Y will be less than Z. Then the attack would have failed to cut him into pieces. Inuyasha is waiting for Ryuukotsusei to release his highest level of youki, i.e max (X) and then add Y to X. At the highest level, XY > Z and Ryuukotsusei will be defeated.
Okay, you can choose not to accept this........it's just my own intepretation anyway.
Reviewers Responses:
Haha....sorry for the slower updates this time and maybe for the next few times. Its because I got something call exams coming up.......heheheh.
To: TaintedInuShemeeko: I read one, and I actually wanted to read more but it's exam period now so I'm cutting my online time.
To: Jalison: I'll keep on writing....and I think I know the answer to your question but I cannot tell you now.....
To: DarklessVasion: Actually I'm fond of manipulation myself so...... Anyway let's hope Inu and Sess would still get along by the end of the fic.
To: Kayzer: Thanks. I really appreciate you taking time to review.
To: humble-bumble: about the romance part......well does one-sided romance count? Hehe.
To: VietGal: I think Inu Taisho is the best!! He has Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's good points rolled into one. But Inuyasha does bear some resemblance to his father.
To: Elconquisador: They set out already...Though journey is short......hehehe
To: AnimeGirl622: Thanks for not minding Kikyou. I kinda think she's actually quite a poor thing sometimes
To: Kayhera: Welcome new reader!! I read a lot of LOTR too though I seldom read HP fics.
To: dude: No problem.
To: NefCanuck: Sesshoumaru does seemed to mellow somewhat ne.....
To: kagomehigurashi12: Here's more........