"Watch out!"
Ceres dodged, throwing herself in a random direction before she even knew what was happening. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw two women in kimonos, both wearing masks. A shorter, boyish figure stood nearby, brandishing a sai.
"Inuyasha!" Ceres called.
Shippo was already running towards her, hiraikotsu on his back. Ceres, meanwhile, was watching the three figures carefully. One of the women cocked her head, her mask one creepy smile. She brandished two fans, the bladed part of them flashing in the light. Ceres gulped, realizing her hiraikotsu just wouldn't do. Not only that but Shippo was right in harm's way.
"Shippo!" she yelled, running towards him.
He stopped right as the woman lunged.
"Damn it all!" Ceres growled.
She tackled Shippo, the two rolling out of the way in time. Ceres grabbed her hiraikotsu, throwing it blindly. The giant boomerang ripped through the air, spiraling towards the boy. He held up one hand, a shield flickering into place. The hiraikotsu bounced off it, sprawling onto the floor.
"Little bastard!" Ceres exclaimed
The boy said nothing, eyes flashing behind his mask as he bolted towards Shippo and Ceres. Ceres reacted fast, snapping her fingers. Flames of orange and yellow sprang up, spreading into a circle around them.
"Shippo!" Inuyasha yelled.
He was running towards them, Wayne in tow.
"No! Wayne!" Ceres cried. "It's not safe!"
Hearing her words, the other woman took off with amazing speed, brandishing a sword as she sidestepped Inuyasha, appearing right in front of Wayne. He wasted no time back flipping, narrowly dodging her initial attack. Before she could recover, Wayne spun, dealing a strong but somewhat off roundhouse kick. The woman fell back, dropping her sword, which Wayne scooped up.
"Bitch please! I know Judo!" he declared. "I was also considered as an Olympic male gymnast."
One of the women shouted something and the other two bolted, leaping onto the roof in an impressive display of gymnastics.
"Where are they going?" Wayne asked.
"Cowards!" Inuyasha yelled after them.
"It's not over," Ceres declared.
She had spotted the billowing smoke.
"They're going there," she announced.
"Well, what's over there?" Wayne asked.
Ceres threw a grin at Inuyasha.
"Only one way to find out."
Sesshomaru grabbed Eleaya's elbow, tugging her to him as he leapt out of the way of Aya's first attack. The strong wind blew past him, striking Akio instead who allowed himself to be carried along by it. As soon as he was high enough, he lifted his hands, water gathering in them.
"Nice try, Aya, but we've fought a hundred times like this. I know all your tricks."
Before Aya could respond, he threw the huge gush of water at her. She prepared to shield herself but a slab of the ground rose, a perfect shield for her.
"Except that one," Akio said, landing on a street light.
"New tricks needed!" Eleaya yelled.
Sesshomaru released her elbow, pushing her behind a car.
"Do not move," he ordered, eyes fixed on hers.
"Yes sir!" Eleaya replied.
She hid as Sesshomaru returned to the battle, his whip already at his fingertips.
"Don't hurt them, Lord Sesshomaru!" Akio yelled, leaping from his perch. "I doubt they know what they're doing."
Sesshomaru heard but did not acknowledge. As far as he was concerned, these women were a threat. So why had their attacks ceased. Now they eyed him with curiosity. The air seemed thick with an ominous miasma but he did not understand. What was their plan? He did not need to wait long. Someone, he did not know who landed behind him, stirring up dust. He felt cool silver slice into him, the smell of rust filling the air.
"Sesshomaru!" Eleaya cried, rising.
Sesshomaru's eyes shot to her, taking in the appearance of a woman in a crimson kimono, the mask she wore not covering her blonde locks. A sword was clenched in her right hand, held over her head as she readied her strike. He moved, body moving as it pleased, slicing through the woman's shoulder. Her blood stained his claws as he wrapped his arms around Eleaya, the two falling to the ground, Sesshomaru on top of her as her shield.
Himawari stared down at them, watching the demon lord's crisp, white shirt slowly stain with red.
"How was that?" she asked, eyes on her father now.
"Perfect," he replied. "Call them back home. We are done for today."
Himawari backed away a bit, grinning. So, it was true. The untouchable great demon lord Sesshomaru was not so untouchable at all.