Scroll 27

Sesshomaru knew very well about the barrier that surrounded the fang, but he was determined to obtain the wondrous sword that could kill 100 demons with a single swing.

He placed a hand on Tetsusiaga, and little spark-like things immediately began to jump about. He fought the force of the barrier that was trying to push him away. Despite the fact that his hand was starting to burn slightly, he pushed harder against the fang's force.

If breaking that barrier was the only way to obtain Tetsusiaga, that's what he would do. He was willing to do almost anything to get his hands on that sword.

But the barrier was too strong even for Sesshomaru to break successfully. In the end not only did he not get the sword, but also his efforts caused something that was potentially very deadly.

While Sesshomaru was trying to break through the barrier that resisted him so, the sword lost most of its strength. The strain that he was putting on the barrier was being transferred directly into the item of his interest, which couldn't be good in the least.

And since Kagura had weakened the sword prior to Sesshomaru arriving, it just couldn't take the stress. The sword creaked and started to shake in its spot in the ground, and the shaking soon became very violent and wild. Then cracks gradually began to cover its surface, each one deeper than the last.

After not too long of the attempted barrier breaking, Sesshomaru withdrew his hand. But that didn't mean that he was done yet; he was far from. Waving his hand in the air slightly, he let his hand cool down a bit, and then forced it back into the barrier. This time he put more force into it, and it showed.

It was the last straw for the demon sword that he was slowly demolishing, for it was at its breaking point.

The fang couldn't withhold Sesshomaru's constant attempts at breaking the barrier and before long the pressure just became too much for it. It shattered. Literally, it shattered into a million pieces. Like before, the exact same thing happened to the copy Inuyasha was holding, sending thousands of razor sharp shards of metal plunging deep into his body.

"Nyarrr…damn it all to hell…" Inuyasha growled. He knew the dangers of not having his Tetsusiaga around to suppress his powerful demon blood. And the result was never good.

"Well…I suppose I'll have to kill you now, pitiful half breed. Your life has no meaning or purpose now that you can't protect it from me. There's really no reason for you to live," Sesshomaru said in an overly calm type of voice, as he advanced on Inuyasha.

Inuyasha had collapsed when the demonic sword had been destroyed; he'd been using it as a kind of crutch to get a good view of what was going on and out of exhaustion, and when it had shattered, he'd fallen forward onto his knees.

"Nraaaggggg…" a growl escaped from deep within Inuyasha's throat as his half-brother came closer. This growl was different from his other growls; it was more intense and aggressive, like he'd been possessed or something.

But no mere growl was going to stop Sesshomaru. Tetsusiaga was no unusable and useless, and that made him really mad; possibly madder than he'd ever been before. He didn't openly show it, but he had wanted that sword more than anything. With that sword he could have enhanced his already enormous stores of power and strength.

He continued to approach Inuyasha, and was soon close enough to kill the pitiful creature crouched before him.

Inuyasha's head remained bowed as Sesshomaru casually strode toward him and drew Tokijin, casting deep shadows over most of his face. It was then that the demon noticed that something about his half-brother was different. Inuyasha's aura seemed to have become darker and more powerful, and his blood smelled like that of a demon.

"Heh. You act so tough, but you are unable to control yourself without father's help. You really are worthless, and put our father to shame," he said loathfully, as he thrust Tokijin at his half brother.

Ordinarily Inuyasha or any other creature would be torn to shreds on contact with the evil sword, but miraculously he wasn't. It gave him a flesh wound swiftly, but that barely bothered him.

Not happy with Sesshomaru's attempt at ridding the world of his presence, he launched a counterattack.

Inuyasha grabbed hold of Sesshomaru's arm while Tokijin was still lodged in his skin. The poison that emanated from Sesshomaru's claws crept across Inuyasha's skin, singing it. But he didn't care; he was in a state of mind where he only thought and cared about killing.

"RHAAA!!" Inuyasha roared at the top of his lungs, as he pulled his half brother closer and dove his hand into the centre of the dog demon's chest.

((Change in focus))

"Man, I wish Koga would quit leaving us behind like this," Hakkaku complained, as he continued to sprint in the direction the Wolf Clan's leader had sped off in.

"Yeah…it's like he doesn't realize we don't have jewel shards to make us super fast or something like him…either that, or he just doesn't care about us," Ginta agreed, as he too dashed after his leader.

A small opening in the tree line became visible as they got closer to the clearing, and they could see Koga on the other side. As they got closer still to the peephole, more of the scene on the other side unfolded before their eyes.

"Man…" Ginta whispered, marvelling at the evidence of the small war that had taken place.

"Oh man…" Hakkaku muttered, as he too gaped at the disturbing scene.

((Change of focus))

Inuyasha dug deeper and deeper into Sesshomaru's insides, searching for his heart. As he was finding one of the few things that would end the demon's life his head was swinging to and fro, and he was growling uncontrollably. He was suppressing his demon blood and returning to normal. Or attempting to, at least.

His eyes flickered between half-demon and full demon, and over the minutes the markings on his face would dull, only to become vivid again seconds later. He really was fighting for all he was worth to stay a half-demon and not go on a killing spree.

Kagome saw how distraught Inuyasha was in and the pain he was suffering from and knew that she had to do something, anything, to help her friend from the Feudal Era.

Tears welled in the corners of the girl's eyes, and she decided to put her life on the line once more for the greater good. "Inuyasha!" she cried, as she jumped from her safe place in Koga's arms. He didn't restrict her, and knew that she had to do this.

She sprinted to the transformed half-demon, tears openly flowing from her eyes as she did. She reached the two demons locked in combat, and did the only thing she knew of that had any chance at all of returning her friend to normal.

"Inuyasha…please. You don't want to do this," she whispered softly, as she walked up to his back and embraced the one she secretly loved in a very tight cuddle.

The confused creature in Kagome's embrace didn't cease his thrashing, and only flailed around harder and more violently. He truly wanted to return to normal, though he just wasn't able to.

Seeing that her efforts weren't working the way she was hoping, she tried a more dangerous approach. But she was ready and willing to risk her life in order to save Inuyasha's, and knew that she had to.

Kagome circled around Inuyasha's front, and looked deep into his amber eyes with her own desperate ones. She could see the anguish he was feeling toward what he'd become, and knew what she had to do. She had to help him return to normal, no matter the cost.

"Inuyasha, please come back," she whispered emotionally, as she clenched his bloodied robe in her fists, "PLEASE!" By that time, tears were flowing steadily down her face and pooling at her chin to drip to the ground and form a small puddle at her feet.

She hugged him harder this time, but still it had little to no effect.

Still her attempts didn't work, and this saddened her even more. She wanted Inuyasha, not this unsustainable killing machine that felt only the most evil of feelings and emotions.

She dropped to her knees to see Inuyasha on his own level. Knowing that she may loose him forever to this uncontrollable bloodlust, she leaned in closer and gave him a peck on the cheek and laid her head on his one good shaking shoulder. "Inuyasha…please…"

The small sign of affection seemed to have gotten through to Inuyasha and had some effect, as the transformed half-demon calmed down a great deal. So she leaned in closer and repeated her actions, this time going for his lips.

That last kiss, she knew, almost did the trick; Inuyasha was on the brink of returning to normal. And what happened next brought him back entirely.

Kagome stiffened and pulled away from the creature whom she'd been holding. Blood sprayed from her mouth onto Inuyasha's chest, and her eyes widened in surprise. Within moments, she had almost lost consciousness and went very limp.

In her and Inuyasha's moment she'd forgotten about his half brother, who was crouched right behind her, his killing sword still lodged in Inuyasha's right shoulder. His hatred for humans and his half brother had grown since Tetsusiaga had been destroyed, and he was taking it out on the girl.

"K-Kagome!" Inuyasha choked, as he snapped out of his demonic form, "KAGOME!"

A grin crept across Sesshomaru's face. "Heh. Humans always were your weak spot," he chuckled darkly, as he withdrew his hand from Kagome's back. It was completely covered in fresh warm blood that dripped and pooled on the ground.

"You bastard! I'LL KILL YOU!" Inuyasha roared at the top of his lungs. He withdrew his own hand from the demon's chest and got ready for a counterattack.

"You're not worth the trouble. You'd die instantly, with that weak body and wounds. I'll kill you later, worthless half-breed. You should be happy I'm giving you mercy," said Sesshomaru cruelly, as he took Tokijin from Inuyasha's flesh and placed it neatly in its sheath.

And with that Sesshomaru trotted into the forest from whence he'd come, leaving a near dead Kagome slumped in Inuyasha's arms.

"In…Inuyasha…I…" Kagome managed to choke between heavy breaths before passing out.

"Kagome, you really didn't have to do that…hang in there. We're going to get you help, I promise," the half-demon whispered to his love, as he stood up with her draped over his arms.

He then turned to Miroku and Koga, the two least injured participants of the battle that had taken place, and instructed them on what they were to do next. "OK you guys, we have to get everyone to Kaede," he told them.

"I'm only helping if I can carry Kagome," Koga retorted, as he stuck his nose high in the air.

Inuyasha, though reluctantly, handed Kagome over to the very childish Koga. "Fine."

The all then set off toward the destroyed village to find Kaede so she could help heal everyone, each carrying at least one member of the group.

((End of chapter 27))

So here's chapter 27, hot off the presses. I'm posting it right after chapter 26 because I missed a week of posting yet again, and I wanted to make up for it...so...here you go!

I just had to write in Inuyasha as a full demon, and I figured that this was the ideal place to put it in...it kind of wraps up the battle, and helps to finish off the enitre story. By the way, there's only one chapter and the epilogue left! It's finally almost done!

And once again, reviews are greatly appreciated and wanted! I know I still need to improve my skills, and you most likely know it too...yes. So please review, so I can work on the things that aren't the best, because I truely want to hone my skills and abilities. Please? Whoa, I should quit now...I can tell I'm on the verge of begging you all to review.

...Yeah, that's actually about it...look out for chapter 28, 'cause it should be up in a week or so...hopefully next Monday.