Author's Note: I do not own Inuyasha or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.
Notice: Thank you for the reviews and the continuous support, my readers, and so I shall reply!
Guest #1: I might just.
Guest #2: Hm, an interesting thought. I may go with that idea.
PrincessAnime08: Nothing good, I can assure you.
Keller75863548274483: She does, and so that might be what happens.
Elfen Children: And so I have.
Gry17: You know, I never thought of that. It is certainly possible, thought.
Kihala Sisters: Not a problem, and thank you for your long support.
Now, here's chapter thirty-five!
Ch.35 Misguided Battle
The next morning we were all sitting by a river, having a meal consisting of the food Kagome brought back from her era. I was currently using a pair of chopsticks to eat a bowl of steamed rice, and doing so with great enthusiasm. "I love rice," I declared, digging. "Glad to see you're enjoying. Inuyasha, let's go. We have those souls of the dead women," Kagome said. "Okay. So where do we go to?" he asked, looking at her. She blinked, saying "Um, well..." Shippo licked a lollipop that I had gotten him when I went back with Kagome. "Those soul-carrying demons disappeared without a trace," he pointed out. "In any case, it'll do us no good to return to that mansion," Miroku said. I raised an eyebrow. "Is it that it'll do us no good, or are you unwilling to go back because of a certain princess?" I asked.
Miroku flinched at the memory and simply cleared his throat, taking a sip of his canned drink. Kagome knelt down next to Inuyasha. "Aren't you tired of just sitting here?" she asked. "What's the point in looking into it? It's not like we're going to find a Sacred Jewel shard," he said. I rolled my eyes; not this again. Kagome echoed my thoughts, saying "Come one! We're helping people by doing this!" "And that's what I'm getting tired of! Look, I'm going to a great demon someday, so why do I have to go running around helping humans?" he asked, standing. "Because not only is it the right thing, but if you don't all Kagome has to do is say 'sit'," I told him. He froze before relaxing, not having been sent to the ground because I said it.
"Yume's got a point. Besides, quit acting like such a villain. You're practically a saint," Kagome told him. "Saint?! Okay, where are you going with this one, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked her. "Hmph. It was meant as a compliment," she replied. I sat back and decided to finish my rice, when suddenly I saw a shape in the river. One that looked like a body. "What's that?" I asked, pointing at it. "An octopus!" Shippo called. "Actually, it's a person," Miroku told the fox. "That's terrible! Hurry up and save him!" Kagome said, grabbing Inuyasha. "W-What?!" he said, but then she shoved him into the river. "Look to the saint inside you!" she called.
A few minutes later and after much swearing, Inuyasha tossed the person onto the riverbank. He looked to be just a monk, but not one with much experience. Maybe an apprentice? Inuyasha was wringing the water from his clothes behind us, and Shippo asked "Is he dead?" "No, just unconscious," Miroku replied. The he started moaning, and I said "Looks like he's waking up." slowly the apprentice opened his eyes, and saw Kagome leaning over him. Instantly his eyes snapped wide open and he screamed, crawling away from her. Kagome shrieked and also fell back, grabbing Inuyasha's legs. "Don't scare me like that!" she yelled. "Huh?" he replied, seeing her reaction. Miroku stepped forward and said "You have nothing to fear." Upon seeing another man of the cloth he calmed down, and began speaking.
Once he was done I repeated "A demon?" "Yes..." he said. "And you're saying that Kagome was similar in appearance to this demon?" Miroku asked. "She had the appearance of a human, but she actually a terrifying demon, that priestess," the apprentice said. My eyes widened. A priestess... that looked like Kagome? "She was even able to overcome my master's spiritual powers," he added. "Did she have a name?" I asked. "A name? Oh yes... her name, it was Kikyo," he told us. We all gasped, as did Inuyasha. He sped forward and grabbed the apprentice by the robe and held him. "If I find out you're lying, you'll wish you were back in the river!" he threatened, his voice low and serious.
"I-I'm not! She was gathering the souls of dead women!" the apprentice said. I gasped again at that, but Inuyasha said "Never mind that! The name! How do you know her name was Kikyo?!" "The village children called her so! They called her the name Kikyo, and they called the man with her Xiram!" We all froze. "The what?" Inuyasha said, his anger forgotten in shock. "The man who was traveling with the priestess. They called him Xiram!" the apprentice said. Inuyasha dropped his, doubly shocked. Not only was there the chance Kikyo was still alive, but someone was traveling alongside her. Someone named Xiram. "Where did you see them?" he demanded.
The apprentice gave him the directions to the village, and then ran away. Inuyasha repeated them to himself before running off. "Inuyasha, hold on!" I called, standing and reaching a hand out. But it was too late- he was already gone. I sighed and took a step back, sitting back down. Immediately Shippo jumped into my lap, and I smiled. "Do you think it wise to not pursue him?" Miroku thought aloud. "He sure took off in a hurry," Shippo remarked. "No kidding," I added. "Inuyasha probably still loves Kikyo," Kagome said. "What?!" Shippo exclaimed. I nodded; it made sense. "That's why I think it'd be better if we stayed," she continued. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Because, there's the chance that Kikyo might have changed. If so, he wouldn't want others to see her," I explained.
"Not to mention there's the fact that this other man, Xiram, is there as well," Miroku added. I nodded, already seeing it in my head- Inuyasha and some unknown figure facing each other on a battlefield, both of them fighting over Kikyo. Not a pretty scene. "Then what's the problem? She might have changed for the better. What then?" Shippo asked, breaking me from my thoughts. "Well, I suppose I'd get back together with her," Miroku concluded. Kagome stood and looked back at him, her gaze like ice. "Yeah? Is that what you think?" she said, before walking towards her bike. Involuntarily I shivered; that was one of the most frigid stares I had ever seen. "Is it my imagination, or did she just give me a really cold stare?" Miroku asked. "Nope, definitely not your imagination," Shippo told him.
Kagome pushed her bicycle forward through the forest, and I allowed myself to relax ever so slightly. Mentally though I focused, and the aura of everyone around me appeared in my sights. There was a royal blue around Miroku and green around Shippo, while Kagome was enveloped in her trademark bright pink. But I could see that it was swirling with emotion, one that I could sense was almost definitely anger. Or at least frustration. I blinked and their auras faded. "Um, Kagome?" Miroku asked. "What is it?" she replied. "Do you think we should go after Inuyasha?" he asked. "No! Why should we-?" she began angrily, before something caught all of our eyes. The same demons that had tried to steal the princess's soul before were flying in the trees right next to us.
"It's them!" I said, putting Shippo on my shoulder. "Let's go after them!" Miroku said. "Yeah!" replied. We all rushed forward and chased after the Soul Collectors, until eventually the side of what appeared to be a blue dome appeared. Kagome and the Soul Collectors passed through with a hindrance, but when the rest of us tried to get through we were pushed back. "What is this?" Shippo asked. Miroku tapped the dome with his knuckle, seeing energy crackle when he touched it. "It looks like someone has sealed off this area," he said. "Meaning we can't get through?" Shippo asked. "I guess not," the monk said. I crossed my arms. Now what?
But then I heard a voice say "I'm sorry, but I can't let you go any further." We all snapped our heads up, seeing a shape in the trees. Then it moved, and when we turned we saw a person jump down to land in front of us. "Who are you?" I asked. He smiled, showing perfectly white teeth. He looked to be a young man maybe just a little older than me than me. His hair was a disheveled mess of black and his eyes were a clear sapphire blue, while his tan was tanned and muscled from working in fields, from the looks of it. He was wearing a completely black kimono and hakama, and hand sandals on. At his waist was what appeared to be a regular katana. "I go by the name of Xiram. And you are...?" he said. I tensed; so this was Xiram. And if he was here, then could beyond the barrier be Kikyo?
"Your name is Xiram? Are you the one that travels with Kikyo?" Miroku asked, holding his staff. Xiram's smile faded, and he moved to a defensive stance. "How do you know about Kikyo? Are you friends of Inuyasha?" he asked. "We are. Why?" I asked. Xiram looked at us with anger now, and slowly drew his sword. "Anyone who allies themselves with that traitor... is an enemy to me!" he yelled, and charged.
Beyond the barrier Kagome kept running, until she almost slipped on the side of a hill and grabbed a branch. "That was close. Hey guys, the grass is really slippery around here, so watch out!" she warned, looking back. That she looked surprised; there was no one behind her. "Where did everyone go?" she asked, before suddenly losing her footing. She cried out and rolled down the hill, going and going until she reached the bottom and crashed. "Oww... My back..." she said, standing. When she looked in front of her though, she saw something that made her completely forget about her back. Standing in the middle of the clearing was a huge tree, which was surrounded by souls and Soul Collectors. And resting in the middle of the tree with her eyes closed was- "Kikyo," Kagome said.
(Point of View Change: Xiram)
When I learned that theses three were Inuyasha's allies I could, for the first in a long time, feel my thoughts become clouded with anger. Inuyasha had made Kikyo believed he loved her, and she gave her heart to him, only to have that bond snapped like a twig when he revealed his true colors. If they wanted to be friends with such a despicable being, it was their choose. They'll suffer the consequences. I held Anguish high and yelled a battle cry, running straight for them. The monk pushed the girl holding the young fox to the side, and blocked me with his staff. "Yume, get Shippo out here! I'll hold him off until you can get him to a safe place!" he said. The girl, Yume, nodded and said "Be careful, Miroku! I can sense this guy's aura; he's a whole different league than you or me!" "Understood," Miroku replied, pushing against me.
Yume nodded again and spread her wings, taking into the air. I shoved Miroku away and energy crackled along the length of my left hand, before I flung it at Yume. A bolt of blue lightning fired from my palm and almost hit her, had she not spun out of the way at the last second. Quickly she disappeared over the trees, no longer within my reach. I turned my focus back the monk, Miroku, and blocked an overhead blow from his staff. "You are a fool to think you can trust Inuyasha," I said, pushing him back. My a mental command Anguish burst into flames, the firing running down and collecting into an orb at the tip. "And makes you think Inuyasha can't be trusted?" Miroku asked. I grunted and fired at orb of flames at him, calling "What he has done shows who he is!"
The flames hit him and he grunted, feeling the flames curl around him. But upon my command none of his clothes were set on fire, only burning his skin. He feel back with angry red marks along his hand and one on each of his cheek. "What has he done to cause such hatred in you?" the monk asked. "He has done nothing to me, but what he has done is betray Kikyo. Such a thing can never be forgiven," I said. "I hate to break it to you, but Inuyasha is not the one who betrayed Kikyo!" Miroku called, throwing a trio of Sutras at me. I grunted and held out my hand, stopping the Sutras in midair with sheer force of will. They each burst into flame before falling to the ground, and I ran at Miroku again.
Just as I reached him though I sensed something hurtling at me, and I jumped back. A fireball hit the ground where I had been, scorching the earth from the explosion. Looking up I saw the girl, Yume, fly back down and hover next to Miroku. "So, what did I miss?" she asked. "Oh. Nothing much. He just happens to hate Inuyasha because he betrayed Kikyo," Miroku told her. I gritted my teeth. "Please, do you honestly think I'll fall for a trick such as that?" I demanded. "It's no trick. Another demon disguised himself as both Inuyasha and Kikyo and tricked the two of them into thinking they betrayed each other!" Yume said. I snorted in derision; I hadn't lived for as many decades as I had by believing such foolery. "I'm sorry, but I'm finding rather hard to give credit to such lies!" I said, firing another bolt of lightning.
Yume dodged and threw another fireball at me, which I rolled out of the way to dodge. The roll ended with me on one knee, and I blocked a strike from Miroku. "If the two of you are willing to force the issue, then so be it!" I said, tapping into my powers. A spark of energy traveled along the length of Anguish, before the white and blue from my eyes faded, leaving them completely black. Miroku's own eyes widened at the sight, and I heard him mutter "What the-?" I smirked and pushed against, Miroku, slowly rising to me feet while forcing him to take a step back. "The two of you wish to fight against me, and so I will show you my power!" I declared, sending him back.
While Yume caught him to keep him from falling I held up Anguish, power flowing through. Then, with a zap, it changed. The entire sword was enveloped in darkness before it faded, showing Anguish's true form. It was a broadsword with a double-edged steel blade, about three-and-a-half feet in length. All along its blade were Japanese characters, spelling out the phrase "Evermore shall this weapon be the harbinger of pain. The sword of misery, Anguish." The hilt was designed in the shape of two bat wings, one white and one black, while black leather covered the handle. Energy crackled along the blade, and I looked at them both. They asked for a fight. Now they'll get one.
I charged and swung at Miroku, sending out a wave of pure power through the air. He shouted and ducked, while Yume crossed her arm in an X before throwing a volley of Fire Darts at me. I blocked what ones I could with Anguish and gritted my teeth, feeling the heat from the others. Yume flew in and slashed at me with her claws, but I grabbed her right wrist with my left hand and threw her to the side. She shouted and crashed against a tree, falling to the ground with a groan of pain. "False it may seem, but our words our true! A demon named Naraku changed his form to look like Inuyasha, and it was by doing so that he was able to strike down Kikyo!" I rolled my eyes; they truly wanted me to believe them.
"Liars! Now die!" I called, stabbing Anguish into the ground. It shuddered before cracks spread across the ground, my power filling the ground beneath until I reached out with my hand... and snapped my fingers. The ground beneath Miroku exploded and he was sent flying, pummeled by pieces of rock, soil and roots compacted together. Yume took cover behind the same tree that she had hit, and when the onslaught finally faded she emerged to throw a Pyro Bomb at me. With a grunt I sliced the orb in two, both halves exploding and not touching me. Yume ran over to Miroku and helped him up. "Still alive?" she asked, and he nodded. Then she stood in front of him, and said "I don't want to do this, but I have to make you see reason!"
Her hands began charging with lightning and I smiled, doing the same. We both gathered our power for a moment, before yelling and firing at each other. A bolt of lightning fired from each of our hands and met midway, slamming into each other with the force of rampaging bison. I moved one foot back to plant my feet against the ground, and poured more of my strength into my attacks, slowly gaining on Yume. Then she did the same and focused, until we were both even again. "Give it up. You'll never be able to overcome my power," I said. She looked at me. "I'll try my hardest to make you see. Inuyasha isn't the guilty one. The real villains are Naraku and Tenbatsu!" she called.
The moment she said that name I stopped, my mind going completely blank. My lighting bolt faded and Yume's hot forward, hitting the center of my chest. I howled in pain and fell back against the ground, twitching and jerking from the voltage. Eventually it let down and I laid back, panting. Even then I still couldn't move, my memories having overcome me. A village burning in flames, blood dripping from Anguish, me withing in pain just as I had been a few moments ago... and the face of Tenbatsu, a gloating smile on his face as he watched my torment. I came back to reality and saw Yume and Miroku leaning over me. I gasped and jumped to my feet, both of them moving back. "How do you know the name Tenbatsu? Where did you here it?!" I yelled.
Yume hesitated, before saying "He's the demon that's working with Naraku. Both of them are after the Sacred Jewel, and Tenbatsu is helping him find it." I didn't say anything. If what they were saying was true, then this Naraku person was my chance at finding Tenbatsu. After so many years, I would finally have my revenge. Before I could go any further into my thoughts though, I saw a bright pink light fill the sky. Yume and Miroku both looked in the direction of it, which was beyond the barrier. I could sense the power behind that light, as well as what it was. It was coming from a gateway to Hell. "Kikyo!" I called, and I ran for the source of the light. But when I hit the barrier it stopped me, and I howled in rage before holding up Anguish.
Black flames burned along the length and I smashed the blade against the barrier. The flames exploded with such force that the ground shook, and a hole just large enough for me to run through appeared in the barrier. Quickly I ran through it, and it closed behind me before Miroku or Yume could follow. My powers lent me the speed I needed to go as fast as possible, and halfway there I could see countless souls begin to rise into the air. I pushed myself harder at that; I had to hurry. I had planned to stop Kikyo from dragging herself into Hell, but now that I saw the souls I had something more important to do. Saving her.
The meeting between Inuyasha and Kikyo draws ever closer, and Xiram seems to know Tenbatsu! What will happen?
Please review! If you flame me Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am I?)