Chapter 38

The forest was getting really cold and dark and the worried trio still searched the forest for Izuma. Inuyasha had grown frustrated and Kagome started to cry. He cursed, took her in his arms and hugged her. She balled into his chest and he whispered and coed for her to calm down in her ear. Shippo stood up in a tree and peered around the dark trees. Izuma had to be okay, she just had to be.

"Inuyasha, where could she be?" Kagome whimpered as more tears fell.

"Izuma! Izuma where are you?" Shippo yelled through the trees.

"Shut up you runt!" Inuyasha snapped.

Kagome punched him in the chest. "Inuyasha!" she said.

"Dammit! Where is that stupid monk and demon slayer anyway? I'm tired of always waiting for them! I think we should just leave and go find her." Inuyasha said cracking his knuckles.

"I think you're right Inuyasha. We can't find her just standing around." Shippo said, jumping down from his perch.

"Alright guys, let's get going." Kagome said.

Inuyasha picked her up in his arms bridal style. Before he got a chance to even move, an unnatural, violent wind shook the trees. Inuyasha was blown backwards, Kagome landing with a thud on top of him. Shippo grabbed on to a branch to steady himself. When it ceased, leaves fell to the ground and the forest grew deathly quiet.

"Are you okay Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, getting up and pulling her to her feet.

"Yeah … yeah I'm fine. What was that?" she asked, brushing dirt from her kimono.

"Inuyasha, Kagome, look there!" Shippo yelled in a panic, pointing to the trees.

The pair looked to where he said and Kagome gasped. Coming out of the trees was a man, dressed in a green kimono. His long black hair was dirty and was in a messy ponytail. The thing that struck Kagome was his eyes. They were a crimson red with flecks of black. She whimpered and clung to Inuyasha's arm.

Inuyasha tore his eyes away from the stranger and looked at his now terrified mate. "Kagome … Kagome, what's wrong?" he asked in a panic.

"Those eyes, he… he has the eyes from my dream Inuyasha." she said, pure terror in her brown orbs.

Inuyasha turned his head back to the man in anger. "Who the hell are you?" he yelled.

The man clicked his tongue in disappointment. "My, my, my. I thought the way Koga described you, I thought you would look more intimidating. I really don't know what Naraku's plot is for you all. They call me Odomaru of the sky. " he said.

"You stay the hell away from us you bastard!" Inuyasha yelled, pulling Tetsusaiga from its sheath. The old rusty sword transformed into the shimmering dog demon fang with the fur around the handle.

Kagome thought she saw a glimmer of fear in Odomaru's eyes, but the man just snickered and drew his weapon as well. "That is quite a sword you have. Let's see how you handle It." he sneered. He suddenly lurched forward and his sword met Inuyasha's with a loud clang. Inuyasha pushed him away and picked backed away. Kagome squeaked in surprise when he grabbed her bye to waist and jumped up into a tree.

"Stay up here Kagome." Inuyasha commanded. She was about to argue but then saw the look on his face. His eyes concealed uncertainty for her safety.

"Alright but be careful Inuyasha." Kagome said with a hopeful glance.

He gave her a strong smile, kissed her forehead and ran his hand over her stomach. He jumped back down from the limb she stood on and ambushed Odomaru from above. He dodged the attack and swiped at Inuyasha's chest. He missed but he struck again and hit Inuyasha on the side of his arm, leaving a long gash on his flesh.

The half demon screamed in pain and heaved Tetsusaiga over his head with his arms. "Wind Scar!" he yelled in anger. The sword struck the earth and it unleashed a river of light and heat that charged toward a suddenly terrified Odomaru. He stood frozen in place in the path of it as it overtook him. Before he came to harm, his sword reacted and put up a barrier, which sparked and sizzled at the impact. Inuyasha gasped as the thick screen of protection brightened and easily absorbed the energy from the Wind Scar. Odomaru smiled and laughed as the barrier pulsed.

"What?" Inuyasha said as the barrier lifted Odomaru into the air.

"You see Inuyasha, you can't touch me. My barrier will protect me against whatever you can dish out!" Odomaru said his eyes wide with power. "Now you shall feel the force of your own attack!" he said, raising his hand to the top of the barrier.

A gold light like that of the Tetsusaiga surged down to the ground, shooting up trees and knocking them down. Kagome cried in fear as one of the bolts hit her tree and knocked her off her perch.

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha screamed as she fell. Before she could hit the ground, there was a loud pop and Shippo, having transformed into his pink, round form caught her with ease. She bounced on him, trying to catch her breath.

"Thanks Shippo!" she said.

"You're welcome Kagome, hold on. This fight is getting ugly!" he said lifting her high into the air.

Inuyasha sent him a grateful glance and looked back to Odomaru. "You're gonna pay for ever trying to harm Kagome!" he growled. He leaped up into the air and the Tetsusaiga turned a red color.

"The red Tetsusaiga that breaks barriers!" Shippo yelled.

"Die!" Inuyasha yelled and swiped the sword across the barrier. It snapped and Odomaru let out startled screech. The sword met his neck and beheaded him.

"Curse you Inuyasha! This is not the last you have seen of me, Ta ta for now!" he said and headed off into the sky out of sight. Inuyasha tried to pursue him but was knocked backward from a gust of wind. He did a back flip through the air and landed on the fallen tree that Kagome had been standing in. Shippo floated down next to him and Kagome slid off him and ran up to Inuyasha, who grasped her in a tight hug.

"Are you okay Kagome?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm fine, did he leave?" she asked looking at his bleeding arm.

"Yeah but he'll be back." he growled.

'C'mon, sit down and let me stitch your arm up." Kagome said, pulling him down next to her as she sat down on a tree that had fallen. He looked up at the sky where Odomaru had fled. He swore to kill that bastard when he came back for more.