Howdy!
I know this is late and I do apologize. But please know that I will finish this story. It's just taking longer than expected. Plus I've already begun work on the sequel and possibly a third installment. Not sure if I want to make it a trilogy or not.
Anyway! I know y'all just want to get to the story so
I bring you the next chapter of 'Where I Belong'!
Enjoy! ^^
~Prophecy Fulfilled~
~Shippo~
I couldn't bring myself to do anything other than stand dumbfounded looking at Rin and the other slayers around her. They were wearing armor from Sango's village but each had a crudely drawn crest of three hawks making a 'Z' over their hearts.
"It's a small demon." One of the other slayers said, though I didn't know which. My eyes refused to move from Rin's, she seemed as surprised to see me as I was to see her.
"Well go ahead and kill it so we can move on. Can't you feel that power radiating from the east? I want to get as far away from it as possible. I saw most of the armies moving westward, we can follow them and plan an ambush." Another voice said.
"Wait." When this person spoke Rin's eyes left mine to gaze at the man speaking. Her eyes held such a strong admiration for him that I felt anger and jealousy stir within me. "Look at this demon's clothing. He's not just an ordinary solider. He must have some close relation to the western lord. We can capture him and use him. He may have valuable information."
"He lives in the western castle. He is a part of the western lord's inner pack." Rin said as I returned my gaze to her with shock that she would work with these people.
"Grab him." The man Rin seemed to admire said.
Two of the slayers dismounted and approached me. I had to pull myself into action and tear my attention away from Rin.
"Halt! I am a royal messenger for the western army. You will leave me be, and hope that Lord Sesshomaru shows you mercy for killing one of his allies." I said in the best voice I could. Thankfully it wasn't still the squeaky voice from years ago, but it still sounded somewhat childish.
The slayers laughed and continued for me with weapons drawn. I had no choice but to draw my daggers. I knew we weren't supposed to harm any humans if it was avoidable, but it didn't look like these humans were giving me a choice.
"He thinks he can take us all on." The apparent leader spoke again from his horse. "Feel free to rough him up, just make sure he's still alive when you're done."
One of the slayers came at me with sword drawn, slashing downward as if he meant to cut me in half. Apparently keeping me alive wasn't the top priority after all. I leapt backwards and engaged the blades of my daggers with my fox fire. I knew I needed to get to the coast. Who knew how many of these rouge slayers were out there ambushing demons. Plus I knew I didn't want to attack with Rin there. I didn't want her to see me as just another human-killing demon. The second slayer on foot charged me with a long bone scythe. I deflected it with an 'x' block with my daggers, pushing the man away slightly.
I summoned three copies of myself with a blast of smoke so that I could get away. The copies should keep the slayers occupied until I was a safe distance away. It was going to take longer with Swift gone, and I couldn't transform or else I'd give myself away. I placed my daggers away and took off at a full sprint for the coast.
I hadn't gotten a full mile away before something wrapped around my ankle and yanked it backwards. Almost right away I could feel the bones in my ankle popping out of place and I ended up face down and sliding to a stop. I turned over to see the slayers once again advancing upon me. How could they have gotten through my copies that quickly?
"Your tricks still need practice fox. None of your clones had demonic auras. Do you think we are that stupid to fall for such a trick?" The leader taunted, though he wasn't the one with his weapon wrapped around my ankle. I followed the chain to see Rin holding the other end of it.
"Why are you doing this Rin?" I finally asked.
"Demons are nothing but a menace." The leader responded instead of Rin.
"I wasn't talking to you." I snarled at the man.
"My wife does not speak to filth such as you." The leader snapped back.
Again I was frozen by shock as my eyes locked on Rin. She gave a look that I thought seemed apologetic but then she covered it with a cold glare.
"This one is going to be too much trouble just kill it." The leader said dismissively and turned his horse.
Rin pulled another chained bone scythe from a harness on her horse and began swinging it over her head. I couldn't bring myself to stop her, because I didn't want to chance hurting her. Instead I closed my eyes as the sound of the weapon going through the air reached my ears.
~Kazuko~
I stood growling at Naraku, his filthy tentacles seeking to engulf me. For now alternating balls of lighting and fire were keeping him at bay but I knew I couldn't keep this up forever. Eventually I would have to go on the offensive, but I couldn't figure out how. Each time I attacked him, he just flung me back or blasted my face with miasma, I was beginning to feel as if he were playing with me. Koru was too consumed with trying to make sure the horde didn't overwhelm him or get to me, to help fight Naraku. I was beginning to wish I had asked Sesshomaru to come but I knew that this was a fight only I and Koru could fight.
"If you surrender now I will allow you to live and serve as a pet to my empire." Naraku taunted with a chuckle.
'How very generous of you.' I snarled through clench teeth. I bunched my muscles and sprang for his underside, coating my fur in fire and biting down with electrified fangs. This time I managed to get past the swarm of tentacles and get actual flesh on his leg. His blood felt like acid on my tongue and down my throat, but I refused to let go, instead sinking my fangs in as deep as they would go. The roar Naraku let out was deafening, as he thrashed to make me let go. I managed to get my hind paws planted to work at pushing Naraku while still trying to rip his leg off. Suddenly I felt his leg pull back sharply before a hoof caught me square in the gut kicking me across the field. I skidded to a stop on my side, killing a few more of the horde from the impact. Koru was by my side in seconds helping me stand.
'Did Jiro give you a mark at the training grounds?' Koru panted, and I noticed that if I looked closely his fur was covered in blood though it was well hidden by the darkness of his fur.
'Yea.' I responded after a brief pause.
'I think it's time you used it.' Koru suggested. 'It's time I used mine too. You remember what to do? Focus all of your elements into the mark and allow the cage of your inner beast to break completely free.'
'Ok. See you on the other side.' I backed away a little and did as Koru said. I was, for the first time, truly thankful for the harsh training as I was able to redirect all of my energy into the spot I remembered the mark being.
I felt a feeling similar to the one of when I was going through level two with Koru. I looked down in mild surprise as my body began to lose its solidity. I lifted a paw and could see straight through it yet when I put it back down I could feel it and the ground underneath me compress under it. At the same time I was becoming bigger, growing to around two times my size. My inner demon gave a roar from inside that sent a shiver running down my spine. It was so much more powerful than I had ever imagined, the power coursing through my blood now felt unstoppable. For a moment I could see things the way Naraku did. With this much power, who could stop me if I wanted to take over everything?
'Focus Kazuko!' Duma's voice cut through my thoughts.
'Sorry.' I growled out. My body was at the point where it was still visible but I could see through with no problem. Underneath my fur, I did not see organs or bones, but instead each of the five elements flashed, streaking before disappearing and reappearing somewhere else.
'Totosai did well by your blade.' Koru's bark sounded from beside me. Part of me was a bit irked as I looked over and despite my growth he was still just barely bigger than me. He had the same transparency that I had, and I could see his elements swirling like a storm within in. As I looked over him I could make out that he now had horns, each about the size of a tree, yet instead of being made out of bone, they were made out of metal. They were like giant spears that curved forward slightly.
'My blade?' I asked futilely trying to see if I had horns like he did.
'Claws.' Koru responded guessing what I was doing.
I looked down to my claws and could see that they were not the usual claws, but made of steel like Koru's horns. Each claw shone with some unknown light given the darkness of our surroundings. As I turned my head I could see that it was only on my front paws, but that was more than enough. I flexed the claws and scored marks in the ground larger than Inuyasha's Wind Scar.
'How long does this last?' I questioned my growl much deeper and menacing.
'Till we can't keep going.' Koru responded, his voice sounded like two mountains being scrapped together.
"Then you're puny display of power won't last long." Naraku said as he advanced upon us, killing his own horde with each step without any acknowledgement. The horde seeing this began to back away, most probably realizing that the fight had gotten too far out of their power. They retreated to the edges of the landscape, some flat out running away. Naraku glanced over his shoulder, a look of disgust on his face. "Cowards."
Koru growled loud and low, his body pressed down as he slinked in an arc around Naraku. I followed suit going around to Naraku's other side. Once Koru and I were across from each other we exchanged a glance I knew we were going at this once and for all. Naraku's eyes followed each of us though he didn't move his head. A silence fell over the landscape that pricked my fur with anticipation of the fight. Not a single word was exchanged, Naraku gave a chuckle and the battle started.
Without either of us realizing it Naraku had wormed some of his tentacles into the ground so that as they shot up behind us. We were forced to turn and defend or be absorbed. As I turned and unleashed a wall of fire that scorched at least a mile into the ground I felt claws rake my back, sinking in so deeply that I could feel them brush my spine. A roar of pain left my muzzle and I whirled upon Naraku, using my own claws to slice at a bunch of his tentacles. As my claws came into contact with the flesh, they gave off a yellowish glow. Naraku's eyes widened slightly as he looked down at the charred base of his tentacles and I noticed they were growing back at a much slower rate. He gave a snarl and charged for me.
Koru was upon him before he fully reached for me. The Ryu-Okami gave a powerful leap over Naraku, landing towards me and Naraku at his back. Before Naraku could take advantage of this, Koru kicked up his rear paws and gave Naraku a blow straight to the stomach. Naraku jostled back, each step creating craters in the ground. I jumped forward. I sunk my claws into his shoulders while snapping at his neck. He pulled back enough to avoid my bite, but at least my claws were slowly slashing down from his shoulders to his chest. He grabbed my left paw and wrist with two arms, a pained but sick light sparking his eyes. Before I could think to pull away, he jerked one hand and then the other down. The pain hit like an explosion, sending jolts jump and through my body.
He went for the right side and I had no choice but to jump away or end up with two broken paws. As I landed and the weight was placed on the injured paw, I instinctively curled it into my body causing me to lose balance and stumble onto my side.
'Kazuko?' Koru asked leaning over. 'What did he do?'
'He broke it.' I motioned to the paw clasped against my body at an awkward angle. I worked to get up, making it up to a sitting position, trying to place the paw down but jerking it back up again as more pain flared.
'Pack some earth around it to keep it in place and use the wind to walk on instead of the ground.' He growled softly in my ear, keeping his eyes on Naraku.
"How very fragile you mortals are." Naraku sneered, though the wounds on his chest were not healing either.
'I wish Kagome were here.' I panted.
'What?' Koru asked fighting off some of Naraku's tentacles.
'She's the mate of Sesshomaru's brother. She can sense the Shikon jewel and purify it. It has to be what's fueling Naraku. If we can get the jewel away from him, this will become a much fairer fight.' I explained, standing after using the advice Koru had given me.
'We'll just have to attack him until one of us gives up.' Koru jumped for Naraku, his horn piercing in the same spot my claws had scratched.
I aimed for Naraku's legs again, the pain still strong but now bearable. He was beating at Koru the two of them seeming to match blow for blow. I clawed at his inner thighs to provide Koru with some relief, though this time I learned from my mistakes and when Naraku yanked his leg back to kick, I dove out of the way before he could hit me.
We continued like this for what seemed like days. Neither Naraku nor we giving in, though Naraku looked considerable better. His wounds were healing so slowly that he still looked pretty bad, yet he still appeared to be the least injured of the three. Our seals kept us going but I could feel that they were draining us.
'Kazuko.' Duma's voice cut through the fog of pain as I slashed one of Naraku's arms. 'I cannot locate the jewel within Naraku and I have been trying.' She explained. 'You are going to have to deal him a blow so lethal that even the jewel cannot save him. It is the only thing I can think of to stop him.'
Before I could ask her what kind of wound her presence retreated again until I could no longer feel it over the power of the mark. I relayed the message to Koru and he gave a snort.
'As if it's just as easy as saying what needs to be done.' He growled.
'You're the general. You must have some kind of strategy for this.' I countered.
'I plan for armies of hundreds to thousands attacking armies of hundreds to thousands. Not two Shogakkos vs one super demon.' He retorted. 'But I'll come up with something. Just hold him off while I think.'
'Don't hurt yourself.' I leaped back at Naraku as Koru remained back grumbling to himself and making marks in the ground.
"Do you really think some hastily made plan is going to stop me? I have been planning this for decades. Nothing can stop me. I have thought of everything." Naraku boasted. I was more than pleased to cut him off by slashing through his tentacles and leaving a nasty burn on his shoulder. I managed to sink my claws into his neck and ripped out a huge part. I felt a wave of satisfaction as I watched him clutch his neck and the ooze he called blood run down his side. He coughed blood and gargled slightly. He swore and sunk his claws into my belly as I pushed away.
The pain was explosive and I realized that he hadn't only pierced me, but had also released a substantial amount of miasma into the wound. My vision swam and I stumbled backwards, my limbs beginning to take minds of their own. The other wounds plus the building fatigue was speeding the poison through my system.
'Kazuko?!' Koru's voice sounded like he was speaking through water. I craned my head to meet his stare and wondered why he seemed so much taller now. It took a moment before I realized I was laying on my side instead of standing.
A familiar yet unidentifiable smell penetrated through the pain as I could feel myself slipping and something pressed against my shoulder. Naraku and Koru were speaking but I couldn't tell what was being said. A numbness started to crawl over me and I could feel the dark fog descending. I began to panic and fight, not wanting to die again.
'At ease Kazuko.' Duma's voice was the only clear thing. 'You have done your part. Rest and when you awake all will be well.'
'My…p…my…pu…p.' Even my mind couldn't form the words I wanted.
'The little ones inside you are fine. Rest now, for their sake.'
I didn't have much of a choice as I felt myself slipping away. I just had to trust that Duma knew what she was talking about and that Koru could finish this without me. I couldn't help the feeling that I was letting everyone down as I fell out of consciousness.
~Koru~
'Kazuko?!' I had watched as she had scored a pretty heavy blow to Naraku and then him strike her. She stumbled before collapsing onto her side. She let out small whines and whimpers as if she were trying to say something, but nothing intelligible came out. She wavered for a few second more before I could tell that she had passed out. Her transparent form once again became solid and I flinched as I saw the wound in her stomach turning her fur red. I pressed my nose into her shoulder, taking in her scent. 'Hang in there. I'll get you out of here.' Naraku's chuckle sent my blood boiling to the point I felt it would melt my bones.
"Tell me wolf. Does Sesshomaru know that you're in love with his mate?" He taunted and I growled low. "I've been around enough demons to recognize that scent you're giving off. You love her." He advanced and I placed myself between him and Kazuko. "Then this will be all the sweeter when I make you watch me kill her."
His words sent me into a frenzy that stirred me with more power than I knew I had. I let out a howl that created a crater around us. 'We finish this now spider.'
"I intend to."
~Shippo~
Metal sounded against bone.
I opened my eyes to see Ryo. He stood before me one sword out with the end of Rin's bone scythe wrapped around it. He looked down at me with concern shadowing his face.
"Are you okay?" He asked and I gave a brief nod. "Can you get out of here?" He asked looking at my foot that was twisted awkwardly. He used his free sword to cut through the chain wrapped around it.
I went to stand but found that I could only hop, unable to put much pressure on the injured foot.
Katina seemingly appeared from nowhere and I suddenly felt her hand lightly on my shoulder as she kneeled to check the foot.
"It's only pulled out of place, not broken." She informed me. "Sit. I will fix it." I did as she said and she gave me an apologetic look. "This is going to be very unpleasant." She said, though I didn't think much of it as I looked past her to where Ryo was taking on the slayers. He was handling himself admirably, able to stave off all of the slayers from getting to us.
A low growl rumbled through my chest as Katina fixed my foot. Thankfully a soothing feeling washed through me immediately after Katina's hands glowing as she went over my foot.
"Let's go." Katina whispered to me. "Ryo will handle them." She helped me stand before transforming to her smaller true form, looking to me to do the same.
"Don't let them get away!" The leader of the slayers called out.
"You're not going anywhere near them." Ryo said transforming into his larger true form, forcing the slayer's to backup and pay attention to him instead of us.
I watched Rin, too many emotions to count going through my mind. Betrayal was the strongest and I couldn't understand why she would do this.
"Ryo!" I shouted. "Just please don't kill them." I said, earning surprised looks from the slayers and a sympathetic look from Ryo.
'Go Shippo.' He growled.
I transformed and followed Katina away from the group. Before I was out of sight I stopped and gave a questioning look at Rin. She glared, and sent her scythe sailing at me, though Ryo intercepted it.
'I'm so sorry.' Katina said briefly pressing herself against me as we ran.
'How did you know I was in trouble?' I asked not wanting to talk about Rin, knowing that was what she was referring to.
'As head mage, I have a link to all the guardians and I know when a guardian dies and returns to the sanctuary.' Katina said gravely. 'When I felt Swift's return, I knew something bad must have happened, so I grabbed Ryo and rushed to the last place I felt him before his return. Once we got there and saw his body we followed your scent hoping it wasn't too late.'
'Thank you.' I said though I wasn't entirely sure that I wanted to be saved.
'You're family Shippo, you're a part of our pack. We'll always look out for you.' Katina said.
~Naraku~
I was almost saddened that Sesshomaru wasn't here. Almost. If only to see his face as he watched another demon care for and protect his mate with the unmistakable scent of bonding radiating off the wolf. Yet I was satisfied with seeing Kazuko on the brink of death. Given the amount of miasma I had released into her system, there was no possible way she would be able to survive on her own without help. And I was going to make sure that help never came. But first I would have to deal with the wolf. I knew nothing could stop me now, not even the prophecy Toro's blind seer had tried to spook me with.
"The spider will weave many in its web and cause great division. It will seek to control all, but it shall fail. Its demise will come on the wings of a dragon, between the fangs of a beast and in the paws of one who controls the storm."
Kazuko was the only one who matched the prophecy, and with her out of the way it couldn't come true. I watched the wolf charging towards me, his eyes blazing red. That damn dog had done a number on my neck and shoulder and the wounds weren't closing nearly fast enough. I needed to dispose of these two quickly and recover. If Zao saw me like this, that bear would back out of our deal and try to take over everything for himself.
I allowed the tentacles I had left to attack, worming their way around the wolf. He used the odd looking horns to slash through some, and I cursed knowing for whatever reason they wouldn't grow back quickly enough. He charged, those damn horns leading. I turned my body and captured him in a head lock, skidding us both to a stop. He growled and tried to yank away but I kept my grip firm. I squeezed as hard as I could chocking the beast. I could feel his body beginning to heat up, he was using the same trick Kazuko was using. Gritting my teeth I kept my hold even as the flames on his fur were scorching my arm. It wasn't until I felt him go limp and the fire die away that I finally yanked my arm away.
I watched the burn heal just fine, and cursed whatever spell the wolf's horns and Kazuko's claws were made of. With a smirk I turned to see the wolf's unconscious form, but where it was supposed to be was just empty space. The feel of two blades piercing my back told me where he had moved to. He began dragging his horns up, and I was forced to push away landing on a knee facing him. The wolf began to jump again and I released a wave of miasma to keep him at bay. I checked myself and could tell that he had cut through bones and if he had gone up much further he would have split my heart. I cursed the decision to return my heart to this body. I had thought with the full jewel and absorbing Toro, this body would be indestructible. It had been until these damn canines showed up. I didn't have the strength left to send my heart away and I didn't have a set vessel ready to receive it.
'You die now spider.' The wolf reared up and let out a roar. A chill ran through me as I watched his wings spread out, their appearance completely dragon-like with scales.
Its demise will come on the wings of a dragon…
I raised an arm slowly the loss of blood affecting me more than I had expected.
…between the fangs of a beast…
His fangs sunk into my neck on the side opposite of Kazuko's strike. He pulled back and brought his horns down separating the arm from the rest of my body.
…and in the paws of one who controls the storm.
The wind picked up around us and I watched as he took to the sky. A hole formed in the dark clouds. He roared once again and a tornado descended. It was not an ordinary tornado. It sparked and swirled with each of the five elements. Thunder rose in volume until it drowned out everything. I couldn't move. I had lost too much blood and I couldn't heal.
This couldn't be happening. I had done everything I needed to win.
"You doubted my words spider." I turned in surprise to see the seer who had cursed me standing beside me. As if reading my thoughts she shook her head with her blind gaze concentrated on me. "I did not curse you. Your fate was decided before I came along, when you made your pack with the demons, Onigumo, you destined yourself for this."
Fear, something I had not felt in nearly a century, gripped my heart and soul. I had always been afraid of death, it was what had led to my deal with the demons all those years ago.
The pain of the tornado was surprisingly brief before there was nothing.
