Notes: I have to say, I was honestly disappointed by the number of reviews I've received for the last few chapters. For those of you who don't know, more reviews generally equal faster updates. I want to give a special thank you to my regular reviewers, you know who you are (I'd list them, but I don't want to accidentally leave anyone out). You guys are the greatest and thank you very much for all your support. I hope you enjoy the new chapter as I wrote it as fast as I could just for you guys. Please let me know what you think. Adam and I have really worked hard on this story. Thanks.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha...
Chapter 52-Deadly Games
"Amaya! What have you done?" Inutaisho demanded.
"I have placed my wish on the Shikon no Tama," she stated, coldly. "You question me for the last time, Father. You have always underestimated me...but no more. My powers have now far surpassed your own. I shall be victorious, for I...Amaya...am now the most powerful sorceress ever to live!"
"You have truly disappointed me," Inutaisho frowned.
"How dare you lecture me!" she sneered. The feline flexed her claws and pointed them down at her opponents. "Yami Tsume no Takai!" Needles rained down from her claws, piercing the ground and nearby trees. They were able to dodge most of the needles, but some did graze and stick into their flesh.
Inutaisho turned to Sesshoumaru and pulled Tokijin from his obi, throwing it to his son. "We will resolve our differences later, Son," the taiyoukai declared.
Sesshoumaru nodded in response as he held Tokijin before him horizontally, blue lightning bolts crackling around the blade. "I will end this once and for all. Dragonstrike!"
Amaya outstretched her arms and began chanting quickly. When the Dragonstrike struck her, the blast swirled around her several times before shooting back down at Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai jumped to the side growling, fiercly.
Amaya smirked at Sesshoumaru, disgust boiling in her crimson eyes. "You never could defeat me, Brother. To think that you still persist. You are just as rash as that low-life hanyou."
"You dare compare HIM with ME?"
"Shut up, Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha barked.
Amaya drew her katana and cradled the blade in her free hand. She closed her eyes and began to chant, the blade eminating a purple glow.
"No!" Inutaisho yelled, his eyes wide as he took one step forward.
"What now?" Inuyasha sighed.
"She's breaking the seal! I hoped she hadn't discovered the true origin of that fang."
Sesshoumaru turned his head quickly toward his father. "You bestowed HER with a fang?"
"I don't know how she aquired it," Inutaisho explained. "But that blade was forged of the fang of Ryoukotsei. I asked Totosai to forge it for me before I died. She must have claimed it for herself."
"That's right, Father," Amaya stated. "While you fell dying, I followed that old man and waited for him to complete the sword, but he managed to seal it before I made my move. I've spent years attempting to unlock the seal, and at last, that day has come." She closed her eys and the glow eminating from her katana brightened and it started to stretch, straightening out into a staff of sorts. The purple glow gathered at the tip of the blade as the transformation completed. She held the large steel rod above her head, the glass orb at the top glowing a deep, foreboding purple. "Not only did I break the seal, but I possess the power to unlock its true potential. Behold." She spun the staff between her fingers quickly as it started glowing and began to transform again. She flung it down at her opponents as it grew into a large boomerang. "Hiraikotsu!"
The three youkai jumped to dodge the weapon, Inutaisho sweeping Sango and Miroku up and setting them down near Kagome. "Thank you for all you've done up to now, but if you place any value on your lives at all, you will stay back from this point on. You cannot survive against Amaya." He leapt back to his sons and Sango stepped forward.
"Sango stop!" Miroku pleaded, placing a hand on her shoulder.
The taijiya turned to Miroku, frustrated. "I can't just stand here and do nothing. I'm a demon slayer, first and foremost."
"No Sango," he argued, his expression soft. "First and foremost you are Sango, my love...who just happens to be an extrordinary warrior. But the true warrior knows when to back down, as you always have in times past. Right now, your duty is with me to protect Kagome."
Sango's eyes wandered over to Kagome, who still lie unconscious where Inuyasha left her. "I suppose you're right," she sighed.
Inutaisho returned just as the staff returned to Amaya's hand. Holding one hand near the bottom, she ran her hand over the cold steel. With a glow, a blade began forming as the staff transformed into a magnificent katana with black tsuka-ito, black kashira, and silver tsuba that grew out like ivy. The blade eminated the same ominous purple that its orb had. She held the blade before herself, horizontally as blue lightning bolts crackled about the blade.
"No way!" Inuyasha cried.
How dare she... Sesshoumaru growled.
"Dragonstrike!" Amaya thrust the sword down and sent the blast downward.
Inuyasha jumped in front of the blast and swung Tetsueiga with all his might. "Backlash Wave!"
Angered, Amaya vanished in her sakura petals, reappearing feet from Inuyasha. He turned toward her as she swung her sword downwards. "Windscar!"
He moved Tetsueiga before himself just in time to block the blast. "You're not gonna live to regret that!" he growled. He swung Tetsuegia at Amaya and theirh blades clashed. The stood fast, their swords pushing hard against eachother as Sesshoumaru touched down behind Amaya and slashed at her.
"Poison Claws!"
Amaya side-stepped just in time and Sesshoumaru dug his claws into Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Damnit!" the hanyou wailed, grabbing his shoulder. He looked at Amaya and swung his claws at her. "Blades of Blood!"
Amaya dodged the many flying blades and transformed her sword in to a bow, an arrow materializing in her hand. She drew the bow and shot the arrow, then three more quickly. The arrows pierced Inuyasha's clothing through each sleeve and pant leg, pinning him to a tree.
"Damn you!" he sneered, as he struggled to break loose.
"Amaya lowered the bow as it returned to its katana form. She began slowly stepping toward him, raising the blade. "And now, Inuyasha...you will be the first to die."
Notes: Man...will I ever stop with the cliffies:thinks hard for a minute: Nah...probably not. They're too much fun. By the way, "Yami Tsume no Takai" would translate into "Dark Claws of Death". It's the best I could come up with so I hope it isn't too stupid. : ) Please reveiw...Adam and I still like to hear how we're doing. Thanks. InuNimue
