Chapter 10: He Has Risen
Rin helped Kagome dig a hole near the shine at the base of the hill that Inuyasha Forest covered. A few villagers stood around them as well as Sango and Miroku, wanting to pay respects to their pasted priestess and honor her new burial. "Is this deep enough?" Rin asked, Kagome nodded and knelt down next to the deep hole. She carefully placed Keade's repaired burial urn in the bottom of the hole, than stood up so her and Rin could carefully covered it with the soil. Once it was fully buried Kagome looked up and around at the villagers that surrounded them. Kagome brought her hands together to pray, she closed her eyes and said "let us pray that Lady Keade finds her way back to the afterlife. That she sees her new burial ground and is at peace with our decision. She is now resting next to her sister. May her rest remain peaceful, and may she continue to watch over us and this land. Once you have paid your respects you may depart silently." The villagers all bowed with Kagome and Rin, and they all stayed silent for a long time. One by one villagers finished their prayers and headed back to their daily tasks, until it was only Rin, Kagome, Sango and Miroku left at the site. Kagome opened her eyes after awhile and lowered her hands staring at the freshly buried dirt, "I will make that bastard pay for this teacher." Kagome said quietly, Sango nodded in agreement. "I can't believe none of us sensed him when he was in the area," Sango said in disbelief, Kagome gritted her teeth. "To steal the remains of Inuyasha and then destroy the grave of a priestess is blasphemy," Miroku said in a hard tone, "you are sure he will reanimate him Lady Kagome?" Miroku asked turning to Kagome. Kagome nodded slowly still staring at the ground, her voice was flat when she spoke. "Yes, the Tree of Ages and Kikyou's spirit told me. I have been having bad premonitions for a few days, and this just confirms it. Be prepared everyone, I have a horrible feeling something will happen soon." Everyone nodded in agreement. "When will Lord Sesshoumaru return?" Rin asked Kagome, she shook her head, "I'm not too sure. He has been gone for almost a week, he was only scouting so he should return soon." Rin frowned but nodded, after a prolong silence everyone returned to village.
Later that evening Kagome was sitting in my her home by the fire pit. Rin was sleeping behind her in her futon, snoring softly, she fell asleep early today after all the commotion. Kagome poked and stirred at the embers, thinking about everything while she stared at the small fire that still burned. Kikyou's words kept ringing through her mind, over and over again. 'Do not falter, send him back to Hell,' Kagome sighed, if she wasn't going to sleep she might as well go a for a walk or train; she set her fire poker down. She stood quietly as not to wake Rin and grabbed her bow and arrows before heading outside. Kagome walked a bit through the village, it was late at night so the village was very quiet with everyone sleeping. As she walked she wondered if she should go practice with her bow, but then she sensed him nearby. She turned around quickly and headed toward his presence that was in the direction of the waterfall outside the village. She went to the river that flowed through the village, and followed it until she made it to the the place she often mediates at.
As the waterfall came into view she saw him, sitting on the same boulder he usually sits on when he comes here with her. He didn't turn around as she approached, she came to his right side and pulled herself up onto the rock to sat next to him. They stayed silent for awhile, until Sesshoumaru spoke first. "Something happened," he didn't ask, it was a statement. Kagome nodded, "yes, I don't know when it happened, must have been only a day or so ago, most likely at night. But he slipped passed everyone, no one sensed him in the area. He dug up Inuyasha's remains and destroyed Lady Keade's grave site in the forest. I had a premonition when I was mediating at the Tree of Ages, and received an omen from Kikyou's spirit herself as well, it seems Akasani is going to reanimate Inuyasha's body and bring him back from Hell." Kagome's tone grew more and more dark as she spoke. Sesshoumaru growled angrily, "I also didn't sense or smell him in the area. This is getting infuriating that he can sneak around undetected when he has an immense amount of demonic energy." Kagome nodded in agreement, Sesshoumaru stood suddenly turning to face Kagome, grabbing her hand and pulling her off the boulder to stand, "what is it?" Kagome asked as he turned and pulled her away from the rock and the waterfall toward the trees. Once they entered the thick trees, Sesshoumaru pulled her and spun Kagome around and pinned her up against a tree. He had both of his hands on the tree trunk on either side of her head. Kagome looked up at him, "what?" She asked again, Sesshoumaru smirked at her, "I have been waiting very patiently for us to be alone. And now we are."
Kagome blushed as he stared down at her, "I know, I've been wanting to be alone with you too. But with everything going on-" Sesshoumaru cut her off with his mouth. Kagome was momentarily surprised, but then started to kiss him back, she slowly wrapped her arms around his torso. He pushed her up against the tree with his body, she moaned into his mouth. Sesshoumaru suddenly pulled back and looked down at Kagome while still pinning her there, Kagome was gasping and flushed. Sesshoumaru smirked at her, then quickly kissed her forehead, "we will stop here." Kagome eyes widened, "what? You were just saying you wanted to be alone with me..." she said confused. Sesshoumaru shook his head, "what I want from you right now would require us to go farther away from the village... And now is not the time." He leaned forward and kissed her behind her ear, he lingered there and then whispered, "because I will make you scream so loud you will not be able to speak, let alone walk for days once I am done with you." He pulled away and turned, heading back to the clearing with the waterfall. Kagome stared after him watching him walk away with her mouth open and her eyes wide, then her whole body turned a bright red. She covered her face with her hands, "oh god," she whispered to herself.
On top of a mountain, deep in a forest to the east sat a small brick house. The house was only one room with a large circle fire pit in the center. An elderly woman dressed in a grey cloak with a hood, racked and moved the red hot coals around in the pit. Nestled in the center of the hot coals was a dried mud coffin. Akasani paced impatiently around the the pit and the coffin. "You said it should be done in three days, today is the third day. This better work witch," He stopped pacing and leaned forward over the coffin, he reached his arm out and knocked on top of the coffin. "Hello? Is their an Inuyasha in there?" The witch smacked his shoulder, "please don't touch, its takes time to fish a soul out of Hell. More so when it is a half demon soul, they are a half and harder to catch." She walked with a limp around the pit, reaching into her pocket she pulled out a little branch with leaves on it. "They say that with some half demons, their souls split when they die. Their demon side goes to Hell, and their human side goes to Heaven." She stopped and threw the branch into the pit, it floated and landed on top of the coffin. Suddenly with a loud snap, a crack appeared ripping across the top where the branch fell. "Ah," the old witched said in a satisfied tone, "he has finally arrived."
"Finally!" Akasani cheered, he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers; a red lightning bolt zapping into his hand. The witch gasped, "you bastard! You said you wouldn't kill me if I brought this demon back!" She backed away leaning up against the wall. Akasani laughed loudly as more cracks popped around the coffin. "Oh, I won't!" The coffin caved in, and laying inside was a perfect copy of Inuyasha's naked body, down to the smallest detail. His sliver hair flowed around his head and shoulders. Akasani grinned devilishly looking him over, "Inuyasha, wake up and kill this witch for me would you? I bet your aching to wet your hands again." Inuyasha opened his eyes slowly and Akasani gasped with delighted surprise when he saw his blood red eyes with blue pupils, Inuyasha lifted himself up so he was sitting. He turned and glared at the old woman. The witch gasped, "wait! I gave you life!" Inuysaha lifted his hand and crackled his knuckles flexing his claws, "I don't care," he said in a deep voice as he jumped up lunging at the woman, grabbing her throat.
Akasani laughed hard as he watched Inuyasha rip the woman in half and then in half again, blood splatting on the walls and pooling on the ground. Inuyasha stood after he was satisfied, blood was splattered all over him staining parts of his long sliver hair, he wiped the back of hand over his mouth smearing blood across his face and mouth, he turned to face Akasani. "You Akasani?" Inuyasha growled low, "as I was being dragged out of Hell a voice told me I was being summoned by someone named Akasani. You him?" Akasani nodded quickly smiling at him, "I am, but before I tell you why I brought you back I have a question. What do you remember about your death? You were human when you died, so I'm wondering how much of your demon side remembers of that night." Inuyasha sighed and ran his hand over his forehead and through his hair on the top of his head "I remember being pissed at that fucking cunt I was with, then I remember feeling ashamed and heartbroken. But I can't see anything. All I remember is emotions and feelings. Where is that bitch anyways?" He said as he looked around the small room.
Akasani chuckled, "well I came to help you get revenge for what that woman did to you." Inuyasha raised an eyebrow and growled as his rage increased, "what did she do to me?" he hissed. Akasani shook his head, "she killed you that night, rather brutally, she ran your dull sword through your gut and left you to bleed out by the Tree of Ages while you were in your human." Inuyasha gritted his teeth together, "and it gets worse my new friend. She then gave your sword to your half brother, Sesshoumaru, and you know why she did that?" Akasani walked around the pit toward him with his arms behind his back, "your half brother is fucking her now. He took her from you, and I'm pretty sure he got that woman to kill you for him." Inuyasha crouched down and growl at the man, "whoa there! I'm not your enemy, I brought you back so we can take care of that 'cunt' of yours, as you put it," Akasani grinned at him. "I have one request of you though, you can take care of your half brother anyway you want, I don't care about him, and you can kill everyone and anyone you come across," he said shrugging. "But I want your woman, you don't want her anymore right? She's tainted for you now anyways, so let me have her. You can rough her up for sure! Just don't kill her. I want to keep her as a pet so to speak, and if she won't come peacefully... Well she's coming with me regardless." Inuyasha stood back up and looked to be thinking, then suddenly grinned wickedly. "I don't give a fuck what you do to her." Inuyasha then cracked his neck, "my human side might have cared, but I just want to kill. I want to kill everyone, after I kill that fucking half brother of mine." Akasani grinned wickedly back at him, "head West. And you will get to the village you used to live at with her. She lives there still, with him right now I do believe." Inuyasha growled loudly with an evil grin, "perfect."
"Oh! Before you go, I have prepared clothes for you and a weapon. The weapon isn't like your old sword, it has my demonic energy in it. Use them as you see fit, but just remember, leave the woman alive." He laughed as he turned to leave. "I will join you at the village a little later, go have some fun first," he said as he left Inuyasha alone. Inuyasha looked around and saw a folded pile of black clothes in the corner and a sword laying next to it. When he emerged from the brick house moments later, he was dressed in clothes similar in style to his old ones. But instead of red in colour, the clothes he wore now were black. The new sword hung in his belt, he pulled the sword from its sheath and swung it in the air; slashing toward the ground. Fire blades burst from the steel and deeply scarred the earth setting the surrounding grass on fire. He smirked as he inspected the blade, "you will do until I get mine back." He sheathed the blade and started sprinting West toward the village.
His new body felt just like his old one, he let himself go full power as he ran to test his body's strength. As the village was getting closer, he suddenly smelled someone familiar. He stopped running and sniffed around, "I know this scent." The bushes and trees ruffled across from him, and Shippou emerged, he stared wide-eyed at Inuyasha. "How..." Shippou whispered with a horrified expression on his face. Inuyasha smirked at him and cracked his knuckles, "Shippou, its been a long time, you have certainly grown up," he told him. Shippou shivered at his tone, "what happened to you? You look and sound different..." Shippou asked as he inspected him. Inuyasha shrugged, "someone brought me back." Inuyasha leaned forward, "and I need to test my strength so don't move okay?" he said in a deep rough voice. Shippou started to panic, 'he smells like Inuyasha, but he also smells like burial soil!' Shippou thought panicking. He quickly turned to run back through the forest, Inuyasha leaped into the air and went after him. "Please Inuyasha! Try to remember your good side!" Shippou yelled as he ran, Inuyasha laughed as he closed in on him. "What good side?" He said as he cocked his arm back, "Iron reaper soul stealer!" His claw attack made contact with Shippou's back, cutting him 4 times with deep gashes across his back. Shippou screamed out in pain and fell forward hard, sliding on the ground before coming to a stop several feet away, Inuyasha landed next to him. Shippou groaned and tried to lift himself up, but Inuyasha slammed his foot down on his back making Shippou scream as he dug his heel into one of the gashes.
Inuyasha kept chuckling to himself as he dug his heel deeper into his back, blood splattered as he lifted his foot and slammed it back down on him again. Shippou screaming and cried as he continued his assault. The wind picked up and Inuyasha suddenly sniffed the air, "it's your lucky day fox, I have somewhere to be and we aren't alone anymore. Besides, they will be more fun to kill at the village. You should bleed out soon enough." Inuyasha jumped back in the direction of the village and quickly disappeared, leaving Shippou alone. Shippou tried to move, but he couldn't find the strength and his vision started to blur. 'I've lost to much blood...' he thought helplessly. "Ka...Kagome... I'm sorry," he whispered as he felt his breath becoming shallow, tears burned in his eyes. As his eyes started to close he saw two blurred shadows come into view. He heard muffled voices but couldn't make out what they were saying, but just as he lost consciousness he heard a familiar voice shout, "hang on Shippou!"
Kagome was standing outside her home staring off into the distance looking East. She felt his presence as soon as he took his first breath in his new body. He was her soul mate at one point, and even now she was tied to Inuyasha's soul as strong as it used to be years ago. She knew he was heading to her, she felt it in her heart way before she sensed his demonic aura closing in. Sesshoumaru floated to the ground behind her, he could feel him coming too. He approached Kagome walking up to her side, he kept his eyes straight not wanting to see whatever expression she was wearing. Kagome took a deep breath and tightened her grip on her bow. He gave her a side glance as she spoke, "I don't know if I can do this..." The tone of her voice told him otherwise, she was strong and every part of her screamed that even her voice. She's never realized how strong she really was, even now her power level was well on par with his. "You don't seem to see yourself correctly, you have the ability to turn this demon to dust with just the wave of your hand; if you really wanted too. Your own doubts hinders your growth, you have the will and the power to dispose of this threat easily. Do not think of him as his pasted self, he has long been dead. This is not the half breed you knew anymore, he is the enemy now; and he is threatening you and your territory. Defend what is yours." Kagome smiled closing her eyes, "that has to be the single most beautiful thing you have ever told me. Thank you," she opened her eyes with new determination. "I will try to meet your expectations, because you are right;" she looked around her village and the surrounding area. "All you can see here is mine, and I will protect it." She was still looking away from him when she spoke, "I sent everyone in the village into hiding when I first sensed him. Sango and Miroku took Rin with them." Sesshoumaru nodded.
She turned and looked at Sesshoumaru, he read the silent words on her face before she could speak. He held up his hand to stop her from talking, "I understand. Even though I very much wish to split him down the middle, I will stand aside and will only intervene when its is critical." Kagome smiled at him, "thank you, and one more thing." Kagome took a step closer to him, and she leaned up onto her tippy toes; and kissed him on the cheek. She stepped back and smiled sweetly at him, they could both sense him; he was about to reach them. "Just in case anything happens, my Lord Sesshoumaru, I just wanted to say, I love you." Just then Inuyasha broke through the tops of the trees on the other end of the village. He hit the ground hard breaking the earth below him as he landed, then he bolted head-on toward Kagome. "I'm home!" he yelled as he outreached both his hands for her. Kagome turned just as he was a foot away from her, she lifted her hand and put up a barrier just as he made contact with it. Kagome stared into his red blazing eyes that were filled with nothing but hate and blood lust. The barrier pushed him back, and he flew through the air and landed twenty feet away from her.
Inuyasha stood up, cracking his knuckles in both hands, and licked his lips and his fangs that peeked out on the sides of his mouth. "This is not your home. Not anymore," Kagome said sternly while pulling an arrow in her bow, aiming it at Inuyasha. He laughed and crouched down, "no welcome party for me then? That's too cruel Kagome," he turned and looked at Sesshoumaru. "You seem to like my sloppy seconds eh? My woman and my sword." Inuyasha sneered as he eyed his old sword on Sesshoumaru waist. "I will be getting that back very soon," he then turned back to Kagome, "didn't you miss me, dear?" Kagome frowned and pulled the air tighter in the bow, "I miss the Inuyasha I fell in love with six years ago. I don't miss you," she fired the arrow. The arrow streaked through the air glowing with white light, Inuyasha jumped out of its path right before it hit him.
"You seem to forget that I trained with you for years woman. I know what you are going to do before you do," he laughed. Kagome grabbed another arrow, pulling it. It started to glow with blue light, and she fried it without waiting, the arrow split into ten arrows. Before he could move, Inuyasha was struck with all ten arrows all over his body. He staggered, wide eyed, then suddenly flexed and all the arrows flew out of his body falling to the ground. "Now that was a cool new trick," he muttered. Inuyasha pulled his borrowed sword from its sheath, "now let's see what this thing can do." He swung the sword like it was a weightless stick, and three huge fire blades came charging toward Kagome ripping the earth. She put up a barrier, and strained barely keeping it up as the attack pelted it. Her home and many others in the area got hit with the ricochets from his attack. As the dust cleared, Inuyasha was suddenly right in front of her. He punched her in the chest knocking her to the ground, and just as she fell, Sesshoumaru appeared in front of Inuyasha and punched him in the face sending him flying backwards. Kagome gasped, having the wind knocked out of her, she rolled over and clutched her chest. Sesshoumaru knelt down by her, "are you alright?" Kagome nodded, lifting herself up so she was kneeing. "He just broke a few ribs I think." She said winded.
"Oh come on! I barely touched you." Inuyasha grinned as he started to walk closer to them again, Sesshoumaru helped Kagome up. "You know, I thought I would feel more angry when I saw you Kagome, because you went behind my back and teamed up with my half brother just to kill me." Kagome glared daggers at Inuyasha, "I did not kill you. You killed yourself," she said flatly. Inuyasha shook his head, "highly doubtful." She turned and pulled her bow, with no arrow. Inuyasha laughed harder, "did you hit your head? You don't have a arrow in that." A huge white arrow appeared between her fingers in the bow, she fired it before he could say anything. It streaked through the air, and hit Inuyasha in the gut. It went right through him, and he fell backwards to the ground not moving.
Kagome collapsed to her knees gasping, clutching her chest from the pain of her ribs as Sesshoumaru stood beside her; Inuyasha howled with laughter as he sat up off the ground. Blood pooling around him as he looked down at the hole in his gut. "Looks like you really are trying to kill me, again, just like when you ran my sword through me the night of the new moon," he smiled shaking his head as he looked up at her. Kagome gritted her teeth and looked up at him, "I did not kill you! You killed yourself!" She screamed as she struggled to stand, tears started to fill her eyes as she stood. "You left me! You ran away and killed yourself in the forest because you couldn't just talk to me! I had to go look for you," she was breathlessly sobbing now. "And I found you after the fact you fucking bastard! You wanted to die to be with that fucking cunt of a dead priestess!" Inuyasha kept laughing, "that's a cute story," he stood up and picked up his borrowed sword from the ground. "But, what I see is my half brother stole my woman and my sword. After he got my woman to kill me." He smirked at them both as he started to walk toward them, blooding trailing behind him as he dragged his sword on the ground. Sesshoumaru stepped forward, suddenly he felt a pulsing from Tensiega. He looked down at it and quickly he pulled Tensegia from its sheath, the sword exploded into its true form. Inuyasha froze and Kagome gasped. Inuyasha then growled with anger, "how the fuck can you do that!? Your a full demon! That sword is for ME!" Sesshoumaru smirked at Inuyasha, "it has finally chosen me as it's master it seems. Maybe because it's original owner isn't worthy anymore."
Inuyasha howled loudly enraged and then lunged toward him, Sesshoumaru lifted and swung Tensagia. "Wind Scar!" Sesshoumaru yelled as the Wind Scar fired out from it and hit Inuyasha head on, throwing him back. Inuyasha immediately got up and started running toward him again his body covered in blood, he was badly bleeding leaving a larger trail behind him as he ran. Kagome covered her mouth mortified, 'it's just like when this side of him took over his human side years ago. He doesn't feel any pain...' she thought. Sesshoumaru jumped toward him and they met in the middle, clashing their sword together. "You are a disgrace. Go back to Hell," Sesshoumaru said to him, Inuyasha laughed, "I'm a disgrace? Look at you, protecting humans. That's pretty low, even for you." Sesshoumaru growled and pushed him back with his sword. "Alot has happened since you died, half breed," Sesshoumaru spat.
Inuyasha charged at him again, but before their swords met a large red lightning bolt struck the ground between them. As the dust cleared, Akasani stood between them. "Well, well, well," he hummed, "look at this! This is some brotherly love right here." "Get out of here! This is my fight!" Inuyasha roared, Akasani smiled at him. "Yes it is, but it seems you might need some help. Maybe we should make this more interesting." He turned around to face in Sesshoumaru and Kagome's direction. He lifted his hand, and pointed a finger at Kagome mimicking a gun with his hand; she sensed it but didn't stop it in time or dodge it as he fired a tiny red lightning bolt out of his finger. It zipped fast passed Sesshoumaru and hit Kagome in her right shoulder going right through her body. The force of the attack knocked her back and she landed hard on her back, as she hissed in a breath and grabbed her shoulder as blood flowed from it, Sesshoumaru was instantly at her side. "Dammit," she hissed, as Sesshoumaru helped her sit up. Inuyasha took that moment to attack, he leaped into the air and swung his sword. Fire blades shot out of his sword and was coming toward Sesshoumaru and Kagome fast. Sesshoumaru stuck Tensegia into the ground in front of them as the attack made contact.
Tensiga power force shielded both Sesshoumaru and Kagome as the attack blasted around and passed them, destroying more homes of the village behind them. Inuyasha kept swinging and firing attacks over and over, and still Tensiega protected them. Sesshoumaru was getting very angry, Kagome was bleeding bad and was struggling to breath and they were trapped. Sesshoumaru's eyes turned red as his rage increased trying to figure out what to do. Kagome placed a hand on his that held her up. He looked down at her and she smiled at him, "I will put up my barrier once you let go of the sword and me. You are going to transform right?" Sesshoumaru nodded slowly at her, "go," she said. There was a break in Inuyasha's attack and in that moment Sesshoumaru let go of Tensiga and Kagome, she put up a barrier around herself and the sword once he stepped away. Sesshoumaru let his demon side take over immediately, Sesshoumaru's eyes turned completely red and his body morphed into his towering dog demon form.
Inuyasha gasped as his huge demon form stood in front of him and Akasani. Sesshoumaru charged at Inuyasha baring his fangs, Akasani sighed annoyed. "Well I think we need to regroup. You can't take him on like this," he told Inuyasha as they jumped in the air to void his attack. Inuyasha growled at Akasani, "bullshit. I can take him." Akasani laughed shaking his head, "no, not quite yet. But I may have something that will help next time." Akasani turned toward the dog demon, "you win this round mutt!" Black and purple clouds began to form around them. Akasani and Inuyasha were then engulfed with the clouds and when the clouds faded away they were gone.
Sesshoumaru slowly turned back into his human form, once he was back to two legs and in his amor he quickly went back to Kagome's side. She let the barrier down when he reached her, she was laying on her back, she was still gasping and her shoulder was still bleeding badly. Sesshoumaru knelt down beside her and sat her up, "we need to get you medical attention," Sesshoumaru told her. Kagome nodded as tears ran down her face, "there is no time to get anyone. Take me to the river at the base of the waterfall." Sesshoumaru nodded picking her up and floating up into the air, heading toward the river. They landed next to the waterfall, "place me in the shallow water, please," she wheezed. Sesshoumaru waited into the water with her, he then lowered her into the water but didn't let her go. Once Kagome was in the water she closed her eyes and started muttering to herself. Her body under the water started to glow, and Sesshoumaru stared wide eyed at what was happening. He had seen her heal herself before, he was there when she discovered it, but it was small injures. He watched the injury in her shoulder close up, and stop bleeding. After a few minutes she stopped glowing and opened her eyes, she locked eyes with Sesshoumaru. "I'm okay now, I'm still not good at internal injures. But I was able to close the hole in my shoulder, and relieved the pain around my ribs, just couldn't heal them. I have two broken ribs." Sesshoumaru nodded wordlessly, he lifted her out of the water and walked them to the bank, "I will take you to the demon slayer and the monk." Kagome nodded once and leaned her head against his shoulder as he took off into the sky. "Thank you," she whispered.