Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, or any of the characters from the anime and/or manga. Everyone else belongs to me :)
Just a quick chapter to wrap up the battle at the shrine. A few surprises here, perhaps? Enjoy!
Inuyasha couldn't be bothered to wait for his brother or his niece; his bloodlust was strong and he needed to find his mate. He allowed his youki to barrel through the forest unchecked, which drew countless bear youkai to him. But any bears that tried to get in his way, he merely sliced through them with the Tetsusaiga like they were paper. When the gates of the shrine were in view, he roared, swinging the Tetsusaiga with abandon, not caring if he felled trees along the way.
Once inside the gates, he started looking desperately for his mate. The bears came at him from every direction, but he didn't care; their attacks were nothing against Tetsusaiga. He roared and howled as he sliced through bear after bear; in an instant, Sesshomaru and Sayua were beside him, joining him in the battle. Sayua expertly wielded her sword, gutting one bear while kicking another in the stomach, then thrusting the first bear off her sword at the second. Sesshomaru snapped his energy whip in all directions, taking out any bears his brother and daughter missed. They quickly cut a line through the battle; soon they saw Kagome and Hideaki, pale but alive, standing back-to-back with Asuka. Kagome fired arrow after arrow, purifying bears left and right; Hideaki and Asuka protected her, Hideaki unleashing ofudas to purify the bears, and Asuka tearing the bear youkai apart at the limbs with her short sword if they got too close.
Then, too close to their family, they saw the bear Hokutou; he and Kouga were locked in fierce battle. Kouga's Goraishi was matching Hokutou's sword blow for blow; the Goraishi wasn't making much impact on the bear's sword, but Kouga's body blows seemed to be slowing the bear down a little.
Suddenly, a pink arrow whistled through the air, narrowly missing Kouga and ricocheting off the bear's sword. Howling, the bear looked up and saw Kagome, standing firm, her power whistling around her, creating a protective barrier. The bear grinned salaciously.
"Stay out of this, Kagome," shouted Kouga, seeing the bear's face and instantly becoming worried. "He's not fucking around."
Kagome nocked another arrow. "Neither am I," she said grimly. She let another pink arrow fly; this one struck the bear nearest Hokutou, purifying it instantly.
Hokutou growled, shoving the wolf aside, and making for Kagome. "You love to kill bears, don't you, little miko?" he said in low tone. Inuyasha snarled and pushed off with all his might, desperately trying to reach her before the bear did. Fuck, he thought ferociously, I'm not going to make it in time. "Kagome!" he bellowed, willing his legs to move faster.
But it was Sesshomaru who reached Kagome first. Faster than anyone could ever move, he raced to block the bear's attack, deflecting him with an easy flick of his energy whip. It lashed out and struck Hokutou; he yowled in fury as blood spurted from his arm. Kagome gasped and turned pale, but shuddered in relief, nocking another arrow and holding it steady. In front of her stood Sesshomaru and Sayua, hair blowing nobly in the breeze of the battle, faces hard and resolute.
Sesshomaru nodded, and Sayua stepped forward. "This Sayua will be your opponent," she said to the bear youkai quietly. "Let my aunt alone."
Hokutou snorted. "Whatever." He cracked his claws and faced her. "I'm gonna fuck up your pretty little face, girlie."
Inuyasha raced to Kagome's side as Sayua stood calmly before the bear. "Are you all right?" Kagome whispered to him, lowering her bow and arrow. He grunted, his bloodlust fading as they were reunited. He kissed her, relieved to feel her lips against his at last. "What's Sayua doing?" she added. "Is she crazy?"
"My mate wants to prove herself in battle to her father," Hideaki said, knocking aside a bear youkai with his staff and joining them. He hurled a few ofudas at the bear, who yowled as it turned to ash.
"My sister is crazy, Auntie," added Asuka, "but she's incredibly skilled. She's earned this chance." She smirked, expertly twisting her sword through a bear that got too close to her. "Just don't tell my mother."
"And we're all here to look out for her," Inuyasha said, punching a bear youkai in the face and slicing through its trunk, splitting it in two. "She'll be fine."
Sayua faced off against the bear youkai. "The bears have been a thorn in my Lord Father's side for hundreds of years," she said. "They have wrongly accused the Lord of the North of being a usurper; they have conspired repeatedly to kidnap the Shikon no Tama no miko, who is my Aunt and the wife and mate of the Prince of the West." She whipped her sword around impressively as she spoke. "This Sayua will not tolerate such behavior from those under my Lord Father's protection."
"So let your Lord Father fight me then," Hokutou mocked.
"Are you afraid to fight a woman?" she mocked him right back.
"I fear nothing, little girl," he growled. "But you should."
Sayua howled and swung her sword at the bear. "Mofubuki-ha!" Shards of ice shot forth from her sword and impaled the bear; he threw up his sword to block the shards, but he couldn't stop them all. They struck him on the arms, the legs; one struck him in the shoulder. He snarled and launched himself at Sayua.
Hideaki started but Inuyasha held him back. Kagome covered her eyes, and Asuka clung to her aunt, horrified. Only Sesshomaru, still by the gates, was unmoved by the battle unfolding before them.
Sayua threw up her sword and parried the bear's attack. She shoved her sword forward and he put up his claws on the sword to block. Sayua pushed as hard as she could, but the bear was stronger and his strength drove her back. She let go and flipped into a backwards somersault, away from the bear, landing in a crouching position, watching the bear carefully from her spot on her haunches. She gathered her strength as he stalked her, his eyes on her sword. Sayua took a deep breath, thinking back to her training, remembering to watch her sword side. She saw him watching her; she saw him growl in delight at the idea of bringing down a member of the House of the West. A rage began to build in her; her eyes tinged red, and red streaks not unlike her father's jagged down her cheeks. Her breathing became ragged; her hair blew up and out of her face on its own.
For the first time, Sayua knew what it meant to have a bloodlust. And she wasn't going to let it go.
Howling with her newfound fury, it was Sayua's turn to hurl herself at her opponent. Instead of raising her sword, she raised her fist, and slammed it into the bear's face. She snickered at the look of surprise on his face; the bear youkai hadn't been expecting a woman to hit him with such force. But Sayua wasn't any woman. She was the daughter of the Lord of the fucking West.
It took the bear a moment to collect himself after getting hit so soundly, but he quickly regrouped and jabbed wildly at Sayua, all thoughts of her being a woman gone from his mind. He swiped wildly at her with his sword, but his following fist jammed into her cheek, causing her to go flying into a shed. The bloodlust and the adrenaline propelled her forward without even missing a beat. She flew at the bear, her fist ready to make contact again. This time he was prepared, and parried with his sword, his fist coming up on her blind side. Sayua remembered her father's advice and protected herself, bringing up her sword to meet his fist.
Back and forth they went, fists flying and swords flashing, drawing the attention of all the youkai and humans present. The bears gathered around the battle, so thickly it was almost hard to see. Inuyasha knew this was a perfect moment to take out the bears, if he wouldn't take out his niece, as well. He felt Kagome and Asuka by his side; his mate trembled for their niece. He pulled them both close. They watched as Sayua nimbly dodged his punches and countered ably. Then, grabbing an opportunity, she used the hilt of her sword to jab the bear in the stomach, then swept her leg under his, pulling him down.
"Uncle, Auntie, Lord Kouga, Father, now!" Sayua shrieked. Inuyasha pulled out his sword as Sayua and Sesshomaru raised theirs. Kagome rapidly nocked an arrow and fired. Kouga leapt forward. Sayua screamed, but it was a scream of pain.
"Mofubuki-ha!"
"Kaze no kizu!"
"Goraishi!"
"Bakusaiga!"
The attacks hit the bear, with a great flash of light that crackled and shot forward like a sonic boom. Kouga quickly jumped back, grabbed Ayame and covered her with his body, while Kashikoi dropped to his hind quarters as the attack came dangerously close to him. Hokutou yowled in pain as his body was ripped to shreds, as was the body of every bear within several meters of him.
When the dust cleared, all the was left of Hokutou and the nearby bears was a pile of dust and bones. Any remaining bears were squealing and running in all directions, Inuyasha, Kagome, Kouga, Kashikoi, and the rest of inu, boar, and wolf youkai taking them out as they fled. Sayua kneeled close beside the remains of the leader of the bears, breathing heavily, holding her gut. Sesshomaru was by her side in an instant, as was her mate.
"Daughter," said Sesshomaru, gripping her hand and gently lifting her into his arms, "you did well."
She grunted. "Father." She turned. "Hideaki?"
"Right here, koishii," said her mate, holding her other hand. When he saw her condition, he tried not to cringe.
Sesshomaru brought her to the others. "Miko," he said, looking at Kagome.
"Yes, my Lord," she replied immediately, lowering her bow. Sesshomaru set his daughter on the ground; they all gathered close and could see her injuries. Inuyasha paled while Asuka hid her head in his haori. Ayame gasped and clutched Kouga's arm. Kouga was pale and clearly shaken.
Sayua's gut was slashed open; parts of her stomach and intestines were threatening to fall out. Her skin was tinged green and covered in pus. Her breathing was labored; her skin was ashen.
Sesshomaru and Hideaki looked at her; for the first time, Inuyasha saw real concern on his brother's face. Sesshomaru looked up at Kagome. "Now," he said.
"Right." She kneeled beside her niece and got to work. The green tinge was from poison, she knew; it must have been the same poison that Kurokuma used to attack Inuyasha. She had to be careful, though; one slip and she could purify Sayua, which, given her current state, could kill her.
"Lord Kouga, Lord Kashikoi," Sesshomaru said suddenly. The wolf and boar immediately appeared by his side. "Make sure there are no more bear youkai on this property. Use any means necessary to eliminate them."
Kouga and Kashikoi nodded. "Consider it done," said Kouga, and they left to search the grounds for any remaining youkai, Kouga howling for his wolves to join them.
"Little brother, younger daughter," said Sesshomaru next, "protect us. Nothing gets by you."
Inuaysha nodded, the Tetsusaiga ready to defend. "Nothing," he agreed. Asuka stood beside him, tears streaming down her face, her own short sword also at the ready.
With all the chaos around her, it was hard for Kagome to concentrate on healing Sayua, but she closed her eyes and allowed her Third Eye to take control. She felt her power course down her arms and out her fingers; she held her hands over Sayua's midsection, imagining as best she could how to fit the pieces of her niece's body back together. When she finally had the stomach and intestines where she thought they belonged, she turned her attention to the skin.
Sayua's skin had been rendered almost unsaveable by the bear's claws. Kagome held her hands over Sayua, wiling her power to cover her niece's body and heal that which had been so badly poisoned and torn. Sesshomaru and Hideaki watched as gentle pink streams came forth from Kagome's hands and massaged the skin, gently bringing it back to a healthy color. Then, she moved her hands back and forth over Sayua's belly, allowing the skin to spread and grow. When Kagome finished, Sayua was breathing normally, and color had returned to her cheeks. Kagome sat back, proud but wobbly, and examined her work.
"Little brother," said Sesshomaru at last. Inuaysha looked over, and saw Kagome sway back and forth. "Inuyasha," she said in a small voice, her eyes bright. He caught her as she fell and held her closely to his chest. "You did well, wife," he murmured, and she smiled faintly, barely conscious.
Inuyasha lifted Kagome gently in his arms. Sesshomaru rose and stood beside his brother. Together, they surveyed the damage.
The shrine house still stood, but one whole side had been gouged out by the force of the attacks the property had faced. The shrine itself appeared largely unharmed, as did the shed that housed the Bone Eater's Well. But the grounds were a mess; flagstones upturned; massive piles of dirt and dust and debris everywhere; giant track marks in the ground where battles had taken place.
"It will take a while to rebuild, little brother," Sesshomaru murmured.
Inuyasha shifted Kagome and smiled when she nuzzled his mark in her sleep. "Maybe we build our house inside the grounds?" he said wryly.
A hint of a smile crossed Sesshomaru's face. "Hopefully this is the end of your miko attracting youkai, but yes, the grounds themselves would probably be more acceptable. We will build the house while we repair the property."
Inuyasha grinned in spite of himself, then groaned. "Wait till Kagome's ojiji sees what we've done!"
The witch had kept to herself during the battle, staying far from the fray and biding her time to attack the half-breed and the miko. Ideally, she'd wanted Hokutou to take out the half-breed, leaving the miko to her, but that hadn't happened. Instead, the Lord of the West's daughter, of all people, had organized the final drive against Hokutou and wasted both him and his army. He hadn't even been able to do the one thing she'd asked him to do!
Now, back in the den, alone, the witch sighed. She'd waited many years for Inuyasha and Kagome's blood; she was excellent at exerting patience. She had one card left to play, and while that card wasn't going to be dealt anytime soon, again, she could be very, very, patient.
Notes:
Now that we've (hopefully) seen the last of the bear youkai, what's next for Inuyasha and Kagome? How about some peace and quiet (yeah, right, lol)! As always, thanks everyone so much for reading, and I'm looking forward to posting the next update 3
