Nocturne - Chapter Fifty-Five: Culling The Ranks
Rated - M (for extremely suggestive adult themes, references to harsh violence, and coarse language)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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Inuyasha raged against the feeble fools who came against him. None were spared from his retribution as he expertly whipped Tessaiga towards a hanyo enemy that was unlucky enough to get within the sword's reach. He spun with Tessaiga diagonally, tearing left into the fool, splitting him apart. His foe fell, sliced in two.
One down and hundreds to go. Inuyasha gritted his teeth in annoyance. These fuckers were too cunning for their own good, attacking him individually rather than as a group which worked to their advantage, making Inuyasha's primary attack useless. He couldn't unleash the wind scar here around his fellows and friends.
Rage was fueling him, but he was not blinded by it. No, he was tempered now by the thought that he would send Fan Tsenpo's soul to hell with his Meido attack. He reserved it especially for that mother fucker. For now, he used the bastard army as a way to whet his bloody appetite. He has lost too much. Visions of those he'd lost flashed through his mind. Kikyo, Kagome, Shizuka. Fuck! He thought. He was reinvigorated with the fueling anger.
Five more of the bastards circled him, now beginning to close in. They had started with a number bordering on a dozen, but Inuyasha had been able to whittle them down. He figured they were throwing their weaker members at him first to wear him down. It was working. His stamina was not something to bat an eye at, but his was beginning to dwindle, and no amount of rage would keep him alive if this carried on.
The taijiya and villagers who had chosen to fight alongside them were scattered all around, making it impossible to use the Wind Scar without taking anyone in its path out. "You fuckers!" He bellowed at the remaining assailants. "Too fucking scared to come at me! So ya try with this shit."
The hanyo all shared smirking glances at one another. They were all so similar in height and build, with only slight variances in their features and hairstyle choices. All wore identical garments, so it seemed they were copies of one another. One chuckled. "We are no fools!"
"I'll fucking fool ya!" Inuyasha jumped up, singling out the one who'd spoken. The hanyo had not been expecting this, even though he should, barely bringing his blade up in time to guard against Inuyasha's plunging attack.
Inuyasha was pushed back, kicking dirt up in the movement as he dug in his heel to stop. Instead, he redirected his momentum, thrusting forward off his heel and pulling the hilt of Tessaiga to his hip. He saw the hanyos wide eyes as he brought his blade down to guard against the new attack, but his opponent wouldn't be quick enough this time.
He scoffed at their arrogance and thrust Tessaiga up and into the man's pelvis. The hanyo's eyes bulged, and he grimaced with blood trickling from the sides of his mouth before falling to his knees after Inuyasha pulled his blade free. He whipped the colossal sword down, flicking visceral material on the remaining four. "Keh," he scoffed. "Fucking seem like fools to me."
The remaining four hanyo circled closer, and all looked poised to attack and overwhelm Inuyasha. He felt them behind his back and could see two in his peripheral. Quickly, he turned with a mocking grin. "Who's gonna die next?"
"I think you can have that honor," a booming voice echoed from behind his back. Inuyasha turned his head slightly, glancing over his shoulder. So it was the scout from before: Fungus or some shit like that.
Inuyasha didn't move but smirked. "Oh yeah? You gonna try and take me on? Or ya gonna pussy out and come at me like these fuckers…" he gestured to the four thugs in front of him.
Feng was his name, his twin scars - cut into his face in a jagged fashion from where his ears would be under his eyes - wrinkled as he smiled. "I'd be delighted to have the honor of snuffing your life out."
Inuyasha raised a brow. "What about your goons here?"
"They will step aside." Feng's words were taken as a command, and all four stalked to the sidelines.
The battle raged all around them, but somehow, all combatants moved to allow space for a fight between Inuyasha and Feng. Inuyasha brought the mighty Tessaiga up with both hands in a ready lunge. Feng held a long spear in his hand. It had to be at least twelve feet long, and it was adorned with an intricate tassel dangling close to the spearhead.
"Compensating for something?" Feng cajoled.
Inuyasha eyed the tall spear. "No more than you," he responded in a sarcastic tone.
A loud booming sound erupted overhead, drawing the attention up to the sky from all over the field. The battle stopped everywhere; the overwhelming sound of wood, steel, iron, and bronze halted.
Inuyasha felt that had to be his brother, Sesshomaru, and he had found Fan Tsenpo. Hopefully, Sesshomaru hadn't fucked the asshole up too much and leave him the chance to take his vengeance for Shizuka.
"Inuyasha! Watch out!"
Inuyasha tore his gaze from the sky and found that Feng had taken advantage of the momentary distraction. The spear spun in Feng's hands and was in range to strike at Inuyasha, but a giant boomerang clashed off the spear, causing Feng to roar in anger before whipping back to its user.
"You idiot! Never take your eyes from the enemy!" Sango yelled from across the field. Inuyasha hadn't known the slayer was nearby, but she probably had been dealing with her own issues before stepping in.
Inuyasha sneered. "Dammit, woman. I know what I'm doing!" Much to his chagrin, Sango was right, but he would never admit to as much.
Feng planted the butt of the spear down. "Stupid Bitch! You'll pay for your interference."
Sango ran up to Inuyasha, her giant bone boomerang at her shoulder. "I do not fear you, foul beast."
"They smell like you," Feng responded cryptically. "I'd wondered who they belonged to, and I knew it would be a rare treat." His yellow eyes narrowed into a menacing stare.
Sango shrugged. "Your words make no sense."
Feng gave a smug half-smile. "You'll find out soon. And you, pathetic old man," he leveled the spear towards Inuyasha, "need a mortal woman to fight your battles for you. I see now why you carry such a large sword."
"I'll fucking show you old, you pathetic little snot-nosed brat. I'll put you in your fucking place" Inuyasha swung the sword menacingly, "down in the ground as fucking worm fodder!"
Another booming sound erupted, followed closely by the body of Fan Tsenpo as he crashed into the ground just feet away from where Inuyasha stood. Both he and Feng jumped back and out of the way as Sesshomaru, in his true form, descended from the sky.
He was a sight to behold, Inuyasha thought grudgingly. He recalled the first time he'd seen his brother in this form, and that was diminutive compared to the titan that landed on the ground, shaking the earth beneath his feet. The large DaiInuYokai towered over anything and everything. Fan Tsenpo was reduced to a flea in comparison. How could such a small enemy pose any threat to one as mighty as Sesshomaru?
Anyone in the vicinity scattered, as well they should if Inuyasha knew his brother's capabilities. It seemed Fan Tsenpo was at a disadvantage until the two made a lumbering sprint towards one another. A genuinely odd sight to behold as the man ran towards the giant dog with his sword held high at a breakneck speed.
Inuyasha had a vague sense of Deja Vu while he watched the charge.
Both took egregious wounds from the charge, but it had cost Sesshomaru more than it was worth, rendering him lame and unable to get up.
Inuyasha supposed the size wasn't all it was cut out to be. He watched as Fan, wounded though he was, stalked over to taunt his elder brother with words he could not hear.
Fan Tsenpo put a hand to his mouth and whistled a loud shrill cry.
Feng, who'd been close by, answered the summons, along with the rest of the hanyo bastards. They grouped around Fan and the great Sesshomaru.
"My army," Fan addressed those gathered with his brow raised in smug satisfaction. "See Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands of Nippon, brought low," Fan announced loudly for all to hear, throwing out his arms in a grand gesture.
At the sight of the man who had murdered and eviscerated his love, rage began to boil over. All sense left his body, even as Sango made to stop him. The effort was futile, and Inuyasha roared and dashed madly towards Fan Tsenpo.
The bastard had the audacity not to look surprised, as many of his foes typically did. Inuyasha had a clearing now, and his need for vengeance drowned out his thoughts of Sesshomaru. He screamed the attack as his sword whipped down in the motion necessary to activate the assault.
"Wind Scar!" He screamed.
The sword throbbed in his hands as it worked hard to temper his demonic blood from taking over. He panted, some of his energy depleted, and waited for the dust to settle.
His eyes widened when it became plain from the wicked grin adorning Fan's face that the Wind Scar had somehow failed. Fuck, he thought.
Fan Tsenpo had his sword held aloft, and it glowed blue menacingly. "I laud your effort. But I am not so ignorant as not to learn your attacks." He looked around at his untouched hanyo bastards, "or how to deflect them."
"You are quite renowned in Nippon, Inuyasha." Fan scoffed, working the name around through its syllables and meaning. "An unusual name that, but fitting, I suppose."
His name?! Inuyasha sneered. "I don't give a rat's ass what ya think you know. The only thing you should concern yourself with is how to live long enough to watch as I put my sword through your fucking gut."
Fan burst out into a bout of laughter that was genuine and over the top at the same time. He actually grabbed his sides in laughter, wrapping his arms around himself. "Haha ha hahaha ha. You?!" He shouted incredulously. The hanyo surrounding him all looked on with amusement, but none laughed. Maybe they were afraid.
His face turned severe within a split second, and he looked around at his assembled army inspecting those remaining. "While you have taken the lives of more than I would have anticipated. I am pleased to know weakness has been culled from the ranks."
Inuyasha bristled inside, absolute rage still coursing through him. So many of the taijiya and villagers had succumbed to the bastards. Those still alive used this sudden respite to tend to the wounded and regroup behind where Inuyasha stood. He noticed that Kohaku was at the forefront and had stepped up to his side, approaching alongside Sango.
"Do not allow him to urge you into something unwise, Inuyasha," Kohaku spoke softly.
Fan Tsenpo turned away from Inuyasha and looked towards the giant dog that writhed on the ground, attempting to gain his bearing and rise. His front legs were nearly useless at this point, and it would take time to recuperate. Fan still stayed a safe distance away. "I have heard tell that you do not care for your brother," he addressed Sesshomaru. The large inuyokai growled in response. Fan smiled. "I have also heard that your brother, watered down as he may be, bested you in battle, taking your limb."
Fan strolled lazily around the large body of the dog demon, speaking loudly, "while I allow you to breathe, I want you to watch as I bring your brother to heel."
"How about I rip you limb from limb? You smug sunnovabitch?" Inuyasha yelled. "I ain't no dog, you twisted cunt!"
He laughed again. "You are no different than these fellows here," Fan gestured to his army. "I have trained each and every one." He paused, and he frowned a little. "Well, Some more than others."
"Quite flapping your gums!"
Fan snapped his fingers, signaling to his army, and then flew up into the air, his sword in hand. He was swift and nearly difficult to keep up with, appearing in front of Inuyasha and then flashing back several feet–a taunt. "Why? It's much more fun this way."
Inuyasha swung Tessaiga like a club, hoping to connect the pointy end in the soft flesh of his enemy. Fan merely flew back in a swift motion, sneering at Inuyasha's vain attempt to hit him. "What are you swinging at, pup?" Fan taunted.
"Stay still, will ya?" Inuyasha grunted. He jumped after Fan and attempted to attack with the Wind Scar. Fan raised his blue blade and absorbed the attack before turning it back at Inuyasha. It came back to him in the form of blue sludge that undulated and writhed like a living ball of ooze. Inuyasha pulled back, repulsed by the slime, "the fuck?" He breathed.
Hed moved in time to avoid being touched by the Wind Scar turned to slime. It hit the ground behind him with an angry hiss. Inuyasha watched as it burned the earth away, eating into the ground, flora and all. Fucking acid. Fucking great.
The acid came lobbing at him again, like a splatter of paint, but this paint would eat away whatever it came into contact with, and Inuyasha dashed madly to avoid getting hit. Fuckity Fuck!
"You bastard! Your attacks are just as vile and slimy as you!" Inuyasha threw an insult while dodging attacks left and right.
Fan laughed all the while, giddy with perverse pleasure. He whipped his sword in a circular motion, making an arc of acid that would be difficult to evade. His twisted smile on his twisted face was an exemplary embodiment of his masochist thoughts.
"Inuyasha!" Sango threw Hiraikotsu with all her might to block the acid from hitting her friend when it became apparent he may not escape its trajectory. The acid covered the giant bone boomerang and immediately began to eat through the weapon.
"Meddlesome wench," Fan said in mock outrage. He landed smoothly on the ground and drove the point of his blade into the ground. Fan turned his head to the hanyo and jutted his head in a beckon. Feng, the hanyo lieutenant, nodded and gestured to a group of subordinates that stood in loose formation off to the side. One jumped away on a mission.
It only took a moment, as if they were in a queue just waiting for the perfect moment, and maybe they were.
The man returned quickly and gave a wordless gesture to Feng. The lieutenant allowed a small, smug smile to form on his face.
Inuyasha was tired of standing idly. These fuckers had dicked around enough. "Lemme wipe that fucking smile off your face." He made a move to attack, but someone grabbed his suikan to stop him.
"No! Inuyasha, wait!" Sango screamed with shrill urgency. Inuyasha nearly threw her off but glanced to see her first was closed in a death grip around his sleeve, and her eyes were wide. She stared intensely at the woods just beyond, and Inuyasha followed her gaze.
A/N: Dun, dun, dun. I know youse guys are hankering for a showdown and...stuff. Well, we're getting there. I promise.
Thanks for reading. Please let me know your thoughts :)