Inuyasha and Co do not belong to me. I just like to write about them. Whew! I suck at battles so I hope that this is somewhat coherent because when I write out something I usually don't know how it turns out until it's all written up! Some strong language in this chapter along with some icky stuff. Also a Fluffy/Kag moment. I simply LOVE his tail - oh and the youkai attached is a hottie! ::turns hose on self:: enjoy!
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Fifteen
The Crossed Swords of the Hanyou-Woman
"Kikyou!" The Onigumo-youkai's eyes narrowed at the young woman in front of him.
"I am NOT Kikyou!" Kagome yelled, swinging the Tetsusaiga at the hanyou. She, unfortunately missed.
A voice floated all around Kagome and suddenly the forest seemed to be filled with inky darkness.
"Kagome!" Sesshoumaru shouted her name - without even realizing it . He saw her disappear, nay the whole forest disappear all around him. His eyes narrowed. Did these weak youkai think they could trick him? Abruptly the two dirt youkai drew Sesshoumaru up by his arms, their limbs twining around his body.
"Demon-lord, do not worry about the woman...worry about yourself, for you are in the grasp of Tamuri - stealer of hearts!"
Sesshoumaru said nothing as the two youkai lifted him up into the air, but then without warning, he wrested himself from the grip of the two youkai and spinning at incredible speed, came down between the two youkai, his Goshinki shredding the two youkai as if they were in a blender. Landing gracefully on the ground, he headed for the void where Kagome was. No one took what was Sesshoumaru's.
***
"This is an illusion.." Kagome growled. "You are of Naruku, you coward!"
The Onigumo-youkai smiled grotesquely as he appeared before her once again. "He resides in the shards, as do I, she-who-is-Kikyou."
"I am NOT Kikyou..I am Kagome!" Kagome's anger grew, washing away her initial fear of this horrible thing.
"I know.." Onigumo moved slowly towards her. "So pure...so untouched.." The youkai licked his lips. "No evil in your heart..I shall be the one to corrupt your heart with hate and lust, not the dog-demon's spawn.."
Kagome's face twisted in pure disgust as she brandished the Tetsusaiga in her hands. No, no she would not let this thing touch her!
"You will not, Onigumo.." Kagome said lowly, not noticing that her hair was changing to a silvery color or that her claws extended. All she knew was that she was feeling this sudden surge within her, a feeling of power that was clean and pure. The pure glow that had once surrounded the Shikon no Tama was now surrounding her and the Tetsusaiga itself. The Onigumo-youkai's eyes widened.
"Beautiful.." he reached out his arm, the flesh hanging in tatters from it. Kagome's nose wrinkled at the stench of this thing.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!" Kagome's eyes flashed as she swung the Tetusaiga at Onigumo, lopping off the disgusting arm and throwing him backwards from her.
"Bitch, you will not spurn me again!!" Kagome heard a roar behind her and instinctively ducked and rolled away, sprawling on the ground, her hair changing back to it's usual black.
"Wench!!" Kagome swore she heard Sesshoumaru's voice from far away. She looked up at the inky void. She had to get out of this illusion or whatever it was!
Suddenly she was jerked up by the hair by Onigumo, who grinned at her.
"So, the hanyou within you is vying for supremecy.." Onigumo. "How delight - " Kagome swung the Tetsusaiga at the Onigumo thing and his head was promptly lopped off.
"Shut up!" Kagome spat as she was dropped. She ran, sprinting towards wherever the exit could be, but she knew if she tried to look for it, she'd never find it. Grimacing she slashed with the fang sword and she abruptly tumbled out of the void only to be promptly grabbed by Sesshoumaru.
"I told you to stay!" Sesshoumaru's eyes were angry.
"I did, you baka! Not that it did any good!" Kagome spat and then her eyes widened. "Sesshoumaru, behind you!" But Sesshoumaru was already gone, fighting the multitudes of dirt youkai that had suddenly appeared. Kagome looked for the Shikon shard that had been within the original creature, but somehow she could not sense it.
"The demon lord would be a excellent host. Perhaps then you would bestow Onigumo with your favor.." A voice said behind her. Kagome spun and saw Onigumo once more.
"Why can't you stay dead!!" Kagome yelled.
He laughed. "Because, dear Kagome, I already am!" He disappeared.
*****
Meanwhile Jaken and the fire-youkai were still at an impasse. Neither one could breech the others defenses.
"Give up, you third rate youkai!" Jaken taunted. "I am sure Sesshoumaru-sama would be glad to see you as mincemeat!"
The youkai said nothing but suddenly Jaken felt something speak to his mind - no, crawl into his mind.
~He helps the human woman, Jaken...is that right?~
Jaken glanced to where Kagome and Sesshoumaru had been.
"She's his to dispose of.." Jaken narrowed his eyes at the fire-youkai, knowing that it came from him.
~But he hasn't - he won't..she will capture him and turn your noble master into her slave, just as the little human girl has already done..~
"No! Liar!" Jaken spat as he took a step forward, wanting to take his anger out on the fire-youkai.
~Only with her it will be worse...she will use her body to ensnare your lord, just as the hanyou's mother did. Seduce him with her lovely charms. .~
"It - is - a - lie!" Jaken cried out, aiming the staff of heads to where it would engulf the fire-youkai.
~The shards, Jaken...the shards..take them before she does...the woman..~
"Huh..?" Jaken blinked and the fire-youkai was suddenly on top of him, knocking the staff away from him.
"Awk!" Jaken exclaimed. "Sesshoumaru-sama, have mercy and save your servant!"
The fire-youkai grinned down at the hapless demon-servant. ~He could care less about you, Jaken..care less about your loyalty to him..loyalty should be rewarded, not punished...~
Jaken's eyes widened as he realized his predicament. He barely registered the words that the demon said, and yet his heart constricted with anger. He had been loyal - always loyal - even when Sesshoumaru-sama tossed him around as if he were some worthless human.
~I, Jujemaraku sense the evil intent in your heart, Jaken. Untainted and true..~
"A - aaaa..." Jaken croaked, sure that the thing would devour him. He could not reach the staff and Sesshoumaru-sama -
Suddenly Jaken's body lurched as the fire-youkai seemed to disapate into smoke and draw into Jaken's mouth. His small body raised up off the ground as he screamed but did not resist the youkai pouring into him. His normally yellow eyes glowed red and his hands and arms extended grotesquely out from him. The shard that had been inside the fire youkai danced on Jaken's chest as it's dark light cast a glow over Jaken and the two shards within the baboon skin pouch.
~Do not fight us, Jaken..we are on your side..your master's side..yes..yes...~
Jaken stared wide-eyed, unseeing of the sky above him, only feeling the power within him surging...
****
Sesshoumaru had had about enough. He was a methodical demon and he did not take things lightly - especially that these seemingly weak youkai could give him such a hard time. But even Sesshoumaru could be become angry, and so it was then he turned into his true form - the dog demon. In this form, he started to rend apart the many dirt youkai, but for every one that he killed, more would attack him and try to burrow into his flesh. He howled with pain and anger at the annoying dirt youkai as his blood ran down his coat.
"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome gasped and started to run towards him. The Onigumo youkai paused for a moment as if he sensed something, and smiled slightly. This gave Kagome only a moment to run to Sesshoumaru, but as she ran, she changed once more, her hair turning silver and her speed increasing to that of what Inuyasha's had been. Angrily, she leaped in the air, swinging Tetsusaiga at the horrible youkai, uncaring that their innards were flying in her face. A few that were trying to burrow into Sesshoumaru's coat she had yanked out angrily, tossing them away or slicing them down.
Onigumo watched with interest but also with some jealousy. Although he/they desired the body of the youkai-lord of the West, he/they knew now that they would not be able to gain access to it, for the feelings that the human girl, Rin had invoked were now being felt for the miko-incarnate. His miko! Once more, fate seemed to conspire against he, Onigumo.
That had been what he wanted really, the miko. She with her ivory skin, black hair and pure heart. Her eyes so luminous and caring. How he had wanted to corrupt her in every way possible, make her truly his slave. In the end she had been corrupt, but although he had created her hate, she had not become his. In the end, it was she that both destroyed him and allowed him to be reborn once more. He, Onigumo and Naruku all at once.
It was only a matter of time...he glanced at where Jaken floated above the ground. Not the prettiest thing but still, when they were complete once more it would not matter.
And then Onigumo's eyes widened as he saw the miko-incarnate astride the dog-demon lord.
****
"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome shouted. "I've got an idea but you've got to help me!"
Sesshoumaru roared angrily and tried to shake Kagome off his coat but with little success. Kagome hung on to one of his ears as she nearly slipped off of him. The blood all over him did not help.
"Quit getting pissed off!" Kagome climbed back upon him. "I don't have my arrows and I think that Onigumo youkai is the one who is leading this freak show! Run into him! I know of the Wound of the Wind!"
She could have sworn the dog-demon chortle but she wasn't sure.
"Just do it, okay? If it doesn't work, you can rip me to shreds later! Oh shit! Jaken! Look, Sesshoumaru!" Kagome saw the toad demon still floating in the air, his limbs extended grotesquely. She did NOT like Jaken, but still, she hoped that innate decency still separated the humans from the demons.
It was then she felt Sesshoumaru move fast, very fast through the air and it seemed to Kagome that the Onigumo-youkai was not paying attention at all, caught up in some twisted thought perhaps. All the better.
Kagome helfed the Tetsusaiga and tried to remember about the Wound of the Wind. It was something that could not be taught at all, but instead it had to be learned by the one who weilded the Tetsusaiga. Kagome only hoped that luck would be with her now. Peering at Onigumo, she could see the aura around him - a blackish color. She saw that he had two shards within him where before he had one.
~One must have came from the dirt-youkai..~ Kagome grimaced. ~Dammit, where is the wound?~
It was then that Onigumo saw them at last. He smiled, showing his blackish mouth.
"So, my miko wishes to play? So be it!" He held out his hand and Kagome saw the air void - but no, it was no air void at all. Instead a wind whipped out from Onigumo's hand and Kagome was instantly reminded of Kagura's control of the winds.
~And I can't counteract with arrows this time!~ Kagome thought with dispair. There HAD to be a way! Sesshoumaru was pushed back by the wind, but the demon-lord was tenacious.
"Wait.." Kagome thought. "Goshinki..wasn't that sword made of a fang too? Would perhaps two swords made of the fang.."
It was then that she was flipped over end over end as Sesshoumaru abruptly changed back to his more familar form.
"I am not a horse for you to ride, bitch.." He growled as he caught her. Leaping in mid-air, he tried to avoid the whipping winds,but it seemed to follow them.
"Where's the Goshinki!" Kagome ignored his warning. "And don't call me bitch, you baka. Where is it!"
"I will kill you when this is over." Sesshoumaru growled.
"Fine. Whatever. Look, I can't find the Wound of the Wind..." Kagome winced as another blast of wind hit them and sent them tumbling. She felt something fluffy wrapping around her as they were tossed around.
"Of course you can't." Sesshoumaru regained his balance, still holding her.
"Baka, you don't understand! Controlling the wind is of Kagura! You met her right? Well Inuyasha could not find the Wound either because she controlled them! I shot the arrow and it made the wound! Goshinki could - "
"Make the wound.." Sesshoumaru's grip tightened around her. "But can you deal it, wench?"
"You can kill me if I don't.." Kagome said. "We've got to end this."
Sesshoumaru nodded and whether he approved of Kagome's plan or not, she did not know, but the demon lord's eyes narrowed as he leaped high in the air with Kagome.
"Demon-lord!" Onigumo called out tauntingly. "You cannot withstand my wind? Truly you ARE weak!"
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed dangerously and he plunged down towards Onigumo, feeling the wind all around him. Instead of fighting the current, he became one with it - an old trick learned long ago in his childhood by -
~Jaken?~ Sesshoumaru felt a brief surprise.
"I hope I get this right.." Kagome muttered, waiting..waiting..
Without warning, Kagome saw Sesshoumaru's sword head straight for Onigumo, cutting throught the chaotic winds.
"I see it!" Kagome's eyes widened, her silver hair flying, merging with Sesshoumaru's. Abruptly he let her go, his tail whipping in the wind. He seemed to float in the air as he watched Kagome.
She yelled as she hurtled downwards the Tetsusaiga held in one hand. Amazingly enough the sword that Sesshoumaru had tossed into the wind came spinning towards Kagome's hand. She gripped both swords as she plunged towards Onigumo, ignoring the winds, only seeing the Wound itself. At the last moment, she crossed both swords and as she crashed into Onigumo, she cried out in exhultation. A purifying glow surrounded Kagome, protecting her. The sky seemed to turn crimson as Kagome rolled in the grass below, both swords still crossed in front of her. When she finally stopped, all was quiet.
It was Sesshoumaru who stood above her, his eyes troubled as he held his sword in front of him.
The sword he held was the Goshinki. It was Kagome who held the Tetsusaiga and the Tensaiga in her hands. How he could have mistaken the two, he could not fathom. He knew each sword quite well and would not have made such a foolish mistake.
He looked at the scene before him, the youkai were gone, but there was no furrow in the ground nor evidence that there had been a battle here. A glow surrounded Kagome and himself and he realized that the wounds that the dirt youkai had inflicted upon him were gone.
~Tensaiga healed me - as it has healed the land around it...~ Sesshoumaru thought as he bent over the unconscious Kagome. ~Destruction and rebirth..~
"Uhhh.." Kagome's eyes fluttered and Sesshoumaru saw her hair change to black once more.
"I won't kill you - yet." Sesshoumaru said.
"Oh.." Kagome tried to focus. "Onigumo!"
"He is gone. You found the Wound.." Sesshoumaru lifted Kagome up in his arms.
"Hey!" Kagome exclaimed.
"I do not want you slowing us down. We must go to my palace." Sesshoumaru said shortly.
"S - sesshoumaru-sama.." Jaken, now conscious, wobbled towards Sesshoumaru. He saw that he carried the hanyou-woman, and felt only a dull anger. He felt tired - so tired. The youkai servant leaned on his staff heavily, not really remembering much of the battle at all.
"Jaken.." Sesshoumaru's eyes scrutinized Jaken's form. He seemed all right and he did not smell any sort of wound upon his servant.
"We must make haste to home.." Sesshoumaru said.
"Hai, Sesshoumaru.." Jaken said, waving his staff.
Within moments they were in the air, with Sesshoumaru holding Kagome as she seemed to slip off into sleep. His guess was that the backlash of energy had hit her, but still such display and control that she posessed! He had never seen such in any lesser being before.
Jaken, too was lost in thoughts. Something had happened to him - something so wonderful and yet terrifying at the same time - something to do with the shards of the Shikon he carried. He had more of them now - from where they came he didn't know. Now instead of small shards, they were starting to mesh together. He knew because he had seen it in his mind.
~Soon, Jaken..soon..~ the voice had whispered in the winds as Jaken came to. He had been elated to see his master, but not elated to see Kagome. Still he could not manage to expend his usual glare to the human - for one, she was unconscious and for another he had been too tired.
Still, Jaken felt power in the bag he carried, power that he could use to help his master overcome the influence of the humans and break the curse that his father, Lord Inutaisho had brought to his home.
Myoga, perched unseen on Kagome's shoulder, pondered the implications of what he had seen. Tetsusaiga and Tensaiga were meant to be used together to be sure, but he had never expected them to be used in quite the way they had been. Two dissimilar swords, two dissimilar brothers and yet Inutaisho had planned that they would be united.
But now, with Inuyasha willingly in the other realm bound by his guilt and love for the miko, Kikyou, there left only one brother -
And Kagome. Myoga's eyes widened. Could it be?
"I am getting too old for this.." Myoga murmured to himself.
***
Sesshoumaru curled his tail about Kagome and himself, shielding them from the winds, and was surprised when Kagome nestled her head against him trustingly. He, Sesshoumaru was used to people qualing in terror at him, not nestling against him in trust. Only Rin had dared to do that and she was an exception.
"Hm..fluffy.." Kagome muttered.
Sesshoumaru only stared straight ahead, trying not to think of the woman in his arms.
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Fifteen
The Crossed Swords of the Hanyou-Woman
"Kikyou!" The Onigumo-youkai's eyes narrowed at the young woman in front of him.
"I am NOT Kikyou!" Kagome yelled, swinging the Tetsusaiga at the hanyou. She, unfortunately missed.
A voice floated all around Kagome and suddenly the forest seemed to be filled with inky darkness.
"Kagome!" Sesshoumaru shouted her name - without even realizing it . He saw her disappear, nay the whole forest disappear all around him. His eyes narrowed. Did these weak youkai think they could trick him? Abruptly the two dirt youkai drew Sesshoumaru up by his arms, their limbs twining around his body.
"Demon-lord, do not worry about the woman...worry about yourself, for you are in the grasp of Tamuri - stealer of hearts!"
Sesshoumaru said nothing as the two youkai lifted him up into the air, but then without warning, he wrested himself from the grip of the two youkai and spinning at incredible speed, came down between the two youkai, his Goshinki shredding the two youkai as if they were in a blender. Landing gracefully on the ground, he headed for the void where Kagome was. No one took what was Sesshoumaru's.
***
"This is an illusion.." Kagome growled. "You are of Naruku, you coward!"
The Onigumo-youkai smiled grotesquely as he appeared before her once again. "He resides in the shards, as do I, she-who-is-Kikyou."
"I am NOT Kikyou..I am Kagome!" Kagome's anger grew, washing away her initial fear of this horrible thing.
"I know.." Onigumo moved slowly towards her. "So pure...so untouched.." The youkai licked his lips. "No evil in your heart..I shall be the one to corrupt your heart with hate and lust, not the dog-demon's spawn.."
Kagome's face twisted in pure disgust as she brandished the Tetsusaiga in her hands. No, no she would not let this thing touch her!
"You will not, Onigumo.." Kagome said lowly, not noticing that her hair was changing to a silvery color or that her claws extended. All she knew was that she was feeling this sudden surge within her, a feeling of power that was clean and pure. The pure glow that had once surrounded the Shikon no Tama was now surrounding her and the Tetsusaiga itself. The Onigumo-youkai's eyes widened.
"Beautiful.." he reached out his arm, the flesh hanging in tatters from it. Kagome's nose wrinkled at the stench of this thing.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!" Kagome's eyes flashed as she swung the Tetusaiga at Onigumo, lopping off the disgusting arm and throwing him backwards from her.
"Bitch, you will not spurn me again!!" Kagome heard a roar behind her and instinctively ducked and rolled away, sprawling on the ground, her hair changing back to it's usual black.
"Wench!!" Kagome swore she heard Sesshoumaru's voice from far away. She looked up at the inky void. She had to get out of this illusion or whatever it was!
Suddenly she was jerked up by the hair by Onigumo, who grinned at her.
"So, the hanyou within you is vying for supremecy.." Onigumo. "How delight - " Kagome swung the Tetsusaiga at the Onigumo thing and his head was promptly lopped off.
"Shut up!" Kagome spat as she was dropped. She ran, sprinting towards wherever the exit could be, but she knew if she tried to look for it, she'd never find it. Grimacing she slashed with the fang sword and she abruptly tumbled out of the void only to be promptly grabbed by Sesshoumaru.
"I told you to stay!" Sesshoumaru's eyes were angry.
"I did, you baka! Not that it did any good!" Kagome spat and then her eyes widened. "Sesshoumaru, behind you!" But Sesshoumaru was already gone, fighting the multitudes of dirt youkai that had suddenly appeared. Kagome looked for the Shikon shard that had been within the original creature, but somehow she could not sense it.
"The demon lord would be a excellent host. Perhaps then you would bestow Onigumo with your favor.." A voice said behind her. Kagome spun and saw Onigumo once more.
"Why can't you stay dead!!" Kagome yelled.
He laughed. "Because, dear Kagome, I already am!" He disappeared.
*****
Meanwhile Jaken and the fire-youkai were still at an impasse. Neither one could breech the others defenses.
"Give up, you third rate youkai!" Jaken taunted. "I am sure Sesshoumaru-sama would be glad to see you as mincemeat!"
The youkai said nothing but suddenly Jaken felt something speak to his mind - no, crawl into his mind.
~He helps the human woman, Jaken...is that right?~
Jaken glanced to where Kagome and Sesshoumaru had been.
"She's his to dispose of.." Jaken narrowed his eyes at the fire-youkai, knowing that it came from him.
~But he hasn't - he won't..she will capture him and turn your noble master into her slave, just as the little human girl has already done..~
"No! Liar!" Jaken spat as he took a step forward, wanting to take his anger out on the fire-youkai.
~Only with her it will be worse...she will use her body to ensnare your lord, just as the hanyou's mother did. Seduce him with her lovely charms. .~
"It - is - a - lie!" Jaken cried out, aiming the staff of heads to where it would engulf the fire-youkai.
~The shards, Jaken...the shards..take them before she does...the woman..~
"Huh..?" Jaken blinked and the fire-youkai was suddenly on top of him, knocking the staff away from him.
"Awk!" Jaken exclaimed. "Sesshoumaru-sama, have mercy and save your servant!"
The fire-youkai grinned down at the hapless demon-servant. ~He could care less about you, Jaken..care less about your loyalty to him..loyalty should be rewarded, not punished...~
Jaken's eyes widened as he realized his predicament. He barely registered the words that the demon said, and yet his heart constricted with anger. He had been loyal - always loyal - even when Sesshoumaru-sama tossed him around as if he were some worthless human.
~I, Jujemaraku sense the evil intent in your heart, Jaken. Untainted and true..~
"A - aaaa..." Jaken croaked, sure that the thing would devour him. He could not reach the staff and Sesshoumaru-sama -
Suddenly Jaken's body lurched as the fire-youkai seemed to disapate into smoke and draw into Jaken's mouth. His small body raised up off the ground as he screamed but did not resist the youkai pouring into him. His normally yellow eyes glowed red and his hands and arms extended grotesquely out from him. The shard that had been inside the fire youkai danced on Jaken's chest as it's dark light cast a glow over Jaken and the two shards within the baboon skin pouch.
~Do not fight us, Jaken..we are on your side..your master's side..yes..yes...~
Jaken stared wide-eyed, unseeing of the sky above him, only feeling the power within him surging...
****
Sesshoumaru had had about enough. He was a methodical demon and he did not take things lightly - especially that these seemingly weak youkai could give him such a hard time. But even Sesshoumaru could be become angry, and so it was then he turned into his true form - the dog demon. In this form, he started to rend apart the many dirt youkai, but for every one that he killed, more would attack him and try to burrow into his flesh. He howled with pain and anger at the annoying dirt youkai as his blood ran down his coat.
"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome gasped and started to run towards him. The Onigumo youkai paused for a moment as if he sensed something, and smiled slightly. This gave Kagome only a moment to run to Sesshoumaru, but as she ran, she changed once more, her hair turning silver and her speed increasing to that of what Inuyasha's had been. Angrily, she leaped in the air, swinging Tetsusaiga at the horrible youkai, uncaring that their innards were flying in her face. A few that were trying to burrow into Sesshoumaru's coat she had yanked out angrily, tossing them away or slicing them down.
Onigumo watched with interest but also with some jealousy. Although he/they desired the body of the youkai-lord of the West, he/they knew now that they would not be able to gain access to it, for the feelings that the human girl, Rin had invoked were now being felt for the miko-incarnate. His miko! Once more, fate seemed to conspire against he, Onigumo.
That had been what he wanted really, the miko. She with her ivory skin, black hair and pure heart. Her eyes so luminous and caring. How he had wanted to corrupt her in every way possible, make her truly his slave. In the end she had been corrupt, but although he had created her hate, she had not become his. In the end, it was she that both destroyed him and allowed him to be reborn once more. He, Onigumo and Naruku all at once.
It was only a matter of time...he glanced at where Jaken floated above the ground. Not the prettiest thing but still, when they were complete once more it would not matter.
And then Onigumo's eyes widened as he saw the miko-incarnate astride the dog-demon lord.
****
"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome shouted. "I've got an idea but you've got to help me!"
Sesshoumaru roared angrily and tried to shake Kagome off his coat but with little success. Kagome hung on to one of his ears as she nearly slipped off of him. The blood all over him did not help.
"Quit getting pissed off!" Kagome climbed back upon him. "I don't have my arrows and I think that Onigumo youkai is the one who is leading this freak show! Run into him! I know of the Wound of the Wind!"
She could have sworn the dog-demon chortle but she wasn't sure.
"Just do it, okay? If it doesn't work, you can rip me to shreds later! Oh shit! Jaken! Look, Sesshoumaru!" Kagome saw the toad demon still floating in the air, his limbs extended grotesquely. She did NOT like Jaken, but still, she hoped that innate decency still separated the humans from the demons.
It was then she felt Sesshoumaru move fast, very fast through the air and it seemed to Kagome that the Onigumo-youkai was not paying attention at all, caught up in some twisted thought perhaps. All the better.
Kagome helfed the Tetsusaiga and tried to remember about the Wound of the Wind. It was something that could not be taught at all, but instead it had to be learned by the one who weilded the Tetsusaiga. Kagome only hoped that luck would be with her now. Peering at Onigumo, she could see the aura around him - a blackish color. She saw that he had two shards within him where before he had one.
~One must have came from the dirt-youkai..~ Kagome grimaced. ~Dammit, where is the wound?~
It was then that Onigumo saw them at last. He smiled, showing his blackish mouth.
"So, my miko wishes to play? So be it!" He held out his hand and Kagome saw the air void - but no, it was no air void at all. Instead a wind whipped out from Onigumo's hand and Kagome was instantly reminded of Kagura's control of the winds.
~And I can't counteract with arrows this time!~ Kagome thought with dispair. There HAD to be a way! Sesshoumaru was pushed back by the wind, but the demon-lord was tenacious.
"Wait.." Kagome thought. "Goshinki..wasn't that sword made of a fang too? Would perhaps two swords made of the fang.."
It was then that she was flipped over end over end as Sesshoumaru abruptly changed back to his more familar form.
"I am not a horse for you to ride, bitch.." He growled as he caught her. Leaping in mid-air, he tried to avoid the whipping winds,but it seemed to follow them.
"Where's the Goshinki!" Kagome ignored his warning. "And don't call me bitch, you baka. Where is it!"
"I will kill you when this is over." Sesshoumaru growled.
"Fine. Whatever. Look, I can't find the Wound of the Wind..." Kagome winced as another blast of wind hit them and sent them tumbling. She felt something fluffy wrapping around her as they were tossed around.
"Of course you can't." Sesshoumaru regained his balance, still holding her.
"Baka, you don't understand! Controlling the wind is of Kagura! You met her right? Well Inuyasha could not find the Wound either because she controlled them! I shot the arrow and it made the wound! Goshinki could - "
"Make the wound.." Sesshoumaru's grip tightened around her. "But can you deal it, wench?"
"You can kill me if I don't.." Kagome said. "We've got to end this."
Sesshoumaru nodded and whether he approved of Kagome's plan or not, she did not know, but the demon lord's eyes narrowed as he leaped high in the air with Kagome.
"Demon-lord!" Onigumo called out tauntingly. "You cannot withstand my wind? Truly you ARE weak!"
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed dangerously and he plunged down towards Onigumo, feeling the wind all around him. Instead of fighting the current, he became one with it - an old trick learned long ago in his childhood by -
~Jaken?~ Sesshoumaru felt a brief surprise.
"I hope I get this right.." Kagome muttered, waiting..waiting..
Without warning, Kagome saw Sesshoumaru's sword head straight for Onigumo, cutting throught the chaotic winds.
"I see it!" Kagome's eyes widened, her silver hair flying, merging with Sesshoumaru's. Abruptly he let her go, his tail whipping in the wind. He seemed to float in the air as he watched Kagome.
She yelled as she hurtled downwards the Tetsusaiga held in one hand. Amazingly enough the sword that Sesshoumaru had tossed into the wind came spinning towards Kagome's hand. She gripped both swords as she plunged towards Onigumo, ignoring the winds, only seeing the Wound itself. At the last moment, she crossed both swords and as she crashed into Onigumo, she cried out in exhultation. A purifying glow surrounded Kagome, protecting her. The sky seemed to turn crimson as Kagome rolled in the grass below, both swords still crossed in front of her. When she finally stopped, all was quiet.
It was Sesshoumaru who stood above her, his eyes troubled as he held his sword in front of him.
The sword he held was the Goshinki. It was Kagome who held the Tetsusaiga and the Tensaiga in her hands. How he could have mistaken the two, he could not fathom. He knew each sword quite well and would not have made such a foolish mistake.
He looked at the scene before him, the youkai were gone, but there was no furrow in the ground nor evidence that there had been a battle here. A glow surrounded Kagome and himself and he realized that the wounds that the dirt youkai had inflicted upon him were gone.
~Tensaiga healed me - as it has healed the land around it...~ Sesshoumaru thought as he bent over the unconscious Kagome. ~Destruction and rebirth..~
"Uhhh.." Kagome's eyes fluttered and Sesshoumaru saw her hair change to black once more.
"I won't kill you - yet." Sesshoumaru said.
"Oh.." Kagome tried to focus. "Onigumo!"
"He is gone. You found the Wound.." Sesshoumaru lifted Kagome up in his arms.
"Hey!" Kagome exclaimed.
"I do not want you slowing us down. We must go to my palace." Sesshoumaru said shortly.
"S - sesshoumaru-sama.." Jaken, now conscious, wobbled towards Sesshoumaru. He saw that he carried the hanyou-woman, and felt only a dull anger. He felt tired - so tired. The youkai servant leaned on his staff heavily, not really remembering much of the battle at all.
"Jaken.." Sesshoumaru's eyes scrutinized Jaken's form. He seemed all right and he did not smell any sort of wound upon his servant.
"We must make haste to home.." Sesshoumaru said.
"Hai, Sesshoumaru.." Jaken said, waving his staff.
Within moments they were in the air, with Sesshoumaru holding Kagome as she seemed to slip off into sleep. His guess was that the backlash of energy had hit her, but still such display and control that she posessed! He had never seen such in any lesser being before.
Jaken, too was lost in thoughts. Something had happened to him - something so wonderful and yet terrifying at the same time - something to do with the shards of the Shikon he carried. He had more of them now - from where they came he didn't know. Now instead of small shards, they were starting to mesh together. He knew because he had seen it in his mind.
~Soon, Jaken..soon..~ the voice had whispered in the winds as Jaken came to. He had been elated to see his master, but not elated to see Kagome. Still he could not manage to expend his usual glare to the human - for one, she was unconscious and for another he had been too tired.
Still, Jaken felt power in the bag he carried, power that he could use to help his master overcome the influence of the humans and break the curse that his father, Lord Inutaisho had brought to his home.
Myoga, perched unseen on Kagome's shoulder, pondered the implications of what he had seen. Tetsusaiga and Tensaiga were meant to be used together to be sure, but he had never expected them to be used in quite the way they had been. Two dissimilar swords, two dissimilar brothers and yet Inutaisho had planned that they would be united.
But now, with Inuyasha willingly in the other realm bound by his guilt and love for the miko, Kikyou, there left only one brother -
And Kagome. Myoga's eyes widened. Could it be?
"I am getting too old for this.." Myoga murmured to himself.
***
Sesshoumaru curled his tail about Kagome and himself, shielding them from the winds, and was surprised when Kagome nestled her head against him trustingly. He, Sesshoumaru was used to people qualing in terror at him, not nestling against him in trust. Only Rin had dared to do that and she was an exception.
"Hm..fluffy.." Kagome muttered.
Sesshoumaru only stared straight ahead, trying not to think of the woman in his arms.
