Hey! This was an idea I had-- an outsider witnessing the battle with the thunder brothers ( kinda sounds like some cheesy wwf characters). Also remember that Naga sees everything from an outsider's POV-- plus I am kinda sympathetic to the brothers, even if they are kinda whacked also left Shippou and Kagome out of my little re-enactment.-- Please remember I am not intentionally bashing anyone!--thanks, K. A.
(Aikonaga (pronounced Eye-koh Nahg-ah) is mine-- and her name is not an actual Japanese name, I know.)
(insert Inuyasha disclaimer here-- I know/own nothing!!)
The sun drifted behind silvery clouds, hiding its face against the stillness that permeated the air. The trees stood, tall and ancient with weathered faces to the breeze.
Aikonaga paused in her steps to wipe the dampness from her forehead, her eyes taking in the view even as she shifted shoulder straps to more comfortable positions. She lifted her face to the breeze, sending a prayer of thanks heavenwards, little as it was, and lifted her hand to shade her eyes.
Through a break in the trees, Aikonaga could see a great light flickering, almost like lightening.. She experimentally sniffed the air; ...youkai? maybe...
A stillness seemed to come over the forest as Aikonaga turned towards the disturbance, wincing at the sounds of thunder crackling suddenly overhead in the sky.
Naga flinched as another bought of noise shook the leaves of the trees nearest her. Gripping her walking stick more tightly, she continued forward, the phrase 'curiosity killed the cat' ringing in her mind. Naga gritted her teeth, willing herself to put aside her qualms; besides, its probably nothing to worry about-- and what if you never see thunder like that again? Think of all the stories you'll have to tell!
Though the spot she had seen through the trees hadn't seemed all that far away, Naga soon felt winded as she half jogged and half walked towards the source of the bursts of light and sound. But as she neared the strobing energy, the metallic, earthy smell seemed to thicken before her. Youkai..?
Naga almost turned back before a small reasoning voice trickled through her mind; but if it was youkai I smelled, they would have found me by now. Naga blinked, stories about the demon lords surfacing in her mind; she pictured them with their blood red eyes, cruel faces set with glinting yellowed fangs, dripping with the life of the innocents they murdered; their sharp noses twitching as they sought out new conquests.
They would have smelled me long before I even realized the danger.
Naga touched her necklace, bought as protection against all things ill, youkai included, the seller had promised. Though she had her doubts, Naga had handed over the coins and slipped it over her head; even if it didn't warn off evil spirits, it was still a beautiful piece of jewelry. Now, Aikonaga rolled the beads nervously against the pads of her fingers, as if trying to find solace in their glassine smoothness.
Naga glanced upward at the mountains that now loomed large before; the ground was starting to slope gently, rocks studding the path before her.
Sounds wafted towards her on the wind; Naga frowned as she listened-- it sounded as if a fight was being waged, not a lightening storm. Even as voices inside her mind tried to convince her that the one who runs away lives to see another day, or something along those lines, Naga quickened her pace.
*CRRIIINNNGGG*
*CLASH*
The sound of metal grinding against metal assaulted Naga's ears and still she made her legs quicken their pace as she made her way towards the noise.
Just as the girl started up the crest, the only thing that blocked view of the source of her immense curiosity, a finger of veined light arced towards her. Naga dropped with a barely stifled cry, shielding her head with her hands in a futile gesture against the heated bolt that struck a tree behind her. Sparks flew into her hair as the sapling burst into flame.
Naga raised her head to stare at the unfortunate thing, thinking that could have been me... Just as she started to reason that maybe she might enjoy escaping and living out a long happy life somewhere far away from there, something howled in seeming anguish.
"NO!! "
Naga froze at the raw voice; she willed her legs to stay steady as she crawled to the crest, keeping hidden from any eyes that might be searching.
The smell of blood and ionized air created a mixture that made Naga gag as she finally laid eyes on the scene before her.
Her stomach threatening to let go of her last meal, Aikonaga lifted her eyes to the scene before her.
To one side, a tall figure stood, either in indifference or terror, she couldn't tell. He looked strange in his deep red kimono, white hair blowing around his shoulders. Naga was too far away to see his face, but she turned her head to look in the direction the still figure was staring.
A second shape was crouched over what looked to be as blood soaked heap; Naga clenched her teeth. She had never liked the sight of blood and *that* was no exception. The man took the bloodied thing into his arms; it was a body, she realized. Shoulders shaking, the armored figure drew the limp body against his chest, embracing it even as blood and darker fluids soaked them both.
Suddenly, he threw his head back and a raw scream issued from deep within.
"NOoooo! Not my brother--not Manten! NO!!"
In spite of herself, Naga felt tears burn in the back of her throat. The body seemed to have been split down the middle, organs spilling out in a bloody disarray. Cradling her face in her hands, Naga looked away. ...Oh, gods! What is this butchery? Such pain! Why am I seeing this?!
A cry made her look up; the blood soaked figure was regaining his feet, a twisted pike suddenly gleaming in his hands; across the clearing stood the white haired man. He stood silently, holding what seemed to be a short staff in his hands.
"I will avenge my brother!!" The armored figure's voice was a raw throated howl. Naga's eyes followed him as he strode towards the other, the one who was obviously the murderer.
The armoured man raised his hand as he stood opposite the white haired figure before him. Suddenly the air crackled and a miasma of white-hot energy poured from his out stretched fingers.
Naga gasped, the sound lost in the roar of light, trying to ward against it with upraised arms before her.
Then everything was silent; Naga risked a glance. The white haired man was standing, staff stretched before him. Naga stared at the crater that stood where ground had been only moments before.
What is this that I am witnessing? What supernatural beings are these--Youkai?!
Naga watched the man who somehow had managed to harness the power of the sky recover; she watched as the two seemingly superhuman beings battled.
It seemed that no matter how fiercely the armoured man attacked, the murderer of Manten managed to stand his ground.
Naga flinched as she witnessed the battle that was being waged before her, listening to the crack of each blow. But even she, so removed from it all, could not tell the outcome. She wondered why she still crouched there; her legs felt like stone, her mind was sand.
*K-KRAK*
The armoured man let loose another bolt of lightening making his opponent jump back. Naga wondered how long the other would last; would Manten be avenged soon? But then a sword flew into his hands, a huge and impossibly massive thing flecked with blood.
Did the gods now favor this man?
The skill and speed with which the white haired murderer wielded the wickedly curved weapon made Naga wonder what she was witnessing. Surely no mortal men could perform like this! Naga passed her hand over her eyes, wondering briefly if she was seeing phantoms in her mind.
The red man attacked with a ferocity that made his opponent's abilities seem half hearted; there was no doubt that Naga was witnessing a fight that could only end in bloodied and gruesome death.
Naga's spine curled involuntarily as she saw a swing that almost disemboweled the armoured one. He seemed to be regaining his ground, parrying each blow with his staff; maybe the man would win after all. The white haired man seemed to become enraged as the tables seemed to be turned on him once again. He fought ferociously, but Naga could not see how he would regain the upper hand. How much longer will he breathe?
They screamed at eachother, but Naga couldn't make sense of the words that passed between the two. How much longer can they go on?
"YAAAH!"
*VNNNN*
Suddenly a sickening sound split the air; metal through air and something more dense. The white haired one stood, sword raised... it was wet with blood. Naga's eyes shifted to the armoured man. He seemed to freeze for a moment; then he crumpled inward. Blood rained down all round as he fell in a heap, face and armor obscured through the river of his own blood.
Naga turned her face, fighting the wave of sickness that threatened to overcome her. She could smell the blood, like a thick perfume that seemed to coat the air. Then Aikonaga couldn't fight the nausea and for a moment everything blackened.
Oh, gods, oh gods!
When her vision cleared, the white haired man, Manten's killer-- and now the murderer his brother-- was no where to be seen. Naga crouched low, hoping he had not seen her; but after a few minutes it was clear the man had left the two bodies to rot. Naga recoiled; how could he leave the souls to wander, lost in that place, forever?
Sickened, Aikonaga stood and descended towards the bloodied mess, squaring her shoulders; she would help their souls find rest.
AN: I had to improvise to make things fit a little better… Enough gore for you? o_O Sorry. I could have been alot more graphic, but I'm not THAT sick! _O I hope this story isn't too bad!!! Please don't flame me! _ Anyways, review please!! I have some ideas for a sequel, if anyone is interested --Hiten may NOT be dead!!! -GASP- ^_^
--thanks, K. A.