Ch 8: Inuyasha and the Mountain: a test of mettle.
* Thanks for the review. As for the "4 parents", look for that little mystery to be resolved later*
The hellish cold bit at Inuyasha's face, benumbed his fingers, and stung his toes. He reached, trying to grab a handhold, but fell short. He fell sinking into the deep snow. Inuyasha looked up at the sheer cliff, and grunted. He got up again, and wandered to his left. "There has to be an easier cliff to climb." He thought.
He had been on the mountain for four hours, but it had felt like he'd been on it for days. He, alone, as a human, was facing an unstoppable force of nature, the Mountain. Not only that, but the mystical properties of the mountain suppressed his demon blood, meaning that no matter how long he took, he would stay human. If it were not something he had to do, he would have been overwhelmed. But he needed to beat the mountain, to gain whatever it held at the top, in order to have any chance of saving Kagome.
The wind shifted, and a familiar scent filled Inuyasha's nostrils. He'd picked it up two hour ago, but knew in his weakened state he'd have no choice but to avoid the other climber. He looked again at the cliff. This part wasn't as sheer, but the rocks were jagged and sharp. He reached to feel the edge of one, but drew his hand back in pain. He looked at it as a drop of blood stained the white snow. He growled, and tore his sleeve to wrap the wound. He looked up, and decided to wrap his other hand to avoid another wound. He crabbed the closest stone, and ascended.
It took him fifteen minutes to climb the cliff face, and in the time it took a fierce wind had picked up from the north. The snow blinded Inuyasha, as he looked around for some sort of shelter. He spotted a cave, and going against the wind, walked towards it. He propped himself against the wall, and slept. He'd need all the strength he could muster tomorrow.
A sweat bead dropped from Kojirou's forehead.
"This can't be, it just can't be!" he mumbled. Swiftly, his fingers flew over the keyboard. Her eyes narrowed at the screen, and he pressed the enter key. The same message that caused his displeasure before flashed onscreen. He grunted in frustration, and smashed his fist on the desk.
"God damn it. According to all scenarios and calculations, I only have six months before the seal breaks. If that happens, all I've worked for and accomplished will be gone." Kojirou rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Until Inuyasha comes out of hiding, I have no choice but to wait." He rose from his seat, and walked towards his room. "I don't want to worry Yura, but I don't have much recourse. I need to talk to someone."
Inuyasha woke from an uneasy sleep. His neck ached and his whole body screamed in frostbitten pain. He made no complaints, just rose and rolled his neck to try and alleviate some of the pain. He stretched, and then heard it. A low, guttural growl echoed from deep within the cave. He froze, his breathing grew ragged, and his muscles tensed as it came into view.
"A bear," he thought, "and a huge one too. Man, if this damned mountain didn't suppress my powers..." Inuyasha turned to run, but the bear was just too fast. His claws ran along his back, and Inuyasha fell to the ground. He managed to roll onto his back, only to see the bear on him, ready to strike. He had to do something fast, or else he was bear food. He grabbed Tetsusaiga, which had fallen nearby and hit the bear with it. It reared back, allowing Inuyasha to climb to his feet. He readied the sheath again and struck the bear's nose. It roared in pain as Inuyasha drew the blade and ran it through the bear's eye. It fell to the ground and gave one last growl. Inuyasha sat down, and looked at the beast, then at his sword.
"Man, I'm surprised it didn't break," he said. He looked at the bear, and then sniffed outside. "Cold front coming from the North. It's gonna be a nasty one." He looked back at the bear. "Seeing as you're not going to need that fur coat anymore." he said as he approached the carcass.
Minutes passed into hours as Inuyasha made his way up the mountain. The cold wind at times nearly took him off his feet, and the rocks were as sharp and jagged as ever. Even under the bear's fur the cold numbed him. His body screamed for him to give up, but he wouldn't. Nothing could make him quit. The night was swiftly approaching, but there was no shelter in sight. Inuyasha resolved to climb on as long as he could before resting. He could now see the summit.
He had taken a break when he heard another growl. This one was much louder than the bear, and much meaner. Inuyasha frantically looked around, and saw it. A snow creature nearly ten feet tall, with claws tipping each finger. It roared at Inuyasha, and his blood boiled.
"I'm tired of doing things the way this damn mountain wants me. I'm supposed to conquer this thing, not be its bitch!" he thought in anger. Inuyasha dew his sword, and charged the beast. It slashed at him, knocking Inuyasha back. His cloths ripped as easily as his skin, and his blood tinted the snow. Inuyasha tried to rise, but was again beaten back by the beast. Blood ran from his wounds and his mouth, as he charged a third time, this time being pinned under its massive foot. It growled, as Inuyasha eyes grew heavy. He struggled to maintain consciousness when he noticed an icicle above the creature's head. With his free arm he threw Tetsusaiga at it. The icicle broke and landed on the monsters head. It reared back, letting Inuyasha grab his sword and impale it in the monster's throat. After it was dead, Inuyasha collapsed in the snow.
He awoke, coughing up blood. The pain was almost unbearable as he reached for a cliff. He forced himself up, each time straining his muscles even more. As he almost reached the top, he felt his hand grasp at air, and he slipped. Down he fell, sinking into the freshly packed snow. He had nothing left.
"I can't go on. It's impossible." He closed his eyes, as the figure that had been following him approached.
"That's it?" he asked. "You're going to be laid low by a mountain? You're going to let Kagome down because you're too weak to overcome your fears? Will you fail her?"
Inuyasha eyes shot open and he jumped to his feet. He looked at the man, a doppelganger of himself. He drew Tetsusaiga, and charged him. The doppelganger blocked his attack, and knocked Inuyasha back. Inuyasha stood back, and felt his wounds. He closed his eyes, raised Tetsusaiga, which somehow transformed, and charged low. Just as he reached him, he spun around, and finished with a diagonal slash, cutting him down. He ran up the cliff, looked stop atop the summit, and raised Tetsusaiga high in the air. He let out a howl that echoed down the mountain, to Argyle.
"At last, he understands. To beat the challenges ahead, he must walk the razor's edge between man and beast, and let neither get the best of him."
* Thanks for the review. As for the "4 parents", look for that little mystery to be resolved later*
The hellish cold bit at Inuyasha's face, benumbed his fingers, and stung his toes. He reached, trying to grab a handhold, but fell short. He fell sinking into the deep snow. Inuyasha looked up at the sheer cliff, and grunted. He got up again, and wandered to his left. "There has to be an easier cliff to climb." He thought.
He had been on the mountain for four hours, but it had felt like he'd been on it for days. He, alone, as a human, was facing an unstoppable force of nature, the Mountain. Not only that, but the mystical properties of the mountain suppressed his demon blood, meaning that no matter how long he took, he would stay human. If it were not something he had to do, he would have been overwhelmed. But he needed to beat the mountain, to gain whatever it held at the top, in order to have any chance of saving Kagome.
The wind shifted, and a familiar scent filled Inuyasha's nostrils. He'd picked it up two hour ago, but knew in his weakened state he'd have no choice but to avoid the other climber. He looked again at the cliff. This part wasn't as sheer, but the rocks were jagged and sharp. He reached to feel the edge of one, but drew his hand back in pain. He looked at it as a drop of blood stained the white snow. He growled, and tore his sleeve to wrap the wound. He looked up, and decided to wrap his other hand to avoid another wound. He crabbed the closest stone, and ascended.
It took him fifteen minutes to climb the cliff face, and in the time it took a fierce wind had picked up from the north. The snow blinded Inuyasha, as he looked around for some sort of shelter. He spotted a cave, and going against the wind, walked towards it. He propped himself against the wall, and slept. He'd need all the strength he could muster tomorrow.
A sweat bead dropped from Kojirou's forehead.
"This can't be, it just can't be!" he mumbled. Swiftly, his fingers flew over the keyboard. Her eyes narrowed at the screen, and he pressed the enter key. The same message that caused his displeasure before flashed onscreen. He grunted in frustration, and smashed his fist on the desk.
"God damn it. According to all scenarios and calculations, I only have six months before the seal breaks. If that happens, all I've worked for and accomplished will be gone." Kojirou rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Until Inuyasha comes out of hiding, I have no choice but to wait." He rose from his seat, and walked towards his room. "I don't want to worry Yura, but I don't have much recourse. I need to talk to someone."
Inuyasha woke from an uneasy sleep. His neck ached and his whole body screamed in frostbitten pain. He made no complaints, just rose and rolled his neck to try and alleviate some of the pain. He stretched, and then heard it. A low, guttural growl echoed from deep within the cave. He froze, his breathing grew ragged, and his muscles tensed as it came into view.
"A bear," he thought, "and a huge one too. Man, if this damned mountain didn't suppress my powers..." Inuyasha turned to run, but the bear was just too fast. His claws ran along his back, and Inuyasha fell to the ground. He managed to roll onto his back, only to see the bear on him, ready to strike. He had to do something fast, or else he was bear food. He grabbed Tetsusaiga, which had fallen nearby and hit the bear with it. It reared back, allowing Inuyasha to climb to his feet. He readied the sheath again and struck the bear's nose. It roared in pain as Inuyasha drew the blade and ran it through the bear's eye. It fell to the ground and gave one last growl. Inuyasha sat down, and looked at the beast, then at his sword.
"Man, I'm surprised it didn't break," he said. He looked at the bear, and then sniffed outside. "Cold front coming from the North. It's gonna be a nasty one." He looked back at the bear. "Seeing as you're not going to need that fur coat anymore." he said as he approached the carcass.
Minutes passed into hours as Inuyasha made his way up the mountain. The cold wind at times nearly took him off his feet, and the rocks were as sharp and jagged as ever. Even under the bear's fur the cold numbed him. His body screamed for him to give up, but he wouldn't. Nothing could make him quit. The night was swiftly approaching, but there was no shelter in sight. Inuyasha resolved to climb on as long as he could before resting. He could now see the summit.
He had taken a break when he heard another growl. This one was much louder than the bear, and much meaner. Inuyasha frantically looked around, and saw it. A snow creature nearly ten feet tall, with claws tipping each finger. It roared at Inuyasha, and his blood boiled.
"I'm tired of doing things the way this damn mountain wants me. I'm supposed to conquer this thing, not be its bitch!" he thought in anger. Inuyasha dew his sword, and charged the beast. It slashed at him, knocking Inuyasha back. His cloths ripped as easily as his skin, and his blood tinted the snow. Inuyasha tried to rise, but was again beaten back by the beast. Blood ran from his wounds and his mouth, as he charged a third time, this time being pinned under its massive foot. It growled, as Inuyasha eyes grew heavy. He struggled to maintain consciousness when he noticed an icicle above the creature's head. With his free arm he threw Tetsusaiga at it. The icicle broke and landed on the monsters head. It reared back, letting Inuyasha grab his sword and impale it in the monster's throat. After it was dead, Inuyasha collapsed in the snow.
He awoke, coughing up blood. The pain was almost unbearable as he reached for a cliff. He forced himself up, each time straining his muscles even more. As he almost reached the top, he felt his hand grasp at air, and he slipped. Down he fell, sinking into the freshly packed snow. He had nothing left.
"I can't go on. It's impossible." He closed his eyes, as the figure that had been following him approached.
"That's it?" he asked. "You're going to be laid low by a mountain? You're going to let Kagome down because you're too weak to overcome your fears? Will you fail her?"
Inuyasha eyes shot open and he jumped to his feet. He looked at the man, a doppelganger of himself. He drew Tetsusaiga, and charged him. The doppelganger blocked his attack, and knocked Inuyasha back. Inuyasha stood back, and felt his wounds. He closed his eyes, raised Tetsusaiga, which somehow transformed, and charged low. Just as he reached him, he spun around, and finished with a diagonal slash, cutting him down. He ran up the cliff, looked stop atop the summit, and raised Tetsusaiga high in the air. He let out a howl that echoed down the mountain, to Argyle.
"At last, he understands. To beat the challenges ahead, he must walk the razor's edge between man and beast, and let neither get the best of him."