Alright, I think I've kept you all waiting long enough.
Whispers of that Nameless Fear
Chapter Seven
The great weapon of the demon exterminator rattled against the thick scales of the beast, but did no more than cause it to hesitate for a mere second, contemplating whether or not it would attack Sango . . . but that was all Ayame needed. With a movement as graceful as that of a big cat from jungles far away, she pulled her brother from the reach of the demon, pushing him out of harms way and turned back to face their attacker with a matched ferocity.
Inu-Yasha forced his body to cooperate, still suffering from the effects from the previous night. "Oh no, don't you think that you're gonna do this all by yourself, Ayame!"
She barely glanced in his direction as the claws crashed down to the earth between them, but they merely leaped out of the way and then back to each others side. Exchanging mutual glances they readied themselves for the next attack, only this time it would be synchronized, together as warriors . . .
"What are they doing?" Sango questioned next to Miroku.
"We cannot harm Enzuno because we are merely human. They stand a better chance fighting together than separate, if that has not become obvious yet." The Monk smiled. "I believe that with their combined powers they can stop him."
Ayame and Inu-Yasha took to the air at the same time, lashing out their claws and determined not to get caught up again. Claws struck home, sparks fizzled from the impact as the two hanyous landed upon the earth again, launching themselves for another attack. Again and again they did this, in sync with one another as if they had rehearsed their moves previously, never pausing for a breath . . . never stopping . . .
Inu-Yasha glanced to Ayame and nodded, she pulled away from him, sending blinding streaks of energy from her claws about Enzuno's face and head as if she were actually harming him, traveling down to his shoulder . . .
Enzuno growled and snapped at her, turning away from the other hanyou armed with his summoned sword who found the Wind Scar and slashed him across his face . . .
Finally the beast was forced to stumble back from the last devastating blow, but never fell . . .
His gaping and fatal wounds melted back together into continuous flesh . . .
Enzuno laughed . . .
That was it? The siblings thought in unison as they landed on close tree branches. Inu-Yasha drove his claws through the bark of his tree, gasping exhaustingly for breath, his muscles too tired for the next attack. The Tetsusiaga fell from his weakened grasp and clattered dully against the stump of a broken tree . . . Ayame was alone now, tearing through the air with her vicious claws . . .
The beast dodged her easily, evading the pup and trying to attack her at the same time. Claws whizzed past the hanyou child's head as she dodged them in mid air, but the tail that followed through in a fluid motion hit home, sending Ayame bruised and wounded into a tree, snapping it in half with an explosion of leaves and sawdust.
Enzuno laughed, lusting closer to her. "That soooooul. I can almost taaaaste it!"
Thoughts rushed through Ayame's throbbing head, the soul that dwelled within her body was indeed a powerful one. It had defeated Sesshoumaru easily, but nearly took her life in the process, she was told . . . but with Enzuno powered by seven of those strange jewel shards that obviously empowered him to near the status of a god, she doubted if it would work . . .
And if it would work, it probably would kill her . . .
But, there wasn't any other way . . .
Sango rushed forward to face the beast, much to Miroku's protest. "You filthy beast!" she cried, launching her weapon and avoiding the claws that came down to strike her. Kilala pushed her down and away from the tail that had caught her before.
"Are you insane?" Miroku roared, throwing himself to the ground next to her, grabbing her arm in his hand trying to yank her back to the safety of the undergrowth. "You're still injured! Don't be foolish!"
She glared at him. "I can't just sit back and watch this happen!"
Miroku frowned, pulled her away and back to her feet, holding her hand tenderly in his, "I know . . . but I don't want to see you die."
Speechless, the demon exterminator gave him a meaningful expression, but he did not return to those deepened eyes, only fixed upon the carnage that played out before them.
"All we can do . . . is pray for them . . ."
Inu-Yasha leaped onto the back of Enzuno's neck and on his feathery barbs, driving his claws in between his scales, reaching for the jewel shards in his forehead. Soft flesh tore away at the tips of his claws as he drove them into his thick neck skin . . . hoping upon hopes to at least hurt him . . .
He was tossed into a tree and then fell to the ground as Enzuno laughed proudly, enjoying every minute of the battle. "You cannot hurt meeeeee, preeeey!"
The heavy hand was placed over the fallen hanyou and pushed him further into the soft forest soil that was already disturbed and run through with the battle, the hot glow reappeared and began to drain Inu-Yasha even more . . .
"Aaaaaah, there's not muuuuuuch ssssssoul left in you." Enzuno was euphoric. "How I enjooooooooy thissssss."
Ayame roared as a crazed animal, leaping at the beast from the tops of the trees, frontally assaulting him with a fury of claw swipes, tearing into him with curses and light. The demon pulled his hand from his prey to try to push her away from him, but her claws caught one of his bloody crimson eyes, tearing through the thick membrane . . .
Enzuno howled in pain, throwing his head back in agony as thick liquid dripped from his wound and down his cheek to the forest floor . . .
But it heals almost immediately . . .
The hanyou child nearly fell over in shock as Enzuno smiled and turned back to Inu-Yasha to finish his deed . . .
There was no other choice . . . Ayame thought terribly to herself.
She finally gave up, standing her ground at the beasts side, clenching her fists, completely exposed to any assault thrown at her. Inu-Yasha saw her from the corner of his blurring vision, his heart dropped as he knew what was about to happen . . .
"A . . . Ayame . . . N . . . No!"
White flames exploded around her as she conjured the great and powerful soul of her father, her eyes burned within her head, her fangs lengthened and pointed over her lower lip as she felt the energy rush through her fragile body . . .
The canopy of the forest screamed in protest as the winds began to pick up and the flames shot up into the night sky . . .
She is calling upon the soul of the demon dog! Enzuno thought joyously, forgetting all about Inu-Yasha, pulling away from him he turned towards Ayame. Finally . . . a soul worth consuming!
Inu-Yasha tried to pull himself up, his face twisted in horror. "Ayame! NO! DON'T!"
Enzuno approached the power unafraid, through the winds were strong and she was consumed in white hot fire, he thrust his claws around her frail body and felt the power that had been turned against him rush into his veins . . .
"AYAME!!!"
*** Oho, you think this is over yet? Please read and review!!!!!!!!! Reviews gooooood!!!!! Wow, if that Soul Power can't defeat Enzuno . . . ***
*** Come on Sesshy . . . where are you? evil grin***
