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Whispers of that Nameless Fear

Chapter Nine

     Kagome struggled against Miroku as he reluctantly tried to take her to safety.  He pleaded with her to relax, but she couldn't.  Not when Inu-Yasha turned away from her, clearly unsure of the outcome – or sure of the outcome but it being not in their favor, could not tell.  "Inu-Yasha!" she cried out to him.

     But he ignored her.  Though Kagome's voice pierced his heart with her worry for his life, he had to ignore her.  He had to concentrate . . . she would be safe in the village . . .

     At least for the moment . . .

     His heart pounded in his chest as he watched out of the corner of his eye as Miroku took her away . . .

     Ayame was flung from Enzuno's back, her hands and arms covered with blood and sinew from his horrible body and slammed into a tree, crumpling to the ground, exhausted.  Whatever the soul sucker had taken from her drained her, true, but keeping that uncontrollable soul power at bay was even harder . . .

     She had to force it back lest Enzuno tried to take it once more . . .

     It was the only way she could protect her father . . .

     Her brother and his friends . . .

     Herself . . .

     The beast rose into the air and hurled about in pain, never had he felt so much pain in his life . . . not since the dog demon he fought from his past . . . he frothed and drooled as the skin and scales began to close around it . . .

     Ayame gasped and fought for air, for energy, for movement in her limbs . . . for the soul to stay down . . .

     The claws came upon her again.  "I wiiiiiiill geeeet that ssssoul from you, wench!"

     Inu-Yasha leaped to attack, but was knocked from the air like a pest.  Ayame watched as her brother struggled to regain his feet, but fell back to the ground . . . his eyes locked upon hers in awful fright . . . but Ayame lay still . . .

     She glared into the frightening crimson eyes of the beast . . . glared at him without so much as a hit of fear as she locked onto his.  The soul within her begged her to come out, urged her to come out like a nuisance child tantruming to get their way, demanding to be set free . . . but she could not let that happen.  Enzuno could not be allowed to get her fathers soul power . . . not while she was alive to watch it happen . . .

     He would have to kill her first.

     Eyes locked onto each other, Enzuno realized that she was not afraid to die.  No fear.  He would assure that it was not the case by the time he was through with her . . . the heat grew in his dirty hands as he drew in Ayame's powers . . .

     The lash of a poison whip slashed across the beasts wound, driving its tip into his open flesh. 

     Enzuno howled in agony and threw himself away from the new foe that faced him, snarling like an angry wolf.  But his body relaxing upon recognition.  "IIIIII rememberrrr you."

     Sesshoumaru did not move an inch, nor did his expression change.  Out of the corner of his eye he glared at Ayame so defiant to let herself succumb to the fear of death, he watched her stare back at him with that same expression. 

     "You're that dog deeeeeemon I fought yearsssss agoooo." The demon laughed.  "I nearly killlllled you!"

     "No.  I am Lord Sesshoumaru, you had battled my father . . ."

     Enzuno eagerly sniffed the air.  "Youuuu loooook just like him."

     "Our great father had stopped you once before, Enzuno."

     "So, you have come to fight meeeee?" he laughed. 

     "I have met with Naraku.  You are after the Soul Power from that half breed girl, are you not?" Sesshoumaru motioned towards Ayame still stunned on her hands and knees, ready to leap at the slightest moment, muscles aching all over her tiny body. 

     Enzuno nodded.  "With relisssssh."

     "You shall not have it."

     "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Inu-Yasha began to get upset.  "This is our fight!  Are you gonna fight us too?"

     Sesshoumaru glared.  "Little brother, I have come here to take care of some unfinished business."

     Inu-Yasha gave a worried glance in Ayame's direction, remember the last time the three of them met.  "Is that what this thing's about?  You're working for Naraku?  I never thought you'd sink to that level."

     Enzuno laughed, his feathery head decorations flaring with eagerness.  "That child's soul is miiiiiiiine.  I weakened that preeeeeey and I intend on taaaaaking it!"

     Ayame stood up on her shaking legs, her hands closed into trembling fists, but she was unafraid.  She was not afraid of Sesshoumaru either . . .

     Sesshoumaru watched her from the corner of his eye again.  She seemed so small and so innocent . . . so fragile . . .

     Enzuno reached out for Ayame.  "This half breed is miiiiiiiine!"

     Poison lashed once again, slicing through the indestructible scales around the fleshy wound, burning his blood and melting his flesh.  Enzuno roared and rushed at Sesshoumaru who merely dodged and dodged again with the greatest of ease, his expression never changing. 

     "Sesshoumaru!!!" Ayame shouted with worry as the deadly soul sucking claws came within inches of their fleeting target.

     Inu-Yasha frowned with his arms crossed.  "Feh, don't worry about that one." He shouted.  "Since when did you get all noble on us, Sesshoumaru?"

     The demon in question landed next to his brother with a sullen frown.  "I am only finishing what our father failed to do."

     "Well, no one asked for your help!  Why don't you go back to your territory and stay there!"
     Ayame began to protest, only to be silenced by the beasts roar in agony. 

     Sesshoumaru turned.  "Very well then.  I will not stay here if I am not welcomed."

     "Feh, good." Inu-Yasha huffed, crossing his arms defiantly over his chest.  "You're nothing but trouble."

     Ayame frowned as her eldest brother turned away, she wanted to plead with him to stay.  To help them.  But she knew it would be no use with Inu-Yasha there to verbally assault him . . . only brothers by blood they would certainly battle to the death if allowed.  What amazed her more was that he did not try to kill her . . . or take the Tetsusiaga from Inu-Yasha . . . She cringed and took a step in Sesshoumaru's direction, he stopped and looked back at her with his neutral frown.  "Sesshoumaru?"
     He turned away sadly, avoiding her pleading eyes.  "That beast Enzuno is armored very well on the outside, young Ayame.  But he is as weak as a mortal human on the inside . . . remember that."

     The hanyou child took another step forward.  "W . . . wait!"

     Sesshoumaru stopped, but did not look back.

     "T . . . thank you."

     He continued away as if he had not heard, but his voice drifted back.  "Good luck.  Inu-Yasha may be stubborn . . . but remember what I said."

     Ayame nodded and turned back to watch Inu-Yasha battle Enzuno again.  But, it seemed as if Enzuno was slower . . . perhaps a little weaker than before.  Perhaps he was tiring.  The night was just past half over . . .

     There was a whisper from the bushes on the outskirts of the heavily damaged clearing, Ayame glanced over to see Miroku hiding, holding Kagome up.  "What are you guys doing here?"

     Kagome gave her a weak smile.  "I couldn't leave Inu-Yasha."

     Sango put her finger over her lips to motion that their presence was a secret.

     Ayame glanced back to Enzuno snapped violently in every direction at Inu-Yasha who danced about him, avoiding him.  The hanyou warrior took the Tetsusiaga and aimed for the wound on his back . . . it pussed and boiled . . .

     "I have an idea!" Ayame grinned, glancing to Kagome.

***Okay, please read and review.  Please Please Please!!!  I hope you are all liking this so far.  It's almost over – do you guys really think that Ayame has a plan that can work?  And what about Sesshy???  Poor guy, only trying to help.  Isn't a trip that the last time they all met he was trying to kill Ayame and then here he ends up saving her life!!!???  Sigh that's ma Sesshy.  I couldn't keep him an evil villain forever.  Stay tuned: same IY site same IY story!  Thanx to all those who reviewed – I love hearing about what you all think!!!***