Okay – this might be the last chapter so – hang on!! Please please pleeeeeeeeease read and review!!
Whispers of that Nameless Fear
Chapter Ten
Inu-Yasha threw himself out of Enzuno's way and into the thick truck of a tree, he drove his claws into the bark and caught himself upon a branch before falling into open space to the ground. He was exhausted and shaking, but Enzuno was right on his tail, right on his heels and the hanyou warrior had no other choice but to keep moving. The fact that Sesshoumaru had stuck his nose in their business infuriated him, kept his adrenalin pumping through his body – and the fact that he was trying to help was so uncharacteristic of him.
Frighteningly so.
It sent a shiver down his spine . . . who knows what that conniving Naraku was up to other than the obvious deaths of the only clan brave enough to stand up to him. For the Tetsusiaga . . . for the demon soul powers . . .
He glanced over to the way of Ayame, she was hunched over some bushes, obviously involved in something . . . a conversation . . .
With who?
Inu-Yasha avoided another swipe against his life and hopped to the ground, landing lightly on his feet, sniffing the air. He scented blood, poison, Sesshoumaru . . .
And Kagome!
His heart leapt in his chest. No. Kagome could not be back! He specifically told them to leave for Kaede's hut!
Ayame looked back to Inu-Yasha and Enzuno, the look of confidence spread across her pale face. Inu-Yasha cocked his ears, leaping to the side, easily avoiding another attack . . . Enzuno slowed as well. He seemed tired. The wound on his neck was not healing properly and definitely not as fast as before . . .
It still oozed and boiled.
"Alright Kagome, you ready?" Inu-Yasha heard his sister ask.
He turned at the last moment, finding Kagome unsteadily standing upon her feet, gripping onto a nearby tree though Miroku was right there to offer his shoulder to help. Sango stood before them with Ayame so the demon could not see, her boomerang at the ready and Ayame's claws twitching eagerly.
"We only have one chance." The hanyou child stated boldly. "Let's hope Sesshoumaru is right."
Inu-Yasha appeared next to her from above, obviously tired. "You're not gonna trust Sesshoumaru are you?" he lectured. "Remember that the last time you two met he almost killed you!"
She bristled. "I don't trust anyone, Inu-Yasha. But, it's the best idea we have at the moment with the only member of this team that has done anything to Enzuno." Ayame motioned behind her to Kagome. "It's the only chance we have."
"She can't fight Enzuno!! She doesn't have the energy to!"
Kagome scoffed. "Inu-Yasha . . . we have to try . . ."
"NO!" he roared. "I'm here to protect you and I'm not gonna stand by and watch you risk your life and . . ."
The hanyou warrior paused, then turned away. Ayame frowned. "Inu-Yasha . . . we don't have any other choice. If we don't at least try, then we're all gonna die and who will be there to stop Naraku?"
Kagome raised her bow and notched an arrow. "Okay . . . are you sure I shouldn't aim for that wound on his side? That's already open and . . ."
"No." Ayame looked to Inu-Yasha. "We need your help too, Inu-Yasha. Get your sword ready."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why me all of a sudden? What do you want me to do?"
"Miroku will explain . . . just stay here until he gives you the signal." Ayame said, glaring at Enzuno who was suddenly taking in deep, tired breaths and yet remained ready, lurking towards them like the serpent he was. "Pray that this works."
Ayame stepped forward, leaving her friends standing, watching her, but she ignored them for the moment. Fear enveloped her as she stood, completely exposed, forcing the soul that had belonged to her father deep within herself . . . it couldn't come out now. That would ruin everything. She had to trust in herself . . .
"And what issssss thissssssss?" Enzuno laughed, watching the hanyou child stop easily within striking distance from him, glaring at him. "Are you giving up? Are you reaaaaaaaaady to diiiiiiiiie?"
"No." she shouted boldly. "I am here to kill you, Enzuno!"
The beast laughed, howling in amusement. "After this long, lennnnngthy battle, you think you alone can desssssstroy me?"
"My father battled you years ago and put you in your place. It was only the evil of Naraku that set you free once again upon this earth. My father might have spared your pathetic life . . . but I wont."
Again Enzuno laughed, throwing his head back as he roared from his great belly, nearly losing his balance.
Ayame shot a look back to Kagome . . .
An arrow streaked through the night once again, enveloped in a crimson shield it rushed into the gaping mouth of Enzuno, exploding in brilliance, causing him to gasp and gag in shock and fear . . .
"TETSUSIAGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
Enzuno recoiled as the shining steel cleaving fang ripped into his body weakened by the oozing wound and compromised by the Miko's arrow, tearing him apart. Plagued with convulsions, the demon fell to the ground in a bloody mess, Inu-Yasha dodged the sputtering blood that oozed from his mouth and grabbed Ayame up and away from it as well.
The clan stood on the edge of the clearing and watched as Enzuno disintegrated before their very eyes into a mass of bubbling black blood . . .
And the thick, corroding smell of poison . . .
"Sesshoumaru . . ." Ayame whispered under her breath, exchanging glances with Inu-Yasha. Both thoughts were upon the same confused thought: Was it their effort that annihilated the beast, or Sesshoumaru's??
Kagome stumbled forward in exhaustion, Inu-Yasha was right there to grab her hand before she fell into the sludge. "Be careful," he said.
The girl smiled and reached down to where the oozing flesh glowed and took up the seven jewel shards in trembling hands . . .
A vile laugh echoed through the night as a harsh wind blew over them, sending Inu-Yasha and Kagome to the moist ground . . . grabbing Kagome up and into the night sky and fleeing and her terrified screams echoing into the night . . .
Inu-Yasha cried out to her, reaching into the space of nothingness to grab her before she was taken away. "Kagome! No!"
The girl was spun around and around through the air. Ayame made a leap for her, but was easily thrown aside . . .
Inu-Yasha made that same leap, he reached out his hand to grab hers, stretching as far as he could reach . . . but the wind ceased and she fell through open space . . . Inu-Yasha caught her up at the last moment, landing lightly on the ground . . .
Kagome gasped
for breath. "In . . . Inu-Yasha . . ."
she whimpered. "Naraku took . . . took
the jewel shards!"
The hanyou warrior bristled.
***********************************
Sesshoumaru reached his territory with no more than a glance to Jakken who loudly greeted him with relief, throwing himself to his lords feet muttering praises. But, Lord Sesshoumaru turned to Rin who quietly approached him, latching onto his leg in a great big hug.
"Rin knew Sesshoumaru-sama would be back! Rin knew!"
"Mi-Lord! What became of that foul half breeds Soul Power? Did you attain it as you had so rightly stated you would?" the toad questioned, swinging his staff of skulls wildly about as if mimicking swordsmanship. A cool stare from his master quieted him, but it was not an angry stare, but a pleased one. "M . . . Mi-Lord?"
"I have no use for the soul power of my father."
Jakken nearly
fell over in shock. "But . . . but
Mi-Lord??"
Sesshoumaru turned away, taking
Rin's hand in his own. "The soul
belongs where it is . . . that is all there is to say."'
*************************************
"Is there anything I can get for you, Kagome?" Inu-Yasha asked, taking her cold hand with his.
Miroku came up behind him with a thick blanket for the girl and placed it over her body. "This will keep you warm."
Kagome gazed into Inu-Yasha's eyes. "I . . . Inu-Yasha . . . I'm s . . . sorry about the jewel shards."
The hanyou shuddered involuntarily but relaxed. "It's alright. We'll get them back, I'm more worried about you."
A tear slipped from the corner of Kagome's eyes as she blinked and turned away. Inu-Yasha was already better, already healed from his ordeal with Enzuno. It was only the next night after a long day of exhausted rest and yet she still hovered over the border of the Spirit World.
"Inu-Yasha, let Kagome rest or she will never retain her full strength." Priestess Kaede interrupted, stepping over the girl to check on her wounds, and then looking to the hanyou who refused to leave her side. "She will be fine, Inu-Yasha."
Sango sat up against he wall of the hut, stroking her weapon, and then Kilala who purred at her side. The demon cat was bandaged from her wounds, as was her master, but they refused to admit they were in pain.
Miroku approached them kindly. "Are you alright, Sango?"
She smiled. "Fine as I'll ever be."
"You were very brave out there." The Monk commented, kneeling down in front of her to check the bandages that had been so gently wrapped around her arm. He took her hand, surprised that she actually allowed it, and looked at her.
They stayed that way for a long time, just looking at each other.
Ayame stood sternly at the opening of the hut alone. Her ears pointed in the direction of the forest, her nose to the approaching wind of the night scenting nothing but the rotting remains of the demon that had nearly taken their lives.
And Naraku . . . somewhere out there . . .
Sesshoumaru . . .
"So . . ." Inu-Yasha interrupted her silent thought.
She glanced back wearily. "Kagome asleep?"
He nodded. "Thank you for helping us."
"What is family for?" Ayame shrugged. "I was not about to let my big brother fight that alone . . ."
"I could'a handled it." He lied, pausing for a long moment. "So . . . are you going to take my offer?"
Ayame twitched her ears. "What offer?"
"To join us."
It was a long time before Ayame spoke again. She remembered when he had asked her before . . . when she stole off away from him without an answer. The desire was there, though. There was no question about it. No question that she wanted to be part of this clan, to help protect them, to be a part of her own family . . .
With her big brother . . .
"And Sesshoumaru?" she questioned.
Inu-Yasha cringed. "He's not much of a team player, and no, I don't know why he helped us . . ."
"He's changed you know."
"Oh really?" he glared at her. "And how would you know?"
"I can sense it. He wasn't after me back then . . . he wanted to see Enzuno die."
Inu-Yasha tensed. "Yeah."
"You have to admit it, Inu-Yasha. Without him, we couldn't have done it. With his poison, I mean."
"So you want to join us or not?" he began to grow impatient in thinking that Sesshoumaru was any good to them. "Yes or no?"
She paused and sighed. "I think my answer would be . . ."
"What?"
"Yes."
Inu-Yasha smiled, pleased, staring off over the horizon. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Good."
"What are we going to do about Naraku? I mean, he took those shard-thingies and everything . . . they seem really important." Ayame questionably stared at him, wondering.
"He'll be back, I know it. Naraku is never done. But when he does come back, and he will . . . we'll be ready for him!" Inu-Yasha spoke with confidence. With his sister at his side, their strengths and powers together would truly give Naraku something to think about . . .
And with Ayame at his side he knew they stood a chance against him . . .
And he could always make sure that she was okay . . .
And together he knew that Kagome would always be safe . . .
*** Awwwwwww!!! Okay, I really suck at endings so PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!!!!!! Read and REVIEW!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! I neeeeeed to know that you enjoyed reading it!!!!!! It's not my best work but I tried!!!! Please! Thank you to those who did read and review it and for the kind comments given. I hope you enjoyed it. ***
