Notes: Yeah, I know I sort of said this would be out next week but I have four muses bugging me about this story so I was up everyday from 10pm-2am writing, editing, and rereading this story. (still many comma problems). Makoto wakes up in the middle of the chapter (which is my longest yet) so don't stop reading just because it's Kagome (I told you it was Kagome and Makoto centered- not in a yuri way). There's a fight scene that I spent hours slaving over so I hope you enjoy it. Not many translations either. I'm proud of myself.
Translations: kekkai [magical shield/ barrier], jyaki [youkai's aura], yorozoku [wolf youkai], kakera [shard/piece], Sengoku Jidai [the age of civil war/Warring States Era –1500 A.D.--]
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, not even the plushie since my dog chewed it up.
~~~~~~~------------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~-------------
Once in a Blue Moon: [3] One is the Loneliest Number
By Sarien-chan (ChibiSarien@netscape.net)
"Don't look so sad Kagome-chan," chided a female voice. Kagome gritted her teeth. She wasn't sad, she was furious, mostly at herself for being naive to think that Sayo was innocent. Her feet were killing her, and on her legs were an assortment of colorful bruises and scrapes, caused by walking on a narrow forest trail in the dead of night. The long knife that Sayo used to prod her every now and then wasn't helping matters.
"How much longer?" asked the young miko.
"That eager to be neko food Kagome-chan?"
Even in the dark, Kagome could tell that Sayo was still smiling. 'If she calls me 'Kagome-chan' one more time…' But Kagome didn't know what she would do to the older girl, having no weapons on her person.
"We're here!" Sayo proclaimed.
'Where is here?' thought Kagome. There was nothing but trees for about a two-mile radius.
"Hold onto my hand. The kekkai won't recognize you and you'll probably be incinerated or possibly cut up into little pieces." How Sayo described her possible death with a smile added to Kagome's fears that this girl was demented.
Without further warning, Sayo pulled her though the invisible kekkai. It felt as if she had stuck her fingers into an electrical socket but was over so fast, she thought she had imagined the whole situation. She looked over at Sayo; she seemed unaffected by what happened. Then she looked around her and gasped.
This giant cavern was not the dark forest she was in previously. It was as bright as daylight for one thing, probably caused stalagmites that were reflecting the light of a ball of gray fire. There was a very thick jyaki around her, and it was very evil.
"Nekori-sama! I've brought the girl, just as you ordered!" the sound of Sayo's voice was echoed throughout the large cavern. "Nekori-sama where-"
"Stupid human, you don't have to shout," said a feminine voice. But there was nobody else in the cave, Kagome checked. The evil jyaki was too thick for her to pinpoint the exact location of the youkai. A strange gray smoke appeared in front of the two girls. It had the shape of a human and appeared to be having difficulty maintaining that. Two eyes with cat like irises blinked at her, unfocused. The only other distinctive feature was a red pulsing light where the heart would go.
'Shikon no Kakera?' It was faint but Kagome knew that within that pulsing light was a Shikon no Kakera. That meant trouble. It seemed like a hopeless situation before since Nekori had one Kakera, already multiplying her powers. But now that Kagome brought a large Kakera…even Inuyasha would have trouble fighting this youkai and Kagome was alone…
"Are you done staring at me, human? Does my present form amuse you?" came a velvety voice that seemed to be everywhere.
Startled, Kagome broke her gaze on the youkai and looked over to Sayo, but Sayo appeared to have abandoned her since her mission was over. The saying that "mice abandon a sinking ship" came to mind.
Kagome stiffened but wisely did not answer. Nekori's form did puzzle her. With the Kakera that she already had, wouldn't she have enough power to take a body?
The smoke began to thin, no longer able to sustain the human-like shape. Yet those gray eyes still froze her in place. The only sound in the cavern now was the pulsing of the youkai's "heart."
"Sayo…bring me," the smoke continued to thin, "the Shikon no Kakera!"
Surprisingly obedient, yet no longer smiling, Sayo reappeared at Kagome's side. "As you wish, Nekori-sama," she turned to Kagome, "no hard feelings Kagome-chan but I need the Kakera." Sayo brandished her long hunter's knife and Kagome's eyes widened.
She backed up slowly but stopped as she felt the static energy of the kekkai behind her. If she took another step backwards, she'd be turned to ash, yet if she remained, Sayo would kill her, get the Shikon no Kakera, Nekori would use her as a midnight snack (after obtaining the Kakera of course), and wreck bloody havoc all over the world.
'If I go through the kekkai then the youkai can't eat me or use the Shikon no Kakera for evil. I'd be dead though but anything is better then the second option.'
But before Kagome could act, Sayo yanked her forward forcefully by the hair and held the knife to her neck. "You're not supposed to die until dinner time, Kagome-chan," said Sayo, pressing the knife deeper into her skin to the point of drawing blood. She stopped abruptly, carefully pulling the necklace free from the inside of the haori and cut the small glass vial bottle from the leather string.
The girl examined, as if appraising its value. There was only one Shikon no Kakera in it, but it was a large one, about one fourth the size of the Shikon no Tama (Naraku had about half and the rest was still at large). It was glowing a soft pink, completely purified of the evil taint from its previous owners. Kagome's special ability, in addition to locating the Kakera, was of purification. Her mere presence could purify evil auras (or at least put the stronger ones at ill ease), though unconsciously. She even could fire purifying arrows that could pierce youkai flesh, and they hit the targets more often then not. Of course she was now without her bow and unable to protect herself or stop Sayo from throwing the Kakera into the smoke.
It appeared to hover for a moment then plunged into the only solid part of the youkai, the pulsing heart. Nekori hissed softly but otherwise made no other cries of pain. The gray smoke began to solidify with every passing second, taking on a human shape once more.
A minute later, Nekori stretched languidly and gave a very neko-like "meow" which wasn't out of place since she was obviously a neko youkai.
Her gray eyes were no longer unfocused and were currently looking around the cavern, as if seeing things for the first time. Two gray neko ears twitched from the top of her head. Gray seemed to be the only color on Nekori, from the short dress she wore to her furry tail. Her long red hair was a startling contrast to her pale skin and the gray she sported. Nekori however carried her twentyish frame elegantly and radiated a strange power.
"Like what you see human?" came that velvety voice.
Kagome felt the gray slitted eyes bore through her, and vaguely felt Sayo depart yet again. Her skin tingled and her brown eyes widened as she felt the loss of control over her limbs. 'I…I can't move!'
Nekori circled the girl as if she was a neko (which was technically true) and Kagome was the mouse. The "mouse" forced herself not to panic. Her fantasy of Inuyasha coming to save her seemed more hopeless by the minute.
Suddenly, the neko youkai grabbed hold of Kagome's arm, trailing a long and deadly claw on her skin. This time, Kagome was the one to hiss as a thin line of red appeared. 'I won't panic, or scream. That would probably make her happy or something. I'd rather die without embarrassing myself. I'd rather not die at all but Inuyasha isn't here to save me. Though right now I'd settle for Shippou.'
The miko winced as something wet covered the wound. 'She's…licking me? Inuyasha, somebody, please hurry!'
Nekori licked her lips and turned away from the girl. "You taste like her," she turned back and directed a look of pure hatred at the girl, "like that bitch Kikyou who destroyed my body!"
Kagome was scared, especially when the youkai gave her a twisted smile, baring a set of dainty, pointy fangs. "You're not her though, just some pale imitation or reincarnation. Kikyou would have fought back, at least a little with the paralyzing spell on her. But you Kagome, you just stand there, paralyzed with fear and the spell."
"I am nothing like Kikyou! I am me! I am Kagome!" yelled the girl, anger temporarily overriding the spell. She was tired of being compared to the deceased miko. The older villagers who were alive fifty years ago saw Kikyou and were constantly annoyed when she didn't meet their expectations. Kagome spent countless hours agonizing over this and the fact that Inuyasha probably saw Kikyou every time she looked at him. Nekori's mark had hit home.
"So, the kitten has claws. Little kitten, would you like to hear a story?" When Kagome didn't answer, Nekori continued. "Of course you do. It's the least I could do since you've provided me with the Shikon no Kakera as well as dinner."
Nekori didn't notice Kagome's knees buckle as she collapsed onto the floor, brown eyes filled with the beginnings of hope. 'I can move my toes! Whatever she did to me with her eyes is starting to wear off! Her story should buy me more time.'
"Fifty-two years ago, a powerful neko youkai (the most beautiful in the lands) reigned as mistress over the Southern lands. Wherever she went, other youkai would cower in fear and human blood made the waters run red. Those were good times…but then that devious bitch came and spoiled her plans. The neko youkai and the miko fought a long battle. Things were looking in the beautiful youkai's favor until Kikyou used a dirty, underhanded trick." Nekori turned and looked at the brightly glowing ball of fire that lit the cavern.
'I can move my arms no!' thought Kagome triumphantly. She focused herself now on regaining the use of the rest of her body parts.
Nekori continued the story, now switching to a first person point of view. "Kikyou used the Shikon no Tama and destroyed my body. But I was too strong for her. My body might have been gone but my spirit wasn't. As if that wasn't enough, she sealed me in this cave, which was completely uncalled for!"
Kagome moved her waist slightly. The neko youkai was too caught up in her 'sob' story to notice.
"Then Sayo came…the human wasn't much more then a kitten but she wanted revenge on her village. I was the one who taught her how to act, mix potions and destroy evidence. Sayo gladly became my servant, "selling her soul" to me, so to speak. Useful human but now that I have my body she's outlived her useless to me."
The girl clutched the insides to the sleeves of the red haori that was oversized but comforting nonetheless. 'I can move my whole body now! Maybe I can push her into the kekkai…but I have to wait for the right moment.'
"Naraku came about a week ago. He gave me one Shikon no Kakera in exchange for killing you, the hanyou, the monk, the youkai tajiya, and the promise of getting one from the miko. The one he gave me only sustained my fading spirit. But now that I have both of them, I can just eat you and the others. It would be a shame to waste a meal."
Nekori turned her gray eyes on Kagome. "After all, I'm hungry," she licked her lips, "it's been so long since I've had a human. Maybe I should cook you first. Then again, devouring you alive has a certain appeal."
She had heard enough. Kagome head butted the youkai into the kekkai. Nekori shrieked as she began to smoke. 'I did it! Now I-' the miko didn't finish that though for she was now pinned to the floor, staring into a pair of furious gray cat eyes.
"Miko, I'm surprised that you broke free of the paralysis but you are still a fool. Did you think that I would not be immune to my own kekkai?"
'To think, I ditched school to die in Sengoku Jidai,' thought Kagome, oddly calm with the present situation.
The neko youkai frowned. "Killing you isn't much fun when you don't scream, miko. Eating you alive should change that." Nekori licked the knife wound at the side of Kagome's neck that still bled.
Kagome closed her eyes and retreated further into her mind, to a place where she could no longer feel her body. There was a strong power here that strangely comforted her. Here she felt safe, free from any pain.
'At least now I won't have to feel my horrible, violent death. Hopefully, it won't take long…what am I thinking! If Inuyasha heard that, he'd call me worse then a coward. I don't want to die! I want to live! I want to see the Shikon completed! I will not die!'
The miko felt as if she had broken some barrier within her mind for a surge of white magic filler her. It was too much. She screamed and Nekori's scream joined hers. Eyes closed, and too busy with her inner struggle, Kagome didn't notice why.
Nekori was engulfed in a pale pink fire. Being a fire user, fire didn't harm her, but this was a purifying miko fire. It burned like nothing else she had felt before. Even Kikyou didn't have enough white magic to expend in a fire.
Sweat dripped down her bow as she drowned in her own power, throat to hoarse to scream. "Too much power," whispered Kagome.
"KAZE NO KIZU!" yelled a familiar voice.
Moonlight flooded the cave as the kekkai evaporated, leaving it once more exposed.
'Inuyasha!' His voice anchored her once more in reality, making it possible to break free of the hold the power had on her. She blinked open her brown eyes. Nekori was gone.
-----~(Previously)~-----
Kouga's eyes narrowed and he stopped running. His momentum was so great that he slid a couple feet. He stared ahead, bringing one finger forward cautiously. "Kuso!" Immediately he pulled it back and several more curse words followed. Pride kept him from sucking on his hurt finger. It wouldn't do for any youkai to see that weakness, especially not "Inu-koro."
'How the hell can I break through this kekkai without killing myself?' he thought angrily.
"Looks like you're having trouble, wimpy wolf," came a voice behind him.
Kouga looked over his right shoulder (for Makoto was slung over his left) and saw casually Inuyasha leaning the sheath to the Tetsusaiga.
"Like you could do any better, puppy," retorted the yorozoku. The hanyou yawned and slowly approached the kekkai.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Inu-koro. That's a kekkai," said Kouga smugly.
"Keh! I can destroy kekkai in my sleep," returned Inuyasha in that same arrogant tone. He drew the Tetsusaiga. The dull, rusty sword transformed into its six-foot counter part. Looking at its new form (that could destroy 100 youkai in one blow if used correctly), one would find it hard to believe that it was made of a fang of the Great Demon Lord of the Western Lands, who coincidently was Inuyasha's deceased father.
The Tetsusaiga began to take on a red glow, small winds revolving around the blade as he prepared his attack. [1]
"KAZE NO KIZU!"
One mighty swing of the fang sword sent a small but focused shock wave at the kekkai. For a moment nothing happened and Kouga opened his mouth, prepared to give Inuyasha his opinion on his failed attack. His blue eyes widened as the barrier began to dissolve, revealing a large cavern and Kagome crumpled in a heap on the floor. Her kidnapper was nowhere in sight.
"Kagome!" yelled both Kouga and Inuyasha in unison. They exchanged glares.
"You actually did something right, puppy," called Kouga as he ran by him. The hanyou started to run but Kouga was already ahead of him. The yorozoku was faster, even with the girl weighing him down. Inuyasha on the other hand moved sluggishly as he was still recovering from the affects of the sleeping potion.
He did, however, reach Kagome in time to hear her say "Kouga-kun!" Inuyasha gritted his teeth every time he heard her add that "kun" to the wolf's name. Though it would be like pulling teeth to get him to admit to jealousy.
~-----(Kagome)-----~
Kagome blinked her eyes, hoping that they weren't playing cruel tricks on her. If they weren't then Kouga was standing beside her, a strange creature slumped over his shoulder. She didn't give the 'thing' a second glance. It didn't matter. Help had arrived, even though it wasn't the help she expected.
"Kouga-kun!"
"Looks like Inu-koro really screwed up this time."
"Shut up, you stupid wolf," came a gruff voice.
"Inuyasha!" she exclaimed, attempting to get up. Her limbs protested at the sudden movement so she thought the better of it and stayed put. "Why…why are you here? I thought you drank the tea too!"
He snorted. "I'm Inuyasha, remember?" She just stared at him so he added, "Sayo underestimated me since I'm a hanyou," he said that last word bitterly, "She only put enough potion in the tea to knock out humans and weak youkai like Shippou and Kirara."
'That makes sense. He still does look a little sleepily,' she thought to herself.
A gray cloud appeared behind the hanyou, slowly reforming into the neko youkai. "Inuyasha! Behind you!"
But the hanyou was not fast enough. Nekori was straddled across his back, taking swipes at it with her very sharp claws. Inuyasha tried in vain to dislodge her.
"Get off me!" he caught her wrist finally and threw her off. She sailed though the air, but recovered, executing a flip as she landed on her feet.
"You must be the hanyou that Naraku has told me so much about. I am called Nekori. It's a pity you're fighting back. When I'm through with you, there won't be enough left of you to make a decent meal," she turned her gaze to the yorozoku, "You, Naraku didn't tell me anything about you. Don't glare at me so, wolf. You'll have to wait your turn."
Inuyasha charged at her and took to the air at the last minute, pulling the Tetsusaiga in a downward swing as he reached her. The force of the blow sent debris and dust flying everywhere. When it cleared, it was obvious that he had missed the neko completely. Even Kouga saw that Inuyasha wasn't likely to win with his speed slower then usual, but a pride kept him from interfering.
"Too slow, hanyou!" Nekori reformed and flung herself at the bewildered hanyou's back, putting all her weight into a blow with her elbow. Inuyasha went down.
He rolled out of the way in time to avoid the coming finishing move. Her fist left a small crater in the floor. "Keh! Is that the best you have, pussy cat?" taunted Inuyasha, standing once more and gripping the Tetsusaiga with both hands.
That remark only provoked Nekori. She gave him a twisted grin that Kagome had seen used before. 'She's just playing with him like she did with me. Inuyasha isn't even fast enough to avoid her attacks. Inuyasha…'
"Come at me you mutt!"
He happily obliged. With a look of determination on his face, he leaped into the air and cut his Tetsusaiga downward with an audible swish. But Nekori was no longer there.
"Baka! I'm behind you," the neko youkai said in annoyance.
Inuyasha spun around and raised the Tetsusaiga, prepared to use the "Kaze no Kizu" but to his surprise, he felt a weight holding the sword down. His amber eyes narrowed at the youkai who was currently kneeling on the floor, stopping the blade at the base with her clawed hands.
"You're beginning to bore me using the same slow attacks over again." She yawned for added affect.
Nekori freed one hand and sent a punch out. The blow landed on his unprotected chest. Inuyasha was sent flying into the far cavern wall, a testament to the youkai's true strength. He hit the wall, with so much force that a crack appeared, before sliding down.
"Inuyasha," cried Kagome weakly.
~----~(Kouga)~----~
'Shit, the puppy didn't even last five minutes. He picked a hell of a day to be sleepy. I'd better go show him how to do it the right way.' Kouga looked down at Kagome who was lying down on her side, too weak to get up but still watching Inuyasha with concern.
"Watch the onna until I get back. This shouldn't take long."
The yorozoku dumped his passenger unceremoniously to the ground and took off in a blur, leaving a shocked Kagome behind.
"Makoto?" he could hear her exclaim. 'So Kagome knows that girl…I can't think about that now, I have to teach this neko a lesson.'
"Here kitty!" called Kouga, effectively pulling Nekori's attention from the injured hanyou who was struggling to stay conscious.
"Oooh! Another mutt to play with. You better last longer then the hanyou. Between you and me, I think he's had one to many drinks." Her tail swished back and forth as she stalked towards Kouga, a malicious grin on her pale face.
"Don't compare me to that puppy, neko."
She hissed. "We'll see…" With that, the fight between the yorozoku and the neko youkai began.
With incredible speed and agility for which neko youkai were known for, she dashed forward. The yorozoku charged as well, with a greater speed then Nekori but lacking her finesse. They both took to the air the last minute, and met somewhere in the middle with a clash of strength, will, and claws.
Nekori landed gracefully, pulling a flip that would put most gymnasts to shame where as Kouga landed in a crouch. Kagome blinked, unsure of what just happened until Kouga rose, his chest armor now sported four long gashes, but Nekori's claws did not appear to have touched his skin. But she, on the other hand was gaping in astonishment. Her knees buckled under her as she gasped for breath. Kouga's mid air kick hit her square in the chest. She coughed up a little blood and rose again.
"You're fast, mutt. Unlike you, however, I am more then just speed and brute strength."
She held up her right hand. A ball of gray fire, similar to the one that lit the cave, hovered there before being hurled at the yorozoku. He just barely dodged that when another one followed, narrowly missing him but singing his tail.
Kouga switched from offensive to defensive, utilizing the Shikon no Kakera in his legs to gain speed as well as his natural instincts. Still, it was an effort to dodge the volley of fire.
"Damn, I can't dodge these things all day and she's not letting me get close enough to attack." He knew that eventually he would falter and a fiery death did not seem appealing.
--------~(Makoto, at last!)~---------
"Makoto…could she have discovered the well? How could she get through without a Shikon no Kakera?" whispered a girl, thinking out loud. "Oh no, Kouga!"
My eyes were closed but I could feel the cold stone floors underneath me. Something screamed at me that I wasn't in the Shrine anymore. I wish that girl would shut up though. My head hurt like somebody had dropped a ton of bricks on it and hearing noise wasn't making it any better.
'Oh, now I remember.' All the events since I arrived at the shrine came rushing back, definitely not helping my migraine. 'I met Kagome on my way back to school, nice girl. Then we went back to the shrine. Rei talked a lot. I was lost. Then there was that thumping noise upstairs. Like a good little senshi, I went to investigate. Kagome was gone. That violent not-boyfriend kidnapped her. I followed them to the well then accidentally stepped on a neko. The neko got back at me by using my legs as a scratching post. Then I fell into the well and bumped my head.' I groaned. Oh how I wish I could forget all that.
The sounds of a battle filled my trained ears. No rest for me. I blinked open my eyes slowly and found myself looking into a very concerned Kagome. My eyes closed again, the effort of opening them sent my head spinning. 'Wait, Kagome!'
I bolted upright and immediately regretted it. The brightness of the cave (for that is what it appeared to be) nearly blinded my unadjusted eyes and made my temples throb. What did I do to deserve this…oh wait, I got bored.
"Makoto, you're up!" cried Kagome weakly but with enthusiasm. She looked like she'd tangled with a thorn bush but I guess I looked as bad. What bothered me was why though. Did I get here to late? Did this Inuyasha hurt her and kidnap me too?
"What happened?" I asked, my voice husky with disuse. She opened her mouth to answer but we were suddenly strayed with rocks and dust, a ball of fire exploding a few feet away. That was when I noticed that a battle was indeed raging behind us. The source of the red and white from earlier was at the far end of the cavern. Inuyasha, I believe he was called, was struggling to get up and it was a amazing, what with how many injuries he appeared to have.
But that wasn't why we'd almost been blasted with a misdirected attack. Two people, who definitely weren't human, were currently locked in a battle. The female (who was some sort of neko hybrid) was the source of the fireball attacks and was throwing them at a male (probably some wolf hybrid). The boy couldn't have been more then two years older then me but was so fast that it made me dizzy just keeping up. However he wasn't faring well. Many of the attacks were getting closer to their mark as he slowed down.
"On second thought, you can tell me later Kagome. Just tell me which of the two is the baddie."
Her brown eyes widened. "Makoto, you might be a good fighter but those two are youkai!" Ah, so that's what they were. It explained all the supernatural powers. "You're injured!"
I stood up slowly. "I'm used to it," I said with no particular satisfaction. It was true though and the throbbing had lessened and I could actually stay balanced now.
"But-but they're youkai!" she persisted. Kagome tried to get up but fell flat on her butt. Something had drained most of her white magic because I could just barely feel it. No wonder she was weak.
'That will be a problem…I have to transform, but my identity will be at risk. Damn! I have to do it anyway. Maybe when we get back home, wherever that is, Setsuna can do something about her memories.'
My henshin wand appeared in my hand, via the sub space pocket. I raised it to the air and shouted the four familiar words.
"Jupiter Crystal Power, Make-up!"
Immediately the comforting electricity enveloped me as my clothing dissolved. It didn't matter much. In those moments, I was a creature of pure energy. Regretfully, my Senshi fuku appeared piece by piece. The electricity vanished, as well as my visible wounds (though my head still ached).
I turned to Kagome and hid a smile. Her jaw was dropped and her eyes were widened in astonishment. It hurt me a little bit. For some reason, I expected her to understand since she's a miko and all. She reminded me of a certain ondago atama with the pure aura and innocence.
"Now which one is the bad guy?"
"Ne-ne-neko," she stuttered, still shocked at my transformation. I guess I would be too in her place.
"I'm really beginning to hate cats," I muttered, making my way towards the neko who was laughing gleefully as she threw more of the fireballs.
The boy was still running and dodging the attacks. His eyes widened when he saw me. Baka! That moment of hesitation caused the fireball to hit him in the side. He caught himself as he fell, dropping into a fighter's crouch, glaring at me.
The neko youkai frowned, and turned. I guess she was angry that she wasn't the center of attention anymore.
"Who are you!" she demanded imperiously. I was used to those lines. In response, Usagi usually was the one to give "the speech" but since she wasn't here and it felt wrong to go into battle without one, at least a condensed version…
"I am Sailor Jupiter, senshi of lightning and nature. Youma, Youkai, Lemure. I don't care what the hell you are, but you hurt Kagome. Besides, your evil jyaki is making me sick. In the name of Jupiter, I will punish you." To save my pride, I didn't strike a pose. That much movement would probably make the room go spinning. As a rule, you don't embarrass yourself in front of the enemy.
"I don't need your help!" said the fallen yorozoku, now standing but clutching his side.
"I started this so I am going to finish this," came the voice of the boy who'd kidnapped Kagome. Maybe he wasn't as evil as I thought.
"Baka! Both of you are injured! I don't know you but I can do this on my own so just stay away!" My powers were a little rusty but I was more then capable of taking one youkai on my own. It was just male arrogance and pride talking. They'd probably say the same if they were in a full body cast.
"I don't need some onna to help me," said the yorozoku.
"Makoto! Look out!" called Kagome.
I looked up to see a giant ball of gray heading my way.
The miniature antenna of my gold tiara was out, emitting sparks of electricity.
"Jupiter Thunder," electricity was channeled to my hand, "Crash!"
That one word released a ball of electricity towards the oncoming attack. In reality, it took less then a minute but time seems to slow when I channel elemental energy.
My attack met the fireball half way, causing an explosion and a blinding light. I didn't wait for the light to clear, and immediately ran towards her, taking to the air the last minute and drop kicking the temporarily blinded neko. My booted heels connected with her back, knocking her back several feet. She dissolved into a cloud of gray smoke.
"Wow…that was easier then I thought."
You can understand my surprise when I felt her weight on my back, her claws taking vicious, bloody swipes at my skin.
I bit my tongue to keep from screaming, drawing blood. I would not give the two males reason to doubt my skill. They were injured and weren't crying. There's no reason I can't do the same.
My attempts to dislodge her failed.
Thankfully the pain stopped as the yorozoku threw her off my back. Sure, I was still bleeding, but I've been through worse. Remember, this is a girl who died three times in battle.
Sometime during all this, Kagome had crawled her way to the injured boy. The softened look in his hard features as he saw her made me think my earlier opinion of him.
I turned back to look at the neko youkai and immediately cursed at myself for letting my gaze wander from the enemy. 'Coward.' She was weakened but was summoning up a lot of her remaining energy to fire at Inuyasha and Kagome. I didn't have time to attack and neither did the wolf.
"Kagome!" we both yelled in warning. Time seemed to slow as the boy threw himself in front of the girl.
At the last possible moment a dome-like kekkai, glowing pink but transparent as glass, appeared between the two and the oncoming fireball. The gray ball hit the kekkai with a great crash but the kekkai held strong.
'A miracle.' The energy signature was familiar though. 'No, not a miracle, Kagome,' I corrected myself. Though I was surprised she had enough energy to create a kekkai. That says a lot for desperation.
The kekkai vanished and Kagome fainted. Inuyasha (who I just noticed had dog ears) caught her before she hit the floor. My opinion of him rose slightly.
I turned my attention on the neko youkai. The yorozoku already had the situation under control. Seeing as the neko youkai was weakened, he had no problem with dodging any more attacks. His speed was amazing, even if he was injured, and would put Haruka to shame. He was also very strong, though it was probably because he was a youkai as well.
After the first couple of minutes he wore down her defenses. He was no martial artist but brute strength worked just as effectively. Two minutes later she was on the floor, bruised and bleeding. 'It seems kind of wrong though…without the ears and tail, she'd be human.'
Then I reminded myself that she almost killed all of us and was a youkai. Of course, looking at the wolf, I realized that some youkai were good, though maybe he had ulterior motives. That made me wonder what the neko youkai did wrong to provoke this battle in the first place.
"Hurry up and finish her off!" said the yorozoku. It took me a second to realize that he was talking to me, and another to understand why. He couldn't finish her off with physical attacks. I tried to hide my smile. 'He needs me.' I could see it injured his masculine pride to ask me but at least he had the sense to push it aside briefly and ask.
I nodded in understanding and summoned up all of my remaining elemental energy.
"Jupiter Supreme Thunder Dragon, Crash!"
The giant electrical dragon that I created with my powers gave a roar and flew for the neko youkai. She gave a startled cry but it was too late. The attack engulfed her. She screamed as her body convulsed.
When the dragon vanished, there was nothing left of the youkai except for a gray clod of smoke. She wasn't a dead yet. I remembered what happened the last time.
"Kuso!" cursed the wolf youkai. My sentiments exactly.
The gray mist was slowly reforming again. The wolf plunged his arm into the cloud and pulled out a strange pulsing pink ball. It appeared to be some sort of heart. He pulled out some sort of strange crystals from the strange heart, which soon vanished.
"Nooo!" came the weak disembodied voice of the neko youkai. The gray cloud vanished and did not reform.
I swayed slightly. Using all of my elemental energy was not the brightest idea. But I had to be sure that the neko youkai would not come back.
The wolf youkai gave me an indiscernible look as he approached me.
My senshi fuku was flickering to and from my school fuku. I cursed silently as it reverted completely to my torn and dirty school fuku. The loss of so much elemental energy and blood didn't allow me to sustain my senshi form. It could not have happened at a worse time. For all that he saved me, he was still a youkai.
Stepping into a fighter's stance, I willed myself not to faint, hanging on by a thread. 'I will not faint, I will not faint,' I repeated to myself.
"Hey onna, I told you that it was my fight," he said in that superior tone that I hated already.
Everything went black as I lost my battle to stay conscious. The last thing I felt was the wolf youkai catch me, none to gently I might add.
~-----(Kouga)-----~
"Baka onna," he muttered, picking her up once again. This time he did not sling her over his shoulder (in consideration for her injuries). Instead, he carried her bridal style and walked slowly over to Kagome, with consideration to his own injuries, which he was just beginning to really feel with the adrenaline gone.
Inuyasha had Kagome cradled in his arms, stroking her back and murmuring something to her. Kagome was barely injured though unconscious and the hanyou looked half dead as a result of the battle and half sleep from the weak sleep potion.
'Kagome knows hot to use her miko powers,' he mused, 'She can already sense the Shikon no Kakera. She'll make a good mate.' Looking at the "puppy" and the miko, a he realized that though she would make a good mate, she would never be his. He would still treat Kagome as his future mate, if only to piss "Inu-koro" off.
Kouga froze as he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He spun around and saw a human woman with a hunter's knife in hand and a crazed look upon her face.
A simple human weapon could kill him in his present weakened state, holding the "onna."
"You killed Nekori-sama!" She yelled fanatically, knife poised to attack.
A blur of white sent the knife flying and pinned her to the floor.
'It's the wolf from before. I thought I took care of him…Kuso! Just what I need right now.'
The gold chain the human wore began to glow. The wolf jumped clear of the body right before she burst into gray flames. Her screams echoed throughout the cavern as her skin blackened. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, making him nauseous.
The white wolf spun to face him and Kouga found himself starting into silver, green, and emerald tri-colored irises. It was very disconcerting.
I did not kill the human The voice came in response to his unvoiced question. Kouga went slack jawed in astonishment. That voice, though faint, came inside his head!
Her former mistress must have enchanted the necklace to take make her servant follow her to hell in case she should meet an untimely end. It was not of my doing
As the wolf advanced on him, Kouga noticed how injured he was. He cradled on broken paw to his chest and left a trail of black blood from a chest wound as it limped forward. He also appeared to be having trouble just breathing, no doubt from one or more broken ribs. It was a miracle that the wolf was still standing and to have made his way all the way from the well…
Harm the hime and you die, wolf prince His voice was fainter this time. The wolf collapsed onto his side, wounded and exhausted.
"Hime? What hime?" said a perplexed Kouga. It couldn't have been Kagome, because she was destined to become a great miko. And it defiantly couldn't have been the hanyou, for obvious reasons.
Kouga looked down at the unconscious girl in his arms and cursed. She must have been the reason why he was attacked earlier. The white wolf must have thought he was going to eat her.
"Of all the girls to save, it have to be the onna who's a hime, can fight like a warrior, and has a strange wolf for a guardian." He said a few more choice words before turning to the hanyou.
Inuyasha was now asleep, still holding onto Kagome. The yorozoku seemed to be the only one still conscious. Though it was almost funny, it would be no laughing matter if Naraku caught them. Kouga gritted his teeth and kicked the hanyou awake.
He did not fancy carrying everybody back himself and if the hime didn't get her wounds treated in time, she would die and apparently he'd have an angry wolf guardian at his throat (literally). If he couldn't stop to rest now, there was no way he was letting the "puppy" have any rest either.
~-----(Outside)-----~
A horde of Saimyoushou hovered at the mouth of the cavern, out of earshot but still within spying distance. Their orders weren't to attack. Though the group was easy pray now. No, their orders were to watch Nekori and take the Shikon no Kakera after she killed the miko. Naraku's plan had failed miserably.
They flew off into the night, towards Naraku's latest lair, to report their new findings. [OWARI CHAPTER THREE]
~~~~~~~~----------------~~~~~~~~
[1] About the Tetsusaiga turning red…. ####Spoiler warning#### [Episodes 73-74] Myouga tells Inu-Yasha that if he wishes to make Tetsusaiga stronger and to break Naraku's kekkai, he has to cut a strong kekkai with it. He tells them of the kekkai of the Hyakki bats, so the group sets out. They find that the Hyakki bats are attacking a local village, even after the village gave them Shiori, a half youaki (her father was the former bat youkai lord and they need her blood legacy) child of one of the women of the village. The Hyakki bats break their promise and continue attacking the village, and when Inuyasha goes to break their kekkai, he finds that Shiori is the one creating the kekkai.
With some help from Shiori and her dead father, Inuyasha finally defeats Taigokumaru (the big Lord bat, Shiori's grandfather) and cuts the kekkai with Tetsusaiga, which turns Tetsusaiga red. ----summary from Sengoku Jidai [http:// web .utk. edu/ ~bborchar/ updates. html --- remove the spaces]----- Now he can destroy kekkai and when he does this, the Tetsusaiga turns red. It does not turn red when he does a regular "Kaze no Kizu."
[2] Repeatedly in the anime, Kouga sees Inuyasha and Kagome together. He usually shrugs it off and still claims Kagome as his future mate. When he flirts with her, Inuyasha gets really mad and starts to fight Kouga (which gets me mad because he hasn't claimed Kagome at all and still thinks about Kikyou). The miko usually ends it with an "osuwari." I used my artistic license for Kouga to finally get it through his head. It seems hopeless in the anime. ^__^ ''
---------~~~~~~~~~~------------
Notes: This chapter was a bit long. I hope you all liked the fighting scenes. I rarely write them and I tend to be vague so tell me if you didn't understand what was going on and I'll edit it. In some of the reviews I've received, I've been told that this story is being read (and enjoyed/understood) by people who have never seen Inuyasha. The footnotes and short explanations in the chapter is my way of clearing things up for you guys. I'm glad they help. Lady Wolf Moon correctly guessed who both Rai and Hani are (and why they're important).
Rai is short for Raiden. God of thunder and lightning. He is pictured as a red demon with sharp claws and carrying a large drum. I didn't make him red; instead I used my writers' license and gave him a red haori. And I didn't make him evil, just a tough warrior with a soft side for Hani.
Hani is short for Haniyasu-hime, Goddess of the Earth. It really is fitting for them. Now that I've revealed who they are, the part they play should be pretty obvious. [Next update might be next Sunday, if not, the Sunday after that] ----Please Review----
--------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~----------------
Favorite Line/Scene: "I'm Inuyasha, remember?" She just stared at him blankly… [Kagome wasn't impressed *shakes head*]
~~~~~~~~~~~~--------------~~~~~~~~~~~
To M.A.: Wow, that was a very long review. Makoto and Kagome talking about how much Kouga and Inuyasha annoy them should be interesting (though probably not what you were talking about). Mako-chan finally regained consciousness but she sort of fainted again…At least Kouga caught her. I'm not trying to rush the romance. Here we see a bit of Inuyasha/Kagome and Makoto appreciates Kouga's fighting skills among other things. I am very glad that the Author's notes helped you. If anything is vague then let me know and I'll edit it. I hope you start watching Inuyasha, though AMVs are nice (I have several on my pc). You got Rai was the god of thunder. Have you played Mortal Combat? Love that game. Don't apologize for the length of the review. Getting long reviews is fun. I hope you know I have that goofy smile on my face again.
To LitaMinamino: I hope this was soon enough for you. I finished writing it in seven hours but it took me another seven to type. Recently I fell down the stairs and fractured my wrist so I'm not exactly the fastest typist now. The next one should be next week if my muses haven't deserted me. ^__^
To Kia Minokoe: Yay! I'm glad that my story has helped you understand the wonderful world of Inuyasha. I hope to introduce Ayame, Naraku, Kagura, and possibly Sesshoumaru in addition to Kouga, Shippou, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Kirara. If you're beginning to get lost then tell me and I'll clear it up. I'm writing this as if nobody has watched Inuyasha so everybody can understand. I hope you'll like Inuyasha as much as I do. ^__^ ''
To Jupluna: Yup. Rai is short for Raiden. I got the idea to do a flashback dream sequence after playing Mortal Combat. Sad but true. Makoto and Inuyasha won't get along at first (she'll beat him up a little). Their personalities are so much the alike, the same goes for Kouga. I can't reveal more because it will begin in the next chapter and I don't even know what I'm going to write yet. My muses are now locked in a cage so they don't run away. x__x
To Firey of Jupiter: This soon enough for you? I even made it really long though I think I squished too many things in it.
To Lady Wolf Moon: Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! You got it right. The part about Okumi-nushi being Naraku's father scared me. It has a father? *lol* I was thinking of having him as Hotaru's father. My mind works in odd ways and I don't clearly explain them. Seeing as you got the bonus, you can either have a bonus chapter about Once in a Blue Moon (that might or might not be incorporated in the story), have a cameo in it (a villager that they have to save or something like that, you can pick), or a one-shot story with whatever plot you want(anything Makoto centered). E-mail or IM me about that so I can get started. You don't have to claim the prize but I have nothing to do and will go mad soon. @__@