Inuyasha dodged another punch with relative ease and smirked when he met brown eyes. This was no challenge, just as he'd thought. This human wouldn't be able to lay a finger on him, and even if he did, there would be no damage done. Which was a good thing because his body was in the final throws of getting back to normal. Even for a hanyou, having your heart stopped for four total heartbeats takes its toll.
"Baka! Stop dodging like a weakling and fight me!"
His smirk intensified. "What's wrong? Not fast enough to land a punch? You're hardly worth my time." There was a sudden, return smirk that lowered his a little in wonder. What did this human have to smile about?
"You think I'm so weak? I haven't been able to even use my strength."
"If you think you're so powerful, then try to land a blow against me and I'll fight you the way you want me to." He growled, eyes narrowing at the unconscious challenge.
The three watched on the sidelines, a little taken aback at the way Inuyasha kept moving away from Sano at such speed.
Kaoru spied a few peeks out of the corner of her eye at Kenshin next to her, wondering what he was thinking. There was an even, unreadable expression on his face and his eyes were neither harsh nor soft. But they were pinned on the dancing pair that covered a good portion of the yard as Sano attacked and Inuyasha dodged. Kaoru bit her lip and looked forward again, worry for her friend and her land. This was all she had left of her family and didn't want it getting torn up. It did enough already with all the enemies that targeted Kenshin and Sano - and sometimes herself - and didn't want it to get any worse. They all spent enough time fixing it up as it was.
Sano threw out another hook, fist expecting to slug Inuyasha on his cheek, when his head simply jerked back by mere inches. The only thing Sano touched was coarse, silver hair and grit his teeth again. The smug look on his opponent was severely pissing him off. Why wouldn't this thing FIGHT? All he had to do was land one hit and there would be a more interesting fight? Well, there was no specification about WHERE...
Seeing as he had the full attention of those interesting gold eyes, Sano smirked and suddenly swung a leg out. His attack caught Inuyasha sharply behind the knees and there was a wide-eyed, surprised look before Inuyasha gave a matching cry and fell on his back in the dirt. Sano stopped to catch his breath and gloat. He looked down in smug satisfaction and ignored the return glare. "I guess even dogs can be beaten into submission if necessary."
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed so tightly it was amazing he could still see the cocky bastard. "Temee..." He grit out, fangs baring. What an insult! Sure he was a dog...but an Inuyoukai being submissive to a human? Of anything? He wanted to scoff. But he remembered his words. Fists clenched as he remained on the ground, eyes subtly checking out what he could get his hands on to hurt. "So, you managed to hit me. You're going to get more than what you bargained for." His normal smirk appeared. "Weak human."
The words were so soft the three spectators could barely make them out. It seemed Sano had won and Inuyasha was just being a bad loser about that rather loud comment...until the hanyou seemed to blur and Sano was suddenly swung in an arc around that red-clothed body and thrown into one of the courtyard walls across the way. All three grimaced and looked at their poor friend, seeing him stagger to his feet seconds later, shaking his head.
Kaoru looked to Yahiko and lightly tapped his shoulder. When he looked at her, she gently rested a hand on his shoulder in seriousness. "Yahiko, go fetch Megumi-san please. Sano is going to need his wounds treated if Inuyasha does something like THAT again."
Yahiko silently pouted, wanting to see what else Inuyasha could do, but looked back as Sano gave a cry and rushed forward - fists ready for attack. Inuyasha's hands shot out, grabbed his jacket in a flash, and dropped to the ground, using a foot as leverage to keep Sano off and throw him over his head. There was another small dent in the other side of the courtyard wall when Sano finally landed. Yahiko looked back to Kaoru, finding her attention, and almost gravely nodded. "Ok." He muttered, taking off for the front entrance.
Regardless of the holes he was making - with no way to pay for repairs - Sano jumped up and rushed forward. Kaoru watched in minute worry as she looked to the two fighters. Inuyasha stopped throwing Sano around and settled instead for close hand combat.
That was not a good thing given those claws of his.
Teeth bit her lip at Sano's poor defense. He attacked more and took all the hits Inuyasha gave, blood starting to seep into his clothes where slashes grazed his chest and arms. There were a few light cuts to the face as well, but those didn't seem too deep. Kaoru wondered if Inuyasha was holding back and how much. She flinched when Inuyasha delivered a rather powerful-looking blow to Sano's chest and felt enough was enough. A hand rose and tentatively touched Kenshin's kimono. "Kenshin..." She quietly trailed off, anxiety in her voice.
Kaoru gained a small, wordless nod in understanding from her companion, and she blinked in surprise at finding his stance changed. His hands were no longer casually resting in his kimono sleeves - one removed to rest on the tip of his sakabatou and the look in his eyes had darkened sometime during the fight to slightly intimidating. With Kenshin's slightly serious look, Kaoru felt a shred of worry and looked ahead. If Kenshin had that stance, things must have gone rather wrong. Sano must be losing and Inuyasha no longer caring about holding back and making sure not to go overboard. Kaoru's fists clenched as her heart sped up.
One hand pushed Sano to the ground with very little force, easily dropping the fighter. Inuyasha smirked and looked to the ground, his stance turning arrogant and more unguarded. He was right; this human was no match for him. "Giving up already? I've fought weaker youkai who have a better sense of pride not to give up until they're dead." Gold narrowed. "Fighting is my life. I told you, you weren't worth my time." He gave a small chuckle and rolled his shoulders. "But I got to work out some of last night's stress so you aren't completely useless." A foot slowly aimed out to kick the fighter's side.
Sano's eyes suddenly snapped open. That was the opening he was looking for and his possum act was over. One arm shot out and tightly wrapped around Inuyasha's leg, fist gripping the bulky material. He gained a surprised gasp and tightly clenched his right fist.
Inuyasha felt a sharp pain race up his muscles from the blow dealt. That shouldn't have hurt him so much - it was just a simple punch to his calf! But the pain felt like someone poking sharp little needles deep into his muscles, down to the bone and he couldn't shake the feeling. Gritting his teeth, he stumbled back and dropped to a knee when his foot suddenly went numb. There was the worst sense of nausea in his stomach. He felt his blood churn and head spin. His eyes tightly closed for a second. That injured time cost him precious defense and suddenly there was another blow of the same style dead center over his chest. That had a profound impact and his heart uncertainly palpitated. It made breathing hard and he dropped to his knees, tightly compacting his body against the pain. The sudden offset in flow of blood sent it coming through his body and he coughed a small puddle onto the dirt, staring in disbelief.
How?? What kind of attack made a reaction like this possible?! It had to be a Meiji weapon, because there was nothing like it in his time.
Sano pointedly stood just out of claw reach and crossed arms boldly and looked down. "So the mighty have fallen. I remember you calling me weak before... Now who's weak?" Brown narrowed boastingly. "Animal."
The taunting words made his blood boil and that didn't help with the pain he was feeling now. His leg was still on fire and his chest ached about as badly as when the jikan youkai stopped his heart!
No! He would NOT be beaten by such a lame attack! Sure it was good, probably could kill a normal human, but he was a hanyou! Part youkai, sired by a great Inuyoukai! 'Get up damn it!' He harshly screamed.
Sano's torso leaned a few inches over as he continued to watch the lump of red still huddled on the ground. The body was shaking a little, but that was normal as a few of the effects of the Futae no Kiwami. The muscles tended to spasm for a while with the ripple effect that spread through the body. This...dog would be in pain for a while. "Oi, give up now? You underestimated Sagara Sanosuke." Sano's smile widened. "How do you like my Futae no Kiwami? Hurts, doesn't it?"
Inuyasha angrily spit out the residue of blood into the puddle and forced his body to move. His muscles were only half listening, but his rage fueled them. A weak growl started in the back of his throat and slowly grew in volume as he moved. It was like a catalyst for him to rise to his feet and it was almost a shout by the time he managed to hold a low, crouching stance. "You..." He harshly rasped. "Don't underestimate me. Even a hanyou doesn't go down that easily. You'll pay for that..." Inuyasha's claws tightened to hold up against the force of an attack. He pushed off of the ground and shot forward, but his attack was sloppy due to his condition. His leg was still half numb and hardly held him up.
Sano easily dodged the vertical slice, eyes a little wide. There should be no way this thing could get up after two solid hits - one to the chest - with his attack! His eyes narrowed in calculation as he dodged a horizontal swipe. This thing was good...damn good! He slowly smiled. Finally...a real fight with a really strong fighter! His blood heated up in glee.
Inuyasha was getting angrier and angrier with each missed hit and most of it was at himself. He was angry for losing his guard and getting that first blow that eventually screwed him over and he was angry for being on a more even level for the moment. If only he could take five minutes, his healing factor would kick in and he'd gain even a small bit of his strength back. This was SO not happening to him! How would a mere human do such a job in so little time? KAGOME did worse than this - that he at least understood! She was part miko. The same with Miroku - though it was still a wonder that bouzu could be a houshi with that hentai personality of his! Still, how could an average human get the best of him like this? He cursed his loose attitude and mentally vowed right now that he would not stop until this guy was fully beaten. Not dead of course; where was the chance to gloat when he was the last one standing if there was no downed fighter to gloat to? Just enough to make this human rethink of messing with things it didn't understand.
Inuyasha finally got a grab and tightly latched onto a forearm. His eyes narrowed in partial feral glee and calculation as he distanced the courtyard wall again. One more powerful swing outa put this guy right through it and bury him in the brick. That SHOULD put him out. Inuyasha gave a battle cry and quickly turned a few complete circles before letting go and sending Sano into the wall with double the force. There was a loud crash and a small hole was made, some of the rubble managing to get a few hits in of their own.
Getting a second, Inuyasha stopped and tried to catch his breath. Gold avidly watched to see any of the rock move, indicating his opponent was getting back up, but it seemed almost eerily still. Then there was the tiniest of noises in that area. His ears swiveled forward to catch it and he almost glowered.
What did it take to keep this guy DOWN?!
"Temee..." He mumbled, taking a slow step. A few more hits with his claws, maybe a few more slashes across the chest, should do it. Suddenly, Inuyasha found himself blocked by a short, magenta and white, human blockade and looking none too happy with him. He met those narrowed, violet eyes and briefly snarled. "Get out of my way! This isn't between you and me anymore!"
Kenshin's eyes narrowed even further as his body tensed. His sword hand rested at its side, ready to withdraw his sakabatou at a second's notice.
Sano was definitely nearing his end, fighting astride him enough taught him that. But with the love of fighting, Sano wouldn't keep down until he was knocked out and most likely seriously hurt. As it was, the marks made by those claws looked pretty bad. They'd get infected soon if Yahiko didn't hurry back with Megumi-dono. "Sessha won't allow that. Your fight is over. You've clearly shown you're the stronger of the two. Stop and get your wounds treated."
Inuyasha scoffed and assumed as arrogant a pose as he could while favoring his chest. "Keh! You think a fight has rules and considerations for each other? An enemy could attack while your back is turned! He challenged me and I'm not going to stop until I know he's beaten! If I can still fight, so can he."
Kenshin didn't figure this would be easy. Inuyasha was too bull-headed, as was known by the way he fought and the words leaving his mouth. "You're a demon, Sano is not. That gives you the upper hand and your compassion should be more because of it. I'm telling you once more to stand down." A hand slowly rose and clicked his sword just out of the confinements of the scabbard with a quiet clink. "Before you face me instead."
Gold narrowed to slits. "You want to challenge me again? I'm not in the mood to fight you. My fight's with him." He looked away with scorn.
There was a sudden sound of rubble that got both fighters' attention. A minute later, Sano slowly pushed a few of the larger rocks off his stomach and laboriously got to his feet. He did not look in good shape. "W - wait...Kenshin..." He ground out, sending an unhappy look across the way. "How many times...am I going to TELL people...to stop interfering...with my fights!"
Kenshin blinked and a portion of his eyes softened to bemusement. "Sano..."
Sanosuke stood and inched his way over, an arm wrapped around his chest. Dark brown glared into violet. "You told me not to get in the middle of YOUR fights before...remember?"
Kenshin gave a small, embarrassed smile, but didn't move from his position as blockade. "Sano..."
Sano gave a small, pained, wry grin. "But you bought me a few minutes. So I guess I can forgive you for stepping in."
Kenshin's face turned solemn. He had no intention of letting this fight continue. Both were down and could continue at a later time when they were out of the city. He knew Kaoru-dono was worried about her land and he was too. For he had a sneaking suspicion she would make him help in the cleanup.
Sano stopped short of Kenshin and glared over his head. "I'm still in. Don't even think of giving up." He retorted.
"Keh! I could say the same for you. You remind me of a wimpy ookami youkai where I come from." A sudden smirk appeared. "He's about stupid as you are and doesn't know when to admit defeat."
"What!?" Sano bit back a cry of pain when he instinctively lurched. A hand went to his chest as he grimaced. A few of the claw marks opened up again.
There seemed an almost silent lull as Sano and Inuyasha glared at each other, wordlessly battling their pain. Kenshin looked over his head at both, feeling like he should jump out of the way or get squished between when they clashed. But he firmly remained in place, having no desire to see that happen. His hand remained in the same position it was in when he clinked his sword open.
Suddenly, one of Inuyasha's ears flicked back and the glare lessoned. His gaze warily shifted to the space surrounding part of the house and back to brown a few times before he gave it his full attention. "The brat's back."
Sano and Kenshin both looked to him in confusion at the sudden change in mood and looked as well. The sound of zouri and geta were faintly heard.
"What'd I miss? What'd I miss??" When Sano turned with a greeting nod, Yahiko all but skidded to a stop in shock and took in his friend's condition. "Ah! Sano, what happened to you?!"
A hand idly went to his chest, feeling blood sluggishly trickle over his skin and ever-present bandages. "Not much." Sano gave a fake, reassuring smile to hide the aches he felt that were springing up in the lax seconds. His face suddenly gained the look of a child in trouble when Megumi rounded the corner in her smaller steps and pinned him with a glare.
"Sanosuke, I'm not your personal doctor! What did you do to yourself this time?" Inuyasha stared in slight amaze as a woman near his height clopped over and pointed a finger in Sano's chest. "Fighting again? You could've done it outside where your stupid antics wouldn't raise you an even higher bill than you owe everyone!"
"Ano...Megumi-dono...don't you think you should let up on Sano? He's had a rough time, that he has." Kenshin pleaded.
Megumi looked to Kenshin and immediately looked up with wide eyes - eyes that widened even further when they landed on Inuyasha's ears.
"Those are..." She breathed, a hand reaching out in fascination. They latched onto a triangle before anyone could stop her and rubbed.
"Baka! Yamero!" Inuyasha retorted, ducking his head. He shook her hand off and glared. "Keh! Stupid human...don't treat me like a dog!"
Megumi gasped as she looked into his eyes, feeling a thread of fear and wonder. What was this thing? It had dog ears, fangs, and very strange eyes! Her eyes registered Kenshin and Sano as they backed up a few steps, seeing as the fight was officially over, and felt a little safer with them both in arm's reach. Heaving a sigh, she stepped back and grasped part of Sano's ear. "You'll just have to tell me all about it after I patch you up." Dark eyes opened and locked with brown, sending him a rather bored look. "Again." She ground out.
"Ah! Megumi...wait I - iteiteite!"
The two remaining watched as Megumi dragged Sano away by the top of his ear.
"Keh...beaten by a women in the end. What a weakling."
Kenshin sighed and shook his head at it all. He wouldn't argue with Inuyasha's assessment of Sano's weakness to the doctor. Violet locked with gold. "This fight is over, yes?" His eyes narrowed a little more, pointedly stressing his argument and saying he'd tolerate no more insolence.
Inuyasha looked rather put out at being ordered around, even subtly, but decided to give in this once. He'd had his fun for the day. It was time to heal up and find that youkai and get back to his own time. Wait till the others heard about this latest adventure...they'd all be jealous! "Keh." He muttered, looking away. Hands stuffed in his sleeves as was normal when he muttered that word and took a few steps to the house. He only got a few when he suddenly found himself face to face with irate, dark blue eyes. Inuyasha gulped and waited for the bomb to drop. Again.
"I don't want any more problems out of you the rest of the time you're in any of our sights. Got it??" Kaoru's finger rose and jabbed him in the chest above his arms to stress her point. "Or I'll reinforce my earlier threat. You already destroyed my cloth rack last night and now you put holes in my retaining wall! Cause anymore trouble and I won't forgive you!"
He gulped again as he resisted the urge to take a step back in intimidation. Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned - in ANY such way! But his pride wouldn't let him be bested and he assumed as best a dignified look as possible, much like whenever he justly got chewed out by Kagome. "Keh." The earlier words he spoke to her remained ignored and unrepeated as he slowly bypassed her, keeping untouched physically and verbally, and sat on the porch.
Kenshin gave another quiet sigh and shook his head. What was Inuyasha saying about being bested by a woman? A hand scratched his head at everyone's behavior.
Yahiko stared at the demon for a brief moment, eyes gravitating from the fighter to Kaoru, Kenshin, the way Megumi and Sano took, and the tore up yard. He finally pouted and crossed his arms, knowing he'd missed more good action. All because he was a kid. Finally, he turned to Inuyasha and took a step in his direction. "Oi, why don't you come with me and we'll find where those two went off and get you fixed up."
Gold kept closed and Inuyasha's arms remained crossed. He almost looked asleep, if not for the slight pensive look on that brow. "Don't need it." He muttered.
Yahiko blinked and opened his mouth say something, but footsteps behind him gained his attention.
Kaoru and Kenshin stopped in front of the demon, Kaoru still not looking happy about the whole ordeal. "We brought Megumi to tend to Sano. She can tend to you too."
Gold snapped open and wordlessly, yet evenly, stared into blue. After a minute, eyes closed as if he never opened them. "Don't need it." He repeated.
"Nonesense! You took two of Sano's special attacks! It's amazing you aren't unconscious or dead." Kaoru protested. She inched forward and only got half a step before she felt Kenshin's hand on her arm. "Kenshin..." She muttered, question in her eyes.
Kenshin met her eyes with an even, unreadable look and let go, stepping a little closer. He stared at the hanyou with the other two waiting with held breath at what he'd do.
Inuyasha's eyes opened and looked at him, irked at being interrupted in trying to calm himself down. If he didn't calm down, it just took his body that much longer to heal. "What?" Arms dropped to his lap and hands turned to fists.
Kenshin's look didn't change and not a word came from him. Instead, a hand steadily rose, revealing Inuyasha's sword that was dropped before the fight began. In a swift, but gentle move, he inaudibly tapped the end of the scabbard against Inuyasha's chest.
It was like throwing a rock into a still pond. There was an intense ripple of pain that came almost directly over where the second hit occurred when his sword touched him. The nausea returned full force and his muscles spasmed. Seconds later, a shaking hand shot up to cover his mouth as blood returned and trickled through his fingers. It was embarrassing to show such weakness and by someone who seemed to know he still had it full force. Gold weakly glared and he choppily growled through the blood in his throat. He turned away and spit the accumulation onto the ground, adding a second pool, before glaring again into violet. "Temee...what'd you do that for?!"
Kenshin's look finally softened into a little. "You're still injured, that you are. I suggest you have Megumi-dono look at those internal wounds before they get the better of you, that I do." A small, friendly smile popped up as his hand extended with tessaiga. "Your endurance to pain is rather remarkable. To take two of Sano's hits like that...and on the chest..."
The almost admirable look in those eyes made him feel a little flattered, but he didn't let it show. "Keh!" He almost yanked the sword out of that slim hand, though that was mostly for show, and used it to stand. After that, it went back into his hakama ties as he turned toward the house.
"Would you like some assistance? The house is rather big..." Kaoru hesitantly offered. The tenseness started leaving her as the little scene faded.
Inuyasha's head merely shook. He looked over his shoulder to meet the girl's eyes. A finger tapped his nose a few times. "I'll follow that baka's blood. It'll lead me to them." Without another word or even simple explanation, Inuyasha took off and the three lost sight of him when he rounded the corner.
It took a second of clueless blinking before anyone recovered their stupefaction. Yahiko was the first to recover and he turned to both adults with questions burning on his tongue. "So? What'd I miss? You said Sano got two hits in? Was it his Futae no Kiwami? What's with the claw marks on Sano's chest? And why are the retaining walls all bashed up? You're not gonna make me repair those are you? Don't I do enough cleaning around here as it is?"
One of Kenshin's hands moved and plopped down on Yahiko's head, effectively stopping his tirade. Kenshin smiled and looked to the youth. "Let's worry about repairs when this whole episode is over, ne?" Friendly violet looked to Kaoru. "Nee, Kaoru-dono?"
Kaoru sighed and looked to the yard a final time. With a shake of her head, not wanting to worry about it, she turned to the others. "We should go make sure that guy didn't get lost. I don't know about his so-called 'senses'."
Kenshin's smile widened a little as he nodded. The three headed around the place and were a little surprised at finding Inuyasha was true to his word. They were also a little shocked to find him quietly letting himself be treated, though there was a put out look on his face. Sano seemed to have the same look on his face as well, but everyone knew THAT was always for show.
I am a BEGINNER Japanese learner...so if these are not 100 correct...please let me know if you care to do so. I only have a web page to learn from, a dictionary, and a few months experience to work with.
Translations: Ookami youkai-Wolf Youkai Geta-Wooden sandals Iteiteite-Owowow/owieowieowie Ne?-Right/Correct? Nee-Said when wanting agreement to something
n.n Nice fight scene, ne? ; Part of me wanted to show IY's sword to the others, along with more of Kenshin's skills to IY, but that would ruin the surprise for the characters in later chapters. I tried to make this as clear to a person's head as possible, for it was rather clear in mine. Hope everyone likes so far and don't worry, everyone plays as nicely as they can around IY and works together in the end. I write as many happy endings as I do angst. The comparison and Kaoru being able to order IY around is mostly attributed to how much I think Kagome and her look/act alike generally. Thanks for reading! Ja matta! n.n