The dusk seemed to mock him with as slow as the sun set. With the loom of action - not to mention a way HOME - in his grasp, his impatience was shorter than even its normal miniscule standards. He couldn't really leave without the others, though he was HIGHLY tempted to. They would stop him before he got too far, he knew, and the only thing he could do to release some of the tension and excitement was pace the yard until they gave the word. These were the times he wished he traveled alone again.
He had to give the fighters credit though, they were faster than their non-aggressive counterparts.
He looked to the street, seeing a kimono outline and glared. Next to the female was the boy, running as fast as they could to keep up with him and the others and failing. Why did THEY have to come with? The fighter had some talents he could use, along with the sword carrier, but the girl and kid were useless! Their level was probably around Shippou's! Well, not true...at least Shippou had his kitstune-bi and tricks.
But he relented enough, knowing he needed numbers to overwhelm the youkai. Even if the youkai stopped their movements that was one more that took its attention away and let him get closer.
The quiet slapping of zouri behind him stopped and he cast a quick glance. The two fighters took to the roofs as he did, though why he didn't know. They couldn't smell, hear, or see as good as he did, though it was faster than the streets. They were rather quick for mere humans. Without a word, communicating as only temporary allied fighters could, Inuyasha's legs bunched to gather power and leapt almost silently into the air for another roof. He stopped again and let the two on ground level catch up, using the time to scan the area. No sign of his target.
He sighed when the two roof-bound caught up. "This is TAKING too long!" He hissed, fists clenching.
"Have patience demon...we'll find who you're looking for." Sano muttered, taking a look around.
"Hai. If this demon is so powerful that even you have trouble, it mustn't be allowed to roam free." Kenshin agreed, solemn, chipped eyes scanning as well.
He didn't know whether to feel flattered the redhead thought he was that strong, or insulted that he had trouble defending himself against a single youaki. But he shrugged it off and sniffed the air again. This was not the time. "Nothing...damn it!"
"What does it look like?"
He gave a brief second while the two below stopped to catch their breath. "Unless it's hidden its body, the clothes are a dead giveaway. You won't be able to tell much, even with the half moon shining down. It looks pretty human." An ear twitched, listening to the two. They sounded better and now that they were, he fully intended on continuing on. "But it's reed thin and has four fingers." Inuyasha jumped away...leaving both Kenshin and Sano giving each other stunned looks.
They'd gone a distance from Kaoru's home and still came up empty-handed. Inuyasha stopped to smell his haori, getting a few odd looks. He only stopped to sniff the wind for a few seconds before gold widened and he took off like a shot.
"Inuyasha, slow down!" Kenshin called, jumping another roof. Both he and Sano were trying their hardest to keep going at the speed necessary to remain close to the warrior, but not fall off. It was rather hard trying to find footholds mere seconds before you touched them but also looking ahead to make sure Inuyasha wasn't out of eyesight.
"It's close! I finally picked up its scent!" Clawed feet shot out as Inuyasha skidded to a stop. He suddenly jumped into the beginning of an alley without warning. A hand went to tessaiga to draw it, but found the alley too narrow for the behemoth sword. He swore and glared down the dead end. An ear twitched behind as footsteps of ground and above sounded closer. "So...you've been hiding out in with the trash?" He sneered, smirking. "Suits you youkai."
A head shot up in surprise, not expecting to be recognized. Cold eyes narrowed, though the youkai flashed a conceded smile and stood. "I'm amazed you found me hanyou. Your nose made me sacrifice a lot to keep from being spotted. Did it take you all day just to find me?" That smile widened. "Or did your weak hanyou heart not stand up to my attack and you just now healed?"
A fierce growl came as Inuyasha crouched in ready to attack. Footsteps paused just on the other side him, blocking the youkai from view. "You're too weak to fight onna! You too kid - stand back!"
"Nanda to?! We didn't come all this way and run around for nothing! We can fight too!"
That white head turned enough to pin them both with a fierce glare. "You CAN'T! You're useless! Get out of here before you both get hurt!"
That final statement confused both Kaoru and Yahiko. They didn't think Inuyasha was worried for their safety.
The two above heard as well and blinked. They sent each other another stunned look before brown wordlessly communicated with violet. Sano smirked. "I hope this youkai thing is as powerful as the demon says." He uttered, fists cracking.
Kenshin's eyes narrowed a little. "Sano...don't lose your head."
A hand waved. "Hai hai..." Both jumped into the alley next to Inuyasha.
"Eh? You even gathered aide from humans in this time? Heh...what does one expect from a hanyou?" Those cold eyes narrowed as the youkai took a few steps forward. "Weak. All of you."
"Oi! Don't underestimate Kenshin!" Yahiko angrily shouted. Brown looked up to blue when Kaoru laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't want anyone involved or the people of this city to know of your existence. Let's take this to a less populated area and fight there." Kenshin evenly muttered.
The youkai was silent, gaze locked with Kenshin's. There was a tense pause until a quiet, condescending chuckle sounded down the alley. "You humans in this time... When did you come up with those silly rules? Don't you know youkai don't take orders?" Those pointed teeth flashed in a smile as it took another step forward. A bony hand extended from the cloth-wrapped body and pulled the hood from its face. The others heard Kaoru gasp and Yahiko's surprised cry, and only Inuyasha stared undaunted. The head of the jikan youkai was as thin and bony as its fingers. The eyes protruded farther than normal, as though the skin was pulled too tightly. Long, black hair flowed down its back, and long, pointed youkai ears on either side of its face. "Do I disgust you?" That smile widened almost evilly. "You all look very tasty. Everyone in this time looks good enough to eat..."
Kenshin's hold on his sakabatou tightened almost painfully. This youkai creature...it had to be stopped, here if need be. But there had to be a way to get it out of the alley! There was no room to fight here and they'd attract unwanted attention. They were blocking the opening, but he had no doubt if the monster wanted out, it would go through them to get past.
"Enough talking creature! Let's get on with this!" Sano ordered, pushing off in a run.
"Wait you baka!" Inuyasha startled and a clawed hand extended in attempt to grab Sano's jacket, but was a second too slow. He knew from experience that a direct approach wouldn't work with such a creature's powers. But it would prove interesting to see how the youkai worked in close quarters with this as a teaching lesson.
Those from the Meiji time stood in astonishment as Sano hovered mere inches off the ground from when he took a leap forward. His right fist was in position to strike down, the other ready to deal a blow to the youkai's stomach.
Inuyasha irritably sighed. Sano was frozen in place as he was just before he was transported here. "Keh! Learned the hard way didn't you, you baka? Didn't I say he was a JIKAN youkai?!"
"O - oi!" Sano gritted, muscles spasming to try and move. "Let me go! Fight fair!"
"Eh? Fair? I find it amazing that you can even try to move or talk. You shouldn't be able to period." The youkai took a few steps to the side of the hovering body and looked to the rest. "So, what will you do now? Your little friend is frozen in time. The only way you'll release him is to stop me."
Inuyasha snorted and clenched his hands to slash. "Keh! You say that every time, but all it takes is for you to get distracted." He smirked. "You're not as powerful as you think temee."
Cold eyes narrowed as a bony hand held in the air. A small ripple came from it and soon Sano was running backwards to the group without slowing down. Everyone cried out and tried to get out of the way. Inuyasha leapt for the roof, while Kenshin yanked Kaoru and Yahiko away just in time. Inuyasha tsked as Sano rolled backward a few times before stopping in the middle of the street with a groan. He waited enough for the fighter to get to his feet before turning his attention to the youkai.
"Temee...why don't you stop hiding in that alley? Afraid to fight me?" He taunted.
The youkai merely sent a pointy smile to the roof. "I can halt your movements at any moment. You're of no threat to me. None of you are. And none of you can do long-ranged attacks, so it is YOU who are at the disadvantage, not me."
He growled. That taunt was supposed to anger it and drive it out. The youkai must've stayed in this position not only to hide its scent, but also for the attack advantage. There was a sudden cry as Kenshin sprang forward into the alleyway.
"Humph. Pathetic!"
Gold widened at the speed displayed. But even with as fast as the guy was, speed was still time. "Baka! Don't you learn -" The words died when the katana was withdrawn at such a speed that it was quick to even HIS eyes.
"Hiten Misturugi Ryuu: Sou-Ryu-Sen!" Yahiko suddenly called out.
Inuyasha looked to those in the alley before something landed into the wall he was over. A small, surprised cry came as he tried to steady himself from the shock.
The youkai lay on the ground, more stunned than hurt. After what seemed forever, its small head looked up to the sword hanging near white hakama. "How? What kind of sword IS that?"
The blade gleamed in the weak light when Kenshin tilted it to horizontal position. "Sakabatou. Long ago, I swore an oath not to kill anymore. But I still use my sword to help others." Cold violet locked with equally cold eyes and the two glared. "Give up now or I'll continue."
The youkai stood, but snorted and sent a smirk to his new opponent. "You think I'll do that? You're even stupider for a human." Pointed teeth bared. "You're fast, I'll give you that. You're about as fast as the hanyou. But you can't get an attack if I don't let you." A bony hand rose and a ripple blur the air, also freezing Kenshin in place. The youkai stopped just before the statue and touched the blunt edge of the curved blade. "To think such a puny, weak katana could actually hit me. You are foolish for sparing me. I won't be so kind to return the favor."
"Sankon Tessou!" Had he not called the attack out, Inuyasha might have hit the youkai. But the youkai's other hand rose and halted the beams, so the only thing they did was add light to the area.
"Are you still there hanyou? I thought you would've run off with your tail between your legs."
"Bastard!" Inuyasha let loose a loud growl and dove, claw extended, for the youkai's head. His intent to crush his opponent was stopped as he was halted in midair.
The youkai walked over and looked up into gold. "This seems familiar..." It mused, sending a smile to Inuyasha. A bony hand hovered just above its head. "Which would you like this time half-breed? Or perhaps I should try something else -"
"Oi, don't take your eyes off me!"
The youkai turned in enough time to see a fist flying for its face and put a hand up in enough to stop it. It flinched a very small bit, finding the skin a finger's width away. It grinned and took a step back. "So close. You were better than your last try." It smiled at the frustrated look in Sano's eyes as he struggled to move. Suddenly, the tip of a sword pointed non-too-kindly in its frail back between the shoulder blades. In its haste to keep from being hit, its concentration let loose of the one person who was a threat right now.
"So we don't need to kill you to free us from your magic." Kenshin nearly mused. "Let Sanosuke and Inuyasha go and leave this alley so we can fight properly. I'll not ask again."
The youkai sent a glance over a skeletal shoulder. "Or what?? You won't kill me - you even said so. That sword of yours is basically useless."
Kenshin's hand loosened the hilt enough to flip the edge over...quickly slicing the demon's arm when he withdrew it. "I won't kill, but I WILL hurt you."
Inuyasha cried out as he dropped to the ground. Sano was let go at the same time and all four had to quickly move to evade Inuyasha's attack. It tore a few chunks into the ground and took a few slices out of the roof tiles, but everyone was unharmed.
The youkai's back touched the wall of the building as it eyed the three in front of it. A chilled glare sent to cold violet. "You hurt me...you'll pay..." A blur came from its arm as the wound healed. A rather large blur came from its body, nearly making it unseen, and all three found themselves immobile.
"Ch - chikshou..." Inuyasha grit, glaring at the youkai. Another rather large growl sounded and became more threatening as the youkai stopped in front of him.
"Since you are messing with something you don't understand, I'll show you what happens when you mess with me." A bony hand extended and grabbed Inuyasha's haori again, getting a panicked look that had Sanosuke and Kenshin wondering. Especially since Inuyasha stopped growling. The fist clenched and a gurgle came from Inuyasha. Violet and brown widened at the fear and pain etched on his face. It was the first time they'd ever seen fear on Inuyasha's face.
"Hmmm...one...that's two... I had you for four beats last time hanyou...let's see how many it takes to actually KILL you this time."
"Y - yamero!" Kenshin grit out, straining. With the location of that hand and the words spoken, it didn't take him long to figure out what was going on. The youkai's hand laxed, letting up as it turned. The look in its eyes reminded Kenshin of a predator going for its next prey.
Inuyasha wanted to slouch to the ground, but he was still frozen in place. A weak pant came from him, sweat on his face. Both fighters were concerned, given the stamina for pain and strength Inuyasha possessed.
"Would you like to go next then?" The youkai hissed, a hand slowly extending.
Kenshin wanted to move back, but was unable. Whatever magic this creature used almost eerily reminded him of Jineh. Of course! If he could escape Jineh's tricks, he could escape by strength of will from this too! His jaw clenched as much as it could as he concentrated. He could feel the pressure on his muscles and worked to overcome that, as if trying to push against something holding you down. The youkai's hand gripped part of his kimono and Kenshin tried not to panic. He tried to concentrate and hope that if he broke the demon's hold, it would do him no permanent damage.
"Kenshin!"
"Let them go jerk!" Suddenly, the youkai's head jerked forward from being struck in the back. It whipped around and got another rock right between the eyes. Kenshin used that time, feeling the power weaken dramatically, and broke free.
The youkai edged back. "How is that possible?! You shouldn't be able to move! You should be trapped in time!"
"If one's spirit is powerful enough, they can overcome any obstacle in their path." The sakabatou hovered dangerously near as Sano's position suddenly changed...and Inuyasha almost bonelessly slumped to the ground. "Inuyasha!"
"Oi demon -"
Red shuddered for a second as Inuyasha struggled to get to his knees. Hands pressed against the earth as a foot solidly planted next to them. "Takes...more than...five heartbeats...to kill me." He rasped.
"Back for more?" Cold eyes narrowed on violet. "You wouldn't be so lucky to escape me a second time human. Even if you did, I'd make sure you regretted it like I did him." A hand waved to Inuyasha, who threw as harsh a glare as he could to the youkai through the pain.
Kenshin moved the sharp edge of the blade closer in threat. "You could try, but my speed would be hard for you to trap me."
"Heh...you're no threat. And you bore me...playing with the hanyou and seeing the life leave his eyes was the most fun. With you two here I can't have that fun. So I'll go try it on a few humans and see how long it lasts for them." Another ripple came from the youkai, freezing all three again. Kenshin immediately started trying to free himself as the youkai lifted off the ground and flew over the roof.
"We can't let him get away! Ah - Yahiko! Where are you going??"
Fear laced through his system and the adrenaline helped him break free. "Kaoru-dono! Come back here!" Kenshin shouted, whipping to the exit. The end of Kaoru's ponytail passed by his vision and he took an immediate step to catch her, but halted and looked at his companions. "Sano...this is just like with Jineh. You resisted some of his tricks; you can get through this too." Kenshin hastily coached.
Even though the youkai froze them, it seemed only a means of escape. That, or there was a distance issue. Sano's muscles clenched and with a cry, forced himself from the hold. He sent Kenshin an understanding look and nodded. A bandaged thumb jerked to the exit. "Go ahead and get jou-chan before she gets herself in trouble. I'll take care of the demon."
Kenshin nodded his profound thanks and took off at top speed the way the two went.
Brown looked to Inuyasha as he kept trying to stand. After a few seconds, deciding to take pity on the hanyou, a bandaged hand lowered and gripped an arm. Inuyasha weakly tried to bat it away. He growled, a hand tightly gripping one knee for support. "I don't need your help."
"Sure you don't." Sano patronizingly muttered, fist still tightly around Inuyasha's arm. "I'm sure I could take having my heart stopped for five beats and then jump right back up too." The goading was exactly what Inuyasha needed to get to his feet. Sano knew of the pride issue, as he wouldn't let himself be shown up either, and used that as leverage. They didn't have much time if they wanted to catch up, not with the way Kenshin took off. He would use all his speed to stop Kaoru and Yahiko before they had the same things happen to them.
Inuyasha got to his feet and took a quick second for air and internal check to see how his body would hold up. 'Come on damn it...suck it up!'
His arm twisted out of Sano's hold and crouched for a jump. "Come on...it's getting away."
Sano watched in amaze as Inuyasha got to the roof and disappeared from sight. He copied and landed as well, taking off after the red patch. It seemed though, that Inuyasha was a better bluffer than even HE was when it came hiding injuries. After a jump, Inuyasha landed a little hard and nearly fell off the roof. Sano sighed and stopped better than his companion before grabbing an arm.
"I said...I don't need your help!" Inuyasha retorted, standing with Sano's aide regardless.
Sanosuke scowled and kept his grip firm as the demon steadied his feet. "I don't have time to go into this with you. You're injured and need help. Accept it. We can time our jumps and I can keep a hold so you don't fall off a roof."
Inuyasha growled and sent a harsh glare. He hated it when others were right about something that pertained to him. It was true if he kept this up without aide he could injure himself even more and the youkai would get away. He needed all his strength and would actually be able to use the redhead for help. The fighter could be a distraction and the blunt sword would help to bruise the youkai enough for him to get a few hits of his own in. It was a little hard, as Inuyasha still had enough power to cover a few roofs with a single leap. Sano could only cover one or two, even though they were spaced rather close together. After two jumps, they finally managed to get a small system worked out. Sanosuke got a grip when Inuyasha jumped and steadied them when they both landed. Together, Inuyasha managed to follow the youkai's scent and found it mingled with the others.
A cry reached his ears and he shrugged Sano off, putting all the power he could muster in a single jump. He left the fighter where he was to catch up and cut through the air, eyes widening at the scene below. The boy was on the ground, not looking in good shape, with Kaoru frozen in place, and Kenshin trying to land some strange blow with one of those techniques of his. Even though the guy was fast, he really didn't know what kind of creature he was dealing with. The only one who knew was him, and it was time to bring out another weapon.
Gold avidly watched as he neared ground, seeing Kenshin slide across the dirt, rather painfully-looking at that, and stop some ways away. The youkai stood far enough from the others, which was exactly what he wanted. "Sankon Tessou!" The beams headed straight for the ground, getting almost point blank range before the youkai froze them again. When Inuyasha landed, there came a small gasp from nearby, with rasping and coughing accompanying the aftermath.
"It seemed the hanyou managed to distract me enough to let the kid breathe again."
A fierce growl sounded as Inuyasha crouched low and shot off the ground for the youkai. But instead of charging head first, when that bony hand rose, he dodged to the side to offset his opponent. "Keh...don't underestimate me!" He spat, a hand moving to the hilt of tessaiga.
"Going for another frontal assault with your sword? You know you won't lay a hand on me." It sneered.
Gold looked over the youkai's head, seeing Kenshin stagger to his feet with his sword. The girl was still frozen. His eyes widened the barest of degrees, before pinning the youkai with a deadly glare.
"What does it matter? All I have to do is hit you once to distract you with pain and you'll unfreeze the girl. Then we'll all be on a more equal level."
Kaoru would've blinked if she could. Surprise tinged in her eyes, even though her face was frozen in fear from seeing Yahiko drop like a lead weight earlier. Did she just hear right?! Inuyasha actually sounded like he wanted to free her?
"Oi demon! What do you think you're doing by taking off like that?!"
Cold eyes went the way Sano jumped, from the same direction Inuyasha took, before sending a cold smirk to the owner of the still frozen light beams. Eyes widened as he spun around, seeing the fighter in the air. "Baka! MOVE!" A bony hand extended and clenched, sending the beams of light streaming back toward the air, to where they were extended.
Sano's eyes widened at the sight. He cried out, arms flailing in the air. "It's too close!" He cried , arms going to his face. The scene of Inuyasha shredding the tree like a toothpick flashed through his mind and he wondered if there would be anything left when the light dissipated.
Without thought, Inuyasha used as much power and speed as possible and leaped. He soared toward the beams, managing to get a little in front of them. His legs kicked out and he twisted midair...now in between Sano and his attack. Without a thought, he withdrew tessaiga and tightly gripped it with both hands as the attack pushed him back to the scrawny fighter. Sano yelped in surprise when Inuyasha slammed into him. His arms uncrossed and brown widened at the size of the behemoth blade that reminded him a lot of his zanbatou.
Luckily, the kiba was large enough for Inuyasha to hide enough of himself behind and let the hits graze nothing vital. He shielded Sano with his body, along with his fire rat robes until the attack dissipated. The power and light died, leaving the two to continue their descent to the ground. Inuyasha quickly sheathed the sword and snatched one of Sano's arms.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Sano cried, wide eyes looking from gold to the ground and back.
Eyes narrowed as Inuyasha turned and kicked at the air for leverage. "I don't like being in your debt human." He muttered, scanning for a safe place to land. He spotted a rooftop a little ways away and angled for it. The attack threw them back quite a ways and they'd both be lucky if they didn't go through it. The landing wasn't as bad as it could've been. Both nearly fell through the shed and caved the whole thing, but Inuyasha pushed himself out and yanked Sano to his feet as ominous creaking sounded. "Jump Sanosuke!" He called, hearing the boards underneath. It wasn't built as sturdy as Kaoru's house and mere seconds after they were airborne, the roof boards started falling in.
Sano skidded to a stop and turned, eyeing the now roofless shed. His head whipped around as Inuyasha took off in as fast a run as he could manage and he took off after. His mind was whirling. Did Inuyasha just save him? TWICE? Not to mention saying his name? No 'human', no 'baka', no swear words - Inuyasha called him by his first name!
He ignored Sano's eyes, knowing he had them, and concentrated on any kind of battle plan. His Sankon Tessou was out, since the beams didn't have enough time to cover the distance. He would just have to try his chances with tessaiga this time and see how he fared.
"Back again hanyou? We've been having fun without you."
Gold widened at seeing Kenshin struggling to stand, Yahiko on the ground unconscious, and Kaoru looking about as good as Kenshin. Inuyasha looked at the pain on that Kagome-like face for what seemed eternity before looking into cold eyes. A growl sounded as he took a few steps. "Temee...you're going to regret meddling with me and flinging us here..." In one fluid motion, a clawed hand reached over and pulled tessaiga from the sheath.
For those that'd never seen something nearly the size of the human body, Sano, Kenshin, and Kaoru looked in amaze. Such a large blade that came from such a normal-looking sheath!
"Heh...do you REALLY think you'll get any hits on me with that? You didn't get any last time and all you did was eat dirt."
Inuyasha smirked through rage. Hands gripped the scabbard as he tried to find the best way to attack. His eyes shot to Sano on his right, smirking at the look on the fighter's face. "Multiple attacks from multiple people are going to be our advantage. The youkai can't stop everything." Inuyasha looked across the way at Kenshin and met his eyes. The redhead was now standing and gripping his sword, but those eyes were a little pain-laced. "You still able to fight?"
Kenshin gave a nod and gripped his sakabatou. There had been many strange and interesting things in his life so far, but seeing that sword held to casually by Inuyasha and its removal from the sheath had to top it! That thing was huge! Inuyasha's words rang in his ears and there would be only one attack that might hit the youkai, or at least distract it enough to free Kaoru-dono. She was still immobile, but her face worried him and he didn't know what was going on.
"Dou-Ryu-Sen!" With a wave of his sword, a blast of energy shot along the ground and the rocks tore up, heading straight for the youkai.
"Nani!?" Gold was wide as he watched the youkai turn and freeze the invisible wave and rubble. But he snapped to attention, knowing he wouldn't get another prime opportunity and pushed off the ground. With a battle cry, tessaiga held over his head to swipe down.
He was froze mere feet as his sword came down to connect. "You can't beat me!"
"Don't underestimate us!" Sano suddenly shot around Inuyasha and a leg whipped forward, connecting with the youkai's back and sending it skirting across the dirt. Inuyasha dropped to the ground with a surprised cry and leapt out of the way as Kenshin's attack was set free and went for him. This was getting them nowhere. Their projectile attacks would only get frozen and when the youkai moved, they would be caught in the aftermath. They needed a better plan.
"Oi...how are we going to do this?" Inuyasha grit, gripping tessaiga.
Kenshin stopped next to the hanyou and eyed his sword. "You had such a thing in a normal sheath?"
Inuyasha smirked. "My tessaiga isn't a normal katana." A hand moved the sword at a different level to show it off to the other two.
"Looks heavy." Sano muttered, a finger poking the blade.
With a wicked grin, he suddenly set the hilt in Sano's hand and watched in amusement as the fighter instinctively gripped it and ended up falling over from off-balancing. A clawed hand extended and picked his sword up with ease. "Answer your question?" He kidded, wryly grinning.
Sano shot to his feet, glaring. "What'd you do that for?!"
"Enough messing around!" Kenshin grit out, gripping the hilt. He couldn't understand why Inuyasha was being so juvenile right now with an opponent this dangerous right in front of them!
The two quieted and did as told, the threat of how to beat it looming again. "So...what're we going to do? I can't use my claws and your speed is the only thing that'll connect with it."
"Heh...you all amuse me. So infantile hanyou. But I grow bored trying to find new ways to hurt you...it's just the same thing over and over."
Sano sputtered. "Nan - nanda to?"
Inuyasha growled, mind frantically working. Ssomething had to connect to get the youkai to send them home! He was NOT staying here! But nothing came to him, nothing that hadn't been tried before. They needed a combination of magic and youkai abilities with help from the shikon no kakera... The shikon no kakera?! If they could only find them, he would see if he could make them work! If any youkai could use the kakera for its power, he should be able to as well! There was just one drawback...and he really wished Kagome was here!
Where WERE they?
Teeth clenched. This would be a matter of elimination in that case to find out where the tama glowed on the body as it regenerated the limbs. A small, evil laugh escaped him. This would be fun at least...a small way of payback. "You two distract him. I've got a plan, but I need to get closer."
"What is it?"
Inuyasha smirked. "His power mostly comes from the shikon no kakera that's somewhere in his skin. I need to find them to use their power to try and get me home. I need to get close enough to land a hit. That's where you two come in."
Sano's knuckles cracked. "Just one hit right?"
That smirk widened. "Well...if I don't find it, I'll need more than one." The two sent an almost wary look to each other before shrugging.
"Sano, you attack head on since that's what you like best. I'll use Dou-Ryu-Sen to distract him and then Ryu-Tsui-Sen."
Sano smirked. "This should be fun, ne Kenshin?"
Red shook in helpless amusement before violet narrowed in calculation and he took off.
"Trying another frontal attack? Pitiful!"
Just as the youkai's hand moved, Kenshin's sword swiped near the ground. "Dou-Ryu-Sen!" More rocks lifted from the ground and raced toward the youkai.
"Baka!" The youkai froze the attack instead of its caster, allowing Kenshin enough time to blur into the air for his next attack.
"Oi ugly - don't forget me!"
"Heh...worthless fighter!"
Sano knew he'd be frozen, he expected that, but not for long. This time, instead of coming the way his companion had, he made sure to angle in a different direction than the attack to keep from being hit. He smirked and started trying to free himself as Kenshin had, hearing his friend above.
"Hiten Misturugi Ryuu: Ryu-Tsui-Sen!"
Cold eyes looked up in surprise and its grip on Sano was lost as a hand jabbed the air to freeze its newest target.
The smirk widened as Sanosuke broke the hold. The Dou-Ryu-Sen was freed for mere seconds, getting even closer to its target before being stopped again. He took that large distraction to make a move. A fist whipped out and managed to get a hit right in the youkai's face.
Kenshin was freed and quickly turned in the air to keep from falling and hurting himself as his attack was set loose again. He landed next to the street fighter and looked behind to check Inuyasha's location, but the demon wasn't there.
There was an almost animalistic howl that filled the air and sent shivers up everyone's spines as Inuyasha landed over both fighters and in the space between them and the youkai. He brandished tessaiga and grinned. "Eat this bastard! Kaze no kizu!" Tessaiga slammed into the dirt and more yellow beams shot out. The youkai cried out in surprise and shook its head to clear it from its weakened state. A hand lifted to stop the beams but its body wasn't built to withstand much, one reason why its powers developed so, and the beams tore through its measly bones.
The two behind Inuyasha watched in shock as the body was literally hacked into pieces. The ground tore in deep furrows for many feet before dissipating. The stillness in the air as dust settled was thick. Kenshin and Sanosuke both looked on with grave faces. In the dirt, there were parts of the youkai littered about.
"Yatta!" Inuyasha crowed. "I didn't think I'd actually land a hit!"
"THAT'S what you intended to hit him with?!" Sano burst out. "You hacked him to pieces! You're stuck here now! Your plan failed!"
"Don't think so." Inuyasha sent a smug, knowing look over his shoulder to the fighter and readied tessaiga again. "It's not dead. I know death - if you'll watch closely; you'll get to see even more magic."
Confused, the two took a few steps closer. There suddenly came a pink glow from a little ways away, then the limbs twitched and glowed with a pink hue. Seconds later, they started slowly pulling back together to form a body.
"So that's where it hid them, eh?" Inuyasha mused, eyes narrowed in calculation. He thought back and snorted. "Keh...makes sense. Now I know where to aim."
"What? What're you talking about?" Sano retorted, eyes unbelievably wide.
"His hands were always extended for the power to use. The shikon no kakera are in his palms." The two Meiji fighters looked a little unsettled at that thought, looking near green as the body fused together and the limbs moved even more.
"Han...you..."
"Ah! It IS alive!"
Kenshin looked to Inuyasha. "This thing isn't immortal, is it?"
White shook. "Take away the kakera and the youkai will shrivel to dust." Gold swept on either side, making sure he had their attention. "I want another attack formation something like that. Now that I know, I'll remove them." Both looked a little unsettled at having Inuyasha do the same grizzly scene again, but nodded.
The youkai struggled to its feet. "Han...you..." It rasped, eyes declaring murderous intent.
Inuyasha assumed an arrogant stance. "Keh! You already said that once. Did I knock your brain loose youkai? I told you earlier...you underestimate me."
The youkai took in the three in front of it. Together they were too strong; it had to find a way to break them up. Or at least distract them so it couldn't be distracted anymore.
Farther back rested both woman and child. They managed to stay out of harm's way for the almost all of the fight which meant they were the weakest and most vulnerable targets. The swordsman openly protected them earlier, and they protected him in the alley. The boy looked to be unconscious still, which made sense for having his lungs frozen for nearly two minutes. The girl had the start of the same treatment, but was freed from the hanyou's interruption. It smiled. This would be a well-calculated move, if the right attacks were done again. If it would be expected to freeze attacks and people; this would work out just like he planned it. "You all want me dead; then come at me."
Sano took that invite and ran forward, Inuyasha joining him a few seconds later to keep him from taking a hit with tessaiga. Both dodged to the side when one of those thin hands extended, though they weren't frozen.
Kenshin let loose another energy wave and it was quickly halted. The youkai looked to the three surrounding it and smirked. "Is that all you got? Test my resistance and see how much I can take. Weak half-breed and puny humans."
The grip on tessaiga tightened as Inuyasha growled. "Keh! You talk big, but in the end, your powers are as frail as your body. Kaze no kizu!"
Beams shot from the sword, tearing up ground. The youkai smirked and easily froze them. The laughter it held back for such an easy plan escaped. "Fools! You played right into my trap!" A hand extended and the Dou-Ryu-Sen shot toward Kenshin and Sano when it was reversed, who jumped out of the way to dodge it. With a hop, it flew in the air and let the Kaze no kizu continue on.
"Kaoru-dono!"
Kaoru's eyes widened. Her arms protectively tightened around Yahiko as she tried to bypass Kenshin's attack. The speed of the air, combined with her kneeling to keep Yahiko as comfortable as possible, were against her. She caught part of the side, getting a rock against a calf and dropping her.
Gold widened. The onna was right in the path of his Kaze no kizu when she ran that way! There wasn't time to think. "Fuck!" A powerful leap took him after the beams and he ran full out the second his toes touched soil. "Iie...KAGOME!"
The beams were speeding with the look of a train. Blue widened as Kaoru's breath came in frantic gasps. This was it - here was her final breath. Her body curled around Yahiko as she mentally apologized for getting them both killed. Shaking in fear, she watched as the beams roared in mere feet, the light blinding her. "Sayonara...Kenshin..."
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: Kitstune-bi-Fox-fire Nanda to?-What'd you say? Hiten Misturugi Ryuu-Style of fighting Kenshin does Zanbatou-Sansosuke's huge sword
Sou-Ryu-Sen/Dou-Ryu-Sen/Ryu-Tsui-Sen ( / supersiyajin3gotunks / HitenMitsurugiRyuu.html good explanation of attacks...that's the only way it would show up so there're no spaces)
Kaze no kuz-Wound of (the) wind Yatta-I/you/he/she did it Sayonara-Goodbye
n.n Wow...this chapter sure took an odd spin. ::scratches head:: Not even Isaw that Kaoru death scene coming! I honestly expected to finish this and then have the entire final chapter in IY's time. I'll just have to make the final chapter even longer.
More comparisons - of past villains this time. Yes the youkai can stop time, much like Jineh's Nikaidou Heibou (One-sided Heart/the art of shrinking) when he throws his ki into a person's body. The person is aware of what is going on, but they are put on a different 'plane' than the flow time, therefore being 'frozen'. Kenshin got past Jineh's 'power' because (as he explains in the manga/anime) it's a matter of swordsman spirit. No matter how powerful your opponent is, if that spirit matches in a way, you can overcome it. In a way, Kenshin's Dou-Ryu-Sen is sort of like IY's Kaze no kizu. So the comparisons of 'magic' can be overcome here too.
The page listed for Kenshin's attacks is excellent for those who want to know all of them. There are some listed that Kenshin doesn't use the entire series, but are explained very well anyway. I recommend it, and it's good in case you ever want to use it for a story.
Yes this ended on a cliffe. I was going to make it 15 pages and return IY, but stopped at 13 1/2. It just kept going and I had to actually stop a few times and that never happens. lol (I have a feeling it kept going because I have no real clue HOW to get IY and the youkai back yet.) If you hated me for putting Kaoru in such danger...you'll either hate and/or love what I do to Kenshin in this next one. Let the angst, fluff bits, action, and drama commence! Thanks for reading! Ja matta! n.n