by: Del_kaidin and Tiranth.
Chapter 10 - Blood In The Morning
The fire was going out. He made no move to replenish it. Dawn would be coming soon. Taka slept curled at the base of the tree across from him, her head pillowed on her arm. Neither he nor Leena had attempted to awaken the girl. Leena had gone to the treetops to sleep. He had closed his eyes once again but did not sleep, had not slept since the night of Akari's death. When he tried to sleep he had dreams of the denizens of the underworld, dragging her soul away with them moments too late to save her with Tensaiga. 'Concentrate you old inu, there is a task at hand.' He must think of where Naraku in this time might be and the best way to approach him. The foul youkai would avoid a direct assualt at all costs. His eyes flashed open as he sensed the approach of a youkai and the young one whimpered in her sleep.
Something was coming. Something that wanted to destroy, something that wanted them dead. She struggled to awake, whimpering as her body disobeyed her command. Finally she woke, rising to a crouch, her hand ready on her sword. Sesshomaru was staring off into the west, his hand on Tokijin. Whatever youkai was approaching was taking its time getting there. It wanted blood, but it knew how to be patient to get it. She waited, calming her racing heart.
She sat on her chosen branch watching as the first lightening of the sky appeared on the distant horizon, noticing no red tinge she knew the day would be sunny and bright. Then a presence invaded her senses. She saw Sesshomaru stand with Tokijin and Taka crouch her hand on her own sword. She looked into the west, knowing her high perch would give her the best view. What she saw almost caused her to fall off the branch, it wasn't possible, it couldn't be. Then she remembered where she was, obviously he had never fought Inu Yasha. A sudden memory assaulted her mind, the Sesshomaru of this era. He hadn't had the sword, only the Tensaiga had been at his hip. Leaping down she looked to her companions. "It's Goshinki. You must act by instinct alone, no planning of attacks will work against him. That is how Uncle Inu defeated him, the blood lust of his demon side." She turned drawing Desu. She wrapped her own thoughts deep within and awaited the arrival of this incarnation of Naraku.
Tokijin pulsed, as if wanting to return to its place in Goshinki's mouth. He nodded at Leena's words. Instinct alone. He sheathed Tokijin, allowing his claws to lengthen, feeling the poison building in them. Red crept into his golden orbs as he allowed his blood lust to come to the fore, he would pour some of his desire to kill the one who had killed his mate into this battle, the rest he would save for Naraku. The youki of Goshinki dissapeared as did the creatures scent. He growled in dissapointment, his eyes traveling in a sweeping arc. It returned behind them now. He turned in time to see Taka twisting out of the way a second too late, the youkai's claws slicing through her shoulder. He charged as she dropped to one knee.
She hissed in pain as she dropped to her knee. Snarling she leapt first to her feet then to the trees, her eyes also taking on the reddish hue of her grandsire's. The golden whip cracked through the air as Sesshomaru charged in. Her whip wrapped around the beasts neck but Goshinki paid it no heed as he swiped now at Sesshomaru. Goshinki howled in pain as poison claws gouged its forearm. She withdrew her whip and leapt onto its back, wrapping her arms around its neck and squeezing.
She watched her companions fight Goshinki, resheathing Desu she allowed her own Youki to take control she felt the strength of it. Her claws lengthed and filled with her own poison. Leaping she thrust her claws into the creatures eyes, and once again felt the melting of tissue around her hands. She revealed in the power of her own nature. Not dependent on the Maiden for her stength this time she leapt back off of the monster. She saw Sesshomaru charge, for a moment she was undecided which to attack. She crouched growling at both. At once a driving force made her leap at Goshinki's chest. The desire to feel his heart in her hands drove her onward. Her claws tearing through flesh, searching for the treasure that she desired.
She dug her hands into Goshinki's neck, grasping at his jugular, where his life blood flowed. The creature howled in pain and frustration. She smiled, the pain in her shoulder gone in the thrill of the kill. As Leena leapt, burying her hands in the monsters chest, Taka felt the pulsing vein under her fingers and squeezed, her claws puncturing the delicate walls off the vessel. Warm blood flowed over her fingers. She felt herself falling to the side, realizing that Sesshomaru had wrapped his own whip around Goshinki's feet and was pulling it to the side. Taka leapt off, landing lightly on her feet. As she fought to regain control the pain in her shoulder returned. 'Damn it,' she thought cursing herself for her carelessness.
He felt Leena's anger towards him and kept an eye on both her and Goshinki as he dodged a blow. She charged the beast however and he relaxed somewhat. The satifying feel of his claws riping through flesh told him he had struck his blow. Naraku's incarnation was howling his rage to the rising sun. The smell of blood in the air was intoxicating and if this filth had not been Naraku's spawn he might have thought about making it breakfast. He circled around the demon and struck out with his whip, yanking it to the ground. Taka leapt free of the beast as it fell, he could see the annoyance in her face. "I think it is safe to assume that Naraku knows we are after him."
Felt the fall but kept to her search. Finally her mind detected no remaining thoughts comming from the demon below her. Raising her head she scented the air. As Sesshomaru's voice reached her, she growled but from deep within reason began to return. Throwing back her head she took a deep breath regaining control. She leapt lightly off the body. "It would seem that way." She answered. Taking in their bloodied apperances she started walking towards the small lake. "Come on, we all need a bath now."