Chapter 27: The Band of Seven, Part 1
For the first time since Inuyasha was discovered as the crimson vigilante, the gang finally had a chance to all get together. He was even in hanyou form around them.
"You need to take the derivative."
"No, it's the integral, I'm sure."
"Can't you just plot it?"
If only he could enjoy it more without the homework. Inuyasha let his head fall against his hard bed frame. "We're all going to fail." Even Kirara gave an affirmative growl to that. He had let his studies get, just a little, behind with the vigilante work. His friends, being totally understanding with the recent mess, agreed to help him catch back up. But apparently, none of them knew what they were doing either, aka college.
Beep.
"Inuyasha, dog whistle only, normal phone off!" Kagome scolded.
Yah. Yah. He went to put the phone away, until he saw the text ID. Fluffy, Sesshomaru?! He doesn't text. He hadn't mastered making texts as threatening as his voice, so he instead demanded the person's full attention.
Fluffy: Turn on the news, now.
"Inuyasha," Sango continued to complain.
"It's Sesshomaru, where's the remote? Turn on the news," he replied.
After some looking around, Miroku found the remote he had been laying on. They had obviously caught the channel between reports since the only thing on was footage of very familiar black fog and a very familiar tower. The people were fleeing the area. Suddenly a voice came on.
"Police are urging all residents to stay clear of Tokyo Tower, which appears to be the scene of a secondary poison attack by recently arrested criminal Mukotsu Shichinintai. The attack began about 10 minutes ago and we're getting reports that Sesshomaru Taisho has agreed to immediately put more antidote batches into production. Thus far, only one canister was released-"
"Hey you're the news right? You broadcasting live?" There was a man with long black hair wearing old fashioned clothes that walked right up to the news reporter and grabbed the microphone despite their protests.
"Keep rolling or else," he threatened. The man showed off the large blade he was holding, a halberd. "I hope we successfully got your attention by now Inuskinku, or crimson vigilante, whichever you prefer. Anyways, I'm Bankotsu Shichinintai, leader of the band of seven. You seem to be tracking us, so we'll make it easy. It's a shame only five of us could be here today, but Mukotsu is here with us in spirit with his leftover poison and Kyokotsu was our weakest member anyways. To the police, two of our members remain hidden in Tokyo ready to slaughter anyone in their path if you interfere, so don't. We have no demands, except a chance to face the crimson vigilante. To the vigilante, you can see where we are. Let's see who's stronger once and for all, shall we, human or youkai?" Leaving it at that, the man nonchalantly started heading towards Tokyo Tower.
The room was frozen. Kyokotsu had started hurting people to lure him into a trap before, but this was bad, really bad.
"He called you a youkai," was Miroku's observation.
"I thought they didn't know," was Kagome's response.
Inuyasha's throat ran dry. Miroku, noticing the oncoming panic, put a hand on his shoulder. "Relax for a minute my friend. Think it through, they only want you there, they didn't leave an unreasonable time frame."
Sango nodded, "he's right, if Sesshomaru hadn't told you, it would've taken even longer to find out. These guys are crazy, but they aren't idiots. Let's start heading over, but we have time to plan."
"Us? Are you guys insane?" he yelled. "Jakotsu nearly killed me last time. Based on what Kikyo said, it'll probably be him, Renkotsu, and this Bankotsu that are there. Plus Suikotsu and Ginkotsu must be the other two."
Kagome nodded, "Alright, that gives us a starting point. Suikotsu is known enough, we can get Sesshomaru and the spiritualists organizing a search for him. And Ginkotsu, well, he's got like a metal body right, that can't be too easy to hide right? The police will be searching too."
Miroku added, "Yes, and Bankotsu even claimed the other two were in Tokyo, not just Japan. This plan of his is too straight forward and insane to be a trap. Once all the members are found, the police can step in."
Sango stood up, "I'll contact my father and make sure the spiritualists know everything we do. They know about Jakotsu's weapon so they should already be mobilizing."
Miroku got up as well. "Wait, how about I speak with your father. You know Sesshomaru's wolf security, perhaps the spiritualists and youkai can combine their efforts for once?"
Inuyasha took a sigh of relief. His friends weren't going to get themselves killed. "You have Sessh's number, if he gives you problems, let me know."
"I actually don't think he will," Miroku commented. "Youkai can't interfere too much in a human problem, but he knows this is a youkai problem too, especially with Bankotsu's declaration." At Inuyasha's nod, he turned his attention to the last of their little group. "And you Kagome, will you back Inuyasha up?"
Inuyasha's head shot up in panic, "No."
But Kagome nodded, "you protected me with Muso, and now you might need help against their weapons. It's my turn."
Sango spoke before Inuyasha had the chance to reply, "take Kirara. Try to keep her out of sight until evacuations are done, but she can get you there quickly and protect you." Kirara meowed. "With all luck, people will think Bankotsu's claim about youkai was just a joke."
Inuyasha was still beginning to panic. Take Kagome? He nearly got himself killed against just Jakotsu!
She wasn't thinking that way. In fact, she threw the fire rat right at his head. "Come on Inuyasha, get dressed. We still need to stop at my place for a bow."
She grabbed one of Inuyasha's sweaters so she could hide her identity a bit and started putting her own shoes on. "You-you can't."
"I can," she declared. "Besides, it's up to Kirara if you want her help." Kirara meowed and rubbed up against Kagome signaling her answer. She put a hand on his shoulder, "what they're threatening, it's bigger than you or me. What if my mother were near Suikotsu right now and we didn't know it? I can't do nothing."
Finally, he reluctantly nodded, and with shaky hands, pulled on the fire rat. As the two were getting ready to depart, Sango gave some final advice, "you're not alone. You don't have to win, only buy enough time for everyone else."
He nodded before climbing aboard Kirara.
He looked towards Tokyo Tower, they were close. He felt Kagome tighten her grip on him.
"Kagome?" he asked.
"I sense something ahead. I'm not sure what. It's not youki or reiki, but it's powerful, extremely powerful."
He didn't sense anything, but she was the more experienced of the two. "Kirara, you and Kagome stay here."
"Hey!" she complained. "You're not getting rid of me."
"Trust me, I want to, but that's not what I'm doing. I caught Jakotsu's scent. I won't put you in the middle of the fight, but your arrows have better range than his sword." She nodded. "For now, it's better they don't know you're here, especially with whatever you're sensing at the tower. Maintain a distance and only interfere if you have to."
She couldn't argue, she wanted to stay with Inuyasha, but she was much better off at a distance. "Alright. Do you have a plan for Jakotsu?" Hearing Kagome's agreement, Kirara brought them to the rooftop of the tallest nearby building.
He nodded. "I think so." He pulled out his phone. "Here, call me, you can give me information like Sessh did during the fight against Muso." Understanding his intent, she pulled out her phone and called him. He slipped the phone into a pocket.
"Be careful. Remember, you don't have to win, just buy time. I'll tell you if- when I hear news."
With a nod, he jumped down.
Alright, where is he? I can definitely smell him, and it's getting stronger. It was frustrating that obviously Bankotsu was the one he had to beat, and yet these idiots were going to get in his way. His friends might've been right that he really only had to buy time, but that was only in theory. If they couldn't find, or stop, the two in the city, then defeating Bankotsu was the only other option. Hopefully, then, the others would back down. He looked around. The area was pretty much abandoned, everyone had fled. It was almost completely silent apart from all the sirens.
"Inushinku! Over here!" He looked over to the voice and saw Jakotsu, who appeared to be fanning his clothes.
He jumped down to the ground, leaving a good distance between them. "What the heck are you doing?" he had to ask.
"It's my scent you're tracking, is it not? Well, I thought I'd make it just a little easier for you. Bankotsu said that given your past appearances, you'd likely appear from this side of town, and I couldn't let you run right past me."
Scent? "What makes you think I track scents?" He didn't seem to know last time.
"Well, everyone is calling you crimson dog now. Isn't that what dogs do? Plus you have those adorable ears." He groaned, the spiritualists could figure out if this guy knew too much.
"Oh just shut up." He drew his blade.
"Getting right to the finale? Alright then." He readied his own blade. "I didn't get to take your ears last time, but I'm glad to have a redo and no one will dare to interfere this time."
Jakotsu made the first move. Following the blade closely, Inuyasha batted it away. It left the individual components of the blade extended. Perfect!
He dug his claws into his sword arm, "Hijin Kesso!" He shot the blades at the extended sword. It didn't work. "What?" The blade glowed a bright pink, before being left untouched apart from the harmless blood coating it.
"Inuyasha, the spiritual power on the blade is too strong, it cancelled out your attack."
Kagome? He growled. Damn it, then destroying the blade's out. The new backlash wave is worthless against a human. And maybe the wind scar as a last resort, but it's too risky to aim at a person.
He saw the blade coming at him again and quickly jumped back. "Come on! It's obvious whatever that was didn't work, so get a little closer so we can have a real sword fight." Jakotsu looked at the blood on his blade. "It's no fun if you bleed out before I even hit you myself."
He growled. Of course he knew wounding himself, let alone his sword arm, was a risky move, but it would've been worth it to stop Jakotsu quickly. Even worse, he hadn't held back on drawing blood since he needed the one attack to succeed. Instead, his attack did little more than speed up Jakotsu bleeding him dry. Even hanyou healing had a… limit. A limit. He dipped his hand in the blood spreading down his arm. He had to draw Jakotsu in. Taking a step forward, he raised Tessaiga.
"Oh yah! Come at me!" demanded Jakotsu.
"You asked for it!" He followed Jakotsu's swing, and at the current distance, easily pushed it back. "Hijin Kesso!" Like before, the blade glowed and nothing happened.
"Trying the same strategy again? That's boring!" He was in striking range.
Shit. He quickly dodged, and at the same time covered his left claws in more blood. "Hijin Kesso!" The blade glowed and nothing happened. Although, the strike did disrupt the blade's snake swing well enough for him to back off again.
"Still running away? You don't want to make Banktosu wait." He swung again.
Alright, this is working. As long as I maintain a good distance, he can't hit me. "You're the one delaying me, you know!" He blocked it and dug his claws into his arm again, "Hijin Kesso!"
"That's because the fun is just beginning." He swung again. "If you can't even stop us, then you don't stand a chance against Bankotsu." Inuyasha raised his sword to defend.
"Inuyasha, behind you!"
He couldn't look, not with Jakotsu's sword coming at him from the front. But his ear twitched as he picked up something whirring through the air. The sound wasn't sharp enough to be a bullet. He did the only thing he could to dodge both at once: he jumped.
An explosion erupted below him.
x
x
The crimson vigilante appears to be engaging against escaped criminal Jakotsu Shichinintai. It's too far to see, we can't tell who-
"Onigumo."
"Hm?" He smirked, "isn't it magnificent Kikyo?"
We can't tell what's happening. An explosion suddenly-
He muted the report, but continued to watch. She looked at the view the news helicopter was getting. "This plan seems needlessly public. Did they seriously have to threaten the whole city?"
He laughed. "Come now Kikyo, I told you I intend to make him a hero. It's not like they actually hurt anyone, it's merely a spectacle."
Her eyes narrowed, "Nor do they have any issues with meaningless death. I told you, this plan is for everyone's benefit, we can't just go around mindlessly killing."
He sighed, "And they won't."
"We'll see." She glanced back at the live battle. "And what if they manage to kill him? Doesn't that ruin your plan?"
"I suppose it ruins my fun." He smiled as the vigilante's blood knocked back Jakotsu's blade again. "But I can always use Sesshomaru's distress at seeing his brother killed to my advantage. Revenge is a reckless motivator, and the great Sesshomaru will see it as a matter of honor."
"And what if he wins," she questioned. "And realizes that Bankotsu has one of the Shikon shards?"
He smirked. "Sesshomaru is predictable. He doesn't trust the spiritualists enough to give them the shard. So he'll keep both close."
She sighed. "I suppose we'll see how it plays out. Anyways, I came here to inform you that the security team believes we have a leak."
He finally looked away from the screen. "A leak?"
She nodded, "the cameras apparently went dead the last time Kagura was permitted to visit her sister. Just one day prior she had a supposed business meeting with Sesshomaru, one that he scheduled."
He returned to the battle. "So dear Kagura might be a traitor. Not all that surprising really."
"What should we do?" she questioned.
"For now, nothing," he answered. "Let them think they are back in control. The father is even more likely to be blinded by emotion, whether by his son's death or downfall. How has your plan with half breed been going?"
"He is… conflicted," she answered. "At least, I believe that he would consider trusting me if he needed aid."
He smiled. "Interesting."