Disclaimer: I own nothing of Inuyasha except my love of the series! (did
that sound deep? Lol)
Inuyasha lowered Tetsusaiga's blade and plastered a haughty grin on his face.
"Do you still think that you can defeat me? Last time, you lost your arm, remember? I'll take more than your arm this time around!"
Sesshoumaru returned Inuyasha's smirk.
"That is where you are wrong, brother. I don't make the same mistakes again."
He took a step backward.
"I'll rip you to shreds and leave the pieces for the carrion of the air to pick over!"
The demon darted forward, taking Inuyasha by surprise. Inuyasha raised the sword just in time. Sesshoumaru's deadly claws locked with the blade, slamming Inuyasha against a tree. Sesshoumaru pressed down hard on the sword blade, crushing his brother farther into the tree. Stars erupted before Inuyasha's eyes. He gasped for breath and weakly tried to push the tetsusaiga away. The demon could feel his brother's ribs begin to groan and crack under the intense pressure. Sesshoumaru ran his tongue along his sharp, demon fangs. He relished the pain that filled Inuyasha's slowly clouding eyes.
" Die, Inuyasha. Burn in the fires of seven hells with the lifeless wench you love."
Inuyasha's vision blurred. His eyelids drooped as his brother's words rang in his ears.
"Ki.Kikyo.."
***
Kagome's snores finally awakened Shippo. He growled and threw a pillow at her, but to no avail. Forming both his hands into tiny fists, he stuffed them in his ears. The bed still looked quite inviting. Shippo wriggled back under the covers and curled up in a little, furry ball at Kagome's feet. He was on the brink of sleep when her foot came out of nowhere, booting him out of the bed.
"That's it!"
He stood up, rubbing a large lump on his forehead.
"I'm sleeping outside!"
Sunlight streamed in through the open doorway. Shippo stepped out into the intense light and blinked owlishly.
"It's really hot out here today. I wonder where Inuyasha and the others are. I hope they didn't go looking for jewel shards without us!"
He hopped down from the porch and landed on the path, bringing up a huge cloud of dust. The little fox demon coughed and sneezed three times. He shook the dirt from his hair and tail.
"I hate it when that happens."
Shippo's large eyes roved across the field, searching for a good place to nap. Inuyasha's tree stood tall and proud, its leaves swaying in an unknown breeze. Its large, cooling shadow shielded the grass underneath from the harsh, summer sun. Shippo clapped his hands together happily and bounded over to the tree. He landed face down in the cool, fragrant grass. Some tender green shoots tickled his cheek. He rolled around a bit more, and then sat up, uttering a long, contented sigh.
"It's so beautiful. Nothing can possibly go wrong today."
He propped himself up comfortably against the rough bark, allowing his eyelids to droop sleepily. The muted drone of insects lulled the little kitsune to sleep.
***
Miroku dropped to one knee, panting. Sweat dripped down his face and splashed to the ground. Naraku's strength, combined with the overpowering heat had worn away Miroku's energy. His muscles shook with fatigue, but he dug his fingernails into the wood of his staff and stood. He watched the demon, warily. ~ I'll never be able to keep this up. He's just too strong.~ Naraku smiled evilly, almost as if he sensed the monk's thoughts.
" It won't be long now, monk. Why not just give up now and save yourself the pain."
Miroku's grip tightened around the staff. He pointed it at the grinning demon, using all the willpower he possessed to keep his arm from shaking.
"Nothing is over yet, demon!"
The golden rings on the end of his staff jingled faintly. Naraku watched Miroku drop his trembling arm to his side. He smiled triumphantly.
"Nothing can change your fate. You will either die here today, or be consumed by the curse that I bestowed on your family."
"You're wrong Naraku! When I destroy you, the curse will be lifted. Only one will die today."
The demon's cold laughter startled birds from the trees.
"You still won't accept it, will you."
"I'll never accept it. If I die today, I will bring you with me, kicking and screaming. I swear it."
"You have nothing left to fight for.While you were here fighting, Sesshoumaru searched out and destroyed your friends, and will kill that mongrel, Inuyasha. You failed them all."
"Liar!"
"Oh, am I? We shall soon see who lies."
Miroku's heart hammered in his chest. Naraku's evil magic pierced his mind as scenes of despair ripped through his thoughts.
Sango and Kagome lay in a widening pool of their blood, looks of anguish contorting their lifeless faces. A large hole was gouged in a side of the hut. Shippo's little body lay broken underneath it. Inuyasha's claws opened and closed, clutching at a gaping wound in his chest. Blood streamed from the wound, darkening the ground around him. His chest pumped up and down as he gasped frantically for air. Inuyasha's amber eyes clouded over as he stared death in the face. He reached a blood stained hand out, grabbing at some unknown thing. Naraku stood amid the carnage, laughing with sickening glee as the half demon gurgled one last time and lay still.
"No!"
Miroku slammed his fists on the ground.
"No! It's not true."
Naraku smiled silkily.
"Oh but it is. Perhaps I shall drag your dying carcass back to your hut so you can gaze upon the destruction and wish for your death to come more swiftly. I'll make you beg for death long before you receive it!"
"You will never win, Naraku. You can kill us all, but someone will always stand up and defy you! You're nothing but a coward who preys on fear."
"Fool!"
The demon growled and held out a hand, palm toward the sky. A sphere of bright light, surrounded by crackling, purple flames appeared.
"This is what you seek, monk. This is the key to Sango's mind."
He held it toward Miroku. The monk quivered with rage.
"Give it to me," he hissed through clenched teeth.
Naraku pulled it toward himself.
"Come and take it."
***
A breeze ruffled Shippo's hair. He sat up and yawned tremendously.
"I wonder what time it is," he said to himself.
He glanced at the hut, his keen demon ears pricked forward.
"Yep, she's still asleep."
He turned back around and sighed.
"How can she sleep this long?! It's already after lunch and I'm hungry!"
Shippo clenched his fists.
"That's it. I'm waking her up no matter what!"
He jumped up from the grass and tottered off. The insects had stopped chirping, and the entire forest seemed covered with a veil of foreboding. Shippo shivered in spite of the warm sun. He stopped walking and stared into the forest.
"What's going on. It was perfect just a little while ago."
He strained his ears toward the trees, hoping to catch some kind of sound. The sound of voices was carried faintly by the breeze.
"Oh no! Inuyasha's in trouble!"
Shippo turned his back to the forest and ran toward the hut. He burst through the doorway and threw himself on Kagome.
"Kagome wake up! Inuyasha's in trouble!."
Kagome snorted and stared at him groggily.
"What is it Shippo? Is it time for breakfast already? Just a few more minutes."
She rolled over. He tugged at her sleeve roughly.
"What IS it Shippo!"
"Inuyasha is in trouble! He's fighting with someone in the woods."
"What?! Who is it!"
"I don't know, I couldn't hear their voice well, but it sounds like Inuyasha's hurt bad."
Kagome jumped up and threw her sheets off.
"Shippo! Stay with Sango. Don't let her go anywhere, ok?"
The kitsune nodded and watched her run back and forth across the hut.
"I've got all I need. Don't go into the woods for any reason!"
She dashed out the doorway and headed for the woods.
"I hope it's not too late."
Inuyasha lowered Tetsusaiga's blade and plastered a haughty grin on his face.
"Do you still think that you can defeat me? Last time, you lost your arm, remember? I'll take more than your arm this time around!"
Sesshoumaru returned Inuyasha's smirk.
"That is where you are wrong, brother. I don't make the same mistakes again."
He took a step backward.
"I'll rip you to shreds and leave the pieces for the carrion of the air to pick over!"
The demon darted forward, taking Inuyasha by surprise. Inuyasha raised the sword just in time. Sesshoumaru's deadly claws locked with the blade, slamming Inuyasha against a tree. Sesshoumaru pressed down hard on the sword blade, crushing his brother farther into the tree. Stars erupted before Inuyasha's eyes. He gasped for breath and weakly tried to push the tetsusaiga away. The demon could feel his brother's ribs begin to groan and crack under the intense pressure. Sesshoumaru ran his tongue along his sharp, demon fangs. He relished the pain that filled Inuyasha's slowly clouding eyes.
" Die, Inuyasha. Burn in the fires of seven hells with the lifeless wench you love."
Inuyasha's vision blurred. His eyelids drooped as his brother's words rang in his ears.
"Ki.Kikyo.."
***
Kagome's snores finally awakened Shippo. He growled and threw a pillow at her, but to no avail. Forming both his hands into tiny fists, he stuffed them in his ears. The bed still looked quite inviting. Shippo wriggled back under the covers and curled up in a little, furry ball at Kagome's feet. He was on the brink of sleep when her foot came out of nowhere, booting him out of the bed.
"That's it!"
He stood up, rubbing a large lump on his forehead.
"I'm sleeping outside!"
Sunlight streamed in through the open doorway. Shippo stepped out into the intense light and blinked owlishly.
"It's really hot out here today. I wonder where Inuyasha and the others are. I hope they didn't go looking for jewel shards without us!"
He hopped down from the porch and landed on the path, bringing up a huge cloud of dust. The little fox demon coughed and sneezed three times. He shook the dirt from his hair and tail.
"I hate it when that happens."
Shippo's large eyes roved across the field, searching for a good place to nap. Inuyasha's tree stood tall and proud, its leaves swaying in an unknown breeze. Its large, cooling shadow shielded the grass underneath from the harsh, summer sun. Shippo clapped his hands together happily and bounded over to the tree. He landed face down in the cool, fragrant grass. Some tender green shoots tickled his cheek. He rolled around a bit more, and then sat up, uttering a long, contented sigh.
"It's so beautiful. Nothing can possibly go wrong today."
He propped himself up comfortably against the rough bark, allowing his eyelids to droop sleepily. The muted drone of insects lulled the little kitsune to sleep.
***
Miroku dropped to one knee, panting. Sweat dripped down his face and splashed to the ground. Naraku's strength, combined with the overpowering heat had worn away Miroku's energy. His muscles shook with fatigue, but he dug his fingernails into the wood of his staff and stood. He watched the demon, warily. ~ I'll never be able to keep this up. He's just too strong.~ Naraku smiled evilly, almost as if he sensed the monk's thoughts.
" It won't be long now, monk. Why not just give up now and save yourself the pain."
Miroku's grip tightened around the staff. He pointed it at the grinning demon, using all the willpower he possessed to keep his arm from shaking.
"Nothing is over yet, demon!"
The golden rings on the end of his staff jingled faintly. Naraku watched Miroku drop his trembling arm to his side. He smiled triumphantly.
"Nothing can change your fate. You will either die here today, or be consumed by the curse that I bestowed on your family."
"You're wrong Naraku! When I destroy you, the curse will be lifted. Only one will die today."
The demon's cold laughter startled birds from the trees.
"You still won't accept it, will you."
"I'll never accept it. If I die today, I will bring you with me, kicking and screaming. I swear it."
"You have nothing left to fight for.While you were here fighting, Sesshoumaru searched out and destroyed your friends, and will kill that mongrel, Inuyasha. You failed them all."
"Liar!"
"Oh, am I? We shall soon see who lies."
Miroku's heart hammered in his chest. Naraku's evil magic pierced his mind as scenes of despair ripped through his thoughts.
Sango and Kagome lay in a widening pool of their blood, looks of anguish contorting their lifeless faces. A large hole was gouged in a side of the hut. Shippo's little body lay broken underneath it. Inuyasha's claws opened and closed, clutching at a gaping wound in his chest. Blood streamed from the wound, darkening the ground around him. His chest pumped up and down as he gasped frantically for air. Inuyasha's amber eyes clouded over as he stared death in the face. He reached a blood stained hand out, grabbing at some unknown thing. Naraku stood amid the carnage, laughing with sickening glee as the half demon gurgled one last time and lay still.
"No!"
Miroku slammed his fists on the ground.
"No! It's not true."
Naraku smiled silkily.
"Oh but it is. Perhaps I shall drag your dying carcass back to your hut so you can gaze upon the destruction and wish for your death to come more swiftly. I'll make you beg for death long before you receive it!"
"You will never win, Naraku. You can kill us all, but someone will always stand up and defy you! You're nothing but a coward who preys on fear."
"Fool!"
The demon growled and held out a hand, palm toward the sky. A sphere of bright light, surrounded by crackling, purple flames appeared.
"This is what you seek, monk. This is the key to Sango's mind."
He held it toward Miroku. The monk quivered with rage.
"Give it to me," he hissed through clenched teeth.
Naraku pulled it toward himself.
"Come and take it."
***
A breeze ruffled Shippo's hair. He sat up and yawned tremendously.
"I wonder what time it is," he said to himself.
He glanced at the hut, his keen demon ears pricked forward.
"Yep, she's still asleep."
He turned back around and sighed.
"How can she sleep this long?! It's already after lunch and I'm hungry!"
Shippo clenched his fists.
"That's it. I'm waking her up no matter what!"
He jumped up from the grass and tottered off. The insects had stopped chirping, and the entire forest seemed covered with a veil of foreboding. Shippo shivered in spite of the warm sun. He stopped walking and stared into the forest.
"What's going on. It was perfect just a little while ago."
He strained his ears toward the trees, hoping to catch some kind of sound. The sound of voices was carried faintly by the breeze.
"Oh no! Inuyasha's in trouble!"
Shippo turned his back to the forest and ran toward the hut. He burst through the doorway and threw himself on Kagome.
"Kagome wake up! Inuyasha's in trouble!."
Kagome snorted and stared at him groggily.
"What is it Shippo? Is it time for breakfast already? Just a few more minutes."
She rolled over. He tugged at her sleeve roughly.
"What IS it Shippo!"
"Inuyasha is in trouble! He's fighting with someone in the woods."
"What?! Who is it!"
"I don't know, I couldn't hear their voice well, but it sounds like Inuyasha's hurt bad."
Kagome jumped up and threw her sheets off.
"Shippo! Stay with Sango. Don't let her go anywhere, ok?"
The kitsune nodded and watched her run back and forth across the hut.
"I've got all I need. Don't go into the woods for any reason!"
She dashed out the doorway and headed for the woods.
"I hope it's not too late."