Chapter Ten: Calling of then Blood!
Inuyasha reached the clearing where he had left Kagome only moments ahead of Seven. He set Rain down roughly and darted to where Kagome sat. "Are you ok?" he asked taking her hands and pulling her to her feet. She nodded; her eyes were full of tears. "Oh Inuyasha!" she bust out and then fell sobbing into his chest. He stiffened and then started to gently comfort her. Rain's cry of panic brought Kagome's head out of the Hanyou's chest.
"What's wrong?" she asked. Rain didn't answer, she only pointed at Seven a horrified look on her face. He was crouching with his hands on the ground to steady himself. Aside from the arrow in his chest there were three imbedded in his back. Inuyasha broke away from Kagome and ran to Seven. "Hey are you alright?" Seven smiled, blood trickling from his mouth. "Do I look ok to you." Inuyasha smiled, "you've had worst, come on suck it up." Seven laughed weakly then started to cough blood. Rain rushed to his side and used her sleeve to clean the blood from his face.
Seven put a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Could you take the arrows out for me?" Inuyasha nodded and in quick succession ripped the arrows from Seven's back. Seven clenched his teeth until the last arrow was free. "Come on." He grated, then stood. "We must go before they catch up." Inuyasha nodded. He went over to Kagome. "Come on" he threw her on his back. Rain still stood by Seven. "No wait, you can't possibly go now, you're injured!" Seven smiled down at her. "Are you so sure?" he turned so that she could see his back. The arrow wounds were already closed and the scars were receding back into skin. She gasped and put her hand over her mouth. "What the hell!" he shrugged and ripped the quarrel from his chest. "That's the last, let's go." He offered his hand to Rain. She took it and was instantly throne into the same position as Kagome. Inuyasha nodded at Seven and they both started running.
The forest whipped by at an amazing speed. Kagome clung to Inuyasha's back as he leapt between the trees, pushing as fast as he could. To her surprise when she glanced back she saw that Seven was only a few steps behind them. Rain didn't look to be taking the ride well. She had her arms abound his chest and had buried her face in his back.
Suddenly a giant blur slammed into Seven sending him flying onto the ground. Inuyasha stopped at Kagome's scream. He turned and let go of Kagome when she jumped off his back. His hand went instantly to the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. Blocking their view of Seven and Rain was a huge Youkai. It was a huge spider. But that was not all. On top, riding it like horse was another Youkai. It looked like a human but had long silver streaks on its bear chest and one of his arms was a dangerous looking claw. The arm attached to the claw looked much too big for his body and made him even more grotesque. "Seven!" Kagome called out franticly. The Youkai turned on Inuyasha and Kagome baring its fangs. They were dripping blood and saliva.
Kagome shrieked and jumped behind Inuyasha. He drew the Tetsusaiga. The sword almost flew from his hand as he drew it. "What the?" he stared at it, it wasn't transforming, it weighed almost nothing. "Oh crap." The spider rider laughed and spurred his mount towards Inuyasha and Kagome. "Kagome run!" Inuyasha shouted putting the Tetsusaiga between himself and the spider. "I'll come as soon as I can!" she as usual ignored him. "We have to get Seven and Rain!" Inuyasha growled, "then let me fight woman!"
She backed slowly away giving Inuyasha room to fight. He never got his chance. Seven barreled out of the forest slamming into the spider's legs. Before the spider hit the ground Seven was standing next to Inuyasha holding an unconscious Rain. "Get them out of here." He didn't wait for an answer. He put Rain in Inuyasha's arms and turned to face the spider and its rider. He held his katana just below the hilt, still in its sheath against his back, the tip hovering just over his left shoulder. The spider regained his feet and screeched a challenge at Seven. Seven smiled and flicked the blade loose with his thumb, still keeping it in the sheath however. With his left hand he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out his sunglasses. He flicked them open and put them on. The spider started his charge.
Seven glanced over his shoulder. "Go, now." Inuyasha nodded, he recognized the look in Seven's eyes. He was ready to kill. Inuyasha turned and ran past Kagome, throwing her over his shoulder with his free hand; Rain was tucked under his left arm. Ignoring Kagome's worried screams he ran off into the forest to wait for the outcome of the fight, he was almost certain that he knew who the victor would be.
The spider Youkai charged at Seven like a battering ram Seven stood his ground until the spider was almost on top of him. Just before the spiders jaws closed on his neck Seven dropped to the ground and drew his sword in a single movement. The spider couldn't stop and Seven drove his sword into the spiders unprotected underbelly. The spider screamed and crashed into a tree, blood and gray ooze pouring from the long gash. Seven kicked himself back to his feet and turned on the spider; it was staggering around lashed on by its rider. Seven pulled his knife from its sheath on his back. He threw at towards the spider with devastating force. It struck the spider in its mouth and the blade came spurting from the back of the spider's head. In its death throws the spider threw his rider, then it blindly charged one last time. Seven pushed his blade straight at the spiders head, to far gone to care the spider ran full speed into the blade, impaling its head full force, pushing Seven back several feet. Seven cut up slicing through the spider's head to free his sword, now for the rider. Seven drew his knife from the spider's head and stuck it in the ground leaving only the hilt showing.
The remaining Youkai was seething with rage, its eyes were flashing red and his clawed arm was throbbing. He roared and dove for Seven. Seven brought his blade up to slice the claw in half but the Youkai twisted his body midair and landed a blow just below the blade. Seven grunted as the clawed hand pierced his side, the Youkai screamed in pleasure and victory. Seven however had other ideas. He used the force of impact to spin away from his attacker and pushing off a low rock he lunged on the attack. The Youkai spun again avoiding the attack and again digging his claws into Seven. Then jumping away the Youkai licked the blood off his claws smiling at Seven. The Youkai was sure that he had won, no human could survive that. But it was Sevens turn to smile.
"Stupid Youkai." He laughed. "You should save your meal for after the fight, now you die!" Seven thrust his sword into the ground in front of him, and then he put his hands into his gaping wounds, drenching them in his blood. Then he pulled the katana from the ground and held it extended over his head. " LIFEBLOOD REVENGE!" he screamed slashing down with the blade. From the blade came six bands of blood red light that shot towards the Youkai. They whipped through the air their passage leaving a trail of utter darkness. The blades struck the Youkai with a deafening roar. Time and time again they sliced through his body, each time ripping flesh and blood from his body. The Youkai screamed in pain as the red blades whittled him down bit by bit. They increased in speed until the Youkai in the center could no longer be seen through the spinning blades. A final scream cut the forest as the Youkai died, when the blades finally dissipated, there was nothing left. Nothing.
Seven sheathed his sword and drew his knife from the ground. He whipped it clean and returned it to its sheath as well. Then he started after Inuyasha and the two girls. He could smell them, they were far, fortunately Seven had ways of traveling faster than his companions. He would reach them soon.
Inuyasha hadn't stopped running. He knew the look on Seven's face could mean trouble, he would stand his ground against the Youkai until either they were dead, or he was. Inuyasha had never seen a human kill more than one or two Youkai, even when the humans had superior numbers. Sango was by far the best he had seen, and even she needed help when in close combat. He hoped Seven had a chance. A loud thud behind him gave voice a new train of thoughts. Could he have lost already? Was the spider already on his back? Damn it! He turned his head slightly and almost tripped over his own feet. "Seven?" Seven was running behind him, his coat was torn even worse than before and the wounds were still visible, if closed. "Did you win?" he called back. Seven laughed and caught up to Inuyasha "of course, what, did you think I lost?" Inuyasha nodded. Seven laughed again. They both kept running.
They stopped soon after dawn near a small spring. Inuyasha gently put Kagome down near the water, she had fallen asleep some time during the flight from exhaustion and Inuyasha wanted her to get her rest. Rain slid off Seven's back a little shaky but able to stand. Seven slumped over next to the spring and cupping his hands he started to drink. Inuyasha sat next to Kagome and for the first time since the night before he let his mind catch up to him.
Rain knelt next too Seven and started to drink as well. She glanced over at him and saw for the first time his chest. He had two gaping holes in his coat and shirt. His wounds had not healed. There were still deep red gouges in his side and chest, somewhat healed over but still looking very painful. "Are you ok?" she asked. Seven stopped drinking and flicked water at her. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" the statement was defeated as he grimaced and clutched his side.
Inuyasha jumped over to him and grabbed his shoulder to steady him. "Damn it man your not indestructible." Seven smiled, sweat was pouring down his face. "I think I may be poisoned." He muttered. Inuyasha nodded "just rest, I'll try to find some help." Seven nodded and with Inuyasha's help stood and made his way to a tree. Their Inuyasha lowered him to the ground. "Stay here, I don't want to have to chase you down with a cure." Then he darted off.
Kagome woke just then and sat up rubbing her eyes. The first thing she saw was Rain kneeling next to the spring staring sadly at a tree. "Rain? What's wrong?" Rain gave a small eep of surprise. Kagome rose and walked over to her. She sat next to her and looked where Rain had been looking. "Oh my God!" she gasped putting a hand over her mouth. "What happened?" Rain shrugged looked towards the water. Kagome put an arm around her shoulder comfortingly, "where's Inuyasha?" Rain looked up "um, he said he was going to get some medicine, and then just left, is he gonna come back?" Kagome smiled. "I don't think he could stay away."
Seven moaned and both girls rushed to his side. His face was pale and the wounds in his side were writhing under his skin. Kagome gasped and started to shake him. "Seven! Seven! Wake up!" he grunted and his hands shot to Kagome's wrists. His eyes shot open and he tried to sit, only to fall back to the ground. "Crap," he moaned. "I guess I still don't have it down yet." He released Kagome. "What happened?" she asked pushing some hair out of his eyes.
Seven slowly pushed himself up and rested his back against the trunk of the tree he had been against. "I killed the Youkai last night with a magic attack called the lifeblood revenge. The attack only works when I am injured and my opponent has some of my blood inside his body. Then I use my blood as a weapon against him, if his claw hadn't been poisoned I would be fine, but now my blood is still weak from my attack." He clenched his teeth in pain and shut his eyes. "I just need to rest for now, I should be better by nightfall. Kagome nodded and went to the spring; Rain sat next to Seven and took his hand. "Are you sure you'll be alright?" Seven opened his eyes and smiled at her. "I sure hope so, this really sucks." He closed his hand around hers. "Thanks." Now it was Rains turn to smile. "No problem." Seven fell back into unconsciousness, but Rain stayed by his side for the rest of the day.
Inuyasha reached the clearing where he had left Kagome only moments ahead of Seven. He set Rain down roughly and darted to where Kagome sat. "Are you ok?" he asked taking her hands and pulling her to her feet. She nodded; her eyes were full of tears. "Oh Inuyasha!" she bust out and then fell sobbing into his chest. He stiffened and then started to gently comfort her. Rain's cry of panic brought Kagome's head out of the Hanyou's chest.
"What's wrong?" she asked. Rain didn't answer, she only pointed at Seven a horrified look on her face. He was crouching with his hands on the ground to steady himself. Aside from the arrow in his chest there were three imbedded in his back. Inuyasha broke away from Kagome and ran to Seven. "Hey are you alright?" Seven smiled, blood trickling from his mouth. "Do I look ok to you." Inuyasha smiled, "you've had worst, come on suck it up." Seven laughed weakly then started to cough blood. Rain rushed to his side and used her sleeve to clean the blood from his face.
Seven put a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Could you take the arrows out for me?" Inuyasha nodded and in quick succession ripped the arrows from Seven's back. Seven clenched his teeth until the last arrow was free. "Come on." He grated, then stood. "We must go before they catch up." Inuyasha nodded. He went over to Kagome. "Come on" he threw her on his back. Rain still stood by Seven. "No wait, you can't possibly go now, you're injured!" Seven smiled down at her. "Are you so sure?" he turned so that she could see his back. The arrow wounds were already closed and the scars were receding back into skin. She gasped and put her hand over her mouth. "What the hell!" he shrugged and ripped the quarrel from his chest. "That's the last, let's go." He offered his hand to Rain. She took it and was instantly throne into the same position as Kagome. Inuyasha nodded at Seven and they both started running.
The forest whipped by at an amazing speed. Kagome clung to Inuyasha's back as he leapt between the trees, pushing as fast as he could. To her surprise when she glanced back she saw that Seven was only a few steps behind them. Rain didn't look to be taking the ride well. She had her arms abound his chest and had buried her face in his back.
Suddenly a giant blur slammed into Seven sending him flying onto the ground. Inuyasha stopped at Kagome's scream. He turned and let go of Kagome when she jumped off his back. His hand went instantly to the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. Blocking their view of Seven and Rain was a huge Youkai. It was a huge spider. But that was not all. On top, riding it like horse was another Youkai. It looked like a human but had long silver streaks on its bear chest and one of his arms was a dangerous looking claw. The arm attached to the claw looked much too big for his body and made him even more grotesque. "Seven!" Kagome called out franticly. The Youkai turned on Inuyasha and Kagome baring its fangs. They were dripping blood and saliva.
Kagome shrieked and jumped behind Inuyasha. He drew the Tetsusaiga. The sword almost flew from his hand as he drew it. "What the?" he stared at it, it wasn't transforming, it weighed almost nothing. "Oh crap." The spider rider laughed and spurred his mount towards Inuyasha and Kagome. "Kagome run!" Inuyasha shouted putting the Tetsusaiga between himself and the spider. "I'll come as soon as I can!" she as usual ignored him. "We have to get Seven and Rain!" Inuyasha growled, "then let me fight woman!"
She backed slowly away giving Inuyasha room to fight. He never got his chance. Seven barreled out of the forest slamming into the spider's legs. Before the spider hit the ground Seven was standing next to Inuyasha holding an unconscious Rain. "Get them out of here." He didn't wait for an answer. He put Rain in Inuyasha's arms and turned to face the spider and its rider. He held his katana just below the hilt, still in its sheath against his back, the tip hovering just over his left shoulder. The spider regained his feet and screeched a challenge at Seven. Seven smiled and flicked the blade loose with his thumb, still keeping it in the sheath however. With his left hand he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out his sunglasses. He flicked them open and put them on. The spider started his charge.
Seven glanced over his shoulder. "Go, now." Inuyasha nodded, he recognized the look in Seven's eyes. He was ready to kill. Inuyasha turned and ran past Kagome, throwing her over his shoulder with his free hand; Rain was tucked under his left arm. Ignoring Kagome's worried screams he ran off into the forest to wait for the outcome of the fight, he was almost certain that he knew who the victor would be.
The spider Youkai charged at Seven like a battering ram Seven stood his ground until the spider was almost on top of him. Just before the spiders jaws closed on his neck Seven dropped to the ground and drew his sword in a single movement. The spider couldn't stop and Seven drove his sword into the spiders unprotected underbelly. The spider screamed and crashed into a tree, blood and gray ooze pouring from the long gash. Seven kicked himself back to his feet and turned on the spider; it was staggering around lashed on by its rider. Seven pulled his knife from its sheath on his back. He threw at towards the spider with devastating force. It struck the spider in its mouth and the blade came spurting from the back of the spider's head. In its death throws the spider threw his rider, then it blindly charged one last time. Seven pushed his blade straight at the spiders head, to far gone to care the spider ran full speed into the blade, impaling its head full force, pushing Seven back several feet. Seven cut up slicing through the spider's head to free his sword, now for the rider. Seven drew his knife from the spider's head and stuck it in the ground leaving only the hilt showing.
The remaining Youkai was seething with rage, its eyes were flashing red and his clawed arm was throbbing. He roared and dove for Seven. Seven brought his blade up to slice the claw in half but the Youkai twisted his body midair and landed a blow just below the blade. Seven grunted as the clawed hand pierced his side, the Youkai screamed in pleasure and victory. Seven however had other ideas. He used the force of impact to spin away from his attacker and pushing off a low rock he lunged on the attack. The Youkai spun again avoiding the attack and again digging his claws into Seven. Then jumping away the Youkai licked the blood off his claws smiling at Seven. The Youkai was sure that he had won, no human could survive that. But it was Sevens turn to smile.
"Stupid Youkai." He laughed. "You should save your meal for after the fight, now you die!" Seven thrust his sword into the ground in front of him, and then he put his hands into his gaping wounds, drenching them in his blood. Then he pulled the katana from the ground and held it extended over his head. " LIFEBLOOD REVENGE!" he screamed slashing down with the blade. From the blade came six bands of blood red light that shot towards the Youkai. They whipped through the air their passage leaving a trail of utter darkness. The blades struck the Youkai with a deafening roar. Time and time again they sliced through his body, each time ripping flesh and blood from his body. The Youkai screamed in pain as the red blades whittled him down bit by bit. They increased in speed until the Youkai in the center could no longer be seen through the spinning blades. A final scream cut the forest as the Youkai died, when the blades finally dissipated, there was nothing left. Nothing.
Seven sheathed his sword and drew his knife from the ground. He whipped it clean and returned it to its sheath as well. Then he started after Inuyasha and the two girls. He could smell them, they were far, fortunately Seven had ways of traveling faster than his companions. He would reach them soon.
Inuyasha hadn't stopped running. He knew the look on Seven's face could mean trouble, he would stand his ground against the Youkai until either they were dead, or he was. Inuyasha had never seen a human kill more than one or two Youkai, even when the humans had superior numbers. Sango was by far the best he had seen, and even she needed help when in close combat. He hoped Seven had a chance. A loud thud behind him gave voice a new train of thoughts. Could he have lost already? Was the spider already on his back? Damn it! He turned his head slightly and almost tripped over his own feet. "Seven?" Seven was running behind him, his coat was torn even worse than before and the wounds were still visible, if closed. "Did you win?" he called back. Seven laughed and caught up to Inuyasha "of course, what, did you think I lost?" Inuyasha nodded. Seven laughed again. They both kept running.
They stopped soon after dawn near a small spring. Inuyasha gently put Kagome down near the water, she had fallen asleep some time during the flight from exhaustion and Inuyasha wanted her to get her rest. Rain slid off Seven's back a little shaky but able to stand. Seven slumped over next to the spring and cupping his hands he started to drink. Inuyasha sat next to Kagome and for the first time since the night before he let his mind catch up to him.
Rain knelt next too Seven and started to drink as well. She glanced over at him and saw for the first time his chest. He had two gaping holes in his coat and shirt. His wounds had not healed. There were still deep red gouges in his side and chest, somewhat healed over but still looking very painful. "Are you ok?" she asked. Seven stopped drinking and flicked water at her. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" the statement was defeated as he grimaced and clutched his side.
Inuyasha jumped over to him and grabbed his shoulder to steady him. "Damn it man your not indestructible." Seven smiled, sweat was pouring down his face. "I think I may be poisoned." He muttered. Inuyasha nodded "just rest, I'll try to find some help." Seven nodded and with Inuyasha's help stood and made his way to a tree. Their Inuyasha lowered him to the ground. "Stay here, I don't want to have to chase you down with a cure." Then he darted off.
Kagome woke just then and sat up rubbing her eyes. The first thing she saw was Rain kneeling next to the spring staring sadly at a tree. "Rain? What's wrong?" Rain gave a small eep of surprise. Kagome rose and walked over to her. She sat next to her and looked where Rain had been looking. "Oh my God!" she gasped putting a hand over her mouth. "What happened?" Rain shrugged looked towards the water. Kagome put an arm around her shoulder comfortingly, "where's Inuyasha?" Rain looked up "um, he said he was going to get some medicine, and then just left, is he gonna come back?" Kagome smiled. "I don't think he could stay away."
Seven moaned and both girls rushed to his side. His face was pale and the wounds in his side were writhing under his skin. Kagome gasped and started to shake him. "Seven! Seven! Wake up!" he grunted and his hands shot to Kagome's wrists. His eyes shot open and he tried to sit, only to fall back to the ground. "Crap," he moaned. "I guess I still don't have it down yet." He released Kagome. "What happened?" she asked pushing some hair out of his eyes.
Seven slowly pushed himself up and rested his back against the trunk of the tree he had been against. "I killed the Youkai last night with a magic attack called the lifeblood revenge. The attack only works when I am injured and my opponent has some of my blood inside his body. Then I use my blood as a weapon against him, if his claw hadn't been poisoned I would be fine, but now my blood is still weak from my attack." He clenched his teeth in pain and shut his eyes. "I just need to rest for now, I should be better by nightfall. Kagome nodded and went to the spring; Rain sat next to Seven and took his hand. "Are you sure you'll be alright?" Seven opened his eyes and smiled at her. "I sure hope so, this really sucks." He closed his hand around hers. "Thanks." Now it was Rains turn to smile. "No problem." Seven fell back into unconsciousness, but Rain stayed by his side for the rest of the day.