Chapter 13: Blood and Life!
The sun rose like a molten fireball. Dawn came with much uneasiness as the group prepared for the confrontation with blood. Sango changed into her exterminator's gear and Seven was putting on bits of strange red armor. The armor covered his left shoulder and chest and then his shins. He also had a gauntlet on his right arm. Attached to the shoulder armor was the huge sword he had been carrying. Inuyasha sat on the edge of the cliff staring out over the land below; Kagome was hiding their extra things on the advice of Seven. Rain was nervously pacing on the side of the camp.
Kagome finished and decided to help calm Rain down. "Hey Rain, what's wrong?" Rain looked up and stopped. "Huh?" Kagome smiled. "Are you alright? You look uneasy." Rain shrugged. "Oh I don't know, I'm unarmed, going up against one of the strongest Youkai in existence with a Hanyou, a monk, a crazy guy and two girls, should I feel any better?" Seven laughed. "Is that all you're worried about?" Rain glared at him. Seven strode over. "If all goes as I expect there will be no danger, Blood will want me to prove myself, but other than that there should be no danger." He threw a small bundle to her. Rain caught it and pulled it open. "When we get back I'll teach you how they work, but it should be good for now." He turned and Rain studied the contents of the cloth. There were two daggers and a ring. She put the ring on and thrust a dagger through the belt and the other she held on to. "Better than nothing." She mumbled.
They followed the edge of the cliff for most of the morning. Seven seemed to be the only one not on his guard. Towards noon they reached a break in the cliffs where several large caves jutted out and over the edge of the cliff. Sango looked at the scroll, "this should be it, the third cave over." She pointed to the smallest hole. Inuyasha laughed. "Are you sure Sango, that's not that big. The cave in question was in fact only a few yards wide. "Don't be fooled" Seven interrupted. "Blood is the smallest of the dragons and has three forms, that of a Dragon, a man, and that of a man like Youkai. He likes to surprise his opponents." Miroku nodded. "How do we draw him out?" Seven held up his hand. "You wait here, and do not approach the cave, Blood, or me until I call you." Sango nodded. "We understand." Seven nodded. "Wish me luck." He started across the cave entrances until he reached the third opening; there he sat in the entrance and waited.
Hours dragged by and Kagome was getting anxious. "When do you think Blood is going to show?" Inuyasha growled in annoyance "when he has reason, Dragons don't leave their den unless they have a good reason." Kagome blinked. "Oh." Sango rested her weapon against a tree and sat against it. "It might be wise to rest and be at our best when Seven needs us." Kagome nodded she went to sit when suddenly a blood curtailing shriek filled the air. They looked over to Seven just in time to see a Dragon hurdle out of the cave, strike Seven and send both of them over the edge of the cliff.
"SEVEN!" Kagome screamed as he disappeared over the edge. She ran for the side, unaware that the others were following on her heels. She reached the edge and peered over searching for the falling fighters. What they saw was not what they expected. Seven and the dragon were no longer falling, they were flying. The Dragon and Seven were spiraling upwards hacking at each other with sword and claw. It was then they got their first good look at Blood. Like Seven had said he was small, for a Dragon, at least twice as tall as a normal man and covered from hooked nose to spiked tail in red, spiky armor. They were gaining speed as they rose and were soon high above the watchers. Locked in combat, blow for blow they fought, equals in every way. Kagome watched in amazement, "how is this possible?" a growl brought her head down to earth. Inuyasha was clutching the hilt of the Tetsusaiga intently following the movements of the fight. He seemed ready to try to go to Seven's aid. "Inuyasha don't even think about it." Sango had noticed as well. "he told us to hold until he called, do not interfere." Inuyasha was in no mood to think. "damn that, he cant hold off a Dragon alone for long!" as if to prove his point at Seven came hurtling from the sky and slammed into the ground, causing a huge explosion of earth and rock.
Rain started for the spot where he had landed. "Seven!" "RAIN!" Rain stopped at Sango's yell. "do NOT go near him until the fight is over." Rain glared at Sango and then turned back to the settling dirt cloud, expecting to see Seven's body. What they saw, nobody expected. Instead of a crumpled body, Seven was kneeling, one hand on the ground, peering upwards, sword in hand. "how did he survive?" Sango gasped. Inuyasha laughed. "what you want him to die?" Sano glared at him. "of course not!"
Seven searched the sky for Blood, he was nowhere in sight. the Dragon he was fighting was much stronger than he remembered. No matter, "I still have some tricks up my sleeve!" he stood and started the transformation.
Kagome and the rest watched in amazement as Seven started to grow. As his body grew the armor he was wearing started to grow into him and spread, creating plate armor that covered his entire body. When the growth reached his neck his head started to grow longer, his face became a hooked beak, his eyes narrowed and lengthened into glowing black slits, the armor then took his head as well. "Dear God." Sango whispered. "that's impossible." Seven roared. He now stood as tall as Blood and though they looked similar, Seven still had a human shape and no wings. He roared again sending a challenge to Blood. The Dragon appeared in the sky overhead, plummeting to earth. Seven drew his sword from the ground and accepted the charge. He shot up faster than an arrow from a bow towards the Dragon. They met in a furious clash of steal and claw once again battling in the sky.
Soon Seven seemed to have the upper hand, he struck Blood again and again raining bits of scale armor on the land below. Blood seemed to be loosing strength with every blow. "It looks like all is going well." Miroku commented happily. "don't be to sure." Inuyasha growled. "Blood may be faking." Miroku nodded and returned his gaze to the fight. Inuyasha was once again correct. In a sudden burst of speed Blood whipped his tail around and thrust it through Seven's chest. Blood shot out the back of the wound in a giant fountain. Seven screamed in pain and lunged at Blood. He caught him in the chest, surprising the Dragon. In that moment of surprise Seven reached behind Blood and grabbed his wings, pulling them to the Dragons back. Blood could no longer fly. Both combatants plummeted for the earth headfirst.
"RUN!" Rain screamed as the fighters fell straight for them. They broke for the trees keeping their eyes on the mid air struggle. Seven and Blood struck the earth full on creating a huge dust cloud and a thunderous crash. Everyone peered through the dust searching for any sign of the combatants. Slowly a large form could be seen through the haze, due to Seven's transformation they could not tell if it was him or Blood, they could only wait. The shadow stood and started towards the group. It lurched in an injured way, teetering from side to side. As it grew closer it started to shrink. Armor slid back into the skin, the head returned to that of a human. "Seven!" Kagome cried out in joy. She ran to his side followed by Rain. Inuyasha and the rest followed warily, still searching the dust for Blood. Kagome reached Seven just in time to catch him as he fell. Rain took his other side and together they helped him to the shelter of the trees. Blood poured from his wounds and his clothes were torn, handing off him like rags. "I won." He moaned as they put him against a tree to rest.
Inuyasha stood facing the fallen Dragon. Blood still hadn't moved since the fall but that way a guarantee of his defeat. "how sure are you?" he growled over his shoulder. Seven winced as Rain pulled a bandage across his chest. "the fact that I am alive is all that matters. He will no longer try to fight us." He gasped in pain when Rain tried to pull his coat off. "damn it woman let me heal first." Rain glared at him "your not immortal you know." Seven smiled sadly "if only I wasn't."
A growl from Inuyasha drew their attention to Blood. The Dragon slowly rose from the crater in the ground and shook the dust from his scales. Almost as if he had just noticed Blood drew Sevens sword from his throat. He held the sword aloft staring at the still transformed blade. Inuyasha stood ready, hand on the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. Blood stuck the blade into the ground, between himself and the Hanyou. He looked straight at Inuyasha then turned and disappeared back into his cave.
"did I just miss something?" Kagome asked, she was starting to get annoyed at Seven. They had left Bloods land as soon as Seven could walk. He had told them the problem was solved but had not given and insight as to how it had been accomplished. Seven scratched his chin thoughtfully. "its not as confusing as it seems, Blood sensed his soul in me and went into hibernation until I wake him, he knows about the binding magic and thus knows about our deal, in a way I just proved myself for myself in the future, or is it the past?" he furrowed his brow in concentration. "man time travel can be a real mind job!"
The sun rose like a molten fireball. Dawn came with much uneasiness as the group prepared for the confrontation with blood. Sango changed into her exterminator's gear and Seven was putting on bits of strange red armor. The armor covered his left shoulder and chest and then his shins. He also had a gauntlet on his right arm. Attached to the shoulder armor was the huge sword he had been carrying. Inuyasha sat on the edge of the cliff staring out over the land below; Kagome was hiding their extra things on the advice of Seven. Rain was nervously pacing on the side of the camp.
Kagome finished and decided to help calm Rain down. "Hey Rain, what's wrong?" Rain looked up and stopped. "Huh?" Kagome smiled. "Are you alright? You look uneasy." Rain shrugged. "Oh I don't know, I'm unarmed, going up against one of the strongest Youkai in existence with a Hanyou, a monk, a crazy guy and two girls, should I feel any better?" Seven laughed. "Is that all you're worried about?" Rain glared at him. Seven strode over. "If all goes as I expect there will be no danger, Blood will want me to prove myself, but other than that there should be no danger." He threw a small bundle to her. Rain caught it and pulled it open. "When we get back I'll teach you how they work, but it should be good for now." He turned and Rain studied the contents of the cloth. There were two daggers and a ring. She put the ring on and thrust a dagger through the belt and the other she held on to. "Better than nothing." She mumbled.
They followed the edge of the cliff for most of the morning. Seven seemed to be the only one not on his guard. Towards noon they reached a break in the cliffs where several large caves jutted out and over the edge of the cliff. Sango looked at the scroll, "this should be it, the third cave over." She pointed to the smallest hole. Inuyasha laughed. "Are you sure Sango, that's not that big. The cave in question was in fact only a few yards wide. "Don't be fooled" Seven interrupted. "Blood is the smallest of the dragons and has three forms, that of a Dragon, a man, and that of a man like Youkai. He likes to surprise his opponents." Miroku nodded. "How do we draw him out?" Seven held up his hand. "You wait here, and do not approach the cave, Blood, or me until I call you." Sango nodded. "We understand." Seven nodded. "Wish me luck." He started across the cave entrances until he reached the third opening; there he sat in the entrance and waited.
Hours dragged by and Kagome was getting anxious. "When do you think Blood is going to show?" Inuyasha growled in annoyance "when he has reason, Dragons don't leave their den unless they have a good reason." Kagome blinked. "Oh." Sango rested her weapon against a tree and sat against it. "It might be wise to rest and be at our best when Seven needs us." Kagome nodded she went to sit when suddenly a blood curtailing shriek filled the air. They looked over to Seven just in time to see a Dragon hurdle out of the cave, strike Seven and send both of them over the edge of the cliff.
"SEVEN!" Kagome screamed as he disappeared over the edge. She ran for the side, unaware that the others were following on her heels. She reached the edge and peered over searching for the falling fighters. What they saw was not what they expected. Seven and the dragon were no longer falling, they were flying. The Dragon and Seven were spiraling upwards hacking at each other with sword and claw. It was then they got their first good look at Blood. Like Seven had said he was small, for a Dragon, at least twice as tall as a normal man and covered from hooked nose to spiked tail in red, spiky armor. They were gaining speed as they rose and were soon high above the watchers. Locked in combat, blow for blow they fought, equals in every way. Kagome watched in amazement, "how is this possible?" a growl brought her head down to earth. Inuyasha was clutching the hilt of the Tetsusaiga intently following the movements of the fight. He seemed ready to try to go to Seven's aid. "Inuyasha don't even think about it." Sango had noticed as well. "he told us to hold until he called, do not interfere." Inuyasha was in no mood to think. "damn that, he cant hold off a Dragon alone for long!" as if to prove his point at Seven came hurtling from the sky and slammed into the ground, causing a huge explosion of earth and rock.
Rain started for the spot where he had landed. "Seven!" "RAIN!" Rain stopped at Sango's yell. "do NOT go near him until the fight is over." Rain glared at Sango and then turned back to the settling dirt cloud, expecting to see Seven's body. What they saw, nobody expected. Instead of a crumpled body, Seven was kneeling, one hand on the ground, peering upwards, sword in hand. "how did he survive?" Sango gasped. Inuyasha laughed. "what you want him to die?" Sano glared at him. "of course not!"
Seven searched the sky for Blood, he was nowhere in sight. the Dragon he was fighting was much stronger than he remembered. No matter, "I still have some tricks up my sleeve!" he stood and started the transformation.
Kagome and the rest watched in amazement as Seven started to grow. As his body grew the armor he was wearing started to grow into him and spread, creating plate armor that covered his entire body. When the growth reached his neck his head started to grow longer, his face became a hooked beak, his eyes narrowed and lengthened into glowing black slits, the armor then took his head as well. "Dear God." Sango whispered. "that's impossible." Seven roared. He now stood as tall as Blood and though they looked similar, Seven still had a human shape and no wings. He roared again sending a challenge to Blood. The Dragon appeared in the sky overhead, plummeting to earth. Seven drew his sword from the ground and accepted the charge. He shot up faster than an arrow from a bow towards the Dragon. They met in a furious clash of steal and claw once again battling in the sky.
Soon Seven seemed to have the upper hand, he struck Blood again and again raining bits of scale armor on the land below. Blood seemed to be loosing strength with every blow. "It looks like all is going well." Miroku commented happily. "don't be to sure." Inuyasha growled. "Blood may be faking." Miroku nodded and returned his gaze to the fight. Inuyasha was once again correct. In a sudden burst of speed Blood whipped his tail around and thrust it through Seven's chest. Blood shot out the back of the wound in a giant fountain. Seven screamed in pain and lunged at Blood. He caught him in the chest, surprising the Dragon. In that moment of surprise Seven reached behind Blood and grabbed his wings, pulling them to the Dragons back. Blood could no longer fly. Both combatants plummeted for the earth headfirst.
"RUN!" Rain screamed as the fighters fell straight for them. They broke for the trees keeping their eyes on the mid air struggle. Seven and Blood struck the earth full on creating a huge dust cloud and a thunderous crash. Everyone peered through the dust searching for any sign of the combatants. Slowly a large form could be seen through the haze, due to Seven's transformation they could not tell if it was him or Blood, they could only wait. The shadow stood and started towards the group. It lurched in an injured way, teetering from side to side. As it grew closer it started to shrink. Armor slid back into the skin, the head returned to that of a human. "Seven!" Kagome cried out in joy. She ran to his side followed by Rain. Inuyasha and the rest followed warily, still searching the dust for Blood. Kagome reached Seven just in time to catch him as he fell. Rain took his other side and together they helped him to the shelter of the trees. Blood poured from his wounds and his clothes were torn, handing off him like rags. "I won." He moaned as they put him against a tree to rest.
Inuyasha stood facing the fallen Dragon. Blood still hadn't moved since the fall but that way a guarantee of his defeat. "how sure are you?" he growled over his shoulder. Seven winced as Rain pulled a bandage across his chest. "the fact that I am alive is all that matters. He will no longer try to fight us." He gasped in pain when Rain tried to pull his coat off. "damn it woman let me heal first." Rain glared at him "your not immortal you know." Seven smiled sadly "if only I wasn't."
A growl from Inuyasha drew their attention to Blood. The Dragon slowly rose from the crater in the ground and shook the dust from his scales. Almost as if he had just noticed Blood drew Sevens sword from his throat. He held the sword aloft staring at the still transformed blade. Inuyasha stood ready, hand on the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. Blood stuck the blade into the ground, between himself and the Hanyou. He looked straight at Inuyasha then turned and disappeared back into his cave.
"did I just miss something?" Kagome asked, she was starting to get annoyed at Seven. They had left Bloods land as soon as Seven could walk. He had told them the problem was solved but had not given and insight as to how it had been accomplished. Seven scratched his chin thoughtfully. "its not as confusing as it seems, Blood sensed his soul in me and went into hibernation until I wake him, he knows about the binding magic and thus knows about our deal, in a way I just proved myself for myself in the future, or is it the past?" he furrowed his brow in concentration. "man time travel can be a real mind job!"