Chapter 16-The Peach Man (yet again.)

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'Tonight's the full moon, my demonic powers are fading, I'm trapped inside a monster's body and I'm about to be digested.'

Inuyasha looked around him at the acid bubbling and popping.

"MAN! THIS SUCKS!"

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The Peach Man twisted the Tetsusaiga from the left to the right, examining every angle of it. He was lying on his pillow, one hand supporting his head and the other turning the sword around.

"Hmmm, no matter how I look at it," He said aloud. "It's just a plain old rusty sword."

He sat up and looked directly at the sword. "But when that doggy swung it, it seemed to transform."

A sudden rumbling in his stomach shook him out of his contemplating; he looked down and quickly thumped his stomach. "Settle down!" He demanded.

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"Yaaaaaaaaa!" Inuyasha flew headfirst into the acid, his ears were beginning to go down into his head and his hair was almost completely black. "It burns! It Burns!" He struggled to get up, using his scabbard as support. "Ugh, my clothes are dissolving!" He exclaimed.

Suddenly, his hand gave a massive jerk, startling Inuyasha. It was the scabbard! It was calling to the Tetsusaiga!

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The Peach Man looked suspiciously at the sword. It was hovering and shaking. Then, it came straight at him, hitting him right in the bellybutton.

"What?" He thought as the sword dropped onto the floor. Suddenly, there was big rumbly in his tumbly. Groping his stomach tightly, he was violently sick all over his floor. And with that sick, came a full sized Inuyasha.

Grabbing his sword, Inuyasha swung it at The Peach Man. "You Pig!" He cried, but the same thing happened when he first tried to attack The Peach Man, it was repelled and Inuyasha was thrown onto the floor.

The Peach Man's eye widened and he glared at Inuyasha. "You!" He threatened as he jumped in the air and landed on poor Inuyasha, rendering the Hanyou unconscious.

Picking Inuyasha up by the hair, The Peach Man inspected him like he did the Tetsusaiga. "The same demon?" He thought aloud.

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"HURRY!" Kagome yelled at some of the men under the tree of the miniature garden. "Get out of here! Before The Peach Man eats you!"

The men merely lopped their heads to one side and stared into space.

'What's with these guys?' Kagome thought. 'They're totally spaced out!'

Miroku, Sango and Shippou came up behind Kagome.

"I have tried to reaching everyone." Miroku said, huffing and puffing.

"But it's like they're soulless shells." Sango said, the worry evident in her voice.

Shippou pooped up from behind Miroku's shoulder. "Maybe that monster has put a spell on them." He suggested.

"But we're all fine." Kagome said.

Sango looked down at one of the man's hand. Next to it was the remains of a peach. She pointed this out to Miroku.

"Ah HAH!" Miroku yelled, pointing his finger in the air, like he just had an idea. "It's so obvious!" Suddenly, he turned deadly serious. "If you eat or drink from this place, then your volition is stolen from you."

"T...That makes sense." Sango said, inching a little closer to Miroku.

"What's 'volition'?" Shippou asked curiously.

"I have no idea. I just thought it sounded good."

Sango inched away from Miroku.

"So as long as we don't eat or drink from here, we're fine!" Shippou said brightly.

"Yeah!" Kagome replied, brightening up as well.

Miroku sat cross-legged on the grass. "Until we die of starvation and thirst." He said.

Everyone sighed.

"Hey," Sango said, pointing at the sky. "Look!"

A whole bunch of dark clouds were gathering over the garden and right in the middle of the clouds, a huge, plump hand stretched out, coming towards the garden.

Kagome took one look at it and began running towards it.

"Kagome!" Sango yelled.

"We have to get out!" Kagome yelled back over her shoulder. "And this is the only way!"

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The Peach Man took his hand out of the garden and opened it up. On his palm, skinny little men were lying, groaning and generally looking spaced out.

"Hmmmm." The Peach Man sighed in disappointment. "They're all skinny, bitter little men."

Just as he was about to put the handful back, he saw Kagome, resting in his palm.

"Well now!" He said, smiling. "I don't remember catching you, young maiden."

He flicked the rest of the men off his palm and wrapped his podgy fingers around Kagome.

"Heh heh, just my day! First, I catch a demonic half breed and now this little..."

"You caught Inuyasha!?" Kagome gasped, interrupting The Peach Man.

"Oh? Don't tell me you two know each other?" The Peach Man said.

"He better be alive and whole Peach Man!" Kagome spat. "Or...I'll never forgive you!"

Miroku and Sango were clinging onto The Peach Man's sleeve while Shippou was perched nicely on Miroku's shoulder.

"Amazing." Sango whispered in Miroku's ear.

"Where does she get the nerve?" Shippou questioned.

Miroku sweat dropped. "I suppose this is mild by her standards."

The Peach Man smiled evilly. "You've got spunk." He said, squeezing Kagome. "It'd be a waste to eat you while you were tiny."

Kagome screamed and fainted. Miroku, Sango and Shippou looked on in desperation.

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When Inuyasha woke up, he was trapped in what appeared to be thorn bushes. The thorns dug into his skin and his blood was dripping onto the floor. His vision was blurred and he was having trouble trying to keep consciousness.

The Peach Man entered the room, a smile playing on his thin black lips.

"Aww you're still alive I see." He said as he dropped some clothes onto the floor. Inuyasha looked at them. They were Kagome's clothes! He his stomach clench and his gritted his teeth.

'Kagome!' He thought. 'Please, don't let it be!'

Sitting down in front of Inuyasha, The Peach Man's smile got wider. "What a sad expression on your face hanyou."

Inuyasha growled at The Peach Man and struggled to get out.

"Struggle all you want, the more you struggle, the more the thorns will suck up your blood." The Peach Man said with delight.

"Kagome." Inuyasha said, no emotion in his voice. "What have you done with her?"

"Oh don't worry, you'll see her soon enough." The fat man picked up a jug of liquid and began to drink it. "In my belly."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed in anger. "You ATE her!" He said calmly, the anger evident in his voice.

"What else are mortals for?" The Peach Man said casually.

"Bastard." Inuyasha whispered.

"Hmmm?"

"Bastard," He said louder. "Bastard, bastard, bastard, BASTARD!" Inuyasha was thrashing violently at The Peach Man, sitting inches away from him.

Sango, Shippou and Miroku appeared from Kagome's shirt. They saw Inuyasha thrashing at The Peach Man while yelling very rude things at the smiling fat man.

"That's Inuyasha!" Sango said. "He looks so much different from when he wore Grandpa Higurashi's necklace!"

Miroku unravelled his prayer beads and looked at the vines restraining Inuyasha.

"I don't know how much I can suck...." He opened up his hand and a great gust of wind began to suck up the vines. With a yell of triumph, Inuyasha lunged at the bewildered Peach Man. They landed with a thump. The Peach Man was lying in the vines, unconscious. Inuyasha crawled up to the belly of The Peach Man.

"Hang in there Kagome." He pleaded. "I'll get you out!"

"Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled. Of course to Inuyasha, it sounded like a mouse squeaking his name.

"You guys!"

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Kagome slowly opened her heavy eyelids. She sniffed. 'What's that smell?' She thought. 'Sake?'

She made herself wake up and looked around.

"HOLY CRAP!" She yelled, covering herself with her arms. She was in a square pool, completely naked. Now DEFINATELY awake, she saw little demons that looked like animals, chopping vegetables and tending to fires. Barrels of vegetables, meat and fruit were everywhere there was space.

'I'm in the kitchen!' She thought. Looking again, she saw a barrel full of skulls and bones. Panic began to rise up in her. 'I'm going to end up like that!' She began to go wade over to the edge of the pool nearest the door. 'No way in hell!' She thought. But as she got to the edge, some funny little monkey demons blocked her way, swishing huge butcher knives.

Then was a loud thump on the door. Then another.

"Kagome!" She heard Inuyasha yell. A wave of relief washed over her. "Inuyasha!" She yelled back, unable to hide her smile.

The door came crashing down onto the monkey-demons and Inuyasha stepped in, streaked with blood and fully human.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled, full of happiness. Inuyasha smirked, then stared at her, blushing madly. Kagome gave him a quizzical look, then realised that she was still naked. Quickly, she sat back down in the pool, trying to cover herself up with the water. Inuyasha turned around, still blushing.

'She's alive!' He thought and suddenly, nothing else mattered, so long as Kagome was Okay.

"Hey." She said, coming up behind him. "You're all bloody!"

Snapping out of the 'nothing-else-matters-except-for-Kagome' mood, he suddenly felt very strong and important.

"Feh." He said, taking off the top layer of his haori. "Just a load of scratches." He handed it to Kagome. "Put it on. No matter how disgusted you are by the blood."

There was an awkward silence as Kagome brought up to her chest.

"I'm not disgusted by your blood Inuyasha." She whispered softly.

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The Peach Man slowly walked down the stone steps. He was no longer fat and rubbery, he was almost like stone. His skin was hard and going off in all angles and layers. He now had fangs and his eyes were wide. He grinned like a mad hatter, fuelled on by his hate.

"You shouldn't have dripped so much blood." He said to himself as he followed the drops made by Inuyasha. "Where ever you run, hanyou, I'll find you."

Inuyasha rested on a long set of stairs, his eyes closed and his arm resting on his knee. After a few minutes, Kagome came down the stairs, a candle in her hand.

"I'm sorry." She said. "It's still pitch-black outside."

Miroku, Sango and Shippou stuck their heads out of Inuyasha's sleeve. "He's badly injured, Kagome." Miroku said.

"I've found a place where I think we can get outside." Kagome said. "Can you walk Inuyasha?"

"It's still pitch black outside?" Inuyasha asked, not really to anyone.

Kagome knelt down by Inuyasha; her eyes were full of worry. "Inuyasha, we have to keep running until your demon powers come back." She said.

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"Is this the place you think we can escape from?" Inuyasha asked Kagome.

"Uh huh."

Inuyasha covered his face with his hand.

"It won't work?"

They were in a room that stuck out of the mountain. It was very high up.

"Okay." Inuyasha started. "Here's what we'll do...."

"No Way!" Kagome yelled. Inuyasha looked at her. "I haven't said anything yet!"

"I know what you're gonna say." Kagome said crossly. "You're planning to let me go alone right? I repeat No Way!"

Inuyasha stared at her for a few moments. True, that was what he was planning, but he wasn't gonna tell HER that.

(Is someone there?)

"Aaaaaaaah!" Kagome yelled, clinging onto Inuyasha's sleeve. (It has been such a long time, since I have heard the voice of another.)

Sticking the lamp in front of her, Kagome saw a plant in the middle of the room: It was quite a big flower, with a very thick stalk and lots of billowing petals. In the middle of the flower, was the head of an old man with long white hair and a long white beard. Kagome knelt down beside the plant-man.

"Um...where you devoured by The Peach Man sir?" She asked nervously.

The plant-man lowered his head. (I erred badly in teaching such a fellow my tricks.)

Inuyasha's eyes widened. Kagome gave a slight gasp.

"You mean YOU'RE the real hermit master?!" Asked Kagome.

(Alas, yes, and mentor to The Peach Man.)

Suddenly, Inuyasha had the flower by the stalk. "Why you--!"

"Inuyasha wait!" Kagome interrupted.

"Do you know what you've DONE fool?" Inuyasha continued yelling. "Teaching the powers of a hermit to a man-eating demon!!"

(But) The plant-man said quietly. (The Peach Man is not a demon.)

Inuyasha loosened his grip on the stalk.

(He came to me as a mortal--)

CRASH!

The Peach Man came barging into the room, his stick by his side, grinning wickedly.

"Heh heh heh, I see you've gotten all the way here!" He cackled.

"THIS THING USED TO BE A HUMAN?!" Inuyasha shouted at the plant-man, seeing The Peach Man's new stone-like body. "YOU THINK I'M AN IDIOT?!"

Miroku climbed over Inuyasha's shoulder. "It IS possible for a human to transform into a demon you know." He squeaked. "If the evil within him is strong enough."

The Peach Man swung his great stone hand, cutting Inuyasha's back as he sent the hanyou flying across the floor.

Inuyasha struggled to get up as The Peach Man lumbered closer to him.

"See?" He laughed. "Humans are worthless. They're born helpless, spend their lives doing someone else's work in the mud. And then they die!" The Peach Man's face became shadowed. "My Mother and Father died living like that. I promised myself I ever would. So that's why I apprenticed myself to that RIDICULOUS hermit master." He glowered at the plant. "But after years, he'd only taught me a few basic spells. So when he wasn't around, I took a peek at his scrolls. And learned that the fastest way to learn magic is to devour the flesh of one who has already mastered it!" He paused. "However, the final spell for the elixir of youth and longevity still remains inside his withered skull. That's why I'm letting his head live on!"

Groaning, Inuyasha managed to get up, balancing himself on the balls of his feet.

"I am a half-demon." He said calmly. "And I have the frailty of the human part of me. I can sympathize with you wanting to be stronger."

Inuyasha raised his head proudly. "BUT THIS ONLY PROVES YOUR WEAKNESS!" He lunged at The Peach Man, missing him by a few inches. He turned round instinctively, grabbing a pot of bones and throwing them at the demon, then he went in for the attack, only to be stopped by The Peach Man grabbing his clothes and throwing the hanyou into a large pot, smashing it. A whole bunch of heads and what looked like water.

(Take a sip of that elixir.) The Hermit urged Inuyasha.

"Wha?!"

(That is the copycat elixir of youth and longevity that The Peach Man has distilled, however, it possesses the power to at least heal your wounds. If you want to be saved, drink it!)

The Peach Man laughed again. "It'll be more fun, if you fight back a little."

"Feh." Inuyasha spat. He slowly got up to his feet, his determination redoubled. He clenched his fists as glared at The Peach Man.

"You think I'd drink that swill? After all, anything YOU created..." His face became angry. "Might make me more like YOU!"

Kagome watched in awe as Inuyasha stood up to the fat, cannibalistic demon- man.

"You're gonna regret not being me!"

Inuyasha ran to The Peach Man, his hands outstretched, yelling an insane battle cry. The Peach Man merely scoffed and swatted Inuyasha out of the way.

He landed near the window, clutching his arm. 'It's broken!' He thought.

Kagome looked on, completely helpless.

(Please.) She heard the hermit say. (Avenge the ones who were devoured.) And with that, the petals fell off and the hermit-flower transformed himself to become a bow and arrow.

'He sacrificed himself!' Kagome thought.

The Peach Man had lifted Inuyasha into a vice-like grip, threatening Inuyasha with all sorts of terrible punishments when he felt a stinging in his back; the force pushed him forward a little. Turning round, he saw Kagome with a wooden bow. Inuyasha saw his chance and pulled The Peach Man as hard as he could. Not being able to keep his balance, The Peach Man stumbled forwards and fell out of the large hole where the window used to be. At the last second, The Peach Man grabbed a hold of Inuyasha and dragged him along for the fall.

Rushing to the window, Kagome could hardly contain herself as she watched Inuyasha fall gracefully to this death.

"INUYASHAAAAAAAAAAAA!" She yelled, even though it wouldn't do any good.

Inuyasha opened his eyes as he watched the shaking form of Kagome get smaller and smaller.

"I told you." The Peach Man growled in triumph as he fell. "You're gonna die!"

"M...maybe." Was all Inuyasha could say. 'But as long as Kagome's alive!'

Kagome watched as Inuyasha fell into oblivion, the darkness swallowed him up as she sat there, shaking violently, calling his name over and over again. Tears began to flow from her eyes.

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It was morning. Miroku, Sango and Shippou had been returned to their normal height. They walked slowly and quietly down the mountain, towards the peach tree that they had seen when they first came to the mountain. Lying next to it was The Peach Man's body, covered in blood.

"Well, the Peach Man's dead." Sango said quietly.

"Where's Inuyasha?" Kagome asked. Everyone looked at dead body.

"We must rescue him!" Miroku said, sticking his staff under The Peach Man's body, Shippou and Sango joined in, trying to roll over the large body.

"Uhhhh, he's heavy!" Shippou whined. Kagome walked to the tree. 'Please be alive Inuyasha!'

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Inuyasha's eye popped open. He was lying upside-down on the peach tree. 'Morning huh?' He thought. His hair was silver again and his claws had retuned.

'Blast it.' He thought, rubbing his arm. 'If my demon powers had returned a little earlier-'

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" He heard Shippou scream. "INUYASHA'S DEAD!"

Inuyasha sat up and looked over the branches. The group was gathered around The Peach Man's body.

"No!" Kagome protested. "H-he couldn't be!"

Shippou continued to bawl. "He was hurt badly! And he was in his human form! There's no way he could've survived!"

"Let us pray for his soul together." Miroku said, bowing his head.

"M-Miroku!" Kagome whimpered.

"I doubt he had regrets." Miroku started in his best preachy voice. "For even though he sacrificed his life. He knew that he would be saving yours, Kagome."

Inuyasha watched, a little put off by them mourning his death.

"But I didn't want that..." Kagome said quietly. "I don't want him to..."

Inuyasha leaned forward a bit. 'She's not even crying!'

"He didn't have his demon powers, but he kept on fighting! YOU'RE AN IDIOT INUYASHA."

"Yes, he was indeed a fool." Miroku agreed.

"Inuyasha! You humongous idiot!" Shippou balled.

"Er guys." Sango said, pointing to the sweat dropping Inuyasha.

"You're alive!" Shippou said, jumping onto Inuyasha's shoulder. "But you can't be!"

"Sorry to disappoint you." The hanyou replied casually. "You think I'd die from THAT?! Who's calling who and idiot here?!" He directed this at Kagome. She flinched, then turned her head to face Inuyasha.

"How DARE you call me that?!" She yelled, she was fully crying and Inuyasha was taken aback. "Am I an idiot for caring about you?!"

Inuyasha stepped up to her. "What do you-"

"You were pushing yourself too hard!" She shouted, still crying.

"We're all alive! Stop crying!" Inuyasha demanded.

"I'm NOT crying!" Kagome wailed before falling onto her knees and crying some more. "I'm just so glad that you're alive!"

'Well, at least she's not angry.' Inuyasha thought, attempting to comfort Kagome.

"Look." Sango said, smiling. "The heads are turning into peaches!"

Miroku stood next to her. "The Peach Man's spell has been broken. The people trapped in the garden are most likely to have been restored now too." He put his arm around Sango's shoulder, but it slipped and landed somewhere else that sure as hell wasn't Sango's shoulder.

SLAP.

"Miroku! You perverted monk!"

"I...I didn't mean it! Honest!"

"Well then." Shippou said jumping up and down. "Let's get going!"

So the group carried on their not-so amazing journey to Kyoto. And thus, The Peach Man's spells were broken and the mountain lived in peace.

-Closes book- and that was why I took so long getting a pint of milk.

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OWWWWWWWW! My hands REALLY HURT! That was one LONG chapter! It took me two days! Owowowowow!

Anyway, I've been addicted to two comics these few months, the first is 'Mars', gotta love that Rei! And the second is 'Karekano.' AND I've also joined up for self defence lessons! I'm very unfit!

Annnnnyhoo, I was thinking. When a certain RaDiCaL EdWaRd17 -points at no one in particular- told me that fringes were called bangs, I started thinkin', where is everyone from? And what do you call stuff? I am, of course, from the U.K., (you CANNOT get any decent anime/manga stuff in this stupid country!) and I say mum, and I think that Americans call a tap a faucet cos I once had this Donald Duck book about him cooking in the kitchen and at the end it had pictures saying 'fridge' 'sink' 'faucet'. And instead of grades, we have years so I would be in 9th grade, which is year 10! So fun! I wonder if any boys read my stories. I don't know, cos I suppose my stories ARE kind of girl-like stories. Hmmmm. Anywayz review and tell me where you're from and what you think. No flames, only constructive criticism.

Ja Ne!

Sakura Clover