CHAPTER TWENTY
*
The weird warning feeling that Inuyasha had been having for days was going off full blast as he squared off against Marako. This demon was giving him the creeps -- not only was the snarling face he saw a mirror image of his own, but he only smelled his own scent.
"Funny," he said, smirking. "I always thought I was better looking."
"Believe me, you won't be in a minute," Marako fired back.
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. "Well, let's see if you're confident or just an arrogant bastard, shall we?"
He dodged as Marako swiped at him, then slammed his fist into his double's side. Marako grunted in surprise, then slashed his claws at Inuyasha's eyes. The half-demon leapt back, staggering a little. His face stung from the brush of Marako's fingers. Damn, he thought. This guy is good. As strong as I am... and he doesn't hold back at all.
"Huh," Marako said. "You fight back a lot better than that stupid human girl. Why do you tote her around, huh?" He grinned. "Or maybe I know. After all, Mihaka looks a lot like her, don't she?"
Didn't know I had such a nasty smile, Inuyasha thought. He dared a glance over his shoulder. Kagome -- whichever girl she was -- was scuffling with Mihaka. Kagome was clumsy compared to him, and Mihaka was fighting the same way. The two girls were kicking, pushing and scuffling in the dust.
Why isn't Mihaka fighting harder? She's as strong as Marako... of course, he thought, narrowing his eyes. If Mihaka really fights with all her strength, I'll know which is which... of course, if Marako beats me, she'll rip Kagome apart in a minute...
"You might want to pay ATTENTION!" Marako growled, swiping at Inuyasha's exposed throat. The half-demon leaped back, slashing at Marako's clawed fingers. A thin stream of blood swirled from a cut on Marako's wrist -- but that was the only wound Inuyasha had been able to inflict.
I have to take out that slut, Inuyasha thought, aiming a kick at Marako's stomach. But how... neither of them has any... of course! Why didn't I think of it sooner?!
He punched Marako hard enough to make him stagger. Then he wheeled around and launched himself at the fighting girls. "Kagome! Don't move a muscle!" he bellowed.
As he expected, both girls froze in place, their eyes fixed on him. His claws slashed through the backs of their blouses, shredding the thin cloth to rags. In a few seconds, Inuyasha caught a glimpse of their backs -- one was an ordinary bare back.
The other bore an ugly spider scar.
I knew it! Inuyasha thought exultantly. He'd kill Mihaka, give Kagome time to run away...
A growling voice rang out. "First rule -- NEVER turn your back to me!" shouted Marako, throwing himself toward Inuyasha.
A hoarse scream tore itself from Inuyasha's throat as Marako's fist slammed into his right arm. He stumbled to his knees, grimacing. White hot pain was lancing through his now-useless arm; he had just started to get up when Marako punched him in the jaw.
*
Kagome was barely aware of the continuing fight between Inuyasha and Marako. Mihaka, pinning her against a tree, was taking up most of her attention. The demon girl's too-strong hands were squashing her forward, pressing her face against the bark. It made Kagome want to faint -- but she didn't dare.
I need my arrows, Kagome thought hazily. Her eyes flicked
Suddenly Mihaka released her; she glanced over her shoulder with wide eyes, distracted by something out of her victim's sigh. Kagome took the opportunity to elbow the demoness in the stomach, throwing her backwards. Then Kagome started to run toward her bow and arrows. Then she stopped, horrified by what she saw.
She raised her gaze to the ridge, just as one of the Inuyashas stumbled back. The attacker shouted in triumph... and rammed his hand through his opponent's chest, slashing out through his back.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried.
TO BE CONTINUED
*
The weird warning feeling that Inuyasha had been having for days was going off full blast as he squared off against Marako. This demon was giving him the creeps -- not only was the snarling face he saw a mirror image of his own, but he only smelled his own scent.
"Funny," he said, smirking. "I always thought I was better looking."
"Believe me, you won't be in a minute," Marako fired back.
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. "Well, let's see if you're confident or just an arrogant bastard, shall we?"
He dodged as Marako swiped at him, then slammed his fist into his double's side. Marako grunted in surprise, then slashed his claws at Inuyasha's eyes. The half-demon leapt back, staggering a little. His face stung from the brush of Marako's fingers. Damn, he thought. This guy is good. As strong as I am... and he doesn't hold back at all.
"Huh," Marako said. "You fight back a lot better than that stupid human girl. Why do you tote her around, huh?" He grinned. "Or maybe I know. After all, Mihaka looks a lot like her, don't she?"
Didn't know I had such a nasty smile, Inuyasha thought. He dared a glance over his shoulder. Kagome -- whichever girl she was -- was scuffling with Mihaka. Kagome was clumsy compared to him, and Mihaka was fighting the same way. The two girls were kicking, pushing and scuffling in the dust.
Why isn't Mihaka fighting harder? She's as strong as Marako... of course, he thought, narrowing his eyes. If Mihaka really fights with all her strength, I'll know which is which... of course, if Marako beats me, she'll rip Kagome apart in a minute...
"You might want to pay ATTENTION!" Marako growled, swiping at Inuyasha's exposed throat. The half-demon leaped back, slashing at Marako's clawed fingers. A thin stream of blood swirled from a cut on Marako's wrist -- but that was the only wound Inuyasha had been able to inflict.
I have to take out that slut, Inuyasha thought, aiming a kick at Marako's stomach. But how... neither of them has any... of course! Why didn't I think of it sooner?!
He punched Marako hard enough to make him stagger. Then he wheeled around and launched himself at the fighting girls. "Kagome! Don't move a muscle!" he bellowed.
As he expected, both girls froze in place, their eyes fixed on him. His claws slashed through the backs of their blouses, shredding the thin cloth to rags. In a few seconds, Inuyasha caught a glimpse of their backs -- one was an ordinary bare back.
The other bore an ugly spider scar.
I knew it! Inuyasha thought exultantly. He'd kill Mihaka, give Kagome time to run away...
A growling voice rang out. "First rule -- NEVER turn your back to me!" shouted Marako, throwing himself toward Inuyasha.
A hoarse scream tore itself from Inuyasha's throat as Marako's fist slammed into his right arm. He stumbled to his knees, grimacing. White hot pain was lancing through his now-useless arm; he had just started to get up when Marako punched him in the jaw.
*
Kagome was barely aware of the continuing fight between Inuyasha and Marako. Mihaka, pinning her against a tree, was taking up most of her attention. The demon girl's too-strong hands were squashing her forward, pressing her face against the bark. It made Kagome want to faint -- but she didn't dare.
I need my arrows, Kagome thought hazily. Her eyes flicked
Suddenly Mihaka released her; she glanced over her shoulder with wide eyes, distracted by something out of her victim's sigh. Kagome took the opportunity to elbow the demoness in the stomach, throwing her backwards. Then Kagome started to run toward her bow and arrows. Then she stopped, horrified by what she saw.
She raised her gaze to the ridge, just as one of the Inuyashas stumbled back. The attacker shouted in triumph... and rammed his hand through his opponent's chest, slashing out through his back.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried.
TO BE CONTINUED