Wow! Sorry this took so long to update! Lots of stuff has been going on. My brother and his wife lost their baby girl 4 months into her pregnancy. It was to be their first child. We are all praying for her. Both she and my brother are doing really well, and even took a trip to Florida. With hope, they'll have another one soon.
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On a lighter note, I was also gone for two weeks on a trip to Alaska. In fact, I'm seriously considering moving there! Keeping my fingers crossed!
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Anyhow, here's what ya'll came to see!
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Chapter 4
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A creature of the night, he stood outside the quiet village, slowly sniffing the air. A crease of puzzlement darkened his brow. He could smell traces of fear in the air, yes, hers as well. However, it was not nearly as strong as it should have been- as it had been only a few minutes ago. The half-demon! Somehow, he had penetrated the shroud of terror that had filled her mind! The demon clenched his fist, feeling the part of him that never slept tremble within the hollow of his throat. Never mind- he could still claim her, as well as the beings that sheltered with her inside the hut. The shard of the sacred jewel assured him of this. Placing a hand over his throat, the spirit viper, Shikkal, bared his fangs in hunger.
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Inuyasha was the first to open his eyes. The inside of the hut was painfully bright, and he closed them again with a curse. Despite the warning, Shippo attempted to run to his side. A quick interception by Lady Kaede, however, stopped him in his tracks.
"How many lamps ya gotta burn in here anyhow!" Spouted Inuyasha from his prone position on the floor. At his voice, Kagome turned her head, her eyes still tightly shut. "Inu- Inuyasha?" She murmured weakly. The hanyou sat up on his elbows and regarded her worriedly.
"Kagome?"
The girl gasped, opening her eyes a crack. "What...."
Kaede, handing Shippo over to Kirara's care, moved to the girl's side. At her approach, Inuyasha bared his teeth. "Stay back! I don't know if your real, or another dream- so stay away!" Kaede straightened, not retreating. "Inuyasha, ye are in my hut, the poison has faded. Ye have reentered the waking world." Inuyasha growled, still uncertain. At his side, Kagome's eyes fully opened. Wincing, she moved to sit up, but failed as the weakness overtook her. "Lady, Kaede?" The old woman nodded. "Yes child, it is I. Ye are safe here." Inuyasha lifted his head, sniffing deeply. "I think the word 'safe' may be a little premature don't you?" Sango gripped her boomerang tightly, while Miroku placed a hand on his wrist.
"It's here isn't it!" Said the hanyou, chafing to rise from the floor. Kaede laid a hand on his and Kagome's joined wrists. "The spirit viper is near, ye must keep Kagome safe!" Kagome sat up, leaning against Inuyasha's shoulder sleepily. "That isn't all- I sense a jewel shard!" Inuyasha moped. "Great, and I suppose the spirit viper is the one that has it too!" Kaede quickly unwrapped the bound wrists, rewrapping Kagome's bleeding wrist quickly. "Thee must lie still, or the poison will begin to affect thee again." Kagome clenched her hands in frustration. "I feel fine! I'm just a little tired!" Inuyasha placed a hand on the hilt of his sword as he stood up. "Listen to Kaede, stay where you are!" Turning to face the open door, he grinned in anticipation. "I can deal with this!"
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Shikkal loosened the clasp that covered his throat. The confrontation was at hand, and he had to fight the urge to attack too soon. The tiny extension of himself fluttered as he lifted the clasp that held it close. "Silently." He whispered, smiling as the Fang sprang forth, disappearing in the night. Reattaching the clasp, Shikkal floated towards the hut, spreading fingers that ended in needle-sharp tips.
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Within the hut, Shippo trembled in a corner as he watched Inuyasha leap from the hut, followed by Sango and Kirara. Miroku remained behind with Kaede, lifting his voice along with hers in an attempt to maintain the shield about the hut. On the floor, Kagome still lay with her head held in her hands. A small drop of sweat rolled down her nose. Shippo swallowed his nervousness as he hopped to her side. "Kagome, are you ok?" Clenching her teeth, she looked up at him. "Shippo." She seemed almost surprised to see him. Her eyes were slightly glazed, staring about in fear. Shippo jumped back as her eyes shut and she suddenly rolled away from him, screaming in fear. "Lady Kaede!" He shouted, running to the old woman's side. Kaede rushed to Kagome while Miroku continued to chant.
"I was afraid this would happen." She said, placing a hand on the young girl's throat. "The bite is re-establishing control. We have not enough power to hold back the attack!" Kagome bit her lip, hugging her arms around herself. "Inuyasha, where?" Kaede took Kagome's hand, clasping it tightly in both of hers. "He has gone to fight the demon. I fear we have little time." Kagome tightened as another wave of fear washed over her.
"Kagome, thee must be strong! Fight the fear, push away the terror!" Kagome cracked open an eye. "Next, next your going to tell me, uh, to think happy thoughts right?" Missing the humor, Kaede nodded. "Yes, concentrate on good memories, happier times." Fighting through the waves of horror that threatened to pull her back into the nightmare, Kagome struggled to think of things that brought her joy.
Buyo, her cat- Grandfather, Mom, Sota.... The fear was dragging at her relentlessly, countering her glad thoughts with images of Kikyo, Naraku, and countless demons, clawing and tearing at her lifeless body. Shaking, Kagome re-doubled her efforts, forcing her mind to recall anything, anything at all...
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Inuyasha grinned as he pulled forth Tetsusaiga. Before him stood the spirit viper, appearing, strangely enough, as a tall, thin man dressed in a black, hooded cloak. Beneath the folds of his cloak, Inuyasha could just make out what looked like a robe, also black. In fact, the only color at all visible was a blood-red clasp at the base of his throat. Inspection over, Inuyasha lifted his sword. "What do you say we try a little one on one?" Shikkal smiled tightly, nodding his head. Sango was just lifting her weapon when Inuyasha suddenly flew through the air, landing with a painful thud at her feet.
"Inuyasha!" Groaning, he sat up, turning his eyes quickly in the direction of the viper. "How..." Gritting his teeth, he shook away the confusion. "Nice move, now it's MY TURN!" He cried, darting forward. Bringing Tetsusaiga down with blinding speed, he swept it toward the face of Shikkal.... and struck dirt instead. As the sword dug into the earth, Inuyasha arched his back and cried out in pain. Six needles were jammed into his shoulders, twisting as they dug in to the flesh. Spinning, the half-demon managed to dislodge the spirit-viper's fingers from his back. Gasping as he backed up a step, Inuyasha stared at his adversary. 'He moves so fast! How can he move so fast!' Shaking the questions from his mind, he lunged forward again.
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Sango felt her body tense in anticipation of the attack. The moment the spirit viper appeared before them, she raised her bone boomerang for attack... only to feel her body go rigid. She couldn't move! Grunting with effort, she gasped as she saw Inuyasha's body fly towards her. "Inuyasha!" So she could still speak at least. She was just about to warn him about her paralysis when his had leaped away again. Gritting her teeth, she watched as he walked to battle.... wait a minute, walked? Staring in disbelief, she watched as he appeared to leasurly walk towards his enemy, completely unlike the usual hell-bent dash he normally made. In fact, the way he hefted his sword was languid as well.... almost sluggish! By contrast, the spirit demon moved with terrifying speed, easily dodging the Tetsusaiga as it dropped towards him. As he spun around Inuyasha, he flexed his six-fingered hand, then jammed the sharpened tips into the hanyou's exposed back. "No!" Her scream was echoed by Inuyasha's cry of pain as the pale digits burst from his shoulder. Stumbling, Inuyasha pulled free from the demon and turned to stare at him in shock.
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Shikkal inhaled deeply, feeling the fear blossom around him. The Fang's bite on the young girl was the final step needed to make him a unstoppable force. The Shikon shard had been a powerful aid in detecting the young miko. The fear she generated was far more powerful than the fear of the average mortal. Once he pulled the rest of her terrified soul into his being, there would be nothing standing in his way. Shikkal grinned at the stricken inu-hanyou. "Are you ready boy?"
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Inuyasha bared his fangs at the icy taunt directed at him. His shoulder burned with white heat, immobilizing his arm. The limb hung at his side uselessly. With his other hand, he gripped Tetsusaiga tightly, glaring all the while at the demon across from him. "Keep talking, it won't do you a lot of good when I cut off your head!" As he spoke, Inuyasha charged again, lifting his blade while evoking the wind scar. Wisps of white energy began to gather around the blade as he raced forward. Just as he began to slash the weapon towards the grinning face, it was suddenly gone. The only thing in his path was the horrified eyes of the Demon Exterminator.
"SANGO!!"
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On a lighter note, I was also gone for two weeks on a trip to Alaska. In fact, I'm seriously considering moving there! Keeping my fingers crossed!
.
.
Anyhow, here's what ya'll came to see!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Chapter 4
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.
.
.
.
.
.
A creature of the night, he stood outside the quiet village, slowly sniffing the air. A crease of puzzlement darkened his brow. He could smell traces of fear in the air, yes, hers as well. However, it was not nearly as strong as it should have been- as it had been only a few minutes ago. The half-demon! Somehow, he had penetrated the shroud of terror that had filled her mind! The demon clenched his fist, feeling the part of him that never slept tremble within the hollow of his throat. Never mind- he could still claim her, as well as the beings that sheltered with her inside the hut. The shard of the sacred jewel assured him of this. Placing a hand over his throat, the spirit viper, Shikkal, bared his fangs in hunger.
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Inuyasha was the first to open his eyes. The inside of the hut was painfully bright, and he closed them again with a curse. Despite the warning, Shippo attempted to run to his side. A quick interception by Lady Kaede, however, stopped him in his tracks.
"How many lamps ya gotta burn in here anyhow!" Spouted Inuyasha from his prone position on the floor. At his voice, Kagome turned her head, her eyes still tightly shut. "Inu- Inuyasha?" She murmured weakly. The hanyou sat up on his elbows and regarded her worriedly.
"Kagome?"
The girl gasped, opening her eyes a crack. "What...."
Kaede, handing Shippo over to Kirara's care, moved to the girl's side. At her approach, Inuyasha bared his teeth. "Stay back! I don't know if your real, or another dream- so stay away!" Kaede straightened, not retreating. "Inuyasha, ye are in my hut, the poison has faded. Ye have reentered the waking world." Inuyasha growled, still uncertain. At his side, Kagome's eyes fully opened. Wincing, she moved to sit up, but failed as the weakness overtook her. "Lady, Kaede?" The old woman nodded. "Yes child, it is I. Ye are safe here." Inuyasha lifted his head, sniffing deeply. "I think the word 'safe' may be a little premature don't you?" Sango gripped her boomerang tightly, while Miroku placed a hand on his wrist.
"It's here isn't it!" Said the hanyou, chafing to rise from the floor. Kaede laid a hand on his and Kagome's joined wrists. "The spirit viper is near, ye must keep Kagome safe!" Kagome sat up, leaning against Inuyasha's shoulder sleepily. "That isn't all- I sense a jewel shard!" Inuyasha moped. "Great, and I suppose the spirit viper is the one that has it too!" Kaede quickly unwrapped the bound wrists, rewrapping Kagome's bleeding wrist quickly. "Thee must lie still, or the poison will begin to affect thee again." Kagome clenched her hands in frustration. "I feel fine! I'm just a little tired!" Inuyasha placed a hand on the hilt of his sword as he stood up. "Listen to Kaede, stay where you are!" Turning to face the open door, he grinned in anticipation. "I can deal with this!"
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Shikkal loosened the clasp that covered his throat. The confrontation was at hand, and he had to fight the urge to attack too soon. The tiny extension of himself fluttered as he lifted the clasp that held it close. "Silently." He whispered, smiling as the Fang sprang forth, disappearing in the night. Reattaching the clasp, Shikkal floated towards the hut, spreading fingers that ended in needle-sharp tips.
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Within the hut, Shippo trembled in a corner as he watched Inuyasha leap from the hut, followed by Sango and Kirara. Miroku remained behind with Kaede, lifting his voice along with hers in an attempt to maintain the shield about the hut. On the floor, Kagome still lay with her head held in her hands. A small drop of sweat rolled down her nose. Shippo swallowed his nervousness as he hopped to her side. "Kagome, are you ok?" Clenching her teeth, she looked up at him. "Shippo." She seemed almost surprised to see him. Her eyes were slightly glazed, staring about in fear. Shippo jumped back as her eyes shut and she suddenly rolled away from him, screaming in fear. "Lady Kaede!" He shouted, running to the old woman's side. Kaede rushed to Kagome while Miroku continued to chant.
"I was afraid this would happen." She said, placing a hand on the young girl's throat. "The bite is re-establishing control. We have not enough power to hold back the attack!" Kagome bit her lip, hugging her arms around herself. "Inuyasha, where?" Kaede took Kagome's hand, clasping it tightly in both of hers. "He has gone to fight the demon. I fear we have little time." Kagome tightened as another wave of fear washed over her.
"Kagome, thee must be strong! Fight the fear, push away the terror!" Kagome cracked open an eye. "Next, next your going to tell me, uh, to think happy thoughts right?" Missing the humor, Kaede nodded. "Yes, concentrate on good memories, happier times." Fighting through the waves of horror that threatened to pull her back into the nightmare, Kagome struggled to think of things that brought her joy.
Buyo, her cat- Grandfather, Mom, Sota.... The fear was dragging at her relentlessly, countering her glad thoughts with images of Kikyo, Naraku, and countless demons, clawing and tearing at her lifeless body. Shaking, Kagome re-doubled her efforts, forcing her mind to recall anything, anything at all...
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Inuyasha grinned as he pulled forth Tetsusaiga. Before him stood the spirit viper, appearing, strangely enough, as a tall, thin man dressed in a black, hooded cloak. Beneath the folds of his cloak, Inuyasha could just make out what looked like a robe, also black. In fact, the only color at all visible was a blood-red clasp at the base of his throat. Inspection over, Inuyasha lifted his sword. "What do you say we try a little one on one?" Shikkal smiled tightly, nodding his head. Sango was just lifting her weapon when Inuyasha suddenly flew through the air, landing with a painful thud at her feet.
"Inuyasha!" Groaning, he sat up, turning his eyes quickly in the direction of the viper. "How..." Gritting his teeth, he shook away the confusion. "Nice move, now it's MY TURN!" He cried, darting forward. Bringing Tetsusaiga down with blinding speed, he swept it toward the face of Shikkal.... and struck dirt instead. As the sword dug into the earth, Inuyasha arched his back and cried out in pain. Six needles were jammed into his shoulders, twisting as they dug in to the flesh. Spinning, the half-demon managed to dislodge the spirit-viper's fingers from his back. Gasping as he backed up a step, Inuyasha stared at his adversary. 'He moves so fast! How can he move so fast!' Shaking the questions from his mind, he lunged forward again.
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Sango felt her body tense in anticipation of the attack. The moment the spirit viper appeared before them, she raised her bone boomerang for attack... only to feel her body go rigid. She couldn't move! Grunting with effort, she gasped as she saw Inuyasha's body fly towards her. "Inuyasha!" So she could still speak at least. She was just about to warn him about her paralysis when his had leaped away again. Gritting her teeth, she watched as he walked to battle.... wait a minute, walked? Staring in disbelief, she watched as he appeared to leasurly walk towards his enemy, completely unlike the usual hell-bent dash he normally made. In fact, the way he hefted his sword was languid as well.... almost sluggish! By contrast, the spirit demon moved with terrifying speed, easily dodging the Tetsusaiga as it dropped towards him. As he spun around Inuyasha, he flexed his six-fingered hand, then jammed the sharpened tips into the hanyou's exposed back. "No!" Her scream was echoed by Inuyasha's cry of pain as the pale digits burst from his shoulder. Stumbling, Inuyasha pulled free from the demon and turned to stare at him in shock.
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Shikkal inhaled deeply, feeling the fear blossom around him. The Fang's bite on the young girl was the final step needed to make him a unstoppable force. The Shikon shard had been a powerful aid in detecting the young miko. The fear she generated was far more powerful than the fear of the average mortal. Once he pulled the rest of her terrified soul into his being, there would be nothing standing in his way. Shikkal grinned at the stricken inu-hanyou. "Are you ready boy?"
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Inuyasha bared his fangs at the icy taunt directed at him. His shoulder burned with white heat, immobilizing his arm. The limb hung at his side uselessly. With his other hand, he gripped Tetsusaiga tightly, glaring all the while at the demon across from him. "Keep talking, it won't do you a lot of good when I cut off your head!" As he spoke, Inuyasha charged again, lifting his blade while evoking the wind scar. Wisps of white energy began to gather around the blade as he raced forward. Just as he began to slash the weapon towards the grinning face, it was suddenly gone. The only thing in his path was the horrified eyes of the Demon Exterminator.
"SANGO!!"