Disclaimer: Inuyasha wo shoyuu shitenai ze. Ba~~ka. ^_~V
____________________________
To Be With You Tomorrow
Part Nine :: Revenge
Chapter Thirty-Five :: Kidnapped
The floor was cold. It was nothing more than packed dirt and moss; maybe some straw. The air in the room was staunch and reeked of age. The wall upon which the youkai woman leaned was cold and damp.
But the fire was warm. The meat which she ravenously devoured tasted good. The new clothes she wore were dry and warm. Her long black hair still hung in dark, matted clumps and the scars on her body frightened her. And she desperately wanted a bath.
None of this mattered at the moment. All the youkai cared about was filling her belly. She was starved. She ate like there were other creatures waiting to steal her meal from her, and yet she savored each bite like it would be her last.
Because of course, she didn't know if it would be.
She did not trust the emotionless white creature who brought her these things. The child who was no more than 10 or 12 had taken good care of her, but something in her told her that just because they clothed you, gave you food, cared for you-- did not mean they were good people.
"It's good that you are eating," said a soft voice, and the youkai woman snapped her head up, red eyes falling on the white creature before her.
It was the same little girl who had woken her, brought her clothing and food. The pale child with white hair and stark-white clothes and a small scar underneath her right eye. She was barefoot as she had been in previous encounters. Her charcoal eyes were the only thing most striking about her, and even those were empty of emotions.
The girl came with more food, a basket of fruit and vegetables this time. "Here," she offered, "You must eat so we can begin our journey."
"Journey?" the youkai woman echoed and she shook her head. "I don't understand. Who are you? Do I know you?"
If the girl was surprised, she did not express it with anything more than a twitch of her eyebrow. "Kagura, you do not remember me?"
"Kagura, that's my name, huh?" She reached into the basket of the fruit the girl held and pulled out a Japanese pear, biting messily into it. "No I don't remember you," she told the little girl between bites, "Don't remember much of anything really."
"I see," she replied, kneeling down. She folded her hands into her lap. "I am Kanna, your old... younger sister."
Kagura missed the hesitation Kanna had, and continued munching. "Little sister. Hm. So what's our journey?"
Kanna smiled, and Kagura frowned, finding it rather disturbing. "To resurrect our father."
~*~
Kouga sniffed the air and turned in the forest, pulling his injured arm up close to his body to keep it safe. He ran as fast as he could, trying not to exhaust himself. Genrou had far more Shikon shards than Kouga did, and therefore had the distinct advantage over the wounded wolf.
Kouga could only hope was that Kagome had sensed the strength of so many shards and was steering Inuyasha in that direction to intercept. And if Kouga knew the inukkoro at all, he knew Inuyasha would've pounced on the idea of so many shards.
He ran a little faster regardless.
~*~
Fortunately for Kouga, Kagome had and was in fact steering Inuyasha directly to the shards.
Which, Inuyasha noticed, was west. Way off the trail of his sister and instead toward Kouga. It bugged him they had to run into yaseookami again within the hour, and even more that meeting up with the mongrel again meant he would put the moves on Kagome for the second time that day.
Even more than that, Kagome was either oblivious or she didn't care. It drove him crackers and there she was, calm and collected.
He hoped to God there was something to fight nearby; there was too much tension he had to fight off.
A sharp tug on his right ear pulled him back to the present and he glared up at Shippou, who was glaring right back at him. "We said go right already!" the five year old kit told him, and Inuyasha grimaced. "I'm not a damn horse, brat, I don't turn in the particular direction you tug on!"
"Then pay attention when I tell you where to turn," Kagome reprimanded, and Inuyasha furrowed his brow, turning right.
"This jaki is horrendous." Miroku suddenly appeared, sitting behind Sango on Kirara's back. When Kagome had sensed the shards she, Inuyasha and the kits had left the houshi behind with Sango and Kohaku so the siblings could change into their taijiya gear.
"I sense it," Kohaku agreed, "It's huge."
"I wonder what it is," Sango said aloud, and Inuyasha shook his head. "We'll just have to see."
At that moment Kouga came bursting out of the trees and brush, and Kagome gasped his name aloud. The wolf-youkai turned, relief flooding his features. Inuyasha skidded to a stop and let Kagome down, both kits still hanging to either shoulder.
"Kouga-kun, you're hurt!" Kagome reached out gently to touch his wounded elbow, disliking the way it hung. It was broken and the muscles looked badly torn.
"I'm alright," the wolf told her, biting back a wince, "I need your help--"
The 'gumi were startled by a second wolf who appeared, grinning widely. "Kouga, you can't run forever!" The new demon cried out, swinging at Kouga's head.
"--right now!" Kouga finished, dodging the punch. The wolf glared down Kouga and then went into a flurry of strikes. Kouga dodged skillfully, but the last punch caught him in the jaw and he slammed into the ground, leaving a small rut where his body landed and skidded.
The wolf got up quickly and dove back into the fray, and the new wolf seemed to welcome Kouga's ferocity. "That's right! Waste all that energy! I'll take your two shards and become leader of both my father's clan and yours, Kouga!"
Kagome pulled an arrow from her quiver, readying it. "That jerk's got ten shards already! He doesn't need any more!"
"Alright," Inuyasha agreed, reaching out for Tessaiga. His hand closed on air and he grit his teeth, remembering that his sword was stolen. *Damn you Tama,* he threw out briefly, and cracked his knuckles instead. "Kagome where are his shards?"
Kagome watched the new wolf move for a moment before nodded. "He has two in each arm, two in each leg and two in his chest~"
Hearing this Genrou paused, eyeing Kagome. A strangely dressed girl, an archeress, obviously. With the ability to see the shards. Pretty good-looking too. *She might be useful!* "Kou~ga," Genrou cooed to his opponent, "You didn't tell me you had a woman to run to to save your ass."
Kouga kicked upward, narrowly missing Genrou's face. "What are you talking about?!"
Genrou narrowed his eyes and kneed Kouga in the gut. The other wolf doubled over and Genrou grabbed his ponytail, twisting him back. "You didn't really think that dragging me here, to this woman, would allow you to get my Shikon shards?!"
Kouga frowned. Busted. He punched upward with his good arm but Genrou caught it. He squeezed on Kouga's closed fist. "Too slow, Kouga, far too slow."
WHAM! Genrou was pounded in the cheek, and he flew, crashing into nearby trees. Kouga dropped to his knees, glaring up at Inuyasha. "Stay the hell out of this, inukkoro."
Inuyasha looked down at the wolf, disgusted. "Shut the hell up, yaseookami, you can't even die right."
"This is my fight!! Don't get involved!!" the wolf repeated. Inuyasha curled his upper lip, looking even more revolted. "I already am, furrball; because you dragged this idiot to Kagome!!"
Genrou shot out of the trees, fists blazing, and Inuyasha shoved Kouga hard, getting the wounded man out of the way and taking Genrou head on. Kouga cursed as he landed on his bad arm. He forced himself up. "Inukkoro, you son of a bitch...!"
Kagome knelt at his side, med kit open as she took his arm into her lap and began to clean it. "Kouga-kun, you're hurt. Let Inuyasha take care of this."
Kouga glared at her and snapped harshly, "Genrou is my pack brother, he can't fucking kill him!"
Kagome blinked. Kouga's face was twisted in anguish. The young miko wasn't sure what a pack brother was, but by the wolf's face it was a title worth holding onto. Vaguely she remembered Hakkaku mentioning something to her about being a pack sister.
And she bit her lip, realizing what he meant. Genrou and Kouga were FRIENDS.
She looked up. "Inuyasha!!! You can't kill him!!!"
The hanyou was in the midst of dodging a flurry of strikes. Kagome couldn't really see what was happening, which was bad. Genrou was moving fast, faster than she'd ever seen anyone move, ever. Inuyasha was having to push his body harder than ever to try and keep up.
The theory she'd made up in five seconds was proven correct when Genrou landed a punch to Inuyasha's jaw and the silver-haired boy shot backwards, tearing into several oak trees and finally collapsing against one in a heap. He caught up against it, his eyes shut tight against the pain.
He managed to sit up slowly, wincing, and Kagome saw how heavily he was breathing. It was everything he could do to keep up and dodge, much less fight back. Not to mention he was without Tessaiga. She felt a pang of worry for him.
Kagome finished Kouga's bandage and leapt up, running to Inuyasha. He looked up at her, confused by her earlier statement. "Why can't I kill him?"
"He and Kouga are pack brothers; they're friends!!"
"Hmph, friends." At that everyone looked up at Genrou. He was standing where he'd stopped after downing Inuyasha, arms folded. He frowned. "We used to be."
Kouga looked down, shoulders hunching humbly. Kagome mentally reminded herself to gawp later. The yourouzoku leader was ashamed of himself. Visibly. She looked back at Genrou and he narrowed his unique eyes.
"But that's past and I'm willing to let it go. All I want to do now," he charged suddenly, eyes blazing, "is kill you, Kouga!!"
Kouga snorted as he stood, bracing his mangled limb. "Kill me, huh?" Fiercely he charged also. "I've beaten you before, I can do it again!!!"
Miroku cursed as he watched the two wolves slam into each other like two forces of nature, the power between them colliding and crackling. "Kouga, don't!" the houshi yelled.
Either they couldn't hear him or were ignoring him. Kouga continued to fight, using only his feet and his good arm. Genrou was fighting hard, his intent to kill very clear. He was faster and stronger, and Kouga was losing.
Genrou lifted his leg up in a powerful kick that sent his former brother crashing into the brush and Kouga fell badly, arms and legs shaking as he struggled to rise before Genrou caught up to him. Kagome looked at Inuyasha, eyes wide with panic.
"Inuyasha, help him!!"
Inuyasha made a low noise that sounded like a curse and glared at her. "Take care of some of his shards at least," was the only thing he said before darting back into the fray. He blindsided Genrou, putting all of his power behind his right fist and slamming it into the wolf's eye.
Genrou howled with pain, staggering back and clutching his face. Inuyasha turned to Kouga and grabbed his shoulders, dragging him out of the way. "Damn yaseookami, you worthless load of..."
"Shut the hell up inukkoro..." Kouga muttered, spitting blood. "He's coming back..."
Inuyasha looked up to see Kouga was right, Genrou was glaring angrily at them. "Kusoyaken... I'm going to rip you apart!!"
A vein throbbed on Inuyasha's forehead. "Did you just call me a fucking stray mutt, ya asshole!?!" He stepped around Kouga and braced himself for Genrou's attack. But then, before Genrou could even run, everyone heard the sharp twang! of a bowstring, and Kagome's sacred arrow sliced across Genrou's forearms. Two shards shot out of his arms and disappeared somewhere into the grass.
Genrou stopped short, yelping in pain. He glared in the miko's general direction as Kagome notched another arrow. Her face was resolute. "Don't move an inch. I can see every one of your shards and I'll get them out of you so quickly you won't even know to miss them."
"Bitch," he snarled, and turned toward her-- just as Inuyasha charged. "Sankon Tessou!!" Genrou leapt back, growling at the hanyou before bringing himself forward again in a fierce attack.
As the hanyou fought, Kagome looked at Miroku, never taking her aim off Genrou. "Miroku-sama, please go find the shards!"
The houshi nodded and went into the mess, moving around the two fighters, and kneeling in the grass. His fingers ran across something sharp and he retrieved the shards, tucking them into his shirt before leaping backward with a yelp as Genrou brought Inuyasha down on the very spot where the houshi had been kneeling.
The hanyou coughed as the air was crushed from his lungs, and Genrou hauled him up by his hair. "Stupid kusoyaken.. Do you think your little bitch taking two little shards outta my forearms is gonna make a difference??"
This time, a pair of arrows launched into the air, one slamming into either of Genrou's calves. The wolf dropped to his knees with a howl of pain and dropped Inuyasha, who balanced himself easily and caught Genrou into the chest with his claws, digging out two more shards before backing away.
Genrou grit his teeth, growling as he surveyed the group. Kouga was healing, but not quick enough to be of any use in this fight. One of the human females was backed away, but looked ready to step in. The hanyou held two of his shards and the houshi had two more.
Then there was the other human, the bitch who had shot him. Genrou glared up at her. If he could just her out of the way, he'd be able to fight.
He ripped the arrows from his legs and threw them aside angrily. The Shikon shards had not been removed, and they quickly healed his wounds. He stood and faced Inuyasha, noticed the shorter man's body tense as he prepared to intercept the next attack.
It didn't come.
Genrou grinned at him and then turned and dashed for Kagome in the blink of an eye, and Inuyasha cursed loudly. "Shit! No, Kagome~!!!"
The young miko yelped when she saw Genrou running towards her, and she pulled back on the bowstring. He knocked the bow away before she had the opportunity to fire and grabbed her by her red neckerchief, hauling her like a sack of rice over his shoulder.
He jumped up into the trees, forcing the hanyou and the miko's other friends to keep their distance on the ground beneath them. He turned around and looked underneath his feet where Inuyasha stared up helplessly at them. "You idiots! You have to protect your prize! Don't we now, Kouga!!!"
Kouga glared up at him, forcing himself to his feet. "You son of a bitch, put Kagome down!!"
Genrou looked at the altitude --a 30 foot tree-- and then took Kagome by the neck and hung her off. Inuyasha's stomach tightened, his eyes wide. Kagome's yelp of terror was drowned out by Genrou's loud baritone. "Gladly! The fall should break every bone in her body and immobilize her, if not kill her outright!"
Genrou loosened his grip a bit and Kagome screamed, her feet kicking wildly as she desperately tried to find the ground underneath her and failed miserably. "INUYASHA~!!!"
Inuyasha's heart lurched into his throat. "KAGOME!" He jumped straight up towards them and Genrou tossed Kagome to his other arm, safe over the branches, drawing Chishibukiga at the same time, and he slashed at Inuyasha as the hanyou came into view.
Having to dodge as he came up made his landing on the branch wobbly at best, but he gained his footing quickly and cracked his knuckles resolutely. "You bastard, give her back."
Genrou's eyes glittered dangerously. "You're in love with this little bitch." It was a statement, not a question.
Inuyasha swallowed, eyes going from Kagome's horrified face to Genrou's amused one. Behind him noticed Sango rise on Kirara and he grit his teeth. He had to stay still. If he moved, Genrou might think he was going to attack and he could hurt Kagome… Inuyasha just had to wait until Sango made her move first.
Genrou grinned. "I like you, Inuyasha, you've got spunk. But I'm afraid--" He spun quickly, blocking the thrown Hiraikotsu with the red-handled sword he held. The bone boomerang deflected with a wobbly bounce and headed groundward. Sango cursed, and Genrou grinned back at Inuyasha, "…that you won't be able to defeat me with such childish tactics."
Infuriated, Inuyasha launched himself at Genrou, and in one swift motion Genrou sheathed his blade and dropped to the ground, dodging Inuyasha's claws easily. Inuyasha stumbled slightly and caught himself on the branch.
Genrou hit the ground in a crouch and shifted Kagome to his shoulder again. On the ground Kouga and Miroku stood ready, but Genrou backhanded the monk, reaching into his shirt and retrieving his shards. He kicked the already beaten-up Kouga back to the ground before turning back to look into the trees where Inuyasha sat on his hands and knees.
"Bye, Inuyasha!!!" He waved slightly and turned towards the forest. Inuyasha could only watch helplessly from the trees as Genrou escaped with Kagome over his shoulder.
The miko reached out uselessly to the hanyou, calling his name, and he screamed her name, his voice breaking with anger and worry.
They were gone in seconds.
~*~ To be continued ~*~
a/n :: I am SO sorry Im so late!!! I had a hell of a time with this fricking chapter, it just refused to write itself like the rest of the chapters did, it made ME do all the work (and it still didn't write out well). Stupid thing. Lol. Anyway, please review and lemme know whatcha think!! ^-^ Im so bad, I took Inu's chick from him~
~*~ V^-^V ~*~
~Tessen
____________________________
To Be With You Tomorrow
Part Nine :: Revenge
Chapter Thirty-Five :: Kidnapped
The floor was cold. It was nothing more than packed dirt and moss; maybe some straw. The air in the room was staunch and reeked of age. The wall upon which the youkai woman leaned was cold and damp.
But the fire was warm. The meat which she ravenously devoured tasted good. The new clothes she wore were dry and warm. Her long black hair still hung in dark, matted clumps and the scars on her body frightened her. And she desperately wanted a bath.
None of this mattered at the moment. All the youkai cared about was filling her belly. She was starved. She ate like there were other creatures waiting to steal her meal from her, and yet she savored each bite like it would be her last.
Because of course, she didn't know if it would be.
She did not trust the emotionless white creature who brought her these things. The child who was no more than 10 or 12 had taken good care of her, but something in her told her that just because they clothed you, gave you food, cared for you-- did not mean they were good people.
"It's good that you are eating," said a soft voice, and the youkai woman snapped her head up, red eyes falling on the white creature before her.
It was the same little girl who had woken her, brought her clothing and food. The pale child with white hair and stark-white clothes and a small scar underneath her right eye. She was barefoot as she had been in previous encounters. Her charcoal eyes were the only thing most striking about her, and even those were empty of emotions.
The girl came with more food, a basket of fruit and vegetables this time. "Here," she offered, "You must eat so we can begin our journey."
"Journey?" the youkai woman echoed and she shook her head. "I don't understand. Who are you? Do I know you?"
If the girl was surprised, she did not express it with anything more than a twitch of her eyebrow. "Kagura, you do not remember me?"
"Kagura, that's my name, huh?" She reached into the basket of the fruit the girl held and pulled out a Japanese pear, biting messily into it. "No I don't remember you," she told the little girl between bites, "Don't remember much of anything really."
"I see," she replied, kneeling down. She folded her hands into her lap. "I am Kanna, your old... younger sister."
Kagura missed the hesitation Kanna had, and continued munching. "Little sister. Hm. So what's our journey?"
Kanna smiled, and Kagura frowned, finding it rather disturbing. "To resurrect our father."
~*~
Kouga sniffed the air and turned in the forest, pulling his injured arm up close to his body to keep it safe. He ran as fast as he could, trying not to exhaust himself. Genrou had far more Shikon shards than Kouga did, and therefore had the distinct advantage over the wounded wolf.
Kouga could only hope was that Kagome had sensed the strength of so many shards and was steering Inuyasha in that direction to intercept. And if Kouga knew the inukkoro at all, he knew Inuyasha would've pounced on the idea of so many shards.
He ran a little faster regardless.
~*~
Fortunately for Kouga, Kagome had and was in fact steering Inuyasha directly to the shards.
Which, Inuyasha noticed, was west. Way off the trail of his sister and instead toward Kouga. It bugged him they had to run into yaseookami again within the hour, and even more that meeting up with the mongrel again meant he would put the moves on Kagome for the second time that day.
Even more than that, Kagome was either oblivious or she didn't care. It drove him crackers and there she was, calm and collected.
He hoped to God there was something to fight nearby; there was too much tension he had to fight off.
A sharp tug on his right ear pulled him back to the present and he glared up at Shippou, who was glaring right back at him. "We said go right already!" the five year old kit told him, and Inuyasha grimaced. "I'm not a damn horse, brat, I don't turn in the particular direction you tug on!"
"Then pay attention when I tell you where to turn," Kagome reprimanded, and Inuyasha furrowed his brow, turning right.
"This jaki is horrendous." Miroku suddenly appeared, sitting behind Sango on Kirara's back. When Kagome had sensed the shards she, Inuyasha and the kits had left the houshi behind with Sango and Kohaku so the siblings could change into their taijiya gear.
"I sense it," Kohaku agreed, "It's huge."
"I wonder what it is," Sango said aloud, and Inuyasha shook his head. "We'll just have to see."
At that moment Kouga came bursting out of the trees and brush, and Kagome gasped his name aloud. The wolf-youkai turned, relief flooding his features. Inuyasha skidded to a stop and let Kagome down, both kits still hanging to either shoulder.
"Kouga-kun, you're hurt!" Kagome reached out gently to touch his wounded elbow, disliking the way it hung. It was broken and the muscles looked badly torn.
"I'm alright," the wolf told her, biting back a wince, "I need your help--"
The 'gumi were startled by a second wolf who appeared, grinning widely. "Kouga, you can't run forever!" The new demon cried out, swinging at Kouga's head.
"--right now!" Kouga finished, dodging the punch. The wolf glared down Kouga and then went into a flurry of strikes. Kouga dodged skillfully, but the last punch caught him in the jaw and he slammed into the ground, leaving a small rut where his body landed and skidded.
The wolf got up quickly and dove back into the fray, and the new wolf seemed to welcome Kouga's ferocity. "That's right! Waste all that energy! I'll take your two shards and become leader of both my father's clan and yours, Kouga!"
Kagome pulled an arrow from her quiver, readying it. "That jerk's got ten shards already! He doesn't need any more!"
"Alright," Inuyasha agreed, reaching out for Tessaiga. His hand closed on air and he grit his teeth, remembering that his sword was stolen. *Damn you Tama,* he threw out briefly, and cracked his knuckles instead. "Kagome where are his shards?"
Kagome watched the new wolf move for a moment before nodded. "He has two in each arm, two in each leg and two in his chest~"
Hearing this Genrou paused, eyeing Kagome. A strangely dressed girl, an archeress, obviously. With the ability to see the shards. Pretty good-looking too. *She might be useful!* "Kou~ga," Genrou cooed to his opponent, "You didn't tell me you had a woman to run to to save your ass."
Kouga kicked upward, narrowly missing Genrou's face. "What are you talking about?!"
Genrou narrowed his eyes and kneed Kouga in the gut. The other wolf doubled over and Genrou grabbed his ponytail, twisting him back. "You didn't really think that dragging me here, to this woman, would allow you to get my Shikon shards?!"
Kouga frowned. Busted. He punched upward with his good arm but Genrou caught it. He squeezed on Kouga's closed fist. "Too slow, Kouga, far too slow."
WHAM! Genrou was pounded in the cheek, and he flew, crashing into nearby trees. Kouga dropped to his knees, glaring up at Inuyasha. "Stay the hell out of this, inukkoro."
Inuyasha looked down at the wolf, disgusted. "Shut the hell up, yaseookami, you can't even die right."
"This is my fight!! Don't get involved!!" the wolf repeated. Inuyasha curled his upper lip, looking even more revolted. "I already am, furrball; because you dragged this idiot to Kagome!!"
Genrou shot out of the trees, fists blazing, and Inuyasha shoved Kouga hard, getting the wounded man out of the way and taking Genrou head on. Kouga cursed as he landed on his bad arm. He forced himself up. "Inukkoro, you son of a bitch...!"
Kagome knelt at his side, med kit open as she took his arm into her lap and began to clean it. "Kouga-kun, you're hurt. Let Inuyasha take care of this."
Kouga glared at her and snapped harshly, "Genrou is my pack brother, he can't fucking kill him!"
Kagome blinked. Kouga's face was twisted in anguish. The young miko wasn't sure what a pack brother was, but by the wolf's face it was a title worth holding onto. Vaguely she remembered Hakkaku mentioning something to her about being a pack sister.
And she bit her lip, realizing what he meant. Genrou and Kouga were FRIENDS.
She looked up. "Inuyasha!!! You can't kill him!!!"
The hanyou was in the midst of dodging a flurry of strikes. Kagome couldn't really see what was happening, which was bad. Genrou was moving fast, faster than she'd ever seen anyone move, ever. Inuyasha was having to push his body harder than ever to try and keep up.
The theory she'd made up in five seconds was proven correct when Genrou landed a punch to Inuyasha's jaw and the silver-haired boy shot backwards, tearing into several oak trees and finally collapsing against one in a heap. He caught up against it, his eyes shut tight against the pain.
He managed to sit up slowly, wincing, and Kagome saw how heavily he was breathing. It was everything he could do to keep up and dodge, much less fight back. Not to mention he was without Tessaiga. She felt a pang of worry for him.
Kagome finished Kouga's bandage and leapt up, running to Inuyasha. He looked up at her, confused by her earlier statement. "Why can't I kill him?"
"He and Kouga are pack brothers; they're friends!!"
"Hmph, friends." At that everyone looked up at Genrou. He was standing where he'd stopped after downing Inuyasha, arms folded. He frowned. "We used to be."
Kouga looked down, shoulders hunching humbly. Kagome mentally reminded herself to gawp later. The yourouzoku leader was ashamed of himself. Visibly. She looked back at Genrou and he narrowed his unique eyes.
"But that's past and I'm willing to let it go. All I want to do now," he charged suddenly, eyes blazing, "is kill you, Kouga!!"
Kouga snorted as he stood, bracing his mangled limb. "Kill me, huh?" Fiercely he charged also. "I've beaten you before, I can do it again!!!"
Miroku cursed as he watched the two wolves slam into each other like two forces of nature, the power between them colliding and crackling. "Kouga, don't!" the houshi yelled.
Either they couldn't hear him or were ignoring him. Kouga continued to fight, using only his feet and his good arm. Genrou was fighting hard, his intent to kill very clear. He was faster and stronger, and Kouga was losing.
Genrou lifted his leg up in a powerful kick that sent his former brother crashing into the brush and Kouga fell badly, arms and legs shaking as he struggled to rise before Genrou caught up to him. Kagome looked at Inuyasha, eyes wide with panic.
"Inuyasha, help him!!"
Inuyasha made a low noise that sounded like a curse and glared at her. "Take care of some of his shards at least," was the only thing he said before darting back into the fray. He blindsided Genrou, putting all of his power behind his right fist and slamming it into the wolf's eye.
Genrou howled with pain, staggering back and clutching his face. Inuyasha turned to Kouga and grabbed his shoulders, dragging him out of the way. "Damn yaseookami, you worthless load of..."
"Shut the hell up inukkoro..." Kouga muttered, spitting blood. "He's coming back..."
Inuyasha looked up to see Kouga was right, Genrou was glaring angrily at them. "Kusoyaken... I'm going to rip you apart!!"
A vein throbbed on Inuyasha's forehead. "Did you just call me a fucking stray mutt, ya asshole!?!" He stepped around Kouga and braced himself for Genrou's attack. But then, before Genrou could even run, everyone heard the sharp twang! of a bowstring, and Kagome's sacred arrow sliced across Genrou's forearms. Two shards shot out of his arms and disappeared somewhere into the grass.
Genrou stopped short, yelping in pain. He glared in the miko's general direction as Kagome notched another arrow. Her face was resolute. "Don't move an inch. I can see every one of your shards and I'll get them out of you so quickly you won't even know to miss them."
"Bitch," he snarled, and turned toward her-- just as Inuyasha charged. "Sankon Tessou!!" Genrou leapt back, growling at the hanyou before bringing himself forward again in a fierce attack.
As the hanyou fought, Kagome looked at Miroku, never taking her aim off Genrou. "Miroku-sama, please go find the shards!"
The houshi nodded and went into the mess, moving around the two fighters, and kneeling in the grass. His fingers ran across something sharp and he retrieved the shards, tucking them into his shirt before leaping backward with a yelp as Genrou brought Inuyasha down on the very spot where the houshi had been kneeling.
The hanyou coughed as the air was crushed from his lungs, and Genrou hauled him up by his hair. "Stupid kusoyaken.. Do you think your little bitch taking two little shards outta my forearms is gonna make a difference??"
This time, a pair of arrows launched into the air, one slamming into either of Genrou's calves. The wolf dropped to his knees with a howl of pain and dropped Inuyasha, who balanced himself easily and caught Genrou into the chest with his claws, digging out two more shards before backing away.
Genrou grit his teeth, growling as he surveyed the group. Kouga was healing, but not quick enough to be of any use in this fight. One of the human females was backed away, but looked ready to step in. The hanyou held two of his shards and the houshi had two more.
Then there was the other human, the bitch who had shot him. Genrou glared up at her. If he could just her out of the way, he'd be able to fight.
He ripped the arrows from his legs and threw them aside angrily. The Shikon shards had not been removed, and they quickly healed his wounds. He stood and faced Inuyasha, noticed the shorter man's body tense as he prepared to intercept the next attack.
It didn't come.
Genrou grinned at him and then turned and dashed for Kagome in the blink of an eye, and Inuyasha cursed loudly. "Shit! No, Kagome~!!!"
The young miko yelped when she saw Genrou running towards her, and she pulled back on the bowstring. He knocked the bow away before she had the opportunity to fire and grabbed her by her red neckerchief, hauling her like a sack of rice over his shoulder.
He jumped up into the trees, forcing the hanyou and the miko's other friends to keep their distance on the ground beneath them. He turned around and looked underneath his feet where Inuyasha stared up helplessly at them. "You idiots! You have to protect your prize! Don't we now, Kouga!!!"
Kouga glared up at him, forcing himself to his feet. "You son of a bitch, put Kagome down!!"
Genrou looked at the altitude --a 30 foot tree-- and then took Kagome by the neck and hung her off. Inuyasha's stomach tightened, his eyes wide. Kagome's yelp of terror was drowned out by Genrou's loud baritone. "Gladly! The fall should break every bone in her body and immobilize her, if not kill her outright!"
Genrou loosened his grip a bit and Kagome screamed, her feet kicking wildly as she desperately tried to find the ground underneath her and failed miserably. "INUYASHA~!!!"
Inuyasha's heart lurched into his throat. "KAGOME!" He jumped straight up towards them and Genrou tossed Kagome to his other arm, safe over the branches, drawing Chishibukiga at the same time, and he slashed at Inuyasha as the hanyou came into view.
Having to dodge as he came up made his landing on the branch wobbly at best, but he gained his footing quickly and cracked his knuckles resolutely. "You bastard, give her back."
Genrou's eyes glittered dangerously. "You're in love with this little bitch." It was a statement, not a question.
Inuyasha swallowed, eyes going from Kagome's horrified face to Genrou's amused one. Behind him noticed Sango rise on Kirara and he grit his teeth. He had to stay still. If he moved, Genrou might think he was going to attack and he could hurt Kagome… Inuyasha just had to wait until Sango made her move first.
Genrou grinned. "I like you, Inuyasha, you've got spunk. But I'm afraid--" He spun quickly, blocking the thrown Hiraikotsu with the red-handled sword he held. The bone boomerang deflected with a wobbly bounce and headed groundward. Sango cursed, and Genrou grinned back at Inuyasha, "…that you won't be able to defeat me with such childish tactics."
Infuriated, Inuyasha launched himself at Genrou, and in one swift motion Genrou sheathed his blade and dropped to the ground, dodging Inuyasha's claws easily. Inuyasha stumbled slightly and caught himself on the branch.
Genrou hit the ground in a crouch and shifted Kagome to his shoulder again. On the ground Kouga and Miroku stood ready, but Genrou backhanded the monk, reaching into his shirt and retrieving his shards. He kicked the already beaten-up Kouga back to the ground before turning back to look into the trees where Inuyasha sat on his hands and knees.
"Bye, Inuyasha!!!" He waved slightly and turned towards the forest. Inuyasha could only watch helplessly from the trees as Genrou escaped with Kagome over his shoulder.
The miko reached out uselessly to the hanyou, calling his name, and he screamed her name, his voice breaking with anger and worry.
They were gone in seconds.
~*~ To be continued ~*~
a/n :: I am SO sorry Im so late!!! I had a hell of a time with this fricking chapter, it just refused to write itself like the rest of the chapters did, it made ME do all the work (and it still didn't write out well). Stupid thing. Lol. Anyway, please review and lemme know whatcha think!! ^-^ Im so bad, I took Inu's chick from him~
~*~ V^-^V ~*~
~Tessen