Disclaimer: takahasi is inu's owner, as jena and zirik are mine. many new demons will be from my imagination or from reviewers like you. most others will have been seen from the manga or anime.
Last time: The entire group was journeying to Totosai's so that Kagome could probably get a binding weapon, zirik can get his weapon repaired, and the Junseishin may have its curse stripped from it. along the way, Kagome learns about thought speech which she had inherited from jena, kouga starts another argument upon arrival (not to mention gets pissed thinking inu yasha was responsible for kagome's change), and a certain dead wind youkai reveals that she really is alive. fasten your seat belts, this fight may blow the viewers away.
Chapter 8: Bladed Winds and Heated Blood
Shippo literally wet his pants. Last thing he recalled of her was the fact that Kouga and his tribe had dealt with her in such a way that she actually died. Had he not done so, Kagome would have freed her soul from Naraku's grasp. Instead, they had left her carcass in the ground, believing there was no way to get her back. Now, she was standing right in their faces with a look that was well known for her intent to kill. She waved her fan violently, as if to blow dust away. The incoming shockwave knocked the humans down, leaving the hanyous, Kouga, and Kirara standing at the moment. Sango had used her boomerang bone to guard herself and her brother, but the force knocked the slayers out as the bone was smashed into her by the windstrength. Miroku was luckier, he was knocked onto the ground and created a spirit barrier that shielded him from flying branches and a certain boomerang as its owner flew into him unconsious.
Kagura paid no heed to the downed humans, her eyes were fixed on the demons of the group. Inu Yasha had alreacy drawn Tetsusaiga and was in a ready position, as was Jena with her Junseishin. Zirik, Kouga, and Kagome got ready with their claws, although Kagome was unsure how she could help out as a hanyou without a bow. Kagura lifted an eyebrow as she saw the altered human, for she clearly recalled that Kagome was a human miko, not a hanyou miko. She ignored the thought. "Inu Yasha and the wrech aren't who I'm here for," she reminded herself in her mind. "He specifically said to battle the hanyous with armor. There's one, that brown haired one." She swung her fan again right at the demons, cousing them to scatter. She then went straight for Jena with a second wave. Jena had little time to dodge the attack, so she bullheadedly charged towards her assailant. She swung her sword right into the attack, barely neutralizing it and getting herself cut by the excess wind. Before Kagura could strike at Jena again, Zirik, Inu Yasha, and Kouga jumped her and almost had her off guard. That was interuppted just barely when Inu Yasha was slammed aside by yet another tiger demon, who had jumped out of the woods and led another group of five. Everyone was now busy with the tigers as Kagura continued her assult on Jena. Zirik was having a rather hard time fighting without a sword and was getting hit alot. Zirik yelled in rage as he failed for the tenth time to hit his tiger, who just simply ducked and clawed his face. Kouga jumped near Zirik while trying to dodge a blade that his target used. The two demons glanced at each other. "Wanna trade foes?" Zirik asked the wolf.
Kouga nodded, handing Zirik the sword that he normally carried. "Just give this back when your done, demon boy." They renewed their attacks on their foes, Zirik going blade to blade with the one tiger. Inu Yasha was having his own fun. He was being triple teamed by the remaining tigers, and he wasn't getting the chance to use any of the Tetsusaiga's techniques. All he could do was swing like an idiot and block the blades and claws that came right for him. Kagome and Kirara had gone for Kagura, who was still trying to get Jena in a corner for the kill. Kirara was about to strike the wind demon when yet another group of demons arrived. This time, they were rock element demons, making it rather difficult to harm one due to its abnormally hard skin. They were also very strong, as Kirara learned the hard way as one body checked the cat into the nearest tree. Shippo, who was riding on Kirara, was knocked unconsious by the attack, leaving Kagome to fend for herself. She knew already that they were rather strong, and guessed at their toughness. "Great. First day fo being a hanyou and already i have to fight the guardians of stonehenge." The three elemental demons went straight for her, attempting to take her down as easily as the cat.
She jumped over them and stabbed one in the back with her claws, only causing her fingers to scream "you baka" as the rock solid hide stubbed her claws. They barely turned around when one of their arms had hit her rather hard on the head and sending her into another tree. The blow opened a wound on her head, blood seeping over one side of her face and surrounding her eye. Inu Yasha saw the blow. "Kagome! She can't handle this kind of fighting just yet." He started yelling to himself in his head. "You idiot. kill these damn things and help her." He growled in rage as he sliced one wolf clear in half, only to get knocked down as another attacked him. That same demon also drew a sword, and was about to stab the hanyou when Zirik blocked the slash. He had succeeded in beheading his origional foe, and was keen on helping Inu Yasha immediately.
"I'll take him, help Kagome."
"What about Jena?"
Kouga slammed his fist through his opponents face, pleased to see an emotionless look on the dead youkai (although it is always emotionless when one's face is smashed into his own skull). "Leave that to me." He jumped over the demons and attacked Kagura from behind. However, all he managed to do was shred some of her clothing on her back. The spider mark, the trademark symbol of Naraku, was shown very well on it. Kouga looked at it in surprise, not noticing the rock demon coming behind him. He flew head first into the tree near Kagome, falling unconsious from the impact. Kagome was starting to feel rather scared as the three rock demons advanced onto her. Her fear and anger were barely kept in check as she could feel herself slipping in and out of consiousness. That restraint let up only when she saw the one unengaged tiger demon head straight for Shippo, who was still out cold. Before she could get ahold of her self, she felt herself lost and had only one thought in mind. KILL!!!
Inu Yasha attacked one of the rock demons from behind, managing to sever one of it's two arms off. He then got smacked towards a tree, but managed to land before it. Zirik killed his foe before going after Kagura, who was still fighting Jena. Jena was starting to bleed from all the wounds she had taken from the wind demon. Her armor was very much damaged to a degree that more of her skin had become visible. Her breast guard and her lower privates guard were undamaged (mostly), but her arms and legs were greatly exposed. She was about to strike at Kagura, when all the demons just stopped. Most of them had sensed a really strong an dangerous aura, whilst the hanyous had smelled the problem. They all looked at Kagome, whose hair had now turned completely blue with purple highlights. The nearest rock demon attempted to kill her before it was too late, but it already was. His arms were ripped off as Kagome took her claws and slammed them into the joints of the arms. She then lifted the helpless demon and threw it into the tiger demon heading for Shippo, who was crushed to death by the pile of stone. Everyone now looked at Kagome (all who are not out like a light, anyway) and realised they were really in trouble now. A scar colored mark appeared on her right cheek, shaped as if something had clawed her there. Her eyes turned sharp and purple while the whites turned red, not to mentioned her claws extended. Inu Yasha realized what had happened. "She's gone Demon! Get back!" was all he could say to his comrades before she killed the remaining rock demons with relative ease.
Kagura stared at Kagome, who returned the death glare before charging the wind demon. Kagura countered with a wave of her fan, sending her wind blades right for her. Kagome dodged those easily and manages to scratch Kagura before being hit point- blank by the wind attack. Kagome went flying into the nearest tree, her clothes very much damaged beyond repair as blood continued to drip from new and old wounds. The older ones were already near healed, thanks to the u-chu blood within her, while her newer ones were just starting to get their chance. Jena saw an opening in Kagura's defence and took it, wounding the demon along the spider scar. Kagura blasts her away with her wind again, but then notices the others getting ready to strike. "Another day, perhaps." She immediately makes her leave on her giant leaf and leaves the battle ground. "You will see me again, and my master will see to your deaths." Kagome continued to eye the fleeing demon, until only a speck remained of her. She growled in anger and smashed a tree down in her rage. Inu-Yasha, who was thinking that Naraku might still be alive, barely notices the falling tree in time and almost gets flattened by the timber.
He notices how Kagome was acting. She was still in demon mode, meaning that any of them may be attacked by her if he doesn't do something. "But, what can I do to get her out of this?" he thought. "Killing is out of the question. Kagome's mother would scalp me if I had to tell her that her daughter's dead." Kagome charges him, forcing him to make a move. He places his sword in the way, blocking her attack. Her red eyes widen in surprise and pain as the sword's aura got to her hand. She pulled back, her hand glowing blue with the Tetsusaiga's aura. Inu Yasha stared at her in confusion for a second, then realized what happened. "TETSUSAIGA! That's it. It is able to hold my blood in check, and probably was trying to do the same to her. I know what I should do now." He smirked at the still preoccupied Kagome, who was trying to wave the aura off like it was a flame. He then charged her, taking her mind off of the aura on her hand. She immediately set herself up in less than a second to take Inu Yasha down when he swings the sword. She didn't think that he would shove the sword's hilt into her hand. Too late, she tried to drop the sword as she began reverting to her hanyou self. By time she was able to do so, she had passed out onto the ground.
"God! She was a little rough on them, wasn't she."
Inu Yasha shrugged at Sango's question. "Wasn't her fault, something with the fight triggered her demon blood. We definately need to get her a binding weapon now."
She looked at Kagome, who was sound asleep where she had collapsed. Inu Yasha had put his fire rat cloak over her body, so as to keep her warm and to keep her body covered up as much as possible. The battle had done a serious number on her school uniform, just barely leaving enough to cover her girlish private areas covered. It was barely holding together by a thread, and Miroku may have had a hell of a nosebleed if he saw her like that (from sexual arousal and getting smashed in the face). Sango and Kohaku were ok, aside from having a splitting headache that was cured by the use of some asprin from Kagome's pack (hey, Jena was from Kagome's time and knew exactly what was needed), whereas Miroku was going to need a really big one for the smash on the head he got from Sango when she had woken up. Jena and Zirik were left to themselves at a corner, doing something rather wierd. Zirik was ripping segments of his demon armor straight from his skin and Jena was repairing the armor she wore with those demon plates. She would need to connect the plates to the former slayer suit, so she was sitting in what appeared to be an older school uniform, which was definately a little too small for the 18 year old hanyou. Kouga had left already, saying something about hunting down that wind witch again. Kiara and Shippo had awakened, but soon fell asleep afterwards.
Whilst the two hanyou worked on the armor, they thought it safe to try thought speaking, considering that it never truely worked when one of them was unconsious. That meant no interupptions from the self proclaimed thought police. So, a matchmaker is someone who tries to get people together. You must have been a devoius girl in your time.
Jena blushed. Actually, Kagome and her friends helped with it in getting some of the students into their love lives. All it takes is good planning and analasys of the target couple. She looked back at the group and did her quick analasys. We may actually get two couples formed out of this. The monk and slayer seem to have some kind of relationship already. All they need is a push in the right direction, and that monk may want to learn some pointers about how to get her to love him.
He's a letch, that's his problem, Zirik replied. Teaching him that his ways won't score the girl will be difficult. I may have a way, though, to get them to like each other.
Good idea, Zirik. Both hanyou sweat dropped. Kagome was back in the chatroom. So, is that all that you were planning? Both showed an impression of shaking their heads yes mentally. You could have told me, you know. I could help in something like that, although it seems you got all the loose ends already.
When did you butt in?
When I heard Miroku mentioned. I believe that is where you started. They heard a yawn stifled. Don't know why I'm tired, but I'm going to sleep. See you guys in the morning. She yawned again. Goodnight.
Goodnight, Kagome.
"Goodnight, Inu Yasha." The said hanyou's ears perked. He had heard Kagome whisper that, yet it seemed too low for anyone else to hear. He looked at her sleeping form. Most of her body was still under his firerat cloth, but her head stuck out from under it. Her sleeping face was kawaii (cute for those who didn't know), even Inu Yasha had to admit to that. Her black hair with the blue highlights, as well as the little black ears, were also rather cute on her. Inu Yasha shook his head at the thought. "OK, she's cute and can find the shards. I definately know she is still herself, but her demon form may as well become a pain in the ass. But, would she think of me any differently now that she is similar to myself?" He gave a rather gloomy look at her before abruptly ending his talk with Sango, jumping into the nearest tree to sleep in.
Damn, that was too close Jena looked at Zirik as she replaced the damaged shoulder plate with one of the shoulder plates he had ripped from his arm. She almost caught us with our pants down with that one.
Zirik looked back. At least she missed the part about her and the dog boy.
True. But, they will be the hardest to get together. Jena looked between the two mentioned hanyou. She has been with him for three years, and now she is changed into a half demon because of my sword. If they had a relationship as who they origionally were, it may have been shot down a little because of this cursed sword. She looked at the weapon she carried, despising it for the curse that had fallen down upon it.
Actually, I may have a way to get them to like each other a little better. Stay here. Zirik got up and jumped over to where Inu Yasha sat, who was watching the group.
He looked at Zirik for a minute. "What do you want?"
"I think I have an idea that you may want to consider. One concerning Kagome." Inu Yasha's ears perked at her name.
"I'm listening, but you now walk on edgy water, bud."
"I noticed during the fight how her clothes have been very messed up from the attacks she had endured. Maybe it would be wise for her to get newer clothing. I know you cannot keep that cloth on her forever, and I also know you don't want her to look like something that the monk may want to mess with." A vein popped out on Inu Yasha's face, noting the anger that Zirik had sparked.
"What do you expect me to do about it."
Zirik took a small package of money from his belt and handed it to the hanyou. "I believe this is enough to buy her something similar in material to what you wear now. Why not see if you can get her some clothing that would suit her needs."
Inu Yasha looked at the demon, trying to judge him. "The group will notice my disappearance, you know. I can't just..."
Zirik gave him a reassuring smile. "Jena and I will easily cover for you. We will continue on our way to Totosai. We will wait for you there. Just be careful, for I believe we all may have stirred some evil nearby. Keep yourself safe...for her sake." Inu Yasha glared at him. "I can tell these things. You care for her, yet don't know if she cares for you. This act may help her in more ways than you think."
Inu Yasha stood up. "Fine, I'll go and find her something. You and miss cursed sword better cover me and protect the group. If just one person dies, I will personally make sure you won't ever be able to breathe without being in pain for the rest of your life. Got it???"
Zirik's emotionless face met the hanyou. "Clear as crystal." With that Inu Yasha disappeared, leaving the u-chu demon in charge of the whole group's protection. He jumped down to Jena, who had sucessfuly repaired her entire sleeve. She looked up to him and smiled.
Not bad for a rookie, Z-chan. Not bad at all. You must have been a matchmaker in a past life.
As I see it, one is meant to help instigate others to do compassionate things for each other in order to spark love between them. So all I did was take her current scenario and use it to Inu's advantage. Although I didn't like his threat at all.
Jena shrugged. Well, we may as well finish my armor, then call it a night. Guarding this lot won't be difficult, but I doubt our friend will make it easy for us. He'll want their shard.
If anything, they may be the ones who can help bring him down.
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Pheww.....finally done with the chapter. took me long enough. I'd like to thank all who have read for giving my story a chance so far. Please review, and feel free to add suggestions for possible enemy demon types with names for rather strong ones. Also, I'd like to add the fact that the ultimate bad ass doesn't have a name yet. If anyone can give suggestions for his name, that would be grateful. I'm also trying to think of what powers he may have. I pretty much have his type down pat, as well as some of his powers, but other power suggestions will be appreciated. See you all later.
Next time: The group continues on to Totosai, who may very well have the ability to rid Junseishin de-cursed, as well as make Kagome a weapon. Inu Yasha begins his own run for the town where Fire Rat clothes are abundant. Who is 'him' and what does Kagura got to do with anything. Find out later.