Author's Notes: Boy oh boy, I knew the latest chapters would shock a lot of people, but I never imagined so many! There are so many of you that want me to update! Update! Update! I would've thought this story had been done before, but I guess not. Well, here's the long awaited battle between brothers! Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru!
Sibling RivalrySango pulled her arms back and swung Hiraikotsu against the old iron bars entrapping Kagome, wedging the youkai-bone boomerang in between them. Then as one, Miroku and Sango pulled back, being rewarded with the groaning of bending metal. They kept pulling until they made a hole big enough for them to fit through.
Sango immediately ran to Kagome's side, shaking the girl to get a response. "Kagome-chan!"
But her words fell on deaf ears. Kagome had fallen into a drone-like state, shock leaving her without hope. Miroku knelt by her other side and noticed the bruise mark on Kagome's cheek. Inuyasha, you have a lot to answer for. Things are now far worse than we thought. He turned to Sango. "Pick her up. I'll carry her on my back. We don't know when Inuyasha might return."
"He won't. He's gone." Kagome said suddenly in a monotonous voice.
"Eh?" Sango exclaimed.
Slowly opening her hand, the miko showed them a single bead of the broken rosary.
Miroku's eyes widened. "Let's go. We have to hurry."
Sango got the girl to her feet and out the hole they made. As soon as they were in the passageway, Miroku mounted her on his back, and the group took off.
They retraced their steps back outside and skidded to a halt upon seeing the sight before them. Sesshoumaru faced opposite Inuyasha, who stood maybe thirty feet in front of Sango and the rest. He was so focused on his older brother, that he didn't even smell his former friends leaving with his Kagome.
"Inuyasha…" Sango whispered.
"And Sesshoumaru." Miroku added.
Kagome's eyes, which were now only dull brown and black, with no brightness at all, watched the two without emotion. She was barely aware she'd left the cell at all.
"I will ask this only once." The taller brother said. " Leave now if you value your life."
Inuyasha growled loudly. "Never! You will not force me from my home a second time!" Having had enough with words, Inuyasha lifted about two feet off the ground and flew at Sesshoumaru with lightning speed.
The demon prince easily dodged the rash attack, but as he tried to slash at Inuyasha's back, the red-eyed demon disappeared and reappeared at Sesshoumaru's side. Without enough time to dodge the strike, Sesshoumaru's mouth opened by reflex as Inuyasha dug his razor sharp claws through Sesshoumaru's stomach and out his back.
"Ne, how does it feel brother?" Inuyasha smirked, then flew up into the air with Sesshoumaru still skewered on his arm. Inuyasha flapped his great bat-like wings once, gaining speed as he twirled around, throwing his brother off his arm and hard into the ground far below.
There was a resounding crash and dust was sent high into the air, masking Inuyasha's whereabouts when the demon prince finally recovered.
"You're afraid…" Inuyasha's voice said from behind him.
Whipping around, Sesshoumaru slashed but caught nothing but air.
"I can see it so clearly now. Your emotions are like glass and just as fragile. You were jealous. Mother always gave me more attention than you. Father wanted you to become as great as he was and showed you no sympathy whatsoever." His voice was thick with pride and it was obvious he was enjoying torturing his brother.
"Stay out of my head, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru warned, slowly scanning the area around him with his piercing yellow eyes.
"You saw her protect me and hold me like she never held you and you hated it." The once-hanyou continued.
"I warned you once."
"Does it sound like I care? I'm stronger than you now! I'm not afraid of you anymore!"
"Then show yourself." Sesshoumaru dared, finally drawing Tokijin from its sheath.
"As you wish!" Inuyasha reappeared directly in front of Sesshoumaru and kneed the prideful demon in the stomach, causing him to double over, then slashed his claws across his porcelain-perfect face.
Sesshoumaru barely had enough time to block the second slash attack with Tokijin. Sparks flew and Sesshoumaru used the precious seconds he'd bought himself to land a roundhouse kick to Inuyasha's side.
Inuyasha recovered in mid air and landed a few feet away. "Ah, the great prince has managed to land a hit on me. Well, I assure you, it'll be the last!" Inuyasha struck with a Sankon Tessou, but Sesshoumaru was able to jump above it.
He waved Tokijin once, and a bright blue wave of energy flew at Inuyasha, landed dead center, and caused the frenzied demon to fly backwards.
But the demon prince's eyes widened marginally when his little brother seemed barely fazed. "It seems I was wrong." Inuyasha flapped his wings, causing a giant gust of wind to be blown towards Sesshoumaru and added in another Sankon-Tessou. While Sesshoumaru was busy deflecting it and keeping his ground against the winds, Inuyasha used them to fly even faster towards his brother, landing one punch solidly to Sesshoumaru's stomach, then followed up with both hands clenched together to the back of the demon's head.
Sesshoumaru was slammed into the ground and struggled to get up. He managed to get to his elbows and coughed once, a spurt of blood splattering the floor in front of him. He tightened his grip on his sword, partially to make sure it was still there, but didn't have enough time to get to his feet before his brother pulled him up by his hair to face him.
"It looks like I've scratched your pretty face." Inuyasha taunted. "Now I'm going to talk and you're gonna listen. I claim this castle and everything in it as mine."
Far behind him, Miroku and Sango dashed with Kagome into the surrounding forest. Whoever won, it wasn't going to be pretty and their primary objective was to get Kagome to safety. They would have to deal with Inuyasha later…
Sesshoumaru said nothing, but instead raised his sword and drove it forward into Inuyasha's stomach. The tip barely punctured the rabid demon's skin before he caught it in his hand and smirked.
"You never were a good listener." The younger brother said, before pulling the sword out of his stomach and away from his brother's grasp. He threw it off to the side and resumed his speech. "If I ever catch you on my lands again, I won't hesitate to take your life." He caught Sesshoumaru's throat in his other hand and raised his brother off the ground with a simple flap of his wings. When they were high enough, the red-eyed demon pulled back his right arm and locked eyes with his brother. "I've been waiting for this for a long time." He said before slugging the prideful demon cross the cheek and sent him flying into the forest below.
Sesshoumaru's body disappeared into the foliage as it crashed into the ground.
Satisfied that he'd given a humble welcome to the unwelcomed, he returned to the front of his castle and finally caught scent of something very disturbing. He growled and rushed into his dungeons, his eyes glowing more as his anger grew. "She's gone…" The cell was emptied of everything except the remaining beads of his enslavement. The human girl was nowhere to be found, but he knew where she was. He turned around and lowered his head. "They've taken her…"
Then he shot his head upwards and let out a roar like none other. It echoed through the hallways, the rooms, and reached outside the mighty stonewalled castle until Miroku and the others, already riding on Kirara's back heard it as well. It sent shivers down their spine and Sango closed her eyes against the sound. Their friend had turned into nothing more than a savage animal.
Kagome sat between Sango and Miroku to make sure she didn't fall, but the roar only brought tears to her eyes. She continued to stare straight ahead, but life seemed to escape her. Inuyasha…Her Inuyasha was gone forever. Sayounara…
* * *
"Aun! Where are you going!?" Rin sat atop the giant creature, while Jaken ran along the ground trying to keep up. Just a few moments prier, the two-headed beast had taken off suddenly in the direction of its master.
"Stop you mangy beast!" Jaken tried to get the monster to stop, but it wouldn't listen. It kept running until it came to a clearing where a mangled yet recognizable heap rested in the middle.
Rin gasped and jumped off her stead. "Sesshoumaru-sama!" She shouted, running to her master's side.
Jaken's yellow eyes were wide. "I-It can't be!" He joined Rin and they both turned Sesshoumaru onto his back. "He's been defeated!" He took a couple sniffs and although the scent was slightly different, there was no mistaking it. "I don't believe it!"
"What happened, Jaken-sama!? Is he going to be okay!?" Tears filled her eyes upon seeing the kind demon prince it such bad condition.
"That honor-less hanyou Inuyasha, did this! How dare he!" The faithful green demon gritted his teeth. "And he's taken Sesshoumaru's Tokijin as well!"
"What can we do!? We have to help him!" Rin insisted, using her sleeve to stop the bleeding on Sesshoumaru's face. The demon prince seemed unconscious at the moment.
"Aun!" Jaken commanded. "Take Sesshoumaru-sama! We have to get to a safe place where the master can rest!" The two heads looked at each other, debating whether to listen to a demon who just moments before had insulted them repeatedly.
"Please, Aun? For Rin?" The little girl begged the creature, tears still in her eyes.
Nodding, the beast came over and got the demon prince on its back. Rin and Jaken mounted behind and the little human girl grabbed a hold of the reins. "Where do we go, Jaken-sama?"
"To find Inuyasha's friends! Maybe they can give us some answers!" He said, as the group took off, heading towards Kaede's village.
* * *
Ginta and Hakkaku ran with the wolves from their pack and headed back towards home. Something strange was going on in the forest and Kouga would need to know about it. Unfortunately, the wolf tribe leader was still brooding in his cave. Ayame had tried to get through to him, but he wouldn't respond to her.
"Kouga!" Ginta exclaimed.
The leader continued sitting, his back to them.
Hakkaku continued. "The forest is in an uproar! Some new youkai has them all spooked and their evacuating the forest!"
"What does that have to do with me?" He asked.
"Well…" Ginta wasn't sure if he wanted to hear this, but… "The pack said they saw Inuyasha and his older brother Sesshoumaru fighting, and Sister-Kagome's friends were flying away from the battle. Sister-Kagome didn't look so good."
Kouga scoffed. "She's not my woman anymore. It's not my problem."
Upon hearing this, Ayame growled and punch Kouga hard in the head.
"Hey! What was that for!?" Kouga turned shouting.
"For being such an idiot! Kagome may not be your woman, but she's still my friend and if she's in trouble, I think we owe it to her to do something!" She berated the thickheaded, self-pitied, prideful, wolf demon leader. She turned to her brothers and asked. "Where were they headed?"
"Back to the Sister-Kagome's village." Hakkaku answered.
Nodding, the green-eyed girl raised a fist. "Then, let's go! It's better than staying around here waiting for him to come to his senses."
The two brothers agreed and ran off with Ayame and their pack towards Kaede's village.
* * *
Miroku laid Kagome down softly in Kaede's hut and told Shippo to watch over her. Then, joining the others outside, he shook his head. "It's like her heart and soul have shut down. She won't talk to me at all."
"Well, at least he didn't hurt her more than he did." Sango commented.
"Do you think he will return here?" Kimiko asked.
Kaede looked up with a grave expression. "If Kagome means as much to him as she once did, he will stop at nothing to have her."
"And when he gets here, he's going to be real pissed off." The priest commented.
Kaede turned to her fellow miko. "Kimiko-sama, would you assist me in evacuating the villagers? We do not want to bring senseless death to these people."
The priestess nodded. "Of course."
When the two woman left, Miroku and Sango exchanged looks. "What do we do? We can fight him, but if we don't he won't hesitate to kill us." The taijiya said worriedly.
"I don't know. The only one who can get through to him is Kagome-sama, and she's not here right now." The situation looked bad and there didn't seem to be a solution.
Back in the hut, Shippo sat worriedly over Kagome, brushing the bangs out of her eyes. "Kagome…" He sniffled. "You have to wake up. Inuyasha's going to come and we don't know what he'll do to you." He looked into her closed eyes and began to wonder. Where did you go, Kagome?
In her mind, Kagome's unconsciousness had created another world for her. One where everything was just the way she wanted it. There was no pain, no sorrow, or struggling. She was happy here. She didn't know why, but there was another place, one where she was supposed to be, but she didn't want to go there.
At first, Kagome had sat on a cliff overlooking the ocean. She was alone with no where there for her, but then a familiar voice said behind her. "Kagome…"
Turning around, she saw human Inuyasha smiling at her fondly as he sat down next to her.
"Inuyasha…"
"You know, whenever the moon turns its back on the world and I revert to this form, I just can't seem to get you out of my head." He admitted. "As a hanyou, I'm always so confused about my feelings, but as a human it's all clear."
Blushing, Kagome smiled and held her knees to her chest.
Human Inuyasha saw this and took off the outer part of his haori. "Are you cold?" He asked as he placed it on her lap and around her back. Pulling her close, Inuyasha placed her head in his chest and wrapped his arms around her.
"J-just a little." She stuttered, not really because of the cold, but because she was so close to him, she could smell his scent on the haori he always wore and his beating heart was just beneath her ear. She smiled and snuggled closer.
"Don't go." He said suddenly.
"Eh?" Looking up curiously, Kagome saw that he was back to normal, with white hair and golden eyes, but the same love was still there. Looking at the sky, the miko noticed it wasn't a new moon anymore, but instead there was a small crescent of a moon that gently shined its light upon the waters below.
"I want you to stay with me, no matter what. I can't imagine a life without you." He admitted. "I love you. I love you more than anything and if you were to go, I couldn't go on living."
His confession made Kagome blush more and she put her hand on her heart to get it to slow down. "I…I want to be with you too. I love you, Inuyasha."
This made the hanyou smile too and he stood up, gently pulling her up with him. "Come. I want to show you something." He turned his back to her, telling her to get on. She did and he began jumping away from the cliff, back through the forest behind them.
In her sleep, Kagome smiled and opened her eyes. Shippo was asleep against the well besides her, but Miroku and Sango were helping get the last of the villagers to safety.
She stood up and quietly walked out of the hut. Her eyes were still glazed over, but all she saw was Inuyasha's profile as she rode on his back. She left the village behind, much like she left the cliff behind and went into Inuyasha forest.
The wind blew against her face and she snuggled into Inuyasha's hair to keep warm. "Don't worry." He said gently. "We're almost there."
She nodded and watched as he came to a beautiful oasis in the middle of the forest. Placing her down, he left her on the shore, while he continued walking into the water. At the end of the oasis was a waterfall, but Kagome could see there was a cave on the other side. When Inuyasha stepped into the water, he didn't sink into it, but instead floated on top of it. He was walking on water like solid ground!
"Follow me." He held out his hand to her and smiled warmly.
Kagome now stood, though, at the edge of a cliff. There was a bridge to her left and had she been awake, she would've realized that this was where she had first sat Inuyasha. The Shikon no Tama was still whole then, and going home then would've saved her years of pain and suffering.
"Do you trust me?" He asked.
Before Kagome, her foot was already half off the edge of the cliff, but she couldn't see that far below were jagged rocks and a river with a swift current. "Inuyasha…" She said, reaching out her hand to him. "I trust you…"
She took one step into the water, the image of Inuyasha only getting closer.
But with that one step, her weight flew forward and Kagome fell off the cliff, the ground and forest leaving her to be replaced with rushing ice-cold winds. But all the same, she saw Inuyasha's loving face. "Kagome…
Inuyasha…Author's Notes: Well, the battle didn't last as long as I wanted it to, but everyone seems to be coming together for once reason or another. Inuyasha's causing a lot of problems and making even more enemies than before. Of course, Inuyasha's going to want his Kagome back and anyone that stands in his way will feel his wrath. Sorry to all your Sesshoumaru fans out there, but with Inuyasha in his bigger, badder form, "Drop dead gorgeous Sesshoumaru" doesn't stand a chance. I also enjoyed having Ayame punch Kouga, because I mean come on! He had it coming. Kagome's falling oh no! What'll happen next?
