To Protect the One I Love
Author's Notes: I haven't heard from Jojo10 since forever! Or OsuwariTetsusaiga! starts to cry Maybe they don't like my story anymore? Or worse! They hate it!! NOOO!!! Well, for the rest of you, stay tuned because after this series finishes, I got a short idea for a sequel. (although last time I said short it ended up being 30 chapters. grins Now, on with the battle!
Demonic Challenge
Ayame sat in the den, next to the fire, worried sick about Kouga. What if he never returned? He's been gone for so long. I know he can take care of himself, but I'm afraid that when he returns, he'll never want to speak to me again. It's just hard sometimes when I try to jog his memory and he shrugs me off. This last time might've been the last straw. The wolven female pulled her legs up to her chest and sighed. Maybe I should just give up. What's left of my pack can handle themselves, but they still need a leader. If Kouga truly doesn't remember, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I just went home…
"Ayame-neesan!" Ginta shouted as he and his brother busted into the cave.
"Kouga's back!" Hakkaku managed through heavy breathes.
Ayame's head shot up and her jade eyes widened. "Eh?"
As Kouga jumped over the stream leading to his pack's den, he grumbled in frustration. Stupid Inu-koro, how dare he send me away like that! Kouga didn't have to see Kagome's aura to know something was terribly wrong. He could smell it. But as soon as the wolf leader brought up the subject, Inuyasha blew him off.
Kouga crossed his arms and approached his rival. "So what are we gonna do now?"
Inuyasha met his gaze and jumped down from Goshinboku. "We do nothing. You are going back to your pack where you belong."
"What!?"
"Look, thanks for saving us and all, but this doesn't concern you. If you stay, you'll just get in our way."
"So, if this does go too far, you are all that's gonna stand between Kagome and complete darkness?" Kouga asked.
"I am all she's ever needed and that's never gonna change."
"Kouga?"
The wolf leader's head shot up and saw Ayame's concerned face a mere five feet in front of him. "Oi, Ayame." He greeted casually.
Suddenly and without warning, Ayame's beautiful green eyes watered up and she launched herself at him. "Kouga-kun!"
Shock was an understatement as she wrapped her arms around him. He was speechless and his arms stayed loosely at his sides.
Crying into his chest. Ayame shook with guilty sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Kouga's equally mystifying blue eyes widened. Ayame, she still thinks I'm mad at her. I completely forgot that we had been fighting. Slowly, almost cautiously, Kouga pulled Ayame closer and stroked her hair. "Shhh, it's okay. I'm not mad anymore."
"You were gone so long, I thought I'd pushed you away for good." She sniffled.
She was really afraid of loosing me. Kouga was touched. No one, other than Kagome, had felt such worry about him and never this much. Is this what you feel, Inuyasha? Is this what love is?
"I-if you don't want me here, I'll go back to the North. Back to my pack and…"
"You know, you've grown a lot in your training and it's matured you since that day I carried you out of the forest." He smiled.
She froze, as if she heard wrong. "You…you remember?" She looked up hopefully.
Nodding, Kouga's smile widened. "Yeah, and you know what the funny thing is? Even if I didn't make that promise, I still would want you to lead my pack with me."
"You mean…?"
"Ayame, will you agree to be my mate?"
Ayame's eyes teared up more and she once again wrapped Kouga in a tight hug, but this time – he hugged back. "Yes! Yes I will!"
"All right!" Ginta and Hakkaku shouted in triumph behind some bushes.
Kouga' smile immediately faded. "Oi, were you two there the whole time?"
Slowly the two wolf youkai crept into view. "Ummm…maybe?" Hakkaku said.
"But we swear, we didn't hear anything." Ginta agreed.
"Is that so?" Kouga punched his palm with his other hand. "Then you've got five seconds to run for your lives before I beat the crap out of both of you!" He shouted and took off after his companions.
Behind, Ayame wiped away her tears and smiled, then took chase too. If she didn't, Kouga would have two less clansmen by his side. But then again, they were now her clan mates too.
Inuyasha ran and jumped, stopped to sniff the air, then took off again. This isn't good. There's almost no pure human left in her scent. It's almost completely like mine, like a hanyou's. Except unlike me, I don't think she has any idea what she's doing.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the arrow coming and although it wasn't a purity arrow, he still jumped to avoid it.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" Kagome hissed as she came jumping up out of the forest and slashed wildly at him.
He caught her wrist and pulled her close. "I'm here to bring you back to normal, dammit!"
She kneed him in the stomach, then when he released her, interlaced her fingers and rammed them down on the back of Inuyasha's neck. He fell and slammed into the unforgiving earth. "I don't need any saving!" She snarled.
Inuyasha recovered and rubbed his stomach gingerly. "You know, that change has done nothing for your personality."
"You mock my pain!?" She flexed her claws as they started to glow yellow.
"Sometimes that's all we can do!" He retorted. "Yeah, shit happens. It happens to all of us! But you above everyone should know that harboring that anger and hatred in your heart doesn't help anyone!"
"Shut up!" She slashed with her claws and released four energy swipes at him. He dodged it, but one hit his face and he cringed. Then she came at him again, and he had his hands full trying to block the blows without counterattacking and hurting Kagome. Mortal combat would be easier than this.
"Oh, to hell with this!" The next swipe she took, he caught it and came up with a right hook that landed right on her cheek. The blow sent her down into the ground where she lay stunned. He landed a little ways away, but prepared for any retaliation.
Slowly she began to get to her feet. "You know, I wouldn't expect you to understand."
His eyes widened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She glared at him. "You've killed youkai and humans alike in hatred before. Never stopping to think about their families or if they'd be missed. Hell, you even tried to kill me. Did you ever stop to think about the consequences of your actions? I bet that monster that killed hundreds back in my time didn't and he's getting away with it! Now get out of my way or I'll make you get out of my way!"
"First, I regret those times that I harmed humans and no I didn't think about the youkai having families because most of them were heartless monsters after nothing but power. And as for you, I didn't even know you back then! I would never hurt you, so don't make me now!" He cried out.
She scoffed. "I wouldn't put it past you, but that doesn't change anything. Get out of my way, NOW!" She challenged.
He widened his stance. "No. Even if you ran into Subaru now, he'd rip you to shreds and I'm not gonna lose you."
"Fine, have it your way." She charged at him and ran her shoulder into his chest, trying to bull rush him and throw him off balance.
He took the blow and picked her up. Jumping into the air he spun and threw her back down again. "I may not like it, but if you won't go down easy, then I'll have to bring you down the hard way!"
She flipped and landed on her feet and went at him again.
As Inuyasha dodged, he kept his eyes set on hers and saw them flash red whenever she took a slash at him. Is this what Sesshoumaru saw when he fought me? The others said I attacked him, but he did nothing but dodge. It's like she would keep fighting me until she couldn't stand anymore. He moved to the side and whipped out his foot, tripping her to the ground. "You have to see the light and snap out of it!"
She pushed off the ground and turned to him like a crazed animal. "I don't have to do anything but take you out, then Subaru's next!" She dug her elongated nails into her own thigh and brought up red soaked fingers. "Take this!" She slashed down and dozens of red hued swipes came straight at him.
"What the hell!?" He raised up his hands to block the blows and felt each razor sharp attack bounce off his powerful fire-rat robe. If it hadn't been for that, there wouldn't have been enough left to identify him with. This is getting more and more dangerous for both of us! I have to stop her before she does something she's really gonna regret!
"Kaede!" Shippo ran into the hut with urgency.
"Kaede-sama!" Miroku and Sango rushed to keep up.
The miko came into view. "What is it? What's wrong?"
After giving the aged miko a full detailed description about Kagome, their new adversary, and what had happened back in the other world, Kaede was speechless.
"Inuyasha's chasing after her right now until we can figure out a way to bring her back." Sango said.
"As the jewel's protector, Kagome's main focus is protecting it from harm, but what she didn't know was that the Shikon no Tama has a direct link into her very own heart."
"Eh?" Miroku was confused. "Do you mean the jewel is her heart? Like Midoriko?"
"Kind of. Midoriko, as creator of the jewel, lost her life protecting it from the hordes of demons that were after it at the time. In order to purify them, she locked everything inside her heart and expelled it outside of her body. It took the form of the Shikon no Tama we have today."
Shippo
rubbed his head. "Not this again! It always gives me such a headache! What does this have to do with saving
Kagome!?"
"Since the jewel is connected
to her heart, her feelings and emotions directly affect it. It's a symbolic relationship that until now
has only been beneficial."
"Her miko powers." Miroku caught on. "And with negative emotions?"
"The jewel is tainted and starts reacting with its host as if it were a youkai. But since Kagome is human, it's turned her into a hanyou." Kaede finished.
"I think I get it." Shippo said.
Sango leaned forward. "So how do we save her?"
"She must have a pure heart to return to her original form, which might be difficult since the jewel is the one controlling her."
"EH!?" Everyone exclaimed.
Inuyasha backhanded Kagome as she came running at him again. "Dammit, Kagome, just stop this!" He shouted.
"Never!" Kagome's voice was low now and definitely not her own.
Before she could push herself up to her feet, Inuyasha jumped forward and pinned her down by her shoulders, covering her legs with his own in hopes of keeping her down. "Whenever my youkai blood took over, you were always the first person I saw! It was always you who saved me! And I'll be damned if I can't do the same!"
"You? You mean nothing to me! You are just a pest that stands between me and my revenge! Now get off of me!" She growled and struggled against his hold, but the hanyou held firm.
"Once it has been defiled, the host losses control over it and the roles are reversed! Kagome must purify her heart and mind to regain control!" Kaede explained.
"Kirara!" Sango shouted, running out of the hut with the rest of the group. The small kitten instantly transformed into her mighty form.
"We have to hurry! Inuyasha is the only one who can save her if what Kaede said is true!" Miroku mounted Kirara behind Sango.
"Un, and if
Inuyasha is defeated, then Kagome is lost."
Sango agreed and took to the air.
Shippo looked sadly in the
direction they flew. "Don't lose her,
Inuyasha. Don't let our Kagome fall
into darkness…"
Kagome growled and thrashed, her eyes now staying red the entire time. The sight made Inuyasha freeze. This isn't the Kagome I love so much. She doesn't even recognize me anymore.
On her face were scratches and gashes covered most of her body.
I never believed you went through so much when you fought against me in my demon form in order to save me. Inuyasha still remembered Kagome's smiling face and wanted nothing more than to bring that back. "I…I want the old Kagome back. I want to see you laugh and smile, hell even your tears would be a welcomed sight now."
"Let go of me!" She released one arm and with her claws, ran her arm through Inuyasha's chest, blood spraying on her and out the other side of his back.
Inuyasha winced, but would not release her. "There's only one thing I can think of to bring you back to me…" He leaned forward and for a moment, the miko-turned-hanyou froze. "Kagome, I love you." He closed his eyes and planted a soft kiss on her lips.
Her struggling instantly ceased, but her claws remained.
Inuyasha slowly fell against her body and placed one arm under her head, bringing her up to him to deepen the kiss. Please Kagome, come back to me…
Kagome's eyes widened and they lost their hellish color. Her fangs retracted as well as her claws, and her eyes squeezed tightly in shock. I-Inuyasha?
When she opened her eyes again, they were back to their beautiful brown and when Inuyasha pulled away, she was the first thing she saw. Inside of her, the jewel changed from black to a soft pink hue.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha said hopefully.
Slowly raising her hand, she fingered the small gash on Inuyasha's cheek. "D-did I do that?" She asked.
Inuyasha laughed and hugged her close, squeezing her as tightly as he dared with both of them being injured. "It doesn't matter. I have my Kagome back." He said through a constricted throat.
"Did I go somewhere?"
"No, but I'll send you to hell if you want me to!"
Gasping, Inuyasha spun around and saw the Subaru-no-Oni land just a few yards from them. "It's you!" Inuyasha growled.
"I really thought she had you for a while there, Inuyasha. But it seems there might be something between you two after all." He laughed.
Pulling Kagome up to her feet, Inuyasha maneuvered in front of her. "So that's why you disappeared so quickly earlier. Because you knew what it would do to her."
"Of course! No human has a pure enough heart to be immune to pain and suffering. But is seems she wasn't strong enough to destroy you for me." Subaru-no-Oni replied.
Unsheathing Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha glared at the monster. "I'll destroy you for hurting her and her family!"
Flexing his fingers with a resounding crack, Subaru-no-Oni readied himself. "This is a match I've long awaited, hanyou."
"Kagome, go find somewhere to hide." Inuyasha kept his eyes on his adversary, but spoke to the girl behind him.
Nodding, Kagome turned and ran towards the forest.
"Oh no, you stay for the show!" From behind his back, Subaru-no-Oni pulled out a whip and lashed out towards Kagome with it. It snaked around her waist and pulled her high into the air.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted.
Kagome was pulled back into a tree that had five ward papers attached to it. One was above her head, two by her hands, and two by her feet. They glowed blue and bound the girl against the bark so she couldn't move.
"Look familiar, hanyou?" Subaru-no-Oni chuckled. "Naraku told me all about you and I believe this is similar to how your once true love sealed you up, no?"
"Kagome!" Inuyasha tightened his hold on his blade. "Let her go!"
Soon, the oni himself started glowing the same blue as the ward papers and Kagome cried out in pain. "To make this more fun I enchanted those papers to connect me to her. The longer she's bound to that tree, the more of her energy I obtain!"
Kagome gritted her teeth when the glowing stopped and tried to catch her breath.
"Defeat me and the spell wears off. Take too long, though, and I'll inherit all of her life energy." Subaru-no-Oni raised a club from his side. "Now, come on, hanyou! Fight me so that I may send you to your grave!"
"I'll make you eat those words!" Inuyasha looked at Kagome in worry. She's already lost blood because of our battle and I'm injured myself. Dammit, he had this all planned out! If I don't hurry, neither one of us will survive!
Author's Notes: Yes yes, I know it was a long time coming, but I'm pretty satisfied with the battle sequences. Seeing it is easier than writing it, let me tell you. Sorry for the second cliffhanger, but the final battle is at hand and deserves a title of its own. Until then!
