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Chapter Ten: Tactics

Kagome shot her arrow, piercing a hole through Sorikata's mid-section, uselessly, for he merely regenerated. He delivered another blow to Inu Yasha, casting him into a tree. Turning to Kagome, he smirked with arrogance before charging her, "Die filth!"

"EEK!" Kagome screeched before ducking out of the way and running toward Inu Yasha, Sorikata dead on her heals, "Inu Yasha!!"

"Kagome, GET DOWN!!" Inu Yasha jumped in front of Kagome's hunched form, and turned toward Sorikata, "Blades of Blood!"

He dodged Inu Yasha's attack, seemingly effortlessly. Inu Yasha took up his sword once again, "Tetsusaiga!" He swiped at Sorikata, basically stalling to form some kind of plan, however, it seemed nothing could destroy this creature.

"Inu Yasha! Watch out!" Kagome yelled as she saw Sorikata rush his hand toward Inu Yasha's chest.

Inu Yasha was too caught up in his own division of a plan and couldn't react in time, "AAAAAAAHHHH!" he screamed as he felt a hand grasp and clutch his very heart. All of his blood seemed to cease motion as his heart pounded desperately for it's life. He felt himself being lowered to the ground, unable to move, unable to think, to breathe.

All he could do was feel this terrible pain. Pain that racked throughout his entire body. Starting at his heart the pain stemmed off in all directions, seemingly shooting up and down every vein in his body. His screams were silenced by his own inability to make them audible. Each one dying on his lips.

Kagome ran forward, "NO! Let him go!" When she was within range, Sorikata surprised her by side slapping her, sending her crashing into a tree. Her cuts and bruises made it impossible for her to move at the moment. However, she swore silently to herself and to Inu Yasha, that as soon as she was able to breathe she would try again. She would keep trying until she saved Inu Yasha.

Until then, she felt her body calling to her. It told her she was hurt, in pain, and possibly even dying. 'Sango…'

~~~

Sango lay on the ground, watching the scene before her. Sesshoumaru was charging Sorikata, lashing at him with his energy whip. She had always known Sesshoumaru to be powerful. She had even pegged him as being dangerous and malicious. However, she had never noticed before how extremely well trained he was in attacking. She thought back to all of the encounters they had shared with him during their hunt for Naraku. He had always shown such knowledge and skill, yet she had never taken to heart how precise he always was with his motions.

He was fluid and concise. She could tell he was analyzing Sorikata right this moment as they fought. He was devising a plan as he blocked each attempted hit. 'Yes…' Sango thought to herself, 'He really is an aristocratic assassin.' Yet…why was she not afraid of him? She then wondered how it is that she ever thought that she could kill him, oh, and how she had thought that she could.

Sango had wanted to fight him after she first met him. It was a secret she hid from the others. She was a demon exterminator after all, and it was demons like him that caused her people to live in fear. She had desired that challenge, that glory. Now, however, she could see that she would have been easily destroyed by him.

Sango changed the direction of thoughts. It was important that she think of some way to help defeat Sorikata. What did she know about him, though? He could regenerate his own body, split into two, possibly more forms, he could shift his own shape, and he had no visible weaknesses. Sure, his blows could be blocked, and he can be cast down, but nothing seemed to kill him. He didn't show any kind of fear toward anything-

Sango sat up straight as she thought back to what seemed like hours ago, but in reality was only five minutes or so. He had been afraid to touch her blood, hadn't he? 'Why?' she asked herself. Sango began to hatch a plan in her mind. She looked around in an attempt to locate her sword. It was behind Sesshoumaru. Stuck into the ground where Sorikata had flung it earlier when he pulled it from his gut.

Sango grabbed her mid-section as she fought to stand up. Her ribs were no doubt cracked all to hell, but she had to get to her blade. Placing her hand on the same tree she had bounced off of, she used it for leveraged as she pulled herself to her feet. She winced with every movement, and her head pounded with every breath. Gritting her teeth, she began to stagger toward her destination. She was completely unaware of the pair of golden eyes that took a small second to admire her strength.

Sesshoumaru turned his undivided attention back to the task at hand. He wasn't sure what she was trying to do, but she too, must have noticed Sorikata cower when he came close to her blood. Sesshoumaru grit his teeth as he blocked another swing with his energy whip. He wasn't sure how long he could keep this up. Usually, no demon could keep up with his whip, but Sorikata was no mere low level.

'Nevertheless,' Sesshoumaru thought to himself, 'he needs to be shown his place.' With that, he began to put Sorikata on the defense. He concentrated on his mid-section, which proved to be a mistake. Two hands stretched out to meet Sesshoumaru's gut, causing him to spit up blood. He was pushed to the ground, the impact shaking every bone in his body, "Damn it."

Sorikata stood above a broken Sesshoumaru smiling down evilly. Victory was close at hand, and knowing this caused him to laugh with evil joy. He was about to deliver the finishing blow when he saw the human struggling to her sword. She wasn't dead, and this fact annoyed him to no end. He narrowed his eyes at her, "Did I not tell you to die!?!"

He stalked toward her, the bigger threat, and left Sesshoumaru to wallow in his pain. He would kill him, eventually. In fact, as soon as he was done with this human. He knew he had to make it quick. 'Humans can resort to such strange and unheard of tactics when their lives are on the line,' he thought as recalled some of the things he had observed over the years of his life.

He had been observing for some time now, actually. Watching his prey. All life would bow to him and his mystic creatures, the satsubatsu. After he had gained all of his knowledge, he summoned them from the very pits of Hell. They were easily destroyed by skilled fighters, but to unsuspecting, undefended villages they were marvelous killers. Animals that hunted and killed. Animals that spilt the blood of the innocent. All so he wouldn't have to. Sorikata could just sweep in after the destruction and claim the land for himself.

Bringing himself out of his treacherous reverie, Sorikata smirked at the female human, "Why won't you die, girl? Give up. We both know it is futile for you to fight."

Sango coughed up her own blood, and smirked back at him when she noticed him flinch the tiniest bit, "What's the matter? Afraid you'll get dirty?"

"You disgust me, that is all. Your weak body and broken bones are proof of your inferiority. I am offended that you persist on living. Enough is enough. You die now."

Sango lunged toward her sword as he charged her. She grabbed it as she went rolling toward where Sesshoumaru lay. She clutched the hilt of her sword and leaned forward on her elbows, "Sesshoumaru, are you-"

She was cut off as she felt herself being pulled to her feet. She looked to her right to see Sesshoumaru smirking down at her, letting her know that he knew what she was planning. They both turned their attention to Sorikata who was snarling with anger as approached them.

He continued to stalk toward them, unaware of what either of them were thinking. Sango spoke then, halting his steps, "Tell me, Sorikata. Is it my broken body that disgusts you, or is it the fear of my blood, that sickens you?"

His eyes shot open, revealing his fear. He turned to take off, but Sesshoumaru was there in an instant, blocking his way. Before he could move, Sango came toward him, her sword was wielded, pointing toward the East. Her other hand, was palm up, facing the West. In one swift movement, she brought the blade of her sword to her open palm and cut into her own flesh. She clenched the wounded hand before throwing the red contents of her body into the face of her enemy.

~~~

Kagome shot another arrow. Sorikata now had ten arrows sticking out of his back, but he continued to grip Inu Yasha's heart. As he was about to steal the last breath of air from the half-demon, he stopped. He dropped him at his feet, blood dripping from his half-dissolved hand.

Kagome looked away in disgust. She tried to make sense of it all, 'What happened to his hand? Why did he stop?' She turned back to see Sorikata retreating at top speed back toward Sango and Sesshoumaru. She didn't know what to do, but she couldn't just leave Inu Yasha there. Making her decision she ran toward her beloved half demon and cradled him to her.

"Inu Yasha…"

"Kagome…where…"

"He went back toward Sango and Sesshoumaru," she said quietly, knowing what he was going to say next.

"I have to go…"

"I know. Hold on; I've got you," she sighed as she pulled him to his feet, and they began to progress toward Sango and Sesshoumaru. As they walked they noticed the crumpled form of Kirara. Kagome picked up the poor demon, and carried her in her other arm.

Kagome looked from one friend to the other and fought to keep the tears from falling. She then felt Inu Yasha hand squeeze her shoulder lightly, "We've got a few minutes before we get to them. Go ahead and cry if you have to, Kagome."

"I can't, Inu Yasha. There's a time and a place. I refuse to cry now. I won't," she said determinedly, "I have to be strong."

"Kagome, I-"

"Not another word. Keep your strength, Inu Yasha. You're going to have to pull yourself together if you want to beat this guy."

Heeding her words, they walked in a comfortable, determined silence as they approached the other two members of their group. Each of them hoping that Sango and Sesshoumaru were okay.

~~~

Sorikata screamed in agony as his skin began to sizzle and disintegrate. He was shifting forms, trying to find a way to survive. Sango and Sesshoumaru looked down at him with victory shining in their eyes as Sango allowed her blood to drip onto his retreating skin torturously. Sango had never known she had it in her to be so merciless when killing an enemy. She and Sesshoumaru were brought out of their metal elation when Sango was struck.

She and Sesshoumaru locked eyes as she fell to her knees. Blood was dripping from her wound, caused by an arrow to her gut. Sesshoumaru, without thinking, knelt down in front of her, catching her before she fell forward. He brought her gaze to his, reading her thoughts. For reasons he himself could not understand, he brought his hand to her face and comfortingly moved the hair out of her eyes.

She had fought hard. She injured herself to save her friends…and him. Now, she was dying. He wouldn't have it. Ducking his head to her ear, "Sango…" he asked in his deep voice.

"Y-yes?" she panted, the first of her last words.

"I need to borrow some of your blood," he finished.

Sango nodded weakly into his shoulder, "Take it…kill him…"

"I will," he stated aloud, but secretly promised it to her and himself.

Gently, he removed the arrow from her stomach. He was about to lay her on her back when she reached out and grabbed his hand. He met her strong gaze, "I…I want to watch-to watch him die. I want to s-see you ki-kill him."

Sesshoumaru nodded, and leaned her up against a tree. After doing so, he moved his hand to her mid-section and captured her flowing blood in his palms. Soaking them in it, then stood, facing the bastard that struck her.

It was another Sorikata, however, instead of being surprised he merely growled, "Is that all of you've got?" He questioned, motioning to the arrow that lay on the ground. Sesshoumaru also caught the completely dissipated Sorikata that he and Sango had slain.

The other Sorikata that had come out of no where and struck Sango, now stood smirking back at the Lord of the Western Lands. "No. You too, shall die. It seems I've been wasting my time with the other two. This is where the real fight is!" With that he launched himself at Sesshoumaru, unaware of the human blood that stained the hands of his foe.

Sesshoumaru charged in return and just as Sorikata was about to outstretch his hands, he caught them. On contact, his arms began to peel away, Sango's blood attacking his arms like locus on a wheat field. Sorikata screamed in torturous pain as he was pushed backward by Sesshoumaru. Then in three fell swoops, Sesshoumaru wiped the blood across Sorikata's mid-section, his back, and then his face.

When Sesshoumaru was finished, Sorikata lay as nothing more than a heap of ash at his feet. From the distance, Sango observed him with what she considered to be her last moments of life. He stood straight, his silver hair shining in the sun. Even his bruises seemed to mold perfectly to him, shining with his skin. His eyes were golden and……empty? No. They weren't empty. They were looking at her, and they weren't empty.

All other thoughts abandoned her as he approached her. His eyes became level to her own brown, glazed orbs. She smiled weakly, about to concede to her pain and let death overtake her, "You won, Sesshoumaru."

"No. We won. Your blood killed him. Your blood which is still leaking from your failing body."

Sango sighed, "I suppose you're going to point out to me," she took a breath, "that which I already know. That human bodies," she coughed, "are weak and frail."

"No."

She looked up, surprised, "Then what, Sesshoumaru…" she trailed off as her body died. Her lips lay motionless, her eyes open and dead, yet still holding that question in them. 'Then what?'

Sesshoumaru stood and looked down at her. She was no longer a foul human in his eyes. She was no longer an insect at his mercy or a demon exterminator with a goal of destroying demons like himself. She was a human, yes, but she was a being. A beautiful, strong being. Sesshoumaru could feel the Tenseiga pulsating in his hands. Then he answered her question, as he looked down at her motionless body.

"I'm going to reward your strength…your fight," he paused and wielded his once useless sword, "I will use the Tenseiga to revive you." Without another word or thought, he swiped at the demons from the underworld, destroying them all.

At once, Sango's wounds began to heal. Her eyes fluttered open, but they were not met with the golden eyes of the dog demon, instead, they were met with his retreating form. She did not have to question where he was going, as she saw the little girl and the little green demon in his path. Then she saw Kagome and Inu Yasha making their way toward her.

She got up, feeling like she had just awoke from a long, peaceful slumber. She felt refreshed and energetic. 'It's good to be alive,' she conceded to herself. Suddenly she was no longer fixated with death. She opened her eyes for the first time in months and saw those around her. Kagome looked as though she were about to cry at all the horror they had all just been through. Kirara was shaking in pain, and crumpled up in one of Kagome's trembling arms. Inu Yasha was leaning on Kagome, a hole in his chest and his blood leaking down his body.

Sango ran toward them with renewed purpose as she finally saw the reason she survived when all else dear to her had perished years ago. She was needed-simple as that. Taking one last glimpse at Sesshoumaru as he scooped up his battered companions, Sango continued toward her own companions, knowing in her heart that she had not seen the last of him.

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Okay, here it is! I hope you like it, because it's extremely long. *wipes forehead* It took me a while to write this one, and I hope it turned out okay. And just to answer the questions that are building up in your head: NO IT IS NOT OVER! AND YES SORIKATA, BASTARD FROM HELL IS DEAD!! Happy??? I hope so!

Pammi

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