Inuyasha
The Wicked Child
Chapter V
The Clash Of Shadows
The mystery man, Sephiroth. My suspicions about him was right all along. So I finally get to see what he's made of. Though that terrible feeling haven't change and I wonder if challenging him is a logical choice. He seems to be a ruthless killer, and if I just so happen to lose to him...
Will I live to see another day?
Like I said: if he wins...
Okay, enough of that, it's apparent that he's here for an assassination job, and his minions were to raid the city. I overheard that they were to kill a certain princess and it was up to me to see what's the fuss is all about. And so, my suspicions finally led me right into battle with him and I certainly hope that he can fight because apparently he doesn't know what he's in for...
"Shit, I'm beat..." Kagura sighed as she sat languidly at a table in the village's court. During the festivities, Kagura had her very "unique" way of having fun. While Nazuna wondered around enjoying the sights and playing games, Kagura gulped down various "samples" of exotic alcoholic beverages and now she's smashed. A worthwhile note, the demon girl is definitely a force to be acknowledged with. "Naz, let's... call it quits... I need to save my energy for tonight..." She managed to say legibly.
"I agree. It seems that you have had way too much fun for today." Nazuna replied as she eyed Kagura in concern.
Kagura's face creased a bit. "Shitting me. If another mother-fucking idiot approaches me whom don't know what he's doing, I'm going to severely kick his ass to the fucking curb." She declared viciously, earning surprised glares from older people who was old enough to be her parents. "The hell y'all prunes looking at?"
"Kagura, could you just chill a bit." Nazuna demanded. "You were way too rude to some of the elders just now."
"So? I don hiccup! don't give a damn. Them suckers can just eat my--"
"Kagura!!!"
"What?" She burped.
Nazuna allowed her eyes to wonder around the scenery. She realized just how many people were appalled by her friend's uncouth tongue. "Kagura... I really don't like the way the people are gawking at us." She said. "C'mon, we're leaving. Besides, we have to meet Kagome-chan back at the inn." She suddenly noticed a sake bottle Kagura had hidden. "Hey, where did you get that?"
Kagura looked a little confused for a split second and then noticed the bottle tied on her obi. "Hmm. Hell if I know..."
"Oh bother..."
"Yo Nazuna, remember that cute chubby guy that tried to hit on me, earlier today?" Kagura inquired. "That fat bastard! That dude had breasts as big as mine!" She began laughing mischievously. "Big tit mother-fucker really need a training bra! What can I do with him!?"
Nazuna worriedly pleaded for her friend to calm down. "Kagura, we must leave. Kagome's probably aged a bit since we have been gone so long... hehehe..." She tried to play innocent despite her embarrassment. She rose from her chair and grabbed Kagura by her arm and quietly tried to dismissed themselves from the accusing glares of the stunned civilians.
Surprisingly, Kagura complied to her plea. Even drunk, she knew what the nervous expression on Nazuna's face meant. She stood and allowed Nazuna to lead her inebriated body even though she did had a little difficulty walking. When she walked, she'd only proceeded on either her toes or the ball of her feet, not once her heel touching the ground. "Fuck..." She said in a sick tone. "I... don't feel... so... good, Nazuna." She looks as though her very energy was drained from here body.
That, fortunately, caught Nazuna's attentions. "What did you expect after all that alcohol you have consumed?" She asked with admonishment.
"Damn girl, I didn't drink enough to get piss drunk." The smashed demon girl berated.
Nazuna made a very 'Sangou-like' expression, with a roll of her eyes she slowly replied "Shit..." Well, at least she was right about not being piss drunk. "Just follow me, Kagura." She instructed.
"Okay..."
BAM!!!
She lay face first on the ground. Now Nazuna was frightened. "Hey! Stop playing, Kagura!" She begged. "I know that you are joking about this, girl. You just said that you're were not that drunk." She kneeled over and prodded the downed girl on her shoulders and all she got in response was girlish snores. "Shit! You have to sleep at a time like this?"
Kagura rolled over to her hip and slept in fetal position on the ground with a serenely mischievous smile on her face. Unfortunately this caught some of the men's attention and according to some of the lecherous sneers on their faces, Nazuna just knew that it was time to get a move on. The younger girl frowned in frustration and did the first thing she knew in order to avoid a pointless conflict with the leering men...
She lifted the inebriated Kagura and hauled her on her back. Kagura wasn't heavy but it will still drained her if she were to carry her in her arms. So it was to her back to carry her back to the inn.
The problem was... she forgot the way back to the place. "Damn..."
"You owe me for this." She mentioned while walking away from the court hauling Kagura piggyback style. Thus, this action prompted a fair number of whoops and wolf whistles from the lechers.
"Oh, look who's dyking?" One of them swooned.
"Now that is hot." Commented another.
"And the tall one's drunk. Damn, lesbians have all the good luck."
Nazuna overheard what was said and grimaced in disgust. 'Gutter minded bastards... Is that all they think about? No need to worry about that, I need to find a way back to the inn.' She thought. 'This would be much easier if Kagura wasn't asleep right about now.'
"Ooh... you better come back down to Mars..." Kagura uttered in her siesta.
"Shuddap."
"My dear, since you are willing to challenge me, I certainly hope that you're not a feeble warrior otherwise you lived your life in vain." Sephiroth lectured as he continues his stride in the fields. "Do not disappoint me. I have always looked forward to challenge a ninja."
"I suggest that you quit running." Kagome responded while trailing close behind him. "Is this you way of having a prelude to a battle? If so, you're just prolonging your inevitable defeat."
"Don't be ludicrous." Sephiroth scoffed with narrowed eyes. "Are you really so highly confident that you are unaware of what degree of danger you are in?" He suddenly halted in his tracked and drew his sword. "Very well, you arrogant woman, allow me to demonstrate." Right after is declaration, his sword was already swung and it nearly slashed Kagome on her face. Fortunately she blocks the blow at the very last second with her dagger.
Impressed with the speed of his attack, the young kunoichi smirked. "So that blade of your isn't just for decoration after all. You certainly know how to handle that thing." She pushed his blade off of hers in a quick motion and spun around to deliver a fast spinning swipe with her weapon. Sephiroth narrowly sidestepped her strike, as his dark cloak was cut into shreds.
"My dear, I can pretty much handle anything I get involved in with up most ease." Sephiroth proclaimed as he snatches off the remains of his cloak. His chest was cover with what looks suspiciously like a vest. "Now, shall we get down to business? That bomb of mine did not do the job but this blade will." He took a stance as he pointed his sword at her proudly.
"I'll say, it is about time that you decided to fight." The kunoichi said as she adopted a fighting stance. "Just promise me that you're not as easily disposable like those cronies of yours. If not, then you're all about flapping gums."
"Enough of this!" Sephiroth exclaimed as he charged with surprising speed towards her. Fortunately, she was all to used to dealing with super fast warriors but it seems strange that this opponent likes to fight close range with such a long weapon. Kagome parried her dagger with the long sword and pushed him off at an odd angle.
"You're slipping..." Kagome commented as she quickly delivered a roundhouse kick to his unguarded ribs. For such a quick kick it was certainly powerful as Sephiroth flinched a little at the sharp pang in the offended area. He capitalized his error by returning a kick of his own knowing that his opponent will expectantly block the attack. With Kagome's guard against his kick, he prompted a nearly unseen swipe with his sword. Kagome was barely struck on her cheek but thankfully she didn't feel the full force of the intended blow.
"Well, looks who is slipping now?" Sephiroth cackled.
Kagome backed away several feet from him and felt on her cheek. She realized that she barely seen his sword coming and now she had a small cut on her face. She smiled, completely enjoying the promise of a real good challenge from this man. "So I slipped." She retorted. "But hey, you know that shit happens."
"Ah, but there's going to be more than shit happening when I am done with you." Sephiroth responded to her succinct comment with an all knowing smile. 'Yes. Come little girl. Fight me with all you worth-- even when it's futile. I can already see what kind of warrior that you are.'
Almost as if she was reading his mind, Kagome disappeared and reappeared behind him. She abruptly grabbed him by the ankles and cause him to fall face first onto the ground. She quickly followed up with a stab to his back but he rolled out of the way. "I didn't like that look you had." She commented.
Sephiroth stood back on his feet. "You don't?" He made another evil smirk on his face. "You mean this one?" He mocked.
"Yeah, that look." She confirmed.
"Hmm... well I can pretty much guess that you will definitely like the outcome of this confrontation." The said swordsman declared. "But I have to praise you. You're not as weak as I thought." He took another stance-- this time a back stance with his sword raised besides his right ear. It looks as though he wants to take advantage of his long katana. 'That's right... keep struggling... Show me your true self.'
"I'm offended. You mean to tell me that you took me for granted?" Kagome inquired. "Very well, your arrogance will count against you. You should know better."
"Cheeky filly..."
"And I certainly hope that your stance aren't for show. Too many warriors still does not understand the importance fighting stances."
"I'll prove you wrong. I know what I'm doing."
"Show me."
Sephiroth plunged towards her and tried to stab her from his stance. Kagome avoided swipe after swipe of his katana with ease despite how lightning quick his attacks was. Kagome thought that he wasn't being serious, seeing as his jabs weren't effective against her. So, she moved in as fast as she could and successfully delivered a kick to his face.
Staggering backwards in pain, Sephiroth reached into one of his pockets and fished out some powder-like particles and threw it into at her face. The particles halted her onslaught as they began to burn her eyes. In a shrill yelp she covers her face in order to ease the burning sensation. "You bastard!!" She hissed. "You know that wasn't fair!"
"There is no such thing as a fair fight my friend." Sephiroth mentioned as he approached her. Eyes hindered for the moment, she could hear his sword slicing through the air...
...and slashed her across her left shoulder!
"You unethical bitch!!" Kagome swore as she felt the white hot pain on her shoulder. She can smell her fresh blood pouring from her new wound. She began kicking blindly at him. "Where are you, you nasty son of a bitch!?"
"Aw... The poor baby has a boo-boo on her shoulder." Sephiroth taunted. "This is how you going to act once struck? I am deeply appalled."
"Fuck you!" Her eyes still blinded she slashed at him but offended nothing. Right after her attempted retaliation, cold steel once again tore at her flesh-- this time from behind. "Shit!!" She fell forward on one knee. The pain was very intense, even more so that the pain inflicted on her shoulder.
"Now, now... there's no need for such profane language little missy." Came Sephiroth's voice again. He stood behind her with his sword patting his shoulder. He stared at the handicapped woman with a bored expression. "Is this all you got? Really, you couldn't be serious?"
"I'm gonna kicked your half girl looking ass once my eyes recover!" She immediately crouched and performed a back kick which was intended anywhere in his lower region. She must hit something...
"Nah ah uh..." He goaded once again as she managed to kick his knee. He brushed off the pain and raised her to her feet by her hair. "Come now... this is really how you react to defeat?" He inquired in a bored tone.
"Let go of my fucking hair!" Kagome demanded fiercely only to be slashed across her back again. "Ugh!! I swear that I will make you pay for this offence you bastard!!"
"Oh?" He said aback with a quirked brow. He threw her to a nearby tree and the kunoichi slumped against it. "I see now that you are not a fighter... not a real one..."
Kagome sat up, her right hand clutching her offended shoulder. "You talking all that bullshit after you have handicapped me..." She snarled before smiling sardonically. "You just wait..."
"Hmph. Isn't that the point to all forms of mortal combat? To either figure out the enemy and render them helpless?"
"Shut the fuck up... what was this sudden crap about me not being a real fighter?" Her vision slowly began to recover and she can vaguely make out that it was dusk as she noticed the sun was just over the horizon. More to that, Sephiroth was standing right before her.
"Eh? Back for more?"
It was gradually getting dark. Most of the citizens of the town returned home for the night and the festivities were about to come to a close. A very frustrated Nazuna was still trying to find her way back to the inn in which they were staying at. Right now she has to be really careful, the seemingly peaceful countenance of the Hitomi parish was replace by an threatening and foreboding one.
"Damn. I think I've been going around in circles all day." She said to herself, Kagura still asleep on her back. "Kagura! Wake up!"
The woman on her back slowly fluttered her eyes open. "Wh... what is it...?"
"You... you have to know the way back to the inn, right?" She requested. "You have to."
"I do..." Kagura uttered.
"Do you know what part of town where we at now?" Might I tell you that it was a very dark and gloomy side of town? Not exactly a place where women should be wandering into. "Don't go back to sleep on me now."
"I can't... stay awake... now." Kagura breathed while trying to fight her sickened sleep. "Too fucked up..."
"It was your fault!" Nazuna accused. "Listening to the dares of the men from the festival and getting plastered like this! I thought you wanted to go to the UBC!"
"Fuck it... fuck the UBC..."
"You better wake up and help me return your heavy ass back to the inn." Nazuna commanded, clearly enraged. She slowly propped Kagura against a stone wall and began patting away at her cheeks. "Hey! Get up! Kagura wake up!"
"..."
"Kagura you better wake up right now or I'll leave you--"
"No. You just leave that broad to us." A voice snickered.
"Aw damn! Could you creeps go away?" Nazuna dismissed. "I'm busy right now."
A crew of thugs appeared visible to her eyes from the shadows. The previous one continued to lecture. "You were one of those chicks that killed some of our buddies back at the harem." He confirmed.
'Fuck... At a time like this?' She mentally groaned. "Listen pal, but your so called buddies back at the harem were asking for it. Besides, it was bound to happen. Either a bounty hunter or a vigilante would of got to them."
"Well, Hirohito was a little foolish in his criminal ways." The lead man commented. A tall, rugged looking fellow with kinky hair whom towered well over Nazuna's delicate five feet four inches height. "But he was one of us and when you killed him we sought out after you."
Nazuna knew where this was going. With a sigh she faced them. "I guess I don't have any choice."
"You two... attack the girl." The leader ordered and two bald guys charged forward at Nazuna.
With precise calculation, Nazuna used the momentum of the first assailant to ram his head into the stone wall by grabbing the collar of his shirt as he closed in. As the second thug closed in he desperately attacked her with a series of punches in which the girl easily avoided.
"You know better than that..." Nazuna commented as she grabbed him from behind in a tight headlock. After a moment she crushed his neck and the unfortunate fellow slumped dead to the ground. "The rest of you will be smart to run away."
Three more men shot towards her, including the so-called lead man. This time they were equipped with weapons. "You guys just had to make it hard on yourselves. Bless your hearts." Nazuna brandishes her nunchaku and engaged in battle with them.
She used the chain of her weapon to defend from the attacks of two blades coming at her head simultaneously. She released the lock and quickly hopped out of the way to make some room between herself and the attackers. The assailants turned to follow but one of them suddenly yelled in intense pain as one of them was impaled by a bladed fan.
"Nobody... nobody... fucks with my homegirl." Kagura growled with an outstretched hand. Apparently she was the one that threw the fan and she killed one of the thugs in the process.
"That drunk one is awake!"
"But she's still sluggish, kill her!"
Nazuna took this as an opportunity to rid the remaining three. She quickly wrapped her flail around one of the guys neck and flung him to a wall. The lead man kept his focus on the downed Kagura as Nazuna was dealing with the last crony.
He leaped at Nazuna with full intent of slicing the girl to pieces. She easily defended herself from his barrage with his blade and she retaliated with a kick to his midsection... which was a feint as the man lowered his guard to protect his midsection. With his head lowered, she quickly bopped him across his head with her weapon. He blacked out and now it was time to deal with the leader...
But he had a pistol trained at Kagura's head. And apparently in her weakened state she will probably be killed. "Be a good little ninja bitch and put the weapon down." He commanded. "Now!"
"Damn you." Nazuna swore before complying to the man's wish.
"That's the spirit." He grinned as he pressed the pistol to Kagura's temple. "Exactly what I wanted before I put a bullet in both of--"
He was suddenly knocked unconscious from above.
"Fancy meeting you again." Greeted a familiar voice. "Is this your way of having fun? Scraping it out with criminals?"
Nazuna immediately recognized the sudden savior. "It's you..."
Miroku smiled innocently. "My, it's pretty nice that you are glad to see me again."
Kagome's sight had recovered but now it seemed to be too late. Sephiroth seemingly had the total advantage over her and it made her felt totally outclassed. She was now covered with several fresh slashes across her body and she was starting to feel dizzy. "So... I've lost. Damn it... I lost to a cheater." She fell to the ground.
"You were lost from the very beginning." Sephiroth stated.
"What the hell do you mean?"
"I mean that you are not even worth killing." He retorted.
"Hmph. I wouldn't say so from all the bruises I've given you." Kagome chuckled, knowing that she still put up a good fight against him. The swordsman had a contusion on his forehead, bloody nose, busted lip, a shattered rib, and a slash across his chest.
But he was still standing...
"No... what I mean is: You are not a real warrior. I sense that you haven't originally intended to grow up as a fighter. You're a weakling."
"Bullshit."
"You fight in such a feeble manner." Sephiroth continued. "It seems as though that you are desperately searching for something or someone."
"So, this is what you do after you defeated all you opponent? That's a real way to make them feel bad about themselves."
"Ah, but dear, I know your kind all too well." Sephiroth cackled. "You fight because you have lost a loved one, whoever that was, was weak as well. It's either that or you are afraid of being alone for too long."
Kagome cringed. Somehow, he was right about his assumption. In a way, this pained her far more than his masamune ever will. Kagome wanted to raise to her feet again but her injuries disabled her. She was now helpless to his verbal assault. "Is that so?"
"That is your eternal weakness and you will never be a true warrior." Sephiroth continued. "I fight for the thrill of the battle and the beauty of destroying my enemies."
"What gives you the right to think that you know all about me you bastard!?" Kagome hissed. Denying the fact that he was definitely on to something.
"Fighting's not your destiny... and it never will. It's best for you to retire your status." He suggested. "Maybe a feeble being such as yourself will live a longer life if you do."
"You don't know shit." Kagome retorted with fresh tears flowing from her eyes. "Being a warrior is my fate! It couldn't be helped! Who are you to tell me that!? If you still don't think so... then fuck it... kill me!"
For a moment, Sephiroth considered the notion. He slowly raised his sword, the suspense growing tangible. He was about to slay the ninja woman laying but halted. "No. It will be a waste to kill you. As I told you before." He turned away.
"Better kill me now than see me later..." She utter slowly losing consciousness.
"Your life is spared... There's a first for everything." He said at last before walking off in the distance. "Farewell."
Kagome was now alone. Laying moribund in an open field.
Will she take his advice?
She really considered it. But off in a distance, up in a tree, a familiar fellow watched the entire battle. "I knew it. I knew that she wasn't an ordinary woman."
My first defeat. It's not so bad, I can take it. But what about his advice. Damn, he knew exactly what kind of warrior that I am.
END OF CHAPTER FIVE