Chapter 5: Rampaging Hanyou
Inuyasha rushed through the forest. Emotionally numb to the physically numbing snow. A light snow started to drift down as Inuyasha pushed on, intent on finding Kikyo before her scent and footprints disappeared. He had followed Kagome's scent back to the tree she was attacked at. From there he had managed to track Kikyo's scent further into the forest, where she later took to walking. Inuyasha's pace quickened as Kikyo's smell got stronger. Soon the sight of black, white and red could be seen shuffling through the snow. "KIKYO!!!"
Upon hearing her name echoing throughout the forest, Kikyo turned to see Inuyasha standing several yards away from her. His teeth were bared and his fist clenched. But she took no note of it. "Have you returned to me?"
The hopefulness in her voice made him sick, especially considering what she had just done. "You could ay that…But I wouldn't. You tried to kill Kagome tonight. Did you honestly expect me to come celebrate with you or something? Your nuts!"
Kikyo started to glare at him as he spoke. She knew it was wishful thinking but she was still hopeful that Inuyasha still loved her. The look on his face told her other wise, he was furious. 'That stupid miko from the future certainly has him tied around her little finger. Inuyasha was mine years ago…He'll be mine again.' Her glare intensified as she grabbed her dagger with her left hand. "Don't you remember Inuyasha; your life belongs to me!"
"You may have my life, but Kagome has my heart and soul. Actually when she released me from the tree, she claimed my life as well. And I WILL NOT let my child grow up without a father as I did."
"Do you expect to kill me Inuyasha? We both know you can't. You still love me. Besides what would your Kagome say?" Kikyo gave him a sly look as she took a few steps closer to him.
"Your right Kikyo, I do still love you…But I love Kagome and my child more. So I will fight you. I don't want to, but I will." Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga and kept it trained on the undead miko.
Kikyo bared her teeth in annoyance. "Your not gonna use your sword on me so just put it away." She tightened her grip on her dagger as she lunged head on toward Inuyasha.
The hanyou saw the attack coming and leapt to the side, easily missing the dagger. "Stop it Kikyo. I don't want to fight you." Images of Kagome playing with their child, alone, flashed in his mind. 'Maybe if I can bury her in snow, she'll listen.' Another image of Kagome crying over his fire rat robe invaded his mind also. "That's it, KAZE no KIZU!" he aimed the powerful attack past a nearby tree, hoping to knock off some snow from the branches.
Kikyo's eyes followed the path of the attack as it whizzed by the tree and a few clumps of snow fell to the ground. She then watched as the boughs of the tree started swaying uncontrollably. Kikyo looked to the top of the tree and stood frozen in place as she watched the tree get closer and closer. The sound of moving branches and cracking wood rang through the forest.
Inuyasha stared at the fallen tree, completely dumbfounded and stunned. He watched as numerous white souls escaped from the branches of the tree and floated up into the sky. He looked back down to the tree, to where Kikyo was suppose to be. He sheathed Tetsusaiga and walked up to the tree, looking for any signs of "life." All he found was her clothes, some broken pieces of pottery and some soil. "Kikyo?!" Inuyasha whispered as he realized she was gone, there wasn't even any blood. "May you finally rest in peace." He gathered up what was left of her remains and slowly walked back toward the village. "I hope Kagome is still asleep."
~******~
*CRASH*CHINK*CLINK*
"DAMN IT! I needed that miko!" A tall woman shrouded in a long, hunter green cape shouted as she threw her goblet at a reflecting crystal that showed a large pine tree laying in the snow. "Only she knew where the Child of Time is. I need to find that child. Hoseki, follow that hanyou. If he knows that miko, he just may know where the child is."
"Hai, mistress." Replied a quiet and obedient voice. A small winged figure floated out of the shadows and hovered before her mistress. "Do you wish for me just to observe?"
"Hai" Spoke the woman as she walked over and took a seat in a high back, throne like chair centered in the dark room.
The tiny person bowed politely. "I shall go immediately." Then like a bullet she flew out the window into the snow filled night, in search for a lone hanyou waking threw the snow.
The lady in dark green stared at the crystal again with an evil smirk on her face. "I will get that child…The child that defies time……Will be mine!" She continued to stare at the crystal as it focused in on the fallen tree as it lay in the snow. One small piece of red fabric clung to one of the branches and fluttered in the small amount of wind.
~******~
Inuyasha trudged along through the six inches of snow. 'I'm so glad I decided to keep these shoes.' He clenched what was left of the undead miko in his hand. "Kikyo, why did you have to do that?" He continued to walk as he thought about what had made her go nuts. "Could the fact that I'm with Kagome made her snap……that's the only thing I can think of……I hope she didn't hurt the baby…If she did…" He tightened his grip on the remains then sighed heavily "She's already dead, again, what can I possibly do? Oh well, the least I can do is take care of Kagome and our baby."
"This guy sure talks to himself a lot." The tiny youkai whispered softly to herself as she observed from a high tree branch.
Inuyasha stopped in his tracks and stood very still. He slowly tucked the pouch of remains into his haori as he listened to every sound of the forest. Snow falling from branches, animals settling in for the night, other animals waking, and what sounded like someone whispering very, very quietly. He thought for a moment on what his actions should be. He then took off running at full speed.
The youkai hiding in the trees watched as the hanyou started running like his life depended on it. She was astounded by his speed; she was having trouble keeping up with him as they wove through trees and dodged branches. She followed him for about ten minutes when she lost him. She looked in every direction… but one.
Inuyasha pounced on her from above, quickly capturing the struggling bird in his hands. "I caught you, now speeeeeek – What the?" he stared at the small person in his hands inquisitively. Blue, purple and white wings extended out her back. Two tail-like streamers hung below her wings, they were long and came to a teardrop shape at the ends. Long bluish purple hair flowed down her back, reaching almost to her ankles. She wore a dark green Chinese style dress that reached down to just pass her knees, it was trimmed in gold and cut up to her hips. On both sides of her hips. On both sides of her hips was a gold medallion with 2 streamers of light blue and purple falling from them. A gold hoop was around her ankle with a single chain link loop hanging from it. She stared up at him with terrified teal eyes. After examining her, he held a tight grip around her, much like he does with Shippo's tail. He held her up to eye level and glared at her. "Now who are you? What are you? And what do you want?"
The 8 inch tall youkai wiggled and squirmed, trying to free herself, to no avail. "Let me go!" The small person continued to struggle against the strong grip of the hanyou holding her captive. "Release……me!"
"Answer my questions, now!" Inuyasha started to unsheathe Tetsusaiga, showing to his prisoner what he could use against her if she denied his request. "Now again, who are you, what are you and what do you want?"
She gulped at seeing the blade of the sword and stopped resisting. "My name is Hoseki, I'm a Tori no Ten (Bird of Heaven). And…and I was just following you."
He arched an eyebrow at the last answer. "And why were you following me?"
Hoseki turned he head to one side, intending not to answer. The sound of sliding metal caused her to rethink her plan. "I was ordered to by my mistress." The look on the hanyou's face told her he wanted her to elaborate. "Lady Hakai wants me to find information on the Child that defies Time…She thins you might know something."
'The child that…Defies time…could that be?' his eyes went wide as he thought about a possible candidate. He held the youkai firmly as he brought her up closer. "What does she want with the child?" his words came out a bit more forceful then he had intended but if there was a possible threat to Kagome or the baby, he wanted to know about it. "TELL ME!"
Not wanting to answer anymore questions from the gruff hanyou and wanting to be free on top of it. Hoseki did the only thing she could while still retained. She bit down into Inuyasha's hand, hard.
The unexpected piercing to his hand surprised him. Inuyasha unintentionally released the winged youkai and shook his hand, trying to rid himself of the pain. "DAMN IT!" Inuyasha watched the youkai fly up into the air away from him then dart off into the canopy of the trees. He got ready to chase after her but five words stopped him. 'The child that defies time………Kagome!' he then shot off toward Kaede's hut, eager to reach Kagome and protect her from this possibly new menace.
~******~
Inuyasha rushed through the forest. Emotionally numb to the physically numbing snow. A light snow started to drift down as Inuyasha pushed on, intent on finding Kikyo before her scent and footprints disappeared. He had followed Kagome's scent back to the tree she was attacked at. From there he had managed to track Kikyo's scent further into the forest, where she later took to walking. Inuyasha's pace quickened as Kikyo's smell got stronger. Soon the sight of black, white and red could be seen shuffling through the snow. "KIKYO!!!"
Upon hearing her name echoing throughout the forest, Kikyo turned to see Inuyasha standing several yards away from her. His teeth were bared and his fist clenched. But she took no note of it. "Have you returned to me?"
The hopefulness in her voice made him sick, especially considering what she had just done. "You could ay that…But I wouldn't. You tried to kill Kagome tonight. Did you honestly expect me to come celebrate with you or something? Your nuts!"
Kikyo started to glare at him as he spoke. She knew it was wishful thinking but she was still hopeful that Inuyasha still loved her. The look on his face told her other wise, he was furious. 'That stupid miko from the future certainly has him tied around her little finger. Inuyasha was mine years ago…He'll be mine again.' Her glare intensified as she grabbed her dagger with her left hand. "Don't you remember Inuyasha; your life belongs to me!"
"You may have my life, but Kagome has my heart and soul. Actually when she released me from the tree, she claimed my life as well. And I WILL NOT let my child grow up without a father as I did."
"Do you expect to kill me Inuyasha? We both know you can't. You still love me. Besides what would your Kagome say?" Kikyo gave him a sly look as she took a few steps closer to him.
"Your right Kikyo, I do still love you…But I love Kagome and my child more. So I will fight you. I don't want to, but I will." Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga and kept it trained on the undead miko.
Kikyo bared her teeth in annoyance. "Your not gonna use your sword on me so just put it away." She tightened her grip on her dagger as she lunged head on toward Inuyasha.
The hanyou saw the attack coming and leapt to the side, easily missing the dagger. "Stop it Kikyo. I don't want to fight you." Images of Kagome playing with their child, alone, flashed in his mind. 'Maybe if I can bury her in snow, she'll listen.' Another image of Kagome crying over his fire rat robe invaded his mind also. "That's it, KAZE no KIZU!" he aimed the powerful attack past a nearby tree, hoping to knock off some snow from the branches.
Kikyo's eyes followed the path of the attack as it whizzed by the tree and a few clumps of snow fell to the ground. She then watched as the boughs of the tree started swaying uncontrollably. Kikyo looked to the top of the tree and stood frozen in place as she watched the tree get closer and closer. The sound of moving branches and cracking wood rang through the forest.
Inuyasha stared at the fallen tree, completely dumbfounded and stunned. He watched as numerous white souls escaped from the branches of the tree and floated up into the sky. He looked back down to the tree, to where Kikyo was suppose to be. He sheathed Tetsusaiga and walked up to the tree, looking for any signs of "life." All he found was her clothes, some broken pieces of pottery and some soil. "Kikyo?!" Inuyasha whispered as he realized she was gone, there wasn't even any blood. "May you finally rest in peace." He gathered up what was left of her remains and slowly walked back toward the village. "I hope Kagome is still asleep."
~******~
*CRASH*CHINK*CLINK*
"DAMN IT! I needed that miko!" A tall woman shrouded in a long, hunter green cape shouted as she threw her goblet at a reflecting crystal that showed a large pine tree laying in the snow. "Only she knew where the Child of Time is. I need to find that child. Hoseki, follow that hanyou. If he knows that miko, he just may know where the child is."
"Hai, mistress." Replied a quiet and obedient voice. A small winged figure floated out of the shadows and hovered before her mistress. "Do you wish for me just to observe?"
"Hai" Spoke the woman as she walked over and took a seat in a high back, throne like chair centered in the dark room.
The tiny person bowed politely. "I shall go immediately." Then like a bullet she flew out the window into the snow filled night, in search for a lone hanyou waking threw the snow.
The lady in dark green stared at the crystal again with an evil smirk on her face. "I will get that child…The child that defies time……Will be mine!" She continued to stare at the crystal as it focused in on the fallen tree as it lay in the snow. One small piece of red fabric clung to one of the branches and fluttered in the small amount of wind.
~******~
Inuyasha trudged along through the six inches of snow. 'I'm so glad I decided to keep these shoes.' He clenched what was left of the undead miko in his hand. "Kikyo, why did you have to do that?" He continued to walk as he thought about what had made her go nuts. "Could the fact that I'm with Kagome made her snap……that's the only thing I can think of……I hope she didn't hurt the baby…If she did…" He tightened his grip on the remains then sighed heavily "She's already dead, again, what can I possibly do? Oh well, the least I can do is take care of Kagome and our baby."
"This guy sure talks to himself a lot." The tiny youkai whispered softly to herself as she observed from a high tree branch.
Inuyasha stopped in his tracks and stood very still. He slowly tucked the pouch of remains into his haori as he listened to every sound of the forest. Snow falling from branches, animals settling in for the night, other animals waking, and what sounded like someone whispering very, very quietly. He thought for a moment on what his actions should be. He then took off running at full speed.
The youkai hiding in the trees watched as the hanyou started running like his life depended on it. She was astounded by his speed; she was having trouble keeping up with him as they wove through trees and dodged branches. She followed him for about ten minutes when she lost him. She looked in every direction… but one.
Inuyasha pounced on her from above, quickly capturing the struggling bird in his hands. "I caught you, now speeeeeek – What the?" he stared at the small person in his hands inquisitively. Blue, purple and white wings extended out her back. Two tail-like streamers hung below her wings, they were long and came to a teardrop shape at the ends. Long bluish purple hair flowed down her back, reaching almost to her ankles. She wore a dark green Chinese style dress that reached down to just pass her knees, it was trimmed in gold and cut up to her hips. On both sides of her hips. On both sides of her hips was a gold medallion with 2 streamers of light blue and purple falling from them. A gold hoop was around her ankle with a single chain link loop hanging from it. She stared up at him with terrified teal eyes. After examining her, he held a tight grip around her, much like he does with Shippo's tail. He held her up to eye level and glared at her. "Now who are you? What are you? And what do you want?"
The 8 inch tall youkai wiggled and squirmed, trying to free herself, to no avail. "Let me go!" The small person continued to struggle against the strong grip of the hanyou holding her captive. "Release……me!"
"Answer my questions, now!" Inuyasha started to unsheathe Tetsusaiga, showing to his prisoner what he could use against her if she denied his request. "Now again, who are you, what are you and what do you want?"
She gulped at seeing the blade of the sword and stopped resisting. "My name is Hoseki, I'm a Tori no Ten (Bird of Heaven). And…and I was just following you."
He arched an eyebrow at the last answer. "And why were you following me?"
Hoseki turned he head to one side, intending not to answer. The sound of sliding metal caused her to rethink her plan. "I was ordered to by my mistress." The look on the hanyou's face told her he wanted her to elaborate. "Lady Hakai wants me to find information on the Child that defies Time…She thins you might know something."
'The child that…Defies time…could that be?' his eyes went wide as he thought about a possible candidate. He held the youkai firmly as he brought her up closer. "What does she want with the child?" his words came out a bit more forceful then he had intended but if there was a possible threat to Kagome or the baby, he wanted to know about it. "TELL ME!"
Not wanting to answer anymore questions from the gruff hanyou and wanting to be free on top of it. Hoseki did the only thing she could while still retained. She bit down into Inuyasha's hand, hard.
The unexpected piercing to his hand surprised him. Inuyasha unintentionally released the winged youkai and shook his hand, trying to rid himself of the pain. "DAMN IT!" Inuyasha watched the youkai fly up into the air away from him then dart off into the canopy of the trees. He got ready to chase after her but five words stopped him. 'The child that defies time………Kagome!' he then shot off toward Kaede's hut, eager to reach Kagome and protect her from this possibly new menace.
~******~