Author's Notes: I was kinda worried those from the previous series wouldn't find the sequel, but you all seemed to make it and that makes me happy. What's more is that this story seems to be making a big hit and a lot of you have great expectations for this story. Since I have yet to know where it's going or what the ending is, I can only hope I meet those expectations. Until then, read on to the longest battle I think I have ever written!
Spider YoukaiKagome finished wrapping Shiori's puncture wounds while Shaoran watched on helplessly. The small girl had fallen asleep thanks to a weak sleeping mixture Kagome made.
"W-will she be alright?" He asked.
Smiling weakly, Kagome rubbed the back of her son's head. "Now don't you worry. You know you and your sister are special. She'll heal up in no time." Standing up, she made ready to leave the room. Looking back she thought to add, "Better stay here with her – in case she needs anything."
When the boy nodded, she went into the other room and walked right through the conversing group.
"There's no doubt about it – it was another jewel, except it seems to have been accidentally found by Shiori before that crow ate it." Inuyasha explained. As Kagome passed without a word, he straightened in surprise, "Kagome?"
Sango watched her leave, "Kagome-chan?"
As soon as she was clear of the flap leading to the hut, she bolted to the well in the center of the village and cried the tears she had been holding in for so long.
Walking besides her, Inuyasha neither said anything to comfort her, nor fight it when she grabbed onto his robe and cried some more. Inuyasha knew what ailed her and nothing he could say at the moment would alleviate her pain. Youkai were a constant threat to all who lived in Feudal Japan. That's why he had been so adamant about teaching his children to fight. And from what Shaoran reported to him – the battle had gone well, despite Shiori's injuries from the dragon's talons.
"T-they're still my babies, Inuyasha." Kagome said between hiccups. "I can't help but worry about them."
Holding her close he replied, "We'll solve this so it doesn't happen to anyone else." He promised.
Nodding, Kagome took a moment to enjoy the warmth the embrace gave her. "I hope you're right."
Suddenly, his ears picked up the enemy's approach and he barely had enough time to pick up Kagome and jump to the side before the well was destroyed in their place.
When Kagome had a chance to look up from the crook of his arm, she immediately wished she hadn't. A few feet in front of her, with its huge abdomen over the remains of the well, was a spider youkai. It clicked its mandibles angrily as its eight solid white eyes narrowed at its master's enemy. "Kill… Kill! KILL!!" It's two front legs came crashing down in an attempt to skewer both hanyou and miko trapped below.
Inuyasha, his arms still around Kagome, jump-rolled to the side and bounded back to his feet, pulling Tetsusaiga from its sheath. "Now what!?"
Coming out of the hut, Sango and Miroku froze at the sight of the creature. "Kirara! Stay inside with the children!" The full-grown cat nodded and retreated inside.
Shippo ran out too and upon seeing the giant arachnid, ran to hide behind Sango's leg. "What the hell is that!?"
In the taijiya's hand was the miko's precious bow and arrow. "Kagome-chan!" She held it up.
Kagome nodded and while the creature's attention was on Inuyasha, she bravely ran underneath it.
Inuyasha slashed at the legs that were sent his way and made the creature move back in pain as one of its limbs flew off to land in the dirt off to the side.
Thrown off balance, the spider wobbled back and forth – making it difficult for the miko not to get hit. She stopped a hair short of one leg, but was thrown back when the youkai spun to face Inuyasha and its abdomen hit Kagome head on.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha called out in worry. He had yet to use Kazu-no-kizu since he was still so close to home. But one thing was for sure – this wasn't a random youkai attack. This was sent after them on purpose.
"I'm all right!" His mate shouted from the flat of her back. Gasping, Kagome rolled to the side to avoid one leg. "I think!" She rolled to the left to miss another massive appendage. "Maybe not!" Finally clear, she sprinted the last of the distance to her friends' side. (A/N: Visually I just think this is hilarious)
Handing her the weapon, Sango asked with hiraikotsu, "What do you suggest we do now?"
Loading an arrow, Kagome replied, "You two stay here. Shiori is still weak and we can't move her yet. After this is over, I want my home, along with my children, in one piece!"
Inuyasha leapt from side to side dodging legs as well as the large fangs that wanted to snap him in two. He slashed with his claws in a quick strike and opened a few gashes in the spider's face but nothing more.
One of the arachnid's legs caught him in the midsection and sent him flying back.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called out, aiming an arrow to grab the youkai's attention. "Hey ugly! Over here!"
It turned around and that's when Kagome saw it. A glowing black collar – studded with defiled shikon no tama. What in Kami is that? So stunned by it, she didn't even notice the spider ready to spring on top of her.
"Kagome-sama!" Miroku's shout brought her back to the battle at hand.
Running away from it, she slowly lured it away from her hanyou, just as he was recovering from the deafening blow.
Stopping suddenly, the spider maneuvered its abdomen between its legs so it was facing the miko. Streams of white sticky webbing came out and latched around her legs, bringing her crashing to the floor.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha was on his feet and charging at the youkai.
Swinging Kagome back with the connected string, the spider threw Kagome into the hanyou and both went careening to the side.
"Kagome! Inuyasha! Shippo ran off to their aide.
Hearing the commotion, Shaoran slipped past an unsuspecting Kirara and took a peek outside, immediately catching the sight of his parents being thrown to the side. "Mom! Dad!" He ran in between Sango and Miroku right towards his parents.
Shippo gasped and called out to the boy. "No! Stay there!"
But it was too late, the spider saw him coming and shot the spider webbing at him too, pinning him against the wall of another of the huts. The commotion cause several villagers to run from their houses in fear, gathering their children with them.
"Shaoran!" Inuyasha left the still stunned Kagome in Shippo's care and raced off to save his son. "Didn't I tell you that youkai don't play fair!" He slashed at the spider's abdomen repeatedly with his claws – spraying green blood all over the place – until the creature fell down dead.
Running to Shaoran's side, Inuyasha used his claws and immediately set his son free, "You okay?"
Nodding, the boy looked at the remains. "What did it want?"
Looking back, Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga. "I don't know."
Kagome moaned and opened her eyes.
"Kagome?" Shippo asked worriedly, cutting her legs free from the sticky substance.
Looking over – she saw the creature's aura cover its entire body. "It's not over yet!" She pushed up just as the wounds began to close up and loaded her arrow.
Shoving Shaoran behind him, Inuyasha growled, "These things just don't know when to quite, do they!?" He bared his fangs in anger.
"No, it's not that! It's that thing around its neck! It has seven – no eight corrupted jewels in it!"
This made everyone gasp. "What!?" Inuyasha exclaimed.
Shaoran watched in horror as the once dead creature got back up on its seven good legs. This youkai has the same jewel in it as the one who hurt Shiori. He began to growl deep in his throat. The same guy who made that stupid stone from before made this collar too! What does he want with my family!? One thing was for sure. He was going to get revenge on this creature for his sister and let the bastard in charge know not to mess with his family anymore.
When the spider made a move towards Inuyasha and Shaoran, Kagome fired an arrow that erupted through the creature's abdomen and out his mouth. But just as quickly as it had been destroyed – it reformed. "Damn it!" She exclaimed.
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango threw her boomerang, but the spider latched onto it with its webbing and spun it back around to hit both monk and taijiya off to the side and away from the house.
"Sankon Tessou!" Inuyasha slashed with his claws, but the creature didn't even seem fazed this time!
Completely ignoring the enraged hanyou, the spider leapt into the air and aimed to crush the annoying miko who posed the biggest threat.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha jumped forward to try and move her out of the way, but the spider was on top of them before he knew it and two large fangs dug deep into his back.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome saw the pained expression on his face as he took the blow instead of her, the tips of the dripping fangs being exposed through the front of his haori.. Slowly, the sword in his possession slipped from his fingers and fell with a clatter to the floor, going back into its rusty form. His eyes closed and he passed out on top of his love. "Inuyasha? Inuyasha!"
Before Kagome could get to her feet, the spider began spinning its web around the both of them, locking them together and rooting them to their spot. Shippo was unfortunately trapped too.
"Mom! Dad!" Shaoran called out.
"Shaoran! Get you and your sister out of here! Go now with Kirara!" Kagome shouted before the cocoon was completely sealed.
Shaoran couldn't believe it. Behind him, Sango and Miroku were still unconscious. Shiori was hurt because of this guy and there was nothing he could do about it!
Gritting his teeth in anger, Shaoran fought back his tears. D-dammit!
Ba-dumBa-dum…
Flashing his eyes wide open, the little hanyou saw his father's un-transformed sword resonating with power. Is it…is it calling out to me?
FLASH!
"What's that daddy?" A younger Shaoran asked as he pointed to the sheathed sword he always saw hanging on his father's hip.
Taking it out, it remained in its original form. "This was something your grandfather left behind after he passed away to help protect our family. It's called Tetsusaiga and if you're ever in trouble – it will transform to protect you."
FLASH!
As the spider turned on its last adversary, Shaoran lowered his head and with a growl, dashed underneath its massive body. "Come and try to get me you sorry ass, wimpy excuse for a youkai!" He taunted. (A/N: Like father like son, ne?)
Having lost sight of its prey, the arachnid just started crushing and slashed with its legs in hopes of landing a hit.
Feeling the thrill of the fight, Shaoran laughed as he dodged the blind blows. He rolled the last distance to the blade and grabbed a hold of its hilt. He immediately felt the sword shake and vibrate with power before it transformed into its full form.
The weight pulled the dog demon pup to the ground as the massive blade was far too heavy for him to lift.
Finally coming to, Miroku opened his eyes and thought for a moment, he saw Inuyasha with Tetsusaiga, but then gasped when he saw who it really was. He's trying to wield Tetsusaiga!?
Gritting his teeth with the effort, Shaoran tried to lift the blade from the ground, but it was no use.
When the spider turned around, he made a sound that could only be interpreted as laughter.
Getting even angrier, Shaoran jumped with all his strength into the air when the spider tried biting the son like he had the father. Landing on its head, Shaoran turned the blade down and shouted, "Leave my family alone!!" He stabbed the blade down through the creature's head and all its grotesque eyes. It shrieked in pain and began to falter.
Getting to his feet, Miroku through one of his ward papers at the spider's collar. "Now! Cut the collar off!"
Nodding, Shaoran slashed with his claws – through the blade aura protecting it and it split into two pieces, falling to the floor in a sizzling heap.
Instantly, the youkai disintegrated and Shaoran fell to the floor just as Tetsusaiga reverted.
"Kitsune bi!"
The cocoon behind him exploded as Shippo's fire melted it all.
"Mom! Dad!" Shaoran ran and fell to his knees before his parents.
Kagome pulled herself into a sitting position with Inuyasha still unconscious in her lap. Seeing Tetsusaiga in her son's hand, she sighed. "You'll have to tell me what happened once we get your father inside."
Nodding, Shaoran wanted to cry. He was relieved but he was also scared. What if it happened again? Who would fall next?
Bowing before his master, the general reported. "We have yet to hear word of the…"
"I already know what has happened, you ingrate!" Yamatsu spat in anger. "The scout you sent decided to get greedy and digest one of my defiled jewels. He was able to harm the hanyou girl, but Inuyasha still posses a great threat and was able to slay him. As for our spider, he is no doubt destroyed as well."
The general couldn't believe what he was hearing. "If you knew he would be destroyed, then why sire?"
Turning towards his underling, Yamatsu clasped his hands behind his back. "Just to shake things up before sending out one of my advanced experiments. This one I plan to oversee personally and if all goes well, the entire mongrel family will be under my control by the week's end." His dark laugh echoed throughout the chambers that once held his father – before his demise. It had taken months to dig up, but it was now secured enough to house his son's ambitions. Where those ambitions took him was yet to be seen…
Author's Notes:……….I think the battle spoke for itself. Now, what evil deed does Yamatsu have planned? You'll just have to wait and see! While you wait through, I would like to inform you that I am working on a mange version of my first story, "To Protect the One I Love" and it will soon be available on my webpage for viewing. Ja ne!