CHAPTER TWO:
CONFUSION
Dislcaimer: I don't own Inu.
Pairings: Cloud/Kagome, Tifa/Sesshomaru, Vincent/Sango & Yuffie/Miroku.
So now Kagome was back in the Feudal Era once again. She ran as fast as she could and ran right into Kagura. "Ah!" Kagome squealed. "Na-nani?!?"
"Kagome, she needs your help." Sango ran to Kagome. "She brought Kohaku to me. But in return we have to help her." Kohaku stood behind Sango, not saying a word. Kirara jumped on his head and meowed.
"Are?" Kagome cocked her head. "Where's minna?"
"Inuyasha left to get Miroku and Shippo." Sango put her arm around Kohaku's shoulders.
"Yoroshii." Kagome nodded. "How can I help you?"
"Naraku has my heart. If he destroys it, I die." Kagura said bitterly. "I want you to use your miko powers to…"
"Prevent him from killing you?" Kagome frowned. "I'm not sure I'm strong enough."
"You can do it, Kagome-chan!" Sango said encouragingly.
"Hai, but I don't know how to." Kagome sighed. "I mean, I guess I could try and…" I really have no idea! I want to help Kagura… How?
"I understand." Kagura looked at the ground disappointed. "It's impossible." Kagome looked at her surprised.
"Iie! I'll find a way! I promise you that!" Kagome said fiercely. If a shikon no kakera can keep Kohaku alive maybe it'll do the same for Kagura. Kagura, don't betray me! "I'll give you a shikon no kakera."
"If Naraku…" Kagura started. "He screws everything up! And now with his new power…" Kirara growled and changed into her larger form.
"Are?" Sango looked at Kagura. Kagura explained everything about how Naraku stole the Materia and how Shinra sent Avalanche to get it back. Then Kagome told them about Cloud and Marlene.
Sesshomaru walked along the path while Rin and Jaken trailed behind. "Rin runs by flower! Rin runs by trees! Rin runs past big big bees!" Rin skipped around.
"Urusai, ningen!" Jaken snapped. He hit her in the head with his Staff of Heads. Rin angrily kicked him in the shin.
"Meanie!" Rin stomped ahead crossly. Sesshomaru almost smiled, amused. Jaken was now walking with a limp and it was a funny sight. "Jaken-sama is too mean! Rin going to sing! And Rin going to sing LOUD!"
"Sesshomaru-sama…make her stop." Jaken whimpered. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, annoyed. "Never mind, Sesshomaru-sama. I'm just delirious."
"Rin runs by flowers! Rin runs by trees! Rin runs past big big bees!" Rin sang even louder. She turned around and stuck her tongue out at Jaken.
Sesshomaru stopped walking. Something was coming. "Rin." He said warningly. Rin ran right to him and latched herself onto his leg. What is it? It's not ningen or youkai. Something powerful is coming. And he reeks of blood.
A tall silver-haired human looking thing stopped in front of Jaken. He wore all black. He eyes bored into Sesshomaru's. "You would make a good opponent."
Rin gasped and backed away. Something was wrong with her head. It hurt badly. And she could feel something scary in her heart. "Se…Sephiroth!!" She screamed, then covered her mouth.
The silver-haired being glared at her. "Who are you, that you know my name?" Rin shook her head and backed away some more. Sephiroth came closer to her. Sesshomaru growled and stepped in between them. He drew Toukijin.
"Jaken." Sesshomaru said icily. "Take her far away."
"Ah-un!!" Rin called out and the two-headed dragon flew towards her. She jumped on, followed by Jaken. They flew away out of sight.
Sephiroth drew his sword and lunged at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru dodged it and slashed Sephiroth across the cheek with his poisoned claw. Sephiroth glared menacingly at him and slashed at Sesshomaru over and over. Sesshomaru dodged them all then punched him in the head.
"Baka. You hope to defeat this Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru shook his head. Sephiroth rapidly slashed Sesshomaru across the chest, breaking his armor.
Inuyasha ran back to the village hurriedly. Something was wrong. He could smell something coming. It wasn't a youkai or ningen. It reeked of blood. What is it? Who is it? And…why does it seem so powerful…
"Houshi!!!" Inuyasha called out. Miroku and Shippo came running. "Come on! Something's going on!" As if to prove him right, a black blur sped past all of them.
"NANI?!?" Shippo wailed and jumped onto Miroku. "What was that?"
"I don't know." Inuyasha frowned. Then he sniffed the air. A ningen girl was coming. With some kind of animal. A short black-haired girl came into view. She was with an animal with fiery red fur.
"Yuffie. Be careful." The animal with red fur said quietly.
"Red, They're not a threat." The girl called Yuffie rolled her eyes. "Did you just see a black blur run by here?"
"None of your business!" Inuyasha snapped.
"Who was it?" Miroku demanded.
"So you did see it." Yuffie said triumphantly. "That was Sephiroth. He's the last Ancient alive, since he killed Aeris."
"Ancient?" Inuyasha's jaw dropped. "The Cetra?"
"Yeah." Yuffie narrowed her eyes. "How do you know? Are you working for Naraku?"
"Feh." Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "We fight against him baka."
"Yeah right." Yuffie scowled. "Do you honestly expect me to believe-" A blonde haired man and a small dark-haired girl ran to them. "Cloud! Marlene!"
"These three know about Naraku." The red animal frowned.
"Just like Kagome!" Marlene said excitedly. Inuyasha's eyes widened.
"How do you know Kagome-sama?" Miroku frowned.
"I met her in the park." Marlene said.
"Park?" Inuyasha repeated confused. Then he remembered. "You were in Kagome's time? How?"
"Kagome's time? What time is that?" Marlene cocked her head.
"You just traveled 500 years in the past." Miroku explained.
Kagome finished her story. "I see." Kagura frowned. "So this Cloud must be a part of Avalanche. It fits the story." Kirara began running in the direction of the village. Kagome, Sango, Kagura, and Kohaku ran after her.
"Kirara!" Sango called out. They reached the village and saw Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippo standing by some unfamiliar people.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha called out. "Stay back!"
"Kagome!" Marlene waved at Kagome.
"Nani?" Kagome ran to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, how did they get here? I saw her in my own time."
A girl with black hair put her hands up. "How about we have some introductions, ok? I'm Yuffie. This is Red XIII. This is Cloud and this is Marlene. We're after Sephiroth and Naraku. How about we work together?"
"I'm Kagome. This is Inuyasha. This is Miroku. This is Shippo. This is Sango. This is Kagura. This is Kohaku. And this is Kirara." Kagome finished. "And maybe we should work together."
"We're a big group now." Marlene said excitedly.
"So I'm guessing you're Avalanche." Sango looked at Cloud.
"What is she doing here? She's on Naraku's side!" Inuyasha spat out.
"Osuwari!" Kagome shouted. "Alright. Now I have to help her." Maybe that "Aeris" can help me. "Uh…do any of you know where…Aeris is?"
Yuffie's mouth dropped open. Cloud looked at the ground furiously. "Definitely a subject you want to avoid. Sephiroth killed Aeris." Red XIII shook his head. "But why would you need her help?"
"Marlene said I reminded her of Aeris. I figured our powers would be similar as well. I thought she could help me help Kagura." Kagome sighed. Inuyasha angrily tried to get up. "Osuwari!" His face met dirt again.
Marlene, Yuffie and Shippo laughed. "Do it again! Do it again!" Marlene cheered. "How can you do that? Can I do it?"
Kagome giggled. "It's not funny!" Inuyasha said furiously. "Kagura works for Naraku and she's staring me in the eye! What is going on, Kagome?"
"She's helping us that's what." Kagome said simply.
"Are you sure we can trust her?" Miroku frowned.
"She gave Kohaku back to me." Sango hugged her little brother. "She actually risked getting killed by Naraku."
"I want to." Kagura said bitterly. "Kagome can't help me. He's going to kill me. He still has my heart." What can I do? I will not take Kohaku back to Naraku. I'll never listen to a word he says again. But if I die by Naraku's hands, will my body be impure?
"Kagome." Kagura said after a moment of silence. "I want you to kill me."
"Nani?" Kagome's mouth dropped open. "Iie, I can't do that."
"It's the only way. I would rather die by your hands than Naraku's." Kagura looked her in the eye. "My body will be purified. And… give my fans to that little ningen Sesshomaru travels with. She'll need some kind of protection."
"Why?" Inuyasha frowned. That was a weird request.
"Because that Sephiroth is after her." Kagura closed her eyes. "Now, Kagome. Do it." Kagome looked at the ground and took a deep breath.
"Nani?!?" Yuffie, Red XIII, and Cloud shouted.
"Are you positive?" Kagome demanded. "I don't want to do this…"
"Hai." Kagura stared each one of them in the eye. Kagome ran into the hut and came back with her bow and arrows.
"How are those going to kill her?" Yuffie rolled her eyes.
Kagome pulled the string back and closed her eyes. "Be brave, Kagome." Kagura said fiercely. She tossed her fans aside. Kagome opened them and let go of the string. It happened in slow motion. The Sacred Arrow, surrounded by pale purple light struck Kagura right in the heart.
"Arigato…" Kagura's body disintegrated into nothing but light. The light flew into her fans and the arrow disappeared. Kagome dropped to the ground.
Sango walked to the fans and picked them up. "Here Kagome. Put them in your pack." Kagome obeyed, but didn't say a word.
"Wow. She is strong." Yuffie's eyebrows went up. "Why did she give up? We could have…done something…" Kagome stood up wordlessly. "Stupid Sephiroth! Aeris probably could have helped!"
Ah-un flew to the ground. He had been flying for a while now. "Rin's worried about Sesshomaru-sama." Rin whispered. "Jaken-sama?"
"I don't know." Jaken snapped. "How did you know his name?"
"Rin doesn't know…" Rin looked at the ground. "It just popped out of Rin's mouth like someone else was saying it."
Jaken sat on the ground scowling. Then he stood up rapidly. Something else is coming! Kami-sama! What's going on? A tall brown-haired girl and a scary-looking man came into view.
"I wonder where he is." The girl frowned. The man said nothing. "Gee, aren't you a chatterbox, Vincent." Rin backed away, scared again. "Hello! Are you alright?"
"Who are you?" Jaken barked. "Stay away from Rin!"
"Iie. Sesshomaru-sama met Sephiroth and they're fighting and-" Rin started.
"Did you just say Sephiroth?" The man demanded coldly. "Where is he?" Rin ran behind Ah-un, terrified.
"Vincent." The girl rolled her eyes. "I know he seems like a scary creep, but he isn't that bad. All you have to do is tell us where Sephiroth is and we'll go. My name is Tifa."
"This is Jaken-sama and this is Ah-un." Rin got on Ah-un. "We flew from there. I don't think you can fly. You look like a ningen."
"I'm guessing you've experienced other living things?" Tifa raised an eyebrow. What a cute girl! She's adorable. But who's this Sesshomaru?
"Hai. Youkai are all around here. They're mostly weak." Rin nodded. "Sephiroth is that way!" She pointed the east.
Tifa nodded. "Arigato." She looked at Vincent. "See? That's how it's done. You can't get anywhere by scaring little kids." Vincent just stared at Rin.
Rin called out as Tifa and Vincent began to leave. "Let's take Ah-un and go back to Sesshomaru-sama!" Tifa stared at the two-headed dragon that growled at Vincent. "Iie, Ah-un. Tifa-sama is nice…and Vincent-sama is ok."
Satisfied, Ah-un allowed all three of them to climb on his back. They flew off and left a half screaming, half praying Jaken behind. "COME BACK RIN!!!!"
Inuyasha frowned. He could smell Sesshomaru and that black blur together. They were fighting. So Rin is in danger. "Sesshomaru must be fighting this Sephiroth you speak of."
"Ano, say goodbye to Sesshomaru." Yuffie shrugged.
"You think he'll die that easily?" Shippo blinked. "I think he's gonna win."
"Yeah right. You don't anything about Sephiroth's power." Cloud said.
"You've never met Sesshomaru either, ne?" Sango frowned.
"One thing's for sure. They're both reckless killers." Inuyasha frowned. "Sephiroth reeks of blood."
"Ano, shouldn't we get going?" Kagome looked at the sky. "If Kagura wanted Rin protected, then we have to get there. Quickly."
"Which way?" Marlene asked Inuyasha. "You can smell them cause you're a dog." Inuyasha glared at her. "Gomen ne."
Inuyasha knelt down and Kagome climbed on his back. Sango climbed on Kirara. "Kohaku and Marlene should stay here." Shippo nodded.
"You should too, Shippo." Miroku almost laughed. Grandma Kaede came out of her hut. Shippo scowled but followed the two kids. "I will stay here." Sango looked at him in surprise. "We can't all go. If Naraku shows up for Kohaku…"
"Just in case, I'll stay as well." Yuffie nodded.
"Alright." Inuyasha looked at the group. Sango, Kirara, this Cloud who didn't say anything, Red XIII, and Kagome. Miroku, Yuffie, Kohaku, Shippo, and Marlene were staying behind. "Feh. I hope you're not slow."
"Be nice, Inuyasha." Kagome scolded. Inuyasha scowled.
"Before she makes you kiss dirt again." Red XIII laughed. Even Cloud had a smirk on his face. Inuyasha said nothing, but began running in the direction of Sesshomaru's sent. Red XIII and Cloud followed close behind. Kirara followed in the air.
He's faster than I thought. Scrawny little ningen. Inuyasha looked back at Cloud. But what's with his eyes. And that Sephiroth, the Ancient. What's his story?
How did this happen? Sango rolled her eyes. And who is "Aeris"? "Was Aeris an Ancient?" Red XIII nodded, but Cloud said nothing.
Sesshomaru glared at Sephiroth. "So you aren't that weak." Sesshomaru smiled. "Good, because this Sesshomaru needs a good match."
"This match will be your last." Sephiroth flew at Sesshomaru and they began to fight in the air. Sephiroth's sword clashed with Toukijin over and over. It seemed like they were evenly matched.
"Who is your human girl?" Sephiroth asked.
"Beat me and find out." Sesshomaru said icily.
"She's obviously keeping secrets from you if she knows who I am." Sephiroth smirked. Sesshomaru slashed Toukijin across Sephiroth's back. Sephiroth angrily attacked Sesshomaru over and over again, giving Sesshomaru gashes.
"Enough of this!" Sesshomaru's eyes glowed red. His whole body glowed and he changed into his humongous youkai form. A huge white inu youkai growled at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth looked a bit frightened for a moment. Then he laughed. "Got a bit scared, did you?" Sesshomaru lunged at him in response emitting loads of poison from his mouth. Poison! Sephiroth jumped in the air. It won't effect me that much, but it'll slow me down! Kuso!
Sesshomaru bit down on Sephiroth's shoulder and shook him around like a rag doll, finally flinging him into the forest. Sephiroth felt a bit dizzy. There was poison all around him and in his arm as well, which had almost been torn off.
He's missing an arm as well. Or leg. Sephiroth laughed. "So you're a cripple? I never would have thought that!" Sesshomaru dove for Sephiroth releasing more poison. Sephiroth slashed at Sesshomaru's head. Sesshomaru took Sephiroth's sword in this mouth and hurled it as far away as possible.
"Like I can only use sword attacks." Sephiroth attacked with a powerful bolt of lightning. Sesshomaru couldn't escape it. He roared in pain. Then Sephiroth used fire to attack Sesshomaru.
Sephiroth turned. He saw the two-headed dragon with that human girl on his back. What's this? That wench that travels with Cloud and the vampire. So they must be near. I'll finish this one off and take the girl. "Watch me kill your Sesshomaru!" Sephiroth shouted madly and attacked Sesshomaru with his Bolt3.
Inuyasha ran faster. How far away are they? He thought furiously. "Inuyasha, I'm worried." Kagome frowned.
"I'm surprised that 'Sesshomaru' made it this far." Red XIII said. "Whose side is he on?"
"Eh? He's sort of…neutral?" Sango cocked her head. "He'll attack Naraku or Inuyasha. In this case he'll probably go for Naraku."
"Hai. Hopefully he'll work with us." Kagome nodded.
"Feh. We don't need it." Inuyasha snorted.
"Naraku was strong enough without the Materia." Kagome argued. "Red XIII, could you explain more about the Materia?"
"Sure. Materia is the physical form of the Ancient's knowledge. It can be used for magic-like elements or healing powers or even summoning monsters." Red XIII started.
"So if Sephiroth is an Ancient, then this stuff must come practically natural to him. Wow. He must be really strong…" Sango frowned. "But whose side is he on?"
"Ours, surprisingly enough." Cloud finally decide to talk. "He must feel insulted that Naraku has stole valuable Materia."
Inuyasha stopped running. There was drastic change in Sesshomaru's youki. He could smell loads of poison around. "We can't go any further."
"Why not?" Kagome demanded. "We're getting closer, I know it!"
"Sesshomaru's in his other form. And the poison is getting even closer." Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.
"Other form?" Red XIII cocked his head. "Let's go to the top of that hill at least." The group hurriedly reached the top and gasped. They saw a huge white dog fling Sephiroth's sword far, far away. Green poison was everywhere below them tainting the forest.
"I see Rin!" Kagome pointed to the two-headed dragon in the sky not too far away from Sephiroth and Sesshomaru. "But who's with her?"
"Tifa and Vincent!" Cloud's eyes widened. "So they made it too." He looked relieved. They all stared at Sephiroth and Sesshomaru fighting.
Sephiroth looked at a hill above him. He could see Cloud, Red XIII, and some other ningen. Matte, two of them weren't human. And that girl. He stared at the girl standing next to the dog-eared boy. She definitely wasn't a normal ningen. Something was different about her aura.
"Stop this Sephiroth!" He heard Cloud shout. Sephiroth sent a Bolt3 in return at them. The dog-eared boy pulled out his sword and deflected it with his scabbard. Not bad…
Sesshomaru looked up at Ah-un. To his surprise an attractive ningen girl and a dangerous-looking man accompanied Rin. But no Jaken. He almost laughed. Why did the spiky-haired boy want them to stop fighting? He had guts to interrupt his battle. But what if there was a good reason? And besides, this Sesshomaru wanted his Rin away from that male. The female didn't bother him, but he did.
Sesshomaru could smell Rin's fear. But then he realized that she was scared for him, not of him. She thought that he was hurt. Sesshomaru shook his large white head. Even now, Rin didn't fear him. That was true loyalty.
Sesshomaru changed back into his other form. Sephiroth looked at him obviously confused and angered. "Sesshomaru-sama! Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin pulled on Ah-un's reins, making it fly closer.
Tifa put a hand on Rin's shoulder. "The poison will harm us." Rin looked sad, but obeyed and made Ah-un stop. Sesshomaru motioned to Tifa to fly by Cloud and the others. She obeyed.