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Italics=thoughts
I would like to thank my sister for editing this story. So, if there any mistakes you can kill her ahahaha
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Bound
His haggard form was covered in a badly torn red garb. Hair, which may have been white at one time, formed a monstrous mane that hung limply down his back. Two ragged ears lay inside the mass each full of tears and holes. His face was drawn, sunken cavities held two lifeless eyes. That glowed dimly like dying embers. The only ornament that adorned his broken form was a beaded necklace that clung loosely to his neck. Its white claws scrapped along his raw throat.
Sesshoumaru had not seen Inuyasha in a millennia, he could faintly remember Inuyasha saying something about love and a better life before taking his leave. Apparently he had found neither.
"He is my slave" a twisted half smile flickered on Kikyo's face, "You will be mine as well."
Her empty eyes locked on Sesshoumaru,"Inuyasha, go"
Inuyasha's expression never changed as he charged his former comrade. He flew toward Sesshoumaru, devoid of any fear or apprehension. His deadly claws swung at the other's exposed throat.
Still stunned by the appearance of this ghost from his past Sesshoumaru barely dodged the fevered blows. Regaining his poise Sesshoumaru prepared for the next assault.
'I can't kill him,' this terrible truth echoed in his mind as he ducked the dagger like claws that flew about him. 'Nor can I allow this to continue.'
Vaulting off the ground, Sesshoumaru propelled himself into a large tree limb. He scoffed at Kikyo who's expression was of cold indifference or perhaps even boredom.
Without even lifting her desolate eyes to meet his scowl, she commented. "I tire of this, it was over before it began.... Inuyasha take your true form."
'No,' Sesshoumaru's mind froze.
Inuyasha responded to the command immediately, dropping his fighting stance. He looked to the sky, arms extended, as if begging for something from above. The sky answered, his crumbled body straightened as it was incased in a violent red light. The tremendous rush of power awoke the earth beneath him. The ground cracked and fissured at his feet sending jets of scolding steam into the air, cloaking the area in a heavy haze.
Sesshoumaru stood fast, 'Damn the heavens, why have I been cursed.'
He could not compete with the true form of the Guardian.
From the beginning, he had been the only Guardian unable to become his true self. The reason why had always evaded him.
The mist settled and a massive, clawed paw covered where Inuyasha had once stood. Its white fur emanated a brilliance that rivaled all of the heavens light. It was enormous white lion; it towered over the tallest tree in the forest canopy. But even in this supreme state the years of captivity were clear, the beast's skin was pulled tightly over each protruding rib. The necklace still remained but now it's white teeth dug into the creatures' raw neck. The area had been scrapped clean of fur and flesh. The tight chain threatened to break the ragged scabs that covered the wound. A fallen god appeared to stand before him.
"Inuyasha, I do not require a defective Punisher," Kikyo commanded, "With all due swiftness clean this stain off creation."
The ferocious lion roared in response revealing tremendous fangs that lined its cavernous mouth. His lifeless eyes centered on the tiny figure, Sesshoumaru.
The animal brought a paw crashing through the tree destroying the poor piece of vegetation. Before the blow, struck Sesshoumaru had leapt off the tree landing effortlessly many meters away.
'Please, don't use magic,' Sesshoumaru silently pleaded. Before the thought had registered the creature's eyes began to glow menacingly.
'God what happened?' she opened a sleep burdened eye, 'Where am I?' She glanced down to see a well-armored back, "Corsico?"
The manticore's artic eyes filled with joy but before she could inquire about the present situation Kagome spotted their foe, "Kikyo?" she whispered.
Kikyo's head snapped in her direction her stony glare morphed into a hateful sneer, "How dare you defy me."
Kagome screeched in response, "What?! You cast me out and I have to listen to your commands, I think not!"
Kikyo struggled to regain her composure, "Not that it matters, do you see what is about to happen to that little Punisher?"
Kagome's eyes swung to see a massive beast in the process of hurling fireballs at an already weary Sesshoumaru. "No! You're going to kill him!"
"That would be the point, he is one of the damned, it is our duty to control and defeat the spawn of Satan or have you forgotten?' Kikyo retorted.
'I have to do something, how is she controlling him?' Kagome's mind raced, 'Bingo, the necklace, well time to use the only gift God gave me.'
Kagome sprung off Corsico's back messily landing on the forest floor.
"What in all the heavens are going to do, Forsaken One?' Kikyo sneered.
"The only thing I can." Kagome murmured.
She lifted her left arm in a forceful arc as her ridged hand ripped the very fabric of the air. The rip shuddered violently emitting a blinding spectrum of light. Kagome thrust her opposing arm deep into the rift and from it emerged a great staff.
The entire weapon was a sharpened, nowhere could it be held without casing harm to the user. The middle of the blade was stained deeply with the blood of its owner. The top consisted of a menacing scythe with a small obsidian sphere levitating beside the hook. Slowly it orbited the base of the hook, shimmering what an un-harnessed power that begged to be opened.
The weapon would have been intimidating if not for its archaic nature. Large chunks of the metal were missing and scratches and scars marred even the complete areas.
Kikyo's stoic mask completely shattered, bursting into laughter she sputtered, "What the hell are you going to do with that?"
Kagome paid no heed to the Purifiers chastisement. She gripped the ancient blade tightly, sending a new wave of crimson blood down the old stains. She charged that enraged lion.
'Did she figure it out? Impossible' Kikyo boomed over the battle field, "Inuyasha Kill her!"
The great red eyes of the lion swung toward Kagome.
"Guardian!" Kagome screamed in Sesshoumaru's direction, "Get down!"
Kagome skidded to a halt some fifty feet from the beast. Hurling the tattered staff into the air, it soared as an arrow.
The dart slammed into the chained necklace. The binding shuddered with the sudden impact. Fissures erupted from the site. The cracks grew spreading across the restraint. Sensing freedom the animal swung its head violently deepening the rifts. With one swipe of its claws the offending necklace shattered sending magical shrapnel in every direction.
The lion's eyes slid shut, its muscles quiver slightly then the immense beast collapsed. The fallen creature lay there in an undignified heap; its body was enveloped in a soft light. It's form changed back into the less menacing Inuyasha.
Without a second thought, Kagome sprinted over to the fallen Guardian.
No one noticed Kikyo slide back into the forest
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"That was perfect, Kikyo," a deep voice whispered.
"Thank you, but I really didn't want to give Inuyasha back, his life is mine do not forget." Kikyo commented.
The voice responded, "Fear not my dear Kikyo, they all will be ours soon enough."
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Sesshoumaru had watched the latter part of the battle in a silent astonishment, nothing about this Purifier made sense.
All of the Guardians and Purifiers had a weapon given to them at the beginning of time but he had never seen anyone use them. All of the blades were powerful enough but with their true forms and other magic abilities they were never deemed them necessary.
He was also fairly certain that none of the other weapons inflict harm to the user.
He sauntered over to where his fallen comrade lay. Kagome was gently running her hands over his many bruises and lacerations spending extra time over the deep gash that lay where the binding once had.
Her magic worked its miracle, repairing the damage leaving his skin fresh and new. Seeing her work done she covered his quivering body with her cloak.
Kagome attempted to stand but her use of magic had been too great. She sank back to the forest floor coughing violently, sending beads of blood onto her already bloodstained hands.
Sesshoumaru's nose picked up the metallic pang of blood, his eyes focused on the shuddering girl. Then his keen nose picked up a second more foul order.
'Death' it was slight but the girl in front of him defiantly reeked of mortality. He watched her is an intense eye as another spattering of blood dotted the ground.
"Hell angel, your reek of mortality, how is this so?" demanded Sesshoumaru.
The girl quieted her coughing fit proceeded to wrap the deep gashes that marred her hands.
"And why do you not heal yourself?" another mean spirited question came.
Kagome's eyes remained fastened on her wound as she spoke, "I am sick, always have been...tainted, every time I depleted my energy the dieses spreads..."
'She spent her life to heal two Guardians, she must be mad...' Sesshoumaru shot, "If this is so, why do you still heal, wench."
Kagome completed the ragged bandage, entirely ignoring the barrage of questions that Sesshoumaru had fired off. She brightly smiled at Sesshoumaru, whish only severed to deepen his scowl.
"Well, he should be up soon, I'll go get some fire wood, Corsico, please come here" asked Kagome.
The winged creature trotted over to its master effectively blocking Kagome from the Guardian, he had come to hate. Kagome reached out a trembling hand gripping one of Corsico's large spines, She pulled herself upright.
"I'll be back in a moment" she chimed as she waved a hardy farewell.
The two slowly made their way to the forest's edge. Sesshoumaru could see the great effort the tiny Purifier was putting into each step.
'How dare she not answer my inquires? This woman need lessons in obedience.'
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