Chapter Four: Unexpected Encounter
I guess I was out of ideas for a while. Anyway, this story still goes on. Enjoy at your own choice!
Chapter Four
Kikyo ran to the area where the youkai was attacking. In its path lay a trail of heavy debris that compromised of destroyed houses and dead villagers. As soon as she had reached the exact spot, in front of her eyes were a group of villagers trying to fight back the demon with their weapons which seemed like a simple task for the youkai to defeat.
"Kikyo-sama!" The demon turned its head towards the priestess who had just returned with her sister from the woods. "The Shikon Jewel is mine already!" In its hand was the precious jewel, which made Kikyo gasp.
I'm never going to forgive Inuyasha for delaying me…!
"Stand back, Kaede," the priestess turned to her little sister. "Go hide somewhere so that you won't be injured." Her sibling only nodded willingly, running off into the woods again. Turning to the demon once again, she raised her bow and arrow swiftly at the enemy again.
"Give up the Jewel," she threatened the youkai with her bow and arrow. "Or prepare to meet a tragic death, saru-youkai."
"Why would I be intimidated by your threats?" The monkey demon spoke as he popped the Shikon Jewel into his mouth, while laughing away at the priestess still aiming the arrow at him. "Now I can defeat you with my youki powering this jewel!" The demon was beginning to grow more powerful as its eyes began to glow red.
"You leave me no choice…" Kikyo spoke cunningly while looking at the enhanced demonic shape before her. "…but to destroy you!" She prepared to release her hold on the arrow that was already being held by the bow-string on high tension.
"Ha! Are you that mighty now?" The youkai sneered as it picked the legendary priestess up with a swoop of his hand, lifting her from the ground. "You'll be a worthy meal for me, and enhance my powers further."
Kikyo continued to look at the demon with disgust. Its handgrip continued to tighten on her body as it continued to wrap around her body. Her enemy only gave an evil churchyard laugh as it prepared to bring her closer to his mouth. The demon had grown tremendously in size by the power of the sacred stone within his body. Knowing herself in a dangerous situation, Kikyo began to close her eyes and chant a prayer that made her glow pink. She started to release an aura that would make the demon release its grip on her. There was no effect.
This must be the work of the Shikon Jewel…it makes the youkai immune…
"Stop that heck!" Kikyo opened her eyes to hear a familiar voice again. It was Inuyasha, the person who bitten off part of her hakama a while ago. "Who told you that Shikon Jewel was yours???"
"A hanyou, eh?" The youkai began to laugh at the dog half-demon who had suddenly made its appearance below the large demon. "A mere half-breed freak coming to defeat me?"
"Who are you calling freak, pathetic youkai?" Came Inuyasha's sharp reply. "The Shikon Jewel will be mine before you know it!"
"Let's see if you can defeat me first!" The monstrous demon snapped back as it slammed its giant hand onto where Inuyasha was, causing the nearby villagers to tremble as tremors caused by the impact went to them. Swift as he was, the hanyou had dodged the deadly blow. "Impressive," came the demon's reply. "For a half-human beast."
"I'm not a beast, you ass!" Inuyasha cried out angrily. Kikyo could sense that his rage was building as his tone became more hostile, and while dodging the demon's large hand-blows to the ground. "You are the one!"
"Then? A heathen of our society?" The final blow came onto the half-demon. "That's a better word for freaks like you out there who are not supposed to exist in this world."
"Inuyasha," the priestess spoke calmly while being in the demon's grip still. "The only way you can defeat this saru-youkai is by attacking and severing its tail." There was no reply, with only an impulsive hanyou lunging towards the tail of the demon. It was fail, certainly, for the youkai simply hit Inuyasha with its strong, big tail.
"Eh, wench," the person in red asked rudely. "How do you suppose to attack his wretched tail?" Kikyo looked down at the former. She continued to wear an expressionless face.
"Oh, don't you know?" She replied sarcastically. "Don't you hanyous have special techniques of defeating youkais before?" Kikyo continued to remain calm in the midst of all, while allowing the villagers to look at her with concern still.
"You bitch!" Inuyasha grew furious at the jewel protector's coolness. "Don't you want to be saved?" He showed his claws in her direction, only to realize what she had meant.
Can these claws defeat a youkai with enhanced Shikon no Tama powers?
"Sankon Tessou!" Inuyasha cried out as he raised his claws, aiming at the tail. It took minutes for the demon to realize before he knew what was going to happen. Before he knew what was going on, the tail was severed with blood flying in all directions. With instance, the demon began to shrink as it suddenly released Kikyo from his grip, who fell onto the floor with a hard thud.
"Onee-san!" Kikyo heard Kaede's cry as the little sister ran towards her. "Are you alright?"
"Were you the one who got Inuyasha?"
"Er…yes," Kaede nodded shamefully as she lowered her head. "Oneesan was in danger so I could only get him…"
"That doesn't matter," Kikyo stared at the scene as Inuyasha had a facedown with the saru-youkai. With its tail torn off, it was impossible to return to the titanic size before. It was the weakness of the monkey demon. The hanyou stood opposite him on the dirt ground, the wind blow his hair and clothing sideward, having had a powerful battle with the demon.
"How did you…?" The youkai spoke as blood flowed from its mouth. Within seconds, it collapsed to the floor, with the sacred jewel flowing out as well. Inuyasha walked over to the corpse of the youkai, picking the dark purple jewel up.
"I suppose I've won the Shikon jewel over now…" he stopped in his speech as he turned his head to see a Kikyo aiming her bow and arrow at him.
"Take that thing off your hands, Inuyasha," she spoke, aiming an arrow at him. "One hit and I can end your life like that." Surprisingly, the person in red stopped and placed the jewel on the ground. The priestess lowered her bow down and returned the arrow to its pouch. She crossed over and picked up the Shikon jewel which turned back to a healthy pink as soon as it was in her hands.
"Why did put the jewel down?" Kikyo asked suspiciously to an Inuyasha who was returning back to the woods. His two white ears twitched as he turned behind.
"I'm not going to be pinned to the tree again," he replied seriously. "And I don't want to end my life just like that."
"That was your choice then," she replied with an ounce of coldness embedded in it. "I won't thank you." Kikyo continued back to the Shikon-Tama shrine as she began her steps up the stairs which led to the shrine that was perched on a hill.
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Was it just the jewel or something else that made him came?
Kikyo sat on her straw bed as she looked at the moonlit night sky which had its moonlight shining through the open window. Kaeder and her had just finished dinner and it was bedtime for it was rather unsafe to be out at night. She turned to the left to see that her little sister was already sleeping soundly.
It is good to be a child…
The fire continued to burn, which continued to light up part of the small hut. Kikyo continued to stay out of the window, wishing that the Shikon jewel was never there and she could just be a normal person. A person who disliked duty of course.
I wonder where does Inuyasha live…
Kikyo closed her eyes. Why was she thinking about the half-demon again? After all, he had only saved her. There was nothing great about his kind deed to her. Since he chose to interfere in her dealing with the demon, it was his problem whether he received a bout of gratitude or not.
The all-mighty priestess could do nothing except lay in her bed and attempting to get some rest from the comfort of her straw mattress.
Maybe I'll find that half-demon tomorrow…
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Kikyo woke up to hear the sound of rain. It was pouring heavy, but the sound was soothing enough to make one continue its slumber. As she peered out of her window before trying to close it a little to ensure water did not get in, there were villagers outside tending to their crops.
Maybe it benefits the farmers…
Taking out a wooden paper umbrella, she looked at her little sister in slumber before exiting her hut. The raindrops impacted with the ground strongly, producing the sounds of a heavy downpour. Kikyo waved back as the villagers tending to the fields greeted her.
Leaving behind the village on the plain, the priestess made her way up the slippery slope. It was certainly dangerous, but the grass had thankfully held back the muddy soil with their roots. The trees continued to look pleased as some of their leaves opened up to the rain. Kikyo began her task.
"Inuyasha!" She shouted to the trees, hoping he was there to hear her. "I have something to tell you." There was no reply. Showing an expression of displeasure, she continued to shout back. "I know you're cross because I was cold to you." Silence except that of the rain continued to ensue.
"Thanks for listening, Inuyasha," she replied. As soon as she was done, she hurried down the hill back to her hut. She had to wait until the rain was over before she could return to the hill.
Behind her back, a half-demon looked at her running down the hill, with his body entire soaked from the rain. He had also awoken from his slumber, disturbed by someone calling out his name.
"That wench really have two faces!" He snapped to himself.
Done! Hope I can think of more to write the next chapter! See ya guys soon!
Glossary:
Saru-youkai : monkey demon
Sankou Tessou : Iron Reaver Soul Stealer (Inuyasha's claw attack as everyone knows it)
