CHAPTER TWELVE

Oni, Naraku.... Naraku, Oni

Oni relfected the entire day on Inuyasha's departing words.

---Flashback---

"Thanks..... for your help. And thanks for taking care of Kagome"

---End Flashback---

It had been as if a million feathers had suddenly risen from the earth and lifted her into the sky. What's more she couldn't get the huge grin off of her face. Only at one point did she stop smiling and that was when Kouga showed up and ruined everything by yelling at her.

"How could you just let that mutt take her like that??!!!!"

"He's not a mutt!! Don't you dare call him that!"

Oni's eyes flashed dangerously, but Kouga was too blinded by anger to notice her obvious attraction to the hanyou. Without even giving a second thought to what she had said he continued on with his scolding.

"I swear when I get my hands on that stupid puppy I'll kill him! How dare he come here and take what's mine!" With that, not waiting for Oni to respond or say anything about the matter Kouga lept into the air and was gone. So engraged was this youkai that when he left, the speed at which he departed was so great that a blast of wind almost knocked Oni sideways.

"Don't call him names!!" Oni yelled pointlessly at the spot where Kouga had been as if the message would be carried to him. With that said she turned on her heel ans stalked off into her cave no longer daring if she was being graceful or not. She was almost all the way inside when a strange feeling overcame her. It was a demon aura.... no, a hanyou's aura. Only this one wasn't as pure as her dear Inuyasha's aura. This one was tarnished and malicious. As it drew closer to her Oni could feel the power of this evil closing in all around her. In a blind and desperate attempt to escape an invisible hand closing in about her, Oni crouched down and then with a burst of power launched herself out of the cave through the hole Inuyasha had used to jump in earlier that day. Once outside she landed on the side of the mountain and scanned the horizon. Everything seemed to be ok, but she could tell that whatever this was, it was purposefully waiting just outside the reach of her senses to catch her off guard. Being a demon herself Oni knew how the others thought.... and hunted. This was it.... something was hunting her. And whatever it was seemed to be letting off a pulsating aura of pure evil. Staring out into the forest with her eyes out of focus Oni tried to think what could distribute such a powerful dark aura, but her concentration was broken by movement beyond the brush.

"Show yourself! I know you're still there!"

"Hmm... I see there is no point in hiding from a demon as powerful as you Oni-chan."

"What? How do you know my name? Who are you?

"All in due time Oni-chan... all will be revealed in due time... but first I must ask.... the hanyou, where did he go?"

"What business is it of yours?"

"That's not the answer I'm looking for."

"Answer me first and then I shall tell you of Inuyasha's direction."

"Ah, Inuyasha. I'm surprised that you would call him by his name. After all, he is only a half-breed."

Oni's patience had been worn thin... she no longer cared to know who was lurking out in the shadows beyond her reach, and she most certainly didn't care to hear some stranger insult her Inuyasha. With a wave of her hand Oni dismissed the stranger.

"Go home hanyou if you value your life. I grow tired of your games." With that Oni turned and ducked just in time to miss being impaled by a large tentacle that flew over her head. Just as quickly as the tentacle had attacked, it recoiled back into the shadows of the forest. Oni stared at the spot where the tentcle had ducked back into the forest. After letting her eyes adjust to the light she noticed a tall figure standing under a tree. Draped in white fur, the man stepped into the light and addressed Oni.

"Are you sure it is wise to turn your back on me without giving me any answers Oni-chan?"

"Who are you?"

"How rude of me, I'm sorry.... you may call me Naraku. I am searching for Inuyasha and I know that he was here. His scent is still lingering in the trees, along with the scent of my now dead incarnation."

"That thing that attecked Inuyasha was yours?"

"Indeed, you see Inuyasha, as you call him, is nothing more to me than a thorn in my side.... a pest if you will. I have only to get rid of him to accomplish my greatest goal."

Oni's blood boiled as this stranger again insulted Inuyasha. This smug hanyou was starting to get on her nerves.

"And now you want me to tell you where he went? Well if he is no more than a thorn why haven't you done away with him yet?"

"Even the tiniest of insects can be persistent. This one in particular refuses to die. It's becoming quite tedious"

While Naraku complained Oni was slowly gathering her demon strength. She knew that someone with an aura that dark was not one to be taken lightly.... even if he was just a hanyou. Naraku, apparently, was was either clueless to her rising power or wasn't afraid of them because he niether flinched nor raised his own. Instead the evil hanyou continued to rant about how useless Inuyasha was. Oni had already tuned out his voice and was looking for a perfect chance to attack.

'He doesn't seem to even have any defenses up. I'm sure he's oblivious to my power.'

With that Oni smirked to herself and unleashed a bright ray of light from her right hand straight at the hanyou's heart. There was an explosion and Oni was thrown back from the blast. "I guess I used too much. Oh well.... serves him right."

"What serves me right?"

Oni turned around wide eyed at the unharmed Naraku that stood before her. With the dust settling from the impact Oni was able to notice why she had failed to kill him.

"So you call Inuyasha-sama a pest and then you hide behind your barrier. Seems to me like you're a bit of a coward."

A smile played at the corners of Naraku's mouth. "Coward? No. I simply have nothing to fear from weak vermin such as yourself. You are seriously outmatched Oni-chan. I had come here with no intentions to kill you..... but I've changed my mind. DIE!!" Naraku's tentacles extended out from his back at a lightning fast speed.... Oni only had seconds to react..... The tentacles charged at her in one swift movement and then seperated into a series of smaller ones which surrounded her completely...... there was only one thing that she could do.... the tantacles enclosed around her and formed a cacoon which then collapsed into itself. Naraku looked up to see the demon above him, poising herself for another attack. "Fool!!" The tentacles which had tried to trap Oni quickly darted upwards after her. Another ray of light hit Naraku's barrier. This one didn't impact though, but shredded the tentacles that were coming out of the barrier. The ones that had been about to grasp Oni fell limp to the ground, being cut off at the source. Then a dark cloud lifted from where Naraku was standing.

'Poison?' Oni thought as the cloud rose to her height. As she gracefully fell back to the earth her body began to burn and ache. 'This isn't poison... it's shouki!' Using all of her demon agility Oni landed on the ground and quickly rapelled herself upwards again. She had to get away from this shouki. 'How can something be so evil?' Again drawing her power into her right had she shot one more time at where she sensed Naraku might be. This time though... he wasn't ready for it. The ray of energy hit him straight in the chest, creating a large hole in him. 'Now. I can finish him now.' To Naraku's surprise, the demon dropped right in front of him and created a lance from her own energy. She charged at him and sliced at him repeatedly. All of her attacks made contact and sent Naraku flying backwards.

"Idiot hanyou... you underestimated my power and now you're dead. Good riddance."

Oni walked gracefully away, but stopped in her tracks when she heard the chuckling behind her. 'Impossible.'

"You think rather highly of yourself Oni-chan. It seems that you underestimated my power."

Oni was paralyzed. She couldn't move a single step. 'How? How is it that he's still alive?' It was too soon to stop and think. Without warning, two razor sharp tentacles sliced at Oni's sides. She jumped out of reach and checked her wounds. 'Inuyasha stands against this hanyou? He must be even stronger than I thought.' With that Oni noticed an aura that she hadn't taken note of before. It was coming from Naraku. "Shikon no tama? What? You have it?" Naraku smiled and nodded.

"It seems that you've found the source of my powers. Now that you know this you must also know that you cannot defeat me. Give up Oni-chan..... and accept your death."

Naraku was walking casually towards Oni. He then stopped and his tentacles spread out of his body. A loud crash from somewhere in the forest was the signal. Naraku's tentacles rushed forward and at the same time Oni lept at Naraku with her energy lance. The battle was over in the blink of an eye. Naraku simply had too much of an advantge and Oni was badly hurt. His tentacles siezed her hands and feet and she tumbled to the ground... defeated.

"It's been a while Naraku!!"

A powerful kick connected into Naraku's side. His grip on Oni released and he stumbled sideways from the force of the blow.

"Oni-chan... are you ok?" Oni looked up to see Kouga towering over her. Her extended a hand and helped her to her feet. Oni brushed the dirt off of her neat kimono and stood firm. "I was just having a chat with this Naraku fellow..... friend of yours?" Kouga gave her an enraged look. "Don't give me that!! You should know by now that this freak is chasing after that mutt!! I know he loves to talk. Now, you go on ahead.... I'm gonna take out the trash." With that Kouga turned around and squared off with the hanyou that was now standing a few feet away looking bored.

"Kouga... I see you long to die. Well, I'll gladly grant your wish."

Kouga balled his hands into fists and crouched low, ready for Naraku to attack.

Miles away Oni ran as fast as her feet could carry her. She never paused and never looked back. Kouga wasn't stupid enough to get himself killed. She knew that he would buy her some time and then escape himself since he's so fast. But Kouga wasn't who she was worried about. Her heartbeat was racing and her breathing was labored, yet she never slowed down. She had to find him. She had to warn him about Naraku. She had to see him.

"Inuyasha...."