CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Zanbatsu Wielding Demon

"Hey, I'm hungry." They had only been walking for a few hours and Shippou already wanted to stop. "Keh, can't you wait a bit? There's a village just up ahead." Shippou looked down at his groaning stomach and then up at Inuyasha. "But I'm starving." The hanyou sighed and tilted his head towards Kagome, "Hey Kagome... is there any ramen left?" Kagome nodded and pulled a little packet out of her bag. "Oh, this is the only one. uh..." Kagome knew what was going to happen next. Inuyasha was going to want it and Shippou was going to cry and Kagome was going to have to subdue Inuyasha using the prayer beads. She didn't much enjoy having to use them to keep him from eating, but Shippou was just a child after all. "Can you make them so the squirt'll shut up?"

(GASP)

"What the hell was that all about??!!" Inuyasha turned on his friends with his hands balled up threateningly into fists.

"Inuyasha, are you ok?" Kagome looked at him with worry in her eyes. " You never miss a chance to eat ramen."

"So what! Shippou's the one that's hungry, not me! Keh, I'm going ahead to scout the area." The then broke into a run and dissapeared into the foliage.

Everyone watched Inuyasha leave except for Shippou, who was looking down at his empty stomach. Kagome noticed just how hungry he was and hurridly made the soup, using a little fire that Miroku prepared for them. The tiny kitsune wolfed down the soup without even waiting for it to cool down, but then stopped just before he finished the whole cup.

"What's wrong Shippou?" Kagome asked, "you didn't like it?"

"well, I wanted to save this for Inuyasha. I know he really likes it." Shippou smiled up at Kagome, who patted him on the head. "You don't have to do that. He knew how hungry you were and let you have the last packet, now finish it up or he'll get mad that you let it go to waste." with that Kagome gave him a smile and stared off into the distance where the hanyou had disappeared.

"Kagome-sama, grab Shippou and get back."

Kagome was surprised to turn and see Miroku standing in a defensive stance and staring into the forest.

"What's going on?" Kagome peered in the direction that Miroku, and then opened her eyes wide as she realized what was beyond the thicket.

"Kirara, take Shippou somewhere safe please." Kagome whispered into the giant mononoke's ear as she grabbed her bow and arrows off Kirara's back. Kirara let out a low growl, but turned to Shippou who jumped on her back and sped off to the other side of the forest. Mirkou turned quickly and noticed Kagome standing beside him and Sango, arrow notched and face concentrated.

"Kagome-sama, you should have gone with Shippou to look for Inuyasha." Kagome flinched. She had completely forgotten that Inuyasha had gone ahead to check the trail.

'I hope he's.....' Kagome didn't get to finish that thought because right at that moment a blur came crashing at them from the direction where this dark aura was. Trees shook and were torn apart as a lump of rags hit them and skidded on the ground as if fired out of a cannon. Only when it stopped in front of the trio did they realize what it was. All three yelled in unison.

"Inuyasha!"

Kagome forgot all about the aura and ran over to the hanyou. He had severe scratches all over his body and was unconsious. Kagome rested his head on her lap. Horror filled her very being, which quickly turned into anger when she heard chuckling from beyond the shrubs.

"Hehehe.... your hero has fallen. And quite easily might I add. What will you do?"

Everyone looked up as a tall figure approached. He looked human enough, but he had coal black eyes and clawed hands, which were wrapped around two huge zanbatsus. (A/N: A zanbatsu is a giant sword used to cut down men riding on horses. Anyone who's seen Rurouni Kenshin knows what I'm talking about.) Miroku took a step forward. "Who are you? Another one of Naraku's dolls?" The giant smirked. "Doll? Why don't you tell that to your friend. After all, this doll nearly killed him."

"Damn... it"

Kagome looked down at Inuyasha so fast that her neck cricked hard. "Inuyasha?" His head was still on her lap, but his eyes were half open and he was trying to get his tessaiga out of his belt.

"I can still fight." Kagome stared at the sword. It had been sheathed the whole time.

"You bastard!! You sneaked up on him, didn't you??!" Miroku and Sango were shocked at the tone Kagome was taking towards this demon, "Inuyasha would never go into battle without his sword!!"

The tall creature smirked again. "That doesn't matter. All is fair in love and war. The idiot hanyou was caught off guard and I took the chance. Besides, even with his sword, I would have cut him down to pieces." He flexed his arms and crossed the twin zanbatsus so that a flash was created from the friction. This flash then seemed to gain a consiousness of its own and rushed toward Kagome. Miroku lunged forward, using his staff to deflect the blast, but was nearly decapitated by one of the zanbatsus. Sango took this as a signal and used full force to throw the hiraikotsu straight into the light that was headed for her friend. The giant boomerang and the surge of lightning met before it could reach Kagome and Inuyasha.

"A valiant effort, but a pointless one!!" Again the two blades met and another bolt headed for Kagome, but this time she was ready. Taking careful aim, Kagome launched a sacred arrow straight into the center of the attack.

"Impossible!" The giant watched in horror as the arrow sped through his lightning and headed for him, destroying his bolt as it passed. The demon had no choice, it had to react. Using the two giant swords as a shield, the demon planted both feet on the ground and prepared for the impact. When the arrow reached the steel of his zanbatsus an explosion of light consumed him.

"Yes!" Kagome threw a fist into the air to celebrate her defeat over the demon, but she was celebrating too soon. From the globe of light that had been created another form of light came. It was one last lightning attack, but this time Kagome was off guard, Miroku was too far away, and Sango's boomerang had been split by the last attack. Kagome could only stare at the bolt of lighning as it charged at her.

"RRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

As Kagome stared in surprise Inuyasha lept to his feet and, not having time to turn and carry Kagome out of the way, braced himself for the attack. He barely had time to cross his arms over his hands as the surge of lightning hit him. The power of the bolt was incredible as the hanyou sank his feet into the ground and buckled his knees, trying with all of his might to keep the blast from reaching Kagome.

"DAMN IT MONK!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? GET KAGOME!!!"

Miroku snapped out of his trance and rand towards Kagome who was standing still behind Inuyasha.

'So..... beautiful.'

Kagome stared at Inuyasha as he battled with all of his strength to hold off the power of the lightning. His hair was flowing backwards from the wind encircling him, his arms were crossed in fron of him, showing no signs of weakness, his face was angry and determined....... then there was black.

Miroku lept in front of Kagome and grabbed her by the waist. He picked her up and ran quickly to Sango's side.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!"

'Inuyasha... what's happening?' Kagome still couldn't talk. She didn't understand. Why wasn't this energy blast disappearing? Why was it still pushing him back?

"HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Now die hanyou!!"

Everyone turned in surprise as the tall figure rose from the ground effortlessly. "My ultimate attack! This blast drains your energy while attacking you, giving me your energy and killing you slowly!"

Kagome's eyes widened as the demon explained what Inuyasha was fighting off. There was no time to think. She grabbed another arrow from her back and notched it quickly. When she released the arrow let off a sharp whistle. It hit it's target, but did no damage.

"Those toys are worthless now. With every second that this hanyou fights off my blast I get stronger. The only thing that awaits him is death!! And you too!" The demon stared maniaclly at the group standing helplessly on the side lines, but then turned his concentration back on the hanyou. 'Why isn't he dead yet? How much power does this pitiful creature hold? How lon......"

A ray of energy struck the demon on his back. Inuyasha's friends watched in awe as a furious Oni sailed through the sky towards the battle. She was no longer the look of beauty and grace that she was before. Her eyes were bright with anger, her sweet smile had turned into an ice cold expression of indifference, and her hands were both glowing with demon energy. When she landed behind the demon no time was wasted. She charged into it with her hands outstretched and placed both palms on it's back. A blast of pure demon energy poured into the creature and caused it to go flying into Inuyasha. Seeing his chance to attack, Inuyasha drew his tessaiga and slashed upwards at the oncoming demon. The twin zanbatsus were mercilessly sliced in half along with the demon's body.

"Inuyasha-sama!" Oni rushed towards the hanyou and placed a hand on his shoulder. Inuyasha fell to one knee, panting hard from the attack. Large amounts of energy were now leaving the body of the demon and were entering Inuyasha's.

'Did the demon really take this much power?' Miroku pondered.

'Inuyasha was determined to keep Kagome safe. He would have given all of his energy if he would have had to.' Sango smiled.

'I didn't know that Inuyasha had so much energy. No wonder he never sleeps.' Shippou thought.

'Amazing' Kagome watched.

'Beautiful' Oni stared silently.

"Oni-chan? What are you doing here?" Kagome had finally realized why Inuyasha had stood a chance, "Kouga didn't get mad at you for letting me go or anything did he?"

'Kouga.' Oni looked straight at Inuyasha. "I came to warn you. There is an evil man after you. He goes by the name Naraku. Kouga held him off while I came to find you and warn you. You have to hurry, he might be behind me."

Inuyasha hid his face behind his bangs. "That stupid wolf. He'll end up getting killed one these days. Naraku was at your home? In the mountain?"

Oni didn't know if she wanted to reply. From the looks of it, the hanyou had no intention of running away, but was formulating a rescue mission. "Please Oni-chan, were they by your home?" Kagome had interrupted Oni's train of thought. She turned to Kagome and nodded slightly.

"That settles it. Come on!"

With that said Inuyasha lept into the air and dissappeared into the forest, running at full speed. Oni looked around desperately at his friends. "Please..... stop him." But they were all getting ready to fight as well. Kagome had picked up the two arrows she had fired and then threw one away because it was charred beyond repair, Sango was getting the two halves of hiraikotsu and placing them on Kirara's back, and Miroku was straightening the beads on his right hands and checking how many scrolls he had.

'Why.... are they going to fight? But they couldn't possibly stand against such a powerful youkai.'

"Oni-chan, let's go." Kagome was sitting on Kirara and was stretching out a hand to help her on. "You don't understand Kagome-chan, this demon is dangerous. Are you still going to fight?" Kagome looked down at Oni and then up ahead at the spot where Inuyasha had once been. "Of course. Because there's someone there that needs my help and because I never leave Inuyasha's side. I don't mind fighting millions of demons as long as I get to be by his side." By this time Kagome had tilted her head forward to hide her blushing face. "Now, are you going to come with us?" Kagome asked cheerfully.